Archives for September 2024

Supreme Court of India | Ganpati Poojan at CJI’s residence

New Delhi: Public discussions and concerns within the legal fraternity regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud’s residence for a Ganapati puja is rooted in a 1997 document outlining judicial values. This document, titled the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life, was adopted by the Supreme Court during a Full Court Meeting on May 7, 1997.

The 16-point document serves as a guide for the expected conduct of judges in both the Supreme Court and High Courts. The first principle emphasises the importance of judicial impartiality, advising judges to avoid any acts that could erode public confidence in the judiciary. The document also recommends that judges maintain a “degree of aloofness consistent with the dignity of [their] office.”

The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, highlighted the importance of maintaining proper boundaries between the judiciary and the executive, citing former Chief Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah’s stance that while the judiciary and executive must maintain a correct relationship, cordiality should not compromise the separation of powers.

Notable legal figures have voiced their opinions on the matter. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal acknowledged CJI Chandrachud’s integrity but expressed concerns about public perception, stating that such incidents could lead to gossip and undermine the institution. Senior advocate Indira Jaising criticized the CJI’s actions, claiming it compromised the independence of the judiciary. Meanwhile, Bar Council of India chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra dismissed the controversy, stating that the puja was a religious and social event that would not influence court judgments.

Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, Umar Gautam

New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) president Syed Sadatullah Hussaini and the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) have strongly condemned the life sentences awarded to Islamic preachers Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui and Maulana Umar Gautam, along with 14 others, by a special NIA-ATS court in Uttar Pradesh for alleged illegal religious conversion activities.

Hussaini, in a press statement, called the charges of terrorism, criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity, and plotting offenses against the state “baseless” and warned that the verdict sets a dangerous precedent. He emphasised that no one can be forced to change their religion in a democratic country like India, adding that Islam prohibits such coercion. “Every individual has the constitutional right to choose, practice, and propagate the religion of their choice, a right no authority can take away,” he asserted.

Hussaini also criticised the way the case was handled, with sensationalised media reactions and a charged communal atmosphere. “The entire exercise seems designed to create fear, intimidation, and hatred for political mileage,” he remarked. He urged justice-loving citizens, organizations, and political parties to stand against this judgment, which he claimed threatens democracy and promotes authoritarianism.

Meanwhile, the SIO, in a separate statement, condemned the judgment, calling it a violation of basic human values and constitutional freedoms. The organization stated that the verdict suppresses the rights to freedom of expression and the freedom to practice and propagate one’s faith. It argued that these actions are part of a broader systematic effort by right-wing forces to undermine spiritual discovery and voluntary freedom of conscience. SIO expressed hope that higher courts would overturn the verdict, which they deemed unconstitutional.

Chamarajanagar: The Chamarajanagar Town Police have arrested a 43-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu, identified as Lakshmi, in connection with a jewelry theft case. The police have recovered 432 grams of gold jewelry, valued at Rs 27 lakh, from her possession. The arrest was made under the supervision of Dr. B.T. Kavitha, Superintendent of Police (SP), Chamarajanagar.

Addressing a press conference at the Chamarajanagar Town Police Station, SP Dr. Kavitha confirmed that Lakshmi had been presented in court and remanded to judicial custody.

The incident took place on September 1, when a local resident, Pushpalatha, was traveling on a crowded KSRTC bus from Chamarajanagar to Satyamangala. Upon reaching her destination, she realized that gold jewelry weighing 540 grams, which she had kept in her vanity bag, had been stolen. Following this, she lodged a complaint with the Chamarajanagar Town Police.

Under the guidance of SP Dr. Kavitha and Deputy Superintendent Lakshmaiah, the police launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the KSRTC bus stand revealed that Lakshmi had stolen the jewelry from Pushpalatha’s bag. Further inquiries led the police to discover that Lakshmi had traveled by auto rickshaw to Talavady, Tamil Nadu, after committing the theft.

A police team acted on this information and arrested Lakshmi in Talavady, recovering a portion of the stolen jewelry.

SP Dr. Kavitha praised the efforts of the investigating team, including Town Police Inspector Rajesh, Sub-inspector Siddaraju, and constables Mohan Kumar, Lokesh, Mahadeva Ningaraju, and Rajeshwari, for their dedication in successfully solving the case.

Ullal: In an incident reported on Thursday, a cow suspected of being infected with rabies went on a rampage in Someshwara, injuring several people and causing damage to property. The cow entered residential areas, charged at pedestrians, and damaged a scooter, injuring a woman riding it. The event unfolded in areas under the Someshwara Town Municipality, leaving locals alarmed.

The cow, which belonged to a resident near the town’s entrance, had been sent out for grazing in the evening when it unexpectedly began to create havoc. It made its way to the premises of the Mookambika Temple in Kolya, where it damaged parked scooters and injured several people.

In response to the commotion, local residents worked together to capture the cow. Someshwara Town Municipality Vice-President Ravishankar was informed and took charge of the situation. Ullal MLA U.T. Khader was also notified about the incident and the potential danger to people in the area.

A veterinary team, led by Dr. Gajendra Kumar from the Government Veterinary Sciences Hospital in Kotekar, was dispatched to the scene. The cow was administered an anesthetic, but it died a few hours later. Dr. Kumar suggested that the cow may have been suffering from rabies, which could explain its aggressive behavior.