Archives for 2024

New Delhi: Two sitting judges of the Allahabad High Court were reportedly part of a closed-door event hosted by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Prayagraj on December 8, with one delivering a lecture on the contentious topic of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, a serving judge known for his polarizing observations, argued that the UCC is a constitutional necessity aimed at promoting equality and social harmony

The gathering, held in the High Court library, was organised by the VHP’s legal cell of the “Kashi Prant” (Varanasi province) and featured discussions on topics such as the Waqf Act and religious conversions.

Government advocate A.K. Sand and Anil Tiwari, president of the High Court Bar Association, also addressed the audience, comprising members of the VHP’s legal cell from various districts in Uttar Pradesh.

Justice Yadav, speaking on the UCC, emphasized the principles of gender equality and secularism, asserting that a unified legal framework would eliminate disparities across and within communities. His speech drew attention due to his past remarks endorsing Hindu religious and cultural elements.

Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav

In 2021, Justice Yadav suggested that the cow be declared a national animal and that Hindu scriptures, including the Ramayana and the Gita, be honored as national treasures and taught in schools. He has also called for stringent anti-cow slaughter laws and even proposed deferring elections during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect public health.

The event sparked criticism, with senior lawyer Indira Jaising denouncing Justice Yadav’s participation as inappropriate for a sitting judge. “What a shame for a judge to engage in a politically charged event organized by a Hindu group,” she remarked.

The VHP’s national co-convenor, Abhishek Atrey, and other speakers addressed issues such as amendments to the Waqf Act and concerns over the protection of Hindu identity. Atrey alleged parallels between Bangladesh’s political unrest and the treatment of minorities, urging unity to preserve cultural identity.

Justice Dinesh Pathak was reportedly scheduled to inaugurate the event, but his attendance remained unconfirmed. The involvement of high-ranking judicial figures in an event associated with a religious-political organization continues to raise questions about judicial impartiality and ethics.

Around 40 schools in Delhi received a bomb threat mail Monday morning with the sender demanding USD 30,000, a police official said.

The threat was sent in a single e-mail marked to the city’s prominent schools including DPS RK Puram; GD Goenka, Paschim Vihar; The British School, Chanakyapuri; The Mother’s International, Aurobindo Marg; Modern School, Mandi House; DPS Vasant Kunj; Delhi Police Public School, Safdarjung; DPS East of Kailash and Salwan Public Schools.

Most schools that received the threat suspended their classes and sent students back home as officials said.

A Delhi Fire Service (DFS) official said they received the first alerts about the bomb threats from DPS RK Puram (7.06 am) and GD Goenka Paschim Vihar (6.15 am).

He said bomb detection teams, fire officials, local police and dog squads responded immediately and conducted searches at the schools.

Nothing suspicious has been found yet, a police official said around 9.30 am.

He said said further operations are underway.

Sources said the email was delivered on the schools’ id at 11.38 pm Sunday — when the schools were closed — from scottielanza@gmail.com.

“I planted multiple bombs inside the building. The bombs are small and hidden very well. It will not cause very much damage to the building, but many people will be injured when the bombs detonate,” the email read.

It also said, “You all deserve to suffer and lose limbs. If I do not receive 30,000 dollar. The group =E2=80=9CKNR=E2=80=9D is behind this attack,” it reads.

In a message to parents, Mother Mary’s School, Mayur Vihar, said, “An email was received this morning regarding a bomb threat in school. As such, the students are being dispersed immediately as a precautionary measure. You are requested to kindly collect your wards from your respective bus stops.

While taking his daughter back from the school, Harish, one of the parents, told PTI Videos, “I received a message about emergency from the school. This is the failure of the government as the schools are getting such threats regularly.”

In May, more than 200 schools, hospitals and other important government installations in the city received a similar kind of bomb threat but the case is yet to solved as the mail was sent using Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole | Photo : PTI

Mumbai : Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole has urged the Supreme Court and the Election Commission to take note of the “growing public demand” for ballot paper voting in view of “doubts” about the mandate in assembly elections.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has upped the ante against electronic voting machines (EVMs) after the BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Patole on Sunday claimed the Mahayuti victory didn’t reflect the mandate of the people.

“There is a widespread confusion among people about the new state government. A strong sentiment suggests that the government doesn’t reflect the people’s mandate,” Patole told reporters.

Several leaders from opposition parties, including NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, visited Markadwadi village in Solapur district to express solidarity with villagers who had tried to hold a mock “repoll” using ballot papers while questioning the EVM credibility.

“This public sentiment is not confined to Markadwadi but resonates across villages in Maharashtra. A demand for conducting voting through ballot papers is growing, with village sabhas passing resolutions to this effect,” Patole claimed.

He appealed to the Election Commission and the Supreme Court to take cognisance of this public sentiment.

The Congress leader, who won the electoral contest by a wafer-thin margin, said the doubt among electors about their vote reaching the candidate of their choice should be resolved.

“Residents of Markadwadi had resolved to conduct a mock re-poll using ballot papers, but the government, with the help of the Election Commission and police, suppressed their efforts and filed cases against them,” he alleged.

Patole sought the Election Commission’s clarification on “the addition of 7.6 million votes”.

“They have failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. Manipulating votes is akin to the daylight murder of democracy. If such dissatisfaction arises in a democracy, it must be addressed. The Opposition will fight for this demand in the legislature and on the streets,” Patole added.

The Supreme Court last month dismissed a plea seeking to revert to paper ballot voting in elections in the country, saying allegations of tampering with EVMs raked up only when people lose polls.

“What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs are not tampered with. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with),” remarked a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale.

Apart from ballot paper voting, the plea sought several directions, including a directive to the Election Commission to disqualify candidates for a minimum of five years if found guilty of distributing money, liquor or other material inducement to the voters during polls.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi: Birthday wishes poured in for former Congress president Sonia Gandhi as she turned 78 on Monday, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge hailing her as a “true champion” of the rights of the marginalised.

He said Gandhi’s contribution to public life has inspired millions.

Sonia Gandhi, the longest serving Congress president, has taken a back seat from active politics in the last few years for health reasons, with her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra playing a key role in the party. However, she is a member of the Rajya Sabha and continues to be the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

In a post on X, the Congress president extended his warm greetings to Sonia Gandhi on her birthday.

“A true champion of the rights of the marginalised, embodying utmost grace, dignity and courage amidst adversity, her contribution to public life has inspired millions,” Kharge said.

“I wish her a long and healthy life,” he added.

Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal also extended his best wishes to Gandhi and hailed her as “an iconic leader of our times”.

“Her unparalleled contribution to India, in the face of the immense sacrifices she made, is an inspiration for millions across the world. Her guidance, during the years of good governance under PM Dr. Manmohan Singh ji, played a pivotal part in India’s post-independence journey towards growth,” Venugopal said in a post on X.

“Despite the continuous attacks she faces, she has shown great wisdom and commitment in her public service. Her support and vision continue to be great sources of strength for our party,” he said.

The Congress, on its official X handle, hailed Gandhi’s contribution and said she is a leader whose commitment and belief in the founding principles of India and the party are an inspiration.

“Championing women’s empowerment, social justice, and inclusive growth, her vision led to the upliftment of millions of marginalized people and the strengthening of India’s welfare state,” the Congress said.

As president of the Congress and chairperson of the UPA she has played a pivotal role in path breaking reforms, it said.

From MGNREGA and the Right to Food to the Right to Education and the Right to Information – these landmark legislations have reshaped India’s political, social, and economic landscape, the party said.

“Through personal sacrifice and deep-rooted commitment to India’s democratic values, she has exemplified selflessness, grace and dignity in public life. Here’s wishing the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party Sonia Gandhi ji a very happy birthday!” the party said.

“May she be blessed with good health, happiness, and more strength as she continues to guide and inspire generations through her vision,” the party said.

Several Congress leaders extended birthday wishes to Gandhi and lauded her contribution in public life.

Kuldeep Singh Sengar

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted a two-week interim bail on medical grounds to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, currently serving life term for raping a minor in UP’s Unnao in 2017.

A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma suspended the sentence in the meantime and directed Sengar’s medical evaluation in AIIMS, Delhi, besides ordering him to remain in the capital.

“Considering the history of the case as also the medical condition of the applicant, it is directed that the applicant will be released on interim bail for two weeks and he shall seek admission in AIIMS Delhi for a comprehensive medical evaluation,” said the bench.

The court sought a report from the AIIMS medical board and posted the matter on December 20.

Sengar is also serving a 10-year jail term in connection with the custodial death of the Unnao rape survivor’s father and a plea for interim bail in the case is still pending before a different bench of the high court.

The jailed politician sought the suspension of the sentence for two months on the ground of ailments such as cataract, arguing it required urgent attention.

The court was informed that Sengar suffered from “retinal detachment” which required him to travel to a hospital in Chennai, besides getting treated for other complications in Lucknow.

The plea was opposed by the survivor’s lawyer and the CBI.

The counsel for the rape survivor said Sengar should not be released as it would pose a threat to her safety and security.

The CBI counsel said treatment could be given to Senagr in Delhi while he continued to be in custody.

The court considered the medical report filed by the jail authorities in the matter and noted that while a certain medical intervention was required, the MRI date given by G B Pant Hospital was in April, 2026.

“The court can’t ignore all the medical conditions that the applicant is suffering from.. Although the union of India has moved an application for withdrawing the security given to the survivor, the same is still continuing as the application is pending in the Supreme Court,” the bench said.

The court directed Sengar not to contact the survivor and report to the local CBI official upon release.

Sengar’s appeal challenging the trial court’s verdict in the main Unnao rape case is pending in the high court and he has sought quashing of the December, 2019 judgement of the trial court that sentenced him to imprisonment for the remainder of his life.

The survivor was kidnapped and raped by Sengar in 2017 when she was a minor.

On March 13, 2020, Sengar was sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 10 lakh, in connection with the case of custodial death of the rape victim’s father. The court also awarded a 10-year jail term to Sengar’s brother Atul Singh Sengar and five others.

The father of the rape victim was arrested at the behest of Sengar in a case under the Arms Act. He died in custody on April 9, 2018.

The rape case and other connected cases were transferred to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh on the directions of the Supreme Court on August 1, 2019.

Varanasi (UP): Amid escalating tensions at the Uday Pratap College here over a mosque located on its premises, police on Thursday restricted outsiders’ entry to the campus, allowing only students with valid identity cards.

The move follows Tuesday’s unrest after students recited Hanuman Chalisa when namaz was being offered near the mosque. Seven men were briefly detained after the row on Tuesday, according to the local police.

Student leader Vivekanand Singh on Thursday said, “Police personnel are stationed at the college gate, checking identity cards to ensure that no outsiders enter the campus. A group of students is also monitoring the gate.”

He added that no one came to offer namaz on Thursday and that additional precautions will be taken on Friday during the “Jumma” prayers.

In a related development, students of the college have formed a “student court” and sent an 11-point letter to the Uttar Pradesh Waqf Board, demanding a response within 15 days regarding the status of the mosque and its ownership.

Separately, Mohammad Yaseen, joint secretary of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, said he wrote to the Uttar Pradesh Central Waqt Board to check the status of the mosque on Tuesday itself.

“The Uttar Pradesh Central Waqf Board has clarified that its 2018 notice claiming the mosque as Waqf property was cancelled on January 18, 2021. There is no reason for the current controversy,” Yaseen claimed.

The tensions arose after students protested against “outsiders” offering prayers at the mosque, citing concerns about unauthorised entry into the college campus.

A local official said the college management had reached out to the administration, seeking verification of the entrants to the campus and that police have since been vigilant to prevent further disruptions.