NEW DELHI, Aug 8: The Supreme Court on August 8 orally observed that it is “contrary to law” to identify religious and linguistic minority communities district-wise. A Bench of Justices U. U. Lalit and S. Ravindra Bhat remarked that minority status of linguistic and religious communities have to be considered State wise.
The Court was hearing a petition filed by Devkinandan Thakur Ji, a Mathura resident, claiming that Hindus do not get minority status in States where they are “socially-, economically-, politically non-dominant and numerically inferior”. The petition had also sought a declaration from the Court to identify minorities district wise.
“Your prayer to recognise minorities at the district level is contrary to law. There is a 11-judge Bench judgment which holds that it should be done at the State level,” Justice Bhat addressed the petitioner side.
The judge was referring to the majority verdict given by the 11-judge Bench in the T. M. A Pai versus State of Karnataka case in 2002. The Bench said the Court cannot pass “general” directions to States to bestow certain communities with minority status. “If you bring a concrete case, we can look into it… This has to be done on a case-to-case basis,” Justice Lalit told the petitioner side.
“You want to somehow bring out a case when there is none. We can look into concrete case of denial, the court cannot pass general orders” Justice Bhat said.
At this point, advocate Ashwini Upadhyay intervened to point out that a similar petition was pending before another Bench of the apex court. He urged the Bench to tag this petition along with the other one which has been pending since 2020. Mr. Upadhyay is himself the petitioner in the 2020 case.
The Court tagged Mr. Thakur’s case with the earlier case and scheduled a hearing in the first week of September before the appropriate Bench.
In the previous hearing before Justice Lalit’s Bench, Mr. Thakur had complained that followers of Judaism, Bahaism and Hinduism, who were the real minorities in Ladakh, Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Kashmir, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur could not establish and administer educational institutions of their choice, thus jeopardising their basic rights guaranteed under Articles 29 and 30.
But the Court had indicated that a religious or linguistic community which were a minority in a particular State could inherently claim protection and the right to administer and run their own education institutions under Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution.
The Court had asked whether a specific notification, declaring such non-dominant communities as a ‘minority’ in the particular State, was required to be issued at all.
The Court had made it clear that it would not entertain petitions devised in “thin air”. It had challenged the petitioner to bring a “concrete case” in which Hindus were denied rights in States where they were a minority. (AGENCIES)
Petition to recognise minorities at district level is contrary to law: Supreme Court
Centre to move Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in RS
The Central government will move the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022 for consideration and passing in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will move the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022 to further amend the Central Universities Act, 2009, as passed by the Lok Sabha, and be taken into consideration and passed.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will move a motion to elect, in the manner as directed by the Chairman, one Member from the House to be a member of the Council of the Institutes established under the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Act, 2021.
Mandaviya will also move a motion to elect, in the manner as directed by the Chairman, one Member from amongst the Members of the House, a member of the Governing Council of the Northeastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong.
Bhubaneswar Kalita and Shaktisingh Gohil will lay the 53rd report on ‘Excesses over Voted Grants and Charged Appropriations (2019-20)’ of the Public Accounts Committee (2022-23).
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi will make a statement regarding the status of implementation of the recommendations contained in the 19th Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel on ‘Coal Conservation and Development of Infrastructure for Transportation of Coal across the Country’ pertaining to the Ministry of Coal.
Mandaviya will make a statement regarding the status of implementation of the recommendations contained in the reports of the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare on Demands for Grants (2021-22) pertaining to the Departments of Health and Family Welfare and Health Research respectively of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Union Ministers Pankaj Chaudhary, Prahalad Singh Patel and Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma will make a statements regarding the status of implementation of the recommendations contained in the reports of the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee of their respective ministries.
Dola Sen and Hardwar Dubey to lay the 80th report of the Joint Committee on Offices of Profit.
Several ministers will lay papers related to their respective ministries.
One ‘hybrid terrorist’ of LeT arrested in J-K’s Budgam
A ‘hybrid’ terrorist of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has been arrested by the Indian Army’s 34 RR unit in the Budgam area of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.
The accused arrested has been identified as Arshid Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Sangam Budgam. The arrests were made by a joint team of Srinagar Police and 2RR at Lawaypura.
The officials also seized incriminating materials which include 5 pistols, 5 magazines, 50 rounds.
Two hand grenades were also recovered from the terrorist.
A Case has been registered at Shalteng Police Station.
Earlier on May 1, another ‘hybrid’ terrorist of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was arrested by the Indian Army’s 34 RR unit along with Kulgam Police from Kashmir.
According to police, the arrested LeT terrorist was in contact with Pakistan-based terrorists as well as local LeT terrorists and was tasked to execute terror incidents.
The hybrid terrorist was also involved in providing shelter, logistics and other support to the terrorists which includes transporting arms and ammunition and explosive material of the terrorists in district Kulgam.
The arrested terrorist has been identified as Yamin Yousaf Bhat, a resident of Kulgam’s Gadihama, said the Kashmir police.
Incriminating materials consisting of arms and ammunition including a pistol, one magazine, two hand grenades and 51 (9 mm) pistol rounds have been recovered, stated police.
An FIR has been registered against the said terrorist in Kulgam Police Station under relevant sections of law and further investigation regarding the incident is in progress.
The arrest of the Hybrid terrorist is an achievement for Kulgam Police as the said terrorist was well known about the topography of the district and it was easy for him to choose soft targets.
He was also in contact with PoK based terrorists and was working under their command and guidance. More arrests and recoveries are expected in the instant case, stated the police.
Sharath, Sreeja clinch gold medal in table tennis mixed doubles at CWG
Birminghaml, Augst 8: A. Sharath Kamal and Sreeja Akula gave India its first-ever Commonwealth Games mixed doubles gold medal and the second table tennis gold in Birmingham by overcoming the giant-killer Malaysian pair of Javen Choong and Karen Lyne in Birmingham on Sunday night.
Sharath and Sreeja kept their scintillating run alive in the tournament to overcome Choong and Lyne — who had earlier ousted pre-tournament favourites G. Sathiyan and Manika Batra — 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6 in the best-of-five-games final.
India’s men’s team — led by Sharath — had earlier won the team championship gold.
The victory meant Sharath — who had earlier made it to the men’s singles final despite settling for silver in the men’s doubles category along with Sathiyan — remained on course for a treble-gold medal run.
For Sreeja — the star of India’s women paddlers this week — it was a deserving medal, that too on top of the podium, to sign off a memorable week. Having lost the singles bronze medal playoff, Sreeja overcame the disappointment and starred in the last encounter of the day with her powerful forehand winners.
Sharath lets Sreeja take centre stage
Sharath, having played two matches earlier in the day, was happy to let Sreeja take centre stage and chipped in consistently against a relatively inexperienced pairing.
Earlier in the evening, while Sharath ousted England’s Paul Drinkhall in six hard-fought games in the men’s singles semifinal, Sathiyan stumbled against England No. 1 Liam Pitchford.
Pitchford proved to be too aggressive and quick for Sathiyan, who was found wanting on multiple fronts in the semifinal. While Sharath will face Pitchford in Monday’s final, Sathiyan will hope to earn his maiden CWG medal by defeating Drinkhall in the bronze medal playoff. (Agencies)
Active Covid cases in country rise to 1,35,510
New Delhi, Aug 8: With 16,167 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,41,61,899, while the active cases have increased to 1,35,510, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.
The death toll has climbed to 5,26,730, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.31 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.50 per cent, the ministry said.
An increase of 577 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year. It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year. (Agencies)
NIA Raids Underway At Multiple Locations In Jammu, Doda In Terror Funding Case
JAMMU, Aug 8: In a huge development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) teams have been carrying out multiple raids at several places in the Jammu and Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, in connection to the terror funding case ahead of Independence day.
Notably, on Monday, the NIA started raiding several places in the Jammu and Doda district pertaining to a terror funding case on how terror sympathisers aided terror and separatist activities in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. J&K police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have cordoned off the area so that one is allowed to make in and out movement in the concerned areas where the raids are underway. They are also deployed to prevent the law and order situation in the region while the raids by the central agency are underway.
Ayush Jammu Organises Immunity Booster Kwath Distribution to CRPF BN-76
Jammu: Department of AYUSH Jammu organised a Ayush Kwath Distribution Camp in Collaboration with Assistant Commandant Geeta Mishra of BN CRPF C/76.
Under the Guidance of worthy director Ayush Dr Mohan Singh and Supervision of DAO Jammu Dr Suresh Sharma and in collaboration with Astt. Commandant Geeta Mishra Immunoboosting Ayush kwath was distributed among the officers and officials of the BN CRPF C/76 deputed in Amarnath duty by the evening staff of Bhagwati Nagar namely Dr. Himani Bhutyal (Medical officer)Sh Kamal Netar (Pharmacist) Ishan Mansotra,Jagandeep Singh and Malvi Gupta (Yoga Instructors) and Kamesh Sudan(Vice – President Bajrang Dal). Ayush Staff had provided them Ayush kwath also.
CRPF Officials thanked Ayush Department Jammu for organising the camp.
Chhari Mubarak leaves for Darshan of Swami Amarnath
Srinagar, Aug 7: Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the Charri-Mubarak of Swami Amarnath, the holy mace of Lord Shiva accompanied by a group of Sadhus leave in a bus from Dashnami Akhara Temple Srinagar for the cave shrine to conduct the final rituals of yatra amid tight security arrangements on Sunday.
“Chhari Mubarak” depicting – one Lord Shiva and another Goddess Parvati.. leave for Pahalgam from Dashnami Akhara Temple, Srinagar early today as per the age old traditions, rituals accompanied by group of Sadhus shouting “Bum Bum bole “ to Amarnath cave from the traditional route.
The “Charri Mubarak” on the way was taken to Shivji Mahraj Harishchandra Temple at Bijbehara and Shri Martanda temple where special pooja was performed amid tight security arrangements.
The “Charri Mubarak” will reach Pahalgam this evening and stay there for today and tomorrow before it would be taken to Chandanwari on August 9 for second halt, Sheshnag on August 11 and Panchtarni on August 12 respectively from where it will reach to the holy cave on August 13 for final pooja.
“This is the final ritual of this year’s Amarnath yatra”, Mahant Deependra Giri told media persons at Bijbehara temple.
Today is the shravan shukh prakash dashnami and we left from Shri Dashnami Akhara Srinagar for the yatra purpose to perform last rituals at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath, Deepinder Giri said .
He said “we performed poojan at Pampore and in the old temple of Shivaji Maharaj Harishchandran temple at Bijbehara where for the past five years it could not have happened besides paid obeisance at Martand Surya Bhawan where poojan was also performed”.
He said “I have been serving for the past 30 years and the people of Jammu and Kashmir have always cooperated and provided a helping hand”.
Deepinder Giri said everybody knows, those who are coming from all across India for the yatra, have one goal to “Pray” the people of Jammu and Kashmir are believers in religion. They know these people are coming to pay obeisance at Amarnath Cave shrine and leave back to their homes…the people always wholeheartedly welcome the Pilgrims.
“I still remember the old days when people from all religions and all walks of life were visiting to see off the “Charri Mubarak” at Dashnami Akhara in Srinagar”, Mahant Deepinder Giri said.
The annual holy Amarnath Yatra commenced on June 30 and more than 3 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine in Kashmir. (Agencies)
Chugh exhorts J&K BJP to make PM’S vision of Har Ghar Tiranga a big success
Jammu, Aug 7: BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh today exhorted party workers in J&K to make prime minister Narendra Modi’s call for “har ghar tiranga ” a big success in the Union Territory.
Addressing a meeting of former MLAs, minister’s, district incharges and other senior BJP leaders here Chugh said Azadi ka Amritmahotsava would see every house unfurling national flag during the “har ghar tiranga” campaign between August 13 and 15. He said on 9th and 10th August the BJP workers will take out “Yatra” to distribute national flag in every corner of the UT, from 12th to 14th the party campaign would spread the message widely and on August 14 a special programme by POJK (Pakistan occupied J&K) would be held to pay tribute to those who fought against Pakistan invaders.
Those present in meeting included JK president Ravinder Rana, former Dy CM Nirmal Singh, ex-speaket Kavinder Gupta, former president Sat Sharma, Divinder Rana, Dr Divinder Manyal, Sunil Sharma, Vibodh Gupta, Priya Sethi.
Chugh said it was the prime minister’s vision to see national flag on every house in J&K and for this the BJP workers must work day and night.
“It is time that the Muftis and Abdullahs, whi have been surviving due to the support of anti-national forces are also shown their place in J&K,” he added.
