National
Delhi HC imposes fine on petitioner seeking permission, facilities for CM Kejriwal to govern from jail
New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) Turning it down as not maintainable, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday imposed a Rs one lakh fine on a petitioner, who sought permission and facilities for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to govern from judicial custody.
Filed by advocate Shrikant Prasad, the PIL petition sought to facilitate virtual conferencing arrangements for CM Kejriwal to engage with cabinet ministers, ensuring uninterrupted governance. It also sought to restrain media houses from sensationalising news about the CM’s potential resignation and the imposition of President’s Rule in the national capital.
On Wednesday, a division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan observed that since CM Kejriwal has already filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court challenging his arrest by ED and that the top court is considering the issue of interim release, no orders for allowing him to interact with cabinet ministers through virtual conferencing is called for in the PIL.
The bench said that it can neither impose censorship by directing the media not to air views nor stop political opponents from making statements calling for Kejriwal’s resignation.
The PIL had targeted Virendra Sachdeva, BJP Delhi president, alleging that his protests and statements create undue pressure for CM Kejriwal’s resignation, disrupting peace and traffic flow with politically motivated intentions.
The bench rejected the PIL with a Rs 1 lakh fine to be deposited with AIIMS.
The court criticised the PIL asking, “What do we do? Impose an emergency? Impose censorship or martial law? How do we pass gag orders against the press and political rivals?”
Prasad’s petition stressed the commendable track record of Delhi’s governance, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors over the past seven years. It contends that the present circumstances in the national capital violate fundamental rights under Articles 21, 14, and 19 of the Indian Constitution.
Asserting that neither the Constitution nor any law prohibits ministers, including chief ministers or prime ministers, from governing from jail, Prasad’s plea stressed the urgency of the matter, citing the need to ensure continuity in governance for the welfare of the people.
“As the makers of the Constitution were vigilant enough that there might be a situation when the politics of the country will enter into the worst and at that time just to keep the public fundamental rights upheld it is very much required that there is no compulsion or any obligation for resignation, otherwise gravest repercussions may arise by repeating the same modus operandi for making any minister resign,” Prasad’s PIL said.
The petition urged expedited consideration from the court, citing the exceptional governance of Delhi amidst CM Kejriwal’s incarceration, attributed to alleged political motives and false implications in the liquor policy case.
“The Aam Aadmi Party, led by Arvind Kejriwal got a sweeping majority by winning 62 out of 70 seats in the 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election. Also in the preceding Delhi Assembly election on 07th Feb 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party, led by Arvind Kejriwal won 67 out of 70 seats with absolute majority. The above ratio shows that governance of Delhi by Shri Arvind Kejriwal is an unprecedented move in India,” Prasad’s petition said.
The plea stressed the constitutional safeguards and the imperative to maintain governance continuity despite the Chief Minister’s legal predicament.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is in judicial custody in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam case.
–IANS
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National
Kerala HC asks Railways to manage waste on tracks
Kochi, July 6 (IANS) The Kerala High Court has slammed Indian Railways for the waste found besides tracks and directed it to ensure proper disposal of garbage.
A Division Bench of the High Court made these observations while hearing the case that was registered by it suo motu after a fire broke out at Brahmapuram, near here and also dealing with the management of gypsum generated by Fertilizers & Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT).
The court observed that Railways has a duty to prevent the disposal of waste on tracks.
It said that while the waste generated near the railway stations was managed, not much was being done to remove garbage from the side of the tracks.
The court said the main reason for this dumping was that train compartments do not have adequate garbage bins.
It further pointed out that the waste disposed on the tracks flows into water bodies causing damage to the environment.
The court, looking into the two cases, directed Indian Railways to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken to clear the plastic waste from tracks.
On the second issue, the court expressed whether the gypsum generated could be used in road construction and asked FACT and the National Highway Authority of India to explore the possibility.
The court posted the case for further hearing on July 26.
–IANS
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National
Bolpur tragedy: Two persons arrested, extra-marital affair emerges
Kolkata, July 6 (IANS) The police have arrested two persons, including a woman, in connection with the carnage at Bolpur in West Bengal’s Birbhum district which killed three members of the same family.
The woman who has been arrested in this connection is Smirti Bibi, who is the wife of Sheikh Ratan, the younger brother of Sheikh Tuta, 40, who was killed in the carnage.
Besides, Sheikh Tuta, his wife Rumpa Bibi, 30, and son Ayan Sheikh, 94, were also killed in the carnage.
Sheikh Safiqul, a quack residing in an adjacent village, with whom Smirti Bibi allegedly had an extra-marital affair, had also been arrested in connection with the incident.
Based on the complaint lodged by other members of the family, there were often quarrels in the family over an alleged extra-marital affair.
The family members as well as the neighbours of the family have informed the police that since Sheikh Tuta was vocal against this extra-marital affair, both Smirti Bibi and her paramour had developed a grudge over the deceased person.
On early Friday morning, the room where the three deceased individuals were sleeping was set on fire.
While Rumpa Bibi and Ayan Sheikh died on Friday only after they were brought to the hospital, Sheikh Tuta died early Saturday morning.
The local police have started an investigation into the matter.
Sources said that based on statements of different persons as well as some circumstantial evidence, the two persons were arrested on Saturday.
–IANS
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National
Rowdy elements should be afraid of the police, says K’taka CM
Bengaluru, June 6 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday that rowdy elements should be afraid of the police, adding that it is a shame that some policemen do not even know that the e-beat system is in place.
“Why are you given guns? Why are rowdies not afraid of it,” Siddaramaiah questioned the state police while speaking after the inauguration of the 2024 Senior Police Officers Conference at the police headquarters here.
He also released a new software on the occasion.
“Who are the drug dealers? The respective station officials know who the rowdies and real estate agents are.” He asked why it was not stopping.
He congratulated Home Minister G. Parameshwara and the Karnataka Police for maintaining law and order without communal riots in the state in the last one year.
The CM gave a clear instruction that it is mandatory for every SP-DCP-IG to visit and inspect every station in their jurisdiction as per the police manual.
–IANS
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National
PM Modi congratulates Iran's new President Pezeshkian
New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian for his election as Iran’s new President.
“Looking forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our warm and long-standing bilateral relationship for the benefit of our people and the region,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
India-Iran partnership in various sectors, including connectivity, has expanded tremendously in recent times, especially during the tenure of Iran’s late President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi who passed away in a helicopter crash in May this year.
India had also observed a day’s state mourning as a mark of respect to the late Iranian President and other eight people, including the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who lost their lives in the tragic accident.
It was also under India’s presidency that Iran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Both countries have fast-tracked infrastructure cooperation, focusing especially on the Chabahar project and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) – the 7,200 km-long multimodal trade corridor linking Russia with India via the ports of Iran.
–IANS
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National
Another BRS MLA defects to Congress in Telangana
Hyderabad, July 6 (IANS) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) received another jolt when its MLA joined the Congress on Saturday, just a day after six of its Members in the Legislative Council crossed over to the ruling party.
Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy, the MLA from Gadwal constituency, joined Congress in the presence of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
The Chief Minister welcomed the MLA into the party.
Krishna Mohan represents the Gadwal constituency in Revanth Reddy’s home district of Mahabubnagar.
Krishna Mohan is the seventh MLA to switch to the ruling party since BRS lost power in December 2023.
BRS’ strength in the 119-member Assembly has come down to 31. It also lost the Secunderabad Cantonment Assembly by-election to Congress.
The tally of Congress party has now gone up to 72.
The main opposition party has lost several senior leaders to Congress during the last seven months.
–IANS
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