APSCPCR lauds govt for approving child support guidelines
, for approving the model guidelines for support persons under Section 39 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.
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Describing the move as a landmark initiative, the commission in a statement here, said the guidelines will provide a robust framework to support child survivors of sexual offences throughout the legal process.
It also praised the women and child development department for its commitment and proactive role in drafting and implementing the guidelines, which aim to promote a child-sensitive and justice-driven approach across the state.
APSCPCR chairperson Ratan Anya termed the approval a 'historic and progressive step' towards creating a safer environment for children.
"These guidelines will ensure that child survivors receive the emotional, psychological, and legal support they need to navigate the justice system with dignity and confidence. We are grateful to the chief minister and the women and child development department, for their unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of children," she said.
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Business Standard
19 minutes ago
- Business Standard
SC judge highlights need to create awareness on rights of disabled people
Supreme Court judge Justice Manmohan on Saturday highlighted the need to create sensitisation and awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities. Justice Manmohan said the courts have and will deliver verdicts on issues concerning the rights of persons with disabilities, but the other organs of the State also have to rise to the occasion. He was speaking at a conference held here on 'Judging and lawyering at the margins disability rights and beyond'. The conference was organised by Justice Sunanda Bhandare Foundation in collaboration with Qable. "The need of the hour is to create sensitisation, to create awareness. And I think the more awareness is there about the Act, about the rights that are available, the more the society will understand, the more the courts will understand and it will ensure more compliance," said Justice Manmohan when asked about the issue concerning implementation of the judgements. He also spoke on the issue regarding continuous monitoring by the court for compliance of its verdicts. "First of all, the court dockets are absolutely full and really to say that court will pick up this issue and give it absolute priority is not feasible because every day the court is grappling with so many issues," he said. Justice Manmohan said keeping in view the constraints, it has to be ensured that other organs of the State also rise to the occasion. The judge said the legislature will have to be aware of the issue and will have to put in place some mechanism whereby the court orders are given effect to. "Everything cannot be done at the pain of contempt. And if we start using the power of contempt repeatedly, it also loses its utility at some point of time," he added. Justice Manmohan said it has to be ensured the executive machinery understands that this is an obligation on them and this is "not some charity being done". "I think the basic problem that is arising is because everyone is believing that this is some sort of a charity which is being done. You think of any concept, whether it's gender justice, whether it is persons with disability, the mindset of the executive as well, to a large extent, the people who have been adjudicating these matters in the past have been that we will deal with it as if one is doing a bit of a charity," he said. Justice Manmohan further said things will change once people will realise it is a rights-based approach and not charity. "But yes, I agree with you. As a short-term measure, the court will have to monitor and will have to ensure that its judgments are implemented," he said. Justice Manmohan also cautioned if people think the court is going to monitor a matter on a daily basis, it may be raising the hopes too high. "We have to be realistic and we have to ensure that all organs of the State work towards it. Today, everything can't be left at the judiciary's doorstep. If you think that only judiciary is going to resolve the problem of this country, you are sadly mistaken," he said. Justice Manmohan said until and unless all organs, including the society, works for it, there will be issue at hand. "Just see, you need empathy in the society which is lacking," the judge said. "So, the real issue is to sensitise the society to ensure all organs of the society work together and one should not expect that it will be solved only by the judiciary," he added. Justice Manmohan said the judiciary may take the lead in the matter, but it will only get implemented at the ground level when everyone works together.
The Print
32 minutes ago
- The Print
BJP rolls out CAA help desks to blunt Mamata's ‘Bengali Asmita' pitch in crucial Matua belt
Their pitch is clear: 'apply first, verify later'. Refugees, who fled neighbouring countries due to religious persecution, mostly undocumented, can still apply for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, a BJP leader said. Branded as 'CAA Sahajogita Shibirs', these help desks first emerged in Bagda and are now spreading rapidly to Bongaon South and other Matua-majority pockets in North 24 Parganas. Kolkata, Aug 2 (PTI) In a push to reclaim the Matua vote and blunt TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's 'Bangali Asmita' pitch, the BJP has launched CAA help desks in parts of West Bengal, facilitating 'citizenship applications without documents' in what is being seen as its most aggressive outreach initiative to woo refugee voters ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. The BJP is setting up these camps as both a lifeline for persecuted Hindus from Bangladesh and a direct ideological counter to Mamata Banerjee's identity politics, the party functionary said. 'CAA is a law passed under the BJP's rule to help persecuted minorities, especially Hindus from neighbouring countries. Its smooth implementation is our responsibility. There have been issues related to documentation. It will be taken care of. BJP workers will stand by the refugee society everywhere,' said West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya. Local BJP workers and Matua volunteers are assisting with online forms, securing affidavits, and handing out receipts that act as proof of application. The party's message is 'justice delayed is no longer denied'. Behind the visible mobilisation lies political urgency and a series of unsettling episodes that have injected fresh momentum into the CAA campaign. Just last month, a Matua family from West Bengal, now residing in Maharashtra, was detained by Pune police on suspicion of being Bangladeshi, despite possessing identity documents and even an ID card from the All India Matua Mahasangha signed by Union Minister Santanu Thakur. With the CAA rules notified in 2024, allowing persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, who entered India before December 31, 2014, to apply for citizenship, the BJP is now in overdrive, attempting to both rebuild trust and correct course after initial confusion. Many applicants had earlier tried to apply online but dropped out midway after realising they lacked valid documentation. The Mahasangha is playing a leading role in the campaign. 'These camps will be held across West Bengal, not just in refugee belts. It's not just about Matuas, every persecuted Hindu has a stake in this. Over the next few months, we aim to reach 1.5 crore people,' said Mahitosh Baidya, general secretary of the Mahasangha. In Bagda, saffron-clad volunteers help elderly applicants fill forms under BJP tents. Mobile booths move from village to village. 'As per CAA's 10-D clause, no persecuted non-Muslim refugee who entered India before 31 December 2014 can be expelled for lack of documents. That is our guarantee,' said a BJP leader managing the camps, citing gazette notifications. 'The 'apply first, verify later' model is central to the campaign. Once an online application is submitted and acknowledged, document verification will take place later during district-level hearings. Immediate paperwork is not required, an assurance designed to address long-standing fears. 'It is this anxiety we are tackling,' said a BJP leader from Gaighata. 'People are scared to even apply. We're saying: take the first step, we will walk with you,' he said. The Mahasangha, led by Union Minister Santanu Thakur, has emerged as a full partner in the effort. At a student-youth conference in Thakurnagar, the Matua spiritual nerve centre, he announced volunteer training programmes to assist with filing applications, issuing affidavits, and verifying religious identity. Thakur alleged, 'The Bengal government is deleting Matua names from electoral rolls in places like Bagda and Gaighata. And now, they are crying about Bengali pride? Matuas were promised the CAA. The Centre has delivered. The state must cooperate.' With camps planned in Harindanga, north Bengal's tea garden regions, and several parts of Nadia, the BJP's strategy is clear – build early momentum, flood the system with applications, and revive grassroots networks ahead of the 2026 polls, a party leader said. But the TMC is not ceding ground. Mamata Banerjee has mounted a counter-offensive move by combining emotional appeals with allegations of harassment of Bengali-speaking migrants in BJP-ruled states. TMC MP Mamata Bala Thakur said, 'Matuas in Maharashtra were branded as Bangladeshis. Even the minister's signature couldn't protect them. That exposes the BJP's duplicity. If the CAA is so empowering, why are Bengali Hindus still being questioned outside Bengal? This is a gimmick.' The TMC is weaving such incidents into a broader narrative of exclusion and fear. Political observers say the stakes are high. Political scientist Biswanath Chakraborty observed, 'The BJP's strategy carries both promise and risk. If the 'no-document' pitch backfires and leads to mass rejections during hearings, it may reinforce the TMC's narrative that CAA was just a political stunt. But even a few successful applications can signal that CAA is a real safety net.' Ultimately, the battle in Bengal's refugee heartland is shaping into a contest of credibility between the TMC's emotive appeal and the BJP's promise of deliverance. PTI PNT BDC This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Malegaon blast case: Abhinav Bharat not banned, govt yet to declare it terror outfit, says court
A special court that acquitted seven persons in the 2008 Malegaon blast case debunked the prosecution's claims that right-wing extremist group Abhinav Bharat had carried out the blast, noting that the government has not banned the organisation as a terror outfit . Special Judge A K Lahoti, in the over 1,000-page judgment, noted that the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in its investigation claimed that the accused persons were all members of Abhinav Bharat, which was an organised crime syndicate. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Science Cybersecurity Digital Marketing CXO Degree others healthcare MCA Healthcare Data Science Product Management Operations Management Artificial Intelligence Technology Leadership Finance Design Thinking PGDM Others MBA Public Policy Management Project Management Data Analytics Skills you'll gain: Data Analysis & Interpretation Programming Proficiency Problem-Solving Skills Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT MSc in Data Science Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Strategic Data-Analysis, including Data Mining & Preparation Predictive Modeling & Advanced Clustering Techniques Machine Learning Concepts & Regression Analysis Cutting-edge applications of AI, like NLP & Generative AI Duration: 8 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details The judge held that the outfit has not been declared a terrorist organisation to date by the Central government, and "even the Abhinav Bharat Trust or sanstha or sanghatana or foundation is not a banned organisation". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold Container Homes in Bulacan - Prices You Won't Believe! Shipping Container Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo The court noted that the term Abhinav Bharat was consistently used by the prosecuting agencies, from the stage of remand through the final hearing, as a common reference or in common parlance. Also read: 7 years on, all seven accused acquitted in Malegaon blast case Live Events "It is necessary to mention that Abhinav Bharat is not a banned organisation. Till today, it is not a banned organisation under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act," the judgment said. If the Central government is of the opinion that any association is or has become an unlawful association, it may be declared so by way of notification, it added. "But nothing is brought on record till date to show that Abhinav Bharat Trust or Abhinav Bharat or Abhinav Bharat organisation is banned or declared unlawful by the Central government by way of any notification," the court observed. It further noted that when the Abhinav Bharat Trust was constituted in 2007, it was registered with the Pune Charity Office, and on perusal, the trust deed did not mention anything wrong or illegal in its objectives. As per the trust deed, the objectives of the Abhinav Bharat Trust were to create patriotism and religious activities. "The objectives mentioned in it (trust deed) are legal. Moreover, there is no evidence to show that the accused, Pragya Singh Thakur, Sameer Kulkarni and Sudhakar Chaturvedi were members of the Abhinav Bharat Trust," the court said. Also read: Malegaon blast case: Former BJP MP Pragya Thakur says she was tortured, forced to name PM Modi, UP CM Yogi Adityanath & others The prosecution had claimed that Purohit had floated Abhinav Bharat in 2007 with the intention to propagate a separate Hindu Rashtra , with its own constitution, as the members of the outfit were dissatisfied with the Indian Constitution. It also alleged that the accused persons, who were all members of the group, had entered into a criminal conspiracy between January and September 2008 to carry out a blast in Malegaon to strike terror in the minds of people, cause communal rift and to overawe the government. The objective of the accused persons was to turn India into a Hindu Rashtra called "Aryawrat", the prosecution had claimed. The court, in its judgment, however, noted that the prosecution had failed to prove that the Abhinav Bharat Trust was constituted for Hindu Rashtra and to change the Constitution of India. The prosecution also could not prove that funds amounting to Rs 21 lakh collected by Abhinav Bharat were used by the accused to purchase arms, ammunition and for other activities to carry out terrorist acts or illegal activities.
