Ujjwal Nikam among four nominated to the Rajya Sabha
Ujjwal Nikam
was among four distinguished individuals nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President
Droupadi Murmu
on Sunday, filling vacancies that had lingered for nearly a year.
Nikam had made an unsuccessful bid for the Lok Sabha from Mumbai North Central in the 2024 elections as a
BJP
candidate, and his defeat had left many nationalists disheartened.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to announce the nominations, which also included C. Sadanandan Master, a prominent RSS worker from Kerala, retired diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla and eminent historian Meenakshi Jain.
Nikam, known for his relentless pursuit of justice in high-profile cases like the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, had faced a bitter defeat last year.
Despite his reputation as the man who secured the hanging of terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Yakub Memon, vote polarisation in his constituency had tipped the scales against him.
In his X post,
Prime Minister Modi
praised Nikam's exemplary legal career, emphasising his role in strengthening justice and dignity for common citizens. 'Shri Ujjwal Nikam's devotion to the legal field and to our Constitution is exemplary. He has not only been a successful lawyer but also been at the forefront of seeking justice in important cases,' Modi wrote.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
Alongside Nikam, the nominations included C. Sadanandan Master, a senior RSS leader from Kerala, who lost both legs to a CPIM terrorist attack in 1994 and now walks with prosthetic limbs. The Prime Minister highlighted Master's nomination, calling it a 'tribute to the victims of Red Terrorism.'
The third nominee, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, a seasoned diplomat, was also reported to be in consideration for the Lok Sabha polls by the BJP last year.
Modi post lauded Shringla's contributions to India's global standing, particularly during his tenure as Foreign Secretary.
Meenakshi Jain, an eminent historian, was recognised for her work in preserving India's cultural heritage, as noted in PM Modi's post.
The four vacancies have been pending since the retirement of Rakesh Sinha, Ram Shakal Rajbhar, Sonal Mansingh, and Mahesh Jethmalani in July last year.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
21 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Balasore student death: Rahul says country wants answers not PM's silence
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Odisha college student who set herself ablaze following alleged sexual harassment by a professor died, and said the daughters of the country are burning and dying while the PM is sitting silent. Gandhi said the country does not want the PM's silence, it wants answers. His remarks came after the Odisha college student, who set herself ablaze following alleged sexual harassment by a professor, died at AIIMS in Bhubaneswar. The second-year integrated student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore, died on Monday night, after fighting for her life for three days. She took the extreme step on Saturday over alleged inaction against the professor and suffered 95 per cent burns. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said the death of a daughter fighting for justice in Odisha is a "direct murder by the BJP system". That brave student raised her voice against sexual exploitation -- but instead of justice, she was threatened, harassed and humiliated repeatedly, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. Those who were supposed to protect her, kept oppressing her, Gandhi said. "Like every time, the BJP system kept protecting the accused - and forced an innocent daughter to set herself on fire," he said. "This is not suicide, it is an organised murder by the system," Gandhi alleged. "Modi ji, be it Odisha or Manipur - the daughters of the country are burning, breaking down, dying. And you? Are sitting silent. The country does not want your silence, it wants answers," the former Congress president said. The daughters of India want security and justice, Gandhi added. The woman was first admitted to the Balasore district hospital and then shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. She was undergoing treatment in the ICU, Department of Burn Centre, according to officials. "The patient was resuscitated with IV fluids, IV antibiotics, intubated and put on mechanical ventilation. Despite adequate resuscitation and all possible supportive management, including renal replacement therapy at the Burns ICU, she could not be revived and was declared clinically dead at 11:46 pm on July 14," the Department of Burn Centre said in a statement.
News18
27 minutes ago
- News18
Privacy Vs Proof: Supreme Court Verdict On Secret Recordings Reshapes Marital Disputes
Last Updated: While some in the legal fraternity acknowledged the court's attempts to build safeguards, others stressed that it cuts deep into the sanctity of marriage In a judgment that might make couples think twice before whispering secrets at home, the Supreme Court has ruled that secret recordings between spouses can be used as evidence in matrimonial disputes. The landmark verdict has sent ripples through legal and social circles, with some hailing it as a win for justice and others warning it could turn marriages into surveillance zones. Advocate Amish Aggarwala, a specialist in law relating to marital disputes, welcomed the decision, saying it clarifies murky interpretations of privacy rights and spousal privilege. 'Right to privacy is protection against the State, not against individuals," he asserted, emphasising that Section 122 of the Indian Evidence Act—often used to withhold spousal testimony—is merely an exception, not a blanket shield. Adding her voice to the chorus of support, advocate Tarini K Nayak called the decision 'valid and timely". She argued that the judgment does not violate individual privacy since the use of recordings is confined to legal proceedings and subject to judicial scrutiny. 'Privacy must be balanced with accountability. The court has ensured that the interests of justice are prioritised without turning the bedroom into a courtroom by default," Nayak said. But not everyone is convinced that this legal precedent is marital bliss. Advocate-on-Record Tanya Srivastava warned that it opens a Pandora's box in already delicate matrimonial cases. 'It's a dangerous precedent. I've seen clients provoke their partners just to capture them at their worst. You can't always tell what's real and what's weaponised in such recordings," she cautioned. On the other hand, Advocate-on-Record Bhaskar Aditya believes the ruling is in sync with the times, citing the rise in failed marriages and marital discord. 'When relationships break down, the right to a fair trial shouldn't," he said, calling the ruling consistent with Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and liberty—including a fair trial. As India grapples with evolving definitions of privacy, marriage, and justice, this ruling raises a crucial—and quirky—question: In the age of smartphones and secret mics, is love still blind… or just being quietly recorded? view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
37 minutes ago
- Hans India
CM Stalin launches scheme to deliver govt services at citizens' doorstep
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched the ambitious 'Ungaludan Stalin (With You, Stalin)' initiative in Chidambaram, Cuddalore district on Tuesday. The scheme aims to deliver a wide range of government services directly to citizens at their doorstep, especially those in need of urgent redressal or assistance. The programme kicked off with the Chief Minister inaugurating a special grievance redressal camp, part of a statewide initiative involving over 10,000 such camps -- 3,768 in urban areas and 6,232 in rural regions. The scheme, scheduled to run until November, is designed to cover all districts and panchayats in Tamil Nadu. As part of the campaign, more than one lakh trained volunteers visited households across the state in advance to distribute awareness materials, collect grievances, and inform residents about the dates and services available at the camps. These camps offer services from 13 departments in urban areas and 15 departments in rural areas, covering 43 and 46 types of services, respectively. Citizens can apply for various welfare schemes, land records, caste and income certificates, corrections in official documents, old age pensions, and more. Revenue Secretary P. Amudha stated that all applications received through the camps would be resolved within 45 days. If citizens are unsatisfied with the outcome or if their application is rejected, they will have the option to reapply or seek clarification. To ensure smooth execution and coordination, four senior IAS officers -- J. Radhakrishnan, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Dheeraj Kumar, and P. Amudha -- have been appointed as official spokespersons and supervisory authorities. In Chennai alone, 400 camps were scheduled across 200 wards, while in Coimbatore, the programme is being implemented in four phases with 334 camps. Similarly, Nilgiris district will host 146 camps in three phases. The launch ceremony at Chidambaram was held with tight security, attended by thousands of people and party cadres. CM Stalin also paid floral tributes at the memorials of K. Kamaraj and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as part of the inaugural event. While the government has positioned the scheme as a transformative citizen-service model, opposition parties, including the BJP's Tamilisai Soundararajan, have criticised it as a political gimmick ahead of the 2026 elections.
