Was Varma notice in Rajya Sabha just submitted or was it admitted?
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
It acquires significance because a determination would decide whether the RS Chairman would have a role in the choice of the three members of the investigation panel which, under the Constitution, would examine the veracity of the charges against Justice Varma.
Dhankhar is learnt to have earned the annoyance of the govt and the governing coalition by acknowledging the notice given by 63 opposition MPs to seek the launch of proceedings for the HC judge's ouster.
Sources termed it as a "breach-of-faith" issue by pointing out that the govt had already announced its decision that the process should start in Lok Sabha and had taken the first step by getting 145 MPs from all parties to sign the notice which was submitted to LS Speaker Om Birla on Monday morning.
However, Dhankhar sidestepped this, and the RS notice had signatures of only opposition members. Although technically correct, the decision flew in the face of govt's desire to make the proceedings against Justice Varma an all-party concern.
On Monday afternoon in RS, Dhankhar cited the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, to say that in a situation where such a notice is given in both Houses on the same day, "no committee shall be constituted unless the motion has been admitted in both Houses and where such motion has been admitted in both Houses, the committee shall be constituted jointly by the speaker and the chairman".
The ex-chairman said that the motion signed by 63 members "meets the numerical requirement of setting in motion a process for the removal of an HC judge" - reference to the stipulation that the motion for removal, in case of RS, needed to be signed by at least 50 members.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
He stopped short of saying whether the motion has been admitted, but emphasised that the chairman or the speaker has no right to admit or reject if "a motion is presented on the same day in both the Houses".
However, the 1968 Act doesn't mention such a provision. Dhankhar had directed the RS secretary general to take necessary steps.
Sources, however, said the final call on the issue will now be that of the deputy chairperson, Harivansh, who started as the officiating chairman after President Droupadi Murmu accepted Dhankhar's resignation.
"There is no certainty he would endorse what Dhankhar observed," said a source. "In any case, he has no special interest in matters concerning judiciary and is unlikely to diverge drastically from the speaker in the choice of the members of the inquiry panel," the source further said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
8 minutes ago
- First Post
Imran Khan says he's facing ‘harshest prison term' in Pakistan's history
Pakistan's incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday said he is undergoing the 'harshest prison term' in the country's history. read more Pakistan's currently incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan has described his imprisonment as the most severe ever faced by any political leader in the country. The 72-year-old has been held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since August 2023 in connection with several cases. 'I am enduring the harshest prison term in the country's history solely for the supremacy of the Constitution and in service of my nation,' he was quoted as saying in a post uploaded on his verified X handle. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The level of oppression and authoritarianism is such that even the water I have for ablution is filthy and contaminated with dirt, unfit for any human being,' Khan alleged. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: founder alleged the books sent to him by his family have been withheld for months and access to television and newspapers has also been suspended. 'I have spent countless hours re-reading the same old books, but now even those are no longer available,' he said. Khan asserted that no political leader in Pakistan's history has faced the kind of treatment he is currently experiencing. He contrasted this with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who, despite being involved in several corruption cases, 'was granted every possible comfort' during his imprisonment. Khan emphasised that his wife, Bushra Bibi, who is 'innocent' and not involved in politics, is being subjected to 'inhumane conditions' in prison. The 72-year-old cricketer-turned-politician further alleged that all his basic human rights have been violated. Even the minimum facilities accorded to ordinary prisoners under the law and the jail manual are denied to him. 'Despite repeated requests, I have not been allowed to speak to my children. Political meetings have also been restricted; I am only permitted to meet certain 'choice individuals', while all other interactions are barred,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Khan appealed to his party members to set aside all internal differences and focus solely on the movement planned for August 5. The PTI is all set to launch the 'Free Imran Khan Movement' from August 5 across the country. Khan's sons –Suleman and Kasim — are currently in the US, meeting with the Trump administration and Congressmen as part of efforts to release Khan who has been in jail for the last two years in multiple cases. 'I am waging a battle against a 78-year-old system, and my greatest success is that despite unprecedented oppression, the public stands firmly with me,' Khan said. He said on February 8, 2024, the people expressed their trust in PTI by voting for it even in the absence of an electoral symbol. 'After such a clear mandate, it is the moral and political responsibility of every party member to become the voice of the people. It will be nothing short of disgraceful and condemnable if PTI leaders waste time on internal conflicts at this critical juncture. Anyone found engaging in factionalism within the party will be expelled,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Khan said the Shehbaz Sharif-led government has crippled the judiciary and 'the way biased judges are now delivering blatantly unjust verdicts' is visible to the entire nation. 'We must launch a robust campaign to liberate the judiciary, for no nation can survive, let alone progress, without judicial independence,' he said. With inputs from agencies
Indian Express
8 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Balbir Sidhu urges farmers not to fall for govt's web of false promises
The senior Congress leader and former health minister of Punjab, Balbir Singh Sidhu, has appealed to the people not to fall for the web of deception being spun by the Punjab government regarding its so-called changes to the land pooling policy. He said that due to the government's poor financial condition, it is simply not in a position to provide Rs 50,000 or Rs 1 lakh per year in compensation to landowners. Sidhu said that this is the same government which failed to provide Rs 1,000 a month to women, couldn't clear payments to private hospitals under the Ayushman scheme, hasn't released pending dues to PRTC for women's free travel, hasn't paid dearness allowance to government employees on a par with the Centre and Haryana, and couldn't ensure MSP to farmers like Haryana does. 'How can such a government be expected to give Rs 50,000 or Rs 1 lakh annually to landowners?' he asked. He added that for 65,000 acres of land, if the government pays Rs 50,000 per acre annually until possession, the yearly liability will amount to Rs 325 crore and post-possession, this figure would double to Rs 650 crore annually. 'Even the common man can understand that under no circumstance can the Punjab government bear this kind of financial burden,' he said. The former minister stressed that the issue is not merely about money or compensation, it is tied to the very existence of farmers, which would be threatened by the implementation of this land pooling policy. 'A farmer's existence is linked to his land. Once the land is taken away, that identity is lost,' he said. He added that 90% of Punjab's farmers are from generations of agricultural families and cannot shift to any other profession. Losing their land would render them unemployed. Sidhu also highlighted that the policy makes no mention of the future of landless labourers and several other vulnerable sections of society who depend on agriculture. He warned that diverting such vast swathes of land from cultivation will not only reduce foodgrain production but will also severely harm Punjab's natural environment impacting animals, biodiversity, flora and fauna. He pointed out that the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, enacted by the Dr Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, clearly defined the responsibilities of governments in such matters, including fair compensation and rehabilitation. But instead of following that law, the Punjab government is trying to bypass its obligations through this misleading land pooling policy. The Congress leader questioned the need for such massive housing and industrial projects when thousands of residential and industrial plots in Punjab already lie vacant. 'That's exactly why the Punjab government had to recently launch a scheme to convert unused industrial plots into commercial ones,' he said. Sidhu demanded that the government immediately withdraw the land pooling policy and, if there is genuine need for land, acquire it under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act by offering one-time cash compensation so that farmers can buy land elsewhere and sustain their livelihoods. He said, 'Punjab's farmers are wise and will not be misled by the web of false promises being spread by the government.'
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
Subsidy on EVs below 40 lakh to be restored in Haryana
Gurgaon: The subsidy on electric vehicles (EVs) priced below Rs 40 lakh is set to be restored. At present, a subsidy of up to 15% is available only on EVs costing over Rs 40 lakh — a price point out of reach for the middle class. While chairing a high-level review meeting with officers from his department regarding the new MSME policy, industries and commerce minister Rao Narbir Singh on Thursday directed officials to restore the subsidy on electric vehicles to "provide relief to middle-class consumers", besides promoting eco-friendly transport. The minister emphasised that promoting green energy will be meaningful only if its benefits reach the common citizen. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Haryana Electric Vehicle Policy 2022 offered a 15% subsidy (up to a maximum of Rs 6 lakh) on EVs priced between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 40 lakh. The subsidy ended on March 31, 2024 and the new policy focuses on electric two- and three-wheelers.
