Telangana HC seeks replies on illegal buildings near Osmansagar, Himayatsagar eco-zones
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara was hearing the PIL filed by Mandadi Madhava Reddy, a resident of Pedda Mangalaram village in Moinabad mandal of Rangareddy district, alleging inaction by the departments concerned in curbing unauthorised constructions in areas protected under Government Order 111 (GO 111) dated March 8, 1996. These areas fall within a 10km radius of the catchment regions of the twin reservoirs, which play a crucial role in Hyderabad's water supply and ecological balance.
The bench issued notices to the Chief Secretary, principal secretaries of the Irrigation & CAD department and the MAUD department, the state Pollution Control Board, HMWSSB, HMDA, GHMC and several other authorities. Notices were also served on the private respondents, and the matter was adjourned until after the summer vacation in 2025.
In his petition, Madhava Reddy argued that rampant illegal constructions are taking place in the bio-conservation zone in blatant violation of environmental and constitutional mandates, including the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and binding judicial pronouncements by the National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court of India.
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The Hindu
39 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Temples of social justice
Recently, a political controversy erupted in Tamil Nadu on the issue of diverting temple funds for building colleges. Beyond the political debates, the issue throws light on a unique social justice model around the regulation of secular practices associated with religion. This model, predominantly developed in the erstwhile Madras Presidency, draws strength from a 200-year-old legislative framework which continues till date. It has gained more acceptance in south India. As elections approach in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, clarity on the issue will help diffuse attempts to polarise voters around it. Religious endowments law Through the Religious Endowment and Escheats Regulation 1817, the East India Company set up the earliest legislative architecture around regulation of religious endowments. When the British Crown assumed direct control over Indian territories in 1858, Queen Victoria issued a proclamation stating that the sovereign would restrict interference in religious affairs. This was necessary as there was concern about losing face from the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, which was triggered by religious issues. However, the withdrawal of the British government from religious affairs was not complete. In fact, in the Madras Presidency, various British officials argued for continued oversight of religious endowments. Finally, the British government settled for a balanced approach: the sovereign would not interfere with practices that were essentially religious, such as rituals, but would exercise control over the lands and secular aspects of the religious endowments. The idea of the government supervising religious institutions came to be crystallised when the Justice Party was elected in 1920. One of the earliest legislative interventions by the Justicites was Bill No. 12 of 1922: Hindu Religious Endowments Act. When it was introduced in the Madras Legislative Council, it faced opposition, mainly due to the provision in the law that allowed surplus temple funds to be diverted for other purposes. The nub of the issue was whether funds provided to a temple could be used for secular purposes. The matter was debated and settled in 1925, when the law was enacted. Since then, every revised version of the plenary law, including the current law — The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 — has retained the provision of surplus funds. Also read | Activist alleges 'criminal misappropriation' of temple funds by T.N. HR&CE Dept, Madras High Court calls for response Section 36 of the 1959 Act permits the trustees of religious institutions to appropriate any surplus funds for any purposes listed under the law, with the prior sanction of the Commissioner. 'Surplus' means any amount remaining after adequate provisions have been made for the maintenance of the temple and training of its officials. The Act also empowers the Joint Commissioner or the Deputy Commissioner to appropriate funds in cases where the original purpose has become impossible to fulfil. Endowments to temples have a long and rich history. Temples received lavish donations from the sovereign rulers from as far back as in 970 AD, when the Chola empire was at its peak. Historian Anirudh Kanisetti writes that Sembiyan Mahadevi, a Chola queen, made strategic donations of land and kind to temples. The practice continued during the Vijayanagara kingdom. Temples were not just places of worship; they were socio-cultural hubs and were also used for educational purposes. This is confirmed by the inscriptions on temple walls and the spacious mandapams (pillared halls) which were used to hold educational or cultural events. So the original intent argument would also support the theory of utilising temple resources for educational purposes. The 1959 Act has been tested and upheld by constitutional courts. Among the permissible uses of surplus funds under the 1959 Act is the establishment and maintenance of universities or colleges (Section 66). These educational institutions are also required to make available the study of the Hindu religion or Hindu temple architecture. Seen within this framework, building colleges from temple funds is not only legal, but a logical extension of these provisions. Social justice legacy The controversy around the use of temple funds cannot be restricted to discussing legal propositions, however; it also carries ideological and sociopolitical significance. In the pre-colonial era, the motivation for the rulers to support large-scale endowments was that the temples acted as channels through which State resources could be allotted for important welfare projects. Through colonial rule, the British East India Company and the Crown viewed sovereign involvement in the management of temple affairs as necessary for reasons of revenue and maintenance of local control. Over the last century, the Self-Respect Movement, which emerged from the Madras Presidency, viewed the regulation of temples and oversight of their resources as a critical feature of anti-caste reforms. Without this, there would have been no temple entry legislation in 1936 and 1947. Today, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are among the few States where governments have appointed priests from backward classes after a prolonged legal struggle. Ultimately, any argument against government control of temple affairs would be striking at the root of social justice. The role of the government in ensuring that surplus funds are appropriated in a lawful manner is settled. Any reversal of this would only result in a set back of the long legacy of social justice and religious reforms that south India has pioneered.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Tamil Nadu Cops Seek Public Help In Child Rape Case, Post Photos Of Suspect
Chennai: The local police in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district have released images of an unidentified man and appealed to the public for information, nearly a week after a 10-year-old schoolgirl was allegedly sexually assaulted. The disturbing incident has ignited serious concerns over child safety and the efficacy of protection systems in the state. CCTV footage, which has since circulated, shows the man stalking the minor girl before forcibly lifting her, according to initial police accounts. The police have formally registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and multiple special teams have been formed to trace the perpetrator, though no arrests have been made yet. "We have formed special teams and expect a breakthrough soon," a senior police officer told NDTV. The Tiruvallur Police had shared pictures of the suspect on their official social media, urging public assistance to identify him: The suspect in the photos/video is involved in a heinous crime of sexually assaulting a child. It is requested to communicate any information pertaining to him on 9952060948 — Thiruvallur District Police (@TNTVLRPOLICE) July 20, 2025 Child rights activists have voiced profound alarm, highlighting the incident as a stark reminder of the dangers children face in public spaces and the existing gaps in surveillance, community vigilance, and awareness. "Every time a child is harmed, it's not just a law and order issue - it's a failure of the system meant to protect them," said an advocate who preferred to remain anonymous. The incident has also drawn political condemnation, with the AIADMK slamming the ruling DMK saying "There is no safety for women under the DMK rule". Former state BJP chief K Annamalai had earlier urged immediate action, warning that the suspect's freedom poses a continued threat to society. The crime comes amid a worrying rise in offenses against women and children across the state. The state police and the ruling DMK maintain that stringent action is being taken in each case. The authorities have pointed to recent fast-tracked trials and convictions - such as the life sentence awarded in the Anna University sexual assault case and another in which a pregnant woman was assaulted on a moving train - as evidence of their commitment to delivering justice.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Campus Closet: Why Trans Students Stay Hidden And What DU Plans To Do About It
New Delhi: Despite introducing a "third gender" option in admission forms a decade ago, the University of Delhi (DU) is yet to see a single enrolment in its regular programmes from a transgender student. Officials say this reflects the stigma and hesitation many transgender individuals still face when openly declaring their identity. Most either apply under binary categories or opt for alternative study modes like the School of Open Learning. To address this gap and build a more inclusive campus, DU has set up a Transgender Resource and Training Cell (TRTC) under the Department of Adult Continuing Education and Extension. The cell will assist students identifying as transgender with admissions, offer counselling, promote infrastructure reforms such as gender-neutral toilets, and coordinate sensitisation campaigns across colleges to reduce dropouts and increase representation. Professor Ashutosh Kumar, head of the department of Continuing Education, under which the cell will operate, said TRTC will facilitate implementation of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and Rules, 2020. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "We will support prospective and current students through admission-related assistance, name-change documentation, family or institutional challenges, and sensitisation workshops. The goal is to ensure equitable space for transgender persons," he said. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Kumar added that the cell also aims to sign MoUs with institutions like the National Institute of Social Defence, identify nodal officers in colleges, and connect with transgender communities through NGOs and HIV/AIDS organisations to create awareness about higher education opportunities at DU. Although the "third gender" option has been available on admission forms since 2015, uptake remains negligible. "We have received applications from around 100 such students so far, but either they did not want to officially identify themselves as transgender fearing discrimination, or they opted to study through the School of Open Learning," Kumar said. In 2018, 10-15 transgender applicants made inquiries at the admission centre but none enrolled. Last year, one student joined a postgraduate programme but did not disclose their identity publicly. "Several students approach us privately but choose not to reveal their identity due to fear of stigma," he added. A policy document prepared by the Transgender Resource Centre (TRC) highlights the urgency of institutional inclusion. According to the 2011 Census, India is home to 4.88 lakh transgender persons, including over 54,000 children under six. Delhi's transgender population stands at 4,213, with a literacy rate of just under 63%. Despite constitutional protections, TRC notes that transgender individuals face persistent discrimination, school dropouts, and barriers to employment. A 2017 Unesco study revealed that 60% of transgender students experienced physical bullying, over 70% suffered from anxiety and depression, and more than half skipped classes. A third dropped out entirely, and only 18% of incidents were reported to school authorities—of which action was taken in just over half the cases. The document further links low education levels with high-risk livelihoods, such as sex work, which increases exposure to HIV and other STDs. To combat these entrenched issues, the university's new transgender inclusion policy proposes a wide set of reforms spanning academic, administrative, infrastructural, and cultural spheres. Colleges will be encouraged to proactively identify transgender students, allowing them to submit affidavits and govt-authorised certificates to confirm identity. A confidential contact person in each institution will manage records and provide support. "Institutions must create a congenial academic ambience," the policy notes. All official forms and certificates will include the "transgender" option, though students may still identify as male or female if they prefer. Dedicated admission helpdesks, reserved seats, scholarships, hostel fee waivers, and even free admission are being proposed to improve access. Counsellors across colleges will receive training to handle the specific mental health needs of transgender and gender non-conforming students, while also promoting broader acceptance among peers, staff, and families. Anti-ragging committees will be mandated to protect transgender students specifically, and a dedicated grievance cell will deal with complaints of bullying or abuse. Participation in events like Transgender Remembrance Day and National Transgender Day will be encouraged across campuses. Infrastructure changes include the establishment of gender-neutral restrooms, access to tailored healthcare, and dedicated hostel facilities. A central Transgender Resource Centre will also be created to coordinate Equal Opportunity Cells and counselling centres across DU. Academically, DU plans to integrate transgender issues into undergraduate and postgraduate syllabi—covering biological, sociological, psychological, political, and constitutional aspects. It will also promote courses on gender and sexuality and encourage research projects that centre transgender experiences. TRC will spearhead sensitisation drives for teaching and non-teaching staff, and guide institutions on best practices. The policy has been drafted under the guidance of professor Rajesh, coordinator of TRC, with contributions from transgender rights activist Amrita Sarkar. "Creating an enabling and respectful space for transgender persons is not just about access—it's about dignity, rights, and the ability to thrive," said Professor Kumar. "Through this cell and policy, we want to ensure DU becomes a truly inclusive space.
