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Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
JMM urges SC to declare SIR unconstitutional
Dharwad: The Janandolan Maha Maitri (JMM), a branch of National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR), has criticised the Election Commission of India for taking up SIR (Special Intensive Revision) in Bihar and has termed it as an ill-advised move. Speaking to media in Dharwad JMM chief and anti-graft activist SR Hiremath urged the Supreme Court of India to declare SIR as unconstitutional and uphold the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution. He stated that SIR violates Articles 14, 19, 21, 325, and 326 of the Constitution, as it contravenes the provisions of the Representation of the People's Act, 1950, and Rule 21A of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. If SIR is not set aside by the SC, it can arbitrarily and without due process disenfranchise crores of voters (as much as 30 to 50% of the country) from electing their representatives, thereby disrupting free and fair elections and democracy in the country, which are part of basic structure of the Constitution, Hiremath said. "This would be totally against the bold experiment of Universal Franchise pledged by our Founding Fathers, who enshrined it in Constitution will be negated. It is important to identify and expose the powers that be, who have made the ECI do this 'retrograde' and 'dangerous move' of the ECI," he added. Dropping land acquisition The JMM, Citizens for Democracy (CFD) and NCPNR fully support the satyagraha of the 13 villages of Channapattana Hobli (Devanahalli Taluka, Bengaluru Rural Dist) 'Bhoo Swadheena Virodhi Horata' and call upon the state govt and the chief minister, who when in the opposition, had promised that, if voted to power, they would cancel the acquisition proceedings of the KIADB to acquire 1,777 acres of fertile lands of the farmers in 13 villages. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo "Siddaramaiah reiterated his promise to the Samyukta Horata members during a meeting, that he would need additional time until July 15 to overcome legal hurdles and confirming the next meeting. The govt should quash the land acquisition process and protect the interests of the farmers by protecting their fertile lands", Hiremath demanded.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
119 unrecognized parties served EC show-cause in UP
Lucknow: Acting on the directives of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh has issued a show-cause notice' to 119 unrecognized registered political parties in the state. These parties have not contested any elections over the past six years from 2019 to 2024. The notice, issued under Section 29A of the Representation of the People's Act, 1951, seeks an explanation from these parties as to why they should not be delisted. Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa stated that party presidents or general secretaries can submit their responses along with affidavits and supporting documents by July 14. A hearing will be held on July 21, at the CEO's office in Lucknow. If no response is received by the deadline, it will be assumed that the party has no objection to being delisted. A formal proposal along with recommendations will then be sent to the Election Commission of India. The list of the 119 political parties includes a wide range of regional and lesser-known outfits across various districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Rajasthan BJP MLA Kanwarlal Meena, who faces disqualification, and his 26-year, 27-case run
With the Supreme Court-stipulated two-week relief coming to an end, convicted BJP MLA Kanwarlal Meena surrendered before a court in Manohar Thana in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district on Wednesday. However, there is still no word on the termination of his membership as a legislator due to his conviction, with Speaker Vasudev Devnani stating that he is taking legal opinion. Meena, a two-time MLA from Anta and Manohar Thana, was sentenced to three years on charges of threatening then Aklera town Sub-Divisional Officer Ram Niwas Mehta with a revolver in 2005. As per the Representation of the People's Act, a legislator is disqualified in case sentenced for more than two years. Meena was initially convicted in 2020, a decision that was upheld by the Rajasthan High Court earlier this month. The Supreme Court then rejected his plea challenging the conviction. Sources said the BJP is still looking at ways to circumvent the termination of Meena's Assembly membership, including by seeking the Governor's pardon or a commutation of his three-year sentence to 23 months. While the 2005 case now hangs over Meena's future, he has at least 27 cases lodged against him. An analysis by The Indian Express shows these range from rioting, assaulting public servants, promoting enmity on the basis of religion and defiling places of worship to house trespassing. In almost all these 27 cases, Meena has been acquitted at various stages, though senior advocate and former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court S Muralidhar mentioned the cases in the Supreme Court. Dismissing his petition challenging the High Court's order in the 2005 revolver case, the Supreme Court had remarked, 'Elected representatives need to discipline themselves… This is one of those rare cases where somebody has been convicted, otherwise you do everything and anything and get away with it, without any action against you.' A lawyer for Meena said Wednesday that the 2005 case will be the first instance of him serving a sentence. 'All have been decided, nothing left, except one. Only one case is left; in the rest he has either been acquitted or a raazinama (compromise) has been reached.' Meena's first case goes back to 1999, when as a youth about 25 years of age, he was accused of an attempt to murder and other crimes by one Girdhari Lal Meena in Aklera, Jhalawar. He was convicted in 2003. In his second case the same year, he faced charges under seven sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty. But in this case, a compromise was agreed upon in 2011. The subsequent cases included alleged trespassing and damage to a mosque; damaging a bus when asked for the fare; obstructing a national highway and injuring a public servant; setting fire to a complainant's tractor, motorcycle and farm equipment, and theft; setting fire to a complainant's house and looting his luggage; defiling religious books and destruction of articles in a mosque; shouting slogans against a community, and destruction of property; impersonating a public servant; assaulting Dr S D Sharma, the then assistant director with the state health department in 2011; thrashing social activists participating in a 'Jawabdehi Yatra' to demand an accountability law for government and elected officials in January 2016; apart from at least two cases for extortion. In the 2016 case, women activists under the banner of Aruna Roy and Nikhil Dey's Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) had accused Meena of abuse and molestation. However, he was acquitted by a trial court and by an additional district judge too, though the case is still pending in the High Court. The last known case filed against Meena was in August 2018, when Narpat Singh, head constable at Baran's Atru police station, lodged a case under 12 IPC sections, including for 'assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty'. In his 2023 Assembly poll affidavit, Meena had listed the 2005 revolver case, the 2016 Jawabdehi Yatra case, and three cases from 2023 as pending. He had also stated he was convicted in two cases – his first ever case in 1999 and the 2005 revolver case. In 18 of the 27 cases, Meena has been accused of rioting, with 14 of them including rioting while armed with a deadly weapon. Similarly, eight cases have been lodged against him for promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, and committing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony; three cases were lodged for injuring or defiling places of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class. There are also five cases against him for destroying the Quran. Eight cases have also been lodged against Meena for assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, with four of them including voluntarily causing hurt and one for threat of injury to a public servant. In the Supreme Court, senior advocate S Muralidhar termed attacks on public servants as Meena's 'specialisation'. Meena has also been accused of or convicted for house-trespass, forgery, criminal intimidation, wrongful restraint, unlawful assembly. He has also faced charges under sections of the Arms Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, and Rajasthan Excise Act. On Monday, a delegation led by Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra met Governor Haribhau Bagade seeking the termination of Meena's membership. Another delegation, led by Leader of the Opposition Tika Ram Jully, met Speaker Vasudev Devnani on Tuesday reminding him that he holds a 'constitutional post' and that 'the essence of the Constitution lies in impartiality and democratic values'. Devnani too met Bagade on Tuesday, just a day after Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma met the Governor on Monday. While these were officially cited as 'courtesy calls', the meetings have given rise to the speculation that the BJP may be hoping to seek a pardon for Meena from the Governor. Meena's lawyers said a revision petition will soon be filed in the Supreme Court. Assuring the Congress delegation of a 'quick and just decision', the Speaker's office said it has asked the state Advocate General to share his opinion, which is expected to be received by the Assembly 'in a day or two'. 'To terminate the MLA's membership, all aspects of the court's judgement have to be studied so that no injustice is done to the MLA,' Devnani said. Following Meena's surrender Wednesday, LoP Jully termed it a 'blot on democracy', saying it is unprecedented that the Speaker has not cancelled the membership even 20 days after the sentencing. However, BJP spokesperson Laxmikant Bhardwaj countered, saying: 'Politicians face a lot of cases but they are considered guilty only after the court finds them to be true. Until the court agrees, we can't hold someone as a criminal.'
