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Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Don't want to stall panchayat polls', HC gives U'khand govt a day to clarify quota roster
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand high court (HC) on Wednesday refused to lift the stay on the panchayat elections and sought clarification on Thursday from the state govt on the repetition of reservation rosters and its compliance with the Panchayati Raj Act and Article 243T of the Constitution which mandate seat reservations for SC-ST candidates in proportion to their population. The HC was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the reservation roster for the upcoming three-tier panchayat elections across 12 districts (excluding Haridwar), and posted the matter for next hearing on Thursday. The division bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra held a lengthy afternoon session but adjourned the proceedings due to time constraints, making it clear that it supports conducting the election within the regulatory framework. "It is not a herculean task to correct the reservation roster if any discrepancy exists. We will not stall the elections and will take it up on priority," said the bench. On Monday, the HC had stayed the ongoing panchayat election process, citing irregularities in the state govt's revised reservation roster and noting that the new system appeared to violate established norms. The court asked the state to submit a detailed explanation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Representing the state, advocate general S N Babulkar and chief standing counsel Chandrashekhar Rawat on Wednesday argued that the cancellation of the earlier reservation roster was necessitated by the recommendations of the Commission for Backward Classes. They asserted that the election process should not be suspended solely based on a few petitions alleging procedural lapses and that it was largely in order. Emphasising that resources were mobilised and expenditures were incurred, the state govt sought the removal of the HC's stay on the panchayat elections, but the court insisted on a comprehensive factual submission of the reservation rster. Petitioner Ganesh Khandpal from Bageshwar and others contested the state's June 9 and June 11 directives, arguing that these rules eliminated the existing reservation roster and introduced a new one, treating it as the initial implementation — in contravention of previous court orders and section 126 of the Panchayati Raj Act, 2016, which requires official gazette publication for such rules to take effect. The court thoroughly examined submissions from the advocate general and the petitioners, and called for panchayat reservation maps while expressing concern about amendments to the reservation rules every five years. HC observed that deficiencies in one area's roster could have wider implications, potentially halting the entire electoral process. As per the original schedule, the panchayat polls were to be conducted in two phases — on July 10 and July 15 — with results announced on July 19. The elections were set to be held across 12 of the state's 13 districts, excluding Haridwar, with roughly 47.7 lakh registered voters expected to participate.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Adoni MLA draws flak over casteist remarks, tenders apology
Tirupati: Adoni BJP MLA Dr P Venkata Parthasarathi has tendered an apology after his casteist-remarks' video drew criticism from the Dalit and SC-ST communities and from various quarters as well. The Adoni MLA, who went to attend an official programme at Dhanapuram village on June 16, was addressing the villagers from a makeshift stage erected close to the local temple premises. In the video which is going viral, the MLA calls for local sarpanch Chandrasekhar to come onto the stage. But when he can't find the sarpanch, Parthasarathi asks the leaders on the stage if Chandrasekhar was a Christian. Then a local leader identified as Gudise Krishnamma tells the MLA that Chandrasekhar belongs to the SC community, and Chandrasekhar stops himself from going up onto the stage. Various pro-Dalit organisations and human rights forums strongly condemned the incident and demanded an apology from the ruling party legislator after the video of the incident went viral on various social media platforms since Wednesday. Meanwhile, Adoni MLA Parthasarathi clarified that he himself was from the BC community and had taken part in many Dalit movements in the past. "I had no intention to hurt anyone's sentiments on the caste or religious lines. The local sarpanch Chandrasekhar had recently joined the BJP from the YSRCP and when I called up his name to come onto the stage and he wasn't seen anywhere, I doubted if he belonged to Christianity and was reluctant to come onto the stage which was close to the temple premises," he said. Recalling his association with numerous groups fighting for Dalit rights, Parthasarathi stated that he was tendering an open apology if the incident had hurt the sentiments of the Dalit groups and others.
India Gazette
06-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Indian parliamentary committee for SC-ST welfare convenes two-days meeting in Dharamshala, meets Dalai Lama
Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 6 (ANI): 18 members of the Indian parliament (including 12 from Lok Sabha and 6 from Rajya Sabha) of the parliamentary committee on the welfare of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes along with their family members and officers of the parliamentary committee and other officials came here to attend a 2-day meeting in Dharamshala for June 5 and 6. The delegation, led by chairman Dr Faggan Singh Kulaste, a Lok Sabha member, is here for a meeting with various stakeholders. The Indian parliamentarians also met with the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Some members met the Dalai Lama on Thursday, and a few met him on Friday. While interacting with the delegation, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said, 'Honoured and happy meeting with this big delegation. We consider India to be truly our father's are followers of Buddha, and one institution in India--Nalanda- we study Nalanda's thoughts. So when I visited Nalanda, I really felt something very moving, so now. I state more or less India now, not only because of its big population but also because of all the major world's rich traditions live together. Thank you.' Faggan Singh Kulste, Lok Sabha Member and the committee's chairman, told ANI, 'This is an SC-ST welfare committee of the parliament, which has a wide significance in the country. The parliament has announced this committee for the welfare of India's 25 per cent population. The committee talks about the rights and welfare of SC-ST government employees. Although the SC and ST commissions already exist, this committee takes note of all the proceedings done by the commissions, and then the Parliament and the government act according to the recommendations of this committee. The committee has a total of 30 members, 20 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Raj Sabha, and we have nearly 18 members attending the 2-days meeting in Dharamshala here. Some of the committee members met the Dalai Lama yesterday, and a few are meeting him today. It was a nice meeting with him. It was an informal courtesy call. The Dalai Lama has very positive thoughts for this country, and we also supported him.' Mithilesh Kumar, Rajya Sabha member, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, told ANI, 'We have come to Dharamshala on a study tour and we got so many things here which will be raised and discussed in the Parliament. We also met the Dalai Lama, who said that we must be strong while living in India and be cautious of China. And we also extend our support towards him.' (ANI)
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Cong meets governor, urges special assembly session
Patna: An 11-member delegation of the Congress, headed by state party president Rajesh Kumar, met governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday and urged him to convene a special session of the Bihar assembly over the alleged deterioration in the state's law and order situation, citing the recent rape and murder of a dalit girl from Muzaffarpur. "You are requested to invoke Article 175 of the Constitution in light of the deteriorating law and order and misgovernance in Bihar, and convene both houses to deliver a strong message," the Congress delegation demanded through their memorandum submitted to the governor. The Congress delegation also demanded a high-level probe into the incident to punish the guilty, besides providing justice and compensation to the victim's family. They also sought concrete and effective steps to prevent injustices against the dalit community and to ensure their social, economic, and security-related rights. The memorandum stated that currently, 6,799 crimes against SC-ST communities occur annually in Bihar, accounting for 13.16% of the country's total crimes. "The conviction rate for these crimes is only 8.6%, meaning nearly 90% of offenders go unpunished," it alleged. Citing the recent report of the Auditor General of India, the memorandum further raised serious concerns about Bihar's healthcare services and urged the governor to intervene in the matter. Later, Congress workers protested outside the residence of the health minister, Mangal Pandey, over the issue. A delegation of Jan Suraaj, led by its state president Manoj Bharti, also met the governor and handed over a memorandum.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
ED raids Siddartha institutions linked to Karnataka HM Parameshwara
BENGALURU: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Wednesday reportedly raided the premises of educational institutions belonging to Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, creating ripples in political circles. The opposition BJP linked it to actress Ranya Rao's gold smuggling case, while senior Congress leaders strongly condemned the ED action, terming it a politically motivated move. 'ED, which was investigating Ranya Rao's case for the last 2-3 months, might have had some credible information,' BJP spokesperson Prakash Shesharaghavachar told the media, linking it to the case of gold smuggling by Ranya Rao, who is in custody. ED officials simultaneously raided Siddhartha medical colleges and hospitals at Tumakuru and Nelamangala, on Bengaluru outskirts, and the engineering college at Tumakuru. The searches started around 9 am and continued till evening. The officials verified documents related to alleged 'hawala' transactions, it is said. ED, however, is yet to make an official statement on the raids and seizures. DCM DK Shivakumar defended Parameshwara, saying, 'I am sure that the home minister is not involved in any such case as he is a decent, simple man. Like anyone who met him, the others (involved in Ranya Rao's case) might have also met him. In no way Parameshwara is involved in it.' AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala came down heavily against Prime Minister Narendra Modi government, terming the raids vendetta politics aimed at Congress leaders. 'The ED raids on the Educational Institutions of Karnataka's Home Minister, Dr. G. Parameshwara, one of the tallest SC Leaders, is a frustrated reaction of BJP & Modi Govt to giving of ownership rights to 1 Lakh SC-ST families yesterday at Hospet. The constant assault on Constitution and leaders of SC-ST-OBC communities across India has become a habitual pattern. The revenge seeking against Dr G Parameshwara is part of this sinister design,' he posted on X.
