Latest news with #Welfare
News18
2 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
SC Freezes Quick Arrests In Marriage Cruelty Cases, Bats For Two-Month ‘Cooling Period'
The Supreme Court was hearing a case where the man and his father had spent over 100 days in jail based on false complaints filed by the wife, an IPS officer The Supreme Court, while hearing a case where a man and his father spent months in jail after the wife filed several false cases against them, has reaffirmed that no immediate arrests should be made in cases of alleged cruelty by spouses under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code. Instead, a mandatory two-month 'cooling-off" period will be in place before any police action is considered, upholding guidelines first framed by the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, was hearing a case where the man and his father had spent over 100 days in jail based on false complaints filed by the wife, an IPS officer. Recognising the irreparable harm suffered, the court ordered the wife to issue an unconditional public apology, calling it a measure of moral redress for the wrongful imprisonment sustained by her husband and father-in-law. According to the guidelines, after an FIR is lodged for cruelty in marriage, police authorities must wait two months before taking any coercive action, including arrest. During this period, cases must be referred to Family Welfare Committees set up in every district, which will review the complaints and try to achieve a settlement. Only cases involving offences punishable by less than 10 years' imprisonment, including 498A, will be referred to these committees. Each Family Welfare Committee will consist of at least three members and will function as an independent review body before further police intervention is permitted. These directives have their legal roots in the Allahabad High Court's 2022 judgment, which sought to address a worrying trend: the misuse of Section 498A via sweeping, unsubstantiated allegations that could result in entire families—sometimes even extended relatives—being implicated, harassed, and jailed. The Supreme Court, by endorsing these safeguards, has now clarified that such protection is vital to prevent unnecessary arrests and to ensure the criminal justice system is not weaponized in personal disputes. In the case that led to this decision, the matrimonial discord involved a series of litigations in multiple cities, with over 20 different cases related to domestic violence, maintenance, and criminal charges. The bench observed that what the accused had suffered due to the misapplication of the law 'cannot be resituated or compensated in any manner," highlighting the need for systemic procedural reform. Legal experts believe that the cooling period and welfare committee review will help to weed out frivolous and malicious complaints, protect those who may otherwise be wrongly ensnared in criminal proceedings, and focus mediation on reconciliation and fair outcomes. Meanwhile, the core protections for genuinely aggrieved women remain intact, as serious allegations supported by strong evidence can still be acted upon—after the initial review. view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 13:27 IST 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.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Homeless people scramble for survival
Listen to article Most of the people habitually complaining of the harsh weather or loadshedding schedule are comfortably resting on their memory foam mattresses in their air-conditioned rooms at night. However, for the homeless people spending their nights desperately seeking shelter while escaping police crackdowns, sleep takes over before they can even think about complaining. During the tenure of the previous elected government, Panah Gah or night shelter homes were established to help homeless people sleep safely at night. However, over the last three years, the Punjab government has shut down these facilities, as a result of which homeless people sleeping on roads and sidewalks are exposed to harsh weather conditions during the winter and summer months. In just Lahore alone, nearly 1,700 homeless people have lost their lives over the past three years. A homeless couple, Inam and Asiya, who now sleep near Lal Pul along the canal, shared their experience. 'A few years ago, we used to go to a shelter near the railway station at night where we'd get a bed and food. Then we'd go back to work the next morning. But for the last three years, the shelters have been shut. We've made a temporary place near Lal Pul. Sometimes the police hassle us, and we change our spot for a day or two. Although we can manage during the day, nights are our biggest enemy,' shared the couple. Edhi Foundation spokesperson Muhammad Younis Bhatti confirmed that the death rate among those sleeping on footpaths during the winter and summer months has significantly increased over the past three years, mainly due to the lack of shelters. 'Previously, shelters provided 8 to 10 hours of rest daily, but their closure has complicated the situation. In the summer, the footpaths are searing, while in winter, the frost intensifies the cold. Hence a spike in death occurs during these three to five months,' noted Bhatti. Read More: At least 12 killed, six injured in Lahore as rain lashes city According to sources of the Express Tribune, the highest number of unidentified deaths are reported from areas including Data Darbar, Bhati Gate, Tibbi City, Qila Gujar Singh, Muslim Town, Kahna, Shahdara, Kot Lakhpat, Lari Adda, Mozang, and Garden Town. While more than 170 permanent and temporary shelter homes were built across Punjab, including 13 in Lahore, there is now only one functional shelter home each in Multan, D.G. Khan, Taunsa Sharif, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, and Sargodha, and just six remain operational in Lahore. Director Social Welfare, Muzammil Yaar, revealed that more than 50 per cent of the shelter homes were initially built in collaboration with philanthropists, but over time, most of them were closed. 'Even some of the shelters originally run by the Social Welfare Department have been shut down. A shelter home has a staff of over 10 people and caters to over a 100 people daily. The government has not allocated a significant budget to expand the shelter network. As a result, in Lahore and across Punjab, the closure of shelters over the past three years has directly contributed to the rising death toll among homeless individuals, especially those exposed to harsh weather or struggling with drug addiction,' conceded Yaar. 'A significant percentage of deaths reported among the homeless occur due to drug abuse, which is worsened by extreme weather. Many of these individuals become addicted simply to kill time, and in the past three years, drug abuse among them has increased by over 40 per cent,' claimed Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, a drug rehabilitation consultant. In the meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Punjab government claimed that although in the past, temporary arrangements were made for sheltering homeless people, the current government was working on a permanent solution to the problem.
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Minister hails A.P. for winning 10 ODOP awards
Minister for Backward Classes Welfare and Textiles S. Savitha, on Sunday, hailed Andhra Pradesh for securing as many as 10 national awards under the 'One District–One Product' (ODOP) initiative. While seven of the 10 were in recognition of the handlooms and handicraft products, two were in the agriculture sector, and one in the inter-State category. Speaking at a press conference here, the Minister attributed the achievement to the constant support from the coalition government. The products that won the awards included Bobbili veena (Vizianagaram), Etikoppaka toys (Anakapalli), Peddapuram and Chirala silk saris (Kakinada and Bapatla), Venkatagiri saris (Tirupati), Narsapur lace (West Godavari), and Dharmavaram silk saris (Sri Sathya Sai). The Guntur chilli and Srikakulam cashew nuts also bagged awards, the Ms. Savitha said. She said that the awards ceremony will be held in New Delhi on July 14 (Monday), and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will present the honours. District Collectors and senior artisans from the respective districts will be attending the event. Ms. Savitha further announced the rollout of the free power scheme for weavers, with effect from August 7. This initiative will provide 200 units of power for loom owners and 500 units for pit loom operators. The disbursement of the benefits to the thrift societies will also be held on the same day. 'The State government has plans to bring other unique products such as Kadapa banana, Chittoor tomato, and Anantapur groundnut under ODOP initiative,' the Minister added.
India Gazette
10-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
CM Dhami reviews preparations for 1 lakh crore grounding ceremony in Rudrapur
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 10 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a review meeting at his official residence to oversee preparations for the upcoming 1 lakh crore grounding ceremony in Rudrapur. He instructed officials to complete all arrangements and emphasised the importance of making the event grand and impactful, as it marks a significant step in the state's industrial development. The Chief Minister said that the arrival of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah as the chief guest in this grand event is a matter of great pride and inspiration for all the people of Uttarakhand. He also added that this event will give new direction and momentum to the industrial future of the state, which will create immense employment opportunities for the youth of Uttarakhand, encourage local entrepreneurship and open new doors of economic prosperity of the state. He also shared that Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth a record 3.5 lakh crore were signed during the Global Investors Summit, out of which projects worth 1 lakh crore have now reached the grounding stage. Several senior officials attended the meeting, including Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Shailesh Bagoli, Vinay Shankar Pandey, Additional Director General of Police A.P. Anshuman, Special Secretary Dr. Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Additional Secretary Banshidhar Tiwari, and Managing Director (Industries) Saurabh Gaharwar. Earlier, CM Dhami highlighted the government's full commitment towards its senior citizens. In a press release, the Chief Minister's office made a humble appeal to senior citizens, stating that if they feel neglected in their living situation, they should immediately contact their nearest Maintenance Tribunal or District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO). CM Dhami said that the government is committed to providing dignity and protection to senior citizens. In this sequence, the District Magistrates have been made the presiding officers of the district-level appellate tribunal to resolve the problems of senior citizens, and they have been asked to dispose of the related complaints. CM Dhami, while giving instructions to the officials of the Social Welfare Department, said that the 'Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 (MWPSC Act, 2007)', implemented to protect the rights of senior citizens, should be implemented effectively. This Act provides a legal system of maintenance to senior citizens and parents from their children, adult grandchildren or property heirs. (ANI)
India Gazette
09-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
State govt committed to providing dignity and protection to senior citizens: Uttarakhand CM Dhami
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 9 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the state government is working with full commitment towards its senior citizens. In a press release, the Chief Minister's office made a humble appeal to senior citizens, stating that if they feel neglected in their living situation, they should immediately contact their nearest Maintenance Tribunal or District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO). CM Dhami said that the government is committed to providing dignity and protection to senior citizens. In this sequence, the District Magistrates have been made the presiding officers of the district-level appellate tribunal to resolve the problems of senior citizens, and they have been asked to dispose of the related complaints. CM Dhami, while giving instructions to the officials of the Social Welfare Department, said that the 'Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 (MWPSC Act, 2007)', implemented to protect the rights of senior citizens, should be implemented effectively. This Act provides a legal system of maintenance to senior citizens and parents from their children, adult grandchildren or property heirs. To implement this law, a total of 13 Appellate Maintenance Tribunals are functioning at the district level and more than 69 Maintenance Tribunals at the sub-division level in the state, where the amount of maintenance can be fixed at a maximum of Rs 10,000 per month. The Chief Minister stated that the presiding officer of the District Level Appellate Tribunal is the District Magistrate, so he has the responsibility to provide justice to senior citizens by strictly implementing this law. Also, at the tehsil level, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate has been made the presiding officer of the maintenance related tribunal and the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) has been made responsible as ex-officio maintenance officer. The CM said that under the law, if a senior citizen transfers property on the condition of care, but after this the stipulated conditions are not fulfilled, then the tribunal can declare that transfer invalid and ensure the return of the property. Free old age and disabled housing homes are being run in Bageshwar, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts where many needy senior citizens reside. (ANI)
