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Delhi High Court notice on PIL for equal status to ‘Vande Mataram’ with ‘Jana Gana Mana’

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The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the Centre’s stand on a plea seeking directions for ‘Vande Mataram’, a poem which had played a historic role in the struggle for India’s freedom, to be “honoured equally” with ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and be given an “equal” status.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay sought direction to respondents, including the Central government and Delhi government to ensure that ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ are played and sung in all schools and educational institutions on every working day.

Issuing notice in the matter, a division bench presided over by Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Datta directed the central government to file its response within six weeks.

After hearing the submissions of Upadhyay, the bench posted the matter for November 9.

During the course of the hearing, the petitioner submitted that there are no guidelines and ‘Vande Mataram’ is being played in distorted manner which is contrary to the statement made by Dr Rajendra Prasad in the Constituent Assembly.

The PIL contended that on January 24, 1950, Constituent Assembly Chairman Dr Rajendra Prasad said: “There is one matter which has been pending for discussion, namely the question of the National Anthem. At one time, it was thought that the matter might be brought up before the House and a decision taken by the House by way of a resolution. But it has been felt that, instead of taking a formal decision by means of resolution, it is better if I make a statement with regard to the national anthem.

“Accordingly, I make this statement. Composition consisting of the words and music known as ‘Jana Gana Mana’ is the ‘National Anthem of India’, subject to such alternations in the words, as the Government may authorise as occasions arises; and the song ‘Vande Mataram’, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honoured equally with ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and shall have equal status with it. I hope this will satisfy the members.”

The plea stated that ‘Vande Mataram’ is the symbol of our history, sovereignty, unity and pride. If any citizen by any overt or covert act shows disrespect to it, it would not only be an anti-social activity but it would also spell doom to all our rights and very existence as a citizen of a sovereign nation. Every citizen must therefore not only refrain from any such activities but also do his best to prevent if any miscreant tries to show any disrespect to ‘Vande Mataram’.

“We must be proud of our Nation, our Constitution, National Anthem and National Flag and put national interest above our personal interests and only then will we be able to protect our hard-earned freedom and sovereignty. It is the duty of the executive to frame a national policy to promote and propagate ‘Vande Mataram’,” it read.

Maharashtra

Denial of admitting Muslim students to Dayanand Arya Kanya Vidyalaya after Nagpur riots, demands strict action against Nagpur school: Rais Shaikh

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Mumbai: After Nagpur’s Dayanand Arya Kanya Vidyalaya refused to admit Muslim students on religious grounds, Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East Rais Shaikh has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take strict action against the school. MLA Rais Shaikh also urged that all schools in the state be warned not to discriminate against students on the basis of religion.

Speaking on the issue, MLA Rais Shaikh said that Dayanand Arya Kanya Vidyalaya in Nagpur is run by a minority group. MLA Rais Shaikh said that there was a religious communal violence in Nagpur recently. After this, the school adopted a policy of not admitting Muslim students. The school secretary issued a verbal order to the teachers, which resulted in the shocking incident of keeping the admission applications of Muslim students pending despite the availability of seats.

MLA Rais Shaikh further said that the concerned parents have filed a complaint with the Jaripatka police station and the State Minorities Commission. A case has been registered against the school secretary Rajesh Lalwani and teacher Simran Gyanchandani under section 299 of the Bharatiya Naya Sanhita for hurting religious sentiments. This is a serious incident, and strict action should be taken against the school administration. A stern warning should be given to all schools across the state to ensure that such incidents do not happen anywhere else.

MLA Rais Shaikh also stressed that after the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, all Indian citizens of different religions showed unity and solidarity. While there is an atmosphere of religious harmony and unity in the country, the incident with Muslim students in Nagpur is condemnable. The School Education and Minorities Department should take strict action in this matter.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Deonar Eid-ul-Azha preparations, Online Sacrifice Authorization facility from BMC My App

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Mumbai: All preparations have been started in the backdrop of the import of sacrificial animals in Deonar Mandi before Eid-ul-Adha. Special arrangements have also been made for the slaughter of buffaloes and sacrificial animals in Deonar. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has introduced an online facility for permission to slaughter sacrificial animals on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. A coordination meeting of various agencies was held under the chairmanship of Additional Municipal Commissioner, City, Dr. Ashwini Joshi regarding the preparations for Eid.

Various elaborate arrangements at Deonar Slaughterhouse for slaughter of sacrificial animals. This year, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has made an online facility available on the MyBMC application to apply for permission to slaughter sacrificial animals on the occasion of Eid. Also, online arrangements have been made for the import license of buffaloes and goats for the slaughter of sacrificial animals as well as ‘slot booking’ on the website https://www.mcgm.gov.in. Also, various elaborate arrangements have been made for the cattle market and the slaughter of sacrificial animals at the Deonar Slaughter House. Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. has directed that all the agencies involved in this entire system should work together to fulfill their responsibilities.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. reviewed the preparations made in the backdrop of Eid-ul-Azha. Ashwini Joshini reviewed the coordination meeting held at the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Headquarters. Mumbai Municipal Corporation Deputy Commissioner (Special) Chanda Jadhav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-3) Pradeep Chavan, Assistant Commissioner (Property) Prithviraj Chauhan, Assistant Commissioner (M-East) Shri Ujjal Angule, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Deonar Division) Rajesh Babishti, along with General Manager of Deonar Reservoir Dr. Kaleem Pasha Pathan, officers from various departments of Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Police Force, Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Maharashtra, Mumbai Veterinary College, Kora Centre, Department of Legal Metrology, Adani Electricity and other agencies were present on the occasion.

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Maharashtra

No more Mumbai Special Commissioner, now Joint Police Commissioner Intelligence State Government and Ministry of Home Affairs issued a new post in Mumbai

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Deven Bharti

Mumbai: After appointing Special Commissioner Deven Bharti as the head of Mumbai in Mumbai city, now with the abolition of the post of Special Commissioner, the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to appoint a Joint Police Commissioner Intelligence in this post. This decision has been introduced to ensure the security of Mumbai city and the visits of VPIs, especially the frequent visits of the President of India, Vice President of India and Ministers to Mumbai and the security and intelligence collection of important installations. The responsibilities of the Joint Police Commissioner Intelligence are to collect intelligence in Mumbai city, protect the city and perform services under the Commissioner.

The Home Ministry has clarified in its order that the post of Special Commissioner was of the ADG i.e. Additional DG level and has now been downgraded to the level of Joint Commissioner of Police Mumbai Director General IG and after this amendment, now instead of the post of Special Commissioner, Joint Police Commissioner has been declared eligible for it. In such a situation, after this amendment, it has become clear that the first and last Special Commissioner in Mumbai was Deven Bharti and this post was created for Deven Bharti in Mumbai. Deven Bharti is also the special secretary of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, hence he was appointed as Special Commissioner in Mumbai. Now there is no space for this post, hence the government has downgraded this post and changed the name of this post to Joint Police Commissioner Intelligence.

The decision to create this post to strengthen intelligence in Mumbai city has been taken by the state home ministry, but reliable sources say that since Deven Bharti has been appointed as a commissioner from a special commissioner, there was no scope for this post for the state government. Instead, the state government and the home ministry have amended the gist of this post and changed it to the post of Joint Police Commissioner Intelligence so that it does not seem that the post of Special Commissioner has been abolished after Deven Bharti was appointed as the police commissioner. Earlier, there were five joint police commissioners in the Mumbai commissionerate, but now after the creation of this post, there will be 6 joint police commissioners.

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