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Hold urgent hearing of pleas against law dropping CJI from EC appointment panel, SC urged

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New Delhi, Jan 8: With the tenure of the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) coming to an end in February, the Supreme Court was urged on Wednesday to advance the scheduled hearing on pleas challenging the law introduced by the Parliament, which excludes the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the process of appointment of top officials of the Election Commission.

“The incumbent CEC is retiring on 18th of February and the new Election Commissioner will have to be appointed. Now, the question is as to whether he will be appointed in terms of the Constitution Bench judgment or in accordance with this new law. I am requesting that this matter should be heard next week,” advocate Prashant Bhushan submitted before a bench headed by Justice Surya Kant.

Declining to fast-track the hearing scheduled on February 4, the Justice Kant-led Bench remarked: “How many matters will we be able to hear urgently? We understand the importance of the matter and any good matter requires some time also. February is not far, remind us on February 3 in the morning, so we are able to take up the matter on 4th February.”

Bhushan said that the issue is already covered by the Constitution Bench judgement and should not take much time.

In March 2023, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had held that the appointment of top officials of the Election Commission shall be done by the President on the advice of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India.

“We declare that the appointment of the CEC and the other ECs shall be made on the recommendations made by a three-member Committee comprising the Prime Minister, LoP of the Lok Sabha and in case no LoP is available, the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha in terms of numerical strength and the Chief Justice of India,” said the apex court, clarifying that its guidelines shall be in effect until Parliament makes a law in consonance with Article 324(2) of the Constitution.

After the apex court verdict, the Parliament introduced legislation providing that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the other Election Commissioners (ECs) will be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the PM, the Leader of the Opposition (or the largest opposition party) in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the PM.

Several PILs were filed before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Condition of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

One of the pleas filed by a Noida-based lawyer sought directions to set aside the gazette notification issued by the Union government on December 28, 2023, and to include the Chief Justice of India in the selection committee for the appointment of the CEC and ECs. Further, it sought direction to the Union of India for implementing an independent and transparent system of selection constituting a neutral and independent selection committee for appointment of the CEC and other ECs.

Recently, CJI Sanjiv Khanna recused himself from hearing the matter and said that the PILs should be heard by a different Bench.

Crime

Hyderabad couple dies by suicide after killing minor children over financial woes

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Hyderabad, March 11: In a tragic incident, a couple died by suicide after killing their two children, aged 10 and 15 years, allegedly due to financial problems in Hyderabad.

Police found four bodies from the couple’s house in Ravindra Nagar colony in Habsiguda under the limits of Osmania University Police Station on Monday night.

Chandrasekhar Reddy (44) and his wife Kavitha (35) are suspected to have strangled their son Vishwan Reddy (10) and daughter Shrita Reddy (15), before hanging themselves.

Shrita Reddy was a ninth class student while Vishwan Reddy was studying in fifth standard.

A police officer said they rushed to the spot on receiving a Dial 100 call. They found the bodies of the man and his wife in separate rooms. Their children were lying dead on a bed.

Police also recovered a suicide note written by Chandrasekhar Reddy. The man wrote in the note that nobody was responsible for his death and that of his family.

“I had no other option but to end my life. Please forgive me. I have been struggling in my career and suffering mentally and physically. I have been suffering from diabetes, nerve and kidney related issues,” he said in the note, written in Telugu.

Police shifted the bodies to Gandhi Hospital for autopsy and took up the investigation.

Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that the family originally hailed from Kalwakurthy in Mahabubnagar district and had migrated to Hyderabad about a year ago.

Chandrasekhar Reddy worked as a junior lecturer in a private college for a few months. He was jobless for about six months and with no source of income, the family was facing financial hardships.

Circle Inspector N. Rajender said they registered a case of deaths under suspicious circumstances and took up the investigation.

He said the exact cause of the death of the children would be known after receiving the autopsy report.

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Waqf Bill will not be stopped by threats: Jagdambika Pal on Muslim groups’ protest

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New Delhi, March 10: As protests by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) intensify against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which is expected to be presented in Parliament soon, Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), reaffirmed on Monday that the Bill will be passed and not be stopped by threats.

To mount pressure on the BJP’s key allies — TDP and JD(U) — the Board has decided to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on March 13 and is sending invitations to all the Opposition parties to take part in it.

It has warned that if the Bill is still passed, the Board will launch a nationwide movement.

Additionally, they will also approach the Supreme Court with the confidence that justice will be served.

Speaking with media, Jagdambika Pal said, “The Supreme Court is always an option, but should democracy function through threats or by the will of the people? Laws are made by elected representatives, not by threats or violent rhetoric.”

He further criticised the contradiction in the AIMPLB’s approach, where they threaten action while simultaneously seeking legal recourse.

Pal defended the government’s stance, saying that the Waqf Bill had been carefully considered by the JPC after extensive consultations.

“We listened to the AIMPLB for six months, giving them four hours to voice their concerns,” Pal said.

“As a result, we’ve now prepared a 400-page amendment, which addresses the needs of the country’s minorities. This law aims to support vulnerable groups, including the poor, women, orphans, widows, and economically backward Muslims.”

The amendments, according to Pal, ensure that the Bill will benefit those who need it most, making it a crucial step forward for marginalised Muslim communities. He made it clear that no threats would halt the process of passing the law.

Meanwhile, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind lent its support to the AIMPLB’s protest, accusing the government of forcing Muslims onto the streets to defend their rights.

Jamiat chief Maulana Arshad Madani expressed solidarity with the protest scheduled for March 13 at Jantar Mantar, stating that Muslims are being compelled to fight for their rights.

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Bihar BJP MLA says Muslims should only come out of their houses on Holi with big hearts

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Patna, March 10: Bihar BJP MLA, Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul, sparked a major political controversy with his statement warning the Muslim community not to step out of their homes on Holi or else not mind having colour being put on them.

His remarks have drawn sharp reactions, further fueling tensions after recent communal disputes in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh.

“Muslims should not go out of their homes on Holi, otherwise they will get coloured. There are 52 Jummas (Fridays) in the year and one Holi, so Muslims should remain indoors on this day. If they step out, they should show a big heart and not oppose if abir or gulal is applied on them,” Bachaul said.

Bihar’s political climate has intensified, with Opposition parties calling his statement divisive and inflammatory.

Many leaders have condemned the remark, accusing Bachaul of stoking communal tensions ahead of Holi.

Muslim leaders and community representatives have criticised the statement, calling it an attack on personal freedom.

Bihar Minister Jama Khan responded to Bachaul’s remarks by emphasising the need for unity and harmony among communities. He clarified that while Muslims traditionally avoid stained clothes during Friday prayers (Jumma Namaz), accidental colour during Holi should not be a cause for division.

“Bihar celebrates all festivals with brotherhood. No one should deliberately throw colour on Namazis, but if it happens accidentally, it is not an issue,” Khan said.

Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi launched a blistering attack on the BJP over the issue.

She accused the BJP of trying to create communal divisions and warned that Biharis would reject them in the upcoming elections.

“The people of Bihar will teach BJP a lesson and throw them out of Bihar. If PM Modi has the courage then he should drive out the Muslims from Bihar and the country,” she said.

With Bihar’s political landscape heating up, this controversy is expected to be a major flashpoint in upcoming electoral battles. Given past incidents, statements like these may further polarise voters and impact social harmony.

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