New Delhi, Jan 22: The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on a clutch of petitions pertaining to the Shahi Masjid-Krishna Janmabhoomi dispute.

A Bench presided over by CJI Sanjiv Khanna decided to post the matter for further hearing in the week commencing April 1, 2025.

In the meantime, CJI Khanna-led Bench extended the operation of the interim order passed on January 16, 2024, whereby the top court had stayed the execution of the commission on a plea filed by the Shahi Idgah Masjid Management Committee against the Allahabad High Court allowing the application filed by Hindu devotees for appointment of a commissioner to inspect the disputed premises.

In an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court had asked parties to complete the pleadings in the matter and directed the filing of written submissions not exceeding three pages along with the judgments being relied on by them. However, it had clarified that the trial proceedings pending before the Allahabad High Court could continue.

The top court is also seized of a plea filed by the mosque committee challenging the transfer of suits by the Allahabad HC to itself.

Recently, it remarked that the decision of the Allahabad High Court to consolidate all suits pertaining to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute of Mathura should benefit both sides.

“Why should we intervene in the issue of consolidation of suits? It doesn’t make a difference. It is to the benefit of both sides, so multiple proceedings are avoided,” remarked a bench of CJI Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar. The court said this while hearing a plea filed by the management committee of the Shahi Masjid Eidgah against an order passed by the Allahabad High Court in January last year “in the interest of justice” directing that all 15 suits filed by the Hindu side be consolidated. Multiple suits were originally filed before different courts of Mathura, with a common claim that the Eidgah complex was built on the land believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna and where a temple had existed.

Mumbai : “When news comes about me, it is given in the name of ‘reliable sources’. In such a situation, these ‘sources’ should also be considered for Jeevan Gaurav Award one day,” this sarcastic comment was made by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. He was speaking as the chief guest at the award distribution ceremony of the Ministry and Legislative Press Association.

Criticism on media trial

Ajit Pawar strongly criticized the media trial and said, “It is wrong to conduct media trial. Even when the judicial process is going on, some media channels broadcast sensational news for TRP. I was accused of corruption of Rs 70,000 crore, at that time I had to face a lot of problems. The allegations were proved baseless in the investigation, yet false news and rumors were spread. In such cases, the media should work responsibly.” Saif Ali Khan case story

Sharing his experience of an agricultural exhibition held in Baramati, Pawar said, “I went to attend the exhibition at 7 am. During this time, I was asked to react to the attack on Saif Ali Khan. I had no information about this incident. Soon after this, the opponents started accusing of deteriorating law and order in Mumbai. The media should give such news based on reality.”

Counting experience

Ajit Pawar also shared an incident from the day of counting of votes in the assembly elections. He said, “In the morning, there was a news that Ajit Pawar was trailing in the postal ballots. Hearing this, my mother got tensed. When the channel was contacted, they told that such news is run for TRP. But the media should broadcast news based on truth and reality.”

Mumbai: During the assembly elections last year, the Chief Minister had announced schemes like ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’, free electricity to farmers, which put a burden of more than Rs 1 lakh crore on the state treasury. Tough decisions will be taken in the upcoming budget to meet the revenue deficit caused by this and increase the state’s income. This information was given by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance and Planning Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday.

The Outstanding Journalism Awards given by the Ministry and the Legislative Press Association were distributed by Ajit Pawar. On this occasion, he told that the budget for the year 2025-26 will be tough and focused on revenue growth. Pawar said that the last budget was a little concessional due to being an election year, but now financial discipline has to be followed for the next five years. For this, full support of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be available.

There will be tough decisions in the upcoming budget

Ajit Pawar said that the upcoming budget will determine the direction of the state for the next five years. He said that instructions have been given to the departments that increase economic income for this. Pawar said that he himself is reviewing various departments every day from 9 am to 7 pm. Plans are being made to increase the economic income of the state, which will be reflected in the upcoming budget.

The government will take concrete decisions for the progress of the state by balancing women empowerment, infrastructure, development works and financial discipline.

Rs 20,000 honorarium to senior journalists

The state government had announced to give Rs 20,000 honorarium per month to retired senior journalists, but it was not implemented. When this matter was brought to the notice of Ajit Pawar, he announced to implement it from April 1.