Crime
SC junks Maha govt plea seeking direction to Centre to share raw caste Census data
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The Supreme Court on Wednesday junked a petition by Maharashtra government seeking a direction to the Centre to provide Socio-Economic Caste Census on Other Backward Classes (OBCs), after taking into consideration Centre’s contention that data collected is flawed. The Maharashtra government sought raw data collected in the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) held in 2011.
The Centre told the apex court that the SECC was resorted to by way of separate decision by Cabinet, which was not an OBC survey but to ascertain caste status of all households in the country. A bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar noted that as per Union of India the information collated in the exercise is unusable.
The top court recorded Centre’s contention that the data is fraught with mistakes and the information collated during Census was specific to SC and ST only. The Maharashtra government sought the raw Census data for implementing reservation for OBC in the local body elections.
The bench also comprising Justice C.T. Ravikumar dismissed the petition filed by the Maharashtra government, after considering Centre’s submission that SECC-2011 was not an exercise to enumerate the data of backward classes. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Centre in the matter.
Mehta submitted that SECC-2011 was not a Census exercise undertaken under the Census Act 1948, rather it was done on the basis of executive instructions of the concerned ministry to enumerate the caste status of households in the country for delivery of targeted benefits.
After hearing detailed arguments in the matter, the top court said it cannot issue a direction to the Centre to share the raw caste data of SECC-2011 with Maharashtra, as it will further create confusion.
In the order, the top court said: “The fact remains that the affidavit filed before this court by the Union of India emphatically states that data which is collated is not accurate and not usable.”
The bench added that if that is the stand taken by the government, then “we fail to understand how mandamus can be issued to the respondent to permit the State of Maharashtra to use the date for any purpose”.
Dismissing the Maharashtra government petition, the bench added, “Such direction will lead to confusion and uncertainty, which cannot be countenanced.”
Crime
RG Kar victim’s parents yet to secure death certificate even after six months
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Kolkata, Feb 22: Over six months have passed since the shocking rape and murder of a junior woman doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital but her parents are still to get a copy of her death certificate.
The body of the victim was recovered from a seminar hall within the premises of the state-run institution early on August 9 last year.
The victim’s parents have alleged that they have been unable to get the death certificate till now as the R.G. Kar and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) authorities are shifting the responsibility onto each other.
According to them, the KMC authorities are claiming that since the “place of death” is R.G. Kar, it is the responsibility of the hospital authorities to provide the death certificate.
On the other, the R.G. Kar authorities claim that if a patient dies within the hospital premises or is even brought dead to the hospital, the death certificate will have to be provided by the KMC authorities, the parents added.
The victim’s parents have further claimed that although they have not got a copy of the death certificate, it has been mentioned in the court documents, as per the statement of a medical officer attached to R.G. Kar.
They now say if the death certificate is mentioned in the court documents, why was a copy of the certificate not handed over to them?
Last week, a special court in Kolkata, which had convicted and sentenced civic volunteer Sanjay Roy in the rape and murder case, directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a fresh progress report on its investigation in the matter on February 24.
Since the special court has already pronounced the sentence for the convict in the main crime of rape and murder, legal circles feel that the fresh progress report will be related to the angle of tampering with the evidence in the case.
It is learnt that the special court had directed the CBI to submit a fresh progress report following a complaint filed by the counsel of the victim’s family accusing the central agency of not updating the court on the progress of investigation in the matter periodically.
Crime
Ten persons arrested for attack on Congress MP, says Assam CM
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Guwahati, Feb 21: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday that ten persons have been arrested in connection with the attack on Congress MP Rakibul Hussain.
Taking to social media platform X, CM Sarma said, “The police have identified the individuals involved in the alleged incident of assault on Congress MP Sri Rakibul Hussain.”
He also mentioned that the actions will be taken as per the law.
The Dhubri MP was attacked while attending a public programme in the Nagaon district.
The Congress MP had to run from the spot wearing a helmet to save himself. The security officers of Hussain sustained minor injuries in the attack.
In a viral video, it was seen that some masked miscreants initially showed black flags to the Congress MP and after that attacked him.
In the video, Hussian was seen fleeing from the spot in a two-wheeler to save himself from the attack.
The incident that happened in the Ruporihat locality drew criticism from the opposition with Congress leaders training guns on the BJP government.
Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, launched a sharp attack on the BJP government as Congress MP Hussain was attacked on Thursday.
Gogoi said, “In Assam, a Congress Lok Sabha MP is attacked by thugs in broad daylight in a busy marketplace. The goons even attack the police security officers and try to snatch their weapons. All of this is recorded on camera. Yet the Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma refuses to ensure that the thugs will be arrested immediately.”
“The Chief Minister should at least think of his constitutional duty towards Assam Police and the innocent civilians in the marketplace. If the goons had got hold of the machine gun, a terrible tragedy could have taken place. The attitude of the Chief Minister will only embolden the thieves, dacoits, smugglers and those accused of murder. Democracy is under threat and people of Assam want freedom from this gunda raj culture,” he added.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Debabrata Saikia said it was a “failure” of the police and administration.
Crime
New India Co-operative Bank Scam: EOW Arrests Former CEO Abhimanyu Bhoan
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Mumbai: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has made another arrest in the New India Co-operative Bank scam. Former CEO Abhimanyu Bhoan has been taken into custody, making him the third accused in the case.
The Court has remanded accused into police Custody untill February 28.Bhoan’s arrest follows an ongoing investigation into financial irregularities within the bank, which allegedly led to taken place during his working period.
The authorities suspect his involvement in mismanagement and fraudulent transactions.Further investigation is underway, and officials believe that more arrests may follow in the case.
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