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Wearing hijab not essential religious practice, K’taka AG to HC

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Wearing hijab is not an essential religious practice in Islam and it can’t come under the Constitution’s Article 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion), Advocate General Prabhuling Navadagi argued in the Karnataka High Court on Monday.

He said that petitioner students have approached the court not just seeking the permission to wear headscarves, but want to wear hijabs to attend classes as part of their religious right.

Contending that the petitioners can’t press for right to wear a hijab under Article 25, he said that the provision doesn’t state it as a fundamental right.

“It is impossible to define religion. Article 25 does not protects the practice of the religion but, which is essential religious practice, so they narrowed it to essential religious practices. In Sabarimala case also, they used the word ‘essential’,” he said.

The core religious practices, those things without which any religion is no religion, shall be considered as religious practices which could be considered under the right to religion, he said.

The practice which is prevented and feared to cause fundamental change in the character of religion is essential practice, he said, adding that essential practice is what causes a religion to vanish if the practice is not allowed.

Food and dress shouldn’t be considered as essential part, Navadagi said, and went on to quote Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s statement of not allowing religion into the institutions and how it should be consciously kept out, which could be in the present context of religious symbols.

He also cited imposition of religion on others and noted when the Parliament discussed adoption of secularism, it was argued if is it necessary to have religious rights? The Parliament, at the time of throwing open of temples to all Hindus, stated that social reform must be brought to all religions.

The Advocate General maintained that the question of whether wearing of hijab is an essential religious practice must be settled and then other issues could be addressed. He reiterated that the petitioners simply would not come to the court with a request to permit them to wear headscarves, but seeking they be permitted to wear it as a religious practice.

At this, the bench questioned Navadagi as to what is the stand of the government on wearing of hijab, and if the government order is not specifying anything on hijab, what is the stand – can hijab can be permitted or not?

“If institutions are permitting students with hijab, will the government has any problem?” it asked.

The bench also asked the that the petitioners are seeking to wear same colour headscarf as the uniform, can be treated as part of the uniform? If they are wearing dupattas, can they wear it around their neck?

As he said that complete freedom is being given to the College Development Committees, and as a matter of principle, students are proposed to have secular outlook and can’t display religious symbols, the bench asked whether wearing of cloth around neck is religious?

He said that it is left to the discretion of the institutions, and they would find difficulties in matters of discipline.

Maharashtra

Case registered against Muslim youth for posting Pakistani flag on Instagram in Kurla

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Mumbai: In Mumbai’s Kurla Kasaiwada Quresh Nagar, the Chuna Bhatti police have claimed to have arrested a Muslim youth for posting the national flag of Pakistan on Instagram in support of the country. The Hindu Circle Samaj in Chuna Bhatti police had filed a complaint after the social media post and the post had also gone viral on social media in which it was written that this terrorist lives in Kasaiwada, Mumbai. Share this post so that he can be caught and a case of treason and treason can be filed against this jihadi. After this post went viral on social media, the Mumbai police also took action and after tracking down the youth, he arrested him.

During the police investigation, the young man admitted that he had posted the Pakistani flag on his Instagram account Sahil Khan. After the police action, the Instagram account has been deleted. However, the police have collected other details including the Instagram post. The police have registered a case against Sahil Khan under sections 152,153 of the BNS and further investigation is underway. Sahil Khan is also accused of waging war against the country and inciting it and spreading hatred and endangering the integrity of the country. The war between India and Pakistan has ended, but the Mumbai police is keeping an eye on the controversial post. Therefore, Muslim youth have been appealed to avoid controversial and anti-national posts. If anyone posts such a post, strict action will be taken against him and he will have to go behind bars. Sahil Khan’s arrest has been confirmed by Senior Inspector Nisha Jadhav of Mumbai’s Chuna Bhatti Police Station and said that he has been arrested after registering a complaint and further investigation is underway.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Cyber Department warns against fake news circulation amid rising India-Pak tensions

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Mumbai, May 10: The Office of the Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra Cyber Department, on Saturday issued an advisory warning against the circulation of fake news amid cross-border tensions, asking the citizens to show restraint.

“Spreading false information, knowingly or unknowingly, is a punishable offence under relevant provisions of law. Maharashtra Cyber strongly advises all citizens to exercise restraint and discernment while consuming and sharing information, particularly in relation to matters of national importance. The Government of India maintains official communication channels and verified platforms for issuing statements, updates, and press releases concerning national security and defence matters. Citizens are urged to rely exclusively on these official sources for information and are firmly discouraged from forwarding or amplifying unverified messages, videos, or images that may contribute to social discord or misinformation,” said the advisory.

The department has appealed to all individuals to act responsibly, verify facts from authorised sources, and report any suspicious or misleading content at the earliest opportunity.

“In view of the prevailing cross-border tensions, accurate and timely information concerning developments at the border and adjoining regions holds vital importance for citizens. However, Maharashtra Cyber has observed with concern that amidst the dissemination of critical information, several instances of fake news are being circulated across various digital platforms. This misinformation not only misleads the public but also promotes confusion and unrest within society,” said the advisory.

“A considerable volume of this fake content pertains to alleged army movements, strategic operations, or retaliatory measures from neighbouring countries. Such unverified and misleading content poses a serious risk to national security and may contribute to the escalation of tensions. Unsocial elements appear to be exploiting the sensitivity of the situation by generating and distributing this fake news with the intention of gaining followers, inciting panic, or manipulating public perception,” said the advisory.

Taking cognisance of these developments, Maharashtra Cyber has issued several notices for the removal of such false narratives across social media and communication platforms. The department remains fully committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy information environment and will continue to coordinate with platform operators and enforcement agencies to curb the spread of misinformation.

The Cyber Department’s advisory comes a day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde warned that the government will take stern action against those spreading fake news on social media.

CM Fadnavis, at the meeting he chaired to review the security arrangement and preparedness amid escalating conflict between India and Pakistan, asked the administration to study the central government’s ‘Union War Book’ in depth and inform everyone about it.

Police cyber cells in every district should monitor social media and identify handles that are helping Pakistan and take action against them. If anyone is helping the enemy or spreading false information, take action against them, he said at the meeting.

Further, Eknath Shinde said, “Spreading fake news on social media is a serious crime. Strict action would be taken against it. We request that people not film, video, and broadcast whatever preparations are being made by the military and coast guard forces, as it is important from a security perspective.”

He announced that the government will initiate strong action against those engaged in spreading fake news on social media.

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Maharashtra

Indo-Pak tension: Mumbai Dadar Chowpatty not closed

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Mumbai: Mumbai Due to the war-like situation and tension between Pakistan and India, the market of rumors is hot on social media. Mumbai Police has denied the rumor of Mumbai’s Dadar Chowpatty being closed and has said that Dadar Chowpatty has not been closed. The message of Dadar Chowpatty being closed in the context of war was shared on social media, after which the police have denied it on their X and social media accounts and have said that Dadar Chowpatty is open to the general public as usual. It has not been closed. The public does not need to panic or pay attention to the rumor. Similarly, there was news of a drone being seen in Mumbai’s Sakinaka last night, which was confirmed by the police, which has also denied it. No drone has been found in Sakinaka either. This is also just a rumor, so the police have appealed to the citizens not to pay attention to the rumors and not to take any kind of action. Avoid sharing and making rumors viral.

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