India

Bhopal, Dec 18 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said on Wednesday that the Uniform Civil Code's implementation will help to strengthen the country's security in many ways.

The Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre will implement the UCC to ensure the safety of Indian citizens.

He added that UCC would help to identify infiltrators living in different parts of the country.

Kailash Vijayvargiya, who is heading the state's Urban Development Department, said many infiltrators have established themselves in the country with fake IDs and need to be identified.

"Many infiltrators changed their identity by accessing fake ID cards and impersonating Hindus, which is a serious concern. Once the UCC is implemented, people living with fake IDs will be identified," the BJP leader said.

He asserted that infiltrators living in Madhya Pradesh or any other part of the country should be identified and sent back to their countries.

"Several people have accessed fake IDs here in Madhya Pradesh too. They need to be removed from here," the BJP leader added.

Kailash Vijayvargiya's statement came a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the UCC implemented by Uttrakhand is a model law that will be implemented in BJP-ruling states.

UCC refers to a common set of laws that will subsume customary laws across faiths and govern issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and maintenance.

The UCC was among the BJP's poll promises in the 2022 Assembly elections.

"We implemented UCC in Uttarakhand, we want to follow the democratic process. It will be analysed constitutionally. There will be discussions on a societal level and religious experts will opine about it," he said.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Dec 18 (IANS) Taking objection to the statements made by the Union Home Minister in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Karnataka Chief Minister on Wednesday stated that had B.R. Ambedkar not been born he (Siddaramaiah) might have been herding cattle in his village and Amit Shah would have been running a scrap business in his hometown.

In his open letter addressed to HM Amit Shah, CM Siddaramaiah stated, “Had Dr. Ambedkar not been born, I wouldn't have had the privilege of becoming the Chief Minister today. I might have been herding cattle in my village.

“Our senior leader, Mallikarjun Kharge Ji, wouldn't have risen to lead the AICC and he might have been working in a factory in Kalaburagi. We owe every step of our progress and dignity to Babasaheb and the Constitution he gave us.”

“Not just me, without Dr Ambedkar's contributions, you (Amit Shah) too wouldn't be the Home Minister today. Instead, you might have been running a scrap business in your hometown.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, your colleague, might still be selling tea at a railway station. Babasaheb’s vision is what elevated us all. Even the Prime Minister might admit this, and so should you,” he underlined.

“First, let me congratulate you for finally speaking the truth by openly revealing the BJP's real opinion about Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

“Your statement in Parliament (18-12-2024) didn’t surprise us; we already knew your party’s true mindset. But now, the entire country has seen your lack of respect for the architect of the Indian Constitution.

“Standing in the very Parliament that runs under his Constitution and calling his memory a ‘habit’ shows your arrogance. Congratulations, Mr. Shah, for this shameless act,” the CM stated.

“Do not attempt to mislead the nation by saying, ‘I have immense respect for Babasaheb, and my words were twisted.’ We are not gullible. Own up to your words and face the nation,” he charged.

“For us, Ambedkar is not a ‘fashion’ but an eternal inspiration. As long as we breathe, as long as the Sun and Moon shine on this Earth, Ambedkar's legacy will endure.

“The more you try to diminish his memory, the stronger it will rise to guide us forward. While your sycophants might have clapped at your arrogance, remember this: Millions across this country, who have gained equality and dignity because of Babasaheb, are condemning you,” he maintained.

“Your hatred for Ambedkar is not new to those who know history. Why did your ideological parent, the RSS, reject the Constitution written by Babasaheb during his lifetime? Historical records document the statements of RSS leaders like Hedgewar, Golwalkar, and Savarkar against the Constitution.

“You may try to suppress these truths, but they cannot be erased. Your remarks in Parliament are just an extension of that long-standing RSS ideology,” CM Siddaramaiah alleged in his letter.

--IANS

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Beed (Maharashtra), Dec 18 (IANS) Amid a political furore, the Beed Police have arrested a ruling Mahayuti ally, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) activist Vishnu Chate in connection with the December 9 murder of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Kej village of Massejeog taluka, officials said here on Wednesday.

Additional Superintendent of Police, Beed, Sachin S. Pandkar confirmed the development and said Deshmukh was nabbed on the Beed-Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar highway as he attempted to flee the district.

On the run for the past nearly 10 days, Chate's arrest takes the total number of arrested-accused to four so far, plus three more wanted absconders, and police have formed multiple teams to track them.

Earlier charged in an extortion case of Rs two crore from a windmill company, Chate is now also accused of allegedly masterminding the killing of the Sarpanch that has blown up into a full-scale political controversy.

Police probe so far has pointed at purported links between the extortion case involving a windmill company and the Sarpanch murder case, said an official.

In the previous (extortion) case lodged by the local windmill company, among the accused was one Walmiki Karad - who is said to be close to NCP Minister Dhananjay Munde - plus Chate and some other associates.

The Sarpanch, who was reportedly killed for helping thwart the extortion attempt on the windmill company, was first abducted, brutally tortured and later killed in broad daylight near the windmill company office on December 9 afternoon.

The killing of the village headman has erupted into a major caste-politics ruckus as the deceased was a Maratha while the prime accused (Chate) belongs to the OBC (Vanjari) community – both are currently at loggerheads over the ongoing reservation agitation.

Amid massive protests, demonstrations, and walkouts by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (SP)-Shiv Sena (UBT), the state government has handed over the murder probe to a Special Investigation Team.

SS (UBT)'s Leader of Opposition in the Council Ambadas Danve slammed the Mahayuti regime over the "total collapse" of law and order in Beed and Parbhani (after the desecration of Dr B. R. Ambedkar's statue on December 10), and other incidents.

He alleged that Munde's close aides Walmiki and Chate are directly responsible for the extortion case and the Sarpanch murder, NCP (SP) General Secretary Jitendra Awhad, Congress state President Nana F. Patole and other seniors also targeted the Mahayuti on the issue.

--IANS

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Jammu, Dec 18 (IANS) After seven deaths were initially attributed to food poisoning earlier this month in Jammu & Kashmir’s Rajouri district, authorities have undertaken vigorous surveys to identify the actual medical cause of these deaths.

Seven members of two families died in Badhal area of Rajouri where doctors had initially said that food poisoning had caused these deaths.

“It is not a simple case of food poisoning. It could be contaminated water, petrified food or any lethal chemical that caused these deaths. It is a matter of thorough professional investigation”, official sources said.

In the aftermath of these deaths, J&K health minister, Sakina Itoo and tribal affairs minister, Javed Ahmad Rana visited Kotranka sub-division and chaired meetings of doctors, paramedical staff and the district administration.

Health and Medical Education Secretary Syed Abid Rasheed also attended the meeting wherein measures were discussed to prevent such occurrences in future after identifying the cause of those deaths.

Sakeena Itoo emphasised the urgency of strengthening healthcare systems and enforcing social distancing, expediting results from forensic laboratories and directing the Food & Supplies Department to collect and test additional samples and the Animal Husbandry Department to collect and test milk samples.

A team of doctors are now stationed in Kotranka with an MRI facility to reach the right conclusions.

Tribal Affairs Minister Javed Ahmad Rana directed water quality testing in adjacent areas by the water quality monitoring teams.

In addition, he announced two mobile medical units (MMUs) for Rajouri and Poonch districts, each costing around Rs 1 crore from the Tribal Affairs department.

These MMUs would be provided with staff and equipment by healthcare professionals. These have been designed to provide a range of healthcare services, including preventive care, diagnostics, and treatment of common illnesses.

So far, 3,145 individuals have been surveyed through house-to-house visits and 384 special health camps have been organised in the affected areas.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS) The Supreme Court has said that while constitutional courts can lay down the principles governing the grant of bail or anticipatory bail, they cannot lay down the form in which a bail order should be passed by trial courts.

"The constitutional courts can lay down the principles governing the grant of bail or anticipatory bail. However, the constitutional courts cannot interfere with the discretion of our trial courts by laying down the form in which an order should be passed while deciding bail applications," a bench headed by Justice Abhay S. Oka ruled, as it heard the plea of a District and Sessions Judge of the Rajasthan Judicial Service (RJS) to quash the adverse observations issued against him.

After the appellant-judicial offer rejected a bail application, the accused petitioned the Rajasthan High Court. While granting bail, adverse observations were made against the appellant for not complying with directions issued by the Rajasthan HC in the Jugal Kishore vs State of Rajasthan case.

The appellant did not incorporate the details of the antecedents of the accused in the prescribed tabular form in terms of the directions in paragraph 9 of the Jugal Kishore case.

Since the directions issued in the Jugal Kishore case were not complied with, the single-judge bench of the Rajasthan High Court observed that the appellant’s action did not only amount to indiscipline but may also amount to contempt.

At this, the Supreme Court said: "We fail to understand how the appellant committed acts of indiscipline or contempt by not following the suggestion incorporated in paragraph 9 (of the decision in the case of Jugal Kishore)."

It said that the direction of calling for an explanation from a judicial officer by a judicial order was "inappropriate" and an explanation from a judicial officer can be called for only on the administrative side.

Further, the apex court said that it was a "waste of precious judicial time" of the Rajasthan High Court by directing the judicial officer to send a list of the total number of bail applications he disposed of, along with a report on whether directions contained in Jugal Kishore case were followed by him.

"What the High Court has done while deciding a bail petition in a case where bail was denied by the appellant as a Session Judge was completely uncalled for. The entire exercises done by the High Court right from issuing directions in the case of Jugal Kishore and passing orders dated 4th April 2023, 25th April 2023 and the impugned order by which the High Court found fault with the appellant was not only unwarranted but illegal," the Supreme Court ruled.

It added that similar directions which were issued in the case of Jugal Kishore have been set aside by the Supreme Court in the past.

Further, it held that the directions issued by the Rajasthan High Court cannot be said to be binding directions and at the highest, the same could be treated as suggestions.

Non-compliance with those directions by a judicial officer cannot be treated as an act of indiscipline or contempt, ruled the apex court.

In conclusion, the apex court directed expunging "all adverse remarks/observations" against the appellant and clarified that those adverse remarks and observations cannot be the basis for taking any action against the appellant on the administrative side.

"The High Court ought to have shown restraint. The High Court cannot damage the career of a judicial officer by passing such orders. The reason is that he cannot defend himself when such orders are passed on the judicial side," it said.

--IANS

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Kochi, Dec 18 (IANS) The Kerala High Court on Wednesday asked the Central government to consider relaxing the SDRF/NDRF norms so that the Kerala government is "freed up" of Rs 180 crore outstanding debt and can put this amount for use in Wayanad rehabilitation works.

This suggestion came in the suo moto case taken by the High Court with a division bench of Justices A.K.Jayasankaran Nambiar and S.Easwaran considering the urgency of central assistance in landslide-hit Wayanad for the past few weeks.

In July this year, the worst-ever landslide that hit the state devastated four villages in the area, leaving 231 dead while 47 people continue to be missing. As many as 145 homes were fully destroyed, 170 homes were partially destroyed, 240 homes were declared uninhabitable, and 183 homes were washed away.

The high court has been hearing the case for some time, and the state had informed it that out of the total Rs 782 crore available in the State Disaster Response Fund, about Rs 120 crore are to be paid to the Centre towards arrears of airlifting services provided in 2006, 2016, and 2017, and Rs 60 crore towards other pending bills.

In addition to this, the state said there are other commitments, leaving only Rs 61.03 crore available for use.

Besides the state has filed a detailed summary of past commitments and anticipated expenses for the future.

The court said: "We are informed that the matter can be taken up with the Central government so that the Central government can consider the grant of necessary relaxations. The Central government can consider the issue of relaxations of SDRF/NDRF norms to enable the State government to utilise the aforesaid amounts immediately for the purposes of rehabilitation of landslide victims in Wayanad."

Posting the case for January 10, it asked the Centre to consider the request.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Dec 18 (IANS) Death Audits in case of fatalities in road transport accidents (RTAs) will be compulsory in West Bengal, as per the latest order from the state Health Department.

The decision was taken at the Chief Medical Officers of Health (CMOH)-level meeting on December 16, following which the Deputy Director of Health Services issued the order.

"As instructed by the Principal Secretary of this department in the CMOH Review Meeting held on 16.12.2024 at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, it has been decided that every death caused by RTA should be audited henceforth at the facility level," read the order, a copy of which is available with IANS.

In the order, the directors and principals of all medical colleges and hospitals, all district CMOHs and deputy CMOHs have been asked to ensure "death audits" for all RTA casualties and a compiled report to be sent to the state Health Department headquarters on every Monday by 12 noon.

Sources from the State Health Department said that a "death audit" means maintaining detailed records since the injured was admitted to the medical facility following the accident, the kind of treatment and medical attention given to the victim and finally the reason for the death.

"Compiled reports will be maintained at the portal of the state Health Department," the sources said.

He explained the necessity of conducting the "death audit", besides the post-mortem report which is compulsory in cases of RTA deaths.

"The post-mortem reports just mention the causes of the death. However, the 'death audit' report will have all relevant records of the victim and the accident, following which corrective measures can be taken about the nature of medical attention to victims in future," he said.

Death audits will also help the state Health Department to have a clear idea of the infrastructure available with the health facilities to address such road accident cases.

--IANS

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Lucknow, Dec 18 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister, Keshav Prasad Maurya, on Wednesday took a swipe at the ongoing bid by the Congress party to gherao the UP Assembly and accused the Opposition of internal divisions and political opportunism.

Maurya claimed that both the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) were in a disarray and were fighting amongst themselves for credit in the wake of the recent political developments in the state.

Maurya’s comments came in response to the Congress-led protest against the UP Assembly, where party leaders had announced plans to gherao the legislative House.

He remarked, “Both the Congress and SP are divided. Even in the Sambhal incident, the two parties seem to be split into two factions, each blaming the other for not playing a bigger role in their supposed success.”

The Deputy CM went on to mock the Congress-SP alliance, highlighting the tension between the two.

“The SP is claiming that their victory in the last Lok Sabha elections was due to their efforts, while the Congress is saying the same. Both want to showcase their importance. But the truth is, Uttar Pradesh is moving towards a Congress-free future, and the Samajwadi Party is on the path to extinction. In 2027, just like in 2017, the BJP will form the government with a massive majority,” Maurya asserted, dismissing the Opposition’s protests as 'hollow' and without direction.

Maurya's criticism also extended to the leadership within both parties, saying that neither the Congress nor the SP have a clear leader or policy, and their demonstrations were nothing more than futile attempts to remain relevant in the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh.

Maurya’s remarks come at a time when SP MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq has approached the Allahabad High Court to seek the withdrawal of the FIR filed against him in connection with the Sambhal incident, claiming he was not present during the unrest.

In response, the Deputy Chief Minister stated, “Anyone has the right to approach the court. But the facts remain clear – if SP leaders and their supporters, including MPs and MLAs, are found guilty in the Sambhal case, strict action will be taken against them as per the investigation.”

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh police have installed barricades stepping up the security outside UP Assembly as the Congress announced a gherao of the House against the Sambhal violence, unemployment in the state and corruption.

Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been deployed outside the Congress office in Lucknow.

--IANS

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Lucknow, Dec 18 (IANS) Several Congress leaders were placed under house arrest across Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, as the Congress Party geared up for its planned gherao of the Legislative Assembly in Lucknow over the Sambhal violence and other issues like unemployment and corruption.

The protest, organised by the Congress to voice opposition to the policies of the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government, has sparked a fierce response from authorities, with heavy security and police presence in multiple districts.

In Raebareli, the Parliamentary constituency of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, local party leaders, including the Municipal Council President, were placed under house arrest.

A large contingent of police officers was stationed near the toll plaza, reportedly to prevent Congress workers from congregating or moving towards Lucknow for the protest.

The restrictions were imposed in the area known for its political significance and are seen as an attempt to prevent a show of strength by the Congress in the heart of the Opposition stronghold.

Similarly, in Bhadohi, senior Congress leader Abdul Khan was also put under house arrest by the local police. Khan had been scheduled to attend the demonstration in Lucknow, along with several other Congress leaders from the region.

According to sources, several Congress leaders were placed under house arrest in Bhadohi since the previous evening, as the party’s protest plans were being curtailed by the state administration.

Despite this, a significant number of Congress workers are still determined to participate, although many have reported being discouraged or stopped from leaving their homes.

In Auraiya, the Congress State General Secretary, Anshu Tiwari, was similarly detained at his residence. Police forces were deployed outside his house to prevent his participation in the protest.

Tiwari, who had been actively involved in organising the gherao of the Assembly, criticised the government's actions, calling it an attempt to suppress democratic rights.

“We were going to warn the state government about the issues faced by the public, but the scared government has put us under house arrest. CM Yogi and PM Modi are terrified of us. It’s a sad reflection that the government feels threatened by its own citizens,” Tiwari said, adding that the administration was denying people their right to peacefully protest.

The Congress, which has been critical of the BJP government’s handling of various state issues, has organised the gherao as a platform to highlight public grievances, particularly concerning the Sambhal violence, unemployment, graft and agricultural and labourer rights.

The protest is seen as a rallying cry for the party's base in Uttar Pradesh, which has been striving to maintain relevance ahead of the upcoming 2027 elections.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ajay Rai, the Uttar Pradesh Congress chief, condemned the actions of the state government.

“The Yogi government, fearing the Congress’ Assembly gherao, is resorting to undemocratic means to stifle our voices. They are using the police to intimidate and confine our leaders and workers. This is nothing but an attempt to suppress the democratic rights of the people,” Rai said.

He further accused the government of acting in panic, fearing that the Congress protest would highlight the failures of the ruling administration.

Ahead of the gherao, security around the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in Lucknow was significantly tightened.

Roads leading to the Assembly premises were barricaded, and heavy police deployment was observed throughout the city. The authorities’ measures reflect the high-stakes nature of the planned protest and the government’s determination to avoid any disruption to the legislative proceedings.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS) The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on Wednesday gave a final opportunity till January 31, 2025 to employers to upload wage details regarding over 3.1 lakh pending applications for Pension on Higher Wages.

Employers have also been requested to submit replies or update the information in 4.66 lakh cases by January 15, 2025 where clarification has been sought by the EPFO.

The EPFO said that the final opportunity is being given as, in spite of so many extensions, it has been observed that more than 3.1 lakh Applications for Validation of Options/Joint Options are still pending with employers.

Many representations have also been received from employers and employers’ associations wherein requests have been made to extend further the time period for uploading wage details of applicant pensioners/members.

“In view of the representations received from employers and associations the employers were given multiple opportunities to submit wage details etc. online till 30.09.2023, again till 31.12.2023 and thereafter till 31.05.2024 to ensure that employers are able to process the applications,” the EPFO said.

The online facility was made available by EPFO for submitting Applications for Validation of Options/Joint Options for pension on higher wages.

The facility was for eligible pensioners/members in compliance with the Supreme Court order dated April 4, 2022.

The facility was launched on February 26, 2023 and was to remain available only till May 3, 2023.

However, considering the representations of the employees, the time limit was extended to June 26, 2023 in order to provide four months’ time to eligible pensioners/members for filing applications.

A last opportunity of 15 days was further given to remove any difficulty faced by the eligible pensioners/members.

“Accordingly, the last date for submission of Applications for Validation of Option/Joint Options by employees was extended to 11.07.2023 and a total of 17.49 lakh Applications for Validation of Option/Joint Options were received from pensioners/members till 11.07.2023,” the statement said.

–IANS

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