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New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) The Karnataka government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that there is no restriction on wearing hijab on the school campus, and it is only restricted in the classroom while defending its decision to disallow hijab in classrooms of pre-university colleges.

It also emphasized that it has not touched any "religious aspect" in the hijab ban row.

Advocate General Prabhuling K. Navadgi, representing the Karnataka government, contended before a bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia that it has never happened in Karnataka that a group of students came to school in hijab and began banging the gates.

As the bench queried if it started in one school and then spread, Navadagi said yes.

"There was a possibility of a public order issue," he said, and emphasised that restriction on hijab was only in the classroom and when it was asserted militantly that they want to wear hijab and retaliated by others, it became a concern.

He said that it has to be demonstrated that wearing of hijab is a right to expression and right to privacy is still evolving jurisprudence and can't be exercised in all zones.

The AG said France has prohibited hijab and the women there have not become any less Islamic. He added that the state has not touched any religious aspect or religious issue. "Much hue and cry is made by saying that hijab is banned. Let me clarify, hijab is not banned and the state never intended," he said.

Navadgi submitted assuming wearing of hijab is a religious practice ordained in Quran and every mundane activity connected with the religion can't be an essential religious practice. He added that if it were to be accepted that whatever is said in the Quran to be essential, it will defeat the tests of essentiality.

Citing Article 51A(j) of the Constitution, the AG contended that one should rise above religious identity to become part of one group, and the right to wear a dress cannot be absolute.

He said the right to wear dress as part of expression can't be readily given at the mere asking and it has to be established what is the expression they want to convey and to whom they want to convey. He said that "they say they wear hijab as Islam mandates. That is no expression."

Navadagi said the state only wants to inculcate discipline in students by regulating uniforms and any restrictive effect on rights under Article 19 of the Constitution is "incidental" and it cannot be a ground to invalidate the law. He added that there is no restriction on wearing hijab either on school campus or school transport. "It is only in classroom," he said.

The bench quizzed Navadagi, citing the government circular, whether wearing a headscarf goes against unity and equality, and cited one of the contentions of the petitioners that there should be no uniform - since it is pre-university and some do not have uniform.

The AG contended that the words used in circular were if there is no uniform prescribed, wear something which goes along with unity and equality and also has no impact on law and order.

He said the state has only said educational institutions can prescribe uniforms for students, something which is "religion neutral".

The top court will continue to hear arguments on Thursday on petitions challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict refusing to lift the ban on hijab in educational institutions of the state.

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 21 (IANS) In a point to point rejoinder to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday night slammed him for turning the Raj Bhavan into a hub of political activism and for glorifying the RSS.

"Unprecedented things are happening in Kerala as we all saw a press meeting in Raj Bhavan... such a thing is happening in Kerala for the first time and perhaps in the country also. There are times when differences of opinion between the state government and Governor arise and when it happens, then are accepted ways to address such.

"Constitution is the backbone in a democracy and the Governor is the Constitutional head, while the executive is the elected government. The Constitution is very clear on the powers of the Governor and the Sarkaria Commission also states very clearly what the powers of the Governor is," said Vijayan.

It was on Monday that Khan went hammer and tongs against Vijayan, alleging that the latter even went to the extent of requesting him to appoint a Vice Chancellor of his choice at his home town in Kannur.

Rebutting each and every aspect which Khan had raised, Vijayan praised renowned historian Irfan Habib, and also Kannur Vice Chancellor Gopinath Ravindran.

"Of, late Khan has time and again been referring to the incident that occurred at the Indian History Congress (held in Kannur three years back). 92-year-old hugely popular historian Irfan Habib took part and Khan calls him a 'goonda'. All know how Habib has been hunted and haunted by the Sangh Parivar forces for long as he has all along staunchly opposed their way of tinkering with the educational system including the curriculum. Likewise, Ravindran also has been strongly opposing saffronisation of Universities and quit as Member-Secretary of the Indian Council of Historical Research," he said.

Vijayan claimed that the game plan of the RSS is to make universities into a political laboratory and the role of the Governor is to appoint Vice Chancellors first and then bring in the Sangh Parivar activists into the Universities.

"In some states the respective Governors have not signed laws appointing Chief Ministers as the Chancellor of Universities and this is done to ensure that the Hindutva agenda can be implemented, if the Governor retains it (the power)," he said.

When it was pointed out that Khan told the media that he will soon reach out to the people, Vijayan replied: " You never know, he (Khan) might be fielded by the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Kerala and if that's the case, then it's fine."

Asked what favours he sought from Khan as claimed by him, Vijayan said: "I have not taken favours from anyone and it's not proper on my part to say what all things were discussed between us when we met."

Vijayan also categorically said that the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) will not be implemented in Kerala and said the first signs of the Centre taking it up again was reported when Union Home Minister Amit Shah told the West Bengal BJP leaders that after the Covid booster does is given to all, the CAA issue will be taken up again.

"Perhaps it's that what Khan is now often raking the Indian History Congress incident, because the protest that took place at the venue was when the anti-CAA protests was at its peak," he added.

--IANS
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Kolkata, Sep 21 (IANS) A special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday remanded former West Bengal education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general, Partha Chatterjee to judicial custody till October 5 for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment irregularities scam.

The court ordered similar judicial custody till October 5 for three others arrested in this connection namely former president of West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) Kalyanmoy Gangopadhyay, former WBSSC secretary, Ashok Saha and former convener of WBSSC's screening committee, SP Sinha. This means that all four of them will have to spend the festive season of Durga Puja behind the bars. They will be housed at Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata.

The CBI counsel sought the permission of the court to question the four accused in the correctional home. However, the judge of the special court pointed out that there were some technical mistakes in the application of the central agency on this count and asked the CBI counsel to submit a fresh application at the earliest.

The CBI sleuths probing the matter also submitted a report on the progress of its investigation in a sealed envelope. In the report, they pointed out how Partha Chatterjee ignored several complaints against Trinamool Congress MLA and former West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE) chairman, Manik Bhattacharya regarding his involvement in rampant corruption in the primary teacher's recruitment.

In this matter, CBI counsel referred to an SMS message that came to mobile phone of Partha Chatterjee complaining against Manik Bhattacharya. However, CBI pointed out, instead of acting on that complaint, Partha Chatterjee forwarded the message to Bhattacharya.

On Wednesday, Partha Chatterjee himself participated in the argument and claimed that as the-then state education minister he had no hand in the WBSSC recruitment process. "If there is a road accident, the state transport minister is not arrested," he argued.

Opposing his bail plea, the CBI counsel said that if released on bail at this juncture, Partha Chatterjee might make attempts to tamper with evidences and influence the witnesses. Finally, after hearing all parties concerned, the special court of CBI remanded all the four accused to judicial custody till October 5.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday met Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi. The meeting lasted for two hours, and after the meeting he is leaving for Kerala to join Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Sources say that the issue of Rajasthan was also discussed but their is no official word on it. Gehlot is tipped to file his nomination next week for the Congress president's post; however he is reluctant to leave the Chief Minister's chair in the state.

Gehlot, who arrived in the national capital on Wednesday morning, had told the media ahead of the meeting that he will not back out from any responsibility. "I will not back out from any responsibility and will serve the party wherever and in whichever capacity I am required in this hour of crisis," he said. However, he said the party wants Rahul Gandhi to take over as the party president.

Gehlot said that he will discharge all the responsibilities given and hinted that he can manage the posts of both the party chief and chief minister simultaneously. The chief minister said that he is not aspiring for any post but wants to work towards ousting the "fascist" (BJP) government.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday arrived at the AICC office to check the delegates list ahead of the notification of the Congress presidential poll as he readied to file his nomination papers.

--IANS
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Jammu, Sep 21 (IANS) Designate TADA court on Wednesday issued a production warrant against JKLF chief, Muhammad Yasin Malik directing authorities at Delhi's Tihar Jail to physically produce him before the court on the next hearing of Rubaiya Sayeed abduction case.

CBI counsel, Monika Kohli told reporters that the TADA court has issued a production warrant against Malik and directed the Tihar jail authorities to produce him before it on the next date of the hearing on October 20.

The court has already turned down the request by Yasin Malik that he should be personally allowed to cross examine Rubaiya Sayeed who identified him on July 15.

The JKLF chief has already been sentenced to life in another case.

--IANS
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Jammu, Sep 21 (IANS) A court in Jammu on Wednesday issued a production warrant for Yasin Malik on the next date of hearing in connection with the Rubaiya Sayeed abduction case.

Rubaiya was kidnapped in 1989 in Kashmir and was set free in exchange for release of five terrorists.

The next date of hearing of the case is on October 20.

Earlier, Malik had been insisting on physical presence in the court.

"Cross examination of Rubaiya Sayeed was done on behalf of other accused," CBI counsel Monica Kohli said.

"Yasin Malik has moved an application to be physically present in the court, the court has issued a production warrant, Yasin Malik will be present on the next date of hearing."

On July 15, Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and sister of former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti, had identified Malik and four others.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in May this year awarded life imprisonment to separatist leader Yasin Malik in a terror funding case.

--IANS
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Chennai, Sep 21 (IANS) Former Union Minister and former Speaker of Tamil Nadu assembly, Sedapatti R. Muthiah (77) passed away in a private hospital in Chennai on Wednesday.

Muthiah was a senior leader of the AIADMK and was the second in command of the party till 1998. Fondly known as Sedapattiar, he entered politics through the student wing of DMK, after completing his M.Sc in Mathematics.

He emerged as a student leader after participating in anti-Hindi agitations in the Madurai region. He joined the AIADMK when MGR founded the new party in 1977 as the matinee idol was highly popular in the Madurai region.

Muthiah contested the assembly seat in 1977 from the Sedapatti constituency and went on to win consecutively from the same seat. He became the Speaker of the assembly in 1991 and continued till 1996.

He became a Union Minister for Surface Transport in the Cabinet of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Muthiah kept away from politics for some time but later joined DMK in 2008 and went on to become a member of the party's electoral wing.

--IANS
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Kolkata, Sep 21 (IANS) A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBBSC) to identify those who secured teaching jobs in state-run schools, terminate their services and replace them with the eligible candidates who are in the waiting list.

The bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay asked the counsels of WBSSC and the petitioners in the matter to review the recruitment and waiting lists on an emergency basis and submit a report on September 28.

The Justice also ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team probing the WBSSC recruitment irregularities to submit a separate report on the same on the ineligible candidates who got teachers' appointments illegally.

According to him, the two reports will be reviewed after which those getting appointment illegally will be terminated from their services and replaced by those eligible candidates who are in the waiting list.

"If necessary, the CBI team might also consult the WBSSC officials while preparing their report," observed Justice Gangopadhyay.

Earlier on Wednesday, the CBI submitted a report to the court on the progress of its investigation in the WBSSC recruitment irregularities scam.

It also informed the court about the latest arrest of Subiresh Bhattacharya, Vice-Chancellor of the University of North Bengal and the former WBSSC chairman, in connection.

Justice Gangopadhyay also further directed the WBSSC to issue a fresh notification regarding the appointment of teachers as well as Ground C and Group D staff by September 28.

Earlier, the counsel for the petitioners, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya had informed the court that as per the report of the Calcutta High Court-appointed committee headed by Justice Ranjit Kumar Bag (retired) informed that a total 609 Group C and Group D staff were recruited illegally, a figure which was accepted by a division bench of the same court.

"Out of 609, the services of 573 were terminated. However, those vacant posts are yet to be filled up," Bhattacharya informed the court.

Justice Gangopadhyay directed WBSSC authorities to identify 573 candidates from the waiting lists and immediately start the process of their counselling.

--IANS
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San Francisco, Sep 21 (IANS) Google has announced a new feature that will allow users to buy train tickets in Search in select countries, which will be available in more countries soon.

The users in Germany, Spain, Italy and Japan can now shop for train tickets directly on Google Search, for travel in and around select countries.

Google said it has embedded sustainability into its travel tools.

"For some trips, taking a train might be the more sustainable option, but finding the prices and schedules to get from A to B can take a few separate searches," said Richard Holden, VP of Travel Products at Google.

"Starting today, you can now shop for train tickets directly on Google Search, for travel in and around select countries - including Germany, Spain, Italy and Japan," he mentioned in a blog post late on Tuesday.

Just query something like "Berlin to Vienna trains" and you'll see a new module in the search results that lets you choose your departure date and compare the available options.

Once you select the train that works best, there's a direct link to complete your booking on the partner's website.

"This feature will expand to more locations as we work with other rail providers. We also plan to begin testing a similar feature for bus tickets in the near future to broaden your choices for intercity travel," said Holden.

Moreover, with new filters for both flights and hotels, it's easier to find more sustainable options on Google Search, he added.

--IANS
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Saharanpur, Sep 21 (IANS) A 40-year-old school teacher and his student were found hanging from a noose in a forest in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur, the police said on Wednesday.

The victims, who had been missing since September 3, were allegedly in a relationship.

Senior Superintendent of Police Vipin Tada said: "Virendra, the teacher, and the 17-year-old girl, a student of class nine, were found hanging in the forest late on Tuesday night."

The teacher, a resident of Rasulpur village, was having an affair with the girl who studied in the same school where he worked.

The girl's family had lodged a report of kidnapping and the police started searching for them but were unable to trace them because of their changing locations, he said.

The SSP said that late on Tuesday evening, a police team went to the forest on reports of foul smell emanating in the area and found the bodies in a very bad condition.

"It appears that the two had committed suicide about 10 days ago," he said.

A bike was also recovered from the area but no suicide note has been found.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem.

--IANS
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