Opposition protest against Bihar voter list, wear onion garlands to support farmers
First raids are being conducted in the Kashmir genocide case, with the Special Investigating Agency (SIA) raiding eight locations in Srinagar, including the home of ex-JKLF chief Yasin Malik. This development comes 35 years after the murder of Kashmiri Pandit Sarla Bhatt in 1990, a case that has been reopened by the Lieutenant Governor. Sarla Bhatt, a nurse, was abducted, gang-raped, tortured, and brutally killed by terrorists belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front. The reopening of these cases follows the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, aiming to bring justice to the victims of killings of innocent Kashmiri people, including Kashmiri Pandits, in the 1990s. As one person stated, "It's very good news because though justice is coming late, but it's coming."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
Aid and advice: on Jammu and Kashmir, LG's Assembly member nominations
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs' assertion to the J&K High Court that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) can nominate five Assembly members without the 'aid and advice' of the elected government overrides democratic accountability. Consequential decisions such as nominating members who have voting rights in an elected assembly must flow from democratic mandate, not administrative discretion. The High Court's constitutional question could not be more direct: do the 2023 amendments to the J&K Reorganisation Act, allowing the LG to nominate five Assembly members 'which have the potential of converting the minority government into a majority government and vice-versa,' violate the Constitution's basic structure? Rather than addressing this, the Ministry delves into legal technicalities. Its submission argues that nominations fall outside the elected government's remit, seemingly invoking the K. Lakshminarayanan vs The Union of India precedent from Puducherry while claiming the 'sanctioned strength' includes elected and nominated members. It even references Section 12 of the 1963 Union Territories Act (voting procedures) as justification for bypassing democratic consultation. When five nominated members could determine government stability in a 119-member Assembly, the issue transcends statutory definitions of 'sanctioned strength'. The real question is whether any legal framework allowing appointed officials to potentially overturn the people's electoral verdict violates the democratic essence of the Constitution. The amendments inserted Sections 15A and 15B into the 2019 Act, allowing the LG to nominate two Kashmiri migrants (including one woman) and one from the Pakistan-occupied J&K community, besides the existing power to nominate two women, if inadequately represented in the elected Assembly. This effectively creates five nominated seats. The High Court's framing of this issue acknowledges the stakes involved: this could 'convert minority government into majority government and vice-versa', potentially subverting the electoral process. This concern is not unsubstantiated — in 2021, three years after Lakshminarayanan, Puducherry saw nominated members and defecting elected MLAs contributing to the collapse of the Congress-led government. Also, J&K's trajectory to Union Territory, without consultation with elected representatives, makes democratic accountability even more crucial. The unfulfilled promise of Statehood restoration, acknowledged by the Supreme Court and despite overwhelming support in J&K, reinforces that current arrangements should strengthen democratic governance. The Ministry's argument that nominations exist 'outside the realm of the business of the elected government' also contradicts evolving Supreme Court jurisprudence. In the Delhi services cases of 2018 and 2023, it ruled that the LG should act on elected governments' aid and advice, with discretionary powers treated as exceptions. Seen in this light, the Ministry's arguments do not hold water.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
SC to hear on August 14 plea for restoring Jammu & Kashmir statehood
The Supreme Court would on Thursday hear a plea for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. A bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran is likely to hear the matter, according to the causelist. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the revocation of Article 370, even as it ordered that assembly elections be held in Jammu and Kashmir by September 2024 and its statehood be restored "at the earliest". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pensioners Can Buy These Electric Cars in Kuantan - See Prices Here! Electric Cars | Search Ads Search Now Undo Last year, a plea was filed in the top court seeking directions to the Centre for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir within two months. The application was filed by Zahoor Ahmad Bhat , an academician, and Khurshaid Ahmad Malik, a socio-political activist. Live Events "It is submitted that the delay in the restoration of statehood would cause serious reduction of democratically elected government in Jammu and Kashmir, causing a grave violation of the idea of federalism which forms part of the basic structure of the Constitution of India," the application said. The assembly elections and the Lok Sabha polls were conducted peacefully in Jammu and Kashmir without any incident of violence, disturbance or any security concerns being reported, it said. "Therefore, there is no impediment of security concerns, violence or any other disturbances which would hinder or prevent the grant/restoration of the status of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as had been assured by the Union of India in the present proceedings," the plea said. The non-restoration of the status of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, the plea said, would result in a lesser form of elected democratic government to the state, particularly given legislative assembly results were declared on October 8, 2024. Despite the apex court's directions for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir "at the earliest and as soon as possible", no steps have been taken by the Centre to provide any timeline for the implementation of such directions, it claimed. "Jammu and Kashmir is being operated as a Union Territory for a period of almost five years now, which has caused many impediments and grave losses to the development of Jammu and Kashmir and has affected the democratic rights of its citizens," the plea added. In its December 2023 verdict, the apex court held that Article 370, which was incorporated in the Indian Constitution in 1949 to grant special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was a temporary provision. The President of India was empowered to revoke the measure in the absence of the Constituent Assembly of the erstwhile state whose term expired in 1957, the court said.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Ex-Servicemen to boycott Pb govt's I-day functions
1 2 Chandigarh: Ex-Servicemen in Punjab have announced a boycott of state govt Independence Day functions on Aug 15, protesting alleged brutality and harassment of serving personnel, veterans, and their families by the Punjab Police. The Ex-Servicemen Association cited a March 25 incident in Patiala, where Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son were allegedly assaulted by police. It alleged that the Patiala police sought to hush up or dilute the case, while the Punjab Police leadership failed to ensure justice. The association further accused chief minister Bhagwant Mann of reneging on his promise to intervene despite being fully apprised of the matter. Association member Col S S Sohi (retd) said the victims eventually approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which transferred the case to the CBI. The accused challenged the case in the Supreme Court, which dismissed their plea with strong observations. The association also highlighted other recent incidents, including the case of serving Naik Abdul Sattar, who was allegedly beaten and denied prompt medical aid by a lady SHO in Malerkotla, as well as extortion cases targeting prominent veterans. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sore Knees? These Foods Could Be Your Natural Solution Undo They alleged "collusion between police and miscreants" in such matters. "Punjab is a border state with about one lakh soldiers in service. Any ill-treatment of them will damage morale and harm national security," Sohi stated, urging the state to rein in police excesses. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
