Justice BR Gavai to take oath as Chief Justice today, first Buddhist in the role
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai will take oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) today, becoming the first Buddhist CJI and only the second judge from the Scheduled Castes to ascend to the nation's highest judicial office.His elevation is both historic and symbolic, representing the values of inclusivity and constitutional morality that the judiciary upholds.Justice Gavai will serve as the CJI until his retirement on November 23, 2025. As he dons the mantle of CJI, all eyes will be on him — not just for the judgments he delivers, but for the legacy he shapes.advertisement
Justice Gavai has been part of several important benches that have passed crucial orders, including those condemning bulldozer actions and laying down stringent norms to curb such practices.He was also part of the Constitution Bench that delivered landmark verdicts, including:Upholding the abrogation of Article 370 by the Central Government,Striking down the electoral bonds scheme,Upholding the Centre's 2016 demonetisation move, among others.A bench led by Justice Gavai granted bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case — a ruling that became the basis for granting bail to other accused in the same case. He also presided over the bench that stayed Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the Modi surname defamation case, and granted regular bail to civil rights activist Teesta Atul Setalvad in a case related to the 2002 Godhra riots.KNOW MORE ABOUT JUSTICE GAVAIadvertisementJustice Gavai was born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati and joined the Bar on March 16, 1985.He practiced independently at the Bombay High Court from 1987 to 1990, after which he primarily appeared before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court.He served as Standing Counsel for the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation, and Amravati University. He also worked as an Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court from August 1992 to July 1993. Later, he was appointed Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench on January 17, 2000.Justice Gavai was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003, and became a permanent judge on November 12, 2005. He presided over benches dealing with all types of assignments at the Principal Seat in Mumbai and at the Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji benches.He was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019.According to the Supreme Court's website, in the last six years, Justice Gavai has been part of around 700 benches dealing with a wide range of matters, including constitutional and administrative law, civil law, criminal law, commercial disputes, arbitration, electricity, education, and environmental law.advertisementHe has authored around 300 judgments, including Constitution Bench verdicts, upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the fundamental, human, and legal rights of citizens.
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The Wire
an hour ago
- The Wire
‘Attack on Religious Right of Kashmir's Muslims,' Says Mirwaiz as J&K Govt Bar Eid Prayers at Srinagar Eidgah
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Government 'Attack on Religious Right of Kashmir's Muslims,' Says Mirwaiz as J&K Govt Bar Eid Prayers at Srinagar Eidgah The Wire Staff 11 minutes ago The chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference was also reportedly put under house arrest. Hurriyat Conference Chairman and Chief Cleric of Jammu and Kashmir Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Photo: PTI/File. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir authorities have barred congregational Eid prayers from taking place at the Eidgah grounds in Srinagar today (June 7) without specifying any reason in writing. The chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also reportedly put under house arrest. In a post on X, Mirwaiz, who is also the chief cleric of Kashmir, said that the Jamia Masjid, Kashmir's biggest mosque in the summer capital Srinagar, was also locked by the authorities where the Eid prayer was scheduled to be organised on Saturday morning. Mirwaiz said that the grand mosque was closed on the eve of Eid for the seventh consecutive year following the reading down of Article 370 when Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated and demoted into two Union territories by the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP)-led Union government. 'In a Muslim-majority region, Muslims are deprived of their fundamental right to pray — even on their most important religious occasion celebrated across the world! What a shame on those who rule over us, and on those elected by the people who choose to remain silent as our rights are trampled over, again and again,' he said. Mirwaiz told The Wire that security forces barricaded the entry to his house on Saturday morning without any official intimation, 'They didn't allow me to come out to lead the Eid prayers. It is an attack on the basic religious right of the Muslims of Kashmir,' he said. No permission In a statement on Friday (June 6), Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, the managing body of the historic mosque, said that the authorities didn't give permission for organising the Eid prayers at the Eidgah ground where thousands of people from different parts of Kashmir gathered to participate in the congregational prayers when J&K was a state. The managing body's statement said that it 'deeply regrets' the denial of permission for organising the prayer at the Eidgah ground which was planned 'in keeping with the longstanding Islamic tradition and the collective religious sentiment of the people'. The statement said that due to the refusal, the congregational prayers were going to be organised at Jamia Masjid on Saturday morning where Mirwaiz would deliver sermon 'on the philosophy and spirit of Eid and Qurbani (sacrifice)'. 'Auqaf urges all worshippers to attend the Eid prayers at Jama Masjid in large numbers and partake in the message of unity, sacrifice, and submission to the will of Allah (SWT) that Eid-ul-Adha embodies,' the statement said. However, the 14th century architectural marvel in Nowhatta locality of downtown Srinagar was closed on Saturday with police and paramilitary troopers turning away the worshippers who tried to gather for the Eid prayers while Mirwaiz was put under house-detention. A flock of pigeons flies past Jamia Masjid, Kashmir's oldest mosque in Nowhatta locality of downtown Srinagar, amid snowfall on December 27, 2024. Photo: Ubaid Mukhtar. This is not the first time that the authorities have locked Kashmir's largest mosque for worshippers on the eve of Eid without specifying any reason in writing. After J&K was bifurcated and split into two union territories, authorities have not allowed the Anjuman to organise congregational prayers at the mosque on sacred days of the Islamic calendar. On March 31, the mosque was locked by authorities on Eid-ul-Fitr while Mirwaiz was also put under house arrest. Authorities have also closed the mosque on the occasions of important islamic events including on Fridays, Shab-e-Qadr and Jummat-ul-Vida. J&K's security administration, which is under the Union home ministry, has unofficially cited the fears of law and order breakdown in the sensitive downtown locality which has been an epicentre of anti-India and pro-freedom protests to justify the ban of congregational prayers. Meanwhile, Eid prayers were held in the rest of the Union territory with thousands of people congregating in major shrines and mosques, including at the Asar-e-Sharief in Hazratbal of Srinagar, Khanqah-e-Moula in Budgam district's Chrari Sharief and other mosques and religious places on Saturday to mark the occasion. Following the reading down of Article 370 in 2019, the BJP-led Waqf board of J&K has taken over the management of most shrines and mosques in the Union territory, a decision which has been criticised by the Mirwaiz and other political parties. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News The Search for the 'Bandung Spirit' The Grand Tamasha of Jammu and Kashmir Politics Unchallenged at Home and Abroad: Jawaharlal Nehru's Leadership With the Non-Aligned Movement As Plane to Srinagar Faced Storm Mid-Air, Request to Detour into Pak Airspace Turned Down Lone NC MP in All-Party Delegations to Not Join His Group, Cites Urs at Native Village Allahabad HC Upholds Trial Court's Order For Survey of Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid India Revokes Security Clearance To Turkish Airport Services Firm, Defers Initiation of Ambassador Kharge Alleges Modi Cancelled J&K Visit Due to Intel Report Before Pahalgam Attack India-Pakistan Stand-Off: Main Updates of May 10 About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
Omar's witty reminder to Centre on statehood
Katra: Mixing humour with political resolve, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday used the flagging-off ceremony of the first train to Kashmir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Katra to subtly but clearly articulate his government's demand for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Recalling the opening of the Katra Railway Station -- the last programme of his first government in 2014 -- Abdullah pointed to a 'coincidence' that four people present at the event on Friday were also on stage that day. Humorously pointing out the differing career trajectories of the persons involved, Abdullah said, 'You (Narendra Modi) became the Prime Minister for the first time then... You came here right after the election. And by the grace of God, you inaugurated the Katra Railway Station here. 'After that, you won the election twice in a row and remained the Prime Minister of this country. Your minister of state in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, was also present... Even our respected Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who was the minister of state for railways at that time, was present.' Referring to his own position, Abdullah said, 'And I, as the chief minister of a full-fledged state then, stand slightly demoted. I was the chief minister of a state. Now I am the chief minister of a union territory.' 'But I believe that it will not take long for this to be corrected. And with your help, Jammu and Kashmir will again attain the status of a state,' Abdullah added. The chief minister's direct plea for the restoration of statehood was met with applause by the large gathering. The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into two union territories – J-K and Ladakh – following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. During his speech at the inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link, Abdullah reflected on the significant passage of time since the project's inception in early 1980s. 'I was an eighth-grade student when this project was started. Today, I am 55 years old. My children have also completed college. Now this project has been completed,' he said, pointing at the decades-long journey of the railway link between Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country. He also underscored the historical significance of the railway link, noting that even the British envisioned connecting Kashmir by rail via Uri and Jhelum, but failed to realise the dream. 'But today, what the British could not fulfil, has been fulfilled by your hands. The Kashmir Valley has been connected with other parts of the country,' Abdullah said, commending the Centre's achievement. Remembering former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Abdullah said, 'I will be making a huge mistake if I do not thank Vajpayee ji on this occasion... This happened after he gave it the status of a project of national importance and made it a part of the Budget.' Abdullah also highlighted the immense benefits the railway project would bring to Jammu and Kashmir. 'Jammu and Kashmir will benefit a lot with this project. It will benefit from tourism. It will benefit the residents of Jammu and Kashmir,' he said. The chief minister also specifically mentioned the inflated airfares during highway closures. 'When the highway closes as soon as it rains, the airlines start looting us. A ticket for Rs 5,000 suddenly costs Rs 20,000 within hours. But with the completion of the rail link, at least the loot of the passengers will be reduced now.' Abdullah further expressed hope that the railway line would also help facilitate the transportation of fruits like apples and cherries to markets across the country. Acknowledging the development of broader infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir by the Centre, Abdullah said, 'With your auspicious hands, another infrastructure project has been completed in Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, many other projects are moving forward rapidly.' He also cited the ongoing work on various projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including ring roads in Jammu and Srinagar, the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway, Jammu-Srinagar four-laning, and airport and railway network expansions.
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
Census delay a sinister move to weaken southern states: MK Stalin slams Centre
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has alleged that the delay in conducting the National Census and the upcoming delimitation exercise are part of a calculated move by the Union Government to undermine the political representation of southern states. "The Census delay is no accident. The delimitation plan is not a coincidence," says the delay in the Census a 'sinister design,' Stalin warned that states like Tamil Nadu, which followed population control policies, would now be penalised for their progress. 'The 2027 Census will form the basis for the next delimitation, replacing the 1971 data. This gives the Union BJP Government the means to restructure Parliamentary representation to its advantage, at the cost of the Southern States,' he questioned the credibility of the Union Government's assurances, saying, 'The Ministry of Home Affairs claims that the concerns of affected States will be addressed. But these are vague remarks. What is needed is a clear Parliamentary commitment and a suitable constitutional amendment.' Drawing parallels with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister remarked, 'While the Union Government spoke of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Article 370 was abrogated. Elections were held. Assurances were given in the Supreme Court. Yet, Jammu and Kashmir remains a Union Territory. This is the track record of the BJP we are dealing with.'Warning of the potential consequences of the proposed delimitation, Stalin said, 'If the Union Government proceeds with the delimitation based on the 2027 Census, the democratic power of peninsular India will be reduced to irrelevance. The danger I warned of is at our doorstep.'Taking a swipe at the opposition AIADMK and its leader, Edappadi K Palaniswami, Stalin said, 'Even if betrayers like the AIADMK choose to kneel before the BJP for their political survival, the people of Tamil Nadu led by the DMK will never allow our state to be punished for its progress.'Must Watch IN THIS STORY#Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin
