High court seeks govt plan and timeline for kabrastan
The Bombay high court has asked govt for steps it will take, along with timelines, for the setting up of burial grounds for the Muslim community. The high court is hearing a public petition concerning the lack of burial grounds for Muslims.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
When the court was told that land was also acquired for the Christian community and people of no faith, advocate general Devidas Pangam told the high court that out of the 30,000 sqm of land acquired for a common burial ground at Sonsoddo, 95 per cent is inaccessible because of the steep gradient of the land. He further said govt was able to dedicate only 2,500 sqm for the setting up of burial grounds for the Muslim community.
The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) in June unanimously agreed to sign a deed of exchange for land with the Raia comunidade, which is required for an access road to the proposed kabrastan site at Sonsoddo.
A survey report revealed encroachments on the access road to the site. The previously acquired 30,000 sqm land from the comunidade for the burial ground in the survey findings highlighted complications with the access route.
The high court has repeatedly expressed disappointment over the lack of progress. Despite issuing directives in Oct 2022 for expeditious development of the kabrastan within six months, construction work has yet to start.
Community members have also expressed dissatisfaction with the House committee on kabrastan, crematoriums, and cemeteries, which was constituted last year. The committee, comprising representatives from various political parties, was tasked with establishing and regulating common burial grounds across Goa's panchayats and municipal areas.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Last year, the high court issued a notice to the Chaplain of St Joaquim Chapel at Bornda after officials were reportedly denied access to the kabrastan site through the chapel's cemetery gates. The project has faced several hurdles, including local opposition and terrain constraints.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
14 minutes ago
- India.com
Skip prayers, face jail: This Muslim country introduces strict Sharia laws, skipping them can land you…, not Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Saudi, it is...
Religion is perhaps the most sensitive issue in our world today. Many will raise questions, have discussions, and express concerns about religion because faith and belief are different for different individuals. What may be considered sacred for one population may not be considered the same as for another population, and this always leads to disagreements or discussions, or quite intolerant discourse. Which country has introduced strict punishments for skipping Friday prayers? Following any religious practices is a matter of choice. Some people follow religious practices very carefully, others do not. However, this place is giving punishment for not following the religious practices. In Malaysia's Terengganu state, a new and serious law has been adopted. Under this law, Muslim men who fail to attend Friday Prayers will be sentenced to jail time. This action is called a bold step towards implementing total Sharia law. Are there any fines in addition to imprisonment? According to the South China Morning Post report, the Terengganu state in Malaysia has announced that it will start enforcing Sharia law in which Muslim men who do not attend Friday prayers, without a valid reason, could serve a prison sentence for up to two years. The move is generally considered to be proof of the multicultural nation moving further toward religious conservatism. Terengganu, which is governed by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), announced on Monday that first offenders could now face imprisonment, a fine of up to 3,000 ringgit (US$710), or both, if they fail to attend the weekly congregational Jummah prayer without a valid excuse. Taking 1 USD = Rs 86, therefore, US$710 ≈ Rs 61,060. While speaking to local daily Berita Harian, Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi, a member of the state's executive council, stated, 'This reminder is important because Friday prayers are not only a religious symbol but also an expression of obedience among Muslims,' as cited by SCMP. Terengganu is a largely Islamic and conservative state in Malaysia, with a population of around 1.2 million, 99% of whom are Muslim. Terengganu is a stronghold for the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), and the party won a clean sweep of the state's 32 assembly seats in the 2022 state assembly elections. Story Highlights Terengganu state in Malaysia has announced that it will start enforcing Sharia law. Men who skip Friday prayers will face punishment if they don't have valid reason. They will land in jail and have to pay a fine too. Penalties were applied only to those who missed three consecutive Friday prayers. Notably, Terengganu is also the only state in Malaysia that has no opposition in the state assembly at all. Experts argue that all these measures have political underpinnings. At present, Malaysia is governed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose time in office has been marred by allegations of rising religious conservativeness. Earlier, penalties were applied only to those who missed three consecutive Friday prayers.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Redistricting row: Texas Republicans approve Donald Trump-backed redrawn maps in House; Democrats vow legal fight
Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, oversees a debate over a redrawn US congressional map in Texas during a special session, in Austin, Texas. (Pictur ecredit: AP) The Texas House passed a controversial mid-decade redistricting plan on Wednesday that could hand Republicans five additional seats in the US House of Representatives, triggering a coast-to-coast battle over congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The new boundaries were approved in an 88-52 party-line vote after weeks of political confrontation, reported news agency Associated Press. The move came following direct pressure from US President Donald Trump, who urged Texas lawmakers to deliver what he described as a 'big beautiful map' to secure the GOP's slim majority in Washington. The redrawn districts now move to the Republican-controlled state Senate before heading to Governor Greg Abbott, who has signalled he will sign them into law. Texas Democrats had attempted to derail the measure by leaving the state earlier this month, delaying proceedings for over two weeks. Upon their return, many were assigned round-the-clock police escorts to prevent another walkout. Several even staged overnight sit-ins at the Capitol in protest, as per the New York Times. Now they have vowed to contest the new law in court and have expressed concerns that Republicans undertook this political manoeuvre before enacting legislation in response to the deadly floods that affected the state last month. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like US$31 trillion in wealth extracted from Indonesia during Dutch colonial rule: President Prabowo CNA Read More Undo Republicans made little effort to disguise the motive behind the map. Todd Hunter, the Republican legislator who authored the plan, told colleagues, 'The underlying goal of this plan is straightforward: improve Republican political performance', as quoted by AP. Democrats condemned the move as undemocratic and racially discriminatory. 'In a democracy, people choose their representatives. This bill flips that on its head and lets politicians in Washington choose their voters,' said Democratic Representative Chris Turner, as cited by AP. His colleague John H Bucy directly blamed the president, declaring, 'This is Donald Trump's map. It clearly and deliberately manufactures five more Republican seats in Congress.' The vote has already fuelled retaliation. California's Democratic governor Gavin Newsom vowed to 'fight fire with fire,' saying state lawmakers would introduce a rival plan to create five new Democratic-leaning districts. As per news agency AFP, the proposal would need voter approval in a November referendum because California usually relies on an independent commission to draw maps. Former President Barack Obama has endorsed Newsom's effort, calling it a 'smart, measured approach' to counter Texas. Other battleground states are now under pressure to follow suit. Republicans in Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and Florida are considering similar mid-cycle redraws, while Democrats in New York and Maryland are weighing their options despite stricter state limits. Civil rights groups are preparing legal challenges in Texas, pointing out that every redistricting cycle since the 1970s has seen courts find the legislature in violation of the Voting Rights Act. As per AP, critics argue the latest map weakens Black representation in Congress despite claims by Republicans that it increases minority-majority districts. State Representative Ron Reynolds, a Democrat, warned colleagues about their legacy and said, 'Just like the people who were on the wrong side of history in 1965, history will be looking at the people who made the decisions in this body today.' Republicans, however, brushed aside accusations of racial bias. Katrina Pierson, a former Trump spokesperson turned lawmaker, told Democrats, 'You call my voters racist, you call my party racist and yet we're expected to follow the rules. There are Black and Hispanic and Asian Republicans in this chamber who were elected just like you.' With Trump personally lobbying Republican leaders across multiple states, and Democrats mobilising in response, the Texas map marks the opening clash in what could become a decisive national redistricting war ahead of 2026.
Hans India
44 minutes ago
- Hans India
Riled KCR trying to conceal KLIP fiasco, says Shabbir Ali
Hyderabad: Advisor to Telangana Government Mohammed Ali Shabbir accused former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao of trying to hide his failures in the Kaleshwaram project and remained upset as the clock is ticking. Anxious about the possible trouble he would be facing following PC Ghose commission's report, the former Minister said KCR rushed to court even before the Commission's report was presented in the Assembly for a debate. Speaking to media at Gandhi Bhavan after a 'Face to Face with People' programme, Shabbir Ali said KCR's rushing to court vindicates that there were major irregularities in the project. He pointed out that Justice Ghose had conducted a 15-month investigation into the Kaleshwaram project, questioning politicians, experts, engineers, bureaucrats and even central agencies. 'The Commission clearly stated that several mistakes were committed. The project had no approval from the Cabinet, no clearance from the Central Water Commission, and no permission from the National Dam Safety Authority. Nothing was followed, yet KCR went ahead with his own orders. Even in the old Nizam era, such mismanagement was not witnessed. KCR issued orders like 'Farmaan' to waste public money of over Rs 1.10 lakh crore,' he said. He announced that the Commission's findings would soon be placed before the Assembly for a detailed discussion. 'Once the debate is held, KCR will have to face the consequences. The Congress Government will not spare anyone responsible for this scam,' he asserted. Responding to BJP's criticism, Shabbir Ali said the classification of Muslims as Backward Classes was not new. 'Historically, several committees and commissions identified sections of the Muslim community as socially and educationally backward. The Hunter Commission in the 1880s and the Miller Committee in 1918 highlighted this. After Independence, the first Backward Classes Commission under Kaka Kalelkar (1953–55) listed many Muslim occupational groups such as weavers, butchers, and cotton cleaners as backward,' he said. He pointed out that many states had included Muslims in OBC lists well before the Mandal Commission. Tamil Nadu did so in 1951, Kerala in 1957, Karnataka in the 1960s–70s, and Andhra Pradesh in 1968. The Mandal Commission later estimated that about 8.4% of India's OBC population came from non-Hindu minorities, including Muslims. When its recommendations were implemented in the 1990s, several Muslim groups were added to the Central OBC list. The Supreme Court, in the Indra Sawhney case of 1992, also upheld that backward groups within any religion could be classified as OBCs, making this constitutionally valid.
