
Punjab to hire sign language experts under Juvenile Justice Act
These trained professionals will play a supportive role during court proceedings, thereby ensuring impartial and transparent outcomes. The minister further informed that the empanelled professionals would be deployed district-wise and would be compensated as per the provisions of the Acts. Timely and continuous assistance will be ensured wherever required.
It is worth mentioning that the Punjab Government has already set a precedent by broadcasting important proceedings of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in sign language.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
Fair compensation act restricts multi-crop land acquisition: Minister
Bathinda: Union minister of state for agriculture Ramnath Thakur has made it clear that land can be acquired for public purposes under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013, but its Section 10 restricts the acquisition of multi-crop irrigated land, unless in exceptional cases where no alternative land is available. The Act came into force on Jan 1, 2014. The statement was made in a written reply to a question from Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Tuesday. The response comes amid a controversy in Punjab, where the state govt's land pooling policy aiming to acquire nearly 65,000 acres of fertile land, is facing opposition from farmers. The minister said that data on conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes is maintained at the state level, as land is a state subject. However, the RFCTLARR Act strongly discourages such conversions. To mitigate the impact on farmers, the Act provides for compensatory mechanisms, including monetary compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement benefits, and in some cases, land-for-land compensation, according to the minister. Despite a marginal decline in cultivable land, Thakur provided a positive outlook on the agriculture sector's performance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Tiny Hearing Aid is Transforming Lives Across The UK Hear True Learn More Undo Citing the "Land Use Statistics-at a Glance 2023-24" report, he stated that the net sown area has remained relatively stable. Further, the gross cropped area has expanded significantly, rising from 201.3 million hectares in 2013-14 to 217.8 million hectares in 2023-24. Implementation of various govt initiatives and technological advancements have contributed to a continuous rise in cropping intensity. Harsimrat's question sought details on whether the govt acknowledged the decline in agricultural land, the factors contributing to it, and the specific steps taken to prevent the diversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
State Govt Defends SIT Probe into APMC Corruption as Serving Farmers' Interests
Nagpur: The Maharashtra govt on Tuesday defended its decision to appoint a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged corruption in Nagpur's Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), informing the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court that the law governing such bodies exists "for the benefit of farmers, not for the benefit of office-bearers. " Appearing for the state, government pleader Devendra Chauhan argued that while market committees are autonomous, they ultimately fall under the ambit of the state govt, which has the authority to oversee their functioning and order inquiries. "The APMC Act is not designed to protect office-holders but to safeguard farmers' interests. The argument that the Act bars the appointment of an SIT is untenable," Chauhan submitted. The SIT, headed by collector Dr Vipin Itankar, was tasked with investigating alleged irregularities by the APMC's board of directors. However, committee chairman Sheikh Ahmadbhai Karim Bhai and director Kishor Palandurkar challenged the probe through senior counsel Sunil Manohar and Ajay Ghare, contending it was unlawful. Manohar told the court that the cooperation department had already conducted two separate inquiries into the matter and that two related cases are still pending before the high court. He stressed that the disputed transactions — allocation of shops — took place in 2012 under a different executive committee, making it unfair to hold the current 2021 committee responsible. "The SIT order shows the state wants to investigate APMC's day-to-day functioning. While APMC is under the state's purview, it remains an autonomous body. This SIT is therefore illegal," Manohar said. The bench heard arguments from both sides and reserved its verdict, which is expected within a week.


NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
More Acquittals, Fewer Convictions: 5 Years Of Madhya Pradesh's Anti-Conversion Law
Bhopal: The first five and a half years of Madhya Pradesh's stringent anti-religious conversion law branded in political circles as the 'Love Jihad' law paint a picture far removed from its stated intent. What was introduced as a tough legal shield to stop forced conversions has, in reality, seen more accused walk free than end up behind bars. The Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Ordinance, brought into force in January 2020, and its successor, the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act, 2021, promised uncompromising action against religious conversions through coercion, deception, or marriage. Yet, the figures tabled by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government in the Assembly on Tuesday have shaken even seasoned political observers. Between January 1, 2020, and July 15, 2025, a total of 283 cases were registered across the state under the law. Of these 197 cases, nearly 70% are still pending in various courts. In the remaining 86 cases where trials have concluded or settlements have been reached, the numbers tell a story of collapsing prosecutions: 50 acquittals, just 7 convictions, and one case that ended in a mutual compromise. The convictions themselves are scattered. A lone life sentence in a case from Agar-Malwa's Nalkheda police station; a 10-year jail term in a Mandsaur case involving rape charges; two convictions from Dhar, and one each from Burhanpur and Rewa districts. So why is the law faltering in court? According to senior police sources, the primary reasons are flimsy evidence and hostile witnesses. In case after case, women initially presented as victims have told courts they entered into relationships or marriages with men of another religion of their own free will, living with them without fear or inducement. In some cases involving minors, families admitted that FIRs were filed under societal pressure, only to retract their statements later, dismantling the prosecution's case. The data also reveals troubling demographics. Out of the 283 cases, 71 victims were under the age of 18. Most incidents have emerged from the communally sensitive and tribal-dominated Malwa-Nimar region. Indore tops the list with 74 cases (26% of the total), followed by Bhopal (33), Dhar (13), Ujjain and Khandwa (12 each), Chhatarpur (11), and Khargone (10). The government has attempted to project renewed seriousness, informing the Assembly that in May this year it formed a state-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) to re-examine every case filed under the law so far. The Act itself prescribes harsh penalties: forced conversion can attract 1-5 years in prison and a fine up to Rs 25,000; if the victim is a minor, woman, or belongs to SC/ST, punishment rises to 2-10 years and a fine up to Rs 50,000; concealing religion before marriage can result in 3-10 years' imprisonment and a Rs 50,000 fine; and mass conversions carry 5-10 years in prison with fines up to Rs 1 lakh. Despite these provisions, the law's enforcement track record appears weak, a fact critics say undercuts its deterrent effect. And now, the political rhetoric is heating up again. In March, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav declared that the government is considering amending the Act to make 'Love Jihad' punishable by death, a move that would make Madhya Pradesh's legislation one of the harshest of its kind in the country.