Why Justice Yadav's anti-Muslim rhetoric is not an impeachable offence
The push to impeach Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad HC for a speech attacking Muslim practices is a good time to rethink the notion of blasphemy laws in a modern society
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India Today
24 minutes ago
- India Today
Trump administration to internally review Smithsonian museums
The White House announced on Tuesday it will conduct an internal review of certain Smithsonian museums and exhibitions in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. The move follows President Donald Trump's earlier accusation that the institution spreads 'anti-American ideology,' a charge that has drawn concern from civil rights a letter to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch, three senior White House officials said the review's purpose is to ensure 'historically accurate' and 'inclusive portrayals' of the nation's initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions,' the letter stated. The correspondence referenced Trump's March executive order, Restoring Truth And Sanity To American History, in which the Republican president singled out the Smithsonian, alleging it had come under the sway of a 'divisive, race-centered ideology' in recent order is consistent with the Trump administration's broader push to eliminate diversity and inclusion programs across government, universities, and corporations. Critics have warned that the measure risks political interference in the vast museum and research complex, as well as undermining decades of social progress and the acknowledgement of pivotal chapters in American to its website, the Smithsonian Institution encompasses 21 museums and galleries, plus the National Zoo. The institution has not yet responded to requests for White House said the review will examine the tone and historical framing of exhibition texts, websites, educational resources, and digital content, with particular attention to displays planned for the 250th anniversary. Within 120 days, the museums are expected to begin replacing 'divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions' where deemed necessary, the letter added.- EndsWith inputs from Reuters Tune InMust Watch
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Delhi High Court Rules Victim Compensation Scheme Not Applicable Retrospectively; 1984 Riot Claim Rejected
New Delhi: In a significant ruling, Delhi High Court has said the Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme (DVCS) can't be applied retrospectively, rejecting a plea for compensation by a victim of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Clarifying the legal position, a bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar also noted that DVCS compensation can be paid only in cases where victims have not already received money under other govt compensation schemes. The court was hearing a plea by a family that lost its breadwinner in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots following Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination. Avtar Singh, a Sikh, was killed by a rampaging mob in the Raj Nagar area of Palam. The men accused were later acquitted in 1986. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Gold Rates Today in Delhi | Silver Rates Today in Delhi The HC traced the DVCS's origin to Section 357A of the erstwhile CrPC, which dealt with victim compensation. It opined that since the scheme owes its existence to Section 357A, it should apply prospectively. It added that "retrospective application of either the provisions of Section 357A of the CrPC or the DVCS would open the floodgates for all and sundry to rake up old and stale claims seeking compensation, be it for an incident occurring just before the introduction of the scheme or three decades prior, like in the present case." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What does it take to be an air traffic controller in Singapore? CNA Read More Undo While rejecting the compensation claim, HC noted that the complainant, Baljeet Kaur, disclosed in an affidavit that her family had already received a total of Rs 11,90,000 from the govt for the death of her father, Avtar Singh, in the 1984 Sikh riots. "Clause 4 (of DVCS) restricts eligibility for compensation to victims or their dependents who have not been compensated for the loss or injury under any other scheme of the Central Govt or State Govt. This clarifies that the DVCS was formed as an umbrella scheme to provide relief to those victims who have been deprived of compensation through any other scheme or Act," HC noted, after amicus curiae appointed in the matter, Senior Advocate Sumeet Verma, argued that Singh's family is entitled to additional compensation under DVCS. The bench noted that the "incident in question took place in the year 1984, and since then, multiple schemes have been introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, and later adopted and implemented by state govts, including the Delhi govt. A review of these schemes shows that the total monetary benefit, without indexation, would surpass the upper limit of compensation prescribed under the DVCS. The govt has taken additional initiatives to reimburse the victims for property damage and loss, and skill development as well. " While this case was one of five reopened in 2017 due to a botched investigation into the 1984 riots, the verdict narrowed down on the issue of compensation payable, after it emerged that accused Mahender Singh Manan, also known as Mahender Sharabi, and Ram Kumar, are now dead. However, HC made it clear that its ruling won't exclude any victims affected by the riots who have not received compensation under any schemes from lodging their claims under other existing schemes. The bench directed that such claims be verified by authorities within a period of sixteen weeks of receipt and, if approved, payments be made within a period of eight weeks. 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.
Hindustan Times
40 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
HC overturns acquittal of four in 1984 riots case, orders retrial of surviving accused
The Delhi high court has set aside a nearly 40-year-old verdict that acquitted four men in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and ordered a retrial, saying the trial was conducted in a 'hasty manner' and that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) failed to make sufficient efforts to collect evidence. (Shutterstock) The case concerned the killing of Harbhajan Singh in Ghaziabad's Raj Nagar on November 1, 1984 — a day after then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination. According to his wife, a group of men attacked and set her husband ablaze and also torched their home. In May 1986, a trial court acquitted the four accused of arson and murder, citing contradictions between the woman's statements to police and in court, as well as the delay in filing the complaint. A bench of justices Subramanian Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar took up the matter suo motu after prima facie finding faults in the 1986 judgment and describing the investigation as 'perfunctory'. The issue came up while the bench was hearing appeals in another case from the same locality, in which five men — including former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar, ex-MLA Captain Bhagmal, and Girdhari Lal — were convicted in 2013 for the murder of five Sikhs. Among the appellants in that case was Krishan Khokhar, brother of Balwan Khokhar. The court noted that neither the state nor the victims had challenged the 1986 acquittal, but said it could not ignore a flawed investigation and trial, particularly when the verdict was being cited in other appeals. In its verdict delivered on Monday, the bench said the trial court's decision had resulted in a 'miscarriage of justice' to the victim's wife and children, depriving them of their fundamental right to a fair trial. The judges faulted the CBI for failing to trace the victim's body or recover articles stolen from the house. They also noted that investigators did not associate key witnesses with the probe, including the victim's children — who were present at the time — and neighbours. The court rejected the trial court's conclusion that contradictions in the woman's testimony undermined the case, saying there was enough material to support her account. It also said the investigating agency had not taken 'sufficient efforts' to gather the best possible evidence. 'Failure to order a reinvestigation 40 years after the incident would be turning a Nelson's eye to society's needs and the victim's rights to a comprehensive, free, and fair probe,' the bench said. Quoting the amicus curiae, senior advocate Vivek Sood, the court noted that after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, large-scale violence forced widows, children, and residents to flee their homes for safety. This, it said, meant witnesses would not have been readily available for investigation — but that did not absolve the agency of its duty to secure evidence using the powers under the Criminal Procedure Code. 'These errors have resulted in miscarriage of justice… If not rectified, this may result in loss of hope in our legal system and compromise the interests of society,' the bench observed. Sood argued that the acquittal was 'totally perverse' and ignored the scale of violence, property destruction, and displacement suffered by victims. He pointed out that the complainant herself was forced to leave Delhi after her husband's killing and the loss of her home. While the counsel for the sole surviving accused argued that a retrial would serve no useful purpose, the court clarified that the fresh trial would apply only to him. Proceedings against the three other accused have abated due to their deaths. The CBI has been directed to conclude the probe expeditiously, bearing in mind the age of the case. In a separate ruling, the same bench ordered the reconstruction of four-decade-old trial records in another 1984 anti-Sikh riots case from Raj Nagar. That case concerns the acquittal of five men, including Balwan Khokhar, in the killing of four Sikhs. The court said victims' and society's rights to a fair investigation and trial cannot be undermined by missing files or flawed earlier proceedings, and directed the trial court to undertake the reconstruction.
