Latest news with #Bench
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Orissa HC pulls up government over cow slaughter
CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has taken serious note of the alleged failure of the state government to implement the Odisha Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1960, in its true spirit. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice MS Raman, while hearing a PIL on Thursday, issued firm directions to the state to appoint a competent authority under the Act within three weeks. The bench observed that despite a complete prohibition on cow slaughter under section 3 of the Act, illegal practices were continuing unchecked across Odisha. While bull or bullock slaughter may be allowed under certain circumstances, such cases require a written certificate issued by a competent authority, a post that, according to the Bench, has not been filled by the state government since the Act's enactment. The court held that the lack of appointment of a competent authority had effectively rendered the law unworkable, reducing the 1960 Act to a 'dead letter'. 'We direct the state government to appoint the competent authority within three weeks from the date of communication of this order and submit a report on the next date,' the court ordered. The case will now be taken up on September 1.
The Hindu
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bombay HC seeks State's stand on PIL for use of loudspeakers for Azan in 24 mosques
The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra Government to file a detailed response on the maintainability of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking permission for 24 mosques to use loudspeakers for the Azan, in compliance with legal decibel limits. The petition, filed by the Hazrat Khwaja Garib Nawaz Welfare Association Maharashtra through its General Secretary, Mohammed Yusuf Umar Ansari, seeks directions to allow regulated use of loudspeakers for the Azan in specific mosques. The State Government has raised preliminary objections, questioning the locus standi and credibility of the petitioner. Government Pleader P.H. Kantharia submitted that Mr. Ansari is facing an externment order dated May 16, and had allegedly violated it by entering Mumbai to file the petition affidavit on July 4. Four criminal cases are also pending against him under the Indian Penal Code. The State further submitted that an audio clip circulated by Mr. Ansari, allegedly inviting 22,900 people to attend the court hearing, created a potential law-and-order issue, prompting additional police deployment around the High Court premises. It argued that, given his conduct and background, the court should not entertain the PIL. Advocate Shaikh Imran Mubarak, appearing for Mr. Ansari, denied all allegations. The Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V. Marne directed the State to file formal objections within two weeks, with the petitioner permitted to respond within two weeks thereafter. 'In order to enable us to decide with regard to the locus and maintainability of the PIL at the instance of the General Secretary of the petitioner, we deem it appropriate to direct the learned Government Pleader to submit objections to the maintainability of the PIL by way of objections after supplying a copy of the same to the learned counsel for the petitioner. Let the objections be filed within two weeks from today,' the Bench said. 'Needless to state that the petitioner shall be at liberty to file response thereto within a further period of two weeks from receipt of such objections,' it added. The Bench also noted that a similar matter is pending and ordered both cases to be clubbed for a joint hearing after four weeks. The petitioner argued that the Azan - the Islamic call to prayer - takes place five times daily, each lasting less than three minutes, without musical instruments or amplifiers that cause disruptive noise. He cited the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, and WHO guidelines to contend that the Azan falls within permissible sound levels in residential and silence zones. Mr. Ansari has attached 22,900 signatures from citizens in support of reinstating loudspeakers at the mosques, asserting that other public noise sources - such as traffic, political rallies, and festivals across religions - often exceed 120 decibels without consistent regulatory enforcement. He submitted that the Azan is delivered at fixed times - 5 a.m., 1 p.m., 5.30 p.m., 6.45 p.m., and 8.45 p.m. - and is integral to religious practice. The PIL seeks to prevent selective application of noise regulations that, he argued, disproportionately affect minority religious groups. The petition names 24 mosques in Mumbai allegedly affected by the removal of loudspeakers, including the Dargah Hazrat Syed Makhdoom Shah and the Masjid Compound Trust.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
Kerala HC orders weekly hygiene checks at Sabarimala eateries during Mandala-Makaravilakku season
KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has directed the Vigilance wing of Travancore Devaswom Board to conduct regular inspections at least once in every week at all the hotels, restaurants, tea stalls, etc, during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season in Sabarimala. The Chief Vigilance Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board should submit a report in this regard to the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala Devaswom. 'We are bewildered and dismayed, when we are informed about the way in which the beverages and food were prepared in a pilgrim place like Sabarimala where a large number of devotees visit in a day during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season,' stated the Bench. The court issued the order on the petition filed by Akhila Bharatheeya Ayyappa Seva Sangam of Kottayam seeking a directive to conduct regular inspection of places vending food and beverages in connection with Sabarimala pilgrimage in and around Erumely during Mandalam-Makaravilakku season and to ensure that food and beverages served there is hygienic and no noxious substances or water is being used or distributed to pilgrims, even free of cost. The petitioner also alleged that a person named Abdul Shameem has been vending lemon water, tea, coffee and juices in the most unhygienic and unhealthy manner, unauthorisedly tapping water from a toilet complex. 'We are disturbed to note that the person has run the shop for about two weeks using the dirty water from a toilet complex in an unhealthy and unhygienic condition, unnoticed by any of the authorities deployed in Sabarimala, during the festival season,' said the Division Bench.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Delhi HC allows release of Udaipur Files movie
Bench dismisses plea seeking the movie's stay, saying the petitioner failed to establish a prima facie case in his favour The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to stay the release of movie Udaipur Files, based on tailor Kanhaiya Lal murder case, scheduled to hit the screens on Friday. A Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela passed the order while dismissing a plea seeking the movie's stay, saying the petitioner failed to establish a prima facie case in his favour. 'The producer has already spent life earnings in the film and if the movie is not released, the balance of convenience will be disturbed. Once a film has been certified by the Board and trial is not likely to be affected by the exhibition, we find ourselves unable to agree to prayer for staying the release of the movie,' the Bench said. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) dismissed all revision petitions challenging the certification of the controversial film Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder, clearing the path for its public release. While allowing the release of the movie, the court on Thursday said exhibition of the film would not cause any harm. "Trial will be conducted by the judge uninfluenced as a trained judge. He [the petitioner] has failed to establish how irreparable loss will be caused to him if the release is not stayed. Prayer for staying release is hereby rejected," the Bench said. The Bench was hearing arguments on a plea against the MIB order clearing certification of the movie. During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner Mohd. Javed, an accused in the murder case, told the court that if the film was allowed to be released, it would "prejudice the trial". "Right to fair trial is supreme. Witnesses are to be examined. Film is only going to prejudice the trial. Dialogues are lifted from charge sheet. Title itself says Kanhaiya Lal murder. It will affect the trial," senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for the accused, told the court. The petition was opposed by the counsel representing the government, who said authorities had applied their mind while clearing the movie for release. "This is as fair as it can go. As transparent as it can be," the counsel said. The counsel representing the movie producer, meanwhile, told the court that tickets were already booked by viewers. "Movie is to be released tomorrow [on Friday]. Producer has invested his lifetime savings in making this movie, which is his right as freedom of speech. Accused's name, his specific role not mentioned anywhere in film," Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, appearing for the film producer, said.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Streamline biometric verification for NEET, Delhi High Court tells NTA
The Delhi High Court has ordered the National Testing Agency (NTA) to streamline the biometric verification processes for the conduct of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in future. A bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Sachin Dutta noted that it would be 'apposite for the NTA to constitute a Grievance Redressal Framework to examine the complaints or grievances of candidates in a time-bound manner.' Also Read | Constitute grievance panel for NEET candidates facing technical issues: Delhi High Court tells NTA The court's direction came while setting aside an order of a single judge Bench that awarded 'grace marks' to two candidates of NEET (UG) 2025 by applying 'normalization formula' and other consequential directions. NTA had filed an appeal against the July 28 order. The candidates had alleged that time was lost during the course of conduct of NEET (UG) 2025, which was attributable to acts of omission and commission by the personnel deployed at the examination venue. The candidates said that on the day of the exam on May 4, 2025, although they had reached the examination centre within the stipulated time, 'disturbances and loss of time took place at the centre due to the failure of biometric verification, as a result of which there was a delay in authentication'. They said the entire process resulted in the candidates entering and being seated in the examination hall just in the nick of time. During the course of the examination, the candidates were interrupted to undergo Aadhaar verification once again and resubmit the undertaking, as a result of which crucial time was lost. NTA, in its appeal against the single judge Bench order, argued that the candidates did not strictly adhere to the reporting time referred to in the admit cards issued to them and arrived at the examination venue shortly before the prescribed outer deadline for last entry. Also Read | Delhi HC seeks NTA's response on plea alleging defective biometric system at NEET-UG 2025 exam centre The court, in the August 6 order, highlighted, 'the chaotic consequences of extending 'marks improvisation' for individual delays in biometric authentication for reasons not attributable to the testing agency'. 'Such an approach would open the floodgates to claims by candidates who experienced even minor technical delays in biometric authentication... Granting marks for delays in the process of biometric verification, that too for no fault of the appellant, would not be a justifiable course to follow,' it added.
