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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
FIR after sick mare found tied up without food, water
1 2 Kolkata: An FIR was registered after Peta India rescued a horse from Maidan with assistance from cops last Monday. The mare, blind in one eye and whose physical condition indicated prolonged neglect by her former owner, was found tied up with no access to food or water. Veterinarians said she was emaciated and suffering from painful chronic osteoarthritis. The mare was later transferred to a sanctuary. The FIR was registered on June 2 under sections on negligent conduct regarding the animal, which poses a probable danger to human life or any potential threat of grievous harm, and for causing grievous hurt by maiming the animal. This case also invokes multiple sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, including neglecting the duty of care, for unreasonably tethering the animal, and for failing to provide adequate food, water, and shelter. Moreover, Section 3(5) of the BNS was invoked for committing crimes in furtherance of common intention. "This rescue is not an isolated case; it's a reflection of the ongoing cruelty that horses face daily on Kolkata's roads, hauling tourist carriages and when abandoned in the Maidan area. We urge CM Mamata Banerjee to take decisive action to retire all horses used to pull carriages, and introduce heritage-style electric carriages," said Peta India advocacy associate Chumki Dutta. In recent months, Peta India has filed two FIRs — at Bhowanipore and Maidan — following two incidents of cruelty to horses. The first one was registered after a video surfaced on social media showing one of two horses hitched to a carriage collapsing on the road. The second concerned the death of a mare found abandoned and recumbent. In 2024, at least eight horses were reported dead in Kolkata due to similar abuse and neglect, according to data gathered by Peta India and the CAPE Foundation. Investigations reveal that many horses used in the city are anaemic, malnourished, overworked, and suffer from painful conditions caused by constant use of hard road surfaces. The Calcutta HC had directed the state to develop a proposal for rehabilitating horse owners and providing them with an alternative livelihood. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
My daughter has decided to be off social media for now: Influencer's dad
Kolkata: "My daughter voluntarily decided to be off social media for the time being and vowed to be more careful about what she writes and speaks," said the father of the fourth-year law student who was granted bail by Calcutta HC on Thursday, a week after being arrested in a hate-speech case for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. He told TOI hours after her release on Friday. "She is a smart and educated girl. She realised where profanity led her. I am certain she will learn from her mistakes and will make the right career choices now." Although she was granted interim bail by a vacation bench on Thursday, she could only be released from Alipore women's correctional home on Friday afternoon following receipt and presentation of the court order and related documents before the jail authorities. He said his daughter suffers from Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and kidney stone ailments and is back on medication immediately after the release as she was off medicines during the jail stay. "The court allowed the medicines but as per protocol, medicines cannot be administered to undertrial prisoners in the absence of the prescription which we lost during our transit from Kolkata, Pune, and Gurugram. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Asigurările de sănătate NN vin cu premii garantate. Asigurarea de Sănătate NN Înscrie-te acum Undo The doctor advised her lots of rest and to take the medicines again," he added. Speaking to TOI, her father said they were original inhabitants of Bengaluru who came to Kolkata seven years ago and started living in a complex off Bypass. "Since back home, she is speaking to her grandparents, relatives, friends, and cousins who were all very worried about her safety. Jail is not a desirable place for anyone, and our entire family was really worried. Finally, we all can get some much-needed rest and sleep. She has also been advised to sleep a lot," he said. According to him, now that she is out of prison, she will focus on securing law degree. "She missed some exams last month which may impact her degree. We will approach the university soon seeking clarity and will plead with them to allow her to appear in the exams she missed," he said. He, however, said they were still worried about her and the entire family's safety even after her release. "We are still in shock over the kind of threats we received. There were rape and murder threats and whatnot. But, as law-abiding citizens, we have faith in the police administration and will also cooperate with the cops in the probe in whatever manner possible," he added. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
The bigger hurt
Why two HCs' observations on freedom of expression make for troubling reading Freedom of expression is a precondition for democracy, and progress. Ideas are easily expressed through words, but sometimes more powerfully through art, as England-based street artist Banksy demonstrates frequently. India's Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression, with reasonable restrictions. The key word is 'reasonable'. However, two recent high court observations appear to strain the word. At first glance, Calcutta HC's remarks for social media content creator Sharmistha Panoli, and Karnataka HC's rebuke to actor Kamal Hassan, seem indisputable. Panoli is in the dock for her alleged comments against a community, after Op Sindoor. Calcutta HC told her, 'Look, we have freedom of speech, but that doesn't mean you will go on to hurt others.' To Hassan, who has ruffled feathers by suggesting Kannada is an offshoot of Tamil, Karnataka HC said, 'You may be Kamal Hassan or anybody, you cannot hurt the sentiments of the masses.' Effectively, both courts have said: take care your words don't hurt others. If this sets a precedent, all conversation, discussion, debate in this country will need to be convivial. Speakers, writers, artists will need to err on the side of caution not to annoy their audience. Even then, the sword of causing hurt will hang over their heads. The safest thing would be to shut up. Freedom of speech and expression is a hard-earned modern right. Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno was burnt alive for propagating the idea of an infinite universe, which offended the Church. Galileo lived his last years under house arrest for holding the view that Earth revolves around the Sun. One person's conviction is another's heresy, that's why making others' 'sentiments', opinions and feelings the test of good/bad speech is the surest way to destroy free speech. Supreme Court recently took this view while deciding the Imran Pratapgarhi case. It said the effect of words 'cannot be judged on the basis of the standards of people who always have a sense of insecurity or of those who always perceive criticism as a threat to their power or position' and 'even if a large number of persons dislike the views expressed by another, the right of the person to express the views must be respected and protected.' Unpalatable or hostile words certainly vitiate the atmosphere, but the solution is not to pack commentators inside jails. SC has a better prescription: counter views with views. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Fake HC lawyer dupes woman of 3 lakh
Kolkata: A complaint was filed at Tiljala PS against an individual who allegedly impersonated a high court lawyer and defrauded a Picnic Garden resident of Rs 3 lakh. The accused allegedly forged official court orders, notices, and even judges' signatures, and set up mock virtual court sessions and falsely used the HC registrar's name to convince the victim of his legitimacy as a legal representative at the Calcutta HC. "He systematically deceived me into transferring over Rs 3 lakh," the woman said. When she turned suspicious, the accused became unreachable. "We collected technical evidence and started a probe," said an officer.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ex-judges in post-retirement jobs or poll fray hit public trust: CJI
NEW DELHI: Taking a swipe at judges who resign to contest polls, as Calcutta HC's Justice Abhijit Ganguly did last year, or take up govt posts after retirement, CJI B R Gavai said such decisions raised "significant ethical concerns" and could undermine public trust in judiciary's integrity. Delivering a lecture at a round table organised by the UK Supreme Court Tuesday, CJI Gavai said, "If a judge takes up another appointment with the govt immediately after retirement, or resigns from the bench to contest elections, it raises significant ethical concerns and invites public scrutiny. "A judge contesting an election for a political office can lead to doubts regarding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, as it may be seen as a conflict of interest or as an attempt to gain favour with the govt." He said, "The timing of post-retirement engagements could undermine public's trust in judiciary's integrity, as it could create a perception that judicial decisions were influenced by the prospect of future govt appointments or political involvement." Flagging this tradition of judges accepting post-retirement assignments from govt, which is as old as the institution, Justice Gavai said, "In light of this, many of my colleagues and I have pledged not to accept any post-retirement roles from the govt. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo This commitment is an effort to preserve credibility and independence of the judiciary." The first SC judge to accept governorship was Justice S Fazl Ali, whose appointment as Orrisa governor was announced by the Nehru govt in 1952 when he was still a judge of the Supreme Court. Justice Ganguly's plunge into politics immediately after resigning from Calcutta HC and contesting elections on a BJP ticket was dramatic as he had judicially castigated TMC govt in many cases.
