Latest news with #ChhattisgarhHighCourt
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Kerala nuns' arrest: Sessions court in Chhattisgarh declines bail plea, refers case to Bilaspur HC
Raipur/Thiruvananthapuram: In a setback for two Kerala-based nuns currently lodged in Durg jail, a sessions court on Wednesday declined to entertain their bail plea, directing the petitioners to approach the NIA-designated bench at the Chhattisgarh High Court in Bilaspur. The court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the bail application in the matter, which is being probed under the provisions of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act. Despite insistence from the nuns' counsel, the court dismissed the plea. Just before the sessions court began its hearing, a group of Bajarang Dal activists gathered and started shouting slogans against the nuns and the way they were trying to cover up a case that, according to them, involved human trafficking and forced religious conversion. The complainant in the case is Ravi Nigam. A battery of five lawyers represented him in court during the proceedings. Advocate Jaiswal, present in the court, said the sessions court is not competent to hear the case and asked them to approach the High Court. As the news came, the Bajarang Dal activists, waiting outside the court, erupted in celebration. The issue was raised in both houses of Parliament, though it was not taken up for discussion. Earlier, all MPs from Kerala staged a protest outside the parliament. Later, Congress-led UDF MPs called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and briefed him on the matter. Senior lawmakers, including AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal, have sought an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring the issue before him. Venugopal, speaking in the Lok Sabha, said this is a burning issue in Kerala. Centre must intervene as the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister is not acting responsibly, he said. "Spoke in Parliament demanding the immediate release of Sister Vandana and Sister Preethi belonging to the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, who were brutally attacked by Bajrang Dal goons in Durg in Chhattisgarh and later arrested by the police without any reason. Instead of upholding the Constitution, the Chhattisgarh CM is validating the mob narrative that took the law into their own hands for their hateful agenda. The PM and Kerala BJP wax eloquent about their newfound love for Christians, but in reality, have venom in their hearts against minorities," Venugopal posted on X. Earlier in the day, a delegation led by CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat and including MPs A.A. Rahim, K. Radhakrishnan, and Jose K. Mani visited the nuns in jail. Karat condemned the arrest, calling it a clear case of fabricated charges. 'The nuns are completely innocent. This is a targeted move against Christians. We demand their immediate release and quashing of the case,' she said. Back in Kerala, both the ruling LDF and the Congress-led UDF launched separate protests. Senior Congress leaders, including KPCC president K. Sudhakaran and Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, marched to the Kerala Raj Bhavan, demanding urgent action. 'This is unacceptable. These nuns are known for their humanitarian work. The Centre must act decisively,' said Satheesan. Later in the evening, Church leaders and members of the Christian community will hold a protest march to the Raj Bhavan. The two nuns -- Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis -- belong to the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, a congregation under the Syro-Malabar Church in Alappuzha district. They had been working at a hospital in Agra. On July 26, while accompanying three women from Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district to Agra for jobs as kitchen helpers in a convent, the nuns and a man, Sukhman Mandavi, were stopped at a Chhattisgarh railway station by Bajrang Dal activists and later taken into custody by police. They were produced before a local court and sent to judicial custody. With the sessions court now directing the matter to the High Court, the nuns will remain in jail until further orders.
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
Saying 'I Love You' Not Sex Harassment Without Proven Intent: Chhattisgarh High Court
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh High Court has acquitted a youth accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, stating that merely saying "I love you" does not amount to sexual harassment unless clear sexual intent is established. A single-judge bench of Justice Sanjay S Agarwal upheld the verdict of the trial court and dismissed the appeal filed by the state government, observing that the prosecution failed to provide adequate evidence to prove either the accused's intent or the age of the victim. The case originated from the Kurud police station area of Dhamtari district, where a 15-year-old schoolgirl had alleged that while she was returning home, the accused saw her and said "I love you." She also claimed that the youth had harassed her earlier on multiple occasions. Based on her complaint, the police registered a case under sections 354D (stalking) and 509 (outraging the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, along with section 8 of the POCSO Act and section 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST Act. However, the trial court acquitted the accused due to lack of evidence, leading the state government to challenge the acquittal in the High Court. During the hearing, the High Court noted that neither the testimony of the victim nor that of her friends demonstrated any sexual intent behind the accused's actions. The court further highlighted that the prosecution had failed to prove that the accused was aware of the victim's caste, rendering the application of the SC/ST Act baseless. Justice Agarwal emphasised that an isolated instance of saying "I love you," without repeated contact or suggestive behaviour, does not fulfil the legal criteria for sexual harassment under the POCSO Act. Referring to the Supreme Court's judgment in Attorney General for India vs Satish (2021), the court underscored that a sexual overture must be supported by clear intent for it to fall under the purview of sexual harassment as defined in Section 7 of the Act. The court also raised concerns over the failure to verify the victim's age and described the investigation as inadequate and careless. Concluding that there was no sufficient evidence to convict the youth, the High Court upheld the trial court's acquittal and dismissed the state's appeal.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
HC asks mining secy to file personal affidavit to PIL in illegal mining case
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh High Court directed the Secretary of the Mining Department to file a personal affidavit in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning illegal stone mining on govt land. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The mining allegedly was ongoing for years. The directive came during the hearing of a PIL filed by Kholbahara, son of a former Sarpanch, through counsel Yogesh Chandra. The petition alleges that Rajeshwar Sahu, son of former Sarpanch, and others were illegally mining minor minerals (stone) on govt land at Khasra No. 16/1, with an area of 14.2 hectares, in Nandeli village, Jaijaipur tehsil, Sakti district. Villagers repeatedly complained to the district and tehsil administrations about the illegal activity. Following a lack of action, Kholbahara previously filed a writ petition. While an initial notice was issued, the court dismissed the petition on June 30, 2025, stating that the petitioner was not personally affected and the matter pertained to public interest. The court granted liberty to file a PIL. The current PIL was filed under Article 226 of the Constitution through counsel Chandra. A division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Vibhu Dutt Guru heard the matter. The petitioner's counsel informed the court that the respondents were gradually filling the site after receiving the court's notice, stressing the need for action. The Advocate General sought time to file a response in the case, which the court granted. Chief Justice Sinha instructed the Secretary of the Mining Department to submit a personal affidavit in the matter.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Non-compliance in compassionate appt: HC issues contempt to police officials
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh High Court issued contempt notices to DIG Parul Mathur and Janjgir-Champa SP Vijay Pandey for failing to comply with its order to provide a compassionate appointment to the son of late ASI Boond Ram Bharti within 90 days. Bharti was compulsorily retired in 2017, but after his death, his service was reinstated following a High Court directive. The delay in implementing the court's order prompted a contempt petition, highlighting the broader issue of over 1,100 such petitions filed this year due to non-compliance by authorities. The case involves the late Boond Ram Bharti, who was compulsorily retired from service as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) by DIG (Administration), Raipur, on 18 Aug 2017. Following his death, the Home secretary cancelled the compulsory retirement order, making his dependents eligible for compassionate appointment, as per a High Court order. However, despite the High Court's directive to provide a compassionate appointment within 90 days, Vikki Bharti, son of Boond Ram Bharti, has not yet received the appointment in the police department. Counsels Abhishek Pandey and Priya Agrawal filed a contempt petition in the High Court. They informed the court that senior police officers are failing to comply with court orders within the stipulated timeframe. This non-compliance resulted in 1,149 contempt petitions being filed between Jan and July this year, consuming valuable court time. The counsels cited provisions for six months imprisonment and Rs 2,000 fine in contempt cases. The counsels sought action against the DIG and SP under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. Taking serious note of the matter, the High Court issued notices to the senior police officers, seeking their replies. Clarifying the restoration of Boond Ram Bharti's service after his death, counsel Pandey said that many govt employees over the age of 50 were compulsorily retired under a govt scheme following an assessment of their performance and alleged poor service records. Boond Ram, along with several other affected employees, challenged the compulsory retirement orders in the High Court. In response, a committee was constituted to review the cases in accordance with the court's directive. The committee subsequently recommended the reinstatement of several employees, including Boond Ram Bharti. However, in the interim, Boond Ram passed away, and his service was reinstated 21 days after his death, the counsel informed the court.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh HC issues contempt notice to police officials for not complying with compassionate appointment order
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh High Court issued contempt notices to DIG Parul Mathur and Janjgir-Champa SP Vijay Pandey for failing to comply with its order to provide a compassionate appointment to the son of the late ASI Boond Ram Bharti within 90 days. Bharti was compulsorily retired in 2017, but after his death, his service was reinstated following a High Court directive. The delay in implementing the court's order prompted a contempt petition, highlighting the broader issue of over 1,100 such petitions filed this year due to non-compliance by authorities. The case involves the late Boond Ram Bharti, who was compulsorily retired from service as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) by the DIG (Administration), Raipur, on 18 August 2017. Following his death, the Home Secretary cancelled the compulsory retirement order, making his dependents eligible for compassionate appointment, as per a High Court order. However, despite the High Court's directive to provide a compassionate appointment within 90 days, Vikki Bharti, son of Boond Ram Bharti, has not yet received the appointment in the police department. Counsels Abhishek Pandey and Priya Agrawal filed a contempt petition in the High Court. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AirSense 11 – Smart tech for deep sleep ResMed Buy Now Undo They informed the court that senior police officers are failing to comply with court orders within the stipulated timeframe. This non-compliance resulted in 1,149 contempt petitions being filed between January and July this year, consuming valuable court time. The counsels cited provisions for six months imprisonment and a ₹2,000 fine in contempt cases. The counsels sought action against the DIG and SP under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. Taking serious note of the matter, the High Court issued notices to the senior police officers, seeking their replies. Clarifying the restoration of Boond Ram Bharti's service after his death, counsel Pandey said that many govt employees over the age of 50 were compulsorily retired under a govt scheme following an assessment of their performance and alleged poor service records. Boond Ram, along with several other affected employees, challenged the compulsory retirement orders in the High Court. In response, a committee was constituted to review the cases in accordance with the court's directive. The committee subsequently recommended the reinstatement of several employees, including Boond Ram Bharti. However, in the interim, Boond Ram passed away, and his service was reinstated 21 days after his death, the counsel informed the court.
