Latest news with #CitizenshipAmendmentAct
Scroll.in
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Delhi HC rejects petition to halt demolition of Pakistani Hindu refugee camp in Majnu Ka Tila
The Delhi High Court has rejected a petition seeking to stop the Delhi Development Authority from demolishing a camp set up by Hindu refugees from Pakistan in the national capital's Majnu Ka Tila area along the Yamuna river till an alternative plot of land is allotted to the residents. Justice Dharmesh Sharma on Friday dismissed a petition by a person named Ravi Ranjan Singh seeking orders to the authority to allot the refugees a different plot as per the Delhi Slum and Jhuggi Jhopri Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy before demolishing their tenements. This policy aims to provide permanent in-situ housing to slum dwellers in Delhi. Singh, in his petition, also sought directions for embankments to be built along the Yamuna to protect the camp, which houses around 800 residents, and the other similar tenements and religious structures in the area, while also maintaining the sanctity of the river, Live Law reported. The petitioner noted that the Citizenship Amendment Act was framed with the idea of providing citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from neighbouring countries to help them escape religious persecution, The Hindu reported. The Act is aimed to provide a fast track to citizenship to refugees from six minority religious communities, except Muslims, from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan, on the condition that they have lived in India for six years and have entered the country by December 31, 2014. In Friday's order, the court said that Pakistani refugees cannot be rehabilitated under the Delhi Slum and Jhuggi Jhopri Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy 'on account of their foreign nationality status'. The judge told the petitioner as well as the other refugees to firstly acquire Indian citizenship by way of registration or naturalisation by submitting an application under the Citizenship Amendment Act. 'Needless to state, the effect of the acceptance of such an application would be that the aggrieved refugees shall be deemed citizens of India and would be able to enjoy all rights and benefits available to any ordinary citizen of India,' the order said. The judge, however, said that even Indian citizens could not claim alternate allotment as an 'absolute right', particularly in cases where the land they occupied fell under specially prohibited areas like Zone 'O' in Delhi, which refers to the floodplains along the Yamuna. 'At the cost of repetition, it is an admitted position that the camp set up by the refugees in question is situated in the Yamuna floodplains area,' the court said, further citing a 2015 order by the National Green Tribunal directing governmental agencies to repossess areas in the floodplains that were under unauthorised occupation and take steps to restore the ecological health of the Yamuna. 'Given the critical condition of the Yamuna River, this court unhesitatingly finds that no interference with the ongoing restoration and rejuvenation efforts of the river can be countenanced at the petitioner's instance,' Sharma said. He added that 'this stance holds irrespective of any humanitarian or sympathetic considerations advanced before the court' as it would obstruct and delay the implementation of public projects. The order added that the court had attempted to engage with the concerned authorities to facilitate the rehabilitation and relocation of the refugees. 'However, these efforts have been unfruitful, seemingly due to a classic case of bureaucratic buck-passing, particularly on the part of the respondent no. 2/Union of India,' it said. 'Nevertheless, this court cannot undertake the exercise of framing a policy to ameliorate the plight of the refugees.' The court vacated an interim order passed on March 13, 2024. This had granted Singh interim relief in the matter and issued directions to the Delhi Development Authority to refrain from taking any coercive action against him, Live Law reported.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Col Qureshi, Wg Cdr Vyomika to be facesof BJP's campaign on 11 yrs of Modi govt
Lucknow: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who led India's press briefings on Operation Sindoor , will be the faces of an ambitious women-centric campaign scheduled to be rolled out by the BJP on the completion of 11 years of the Narendra Modi-led govt on June 9. The BJP has asked its minority wing to mobilise its cadres to organise "chaupals" highlighting Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh as "role models" for women, particularly from minority communities. BJP's Minority Morcha national president Jamal Siddiqui told TOI thay the campaign would be carried out around minority institutions, mosques, dargahs, gurudwaras and churches situated in all organisational divisions across the country. The first chaupal is proposed to be organised in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh — the epicentre of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019. "The idea is to mobilise women and make them feel empowered," Siddiqui said, stressing that the campaign will aim to encourage women to join the NCC and Agniveer Scheme. "Military training can come in handy in every possible way for women in everyday lives or dealing with domestic violence," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Political experts said that the selection of Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh as the face of a women-centric campaign by the BJP marks a strategic move that seeks to blend military valour, national pride and gender empowerment into a powerful political narrative. An analyst said that women-centric policies and empowerment become a key pillar in showcasing governance successes. In fact, in the recent elections, women emerged as critical swing voters, especially in politically crucial states like Uttar Pradesh. Colonel Qureshi, who addressed the media a day after India's 'Operation Sindoor' to target nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, is a highly decorated officer in the Indian Army's Corps of Signals. Born in Gujarat, she made history as the first woman officer to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multinational military drill 'Exercise Force 18' held in Pune and involving 18 ASEAN Plus nations. She was also the only female contingent commander in the event. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who co-led the media briefing on Operation Sindoor, is a distinguished helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force and a first-generation military officer. Sources said the BJP's campaign will also be designed to consolidate women's support by highlighting schemes like Ujjwala Yojana, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, and the women's reservation bill. Siddiqui said the campaign will be further widened to reach out to the minority communities and apprise them of the key welfare measures initiated by the Modi govt. Key schemes proposed to be highlighted in the process include PM Awas Yojana, PM Jan Dhan Scheme, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which benefited all sections, including Muslims. He added that the party would also distribute copies of the Constitution among the minority community, making them aware of their rights, besides preventing them from getting swayed by "malicious narratives" peddled by the opposition parties. Experts highlight that the campaign attains much significance in light of sustained criticism faced by the BJP over the perceived alienation of minorities, primarily Muslims. Sources said the saffron outfit desperately seeks to reframe its relationship with minorities through development-centric messaging rather than ideologically. Lucknow: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who led India's press briefings on Operation Sindoor, will be the faces of an ambitious women-centric campaign scheduled to be rolled out by the BJP on the completion of 11 years of the Narendra Modi-led govt on June 9. The BJP has asked its minority wing to mobilise its cadres to organise "chaupals" highlighting Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh as "role models" for women, particularly from minority communities. BJP's Minority Morcha national president Jamal Siddiqui told TOI thay the campaign would be carried out around minority institutions, mosques, dargahs, gurudwaras and churches situated in all organisational divisions across the country. The first chaupal is proposed to be organised in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh — the epicentre of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019. "The idea is to mobilise women and make them feel empowered," Siddiqui said, stressing that the campaign will aim to encourage women to join the NCC and Agniveer Scheme. "Military training can come in handy in every possible way for women in everyday lives or dealing with domestic violence," he said. Political experts said that the selection of Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh as the face of a women-centric campaign by the BJP marks a strategic move that seeks to blend military valour, national pride and gender empowerment into a powerful political narrative. An analyst said that women-centric policies and empowerment become a key pillar in showcasing governance successes. In fact, in the recent elections, women emerged as critical swing voters, especially in politically crucial states like Uttar Pradesh. Colonel Qureshi, who addressed the media a day after India's 'Operation Sindoor' to target nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, is a highly decorated officer in the Indian Army's Corps of Signals. Born in Gujarat, she made history as the first woman officer to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multinational military drill 'Exercise Force 18' held in Pune and involving 18 ASEAN Plus nations. She was also the only female contingent commander in the event. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who co-led the media briefing on Operation Sindoor, is a distinguished helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force and a first-generation military officer. Sources said the BJP's campaign will also be designed to consolidate women's support by highlighting schemes like Ujjwala Yojana, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, and the women's reservation bill. Siddiqui said the campaign will be further widened to reach out to the minority communities and apprise them of the key welfare measures initiated by the Modi govt. Key schemes proposed to be highlighted in the process include PM Awas Yojana, PM Jan Dhan Scheme, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which benefited all sections, including Muslims. He added that the party would also distribute copies of the Constitution among the minority community, making them aware of their rights, besides preventing them from getting swayed by "malicious narratives" peddled by the opposition parties. Experts highlight that the campaign attains much significance in light of sustained criticism faced by the BJP over the perceived alienation of minorities, primarily Muslims. Sources said the saffron outfit desperately seeks to reframe its relationship with minorities through development-centric messaging rather than ideologically.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi HC rejects plea to halt razing of Pak Hindu refugee camp
Pakistani Hindu refugees cannot be entitled to seek alternate accommodation as a matter of legal right on account of their foreign nationality, the Delhi high court has held Dismissing a petition by the refugees seeking to restrain the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) from demolishing a refugee camp at Majnu Ka Tilla, until their resettlement on an alternative land, a bench of justice Dharmesh Sharma said that the petitioners cannot rely on May 2013 direction of the Centre to seek alternate accommodation as a matter of legal right. The court was hearing a plea filed by an activist Ravi Ranjan Singh against the proposed demolition of a refugee camp by DDA. Taking up the cause of approximately 800 Hindu refugees from Pakistan, Singh urged the court to restrain DDA from demolishing the camp, until they were allowed an alternate land to reside in view of government's policy to give shelter to non-Muslim minorities from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh as per the Citizenship Amendment Act. He further asserted that the primary responsibility to accommodate the said refugees rests on the Centre's shoulders, as the plea relied on the Centre's May 2013 statement on extending support to the Hindu community which came to India from Pakistan. 'This Court has no hesitation in holding that the petitioner herein is not entitled to the reliefs sought by way of the present petition. First and foremost, the order dated 29.05.2013 passed in Nahar Singh case does not contain any direction to suggest that an alternate accommodation was promised to the said group of refugees by the Government of India, or that they were entitled to such allotment, thus, the petitioner herein cannot seek alternate accommodation as a matter of legal right,' the court opined. Additionally, the order stated that even under the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015, any person sought to be relocated and rehabilitated must first and foremost be a citizen of India to become eligible for the allotment of alternate dwelling units. 'In view of the aforesaid, the position that emerges is that the Pakistani refugees cannot be rehabilitated under the DUSIB Policy on account of their foreign nationality status. The petitioner and other similarly placed refugees have no right to continue to occupy the area in question,' the order said. DDA in March last year asked the residents to vacate the camp, failing which it will be demolished by the authority concerned. On March 12, the high court by way of an interim order restrained DDA from demolishing the camps. DDA, represented by advocate Prabhsahay Kaur, submitted that the National Green Tribunal on January 29 this year directed removal of all the encroachment on the Yamuna Flood Plain Zone adjacent to South of Gurdwara Majnu ka Tila on Yamuna River Belt. A cost was also imposed on DDA, and thus the civic authority was bound to follow the judicial orders, the advocate said. Taking note of the fact that the land fell under the Yamuna floodplains, justice Sharma said, 'It is undeniable that even Indian citizens cannot claim alternate allotment as an absolute right, particularly in cases where the land they occupy falls under specially prohibited areas like Zone 'O' of Delhi, i.e., the Yamuna floodplains. Given the critical condition of the Yamuna River, this court unhesitatingly finds that no interference with the ongoing restoration and rejuvenation efforts of the river can be countenanced at the petitioner's instance.' While dismissing the plea, the court also vacated its interim order and impressed upon the refugees to acquire Indian citizenship, which would enable them to enjoy rights and benefits available to any ordinary Indian citizen. 'Needless to state, the effect of the acceptance of... (citizenship) application would be that the aggrieved refugees shall be deemed citizens of India and would be able to enjoy all rights and benefits available to any ordinary citizen of India,' the court said.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi HC rejects plea to halt demolition of Pakistani-Hindu refugee camp
New Delhi [India], May 31 (ANI): The Delhi High Court has rejected a petition seeking to restrain the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) from demolishing the Pakistani-Hindu refugee camp at Majnu Ka Tila until alternative land is allocated to its residents. The court acknowledged its sincere attempts to engage with relevant authorities to facilitate the rehabilitation and relocation of the refugees. However, these efforts remained unproductive, largely due to bureaucratic delays, particularly on the part of the Union of India. Despite the humanitarian concerns, the court clarified that framing policy for refugee relief is beyond its jurisdiction. In a judgment delivered on Friday, Justice Dharmesh Sharma ruled that the interim order issued on March 12, 2024, stands vacated. The court further stated that the petitioner, Ravi Ranjan Singh, along with other similarly placed refugees, 'have no right to continue to occupy the area in question,' thereby dismissing their plea to halt the eviction. The bench emphasised the necessity of safeguarding the ecologically sensitive Yamuna floodplains. It noted that environmental protection measures align with directives from the Supreme Court, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), and the Delhi High Court itself. These actions aim to preserve ecological integrity and uphold the fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment for both current and future generations. Given the fragile state of the Yamuna River, the court asserted that any interference with its restoration efforts cannot be justified. It ruled that humanitarian considerations cannot override environmental imperatives, as such exemptions would delay critical public projects. The petition, filed by Singh, highlighted the plight of nearly 800 Hindu refugees from Pakistan. It urged the court to direct the DDA to refrain from demolition until alternative land was allocated in accordance with the government's policy under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. The plea also called for embankments along the Yamuna to protect such settlements and religious structures, citing precedents like the Akshardham Temple and the Commonwealth Games Village. (ANI)
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Col Qureshi to be 'poster girl' of BJP minority wing's outreach
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi will be the "poster girl" of the BJP's minority wing outreach as part of the 11th anniversary celebrations of the Modi government with a special focus on women among minorities. As part of the celebrations, the BJP's minority wing led by Jamal Siddiqui has made plans to hold chaupals (community gatherings) outside mosques, dargahs, churches and first chaupal will be organised on June 9 in Shaheen Bagh in the national capital, Siddiqui told ET. Women at Shaheen Bagh had led the protest, from December 2019 to March 2020, against the Modi government's move to bring in the Citizenship Amendment Act. Now, the BJP is aiming to convey through the chaupals that it is equally sensitive towards minority women as it is for others. "Our sister Colonel Sofiya Qureshi made the country proud during Operation Sindoor . With her as an inspiration and poster girl of our campaign, we would motivate women among minorities to join the NCC , join the forces, go for higher studies to become self-dependent and also contribute to the country," Siddiqui said. Colonel Qureshi, along with IAF Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, led the official press briefings on Operation Sindoor.
