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News18
14-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Some Take Too Many Breaks': Supreme Court Orders Performance Review Of Judges
Last Updated: The Supreme Court voiced its concern while hearing a plea from four life convicts belonging to Scheduled Tribe or Other Backward Classes communities. The Supreme Court on Tuesday voiced the need for a comprehensive performance audit to assess the functioning of judges, citing a growing number of complaints regarding the efficiency of High Court judges. A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice NK Singh orally noted that while many judges demonstrate diligent work ethics, concerns have arisen about others who frequently take unnecessary breaks, prompting questions about their effective utilization of court time. 'There are some judges who work very hard, but at the same time, there are judges who are unnecessarily taking coffee breaks; this break or that break. What is for lunch hour, etc. We are hearing a lot of complaints about the High Court judges. This is a larger issue which needs to be looked into. What is the performance of the High Court judges? How much we are spending and what is the output? It's high time we do a performance audit," the Court said as per Bar and Bench. The Supreme Court voiced its concern while hearing a plea from four life convicts belonging to Scheduled Tribe or Other Backward Classes communities. These individuals alleged that the Jharkhand High Court had failed to pronounce judgments on their criminal appeals for an extended period of two to three years after reserving them. The Court had previously sought information regarding the status of these long-pending cases. On May 5, the Supreme Court directed all High Courts to submit reports detailing cases where judgments remained pending despite the matters being reserved. Continuing its scrutiny, the Supreme Court reiterated the paramount importance of this issue, suggesting the potential issuance of guidelines to ensure the timely delivery of judgments. The Court emphasized that the matter directly impacts the fundamental principles of the criminal justice system. On May 9, Supreme Court took further steps which included a request for reports from High Courts specifying the dates of judgment pronouncement and their subsequent publication on court websites. 'It seems that the issues noticed in the above mentioned orders would require and deeper analysis and mandatory guidelines by this Court, so that convicts or undertrials aren't compelled to lose faith in the justice delivery system and to avoid the petitions like one in present case," it noted. First Published: May 14, 2025, 11:59 IST
New Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
No statutory backing for Telangana govt's BC census: Union Minister Kishan Reddy
HYDERABAD: Union Coal & Mines Minister and BJP state president G Kishan Reddy on Sunday said that the Backward Classes (BC) caste survey conducted by the Telangana government lacks statutory backing. He asserted that a legally valid caste census can only be undertaken through the national census mechanism. He was addressing the BJP state office-bearers at a meeting held at the party office in Hyderabad. The meeting discussed the Centre's decision to initiate a caste census through constitutional means. Sources said Kishan briefed the attendees on how the Union government plans to conduct the caste census and the legal procedures involved. He reportedly told the leaders that the last official caste census was conducted during British rule and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government intends to carry out a genuine and comprehensive caste census with full legal backing. He instructed party MPs, MLAs, MLCs and district presidents to hold community-level meetings to explain the distinction between the Telangana government's BC survey and the proposed national caste census. Sources also indicated that the Centre is likely to amend the Census Act in the coming days to facilitate the caste census. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Rajya Sabha member R Krishnaiah hailed Modi's decision as historic and demanded that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy release the findings of the state's BC survey. He alleged that the state government carried out the survey only under pressure from BC associations and questioned its credibility.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Its own caste survey in hand, Congress in Karnataka to test BJP with demand to lift quota ceiling
Following on the lines of Bihar, Telangana, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh – which have enacted laws to increase the reservations for Backward Classes, Dalits and tribals above the 50% limit prescribed by the Supreme Court – Karnataka may also enact a law and ask the Centre to protect it from judicial review. The Congress leadership in Karnataka has dropped hints that it would pursue the political strategy of pushing the BJP at the Centre to increase the reservations in government jobs and education above the 50% mark – in the wake of the Modi government's announcement of enumerating castes in the next population Census. 'The ceiling of 50% reservation should be removed. Reservations should be in line with the population of Dalits, Backward Classes, minorities and tribes. There should be a study of their socioeconomic and educational status, and reservations should be provided,' Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Thursday, adding that the ceiling of 50% imposed by the Supreme Court in 1992 in the Indra Sahwney case had 'no scientific basis'. 'The 50% ceiling on reservation has lost its relevance after 10% reservation was provided to the Economically Weaker Section (in 2019). In Tamil Nadu, there is a 69% reservation law. It is protected under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. Jharkhand has raised it to 77%… Even the Central government has hiked the quotas by 10% (for EWS) and it has been upheld by the Supreme Court,' Siddaramaiah added. The government in Karnataka, where a 2015 Socio Economic and Educational Survey enumerating caste was submitted to the government last year by the Karnataka State Commission For Backward Classes (KSCBC), is likely to enact a law to increase reservations in the state above the 50% limit based on the recommendations of the report that was unveiled in April. Existing reservations based on population The Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet has been dallying over the report since receiving it on April 11 and a Cabinet meeting scheduled on May 2 to consider the report in detail now stands postponed to May 9. Based on the Socio Economic and Educational Survey, the KSCBC recommended increasing reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state from 32% to 51% – taking the overall reservation for backward communities to 69%, including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at a combined 18%, and the total reservations to 79% (with 10% for the EWS). The passage of a law to implement the report's recommendations has, in fact, become easier since the Centre's proposal for a caste enumeration in the next Census is expected to lower the resistance from the state's opposition BJP and Janata Dal (Secular), allowing discussions in the state legislature. 'The Congress strategy is to welcome the announcement of the caste count. We do not know the seriousness of the BJP since it has always opposed a caste census. The Census could take over two years for completion. Our plan is to move ahead on the basis of our agenda, as done in other states,' a senior Congress leader said. Opposition INDIA bloc-led governments have enacted laws in Telangana and Jharkhand on the basis of caste surveys to hike reservations to 70% and 77% respectively, including EWS. The Janata Dal (United)-led government in Bihar has hiked reservations to 75%, with EWS. Recommended reservations based on state survey The Congress is seen as likely to test the BJP's commitment to a social justice agenda by seeking inclusion of any law passed for the increase in reservations under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution – through an amendment passed by Parliament. When the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services Under the State) Act, 1993, was passed by the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK government – to increase quotas to 69% – the AIADMK had campaigned in Delhi for inclusion of the Act under the Ninth Schedule and the Congress government led by then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had agreed eventually. The move was challenged in the Supreme Court but no conclusion has been reached in 30 years. 'Since the M R Balaji vs State of Mysore case of 1963 – when 69% reservations were provided in Karnataka (erstwhile Mysore) – on the basis of the Naganagouda Commission report, the courts have been asking for scientific data to determine social and educational backwardness. The recent caste survey has gathered the data,' a senior Congress leader said.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
T.N. announces fresh measures to support BC, MBC, DNC students
The Tamil Nadu government would offer basic training in Gen AI -- Artificial Intelligence to third year students residing in hostels run by the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities Department. In his reply to the demand for grants for his department for 2025-26, Minister for Backward Classes Welfare Siva V. Meyyanathan said that the training would be offered through the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation. In order to aid students availing educational loans for pursuing higher studies abroad from the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation, the Tamil Nadu government has announced an initiative. The Minister said a loan of ₹2.25 lakh (to cover the beneficiary contribution of 15% for a loan of ₹15 lakh) each would be extended to 100 students from Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities through the Tamil Nadu Backward Classess and Economic Development Corporation (TABCEDCO). The State government would also offer training on personal safety, basics in martial arts through the Department of Art and Culture and Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, the Minister said.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP-run states top in crime against Dalit women: Akhilesh
1 2 Lucknow: Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday questioned the surge in incidents of crime against Dalit women , particularly in states which have a BJP govt and claimed that Uttar Pradesh tops in cases of atrocities against Dalits . "Uttar Pradesh has become the number one state in the country in atrocities against Dalits. The question is why crime against Dalits in general, and women of the community in particular, is exceptionally high in states which have a BJP govt," Akhilesh said in a statement on Monday. "UP, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Maharashtra are top states with maximum crime against Dalits and women of the community and all of them have a BJP govt," he said. "Injustice and atrocities against Dalits are growing under the BJP. Not only the BJP govt is doing away with reservation and attacking the freedom of the people, but govt-backed goons and musclemen are also out on a murder spree," he said. Akhilesh cited the recent incident in Prayagraj where a Dalit man was torched alive for refusing to cut the wheat crop belonging to upper caste men. "The incident has shaken everyone," he said. He claimed that BJP was a party of supremacists who basically had a feudalistic mindset. "The party offers only humiliation, disrespect and insult to people from Dalit, Backwards Classes, Minorities, Tribals and women. The BJP is yet to come out of the mentality that prevailed before India got freedom," he said. "This was the reason why the BJP has been opposed to the Constitution. They post select people on top positions in their organisation as well as the govt," he said, adding that others were only assigned jobs like carrying party flags and raising slogans. Akhilesh said in the BJP, even if Dalits and Backwards were given a post to meet political compulsions, they were not given due respect and authority. "The BJP contests elections in the name of Dalits and backwards but leave alone giving them CM's post, they are not given any responsibility," he said. SP chief backs ex-CEC Qureshi Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday came in support of former chief election commissioner SY Qureshi over BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's remarks describing him as a "Muslim Commissioner". "Someone who is disowned by his own party should not make such comments on a retired govt servant who has held a high constitutional post," Akhilesh said. Dubey had referred to Qureshi as a "Muslim Commissioner" for criticizing the Waqf Bill hours after BJP distanced itself from the MP's statement that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) was responsible for "grih yuddh" (civil wars) in the country.
