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India Gazette
28-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi HC rejects PIL seeking formation of Gujjar regiment in Indian Army
New Delhi [India], May 28 (ANI): The Delhi High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Wednesday that urged the Union of India and the Ministry of Defence to establish a Gujjar Regiment in the Indian Army. The bench, comprising Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, emphasised that government policy mandates equal recruitment opportunities for all citizens, irrespective of class, creed, region, or religion. Expressing dissatisfaction with the plea, the bench criticised the petitioner's attempt to seek the formation of a regiment based on a specific caste. The bench questioned the legal and constitutional basis for the petition, asking the petitioner whether any law or provision in the Constitution grants the right to demand the formation of a separate regiment in the Army. The court emphasised that regiments are formed by integrating people from various regions and communities to uphold national unity. Acknowledging the court's objections, the petitioner's counsel opted to withdraw the plea. Consequently, the bench disposed of the matter, declaring it dismissed as withdrawn. During the hearing, Advocate Monika Arora, representing the Union of India, informed the court that since Independence, the government has maintained a policy of not forming new regiments based on specific communities, classes, religions, or regions to ensure equitable recruitment opportunities. She further highlighted that various petitions, VIP references, parliamentary questions, and private member bills have sought the creation of new regiments based on historical figures, national heroes, and regional identities. Still, the government has remained steadfast in its policy. Petitioner Rohan Basoya contended that the Gujjar community has a long-standing history of bravery, citing their participation in the 1857 Revolt, Indo-Pak Wars of 1947, 1965, and 1971, the Kargil War (1999), and counterinsurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir. Despite this legacy, they have not been granted a dedicated regiment, unlike other martial communities such as Sikhs, Jats, Rajputs, Gorkhas, and Dogras. The plea further argued that the Indian Army has historically maintained ethnic-based regiments to recognise the contributions of specific communities to national defence. The exclusion of Gujjars, the petitioner asserted, creates an imbalance in representation and violates their constitutional rights under Articles 14 and 16 of the Indian Constitution. Establishing a Gujjar Regiment would provide equal opportunities, enhance recruitment, and strengthen national security. Additionally, the plea stated that the demand for a Gujjar Regiment has been raised multiple times, yet the government has taken no concrete steps. Given the community's significant presence in border regions such as Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, a Gujjar Regiment would also serve strategic military interests in counterinsurgency and border security operations. (ANI)
India Gazette
14-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi HC disposes PIL on judge shortage, cites ongoing judicial measure
New Delhi [India], May 14 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the shortage of judges, stating that the issue impacts all stakeholders in the judicial system. The court recognised that the judiciary is already aware of the problem and that administrative measures may be taken to resolve it. During the proceedings, the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) informed the court that the Supreme Court is actively monitoring the matter. The court further observed that the issue is already under the Supreme Court's judicial consideration and permitted the petitioner to approach the apex court to seek inclusion as a party in the proceedings. The bench, comprising Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, granted the petitioner permission to withdraw the writ petition and take his case to the Supreme Court. Consequently, the High Court determined that no additional adjudication was necessary and disposed of the petition. During the hearing, the bench posed a pointed question: 'Do you think the Union of India and the Delhi High Court are not aware of the situation? Are they not cognizant of the problem?' The plea was filed by practising lawyer Amit Sahni, who highlighted that although the sanctioned strength of the Delhi High Court is 60 judges, comprising 45 permanent and 15 additional positions, it is currently operating with only 36 judges, resulting in a significant 40 per cent vacancy. This shortfall is attributed to retirements, inter-court transfers, and delays in judicial appointments, despite constitutional mandates and the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), which requires that appointments be initiated well before vacancies arise. The plea stated that several judges, including Justice Rekha Palli and Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, have recently retired, while Justice Yashwant Varma, Justice CD Singh, and Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma have been transferred to other High Courts. Additionally, two more retirements are expected in the coming months, further reducing the number of sitting judges to 34. This decline is likely to worsen case backlogs and judicial delays. The ongoing judicial shortage has resulted in an overwhelming accumulation of pending cases, excessive workloads for existing judges, and delays in resolving crucial legal matters, including writ petitions, bail applications, appeals, and commercial disputes. This situation significantly affects citizens' rights and undermines public confidence in the judiciary. The plea emphasised that judicial vacancies disproportionately impact economically weaker and marginalised communities, who often face prolonged litigation and limited access to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The plea claimed that judicial vacancies pose a serious threat to fundamental rights, institutional integrity, and public trust in the judicial system. Given the Delhi High Court's national and constitutional significance, addressing these vacancies must be treated as an urgent priority. (ANI)
New Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Delhi HC asks Nursing Council to review plea on flawed registration system
NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC has asked the Indian Nursing Council to examine and decide on a request seeking improvements to the Nurses Registration and Tracking System (NRTS), citing concerns over its inefficiency. A Bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela passed the order on May 7, directing the Council to issue a reasoned decision in line with applicable laws and regulations. The order further stated that a formal response must be issued within six weeks of receiving a certified copy of the Court's directions, and the outcome must be duly communicated to the petitioner. The petition, filed by the Indian Professional Nurses Association (IPNA) through Advocate Robin Raju, called for regular assessment of the support extended by State Nurses Registration Councils (SNRCs) in maintaining the NRTS. The plea relied on a 2019 circular which envisioned stronger cooperation between the national and state-level bodies.
India Gazette
10-05-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
Delhi HC directs Nursing Council to decide on streamlining nurses' registration system
New Delhi [India], May 10 (ANI): The Delhi High Court has directed the Indian Nursing Council to review and decide on a representation seeking improvements in the Nurses Registration and Tracking System (NRTS) to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness. A bench comprising Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued the order on May 7, 2025, stating that the competent authority must make its decision through a reasoned and formal order in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. The directives mandate that the decision be made within six weeks from the date a certified copy of the order is presented to the Indian Nursing Council. Furthermore, the decision must be formally communicated to the petitioner. The plea, filed by the Indian Professional Nurses Association (IPNA) through Advocate Robin Raju, urged regular reviews of the support provided by State Nurses Registration Councils (SNRCs) in maintaining NRTS, as per a 2019 circular. Developed by the Indian Nursing Council with the National Informatics Centre, NRTS was designed to streamline the Indian Nurses Register. The system was meant to standardise registration processes, including Aadhaar-based verification, reciprocal registration, and higher qualification registration, while enabling online applications to reduce delays. However, the petition argued that the system has not met its objectives. Currently, 1,276,762 nurses are enrolled, far below the 2020 parliamentary figures estimating over 21 lakh registered nurses and midwives. Many nurses still lack the National Unique Identity Number (NUID), which was supposed to provide incentives like Continuing Nursing Education. The plea also pointed out missing data on reciprocal registration and No Objection Certificates, suggesting poor coordination between the Indian Nursing Council and State Nurses Registration Councils. The NRTS portal appears to have become just a data-providing website, and the stated objective to ease the process of registration and other ancillary formalities by reducing the delay in the prevalent process has been diluted with time, the plea stated. (ANI)
