Latest news with #Jully
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Jully urges CM to initiate Udaan scheme
Jaipur: Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully wrote a letter to chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma urging immediate initiation of Udaan scheme which was started by the previous Congress govt for the health and safety of crores of women in the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Expressing concern, Jully said the state, despite having a female minister for both finance and women and child development (Diya Kumari), has shelved the Udaan scheme. "The scheme is directly related to women's health. For the past nine months, sanitary napkins were not purchased for distribution to women, causing distress to crores of mothers, sisters, and daughters who may be unable to express their pain due to hesitation. This is a very serious and sensitive issue." Jully mentioned that according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) 2015-16, only 47.9% of women in Rajasthan were aware of menstrual hygiene and used sanitary pads. "More than half of the women were unable to use sanitary napkins due to a lack of awareness and resources, resulting in health issues and serious diseases like cancer. In response, the previous Gehlot-led Congress govt launched the Udaan scheme in 2021 for women aged 11 to 45 and schoolgirls," he wrote. "The scheme aimed to provide sanitary pads during menstruation. The women's empowerment department was designated as the nodal agency, and the demand for sanitary pads was sent to RMSCL for distribution," he added.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong urges Speaker to disqualify BJP MLA
Jaipur: To seek immediate disqualification of BJP's Anta MLA Kanwarlal Meena after Rajasthan High Court upheld his conviction in a criminal case, a delegation of Congress leaders led by Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully Tuesday met Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani. The delegation included deputy CLP leader Ramkesh Meena, senior MLAs Harimohan Sharma, Rajendra Pareek, among others. Later, speaking to the media, Jully said, "The manner in which Meena's episode has been handled will remain a blot on those involved in delaying action against him. There can be no justification for the Speaker's silence or inaction on a matter this serious." He added that senior Opposition MLAs tried to meet the Speaker thrice in the last 15 days but failed each time. Jully slammed the recent appointments to Assembly committees, terming them a "violation of rules and legislative dignity." Congress's chief whip Rafeek Khan said, "What we are witnessing is the slow erosion of constitutional discipline inside the Assembly. The Speaker's office must function above partisan interests. If convicted MLAs are allowed to sit unchecked and committee appointments are made without following rules, what message does it send to the people and the bureaucracy?" Jully also pointed out that the April 30 bulletin announcing the constitution of committees failed to mention their tenure—an omission that violates Rule 253-A, which mandates a two-year term for certain committees. "Assembly has a proud tradition of upholding procedure, decorum, and transparency. We expect the Speaker to rise to the occasion and protect that tradition," Jully said.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Delay in convicted BJP MLA's disqualification upsets Opposition in Rajasthan
The delay in the disqualification of Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kanwar Lal Meena, whose conviction in a 20-year-old case was upheld by the High Court, has upset the Opposition Congress in Rajasthan. The Congress has sought an immediate intervention of Governor Haribhau Bagade in the matter. Mr. Meena, elected from Baran district's Anta, was sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment in a case of threatening a Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officer with a revolver and damaging public property in Jhalawar. A sessions court convicted the MLA in December 2020, while the High Court upheld the order on May 1. Mr. Meena moved a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, which has directed him to surrender in the trial court in two weeks. The Congress has contended that Mr. Meena's membership of the Assembly should have been cancelled forthwith after the high court's judgment as per the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Section 8(3) of the Act provides for the disqualification of a lawmaker following conviction for an offence with a two-year sentence or more. Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani has reportedly sought the opinion of Advocate-General and legal experts in the matter, but his decision is still awaited. Mr. Meena, who has to surrender in the court by May 21, was not elected to the State Assembly at the time of the crime and already had 15 criminal cases against him. In 2016, he led a mob which allegedly attacked the activists of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, founded by Magsaysay Award winner Aruna Roy, during a march in Jhalawar district. A two-time MLA, Mr. Meena first won the election from Jhalawar's Manohar Thana in 2013, and later from Anta in 2023. Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Tika Ram Jully, has shot off a letter to the Governor, while accusing the Speaker of deliberately delaying Mr. Meena's disqualification process. 'As per Article 191 of the Constitution and the provisions of the RP Act, an elected representative sentenced to more than two years stands automatically disqualified from holding office,' Mr. Jully said. Mr. Jully said the Speaker's inaction in the matter was a 'blatant disregard of constitutional duty and democratic norms'. He urged the Governor to uphold the constitutional mandate and give direction for Mr. Meena's disqualification with effect from May 1, when the high court had upheld his conviction and sentence. Mr. Jully pointed out that a similar decision was taken in 2016 when Bahujan Samaj Party MLA B.L. Kushwaha was sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case. Mr. Kushwaha was disqualified and a by-election was held in his constituency, Dholpur. The high court had also rejected his plea to allow him to cast his vote in the Rajya Sabha election when he was incarcerated before his conviction. However, Jhalawar Bar Association president Ram Maheshwari said the Supreme Court would hear Mr. Meena's SLP for admission after he surrenders. Any decision on Mr. Meena's membership of the Assembly would be subject to the judgment of the Supreme Court until his petition challenging the high court's verdict remains pending in the apex court, Mr. Maheshwari said.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Jully urges guv to ensure disqualification of MLA
Jaipur/Alwar: Leader of Opposition Tuesday raised the issue of delay in the disqualification of convicted with governor Haribhau Bagde during an event in a formal letter submitted to Bagde, Jully accused Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani of "deliberately delaying" the disqualification process, despite 13 days passing since the upheld Meena's conviction in a 2005 criminal the letter, Jully cited that the Rajasthan High Court, on May 1, 2025, upheld Meena's three-year sentence for offences under IPC Sections 353, 506, and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Supreme Court, he added, already dismissed Meena's Special Leave Petition on May 7, 2025. "As per Article 191 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, any public representative sentenced to more than two years stands automatically disqualified from holding office," Jully the delay in action by the Speaker's office, Jully said, "Even after 13 days since the High Court's order, no step has been taken to disqualify Meena. The Speaker's inaction is a blatant disregard of constitutional duty and democratic norms."Jully urged the governor to uphold the constitutional mandate and ensure Meena's disqualification with effect from May 1, the date of the high court's decision. "The dignity of democratic institutions, the supremacy of the law, and the credibility of the legislature demand urgent intervention," he in the day, Congress chief whip Rafeek Khan also visited the Assembly with a letter from the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), calling for immediate action. "The Hon'ble Speaker is out of town. I met the Assembly secretary and demanded that disqualification proceedings be initiated without further delay, or people will lose faith in this institution," Khan said.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Speaker under fire for inaction against convicted BJP MLA
1 2 Jaipur: Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani is dragging his feet in disqualifying BJP MLA Kanwarlal Meena from the Anta constituency, even after the Supreme Court dismissed Meena's SLP against the Rajasthan High Court's May 1 decision upholding his three-year prison sentence. The Speaker's office has come under fire for the delay, despite legal provisions mandating immediate disqualification of elected representatives sentenced to over two years. "An official at the Assembly said they are consulting the legal team and will soon take a decision regarding the disqualification."Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully lambasted Devnani for what he termed a " constitutional failure ." "Nine days have passed since the high court upheld Meena's conviction, yet no action. The Speaker's position is not above the Constitution," Jully said. He also drew comparisons with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who acted within 24 hours to disqualify Rahul Gandhi under similar circumstances. "In one nation, we cannot have two constitutions. We will move court against this delay," Jully added.
