Latest news with #Kait
Hindustan Times
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Case for diversity in higher courts
A former chief justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court, Suresh Kumar Kait, has alleged that the collegium, which makes the final selection of judges to constitutional courts, is 'dishonest' in its treatment of people from the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backwards Classes (OBC), while making appointments to the high courts. His claim rests on the fact that the number of judges from these social groups is not commensurate with their share in the country's population. Kait has proposed reservations to address this anomaly. Kait's very subjective description of the conduct of the collegium could be discarded, but his remark about the lack of diversity and representation in high courts surely calls for a conversation. To be sure, the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), which guides appointments in constitutional courts, has not proposed caste quotas in judiciary. The collegium makes its choices using MoP as a guide and, after due consideration, which includes consultations with the government and review of feedback from State agencies, appoints the judges. Merit and seniority are considerations when the collegium looks at the candidates, but multiple chief justices of the Supreme Court have said they try to ensure that appointments reflect the social diversity of the country. However, data shows that despite the best intentions of the collegium, the higher judiciary remains mostly the preserve of upper caste Hindus. A response by the government in the Lok Sabha in December 2024 reveals that out of 684 high court judges appointed since 2018, 21 belong to SC category, 14 to ST category, and 82 belong to OBC category. In percentage terms, this is 3%, 2%, and 12% of the appointments, whereas the share of these groups in the population (as per the National Family Health Survey, 2019-2021) is 22%, 9.5%, and 42%. A data analysis by HT revealed that 75.6% of judges in the Supreme Court during 2010-25 belonged to Hindu upper castes, whereas OBC representation was limited to 7.8%. The representation trend has improved over the decades, though the change has been far from adequate. Kait's attempt to shame the collegium as 'dishonest' is uncalled for, but the data is glaring for anyone to ignore that Dalits, tribals and OBCs are underrepresented in constitutional courts. Appointments to constitutional posts have not followed any principle of affirmative action, but representation has become a political question — so much so that no party can ignore it in the selection of people to ministerial positions and high public office. The inclusion of caste enumeration in the census and legislation on women's reservation in Parliament suggest that representation and diversity have become central to public life and appointments. The judiciary's turn has come.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Collegium is unfair to SC/ST/OBC: Ex-HC chief justice
Former chief justice of Madhya Pradesh high court, Suresh Kumar Kait, on Sunday demanded reservation for underprivileged sections in the judiciary, and said the collegium system for selection of judges to constitutional courts is 'dishonest' in its treatment of people from the scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST) and other backward classes (OBC). In his speech, Kait sought proportionate representation (HT PHOTO) Addressing a programme in Bhopal organised by the Confederation of Dalit, OBC, Minorities and Adivasi Organisations (DOMA), Kait said, 'I was a judge of Delhi high court and I was the only one from these groups. There was no judge from SC, ST and OBC (backward class). Till date, no other SC, ST and BC advocate has become a judge. This is something that we need to think about.' To be sure, a database of Supreme Court judges created by Hindustan Times showed that there wasn't much change in the proportion of OBC and SC judges appointed by the collegium system, when compared to that appointed by the executive till the collegium system was adopted in 1993. No such database exists for high court judges. In his speech, Kait sought proportionate representation: 'This country does not belong to any one caste but to all castes and all religions. The participation in it should be as much as the number (proportion in population.' He added that in institutions with no reservation, such as the judiciary, there was very less representation of the underprivileged. 'I am considering only the judiciary. In the Supreme Court, only eight judges including Justice Gavai became judge from SC/ST and backward classes. It is not like that there are no lawyers from the backward classes.' That may be a bit of an underestimate. HT's database showed that 27 out of the 279 Supreme Court judges so far have been from OBC, SC or ST backgrounds. To be sure, that is still a low proportion. Kait added that OBCs, SCs and STs account for 90% of Madhya Pradesh's population. 'But, till date, not a single ST-SC judge has come to the Madhya Pradesh High Court from service nor has become an advocate judge.' In the 2011 census, SCs were 15.6% of the state's population and STs were 21.6% of the population. There are no estimates for OBC numbers in the state. Raising the demand for reservation, he said, 'If I talk about the high courts of the whole country, then SC, ST and backward class together make up 15 to 16% of judges as of today. This will continue until you raise your voice.'
Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘One person can save them' – NHL boob flasher urged to ‘help' Edmonton Oilers beat Florida Panthers in Stanley Cup
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Edmonton Oilers tied up their tense Stanley Cup finals match-up with the Florida Panthers - and have been urged to bring back their 'good luck charm.' Kait Flynn has gained significant online notoriety in the past year after going viral for her boob-flashing role in the Oilers run in last year's post-season. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Kait Flynn went viral for flashing her boobs at a game 5 Flynn flashed her chest in front of the crowd and the millions who saw across the internet 5 The viral moment landed her a deal with Playboy 5 NHL boob flasher Flynn enjoyed her newfound fame after going viral before going back to work In last year's playoff run, Kait had a moment of madness as she showed her boobs in the middle of the NHL Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars match in game five. The Oilers fan was spotted celebrating in the stands throughout the game before flashing her chest by lifting her team shirt. Then she began to shake her chest from side-to-side, before dropping her top and turning to face the camera in amusement. Kait caught some flack for her the display that went viral but she told the Spittin' Chiclets podcast: "We were all going crazy. It wasn't planned or anything - it just kind of happened." She would follow up her newfound fame with a signed deal with Playboy, who announced her as the "Oilers good luck charm." Though not spotted at last season's Final as the Panthers would edge past their Canadian rivals to claim their first ever Holy Grail, the 35-year-old has been urged to appear in this year's edition. The Edmonton club are aiming to end a 32-year Cup drought after coming back in Game 4 overtime to level up proceedings. Fans joked they need her good luck again with Barstool Sports sharing a picture of Kait projected in the sky in the way Batman is summoned. The caption read: "Only one person can save the Oilers." One said: "They need here more than ever bros." A second said: "You know it!" Another added: "Definitely can't hurt." Two of the Oilers' next three games will be played at home - maybe she might make a special appearance as the city of Edmonton continues to be enthralled by the Finals.
Al Etihad
23-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE delegation attends 15th BRICS Trade Ministers Meeting in Brazil
23 May 2025 12:02 BRASÍLIA (WAM) The United Arab Emirates, represented by Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary of International Trade Affairs of the Ministry of Economy, participated in the 15th BRICS Trade Ministers Meeting held in Brasília, Kait reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to strengthening partnerships and seeking new opportunities for increased trade, investment, and collaboration among BRICS member states exchanged views on pressing global trade developments and reaffirmed their strong support for a fair and rules-based multilateral trading meeting concluded with the endorsement of several key documents aimed at deepening economic cooperation and enhancing BRICS' role in global trade governance. Together, these outcomes reflect a unified commitment to enhancing the bloc's work to promote closer trade relations and economic meeting also provided the UAE with the opportunity to shed light on the robust bilateral relationship with Brazil, a founding member of BRICS, focusing on the success of various joint initiatives that have further expanded the UAE's relations with its largest trading and investment partner in South non-oil bilateral trade between the UAE and Brazil reaching $5.4 billion in 2024 - a notable 23 percent increase from the previous year - the two nations are poised to enhance their collaboration across various sectors, including energy, infrastructure, and Kait said the BRICS trade partnership ensure that we can successfully work together to find solutions and is a clear demonstration of the importance of global trade added, 'The UAE is dedicated to fostering trade and economic collaboration among BRICS and internationally. We view our role as a bridge between East and West and the Global South, facilitating dialogue and partnerships that drive sustainable economic development and growth.'The UAE's strategic engagement with BRICS reflects its broader commitment to global economic cooperation and diplomacy. By actively participating in the dialogue, the UAE is reinforcing its position as a key economic and diplomatic leader, championing inclusive development and addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing the UAE continues to strengthen its partnerships within BRICS, it remains focused on advancing joint initiatives that align with the bloc's shared vision of fostering global economic inclusivity and BRICS Trade Ministers' Meeting is an annual event that coincides with the BRCS summit and represents an important platform to strengthen ties, coordinate efforts and to foster trade and economic comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, (original members) and has expanded in recent years to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab the BRICS nations represent a significant portion of the global economy, accounting for approximately 40 percent of the world's population and around 25 percent of global GDP. The UAE became a member of BRICS in 2024, reflecting its strategic focus on expanding diplomatic and economic ties with markets throughout the world to further enhance its role in driving global economic growth and prosperity.
Al Etihad
23-03-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Juma Al Kait: UAE's CEPAs spur growth, build global trade bridges
23 Mar 2025 22:25 RASHA TABILA (ABU DHABI)Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Economy, affirmed that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) launched by the UAE in 2021 have become strategic "trade bridges", extending the country's reach to global at Aletihad News Center's Ramadan Majlis, titled "Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements: New Paths for Economic Cooperation and Development" - held in the presence of Dr. Hamad Al Kaabi, Chief Aletihad News Center Officer - Al Kait highlighted that the UAE is eager to continue extending the geographical scope of CEPA agreements, aiming to include diverse regions across the Kait revealed that the Ministry of Economy has already finalised 20 CEPAs, while seven new deals are currently under negotiation - about to reach the legal review phase - after which they will be announced. He added that the UAE is looking to sign CEPAs with countries in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe in the near the 20 CEPAs the UAE has signed so far, six are already in force, while the remaining agreements are being readied for implementation. These include deals with Costa Rica, Colombia, South Korea, Mauritius, Chile, Serbia, Jordan, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Kenya, Ukraine, and the Central African the majlis - moderated by Hussein Al Hammadi, Managing Editor of Aletihad News Center - Al Kait explained that the existing CEPAs cover a quarter of the world's population. This access, he said, boosts the local economy, expands the reach of Emirati products, and benefits service providers based in the UAE through the elimination or reduction of customs duties and the mitigation of non-tariff barriers. Leadership Vision Elaborating on the driving force behind these initiatives, Al Kait said: "The vision of our wise leadership for building these partnerships is timely, especially considering the current uncertainty in global trade and the retaliatory tariffs many nations impose. This approach has given the UAE an edge in ensuring secure trade routes with numerous global partners."He pointed out that the entire spectrum of economic and service sectors in the UAE benefits from these agreements, whether in hospitality, construction, finance, logistics, transport, or professional services. By easing traditional market barriers, CEPAs allow UAE-based companies to enter key global markets with fewer hurdles, Al Kait Kait also emphasised the importance of the UAE's world-class logistical capabilities, as its global network of ports creates new commercial routes and secures them through advanced technology and streamlined customs procedures. According to him, this has helped ensure that the UAE's supply chains remain among the most stable and reliable Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Affairs highlighted the CEPA with India - now in effect for nearly three years - as a successful example of an economic partnership that continues to yield positive results. According to Al Kait, the UAE aims to bolster bilateral trade with India to Dh100 billion over the next two added: "Since its entry into force three years ago, this agreement has yielded remarkable progress, such as spurring growth in exports and imports and offering new opportunities to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UAE, enabling them to tap into the Indian market." Private Sector Al Kait emphasised that the national private sector plays a major role in capitalising on the full potential of CEPAs, opening previously inaccessible channels for cooperation. He cited their importance for several national strategies, such as the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology's plan to diversify the country's industrial base and expand production capacities into untapped Kait noted that high tariffs and retaliatory measures are now common in many regions, which complicates trade relations. In contrast, he said it is increasingly challenging for any country to impose similar barriers on the UAE, thanks to its multiple partnerships. He added that CEPAs provide alternatives for the UAE in cases where individual countries decide to halt exports of certain commodities, particularly food items, thereby reinforcing the nation's food security and diversifying import chains for essential supplies. Economic Shifts Addressing the sweeping changes witnessed by many global economies, Al Kait identified various factors influencing these these are geopolitical events that are reshaping international supply chains, fast-paced technological progress that is altering the nature of growth, and a global policy reorientation towards increased self-reliance and protective measures to ensure the stability of domestic industries and safeguard trade interests. He also mentioned climate change and sustainability as prime issues that have now become an inseparable part of trade and investment Kait pointed out that, under its wise leadership, the UAE has responded to these developments by implementing a robust set of laws and policies designed to keep pace with global shifts. He also noted that the UAE was among the first nations to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly due to its open stance on global Kait added that the UAE boasts one of the best business environments in the region and globally, as evidenced by the country's continuous remarkable performance in global competitiveness indicators and other international reports. Story of Exceptional Success "The UAE represents an exceptional success story and an exceptionally successful economic model," Al Kait said."Five decades ago, it depended almost exclusively on oil revenues. Realising that economic prosperity cannot be achieved through a single resource, our wise leadership turned to economic diversification, trade openness, and comprehensive economic partnerships. This marked the beginning of a commercial renaissance through free zones, which have successfully attracted international companies with numerous incentives and seamless logistical support that eases trade with countries around the world."According to Al Kait, the UAE has now entered a new era of foreign trade by targeting high-quality investments in specialised sectors and building a model for specialised economic and free zones - including the Abu Dhabi Global Market and the Dubai International Financial Centre - that have become magnets for leading financial institutions. These areas also include specialised technology zones and clean energy hubs, such as Masdar achievements, he added, are key steps towards preparing the country to usher in the new economic era. According to Al Kait, this new economic phase is outlined in the UAE Vision 2031, an overarching framework designed to accelerate social and economic advancements and reinforce the UAE's global stature and targets include doubling the national economy from Dh1.5 trillion to Dh3 trillion by 2031, increasing non-oil exports to Dh800 billion and raising the volume of non-oil foreign trade to Dh4 trillion. Hamad Al Kaabi: Elevating UAE's global economic position For his part, Dr. Hamad Al Kaabi, Chief Aletihad News Center Officer, emphasised that spotlighting the CEPA programme - first introduced by the UAE in 2021 - came within the framework of Aletihad News Center's commitment to placing national economic issues at the forefront of its audience's Al Kaabi said that CEPAs have become a cornerstone of the wise leadership's efforts to solidify the UAE's position in the global economy. He pointed out that these agreements play a major role in enhancing trade between the UAE and a multitude of international partners, consolidating the nation's status as a premier global trade and logistics hub. Dr. Al Kaabi added that CEPAs will help fulfil the UAE's strategic goals for 2031, strengthening its leadership in fostering a globally open commercial environment and creating investment conditions attractive to global corporations seeking fresh markets and opportunities.
