Latest news with #MMSundresh
Indian Express
18 minutes ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Supreme Court declines to interfere in Telangana HC order granting bail to 4 men accused of supplying explosives to Maoists
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by the Telangana Government challenging a Telangana High Court order that granted bail to four men accused of conspiring and supplying explosives and material such as drones to members of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist). The case was heard by a bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh, who declined to interfere in the high court's order. The case was registered in the Cherla police station of Bhadradri Kothagudem district and later transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The trial court dismissed their bail petitions on November 7, 2023, and January 18, 2024. The four bail applicants are accused 1, 3, 6, and 7 in the case. In the trial court, the special public prosecutor for the NIA had contended that the offences, charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other laws, were grave and serious in nature, and since some of the accused in this case were absconding, it was not safe to grant bail. The police caught them on June 5, 2023, on the outskirts of Cherla Mandal during a vehicle check drive. They were found in possession of 'incriminating material objects, such as one drone, cortex wire bundles – 2 each 80 meters length, gelatin sticks – 10, detonators – 5. The accused 1 to 7 conspired to hand over the same to the underground cadres of proscribed organization of CPI (Maoist) i.e., accused 8 to 11 and others, for making landmine and IED firearms', the police alleged. However, while hearing the batch of petitions challenging the rejection of bail applications by the trial court, a Telangana High Court bench of Justices K Lakshman and P Sree Sudha granted them bail with certain conditions, including some general ones, bail bonds, and weekly reporting. The high court, in its order dated March 21, 2024, acknowledged the NIA's primary concern that the accused might threaten witnesses, including protected ones, and potentially disrupt the fairness of the trial. Should this occur, the special court might be unable to conduct a fair trial. In such a scenario, the NIA is free to apply for the cancellation of bail, the bench said. Rahul V Pisharody is an Assistant Editor with the Indian Express Online and has been reporting from Telangana on various issues since 2019. Besides a focused approach to big news developments, Rahul has a keen interest in stories about Hyderabad and its inhabitants and looks out for interesting features on the city's heritage, environment, history culture etc. His articles are straightforward and simple reads in sync with the context. Rahul started his career as a journalist in 2011 with The New Indian Express and worked in different roles at the Hyderabad bureau for over 8 years. As Deputy Metro Editor, he was in charge of the Hyderabad bureau of the newspaper and coordinated with the team of district correspondents, centres and internet desk for over three years. A native of Palakkad in Kerala, Rahul has a Master's degree in Communication (Print and New Media) from the University of Hyderabad and a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore. Long motorcycle rides and travel photography are among his other interests. ... Read More
Scroll.in
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
SC refuses to examine order mandating eateries along Kanwar Yatra route to display owner's identity
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to examine the legality of the directives issued by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage route to display quick response codes with their owners' identities, Live Law reported. A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and NK Singh disposed of the interlocutory applications filed against the directives. But it said that the eateries must display their licences and registration certificates as required by law. 'We are told that today is the last day of the yatra,' Live Law quoted the bench as saying on Tuesday. 'In any case it is likely to come to an end in the near future. Therefore, at this stage, we would only pass an order that all the respective hotel owners shall comply with the mandate of displaying the licence and the registration certificate as per the statutory requirements.' During the Kanwar Yatra, devotees, called Kanwariyas, walk hundreds of kilometres to collect water from the Ganga near Haridwar and carry it back to their home states to offer at temples. The devotees mainly come from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. This year's Kanwar Yatra started on July 11. The applications in the court were moved in the writ petitions filed in 2024 against directions to display the names of owners and staff, Live Law reported. The applications were filed by Delhi University Professor Apoorvanand and activist Aakar Patel. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and the Association of Protection of Civil Rights were the other petitioners, Live Law reported. The applications argued that the mandate violated the 2024 interim order of court that prohibited forcing vendors to disclose their identities. The QR codes, now being made mandatory for food stalls and eateries along the pilgrimage route, would enable pilgrims and others to access personal details of business owners, said the applications. It contended that this not only undermines the spirit of the court's stay but also risks discriminatory profiling, particularly of vendors from minority communities, under the guise of public safety and licencing requirements. The applications claimed that the governments' orders violate the fundamental right to privacy and dignity. It pointed out that while vendors are legally required to display licences, those are meant to be posted inside their premises, not put up prominently outside or through public QR codes. During the proceedings on Tuesday, advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the petitioners, said that the authorities should have sought the modification of the 2024 order before issuing the directives on the QR code, Live Law reported. Singhvi also asked how the surname of an owner of an eatery was supposed to ensure good service, adding that the only intent was 'to cause religious profiling'. He asked how the identity of a person could be deemed offensive. The advocate also referred to reports about shops being allegedly attacked, adding: 'When you sow the seeds of divisiveness, the rest is taken care of by the populace.' The governments' directives were unconstitutional as they created divisiveness based on identity and violated the fundamental right to trade, he argued, adding that it was also a 'direct assault' on the principle of secularism, Live Law reported. Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, said that the directions were issued as per the requirements of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Rohatgi also claimed that a few dhabas that used to sell meat were misrepresenting themselves by saying that they were selling only vegetarian food. This had offended the sentiments of devotees, he claimed. However, advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the petitioners, noted that the eateries could only sell vegetarian items as per the local regulations during this period. But the court said that a customer should know if a place was exclusively selling vegetarian items throughout. 'If a hotel is running as a vegetarian hotel all through, then the question of indicating names and other things will not arise,' Live Law quoted Sundresh as saying. 'But if only for the purpose of yatra, somebody stops serving non-veg and starts selling veg, the consumer should know.' Ahmadi also asked what was the necessity of revealing the identities of the owners and the staff, adding that the mandate for the disclosure of the names was to understand the religious identity. 'What happens on the ground this sort of a message religion is to be considered as a factor, this is promoting untouchability through the backdoor,' Live Law quoted Ahmadi as saying. Deputy Advocate General Jatinder Kumar Sethi, representing the Uttarakhand government defending the directions issued by the state. Another counsel for the state government claimed that that the real problem was dhabas named 'Shiva Dhaba' or 'Parvati Dhaba' being run by Muslim. 'Please, don't embarrass us like this,' the bench said without entertaining the submission.
News18
6 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Kanwar route: SC QR order stay welcomed in UP
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Moradabad (UP), Jul 22 (PTI) The Supreme Court order refusing to stay the QR code directive meant for eateries along the kanwar yatra route in UP and Uttarakhand has been welcomed by many. The order pertains to all hotel owners who have shops along the kanwar routes in the two states, and ordains they must display a QR code that gives the details of the establishment when scanned. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said it was not going into the issues over the display of names of the hotel or dhaba owner and the QR code, Tuesday being the last day of the kanwar yatra. Raghuveer Singh, a government official who has been offering 'gangajal' at Neelkanth Mahadev for the last 23 years, hailed it as a 'good order." 'Now there will be no difference based on communities, and everybody will follow this without any objection," he said. Sharafat Hussain, the owner of Neelkanth Dhaba on a national highway, said, 'We have a copy of the food licence pasted at our dhaba for the last 20 years." Food inspector Raj Hans Srivastava said that all hotels and dhabas have already been following the guidelines, but they have pasted the licence copy inside and not outside. Following the direction of the food department, when they pasted their licence copies outside, they were all washed out in the rain, so they were told to put them back. The order is meant for all dhabas and not only the Muslim dhabas, Srivastava insisted. The detractors of the order have claimed that it has been issued for religious profiling, with Muslim eatery owners at the receiving end of it. The Supreme Court last year stayed similar directives issued by Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh governments, asking eateries along the kanwar route to display the names of their owners, staff and other details. A large number of Shiv devotees head to the Ganga from various places and carry back the gangajal in kanwars to perform 'jalabhishek" at a local Shiv temple in the Hindu calendar month of Shravan. PTI COR ABN VN VN view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 17:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
7 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
'Display Licenses': Supreme Court Directs Hotels Along Kanwar Yatra Route
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed all hotel owners along the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to display their licences and registration certificates in accordance with statutory requirements. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said it was not going into the other issues of displaying the name of the hotel or dhaba owner and the QR code as Tuesday is the last day of the Kanwar Yatra. "We are told that today is the last day of the yatra. In any case it is likely to come to an end in the near future. Therefore, at this stage we would only pass an order that all the respective hotel owners shall comply with the mandate of displaying the licence and the registration certificate as per the statutory requirements," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by academician Apoorvanand Jha and others. Last year, the Supreme Court stayed similar directives issued by Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments, asking eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners, staff and other details. Referring to a press release issued by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 25, Jha, said, "The new measures mandate the display of QR codes on all eateries along the kanwar route which reveal the names and identities of the owners, thereby achieving the same discriminatory profiling that was previously stayed by this court." The petition said the state government's directive asking stall owners to reveal religious and caste identities under "lawful license requirements" breaches the right to privacy of the shop, dhaba and restaurant owners. A large number of devotees travel from various places with 'kanwars' carrying holy water from the Ganga to perform 'jalabhishek' of Shivling during the Hindu calendar month of 'Shravan'. Many believers shun the consumption of meat during the month. Many do not even consume meals containing onion and garlic.
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Business Standard
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
SC refuses to stay QR code directive for eateries along Kanwar Yatra route
Justices M M Sundresh & N Kotiswar Singh said it was not going into the other issues over display of names of the hotel or dhaba owner and the QR code, Tuesday being the last day of the Kanwar Yatra Press Trust of India New Delhi The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the "QR" code directive for eateries along Kanwar Yatra route in UP, Uttarakhand and directed all hotel owners along the route to display their licences and registration certificates in line with the statutory requirements. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said it was not going into the other issues over display of names of the hotel or dhaba owner and the QR code, Tuesday being the last day of the Kanwar Yatra. "We are told that today is the last day of the yatra. In any case it is likely to come to an end in the near future. Therefore, at this stage we would only pass an order that all the respective hotel owners shall comply with the mandate of displaying the licence and the registration certificate as per the statutory requirements," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by academician Apoorvanand Jha and others. Senior advocate Abhishek M Singhvi, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the UP government should have sought the modification of the court's 2024 order before issuing the QR code directives. Singhvi argued the state government was trying to ostracise and exclude minorities by its QR code directive for eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route. "This is the most divisive initiative, to ostracise people during the yatra, as if these people are untouchables. Will my surname ensure that 'kanwariyas' receive good quality food not menu card? This is the most divisive initiative possible," the senior lawyer submitted. Referring to news reports over the alleged attacks on certain shops by kanwariyas, the senior lawyer said, "When you sow the seeds of divisiveness, the rest is taken care of by the populace." Responding to his submission, Justice Sundresh said people had different food choices and a vegetarian may choose to go to only a place serving exclusively vegetarian food, especially during a religious pilgrimage. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, said directions were issued in line with the requirements of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regulations. "There are people in this country who will not eat in there brother's house if meat is cooked. There are sentiments of devotees," Rohatgi said, "and as per the regulations under the Act they require photo identity. Why are you scared of showing your name? I don't understand." Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing other petitioners, said the eateries along this route only sold vegetarian items during this period according to local regulations. Justice Sundresh observed a customer must have the choice of knowing if a place was exclusively selling vegetarian items throughout. "If a hotel is running as a vegetarian hotel all through, then the question of indicating names and other things will not arise. But if only for the purpose of yatra, somebody stops serving non-vegetarian and starts selling vegetarian, the consumer should know," the judge remarked. He continued, "To that extent, consumers should have that flexibility. If one hotel was earlier serving non-vegetarian, and for the purpose of better business they serve only vegetarian during the yatra, it will be an issue for the consideration of the consumer. The choice is of the consumer. Consumer is the king." The bench further said it was not inclined to examine the petition as the issue was infructuous considering it was last day of the yatra. The Supreme Court last year stayed similar directives issued by Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments, asking eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners, staff and other details. Referring to a press release issued by the UP government on June 25, Jha, said, "The new measures mandate the display of QR codes on all eateries along the kanwar route which reveal the names and identities of the owners, thereby achieving the same discriminatory profiling that was previously stayed by this court." The petitioner said the state government's directive asking stall owners to reveal religious and caste identities under "lawful license requirements" breaches the right to privacy of the shop, dhaba and restaurant owners. A large number of devotees travel from various places with "kanwars" carrying holy water from the Ganga to perform "jalabhishek" of Shivling during the Hindu calendar month of "Shravan". Many believers shun the consumption of meat during the month and even avoid meals cooked with onion and garlic. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
