Page 7 - Constitution

Fight to protect our Constitution, democracy begins today, says Kharge

As the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls began on Friday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged voters to cast their ballots carefully and asserted that a new era of economic empowerment and equal opportunities beckons them. "The fight to protect our Constitution and Democracy begins today," he said in a post on 'X'. "My dear citizens, from 21 States and UTs who are voting in the First Phase of the Lok Sabha elections, I request you to carefully cast your vote. A future where NYAY (justice) awaits you. A new era of Economic Empowerment and Equal Opportunities beckons you," the Congress chief said. "I am sure you will vote for the 'jobs revolution' through YUVA NYAY, rather than a continuation of the past 10 years of record unemployment," Kharge said. He exuded confidence that people would vote for the guarantees of 'NAARI NYAY' which takes concrete measures for the financial independence of women and against the continuation of the backbreaking price rise that has reduced th

PM orchestrating systematic campaign to do away with Constitution: Congress

The Congress accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday of orchestrating a systematic campaign to do away with the Constitution framed by B R Ambedkar and said the upcoming Lok Sabha election is about preserving and protecting Ambedkar's magnificent accomplishment. Ambedkar's birth anniversary was celebrated on Sunday. "Today our country celebrates the 133rd birth anniversary of the extraordinarily multi-faceted Dr B R Ambedkar -- at a time when calls for doing away with the Constitution of India, which is his greatest legacy, are getting shriller. This is undoubtedly part of a systematic campaign orchestrated by none other than the Prime Minister himself," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. "The strategy is simple but full of hypocrisy: keep up the pretence of upholding that legacy while undermining it daily and getting drum-beaters to call for a new Constitution," he added. "This is what the 2024 election is fundamentally all about -- the preservati

AAP to observe 'Samvidhan Bachao, Tanashahi Hatao Divas' on Sunday

AAP leader and Delhi minister Gopal Rai on Saturday said the party will observe 'Samvidhan Bachao, Tanashahi Hatao Divas' across the country on the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar on April 14. The party workers will read the preamble of the Constitution and an oath to save the founding document of the country, Rai said. The minister, at a press conference at the party office here, said the BJP-led central government is attacking our democracy and constitution. To counter that, we need to be united, Rai said. "On Sunday, we will be holding a one-day programme -- Samvidhan Bachao, Tanashahi Hatao Divas -- where the AAP workers will gather at party offices in their states and take an oath to save our democracy and constitution," he said. The event will be held at the party offices in the state capitals across the country, the AAP leader said. The programme is being held on the advice of Kejriwal. In another message from the jail, Kejriwal had asked AAP MLAs and volunteers to work

AAP launches social media campaign for 'saving' Constitution, democracy

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday launched a social media campaign asking people to support it for saving the constitution and democracy in the country. Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Atishi addressed a press conference here to launch the social media "DP (display picture) campaign", urging people to join in. She said that all AAP leaders and volunteers will change their profile picture on X, Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media accounts with the new one showing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal behind the bars captioned "Modi Ka Sabse Bada Dar Kejriwal". Kejriwal is the only leader in the country who can challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi so he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate without any evidence just after the announcement of Lok Sabha polls, Atishi said. She claimed the ED could not produce even "one Paisa" of evidence despite its two-year-long probe into the alleged excise scam . She alleged that the BJP and Modi want to crush Kejriwal and add

32 parties supported, 15 opposed One Nation, One Election, says report

The high-level committee on 'one nation, one election' approached 62 parties out which 47 responded -- 32 in support of holding elections simultaneously, 15 against it. Fifteen parties did not submit a response, according to the report of the panel submitted to President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday. Among the national parties, the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) opposed the proposal, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and National People's Party supported it. "Responses were received from 47 political parties. Barring 15 political parties, the remaining 32 political parties not only favoured the system of simultaneous elections, but also advocated its adoption for saving scarce resources, protecting social harmony, and stimulating economic development," the report said. "Those who opposed simultaneous elections raised apprehensions that its adoption could violate the basic structure of the Constitution, be ...

LS polls: Will do away with 'secular' in Preamble, says Karnataka BJP MP

Six years since Anantkumar Hegde said the BJP would change the Constitution to do away with the word "secular" in its preamble, the BJP MP on Sunday reiterated it, exhorting the public to ensure two-thirds majority for the saffron party in Lok Sabha to amend the country's founding document. The BJP needs a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament to amend the Constitution and "set right distortions and unnecessary additions made to it by the Congress", Hedge said, addressing a gathering here, going on to explain the numbers required to amend the preamble of the Constitution. The party would also need to come to power in more than 20 States for this, the six-time Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka said. "If the Constitution has to be amended -- the Congress fundamentally distorted the Constitution by forcefully filling unnecessary things in it, especially by bringing in laws that were aimed at suppressing the Hindu society -- if all of this has to be changed it is not possible with

Article 21 soul of Constitution, liberty of citizen most important: SC

The Supreme Court has said that Article 21 is the soul of the Constitution as the liberty of a citizen is of paramount importance and the high court not expeditiously adjudicating matters related to it would deprive a person of this precious right. A bench of Justice B R Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta made the observation after noting that the Bombay High Court has granted bail to one Amol Vithal Vahile, a prime accused in the murder of a corporator in Maharashtra, after a nudge from the apex court on January 29. The bench, in its recent order, said it is thus clear that before the order was passed by this court on January 29, 2024, the high court instead of deciding the application for bail on merits shunted it on one or the other ground. "Needless to state that Article 21 of the Constitution of India is the soul of the Constitution as the liberty of a citizen is of paramount importance. Not deciding the matter pertaining to liberty of a citizen expeditiously and shunting away the

People against Constitution indulging in negative propaganda: Karnataka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday a negative propaganda is underway for a long time that the Constitution is only for "salvation" of Dalits and not in accordance with the socio-economic situation. This negative propaganda should not be tolerated, he said after inaugurating the 'Constitution and National Unity Conference' organised by the Social Welfare Department at the Palace Grounds here. It should be realised that people who are against the Constitution are indulging in negative propaganda; Constitution clearly states freedom, equality and fraternity, the Chief Minister said. "This propaganda has been going on since it came into effect on January 26, 1950. This should not be tolerated. If the Constitution is protected, we will all survive. Otherwise we will be in danger", Siddaramaiah said. Eradicating social inequality is the responsibility of every government, he added. In a society with social and economic inequality, political democracy can succeed on

Ladakh protests: Demands for statehood, inclusion in 6th Schedule amplify

The Centre concurred to thoroughly deliberate the requests for Ladakh's statehood, its incorporation into the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, among other things

Prez Murmu suggests global collaborations to ensure 'environmental justice'

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday said the world faces the threat of climate change and suggested global collaborations to ensure "environmental justice" and deal with other cross-border legal challenges. Addressing an international conference of Commonwealth law officers here, she said the Commonwealth, with its diversity and legacy, can show the rest of the world the way to address the common concerns in a spirit of cooperation. Murmu said the preamble to the Constitution speaks of "justice, social, economic and political". "Therefore, when we speak of justice delivery, we should keep in mind all aspects of it, including social justice," she said, addressing the valedictory function of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) -- Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference (CASGC) 2024. In recent times, as the world faces the threat of climate change, "we should also add environmental justice to these varied aspects of the concept of justice", the presiden

VP urges assembly speakers to make constitution that carries all amendments

VP Dhankhar also expressed concern over the fact that the general public is clueless about the 22 miniature paintings that are an integral part of the Indian constitution

75th anniversary of SC: CJI calls for 'culture of professionalism'

He was speaking as part of the ceremonial bench that sat today to mark 75 years of the Supreme Court

SC acted as Constitution's heart and soul for 74 years: Justice Gavai

The Supreme Court has acted as the Constitution's heart and soul for the last 74 years by safeguarding the rights of citizens as well as the ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity enshrined in the Preamble, Justice B R Gavai said on Sunday. The Supreme Court judge was speaking at a function organised by the apex court on the occasion of the inauguration of the Diamond Jubilee Year of its establishment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest for the occasion. The conception of the Supreme Court also symbolises "the balance of justice", an institution that will act as a shield for citizens against excesses of power, Justice Gavai said. Addressing the gathering in which Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, top law officers and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal were also present, Justice Sanjiv Khanna said the Supreme Court has prioritised "accessibility" to common citizens while handling the "highest volume of cases" among all its global counterparts. He,

Protecting Constitution true tribute to freedom fighter: Rahul on R-Day

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said protecting the fundamental principles of the Constitution is the true tribute to our freedom fighters. Wishing fellow citizens on Republic Day, he said the Constitution, which unites the dreams of the freedom fighters, is the soul of the Indian Republic. "Our great Constitution, which unites the dreams of the freedom movement, is the soul of the Indian Republic. "Protection of the fundamental principles of the Constitution and loyalty to them is the true tribute to the immortal freedom fighters," he said in a post in Hindi on X. "Best wishes to all the countrymen on Republic Day. Jai Hind," Gandhi said. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh too called on his fellow countrymen to protect the fundamental principles of the Constitution. "It is our duty to raise our voice against injustice and oppression. "It is the responsibility of all of us to maintain the unity in diversity of the country," Ramesh said in a post in Hindi.

Kerala makes preamble to Constitution part of textbooks for class 1-10

For the first time in the history of the state, the revised school textbooks in Kerala will include the preamble to the Constitution of the country. The CPI(M)-led Left Government has decided to incorporate the preamble into textbooks of class 1 to 10 as part of its efforts to instil constitutional values in the minds of children, official sources said here on Wednesday. General Education Minister V Sivankutty, who is also the chairman of the State Curriculum Committee, announced the significant decision here yesterday. The State Curriculum Steering Committee recently approved 173 new textbooks for Classes I, III, V, VII and IX as part of the curriculum reforms implemented after a decade. "It is the first time that the preamble of the Constitution is included and printed at the start of every textbook," Sivankutty said. The minister said the LDF government has made it clear since the beginning that the southern state would pursue reform activities upholding constitutional ...

Arbitrary court orders summoning govt officials against Constitution: SC

Arbitrary court orders summoning government officials in judicial proceedings run contrary to the scheme envisaged by the Constitution, the Supreme Court held on Wednesday and framed standard operating procedures on the issue. A bench comprising Chief justice D Y Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said the standard operating procedures (SOP) for courts emphasised that they needed to steer away from arbitrary summoning of officials. Pronouncing the judgement, the CJI said the courts cannot summon a official only because his view is different from that of the courts. It also said that courts must refrain from making remarks or observations to humiliate officers during court proceedings. The top court also set aside the orders of the Allahabad High Court by which two secretaries of the Uttar Pradesh finance department were taken into custody. Earlier, the bench had said that it will lay down the broad guidelines to be followed by courts across the country while ...

CAA is law of the land, no one can stop its implementation: HM Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that no one can stop the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as it is the law of the land and accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of misleading people on the issue. Addressing a closed-door meeting of the state BJP's social media and IT wing members at the National Library here, Shah said it is the commitment of the party to implement the CAA. Shah expressed confidence that the party will secure more than 35 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats from the state. In the 2019 polls, the saffron camp had secured 18 seats. The Bengal BJP media cell shared a list of pointers of Shah's speech at the closed-door programme. Later in the evening, it also shared a few video clips of Shah's speech. "We have to work to form a BJP government in West Bengal after the next assembly polls. A BJP government will mean the end of infiltration, cow smuggling and providing citizenship to religiously persecuted people through CAA," he

Supreme Court to deliver verdict on scraping of Article 370 on December 11

On Monday, SC will deliver its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution which conferred special status on the erstwhile State of J&K

MPs who win Assembly polls have to quit one seat in 14 days, says expert

Several of the MPs who contested the assembly polls and won will have to quit one of the seats in the next 14 days, else they stand to lose their Parliament membership, an expert said citing provisions of the Constitution. The BJP fielded 21 MPs, including Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Singh Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste, in the assembly polls -- seven each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, four in Chhattisgarh and three in Telangana. The MPs who win assembly polls will have to quit one of their seats in the next 14 days. "If they don't, on expiry of 14 days, they will lose their membership of Parliament. However, they can continue as member of the state legislative assembly," Constitution expert and former Lok Sabha secretary general P D T Achari said citing Prevention of Simultaneous Membership Rule issued by the president in 1950 under Article 101 of the constitution. While counting is on in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, it will take plac

Jharkhand officials leave for U'khand to help in rescue of trapped workers

A three-member team of Jharkhand government officials have left for Uttarakhand to provide help in the rescue of workers who were trapped after a portion of an under-construction tunnel collapsed, an official said on Tuesday. Around 36 workers, including 10 from Jharkhand, were feared trapped after a portion of an under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand collapsed on Sunday morning. Three government officials, including JAP-IT (Jharkhand Agency for Promotion of Information Technology) CEO Bhuvnesh Pratap Singh, and joint labour commissioners Rajesh Prasad and Robert Lakra, left for Uttarakhand on Monday on the direction of Chief Minister Hemant Soren to provide immediate relief and help in the rescue of workers hailing from the eastern state, an official statement said. The chief minister has wished for the speedy recovery of all the workers trapped in the tunnel.