Page 11 - Indian Constitution

Citizens' constitutional rights are under attack, says Sharad Pawar

Rights of citizens enshrined in the Constitution are under attack and this poses a significant threat to the democratic fabric of the nation, Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar chief Sharad Pawar said on Monday. Addressing an 'Elgar Parishad' gathering in Ulhasnagar in Thane district, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks in Parliament were superficial and trivial and decried attacks on Jawaharlal Nehru, the country's first PM, and Babasaheb Ambedkar, principal architect of the Constitution. "Two days ago in Parliament, we heard Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech. In the entire speech, he criticised and attacked Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who had spent six to seven years in jail before Independence. After Independence, he took Dr Ambedkar along and built a democratic country. The attack was made on the policies and decisions taken by that person," Pawar claimed. Such attacks are not merely directed at individuals but represent a broader assault on the ...

SC rejects PIL challenging practice of appointing deputy chief ministers

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL challenging the practice of appointing deputy chief ministers and said this does not breach the Constitution. This is just a label and even if you call someone a deputy chief minister, it does not change the status, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachaud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said while trashing the PIL filed by the Public Political Party. A deputy CM is first and foremost a minister in the government of the state and this does not breach the Constitution, the bench said, adding that it does not create a class in itself. The lawyer, appearing for the PIL petitioner, said states are setting a wrong example by appointing deputy chief ministers and this violates Article 14 (right to equality) under the Constitution. The bench said such appointments do not breach any constitutional provisions.

Is state empowered to make classification in SCs, STs for quota: SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday commenced examining a legal question whether a state government is empowered to make a sub-classification in the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes for grant of reservation in admissions and public jobs. A seven-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud is also examining the validity of the Punjab Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes (Reservation in Services) Act, 2006 which provided 50 percent quota and the first preference' to Valmikis' and Mazhabi Sikhs' castes in public jobs inside the quota meant for the Scheduled Castes (SCs). The bench, also comprising justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, Bela M Trivedi, Pankaj Mithal, Manoj Misra and Satish Chandra Mishra, is hearing 23 petitions, including the lead one filed by the Punjab Government challenging the 2010 verdict of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The high court had struck down Section 4(5) of the Punjab law, which gave 50 per cent SC quota to Valmikis' and Mazhabi Sikhs',

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

Happy Republic Day 2024: Best wishes, messages, quotes to share with others

Today, everyone is celebrating Republic Day and sharing greetings with their family and friends. Here are the best wishes, messages and quotes to share

Watch: President Murmu's full address to nation on eve of Republic Day 2024

On the eve of the 75th Republic Day, in her address to the nation, President Droupadi Murmu talks about G20 summit, Ram Mandir, Paris Olympics, and more. Watch the full speech

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 ...

BJP wins 25 seats in North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council in Assam

The BJP has retained power in the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) in Assam's Dima Hasao district after the saffron party won 25 seats in the 30-member council election

Mamata junks 'One Nation, One Election', stresses on federal nation

"If there is election at one time, it is beneficial for us because we have to work only once. But if a state does not get a majority government, what will be its outcome?" Mamata said

Constitution has been trampled upon: 'Saamana' on ruling in Shiv Sena case

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday targeted Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar for recognising Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led party as the "real" Shiv Sena, claiming the Constitution has been trampled upon by recognising a "gang of thieves". The people of the state will not forgive those behind this, an editorial in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' said while also targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Addressing a news conference here, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed Narwekar was entrusted with doing justice, but he acted as Shinde's lawyer. In a big political win for Shinde, Narwekar on Wednesday held that the Shiv Sena faction led by him was the "real political party" when rival groups emerged in June 2022, and did not disqualify any MLA from the two camps. The ruling cemented Shinde place in the top job, 18 months after his rebellion, and added to his political heft in the ruling coalition which also consists of the BJP and the NCP (Ajit Pawar group) ahead of

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 ...

BJP will take away voting rights from people if it comes to power: Akhilesh

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the Samajwadi Party chief asserted that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are for safeguarding the Constitution

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

SC upholds abrogation of Article 370: Here are top 10 points from verdict

The five-judge Constitution Bench directed the Election Commission to hold polls in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024

Article 370 was a temporary provision, says SC as it upholds its abrogation

Article 370 case verdict: The apex court directed the Election Commission (EC) to hold polls in J&K by September 30, 2024

State govts vs Governors saga takes new twists with SC's intervention

Article 200 of the Constitution asks Governors to sign Bills passed by legislatures 'as soon as possible', and state governments requested the apex court to prescribe a time limit for it

Increase in litigation reflects people's confidence in system: SC judge

Supreme Court judge Justice Rajesh Bindal on Tuesday said the increase in litigation should not dishearten anybody as it shows people's confidence in the country's legal system. Delivering a lecture as part of the Constitution Day celebrations at the India International University of Legal Education and Research (IIULER) in Goa, Justice Bindal said that around five crore cases are pending in civil courts in the country, including 4.2 crore cases in district courts, about 60 lakh in the high courts and 70,000 in the Supreme Court. If the average number of parties in each case was assumed to be four and each party's family member average taken as four, the total number of people affected by the pendency would be five crore multiplied twice by four and it comes to 80 crore. Then there are a large number of witnesses also associated with these cases, he said. In a country with a population of 140 crore, this number shows that the legal fraternity is connected with almost everybody's ..

Necessary to defeat BJP to save Constitution and democracy: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said it is "necessary to defeat the BJP" to "save the Constitution and democracy" in the country. Addressing the 'Samvidhan Bachao Maharally' organised in Mati on the occasion of the Constitution Day, Yadav said, "Today is a historic day. This day tells us that if democracy survives and the Constitution survives then we can take our rights from the governments through the right of one vote that we have got." "The people of the BJP do not believe in law and the Constitution. To save the Constitution and democracy, it is necessary to defeat the BJP. No one is getting justice in the BJP government," he added, according to a statement issued by the Samajwadi Party (SP) here. The rally was organised by Raja Ram Pal, former MP from Uttar Pradesh's Akbarpur Lok Sabha constituency. Yadav claimed that "samajwadis" are struggling the most and taking risks to save the Constitution in the country. "We all are taking a pledge today to save the ...

Need to make laws simpler, relatable to younger generation: Justice Khanna

Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjiv Khanna Sunday said there was a "pressing need" to make laws simpler, accessible, more humane and relatable to the younger generation. The top court judge, who is next-in-line to become the Chief Justice of India (CJI) after the retirement of incumbent CJI D Y Chandrachud in November next year, said that the Indian Constitution was a "living document" influencing millions of lives and urged all to "move forward with determination unity and optimism". Justice Khanna was speaking at a Constitution Day event in the Supreme Court in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, CJI Chandrachud, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and several other dignitaries. Since 2015, November 26 is observed as Constitution Day to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly in 1949. Earlier, the day was observed as Law Day. "As we commemorate the 74th Constitution Day, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in our nation's journey.

India came out of adverse situations due to its Constitution, says Meghwal

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Sunday said India was able to strengthen democracy as the judiciary and the governments did their work. He also said that India fared better than its neighbours due to its Constitution, which he described as a living document. Addressing an event in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu and Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud to celebrate Constitution Day, the minister said the country has been able to come out of adverse situations due to its Constitution. "Countries around us got independence -- Pakistan attained independence with us; Sri Lanka got independence before us but disturbance, Nepal there was disturbance, there was disturbance in Myanmar," he said adding Bangladesh also faced problems. "But there is only one key reason as to why we moved in the right direction. We had the living document, the Constitution," he said. The minister said India came out several adverse situations due to the Constitution. "We came out of variou