Page 8 - Indian Constitution

PM Modi wants to destroy constitution, alleges Rahul at Jharkhand rally

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of seeking to destroy the Constitution which is the "soul of the country". Addressing a poll rally at Jharkhand's Bermo in Bokaro district, Gandhi also alleged that Modi works for the welfare of billionaires and not the poor. "The Constitution is the soul of the country. Prime Minister Modi says it is blank inside. Look at this, it has contents. He says Rahul shows a red book; its content is important and not the colour," he said, displaying a copy of the constitution. The BJP has been accusing the Congress leader of displaying a "fake" copy of the constitution with blank pages at an event in Maharashtra recently. "PM Modi wants to destroy the constitution, but no power can do it," Gandhi said at the rally. He alleged that Modi worked for the welfare of billionaires in the country and privatised institutions, colleges, industries, hospitals and ports. "He handed over the country's wealth to 25 capitalists

SC overturns 1978 ruling, strikes down State's power to seize pvt property

The SC ruling, held by a majority of 8:1, adds that private property does not qualify as 'material resources of the community' as defined under Article 39(b) of the Indian Constitution

Govt floats draft bill to amend arbitration law; adds emergency provision

Seeking to provide "further boost" to institutional arbitration and reduce court intervention in such cases, the government has come out with a draft bill seeking views on the proposed amendments. The Department of Legal Affairs in the law ministry has invited comments on the draft Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2024, saying "the aim and purpose is to provide further boost to institutional arbitration, reduce court intervention in arbitrations and ensuring timely conclusion of arbitration proceedings". The draft bill comes months after an expert committee headed by former law secretary and former Lok Sabha secretary general T K Vishwanathan submitted its report on proposed reforms in the arbitration sector to the law ministry. The draft bill proposes the concept of 'emergency arbitration'. The proposed amendment says arbitral institutions may, for the purpose of grant of interim measures, provide for appointment of "emergency arbitrator" prior to the constitution of

SC dismisses plea to remove 'socialist' & 'secular' terms from Constitution

A Supreme Court bench was hearing of a Public Interest Litigation that calls for the terms 'socialist' and 'secular' to be removed from the Constitution's Preamble

Secularism held to be part of basic structure of constitution, says SC

The Supreme Court on Monday said secularism had always been held to be part and parcel of the basic structure of the Indian Constitution. A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar passed the remark while hearing a batch of petitions filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain and others, who have challenged the inclusion of words "socialist" and "secular" in the Preamble of the Constitution. "This court has in a number of judgments held that secularism was always part of the basic structure of the Constitution. If one looks right to equality and the word 'fraternity' used in the Constitution, there is a clear indication that secularism has been held as the core feature of the Constitution," the bench said. The words "socialist' and "secular" were inserted into the Preamble of the Constitution under the 42nd Constitutional amendment moved by the Indira Gandhi government in 1976. The amendment changed the description of India in the

SC recalls 2022 verdict terming benami law provisions 'unconstitutional'

In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Friday recalled its 2022 verdict that had declared as unconstitutional two provisions of the law on prohibition of benami property transactions that restrains such deals and acquisition of properties by authorities. Allowing the Centre's review of the August 23, 2022 verdict, a bench Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra recalled the judgement delivered by a three-judge bench headed by former CJI N V Ramana. In its August 2022 verdict, the top court had then held that Sections 3(2) and 5 of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 being "manifestly arbitrary" were unconstitutional. While Section 3 of the Act deals with prohibition of benami (a property held by a person through proxies) transactions, Section 5 pertains to property of benami liable to acquisition. On Friday, the top court agreed with the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the

'What legacy will I leave': CJI reflects on his tenure ahead of retirement

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, who took up the role of CJI on November 9, 2022, is set to retire on November 10, 2024

UCC draft committee puts final seal, will submit report to CM Dhami

Singh told ANI that the UCC Code has been made in public interest. He said that without visiting the government office, people can register etc. through the UCC web portal or app

No use of bowing before Shivaji after destroying Constitution: Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi slammed the ruling BJP over the collapse of the statue of the warrior king at Rajkot fort in Sindhudurg district

'Why is it pending': SC pulls up govt over non-appointment of judges

The Supreme Court Collegium is not a search committee for judges whose recommendations can be stalled, said CJI

'No demolitions without prior approval': Supreme Court issues interim order

Order on demolition: The SC bench was addressing a plea challenging the practice of various state governments demolishing properties of individuals accused of crimes as a form of punishment

Panchayati Raj Ministry to hold conference in Sept for PESA implementation

The Panchayati Raj Ministry has come up with specialized training modules for effective implementation of the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act and is likely to hold a national conference later this month to discuss and advance the implementation of the law. The PESA Act of 1996 gives special powers to gram sabhas in a state's scheduled areas, especially for the management of natural resources. It is aimed at recognizing, empowering and promoting the social, economic, cultural and political way of life of the Scheduled Tribes. The ministry is likely to hold a national conference in Delhi on September 26 that will bring together policymakers, senior officers, panchayat representatives and other key stakeholders from the 10 PESA states to discuss and advance the implementation of the Act, an official said. The 10 states under the PESA Act are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana. Th

J&K heads for historic polls under national flag, Constitution: HM Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah Saturday assured people about the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood after the assembly election, which he said is the first under the national flag and the Constitution following the abrogation of Article 370 by the Narendra Modi government. He accused the Congress-National Conference alliance of attempting to revive the "old system" and pushing Jammu and Kashmir into terrorism and corruption. The NDA government will not allow the revival of terrorism, "autonomy" and injustice with any community, including Gujjars, Pahari, Bakerwals and Dalits who were granted reservation by the BJP dispensation, he said. Shah was in Jammu on a two-day visit to boost the BJP's election campaign for the three-phase assembly polls, beginning September 18. He released the party's manifesto on his first day of visit on Friday and also chaired two crucial meetings with senior leaders to discuss the campaign strategy. "The upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir are ..

J-K heading for historic elections under national flag, Constitution: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday assured restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir after the assembly polls, which he said are the first under the national flag and the Constitution following the abrogation of Article 370 by the Modi government. He accused the Congress-National Conference alliance of making attempts to revive the "old system". The NDA government will not allow the revival of terrorism, "autonomy", and injustice with any community including Gujjars, Pahari, Bakerwals and Dalits who were granted reservation by the BJP dispensation, he said. Shah is in Jammu on a two-day visit to boost the BJP's election campaign for the three-phase assembly elections, beginning September 18. He released the party's manifesto on his first day of visit on Friday and also chaired two crucial meetings with senior leaders to discuss the campaign strategy. "The coming elections in J-K are historic because after Independence, the polls are happening the first time under our ..

Centre gives absolute powers to Delhi LG to constitute any authority

The Centre has given absolute powers to the Delhi lieutenant governor to constitute any authority, board and commission such as the Delhi Commission for Women and the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission. In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said the Delhi LG can also appoint members to such authority, board, commission or statutory bodies. The notification has been issued in pursuance of clause (1) of article 239 of the Constitution read with section 45D of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 (1 of 1992). "The President hereby directs that the Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi shall, subject to the control of the President and until further orders, exercise the powers of the President under clause (a) of section 45D of the said Act for constitution of any authority, board, commission or any statutory body by whatever name it may be called, or for appointment of any Government officer or ex officio member to such ...

Ceiling on net borrowing: SC to set up 5-judge bench to hear Kerala's plea

The Kerala government on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking early setting up of a five-judge Constitution bench to hear its lawsuit against the Centre raising the issue of ceiling on net borrowing. The state government has raised a question whether a State has an enforceable right to raise its borrowing limits from the Union government and other sources. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was told by senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for the state government, that the matter was referred to a Constitution bench on April 1 and the apex court official was not sending an email for setting up of the bench. I will look into it, the CJI said. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan on April 1 had referred the matter to a five-judge Constitution bench and this can now be set up by the CJI by an administrative order. The apex court, however, had refused to grant any interim injunction to Kerala, saying the state has

Cong slams PM's communal civil code remark, says 'gross insult' to Ambedkar

The Congress on Thursday took exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "communal civil code" remark, saying it was a "gross insult" to B R Ambedkar and alleged that the PM's capacity for "malice, mischief, and maligning" of history was on full display from the Red Fort. The Congress's denunciation came in the wake of Modi saying a "secular civil code" is the need of the hour as the existing set of laws was a "communal civil code" and discriminatory. In his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Modi said, "A large section of the country believes, which is true also, that the civil code is actually in a way is a communal civil code. It discriminates (among people)." Slamming the prime minister, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "The non-biological PM's capacity for malice, mischief, and maligning of history knows no bounds. It was on full display today from the Red Fort." "To say that we have had a 'communal civil code' t

Democracy biggest protective shield woven into constitutional values: Rahul

He further stated, "This is the power of expression, the ability to speak the truth and the hope to fulfil dreams"

Waqf board bill based on Congress appointed panel's suggestions: Union min

Waqf board bill row: Congress-led INDIA bloc has opposed the bill, labelling it as an 'attack on the federal system' and urged the Centre to refer it to a standing committee for consultations

Preamble to the Constitution not removed from NCERT textbooks: Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday said the Preamble to the Constitution is very well there in NCERT textbooks of Class VI as he refuted charges made in this regard by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Earlier, Opposition Congress party raised in Rajya Sabha the issue of dropping Preamble from certain NCERT textbooks, saying this was an attempt to impose communal ideology on the country - a claim which Union Minister J P Nadda countered saying the government was committed to protecting constitution. During Zero Hour, Leader of the Opposition and Congress President Kharge said Preamble, which is the soul and foundation of Indian Constitution, used to be published in NCERT textbooks. Soon after Zero Hour, Pradhan said Kharge has made certain remarks regarding NCERT books of the education department. "I want to humbly put the facts in the House," he said. The minister informed the House that till now textbooks for classes up to 7th have been published. "Le