National

Karnataka: Decision To Scrap 4% Quota For Muslims Stayed Till May 9

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that the Karnataka government’s decision to scrap the 4% quota for Muslims will not be implemented till May 9 after the state sought time to file its response to a plea challenging the move, reported PTI.

Last month, the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka removed Muslims from the Other Backward Classes quota. The decision was taken at the government’s last Cabinet meeting before the Assembly elections on May 10.

The Basavaraj Bommai government stated that the reservation was not constitutionally tenable and divided the 4% quota equally among the two dominant communities of the state – Vokkaligas and Veerashaiva-Lingayats.

Also Read:SC Issues Notice on Wrestlers’ Petition For FIR Against WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

The order was challenged in the Supreme Court by a petitioner named L Ghulam Rasool, who said that the reservation benefits given to poor Muslims in the state have been taken away keeping electoral gains in mind. At an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court had observed that the decision was “prima facie fallacious”.

At Tuesday’s hearing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government requested the Supreme Court to hear matter next week.

Mehta made the request saying that he was slated to appear in another hearing before in the same-sex marriage case. Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioner, opposed the request to adjourn the hearing, saying that it has already been deferred four times.

Mehta said that as assured by the state government at the previous hearing on April 18, no appointments or admissions will be made under the new quota till the next date of hearing. He added that the interim order passed by the court is already in the petitioners’ favor.

The division bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna then adjourned the hearing till May 9.

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National

SC Issues Notice on Wrestlers’ Petition For FIR Against WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Shashank
SC

On day three of the wrestler’s protest against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh,  the Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 25, issued notice on the petition filed by top wrestlers, seeking that a first information report be filed against Bharatiya Janata Party strongman, member of parliament and Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over serious allegations of sexual harassment, including that of a minor.

Protesting wrestlers said on Sunday, April 23, that even though they had filed a police complaint at Connaught Place police station, with details of six women and one minor girl accusing Singh of sexual misconduct, no FIR had been filed yet. Cops have been repeatedly instructed by courts to act quickly in cases where the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act can be invoked.

Among those protesting are Olympics medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia and Worlds medallists Vinesh Phogat and Deepak Punia.

Hearing Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared on behalf of the country’s leading wrestlers, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud noted that a remedy to approach the Police Superintendent is available under Section 156 of the Criminal Procedure Code, reported LiveLaw.

Noting that the wrestlers were staging a sit-in at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Sibal said, “Seven women have complained and one is a minor. The FIRs have not been registered. The law of this court has been violated.”

The court said, “There are serious allegations at the behest of professional wrestlers concerning sexual harassment. Issue notice returnable on Friday.”

The court also granted the petitioners the right to conceal their identities.

On April 23, Vinesh Phogat, one of India’s leading wrestlers tagged CJI Chandrachud on her Twitter note alleging a lack of action against Singh.

In January, the Union sports ministry had formed a committee in the aftermath of an unprecedented protest by the country’s most successful wrestlers. They alleged grave wrongdoings by the WFI and especially its chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Singh was asked to “step aside” by the Union sports ministry.However, the wrestlers who had earlier said that the committee was consulted without their inputs, said that its reports were not made public either, reported The Wire. 

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