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Ayodhya case hearing put off till February 8, 2018

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Ayodhya

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The much-awaited final hearing in Supreme Court on the long-standing Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute on Tuesday, Dec 5, ended on expected lines with the next hearing put off till Feb 8, 2018.

Sunni Waqf Board counsel senior advocate Kapil Sibal had wanted it posted to July 15, 2019, after the Lok Sabha elections. Sibal told the apex court that there are serious repercussions outside the court whenever the matter is heard. He requested the court to take up the matter on July 15, 2019 once all the pleadings are complete. The plea was rejected.

The case was being heard by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer. The bench is hearing a total of 13 appeals filed against the 2010 judgment of the Allahabad High Court in four civil suits.

The high court had ruled a three-way division of the disputed 2.77 acre area at Ayodhya among the parties between the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

The order was challenged before the Supreme Court on May 9, 2011, which in its verdict stayed the operation of the decree and ordered status quo of the land and other adjoining areas acquired by the Centre in 1993.

On August 11, 2017, the parties were given three months to translate all oral evidence and exhibited documents in various languages.

In the hearing on Tuesday, the court was to hear arguments and examine exhibits and documents likely to be relied upon. In pursuance to the apex court’s earlier direction, the Yogi Adityanath government had submitted English translation of exhibits and documents which were in eight different languages.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, reading out the details of exhibits filed by the contesting defendants before the Allahabad High Court, told the three-judge SC bench that all these exhibits had not been filed before the court.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta, representing the state of Uttar Pradesh, rebutted Kapil Sibal’s claim and said that all the related documents and requisite translation copies were on record.

Sibal, questioning ASG Mehta’s claim, asked how could more than 19000 pages of documents be filed in such short time. Sibal also told the SC that he and other petitioners have not been provided with all relevant documents.

The SC bench asked the Advocates on Record of appeals to sit together and ensure that all the requisite documents are translated, filed and numbered before the apex court Registry. In case of any problem, the counsel were directed to consult the Registry.

Earlier, Kapil Sibal argued for deferment of the hearing on the ground that building a Ram temple at the disputed site is a part of the ruling BJP’s manifesto. “BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy had gone on record saying that Ram temple would be built before 2019 through legal means. They want to make it as an election manifesto and the court should not fall into the trap. These appeals are not ordinary property disputes as they go to the heart of secular fabric of the country,” Sibal said. He also said he needed time as there are 90,000 pages of documents to go through.

Senior lawyers Harish Salve and CS Vaidyanathan, representing Hindu organisations, objected, saying the court must treat the Ayodhya case like any other.

“We are shocked and surprised,” said Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, adding that the judges were “not bothered about what’s happening outside.” He said that in August this year “all of you wanted the hearing in January and we posted today to hear the statement of facts. Now you want it to be postponed.”

On Sunday, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had said that the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya will start soon and devotees will be able to celebrate the next Diwali there. Earlier, , RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat had declared that only a mandir would come up at the disputed site and nothing else. “We will construct it. It is not a populist declaration but a matter of our faith. It will not change,” he had said.

On Tuesday, Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas chief Mahant Nritya Gopal Das said that in case the Supreme court order is not in their favour, the temple would still be built via Parliament, under Modi Narendra and Yogi Adityanath government.

“If the temple isn’t built during Modi, Yogi government then when it will be built,” said Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.

“Entire land belongs to Lord Ram,” he said.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), extreme Hindu wing of RSS, has declared that the construction will start from October 18, 2018. Assembly poll campaigns would be at peak at the time in BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. It would also be only six months away from Lok Sabha polls.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

India hits back at Shehbaz Sharif at UN, says terror will have consequences

India hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech, with New Delhi warning that terrorism will have consequences.

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India has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations, delivering a strong message on terrorism and warning that such actions will have consequences.

The response came after Mr Sharif addressed the UN and raised issues concerning India and Pakistan. New Delhi rejected the narrative presented by the Pakistani prime minister and highlighted the issue of terrorism.

India’s message was delivered by Petal Gehlot, who represented New Delhi in the response to Pakistan.

India warns Pakistan over terrorism

India’s response focused on Pakistan’s record and its approach towards terrorism. New Delhi made clear that terrorism cannot be separated from its consequences and that those responsible cannot expect such actions to go unanswered.

The Indian side also pushed back against the claims and allegations made by Mr Sharif during his UN speech.

The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism remaining a major point of disagreement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif’s UN remarks

In his address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke about India-Pakistan relations and raised several issues concerning New Delhi.

India subsequently exercised its right of reply to respond to Pakistan’s statements at the United Nations.

New Delhi’s response underlined its position that terrorism remains a serious issue in the relationship and that there would be consequences for terrorist actions.

The latest exchange at the UN adds to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between the two neighbouring countries.

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Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

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Actor Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.

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Women wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan’s acquittal in sexual harassment case

Four women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.

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Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Four women wrestlers have approached a Delhi court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.

The wrestlers have also challenged the acquittal of co-accused Vinod Tomar. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The appeal challenges the order passed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on August 3, 2026, when Brij Bhushan and Tomar were acquitted in the case.

Wrestlers challenge court’s reasoning

In their appeal, the wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order is legally unsustainable and that the evidence was not assessed appropriately.

They have also alleged that the order relied on assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment were expected to behave instead of assessing the evidence and circumstances of the complainants.

The challenge seeks judicial scrutiny of the findings that resulted in the acquittal of Brij Bhushan and Tomar.

Brij Bhushan was acquitted in August

The Rouse Avenue court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3 in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court’s decision followed consideration of the evidence and statements presented during the proceedings.

The case had emerged after several women wrestlers accused the former WFI chief of sexual harassment. The allegations had led to a major protest by wrestlers in 2023.

The latest appeal means the acquittal is now being challenged before a higher court.

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