India News
Supreme Court asks Centre’s response on pleas demanding to criminalise marital rape
In May 2023, a division bench of the Delhi High Court delivered a split verdict on petitions who demanded the criminalisation of marital rape.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked for the Centre’s reply on a batch of pleas demanding to criminalise marital rape, reports said.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud comprising Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala sought the Union government to file its response on the issue by February 15. The CJI Chandrachud said the final hearing on the pleas would start on March 21.
One of the petitions has been filed in connection to the Delhi High Court’s split verdict on the issue. The appeal has been filed by Khushboo Saifi, one of the petitioners, before the Delhi High Court.
In May 2023, a division bench of the Delhi High Court delivered a split verdict on petitions who demanded the criminalisation of marital rape.
Justice Rajiv Shakdher said, “The impugned provisions in so far as they concern a husband having intercourse with his wife without consent are violative of article 14 and are, therefore, struck down.”
While Justice C Hari Shankar said, “I do not agree. There is no support to show that the impugned exception violates Articles 14, 19 or 21. There is an intelligible differentia. I am of the view that the challenge cannot sustain.”
Another petition was filed by a man against the Karnataka High Court’s March 2022 verdict which held that exempting a husband from the allegation of rape and unnatural sex with his wife runs against Article 14 (equality before law) of the Constitution.
A single-judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna of the Karnataka High Court called it an age-old regressive thought that husbands are the rulers of their wives, and their body, mind, and soul should be effaced, reports said.
Other petitioners have challenged the constitutionality of the marital rape exception under Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code rape on grounds that it discriminated against married women who are sexually assaulted by their husbands.
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India News
Day after Gandhi Jayanti, Delhi Police raids journalists linked to Newsclick
During the raid, the Special Cell of Delhi Police seized a lot of electronic evidence, laptops, mobile phones and also took data dumps of hard disks.
A day after Gandhi Jayanti, Delhi Police Special Cell raided the residences of journalists and employees linked to Newsclick. This comes amidst news portal’s alleged Chinese links. A large-scale raid is being conducted by the Delhi Police in Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad.
The Delhi Police has lodged a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). During the raid, the Special Cell of Delhi Police seized a lot of electronic evidence, laptops, mobile phones and also took data dumps of hard disks.
On Tuesday morning, residences of video journalist Abhisar Sharma, senior journalist Bhasha Singh, veteran journalist Urmilesh, Newsclick editor Prabir Purkayastha and writer Githa Hariharan, renowned journalist and commentator on political economy Aunindyo Chakravarty, activist and historian Sohail Rajaura were raided.
The searches by the Delhi Police are on the grounds of input shared by Enforcement Directorate (ED), indicating unlawful activities by the suspects. Reports said that a probe by the ED had revealed fraudulent infusion of foreign funds of Rs 38.05 crore during a short span of three years.
The scrutiny of the evidence by the ED further revealed questionable infusion of foreign inward remittance of Rs 9.59 crore by way of FDI and Rs 28.46 crore by way of export of services. Reports stated that the funds received were distributed to multiple controversial journalists, including Gautam Navlakha and associates of Teestha Setalvad. The Enforcement Directorate also shared details regarding China’s link with Delhi Police.
Previously, ED had lodged a case against Newsclick, mentioning that the news portal has received foreign funding in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The agency had also alleged that the money was used for anti-national activities.
In addition, a New York Times report claimed that the outlet was part of a global network that received funding from American billionaire, Neville Roy Singham to spread Chinese propaganda.
India News
Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat operators prevents major accident, notices stones, rods on tracks, hit emergency brakes
Giving the details about the train and the incident, the CRPO said, KM 158/18, 158/19 on the Gangarar-Soniyana section were the stopping points for Train No. 20979 Vande Bharat Udaipur-Jaipur.
On Monday at Rajasthan’s Bhilwara, train operators of the Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express noticed stones and iron rods on the railroad track and quickly stopped the train using emergency brakes.
The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of North Western Railway confirmed the incident and said that the RPF has opened a complaint under the Railways Act after personnel inspected the scene in the Gangarar-Soniyana section.
Giving the details about the train and the incident, the CRPO said, KM 158/18, 158/19 on the Gangarar-Soniyana section were the stopping points for Train No. 20979 Vande Bharat Udaipur-Jaipur. Two rods, each measuring one foot, were inserted into the joggle plate on the previously mentioned km, together with some ballast, which caused the standstill, he added.
The incident took place under the control of RPF/post/Bhilwara at about 09:55. The area is governed by SHO/Gangarar in the Chittaurgarh district, according to the CPRO.
DSC/Ajmer, IPF/Bhilwara, PWI/Gangarar, local Police, and GRP authorities all paid the location a visit. SP/Chittaurgarh has been informed by DSC/Ajmer. RPF has filed a lawsuit in accordance with the Railways Act. The PWI/Gangarar is also providing SHO/Gangarar with a FIR, the official continued.
Meanwhile, stones, rail fasteners and iron rods are seen being laid on the railway tracks in a video that is going popular on X, formerly Twitter.
Fortunately, the alert loco pilots on duty quickly identified the impediment and took prompt action by deploying emergency brakes, averting any potential disaster. Their quick action likely saved lives and made sure that everyone on board was safe.
The District Police and the Railway Protection Force are both aggressively looking into this worrying situation. Their efforts are concentrated on finding individuals accountable for putting lives at danger and interfering with railway operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express last month, which runs six days a week, except Tuesday. It departs from Udaipur city at 7:50 in the morning and gets to Jaipur at 14:05.
India News
Karnataka Eid clash: 43 persons arrested in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government is not going to tolerate people throwing stones on religious processions of other religions.
Tension gripped Karnataka’s Shivamogga district as two groups clashed during Eid e Milad un Nabi processions near Ragigudda. 43 persons have been arrested in the clashes on Monday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government is not going to tolerate people throwing stones on religious processions of other religions.
Section 144 has been imposed Ragigudda by the Shivmogga district administration. CM Siddaramaiah said the situation is currently under control. The police has arrested 43 persons. He added it is wrong to pelt stones to disturb the religious procession of others. He said the government is not going to tolerate such actions.
Milad un Nabi processions is usually marked by large gathering and celebrations. The procession was halted due to the chaos. The police said the protestors tried to breach the barricades set by the security forces. The police forces had to resort to a lathi charge in order to disperse the crowd. About five people were injured during the clashes.
Senior police officials said the situation was under control and the issue had been resolved. They appealed to the people to maintain peace and not spread rumours. Siddaramaiah said cases were being booked against those found guilty as pelting stones at another religious procession is against the law.
Siddaramaiah added Shivamogga city has been brought to normalcy again. All possible actions are being taken by the police force. The situation continues to be tense all over the city of shivamogga. The security arrangements have been tightened. The shops and the market has been asked to close down.
2500 policemen, two platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), two platoons of rapid action force and 12 platoons of District Armed Reserve have been stationed across the city to thwart any untoward incident. The murder of Harsha, the Bajrang Dal activist which made national news had taken place in shivamogga city in February 2022.
