India News
SC to hear plea against Mamata Banerjee granting govt fund for Durga Puja committees
The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear on Friday an appeal challenging decision of Mamata Banerjee’s government in Bengal to grant Rs 10,000 each to puja committees in the state for Durga Puja celebrations.
The Calcutta High Court had on Wednesday refused to interfere with the Mamata Banerjee government’s decision of granting funds to 28,000 Durga Puja committees in the state, saying the legislature is the appropriate forum to decide on such expenditure. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph was apprised about the same Thursday.
Lawyer Saurabh Dutta, who had filed an appeal against the high court’s decision, told the bench that the decision of the state government was against the established principle of law and sought an urgent hearing on his plea.
The petition assails the decision of the state government to grant a total of Rs. 28 crore to Puja organizers as being against the principles of secularism, which is a part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution of India. It is contended that there is no public purpose involved in organizing Durga Puja, which is a religious programme.
On September 10, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had declared that Rs 10,000 would be given to each of the 28,000 puja committees across the state — 3,000 in the city and 25,000 in the districts, costing the government an amount of Rs 28 crore.
However, the petitioners said there were no guidelines for disbursing the Rs 28 crore the state had earmarked for this purpose. The High Court had asked the state’s counsel if the distribution of such a large amount of money involved any guidelines.
The High Court had refused to go into the challenge against the state government’s decision to grant money to Durga Puja committees, stating that it would not want to interfere with the manner in which the Executive utilised government funds.
The State in turn had submitted before the High Court that the funds will be used for assisting the police under its Traffic Safety Campaign, and not for religious purposes.
The petitioner argued, “Since no public purpose would be served by granting money and/or handing out concessions to Durga Puja organizers, the said decision of the state violates the provision of Article 282 of the Constitution of India and thus, the said decision of granting money to the puja committees is liable to be set aside. There is no provision of law by which State exchequer could be utilized for giving gift to puja organizer.”
Further, it argued that the use of tax payers’ money for repair or construction of any religious place offends the spirit and object of Article 27 of the Constitution. Article 27 of the Constitution of India says no person shall be compelled to pay any taxes, the proceeds of which are specifically appropriated in payment of expenses for the promotion or maintenance of any particular religion or religious denomination.
Lawyer Saurav Datta, in his plea in the Supreme Court, alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led government’s decision was against the established principle of law, and sought an urgent hearing, PTI reported. “The High Court failed to appreciate that there is no public purpose involved in organising Durga Puja, rather, it is a religious programme,” the plea said.
The matter was mentioned before Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, who agreed to list the case tomorrow.
India News
Bihar: Government releases caste-based survey report, 27% backward classes, 36% extremely backward classes
Union Minister Giriraj Singh mentioned that the caste census will do nothing more than spreading confusion among the poor and public of the state.
Nitish Kumar led Bihar government released a caste-based survey report on Monday. The report indicated that 36 per cent of the state’s population are from Extremely Backward Classes, 27.1 percent are from Backward Classes, 19.7 per cent are from Scheduled Castes and 1.7 per cent are from Scheduled Tribes. The general population accounts for 15.5 per cent.
Scheduled caste accounts 19.65% and Scheduled Tribe consists of 1.68% of the population. Among the OBCs, Yadavs comprise 14.26% of the surveyed population, Kushwaha 4.27% and Kurmi 2.87%. The release of the caste based survey data comes at a time when the Supreme Court continues to hear petitions challenging a Patna High Court’s judgement that paved the way for this controversial caste-based headcount.
Speaking about the caste survey report, Union Minister Giriraj Singh mentioned that the caste census will do nothing more than spreading confusion among the poor and public of the state. He added that the Bihar government should have given a report card that Nitish Kumar ruled the state fr 18 years and Lalu Yadav ruled the state for 15 years but they did not develop the state.
Earlier today Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he plans to call all nine parties that are part of the ruling coalition, including Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, to discuss next steps, which could include dealing with decisions to increase OBC quotas at 27 per cent.
Reports said that around 2.64 lakh enumerators fanned out across the state, documenting the details of 29 million registered households on 17 socio-economic criteria, ranging from employment, education, marital status, land holding and property ownership and caste. Enumerators will have to choose between 214 pre-registered castes that have been allotted to individual codes.
India News
Gandhi Jayanti: President Droupadi Murmu, PM Modi pay tribute at Rajghat
Mahatma Gandhi’s influence is global and inspiring the entire humankind to further the spirit of unity and compassion, said PM Modi.
On the occasion of the 154th Gandhi Jayanti, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid flowers to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in the nation’s capital on Monday.
According to the PM Modi, Mahatma Gandhi’s influence is global and inspiring the entire humankind to further the spirit of unity and compassion. He also led the tributes to Gandhi on social media.
PM Modi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, he bows to Mahatma Gandhi on the special occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. PM also appreciated Gandhi’s teachings as he wrote, his timeless teachings continue to illuminate our path. He further said, may we always work towards fulfilling his dreams. May his thoughts enable every youngster be the agent of change he dreamt of, fostering unity and harmony all over, the Prime Minister added.
At Rajghat, vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, presented floral tributes at Rajghat and said Mahatma Gandhi is not just an individual, but an idea, an ideology, and the moral compass of our great nation.
The congress president shared a post on X, in which he saluted Bapu’s values and ideologies as he wrote, his ideals of truth, non-violence, freedom, equality and coexistence have eternal value. We bow in reverence to Bapu’s ideals on his Jayanti.
Meanwhile, the Congress party’s official X account posted, on Gandhi Jayanti, we pay a billion tributes to the Mahatma, whose lifelong commitment to the cause of freedom won India her Independence. Let us promise to continue following his principles, which are the cornerstone of our country and are peace, unity, and nonviolence.
Gandhi Jayanti, observed annually on October 2, commemorates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. To remember the values of nonviolence and tolerance that Mahatma Gandhi stood for, the day is also observed as the International Day of Nonviolence.
Festivals
Gandhi Jayanti: Interesting facts, quotes and wishes to share with friends and family
The birthday of Mahatma Gandhi is also celebrated as International Day of Non-violence across the globe to commemorate the non-violence policy of Gandhiji.
Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated every year on October 2 to honor the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, fondly known as the Father of the Nation. Indians across the world pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi through several activities including prayer meetings, cultural events, and cleanliness drives. The day is celebrated to promote Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings and their relevance in today’s world.
Interesting facts about the Father of the Nation:
The birthday of Mahatma Gandhi is also celebrated as International Day of Non-violence across the globe to commemorate the non-violence policy of Gandhiji.
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for Nobel Prize five time but never won the award
He was listed as the Person of the year’ in Times Magazine in 1930
Before taking vows of celibacy, Mahatma Gandhi already had four sons
Mahatma Gandhi was married during his teenage to Kasturba Gandhi, who was 14 years old
Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi:
The future depends on what we do in the present
It is easy to stand in the crowd but it takes courage to stand alone
Our greatest ability as humans is not to change the world, but to change ourselves
Service without humility is selfishness and egotism
It does not require money to live neat, clean and dignified
Satisfaction lies is effort, not in the attainment
Hate the sin, love the sinner
Be the change you are trying to create
There us a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed
Those who know how to think needs no teachers
What barrier is there that love cannot break?
Wishes to share on Gandhi Jayanti:
Lets uphold the values of truth and nonviolence set out by the man who guided us to freedom. Greetings on Gandhi Day!
I hope you have a day full of Gandhi’s wisdom and the willpower to follow his example. Greetings on Gandhi Day!
May Gandhiji’s principle continue to motivate us to strive for a more equitable and peaceful world
