Tag: kapil sibal

  • Communal violence on desk for BJP with 2024 polls approaching, alleges Sibal

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday alleged that communal violence was on the desk for the BJP with the 2024 common elections approaching, and up to date incidents in West Bengal and Gujarat had been a “trailer.”

    Violence and arson had been reported from West Bengal’s Howrah district after clashes broke out between two teams throughout Ram Navami festivities, with the BJP and the TMC buying and selling barbs over it.

    Violence throughout Ram Navami festivities on Thursday was additionally reported from Gujarat and Maharashtra.

    In a tweet, Sibal stated, “As we approach 2024. For the BJP, on the table: 1) communal violence 2) hate speech 3) baiting minorities 4) target opposition by the use of ED, CBI, election commission. Trailer: Burning of Bengal, stoking communal violence in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat.”

    As we method 2024

    For the BJP
    On the desk :
    1) communal violence
    2) hate speech
    3) baiting minorities
    4) goal opposition by use of ED, CBI, election fee

    Trailer :
    Burning of Bengal
    Stoking communal violence in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat

    — Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) April 1, 2023

    Sibal, who was a Union minister throughout the UPA 1 and a pair of regimes, give up the Congress in May final 12 months and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an unbiased member with the Samajwadi Party’s assist.

    Sibal lately floated a non-electoral platform ‘Insaaf’ geared toward combating injustice.

    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday alleged that communal violence was on the desk for the BJP with the 2024 common elections approaching, and up to date incidents in West Bengal and Gujarat had been a “trailer.”

    Violence and arson had been reported from West Bengal’s Howrah district after clashes broke out between two teams throughout Ram Navami festivities, with the BJP and the TMC buying and selling barbs over it.

    Violence throughout Ram Navami festivities on Thursday was additionally reported from Gujarat and Maharashtra.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    In a tweet, Sibal stated, “As we approach 2024. For the BJP, on the table: 1) communal violence 2) hate speech 3) baiting minorities 4) target opposition by the use of ED, CBI, election commission. Trailer: Burning of Bengal, stoking communal violence in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat.”

    As we method 2024
    For the BJP
    On the desk :
    1) communal violence
    2) hate speech
    3) baiting minorities
    4) goal opposition by use of ED, CBI, election fee
    Trailer :
    Burning of Bengal
    Stoking communal violence in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat
    — Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) April 1, 2023
    Sibal, who was a Union minister throughout the UPA 1 and a pair of regimes, give up the Congress in May final 12 months and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an unbiased member with the Samajwadi Party’s assist.

    Sibal lately floated a non-electoral platform ‘Insaaf’ geared toward combating injustice.

  • Thackeray faction asks SC to annul Maharashtra governor order for ground check in 2022

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena made an impassioned plea earlier than the Supreme Court on Thursday for setting apart then Maharashtra Governor B S Koshyari’s June 2022 order to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to take a ground check, asserting democracy might be in peril if it isn’t overturned.

    Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing the Thackeray bloc, urged a five-judge structure bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud to rescind the order, a day after the apex court docket questioned Koshyari’s conduct in calling for a belief vote merely on the bottom of variations between Shiv Sena MLAs.

    It had mentioned on Wednesday such motion by the governor can topple an elected authorities and that the governor of a state can’t lend his workplace to effectuate a selected outcome.

    Concluding his rejoinder arguments, Sibal informed the bench, additionally comprising Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha, it is a second within the historical past of this court docket when the way forward for democracy might be decided.

    “I am absolutely certain that without the intervention of this court our democracy will be in danger because no elected government will be allowed to survive. It is with this hope I make this plea to this court to allow this petition and set aside the order (of floor test) of the governor,” Sibal mentioned.

    The apex court docket is listening to arguments on the occasions that unfolded throughout the June 2022 political disaster triggered by a revolt within the then undivided Shiv Sena by MLAs loyal to Eknath Shinde.

    Sibal mentioned if the Sena MLAs had misplaced their religion within the authorities, they may have voted towards it within the House when a cash invoice was moved and decreased it to a minority.

    ALSO READ | Uddhav Thackeray assaults BJP, Eknath Shinde in first public rally since ECI’s order

    His argument was according to the views expressed by the bench on Wednesday when it recalled the Monsoon session of the meeting was about to begin on the related time.

    The surest method to check its majority would have been when the federal government positioned the supplementary calls for earlier than the House. If it had didn’t get the cash invoice handed, it might have been out, it had mentioned.

    “It is not that the government cannot run in the minority. Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao ran a minority government. There is no scope for the governor to recognise those (rebel) MLAs and call for the floor test. Here, what they want is to topple the government and become chief minister and deputy CMs and use the position of governor for that. I don’t want to say more, everything is in the public domain,” Sibal mentioned.

    “I have my political experience and lordships have their judicial experience, which is enough to understand this. I can say we have reduced ourselves to a level that we are mocked. People don’t believe us anymore,” Sibal mentioned, making a fervent pitch for setting apart the governor’s order for a ground check.

    Governors can solely take care of alliances and political events and never people, in any other case it’s going to “create havoc”, the senior lawyer asserted.

    “The governor based his decision on the claim made by the legislative majority of Shiv Sena. On what constitutional basis can the governor recognise a faction, whether minority or majority, to hold a floor test?” he mentioned.

    He mentioned there isn’t any area for factions when the governor has to nominate a chief minister.

    “Now, if all of Shiv Sena had gone to the BJP, would the governor still have called for floor test. That’s the ‘Aaya Ram-Gaya Ram’ principle which we gave up long ago. It’s disastrous for democracy — the legislator has no identity other than being a representative of the political party,” Sibal, who was assisted by lawyer Amit Anant Tiwari, mentioned.

    “When we enter this court we are in a different aura, we come with hope, expectations. If you look at the history of civilizations, all injustices are based on power. You (top court) are the hope of 1.4 billion people and you cannot let democracy be destabilised in this callous, uncouth fashion,” he mentioned.

    READ MORE | Governor can’t precipitate govt fall, observes SC on Maharashtra disaster

    During the listening to, Sibal additionally referred to Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi. “There have been occasions like the ADM Jabalpur (1976 verdict) which is in dissonance with what this court has done over years. This is an equally significant case for our democracy to survive,” Sibal mentioned.

    The controversial 1976 judgment delivered by P N Bhagwati decreed throughout the emergency from 25 June 1975 to 21 March 1977, held that an individual’s proper to not be unlawfully detained (i.e.habeas corpus) will be suspended within the curiosity of the State.

    A political disaster had erupted in Maharashtra after an open revolt within the Shiv Sena, and on June 29, 2022, the apex court docket refused to remain the Maharashtra governor’s path to the 31-month-old MVA authorities to take a ground check within the meeting to show its majority.

    Sensing impending defeat, Uddhav Thackeray had resigned, paving the way in which for Eknath Shinde to turn into the chief minister.

    In one other blow to the Thackeray bloc, the Election Commission declared the Shinde faction as the true Shiv Sena on February 17 and allotted to it the unique bow and arrow election image of the get together based by Balasaheb Thackeray.

    On August 23, 2022, a three-judge bench of the highest court docket headed by then chief justice N V Ramana had formulated a number of questions of legislation and referred to the five-judge bench petitions filed by the 2 Sena factions which raised a number of constitutional questions associated to defection, merger and disqualification.

    NEW DELHI: The Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena made an impassioned plea earlier than the Supreme Court on Thursday for setting apart then Maharashtra Governor B S Koshyari’s June 2022 order to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to take a ground check, asserting democracy might be in peril if it isn’t overturned.

    Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing the Thackeray bloc, urged a five-judge structure bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud to rescind the order, a day after the apex court docket questioned Koshyari’s conduct in calling for a belief vote merely on the bottom of variations between Shiv Sena MLAs.

    It had mentioned on Wednesday such motion by the governor can topple an elected authorities and that the governor of a state can’t lend his workplace to effectuate a selected outcome.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    Concluding his rejoinder arguments, Sibal informed the bench, additionally comprising Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha, it is a second within the historical past of this court docket when the way forward for democracy might be decided.

    “I am absolutely certain that without the intervention of this court our democracy will be in danger because no elected government will be allowed to survive. It is with this hope I make this plea to this court to allow this petition and set aside the order (of floor test) of the governor,” Sibal mentioned.

    The apex court docket is listening to arguments on the occasions that unfolded throughout the June 2022 political disaster triggered by a revolt within the then undivided Shiv Sena by MLAs loyal to Eknath Shinde.

    Sibal mentioned if the Sena MLAs had misplaced their religion within the authorities, they may have voted towards it within the House when a cash invoice was moved and decreased it to a minority.

    ALSO READ | Uddhav Thackeray assaults BJP, Eknath Shinde in first public rally since ECI’s order

    His argument was according to the views expressed by the bench on Wednesday when it recalled the Monsoon session of the meeting was about to begin on the related time.

    The surest method to check its majority would have been when the federal government positioned the supplementary calls for earlier than the House. If it had didn’t get the cash invoice handed, it might have been out, it had mentioned.

    “It is not that the government cannot run in the minority. Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao ran a minority government. There is no scope for the governor to recognise those (rebel) MLAs and call for the floor test. Here, what they want is to topple the government and become chief minister and deputy CMs and use the position of governor for that. I don’t want to say more, everything is in the public domain,” Sibal mentioned.

    “I have my political experience and lordships have their judicial experience, which is enough to understand this. I can say we have reduced ourselves to a level that we are mocked. People don’t believe us anymore,” Sibal mentioned, making a fervent pitch for setting apart the governor’s order for a ground check.

    Governors can solely take care of alliances and political events and never people, in any other case it’s going to “create havoc”, the senior lawyer asserted.

    “The governor based his decision on the claim made by the legislative majority of Shiv Sena. On what constitutional basis can the governor recognise a faction, whether minority or majority, to hold a floor test?” he mentioned.

    He mentioned there isn’t any area for factions when the governor has to nominate a chief minister.

    “Now, if all of Shiv Sena had gone to the BJP, would the governor still have called for floor test. That’s the ‘Aaya Ram-Gaya Ram’ principle which we gave up long ago. It’s disastrous for democracy — the legislator has no identity other than being a representative of the political party,” Sibal, who was assisted by lawyer Amit Anant Tiwari, mentioned.

    “When we enter this court we are in a different aura, we come with hope, expectations. If you look at the history of civilizations, all injustices are based on power. You (top court) are the hope of 1.4 billion people and you cannot let democracy be destabilised in this callous, uncouth fashion,” he mentioned.

    READ MORE | Governor can’t precipitate govt fall, observes SC on Maharashtra disaster

    During the listening to, Sibal additionally referred to Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi. “There have been occasions like the ADM Jabalpur (1976 verdict) which is in dissonance with what this court has done over years. This is an equally significant case for our democracy to survive,” Sibal mentioned.

    The controversial 1976 judgment delivered by P N Bhagwati decreed throughout the emergency from 25 June 1975 to 21 March 1977, held that an individual’s proper to not be unlawfully detained (i.e.habeas corpus) will be suspended within the curiosity of the State.

    A political disaster had erupted in Maharashtra after an open revolt within the Shiv Sena, and on June 29, 2022, the apex court docket refused to remain the Maharashtra governor’s path to the 31-month-old MVA authorities to take a ground check within the meeting to show its majority.

    Sensing impending defeat, Uddhav Thackeray had resigned, paving the way in which for Eknath Shinde to turn into the chief minister.

    In one other blow to the Thackeray bloc, the Election Commission declared the Shinde faction as the true Shiv Sena on February 17 and allotted to it the unique bow and arrow election image of the get together based by Balasaheb Thackeray.

    On August 23, 2022, a three-judge bench of the highest court docket headed by then chief justice N V Ramana had formulated a number of questions of legislation and referred to the five-judge bench petitions filed by the 2 Sena factions which raised a number of constitutional questions associated to defection, merger and disqualification.

  • Kapil Sibal broadcasts new platform to struggle ‘injustice’ in India

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Alleging {that a} authorities working in opposition to the residents is on the helm, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday introduced a brand new platform ‘Insaaf’ to struggle “injustice” prevailing within the nation and referred to as on everybody, together with Opposition events’ chief ministers and leaders, to help him in his endeavour.

    Sibal stated he would maintain a public assembly of the brand new platform at Jantar Mantar on March 11 and can put ahead a brand new imaginative and prescient of India there.

    He stated it was an open invitation for everybody, together with opposition leaders and customary folks, to hitch him on the occasion.

    “Will give a new vision of India, a positive agenda. Main koi Modi ji ko criticise nahi karne baitha, main unko sudhaar doonga (I am not here to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but will reform him),” he stated at a press convention at his residence.

    Sibal alleged that injustice is prevailing in each nook and nook of India. Injustice is being finished to residents, establishments, political Opposition, journalists, academics, and medium and small companies, he claimed.

    “We have started a website ‘Insaaf ke Sipahi’ where anyone can register. This will be a national level platform where lawyers will be at the forefront,” the previous Congress chief stated.

    “It is with great deliberation that I have decided that people need to be awakened and asked to become our ‘Insaaf ke Sipahi’ and wherever injustice is happening, they should fight it. I want all Opposition chief ministers and leaders to support me in this endeavour and we start a national movement to free ourselves from this slavery,” he stated.

    Sibal stated efforts might be made to convey Opposition leaders and events to collectively struggle injustice within the nation, however asserted that his motives weren’t political however to struggle for constitutional values.

    The initiative by Sibal, an Independent Rajya Sabha MP who is taken into account an necessary voice of the Opposition, and his speak of bringing events and leaders collectively for the “fight against injustice” comes amid a crack in Opposition ranks with the Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) buying and selling barbs repeatedly.

    “Through you (media) I am requesting everyone to be part of this, then we will take this forward,” he stated.

    Responding to a query, Sibal stated he desires Congress additionally to hitch the initiative however asserted that this was geared toward being a folks’s motion and he was not going to kind any political occasion.

    Sibal stated frequent folks and legal professionals collectively will struggle in opposition to injustice by way of this initiative.

    “The RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) shakhas spread their ideology in every locality and that ideology also gives rise to injustice in certain cases. We will fight that injustice also. We want that in every nook and corner of the country ‘insaaf ke sipahi’ stand up and fight,” he stated.

    The former Union minister additionally launched a scathing assault on the BJP-led authorities on the Centre, accusing it to working to complete off political Opposition with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) performing as its “valentine”.

    Citing the Preamble of the Constitution, Sibal stated although India’s sovereignty will all the time stay, it was not shifting on the trail of socialism, democracy was on the decline and there have been additionally questions over the Republic.

    The Constitution additionally promised social, financial and political justice, he identified, alleging that there was “injustice” prevailing on all three fronts.

    Talking about political injustice, Sibal stated the Xth Schedule of the Constitution that offers with the anti-defection regulation has change into a “defector’s paradise”.

    “After 2014, they (the BJP) have toppled eight governments be it in Meghalaya, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra. Tell me if there is any other country where elected governments are toppled through inducements and buying of legislators. Courts, lawyers and people are silent, this is political injustice,” he stated.

    About 100 folks on this nation have belongings price Rs 54 lakh crore, Sibal claimed and requested if this was financial justice.

    “In 2018, 190 million people were poor and in 2022, the number of poor increased to 350 million,” he stated.

    “The government valentine is ED. You put it behind anyone and coerce that person. CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) still needs the nod of the state government but not the ED,” the senior advocate identified.

    “The fact of the matter is that we are in a situation where we see a government versus the citizens. We want a government for citizens not versus citizens,” Sibal asserted.

    The ED has acted in opposition to 121 folks in current instances out of which 115 belong to the Opposition, he stated.

    Such violence is prevailing within the nation and till frequent folks rise to struggle it, “we are in for a difficult time”, Sibal stated.

    “There are some good things about every administration. If I say that what Modi ji is doing everything is wrong even if that is not right. Digitalisation is right, ‘Awas Yojana’ is right, there are several policies, and we are not against that. But wherever people’s voice is suppressed and wherever injustice is being done, we are against it,” he stated.

    On the ‘Insaaf’ platform, he asserted that this was not political however about justice, asserting that nobody will oppose this together with Modi.

    Asked about forging Opposition unity by way of this initiative, Sibal stated he’ll make efforts and take it ahead.

    “I will ask Opposition parties’ CMs and wherever not in government, their leaders to go to various states such as Maharashtra, Jharkhand Chhattisgarh, to Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh and talk about justice,” Sibal stated that he was solely performing as a “facilitating factor” for the ‘Insaaf’ initiative.

    NEW DELHI: Alleging {that a} authorities working in opposition to the residents is on the helm, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday introduced a brand new platform ‘Insaaf’ to struggle “injustice” prevailing within the nation and referred to as on everybody, together with Opposition events’ chief ministers and leaders, to help him in his endeavour.

    Sibal stated he would maintain a public assembly of the brand new platform at Jantar Mantar on March 11 and can put ahead a brand new imaginative and prescient of India there.

    He stated it was an open invitation for everybody, together with opposition leaders and customary folks, to hitch him on the occasion.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    “Will give a new vision of India, a positive agenda. Main koi Modi ji ko criticise nahi karne baitha, main unko sudhaar doonga (I am not here to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but will reform him),” he stated at a press convention at his residence.

    Sibal alleged that injustice is prevailing in each nook and nook of India. Injustice is being finished to residents, establishments, political Opposition, journalists, academics, and medium and small companies, he claimed.

    “We have started a website ‘Insaaf ke Sipahi’ where anyone can register. This will be a national level platform where lawyers will be at the forefront,” the previous Congress chief stated.

    “It is with great deliberation that I have decided that people need to be awakened and asked to become our ‘Insaaf ke Sipahi’ and wherever injustice is happening, they should fight it. I want all Opposition chief ministers and leaders to support me in this endeavour and we start a national movement to free ourselves from this slavery,” he stated.

    Sibal stated efforts might be made to convey Opposition leaders and events to collectively struggle injustice within the nation, however asserted that his motives weren’t political however to struggle for constitutional values.

    The initiative by Sibal, an Independent Rajya Sabha MP who is taken into account an necessary voice of the Opposition, and his speak of bringing events and leaders collectively for the “fight against injustice” comes amid a crack in Opposition ranks with the Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) buying and selling barbs repeatedly.

    “Through you (media) I am requesting everyone to be part of this, then we will take this forward,” he stated.

    Responding to a query, Sibal stated he desires Congress additionally to hitch the initiative however asserted that this was geared toward being a folks’s motion and he was not going to kind any political occasion.

    Sibal stated frequent folks and legal professionals collectively will struggle in opposition to injustice by way of this initiative.

    “The RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) shakhas spread their ideology in every locality and that ideology also gives rise to injustice in certain cases. We will fight that injustice also. We want that in every nook and corner of the country ‘insaaf ke sipahi’ stand up and fight,” he stated.

    The former Union minister additionally launched a scathing assault on the BJP-led authorities on the Centre, accusing it to working to complete off political Opposition with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) performing as its “valentine”.

    Citing the Preamble of the Constitution, Sibal stated although India’s sovereignty will all the time stay, it was not shifting on the trail of socialism, democracy was on the decline and there have been additionally questions over the Republic.

    The Constitution additionally promised social, financial and political justice, he identified, alleging that there was “injustice” prevailing on all three fronts.

    Talking about political injustice, Sibal stated the Xth Schedule of the Constitution that offers with the anti-defection regulation has change into a “defector’s paradise”.

    “After 2014, they (the BJP) have toppled eight governments be it in Meghalaya, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra. Tell me if there is any other country where elected governments are toppled through inducements and buying of legislators. Courts, lawyers and people are silent, this is political injustice,” he stated.

    About 100 folks on this nation have belongings price Rs 54 lakh crore, Sibal claimed and requested if this was financial justice.

    “In 2018, 190 million people were poor and in 2022, the number of poor increased to 350 million,” he stated.

    “The government valentine is ED. You put it behind anyone and coerce that person. CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) still needs the nod of the state government but not the ED,” the senior advocate identified.

    “The fact of the matter is that we are in a situation where we see a government versus the citizens. We want a government for citizens not versus citizens,” Sibal asserted.

    The ED has acted in opposition to 121 folks in current instances out of which 115 belong to the Opposition, he stated.

    Such violence is prevailing within the nation and till frequent folks rise to struggle it, “we are in for a difficult time”, Sibal stated.

    “There are some good things about every administration. If I say that what Modi ji is doing everything is wrong even if that is not right. Digitalisation is right, ‘Awas Yojana’ is right, there are several policies, and we are not against that. But wherever people’s voice is suppressed and wherever injustice is being done, we are against it,” he stated.

    On the ‘Insaaf’ platform, he asserted that this was not political however about justice, asserting that nobody will oppose this together with Modi.

    Asked about forging Opposition unity by way of this initiative, Sibal stated he’ll make efforts and take it ahead.

    “I will ask Opposition parties’ CMs and wherever not in government, their leaders to go to various states such as Maharashtra, Jharkhand Chhattisgarh, to Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh and talk about justice,” Sibal stated that he was solely performing as a “facilitating factor” for the ‘Insaaf’ initiative.

  • ISRO espionage case: SC units apart anticipatory bail of 4 former officers; asks HC to contemplate bail pleas afresh

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday requested the Kerala HC to contemplate afresh anticipatory bail pleas of former Gujarat DGP RB Sreekumar, two former cops of Kerala, S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt, and a retired intelligence official P S Jayaprakash accused of hatching a conspiracy to border former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayan and others within the ISRO espionage case.

    The retired Kerala Police officers S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt had been a part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which arrested the scientist.

    The bench led by Justice MR Shah whereas setting apart HC’s order requested it to rethink their pleas inside 4 weeks. It additional granted interim safety from arrest to the accused for 5 weeks and until the HC decides their pleas topic to them cooperating within the investigation.

    Court’s order got here in a plea filed by CBI difficult Kerala HC’s April 16 order granting them anticipatory bail. HC whereas granting them bail had noticed that considerations of the Kerala police at that stage concerning the espionage case can’t be stated to be with out foundation.

    “Some of the documents which have been produced for perusal indicate that there were certain suspicious circumstances pointing towards the act of the Scientists in the ISRO and that is what induced the officers to proceed against them”, Justice Ashok Menon had famous within the order.

    The High Court additionally remarked that there was “not even a scintilla of evidence” to counsel that the petitioners accused of implicating former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan within the espionage case had been influenced by international parts.

    Challenging the bail, the probe company had contended that the HC had granted anticipatory bail on the bottom that the matter was outdated. ASG SV Raju had added that regardless of the offence which was dedicated 25 years in the past, high courtroom had directed for registration of FIR and it was not open for the HC to grant bail on this floor. On the opposite hand, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal for the then IB officer, argued accused was charged for “bailable offences”. He additionally added that there was no allegation towards him within the FIR and there was no foundation for the probe company to take him into custody.

    Narayanan and 6 others had been accused of promoting secrets and techniques pertaining to ISRO’s cryogenic programme to girls who had been allegedly spying for Russia, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and different international locations. In 1994, he and two different businessmen had been arrested on the costs of espionage.

    In September 2018, the Supreme Court had held that the prosecution initiated by Kerala Police within the 1990’s in relation to the ISRO Espionage Case was maliciously moved towards the Scientist, inflicting him immense humiliation. As a results of this, the Kerala Government was directed to pay compensation of Rs. 50 lac to Narayanan. Further to this, a three-member committee was constituted to probe into the unlawful arrest of Narayanan.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday requested the Kerala HC to contemplate afresh anticipatory bail pleas of former Gujarat DGP RB Sreekumar, two former cops of Kerala, S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt, and a retired intelligence official P S Jayaprakash accused of hatching a conspiracy to border former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayan and others within the ISRO espionage case.

    The retired Kerala Police officers S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt had been a part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which arrested the scientist.

    The bench led by Justice MR Shah whereas setting apart HC’s order requested it to rethink their pleas inside 4 weeks. It additional granted interim safety from arrest to the accused for 5 weeks and until the HC decides their pleas topic to them cooperating within the investigation.

    Court’s order got here in a plea filed by CBI difficult Kerala HC’s April 16 order granting them anticipatory bail. HC whereas granting them bail had noticed that considerations of the Kerala police at that stage concerning the espionage case can’t be stated to be with out foundation.

    “Some of the documents which have been produced for perusal indicate that there were certain suspicious circumstances pointing towards the act of the Scientists in the ISRO and that is what induced the officers to proceed against them”, Justice Ashok Menon had famous within the order.

    The High Court additionally remarked that there was “not even a scintilla of evidence” to counsel that the petitioners accused of implicating former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan within the espionage case had been influenced by international parts.

    Challenging the bail, the probe company had contended that the HC had granted anticipatory bail on the bottom that the matter was outdated. ASG SV Raju had added that regardless of the offence which was dedicated 25 years in the past, high courtroom had directed for registration of FIR and it was not open for the HC to grant bail on this floor. On the opposite hand, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal for the then IB officer, argued accused was charged for “bailable offences”. He additionally added that there was no allegation towards him within the FIR and there was no foundation for the probe company to take him into custody.

    Narayanan and 6 others had been accused of promoting secrets and techniques pertaining to ISRO’s cryogenic programme to girls who had been allegedly spying for Russia, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and different international locations. In 1994, he and two different businessmen had been arrested on the costs of espionage.

    In September 2018, the Supreme Court had held that the prosecution initiated by Kerala Police within the 1990’s in relation to the ISRO Espionage Case was maliciously moved towards the Scientist, inflicting him immense humiliation. As a results of this, the Kerala Government was directed to pay compensation of Rs. 50 lac to Narayanan. Further to this, a three-member committee was constituted to probe into the unlawful arrest of Narayanan.

  • Comments in opposition to SC: A-G declines consent for contempt proceedings in opposition to Kapil Sibal

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Attorney General Ok Ok Venugopal has declined consent for initiating contempt proceedings in opposition to Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal for his final month’s statements concerning the Supreme Court.

    Sibal on August 6 made crucial statements regarding some current verdicts of the apex courtroom as a speaker in an occasion organized right here.

    Venugopal has stated that having gone by way of the whole thing of his speech, he finds that Sibal’s criticism of the courtroom and the judgements was in order that the courtroom might pay attention to the statements within the bigger curiosity of the justice supply system.

    “It does not appear to me that the statements were intended to scandalize the court or affect the confidence of the public in the institution. I accordingly decline consent,” the highest legislation officer stated in his letter to advocate Vineet Jindal.

    Jindal had sought the Attorney General’s consent to provoke contempt proceedings in opposition to Sibal for allegedly making statements “scandalizing” the verdicts delivered by the apex courtroom.

    As per part 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, the nod of the Attorney General or the Solicitor General is a situation precedent to set the legal contempt proceedings in movement earlier than the apex courtroom.

    In his letter, Venugopal stated he has examined the statements made of their entirety, “the Hindi portions have been translated for me and which run into about 30 minutes”.

    “The statements which pertain to loss of faith in the Supreme Court are not contemptuous on the face of it, as the import of those statements is the fact that the orders of the Supreme Court are not implemented on the ground,” he stated.

    Venugopal stated no a part of these statements casts any blame or aspersion upon the courtroom.

    The Attorney General stated the statements “relating to the critiques of certain judgements delivered by the Supreme Court would fall squarely within the purview of ‘fair comment’ which is permissible under section 5 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, itself”.

    He stated concerning the apex courtroom’s judgement upholding the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, the matter is presently sub-judice as a evaluate petition has been entertained by the highest courtroom which is pending.

    On the difficulty of allocation of instances raised by Sibgal, the legal professional basic stated “So far as the statement related to the allocation of cases is concerned, I find that the four judges of the Supreme Court in a press conference dated January 12, 2018, expressed these same views in relation to the allocation of cases by the then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.”

    The Attorney General stated that underneath part 16 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, a choose will be held in contempt of his personal courtroom.

    “However, no contempt action had ever been initiated by the Supreme Court against the makers of those statements, and therefore in my opinion it would not be appropriate that action be initiated against Sibal,” he stated.

    “Having gone through the entirety of Sibal’s speech, I find that his criticism of the court and the judgements was so that the court may take note of the statements in the larger interest of the justice delivery system,” he stated.

    NEW DELHI: Attorney General Ok Ok Venugopal has declined consent for initiating contempt proceedings in opposition to Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal for his final month’s statements concerning the Supreme Court.

    Sibal on August 6 made crucial statements regarding some current verdicts of the apex courtroom as a speaker in an occasion organized right here.

    Venugopal has stated that having gone by way of the whole thing of his speech, he finds that Sibal’s criticism of the courtroom and the judgements was in order that the courtroom might pay attention to the statements within the bigger curiosity of the justice supply system.

    “It does not appear to me that the statements were intended to scandalize the court or affect the confidence of the public in the institution. I accordingly decline consent,” the highest legislation officer stated in his letter to advocate Vineet Jindal.

    Jindal had sought the Attorney General’s consent to provoke contempt proceedings in opposition to Sibal for allegedly making statements “scandalizing” the verdicts delivered by the apex courtroom.

    As per part 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, the nod of the Attorney General or the Solicitor General is a situation precedent to set the legal contempt proceedings in movement earlier than the apex courtroom.

    In his letter, Venugopal stated he has examined the statements made of their entirety, “the Hindi portions have been translated for me and which run into about 30 minutes”.

    “The statements which pertain to loss of faith in the Supreme Court are not contemptuous on the face of it, as the import of those statements is the fact that the orders of the Supreme Court are not implemented on the ground,” he stated.

    Venugopal stated no a part of these statements casts any blame or aspersion upon the courtroom.

    The Attorney General stated the statements “relating to the critiques of certain judgements delivered by the Supreme Court would fall squarely within the purview of ‘fair comment’ which is permissible under section 5 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, itself”.

    He stated concerning the apex courtroom’s judgement upholding the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, the matter is presently sub-judice as a evaluate petition has been entertained by the highest courtroom which is pending.

    On the difficulty of allocation of instances raised by Sibgal, the legal professional basic stated “So far as the statement related to the allocation of cases is concerned, I find that the four judges of the Supreme Court in a press conference dated January 12, 2018, expressed these same views in relation to the allocation of cases by the then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.”

    The Attorney General stated that underneath part 16 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, a choose will be held in contempt of his personal courtroom.

    “However, no contempt action had ever been initiated by the Supreme Court against the makers of those statements, and therefore in my opinion it would not be appropriate that action be initiated against Sibal,” he stated.

    “Having gone through the entirety of Sibal’s speech, I find that his criticism of the court and the judgements was so that the court may take note of the statements in the larger interest of the justice delivery system,” he stated.

  • Uttar Pradesh: SP’s RS picks a part of a three-pronged technique with a watch on 2024 LS polls 

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: After dealing with a rout within the lately concluded UP Assembly election regardless of having taken its tally to 111 from 47, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has performed his playing cards in Rajya Sabha polls sensibly following a three-pronged strategy– of mollifying Azam Khan, cementing ties with RLD and conserving the minority neighborhood in good humour–with a watch on the final elections of 2024.

    Notably, within the final two basic elections—2014 and 2019—SP didn’t take its tally of MPs past 5 regardless of having stitched a grand alliance with arch-rival Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 2019.

    However, the SP picks for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, slated for June 10, mirror the technique to make SP’s combat extra strong in 2024. As per the political pundits, by selecting Kapil Sibal, the Samajwadi Party chief has tried to mollify sulking Azam Khan, a senior social gathering chief and Rampur MLA, who had been languishing in jail for 27 months in reference to a sequence of instances.

    Kapil Sibal represented Azam Khan in a dishonest case in Supreme Court and performed a vital position in securing interim bail for him resulting in his launch from Sitapur District Jail on May 20.
    SP obliged Sibal who served an incredible jolt to Congress social gathering by quitting it in the midst of this month.

    The collection of Jayant Chaudhury, too, has political connotations. Besides cementing the SP-RLD alliance additional within the wake of 2024 electoral battle, the SP has tried to woo the Jat voters of western UP. However, the alliance was there within the meeting polls as effectively nevertheless it couldn’t reap the outcomes on anticipated strains within the constituencies dominated by Jats.

    The impression of the tie-up between the 2 events, attempting to capitalize on the extended farmers’ stir, was restricted to Shamli, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar. Of the 113 seats which went to polls within the first two phases, mainly in western UP, the BJP received 78 seats and SP and RLD 45.

    The SP insiders claimed that until the final second on Wednesday night time, Akhilesh’s spouse and former MP, Dimple Yadav’s title was doing rounds because the social gathering candidate for Rajya Sabha. This upset Jayant Chaudhury after he bought the message that he was put out of the race. Jayant was purportedly promised an RS seat by Akhilesh in the course of the UP meeting polls.

    ALSO READ | BJP authorities ruined well being providers in Uttar Pradesh: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav

    However, sensing a possible risk to the alliance, the SP chief modified his determination and met the RLD MLAs on Thursday morning earlier than saying Jayant because the joint SP-RLD candidate for the higher home.

    Highly-placed SP sources additionally claimed that although Akhilesh had promised to ship Jayant Chaudhary to the Rajya Sabha however they’d a disagreement. While Akhilesh Yadav wished Jayant within the higher home as a Samajwadi Party’s member, latter was insisting on representing his personal social gathering RLD backed by the SP.

    Fearing that BJP could woo Jayant earlier than 2024, Akhilesh lastly took the decision in his favour and declared him the Joint candidate of SP and RLD. Moreover, the third candidate named by Akhilesh Yadav is Javed Ali Khan who has filed his nomination papers for the higher home. 

    “The decision in favour of Javed Ali Khan also seems to be party’s well thought out three-pronged strategy of mollifying Azam Khan, cementing tie-up with RLD and keeping the minority community in good humour for better prospects in 2024,” mentioned Prof AK Mishra, a political scientist.

    It could also be recalled that after consolidating in favour of SP within the 2022 polls, the minority neighborhood had not been proud of the SP management leading to a sequence of resignations by the Muslim leaders. Their primary chorus had been the guarded silence of the SP chief over alleged atrocities on Muslim leaders like Azam Khan and Mohammad Shahjeel.

  • Kapil Sibal: Kapil Sibal mentioned… I need to be an unbiased voice in Parliament

    Lucknow: Kapil Sibal has left Congress and joined SP. On Wednesday, he filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha with the help of the Samajwadi Party. Now Kapil Sibal mentioned that I need to be an unbiased voice in Parliament as a result of in case you are in a political get together, you can’t say what they assume and what resolution they’ve taken. Being an unbiased candidate, I may give my clear assertion on what is occurring in Parliament and out of doors Parliament.

    On leaving the Congress earlier on Wednesday, he had mentioned that some selections must be taken when he grows up, however the relationship with the household doesn’t finish. At the identical time, he mentioned that as a lot atrocities have occurred with Azam Khan, as a lot has not occurred to anybody. Azam Khan isn’t a person to die and can we enable him to finish.

    Jitin Prasad took a jibe
    At the identical time, BJP chief Jitin Prasad has taunted Kapil Sibal. Actually, on June 10, 2021, Kapil Sibal had tweeted on Jitin Prasada’s becoming a member of BJP, ‘Jitin Prasad has joined BJP. The query is whether or not he’ll get Prasad or will he solely show to be a ‘catch’ for the UP elections. In such offers, if ‘ideology’ would not matter, then change is straightforward. Jitin Prasad has now taunted Sibal whereas replying to this tweet. Prasad has written- How is ‘Prasad’, Sibal ji.

  • Samajwadi Party might reciprocate Kapil Sibal’s assist to Azam Khan, ship him to Rajya Sabha

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: While the method of submitting nomination for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections took off on Tuesday, the events together with the ruling BJP and essential opposition SP are within the technique of finalizing their record of candidates. Of the 57 seats, set to go to polls on June 10, UP will ship 11 members to the higher home.

    As per the numbers, the BJP is certain to win not less than 7 seats and SP three comfortably. However, for eleventh seat, there could possibly be a contest because the BJP with 273 members in Assembly, is wanting 15 votes to win an added seat and SP, with 125 MLAs, would want 20 extra votes to win the fourth seat. So, this case might deliver second desire vote into play as every member will want 36.63 votes to get elected. As per the highly-placed sources, of the three seats which SP is certain to win, one every could also be given to RLD chief Jayant Chaudhury and veteran Congress chief Kapil Sibal.

    The celebration insiders additionally claimed that SP is scheduled to convene a gathering of its MLAs an MLCs this weekend to take a closing name on candidates for the three seats the celebration is certain to win of the 11 seats which might be up for grabs. The 11 seats are presently represented by BJP(5), SP(3), BSP(2) and Congress (1).

    If Jayant Chaudhury makes it to Rajya Sabha, he’ll return to Parliament after eight years as he had represented Mathura in Lok Sabha from 2009-2014.

    However, the destiny of Kapil Sibal, a distinguished face of Congress’s G-23, remains to be unsure. In his final time period, Sibal was elected from UP with the assist of the Samajwadi Party. Sibal, finishing time period in Rajya Sabha in July, is believed to have a heat relationship with many SP leaders together with the SP chief and Azam Khan.

    Sibal represented jailed SP chief Azam Khan in Supreme Court and helped him safe interim bail. He additionally helped Akhilesh Yadav retain the celebration’s bicycle image in 2017 when the primary household was locked in an intense household feud, most likely the worst within the SP’s existence.

    As per the SP sources, the Samajwadi Party is in search of to reciprocate for the assistance Sibal prolonged to Azam Khan in his authorized battle. However, there has not be an official phrase on it. “The party has not decided on the candidates yet”, stated SP nationwide secretary and the state spokesperson, Rajendra Chaudhary.

    However, when Azam Khan, who’s presently in Lucknow to attend the continued Assembly session, requested in regards to the likelihood of Sibal being despatched to Rajya Sabha from UP by the SP, he expressed his happiness saying if the celebration was considering on these strains, he would assist the transfer.

    On the opposite, state Congress leaders selected to stay non-committal over the chance saying the Congress excessive command would take the choice. However, this time, the Congress, with two MLAs in UP, just isn’t ready to subject a candidate by itself. 

  • Rajya Sabha polls to 57 seats from 15 states on June 10: Election Commission

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Elections can be held on June 10 to fill 57 Rajya Sabha seats from 15 states falling vacant because of the retirement of members on totally different dates between June and August, the Election Commission stated on Thursday.

    Prominent amongst these retiring are Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Congress leaders Ambika Soni, Jairam Ramesh and Kapil Sibal, and BSP’s Satish Chandra Misra.

    Members are retiring between June 21 and August 1.

    While 11 seats are falling vacant in Uttar Pradesh, six members every are retiring from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, 5 from Bihar and 4 every from Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka.

    Three members every from Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, two every from Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Punjab Jharkhand and Haryana, and one from Uttarakhand are additionally retiring.

    The notification for the polls can be issued on May 24 and voting can be held on June 10.

    According to established apply, counting will happen an hour after the conclusion of polling.

    Most of the brand new members who get elected are prone to vote within the President’s election, due someday in July.

  • Supreme Court orders established order on demolition drive in Jahangirpuri, matter to be heard on April 21

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a status-quo on the demolition drive in Jahangirpuri, Delhi.

    The matter was talked about by Senior advocate Dushyant Dave earlier than the bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana.

    “…The drive is unconstitutional, unauthorized demolition is taking place in Jahangirpuri where riots took place. No notice was served so that reply is served in 10 days,” he stated.

    ALSO READ: MCD bulldozers in Jahangirpuri right this moment, cops on alert

    Senior advocate Kapil Sibal additionally mentions the plea by Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind looking for instructions that residential lodging or any business property can’t be demolished as a punitive measure. The petitioners have stated within the plea that the administration in a number of states is using bulldozers to raze down the homes of individuals suspected to be concerned in felony incidents corresponding to riots.

    The petitioners have additionally prayed that police personnel to be offered specialised coaching in dealing with communal riots and conditions the place populations turn into restive.

    The court docket will hear each issues tomorrow.