CPI(M) leader opposes exclusion of 'Mahl', 'Arabic' languages from Lakshadweep schools
. @cpimspeak Rajya Sabha floor leader @JohnBrittas writes to #ModiGovt protesting against removal of Mahl and Arabic from school syllabus in Lakshadweep. Says if discarded in the name of NEP reform, what we are witnessing is not progress but cultural erasure, he says @DeccanHerald pic.twitter.com/wJnvkpNZjG
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NDTV
31 minutes ago
- NDTV
On Allahabad High Court Judge's Impeachment, Congress Sends 'Reminder'
New Delhi: The Congress on Friday 'reminded' Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar to act on a six-month-old notice to impeach an Allahabad High Court judge accused of making communal remarks. The opposition party's nudge follows strong remarks by Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal about Mr Dhankhar's lack of action in this matter. He also accused the government of trying to 'shield' the judge. Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav is staring down the barrel of an impeachment process after 55 MPs - five over the threshold to begin his removal - sent that notice to the House Chairperson. At least 50 Rajya Sabha MPs must sign a motion - a record of the intention to impeach - for the matter to proceed further. In the Lok Sabha that number is 100. NDTV Explains | How To Remove Sitting Supreme Court Or High Court Judge Once that threshold is reached, the Chair of the former or the Speaker of the latter, depending on which House first admits the motion, will decide whether or not to carry the issue forward. In this case the motion to impeach was submitted on December 13, 2024. The file has been pending since, prompting Mr Sibal's sharp words and Congress' 'reminder'. Mr Sibal, a senior advocate in the Supreme Court, pointed out swifter action had been taken in the case of Justice Yashwant Varma, the former Delhi High Court judge caught in the cash-at-home row. Sources told NDTV the delay might be because 19-21 signatures on the motion had yet to be verified. Also, the possibility that one MP signed twice had to be ruled out, sources explained. A detailed verification of these signatures is ongoing, sources said. Mr Sibal, though, demanded to know why this process needs to take six months. "I want to ask those sitting in Constitutional posts... their responsibility is to verify if signatures are there... should that take six months? Is this government is trying to protect Shekhar Yadav," he was quoted by news agency PTI. READ | Plea Against Justice Shekhar Yadav's Impeachment Motion Rejected In January the Rajya Sabha's pending action on this matter had been challenged in the Allahabad High Court. A PIL demanded the court issue direction to the Rajya Sabha to not act on the proposed impeachment. However, the PIL was rejected because it did not constitue a public interest issue. What Justice Shekhar Yadav Said The judge was speaking at an event organised by the legal cell of right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Prayagraj on December 8, when he said, "I have no hesitation in saying that this is Hindustan... this country would function as per the wishes of the (majority)... This is the law." READ | High Court Judge Says Law Works Per Majority, A Owaisi Reacts His remarks (there were more, including comments on Islamic practices such as Halal and polygamy) were condemned by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi and others who asked how members of any minority community might expect justice from such a judge. "In a democracy the minority's rights are protected... this speech raises questions... How can a minority expect justice before someone who participates in VHP programs?" he asked. Supreme Court Acts But... The Supreme Court took notice and directed the Allahabad High Court to provide details and, on December 17, the Collegium, headed by then Chief Justice Sanjiv Kumar heard from Justice Yadav, who argued the media had selectively quoted him to create 'unnecessary controversy'. However, the Collegium refused his explanation and reprimanded the judge, reminding him the conduct of a judge is always under scrutiny and that he is expected to maintain a standard. The Collegium, though, was blocked from taking further action because the MPs' impeachment motion had already been initiated; the letter to the Rajya Sabha was sent December 13. According to Mr Sibal this was because the Rajya Sabha Secretariat wrote to then Chief Justice directing him to not take action against Justice Yadav becase of the pending impeachment notice.
The Hindu
14 hours ago
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In Rajasthan, Pradhan credits NEP for India's jump in global university rankings
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday credited the National Education Policy-2020 for the five-fold jump in the number of Indian institutions, from 11 in 2014 to 54 now, getting the QS World University-2026 rankings. He said the new high was achieved because of educational reforms launched in the country. Mr. Pradhan addressed the ninth convocation ceremony of the Central University of Rajasthan at Ajmer district's Kishangarh and participated in a programme at Manipal University on the outskirts of Jaipur, where he inaugurated a new lecture hall complex. In his convocation address, Mr. Pradhan said the NEP-2020 had changed the country's educational landscape with its emphasis on research and innovation. 'The NEP has encouraged a multidisciplinary, skill-based and employment-oriented education system, which will immensely benefit the youth,' he said. 'With the NEP, we are integrating India's heritage and knowledge traditions into modern education and fostering a sense of rootedness and pride in our culture,' Mr. Pradhan said. He described Rajasthan as a 'powerful symbol' of the country's heritage, as the rulers in the erstwhile Rajputana had put up a strong resistance during the medieval period. The Minister praised the talent of the State, while referring to the consistent excellence of students in competitive examinations like JEE and NEET. NEET 2025 topper Mahesh Kumar is from Rajasthan's Hanumangarh. Mr. Pradhan also called upon the youth to become job-creators, giving employment to at least five persons, through start-ups and entrepreneurship, rather than seeking jobs. 'As India emerges as the world's fourth-largest economy, it is essential to harness the innovation, skills, and leadership potential of the youth to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047,' Mr. Pradhan said. He awarded gold medals to 94 students who had secured the highest marks in their respective courses, while the degrees were conferred on a total of 1,770 students in various disciplines, including 77 Ph.D. scholars, at the convocation. Central University of Rajasthan's Vice-Chancellor Anand Bhalerao called upon the students to use their knowledge and skills for betterment of society, while reminding them of the university's role in building their character and making them responsible citizens. Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary was among those present at the convocation ceremony.
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- The Hindu
Congress sets up five-member panel to probe alleged rise in crimes against women in BJP-ruled Odisha
The Congress on Thursday (June 19, 2025) named a five-member fact-finding team to visit Odisha and submit a comprehensive report on the alleged rise in crimes against women and the large number of women reported missing in the State. The announcement followed the gang rape of a college girl at Gopalpur in Odisha on Sunday (June 15, 2025). Party general secretary Deepa Dasmunshi will convene the panel, which includes three MPs — Ranjeet Ranjan from Rajya Sabha, and Praniti Shinde and S. Jothimani from Lok Sabha. Former Mahila Congress chief Shobha Oza will also be part of the team. 'In light of the horrific rape incident reported from Gopalpur in Odisha, the increasing cases of atrocities against women, and the disturbing number of women reported missing — numbering in the thousands over the past few years — the Hon'ble Congress president has deputed a fact-finding team to visit Odisha and submit a comprehensive report on the situation,' Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal said in a statement. A case was registered at the Gopalpur police station after the survivor, an undergraduate student of a private college, lodged an FIR on Monday. The incident occurred on Sunday night when the woman, who lived in a private mess with three other women, went to the beach with her classmate on the occasion of Raj Parv. According to the complaint, a group of 10 men arrived, held her boyfriend, and took turns raping her. At a press conference at Congress headquarters, Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba said, 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself campaigned in Odisha and won by promising security. But if you look at Odisha's report card over 11 months, 15 rape cases are reported here every day; in 10 months, 4,500 daughters are pleading for justice across the State, and in 11 months, 28,000 women and daughters have become victims of atrocities. Where do criminals get so much courage from?' Along with Odisha Mahila Congress president Meenakshi Bahinipati and Odisha MLA Sofiya Firdous, Ms. Lamba alleged that 'the past year of the BJP government in Odisha has been very dangerous and dreadful for the sisters, daughters, and women of the State.'
