Latest news with #GauriGodse
India Today
06-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Bombay High Court stays demolition around Malegaon's Bhoikot fort till June 17
The Bombay High Court has directed the Malegaon administration in Nashik district of Maharashtra to not take any coercive action against people occupying land around an ancient fort 'Bhoikot killa' in Malegaon. In their order, the bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan said, 'Until 17th June 2025, no coercive action to be taken to demolish the petitioners' structures or evict the petitioners.'advertisementThe petitioners had approached the court challenging a Government Resolution (GR) dated January 20, 2025 issued by the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department of the Maharashtra government under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains the GR, the Maharashtra government has directed the district administrations across the state to demolish all illegal structures in and around 47 forts protected by the Central government and 62 forts protected by the state. Under the GR, a committee headed by the district collector was to be constituted which had to submit a report on whether the recognised forts are encroached on or not. After the assessment, the unauthorised encroachments had to be removed. Recently, the local administration issued a notice to Shakeel Ahmed Fateh Mohammed (who is also the petitioner) and others living around the fort. The petitioner claimed that there were over 300 families living around the fort. The petitioners stated that they have documentary proof to state that they have been living in their homes around the fort for the last 40 years and their structures have already been regularised by the local Manisha Desai, appearing for the petitioners, pointed out that a Gymkhana and school are already running inside the archaeological site and no action has been taken against the same. However, the action is initiated only against the occupants who are outside the archaeological Government Pleader PP Kakade appearing for the state, took time to take instructions, but pointed out that the homes for rehabilitation of families have already been constructed and the families only have to pay Rs 20,000 and take possession. It is only after the rehabilitation is done that the demolition of illegal construction around the fort will be the court said that people undergoing rehabilitation shouldn't have to pay for taking possession of their new homes. The matter will be heard again by the court on June Watch
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
HC temporarily restrains demolition 220 families' residences in Malegaon fort
MUMBAI: In a reprieve for 220 families residing in the Bhuikot Killa, the Malegaon fort, the Bombay high court on Friday restrained the revenue department from acting on demolition notices issued. The vacation bench of justice Gauri Godse and justice Somasekhar Sundaresan was hearing a petition filed by resident Mohammad Rajjab Khan, and other residents of the fort. According to the petition, the tourism and cultural affairs department of the state government issued a Government Resolution (GR) on January 20, instructing district collectors to remove all encroachments from the 47 forts protected by the Central Government and 62 forts protected by the archaeology department as per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1969. Following the GR, the Malegaon tehsildar issued eviction and demolition notices to the residents of the fort in March and April 2025, prompting them to approach the high court. Residents contended that they have been residing in the structures for 40 years and have necessary documents like electricity bills, house tax, water tax bills, ration cards etc. They added that an educational institute is running a school and a junior college at the fort's centre, and a separate girls' school is also located within the fort premises. These schools are using the open space in the fort as their playground. Demolition notices were issued to individual residents only, not these establishments, said the petitioners. Advocate Manisha Desai said a regular bench on May 8 granted protection to some residents after noting that schools and a gymkhana were functioning out of the fort area. The petitioner also claimed that the authorities turned a blind eye to several unauthorised structures within the fort and are selectively targeting the residents of the surrounding localities, falling outside the fort precinct. Desai also pointed out that the tehsildar passed fresh orders on May 26 for eviction and demolition of the residential structures. However, these were not served to the petitioners. Against this backdrop, the vacation bench restrained the revenue authorities from taking any coercive steps against the petitioners' structures. It also directed the additional government pleader Kavita N Solunke to take instruction as to whether the Tehsildar had passed any fresh orders for eviction and demolition and to file affidavits in reply to the petitions by June 10, when the petitions would come up for further hearing.
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pune student held for Operation Sindoor post and later granted bail appears for exam
A 19-year-old engineering student from the city, who was arrested earlier this month over a social media post about the government's 'Operation Sindoor', appeared for her semester exam on Thursday under security cover, her lawyer informed the Bombay High Court. Advocate Farhana Shah, representing the student, told a vacation bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan that her client was released from Yerawada Central Jail on Tuesday night, in line with the court's directions. 'She received her admit card on Wednesday and was able to appear for the exam on Thursday,' Shah said. The court noted that no additional directions were needed and posted the matter before a regular bench on June 9. The High Court had earlier pulled up the Maharashtra government over the student's arrest, describing the police action as 'absolutely shocking' and an overreaction aimed at 'ruining her life.' The court also stayed the rustication order issued by Sinhgad Academy of Engineering, where she is a second-year student, allowing her to take her remaining exams. The student had already missed two written papers and two practicals while in custody. The bench noted that she can approach her college and Savitribai Phule Pune University to seek permission to reappear for those missed exam papers. On Thursday morning, she arrived at the exam centre with a family member. 'College authorities arranged a separate room for her, and she completed the exam by 12.30 pm,' her uncle said. Sinhgad Academy principal Kishor Patil confirmed that the student appeared for her paper in a different classroom. 'A dedicated supervisor has been appointed and two security guards—one male and one female—will remain with her on campus to ensure her safety,' he said. The student, originally from Jammu and Kashmir, had shared a post on May 7 from an Instagram account named 'Reformistan' that criticised the Union government's military action in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. She took down the post shortly afterwards and issued an apology, but a complaint was still filed against her at Kondhwa police station on May 9. She was arrested and sent to judicial custody before moving to the Bombay High Court to challenge both her rustication and the FIR. (With agency inputs)
NDTV
29-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Pune Student, Arrested Over Op Sindoor Post, Appears For Exam After Bail
Mumbai: The Pune teen student, arrested for her social media post criticizing the Indian government over Operation Sindoor and later released on bail, has appeared for her semester examination under requisite security, her lawyer told the Bombay High Court on Thursday. The high court had on Tuesday slammed the Maharashtra government for its "absolutely shocking" and "radical" reaction to the engineering student's post and for arresting her. The court ordered immediate release of the 19-year-old, originally from Jammu and Kashmir, from Pune's Yerwada Central Jail, noting the police were "bent upon ruining her life" and turning her into a "hardcore criminal". The court had also suspended the rustication order issued by the student's college Sinhgad Academy of Engineering, and permitted her to appear for ongoing second year semester examinations. Her advocate Farhana Shah informed a vacation bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan that pursuant to the court order, the student was released from jail on Tuesday night. "The college issued her the admit card on Wednesday and she has appeared for the exam scheduled on Thursday," Shah said. The student had missed two papers and as many practical exams while she was in custody, she said. The court said the teenager can make necessary application to the college and the Savitribai Phule Pune University, to which the academy is affiliated, seeking special permission to reappear for the missed exams. "No further directions are required now. The matter shall be placed before the regular bench on June 9," the bench said. The college said as per HC's directives, special arrangements have been made for the student to appear for exams. "The girl will be giving her exams in a separate classroom. A separate supervisor will be assigned for her exams and two security guards, one male and one female, will accompany her on the campus for her safety," the college's principal, Kishor Patil, said. The high court, while granting bail to the student on Tuesday, had asked the college management to make special arrangements for her keeping in mind security concerns. The controversy began on May 7 when the student, pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering (Information Technology) degree, shared a post on Instagram from an account named 'Reformistan' that criticised the Indian government amid Operation Sindoor which targeted terror sites in PoK and Pakistan. However, realising her mistake, she deleted the post and also apologised for reposting it. Despite the teenager deleting the post swiftly, the Kondhwa police in Pune registered an FIR on May 9 and arrested her. She was later sent to judicial custody and lodged at Yerwada prison. The college also rusticated her immediately. Challenging her rustication and seeking quashing of the FIR, the student approached the Bombay High Court.
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pune student held for Op Sindoor post, appears for exam under security, says HC
The Pune teen student, arrested for her social media post criticizing the Indian government over Operation Sindoor and later released on bail, has appeared for her semester examination under requisite security, her lawyer told the Bombay High Court on Thursday. The high court had on Tuesday slammed the Maharashtra government for its "absolutely shocking" and "radical" reaction to the engineering student's post and for arresting her. Also Read: Pro-Pak post: College makes special arrangements for student to appear for remaining papers after HC raps govt for arrest The court ordered immediate release of the 19-year-old, originally from Jammu and Kashmir, from Pune's Yerwada Central Jail, noting the police were "bent upon ruining her life" and turning her into a "hardcore criminal". The court had also suspended the rustication order issued by the student's college Sinhgad Academy of Engineering, and permitted her to appear for ongoing second year semester examinations. Also Read: Pune teen arrested for posting 'Pakistan Zindabad' on social media moves HC for bail Her advocate Farhana Shah informed a vacation bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan that pursuant to the court order, the student was released from jail on Tuesday night. "The college issued her the admit card on Wednesday and she has appeared for the exam scheduled on Thursday," Shah said. The student had missed two papers and as many practical exams while she was in custody, she said. Also Read: HC raps college for rusticating student over post on 'Op Sindoor' The court said the teenager can make necessary application to the college and the Savitribai Phule Pune University, to which the academy is affiliated, seeking special permission to reappear for the missed exams. "No further directions are required now. The matter shall be placed before the regular bench on June 9," the bench said. The college said as per HC's directives, special arrangements have been made for the student to appear for exams. "The girl will be giving her exams in a separate classroom. A separate supervisor will be assigned for her exams and two security guards, one male and one female, will accompany her on the campus for her safety," the college's principal, Kishor Patil, said. The high court, while granting bail to the student on Tuesday, had asked the college management to make special arrangements for her keeping in mind security concerns. The controversy began on May 7 when the student, pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering (Information Technology) degree, shared a post on Instagram from an account named 'Reformistan' that criticised the Indian government amid Operation Sindoor which targeted terror sites in PoK and Pakistan. However, realising her mistake, she deleted the post and also apologised for reposting it. Despite the teenager deleting the post swiftly, the Kondhwa police in Pune registered an FIR on May 9 and arrested her. She was later sent to judicial custody and lodged at Yerwada prison. The college also rusticated her immediately. Challenging her rustication and seeking quashing of the FIR, the student approached the Bombay High Court.
