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The Hindu
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Dhankhar slams Supreme Court over Emergency-era verdict, says darkest in judicial history
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday (June 20, 2025) slammed the Supreme Court for its verdict delivered during the Emergency, dubbing it as the "darkest" in the judicial history of the world. According to an official statement, he said the judgment of the Supreme Court overruling that of nine High Courts legitimised dictatorship and authoritarianism. Mr. Dhankhar also questioned the then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed for signing the proclamation of Emergency on the "instance" of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and not the entire council of ministers. Addressing a group of Rajya Sabha interns, the Vice-President said, "A president cannot act on the advice of an individual, the prime minister. The Constitution is very categorical. "There is a council of ministers headed by the PM to aid and advise the president. This was one violation, but what was the result? More than 1,00,000 citizens of this country were put behind bars in hours," he said. Referring to the role of the judiciary during the Emergency, Mr. Dhankhar said, "That was a time when the fundamental essence of democracy capsized in times of distress. People look up to the judiciary. "Nine high courts in the country have gloriously defined that emergency or no emergency, people have fundamental rights and there is access to the justice system. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court overturned all nine high courts and gave a judgment which will be the darkest in the history of any judicial institution in the world that believes in the rule of law," he further said. Mr. Dhankhar pointed out that the decision was that "it is the will of the executive to have Emergency for as much time as it thinks fit". The top court also ruled that during an Emergency, there are no fundamental rights. "So the judgment of the Supreme Court legitimised dictatorship, authoritarianism and despotism in this land," he said. The Vice President said the present government has "wisely" decided to observe June 25 every year as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'. Emergency remained in force between June 25, 1975 and March 21, 1977.
The Print
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
Dhankhar slams Supreme Court over Emergency-era verdict, says darkest in judicial history
Dhankhar also questioned the then president Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed for signing the proclamation of Emergency on the 'instance' of then prime minister Indira Gandhi and not the entire council of ministers. According to an official statement, he said the judgment of the Supreme Court overruling that of nine high courts legitimised dictatorship and authoritarianism. New Delhi, Jun 20 (PTI) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday slammed the Supreme Court for its verdict delivered during the Emergency, dubbing it as the 'darkest' in the judicial history of the world. Addressing a group of Rajya Sabha interns here, the vice president said, 'A president cannot act on the advice of an individual, the prime minister. The Constitution is very categorical. 'There is a council of ministers headed by the PM to aid and advise the president. This was one violation, but what was the result? More than 1,00,000 citizens of this country were put behind bars in hours,' he said. Referring to the role of the judiciary during the Emergency, Dhankhar said, 'That was a time when the fundamental essence of democracy capsized in times of distress. People look up to the judiciary. 'Nine high courts in the country have gloriously defined that emergency or no emergency, people have fundamental rights and there is access to the justice system. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court overturned all nine high courts and gave a judgment which will be the darkest in the history of any judicial institution in the world that believes in the rule of law,' he further said. Dhankhar pointed out that the decision was that 'it is the will of the executive to have Emergency for as much time as it thinks fit'. The top court also ruled that during an Emergency, there are no fundamental rights. 'So the judgment of the Supreme Court legitimised dictatorship, authoritarianism and despotism in this land,' he said. The vice president said the present government has 'wisely' decided to observe June 25 every year as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'. Emergency remained in force between June 25, 1975 and March 21, 1977. PTI NAB NAB KSS KSS This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
AIADMK stages hunger strike supporting mango farmers in Krishnagiri
The AIADMK cadres staged a sit-in hunger strike in protest in Krishnagiri over the fall in mango prices and accusing the DMK government of 'inaction' on Friday (June 20, 2025). The protest held near the new bus stand grounds wa led by the party's deputy general secretary and Vepanapalli MLA K.P. Munusamy. The AIADMK has lent solidarity with the mango farmers who are aggrieved by the fall in prices owing to bumper harvest on one hand, and low prices offered by the pulp industry on the other. The mango pulp industry has claimed poor demand from major beverage companies citing the global conflict that has taken a hit on the demand. The acceptance of the previous orders by the beverage companies was lukewarm and it has brought down new orders, the industry contends. Consequently, farmers are pushed to sell Totapuri variety of mangoes at as low as ₹3 to ₹5 per kg. The day long token hunger strike witnessed AIADMK cadres led by Mr. Munusamy along with the former Krishnagiri MP K. Ashok Kumar and former Minister Y. Balakrishna Reddy sitting in protest. They were joined by the AIADMK leader and member of Rajya Sabha M. Thambidurai. However, the party has also demanded that the government announce a support price for mangoes, along the lines of the Andhra Pradesh government, where a support price of ₹4 was offered, while the pulp industry would procure the mangoes at ₹8 per kg. The protest however, cost a snake its life. Farmers affiliated with the party dumped mangoes at the protest site as a mark of protest. A non-venomous tree snake emerged from the mound of mangoes rattling the onlookers, who killed it eventually.
NDTV
6 hours ago
- Politics
- 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
a day ago
- Politics
- 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.'
