News Analysis India

Tag: Uttar Pradesh

  • UP cabinet accepts report on OBC reservation in urban body polls

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh cabinet, on Friday, approved the recommendations of the ‘Backward Classes Commission’ constituted to look into the issue of reservation to OBCs in the urban local body elections which are due in the state and said it would be presented before the Supreme Court where the matter is sub-judice.

    State Urban Development Minister AK Sharma said that the report was submitted to CM Yogi Adityanath on Thursday night and it was taken up at the cabinet meeting on Friday.

    Sharma said that a provisional notification regarding the local body elections was issued on December 5. After this, some petitions were filed in Allahabad High Court which ordered the state government to set up a dedicated commission to conduct an empirical study on the backwardness of the OBCs within the urban local bodies (ULB) and recommend the reservation.

    The minister said that after the approval of the report by the state cabinet, the UP government was likely to present it before the Supreme Court within the next two days. He also stated that the state government was committed to providing complete reservation to the OBC category in local body elections.

    The High Court had asked the state government to go ahead with civic polls without any reservation for OBCs. He added that the High Court had issued the order on December 27, 2022, and the state government had set up a five-member “Uttar Pradesh State Local Bodies dedicated Backward Classes Commission” on December 28, 2023.

    Meanwhile, the UP government had approached the Supreme Court against the High Court order which had stayed the reservation process and had directed the state government to conduct urban local body polls before March 31. The Supreme Court stayed the High Court order on January 4.

    In fact, the UP urban development department had made a provision of 27 per cent reservation for OBC mayors and chairpersons.

    The commission was set up under the chairmanship of retired Justice Ram Avtar Singh and it was asked to fulfil the mandate laid down under the triple-test formula and compile the report by March 31.

    The UP government had told the apex court that it would get the elections conducted after an empirical inquiry to study the nature and effects of backwardness on OBCs across the urban local bodies in the state by the five-member commission. It had also assured the apex court that reservation of the seats for OBCs would be announced in urban civic bodies on the basis of the commission’s report.

    The next hearing in the case is scheduled to take place on April 11.

    Meanwhile, the commission collected the facts and figures from the 75 districts and summoned the data on the OBC population within the localities from the local administration.

    As per the highly placed sources, the 350-page confidential report comprises the district-wise details of other backward classes. “It is believed that the OBC statistics are different from what was available so far,” said the sources. 

    The sources claimed that on the basis of the recommendations, a major change in reservation configuration on mayoral, municipality chairman and Nagar Panchayat chief seats was expected. Moreover, many unreserved seats may be reserved for OBCs following the recommendations of the report.

    LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh cabinet, on Friday, approved the recommendations of the ‘Backward Classes Commission’ constituted to look into the issue of reservation to OBCs in the urban local body elections which are due in the state and said it would be presented before the Supreme Court where the matter is sub-judice.

    State Urban Development Minister AK Sharma said that the report was submitted to CM Yogi Adityanath on Thursday night and it was taken up at the cabinet meeting on Friday.

    Sharma said that a provisional notification regarding the local body elections was issued on December 5. After this, some petitions were filed in Allahabad High Court which ordered the state government to set up a dedicated commission to conduct an empirical study on the backwardness of the OBCs within the urban local bodies (ULB) and recommend the reservation.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The minister said that after the approval of the report by the state cabinet, the UP government was likely to present it before the Supreme Court within the next two days. He also stated that the state government was committed to providing complete reservation to the OBC category in local body elections.

    The High Court had asked the state government to go ahead with civic polls without any reservation for OBCs. He added that the High Court had issued the order on December 27, 2022, and the state government had set up a five-member “Uttar Pradesh State Local Bodies dedicated Backward Classes Commission” on December 28, 2023.

    Meanwhile, the UP government had approached the Supreme Court against the High Court order which had stayed the reservation process and had directed the state government to conduct urban local body polls before March 31. The Supreme Court stayed the High Court order on January 4.

    In fact, the UP urban development department had made a provision of 27 per cent reservation for OBC mayors and chairpersons.

    The commission was set up under the chairmanship of retired Justice Ram Avtar Singh and it was asked to fulfil the mandate laid down under the triple-test formula and compile the report by March 31.

    The UP government had told the apex court that it would get the elections conducted after an empirical inquiry to study the nature and effects of backwardness on OBCs across the urban local bodies in the state by the five-member commission. It had also assured the apex court that reservation of the seats for OBCs would be announced in urban civic bodies on the basis of the commission’s report.

    The next hearing in the case is scheduled to take place on April 11.

    Meanwhile, the commission collected the facts and figures from the 75 districts and summoned the data on the OBC population within the localities from the local administration.

    As per the highly placed sources, the 350-page confidential report comprises the district-wise details of other backward classes. “It is believed that the OBC statistics are different from what was available so far,” said the sources. 

    The sources claimed that on the basis of the recommendations, a major change in reservation configuration on mayoral, municipality chairman and Nagar Panchayat chief seats was expected. Moreover, many unreserved seats may be reserved for OBCs following the recommendations of the report.

  • 72 industrial plots allotted to UP cabinet minister for MSME in 2012 cancelled

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has cancelled 72 industrial plots allotted to cabinet minister Rakesh Sachan 11 years ago in 2012-13 during Samajwadi Party rule when Sachan was the SP MP from Fatehpur and considered to be very close to late Mulayam Singh Yadav and the then PWD and irrigation minister Shivpal Yadav.

    Cancelling the allotment of the plots on Monday, the UP Industrial Development department also recommended a probe into the role of five officials of the Fatehpur industry department who were instrumental in the allotment of plots.

    Reacting to the development, Sachan, now the cabinet minister for MSME, said that he himself had got all the allotments made in his name cancelled.

    Soon after assuming office as MSME minister in Yogi Adityanath’s government, he had directed officials to cancel the allotment of such plots where industrial units were not set up, he claimed.

    The process of cancellation was initiated after a complaint by Satyendra Singh, Chairman, Lagu Udyog Bharti of Fatehpur, a body of entrepreneurs. As per the complaint, the plots allotted to set up industrial units had been lying vacant for the last 11 years. 

    The complaint had also claimed that if the allotment of those plots would be cancelled, the land could be used to bring to life the intents of investment worth Rs 848 crore received by the district.

    ALSO READ | Dar-ul-Uloom issues fatwa against Muslim students trimming, shaving beards 

    The state government had deputed officers of the rank of deputy commissioner, industries, and assistant commissioner to look into Singh’s complaint.

    The UP government has also started a campaign to identify such plots which were allotted for the installation of industrial units but were lying vacant in various districts across the state. The state government would cancel the allotment of all such plots and use them to realise the investment proposalsreceived during the recently-concluded Global Investors Summit in Lucknow.

    The 72 plots were allotted to Sachan under different organisations — Abhinav Sewa Sansthan and Seema Sewa Sansthan — in 2012. The 10 per cent security money for the plots had not been deposited so far. A large number of plots were allotted to those who did not set up industrial units for decades and instead used the land for other purposes, according to officials of the industries department. These plots will now be declared vacant and re-allotted.

    As per highly-placed sources, the state government has sent an assistant director of industries from Prayagraj to probe the allotment of industrial plots in Fatehpur district.

    ALSO READ | CM Yogi cautions bureaucracy against laxity in resolving people’s problems

    There are eight industrial areas in Fatehpur district, including Choudagra, Jagatsarai, Trilokpuri, Itrora, Chakhata, Sudhwapur, Surjahi, and Rampur, which were developed between 1987 and 1992. A total of 360 plots were developed in those industrial areas and 72 of them — 32 in Chakhata and 40 in Sadhuwapur — were allotted to Sachan in 2012-13.

    As per the provisions of industrial policy, the industrial units on the allotted plots must come up within the next six months. However, in Sachan’s case, the plots are still vacant. 

    LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has cancelled 72 industrial plots allotted to cabinet minister Rakesh Sachan 11 years ago in 2012-13 during Samajwadi Party rule when Sachan was the SP MP from Fatehpur and considered to be very close to late Mulayam Singh Yadav and the then PWD and irrigation minister Shivpal Yadav.

    Cancelling the allotment of the plots on Monday, the UP Industrial Development department also recommended a probe into the role of five officials of the Fatehpur industry department who were instrumental in the allotment of plots.

    Reacting to the development, Sachan, now the cabinet minister for MSME, said that he himself had got all the allotments made in his name cancelled.

    Soon after assuming office as MSME minister in Yogi Adityanath’s government, he had directed officials to cancel the allotment of such plots where industrial units were not set up, he claimed.

    The process of cancellation was initiated after a complaint by Satyendra Singh, Chairman, Lagu Udyog Bharti of Fatehpur, a body of entrepreneurs. As per the complaint, the plots allotted to set up industrial units had been lying vacant for the last 11 years. 

    The complaint had also claimed that if the allotment of those plots would be cancelled, the land could be used to bring to life the intents of investment worth Rs 848 crore received by the district.

    ALSO READ | Dar-ul-Uloom issues fatwa against Muslim students trimming, shaving beards 

    The state government had deputed officers of the rank of deputy commissioner, industries, and assistant commissioner to look into Singh’s complaint.

    The UP government has also started a campaign to identify such plots which were allotted for the installation of industrial units but were lying vacant in various districts across the state. The state government would cancel the allotment of all such plots and use them to realise the investment proposals
    received during the recently-concluded Global Investors Summit in Lucknow.

    The 72 plots were allotted to Sachan under different organisations — Abhinav Sewa Sansthan and Seema Sewa Sansthan — in 2012. The 10 per cent security money for the plots had not been deposited so far. A large number of plots were allotted to those who did not set up industrial units for decades and instead used the land for other purposes, according to officials of the industries department. These plots will now be declared vacant and re-allotted.

    As per highly-placed sources, the state government has sent an assistant director of industries from Prayagraj to probe the allotment of industrial plots in Fatehpur district.

    ALSO READ | CM Yogi cautions bureaucracy against laxity in resolving people’s problems

    There are eight industrial areas in Fatehpur district, including Choudagra, Jagatsarai, Trilokpuri, Itrora, Chakhata, Sudhwapur, Surjahi, and Rampur, which were developed between 1987 and 1992. A total of 360 plots were developed in those industrial areas and 72 of them — 32 in Chakhata and 40 in Sadhuwapur — were allotted to Sachan in 2012-13.

    As per the provisions of industrial policy, the industrial units on the allotted plots must come up within the next six months. However, in Sachan’s case, the plots are still vacant.
     

  • SP seeks front-row seat next to Akhilesh for Shivpal in UP assembly

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: After his patch-up with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and appointment as the party’s National General Secretary, Shivpal Singh Yadav could be seen sitting in the front row in the Uttar Pradesh assembly which begins on February 20.

    SP chief whip Manoj Kumar Pandey has written a letter to Speaker Satish Mahana for a change in the seating arrangement.

    “Now Shivpalji will sit in the front row on party MLA Awadhesh Prasad’s seat. Prasad will sit next to Akhilesh Yadav.” Pandey told PTI.

    Till now the seat next to Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the opposition, was reserved for Azam Khan.

    Now Prasad, SP MLA from Milkipur seat in Ayodhya, will sit there.

    Shivpal, who is party MLA from Jaswant Nagar seat in Etawah district, was till now seen sitting in a seat in the back row.

    “We have got the letter. Arrangements will be made accordingly,” a senior official of the state assembly said.

    On the rocks since 2017, the “chacha-bhatija” relationship improved after the death of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in October last year.

    The two have been seen together a number of times since, a probable factor in Dimple Yadav’s winning the Mainpuri Lok Sabha by-poll by a record margin.

    The relationship between Shivpal Yadav and his cousin Ramgopal Yadav has also seen a concomitant improvement.

    Since the development, the BJP, which tried to leverage the rift in the family for its gains, has turned hostile towards Shivpal.

    During the campaign in the Mainpuri by-election, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had likened Shivpal Yadav to a pendulum for his “swinging” from one party to another.

    LUCKNOW: After his patch-up with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and appointment as the party’s National General Secretary, Shivpal Singh Yadav could be seen sitting in the front row in the Uttar Pradesh assembly which begins on February 20.

    SP chief whip Manoj Kumar Pandey has written a letter to Speaker Satish Mahana for a change in the seating arrangement.

    “Now Shivpalji will sit in the front row on party MLA Awadhesh Prasad’s seat. Prasad will sit next to Akhilesh Yadav.” Pandey told PTI.

    Till now the seat next to Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the opposition, was reserved for Azam Khan.

    Now Prasad, SP MLA from Milkipur seat in Ayodhya, will sit there.

    Shivpal, who is party MLA from Jaswant Nagar seat in Etawah district, was till now seen sitting in a seat in the back row.

    “We have got the letter. Arrangements will be made accordingly,” a senior official of the state assembly said.

    On the rocks since 2017, the “chacha-bhatija” relationship improved after the death of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in October last year.

    The two have been seen together a number of times since, a probable factor in Dimple Yadav’s winning the Mainpuri Lok Sabha by-poll by a record margin.

    The relationship between Shivpal Yadav and his cousin Ramgopal Yadav has also seen a concomitant improvement.

    Since the development, the BJP, which tried to leverage the rift in the family for its gains, has turned hostile towards Shivpal.

    During the campaign in the Mainpuri by-election, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had likened Shivpal Yadav to a pendulum for his “swinging” from one party to another.

  • ‘Man’s body’ dragged by speeding car for over 10 km near UP’s Mathura

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Another hit-and-drag case has come to light in the country, this time in Uttar Pradesh, as the body of an unidentified man was dragged by a car for over 10 km on Yamuna Expressway near Mathura on the wee hours of Tuesday. 

    The occupants of the car –a man and a woman– were taken into custody in connection with the case. The identity of the victim is yet to be ascertained, said police sources in Mathura.

    A resident of Delhi, Virender Singh, who was driving the Swift Dezire car involved in the case, told the district police that the victim was already dead before it got yoked to the undercarriage of the car and got dragged for over 10 km.

    Singh also claimed that he failed to spot the body to dense fog and poor visibility. Virender Singh claimed that he didn’t realise that his car was dragging a body.

    “The suspect claimed that due to dense fog at the Expressway, there was low visibility. According to Singh, the man, who met with some accident, got saddled to the car,” Superintendent of Police Trigun Bisen said.

    ALSO READ | Hit-and-drag case: Delhi police suspend 11 cops on duty on accident night

    Police sources claimed that Singh was headed to Noida from Agra. When he stopped the car at Mant toll plaza near milestone number 94, the face of the body caught the attention of security personnel at a toll booth. The rest of the body had turned into a mass of flesh.

    Visuals showed a mangled body stuck under the car at the spot where it was stopped by the police personnel.

    The police are questioning Singh and investigating security cameras on the route to establish the identity of the deceased and how he died.

    However, the police recovered the shoe at milestone number 106 hinting that the deceased might have got saddled into the undercarriage of the car there.

    A series of hit-and-drag cases have been reported in the country in over a month. On New Year’s eve, a young woman Anjali Singh was killed after being dragged under a car at Kanjhawala in Delhi.

    LUCKNOW: Another hit-and-drag case has come to light in the country, this time in Uttar Pradesh, as the body of an unidentified man was dragged by a car for over 10 km on Yamuna Expressway near Mathura on the wee hours of Tuesday. 

    The occupants of the car –a man and a woman– were taken into custody in connection with the case. The identity of the victim is yet to be ascertained, said police sources in Mathura.

    A resident of Delhi, Virender Singh, who was driving the Swift Dezire car involved in the case, told the district police that the victim was already dead before it got yoked to the undercarriage of the car and got dragged for over 10 km.

    Singh also claimed that he failed to spot the body to dense fog and poor visibility. Virender Singh claimed that he didn’t realise that his car was dragging a body.

    “The suspect claimed that due to dense fog at the Expressway, there was low visibility. According to Singh, the man, who met with some accident, got saddled to the car,” Superintendent of Police Trigun Bisen said.

    ALSO READ | Hit-and-drag case: Delhi police suspend 11 cops on duty on accident night

    Police sources claimed that Singh was headed to Noida from Agra. When he stopped the car at Mant toll plaza near milestone number 94, the face of the body caught the attention of security personnel at a toll booth. The rest of the body had turned into a mass of flesh.

    Visuals showed a mangled body stuck under the car at the spot where it was stopped by the police personnel.

    The police are questioning Singh and investigating security cameras on the route to establish the identity of the deceased and how he died.

    However, the police recovered the shoe at milestone number 106 hinting that the deceased might have got saddled into the undercarriage of the car there.

    A series of hit-and-drag cases have been reported in the country in over a month. On New Year’s eve, a young woman Anjali Singh was killed after being dragged under a car at Kanjhawala in Delhi.

  • NCPCR issues notice to UP govt over madrasa board’s rejection of its recommendations

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) commission served a notice to the UP government after the UP Madrassa Education Board (UPMEB) unanimously rejected the child rights body’s recommendation, on Wednesday, regarding the shifting non-muslim students from madrassas to other educational facilities.

    In the notice addressed to the special secretary, UP Minority Affairs and Waqf Department, NCPCR chairman Priyank Kanoongo said: “No compliance report has been submitted to the commission from the UP government on the recommendations shared on December 8, 2022, for non-Muslim students studying in madrassas.”

    The commission, on Dec 8, 2022, asked the government and recognized madrasas to hold an inquiry to find out how many non-Muslim students were enrolled in them so that they could be shifted to other educational institutions. The commission said it had received complaints from different sources about non-Muslim students attending government-funded or recognised madrasas.

    “This is a violation of Article 28(3) of the Constitution of India prohibiting educational institutions from obligating the children to take part in any religious instruction, without the consent of parents,” wrote NCPCR chairman to the UP government.

    Therefore, NCPCR recommended the UP government to conduct a detailed inquiry into all government-funded or recognized madrassas where non-Muslim children were receiving education. The commission also demanded physical verification of non-Muslim children attending madrassas and shift them to schools for formal education.

    On Wednesday, after a meeting of UPMEB chairman Iftikhar Ahmed Javed announced that the Board had unanimously rejected NCPCR recommendations as there could be no differentiation on the basis of the religious faith of the students.

    Taking objection to the UPMEB’s stand, Kanoongo, on Friday, wrote to the state government, saying “Madrassa board chairperson’s comment violates the constitutional rights of the children and it disrespects the commission’s mandate.”

    Kanoongo sought a compliance report over the commission’s notice within the next three days.

    Meanwhile speaking to the media, the UPMEB chairman said that he stood by the Board’s decision reiterating that there would not be a differentiation among the children on the basis of their religious faith.

    “If NCPCR head has any evidence of forced religious conversion of any student or forceful admission of non-Muslim students in madrassa, then he must share input and lodge FIR,” Javed said while raising his objection on the NCPCR’s notice.

    LUCKNOW: The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) commission served a notice to the UP government after the UP Madrassa Education Board (UPMEB) unanimously rejected the child rights body’s recommendation, on Wednesday, regarding the shifting non-muslim students from madrassas to other educational facilities.

    In the notice addressed to the special secretary, UP Minority Affairs and Waqf Department, NCPCR chairman Priyank Kanoongo said: “No compliance report has been submitted to the commission from the UP government on the recommendations shared on December 8, 2022, for non-Muslim students studying in madrassas.”

    The commission, on Dec 8, 2022, asked the government and recognized madrasas to hold an inquiry to find out how many non-Muslim students were enrolled in them so that they could be shifted to other educational institutions. The commission said it had received complaints from different sources about non-Muslim students attending government-funded or recognised madrasas.

    “This is a violation of Article 28(3) of the Constitution of India prohibiting educational institutions from obligating the children to take part in any religious instruction, without the consent of parents,” wrote NCPCR chairman to the UP government.

    Therefore, NCPCR recommended the UP government to conduct a detailed inquiry into all government-funded or recognized madrassas where non-Muslim children were receiving education. The commission also demanded physical verification of non-Muslim children attending madrassas and shift them to schools for formal education.

    On Wednesday, after a meeting of UPMEB chairman Iftikhar Ahmed Javed announced that the Board had unanimously rejected NCPCR recommendations as there could be no differentiation on the basis of the religious faith of the students.

    Taking objection to the UPMEB’s stand, Kanoongo, on Friday, wrote to the state government, saying “Madrassa board chairperson’s comment violates the constitutional rights of the children and it disrespects the commission’s mandate.”

    Kanoongo sought a compliance report over the commission’s notice within the next three days.

    Meanwhile speaking to the media, the UPMEB chairman said that he stood by the Board’s decision reiterating that there would not be a differentiation among the children on the basis of their religious faith.

    “If NCPCR head has any evidence of forced religious conversion of any student or forceful admission of non-Muslim students in madrassa, then he must share input and lodge FIR,” Javed said while raising his objection on the NCPCR’s notice.

  • Allahabad HC asks Centre, UP govt, CEC to file responses on banning caste-based rallies

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has directed the Centre and the state government along with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to file a counter affidavit within four weeks on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a complete ban on caste-based rallies in Uttar Pradesh.

    The division bench, comprising Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, granted two weeks’ time to the petitioner for filing a rejoinder affidavit to the counter affidavit to be filed by the respondents. It has directed the court registry to list the case after six weeks for the next hearing.

    A bench passed the order on an old Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by one Motilal Yadav in 2013 after reopening it.

    Hearing the PIL on July 11, 2013, the bench had issued an interim ban on organizing caste-based rallies in Uttar Pradesh. The bench had also issued notices to the main political parties to submit their response in the matter.

    The bench, on Dec. 5, 2002, issued notices to the four major political parties — BJP, Samajwadi Party, BSP and Congress — seeking their response as to why a complete ban should not be imposed on caste-basedrallies in the state forever.

    The bench had also asked the chief election commissioner as to why the poll body should not take action against those holding such rallies.

    In its order passed in 2013, the High Court bench had observed, “The unrestricted freedom to hold caste-based rallies, which is to the total disliking and beyond the comprehension of the modern generation and also being contrary to the public interest, cannot be justified. It will rather be an act of negating the rule of law and denying the fundamental rights to citizens.”

    The bench had also observed that the political parties, in their quest to seek a political base in the caste system, had “seriously disturbed” the social fabric and cohesiveness. “It has rather resulted in causing social fission.”

    The petitioner had submitted that caste minorities in the country have been reduced to “second-class citizens” in their own country owing to such ‘anti-democratic’ activities of political parties designed to woo the votes of majority groups.

    “Despite the clear constitutional provisions and the fundamental rights enshrined therein, they are feeling disillusioned, dismayed and betrayed because of being placed in a disadvantageous position in thenumber game of vote politics”, the petitioner had added.

    LUCKNOW: The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has directed the Centre and the state government along with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to file a counter affidavit within four weeks on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a complete ban on caste-based rallies in Uttar Pradesh.

    The division bench, comprising Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, granted two weeks’ time to the petitioner for filing a rejoinder affidavit to the counter affidavit to be filed by the respondents. It has directed the court registry to list the case after six weeks for the next hearing.

    A bench passed the order on an old Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by one Motilal Yadav in 2013 after reopening it.

    Hearing the PIL on July 11, 2013, the bench had issued an interim ban on organizing caste-based rallies in Uttar Pradesh. The bench had also issued notices to the main political parties to submit their response in the matter.

    The bench, on Dec. 5, 2002, issued notices to the four major political parties — BJP, Samajwadi Party, BSP and Congress — seeking their response as to why a complete ban should not be imposed on caste-based
    rallies in the state forever.

    The bench had also asked the chief election commissioner as to why the poll body should not take action against those holding such rallies.

    In its order passed in 2013, the High Court bench had observed, “The unrestricted freedom to hold caste-based rallies, which is to the total disliking and beyond the comprehension of the modern generation and also being contrary to the public interest, cannot be justified. It will rather be an act of negating the rule of law and denying the fundamental rights to citizens.”

    The bench had also observed that the political parties, in their quest to seek a political base in the caste system, had “seriously disturbed” the social fabric and cohesiveness. “It has rather resulted in causing social fission.”

    The petitioner had submitted that caste minorities in the country have been reduced to “second-class citizens” in their own country owing to such ‘anti-democratic’ activities of political parties designed to woo the votes of majority groups.

    “Despite the clear constitutional provisions and the fundamental rights enshrined therein, they are feeling disillusioned, dismayed and betrayed because of being placed in a disadvantageous position in the
    number game of vote politics”, the petitioner had added.

  • UP: Two minors rape nine-year-old girl, record video

    By PTI

    MATHURA: A nine-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two minor boys, who also made a video of the act and threatened to make it viral on social media if she told anyone about it, police said.

    Station House Officer (SHO) of Highway Police Station Chhote Lal said on the basis of the complaint lodged by the relatives of the victim, an FIR has been registered and the girl has been sent for a medical examination.

    According to the relatives, the incident took place on Saturday evening when the girl was alone in the house. The boys, who live in the neighbourhood, entered the house and began molesting her.

    When she protested, they raped her.

    The accused also made a video of the incident and threatened to share it on social media platforms if the victim told anyone about it, according to the complaint.

    MATHURA: A nine-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two minor boys, who also made a video of the act and threatened to make it viral on social media if she told anyone about it, police said.

    Station House Officer (SHO) of Highway Police Station Chhote Lal said on the basis of the complaint lodged by the relatives of the victim, an FIR has been registered and the girl has been sent for a medical examination.

    According to the relatives, the incident took place on Saturday evening when the girl was alone in the house. The boys, who live in the neighbourhood, entered the house and began molesting her.

    When she protested, they raped her.

    The accused also made a video of the incident and threatened to share it on social media platforms if the victim told anyone about it, according to the complaint.

  • BJP to protest across UP against Bhutto’s comments on PM Modi

    By PTI

    lucknow: The BJP in Uttar Pradesh will stage protests in every district on Saturday against Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto’s personal comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party has said.

    State BJP president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary issued a statement on Friday evening, terming Bhutto’s statement against Modi “indecent” and “shameful”.

    He said the party would stage protests at the district level in the entire state on Saturday. BJP workers staged a protest in Mathura on Friday and burnt an effigy of the Pakistani minister.

    State BJP general secretary Govind Narayan Shukla said party workers would hold a protest in capital Lucknow around 12 noon.

    Chaudhary said under the leadership of PM Modi, India has been recognised as a strong nation in the whole world.

    “The statement of the Pakistani foreign minister, who has failed on every front, shows his frustration and disappointment,” he added.

    lucknow: The BJP in Uttar Pradesh will stage protests in every district on Saturday against Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto’s personal comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party has said.

    State BJP president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary issued a statement on Friday evening, terming Bhutto’s statement against Modi “indecent” and “shameful”.

    He said the party would stage protests at the district level in the entire state on Saturday. BJP workers staged a protest in Mathura on Friday and burnt an effigy of the Pakistani minister.

    State BJP general secretary Govind Narayan Shukla said party workers would hold a protest in capital Lucknow around 12 noon.

    Chaudhary said under the leadership of PM Modi, India has been recognised as a strong nation in the whole world.

    “The statement of the Pakistani foreign minister, who has failed on every front, shows his frustration and disappointment,” he added.

  • Three police personnel suspended for ‘suppressing’ rape of specially-challenged girl in UP’s Bareilly

    By PTI

    BAREILY: Two police inspectors and a sub-inspector have been suspended for allegedly suppressing an incident of rape of a specially-challenged 13-year-old girl in this Uttar Pradesh district, officials said on Saturday.

    Police said the hearing-and-speech-impaired girl was allegedly raped by Chandrapal (24) on November 24. The incident was reported from a village located within the Seeshgarh police station limits.

    According to a complaint submitted to senior police officials, Inspector Ramavtar Singh, Inspector Naresh Pal and a sub-inspector took money from the accused and lodged an FIR of molestation instead of rape in connection with the incident.

    It has also been alleged that the accused police personnel made the victim change her clothes at a police outpost and misplaced the clothes she was wearing at the time of the incident, which could have been used as evidence against the accused.

    Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rajkumar Agarwal said, “A probe was ordered by the SSP following the complaint and the allegations against the accused police personnel were found to be true. The three accused personnel have been put under suspension.” The officer said the sections of rape will be added in the FIR.

    BAREILY: Two police inspectors and a sub-inspector have been suspended for allegedly suppressing an incident of rape of a specially-challenged 13-year-old girl in this Uttar Pradesh district, officials said on Saturday.

    Police said the hearing-and-speech-impaired girl was allegedly raped by Chandrapal (24) on November 24. The incident was reported from a village located within the Seeshgarh police station limits.

    According to a complaint submitted to senior police officials, Inspector Ramavtar Singh, Inspector Naresh Pal and a sub-inspector took money from the accused and lodged an FIR of molestation instead of rape in connection with the incident.

    It has also been alleged that the accused police personnel made the victim change her clothes at a police outpost and misplaced the clothes she was wearing at the time of the incident, which could have been used as evidence against the accused.

    Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rajkumar Agarwal said, “A probe was ordered by the SSP following the complaint and the allegations against the accused police personnel were found to be true. The three accused personnel have been put under suspension.” The officer said the sections of rape will be added in the FIR.

  • 11 police personnel suspended after trader dies in police custody in UP’s Kanpur Dehat 

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: In a case of custodial death, a young businessman picked up for interrogation by the police in a robbery case died in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur Dehat district.

    The custodial death victim has been identified as 27-year-old Balwant Singh of Lalpur Saraiya.

    After Balwant’s death came to light on Tuesday morning, his kin launched a protest demanding justice. This led to the police registering FIR against five cops and a doctor while 11 police personnel, including 2 station house officers (SHOs) were placed under suspension on charges of negligence.

    It has been stated that police picked up Balwant Singh on Monday night for questioning him after a businessman Chandra Bhan Singh, a relative of Balwant, was robbed of Rs 4.5 lakh. The robbery was reported under the jurisdiction of Shivli Kotwali police station on December 6, 2022.

    Police took Balwant to the Rania police station for interrogation. On Tuesday morning, his kin was informed that he has died.

    Police claimed that Balwant complained of chest pain and later died in a hospital. But his kin refuted that version.

    Balwant Singh’s uncle Angad Singh said the police did not allow the family members to see his nephew when they went to the police station to meet him upon hearing about his arrest.

    Even Chandra Bhan Singh, who complained of robbery, pleaded with the police that Balwant was in no way involved in the case. But the police officer did not pay heed.

    Meanwhile, police found that Balwant’s condition has been deteriorating and took him to a private nursing home in Nabipur where the doctors declined to admit him. He was then taken to a Community Health Centre (CHC) and later referred to the district hospital where the doctors declared him dead. 

    Following this, the cops, without informing either the victim’s family or the senior police officers, abandoned Balwant’s body in the district hospital and went away, his kin claimed.

    ALSO READ | Custodial torture of brothers: Four cops suspended in Kerala 

    A ward boy at the district hospital informed the Akbarpur police about Balwant’s death around 1.30 am on Tuesday. The Akbarpur police station in charge informed the senior officers following which Kanpur Dehat SP Suniti sent the body for autopsy and informed Balwant’s family about his death.

    The family members landed at the hospital where the body was kept for post-mortem and launched a protest demanding appropriate action against the policemen involved in the alleged murder.

    The FIR lodged at the Rania police station named the SHOs of Shivli and Rania police station, Rajesh Kumar Singh and Shiv Prakash Singh, respectively. A doctor at the district hospital doctor Dr Pawan Parya has been booked for trying to hush up the case allegedly by pretending to treat Balwant even after his death to show that he was under treatment for some time and did not die of police torture.

    After getting the body of the victim on Wednesday morning, the family refused to conduct the last rites. They demanded CM Yogi Adityanath visit them. They launched a massive protest in front of the police station demanding Rs 1 crore as compensation and also a government job for Balwant’s wife. The family also demanded a commission headed by a retired judge to probe into Balwant’s death.

    ALSO READ | Kerala man who stood up to cops alleges custodial torture

    Kanpur Dehat DM Neha Jain and SP Suniti held talks with the family and convinced them by offering a relief of Rs 4 lakh and a job to Balwant’s wife.

    Later reacting to the incident, BJP MP Devendra Singh Bhola, representing Kanpur Dehat in Lok Sabha, held the district police responsible for Balwant’s death.

    The MP, who met the bereaved family, pointed finger of suspicion at the role of district police chief Suniti and DM Neha Jain while assuring the family of strict action against all involved in Balwant’s death.

    LUCKNOW: In a case of custodial death, a young businessman picked up for interrogation by the police in a robbery case died in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur Dehat district.

    The custodial death victim has been identified as 27-year-old Balwant Singh of Lalpur Saraiya.

    After Balwant’s death came to light on Tuesday morning, his kin launched a protest demanding justice. This led to the police registering FIR against five cops and a doctor while 11 police personnel, including 2 station house officers (SHOs) were placed under suspension on charges of negligence.

    It has been stated that police picked up Balwant Singh on Monday night for questioning him after a businessman Chandra Bhan Singh, a relative of Balwant, was robbed of Rs 4.5 lakh. The robbery was reported under the jurisdiction of Shivli Kotwali police station on December 6, 2022.

    Police took Balwant to the Rania police station for interrogation. On Tuesday morning, his kin was informed that he has died.

    Police claimed that Balwant complained of chest pain and later died in a hospital. But his kin refuted that version.

    Balwant Singh’s uncle Angad Singh said the police did not allow the family members to see his nephew when they went to the police station to meet him upon hearing about his arrest.

    Even Chandra Bhan Singh, who complained of robbery, pleaded with the police that Balwant was in no way involved in the case. But the police officer did not pay heed.

    Meanwhile, police found that Balwant’s condition has been deteriorating and took him to a private nursing home in Nabipur where the doctors declined to admit him. He was then taken to a Community Health Centre (CHC) and later referred to the district hospital where the doctors declared him dead. 

    Following this, the cops, without informing either the victim’s family or the senior police officers, abandoned Balwant’s body in the district hospital and went away, his kin claimed.

    ALSO READ | Custodial torture of brothers: Four cops suspended in Kerala 

    A ward boy at the district hospital informed the Akbarpur police about Balwant’s death around 1.30 am on Tuesday. The Akbarpur police station in charge informed the senior officers following which Kanpur Dehat SP Suniti sent the body for autopsy and informed Balwant’s family about his death.

    The family members landed at the hospital where the body was kept for post-mortem and launched a protest demanding appropriate action against the policemen involved in the alleged murder.

    The FIR lodged at the Rania police station named the SHOs of Shivli and Rania police station, Rajesh Kumar Singh and Shiv Prakash Singh, respectively. A doctor at the district hospital doctor Dr Pawan Parya has been booked for trying to hush up the case allegedly by pretending to treat Balwant even after his death to show that he was under treatment for some time and did not die of police torture.

    After getting the body of the victim on Wednesday morning, the family refused to conduct the last rites. They demanded CM Yogi Adityanath visit them. They launched a massive protest in front of the police station demanding Rs 1 crore as compensation and also a government job for Balwant’s wife. The family also demanded a commission headed by a retired judge to probe into Balwant’s death.

    ALSO READ | Kerala man who stood up to cops alleges custodial torture

    Kanpur Dehat DM Neha Jain and SP Suniti held talks with the family and convinced them by offering a relief of Rs 4 lakh and a job to Balwant’s wife.

    Later reacting to the incident, BJP MP Devendra Singh Bhola, representing Kanpur Dehat in Lok Sabha, held the district police responsible for Balwant’s death.

    The MP, who met the bereaved family, pointed finger of suspicion at the role of district police chief Suniti and DM Neha Jain while assuring the family of strict action against all involved in Balwant’s death.