A bandh was also observed by locals in Hazare’s native Ralegan Siddhi village in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district in support of his demands. Social activist Anna Hazare’s hunger strike entered the second day on Thursday as he remained defiant on his demand for appointment of anti-corruption watchdogs at the Centre and in Maharashtra and resolution of farmers’ issues.
Hazare is sitting on a hunger strike in his village since Wednesday against “non-fulfilment” of assurances by the Centre and the Maharashtra government on the appointment of Lokpal and passage of the Lokayukta Act in the state.
The 81-year-old Army man-turned-activist has also been demanding appointment of Lokayuktas in states where such statutory anti-corruption watchdogs do not exist.
He has also been demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations on ways to address agrarian distress, besides some electoral reforms.
Locals of Ralegan Siddhi village issued a statement on Thursday to local tehsildar, as an official representative of the state government, to look into Hazare’s demands.
Doctors conducted a check-up of Hazare and asked his caretakers to monitor the activist’s condition closely.
“He is over 80 years’ old. He needs to be looked after,” the doctors told Hazare’s close aides.
Hazare had earlier declined to meet state government envoy and minister Girish Mahajan for talks over his demands.
However, Mahajan said on Wednesday that talks were going on with Hazare and his supporters.
“There will be some solution,” Mahajan, a confidant of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, told reporters in Nashik.
The anti-corruption crusader had earlier told PTI that he welcomed the Maharashtra Cabinet’s decision to bring the office of state chief minister under the ambit of Lokayukta.
“However, the strike will continue till the government fulfils promises they made before coming to power about passage of Lokayukta Act, appointment of Lokpal (at the Centre) and to tackle farmers’ issues,” he said.
Hazare had written a letter to Fadnavis Monday, saying he would launch the agitation in his village from Wednesday.
“It has been five years since the Lokpal Act was passed. Yet, the Narendra Modi government has not appointed Lokpal…Lokayukta Act has not been passed in Maharashtra for four years,” Hazare observed in his letter dated January 28.
The activist said Fadnavis had mediated when he had launched the agitation at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi in March last year. Hazare said he had withdrawn that agitation after the Centre assured in writing it would fulfil his demands.
“Nine months have passed, yet the demands have not been fulfilled,” he had said in the letter.
The Fadnavis Cabinet had on Tuesday decided to bring the office of chief minister under the purview of Lokayukta.
Hazare welcomed the government’s decision to set in motion the process to appoint Lokayukta, but said that does not mean he will not stage hunger strike. “The agitation will go on until the Act is in place,” he had said.
The Lokayukta is a statutory body that is empowered to probe complaints of abuse of position and corruption against public servants.
To be fair enough, it does not suit a great leader of a grand national party to use his visit to an ailing person to “feed political opportunism”. Yes, I am talking about Congress President Rahul Gandhi who recently visited ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who had been undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment, on the pretext of enquiring about his health but later he sued it for “petty political gains”. Of course, Rafale deal is a matter of concern for the entire nation but to cross all the limits even not to leave the ailing to drag him into the matter is not good for any leader. So, Rahul Gandhi should equip with a healthy political tradition if he really wants to appear as a “great leader” in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Mohd Faheem
The logic of postal-orders in denominations of Rs 10 and Rs 20
It was only after revelation through RTI application that Department of Posts discontinued postal-orders in outdated denominations like rupees 1, 2, 5 and 7 because of extremely low sale-figure and high handling cost. According to an RTI response, handling cost of a postal-order was Rs 37.45 to Department of Posts alone in the year 2011-12. Handling cost for clearing-operation of banks is even extra. It is highly illogical that public-exchequer may bear such extraordinary loss in handling postal-orders in denominations like Rs 10 and Rs 20. Rather it is time that higher denominations like of Rs 100, 200 and 500 may be added to avoid the purchase of demand-drafts in submitting various types of fees.
Government-fees below Rs 50 may either be increased or totally abolished or the Department of Posts may issue special stamps like there used to be for licenses of radio and TV sets for services requiring heavy use of postal-orders in lower denominations of Rs 10 and 20. The beginning can be done with introducing RTI stamps where presently heavy use of postal-orders in denominations Rs 10 is there. RTI stamps can be issued in denominations of Rs 2, 10 and 50. Presently copying-charges under RTI Act in amounts lower than Rs 10 is not feasible because of discontinuance of postal-orders in denominations of Rs 2. Even Central Information Commission CIC in its repeated verdicts has recommended issue of RTI stamps. CIC has also taken up the issue of RTI stamps with Department of Post administratively.
Madhu Agrawal
Poor Honesty Ranking of India
It refers to recent 2018 report of Transparency International placing India at poor 78th place out of total 180 countries for Corruption-Perception-Index with a score of 41, a slight improvement on last year score of 40 ranking 81st. No improvement is noted in terms of corruption even after the change in regime in India in the year 2014 when India is placed in routine around the 80th place even after tough steps like demonetisation. The goal of the Indian government should be to touch ranking of honest countries like Denmark and New Zealand with a score of 88 and 87 respectively with New Zealand once even getting 95 points in earlier some year.
Our political rulers and bureaucrats are fond of enjoying luxurious study tours on public expense in the national or public interest. Study team should be sent to the least corrupt nations to study ways to minimise corruption. A high-powered autonomous Commission should be formed to suggest ways to make India compete with most honest countries of the world, with an authority to implement at its own without needing any direction from the government. This is not impossible because corruption level went sharply down in emergency-era of 1975-76 because of fear psychology developed in minds the of corrupt ones at that time.
Indian government should follow ideals of the former President late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam who considered gifts and tips as a polished form of bribe. Rather than banning tips, Indian government encouraged by suggesting voluntary tipping rather than restaurants imposing unethical service charge in their bills. Festival gifts used as polished bribes should be altogether banned with only specified relations permitted to present gifts in family functions. Maximum profit-percentage should be fixed between ex-factory price and Maximum Retail Price to reduce bribe index. Strict-most steps to curb currency circulation should be taken including imposing monthly withdrawal from banks by individuals.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
With the passing away of George Fernandes an able administrator, a distinguished politician, India has lost a very truthful politician who devoted his life for the nation. He served India in many capacities, including as Defence Minister. He epitomised simple living and high thinking. He remained a visionary railway minister and a great defence minister who made India safe and strong. He was frank, fearless, forthright and farsighted who gave a valuable contribution to India. He was among the most effective voices for the rights of the poor and marginalised. He was one of the most influential of India’s political leaders whose entire life was dedicated to fighting tyranny, oppression, corruption and for the upliftment of deprived sections of our society. One of the iconic images of Emergency is of George Fernandes in shackles; his arms raised high in protest. One of the qualities in him was that he used to speak extemporaneously and with equal flair in English, Hindi, Marathi, and Kannada. His spartan lifestyle was reflected in his mouldy glasses, dishevelled hair, crumpled kurtas, and a pair of inexpensive slippers.
I am reminded one of his eye-catchy statement that he said, “There is nobody who can buy me. I have fought corruption all my life.” PM Modi has rightly treated “Generations of Indians will remain grateful to George Saheb for his historic role in preserving India’s democracy. A people’s person, he distinguished himself as a capable administrator.” He emerged as a hero in the post-Emergency era and became industry minister in the Morarji Desai government.
His role in the post-independence era is indisputable, for he fought for the common citizenry for nearly five decades. On August 15, 1975, Fernandes issued an appeal. He pointed out, “Everyone must by now have realised that you cannot have committee meetings and mutual consultations in the prevailing situation, the president and general secretaries of all the parties are in prison, so are most of the members of the national executives, state executives, even district committees of these parties. Those who have evaded arrest are not easily available.” Despite being a staunch critic of the RSS, he joined the BJP-led NDA government under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1998 and 1999, in which he was appointed the defense minister. Under his stewardship, India fought the Kargil war in 1999. It was also during his tenure that India conducted a nuclear test at Pokhran in 1998.
George was a natural face to fight Indira Gandhi’s Emergency. He was arrested for hatching the Baroda Dynamite Conspiracy, which he had organised to throw out Indira’s government. In VP Singh’s cabinet in 1989, he marked his legacy as railways minister by introducing the historic Konkan Railway, along with the then finance minister Madhu Dandavate.
Today we have lost a stalwart of India’s socialist movement but he will always be remembered as a man of rare caliber and a great leader. His battles for equality, democracy, and human rights and against all forms of injustice will always be remembered.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
India was going through “uncertain times” ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the Narendra Modi government after assuming power resolved to work towards a ‘New India’, giving hope to the people, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Thursday.
Addressing the joint session of Parliament at the beginning of the Budget Session, he said that the NDA government has been trying to pass the triple talaq bill to empower Muslim women so that they can live a life without fear.
The government has been working to fulfil hopes and aspirations of all sections of people, he said.
“The country was going through times of uncertainty before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and after the polls my government resolved to make a New India,” the President said.
Highlighting the governments achievements and various welfare schemes, Kovind said 21 crore poor people were covered under the PM’s life insurance scheme, while over 2 crore households got power connection as part of the PM’s Saubhagya scheme.
“Under Swachh Bharat initiative, the government has built nine crore toilets,” he said.
The President also described 2019 as a significant year for democracy as the country is observing the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Be it cities or villages, the government has worked towards strengthening the healthcare infrastructure, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged all lawmakers to utilise Parliament’s Budget Session for having constructive debates and said those who do not take interest in discussions in the House, resentment is generated against them in society.
Speaking outside Parliament before the start of the session, the prime minister said there is awareness among the people in the country and all citizens watch the proceedings closely.
“Small things reach the common man. Those who do not have interest in discussions, resentment is generated against them in the society,” he said.
“I hope legislators will keep these sentiments in mind and will utilise this session and participate in the debates that benefit Parliament, benefit government and people, and make use of the opportunity,” Modi said.
He said that his government’s mantra is ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ and the same spirit will be seen in Parliament.
“We are looking forward to discussing all issues,” the prime minister said.
Since 2014, media-spread propaganda and influential people funding media houses divided news media into parts; while some have a pro stance on Modi and his governance, others never fail to criticise him. Now, with the 2019 general election inching flower, the media and politics are set to become an even knotty cocktail as we see a few media veterans all set with both broadcast and multimedia news ventures. While in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls Arnab Goswami is coming up with a Hindi version of Republic TV, Congressman Kapil Sibal financed Harvest TV also known as HTN News.
Recently launched Harvest TV was later stopped from being aired and Sibal on Monday alleged that the central government was pressuring cable and direct-to-home networks to stop the airing. The new channel is owned by Veecon Media & Broadcasting that already has licences of English, Hindi and other regional language channels. The new venture will see the return of high profile journalists Barkha Dutt, Karan Thapar, and Punya Prasun Bajpai; Dutt, a consultant for the channel, will anchor a prime show and so will Thapar. Prominent TV anchors such as Seemi Pasha and Vineet Malhotra are also expected to be onboard. Reports are also around of former ABP News anchor Bajpai being a part of the Harvest Hindi.
“News media at international-level elections declares which political party they are supporting; however, the same doesn’t happen in India. I believe that news media should always be impartial — neither in favour nor against any party. We welcome the newly launched Harvest TV. Media persons should actively participate in politics.”
Senior journalist and news anchor Rajdeep Sardesai spoke to AV and stated, “News Media should always play a neutral role whatever may be the circumstances. If a news media supports one political party and campaigns for it, it is unhealthy for the ‘free press’ and democracy. If a politician becomes the owner of a news media, nothing more can be harmful than this.”
In 2018, the exit of two senior journalists named Punya Prasun Bajpai and Abhisar Sharma of ABP (Amrit Bazaar Patrika) news channel made enough drama into the industry; as alleged, they had to resign for speaking much against the BJP government schemes ‘showcasing how people’s life still survive on basic needs’. However, after their resignation, it was also reported that two other channels, one with Punya Prasun Bajpai and the other one with Abhisar Sharma were supposed to go on air on October 2 and October 15, 2018, with the help of heavy funding from Congress. Now, as per political experts, the recently launched Harvest TV is considered to be a platform to supplement the election campaign of Congress for 2019 Lok Sabha elections as well as to boost Rahul Gandhi’s image building process answering as to why he is the most promising prime ministerial candidate.
Senior journalist Samar Khadas expressed, “News media at international-level elections declares which political party they are supporting; however, the same doesn’t happen in India. I believe that news media should always be impartial — neither in favour nor against any party. We welcome the newly launched Harvest TV. Media persons should actively participate in politics.”
Journalism might be just a profession for some; however, it’s a source of information for many. The country’s population ideologically must depend on non-partisan media persons who presents the reality on its original form and not in lure of the benefit from a political party. A downfall of media ensures the downfall of a country and unfortunately, all the major political parties including Congress and BJP have tried to sway the media houses for their own favour. However, it is high time that the Indian media houses should realise this and work towards re-establishing an atmosphere of free and independent journalism.
An impartial, objective and neutral and fearless media is the basic requirement for the success of democracy and the parallel neutral news media is constantly working or struggling to keep the soul of free press alive. Senior journalist and Asst. Editor at Jay Maharashtra Manoj Bhoyar said, “After 2014, we can see an increasing number of incidents where extremist organisations and individuals following their ideology have been in action suppressing voices against the government through the murders of rationalists like Kalburgi, Gauri Lankesh etc. Through a systematic agenda, journalists who seem to be a threat to their agenda are thrown away or compelled to resign. If journalists who are adhered to democratic values collectively raise their voice, to what extent they will succeed in their attempts is a big question.”
“Journalists at every level are attempting to raise their voices but because of certain pressure from the authorities, their voices are being unheard. At the time of elections, paid news will be rampant across all media. The inclination to any particular party or person is not done openly but it secretly goes at the same time. However, maximum journalists like me try to be independent and don’t promote any particular ideology and try to be neutral but as the channels are controlled by industrialists, their political inclination is imposed on the channel and thus on the journalists,” Bhoyar added.
Democracy cannot be successful without Free Press. Free Press, the fourth pillar of the democracy, is essential as it is the voice of the people but the media shall not fall as the victim to some monetary or any other temptations and shall keep on serving with honesty to people. Talking about how news media houses must have a clear ideological stand, senior journalist Shilpa Deshpande said, “Press is not supposed to involve in staunch support or to criticise any side. News media is obliged to report stories without any bias approach. Media must not work as an advocate. In 2014, media houses supporting Modi reflected in the voter mandate but this time, the situation is different. The intention of Sibal behind financing the TV channel must be disclosed.”
“News Media should always play a neutral role whatever may be the circumstances. If a news media supports one political party and campaigns for it, it is unhealthy for the ‘free press’ and democracy. If a politician becomes the owner of a news media, nothing more can be harmful than this.”
Media is capable of changing the pattern of election campaigns as it gives a single common platform for a pluralistic content along with the linked pros and cons with almost every issue covered through interactivity and generated discourses.
Regretting how the real journalism is taking a backseat, founder of web news portal MaxMaharashtra, Ravindra Ambekar asserted, “The journalists are apparently being divided not only on political inclination but they are also acting at the micro level to enforce their own ideologies and simultaneously trying to criticise others. Personal or political agendas are being run and pre-prejudiced content has been disseminated among people. This should be seen as a big threat to national integrity thereby affecting our social fabric. The fourth pillar of democracy seems shaken and soon could diminish.”
“The neutral, independent, and ideal journalism is losing its voice and its incredibility seems to be in threat. The journalists belonging to some particular groups are highly intolerable. The divisive politics has even divided the media. The investigative journalism is dying,” Ambekar added.
Talking about how Media, politics, and elections are intertwined together and media platforms have become the essential ground for the discussion of political narratives and discourse, Freelance Journalist from Bangalore Asmita Kundu stated, “Mainstream media and social media have always been a strong influencer for the Indian politics as we could see its direct impact on the 2014 election result. Be it the strategy or the stalwart supporters, who brought success for BJP in 2014, but the question remains the same — will that do the same in 2019?”
She went on saying, “If we dig deeper into the matter, Modi government was dominating the social media and a few media houses so far, but recent incidents like Priyanka Gandhi’s entry to politics has certainly turned many heads. Even Mamata Banerjee’s very recent mega opposition rally in Kolkata has become the talk of the town (read media). Let’s wait and see that who shifts the gear at the ultimate moment and who rules the upcoming election.”
Keeping a similar tone, Freelance Journalist from Mumbai Aditya Rao stated, “I believe that the urban voters today are well aware of what they are voting for and what do they expect. However, rural votes which happen to be the deciding margin will play a pivotal role in 2019. It will be interesting to see if Rahul’s farm loan waivers will be able to take over the Modinomics and the BJP’s pitch to increase the MSPs. Everything aside, the spread of channels and other media organisations in support of BJP are much higher than what Congress is doing. From the media support point of view, the odds are still in favour of BJP.”
Since 2014, the Indian media evidently got divided into parts. There are battalions of journalists and mainstream media houses that are hell-bent on proving how Modi is the only appropriate Prime Minister of India and how there is no other choice if not he. On the other hand, there is an opposite brigade of Media which has strained all the guns to expose and attack Modi and his government. Apart from these two categories, there are some rare journalists, who are not the supporters of any political party but they make Modi and his ministers accountable for all those things they promised, they expose the government for all the wrong they did, and they equally stand by the ruling government when anything worth appreciating happens. They are the media people who follow no ideology, the party or political person or propaganda; their simple agendas are media, news, and ethical journalism. These rare species in the media are not liked by many or hated by much. They are always in silence and not much regarded for their neutrality because they speak against everyone and they stand by all when it’s worth. So, this media has no buyer or taker. The other two could grab a lot of fan following and attention due to their attacks on each other’s side.
“The journalist can’t resist from making ‘breaking news’ out of any shit. If there is no news, they create propaganda against Modi/for Modi. Modi once said that even if a puppy is hurt, I feel bad, let alone be human beings! Media showed that Modi compared Muslims with puppies. So, this is how news is baked these days.”
Well, there has been a lot of propaganda spread around by the Media and a peculiar influential people’s group. Some media houses have a pro stance on Modi and his work while others never fail to criticise him. Also, the 2002 riots in Gujarat and the Hindutva Tag attached to BJP has made people feel that BJP and Modi are anti-minority, especially Muslims. The opposition takes advantage of this to create that fear among the minority. Also, the appeasement by the previous governments towards the minority has largely affected the perception of the minorities towards BJP. But if you look at recent elections, BJP was on toes to please minorities and Congress President Rahul Gandhi was visiting all temples by telling his “Gotra” and displaying his sacred thread. When BJP realised, Hindu sentiments may get hurt, they announced 10 per cent reservation to the economically poor upper-class community. While political parties were playing their vote games, Media was playing for TRP. They were going with their preset agendas, of fame or defame their counterparts. I strongly believe that the Indian media is divided into Pro-Modi and Anti-Modi groups. The pro-Modi groups leave no chance to abuse the people who criticise Modi based on his work and that is indeed a sad state. The anti-Modi groups, on the other hand, leave no chance to criticise Modi even though he has done some really good deeds as a Prime Minister of India.
Some Indian media groups served the news in a way that it was less news and more of their opinion towards BJP and Modi. For example, if in some state, someone killed its opponent in personal land dispute, just because the one who got killed was Muslim and the one who murdered was Hindu, the media and social media bigots gave it a shape as minority hate supported by BJP government, just because Modi did not comment on the subject. On the other hand, if we have to give example, if a Hindu man gets accused in illicit activities and the victim is also Hindu (for example, their self-declared Godman), immediately social media groups and Right-wing media publish it as an attack on Hindutva and Hindu saints. There are many such examples, but the point is that news should be a report based on facts but not the fantasy that comes to your mind. The journalist can’t resist from making ‘breaking news’ out of any shit. If there is no news, they create propaganda against Modi/for Modi. Modi once said that even if a puppy is hurt, I feel bad, let alone be human beings! Media showed that Modi compared Muslims with puppies. So, this is how news is baked these days. But if we look at a broader aspect of it, Modi government or its supporters have not tolerated anti-Modi media brigade, rather not even those who make constructive criticism, because BJP and its supporters cannot handle criticism. To counter such audiences, voices and viewers, there were new additions to the ever-growing Indian media. The launch of the much-talked Republic TV channel anchored by Arnab Goswami in May 2017 is assigned to shut opinions. Over screaming Arnab plays his role as BJP and PM’s mouthpiece. To compete him, other prime time television anchors of Indian mainstream media are following the same footsteps. Meanwhile, on the other side, these additions to the existing avalanche of channels, newspapers and online portals in the country will witness the return of several so-called high profiles and established journalists like Barkha Dutt, Karan Thapar, Punya Prasun Bajpai, Abhisar Sharma and many others who are familiar to the television viewers. What has heightened the interest in the media and political circles about these new additions to the mushrooming Indian media is that politicians are backing many of these ventures for their own motives. These both side channels have become mouthpieces keeping the journalism at bay.
“The appeasement by the previous governments towards the minority has largely affected the perception of the minorities towards BJP.”
Considering that the general elections are around the corner in just a few months, it is not surprising that these new entrants are being launched at this juncture to make the most of the charged atmosphere and the political drama that is expected to unfold. Scandalous journalist Barkha Dutt is making a grand comeback to the electronic media as its prime anchor along with Karan Thapar, another known name in Indian journalism through Harvest TV a 24-hour English news channel. High-profile Congress politician Kapil Sibal is funding the channel. Barkha Dutt who served NDTV for over two decades, quit the channel under controversial circumstances in January 2017. Other prominent television journalists such as Seemi Pasha and Vineet Malhotra, former India Today and former Times Now respectively, are also said to be the part of the new channel and will vie for viewer’s attention. A Hindi channel will soon follow after the launch of the English Channel. The channel is owned by Veecon Media, which has secured licenses for English, Hindi and regional language channels. The channel has promised to ‘provide space for an alternative narrative without being jingoistic’. The print media is not left behind either. Media conglomerate Network 18, the promoters of CNN News 18 and the promoters of the web portal Firstpost, had launched its first weekly newspaper with the same name on the Republic Day with Praveen Swamy as the Editor. The weekly belongs to the group of Firstpost.com.
Well, 2019 elections are all about media, but remember you, the voters, may not be in power but hold controls and ask questions to the government and they are obligated to answer us. Media may play its game, it’s a democratic country. As a citizen of this diverse nation, we have the right to choose but being a voter, you remain smart and get the right person and party to supremacy.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
The Maharashtra government’s decision to bring the office of Chief Minister under the ambit of Lokayukta was nothing but a “PR exercise” aimed at building the image of incumbent Devendra Fadnavis, opposition NCP said on Wednesday.
The decision was taken by the Cabinet on Tuesday at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Fadnavis.
However, the anti-corruption ombudsman can’t initiate an inquiry against a sitting CM.
Addressing a press conference, NCP spokesman Nawab Malik accused Fadnavis of “fooling” the people of the state by making such an announcement.
As per the Cabinet decision, a Chief Minister will face inquiry only after he demits office and after the governor gives permission for the probe, he said.
“When Fadnavis was opposition leader, he was in the forefront of demanding strengthening of the Lokayukta Act on lines of the Lokpal Act enacted at the Centre in 2013 which gives powers of policing, filing of chargesheet, seizure of property and arrest to the Lokpal. Even after four-and-a-half years, Fadnavis, as Chief Minister, has not acted on his earlier demand,” Malik said.
The decision is nothing for but a “PR (public relations) exercise” aimed at boosting Fadnavis’s image, the NCP spokesman said.
“We demand that amendment to the Lokayukta Act be with retrospective effect from October 31, 2014 (the day when the Fadnavis government took charge) so that we can file complaint about alleged irregularities in the Mumbai Development Plan and metro rail projects,” Malik said.
When contacted, an official in the Chief Minister’s Office said post amendment in the Lokayukta Act, a CM will face inquiry only after he demits office and not while on the post.
“The official statement about the Cabinet decision on Tuesday did not mention this,” he added.
“At present, the Lokayukta can only file an inquiry report. The report will go to the Chief Minister who can even reject the report,” Malik said.
The Lokayukta is a statutory body that has powers to probe complaints of abuse of position and corruption against public servants.
Divorce proceedings in a marriage solemnised as as per the Hindu rites and registered in India cannot be initiated in foreign courts, the Bombay High Court has ruled.
Justice R D Dhanuka on Tuesday allowed a petition filed by a woman seeking a stay on the divorce proceedings initiated by her estranged husband, an Indian who is a domicile of the UK, before a family court at Manchester in the UK.
The couple got married in December 2012 in Mumbai as per the Hindu rites and registered the marriage in January 2013 before the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation.
Soon after their marriage, the man returned to the UK and the woman joined him there in July 2013.
She claimed in her petition that since then she was harassed by him and was also asked to leave his home and go back to India.
The woman returned to India in November 2013 and since then till June 2014, the woman and her family members tried to reconcile issues between the couple.
In June 2014, the woman received a legal notice informing her that her husband has initiated divorce proceedings against her in a family court in the UK.
The woman then approached the high court challenging the proceedings initiated in the UK on the ground that since they got married as per the Hindu rites, their case should be heard and decided as per the Hindu Marriage Act in a court in India.
The man’s lawyer opposed the plea and said since the man was a domicile of the UK, the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act do not apply to him.
The high court in its order noted that both the parties were Hindus and their marriage was registered at the Mira Bhayandar civic body.
“Admittedly in this case, the marriage was solemnised in Mumbai and thus merely because the defendant (man) is having a domicile of the UK whether by birth or by choice or otherwise would be of no significance and would not divest the jurisdiction of the court provided under Section 19 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 for the purpose of filing the proceedings under the provisions of the said Act,” Justice Dhanuka said.
The court noted that the man has sought relief before the UK court under the provisions of the English Personal Law, which does not apply to either the man or the woman as they got married under the Hindu Marriage Act.
The court further noted that the man has not paid any maintenance to the woman and has thus created such a situation that the woman is unable to defend the divorce proceedings initiated in the UK.
Justice Dhanuka observed that the man, in his petition before the UK court, sought divorce on the ground that the marriage has broken down irretrievably and also on the ground that the woman has alleged to have behaved in such a way that he cannot reasonably be expected to live with her.
“Under the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, no decree of divorce can be granted on the ground that marriage has been broken down irretrievably,” Justice Dhanuka said.
Two police constables were injured when their motorcycle was hit by another two-wheeler at the Marine Drive in south Mumbai, police said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night at B D Somani Chowk when the constables were patrolling the area, a police official said.
Additional Commissioner of Police Pravin Padwal, who was taking a walk, witnessed the incident and alerted police, following which both were rushed to hospital, he said.
A 19-year-old collegian who was riding another motorcycle has been arrested, the official added.
A bandh was also observed by locals in Hazare’s native Ralegan Siddhi village in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district in support of his demands. Social activist Anna Hazare’s hunger strike entered the second day on Thursday as he remained defiant on his demand for appointment of anti-corruption watchdogs at the Centre and in Maharashtra and resolution of farmers’ issues.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged all lawmakers to utilise Parliament’s Budget Session for having constructive debates and said those who do not take interest in discussions in the House, resentment is generated against them in society.
Since 2014, media-spread propaganda and influential people funding media houses divided news media into parts; while some have a pro stance on Modi and his governance, others never fail to criticise him. Now, with the 2019 general election inching flower, the media and politics are set to become an even knotty cocktail as we see a few media veterans all set with both broadcast and multimedia news ventures. While in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls Arnab Goswami is coming up with a Hindi version of Republic TV, Congressman Kapil Sibal financed Harvest TV also known as HTN News.
The Maharashtra government’s decision to bring the office of Chief Minister under the ambit of Lokayukta was nothing but a “PR exercise” aimed at building the image of incumbent Devendra Fadnavis, opposition NCP said on Wednesday.
Two police constables were injured when their motorcycle was hit by another two-wheeler at the Marine Drive in south Mumbai, police said on Wednesday.