SC allows NGO to challenge MP, Himachal anti-conversion laws
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), a non-government organisation (NGO), to challenge laws against religious conversion passed by Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh by amending its original plea questioning similar laws passed by Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
In addition, the court also allowed the Muslim organization Jamait Ulama-i-hind, to intervene in the proceedings. The organization alleged the laws led to the harassment of a large number of Muslim men and hence there was a need to oppose the legislation.
On January 6 this year, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the Centre and the states of Uttarakhand and UP on two petitions challenging the validity of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020 and the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018. One of the petitions was filed by CJP, run by social activist Teesta Setalvad.
The NGO moved an application to amend its petition by including two other similar anticonversion laws passed by Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Senior advocate CU Singh who appeared for CJP, argued that the application seeks to challenge the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020 and the Himachal Pradesh
Freedom of Religion Act, 2019 which raised similar questions of law relating to violation of fundamental rights.
The application, filed through advocate Aparna Bhatt, stated that both the HP Act and MP Ordinance imposed obligations of “prior intimation, registration, scrutiny, and police enquiries as a precondition to marriage” which are unconscionable and obnoxious and unsustainable under Constitutional scheme.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde allowed the application and posted the matter after two weeks. The CJP plea pointed out that the HP law contained provisions which were part of its 2006 law that was struck down by the Himachal Pradesh high court.
CHENNAI: A day after the Congress government in Puducherry slipped below the majority mark, the Opposition led by former chief minister N Rangasamy submitted a petition seeking a floor test to the lieutenant governor (L-G)’S office on Wednesday, just months ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the Union Territory.
Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who has been given the additional charge of Puducherry, arrived in the UT in the evening. “She will officially take charge on Thursday and we will hand over the petition for the floor test to her,” said an official from the the L-G’S office, requesting anonymity.
Amidst the unfolding of the political drama, Kiran Bedi was replaced as the Puducherry L-G on Tuesday.
“I will handle Telangana and Puducherry. I’m a gynaecologist. So I can handle twins,” Soundararajan told reporters after reaching Puducherry. When asked about her appointment amidst the political instability, she said, “I can’t answer on speculations...i’m a people’s governor...for the people of Puducherry, I have come here. My activities will benefit people.”
By Wednesday evening, three the BJP leaders from the UT were on a flight to Delhi after being called for a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda, according to BJP’S Puducherry president V Saminathan. The delegation comprised Saminthan; Nirmal Kumar Surana, who is the party in-charge for the UT; and A Namassivayam, who quit as a minister in the Congress government and joined the BJP in January.
In Puducherry, both the ruling and opposition sides claim the support of 14 legislators each. The assembly has 30 elected and three nominated members. With Congress legislator A John Kumar’s resignation on Tuesday, the Congress’s tally in the House dropped to 10, including speaker V P Sivakolunthu. Three more Congress MLAS have resigned since January. It also has the support of three MLAS from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and an independent MLA.
The Opposition comprises the All India NR Congress, a splinter group of Rangasamy that holds seven seats, and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which has four members. Three members of the BJP have been nominated as MLAS. Unlike some other states, the nominated members can vote in the Puducherry assembly.
Political analysts said the speaker can vote if there is a tie in case of a floor test and added that he cannot vote during a confidence motion. “A few more Congress MLAS will resign in the coming days…we are not sure if they want to join BJP or remain independent, but by February 20, the BJP’S majority will be proved,” said a local BJP leader.
Experts said Bedi was removed so as to ensure that her actions did not hurt the BJP in the upcoming assembly polls.“bedi’s actions may go against the BJP in the elections…so they wanted to neutralise the damage by bringing in Soundararajan, who is known to be more amicable,” political commentator Maalan Narayanan said.