India Archive

The Madras High Court delivered a stern rebuke to the Tamil Nadu police on Saturday for their handling of the sexual assault case at Anna University, stating that the FIR lodged in the case not only blames the victim but also contains significant errors in its language. In a special hearing before a vacation bench comprising Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice V Lakshminarayan, the court observed serious irregularities in the police investigation and took decisive action.

On the night of December 25, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) witnessed chaos as a confrontation erupted between some students and the university’s Proctorial Board. Reports suggest that the incident involved members of the Bhagat Singh Chhatra Morcha, who were allegedly attempting to burn a copy of the Manusmriti, a revered ancient scripture.

On 23rd December, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, appointed retired Justice V Ramasubramanian as the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The announcement also included the appointments of Priyank Kanoongo and retired Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi as Members of the Commission. Justice Ramasubramanian is set to take charge of a position that has been vacant since June this year, following the completion of retired Justice Arun Kumar Mishra's tenure.

On the evening of December 23, a disturbing incident of sexual assault unfolded on the campus of Anna University, Tamil Nadu. A young woman, who had been in a romantic relationship with a fellow student for two years, met her boyfriend at a secluded spot within the university grounds. The quiet evening turned into a nightmare when two unidentified individuals confronted the couple, assaulted the boyfriend, and sexually harassed the woman.

The Assam Police continues its relentless drive against the social evil of child marriage, with the third phase of operations resulting in the arrest of 431 individuals on December 20 and 21. These arrests were part of a broader crackdown that has, since February 2023, led to a staggering 5,348 arrests. In the most recent phase, 345 cases were filed across various districts, with the arrested individuals set to face trial in court.

The efforts to revive and reclaim ancient Hindu temples in Kanpur have taken a decisive turn as Hindu organizations intensify their search for temples that have either disappeared or been repurposed into buildings, shops, or other structures. Amid these developments, Kanpur’s BJP Mayor, Pramila Pandey, has emerged as a prominent figure leading the charge.

On December 20th, the historic Ganga Maharani Temple in Bareilly’s Qila Police Station area was finally freed from a staggering 40-year-long illegal occupation by Wajid Ali and his family. For decades, this 250-year-old temple, revered by the local Hindu community, was wrongfully taken over under dubious claims. According to media reports, Wajid Ali and his family “voluntarily” vacated the premises following an investigation conducted by the district administration, which invalidated their claims of “legal occupation.” Wajid had argued that he was employed as a watchman by a cooperative society to oversee two rented rooms within the premises. However, the inquiry revealed these claims to be baseless and entirely fabricated.

On 19th December, a distressing incident took place in the Indian Parliament, often revered as the temple of democracy. BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi, a 69-year-old leader from Balasore, Odisha, suffered a fall on the stairs of Parliament. This was not an ordinary accident but allegedly caused by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, raising concerns about the decorum within the sacred precincts of democracy. Sarangi is currently receiving medical treatment for the injuries sustained during this unfortunate episode.

The chaotic scenes in Parliament recently, where a frail BJP MP, Pratap Sarangi, one of the poorest and humblest members of the house, suffered serious injuries, have exposed an unsettling side of Rahul Gandhi’s political strategy. Another MP was also injured in the scuffle. The episode hints at more than just impulsive aggression—it lays bare Gandhi’s larger ambitions. “To do even better than his granny in terms of destroying institutions of democracy and engaging in political violence.” The question is, will the government and judiciary act decisively, ensuring that the elite and connected are not shielded from accountability?

The Supreme Court’s interim order issued on December 12, concerning the Places of Worship Act, 1991, has sparked significant legal and constitutional debates. This directive restrains all courts across the country from entertaining fresh suits or issuing orders to survey mosques to ascertain if temple structures lie beneath them. While the decision, delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justices P.V. Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan, is ostensibly aimed at preserving peace and public order, its far-reaching implications have raised concerns about prioritizing societal harmony over fundamental rights.