Home Blog Page 488

The braveheart who stood up against Mughal barbarian Babar while having 80 wounds on the body: Know about Rana Sanga who was called a ‘traitor’ by Samajwadi Party MP

सुधीर गहलोत
-
0
The braveheart who stood up against Mughal barbarian Babar while having 80 wounds on the body: Know about Rana Sanga who was called a ‘traitor’ by Samajwadi Party MP

Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh Ramji Lal Suman has sparked a controversy by calling Maharana Sangram Singh, popularly known as Rana Sanga, a traitor. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Saturday (March 22), the Samajwadi MP said that Rana Sanga had called Babar to India to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. He called Hindus the children of the ‘traitor’ Rana Sanga. Now the question is what actually happened.

Haters often claim that Rana Sanga called Babar to India to defeat the then Delhi Sultan Ibrahim Lodi. However, in reality, Rana Sanga had already defeated Ibrahim Lodi repeatedly. Apart from this, he had defeated the armies of the Sultans of Gujarat and Malwa several times and even defeated the combined army of both. So why would he need help from any outsider, that nobody answers.

Maharana Sanga, who became the ruler of Mewar in 1508, fought more than 100 battles in his life, but he was not defeated in any except in the battle of Khanwa. He was given the title of ‘Hindupat’ because of his valor. Due to these battles, he lost an eye and a hand. Even one of his legs did not work. There were more than 80 serious wound marks on the body. Yet, nothing stopped Rana Sanga.

Under the rule of Maharana Sangram Singh, the boundaries of Mewar spread far and wide. The boundaries of Mewar reached Agra (presently in Uttar Pradesh) in the east and the border of Gujarat in the south. According to Colonel James Todd, a scholar of Rajputana history, Maharana Sangram Singh had 80,000 horses, 500 elephants and about 2 lakh infantry soldiers.

Colonel James Todd said that Maharana Sangram Singh had seven high ranking kings, 9 Raos and 104 Rawals. The kings of Gwalior, Ajmer, Sikri, Raisen, Kalpi, Chanderi, Bundi, Gagraun, Rampura and Abu considered him their overlord.

Not just Ibrahim Lodi, Rana Sanga also defeated Sultans of Malwa-Gujarat

Rana Sanga fought 18 fierce battles with the Sultans of Delhi, Malwa and Gujarat and defeated them all. During his reign, he conquered and annexed modern Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, northern parts of Gujarat and some other parts including Amrakot in Pakistan. He re-established Rajput rule in Malwa for the first time after the fall of the Parmar Empire in 1305 AD.

The Battle of Khatoli was fought in 1517 between the Lodi dynasty led by Delhi Sultan Ibrahim Lodi and the Mewar Empire led by Rana Sanga. In this battle, Rana Sanga badly defeated Ibrahim Lodi. He again tried to take revenge from Rana Sanga by attacking in 1518-19, but Rana Sanga again defeated him badly in Dholpur, Rajasthan. Ibrahim Lodi fled from there.

Ibrahim Lodi fought with Sanga several times, but every time he had to face defeat. Due to these wars, Ibrahim lost all his land in modern Rajasthan. At the same time, Rana Sanga extended his influence to Peeliya Khar in Agra. According to the 16th century manuscript ‘Parshvanath-Shravan-Sattavisi’, Rana Sanga defeated Ibrahim Lodi in Ranthambore just after the siege of Mandsaur.

In 1517 and again in 1519, he defeated Mahmud Khilji II, the ruler of Malwa. The battle took place at Idar and Gagron. He captured Mahmud and held him captive for 2 months. Later, Mahmud apologized and vowed not to attack again, so Rana Sanga released him following the Sanatan war rules. However, in return, he annexed a large part of Mahmud’s kingdom to his kingdom.

In 1520, Rana Sanga defeated the army of Nizam Khan of Idar state and pushed it towards Ahmedabad. Rana Sanga stopped his attack 20 miles away from the capital of Ahmedabad. After several battles, Rana Sanga successfully captured North Gujarat and made one of his vassals the ruler there. Rana Sanga defeated the combined army of the Sultans of Malwa and Gujarat at Hateli.

Similarly, Rana Sanga defeated Sultan Nasiruddin Khilji of Malwa badly and annexed Gagron, Bhilsa, Raisen, Sarangpur, Chanderi and Ranthambore to his kingdom. Maharana Sanga abolished the Jaziya tax imposed by Muslims on non-Muslims from all the kingdoms he conquered and got the mosques and tombs built by them demolished.

Rana Sanga defeated Babar in the battle of Bayana

After winning Punjab and Sindh, Babar planned to capture Delhi. He attacked the Sultan of Delhi Ibrahim Lodi. On 21 April 1526 AD, a fierce battle took place between Babar and Ibrahim Lodi in Panipat, Haryana. Babar won this battle and killed Ibrahim Lodi.

However, Rana Sanga in Chittor and Afghans in the east were creating problems for Babar. Rana Sanga started preparing to stop Babar’s growing power. He started preparing to attack Agra, which was under Babar’s rule. When Babar came to know about this, he called his son Humayun. Further, outside Agra were strong forts of Dholpur, Gwalior and Bayana.

Babar first planned to get these forts under his control. At the time, the fort of Bayana was under the control of Nizam Khan. Babar tried to reach a compromise with him. Later, Nizam Khan joined Babar’s side. On 21 February 1527, the armies of Babar and Rana Sanga came to the battlefield in Bayana. In this war, Babar’s army suffered a crushing defeat. He returned to Agra after the humiliating defeat.

In this war with Babar, Maharana Sanga was supported by Maldev, son of Rao Ganga, the ruler of Marwar, Medini Rai of Chanderi, Raimal Rathore of Merta, Akheraj Duda of Sirohi, Rawal Uday Singh of Dungarpur, Rawat Ratnasingh of Salumbhar, Jhala Ajja of Sadari, Jhala Sajja of Gogunda, Chandrabhan Singh from Chandawar region of Uttar Pradesh, Manikchand Chauhan and Mehndi Khwaja etc.

Scottish historian William Erskine has written that Babar already knew about the valor of Rana Sanga, but he faced him for the first time in the battle of Bayana. He has written, “In Bayana, the Mughals realized that they were facing a much more formidable army than the Afghans. The Rajputs were always ready to fight in the battlefield and did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives.” Regarding this war, Babar himself wrote in his autobiography ‘Babarnama’, “The infidels fought such a fierce battle that the morale of the Mughal army was broken. They were terrified.” According to historian VK Krishnarao, Rana Sanga considered Babar a tyrant and a foreign invader. He wanted to end the foreign invaders by conquering Delhi and Agra.

Battle of Khanwa

Babar was getting discouraged following the terrible defeat of Bayana. His soldiers started talking about leaving India. However, Babar wanted to try one more time. He invoked Islam to keep unity in his army. He tried to get the Afghans, who supported the Rajputs, to join him by calling them infidels and traitors. He filled his soldiers with enthusiasm in the name of Islam.

Babar told his soldiers, “Sardars and soldiers, every human being who comes to this world has to die. When we are gone, only one God will remain. It is better to die with honor than to live here with disgrace. God has been very kind to us. If we die in this war, we will be called ‘Shaheed’ and if we win, we will be called ‘Ghazi’. Therefore, we have to take an oath with the Quran in our hands that as long as we are alive, no one will turn his back in the war.”

On the other hand, Rana Sanga also wanted to give a final blow to Babar. He started preparing for the war. Finally, on 16 March 1527, the armies of Babar and Rana Sanga came face to face in Khanwa, 60 km west of Agra. It is said that Rana Sanga’s army had 1 lakh soldiers, while Babar had 80 thousand. All historians agree that Rana Sanga’s army was much more powerful than Babar’s.

This was the first time India was seeing gunpowder, cannons, and guns which were used by Babar’s Army. Historians believe that if Babar did not have cannons, it would have been difficult to defeat Rana Sanga. Like his ancestor Bappa Rawal, Rana Sanga was also fighting the foreign invaders by forming an alliance of Hindu rulers.

Historian Pradeep Barua writes that if Babar had not taken the help of cannons and had not repeated the Panipat strategy, then perhaps the saffron flag of Mewar would have been flying in Delhi. After this war, the alliance of Hindus formed by Rana Sanga disintegrated forever and the Mughals ruled India for the next 250 years.

Did Rana Sanga invite Babar to India

Historians believe that Punjab Governor Daulat Khan wanted to replace Delhi Sultan Ibrahim Lodi. He knew that Fargana ruler Babar was coming to India after conquering Afghanistan. At the same time, Ibrahim Lodi’s uncle Alam Khan also wanted to capture the Sultanate. Alam Khan and Daulat Khan invited Babar to come to India.

Actually, in 1523, Babar was invited to India by the prominent people of the Delhi Sultanate. This included Sultan Sikandar Lodi’s brother Alam Khan Lodi, Punjab Governor Daulat Khan Lodi and Ibrahim Lodi’s uncle Alauddin Lodi. These people had sought his help to challenge Ibrahim Lodi’s rule.

Alam Khan also visited Babar’s court. There, Alam Khan Lodi told Babar about the political instability in India. After this, Babar sent his envoy to Punjab. His envoy’s report found Alam Khan’s words to be correct. After this, Babar started dreaming of conquering Hindustan. He attacked India in 1503, then in 1504, then in 1518 and 1519. However, he was not successful.

After this, Babar attacked Ibrahim Lodi in 1526. Rana Sanga had already weakened him by defeating him in many wars. Due to this, in this battle of Panipat, Babar defeated Ibrahim Lodi badly and captured the throne of Hindustan. Earlier, he was trying to seize the throne, but he was afraid of Rana Sangram Singh, Rana Sanga.

Historians deny that Rana Sanga had invited Babar to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. Actually, Rana Sanga was the most powerful ruler of that time. He had formed an alliance by combining all the rulers of Rajputana (old name of Rajasthan). It was impossible to defeat him. He defeated everyone from the Sultan of Delhi to the Muslim rulers of powerful Gujarat and Malwa.

Rana Sanga defeated Ibrahim Lodi repeatedly. Once he even defeated Babar in the battle of Bayana. Therefore, it is completely wrong to say that Rana Sanga had invited Babar to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. After the defeat in the Battle of Bayana, Babar himself wrote in his autobiography Babarnama, “There is no greater ruler than Rana Sanga in Hindustan and Krishnadev Rai in the Deccan.”

Dr. Mohanlal Gupta, who wrote a book named ‘Influence of Mewar in National Politics’, also does not agree with this. He has written that Babar wanted to capture Delhi and he was aware of the enmity between Ibrahim Lodi and Rana Sanga. In view of this, Babar sent a messenger to Rana Sanga and said that Babar wanted to fight with Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi.

The messenger told Rana Sanga that this is why Babar has sent a letter of treaty with him. In his book, Mohanlal Gupta further writes that Babar further wrote that he would attack Delhi. However, most historians do not agree with this. They believe that the most powerful king of that time did not need the cooperation of any outsider.

Many historians like GN Sharma and Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha believe that Babar had already planned to invade India. He had tried to invade India four times before winning the first battle of Panipat, but did not win. He was aware of Rana Sanga’s prowess. He wanted Rana Sanga not to interfere.

Supreme Court forms 3-member committee to probe ‘cash at judge’s house’ case, Delhi HC asked not to assign any judicial work to Justice Yashwant Varma

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Supreme Court forms 3-member committee to probe ‘cash at judge’s house’ case, Delhi HC asked not to assign any judicial work to Justice Yashwant Varma

The Supreme Court of India on Saturday announced that the Chief Justice of India has formed a three-member committee to probe the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, a judge of the Delhi High Court. The CJI also asked the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court to not assign any case to Justice Varma.

The committee will probe the incident of the discovery of huge amounts of cash at Justice Varma’s house by firefighters after the house caught fire.

A press release issued by the Supreme Court stated that Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana, Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, and Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka, will be members of the three-member committee.

“The Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi for the time being has been asked not to assign any judicial work to Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma,” the Supreme Court stated in the press release.

The apex court further stated that the Report submitted by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi, the response of Justice Yashwant Varma, and other documents, are being uploaded on the Supreme Court website.

The Delhi High Court had ordered an in-house inquiry into the allegations against Justice Varma, report of which was submitted with the CJI yesterday. However, the Supreme Court yesterday denied any link between Collegium’s proposal to transfer the judge to Allahabad High Court, saying that it was routine transfer proposal which has not been finalized yet. Media reports had claimed that collegium decided to transfer the judge due to the allegations against him.

The apex court in a press release had said that the transfer proposal is independent and separate from the In-house enquiry procedure.

On the other hand, media reports had yesterday claimed that Delhi Fire Chief Atul Garg denied finding cash at the house of Justice Yashwant Varma after a fire was doused on Holi eve. Today Garga denied making any such statement, confirming that he never said that firefighters didn’t find cash at the house.

100 new NABL-accredited Food Testing Labs to be established with financial support of govt: Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu

ANI
-
0
100 new NABL-accredited Food Testing Labs to be established with financial support of govt: Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu

In a bid to enhance food safety and quality, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Saturday announced that the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) will financially support the establishment of 100 new NABL-accredited food testing laboratories across India in the financial year 2025-26.

Ravneet Bittu, who inaugurated a world-class food testing laboratory at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, highlighted the critical role of food testing in ensuring food safety.

“Food testing is vital for ensuring that food products meet safety standards and are free from harmful contaminants and pathogens,” he said.

According to an official release, the initiative is part of the government’s broader plan under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), which has allocated Rs 503.47 crore for 205 laboratory projects. Out of these, 169 projects have already been completed, with Rs 349.21 crore disbursed.

These labs play a crucial role in meeting the requirements of major regulatory bodies such as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Export Inspection Council of India (EIC), the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), and international agencies like the USFDA and EU regulations.

Farmers and producers in sectors such as citrus fruits, green peas, cauliflower, carrots (both fresh and frozen), milk and milk products, basmati rice, wheat, millets like bajra and sorghum, mustard and sunflower oilseeds, and farm-produced shrimp will benefit from these state-of-the-art facilities. These laboratories help ensure compliance with global standards, support exports, and improve the overall quality of food products, ultimately contributing to higher income for farmers and job creation, particularly for skilled technical personnel.

The laboratory inaugurated at Bathinda will employ cutting-edge technologies like GC-MS/MS, ICP-OES, HPLC, and UV spectrophotometers for testing pesticide residues, heavy metals, microbiological contaminants, and more. With a total project allocation of Rs 253.12 lakh and Rs 191.259 lakh already released, the facility will serve food processors, farmers, and food businesses to ensure the safety and quality of food products.

Elaborating on the achievements of the food processing sector in Punjab, Ravneet Singh shared that the Ministry has approved 24 cold chain projects totalling Rs 553 crore, three agro-processing cluster projects worth Rs 70 crore, 16 food processing units with an investment of Rs 432 crore, and 10 food testing laboratories totalling Rs 48 crore.

Under the PMKSY scheme, 61 projects amounting to Rs 1557 crore have been approved in Punjab, with a grant of Rs 419 crore.

Additionally, six factories in Punjab have committed investments under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, totalling Rs 126.31 crore. Over 2,500 micro-entrepreneurs in Punjab have received subsidies under the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, and 1,296 members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have received seed capital approval amounting to Rs 3.99 crore. In Bathinda and Mansa, honey and milk-based products are identified as the key products under the “One District, One Product” initiative.

In Bathinda, 483 loans amounting to Rs 142.3 crore were disbursed, while in Mansa, 253 loans amounting to Rs 72.15 crore were granted. Additionally, Self-Help Groups in Bathinda and Mansa received seed capital funding of Rs 75 lakh and Rs 18 lakh, respectively, under the PMFME scheme.

Ravneet Singh also visited an exhibition organized by PMFME beneficiaries, showcasing their products.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Is Bengaluru becoming the new hub for smuggling? Days after Mangaluru bust, woman caught with MDMA hidden in private parts

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Is Bengaluru becoming the new hub for smuggling? Days after Mangaluru bust, woman caught with MDMA hidden in private parts

On 21st March, a 34-year-old woman, identified as Anila Ravindran from Anchalimmoodu, was arrested by Bengaluru police on charges of drug trafficking. The woman was concealing narcotics inside her private parts, which were recovered during a medical examination.

According to media reports, she was intercepted by a joint operation of the Shaktikulangara Police and Kollam City Police’s special anti-narcotics task force. Officials said in a statement that she was travelling from Bengaluru in a car when she was flagged down near the Neendakara bridge. Despite signals from the police to stop, she tried to escape, prompting a chase.

Her car was intercepted by the police and around 90 grams of MDMA were recovered during the search. Fifty grams were found hidden in the vehicle and another 40 grams were recovered from her private parts during the medical examination.

Reports suggest that the accused had been trafficking MDMA to supply it to school and college students in the Kollam city area. Police said that she is a repeat offender with a history of being involved in drug-related activities. Police have seized the car and an in-depth investigation into the matter is underway to identify her supplier and network.

Is Karnataka becoming a hub of drug trafficking?

In recent years, cases of drug traffickers getting caught in Karnataka have increased exponentially. On 16th March, it was reported that Mangaluru police busted the biggest-ever drug cartel in the state, in which two South African nationals were arrested. Thirty-seven kilograms of MDMA worth ₹75 crore were recovered. The breakthrough came from information gathered by the police from an arrest made six months ago. In September last year, police had arrested a drug trafficker named Haider Ali in Pumpwell and recovered 15 grams of MDMA.

The investigation led to a Nigerian national named Peter, who was caught with MDMA worth ₹6 crore. Further investigation revealed links to an international drug syndicate that was using the air route between Delhi and Bengaluru to smuggle narcotics. The two South African nationals arrested by the police were identified as Bamba Fant and Abigail Adonis.

In May 2023, authorities intercepted a vehicle smuggling 23.25 kilograms of ganja from Visakhapatnam to Mangaluru and Kerala via Bengaluru.

In February 2023, 119 kilograms of ganja worth ₹35 lakh were seized from a fish transport vehicle. Four people were arrested. The drugs were sourced from Andhra Pradesh.

In January 2022, the NCB nabbed a Ugandan woman with drugs worth ₹1.5 crore. They were concealed in baby food cartons to avoid detection.

Man joins virtual hearing of Gujarat HC from toilet, another man logs in while lying on bed, angry court imposes fine and community service

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Man joins virtual hearing of Gujarat HC from toilet, another man logs in while lying on bed, angry court imposes fine and community service

Recently, the Gujarat High Court came down heavily on people who failed to uphold the court’s dignity during virtual hearings. In two separate cases, the Gujarat High Court took strict action against two men who joined the virtual proceedings of the court indecently. One of them joined the online proceeding from a lavatory while the other joined lying on a bed.

Man joined virtual court proceeding from a lavatory, fined ₹2 lakh

A bench of Justice MK Thakkar condemned a man’s behaviour who joined the court’s virtual hearing held last month on 17th January from a toilet. The High Court imposed a penalty of ₹2 lakh on 42-year-old Dhavalbhai Kanubhai Ambalal Patel for lowering the court’s dignity. The court also imposed community service on Patel directing him to water and clean the gardens in the High Court premises for two weeks, serving 8 hours daily.

Patel reportedly joined the virtual hearing in a case in which his father was a respondent. At first he behaved indecently during the online hearing, causing the court to disconnect him. He then rejoined the hearing after some time, this time from a toilet. The incident remained unnoticed until its video went viral on social media leading to an inquiry. The court directed Sola Police Station to identify the person and submit a report.

An investigation by the police revealed that someone had joined the virtual hearing on 17th February under the name ‘Kanubhai’ but he was removed from the session due to indecent behaviour. He attempted to join again but he appeared in a lavatory and was immediately removed from the session. Later, he joined using another case number.

Subsequently, an order was passed by the High Court on 27th February directing Patel and his father to appear before the court on 5th March. On the day of the hearing, Advocate Amresh Patel appearing for the father said that the client’s son joined the High Court’s website through Zoom by mistake. The Advocate added that the mistake was unintentional and that his client had already apologised for the mistake. However, the court was not convinced by the explanation. The court noted that it is hard to accept that a 42-year-old man holding a B.Sc. degree and working with the Reliance Group was not familiar with the Zoom application.

“In such a scenario, the indecent act is not only unacceptable but it is shameful and is required to be strictly condemned. If Courts do not deal with such a person with strong hands then, that may result (in) lowering the dignity of the institution in the eyes of the public,” the court noted in its order passed on 5th March.

“This Court deems it fit to impose exemplary costs of ₹2,00,000 to Dhaval Kanubhai Patel, who is present before this Court and same shall be deposited with the Registry within a period of two weeks from today. On depositing the costs, the Registry is directed to remit ₹50,000 in the account of the Shishugruh Paldi, Ahmedabad and remaining amount in the account of the Gujarat High Court Legal Aid Services Authorities,” the court said.

The court also directed Patel to clean and water the gardens on the high court campus at Sola for two weeks. His daily eight hours of community service ended on Thursday.

Man joined a virtual court hearing while lying in bed, gets fined and

On 13th February, another man named Vamdev Gandhi joined a virtual court proceeding in the court of Justice MK Thakhar while lying in his bed. When the court noticed the indecency shown by the litigant, it imposed a fine of ₹25,000 on him. “Online hearing facilities were provided for access to justice and larger public interest, but at the same time, the person joining the online link has to maintain utmost discipline and decorum for upholding the dignity and majesty of the court,” the court said.

“The petitioner was lying on his bed and watching the court proceedings as if he was enjoying a movie. Such conduct compromises the dignity and the decorum of the court, and therefore it cannot be tolerated. If such an act is not dealt with strong hands, that may result in lowering the dignity of the court in the eyes of the public,” the court noted in its order imposing a penalty on the litigant.

Why are Judges in India not required to declare assets: Here is the history of how the Supreme Court has been ruling against it for years

Anurag
-
0
Why are Judges in India not required to declare assets: Here is the history of how the Supreme Court has been ruling against it for years

On 21st March, reports emerged that Delhi Fire Services found a pile of cash at Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma’s official residence during a firefighting operation. Reports further suggested that Justice Varma was not at his residence at the time, and an internal inquiry was initiated by the Supreme Court of India. Justice Varma also faced transfer to Allahabad High Court.

However, within 24 hours, the Supreme Court issued a clarification that the collegium’s decision to transfer Justice Varma was not linked to the alleged incident. However, an internal inquiry was confirmed.

Notably, Delhi Fire Services (DFS) ‘denied’ finding any cash during the firefighting operation. Later, DFS chief Atul Garg stated that he had never told any media outlet that firefighters did not find cash at the scene.

When asked why his name was being quoted in the reports, Garg replied, “I don’t know why,” adding that he had already sent a clarification to the media outlets carrying the statement.

The current issue has reignited the discussion over declaring assets by judges, which is currently only optional as per the Supreme Court’s resolution from 1997.

Judges in the Indian judiciary system are required to declare their assets. But there is a catch. It is done internally to the Chief Justice of India, and these asset details are available to the public only on a voluntary basis. That means, if a judge does not want the people of India to know about his or her assets, it is at their discretion.

The practice of internal declaration was established by a 1997 Supreme Court resolution. Public disclosure is not mandatory, which has been reflected by the court’s emphasis on privacy under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. The stance has also been upheld in several key rulings, including in 2019, that allow disclosure only if a larger public interest is demonstrated.

Historical context, current status and controversy

In 1997, the Supreme Court of India adopted a resolution requiring asset declarations by judges to be confidential. Over the years, the stance has been legally challenged under the RTI Act, with the Supreme Court consistently ruling against mandatory public disclosure. The court has cited personal information exemptions unless public interest is clear in the disclosure request.

As of March 2025, the practice has continued. In 2023, a parliamentary committee recommended mandatory declarations by judges, but it did not lead to a fruitful result. In November 2024, government informed Rajya Sabha that there is no plan to make asset declaration mandatory for judges of the Supereme Court and High Courts.

The issue has remained controversial, as in 1991, the Supreme Court itself admitted that judges are public servants, however, later rulings, including 2008 contention of Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan and the 3rd January 2025 ruling by Lokpal suggested otherwise. For all other public servants like MPs, MLAs, etc., declaring assets is essential. So much so, a candidate cannot contest an election in India without declaring assets, and if the declaration is found to be dubious, the candidature can be challenged in a court of law.

Detailed history of Supreme Court rulings on judges’ asset declarations

On 7th May 1997, the Full Court of the Supreme Court of India passed a resolution that required all judges to declare their assets to the Chief Justice of India (CJI). This resolution stipulated that judges must declare their assets, including those held by their spouses and dependent family members. The declaration has to be made upon assuming office and whenever a substantial acquisition is made thereafter.

Notably, the CJI maintained in 1997 and in a 2009 judgment that the records are for internal purposes. The resolution was passed as a response to growing concerns about judicial integrity and the need for accountability. However, the resolution did not extend to public disclosure and set a precedent for internal transparency without granting public access.

The resolution was later adopted by the Delhi High Court on 26th July 1997, and it was reiterated on 8th July 2009, enforcing its application across the judiciary. The internal mechanism was said to be aimed at ensuring accountability of the judges. However, the opaque nature left the door open for future debates on public transparency that are still ongoing.

The RTI Act and judicial challenges

When the Right to Information Act was enacted in 2005, it intensified scrutiny on judicial transparency. The Act granted citizens the right to access information held by public authorities, including the judiciary. However, the Act has several exemptions for personal information that does not relate to public activity or interest, unless disclosure serves a larger public interest, as explained by Section 8(1)(j) of the Act. The provision of exemptions became the focal point of legal battles over asset declarations by judges.

In 2009, activist Subhash Chandra Agarwal filed an RTI application in which he sought information on whether Supreme Court judges had declared their assets as per the 1997 resolution. When the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the Supreme Court denied the request citing exemptions, Agarwal decided to appeal to the Central Information Commission (CIC).

The CIC directed the Supreme Court to provide the information. CIC’s decision escalated the matter to the courts and highlighted the battle between transparency and privacy that was going on behind the curtains.

Key judicial rulings – Upholding non-disclosure

Interestingly, since then, the fight to make judges declare their assets publicly has been ongoing via different pleas, and every time the apex court has ruled against mandatory public disclosure of the assets. One of the pivotal cases was Subhash Chandra Agarwal’s in the Delhi High Court against the apex court. The court, on 2nd September 2009, said in its judgment that while information on whether declarations were made could be disclosed, the contents of the declarations were protected, reinforcing the confidentiality established in 1997.

Agarwal challenged the decision of the Delhi High Court in the apex court. The Supreme Court of India, in 2010, in Secretary General, Supreme Court of India v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal, upheld the decision of the Delhi High Court and reiterated that asset declarations by judges are confidential and do not fall under the purview of public disclosure unless there is a clear public interest.

The fight continued for several years and, on 13th November 2019, in Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal, a five-judge Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, delivered a landmark decision. The majority opinion, authored by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, upheld the CIC’s order and the Delhi High Court’s judgment, requiring the Supreme Court CPIO to furnish information on whether judges had declared their assets.

However, the court clarified that the details of the assets themselves were not to be disclosed, as they constituted personal information protected under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, unless disclosure served a larger public interest. The loophole hunting continued while declaring assets by the judges.

The court emphasised that the CJI does not generally hold asset declarations in a fiduciary capacity. However, each case has to be evaluated individually to determine if disclosure is necessary. The judgment offered no general finding on universal disclosure of asset details and left the decision to be made on a case-by-case basis, which experts believe provides a balance between public interest and privacy.

However, the question remains stagnant – if other public servants are required to declare their assets, why not judges?

Implementation and voluntary disclosure

Following the ruling, the practice of declaring assets remains internal and confidential. Public disclosure is voluntary, and it is up to the judges to decide if they want to let the people know what they or their family members own. The Supreme Court’s official website lists judges who have submitted their declarations, noting that placing them on the website is on a voluntary basis. Interestingly, the page contains only names and no details of the assets.

Similarly, the Delhi High Court has published declarations in the public domain, but only 8 out of 39 judges have publicly declared their assets. Out of these, Justice Yashwant Varma’s file leads to a dummy PDF and not the actual declaration, considering it might be a clarical mistake.

Ongoing debates and recommendations

In 2023, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice, in its report on judicial accountability, recommended that judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts should mandatorily declare their assets, similar to politicians and bureaucrats. The committee argued that such declarations would enhance trust and credibility in the judiciary, stating, “Declaration of assets by the judges of the higher judiciary will only bring more trust and credibility into the system.” However, as of March 2025, no legislative changes have been made to mandate public disclosure.

Conclusion

It is high time that the Supreme Court stepped up and held itself to the same standards it expects from others. Judicial independence does not mean public accountability can be ignored. The argument of privacy cannot be selectively invoked. It must be noted that transparency is the bedrock of democracy. If politicians and bureaucrats must declare assets, judges too must lead by example instead of shielding themselves behind outdated resolutions.

Disclaimer: The report was updated to include the statement of Delhi Fire Chief Atul Garg clarifying that he never made remarks about finding ‘no cash’ at the residence of Justice Verma.

Delhi Fire Chief Atul Garg denies saying that no cash was found at Justice Yashwant Varma’s house during firefighting operation

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Delhi Fire Chief Atul Garg denies saying that no cash was found at Justice Yashwant Varma’s house during firefighting operation

There is no end to twists and turns in the case of cash found by firefighters at the residence of Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma. After Delhi Fire Chief Atul Garg reportedly said that no cash was found at the judge’s house, now he has denied making that statement. He also said he does not know why fake news was being circulated in his name.

In response to an inquiry from IANS, Garg stated that he never told any media outlet that firefighters had reported no cash found at the scene. When asked why his name was being quoted in the reports, Garg replied, “I don’t know why,” adding that he had already sent a clarification to the media outlets carrying the statement.

The clarification comes after several media outlets including a media agency quoted Garg as saying that not a single penny was found after dousing the fire at the house of Justice Varma. A PTI report quoted Garg as saying, “Soon after dousing the flames, we informed the police about the fire incident. Thereafter, a team of fire department personnel left the spot. Our firefighters did not find any cash during their firefighting operation.”

But now Garg has said that he has not made this statement. He said, “The statement being run by PTI is not my statement.”

Notably, the Supreme Court yesterday issued a press release denying reports that Collegium recommended the judge’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court due to the alleged incident. The top court said that the collegium has proposed to transfer him as a routine manner, it has not been finalised yet, and the transfer has no links with the alleged discovery of cash at his house. However, the court confirmed an in-house probe over the allegations.

It stated that the inquiry was commenced before the Collegium meeting on 20th March 2025, and the Delhi HC’s Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya will be submitting his report to the CJI Sanjiv Khanna.

“Mallikarjun Kharge sent a person to Rajya Sabha twice because he brought him good quality meat regularly,” says BJP leader Saurabh Vallabh

OpIndia Staff
-
0
“Mallikarjun Kharge sent a person to Rajya Sabha twice because he brought him good quality meat regularly,” says BJP leader Saurabh Vallabh

BJP leader Professor Gourav Vallabh who was earlier in the Congress party has made some startling revelations against senior politician and National President of the Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, during an interview with journalist Aadesh Rawal.

Speaking on how flattering senior politicians helped certain people get tickets in the Congress party, Vallabh alleged that Kharge helped a Congress leader reach Rajya Sabha twice only because the person used to bring him good-quality meat. Vallabh said that Kharge is fond of eating meat. And this person, which he did not name, knew a place in Delhi that sells very good meat. The person allegedly used to bring meat for Kharge regularly.

“I know a person who is very close to Kharge Sahab…This person has only one talent – he knows which place in Delhi sells good-quality meat. This person, who has been bringing meat (for Kharge) regularly, has managed to reach Rajya Sabha for the second time. This person is neither intelligent nor has any knowledge or education. His only quality is that he knows where to find good-quality meat in Delhi,” Vallabh alleged. “My only complaint is that knowing a place which sells good-quality meat cannot be the criterion to send a person to Rajya Sabha,” he added.

When Rawal asked Vallabh whether he was referring to Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain, who is also in charge of the Congress party in Jammu and Kashmir, the latter refused to confirm. However, Vallabh said that every worker of the Congress party knows about this Congress leader who managed to reach the Rajya Sabha on a Congress ticket.

Vallabh clarified that he respected Mallikarjun Kharge for his struggle and that he even supported him during the election of the National President of the Congress Party which strained his relations with senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. “Tharoor Saab stopped talking to me after that (elections). He still does not talk to me,” Vallabh said.

During the interview, Vallabh lashed out at the Congress party for promoting ‘PA Culture’, sycophancy and nepotism. He said that he was strictly against all of these. Vallabh resigned from the Congress party last year and joined the BJP in April 2024.

India’s GDP reaches $4.3 trillion in 2025 from $2.1 trillion in 2015, registering a 105% growth

ANI
-
0
India’s GDP reaches $4.3 trillion in 2025 from $2.1 trillion in 2015, registering a 105% growth

India has reached a remarkable economic milestone, doubling its GDP from USD 2.1 trillion in 2015 to an impressive USD 4.3 trillion in 2025, marking an extraordinary 105 per cent growth that stands unmatched by any other major global economy, said BJP leader Amit Malviya.

In a post on micro blogging site X (Formerly Twitter), the BJP leader hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that the achievement reflects the decisive leadership of PM Modi and the relentless efforts of his government.

In the post he added, “India has achieved a remarkable economic milestone, doubling its GDP from USD 2.1 trillion in 2015 to USD 4.3 trillion in 2025–a staggering 105 per cent growth unmatched by any other major global economy. This extraordinary achievement is a testament to the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the relentless efforts of his government.”

“Through proactive economic policies, bold structural reforms, and a sustained focus on ease of doing business, the Modi government has propelled India to the position of the world’s fastest-growing major economy–an accolade no previous government had secured since independence,” the BJP leader added.

Going further Malviya added, “Today, these transformative initiatives are not only driving India’s economic expansion but also positioning it ahead of traditional global powerhouses, signaling a significant shift in the global economic landscape.”

As per the IMF data shared by Malviya in his post, Indian economy witnessed a staggering 105 per cent growth from 2015 to 2025 at USD 4.3 trillion, showing its unmatched stregth.

Meanwhile, the GDP of US gew much less than the India in these 10 years, witnessing an addition of 66 per cent in the economy. The

China which is seen as the major economic superpower in the Asia added 76 per cent at USD 11.1 trillion in one decade.

The GDP of Germany witnessed an addition of 44 per cent at USD 4.9 trillion. The Japanese economy saw no change in its economy between 2015 to 2025, as per the data shared by Malviya.

Among the other major gainers are Russia which saw a change of 57 per cent at USD 2.2 trillion in 2025, while the Australian Economy added 58 per cent at USD 1.9 trillion.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Language politics, fight with pro-Marathi groups and a tussle over Belagavi: Here is why Karnataka is observing a ‘bandh’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Language politics, fight with pro-Marathi groups and a tussle over Belagavi: Here is why Karnataka is observing a ‘bandh’

On Saturday (22nd March), pro-Kannada organisations protesting an assault on a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) conductor in Belagavi called for a 12-hour bandh across Karnataka.

The conductor, identified as Mahadev, was reportedly assaulted by pro-Marathi youth near Sulebhavi-Balekundri for insisting a passenger speak in Kannada.

The incident has once again sparked decades-old linguistic tensions between Kannada and Marathi communities in the border region.

The incident took place on 21st February this year. In recent weeks, the tensions brewed and escalated slowly as pro-Kannada groups accused the state government of turning a blind eye to the humiliation faced by a Kannada-speaking government employee.

Notably, Belagavi has long been a focal point for the border dispute and language politics in the northern belt of Karnataka.

The call for bandh and key demands

The bandh has been called by Kannada Okkuta, a coalition of over 3,000 pro-Kannada organisations led by activist Vatal Nagaraj. The protesting organisations have called for strict action against the person who allegedly assaulted the KSRTC conductor.

Furthermore, the protesters have demanded a ban on the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), which is allegedly harassing Kannadigas and spreading anti-Kannada propaganda.

The organisations have also opposed the so-called imposition of Hindi in Karnataka, called for the implementation of the Kalasa Banduri and Mahadayi river projects, and demanded fairer GST distribution and budgetary support from the Centre for Karnataka.

Bandh disrupts life, but essential services continue

The bandh will remain in effect from 6 am to 6 pm. KSRTC and BMTC unions have backed the protests. Ola, Uber, and several auto unions have decided to stay off the roads.

Cinemas will also remain closed during the bandh. Banks will be closed, but not because of the bandh, as it is a Saturday. Essential services like metro trains, hospitals, milk supply, and petrol stations will function normally.

Schools will remain open for exams, but regular classes will not take place in some schools.

Siddaramaiah government distances itself

The Congress-led government has distanced itself from the bandh. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has called the bandh “ill-timed” as exams are happening in the state. He also noted that the bandh clashes with World Water Day and the launch of a state-wide water conservation campaign.

Language politics and the Belagavi faultline

Belagavi’s identity tug-of-war has been ongoing since 1956, following the linguistic reorganisation of states. At that time, Maharashtra laid claim to Belagavi and over 850 surrounding villages, as a sizeable population spoke Marathi. Karnataka, however, rejected the claim and asserted that it should be given administrative control and cultural rights over the region.

MES, which is based in Belagavi, has been demanding that the region be merged with Maharashtra. However, Kannada activists call it a direct threat to the sovereignty and cultural pride of Karnataka.

How Karnataka’s own language politics deepened the crisis

While the Belagavi dispute is often seen as a Maharashtra-vs-Karnataka issue, this time it should not be seen in isolation. The roots of the tension lie within Karnataka’s handling of linguistic diversity. For decades, the state government has done little to nothing to create a bridge between Marathi and Kannada-speaking communities in the region.

While the state has largely promoted Kannada as the dominant identity, efforts have often lacked in reaching out to linguistic minorities in the state. The government has mandated Kannada signboards, and government organisations have run anti-Hindi rhetoric, while strict regulations have prioritised Kannada in administration. All these aspects have alienated non-Kannada speakers, especially in border districts.

Interestingly, political parties have remained selective in using language identity to score brownie points. Pro-Kannada groups get pats on the back during elections but are often ignored thereafter. There is no attempt to have sustained dialogue among different linguistic communities in the state, which has created a vacuum now being filled with demands for bans and confrontations.

With 22 official languages, there is no common language in which all Indians can communicate. Promoting local languages at the state level is understandable, but creating a fissure for the sake of it among communities is only dividing the people of the country.

1...487488489...7,657Page 488 of 7,657