March 2024 – Page 654 – Safir News Agency

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Policing Not Tailored To Serve Specific Religious Community: Delhi Court

admin Mar 1, 2024 0

Policing Not Tailored To Serve Specific Religious Community: Court On Plea By Pardanashin Woman

“Pardanashin”, the court said, was used in the past in the context of women who were not empowered.

New Delhi:

Policing is not tailored to serve the interests of any specific religious or cultural community and there can’t be any room for anonymity in investigations, the Delhi High Court said on Friday as it refused to pass any directions to law enforcement agencies to show “greater sensitivity” towards the needs of “pardanashin” (veiled) women.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed an investigating agency has to follow the principles of impartiality, fairness, and reasonability, and directing them to act in a particular way that may be against the interest of society would be unjust and may leave scope for misuse.

“The law enforcement agencies and their investigations cannot be driven by religious practices but have to be community and safety driven,” the court said.

The court’s order came on a petition by a ‘purdahnashin’ Muslim woman who sought directions for sensitising the Delhi Police about the sacrosanct religious, social customs and practices observed by women who observe ‘purdah’ either as a religious belief or as a matter of personal choice.

The court said the fundamental rights, including those enshrined under Article 25 of the Constitution in relation to freedom of religion, are surrendered in favour of the safety of the country and community, irrespective of the gender of the accused.

“It is crucial to recognize that policing is not tailored to serve the interests of any specific religious or any cultural community alone. Rather, this Court holds that it has to be essentially guided by the principles of impartiality, fairness, and reasonability,” said the court.

“Issuance of an additional direction to first inquire from a woman as to whether she is a pardanashin woman or she wears any form of veil according to her religious belief or customary practices, and then to grant additional time and notice to wear pardah or veil, in addition to following the safeguards already provided in law, on the ground of exhibiting awareness and sensitivity of the police will be inviting an accused to misuse the directions and utilise the time so gained, at times also on falsehood, to abscond or destroy evidence,” the court observed.

The court said the concept of pardanashin women in the modern era was “less relevant”, especially in big cities, and it would rather use the phrase “women who observe a particular dress code in accordance with their beliefs and faith”.

“Pardanashin”, the court said, was used in the past in the context of women who were not empowered nor were considered well conversant with worldly affairs.

It observed that among the Hindus, there was no mandatory provision to wear a veil or “ghoonghat” and the same was the scenario for Sikh women. However, everyone made their individual choices.

The court also noted that police officers are bound by the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure as well as judicial precedents that already provide for measures for upholding the dignity of women while either arresting or searching them or carrying out any investigation.

“In police investigations, there cannot be any room for anonymity, as identification is essential for ensuring justice and maintaining security. Allowing anonymity under the guise of religious practice or personal choice could open the door to abuse and hinder the investigation process,” it said.

“While this Court maintains that sensitivity towards cultural diversity and equipping police personnel with knowledge, skill and attitudes to deal with females will be of utmost importance, at the same time, directing the police to act in interest of a particular gender in a particular way, which may be opposed to the interest of society at large, will be unjust,” it stated.

Represented by lawyer M Sufian Siddiqui, the petitioner Muslim woman had sought an impartial probe and action against personnel who had allegedly forcibly taken her to a police station without her veil and subjected her to “degrading treatment”.

She had claimed that on the intervening night of November 5-6 last year, at around 3 a.m., certain police officials had barged into her house, held an illegal search, paraded her without her veil to the police station and then detained her for 13 hours in flagrant violation of law.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

"Not To Worry": DK Shivakumar After Bengaluru Cafe Blast

admin Mar 1, 2024 0

'Not To Worry': DK Shivakumar After Bengaluru Cafe Blast

“It was a low-intensity blast,” said DK Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said that the Rameshwaram cafe blast is being investigated from all angles, adding that 7-8 teams have been formed to probe the incident.

DK Shivakumar also stated that a youth came and kept a small bag, which exploded after an hour.

He has also aked the people of Bengaluru not to worry.

“It was a low-intensity blast. A youth came and kept a small bag, which exploded after an hour. About 10 people received injuries. 7-8 teams formed to probe the incident. We are looking from all angles. I ask every Bangalorean not to worry,” he said.

#WATCH | On Bengaluru cafe blast, Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar says, “It was a low-intensity blast. A youth came and kept a small bag which exploded after an hour. About 10 people received injuries. 7-8 teams formed to probe the incident. We are looking at all angles. I ask… pic.twitter.com/UFlaVxfAV5

— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2024

As many as 10 people have been injured in Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe blast.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tejasvi Surya on Friday said that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah must give free hand to agencies to investigate the Rameshwaram cafe blast incident, adding that the State government is repeatedly changing its narrative on the matter.

Tejasvi Surya, who represents Bengaluru South constituency in Lok Sabha, questioned the Chief Minister’s Siddaramaiah’s government intentions over the incident.

“At first, they tried the narrative of cylinder blast. Now, they are trying the narrative of business rivalry. Why can’t the Congress Govt allow the investigation agencies to do their job? Why preempt? Why prompt? Vote Bank compulsions? CM Siddaramaiah must give free hand to investigate and give clear answers to people of Bengaluru,” Tejasvi Surya posted on X.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and State Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, along with DGP Alok Mohan, also visited the Bengaluru explosion site for inspection.

A team from the National Investigation Agency also visited the explosion site in the Whitefield area.

Earlier today, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the accused involved in Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram cafe will be traced and punished, adding that opposition parties should refrain from indulging in politics over the incident.

Addressing reporters in Mysuru, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “CCTV footage from the cafe is being examined. It has come to be known that someone had left a bag at the cafe. The accused in the incident will be punished.”

Asserting that “multiple explosions have also taken place in previous governments,” the Chief Minister said, “This incident has happened in our government. Disciplinary and strict action will be taken against those involved. Politics should not be done in this matter.”

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party leader PC Mohan expressed concerns over the explosion that took place in Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe and urged the administration to investigate the incident.

In a post on X, the BJP Lok Sabha MP from Bengaluru Central, PC Mohan, said, “Concerned to hear about the mysterious blast at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru Central Parliamentary Constituency. My thoughts are with the affected individuals and their families. Urging authorities to investigate and ensure the safety of all citizens. Stay safe, Bengaluru.”

A security guard working at the Rameshwaram Cafe who was present at the time of the incident said, “I was standing outside the cafe. Many customers had come to the hotel. Suddenly there was a loud sound and a fire broke out, causing injuries to the customers inside the hotel.”

The Rameshwaram Cafe is one of the popular hangouts and is usually extremely crowded during lunch hours. Further details are awaited.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)