In a surprising turn of events, Ashok Tanwar, a prominent political figure in Haryana, has left the BJP and returned to the Congress. Tanwar made his decision public at a rally in Mahendergarh district, where he was welcomed back by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda. This move, just two days before the state elections, has left many political analysts puzzled and could have a significant impact on the results. The Congress has highlighted the importance of Tanwar's return, especially in their fight for the rights of Dalits in the state, while also criticizing BJP's efforts to undermine the Constitution.
The Supreme Court granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged cash-for-jobs scam. The court highlighted that bail is the rule and jail is the exception, and that the delay in trial and the higher threshold under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for granting bail cannot go together. The judgement also noted the extraordinary powers of the Constitutional Courts in cases where there is an unreasonable delay in trial. In this case, the court has imposed strict conditions considering Balaji's influential position and the possibility of tampering with evidence.
Just a month after his appointment as the head coach of Cricket Kenya's men's team, former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh has been sacked. The CK executive board explained their decision to not ratify the appointment, citing their constitution. Ganesh, who was announced as the head coach in August, has been directed to cease any engagements with the team with immediate effect.
In a public event in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi sparked controversy by stating that secularism is not an Indian concept but a European one. He also criticized former prime minister Indira Gandhi for introducing the concept into the Constitution in 1976. His statements have met with sharp criticism from senior Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Manickam Tagore, who called out the governor's misconceptions and urged him to practice restraint in his statements as a constitutional functionary.
Former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan criticized Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis for orchestrating a fake encounter in the Badlapur sexual abuse case to protect individuals associated with the school where the incident took place. Chavan alleged that the accused, who was being escorted by a police team, could not have opened fire on them and accused the police and Fadnavis of violating constitutional laws. He demanded Fadnavis's resignation, stating that he is not fit to continue as the home minister.
The ongoing conflict between Kuki militants and security agencies in Manipur has taken a dangerous turn as the Kukis have sought foreign help in their demand for a separate state. According to sources, the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council has approached the UN, UK and Israel with their demands, citing their right to self governance under the Indian Constitution and various international agreements. The Kukis claim to be lost Jew tribes who were brought to India for tourism but later held captive by the country.
ASG and Justice Kant engaged in a heated discussion in court about the arrest of Pankaj Bansal, with ASG arguing that it was justified under Sections 41 and 41A, and Justice Kant questioning whether the arrest was traceable under any provisions of the Act. The debate also touched upon whether Section 41 was retrospective or prospective and the applicability of fundamental rights in this case. Both sides presented their arguments, citing past court orders and the Constitution Bench's ruling on warrants and arrests.
Celebrated Indian constitutional expert and prolific author AG Noorani passed away at the age of 94 at his Mumbai residence. He was known for his magisterial writings on legal subjects that captured the essence of contemporary Indian society. Noorani's writings will be remembered as a valuable documentation of Indian times and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
Various Adivasi-Dalit organisations in Kerala have called for a state-wide hartal on August 21 to protest against the recent Supreme Court verdict on sub-categorisation of reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The protestors allege that the verdict aims to divide the SC/ST list on a caste basis and introduce a 'creamy layer'. Despite the BJP government's assurance, the central government has yet to acknowledge that the creamy layer division is the basis for categorising the list, as stated by the protestors. The Union Cabinet has also asserted that there is no provision for a creamy layer in the reservation for SCs and STs in the Constitution given by B R Ambedkar.
The Telangana State Waqf Board has become the first board in the country to oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, which it deemed as unconstitutional. The board, led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, unanimously rejected the Bill and condemned its divisive agenda. The meeting also resolved to meet with the Joint Parliamentary Committee to present their opposition and concerns about the proposed amendments. They also expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for his support. The board believes that the Bill is an infringement on several constitutional rights and aims to destroy the autonomy of Waqf institutions.