SC closes petition on adult dyslexia testing, records ongoing research​

Prayagraj, Jan 7 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the impeachment motion moved against its judge, Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, in the Rajya Sabha over his alleged controversial remarks at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad event on December 8.

Justice Yadav had reportedly said that the “country would function as per the wishes of the ‘bahusankhyak’ (majority) living in Hindustan” and used “unpardonable and unconscionable slurs” against a particular community.

Thereafter, members of several opposition parties moved a notice in the Rajya Sabha for the impeachment of Justice Yadav, a sitting judge of the Allahabad HC.

Questioning the locus of the PIL litigant, a bench of Justices Attau Rahman Masoodi and Subhash Vidyarthi held that the plea was not maintainable as it did not raise a cause relating to a vulnerable section of the society.

The plea challenged the impeachment motion moved by Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal and 54 other members praying the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to admit the motion and forward it to the President in accordance with the Judges (Enquiry) Act, 1968. It also sought an inquiry committee to investigate the charges of hate speech, communal disharmony and violation of judicial ethics and further to initiate appropriate proceedings against Justice Yadav.

“Whatever Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav has said in this meeting of VHP (legal cell) was in the capacity of a Hindu who has gone to participate in a meeting of an organisation to which he belongs. Whatever he said in this meeting was in the capacity of the follower of the Santan Hindu Dharma, not as a judge sitting on the chair in the courtroom,” the PIL argued.

It called upon the Allahabad HC to decide as to whether a person has no right to speech and expression because he has become a judge of a High Court or the Supreme Court.

“The right to speech and expression which is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution, is available to the judges also and so some speech made by the judge outside the courtroom can not be the ground to remove him from office,” the petition said.

Two days after Justice Yadav delivered the controversial speech, the Supreme Court said that it had taken note of his remarks and called for details from the Allahabad High Court.

“I have no hesitation in stating that this is Hindustan, and this country will function according to the wishes of the majority living here. This is the law. It is not about speaking as a High Court Judge; rather, the law operates in accordance with the bahusankyak (majority). Consider this in the context of a family or society – only what ensures the welfare and happiness of the majority will be accepted,” Justice Yadav had reportedly said while addressing the provincial convention of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s law Cell (Kashi Province).

“Lekin yeh jo kathmullah hai jo…yeh sahi shabd nahi hai…lekin kehne mein parhez nahi hai kyunki woh desh ke liye bura hai…desh ke liye ghatak hai, khilaaf hai, janata ko bhadhkane wale log hai…desh aage na badhe is prakar ke log hai…unse saavdhaan rehne ki zaroorat hai (But these kathmullah… this may not be the right word… but I won’t hesitate to say it because they are harmful to the country…they are detrimental, against the nation, and people who incite the public. They are the kind of people who do not want the country to progress, and we need to be cautious of them,” he had said.

–IANS

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Kolkata, March 5 (IANS) Around 15 children fell sick at an Anganwadi centre in West Bengal on Thursday after a dead lizard was allegedly found in the cooked food served there.

The incident took place at the Nagendrapur Uttarpara ICDS centre in Raidighi in South 24 Parganas district. All the 15 children who reportedly fell sick after consuming the contaminated food were admitted to Raidighi Rural Hospital.

According to local sources, lunch was being served to the children at the ICDS centre when the incident came to light. Allegedly, a dead lizard was first noticed on a child’s plate. However, by that time several children had already eaten the food.

Within a short time, a number of children began complaining of stomach pain and discomfort. Soon afterwards, some of them also started vomiting.

As news of the incident spread in the locality, parents rushed to the ICDS centre and panic gripped the area. Meanwhile, the number of children being brought to Raidighi Rural Hospital for treatment began to increase gradually.

Raidighi Trinamool Congress MLA Aloke Jaldata reached the hospital soon after receiving information about the incident. Jaldata, who is a doctor by profession, enquired about the health condition of the children and also supervised the treatment being provided to them.

Following instructions from the MLA, a special team of medical officers was sent to the area to assess the situation.

“The situation in the area is being monitored. We are also keeping watch to see if anyone else falls sick. Two ambulances are being kept ready in case of any emergency,” the MLA said.

He also asked officials of the district administration to immediately look into the matter and take necessary action.

The block administration has been directed to conduct a detailed investigation into how the dead lizard entered the cooked food served at the centre.

Meanwhile, angry parents of the affected children staged protests over the incident and demanded the removal of the cook responsible for preparing the meal.

They alleged that the lives of the children had been put at risk due to negligence in food preparation at the centre.

According to hospital sources, the children who fell ill have been kept under observation for the time being. However, their condition is reported to be stable.

–IANS

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