Friday, April 18, 2025 | 28 Pages | `5 & for State (+4 pages) `6 Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL Vol. 68 No. 167 | Leader in E-paper circulation l www.freepressjournal.in ● EDITIONS: ● MUMBAI ● INDORE ● PUNE ● BHOPAL ● NASHIK ● KONKAN ● E-paper ● Member: Audit Bureau of Circulation (July to December 2024) NATION Robert Vadra was questioned by ED for 3rd consecutive day over Haryana land deal HC NOTICE TO CM ON POLL WIN PEITION S Balakrishnan MUMBAI The issue of notice to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in an election case has stirred political circles in the state. The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Thursday issued notice to Fadnavis in connection with an election petition challenging his 2024 win from the Nagpur South West assembly seat.The petition was filed in January by the Congress's candidate Prafulla V Gudadhe, who had lost to Fadnavis by a margin of 39,710 votes. Sources in the BJP said the election petition was not a matter of worry. ``Fadnavis is on strong grounds both on law and facts. There is nothing to be concerned about," an office-bearer added. Nevertheless the outcome of the litigation will be keenly watched not only by the opposition but also by Fadnavis' detractors within the BJP and the ruling Mahayuti. It is well known that deputy CM Eknath Shinde is yet to reconcile to the denial of the CM post. He had insisted that he be renominated to the post after the last assembly poll on the ground that the resounding success of the 4Contd on | nation Conservation Reserve tag for DPS Lake STATUS QUO ON WAQF TILL MAY 5 FPJ News Service MUMBAI The Supreme Court’s ongoing examination of the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 took a turn on Thursday as the Centre assured that it would not denotify any waqf properties nor proceed with appointments to the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards until May 5 which is the next day of hearing. This assurance from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta prompted the bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, to defer interim directions but maintain judicial oversight over a deeply contentious matter. The Centre’s stand was prompted by the court’s proposal to stay provisions that allowed waqf properties—especially those recognised through centuries of uninterrupted religious usage, or “waqf by user”—to be denotified, and to question the inclusion of non-Muslim members in Muslim religious administrative bodies. NAVI MUMBAI The Maharashtra State Wildlife Board on Wednesday endorsed the proposal to declare the 30-acre DPS Flamingo Lake in Navi Mumbai as a conservation reserve. “This marks the first time a wetland in the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary’s (TCFS) satellite ecosystem will receive such protection,” NatConnect Foundation Director BN Kumar said. The Board’s endorsement came during meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai. The proposal, listed under agenda item 4.1, was ratified following strong support from Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, who is also the vice-chairman of the Board. “This lake is a crucial destination for flamingos and deserves protection as a sensitive ecological zone,” Naik told Board members. He also pushed for the proposal at the government level following repeated public appeals and expert recommendations. The decision follows a sustained campaign by environmental groups, including NatConnect Foundation, Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society (NMEPS), Save Flamingos and Wetlands Forum, and Kharghar Wetlands and Hills Forum. These groups have been advocating for the protection of the lake, which forms a key habitat for flamingos arriving from TCFS during high tide. 4Contd on | nation Cinema Sunny Deol willing to reunite with Shah Rukh and Juhi Chawla RCB batters will look to put on a good show against spin when they face Punjab Kings today UNDER SC LENS | Centre halts appointments, denotification of Waqf properties as SC examines constitutional validity of amendments Edit Repatriation, scandals tarnish Allahabad HC image VP slams judicial overreach FPJ News Service MUMBAI Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday mounted a trenchant critique on judicial overreach, questioning the legality of judges' immunity from criminal investigation and calling for an urgent probe into the alleged discovery of cash at a Delhi High Court judge’s residence. He also described Article 142 of the Constitution as a “nuclear missile against democratic forces,” demanding a structural relook at how substantial constitutional matters are decided in court. Article 142 of the Indian Constitution grants the Supreme Court broad powers to “Is the committee under the Constitution of India? No. Is this committee of three judges having any sanction under any law emanating from Parliament? No...” ensure "complete justice" in any matter before it.  This includes the power to pass decrees or orders necessary for justice, which are enforceable throughout India. It also allows the Court to make orders regarding attendance of witnesses, discovery of documents, and punishment of contempt.  Speaking at the valedictory session of the sixth Rajya Sabha Internship Programme at the Vice-President’s Enclave, Dhankhar raised alarm over the judiciary’s growing encroachment into executive functions. Referring to a recent Supreme Court verdict that invalidated Tamil Nadu 4Contd on | nation PTI NEW DELHI “If the registration of a waqf property took place under the erstwhile 1995 Act, then such properties cannot be denotified while the court is hearing the matter,” observed the CJI, indicating the gravity of preserving long-standing religious rights. Mehta argued that a stay on statutory provisions would be unprecedented and “harsh,” urging the bench to permit the government to place its version on record. 4Contd on | nation a plea filed by Naushad K K, who hails from Kerala's Thrissur district, seeking to be governed by the succession law instead of Shariat without renouncing Islam. The court issued notices to the Centre and the Kerala government on his plea for their responses. "The present writ petition.seeks judicial recognition and protection of the right of Muslim individuals to testamentary autonomy-specifi- Reprieve for Bengal teachers till year-end An FIR in this country can be registered against anyone—any constitutional functionary, including the one before you. One has only to activate the rule of law. No permission is required. But if it is judges—FIR cannot be straightaway registered. It has to be approved by the concerned in judiciary. But that is not given in the Constitution. FPJ’S BEST ANNUAL REPORTS AWARDS 2024: Padma Shri Arundhati Bhattacharya was honoured with the prestigious Hall of Fame Award at FPJ’s Best Annual Reports Awards 2024. The award was presented by Shri M. Damodaran along with an esteemed jury, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to transparency and investor relations. Alongside her, nine distinguished companies were also celebrated and felicitated for their excellence in financial reporting and corporate governance. ■ SC seeks Centre’s reply within a week. ■ Centre assures no appointments or denotification of Waqf properties till May 5. ■ ‘Waqf by user’ properties to remain untouched. ■ CJI flags constitutional issues. ■ SC warns against altering status quo. cally, the right to opt out of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) testamentary limitations imwhen drafting a Will. posed by Muslim Personal The plea asked if the state Law (Shariat) if they explicitly could enforce religious manand voluntarily dates upon choose to do persons who SC TO CONSIDER so," Naushad explicitly said in his plea. choose not to follow them - esHe sought the judicial recpecially when such enforceognition of the right of Muslim ment infringes upon their persons to exercise full testafundamental rights. mentary autonomy, particuThe plea, therefore, sought larly the freedom to deviate directions to the governments from restrictions imposed by to "recognise and honour" the Home buyers have right to protest FPJ News Service Online Report MUMBAI NEW DELHI new advertisements no later than May 31 and complete the entire recruitment exercise The Supreme Court on Thurs- by December 31 this year. day granted temporary relief Emphasising that students’ to “untainted” assistant education must not be disteachers in West Bengal whose rupted, the court made it appointments were cancelled clear that its relief applies due to widespread irregular- only to untainted assistant ities in the 2016 teachers and exCOURT RELIEF recruitment cludes Group C conducted by and Group D the West Bengal School Ser- employees. It further warned vice Commission (WBSSC). that any delay in the recruitA bench led by Chief Jus- ment schedule would lead to tice Sanjiv Khanna ruled that the withdrawal of this protecteachers of classes 9 to 12— tion. The Supreme Court’s whose names have not been order follows its recent uplinked to any malpractice— holding of a Calcutta High may continue in their posts Court decision that had canuntil a fresh selection process celled 25,753 teaching and is concluded. The court di4Contd on | nation rected the WBSSC to issue The Supreme Court on Thursday held that the homebuyers have a right to peacefully protest against builders. The Bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Kustice K V Viswhwanathan made the observation while quashing a defamation complaint filed by a real estate developer against flat purchasers in Mumbai. The flat owners had challenged the issuance of summons in the defamation case. "Homeowners as consumers enjoy the right to peaceful protest as it is the right of consumers as builder has the right to free commercial speech," the Supreme Court said today. The Court also said that in a petition seeking quashing of a defamation complaint, a High Court can examine whether the exceptions to the offence of defamation are made out. "We have held that following judgment of our court we have stated that this court can examine if any exception to 499 is applicable even at the stage of section 482 CrPC," the judge said. 4Contd on | nation wills executed by Muslims, provided they comply with secular laws, without subjecting them to validation under Muslim Personal Law. Under Shariat, the plea said, a Muslim person can bequeath only up to a third of their estate through a will, and among Sunni Muslims, this is limited to non-heirs. "The remaining two-thirds must be distributed among legal heirs according to fixed Is- Agencies Nikku Madhusudhan by biological processes. The two gases - dimethyl sulfide, or DMS, and dimethyl disulfide, or DMDS - involved in Webb's observations of the planet named K2-18 b are generated on Earth by living organisms, primarily microbial life such as marine phytoplankton – algae. This suggests the planet may be teeming with micro- bial life, the researchers said. They stressed, however, that they are not announcing the discovery of actual living organisms but rather a possible biosignature - an indicator of 4Contd on | nation Agencies ities all kinds of things are happening in these bodies. We also intend to expand the Expressing concern over the scope of commission of instate of affairs in sports associ- quiry to other sports associations across the country, the ations," the bench said. Supreme Court on Thursday The two players, Priyanka hinted at appointing an inquiry and Pooja, had earlier sought commission for a “deeper permission to participate in the probe” into their activities. Senior Asian Kabbadi ChamAside from pionship 2025 SC TO CONSIDER sporting activ(women) held ities, "all kinds in Iran from of things are happening" in February 20 to 25. Their parthese associations, a bench of ticipation was met with difJustices Surya Kant and N Ko- ficulty as the Amateur Kabbadi tiswar Singh said while hearing Federation of India (AKFI) was a plea of two kabaddi players. suspended by the International "We are inclined to appoint Kabbadi Federation on the a commission of inquiry for a ground that it was not being deeper probe into the affairs managed by an elected body. of Kabaddi associations be4Contd on | nation cause other than sports activNEW DELHI Hints of ‘biological life’ in faraway planet WASHINGTON lamic inheritance principles (Faraid). Any deviation from this, is deemed invalid unless the legal heirs consent. This restriction on testamentary freedom raises critical constitutional concerns," it said. The compulsory application of religious inheritance rules violates key provisions of the Constitution like Article 14 (Right to Equality), it argued. Probe into activities of sports bodies Off track Space scientists have found new but tentative evidence that a faraway world orbiting another star may be home to life. Reuters and BBC reported that team studying the atmosphere of a planet called K2-18b has detected signs of molecules which on Earth are only produced by simple organisms. The discovery was possible through the James Webb Space Telescope which detected chemical fingerprints of gases that on Earth are produced only We cannot have a situation where you direct the President of India, and on what basis? PIC: SALMAN ANSARI Succession law: Can it cover Muslims? The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine the question if Muslims can be governed by secular Indian succession law to deal with their ancestral and self-acquired properties instead of Shariat without renouncing their faith. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar took note of Raina Assainar GAMES a biological process - and that the findings should be viewed cautiously, with more observations needed. K2-18 b is 8.6 times as massive as Earth and has a diameter about 2.6 times as large as our planet. It orbits in the "habitable zone" - a distance where liquid water, a key ingredient for life, can exist on a planetary surface - around a red dwarf star smaller and less luminous than our sun, located about 124 light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo. 4Contd on | nation Bombay HC pulled up over demolition Online Report MUMBAI The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought an explanation from the Bombay High Court Registrar as to why a plea challenging a demolition notice issued by the Nashik Municipal Corporation against the Satpeer Dargah was not urgently listed, legal portal Bar & Bench has reported. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi noted that there is urgency in the matter as the religious structure could be demolished. While staying the notice and noting that the plea was filed before the High Court on April 8 and sought to be listed since April 9, the Court said, “We are unable to understand as to what transpired from 9th of April till today. Learned counsel submits that they have been trying every day (to get the matter listed).” The Court stated that it was resorting to the extraordinary measure of staying the demolition because as per the petitioner, the HC has not heard the case. The court noted, “We are unsure of the statement made and that the High Court would not have listed the case despite repeated request. 4Contd on | nation Pak army chief stirs old two-nation pot FPJ News Service MUMBAI Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir has reignited ideological fault lines by asserting that Pakistanis abroad must never forget they belong to a “superior ideology and culture.” Addressing the Overseas Pakistani Convention in Islamabad on Thursday Munir urged expatriates to act as ambassadors of Pakistan and to inculcate the same belief in their children. “Our forefathers believed that we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect—our religion, customs, traditions, thoughts, and ambitions,” Munir declared, invoking the divisive Two-Nation Theory that led to the 1947 Partition. “This was the foundation of Pakistan,” he said, stressing that this ideological distinctiveness must be preserved across generations, even in the diaspora. The Army Chief invoked Allama Iqbal and the vision of Riyasat-e-Tayyaba, portraying Pakistan as a unique Islamic state whose values should not be diluted by Western influences. 4Contd on | nation