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SC To Hear Bihar Caste Census Matter On Oct 6

By LokMarg 3rd October 2023

The Supreme Court of India has said that it will take up for hearing on October 6 the matter of the caste census in Bihar after the petitioner’s lawyer mentioned before the apex court that the Bihar Government had published caste survey data.

The matter was brought before a bench consisting of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti.

The petitioner’s lawyer apprised the court that the Bihar Government has already published the caste survey data, prompting concerns and legal challenges from various quarters.

Among the petitioners are organizations like Ek Soch Ek Prayas and Youth for Equality, who have contested the legality and authority of the caste-based survey.

The Central Government also entered the legal fray, filing an affidavit with the Supreme Court, emphasizing that the Census Act, 1948, bestows exclusive authority upon the Central Government to conduct census-related activities.

The affidavit reaffirmed the government’s commitment to uplift Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in line with constitutional provisions and applicable laws.

One of the petitions, represented by advocate Tanya Shree on behalf of petitioner Akhilesh Kumar, contested the Patna High Court’s dismissal of pleas challenging the Nitish Kumar government’s decision to conduct the caste-based survey. The High Court’s order was issued on August 1.

The petitioner had argued that the state of Bihar lacked the constitutional competence to initiate a caste-based survey and usurped the exclusive authority of the Union Government in conducting a census.

The petitioner had highlighted that the Bihar government’s notification dated June 6, 2022, and the subsequent appointment of a District Magistrate for supervision violate constitutional provisions, including the distribution of powers between the state and the union.

The petitioner contended that the entire exercise is without legislative competence and is riddled with malafide intentions.

The petitioner underscored that only the Union Government possesses the authority to conduct a census in India, rendering the Bihar State Government’s notification null and void.

The Patna High Court had previously dismissed similar pleas contesting the caste-based survey ordered by the Nitish Kumar administration.

The survey aims to collect data related to people of all castes, sub-castes, and socioeconomic conditions, covering an estimated population of 12.70 crores across 38 districts in Bihar. (ANI)

BBC: Fully Cooperating With Income Tax Survey

By LokMarg 14th February 2023

British public broadcaster BBC News has said it is cooperating with the Income Tax department, which is conducting a survey at its offices in New Delhi and Mumbai.

“The Income Tax Authorities are currently at the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai and we are fully cooperating,” the BBC News Press Team said in a statement.
The British broadcaster added, “We hope to have this situation resolved as soon as possible.”

According to sources, IT officials were verifying certain account documents in the finance department of BBC.

Earlier this morning, Income tax officials arrived at BBC offices located at the national capital’s KG Marg for the survey. The British broadcaster’s office at Kalina Santacruz in Mumbai was also surveyed, sources said adding that the survey was limited to business premises of BBC only.

According to reports, a team of IT officials arrived at the BBC Studios office in Kalina Santacruz around 11.30 am today and a survey has been going on since then. There is no IT activity at the BBC News office at Linking road Bandra West.

It is learnt that the tax officials are conducting verification of certain account documents in the finance department of the BBC offices.

During the investigation, the mobile phones of all the employees present in the BBC office have been taken away by the Income Tax team. The data of the computer kept in the accounts and finance department was also scanned. According to sources, officials said the devices will be returned to their owners after taking a backup.

The searches come weeks after the BBC released a documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi – ‘India: The Modi Question,” which caused a controversy.nuary 21, the Centre had issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial BBC documentary on PM Modi. The Supreme Court had on February 3 directed the central government to produce original records relating to its decision to block the BBC documentary. (ANI)

Madrasa Survey Completed: UP Minister Dharampal Singh

By LokMarg 15th November 2022

Uttar Pradesh Minority Welfare Minister Dharampal Singh informed that the survey of Madrasas in the state has completed on Tuesday and now a meeting will be held with the government.

“The survey of Madrasas in all the districts of UP has come to its end today and the report for 15 remaining districts has been submitted to the government. Now a meeting will be held with them,” Dharmpal Singh said.
He further said that special attention had been given to the Madrasas which were operating in contravention of the law.

“We have given special attention to the madrasas in the state which have been running against governmental norms and now we will decide the next move,” he added.

A month ago on October 12, State Minority Welfare Minister Dharampal Singh informed about the identification of a total of 6,436 unrecognized madrasas in the state and mentioned that the survey of 5,170 madrasas was then completed.

“The data of the survey will be made available to the government by November 15, 2022, by the district magistrate. The last date has been extended as some reports were not received,” he said in October

He further added that the survey work should be completed at each level within this stipulated time period.

Once the survey is conducted, it has also been instructed to hand over the report to the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) after which ADM will present the consolidated statements to the District Magistrates (DMs).

As a political row has erupted over the survey, Singh clarified that this survey is being conducted in view of quality and better education for the children of minority communities.

The UP government had declared to conduct the survey in unrecognized madrassas to ascertain information on the number of students, teachers, curriculum, and affiliation with any non-government organization.

The survey of unrecognized Madrassas is conducted to ensure the basic facilities of the students of Madrassas.

Danish Azad Ansari, Minister of State for Minority Welfare, Muslim Waqf and Waqf Department had said earlier that the order also holds to give maternity leave and child care leave to women employees working in Madrassas in the light of the rules applicable in the Department of Secondary Education and Basic Education.

All the District Magistrates (DMs) in Uttar Pradesh were issued instructions regarding the survey. The teams constituted officials of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Basic Shiksha Adhikari’s (BSA), and District Minority Officers.

Moreover, it was ordered that in case of a disputed management committee or in case of the death of any employee in aided Madrassas, a post-facto approval for appointment by the principal Madrassas and District Minority Welfare Officer in the dependent quota of the deceased and the existence of a valid management committee has to be sought. (ANI)