By Kamran Khan
No surveys of places of worship: Apex court
The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday, December12, 2024, that surveys of places of worship cannot be conducted, nor can new lawsuits be filed, until the validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, is determined. The court also directed all lower courts to refrain from examining cases related to surveys of places of worship or issuing orders in such matters.
The 1991 law prohibits the conversion of any place of worship and mandates the preservation of the religious character of such sites as it existed on August 15, 1947.
This decision came while the court was hearing petitions challenging the constitutionality of the 1991 law. The court also sought a response from the Centre, giving it four weeks to file a counter-affidavit. The Bench, consisting of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan, made this ruling.
The court emphasized that, given the ongoing case, it was inappropriate for any other court to review it. The petitioners challenging the law include various Hindu organizations and individuals who mostly claim that mosques were constructed over ancient temples. Key provisions under review, including Sections 2, 3, and 4, prohibit converting religious sites and filing lawsuits about their status as of 1947.
Petitioners, including religious leaders, politicians and advocates contend that the Act violates the constitutional rights of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs to restore and manage their places of worship, breaching their rights under Articles 25, 26, and 29 of the Constitution.
The outcome of this case could influence ongoing lawsuits filed by Hindu plaintiffs seeking the rights to properties with Muslim mosques, arguing that these mosques were built over ancient temples. These cases include disputes over the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, the Shahi Eidgah Masjid in Mathura, and the famous sufi shrine, the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
Allahabad High Court Judge: Impeachment move against him
Lawmakers from the INDIA alliance are expected to submit a notice in Parliament to initiate a motion for the impeachment of Allahabad High Court Judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav. This comes after his controversial remarks on Muslims and majoritarianism at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) event earlier this week sparked widespread criticism. Congress leader Vivek Tankha stated that they have gathered 55 signatures, and with the support of other party representatives, will be submitting the notice.
The impeachment motion will be moved in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. According to the rules, for the motion to be considered in Rajya Sabha, at least 50 lawmakers’ signatures are required, while the number is 100 in the Lok Sabha. Under Article 124(4) of the Indian Constitution, a judge can be removed for proven misbehavior or incapacity. The term ‘misbehavior’ includes actions that undermine judicial ethics, impartiality, and public trust in the judiciary.
This move from the INDIA bloc follows the Supreme Court’s decision to take cognizance of reports regarding Yadav’s remarks during his speech on December 8, 2024. The judge reportedly made controversial statements about the Muslim community, the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and the concept of majority rule in India. Video clips of his speech, which went viral on social media, show him saying that the country should operate according to the wishes of the majority.
In his speech, Yadav remarked, “This is Hindustan, and this country would function as per the wishes of the ‘bahusankhyak’ [majority],” and made references to practices like triple talaq and ‘halala’, which, he argued, should not be allowed. He also stated, “Only a Hindu can make this country a Vishwa Guru.”
Telugu film star Allu Arjun in trouble
A tragic incident occurred on December 4, 2024, at the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad, where a stampede-like situation broke out as thousands of fans gathered for the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule to see actor Allu Arjun in person. In the chaos, a 35-year-old woman lost her life, and her eight-year-old son was hospitalized.
Following the incident, Hyderabad police filed a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management, based on a complaint filed by the woman’s family. In a dramatic development, the was taken to the Chikkadpally police station, and produced before the Nampally court, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody. He was subsequently moved to jail under tight security.
However, on December 13, 2024, the Telangana High Court granted Allu Arjun interim bail for four weeks. The actor, along with two others arrested in the case, was granted bail. Justice Juvvadi Sridevi, who heard the petition, instructed Allu Arjun to provide a personal bond of ₹50,000 and to cooperate with the investigation.
At the time of the court’s ruling, the actor had already been presented before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. Later that day, Magudampalli Bhaskar, the husband of the deceased woman, issued a statement expressing his willingness to withdraw the complaint filed with the police. With the bail order from the high court, Allu Arjun is expected to be released from jail soon.
Maha Kumbh once again
The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has officially designated the Maha Kumbh area in Prayagraj as a new district. This decision aims to improve the administration and management of the upcoming Kumbh Mela, ensuring seamless operations for the major religious event for Hindus, to be held in January, 2025. The newly created district will be named Maha Kumbh Mela, and the reorganization is intended to facilitate the effective handling of the event and related administrative tasks.
Ravindra Kumar Mandad, the district magistrate, issued a notification confirming the formation of the Maha Kumbh Mela District. The district’s boundaries will include the revenue villages and the entire parade area as outlined in the official annexure.
The Mela Adhikari, responsible for the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, will have powers equivalent to those of an executive magistrate, district magistrate, and additional district magistrate, under relevant sections of the Indian Civil Defense Code, 2023. The Mela Adhikari will also hold the authority of the District Magistrate in all related cases and have the rights of the Collector, as stipulated under the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006 (amended in 2016). The order, which takes effect immediately, outlines that the district will be under the jurisdiction of the Mela Adhikari, who will be assisted by an Additional Collector for administrative functions.
The upcoming Maha Kumbh, taking place once every 12 years, is set to begin on January 13 and will conclude on February 26, 2025, in Prayagraj.
Indian foreign exchange reserves drop
India’s foreign exchange reserves dropped by $3.2 billion to $654.86 billion as of December 6, 2024, marking the lowest level in over five months, according to the recent data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This decline follows a $1.5 billion increase in the week ending November 29, after a significant $48.3 billion drop over the previous eight weeks.
Fluctuations in foreign currency assets are influenced by the RBI’s interventions in the forex market as well as changes in the value of foreign assets within the reserves. The RBI actively participates in both buying and selling in the forex market to manage excessive volatility of the rupee.
For the week in question, the RBI is estimated to have net sold $6.1 billion in dollars, with an expected revaluation gain of around $2.7 billion, according to Gaura Sen Gupta, economist at IDFC FIRST Bank. Last week, the rupee weakened to its record low of 84.7575, driven by the depreciation of the Chinese yuan and strong dollar demand in the non-deliverable forwards (NDF) market, prompting intervention from the RBI.
The rupee declined by 0.2 per cent last week, ending at 84.7875 on Friday, December 14, marking a sixth consecutive weekly drop. It had earlier hit a new low of 84.88, weighed down by ongoing depreciation pressure and high demand for the US dollar in the NDF market. The forex reserves also reflect India’s reserve tranche position in the International Monetary Fund.