Tag: Moral

SC urged to use plenary power, moral authority to ensure same-sex marriage acceptance

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New Delhi: The petitioners seeking legal validation of same-sex marriage on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to use its plenary power, “prestige and moral authority” to push the society to acknowledge such a union which would ensure LGBTQIA persons lead a “dignified” life like heterosexuals.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud was told by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for one of the petitioners,that “the State should come forward and provide recognition to same-sex marriage.”
He referred to the law on widow re-marriage, and said the society did accept it then and the “law acted with alacrity” and social acceptance followed.

“Here, this court needs to push the society to acknowledge the same-sex marriage. This court, besides the power under Article 142 (which provides SC the plenary power to pass any order necessary for doing complete justice) of the Constitution, has moral authority and it enjoys public confidence. We rely on the prestige and moral authority of this court to ensure that we get our right,” Rohagti told the bench which also comprised Justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha.
He said, “the State should come forward and provide recognition to same-sex marriage… which will help us leading a dignified life like heterosexuals.”
At the outset of second day’s proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, filed a fresh plea urging the top court that all the states and UTs be also made parties to the proceedings on the pleas.
In a fresh affidavit filed in the apex court, the Centre said it has issued a letter on April 18 to all the states inviting comments and views on the “seminal issue” raised in the pleas.
“It is, therefore, humbly requested that all states and Union Territories be made a party to the present proceedings and their respective stance be taken on record and in the alternative, allow the Union of India, to finish the consultative process with the states, obtains their views/apprehensions, compile the same and place it on record before this court, and only thereafter adjudicate on the present issue,” the affidavit said.

“It is submitted that the Union of India, has issued a letter dated April 18, 2023 to all states inviting comments and views on the seminal issue raised in the present batch of petition,” it said.
Opposing the fresh plea of the government, Rohatgi said the pleas challenged the Central law, the Special Marriage Act, and just because the subject is there in the concurrent list of the Constitution, states and UTs need not be issued the notices.
“You do not have to labour on this point,” the CJI said.
Coming back to the submissions, Rohatgi referred to the judgements, including the decriminalisation of consensual gay sex, and said “The court was revisiting something which has already been decided”.
“I am equal to heterosexual groups and it cannot be so that their sexual orientation is correct and all others are incorrect. I am saying let there be a positive affirmation…We should not be treated as lesser mortals and there will be full enjoyment of the right to life,” he said.
The hearing is continuing.
The top court on Tuesday made it clear that it will not go into personal laws governing marriages while deciding the pleas seeking legal validation for same-sex marriages and said the very notion of a man and a woman, as referred to in the Special Marriage Act, is not “an absolute based on genitals”.
The outcome will have significant ramifications for the country where common people and political parties hold divergent views on the subject.
The apex court had on November 25 last year sought the Centre’s response to separate pleas moved by two gay couples seeking enforcement of their right to marry and a direction to the authorities concerned to register their marriages under the Special Marriage Act.
LGBTQIA stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual.
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#urged #plenary #power #moral #authority #ensure #samesex #marriage #acceptance
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 19, 2023
‘Does KCR have moral right to speak on Vishakhapatnam steel plant?’ asks Kishan Reddy

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Hyderabad: Union Minister for Culture, Tourism And Development Of North Eastern Region, G Kishan Reddy questioned whether Telangana Chief Minister K has any moral right to speak about the Vishakhapatnam steel plant privatisation issue.
While addressing the press conference on Sunday, G Kishan Reddy said, “KCR and his family have been talking a lot about the Vishakhapatnam steel plant in the past week. Singareni collaries are in loss. It is not getting funds from the Telangana government. When PM Modi came to Hyderabad to inaugurate development works in Telangana, the Kalvakuntla family and BRS party organised protests saying that Singareni is being privatised. On one side they are staging protests about privatisation and on another side, they say that they will buy the Vishakhapatnam steel plant”.
“As many industries in Telangana were shut down, the BRS party in its manifesto has promised that in 100 days they will open Nizam sugar factory. Now it has been 9 years, but not a single step has been taken by KCR in this direction. Does KCR have the moral right to speak about the Vishakhapatnam steel plant?” he said.

He further stated the Telangana Government led by KCR has just one aim which is to criticize the central government from morning to evening.
“They have made their main aim to criticise the central government. Telangana people elected KCR for good governance and to fulfil the dreams of the Telangana people. However today, he has left Telangana to the air and the Chief Minister and his family in the name of BRS have made their main agenda to criticise the central government from morning to evening,” he said.
G Kishan Reddy also mentioned that the Telangana government has failed to deliver on the promises they had made in their manifesto during elections over the opening of industries in the state.
“The state government will set up a steel plant in Bayyaram even if the centre does not cooperate. The people are asking today, after 4 years, why are they not setting up the steel plant in Bayyaram? They said they will open many industries that were shut down, but did they open a single factory till today? KCR should answer this. The BRS manifesto also said that it will set up a revolving fund to open the small industries that were shut down. But to date, the revolving fund is still revolving in the air. As many industries belonging to the SC community are in trouble, there is around Rs.837 crores to be given. Many subsidies in the state for SC, ST, and others are not being given. Kalvakuntla family is now stating all other things to divert the people of Telangana from their failures” he said.
He also mentioned that CM KCR has no respect for the Indian constitution.

After 9 years, he (KCR) woke up and came out of his house on Ambedkar Jayanti. On Ambedkar Jayanti, all CMs would come to Tankbund and honour Ambedkar every year. But after becoming Chief Minister, KCR never came to the Ambedkar statue near Tankbund. KCR does not have any respect towards Ambedkar. He even said that the constitution written by Ambedkar is not relevant today and a new constitution should be written. He thinks that the Kalvakuntla constitution or the Nizam constitution should come.
There is a culture that on behalf of the Telangana people, Talambralu are given to the Bhadrachalam temple for Sri Rama Navami. But the Chief Minister today does not follow this culture. KCR hurts the sentiment of all the people. He even hurt the sentiments of Dalit people. He also said that he will make a Dalit as Chief Minister, give 3 acres of land to Dalits and also give Dalit Bandhu. The Dalit bandhu has become BRS Bandhu today. You (KCR) go for iftar parties, it is your wish but you do not come to Bhadrachalam,” he added.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy also pointed out that in the Indian constitution, there is nowhere it has been mentioned that a Chief Minister and their family cannot be questioned by law enforcement agencies or the judiciary over scam allegations.
He further said, “Today in Delhi, Kejriwal is asking how can a Chief Minister been given notice. Ambedkar has given equal rights to everyone in the Indian Constitution. He did not give one right to Chief Minister for scams and another right to the common people. Whether Chief Minister or anyone else, it is the responsibility of the state police, High court, Supreme court, CBI and ED to enquire when there are allegations.
“The CM’s family should answer if there is anywhere in the Constitution that enquiry should not be done on the Chief Minister or Chief Minister’s family when there are allegations. Here also BRS party has set up a national party today to loot the country as it is not enough for them to loot Telangana. Union Government is not afraid of any of these atrocities,” he added.
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#KCR #moral #speak #Vishakhapatnam #steel #plant #asks #Kishan #Reddy
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 17, 2023
Religion gives sense of duty, connects us with moral values: Adityanath

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Gorakhpur: Religion gives a sense of duty and one should not mistake it just as a medium of worship, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday, while greeting people on Ram Navami.
Talking to reporters after completing rituals of Kanya Pujan and Shri Ram Janmotsav at the Gorakhnath temple here, he also said the world is realising the power of a strong and powerful India.
“New India is being formed with positivity and creativity under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said and added that “the concept of Ram Rajya is also being realised in ‘Samarth Bharat’” with benefits of schemes reaching every section of society without any discrimination.
“Many public welfare programmes are in front of everyone. The needy were given free of cost accommodation, toilet, cooking gas connection, electricity connection without any discrimination,” he said.
Not only this, free ration was also made available to the poor in time of crisis and efforts are being made to bring about comprehensive change in the life of every citizen, Adityanath said.
Greeting people on the festival, he said, “Religion should not be mistaken just as a medium of worship. It gives a sense of duty. Religion connects us with virtue, duty and moral values…”.
Adityanath said Ram Navami is being celebrated with enthusiasm across the state, particularly in the birthplace of Ram, Ayodhya.
“Since Wednesday, more than 15 lakh devotees have visited Hanumangarhi and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya after bathing in the holy Saryu river,” he said.

The government has also organised Durga Saptshati and Akhand Ramayana recitations in various places in the state, the chief minister said.
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#Religion #sense #duty #connects #moral #values #Adityanath
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 30, 2023
Assisting Disables Our Moral, Social Responsibility: Chief Secretary

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JAMMU: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta today emphasised upon the need for having public infrastructure amenable to specially-abled people for their easy access to them, especially schools and health institutions of the UT.
Dr Mehta made these remarks while chairing the 22nd Steering Committee meeting of Scheme for Implementation of Rights for Persons with Disabilities (SIPDA) here.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, H&UDD; Principal Secretary, PWD; Principal Secretary, Education; Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare; Commissioner Secretary, IT and Information Departments; Secretary, Transport; Deputy Commissioner, Jammu; DG, I&C, Jammu; Directors of Social Welfare Department and other concerned officers.
The Chief Secretary stressed on taking all the measures possible for making public offices and infrastructure accessible to such persons. He advised them to have ramps and rails in every office especially those visited often by such persons. He told them to have disable-friendly washrooms in such buildings besides signages and other facilities for assistance to such persons. He advised them to take both short term and long term measures to tackle this issue.
In terms of adopting the innovative approaches, the Chief Secretary underscored the need for establishment a helpline with a nodal officer who could facilitate them in getting appointments with senior officers or offices in administration. He told them to create waiting halls for these persons in the ground floor of these offices for meeting the officers to apprise them about their issues. He also directed for giving suitable accommodation to specially-abled employees in the ground floor of the office they are working at.
He enjoined upon them that it is the social obligation of all of us, besides our moral responsibility, to assist them in every manner. He asked them to have wheel chairs available in the main offices for their ease, besides providing them help in reaching the particular place in the office complexes.
The Commissioner Secretary, SWD, Sheetal Nanda apprised the meeting that the SIPDA Scheme has been formulated by Government of India to provide barrier free environment for the persons with disabilities which include access to built environment in schools, colleges, academic and training institutions, offices and public buildings, recreational areas, health centres/hospitals etc.
This also includes provision for ramps, rails, lifts, adaptation of toilets for wheelchair users, brail signages and auditory signals, tactile flooring, causing curb cuts and slopes to be made in pavement for the easy access of wheelchair users, she adds.

It also enlists engraving on the surface of zebra crossing for the blind or for persons with low vision, engraving on the edges of railway platforms for the blind or for low vision and devising appropriate symbols of disability, etc, as was discussed in the meeting.
It was made out that government websites should also be accessible to PwDs as per guidelines issued by NIC and Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (D/o AR&PG), Government of India.
The concept behind this scheme is to achieve universal accessibility that will enable persons with disabilities to gain access for equal opportunity and live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life in an inclusive society.

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#Assisting #Disables #Moral #Social #Responsibility #Chief #Secretary
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

January 23, 2023