Initially the claim of paper leak was dismissed by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board. According to reports, 244 people have been arrested thus far for using unfair means to give the exam February 15, 2024 to February 18, 2024.

Candidates began to demand a cancellation and re-examination as they say that the question was leaked on WhatsApp before they entered the exam halls. 

The exam was to be held on February 17 and 18. Youth can be seen protesting in Prayagraj against the paper leak of the exam. According to journalist Piyush Rai, the protesting youth have demanded for conducting the exam again. 

2. Similar scenes outside campus of Uttar Pradesh Public service commission in Prayagraj where hundreds of aspirants of RO/ARO exam have gathered in protest against the alleged paper leak. They are also demanding re-exam. pic.twitter.com/QRpuYXBZd9

— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) February 23, 2024

Thousands of candidates gathered in Lucknow protesting. Candidates have stated that the exam was reportedly rigged.

#लखनऊ: यूपी #पुलिस भर्ती परीक्षा दोबारा कराने की मांग. हजारों अभ्यर्थी लखनऊ में जुटे. अभ्यर्थियों का कहना है कि 17-18 फरवरी को हुई भर्ती परीक्षा में धांधली हुई थी.#PaperLeakCase #Lucknow #Protest #paper_leak #पुलिस_भर्ती #पुलिस_भर्ती_पेपर_लीक #पुलिस_भर्ती_परीक्षा pic.twitter.com/sRUmHIqheh

— Ulta Chasma Uc (@ultachasmauc) February 23, 2024

As per report, the Recruitment Board for the exam has been asked by the government to take legal reports and file FIRs with regards to the negligence. As per reports, over 48 lakh people had appeared for the exam. Candidates can register complaints regarding the paper till February 27th. 

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Lest we ever forget: Maulana Azad whose death anniversary is today, February 22

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Attempts to control academic freedom gives rise to protest by faculty, Ashoka University and IISc an example

The post The UP government cancels constable exam after youth protests ‘paper leak’ appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind has advised madrasa authorities to cooperate fully with Uttar Pradesh government officials tasked with conducting an upcoming survey of madrasas in the state. The survey had been proposed to get details of unauthorised madrasas in the state.

The survey that began today purportedly aims to ascertain not only the sources of funding, but also aims to take stock of the syllabus taught at such institutions, as the UP government claims it wants to modernise the madrasa curriculum.

According to Amar Ujala, there 16,500 authorised madrasas in UP, of which 558 are aided and 7,442 offer modern education. The total number of students at such madrasas is upwards of 19 lakhs.

The move has been viewed as contentious by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi who has dubbed the survey as the “next NRC” comparing it to the National Register of Citizens. “It’s not a survey, but a mini-NRC. Some madrasas are under the UP madrassa board. The government cannot interfere with our rights under Article 30. They just want to harass Muslims,” a news agency had quoted him as saying earlier this month.

But the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind and even the Darul Uloom, have advised madrasa authorities not to oppose the survey. On Sunday, Maulana Arshad Madani, the president of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind chaired a conference of the principals and managers of prominent madrasas. The Times of India quoted him as saying, “There is nothing hidden… Doors of madrassas are always open for everyone. We’ve been asking madrasa directors to support the government’s decision.” He further advised them to “fully cooperate with officials during the government survey of madrasas.”

Similarly, the Darul Uloom too urged all madrasa authorities to make the survey process smooth and said that it had “no objection” to the UP government’s survey. Abul Qasim Nomani, the Darul Uloom Vice Chancellor was quoted by TOI as saying, “We are not opposed to the survey. A detailed manifesto has been issued for madrassas in this regard.” He further advised them to “provide correct and true information to the survey team so that there is no problem later on,” and also “maintain transparency in the financial system and get accounts audited annually.” The Darul Uloom urged, “Keep all the ownership documents of madrassa land and property, the society or trust running the institution in good standing and get the property registered as per legal requirements.”

As per a Jagran report, the survey is expected to be completed by October 15 following which a report will be submitted to the state government. The survey will look into the following 12 elements:

1.      Name of the madrasa

2.      Name of the organization that is running the madrasa

3.      Year of establishment

4.      Details of madrasa premises (owned or rented)

5.      Details of adequacy of madrasa premises, availability of resources, and structural integrity of madrasa building

6.      Number of students

7.      Number of teachers

8.      Details of curriculum

9.      Source of income

10.   If students have been enrolled in any additional schools

11.   If any non government organization is connected with the madrasa

12.  Remarks of the surveyor

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Discrepancy in reason for Madrasa demolished in Kabaitary: AAMSU 
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After Uttar Pradesh government’s latest directives on the use of loudspeakers, in places of worship, the Shree Krishna Janmabhoomi temple muted its main one. The temple used to play Manglacharan Aarti from 5:30 A.M to 6:30 A.M daily, but has now muted the loudspeaker since Wednesday.

The Shree Krishna Janmabhoomi temple will now comply with the UP government directive that the sound of the loudspeaker should be limited to the premises, and not inconvenience others. According to news reports, Shree Krishna Janmasthan Sewa Sansthan, secretary Kapil Sharma, said the decision to switch the loudspeaker off was taken at a meeting of the office bearers of the Sansthan on Tuesday night. He told the media that “now the bhajans were being played on low sound on speakers inside the temple respecting CM Yogi Adityanath’s directives.” The UP Chief Minister Adityanath had ordered that no religious procession be allowed without permission, and that use of loudspeakers should not inconvenience others.

Meanwhile the Gautam Budhh Nagar police reportedly issued notices to around 900 religious places, including temples and mosques over the use of loudspeakers, stated news reports. Police told the media, “Notices were served on 602 temples out of 621, 265 mosques out of 268, 16 other religious places as well as 217 wedding halls and 175 DJ operators.” 

Aligarh city’s  BJP MLA from Mukta Raja also wrote to the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) “seeking details of loudspeakers mounted at mosques”. The letter reportedly “asked the ADM about the intensity of the loudspeakers installed at the mosques and if they were in consonance with court directives.” The BJP MLA has asked that the ADM “conduct physical examination of the loudspeakers”. The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board rules state that loudspeakers should not be operated after 10 P.M and before 6 A.M, and must  be fitted with a ‘sound limiter’.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, Uttar Pradesh’s religious leaders have applauded the CM’s appeal, and “some districts, including Mathura and Kanpur, saw voluntary steps to either let loudspeakers remain silent or remove them from temples.” Muslim clerics have also asked the mosque committees to reduce the volume of loudspeakers stated the news report. Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, Imam Eidgah in Lucknow was quoted saying, “We welcome CM’s order and we believe that it is a general order. We have directed all the mosques here to limit the sound of the loudspeakers and to ensure that it may not come out of the premises.” 

Back in 2018 too, the Uttar Pradesh government had banned “unauthorised use of loudspeakers and public address systems at religious and public places across the state.” According to a report in the Indian Express from that year the “the government has warned that all such loudspeakers will be removed” after the January 20, 2018 deadline. Those orders had been given after the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, on December 20, 2017 had “asked the state government whether written permission was obtained from the concerned authorities before loudspeakers or public address systems were installed at religious places like mosques, temples, churches and gurdwaras.” 

On January 4 an in order “addressed to all district magistrates, senior superintendents of police and superintendents of police, State Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar has asked them to form teams, comprising revenue and police officials in their respective districts, to identify religious and public places where unauthorised loudspeakers and public address systems are being used,” reported the IE.

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In a significant move, the 3 judge Bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justices Surya Kanta and Hima Kohli, has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a status report by tomorrow, October 8 in Re: Violence in Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) leading to loss of life. (SMW Crl.  No. 3 of 2021).

The court first clarified that the matter was mistakenly listed by the supreme court registry as a “suo motu” case. It was to be taken up as a public interest litigation on the basis of a letter written by two advocates, Shiv Kumar Tripathi and Amritpal Singh, seeking a time bound CBI probe into the horrific incident, but the court said it will “take it up nonetheless”.

One of the Advocates, Shiv Kumar Tripathi argued, “I hope the court considers this seriously. Farmers have died due to negligence of the administration. We urge the court to take appropriate action…the Uttar Pradesh government has not taken any step…the farmers are scared.” Garima Prashad, appearing for the government said, “The SIT has been instituted, we have also set up a judicial commission enquiry, we will look into it properly….FIR has been registered, we will file the report tomorrow.”

The court directed the government to file an investigation report by tomorrow and said, “Get instructions tomorrow…like you said an FIR has been registered, we need to know who are the accused persons against whom you have registered an FIR and whether they have been arrested or not. Please explain this in your status report.”

Further, Advocate Amritpal said, “The mother of deceased Lovepreet Singh in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident is in a very critical condition. I am seeking your lordship’s indulgence to direct the state authorities to afford the best medical facilities to his mother. She is in a critical condition due to shock of loss of son, she needs immediate medical assistance. Milords may direct the state to provide medical facilities to her.”

CJI Ramana directed the State to immediately extend all necessary medical facilities to the mother and duly take care of her. Justice Kant added, “You can get her admitted to the nearest government medical college and provide her with the facilities.”

On October 3, 2021, a convoy of vehicles associated with BJP’s Union Minister of State for Home, Ajay Mishra Teni, his son Ashish Mishra Teni, and other goons allegedly ran over several farmers, peacefully protesting at Tikonia in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh. As reported in the media, one of the farmers was shot dead by the son of the union minister. In addition to this, four farmers and one local journalist were killed in the incident, and several others were seriously injured. 

The deceased farmers have been identified as Lovepreet Singh, Nachattar Singh, Daljeet Singh, and Gurwinder Singh. The journalist who lost his life was Raman Kashyap. Ajay Mishra Teni had initially ‘counted’ Kashyap as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker who had allegedly been killed at the spot. But the father refuted the Minister’s claim and wrote a separate complaint to the police stating, “My son was a reporter with Sadhna News (channel) at Nighasan. On October 3, he was at the Maharaja Agrasen sports Ground to cover the farmers’ protest where Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra Teni and deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya were supposed to come.” He added, “The MP’s son Ashish Mishra and party workers killed my son.” 

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Lakhimpur Kheri: Farmers mowed down to death allegedly by BJP minister’s son’s car
Lakhimpur Kheri deaths: A Timeline
Lakhimpur Kheri violence: SC laments how nobody takes responsibility when such incidents happen
Uttar Pradesh: Eight dead in violence at Lakhimpur Kheri, including four farmers after Minister’s son allegedly drives over them

The post Lakhimpur violence: SC asks UP Gov’t to provide details of the FIR, number of arrests made appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Allahabad High Court has issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh Government on a petition moved by Dr. Kafeel Khan for quashing the criminal case against him.

The order given by Justice J J Munir reads, “Learned A.G.A. will seek instructions within a week. Lay this matter as fresh on 06.04.2021.”

The case

The human rights defender had delivered a speech at a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on December 12, 2019 after which, he was slapped with the National Security Act and jailed for seven months.

In September 2019, the Allahabad High Court, in an expeditious hearing, granted his release from detention under the National Security Act (NSA), setting aside the detention order passed by District Magistrate, Aligarh in February 2019.

The court had significantly noted that his speech “does not disclose any effort to promote hatred or violence. It also nowhere threatens peace and tranquillity of the city of Aligarh. The address gives a call for national integrity and unity among the citizens. The speech also deprecates any kind of violence.”

Thereafter, the Uttar Pradesh Government moved a special leave petition in the top court, challenging this Allahabad High Court judgment in favour of Dr. Khan. However, in December last year, the Supreme Court refused to entertain the petition calling it a ‘good order’.

Plea before Allahabad HC

Dr. Khan’s present plea before the High Court challenges the order passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Aligarh dated July 28, 2020, taking cognisance of the charge-sheet for the alleged offences under sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 153-B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code, reported LiveLaw.

The plea also states that his entire speech does not disclose hate speech and no ingredients are available to attract sections 153A, 153B and 505(2). The plea reportedly seeks to quash the charge sheet filed against him, entire proceedings of case number 3250/2020 pending before CJM, Aligarh and the cognisance order of CJM, Aligarh.

The order may be read here: 

Related:

Supreme Court upholds Allahabad HC’s order quashing Dr. Kafeel Khan’s detention
Kafeel Khan’s speech does not disclose any effort to promote hatred or violence: Allahabad HC
How the regime is hounding Human Rights Defender Dr. Kafeel Khan

The post Dr. Kafeel Khan moves Allahabad HC, seeks quashing of criminal case appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has informed the Allahabad High Court that the three persons arrested alongside journalist Siddiqui Kappan while they were going to Hathras, were not arrested on the basis of media reports, reported LiveLaw.

As per the three petitioners’ counsel, Ankur Azad, the Uttar Pradesh Government has claimed that the arrests were made on the basis of “certain intelligence inputs”, although the FIR against them does not mention this information.

While speaking to the media, lawyer Ankur Azad said that it is the Government’s case that the three detenus were trying to create Islamic Rule in the nation and it has also recovered certain incriminating materials at the time of arrest, in the form of mobile phones, laptop, pamphlets having headlines of “Justice for Hathras Victim” etc. But the petitioners have submitted that they did not carry any such pamphlet.

According to a report in LiveLaw, all accused persons have sought default bail under Section 167(2) in the rejoinder affidavit filed through Advocates Shashwat Anand and Ankur Azad. It states that the petitioners have been languishing in jail since October 7, 2020, and the period of 90 days expired on January 5, 2021.

If the police fails to file a chargesheet within 90 days of the arrest, the law allows detained persons to apply for default bail under section 167(2). The petitioners’ case is similar, where the police has not filed a chargesheet and the Right to Default Bail accrued to the petitioners on January 6.

On January 4, the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mathura had extended the period of judicial remand of the petitioners from 90 days to 180 days. The petitioners have contended that this extension of remand order has been passed without any authority of law. They have also argued that an Additional Sessions Judge is not a competent authority under the NIA Act to extend their remand, as laid down in Bikramjit Singh vs. State of Punjab.

The plea read: “In the circumstances, the petitioners have an indefeasible and absolute right to Default Bail, accrued to them as aforesaid, and are ready and willing to furnish bail, and solemnly undertake to comply with and adhere to such terms and conditions of their release as may be deemed reasonable by this Hon’ble Court”, reported LiveLaw.

In an alleged bid to create caste-based unrest in Uttar Pradesh, the Police detained the three accused/petitioners along with Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan, and booked them under strict provisions of sedition and promoting enmity between groups under the Indian Penal Code. They were also booked under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for conspiracy and raising funds for terrorist acts.

The matter will be taken up today, on February 24.

The order may be read here: 

Related:

UP Police arrest Muslim journalist, 3 others near Hathras for carrying ‘suspicious literature’
Muslim journalist, 3 others arrested near Hathras, booked under sedition law
Right to default bail: Not just statutory, but a fundamental right

The post Siddique Kappan’s co-accused arrested based on intelligence inputs: UP Gov’t tells Allahabad HC appeared first on SabrangIndia.