Owaisi criticizes retired SC Judge who upheld Hijab verdict for attending VHP meet
Says "Sab 'BeNaqab' ho raha hain"
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has sparked a debate with his remark, "Sab 'BeNaqab' ho raha hain" (Everyone’s mask is coming off), in response to the participation of former Supreme Court judge, Justice Hemant Gupta, in a "Judges Meet" event organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). Owaisi shared the comment on X (formerly Twitter) after The News Minute reported on the gathering held on September 8, where Justice Gupta and at least 30 other retired judges from the Supreme Court and various High Courts were present.
The meeting, hosted by the legal wing of the VHP in New Delhi, reportedly focused on topics that resonate with Hindutva groups, such as the status of the Varanasi and Mathura temples, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, and issues surrounding religious conversions.
Owaisi's critical remark came in the wake of Justice Gupta’s previous involvement in high-profile cases, including his decision to uphold the Karnataka High Court's verdict in the controversial Hijab ban case. In that case, Justice Gupta sided with the Karnataka High Court's ruling, stating that wearing the hijab was not an "essential religious practice" under Article 25 of the Constitution. His stance on the matter led to a split verdict in the Supreme Court, where Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia dissented. The case was referred to a larger bench, and the matter remains unresolved.
Responding to the criticism surrounding his attendance at the VHP event, Justice Gupta defended his participation, emphasizing his rights as a retired judge and citizen of India. He told The Quint, "I cannot comment about others but I have the liberty to associate with platforms and forums to discuss and deliberate upon current issues and topics as any other citizen of the country." He further added that he attended the event to engage in discussions on "current events and affairs."
Justice Gupta’s judicial career has included several high-profile and often controversial rulings. Before retiring, he upheld the Karnataka High Court’s decision on the Hijab ban case. His final judgment raised significant public debate, given the delicate balance between religious freedom and state regulations.
Apart from his involvement in the Hijab case, Justice Gupta was also part of a 2022 split verdict on the use of Eidgah Maidan in Bengaluru for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The case was later referred to a larger bench. Additionally, in 2020, he delivered a notable ruling stating that caste-based slurs made in private, rather than in public view, do not constitute a punishable offense under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Justice Gupta also served on the constitutional bench that declared Maratha reservations unconstitutional in 2019 for exceeding the 50% cap on reservations, a decision that stirred significant debate across the country.
Two months after his retirement from the Supreme Court, Justice Gupta was appointed as the Chairperson of the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) by the central government.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
