'Dates Fest' kicks off in Mangalore, showcasing 40 varieties from 11 countries
Mangaluru: The much-anticipated 'Dates Fest,' organized by the renowned date store 'Reem,' commenced on Friday with an inauguration ceremony in front of the Spar store at Fiza Mall. The festival, featuring an exhibition and sale of a diverse range of dates, will run until March 3rd, offering Mangaluru residents the opportunity to explore and purchase approximately 40 varieties from 11 different countries.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted by Dr. Abdulla Kunhi, the Chancellor of Yenepoya University, and Advocate Manoraj Rajeev. The guests conveyed their best wishes for the success of the festival.
Among those present at the inauguration were Iqbal S, the Managing Director of Gold Palace, Asif Sufi Khan from Home Plus, and Ahmed Hussain, partner, Reem Dates.
The 'Dates Fest' features a collection of high-quality natural dates, including American varieties, sourced from 11 countries. Muhammad Mukhtar, a partner at Reem Dates, highlighted that the festival provides a unique opportunity to showcase and sell dates, with a special focus on the rare and exclusive variety.
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SC upholds inclusion of ‘secular, socialist’ in Preamble of Constitution
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the inclusion of the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the Preamble of the Constitution, confirming their retrospective application from November 26, 1949. The court ruled that the power to amend the Constitution under Article 368 extends to the Preamble, which is an integral part of the document.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna stated, “The power under Article 368 cannot be curtailed. It will equally apply to the Preamble.” The 42nd Constitutional Amendment, which introduced these terms in 1976 during the Emergency, was challenged on grounds of its retrospective application and the lack of states’ ratification.
The petitioners, including BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, argued that the amendment forced a particular economic theory on the nation and violated the original intent of the Constitution. Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay contended that the Preamble reflects the will of the people at the time of adoption in 1949 and is therefore unalterable.
The court dismissed these objections, affirming that both socialism and secularism are part of the Constitution's Basic Structure. The Bench clarified that socialism refers to a welfare state ensuring equality of opportunity without negating private sector participation or individualism. It emphasised that secularism is embedded in the Constitution, particularly in the principles of equality and fraternity.
Chief Justice Khanna remarked, “Secularism has always been a core feature of the Constitution.” He added that the amendment did not impose socialism as dogma but aligned with the welfare goals enshrined in various constitutional provisions.
