HC stays proceedings against Jain University students for 'derogatory' skit against Ambedkar, Dalits
Bengaluru, July 20: The High Court of Karnataka has granted an interim stay on the proceedings against seven students and two faculty members of Jain University in a case in which they were accused of performing a 'derogatory' skit against Dalits and B R Ambedkar.
The stay on the proceedings against the students was granted on Wednesday, while the stay on the proceedings against faculty members who had filed a separate petition was granted earlier on July 5.
The students are accused of performing a derogatory skit against Dalits and B R Ambedkar and were booked under sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act following a complaint filed by the assistant director of the Social Welfare Department.
The seven students of the Jain Deemed-to-be-University Institution performed what they have termed a "satirical drama skit which revolves around the reservation system prevailing in society", in their college on February 8, 2023.
The performance was held at the NIMHANS Convention Centre. The complaint was filed on February 10 and an FIR was registered the same day.
Two separate petitions filed were heard by the single-judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna.
The performance of the skit by the students was part of the Jain University Youth Fest-23.
Along with the petition, a recording of the skit in a compact disk has been presented before the HC.
The HC has adjourned the hearing of the petition after granting the interim stay on Wednesday.
"The Mad-ads performed by the petitioners is an expression of a bona fide opinion which is satire. Satirical literature has been in existence from time immemorial, which is meant for criticism of an idea, concept, policy or even a particular person through humour to highlight a point. Such a communication of dissent or opinion is protected under the Freedom of Speech and Expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution of India," the petition said.
The students had earlier been arrested by police in connection with the case and later released on bail.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
