PIL in Supreme Court seeks de-registration of Congress over ‘vote-chori’ campaign
New Delhi: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking the de-registration of the Indian National Congress (INC) over its “vote-chori” campaign against the Election Commission of India (ECI). The plea also seeks the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for allegedly maligning the poll body.
Filed by Satish Kumar Aggarwal, former Vice President of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, the petition alleges that the INC and its leaders have engaged in “anti-constitutional activities and propaganda” aimed at undermining the credibility of the ECI. The petitioner argues that the party’s conduct violates the constitutional oath taken at the time of its registration and by its leaders before entering Parliament.
The plea further seeks an interim order restraining the Congress, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and their representatives from making any public statements, speeches, or campaigns against the ECI while the matter is sub judice. It highlights that the issue of Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is already pending before the Supreme Court, where one Congress MP, K.C. Venugopal, is a petitioner. The petitioner contends that by using terms like “vote-chor” against the ECI, Congress leaders have shown disregard for constitutional institutions and attempted to influence ongoing proceedings.
In a related development, another PIL has been filed by an advocate demanding the constitution of an SIT headed by a former judge to investigate Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of large-scale voter list manipulation in Bengaluru Central during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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Separate nodal officer in all districts to prevent female foeticides in Karnataka: Minister
Belagavi (PTI): Accepting that the female foeticide has not stopped in the state, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said that the government is taking strict measures to prevent it.
The minister said the government is appointing separate nodal officers in all districts and tightening measures to prevent foeticide, which he called a "social evil".
He also assured that the government will consider strengthening legislation to control such activities.
The minister was responding to a question by BJP MLC C T Ravi in the Legislative Council.
"Female foeticides have certainly not stopped. If you look at the sex ratio, there is a lot of difference. I accept that this is happening," Rao said.
"Foeticides are not happening under pressure; voluntarily, it is happening, for not wanting a girl child. These things are happening based on the sex determination of the foetus at some hospitals. Sex determination is illegal, but with the advancement in technology, portable ultrasound machines have been developed, which can be easily carried anywhere, and scans and tests can be done. This needs to be controlled. We will bring it to the notice of the central government," he said.
In some districts and in a few hospitals, a higher number of male child births is happening. It is found with the help of intelligence input, the minister said.
"Information is being gathered on the taluk in which the male-female ratio is worsening, what is happening in which hospital, and appropriate action is being taken to crack down on such a network, after proper evaluation."
Decoy operations have been done at seven places in the last two years, to identify those involved in illegal activities linked to female foeticides, and actions have been taken against officials and hospitals involved, he said, adding that more needs to be done on priority.
Responding to a question by Ravi about whether any stringent legislation is being brought, Rao said, the government will consider strengthening the legislation and making it stricter to control this.
"Some amendments have been made to the existing laws in the last two years....advanced technology and the internet is being used to carry out such things, also oral medicines for abortions are available over the counter.
We need to look into bringing legislation to control them. The Food and Drug Administration has issued instructions to pharmacists that the sale of such drugs should be documented."
The minister also said that measures are also being taken for the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, and awareness is being created against the identification of female foetuses and female foeticide.
