Sanjiv Bhatt's children write touching post to mark four years of his imprisonment
New Delhi: Former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt's children, Aakashi and Shantanu Bhatt, recently took to social media to mark the fourth year of their father's incarceration and express their sentiments about his wrongful conviction. In a heartfelt post, they shared their memories, their disappointment with the justice system, and their unwavering support for their father's fight for justice.
Reflecting on the 20th of June, the day their lives turned into a never-ending nightmare, Aakashi and Shantanu recalled the court proceedings, which they believe were subverted by the regime, leading to a vitiated trial. They lamented the lack of due process, the disregard for evidence, and the denial of the opportunity to present defense witnesses, all aimed at silencing their father's voice.
The post also emphasized Sanjiv Bhatt's unwavering commitment to fighting for justice for the victims of hate and violence, highlighting his decades-long battle for truth and accountability. Aakashi and Shantanu expressed their deep admiration and pride for their father, acknowledging him as their role model and the epitome of courage and reason.
While acknowledging the support they have received from many, the post also touched upon their disappointment with the apathy, fear, and greed displayed by some segments of society, which they believe failed to protect their father and stand up against injustice.
As the family commemorated the fourth year of Sanjiv Bhatt's wrongful conviction and the fifth year of his vindictive incarceration, they vowed to continue their fight for justice. Their message reiterated their determination to resist and overcome the challenges they face, echoing their father's unwavering spirit in the pursuit of truth and accountability.
The heartfelt post by Aakashi and Shantanu Bhatt shed light on the personal impact of their father's wrongful conviction and the family's continued struggle for justice. It serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of standing up against injustice and the enduring resilience of those who fight for truth.
This is Aakashi & Shantanu Bhatt,
— Sanjiv Bhatt (IPS) (@sanjivbhatt) June 20, 2023
Another year … Another day in battle ..
As I pen this down, I sit here today juxtaposed between two worlds …
A world gone by, filled with happiness and togetherness and a world we are in today, torn apart from each other, fighting, and…
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.
HC to decide if gram panchayat members can continue in Manipur post tenure: SC
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday said the high court would decide whether the elected gram panchayat members, whose five-year tenure was over in Manipur, were entitled to continue in their posts in the event of the appointment of an administrative committee or an administrator.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said it would like to have the benefit of the view of the high court in the matter and set a three-month time frame to adjudicate the legal question.
"The question that falls for consideration in this case is that whether the elected member of the Gram Panchayat whose five-year tenure is over was entitled to continue as members of the gram panchayat in the event of appointment of administrative committee or administrator, as contemplated under Section 22 of the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act of 1994," the bench noted.
The Manipur government’s counsel said the state could not hold panchayat elections due to the unprecedented violence.
"Since, we would like to have the advantage of the opinion of the high court, we dispose of the special leave petition without expressing any opinion on merits, with the request to the chief justice of Manipur High Court to post the main case before a division bench at the earliest. We further request the division bench, before whom the matter is listed, to provide expeditious hearing with an endeavour to resolve the controversy within three months," the bench said.
The bench noted that provision of Manipur Panchayati Raj Act was amended to substitute the word "cease" with the word "continue" with respect to the tenure of the elected members of the gram panchayat.
The petitioners have challenged a high court order and submitted that since elections in gram panchayat could not be held in Manipur for various reasons, the previously elected members of the panchayat were entitled to continue as per the amended Section 22 (3) of 1994 Act.
Section 22 deals with the power of deputy commissioner to appoint an administrative committee or an administrator for a period of six months, which will then oversee the election.
Section 22 (3) of the law says once the administrative committee or an administrator is appointed by the deputy commissioner, the elected members of earlier gram panchayat shall cease to exist.
The top court said what has been challenged before it was an interlocutory order of the high court and the main petition in which the question of law that had been raised was still pending.
The original petitioners before the high court were elected representatives at the fifth general elections for gram panchayats and the zilla parishads who sought a direction to continue in the office beyond the period of five years as stipulated by law as elections were last held in 2017.
They sought to continue as panchayat members till the time the state election commission notified the election for the sixth general elections for gram panchayats and zilla parishads.
On February 29, last year, the high court in its interim order gave liberty to Manipur government to appoint an administrative committee for each gram panchayat and zilla parishad in accordance with law and the provision of the Act.
