SC rejects plea over hoardings 'prohibiting' entry of pastors in Chhattisgarh villages
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea challenging the Chhattisgarh High Court order in a matter pertaining to hoardings which allegedly prohibit entry of pastors and converted Christians in some villages in the state.
The high court had in October last year disposed of two separate pleas seeking removal of such hoardings.
While referring to an apex court verdict, the high court had observed that installation of hoardings for preventing forcible conversion by way of allurement or fraudulent means cannot be termed as unconstitutional.
A plea challenging the high court's order came up for hearing before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta on Monday.
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Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioner, referred to a separate matter relating to alleged attacks on pastors which is pending before the top court.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the plea before the high court was limited but the petitioner has now added several new facts and documents in the petition filed in the apex court.
After hearing the submissions, the bench dismissed the petition.
The high court had noted in its order that the petitioners before it were raising the alleged issue of segregation of Christian community and their religious leaders from the mainstream village community.
The petitioners had claimed before the high court that authorities had circulated a format of resolution in Kanker district instructing the Gram Panchayat to pass resolution in the name and style "Hamari Parampara Hamari Virasat".
They alleged that the real intention of circulating this circular to the Gram Panchayat was to instruct them to pass resolution prohibiting entry of Christian pastors and the so called converted Christians in the village.
The petitioners had claimed before the high court that at least eight villages of Kanker district had erected hoardings which say that entry of pastors and "converted Christians" was prohibited in the village.
The counsel appearing for the state had argued in the high court that the petitioners had filed the pleas merely on the basis of apprehension that the hoardings
were being erected at the instance of government authorities.
The high court had directed the petitioners to avail the statutory remedy before approaching the court.
"Further, in case the petitioners have any apprehension that they would be restrained from entering their villages or any threat perception exists, they may seek protection from the police," the high court had said, while disposing of the pleas.
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
