SC says no to plea against Muslims leaving offices early in Ramzan
New Delhi, Mar 7 (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday refused to hear a plea against the decisions of the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments allowing Muslim employees to leave offices an hour early during the holy month of Ramzan.
A bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar asked the petitioner to move the respective high courts with his grievance.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the petitioner, said the plea challenged the circulars of both the governments.
"Please go to the high court," the bench said.
After the bench showed its disinclination to examine the plea, Sankaranarayanan withdrew the petition with liberty to approach the respective high courts.
"Counsel for the petitioner seek permission to withdraw the present petition with liberty to approach the respective high courts under Article 226 of the Constitution," the bench said.
It granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the high court with the grievance.
The Telangana government issued a circular permitting Muslim employees to leave offices an hour early during Ramzan.
Similarly, the TDP-led NDA government also allowed all Muslim employees in Andhra Pradesh to leave offices an hour early from March 2 to March 30 during the holy month.
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.
Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
