SC stays Gujarat HC order rejecting affidavit filed by 'The Times of India'
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed an order of the Gujarat High Court that had rejected an affidavit filed by "The Times of India", tendering an apology for "wrong reporting" on the hearing of a matter.
The high court had, on September 2, granted three more days to "The Times of India" and two other newspapers to tender a public apology in their publications in bold letters on the front page, clearly intimating the public about the "wrong reporting made by them" on August 13.
"The affidavits tendering the apology by the editors of three newspapers, namely 'Indian Express', 'The Times of India' and 'Divya Bhaskar', placed in the court today, tendering public apology in the newspapers about the reports published in the newspaper edition dated August 13, 2024 of the ongoing hearing in this group of petitions, are not to the satisfaction of the court. All their affidavits are being rejected accordingly," the high court had said.
A plea filed by Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited, which publishes english daily "The Times of India", challenging the September 2 high court order, came up for hearing on Wednesday before an apex court bench headed by Justice B R Gavai.
"Stay of the impugned order as well as the contempt proceeding. However, we clarify that the proceedings of the writ petition will proceed in accordance with law," the bench, also comprising Justices P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan, said.
In its August 13 order, the high court had noted that during the hearing in the matter on August 12, certain observations were made by the bench that were printed as a news item in "The Times of India" with the headline -- "State can regulate minority institutions by excellence in education: HC" -- and a sub-heading -- "Have to give away rights in national interest".
"The construction of the news item from the reading thereof is such that it appears that the court has formed an opinion into the matter of the rights of a minority institution to appoint teachers of its choice vis-a-vis the exercise of the State's power to regulate educational institutions run by minorities," the high court had noted.
It had also noted that similar news items were published in "The Indian Express" and "Divya Bhaskar".
"The sensational way of reporting of the observations of the court gave an impression to the common people that the court has already formed an opinion, which is nothing but a misrepresentation of the court proceedings," the high court had said.
It had, on August 13, issued a notice to the editors of the three newspapers, calling upon them to answer as to "whether they got authentication from any officer of the court before making the news items, that too in a sensational way, or simply used YouTube live-streaming videos to make the news out of nothing".
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Maharashtra secures historic sword of Raghuji Bhosale in London auction
LONDON/MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has acquired the sword of Raghuji Bhosale, founder of the Nagpur Bhosale dynasty and a distinguished commander in the Maratha army under Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, after winning it in an auction in London.
Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar formally took possession of the weapon on Monday. It is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on 18 August, where it will be received with ceremonial honours, as reported by The Indian Express.
News of the sword’s availability surfaced on 28 April this year. Minister Shelar consulted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, after which the government began preparations to participate in the auction.
A group of Marathi-speaking residents in London gathered to witness the handover. Hemant Dalvi, Deputy Director of the Archaeology Department, accompanied the minister during the formalities.
The sword is an 18th-century Maratha Firangi. It has a straight, single-edged European blade with a gold-inlaid Mulheri hilt and near the hilt is the European manufacturer’s name, while the spine bears a gold-inlaid Devanagari inscription reading “Shreemant Raghoji Bhosale Senasahib Subha Firang,” confirming its connection to Raghuji Bhosale. The hilt’s gold koftgari work and the green cloth-wrapped rounded pommel add to its rarity as Maratha weapons of the period typically lacked elaborate ornamentation or inscriptions.
Raghuji Bhosale I, ruled from Nagpur between 1695 and 1755. He expanded Maratha influence into Bengal, Odisha, Chanda, Chhattisgarh, Sambalpur and parts of southern India. His military campaigns, included victories over the Nawabs of Bengal, Cuddapah and Kurnool. The Nagpur kingdom was also known for its rich deposits of iron and copper, used for weapons and trade.
While few historians believe that the sword left India in the early 19th century, as part of the war booty taken by the British East India Company after their victory over the Bhosales at the Battle of Sitabuldi in 1817, others say it was taken later as a diplomatic gift.
The sword will be escorted from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to PL Deshpande Kala Academy in Dadar by a ceremonial bike rally upon its arrival in Mumbai next week. A cultural programme titled Gad Garjana will be held the same day in the presence of state dignitaries.
Minister Shelar described the acquisition as an important moment for Maharashtra’s heritage and extended his thanks to the Chief Minister, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar for their support in securing the artefact.
