BJP-Backed Gram Panchayat member arrested for illegal liquor sale in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: Jayananda Kulal, a member of the Ganjimutt Gram Panchayat supported by the BJP, was arrested by Bajpe Police on Wednesday for the alleged illegal sale of liquor at a roadside shop in Mogaru village.
Jayananda Kulal, known for his active involvement in the Sangh Parivar, is reported to have close ties with Mangalore North MLA Dr. Y Bharat Shetty, as suggested by local Congress activists who shared a photo of the two on social media.
The arrest was made following charges of unlawfully selling liquor at a makeshift kiosk in Thekkemar, Mogaru village. Bajpe Police, on their routine patrol on Wednesday evening, observed customers fleeing from the kiosk upon noticing the police vehicle. This suspicious activity prompted the police to investigate further.
Upon inspection of the kiosk, the police discovered 18 tetra packs containing up to 90 ml of liquor from various brands. Jayananda Kulal, the proprietor of the kiosk, was taken into custody. The FIR filed against him alleges that he procured liquor from a nearby shop in Thekkemar and sold it at an inflated price in his kiosk.
Despite the incident occurring on December 27, Bajpe Police refrained from informing the media about the case, leading to criticism on social media. Concerns were raised regarding the absence of information on the police blog, where details of recent cases are typically uploaded. Users also noted the contrasting handling of a recent cattle transport case, which was made available on the police blog.
In response to allegations of discrimination, Bajpe Station Inspector Sandeep clarified that there was no bias in their actions. He explained that if a case is related to the Excise Department, a police officer might refuse information, and in such instances, it is advisable for the media to contact senior officers for details.
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SC upholds inclusion of ‘secular, socialist’ in Preamble of Constitution
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the inclusion of the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the Preamble of the Constitution, confirming their retrospective application from November 26, 1949. The court ruled that the power to amend the Constitution under Article 368 extends to the Preamble, which is an integral part of the document.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna stated, “The power under Article 368 cannot be curtailed. It will equally apply to the Preamble.” The 42nd Constitutional Amendment, which introduced these terms in 1976 during the Emergency, was challenged on grounds of its retrospective application and the lack of states’ ratification.
The petitioners, including BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, argued that the amendment forced a particular economic theory on the nation and violated the original intent of the Constitution. Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay contended that the Preamble reflects the will of the people at the time of adoption in 1949 and is therefore unalterable.
The court dismissed these objections, affirming that both socialism and secularism are part of the Constitution's Basic Structure. The Bench clarified that socialism refers to a welfare state ensuring equality of opportunity without negating private sector participation or individualism. It emphasised that secularism is embedded in the Constitution, particularly in the principles of equality and fraternity.
Chief Justice Khanna remarked, “Secularism has always been a core feature of the Constitution.” He added that the amendment did not impose socialism as dogma but aligned with the welfare goals enshrined in various constitutional provisions.
