Body of a farmer not traced even after three days, suspected to be swept away
NDRF team searching in Tunga river
Chikmagaluru, June 29: The fire brigade and national disaster response force (NDRF) team, with the help of boats, have been searching for the body of farmer Umesh from Nemmar village, suspected to be washed away in Tunga river, from Friday morning. But no clues were available for the rescue teams.
The Tunga river was flowing above the danger level due to heavy rains in Sringeri taluk for the last three days. At this time, Umesh had been to the river for fishing. But when he did not return even after next day morning, his family members lodged a complaint in the Sringeri police station suspecting that he might have swept away in the river.
On Thursday, Sringeri police, fire brigade and a team of officials led by tahsildar had searched for the body of Umesh in the river. But there was no clue about his death. But the district administration has decided to take up the searching operation from the NDRF team and from Friday morning, more than 15 members of NDRF searched in the river in two teams on Friday. Along with the NDRF, police and fire brigade teams also participated in the operation. In the evening, the searching teams did not get any information about Umesh.
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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.
