Judiciary has no right to give verdict on religious issues: Justice Santosh Hegde
Bengaluru, October 30: Former Supreme Court Judge Justice N Santosh Hegde opined that the judiciary has no right to give verdict on religious issues as they have to respect the community rights in a democratic system.
Speaking at a symposium on the impact of Supreme Court verdicts on socio-economic and political fields in the country, here on Tuesday, Justice Hegde said that in recent years, the courts have been giving judgements beyond their limitations. Fifteen days back, the Supreme Court has taken up two important issues like allowing women to Shabarimalai temple and Rama Mandir. But the religious issues should be left to the community or society. Interference of courts in such issues was not acceptable, he said.
“The courts should give interim verdicts on religious issues and then, they should direct the Legislative and Executive to solve the problem by giving time to decide what is wrong and what is not. The recent Supreme Court verdict on banning crackers is also out of its purview. Crackers have been bursting in the country since many years. There was no need for court intervention in this issue. It could have directed the Legislature to manufacture green crackers and distribute them”, the Justice said.
When Kings were ruling the country, there was no option for the subjects to speak against the rulers. Even after the independence, there was no freedom for courts to give verdicts against the governments. But later, the judiciary had become stronger. There was a good opinion on the Supreme Court in the country as well as in abroad. But the recent incident of three SC Judges’ press conference had affected the reputation of the Apex Court and it was not a good development. He was proud for working for more than 35 years in the judiciary. But he was not happy for the present developments, he said hoping that the glory of the Supreme Court would return in future.
Political analyst Prof Sandeep Shastry said that the Judiciary has to intervene if the Legislature and Executive failed in their responsibility. But in India, the system was in ICU. So, the Supreme Court has to work as a doctor. Both the estates of the country should get fast recovery. The ruling and opposition parties have been trying to keep the system in ICU for their personal gains. So, they were against to take many issues front. Emotional issues like Shabarimalai and Rama Mandir of Ayodhya would not have any solution from the courts, he added.
Bantwala first Grade College principal Dr Ajjakala Girish Bhat, Arts College principal Prof Malleshwarappa and others were present.
“After the establishment of the Supreme Court, it has given thousands of verdicts in favour of the general public and thus ensured the peace in the country. So, such a judicial system should remain forever. It should further strengthen the public belief and confidence on judiciary. Judges should not bring their personal agenda in the verdicts”.
- Justice N Santosh Hegde, Former SC Judge
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BMTC collects over Rs 19 lakh as fine from those travelling without tickets, occupying ladies seat
Bengaluru (PTI): The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has collected over Rs 19 lakh as a penalty from 10,069 passengers who were penalised for travelling without tickets and occupying seats exclusively reserved for ladies in the last three months, officials said on Thursday.
The checking staff of BMTC have intensified checking of buses operated in and around Bengaluru City to detect ticketless travelling by passengers, they said.
According to BMTC, during the months of August, September and October, the checking staff checked 57,219 trips and penalised 8,891 ticketless passengers by collecting Rs 17,96,030 as penalty and 5,268 cases were booked against conductors for their dereliction of duty.
During the same period, they have also penalised 1,178 male passengers for occupying seats exclusively reserved for lady passengers and imposed fines by collecting Rs 1,17,800 in accordance with the KMV (Karnataka Motor Vehicle) Rules of the MV Act of 1988.
"In total, during the months of August, September and October, 10,069 passengers were penalised and Rs 19,13,830 was collected," the BTMC officials stated.
