Karnataka High Court quashes sedition case against Shaheen School Management
New Delhi: The Karnataka High Court Kalaburagi Bench on Wednesday quashed sedition and other charges that were registered against Shaheen School management by a right wing leader from Bidar for making satirical comments in a play critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government.
Justice Hemant Chandangoudar quashed the case after hearing Senior Counsel Amit Kumar Deshpande on behalf of Shaheen School Management.
A sedition was slapped against Shaheen School, a private school in Karnataka's Bidar for staging anti-CAA themed play by class 4 students in January 2020. It was alleged that the scripted play had communal slurs and anti-Modi slogans.
The Bidar police had lodged an FIR under sections 504, 505(2), 124(A) and 153 (A) of the IPC, based on the complaint by one Neelesh Rakshyala.
Shaheen Group of institutions contested the allegations and said that the Police were treating the children as "anti-nationals" and visiting the school daily.
On August 17, 2021, the Bangalore Bench of the Karnataka High Court made a statement stating that the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015 and children's rights were violated by the presence of armed police officers while questioning children in connection with the same case.
The current MLA of Mudigere constituency, Nayana Jyothi Jhawar, filed this petition in relation to children's rights. The petition claimed that 85 students, some of whom were as young as nine years old, had to endure police questioning, which had an adverse effect on children's psychology.
Speaking to Media Dr. Abdul Qadeer Chairman Shaheen Group of Institutions expressed his belief in the court's ability to deliver justice. He thanked advocates, the media, and other friends for their support during challenging times.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
