Mock Terror: Guj home minister assures action against culprit cops

January 2, 2015

Ahmedabad, Jan 2: Gujarat Minister of State for Home Rajni Patel today said the government will take action against policemen responsible for conducting the recent anti- terror mock drills, the videos of which showed dummy terrorists projected as Muslims, if found guilty.

Controversy stoked up when two videos of police's anti-terror mock drills surfaced within a span two days.

In one video of the drill conducted by Narmada district police which surfaced yesterday, policemen were seen holding two dummy terrorists shouting pro-Islamic slogans.

Prior to the Narmada police mock drill video, another video had come to light showing similar exercise conducted by Surat-Rural police where dummy terrorists were made to wear skullcaps.

Superintendents of Police of both the districts have already assured to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

Reacting to the controversy as well as allegations of showing terrorists belonging to a particular religion, Patel said terrorism should be treated in a neutral way.

"As the Vibrant Gujarat Summit (event) is approaching, police department is conducting mock drills across the state to check their preparedness. Terrorism is just terrorism and it should not be linked with anything else," Patel told media persons at Traffic Technology Summit held here today.

To a query whether the state government will call for an inquiry, Patel said investigation is underway by Surat and Narmada police.

"SPs of both the districts have been investigating the matter. We will take action based on the report submitted by them," he said.

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Can’t call any part of India ‘Pakistan’: SC closes proceedings against Karnataka HC Judge

News Network

September 25,2024

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today closed proceedings against Karnataka High Court Judge Justice Vedavyasachar Srishananda, following his public apology for controversial comments made during court sessions. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, leading a five-judge bench, stated that the decision was made in the interest of justice and the dignity of the judiciary.

Justice Srishananda during a recent court hearing. Justice Srishananda, while addressing a landlord-tenant dispute, referred to a Muslim-majority area in Bengaluru as "Pakistan" and made a misogynistic comment involving a woman lawyer. His comments, which went viral on social media, prompted the Supreme Court to seek a report from the Karnataka High Court, which was submitted shortly after the incident.

"No one can call any part of territory of India as 'Pakistan'," Chief Justice Chandrachud said. "It is fundamentally against the territorial integrity of the nation. The answer to sunlight is more sunlight and not to suppress what happens in court. The answer is not to close it down."

The Supreme Court had taken up the case on its own and had sought a report from the Karnataka High Court over the controversial remarks. A five-judge bench led by CJI Chandrachud, along with Justices S Khanna, B R Gavai, S Kant, and H Roy, had on September 20 expressed the need for establishing clear guidelines for constitutional court judges regarding their remarks in court.

"Casual observational may indicate personal biases especially when perceived to be directed at a certain gender or community. Thus one must be wary of making patriarchal or misogynistic comments. We express our serious concern about observations on a certain gender or a community and such observations are liable to be construed in a negative light. We hope and trust that the responsibilities entrusted to all stakeholders are discharged without bias and caution," CJI Chandrachud said today.

The Supreme Court bench said that when social media plays an active role in monitoring and amplifying courtroom proceedings, there is an urgency to ensure judicial commentary aligns with the decorum expected from courts of law.

Videos of Justice Srishanananda were viral on social media.

In one video, he refers to a Muslim-dominated locality in Bengaluru as "Pakistan" and in another video he was seen making objectionable comments against a woman lawyer. In the second incident, Justice Srishanananda can be heard telling the woman lawyer that she seemed to know a lot about the "opposition party", so much so that she might be able to reveal the colour of their undergarments.

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