Latest Kapil Sibal News | Top Kapil Sibal News Headlines Today | Today India news | Breaking Kapil Sibal News Today | English Kapil Sibal News Headlines - TheDailyGuardian

‘I Was Tasked by Court to Present Facts… It’s Evident One Individual Was Responsible,’ Kapil Sibal on RG Kar Rape-Murder Case

December 13, 2024, 6:43 pm

Veteran lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal delivered a thought-provoking virtual address at the Legally Speaking event organized by NewsX. In conversation with Editor-in-Chief Rishabh Gulati, Sibal discussed pivotal national and global issues, sharing personal anecdotes and offering advice.

The Role of Ideology in Law

When asked whether lawyers should align with specific ideologies, Sibal provided a clear and principled response:

“A lawyer’s only ideology is adherence to the Constitution and its values. When we argue in court, the Constitution is our sole guide—our ‘bible’. Outside the courtroom, one may hold personal ideologies, but within its confines, our loyalty is to the Constitution.”

This statement underscores the importance of impartiality and commitment to constitutional principles in the legal profession.

On Women’s Safety in Hospitals

Addressing the RG Kar Medical College case, where concerns about the safety of women doctors had emerged, Sibal clarified his role:

“I was tasked by the court to present facts regarding the case. The investigation has concluded, and it’s evident that one individual was responsible. He has been apprehended and is being prosecuted by the West Bengal Police.”

He emphasized that women’s safety in hospitals is a nationwide issue requiring urgent attention.

India’s Growing Population and Parliamentary Seats

On whether India needs more parliamentarians to address its growing population, Sibal referred to Mohan Bhagwat’s recent remarks encouraging families to have three children:

“I hope this isn’t a call to increase population. What we truly need are robust systems to manage complexity in governance as our population grows.”

He addressed concerns over parliamentary seat allocation potentially disadvantaging southern and northeastern states post-census, stressing the need for a fair and thoughtful approach:

“States that have successfully managed population growth shouldn’t be penalized. The country must reflect deeply before making decisions to ensure fairness for all regions.”

Sibal acknowledged the necessity of increasing parliamentary seats to better reflect India’s demographic realities and governance demands.

Protecting Minority Rights

Sibal highlighted the importance of safeguarding minority rights globally, with specific reference to Hindus in Bangladesh:

“Minorities anywhere in the world must be safeguarded. Our government and India as a nation must be vocal about protecting Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. The same principle applies to minorities within India and globally.”

His remarks underscore India’s potential role as a voice for the vulnerable on the international stage.

Rapid Fire with Kapil Sibal

In a lighter segment, Sibal shared some of his personal favorites:

Movies: Films of Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan.

Songs: Classics by Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi.

Holiday Destination: “Anywhere beautiful and worth exploring.”

Also read: ‘Decrease in Population Welcome, What We Lack Are Employment Opportunities’: MP Karti Chidambaram

Advice for Aspiring Lawyers

For young legal professionals, Sibal offered three key pieces of advice:

“Be honest, work hard, and have clarity in your motives.”

Kapil Sibal’s session blended profound insights with personal reflections, showcasing his legal acumen, political thoughtfulness, and human touch. From advocating constitutional fidelity to addressing critical governance challenges, his remarks serve as a reminder of the responsibilities of leaders and professionals in shaping a just and equitable society.

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case Hearing: SG Tushar Mehta Rebukes Kapil Sibal, ‘Somebody Has Lost Their Life, Don’t At Least Laugh’

August 22, 2024, 6:53 pm

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, admonished West Bengal government counsel Kapil Sibal during a Supreme Court hearing on the Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder case. Mehta criticized Sibal for allegedly laughing while he detailed the serious lapses in the police’s handling of the FIR.

Watch:

“Somebody has lost their life. Don’t at least laugh,” says Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to Weat Bengal Govt counsel Kapil Sibal in Supreme Court just now: pic.twitter.com/W9LIcXDYPB

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) August 22, 2024

The CBI presented its status report to the Supreme Court, revealing critical issues in the investigation. The report indicated that the crime scene had been tampered with and that the victim’s family was misled about the cause of death. Initially, the family was informed that their daughter had died by suicide. It was only later that it became apparent she had been murdered.

Mehta highlighted the troubling delay in filing the FIR, noting that it was recorded at 11:45 pm, after the victim had already been cremated. He pointed out that the family had been incorrectly told that the death was a suicide and that the doctor’s friends had insisted on videography to reveal the truth.

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, found the delay and mishandling of the case by Kolkata Police to be “extremely disturbing.” The Court questioned why the post-mortem was conducted before the case was formally registered, and ordered the Kolkata Police officer responsible for the initial entry to appear in the next hearing to explain the timing.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court urged protesting doctors to return to work, assuring them that no punitive action would be taken against them upon resuming their duties. The Court expressed concern for public health and emphasized the importance of doctors continuing their work to maintain hospital operations.

The brutal murder of the junior doctor, which has sparked nationwide protests, was initially reported to involve a civic volunteer who was arrested by the Kolkata Police the day after the discovery of her body.

Kapil Sibal Slams UP Govt For Kanwar Yatra Guidelines

July 20, 2024, 2:31 pm

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has sharply criticized the Uttar Pradesh government’s directive requiring food shops along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their owners’ names. He urged leaders to focus on development rather than divisive issues.

Sibal argued that the ongoing debates about the yatra are distracting from India’s progress and called on the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Chief Ministers to avoid exploiting these matters for political purposes.

He stressed that pressing economic and political challenges, such as unemployment, are being overshadowed by these less critical issues.

“The politics that is happening on the Kanwar Yatra is not going to take India towards becoming Viksit Bharat. The Prime Minister, Home Minister and Chief Ministers should not raise such issues…The common man has nothing to do with these issues…Such issues will later be raised in Parliament, and issues of economic and political challenges, will not be discussed there,” Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said while addressing a press conference on Saturday.

Sibal highlighted the government’s “negligence” regarding the unemployment crisis by referencing a recent job opening in Uttar Pradesh that received 47 lakh applications for only 60,000 available positions.

“I would like to especially tell the CMs of UP and Uttarakhand to stop this. Kanwar Yatra has happened before as well. Those who are on the Yatra know everything, where to eat and where not to eat,” he said.

He further criticized the government’s priorities by stating, “With the upcoming budget, everything will be clear to everyone” and stressed the importance of focusing on “educating children” and enhancing conditions for “children and women.”

In contrast, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey defended the guidelines, stating that such a regulation was originally introduced in Uttar Pradesh during the tenures of Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati.

“This law was made by the Akhilesh Yadav government, Mayawati government. Everybody is equal in this law. What is unconstitutional in this? Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians all have to install nameplates. BJP respects the law”.

In the midst of the controversy in Uttar Pradesh, the Haridwar Police Administration has also mandated that restaurant owners along the Kanwar Yatra route display their names. Haridwar SSP Padmendra Dobal stated that hotels, dhabas, and restaurants have been instructed to comply, and any violations will result in legal action.

“Regarding the preparations for Kanwar, we have given general instructions to the hotels, dhabas, restaurants, and hawkers on the Kanwar route that they will write the name of the owner on their shops and if they fail to do so, we will take legal action against them. Many times, a situation of dispute arises due to this, hence this decision has been taken by us,” he told reporters.

Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also condemned the move, urging the court to take suo-motu notice of the issue. He described such directives as “social crimes” and warned that they could undermine the region’s peaceful atmosphere.

Taking it to a social media post on X, Akhilesh Yadav wrote, “And what will be known from the name of the person whose name is Guddu, Munna, Chhotu or Fateh? The honourable court should take suo-motto cognizance and investigate the intention of the government behind such administration, and take appropriate punitive action. Such orders are social crimes that want to spoil the peaceful environment of harmony.”

Previously, the Muzaffarnagar Police stated that they have requested all eateries to “voluntarily display” the names of their owners and staff. They clarified that the purpose of this order is not to foster “religious discrimination” but to assist the devotees.

“During the Shravan Kanwar Yatra, a large number of Kanwariyas from neighbouring states, via Western Uttar Pradesh, collect water from Haridwar and pass through Muzaffarnagar district. During the holy month of Shravan, many people, especially Kanwariyas, abstain from certain food items in their diet,” the Muzaffarnagar police stated.

“In the past, such instances have come to light where some shopkeepers selling all types of food items on Kanwar Marg named their shops in such a way that it created confusion among the Kanwariyas and created a law and order situation. To prevent such a recurrence and in view of the faith of the devotees, hotels, dhabas and shopkeepers selling food items on Kanwar Marg have been requested to voluntarily display the names of their owners and employees. The intention of this order is not to create any kind of religious discrimination but only to facilitate the devotees passing through Muzaffarnagar district, counter allegations and save the law and order situation. This system has been prevalent in the past, too,” it added.

Kapil Sibal Accuses Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar of Bias

June 17, 2024, 12:27 pm

Former Union minister Kapil Sibal accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar of favoring the ruling party during the recent Lok Sabha elections, urging the Opposition to take some form of action.

“It is better to speak less of the Election Commission of India, especially the Chief Election Commissioner. His attitude has been biased. I think that the Opposition needs to act on it,” Sibal said in an interview with ANI on Sunday.

When questioned about the CEC’s impartiality, the Rajya Sabha MP highlighted how the Election Commission ‘does not even respond to the Opposition.’

“Everyone knows the reason. If notices are not served even to those individuals making statements that are against the Penal Code, and could lead to prosecution under several sections…the way there are differences between the votes polled and vote counted…all these are serious issues,” the ex-Congress leader stated.

“If elections are not conducted impartially through the specified structure, then our democracy is in danger,” he added.

The senior Supreme Court advocate also emphasized that opposition parties need to discuss whether ‘free and fair polls’ are possible under ‘partial’ constitutional institutions.

However, Sibal refrained from commenting on the controversy surrounding the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which has resurfaced following allegations of ‘malpractice’ at a counting center for the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency, where Shiv Sena’s Ravindra Waikar narrowly defeated Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) candidate Amol Kirtikar by just 48 votes.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s April verdict on the voting machines, the 75-year-old politician-lawyer said:

“When the Supreme Court asked us to trust our machines, and told us to trust the Election Commission,…if the Supreme Court itself is trusting them (ECI), why should I comment on them? If we start trusting the government, the machines, then all work should be done mechanically. Why do courts exist then? If we start trusting the government, then what is the use of giving verdicts?”

Kapil Sibal: BJP Suffered Setbacks From Fifth Phase Of LS Polls Onwards

May 25, 2024, 4:29 pm

Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal claimed on Saturday that starting from the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has encountered setbacks, with voters shifting their focus from the Ram temple to issues like inflation and unemployment.

“The information I am receiving indicates significant changes in the fifth and sixth phases. The momentum seen in these phases was absent earlier. People are now discussing inflation, unemployment, and other local issues, which will significantly impact the BJP,” Sibal told ANI.

Sibal highlighted that in the 2019 general election, the BJP garnered substantial support from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities, but this trend has changed in the current election. “If the coalition of Muslims, OBCs, SCs, STs, and Yadavs forms, it will hurt the BJP. Don’t take their ‘400-plus seats’ slogan seriously; it’s become a joke,” he said.

The sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election is currently underway, with polling for 58 parliamentary constituencies across six states and two Union Territories. This phase includes eight seats in Bihar, all ten seats in Haryana, one seat in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal. A total of 889 candidates are competing in this phase.

Odisha is also holding elections for 42 assembly constituencies simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. All parliamentary seats in Delhi and Haryana are part of this phase.

Key constituencies in this phase include New Delhi, North-East Delhi, North-West Delhi, and Chandni Chowk in the national capital, as well as Sultanpur and Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. Other notable seats are Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag-Rajouri, West Bengal’s Tamluk and Medinipur, Haryana’s Karnal, Kurukshetra, Gurgaon, and Rohtak, and Odisha’s Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Sambalpur. The stakes are high for the BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and other constituents of the INDIA bloc in this phase.

So far, polling has been completed in 428 parliamentary constituencies across 25 states and UTs during the first five phases of the general elections. Over 11.13 crore voters, including 5.84 crore men, 5.29 crore women, and 5,120 third-gender electors, are eligible to vote in the sixth phase. Approximately 11.4 lakh polling officials are involved in conducting this phase of the election.

The Lok Sabha elections will conclude on June 1 after the seventh phase, with voters from 57 constituencies casting their votes. The results will be announced on June 4.

Sibal Criticizes EC for PM Modi’s Ram Temple Remark: ‘Has Power to Lock Such Statements But…'”

May 8, 2024, 4:09 pm

Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s accusation against the Congress regarding their alleged intention to stall the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal raised doubts on the feasibility of such claims. Referring to expelled Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam’s allegations against Rahul Gandhi, suggesting plans to overturn the Supreme Court verdict on the Ram Temple, PM Modi urged voters to ensure a BJP-led NDA victory with “400 seats” to prevent the Congress from hindering the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

In an interview with ANI on Wednesday, the former Congress leader raised doubts about the practicality of placing a lock on the Ram Mandir. He questioned whether the Prime Minister’s statement was a mere prediction and highlighted the Election Commission’s authority to address such remarks, which he believes violate the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

Criticizing the Election Commission for its inaction, he suggested that it lacks the courage to reprimand influential campaigners, insinuating political bias. He further implied that during elections, independent agencies align with specific political factions, suggesting a lack of impartiality.

During a large gathering in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of securing a 400-seat mandate for the BJP-led NDA. He expressed concern that such a mandate would prevent the Congress from reinstating Article 370 in Kashmir and hindering the construction progress of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

In response to PM Modi’s statement urging people to choose between ‘vote jihad’ and ‘Ram Rajya’, Kapil Sibal criticized the divisive nature of such remarks. He questioned whether such statements align with the vision of a developed India (‘Viksit Bharat’), suggesting they may not foster unity among different communities and sections of society. Sibal urged PM Modi to refrain from making statements that could further polarize the nation, emphasizing that such rhetoric contradicts the principles of democracy and national development.

Kapil Sibal criticized the Election Commission for not taking action against PM Modi’s statement about wealth redistribution, where he alleged that the Congress planned to take mangalsutras from women. Sibal questioned why the EC didn’t send the notice directly to PM Modi instead of addressing it to the BJP. He suggested that the EC’s actions showed bias towards the government and the ruling party. Sibal expressed disappointment with the EC’s failure to fulfill its duties properly, considering it sent a mild notice to the BJP instead of directly addressing the individual responsible for the statement.

SC to hear 237 Petitions challenging implementation of CAA today

March 19, 2024, 9:49 am

Amid the contentious backdrop of the Centre’s decision to enforce the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) shortly before the Lok Sabha elections, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a cluster of 237 petitions challenging the law today. Heading the proceedings will be Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, accompanied by Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

Among the petitioners are various entities, including the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), predominantly active in Kerala, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Trinamool leader Mahua Moitra, and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

Promptly following the Centre’s notification of the CAA rules, these organizations swiftly approached the Supreme Court, urging a halt to the law’s implementation, branding it as “discriminatory” against the Muslim community.

In 2019, when the Citizenship Amendment Bill passed in Parliament, several petitions were filed against it. However, the court refrained from halting its enactment as the rules were not yet in place. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal informed the court that a pause was not considered previously since the rules were not finalized. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta dismissed the relevance of the timing of the rule notification before the elections.

The CAA offers a route to Indian citizenship for non-Muslim migrants fleeing religious persecution from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian communities who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, are eligible for citizenship under this act.

Critics, including opposition parties, have censured the Narendra Modi government for implementing the law four years after its passage in Parliament, alleging it as a strategy to sway elections, particularly in West Bengal and Assam.

In contrast to the opposition’s contentions, the Centre defended the constitutionality of the CAA, with Home Minister Amit Shah accusing them of disseminating falsehoods. He reiterated the BJP’s commitment to enacting the CAA in its 2019 manifesto and attributed the delay in implementation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shah assured minorities that the CAA does not revoke any citizen’s rights.

J&K Assembly Elections to Follow SC Directive :BJP’s Tarun Chugh

March 17, 2024, 4:41 pm

On Sunday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Tarun Chugh stated that the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will take place as per the directives of the Supreme Court.

“Everybody has faith in the Election Commission. According to the Supreme Court’s direction, the elections will happen in Jammu and Kashmir in September,” he said.

Earlier today, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal remarked that it was surprising yet anticipated.

“Shocking, but that is expected. They will have no polls in J&K, and what is even more shocking is that Sonam Wangchuk, who is on fast, wants to have ‘district hill status’ and they are not even providing that,” he said.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls would take place following the Lok Sabha elections.

In an interview with ANI, CEC Kumar said, “We are yet to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. I mentioned in the press conference earlier today that the way for conducting legal elections has opened since December 23. This is March, and there is snowfall in the region, hence the question of holding elections does not arise at this point.”

“We (ECI) went to Jammu and Kashmir and were asked by all the political parties there to hold the state assembly elections with the Lok Sabha polls. After that, we held administrative meetings wherein it was discussed that a lot of security forces would be required to conduct state assembly election with Lok Sabha election in J-K,” he said.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar revealed on Saturday that the general election for 543 Lok Sabha seats would occur in seven phases, commencing from April 19. The counting is scheduled for June 4.

With the announcement of dates, nearly 97 crore voters will have the eligibility to cast their votes for 543 Lok Sabha constituencies across the nation. Consequently, the moral code of conduct comes into effect immediately.

Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren remanded to 5-days ED custody

February 2, 2024, 1:47 pm

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, has been remanded to a five-day custody by the High Court in connection with an alleged land scam case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Hemant Soren following multiple summons and extensive questioning on Wednesday night. Previously, a special PMLA court in Ranchi had ordered him to one-day judicial custody.

The ED reported the recovery of over Rs 36 lakh in cash and documents relevant to the ongoing land scam investigation during Soren’s arrest. The agency asserted that the former CM had allegedly acquired 8.5 acres of land as part of criminal proceeds. A raid conducted on April 13, 2023, exposed property-related records in the possession of Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad. The ED revealed that Bhanu Pratap Prasad and others were part of a large syndicate engaged in corrupt practices related to acquiring properties through force or false deeds.

In response, Hemant Soren moved the Supreme Court challenging his ED arrest, but the court directed him to approach the concerned High Court. The Supreme Court bench, comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh, and Bela M. Trivedi, declined to entertain the petition, suggesting that the petitioner approach the jurisdictional High Court. The court acknowledged that Soren could urge the High Court to expedite the case. Despite Soren’s argument, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing him, acknowledged that courts are open to everyone, emphasizing the constitutional role of High Courts.

Soren contested the ED’s summons as illegal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, seeking to quash the impugned summons and related proceedings. He claimed constant harassment by the ED, alleging misuse of authority and powers by the probe agency on behalf of political authorities. The investigation involves the alleged forgery of official records to acquire substantial land parcels through fake transactions, with the proceeds estimated in crores.

BJP is like the camel in the tent:Sibal’s remark after the AIADMK walks out of NDA

September 26, 2023, 10:43 am

On Tuesday, Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal attacked the BJP for the AIADMK’s decision to leave the National Democratic Alliance, claiming that another ally had defected and those who remained were in “opportunistic alliances with no ideological glue.”

The AIADMK announced on Monday that it was leaving the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and that it would head a separate front for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, breaking its four-year relationship with the BJP. A high-level meeting at the AIADMK headquarters in Chennai, presided over by party leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, decided to leave the NDA.

In a post on X, Sibal said, “AIADMK exits NDA. Yet another ally leaves them! Those still with them are opportunistic alliances with no ideological glue: Pawar & Shinde in Maharashtra & alliances in the North East.” The BJP is like the “camel in the tent”, he said.

Sibal, a Union minister during UPA I and II, left the Congress in May of last year and received support from the Samajwadi Party to be elected as an Independent to the Rajya Sabha.

It is very unfortunate, says former CJI Ranjan Gogoi on horrific Manipur video

July 20, 2023, 5:07 pm

A day after a two-month-old viral video of two women paraded naked in Manipur surfaced on social media, former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi called the event “unfortunate.”

However, the Rajya Sabha MP refused to comment on the matter. “There is nothing to comment. It is very sad…Of course, it is very unfortunate,” the former CJI said.

A video of the two-month-old incident went viral, eliciting harsh reactions from several political groups and sparking indignation.

According to a senior police official, the crime occurred on May 4 in Manipur’s Thoubal district, and a case of kidnapping, gangrape, and murder has been filed.

Superintendent of Police (SP), K Meghachandra Singh in a statement on July 19 said, “As regards the video of 2 (two) women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on 4th May 2023, a case of abduction, gangrape and murder was registered at Nongpok Sekmai Police Station (Thoubal district) against unknown armed miscreants.”

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said that we should hang our heads in shame.

“We should hang our heads in shame that this is happening in our country,” Sibal said while speaking to news agency.

Unfortunate, we should hang our heads in shame, says Kapil Sibal on Manipur horrific video incident

July 20, 2023, 1:49 pm

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal remarked on Thursday that the viral video of two women parading naked in Manipur was “unfortunate” and that we should hang our heads in shame.

“We should hang our heads in shame that this is happening in our country,” Sibal said while speaking to media agency.

In addition taking note of PM Modi’s statement on the horrific video, Sibal further commented, “The Prime Minister’s remarks came after Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud asked the government to take action and listed the matter for Friday.”

“Today, after the remarks of the Supreme Court, the PM gave a statement. Why is the Home Minister silent? What happened to ‘Beti Padhao Beti Bachao’? Will you save daughters like this?” he added.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court said it was “deeply disturbed” by the video in which two tribal women were paraded naked and molested, and asked the Centre and State to take action against the perpetrators.

A bench comprised of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra said it was “simply unacceptable,” and using women as an instrument in violence is unacceptable.

While taking suo motu cognizance of a video that emerged online yesterday, the bench asked the Centre and State to appraise the step taken on the issue.

“Simply unacceptable. Using women as an instrument in an area of communal strife to inflict gender violence is deeply disturbing. This is the grossest of constitutional abuse and human rights violations. We are deeply disturbed by the videos which have emerged. If the government does not act, we will,” CJI said.

For the next 5 years win people’s hearts, Kapil Sibal’s message to Congress

May 14, 2023, 5:25 pm

A day after the Congress won the Karnataka assembly elections, Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal advised his former party to win “people’s hearts” in the state for the next five years by being “open, honest, and non-discriminatory.”

In a tweet, Sibal wrote, “Karnataka, winning elections is tough. Winning people’s hearts is tougher! For the next 5 years win people’s hearts by being: open, honest, non-discriminatory.”

He further added, “BJP lost for not being any of this!”

Sibal, a Union minister in successive Congress-led UPA governments, resigned from the Congress in May last year and was elected to the upper house as an Independent member with the support of the Samajwadi Party.

Sibal was also a member of the G23, a group of dissenting Congress leaders who expressed concerns about the party’s functioning and called for reforms and introspection. He recently launched ‘Insaaf,’ a non-electoral platform aimed at combating injustice.

Earlier while reacting to the Karnataka election results, Sibal penned, “The PM lost, The people of Karnataka won. No to: 40%, Kerala story, Divisive politics, Arrogance, Falsehood. Congress deserved to win.”

In Karnataka, the Congress successfully ran an aggressive campaign against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on corruption and price rises, winning 135 seats in the 224-member assembly. The grand old increased its vote share by more than 4% across Karnataka’s various regions.

India most populous nation: Sibal cites GDP, inflation, and unemployment figures

April 20, 2023, 11:07 am

New Delhi, Apr 20:With India on track to become the world’s most populous country, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal urged people to consider GDP, unemployment, and annual inflation, pointing out that India lags behind its neighbour China on these measures. Sibal, a former human resource development minister who frequently criticises the government, shared data on Twitter comparing India and China in order to highlight the gap between the two countries on key parameters such as GDP and inflation. According to the most recent UN data, India is on track to become the world’s most populous country, with 142.86 crore people. Sibal, an Independent MP, said in a tweet, “India ahead of China: India has 1428 million people, while China has 1425 million. Other indicators (2021), according to World Bank data: China has a GDP of USD 17.73 trillion, while India has a GDP of $3.18 trillion. China has 4.8% unemployment, while India has 7.7%. China has 1% annual inflation (consumer prices), while India has 5.1%. Consider it!” The Congress also chastised the government over unemployment on Wednesday, after UN data revealed that the country was on track to become the most populous in the world.

According to Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate, the population is growing and India is becoming the world’s youngest country, but where are the jobs for our youth?

“What used to be called a demographic dividend can now be called a demographic disaster because our youth do not have jobs and there is no talk of them getting jobs,” she had said.

Kapil Sibal hits back Amit Shah over ‘no riots’ remark in BJP regime

April 3, 2023, 4:24 pm

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal slammed Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday over his remark that riots don’t occur under BJP rule. Sibal termed it “another jumla.” He also mentioned the incidence of communal violence under a BJP government in the Centre and in several states.

While speaking at a public meeting in Hisua, which falls under Bihar’s Nawada district, Amit Shah stated that riots don’t take place under the BJP’s regime.

He further added that, “Let’s give a chance to PM Modi to return to power in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and vote for the BJP to form its own government in the assembly polls to be held in Bihar in 2025.

Reacting to Shah’s remark, Sibal said that “5415 communal riots took place between 2014-2020 as per the NCRB data.

Regarding the occurrence of communal violence in West Bengal and Bihar, Sibal questioned on Sunday the silence of PM Modi regarding the matter and said, “Let not the 2024 general elections be the reason” for the violence.

Kejriwal’s law department rejects legal bills of senior advocates

November 29, 2022, 4:12 pm

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government’s Law Department has refused to pay a number of bills submitted by attorneys totaling millions of rupees since the minister Kailash Gehlot flagrantly broke financial regulations and the conditions of his contracts.

According to the sources, it is clear that minister Gehlot intentionally broke the regulations in order to avoid paying the payments and shift the blame to the Law Department while doing so while well aware of the requirements to be met.

According to sources, the Law Department has turned down several bills, including one for Rs. 15.5 lakh submitted by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal and another for Rs. 980,000 submitted by Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, citing blatant violations of regulations set forth by the Aam Aadmi Party government itself for the engagement of senior advocates and advocates on record (AoR).

According to the sources, the department also refused to approve the direct engagement of Kailash Gehlot, the law minister, and senior attorneys Kapil Sibal, Rahul Mehra, Jyoti Mendiratta, and Sudhanshu Padhi (AoRs) in a number of cases without following the proper procedures.

The sources claimed that Gehlot engaged in this act in blatant defiance of the law and in violation of the regulations, which essentially call for the agreement of the Finance Department before the Law Department moves a proposal into the Law Minister’s approval folder.

In light of this, the Principal Secretary (Law) has informed the Law Minister, Chief Minister, and Lieutenant Governor in a report that the department is unable to handle the case due to the rule violation.

It should be noted that the established procedure for hiring and paying senior attorneys to represent the government in the Supreme Court and High Court entails determining the amount owed to the attorneys prior to their hiring and securing the Finance Department’s approval of the agreed-upon sum. Only after obtaining the law minister’s consent on file—which must first be granted by the LG—can someone be hired, according to the sources.

Blasting Modi govt over new IT rules, Kapil Sibal : ‘Comprehensive capture of media’

October 29, 2022, 4:32 pm

Former Union information technology minister and Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal blasted the government on Saturday for the latest amendments to the IT Rules, claiming it is a “comprehensive capture of media.”

On Friday, the government announced the regulations under which it would establish appeals panels to address complaints that users might have over choices made by social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram regarding the hosting of controversial content.

First, they captured the TV networks and now, they are going to capture social media platforms. It’s the comprehensive capture of media,” Sibal said.

“Taking a dig at the Centre, the former Congress leader said, “We are moving towards one code of conduct, one political party, one system of governance and no answerability to anyone.”

He added, “Safe for the government and unsafe for others, that’s what the policy of this government always has been… The only platform left for ordinary citizens was social media; when statements defamatory are made… people will be prosecuted.”

However, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the union’s minister of information technology, asserted that the revised IT rules will provide social media firms more explicit due diligence requirements to ensure that no illegal content or false information is placed on their platforms.

On the formation of three-member Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs), the minister said the move was necessitated as the government is aware of lakhs of messages from citizens where grievances were not responded to by social media firms despite complaints.

“That is not acceptable,” Chandrasekhar said at a briefing.

He added that the government wants social media companies to work as partners to ensure the interests of “digital nagriks” are ensured.

“The obligations of intermediaries earlier was limited to notifying users of rules but now there will be much more definite obligations on platforms. Intermediaries have to make efforts that no unlawful content is posted on the platform,” he said.

Opposition blasts Modi govt over release of Bilkis Bano’s rapists.

October 18, 2022, 2:30 pm

The opposition has blasted Modi government after the Gujarat government revealed in front of the Supreme Court on Monday that the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) had authorised the early release of 11 convicts who had been given life sentences in 2008 for the gang rape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of seven of her family members.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said he was “not surprised anymore at what this government does”.

“D Y Chandrachud. Next CJI. Not surprised any more at what this government does: Granting remission to rapist-murderers. Not surprised any more by what the court does: Stays acquittal in a special hearing on a Saturday. Will there be a new dawn when Chandrachud J takes over?” Sibal tweeted.

According to the affidavit submitted by the state government on Monday, remission was granted in August despite protests from the judge of the trial court who found the 11 men accused and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had investigated and brought the case to Mumbai after the Gujarat trial was ordered to be moved outside of Gujarat in 2004. However, the remission order was not given till August 10, after the MHA and the pertinent Gujarat government officials, including the jail advisory council, cleared the way for the release of the 11 rapists.

“SP, CBI Special Crime Branch said no. Special Civil Judge, CBI said no. City Civil&Sessions Court of Mumbai said no. But Gujarat Govt & Union Home Ministry said yes to release the rapists of Bilkis Bano. Shame would be too mild a word to condemn this sickness,” Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi reacted on Twitter.

Shama Mohamed, the national spokeswoman for the Congress, challenges the administration on this matter.

“Gujarat govt’s affidavit shows that SP, CBI, SCB & Special Judge(CBI), Mumbai opposed the remission of #BilkisBano case convicts’ sentence. It was only the BJP govt which pushed for their early release. @narendramodi & @AmitShah will have to answer to the women of India!” Mohamed wrote in a tweet.

When Bano was gangraped while trying to escape the bloodshed during the Gujarat riots in 2002, she was 21 years old, five months pregnant, and one of the seven fatalities was her three-year-old daughter. Bano issued a statement via her attorney in which she said that the most recent event had caused her to lose faith in the administration of justice. She pleaded for the Gujarati government to “undo this harm” and give her back the “right to live without fear and in peace”.

Supreme Court live-streaming hearings for first time today

September 27, 2022, 1:27 pm

The Supreme Court went live for the first time on Tuesday when the cases’ hearings, which were planned to be livestreamed during the day, could be viewed online. One of the three cases slated for live streaming was from Maharashtra and pitted Team Uddhav Thackeray against Team Eknath Shinde over a dispute over the Shiv Sena’s symbol, with the Election Commission already involved. This was the second live hearing where the attorney, Kapil Sibal, could be seen arguing.

Live broadcasting was recommended by the Supreme Court around four years ago.

The former chief justice of India, Dipak Misra, had passed the landmark ruling on September 27 on the live telecast of important proceedings, saying “sunlight is the best disinfectant”.

Following discussion on the issue by the whole top court on September 20, it was decided to begin live-streaming constitutional bench hearings this week. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Uday Umesh Lalit presided over the whole court meeting, and all the judges agreed that constitutional matters should be the first to be streamed live on a regular basis.

A bold plan to integrate the use of information and technology with India’s judiciary, the e-courts project’s third phase included the proposal to have an exclusive platform for live-streaming Supreme Court sessions.

The high courts in Gujarat, Orissa, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Patna, and Madhya Pradesh are some of the high courts that broadcast hearings live as well.

Kapil Sibal calls out the apex court, says ‘No hope left’

August 8, 2022, 2:58 pm

Parliamentaran and Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal has expressed their disapprobation over certain recent judgements of the Supreme Court, saying ‘he has no hope left’ in the institution.

Expressing his displeasure, he said, “If you think you will get relief from the Supreme Court, you are hugely mistaken. And I am saying this after completing 50 years of practise in the Supreme Court.”

He asserted that none of the landmark judgements changed the ground reality.

He further added, “This year I will complete 50 years of practising in the Supreme Court and, after 50 years, I feel I have no hope from the institution. You talk about progressive judgements delivered by the Supreme Court, but there is a huge difference between what happens at the ground level. The Supreme Court gave judgement on privacy and ED officers came to your home… Where is your privacy? “

Sibal criticised the Supreme Court for dismissing the appeal brought by Zakia Jafri, the widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who questioned the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) “clean chit” given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several others in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots; upholding the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which grant the Enforcement Directorate broad authority; and dismissing an appeal brought in 2009 calling for an independent investigation into the extra-judicial killing of 17 tribal people

All these decisions were made by a panel headed by retired Justice AM Khanwilkar. Sibal had appeared on behalf of petitioners who were contesting the terms of the PMLA Act as well as Zakia Jafri.

He added that only a few judges are chosen to hear “sensitive cases,” and the legal community typically learns the verdict’s conclusion in advance.

“I do not want to talk like this about a court where I have practised for 50 years, but the time has come. If we don’t speak it, who will? The reality is such that any sensitive matter which we know has a problem is placed before certain judges and we know the outcome,” stated Sibal.

He also brought up the Dharma Sansad case that is currently before the Supreme Court, claiming that it has been heard and the governments have been asked for their reply. According to him, the accused were not detained and, even if they had been, they had been released on bail within one to two days. After a two-week break, they resumed attending Dharma Sansad meetings.