The court noted that the elections are now at an advanced stage and it would be appropriate for them to maintain a 'hands-off' approach under these circ*mstances
The Supreme Court on May 24 refused an NGO's plea to issue the Election Commission directions to upload polling station-wise voter turnout data on its website during the Lok Sabha polls, saying a "hands-off approach" needs to be adopted during the elections.
A vacation bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma said it cannot issue any such directions at the moment as five phases of polling have concluded and two remain and it would be difficult for the poll panel to mobilise manpower.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal talked about the impact of Ram temple consecration ceremony on the voters of Punjab. On being asked whether Ram temple is affecting Punjab voters, Badal said that the "Hindus of Punjab are different".
This, and more, in today's top political developments --
SC refuses to pass interim order on release of booth-wise voter turnout plea
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The Supreme Court on Friday refused to pass an immediate order in the application filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) seeking booth-wise voter turnout data.
The non-government organisation (NGO) sought a direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to upload polling station-wise voter turnout data on its website within 48 hours of conclusion of polling for each phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
The court deferred the hearing in the 2019 plea. It said that the interim application asked for similar relief as the main writ petition and hence it was adjourned it to another date. The SC said passing an order in this plea will amount to passing an order in the main plea. The court noted that the elections are now at an advanced stage and it would be appropriate for them to maintain a 'hands-off' approach under these circ*mstances.
'Hindus of Punjab are different': Sukhbir Badal on Ram Mandir effect
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is busy campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls, recently spoke about the impact of Ram temple consecration ceremony on the voters of Punjab.
The Ram temple in Ayodhya is a key poll plank for the BJP this time, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hitting out at the Opposition leaders for not attending the consecration ceremony due to "vote bank" politics. The ceremony took place on January 22 this year.
On being asked whether Ram temple is affecting Punjab voters, Badal told The Indian Express that the "Hindus of Punjab are different".
"Look at the attendance at places of worship in Punjab, and you will see why it’s impossible to divide Punjabis along religious lines. You will see Sikhs worshipping at the Kali Mata temple in Patiala and both Hindus and Sikhs praying at mazars and mosques in Malerkotla. And the entire Punjab worships at the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple)," he told the publication.
His statement comes just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. Polling for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held on June 1, the last phase of the seven-phase elections.
Only PM can decide how long I will be in jail, says Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has to surrender on June 2, said only Prime Minister Narendra Modi could answer how long he would be in jail.
“Only the Prime Minister can answer that question woh mujhe kab tak jail mein rakhna chahte hain (about how long he wants to keep me in jail). They decide who has to be kept in jail for how long. Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain have got messages, saying BJP main aa jao, bail dilva denge (join BJP, we will get you bail),” said Kejriwal.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case. On May 10, he was released from Tihar Jail.
Speaking with Indian Express, the Delhi CM said India is slowly moving towards dictatorship. “They (the BJP government at the Centre) first arrested (ex-Jharkhand CM) Hemant Soren, and then me. By arresting me, they are giving a message to people of the country that if they can arrest Kejriwal in a false case, they can arrest anyone. So, they should be feared, and people should do as they say. These are signs of a dictatorship,” said Kejriwal.
Swati Maliwal assault case: Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar sent to 4-day judicial custody
Delhi's Tis Hazari Court on May 24 sent Bibhav Kumar, aide of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, to four days judicial custody till May 28 in the alleged Swati Maliwal assault case.
Earlier today, Kumar was brought to the court after the end of his police custody.
It is alleged that Kumar, the personal assistant of Kejriwal, assaulted Maliwal at chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on May 13 morning. Maliwal has claimed Bibhav Kumar had kicked her in the chest, stomach and pelvic area and had brutally "dragged her and pulled her shirt up".
The incident reportedly occurred when she had gone to the chief minister's residence to meet him. At the time of the event, Kejriwal was present in the house.
The Aam Aadmi Party has alleged that Maliwal was "blackmailed" by the BJP to become part of a "conspiracy" against Kejriwal as she faces a corruption case and that the BJP wants to send party MP Raghav Chadha and Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj to prison too.
Sexual assault case: MEA issues show cause notice to Prajwal Revanna
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday issued a show cause notice to suspended Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna, according to News18.
On Thursday, a PTI report stated that the MEA was processing a request by the Karnataka government to cancel the diplomatic passport of Revanna, who is accused of sexual abuse of several women and is believed to be in Germany now.
"The MEA has received a letter from the Karnataka government for cancellation of diplomatic passport in respect of MP Prajwal Revanna. This is being processed. This is being processed," a source told PTI.
It is learnt that the MEA is undertaking the process to cancel Prajwal's diplomatic passport under the provisions of the Passports Act of 1967 as well as related regulations.
If the passport is cancelled, then Prajwal's stay abroad will be illegal and he may face legal action by authorities concerned in the country he is staying, a person familiar with the matter said. On Wednesday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to take "prompt and necessary" action to cancel Prajwal's diplomatic passport.
