FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI ‘Will set aside entire SIR if methodology found illegal’ Driving licenses can be forged, ration cards can be forged. Several documents can be forged. Aadhaar is to be utilised to the extent law permits. SUPREME COURT BENCH PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 15 September T he Supreme Court on Monday refused to modify its September 8 order directing the Election Commission to accept the Aadhaar card as the twelfth document for identity proof for inclusion as voter under the ongoingSpecialIntensiveRevision of the electoral rolls in Bihar. A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymlaya Bagchi said the direction passed by it last week was only interim in nature and the issue of the document's validity as an identity proof is still open to be decided in the matter related to the SIR. Other documents like ration cards and driving license are also as susceptible to being forged as Aadhaar card and Aadhaar cannot be singled out and excluded on that ground. “Driving licenses can be forged, ration cards can be forged. Several documents can be forged. Aadhaar is to be utilised to the extent law permits," the bench said. The top court was hearing an application by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay seeking modification of September 8 order contending that anybody can get an Aadhaar card by merely staying in India for 182 days and it was neither a proof of citizenship nor residence. He said there were lakhs of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Bihar" and allowing the use of Aadhaar card would be "disastrous". This bench responded that the disaster or absence of disaster will be considered by ECI. The bench, however, issued notice to the ECI on Upadhyay’s application. The apex court also said it was presuming that the poll panel being a constitutional authority, was following the law during the SIR exercise and warned that the exercise would be set aside in case of any illegality. “What difference will it (the final publication of the rollst) make to us? If we are satisfied there is some illegality, we can...," said Justice Kant. It fixed October 7 for hearing final arguments on the validity of Bihar SIR. "Our judgement in Bihar SIR will be applicable for Pan-India SIR," the bench said as it clarified that it can't stop the ECI from conducting the similar exercise for revision of electoral roll across the country. The apex court had earlier refrained from issuing any direction to extend the deadline for submitting claims, objections or corrections to the electoral roll beyond September 1, after the ECI assured that objections sent even after this deadline would be considered before the electoral roll is finalised. The top court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the poll panel’s move to conduct SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar. The petitions challenging the ECI decision were filed by RJD MP Manoj Jha, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), PUCL, activist Yogendra Yadav, Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra, and former Bihar MLA Mujahid Alam. The pleas sought direction to quash the ECI’s June 24 directive that requires large sections of voters in Bihar to submit proof of citizenship to remain on the electoral rolls. The petitions also raised concerns over the exclusion of widely held documents like Aadhaar and ration cards, stating that this would disproportionately affect the poor and marginalised voters, especially in rural Bihar. | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR PM pushes for swift reforms & jointness in armed forces PARWINDER SANDHU New Delhi, 15 September Amidst the ongoing talks related to the creation of theatre commands, Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed the Ministry of Defence to swiftly implement concrete steps to achieve greater jointness between the armed forces of India in order to meet future challenges and to prevail against any eventuality. Modi was speaking at the 16th Combined Commanders’ Conference, inaugurated at the Eastern Command headquarters at Vijay Durg, formerly known as Fort Williams, in Kolkata, today. Speaking at the first major Armed Forces conference post Operation Sindoor, the Prime Minister, while hailing the Armed Forces for the success of Operation Sindoor, also praised its role in nation building, anti-piracy, safe return of Indian citizens from conflict zones, as well as providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) assistance to friendly countries. During his speech, Modi instructed the Ministry of Defence to swiftly implement concrete steps to achieve greater jointness, Atmanirbharta, and innovation to meet future challenges and to prevail against any eventuality. | Tuesday, 16 September 2025 Apex court refuses to stay Waqf Amendment Act in entirety PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 15 September The Supreme Court on Monday declined to stay the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in its entirety, but put on hold certain specific provisions that it felt could lead to arbitrary exercise of power by the government, and are in violation of the principles of separation of power enshrined in the Constitution, with the executive taking upon its self-adjudicatory role which is otherwise reserved for a judicial or quasi-judicial authority. The court said that there was a presumption of constitutionality in the favour of a statute and the interim relief of staying an enactment can be granted in “rare and exceptional cases” that too where petitioners challenging the law can demonstrate that either the legislature which enacted the law lacks legislative competence or the provisions are ex-facie in violation of the fundamental rights, or constitutional principles or is manifestly arbitrary. A bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, by an interim order, stayed the operation of two key provisions while upholding the requirement of the registration of Waqfs and the presence of non-Muslims on the Central Waqf Council and the State Waqf Boards. Among the key clauses put on ice is the requirement that an individual must have practised Islam for at least five years before being eligible to create a waqf. The bench noted that the absence of any rule-making framework to verify such a condition leaves the provision open to arbitrary state action. It therefore suspended the operation of this clause until the central governments frame appropriate rules. Another major provision that concerns the authority granted to the designated revenue officials to decide if land claimed as waqf is in fact government property. Under Section 3C(2) of the amended Act, state governments could designate officers above the rank of Collector to conduct inquiries, amend revenue records, submit reports to the State government which in turn will direct the waqf boards to make corrections in their records. The Court held this arrangement to be prima facie inconsistent with the principles of separation of powers, saying title disputes must be determined by judicial tribunals, not executive officers. The bench clarified that A BENCH OF CHIEF JUSTICE B.R. GAVAI AND JUSTICE AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH, BY AN INTERIM ORDER, STAYED THE OPERATION OF TWO KEY PROVISIONS WHILE UPHOLDING THE REQUIREMENT OF THE REGISTRATION OF WAQFS AND THE PRESENCE OF NON-MUSLIMS ON THE CENTRAL WAQF COUNCIL AND THE STATE WAQF BOARDS. disputes about ownership of properties claimed as waqf will instead be adjudicated by tribunals under Section 83. Until such proceedings, including appeals before High Courts, reach finality, neither waqf institutions will be dispossessed of land nor will any third-party rights be created. On the composition of the Central Waqf Council and the waqf boards, the Court left intact the provisions permitting non-Muslim members. It directed that the Central Council should not have more than four non-Muslims out of 22 members, while state boards should not exceed three non-Muslims in their 11-member strength. The Court did not invalidate Section 23, which provides for the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer of the Board, but directed that, as far as possible, the CEO should be chosen from within the Muslim community since the officer also functions as ex officio secretary to the board. - v r , c ond pe. ion ipl o oreig ecords, affidavits, site vi expert fi isits, egations relat o animal acquisition, smug oprieties, and environ nmental issues. E , laundering, we r etc.). e, conservation, Key Findings 1. No Legal Violations: w No breach of the Wildlife (Protec ion) Act, 1972, Zoo Rules, CZA guidelines,, Customs Act, FEMA, PML A, or ct as found. o quisitions and imports were duly permitted and documented. r 2.Animal Welfare & Facilities: a w Vantara’s facilities exceed prescribed benchmarks of welfare, husbandry, and veterinary care. a a r a w Mortality rates align with globa zoological averages. al w Certified by the Global Humane Society with the “Global Humane Certifie Seal of Approval”. ed™ a 3. F w w egations: Claims of misuse of carbon credi water, or money laundering were fou baseless. its, ound regular flows of funds or sm gling links were detected. mug Repetitive Complaints: Court noted Vantara has repeate faced similar allegations, all found without merit. a edly a o Continuing such speculative petitions was termed an abuse of process. t Court ions w SIT report sealed; full copy to Van antara for internal use. o w Summary of SIT r t not confi fidential and part of the Court’s order. w All compl itions mentio in Schedule A stand closed. oned w No further complaints on the sa allegations will be entertained in any forum. u ame n o w Vantara and authorities must im ement SIT ’s suggested measures. a mpl w Vantara may pursue remedies ag a gainst defamatory publications a ions. w SIT members (except the serving IRS officer) awarded honorarium for th work. g fi o heir Conclusion The Supreme Court fully accepted th SIT ’s findings, closed the cases, and barred repetitive litigation u he on the same issues. It also praised Van a’s welfare standards and conservati efforts, while ntar a ion fo cautioning against unfounded allega ion o at Supr Supreme Court Gives reme C G Van Vantara a Clean Chit antara in La n Landmark Judgment andmar Judgment rk gment g