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SC junks PIL seeking to debar candidates with more than 2 children from electoral fray
New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Election Commission to mandate the recognised political parties to not field candidates with more than two children, wondering how a “constitutional court can say that if you have more than two children, you can’t contest election”.
The petitioner had also sought that the two-child norm be made a criterion for getting government jobs, subsidies and other benefits to check population explosion.
An unimpressed bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna asked how could they say that a person having more than two children should not be fielded as a candidate by recognised political parties, wondering if saying so was a proportionate judicial order.
“How can this court say that someone who has more than two children should not be allowed to contest from a recognised political part? Is it a proportionate judicial order?” CJI Gogoi asked as the court dismissed the PIL filed by advocate and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
The court also flagged the issue of the propriety, legality and jurisdiction to pass such an order.
However, the court dismissed the PIL as withdrawn after Upadhyay told the bench that he has made representations to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Chief Election Commissioner on the issue.
Having been ducked on the issue of barring candidates with more than two children from the electoral fray, the petitioner raised the issue of different marriageable age for girls and boys, which is 18 and 21, respectively, and pointed to gender justice and gender equality.
But the unimpressed court asked Upadhyay how could he combine the two issues – barring candidates with more than two children and different marriageable age for boys and girls. “You have moved from the Election Commission to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act,” the court said.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.