Dear Editor,
Curtain drops on 2023. Many events have taken place in 2023 also like in the previous years. China took high exceptions on many countries imposing curbs on passengers from China. China was indignant at Covid-19 testing requirements to be met by the Chinese passengers not realizing that it was responsible for the whole world to suffer from the deadly disease. The Allahabad High Court delivered a significant judgment according to which a Muslim woman is entitled to alimony in divorce cases setting aside the ruling of the family court that a Muslim woman was entitled for maintenance during iddat period only. The iddat period is 3 months and 13 days. Bihar Education Minister Chandrashekhar cast slur on Ramacharithamanas and hurt the sentiments of the people who held the holy book in high esteem. The government and judiciary locked horn over appointment of judges again in 2023 after the National Judicial Appointments Commission proposal was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015. There was BBC documentary on Modi and there was made vain bid to keep the Godhra incident alive to tarnish the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveniently ignoring what triggered off the incident. The incident was the fall-out of burning of a train in which 58 kar sevaks were burnt alive on February 28, 2002. The Supreme Court rightly denied bail to Godhra train burning convicts. The documentary called CAA unfair to Muslims and fuelled fire between the government and opposition parties in India. Disappointed at the clean chit given by the Supreme Court to Modi in the Godhra incident, the BBC documentary delighted the opposition parties. Congress leader Digvijay Singh again expressed suspicion on the surgical strike and Navjot Singh Siddu had questioned the very purpose of strike. In Australia, some Hindu temples were vandalized. The Supreme Court advised that religious place to be left to the religious people. It is a veiled dig at the government laying its hands on the temples. The Supreme Court dismissed SC status for those who converted from Hinduism to Christianity. The court held that the moment a person changes faith Hinduism to other religion, he or she ceases to be Hindu. The Madras High Court held that the shariat court is not above judiciary. The Kargil villain Pervez Musharraf died in February 2023. Modi’s popularity increased to the extent of Pakistan people demanding a person to rule their country like Modi.
Manish Sisodia was arrested and has still been languishing in jail for his alleged involvement in the liquor gate. BJP staged a come-back in Tripura Assembly election. The opposition parties moved a no-confidence motion against the NDA government in which 331 MPs voted against no-confidence motion with 141 favouring it.
The Allahabad High Court upheld the order of Uttara Pradesh government to sing national anthem in Madrasas. Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of Calcutta High remarked “Hire bulldozers from Yogi government”. Pleasant surprise was that Sharad Pawar conferred Lokamanya Tilak award to Modi much to the discomfiture of other constituents of I.N.D.I.A. Bombay High Court rightly favoured reservation for abandoned children. Gyanvapi Survey was allowed by the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court advised the petitioners not to watch the channels which do not come to their liking. The Supreme Court was furious at the petitioners for taking the issue directly without moving the High Court. The Madras High Court upheld the right of employees to criticize the management. ISRO scripts lunar history. Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidi Stalin gave a call to the annihilation of Sanatan Dharma and became butt of criticism from the Hindu community. I.N.D.I.A. emerged in India. Supreme Court expressed its displeasure with lower courts refusing bail. New Parliament building was opened. AIADMK severed its ties with BJP. Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot’s remark “corruption in judiciary” undermined the dignity of courts.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra has lost Lok Sabha membership for cash-for-query. For 2023, UCC has remained an unfulfilled promise. Karnataka High Court gave a ruling that family pension is not payable to second wife.
The threat of H9M2 and Covide has started looming large. The 5 state assembly elections brought some cheers to BJP which had lost Karnataka. Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmishta Mukherjee revealed that her father had called Rahul Gandhi immature. The most significant judgment of the Supreme Court is upholding the abolition of Article 370.
K.V. Seetharamaiah