MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

claimed compensa tion in the name of riot vic tims from the district collec tor's office," he said. (Asian Age
1.11.02)
Aided minority institutions subject to regulations: SC (7)
NEW DELHI, OCT. 31. In a signif icant ruling, the Supreme Court today re-defined the rights of 'minorities'
to establish and run y educational institutions of their choice. It held that while unaid ed minority institutions
would -have unfettered rights, aided in stitutions could be subject to minimal regulatory measures by the
state. An 11-judge Constitution Bench, headed by the Chief Jus tice, B.N. Kirpal, in an unanimous verdict
on the 11 questions framed by the Court held that the words "of their choice" in Article 30 (1) "indi cates
that even professional educational institutions would be covered by Article 30". On the question "who
constitutes a minority", the Bench said, "The linguistic and religious minorities have to be consid ered on
the basis of States and the population therein as the States were reorganised on the basis of language."
(Hindu 1.11.02)
Anti-conversion Bill passed in Tamil Nadu (7)
CHENNAl, OCT. 31. Despite strong opposition, the controversial Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of
Religion Bill was today passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly with the AIADMK and the BJP outvoting the
combined opposition of the DMK, the Con gress, the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Left parties. Although
the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, maintained that the Bill was only intended to prevent forcible conversions,
her argu ments in the course of the three-hour de bate were against conversion itself. "Conversions create
resentment among several sections and also inflame religious passions, leading to communal clashes."
Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, Ms. Jayala lithaa sought to justify a ban on all con versions. Gandhiji, she said,
had stated that conversions were harmful and that if he had the power to legislate, he would have stopped
all proselytising activities. She claimed that conversions only led to the isolation of the converted. (Hindu
1.11.02)
Church welcomes ruling (7)
New Delhi, Oct. 31: The Supreme Court’s verdict on the right of the minorities to administer
educational institutions was by and large welcomed by the church, though the All India Muslim Personal
Law Board said it would react after studying the entire judgment. The board said it would consult other
minority institu tions before commenting. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India welcomed the
judgment but said a detailed reaction would be issued tomorrow. CBC1 deputy director Donald D'Souza
said: "We are very happy with the overall judgment." D'Souza, however, said though the minority
educational institutions were given full right over their managements, giving states regulatory rights should
not amount to interference by the states in the management and administration of the insti tutions.
(Telegraph 1.11.02)
2 nd Nov.
HC rejects plea against Togadia (7)
NEW DELHI (PTI): Delhi High Court has came down heavi ly on a petitioner seeking initiation of criminal
proceedings against Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia for his alleged utterances against
minorities and Congress presi dent Sonia Gandhi. The court said actions of both the parties were
motivated with the the sole desire of publicity. "By filing such a petiti on, you want to keep the issue alive. If
we issue notice, the matter will be before the court and keep revolving and you will get publicity every
time," it said while "dismissing as withdrawn" a public interest litigation by advocate Anel Sirohi. (Telegraph
2.11.02)
3 rd Nov.
Children of Gujarat riots relive terror daily (7)
New Delhi, Nov. 2: "I see my brother shouting for help, his body is full of blood, crying and shouting with
pain. I will become a terrorist once I grow up and kill as many as I can." This is the voice of chil dren who
are growing up on memories of communal ten sions that ravaged Gujarat earlier this year. Bruised to the
soul, the communal riots has left many between 5 years to 15 years afflicted with severe post traumatic
stress disorder, which may affect their lives for years to come if left unas sisted. A report on the psychological
health of the vic tims of the disaster brought