The Supreme Court will on Thursday deliver its judgements on the review pleas in the Rafale deal and Sabarimala cases. The top court had earlier this year reserved its verdicts in the cases. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, who was on the benches that heard the two cases, retires on November 17.
The top court on Wednesday upheld the decision of then Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar to disqualify the 17 ruling coalition MLAs who had rebelled against the HD Kumaraswamy government in July. However, the court struck down Kumar’s order that the rebel MLAs could not contest elections until the end of the current term of the Assembly.
The Supreme Court ruled in a majority verdict that the office of the chief justice of India falls under the purview of the Right to Information Act. Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who read out the judgement, said ‘judicial independence and accountability go hand in hand’.
Here are the day’s top stories:
Anti-Sterlite protests: Question Rahul Gandhi for linking RSS with police firing, says activist
Environmental rights activist RS Mugilan on Tuesday appeared before the Aruna Jegadeesan Commission investigating the police firing during the anti-Sterlite protests in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district on May 22 last year, in which 13 people were killed.
Retail inflation rises to 4.62% in October, breaches RBI target for first time in 15 months
Retail inflation rose to 4.62% in October, breaching the Reserve Bank of India’s medium-term target of 4% for the first time since July 2018, showed government data released on Wednesday. This increase was driven by rising prices of vegetables.
JNU announces partial rollback of hostel fee hikes after days of protests by students
The Jawaharlal Nehru University’s executive council on Wednesday decided to partially reverse its decision to increase hostel fees following students’ protests against the proposed plan.
INX Media case: P Chidambaram sent to judicial custody till November 27
A court in Delhi on Wednesday extended Congress leader P Chidambaram’s judicial custody till November 27 in connection with the INX Media case.
Kerala HC seeks explanation from government over acquittal of accused in 2017 rape-murder of sisters
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday sought an explanation from the state government over the acquittal of three accused in the alleged sexual assault and murder of two minor sisters at Palakkad district in 2017.
Karnataka: Disqualified MLAs will join BJP tomorrow, says Deputy CM Ashwathnarayan
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Ashwathnarayan CN on Wednesday said 17 disqualified legislators, who caused the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) government to collapse in July, would join the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday.
SC seeks pollution data from Delhi government, CPCB; Kejriwal says odd-even scheme may be extended
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Delhi government and the Central Pollution Control Board to provide two sets of data on the Air Quality Index in the national Capital from this year and 2018. The top court sought the information amid Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s comment that his administration may extend the odd-even rule if required.
Supreme Court refers passage of Finance Act 2017 as money bill to a larger bench
The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down the rules on tribunals under Section 184 of the Finance Act, 2017, and referred the matter of whether the act could be passed as a money bill to a larger bench. The court also ordered the government to regulate the tribunals according to existing laws until the rules are reframed.
Chief Justice of India’s office falls under ambit of RTI Act, rules Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the Chief Justice of India’s office was within the ambit of the Right to Information Act in a 3:2 verdict. “Public interest demands disclosure, judicial independence must be kept in mind,” Justice Sanjiv Khanna said while reading out the verdict. “Judicial independence and accountability go hand in hand.”
Supreme Court refers passing of Finance Act 2017 as money bill to a larger bench
The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down the rules on tribunals under Section 184 of the Finance Act, 2017, referred the matter of whether the act could be passed as a money bill to a larger bench, Bar and Bench. The court also ordered the government to regulate the tribunals according to existing laws until the rules are reframed.
‘BJP morally bankrupt’: Congress calls for dismissal of Yediyurappa government after SC verdict
The Congress on Wednesday sought the dismissal of the BS Yediyurappa-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka after the Supreme Court upheld former Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar’s decision to disqualify 17 legislators belonging to the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) in July. The court, however, allowed them to contest next month’s bye-elections, reversing the Speaker’s decision to ban them till the end of the current Assembly.
Nita Ambani appointed to board of New York City’s Metropolitan Museum
Philanthropist Nita Ambani was on Tuesday appointed to the board of the largest art museum in the United States, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Nita Ambani had for years supported exhibitions at the museum.
‘RCEP in India’s interest, fear of Chinese imports is wrong,’ says ex-NITI Aayog official Panagariya
Arvind Panagariya, former vice chairman of the NITI Aayog, has said that the Asia-Pacific free trade agreement that India refused to sign earlier this month would have been in the country’s interest. Speaking to The Indian Express, Panagariya claimed no multinational company would want to enter India if 15 countries in the region sign the agreement but India does not.
Maharashtra: Sena will not approach SC against governor’s refusal to give time to prove majority
The Shiv Sena on Wednesday decided not to go ahead with its plea in the Supreme Court against the Maharashtra governor’s decision to not give it additional time to garner the support to prove its majority to form the government.
Madhya Pradesh: BJP attacks Congress as video of officer touching minister’s feet surfaces
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday criticised the ruling Congress-led government after a video of a municipal commissioner touching the feet of a state minister started doing the rounds on social media. The 24-second clip, shot inside a gurudwara, was tweeted by the BJP’s state unit Vice President Vijesh Lunawat. In the video, Dewas Municipal Commissioner Sanjana Jain was seen touching the feet of Madhya Pradesh minister Sajjan Singh Verma inside the gurudwara located in the city, IANS reported. However, there was no confirmation on the woman’s identity.
Supreme Court verdicts on review pleas in Rafale, Sabarimala cases on Thursday
The Supreme Court will on Thursday deliver its verdicts on two review petitions – one challenging its December 2018 judgement rejecting the need for an inquiry into the Rafale fighter jet deal, and another against the September 2018 verdict to allow women of all ages into Kerala’s Sabarimala temple. The review pleas in the Rafale case had been filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan and former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie, among others. The court had reserved its verdict on May 10.
Maharashtra: Shiv Sena accuses BJP of deriving ‘sadistic pleasure’ out of political deadlock
The Shiv Sena on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of “deriving sadistic pleasure” out of the political logjam in Maharashtra. In an editorial in its mouthpiece
Saamana, the Shiv Sena said the party claims to follow ethics and morals but is creating the greatest amount of chaos and disruption in the state.
Karnataka: SC upholds disqualification of rebel MLAs but allows them to contest bye-polls
The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the decision of then Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar to disqualify the 17 ruling coalition MLAs who had rebelled against the HD Kumaraswamy government in July. However, the court struck down Kumar’s order that the rebel MLAs could not contest elections until the end of the current term of the Assembly. Bye-polls will be held in 15 of the 17 seats on December 5.
Ayodhya verdict: Hindu Mahasabha says all cases lodged against kar sevaks should be withdrawn
The Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha on Tuesday demanded that the Centre withdraw all cases lodged against kar sevaks for demolishing the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, The Hindu reported. The extreme right-wing outfit raised the demand three days after the Supreme granted ownership of the disputed land to a trust, which could then build the Ram temple.
Kerala: ‘BJP hailed Ayodhya verdict, hope it does the same on Sabarimala,’ says minister
The minister in charge of Kerala’s shrines on Tuesday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party to respect the Supreme Court’s verdict on women’s entry in Sabarimala temple as well since it has welcomed the judgement on the Ayodhya matter, PTI reported.
Kudankulam cyber attack: Russian diplomat says New Delhi has assured Moscow that plant is secure
A top Russian diplomat said on Tuesday that authorities in New Delhi have assured Moscow that the Kudankulam nuclear power plant is secure, following reports of a cyber attack, the Hindustan Times reported. The Indian officials also said that measures had been put in place to prevent such incidents from repeating.
UK: Labour Party clarifies J&K is a bilateral matter after heavy criticism of its ‘anti-India’ stand
The Labour Party in the United Kingdom has clarified that its stand on Kashmir dispute is that it is a “bilateral matter” between India and Pakistan that should be resolved peacefully. This came a couple of months after it passed an emergency resolution advocating international intervention in Kashmir. The party was heavily criticised by sections of the Indian diaspora for the motion.
Maharashtra: Shiv Sena says power parleys will continue even as NCP and Congress remain cautious
Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said his party would hold talks with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, and come up with an agreement on government formation in Maharashtra. However, at a joint press conference, the Congress and the NCP said they had not yet taken a decision about backing a Sena-led government.
J&K: 16 killed after car falls into a gorge in Doda district, lone survivor’s condition critical
Sixteen people were killed on Tuesday after a passenger vehicle steered off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, PTI reported, citing police officials.
Jammu and Kashmir: Journalists protest against continued internet suspension for 100 days
Several journalists from various media organisations on Tuesday protested in Srinagar against the continued suspension of internet services in Jammu and Kashmir. The protestors called for the immediate restoration of the services so that they are able to perform their professional duties.
Should CJI’s office come under RTI purview? Supreme Court to pronounce verdict today
The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on Wednesday on the pleas challenging the Delhi High Court order to bring the chief justice of India’s office within the purview of the Right to Information Act, PTI reported. A five-judge Constitution Bench, led by outgoing Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, is expected to pass the judgement at 2 pm.
Bhima Koregaon case: Court rejects Gautam Navlakha’s anticipatory bail, interim protection pleas
A Pune Sessions Court on Tuesday rejected the anticipatory bail application of activist Gautam Navlakha, who is an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case. The court also denied a three-day interim protection to Navlakha, paving the way for his arrest in the case.