Saturday, December 27, 2025

There cannot be complete ban on holding protests at Jantar Mantar: Supreme Court

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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The Supreme Court on  July 23 said there cannot be any “blanket” ban on holding protests and sit-ins at Jantar Mantar and Boat Club”, and also asked the Centre to frame guidelines for granting permissions to protesters at Jantar Mantar and Boat Club in New Delhi.

“There cannot be a complete ban on holding protests at places like Jantar Mantar and Boat Club (near India Gate),” the SC bench said.

A division bench of Supreme Court, headed by Justice AK Sikri and justice Ashok Bhushan passed the order and said that there was a need to strike a balance between conflicting rights such as the right to protest and right of citizens to live peacefully.

The SC bench also noted that as it is there was need for police permission for holding protests or demonstrations.

Apex court was hearing pleas, including the one filed by Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sanghtan and the Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Movement, challenging the decision of the National Green Tribunal that banned all protests around Jantar Mantar area in October 2017 saying such activities violate environmental laws.

One die, thirteen injured in mass shooting in Toronto

By
Sunny Sharma
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One women died and thirteen people injured in mass shooting at a birthday party in Greektown district in Toronto, Canada. According to reports, the shooter shot himself and died soon after the incident. Police also requested eyewitnesses to provide any information about the shooting.

According to a tweet posted by homicide department of Toronto police, “Toronto Police Homicide are lead investigators in Danforth Av shooting.14 victims shot. 1 female died. Young girl is critical. Witnesses call police directly during night Sunday-Monday at 416-808-5504. Daytime Homicide 416-808-7400. Anonymous tips 1-800-222-8477 #GO1341286“.

According to witnesses over 20 shots were heard.

The people who got injured in the gunshot were taken to the nearby hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford tweeted condemning the attack. “My heart goes out to the victims and loved ones of the horrific act of gun violence in Toronto. Thank you to all the first responders for acting quickly to help everyone affected,” he said.

BJP to fight solo in Maharashtra in Lok Sabha elections 2019: Amit Shah

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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BJP president Amit Shah, on Sunday told his party workers to be strong and prepare to fight alone in 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.

The decision came after Shiv Sena boycotted the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha on Friday and kept on supporting Congress President Rahul Gandhi despite his uncontrolled attack on the BJP and Prime Minister Modi. 

Amit Shah spoke to party workers and told them to fight solo in 2019 elections in Maharashtra. He laid down a 23-point working strategy and discussed topics such as increasing the party strength, addressing new voters’ groups based on their profession, gender, liking’s etc.

The party is anticipated to release a list of people to be in-charge of the 48 parliamentary constituencies in the state.

No official announcement has been made by BJP on the aforesaid. Earlier the two parties had contested the parliamentary elections as associates in the year 2014, while the assembly elections were fought separately by both the parties.

The main objective apart from the meeting is to increase the network of the BJP in different geographies.

Ousted from campus, over 80 DSNLU students continue to protest

By
Tehelka Web Desk
-

Around 80 students of Damodaram Sanjeevaiah National Law University (DSNLU) are continuing their protest against the management from past two days, as authorities sent them out of the campus for failing to clear examination backlog.

According to reports DSNLU students belonging to states such as Bihar, Rajasthan and Odisha, who failed to clear the backlog of the current semester were forcibly made to vacate the hostel also. Following the same, the students began to protest against the management and raised slogans for justice in front of the university campus on July 20.

Vice-Chancellor Prof V Kesava Rao, along with the staff, tried to calm the students but they refused to move and continued their protest even in rain.

Agitated students claimed that four attempts were meant to be given to clear the backlog. However, authorities allegedly slashed the fourth attempt and asked the students to leave the campus.

Professor Rao added, “[The] High Court gave me a direction, do not conduct any examination which is not provided for in the examination rules. So, this time when they requested, I said I cannot do it because the court order is there and if I violate it, it amounts to contempt of court.”

“The university authorities told us just two days earlier about the new system that for the odd semester backlog examinations, we have only three attempts instead of four. Though we requested the university, they mercilessly sent us out of the campus on Friday evening. Now we are demanding justice,” protesting student Prateek said.

Professor Rao has refuted the students’ statement, claiming that intimation to vacate the hostel had been sent to students much earlier, on June 29. “I have documentary evidence, they were informed on 29th June.”

Prateek further added, “Faculty at the University is not at par with the requirement necessary to teach here. Complaints are never heard. The faculty holds grudges against students and detains or fails them. Amendments in exam rules are not notified to us. Rules are not student-friendly.”

“[Students are demanding] that they must be permitted to stay till a final decision is taken by the Academic Council. I said that can’t be permitted. Once the Academic Council takes the decision, I will inform you. You can come and directly stay in the university hostels…” Rao added.

Pakistan: Former PM Nawaz Sharif ‘on the verge of Kidney Failure’

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, who was arrested on July 13 along his daughter is on the “verge of a kidney failure.”

According to the sources, doctors who examined Sharif in jail said, his blood pressure has climbed up to dangerous level, he is suffering from dehydration, his heartbeat is irregular and he should be taken to the hospital from Adiala Jail, as facilities in the jail’s hospital are not enough to give him better treatment.  

However, an immediate action is required to transfer him to the hospital so he can recover soon.

Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif were arrested in Lahore on July 13.

The two were convicted on July 6 by a Pakistani accountability court for corrupt practices linked to his family’s purchase of four London flats and two more corruption cases related to Panama Paper scandal. Both Sharif, 68, and Maryam, 44, have been to 10 and seven years in jail.

Congress working committee authorize Rahul Gandhi to form alliance against BJP

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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The Congress Working Committee on Sunday authorised party president Rahul Gandhi to form alliance against BJP with “like minded parties” for 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Rahul Gandhi addressed the first Congress Working Committee (CWC) after it was revamped. In the meeting, he said, “The CWC evolved during freedom struggle. It’s a forum where India expressed, debated, contested and consented ideas to take the nation from colonial rule to freedom.”

“CWC gave voice to every single Indian. It accommodated views from different perspectives and gave space to the weakest voices of India. Our collective challenge is to shape our current CWC to that level,” Gandhi added.

“We have tried to strike to a balance between the youth and experience in the CWC. The central idea behind the formation of this CWC is to make it inclusive, diverse & dynamic and representative,” Gandhi said.

Speaking on the strategy for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi said, “Expansion of our party vote base is one of our biggest tasks. In each constituency, we have to find people who have not voted for us and develop a strategy to reach out to them and win back their trust.”

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in the meeting said, “I assure Rahul Gandhiji that we will fully support him in his onerous task of restoring India’s social harmony and economic development.”

 UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in the meeting said, “We have to rescue our people from a dangerous regime that is compromising the democracy of India.”

AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot in a press briefing at the party headquarters after the meeting said, “Rahul ji has been authorised to form election campaign committee and take decisions on pre-poll and post-poll alliance.”

Last week, Rahul Gandhi formed his first CWC by appointing 23 regular members, 18 permanent and ten special invitees.

Jammu and Kashmir: Three militants killed in encounter in Kulgam

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Security Forces in Jammu and Kashmir killed three militants in an encounter on Sunday Morning.  Killed militants were part of the group which killed a police constable in South Kashmir.

According to the officials, a cordon-and-search operation was launched by Army in Khudwani area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir to trap the militants.

“‏Terrorists group that tortured our colleague CT Mohd Saleem of Kulgam & killed him brutally are all trapped in an encounter with J&K Police/Army/CRPF in Khudwani Kulgam,” state DGP Shesh Paul Vaid tweeted.

The search operation turned into gun battle after militants fired on the security forces, prompting retaliation.

The three bodies of militants have been recovered from the encounter site along with their weapons.

As a precautionary measure, the authorities have suspended the mobile internet services in Kulgam and Anantnag districts.

On Saturday, Jammu and Kashmir Police constable, Muhammad Saleem Shah was abducted by terrorists from his house in Mutalhama area of Kulgam. The constable was undergoing training in Kathua in Jammu and was on leave.

Later, he was found dead with multiple bullet injuries in Qaimoh village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

GST council reduce rates of more than 80 goods and services, exempt sanitary napkins

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Providing huge relief to the middle class consumers, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, reduced the rates of more than 80 goods and services on Saturday.

The 28th meeting of the GST council comprising of Centre and States was held on Saturday at Delhi.

Among the various goods where the relief has been provided, the council has exempted sanitary napkins from GST.

The GST on Refrigerators, freezers, Washing machines, Paints has also been reduced from 28% to 18%.

Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in a tweet said, “GST Council today approved reduction in rates of 88 goods and services. Money in the hands of all sections of society – the poor, households, women, farmers and senior citizens. #GoodandSimpleGST.”

The GST Council in its 28th meeting took following decisions on GST Rate on Goods:

GST: NIL

  • Sanitary Napkins
  • Stone/Marble/Wood Deities
  • Rakhi [other than that of precious or semi-precious material of chapter 71]
  • Coir pith compost
  • Sal Leaves siali leaves and their products and Sabai Rope
  • PhoolBhariJhadoo [Raw material for Jhadoo]
  • Khali dona

GST Reduced from 12% to 5%:

  • Chenille fabrics and other fabrics under heading 5801
  • Handloom dari
  • Phosphoric acid (fertilizer grade only).
  • Knitted cap/topi having retail sale value not exceeding Rs 1000
  • Handmade carpets and other handmade textile floor coverings (including namda/gabba)
  • Handmade lace
  • Hand-woven tapestries
  • Hand-made braids and ornamental trimming in the piece
  • Toran

GST Reduced from 18% to 12%:

  • Bamboo flooring
  • Brass Kerosene Pressure Stove.
  • Hand Operated Rubber Roller
  • Zip and Slide Fasteners
  • Handbags including pouches and purses; jewellery box
  • Wooden frames for painting, photographs, mirrors etc
  • Art ware of cork [including articles of sholapith]
  • Stone art ware, stone inlay work
  • Ornamental framed mirrors
  • Glass statues [other than those of crystal]
  • Glass art ware [ incl. pots, jars, votive, cask, cake cover, tulip bottle, vase ]
  • Art ware of iron
  • Art ware of brass, copper/ copper alloys, electro plated with nickel/silver
  • Aluminium art ware
  • Handcrafted  lamps (including panchloga lamp)
  • Worked vegetable or mineral carving, articles thereof, articles of wax, of stearin, of natural gums or natural resins or of modelling pastes etc, (including articles of lac, shellac)
  • Ganjifa card

GST Reduced from 18% to 5%:

  • Ethanol for sale to Oil Marketing Companies for blending with fuel
  • Solid bio fuel pellets

GST Reduced from 28% to 18%

  • Paints and varnishes (including enamels and lacquers)
  • Glaziers’ putty, grafting putty, resin cements
  • Refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerating or freezing equipment including water cooler, milk coolers, refrigerating equipment for leather industry, ice cream freezer etc.
  • Washing machines.
  • Lithium-ion batteries
  • Vacuum cleaners
  • Domestic electrical appliances such as food grinders and mixers & food or vegetable juice extractor, shaver, hair clippers etc
  • Storage water heaters and immersion heaters, hair dryers,  hand dryers, electric smoothing irons etc
  • Televisions upto the size of 68 cm
  • Special purpose motor vehicles. e.g., crane lorries, fire fighting vehicle, concrete mixer lorries, spraying lorries
  • Works trucks [self-propelled, not fitted with lifting or handling equipment] of the type used in factories, warehouses, dock areas or airports for short transport of goods.
  • Trailers and semi-trailers.
  • Miscellaneous articles such as scent sprays and similar toilet sprays, powder-puffs and pads for the application of cosmetics or toilet preparations.

GST Reduced from 28% to 12%

  • Fuel Cell Vehicle. Further, Compensation cess shall also be exempted on fuel cell vehicle.

In case of footwear, 5% GST is being extended to footwear having a retail sale price up to Rs. 1000 per pair, while footwear having a retail sale price exceeding Rs. 1000 per pair will continue to attract 18%.

Jammu and Kashmir: Abducted Police Constable bullet-riddled body found in Kulgam

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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A Jammu and Kashmir Police constable, Muhammad Saleem Shah, was found dead with multiple bullet injuries on Saturday afternoon in Qaimoh village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

Saleem was abducted by terrorists from his house in Mutalhama area of Kulgam on Friday night. The constable was undergoing training in Kathua in Jammu and was on leave.

This is the third such incident in past month where a security official has been kidnapped and later killed by terrorists.

No terrorist organisation has so far claimed the responsibility of the killing.

Rajasthan: Man beaten to death by mob on suspicion of cow smuggling

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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A man was allegedly lynched by a group of people on suspicion of cow smuggling on Friday night in Alwar district of Rajasthan.

According to Ramgarh police station SHO Subhash Sharma, “Akbar Khan, a resident of Kolgaon in Haryana, and another man were taking two cows to their village through a forest area near Lalawandi village in Alwar last night, when a group of people severely thrashed Khan, while the other man accompanying Khan managed to escape.

Khan was taken to a government hospital in Ramgarh, where doctors declared him brought dead. The body has been kept at a mortuary and the postmortem is expected to be conducted.

A case has been registered against unidentified people under Section 302 of the IPC, the police officer said.

Over the past one year many incidents related to mob lynching has surfaced.

Supreme Court (SC) on July 17 had condemned such incidents of mob lynching across the country and had asked the Parliament to create the new law against lynching. It also terms lynching as “horrendous acts of mobocracy”.

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had stated, “No citizen can take law into their hands. In case of fear and anarchy, the state has to act positively. Violence can’t be allowed. The State is duty-bound to ensure law and order and to prevent mobocracy.”

Meanwhile Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said in a tweet, that “The incident of the alleged lynching of a person transporting bovines in Alwar district is condemnable. Strictest possible action shall be taken against the perpetrators.”

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