PTI, NEW DELHI, JULY 1, 2024 : Three new criminal laws came into effect in the country on Monday, bringing far-reaching changes in India’s criminal justice system. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) take into account some of the current social realities and modern-day crimes.
Category Archives: National
Airport canopy collapses bare faults, structural engineers challenge ‘rain’ narrative
Parked vehicles damaged by the collapse of a canopy at Delhi airport on Friday.: PTI picture |
NTA announces new exam dates for postponed UGC NET, CSIR-UGC NET
Opposition forces repeated adjournments in Parliament over NEET issue
PTI, New Delhi, Jun 28, 2024 : The opposition caused repeated disruptions in Parliament Friday over the NEET paper leak issue, with both Houses being adjourned for the day without transacting much business apart from the Rajya Sabha taking up the Motion of Thanks for the President’s address amid protests including by the BJD, which almost always supported the BJP in the previous Lok Sabha.
Rahul meets Speaker, says reference to Emergency could have been avoided
PTI, New Delhi, Jun 27, 2024 : Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met Speaker Om Birla on Thursday and voiced his displeasure over the reference to Emergency made by the chair, saying it was “clearly political” and could have been avoided.
Buzz: Indian drones and ammunition used by Israel in Gaza arsenal
An Israeli soldier on a tank near the Israel-Gaza border on Monday. There is no suggestion that the tank was provided by India.: Reuters picture |
Om Birla vs K Suresh: First LS Speaker election as INDIA puts forth nominee
PTI, New Delhi, Jun 25, 2024 : The ruling BJP-led NDA on Tuesday maintained its streak of continuity in its third term by fielding previous Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for the crucial parliamentary position again, but its bid for a consensus was thwarted by the opposition which forced an election by nominating Kodikunnil Suresh as its candidate.
Amid NEET, NET exam mess, UPSC moots AI-based CCTV surveillance to prevent cheating
PTI, Jun 24, 2024 : Amid NEET and NET exam controversies, UPSC plans to implement AI-based CCTV surveillance and facial recognition to prevent cheating. It has invited bids for solutions including Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication, facial recognition, and QR code scanning of e-admit cards, along with live AI CCTV monitoring during exams.
CBI takes over 5 cases of alleged malpractices in NEET-UG from Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan
PTI, New Delhi, Jun 24 2024 : The CBI has taken over the investigation of five new cases of alleged malpractices in the medical entrance exam NEET-UG that were being probed by police in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Bihar, officials said on Monday.
Manipur: Fresh gunfight breaks out between armed men
PTI, Imphal, Jun 23, 2024 : A fresh gunfight broke out between armed men belonging to two warring communities in Manipur, police said.
India Tv, 23 June 2024 : In the latest development in violence trapped Manipur, fresh clashes broke out between the armed men in two communities, the police said.
The incident that took place on Saturday, saw some armed miscreants firing towards the Thamnapokpi and Lamlai areas in Imphal East district. The shots were fired from hilltop positions in the adjoining district of
The gunfight took place at around 10:30 pm on June 21, the police said. According to the police, local village volunteers did retaliatory firing while the security forces rushed to the site to bring the situation under control. An hour later guns silenced and no casualties were reported.
Jiribam violence
Earlier on June 7, violence erupted in largely peaceful Jiribam after a lifeless body of Soibam Saratkumar Singh (59) was recovered. He was suspected to have been killed by the militants, officials said. Agitated by this, locals set a few abandoned structures on fire which was followed by the imposition of curfew in the area.
Jiribam, which has a diverse ethnic composition comprising Meiteis, Muslims, Nagas, Kukis and non-Manipuris, had remained unaffected by the ethnic strife till the unfortunate incident. Meanwhile, suspected militants had also torched two police outposts, a forest office and at least 70 houses, prompting the authorities to transfer the superintendent of police.
Additionally, a contingent of more than 70 state police commandos was airlifted from Imphal to Jiribam to assist security personnel in their operations against militants. After the Jiribam violence, more than 200 people were moved to relief camps in Manipur. Meanwhile, people also crossed stare borders to reach Assam’s Cachar district.
Notably, the ethnic violence started in Manipur in May last year. Since then, more than 200 people have lost their lives and thousands have been rendered homeless between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and hills-based Kukis.
CBI team probing UGC-NET case allegedly attacked in Bihar’s Nawada, 4 arrested: Officials
PTI, Nawada (Bihar)/New Delhi, Jun 23, 2024 : A CBI team probing alleged irregularities in the conduct of the UGC-NET examination was allegedly attacked by locals in Rajauli area of Bihar’s Nawada after which four persons were arrested by police on a complaint from the central agency, officials said Sunday.
6 held in Deoghar in NEET paper leak case
Activists under the banner of Yuva Shakti stage a protest over the alleged irregularities in NEET 2024 results and UGC-NET 2024 exam cancellation, in Patna, Saturday, June 22: PTI photo |
Amid row, Centre sets up 7-member panel headedby Ex-ISRO chief to reform exams, review NTA
The petition, filed by 10 students who had appeared for the exam, has also sought a direction to Bihar Police to expedite the investigation in the case
PTI, New Delhi, Jun 22 2024 :A fresh plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the CBI and the ED to investigate alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEET-UG held on May 5.
The petition, filed by 10 students who had appeared for the exam, has also sought a direction to Bihar Police to expedite the investigation in the case and file a report before the apex court.
“The petitioners are fully aware of the ramifications of the cancellation of the examination but there is absolutely no other alternative.
“The NEET UG Examination of 2024 had many other irregularities, in particular, the gross negligence on the part of the authorities to make the question papers available to the candidates on time. In some places, the wrong set of question papers was distributed and later recalled,” the plea said.
The top court had earlier sought responses from the Centre, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and others on a slew of petitions, including those seeking scrapping of the NEET-UG 2024 exam and a court-monitored probe, amid mounting outrage over alleged irregularities in conducting the all-India medical entrance test.
The apex court had also stayed further proceedings on similar pleas pending before different high courts.
The top court, however, had made it clear that it would not stay the counselling process.
The examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates appeared. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets was completed earlier.
The allegations of irregularities have led to protests in several cities and sparring between rival political parties.
As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA’s history, with six from a centre in Haryana’s Faridabad figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities. It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank.
The NEET-UG examination is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
Manipur going through difficult phase, our govt will lay path for betterment of society: CM
More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence in Manipur between hills-based Kuki-Zo people and Imphal Valley-based Meiteis since May last year
PTI, Jun 21 2024, Imphal : Noting that ethnic strife-torn Manipur was going through a difficult phase, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday asserted that his government will lay the path for betterment of the society.
Speaking at the state-level International Yoga Day function at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Singh said the current situation in Manipur is a turning point for indigenous people and their future and if things are tackled wisely, a safe and secure future is guaranteed.
“We shouldn’t allow emotions and politics to drive our actions, and in the process divert from the core issues. We know we are tired… but we have to endure it for a few more days. We cannot be happy without going through a tough phase,” he said.
More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence in Manipur between hills-based Kuki-Zo people and Imphal Valley-based Meiteis since May last year.
Agencies: He urged people to strive for peace and “identify and face the real enemies of the state”. While speaking at an event, Singh said, “We are passing through a difficult phase. This is not the first time that we are facing a difficult phase. During the 1992-93 ethnic conflict, more than 1000 lives were lost. Today, we are struggling. We are dealing with elements who want to break up a state with more than 2,000 years of history.”
The Chief Minister further said that the state had not slept for more than nine months now, adding that more than 3,000 state forces have been deployed in peripheral areas.
Singh appealed to the people of the state not to foment disturbance in Imphal valley.
“Let the valley be peaceful. Let the protection of Manipur be our sole duty. No more rallies. Let’s identify and face the real enemies of the state,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said the state had improved a lot during the last six years, and the relationship between police and people had improved.
“However, we cannot tolerate elements who want to destroy the state by supplying drugs, by engaging in widespread deforestation and poppy cultivation and bringing in illegal immigrants from outside. We need to unite and stop making allegations. There may be lapses, but we need to forgive and forget to save the land,” said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister made these statements at an event where he laid the foundation stone for the Imphal Ring Road Project, worth Rs 1,766 crore, at Takyel Khongbal Maning Leikai.
The Manipur government has undertaken this much-anticipated project with the objective of easing the problem of traffic congestion in Imphal areas, with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Regarding the Imphal Ring Road project, Singh stated that the Rs 1,700 crore project was prompted by the rising population and increasing traffic congestion within the capital, Imphal.
NEET-UG | Supreme Court refuses to defer counselling for NEET-UG 2024, issues notices on plea to cancel May 5 exam
Agencies & MP, 21 June 2024, New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Friday refused to defer the counselling for the controversy-ridden NEET-UG 2024 examination scheduled to kick off on July 6, saying it is not an “open and shut” process.
Arvind Kejriwal to remain in jail for at least 2-3 days as Delhi HC stays bail order in excise policy case
PTI, New Delhi, Jun 21, 2024 : Embattled Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will have to remain in jail for now with the Delhi High Court on Friday putting an interim stay on a trial court’s order granting him bail in the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam.
Defer Implementation Of New Criminal Laws: Mamata Banerjee Writes To PM
In a letter to PM Modi, the Trinamool Congress chief expressed “grave concern” over the impending implementation of the three laws
PTI, 21 June 2024, New Delhi : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to defer the implementation of the three “hurriedly passed” criminal laws that are set to be rolled out on July 1, saying it would enable Parliament to review them afresh.
In a letter to PM Modi, the Trinamool Congress chief expressed “grave concern” over the impending implementation of the three laws – The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNA) 2023, The Bharatiya Sakhsya Act (BSA) 2023, and The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023.
She noted that the three bills were passed in Lok Sabha at a time when 146 MPs had been suspended.
“The outgoing government of yours had passed these three critical bills unilaterally, and with absolutely no debate. That day, almost 100 members of the Lok Sabha had been suspended and a total 146 MPs of the both Houses were thrown out of Parliament,” Banerjee said.
“The Bills were passed in an authoritarian manner in that dark hour of democracy. Matter deserves review now,” she said.
“I urge your esteemed office now to consider at least a deferment of the implementation date. Reasons are two-fold: ethical, and practical,” she said.
She said significant legislative changes should be placed before the newly elected Parliament for fresh deliberation and scrutiny.
“Given the wide-ranging reservations expressed in the public domain regarding the hurriedly passed new laws, fresh Parliamentary review of these attempts would demonstrate a commitment to democratic principles…This approach would afford the newly elected people’s representatives an opportunity to thoroughly examine the proposed,” she said.
Banerjee said the request for postponement also stems from a pragmatic assessment of the challenges and preparatory work required for a smooth transition, particularly concerning the training of law enforcement personnel and judicial officers.
“Any far-reaching legal change requires meticulous groundwork beforehand to ensure effective enforcement and administration and we do not have any reason to avert such homework,” she said.
“I humbly request you to consider our appeal for a deferment of the implementation of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNA) 2023, The Bharatiya Sakhsya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023, and The Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023,” she said.
“We believe this postponement will enable a renewed Parliamentary review/mandate, reinforce public trust in the legal system, and uphold the rule of law in our beloved country,” Banerjee added.
The three new criminal laws will come into force from July 1, Union Law and Justice minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has said.