The Supreme Court said that state governments announcing welfare schemes ahead of elections could hamper the country’s long-term economic development. The bench was hearing a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Company, which has proposed to provide free electricity to all consumers irrespective of their financial status.

The elections in Tamil Nadu are expected to be held in April or May. The bench asked whether it was in the public interest for the state to bear the costs without distinguishing between those who can afford to pay and those who are marginalised. Read on.

The cash handout burden and its underlying politics, explains Tabassum Barnagarwala

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the brother of Britain’s head of state King Charles, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The police have been assessing allegations that he shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein, the American financier and convicted child sex offender, while serving as the United Kingdom’s trade envoy.

The Thames Valley Police had earlier said that they were reviewing allegations in the “Epstein files”, including a claim that a woman was trafficked to the United Kingdom by Epstein to have a sexual encounter with Mountbatten-Windsor. Read on.

The Gauhati High Court has directed the administration in Assam’s Goalpara district to provide drinking water, sanitation facilities and basic medical services to hundreds of families living in temporary camps. The families were evicted from their homes in June.

The authorities had demolished the homes of 690 families in the area. Following the evictions, more than 500 families took refuge on a small plot and have not been provided basic facilities, the petitioner alleged, adding that such a situation had led to deaths.

The government departments were asked to file affidavits by March 9, stating their position in the matter. Read on.

Behind wave of Assam evictions, a hungry river, and a land policy loaded against Miya Muslims, writes Rokibuz Zaman

The Supreme Court stayed an order issued by the Madras High Court that restrained the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board from functioning. In an order passed on January 8, the High Court had held that the statutory requirement of nominating two non-Muslim members had not been followed.

The bench held that the High Court was “wrong”, adding that the “doctrine of necessity has to function”. It also directed the waqf board to inform it when the pending appointments are made. Read on.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates cancelled his keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The Gates Foundation, his philanthropic organisation, said he wanted to ensure that the event remained focused on artificial intelligence.

The foundation’s comment has been interpreted by some as a reference to the Microsoft co-founder being named in the Epstein files.

The latest tranche of documents released by the United States Department of Justice in January contained a draft email in which Epstein alleged, among other things, that Gates was involved in extramarital affairs. Gates, on February 4, denied the allegations. Read on.

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