Top news: Supreme Court reserves order on CBI Director Alok Verma’s plea
The biggest stories of the day.
The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on petitions filed by Central Bureau of Investigation Director Alok Verma and NGO Common Cause challenging the government’s move to divest Verma of his powers. Gogoi asked the government why it took action against Verma overnight.
Meanwhile, a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday denied permission to the Bharatiya Janata Party for a “rath yatra” in the state and posted the matter for hearing on January 9.
Final arguments in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh alleged encounter case ended at a special Central Bureau of Investigation court on Wednesday. A verdict is expected by the end of December. Sheikh and his wife Kauser Bi were killed in 2005, while his aide Tulsiram Prajapati was killed in 2006.
Here are the biggest stories of the day:
India examining UK’s request for consular access to Christian Michel, says external affairs ministry
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said it is examining the United Kingdom High Commission’s request for consular access to Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal.
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BJP should focus on building schools and not temples, says Upendra Kushwaha
Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party President Upendra Kushwaha on Thursday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar government in Bihar for their alleged failure to improve the state’s education system, the Hindustan Times reported.
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Chhattisgarh elections: Congress moves High Court over alleged irregularities in voting process
The Congress on Thursday moved the Chhattisgarh High Court against the irregularities it has alleged in connection with the polling in the state Assembly elections last month, The Indian Express reported.
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Air pollution leads to more diseases than tobacco use in India, causes one in eight deaths: Report
Air pollution now causes more diseases in India than the use of tobacco, and accounts for one in every eight deaths, said a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health on Wednesday.
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Karnataka Cabinet expansion on December 22, eight more ministers to be inducted
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy will induct six ministers from coalition partner Congress and two from his party Janata Dal (Secular) on December 22, PTI reported on Thursday. This will be the second cabinet expansion since June.
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‘Unacceptable’: Potholes have killed more people than terrorists, says Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Thursday said more people are likely killed in accidents caused by potholes on Indian roads than in border areas or terrorist attacks and said it was unacceptable, PTI reported.
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BJP MP Savitri Bai Phule quits party, accuses it of attempting to divide society
Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentarian Savitri Bai Phule resigned from the party on Thursday, saying it was trying to “create divisions in society”, ANI reported. She represents Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha.
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Calcutta High Court denies permission to BJP for ‘rath yatra’ led by Amit Shah
A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday denied permission to the Bharatiya Janata Party for a “rath yatra” in the state, ANI reported, and posted the matter for hearing on January 9.
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‘Amit Shah isn’t God’: BJP ally in Mizoram dismisses claim that saffron party will rule for 50 years
Mizo National Front chief and former Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Thursday told PTI that Bharatiya Janata Party National President Amit Shah’s claim that the saffron party will rule India for 50 years if it is re-elected in 2019 is an exaggeration.
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Fitch cuts India’s growth forecast to 7.2%, forecasts rupee may weaken to 75 a dollar by end of 2019
Credit ratings agency Fitch Ratings on Thursday revised India’s growth forecast for the current financial year to 7.2% from the earlier 7.8%. The agency released its Global Economic Outlook on Thursday, in which it cited higher financing cost and reduced credit availability.
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‘LG has power to nominate’: Supreme Court upholds Kiran Bedi’s decision on BJP MLAs in Puducherry
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi’s decision to nominate three MLAs to the Assembly. “The lieutenant governor has the power to nominate,” the court said while hearing a petition filed by the Congress against the nominations.
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CBI row: SC reserves order on Alok Verma’s plea challenging Centre’s move to divest him of powers
“When Verma was retiring in few months why not wait for few more months and consult selection committee?” Gogoi asked, according to ANI. “Government has to be fair, what was the difficulty in consulting the selection committee before divesting Alok Verma of his power? Essence of every government action should be to adopt the best course.”
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India’s carbon emissions projected to rise by 6.3% this year: Report
India’s carbon emissions are projected to rise by as much as 6.3% in 2018, according to researchers at the University of East Anglia and the Global Carbon Project. Global carbon emissions are projected to rise by 2.7%.
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Indian markets decline by 1% due to selling in oil, metal stocks, poor global cues
Indian markets declined sharply on Thursday morning, dragged by oil and metal stocks and negative cues from global markets. The BSE Sensex was trading 359.99 points (1%) down at 35,524.42 at 10.35 am. The National Stock Exchange Nifty was at 10,657, 125.90 points (or 1.17%) below Wednesday’s close. The Indian rupee also declined against the dollar on Thursday. At 10.37 am, it was trading 58 paise down at 71.04 against the dollar.
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Supreme Court calls Amrapali realty group ‘a perfect liar’, orders seizure of its malls, factories
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that a five-star hotel, cinema hall, malls and factories belonging to the Amrapali Group be attached and sold, calling the real estate firm a “perfect liar”, and “the worst kind of cheater”. A bench of justices Arun Mishra and UU Lalit also ordered that four corporate offices of the firm located in Noida and Greater Noida be attached and auctioned.
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Sohrabuddin case: Final arguments end, CBI accuses hostile witnesses of hindering investigation
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday told a special CBI court in Mumbai that hostile witnesses obstructed the probe into the deaths of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kauserbi in 2005, and his aide Tulsiram Prajapati in 2006. Final arguments in the case ended on Wednesday, and a verdict is expected by the end of December.
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Telangana polls: BJP will rename Hyderabad to Bhagyanagar, Karimnagar to Karipuram, says Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath on Wednesday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party will rename Hyderabad to Bhagyanagar, and Karimnagar district to Karipuram if it comes to power in Telangana. “If BJP comes to power in Telangana, then BJP will work for renaming Karimnagar into ‘Karipuram’ and respect your sentiments,” he said at a rally in Karimnagar.
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Supreme Court approves Centre’s draft witness protection scheme, asks states to implement it
The Supreme Court on Wednesday approved the Centre’s draft witness protection scheme and directed all states and union territories to implement it until Parliament passes legislation. A bench headed by Justice AK Sikri and comprising Justice Abdul Nazeer said it had made some changes to the draft.
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Madhya Pradesh polls: EC sacks Khurai returning officer after EVMs reach strong room 48 hours late
The Election Commission on Wednesday ordered the removal of the returning officer in the Khurai Assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh, after some electronic voting machines reached the strong room 48 hours after polling. Voting had taken place in Madhya Pradesh on November 28, and results will be declared on December 11.
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