Nation

New Delhi, India: The Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict on Friday, clarifying that statements made by a person before their death cannot be dismissed simply because some time has passed between giving the statement and their passing. The court also emphasized that such statements do not require being recorded in the presence of a magistrate to be considered valid. A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and N.K. Singh explained that the credibility of pre-death statements is not contingent on the statement being made immediately before death or under the fear of impending death. Moreover, the absence of a doctor’s certification regarding the mental fitness of the person giving the statement does not invalidate it. Background of the Case The case involved a woman who alle...

New Delhi, India: Understanding the frustrations of ordinary citizens, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment Friday, emphasizing the need to simplify administrative procedures and eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. A bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Atul S. Chandurkar stated that imposing redundant requirements in public dealings is unlawful. The court underlined that simplicity in government processes is a hallmark of good governance, warning officials against introducing superfluous demands that complicate procedures and waste both time and mental peace. Jharkhand Memo Struck Down The court specifically struck down a 2009 Jharkhand government memo that mandated additional recommendations from Assistant Registrars under Section 9A of the Indian Stam...

New Delhi, India: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has plunged the country’s aviation sector into chaos, leaving over one million passengers stranded over four days. The crisis caused by widespread flight cancellations has led to domestic airfares skyrocketing 5 to 10 times, while international fares, paradoxically, became comparatively cheaper. On Friday, 235 IndiGo flights were cancelled at Delhi airport alone, with the airline later announcing a complete suspension of all flights for the day. Passengers struggled to adjust plans for urgent meetings, weddings, or other critical engagements as alternative options were either unavailable or prohibitively expensive due to the steep fare hike by other airlines. Passenger Outcry and Government Inaction Travelers expressed frustration...

New Delhi, India: The Supreme Court of India on Friday delivered a key judgment, stating that the image of author Arundhati Roy smoking a beedi on her book cover does not contravene the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. The bench clarified that the photograph does not promote tobacco products and therefore no statutory warning is required on the cover. The ruling arose from a petition filed by Rajasimhan, represented by senior advocate S. Gopakumaran, challenging a Kerala High Court decision that had refused to direct the publisher to include a health warning on the cover. The petitioner argued that the image could potentially encourage tobacco use and thus violated the 2003 Act. Bench Observations The bench, comprising Chief Justice Sunil Suryakant and Just...

New Delhi, India: The Lok Sabha on Friday passed a significant bill imposing a cess on pan masala manufacturers. The revenue generated from this tax will be allocated to enhancing national security and improving public health infrastructure. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, responding to discussions on the “Health Security to National Security Cess Bill, 2025,” emphasized that the government’s aim is to raise resources responsibly, without imposing additional burden on essential goods. She highlighted that the bill specifically targets harmful products, including pan masala, rather than basic necessities. “We are not taxing staple items that affect ordinary citizens. The cess is applied only to harmful goods. Revenue from this will also support defense and infrastructure project...

Airline Allegedly Exploited FDTL Rules to Force Regulatory Concessions New Delhi, India: The ongoing IndiGo flight disruptions have drawn sharp criticism from India’s leading pilot associations, who claim the airline deliberately created the crisis, putting passenger safety at risk. The Airline Pilots Association of India (ALPA) and the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) have strongly opposed the government’s decision to ease regulations for IndiGo instead of penalizing the airline for its mismanagement. Deliberate Crisis Allegations Both associations have questioned why the crisis emerged only in December, despite new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) rules taking effect on November 1. “Was this a calculated move by IndiGo to force the government into granting exemptions from new regu...

Nation’s Largest Airline Faces Historic System Failure, Over 1,000 Flights Cancelled in a Single Day New Delhi, India: India’s aviation sector faced unprecedented disruption as IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, experienced a system-wide collapse, leaving passengers stranded across airports nationwide. The chaos, which lasted four days, impacted over 1 million travelers, with more than 1,000 flights cancelled on Friday alone, setting a historic record. In response, IndiGo announced a postponement of the new FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limit) regulation that triggered the crisis. System Glitch Exposes Operational Shortcomings IndiGo admitted that the sudden implementation of new FDTL rules requiring additional pilots and crew overwhelmed its operations. Experts noted that the airlin...

New Delhi, India: Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded his two-day visit to India, reaffirming the deep-rooted ties between Moscow and Delhi. Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”, Putin conveyed his own vision of partnership with the words “Together we walk, together we grow”, highlighting the spirit of long-standing cooperation between the two nations. Speaking at a state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Putin said: “I know in India, you say ‘Together we walk, together we grow.’ These words perfectly reflect the spirit, character, and traditions of Russian-Indian relations. We will make every effort to ensure that our strategic partnership continues to strengthen and develop for the benefit of our peoples.” Acknowledging India’s Hospitali...

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a high-level bilateral summit at Hyderabad House on Friday, marking the beginning of the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit. The two leaders discussed an extensive agenda ranging from defence cooperation and energy security to trade, technology, education and health. Multiple agreements covering economic partnership, cultural exchange and academic collaboration were formally signed. After the summit, PM Modi announced that India and Russia have finalised a new programme of economic cooperation extending to 2030, aimed at deepening bilateral ties across critical sectors. “India–Russia friendship is like the Pole Star”: PM Modi Welcoming President Putin, PM Modi said he was delighted to host him at a time...