PM Modi hails India-UK trade deal as historic, Rahul vs EC over poll roll revision, more
And the Election Commission versus Rahul Gandhi showdown has escalated. This after Rahul Gandhi alleged the poll body is in a bid to steal votes. The poll panel responded by asking Rahul to refrain from making baseless allegations and asked him to wait for the Supreme Court verdict next week.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
'Will contest solo in Bihar if NDA talks collapse,' says SBSP chief Rajbhar
BALLIA: Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar said that his party is ready to contest the upcoming Bihar elections independently if seat-sharing talks with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) don't work out. Speaking to reporters at his party's headquarters in Rasra, Ballia district, on Friday evening, the Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj Minister Rajbhar said, "Our first preference is to contest the elections in alliance with the NDA. Around 70 percent of the discussions have been finalised, and 30 percent is still pending." "However, we are also preparing for a second option. If, due to pressure from certain Bihar leaders, an agreement isn't reached, we are fully prepared to contest the elections independently," he said. Rajbhar made it clear that his party will not join the INDIA bloc. "Many parties are working outside the INDIA alliance, and talks are underway with some of them. If talks with the BJP do not succeed, we will form a separate front and contest elections. We are actively working on 156 seats," he added. Criticising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he said, "When Rahul Gandhi travels abroad, he questions India's credibility and attacks the Election Commission. But when his party wins elections, he never raises such concerns. If he believes elections were rigged and victory came through manipulation, he should say so openly and provide evidence." He further alleged that Rahul Gandhi has already sensed defeat in Bihar, which is why "he has started making baseless statements, similar to those made by former PM VP Singh."
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Ecological crisis: SC warns HP may ‘vanish in thin air'
The Supreme Court has flagged the ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh and cautioned that the entire state may 'vanish in thin air' if the situation does not change. The Supreme Court has flagged the ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh and cautioned that the entire state may 'vanish in thin air' if the situation does not change. (Shutterstock/ Representational image) Observing that the situation in Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse, the apex court said climate change is having a 'visible and alarming impact' on the state. 'We want to impress upon the state government and Union of India that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of environment and ecology,' a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said. 'If things proceed the way they are as on date, the day is not far when the entire state of HP may vanish in thin air from the map of the country. God forbid this doesn't happen,' it said. The top court made the observations on July 28 while dealing with a petition against an order of the Himachal Pradesh HC, which declined to entertain a plea challenging the state's June 2025 notification declaring certain areas as 'green area'. While refusing to interfere with the high court's order, the apex court said the obvious reason for issuing the notification was to curb construction activities in a particular area. 'The situation in the state of Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse. The severe ecological imbalance and other environmental conditions have led to serious natural calamities over a period of years,' the bench said. It noted the nature definitely is 'annoyed' with the activities that are going on in Himachal Pradesh. 'It is not right to blame only nature for the disaster in Himachal Pradesh. Humans, not nature, are responsible for phenomenon such as continuous land sliding of mountains and soil, landslides on roads, collapsing of houses and buildings, subsidence of roads etc.,' it said. The bench said according to experts and various reports, the major causes of destruction in the state are hydropower projects, four-lane roads, deforestation, multi-storey buildings, etc. It observed that Himachal is nestled in the lap of Himalayan mountains and it is important to seek the opinion of geologists, environmental experts and locals before any development project is undertaken there. The bench said taking advantage of the state's natural beauty, the government started constructing four-lane roads to promote it as a tourist destination. 'With forests encompassing more than 66 per cent of the total land area, Himachal Pradesh is renowned for its abundant beauty and greenery. But the danger to this natural richness is growing as a result of human greed and apathy,' it said. The bench said unrelenting building, tunnel and road construction, frequently done without sufficient environmental planning, has increased the area's susceptibility to natural disasters and effects of climate change. Stating that Himachal is often referred to as the 'power state' of India due to its significant hydropower potential, the bench said, 'While this form of energy is renewable and low-carbon, large-scale construction of dams, reservoirs, and tunnels comes with considerable environmental costs.' It said the state has been witnessing rising average temperatures, shifting snowfall patterns and an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. 'These changes threaten not only the environment but also the livelihoods of local communities dependent on farming, horticulture, and eco-tourism deforestation and forest degradation are major concerns,' it said. It also flagged forest fires, encroachments, overgrazing and expansion of agricultural and urban areas as contributing factors. The bench said the pace of infrastructure development in the state has intensified in recent years, driven by the twin goals of connectivity and tourism. Projects like four-lane highways, ropeways, tunnels and urban expansions often bypass environmental safeguards, it said. The apex court also said that tourism is a major source of income in Himachal Pradesh but the uncontrolled growth of tourism has strained the state's environment. 'If left unchecked, the pressure from tourism could severely undermine the ecological and social fabric of the state,' it said. Referring to the peculiarities in the Himalayan region, the bench said there is a need for all the Himalayan states to collate resources and expertise so as to ensure that development plans are cognizant of these challenges. 'All that we want to convey today is that it is high time the state of HP pays attention to what we have observed and starts taking necessary action at the earliest in the right direction,' it said. The bench said the Centre also owes an obligation to see that ecological imbalance in the state does not get further disturbed and natural calamities do not occur. 'Of course much damage has been caused but there is a saying that 'something is better than nothing',' the bench observed, as it directed the apex court registry to register a writ petition in public interest in this regard. 'We expect the state to file an appropriate reply explaining whether they have any action plan to meet with the issues we have discussed and what do they propose to do in future,' it said. The bench also said the registry shall notify the matter before it after obtaining appropriate order from the Chief Justice of India. It posted the matter for hearing on August 25. With PTI inputs
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Face to face: ‘Our family laws need to be in sync with global realities'
With a professional standing of over four decades, Anil Malhotra, 65, is a well regarded authority on the interplay of India's family laws and the international legal framework, a complex but crucial subject for 3.5 crore people of Indian origin abroad. His latest book, Practitioner's guide to international family law: An Indian perspective, is a treatise on a range of issues, including trans-border marriages, divorce, maintenance, child custody, surrogacy, adoption and inheritance. In an interaction with Hindustan Times, Malhotra delved into the challenges litigants, lawyers and courts face while navigating multi-jurisdictional family law matters, and advocated reforms to bridge the legal gaps in 'an increasingly interconnected and legally pluralistic world'. Edited excerpts: With a professional standing of over four decades, Anil Malhotra, 65, is a well regarded authority on the interplay of India's family laws and the international legal framework. (HT Photo) What was the guiding force for your latest book? The need to compile a ready reckoner that dealt with international law problems in the context of the Indian legal landscape on a daily basis led me to write my 10th book. It offers in-depth guidance on jurisdictional dilemmas, conflict of laws, and the recognition of foreign decrees under Indian law. How is the convergence and conflict in family laws abroad and in India impacting the diaspora on inheritance, child custody, divorce or separation, and adoption? Foreign court judgments are incompatible and are reviewed and tested afresh by Indian courts. This is because laws in different jurisdictions vary. In marriage and divorce, we follow religion-based law and in matters of child custody, we rely on an archaic The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, and in case of succession and inheritance, we are guided by personal laws. There is a different viewpoint in respect of Indians even though they have acquired foreign nationality or citizenship. Their foreign domicile does not take away application of personal laws. So, there is an inconsistency because foreign countries take cognisance of their domicile in that country and then apply laws to them. This is not acceptable in Indian conditions. Cases of women marrying NRIs facing desertion or abuse are on the rise. Courts are struggling in such cases. What can be done? Difficulties come when there is an abandoned spouse or ill-maintained children deserted in Indian jurisdiction, or there is an Indian court order, which can't be executed abroad. We are still grappling to make laws. So, we resort to proceedings under the Domestic Violence Act. In maintenance proceedings, we take help under the CrPC. But these have also become instruments of misuse. So, it's just the innovation of the high courts and Supreme Court that methods are devised on a case-to-case basis to find a resolution. What challenges do NRIs face in marital disputes decided in foreign courts? The most common types of orders are orders of custody, visitation, access and return to home country abroad. India is not a signatory to the abduction convention, which has been signed by 110 countries. Hence, India does not follow foreign court orders. Instead, family courts or high courts examine the welfare of the child, which can be time-consuming due to which children suffer from alienation. India has to sign the convention on abduction which allows the free movement of children. We need to amend the Guardians and Wards Act and talk about joint parenting, shared custody and equal rights of both parents. Times have changed. There are working couples, sit-at-home fathers and other such categories. In an evolving society, we need to make changes in our laws. What changes are needed in Indian laws on domicile, inheritance, wills and succession issues for NRIs? The biggest challenge is when Indians migrate abroad, leaving behind properties/assets and later find it difficult to transfer. The best way to sort this out for an NRI or OCI is to make a separate will of Indian assets so that it goes through a will under the Indian Succession Act. Special courts are needed to deal with such cases on priority. Adoption is complex. What reforms are needed to help NRIs/foreigners? The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), the nodal agency for adoptions of Indian children, is full of administrative people without judicial acumen. CARA is slow in processing applications of abandoned children despite the long waiting list of families looking to adopt them. The authority should be headed by a Supreme Court judge or high court chief justice to monitor its working. Surrogacy laws have undergone changes but are still complex. What more can be done to establish a robust legal framework? The law seems to be made to stop surrogacy rather than to facilitate it. A CARA-like institution should be created to determine the eligibility of a person keen on surrogacy, to check their antecedents, ensure welfare of the children and ascertain whether it is being done without any consideration. Instead of developing a mechanism to regulate surrogacy, tightening the noose is making surrogacy impossible. The law needs a relook and age limits need revision. Family courts are struggling with the timely disposal of cases. How can these cases be fast-tracked? We need trained judicial officers assisted by domain specialist lawyers. Judicial academies should hold regular programmes, invite resource persons, practising professionals and update them with the latest laws. Abroad, there is a dedicated family court bench. But here (in India), the family court judge is a practitioner in all branches of law. The bar councils and national law universities need to groom emerging law graduates into family law practitioners. Family court benches should be set up in the high courts. Family courts at the grassroots should have mediation infrastructure, child support lawyers, counsellors and psychologists.
