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The Hindu
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
NGT asks MoEF to expedite publication of final notification on ESZs
The National Green Tribunal has asked the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to expedite the process and publish the final notifications of the Ecologically Sensitive Areas and Zones, particularly in States where urgent action is warranted. The Southern Bench of the tribunal issued the directive while considering the suo motu case on the massive Wayanad landslides on July 30, 2024. The tribunal has asked the Ministry to rely upon the comprehensive studies on Western Ghats conservation undertaken by ecologist Madhav Gadgil, and the late space scientist K. Kasturirangan. 'The learned counsel appearing for the MoEF&CC states that the final notification regarding Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZs) will be filed before August. It is noted with concern that nearly a year has passed since the Wayanad disaster in Kerala,' pointed out an order dated June 20 issued by Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, Judicial Member, and Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati, Expert Member. Stating that comprehensive studies have already been undertaken by Dr. Madhav Gadgil and Dr. K. Kasturirangan, the Bench asked the Ministry to prioritise the States where urgent action is required with regard to the ESZs and ensure early publication of the final notifications of Ecologically Sensitive Areas and Zones. The Bench had earlier expressed its displeasure over the failure of the authorities to file the reports giving the correct picture on the reasons for the devastating Wayanad landslides. In an order issued on March 28, 2025, the tribunal had warned that it may summon the Chief Secretary of Kerala over the poor response of the authorities. 'We only express our displeasure in the way in which the government authorities are responding to this issue, where hundreds of people have lost their lives, either being killed or missed, in the Wayanad hill station,' it said.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court seeks enquiry report from A.P. Government on illegal mining scam involving ex-MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (July 2, 2025) directed the State of Andhra Pradesh to submit, in a sealed cover, its inquiry report into an alleged illegal mining scam involving former Gannavaram MLA and YSR Congress Party leader Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan. The direction was issued by a Bench led by Justice M.M. Sundresh while hearing a petition filed by the State challenging a May 29 order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which had granted anticipatory bail to Mr. Mohan in connection with the case. Also read: A.P. Government constitutes SIT to investigate cases against former MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi The Bench agreed to hear the State's petition in detail on July 17. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the State, submitted that the government had not been granted a proper opportunity to present its case. He said Mr. Mohan was the 'kingpin' of a 'largescale mining scam' and that his custodial interrogation was necessary, citing allegations that he had threatened witnesses. When Justice Sundresh observed that the complaint appeared 'barebones' and lacked material particulars, Mr. Luthra responded that the inquiry report prepared by the State's Vigilance and Enforcement Department was exhaustive. The Bench then directed the State to place the report on record in a sealed cover. Also read: A.P. Police search for former MLA Vamsi's mobile phone According to the State's petition, the largescale illegal mining scam was uncovered through a comprehensive enquiry by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department. The illegal activities allegedly took place between 2019 and 2024 across Gannavaram, Bapulapadu, and Vijayawada Rural mandals. The State submitted that Mr. Mohan, during his tenure as MLA, had misused his office and conspired with associates to orchestrate a sophisticated racket involving the fraudulent procurement and misuse of temporary mining permits. The petition claimed that mining permits were obtained using forged documents, including PAN and Aadhaar details of unsuspecting civilians who had been misled into submitting their identity proofs under the pretext of enrollment in government welfare schemes. Further, legal procedures were allegedly bypassed to extract gravel and building stone, with complaints by local police and revenue authorities being suppressed due to Mr. Mohan's political influence. 'The total wrongful loss to the public exchequer due to these fraudulent mining activities has been calculated to be ₹195.04 crore,' the State's petition noted.
NDTV
9 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Why Was Mohammed Shami Ordered To Pay Rs 4 Lakh Alimony To Wife, Daughter? Judge Explains
Indian cricket Mohammed Shami was ordered to pay Rs 4 lakh as maintenance to his wife and daughter during the ongoing legal battle by the Calcutta High Court. The maintenance amount saw a significant jump from the previously agreed figure of Rs. 1.30 lakh, which was decided on the basis of a district sessions court order in 2023. As soon as the news became public, Shami's fans sympathised with him on social media, saying the cricketer shouldn't have been forced to pay such a high amount as maintenance. The judge, however, explained the order saying the figure was decided keeping in mind Shami's earnings, his daughter's future and the lifestyle his estranged wife Hasin Jahan was enjoying before the two parted their ways. "The opposite party/husband's income, financial disclosure and earnings established that he is in a position to pay a higher amount. The petitioner wife who has remained unmarried and is living independently with the child is entitled to a levelled maintenance that she enjoyed during her continuance of marriage and which reasonably secure her future as well as future of the child," the Bench said, as per Bar And Bench. "Therefore, while it is true that the question of awarding an excessive amount of monetary relief does not arise, awarding a very low amount also cannot be accepted," the judge was quoted as saying by the Times of India. Hasin Jahan also thanked the court for finalising Rs 4 lakh as maintenance amount, saying the figure would help her get their daughter admitted to a better school, which wasn't possible earlier. "I have lost almost everything while fighting for my rights in the last seven years. I couldn't admit my daughter to a better school. I am thankful to the court," Jahan told the paper after the order. Jahan, however, had originally prayed for monetary relief, including an interim monetary relief of Rs 7 lakh per month for herself and an additional Rs 3 lakh for her daughter. Jahan had lodged an FIR at the Jadavpur police station against Shami and his family in March 2018, four years after their marriage in April 2014, alleging "enormous physical and mental torture" under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violation (PWDV) Act, 2005 and "sustained indifference and neglect" of her minor daughter. Besides domestic violence, she also accused Shami of dowry harassment and match-fixing while alleging that Shami had stopped shouldering financial responsibility for running her family expenses. As for the case, Jahan had lodged an FIR at the Jadavpur police station against Shami and his family in March 2018, four years after their marriage in April 2014, alleging "enormous physical and mental torture" under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violation (PWDV) Act, 2005 and "sustained indifference and neglect" of her minor daughter. Besides domestic violence, she also accused Shami of dowry harassment and match-fixing while alleging that Shami had stopped shouldering financial responsibility for running her family expenses.
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
File complete record of loudspeaker removal process, HC tells police
MUMBAI: In response to a petition filed by five Muslim religious establishments in Vikhroli challenging the removal of their loudspeakers by the police since May as unconstitutional and violating due process, the Bombay high court (HC) on Tuesday issued notice to the police to file a complete record of action taken by them by July 9. File complete record of loudspeaker removal process, HC tells police The details asked for include: names of places of worship whose loudspeakers had been removed, measurements of volume emanating from the loudspeakers, whether the police had asked them to lower the volume and if they had complied; the notices sent to them, and whether, despite chances given to them to comply, they had not, before penalties were imposed and loudspeakers removed. A bench of Justices R V Ghuge and M Sathaye initially stayed the imposition of penalties in these cases but were informed by senior counsel Yusuf Mucchala, appearing for the petitioners, that the fines had already been paid. The receipts were part of the petition. The bench asked assistant public prosecutor (APP) S V Gavand whether similar action had been taken with respect to all religious establishments. 'Can we assume that now in Mumbai there is no place of worship with a loudspeaker on top?' asked Justice Ghuge. Gavand consulted with senior inspector Sunil Shinde, of the Mumbai crime branch, before replying that loudspeakers had been removed only where they exceeded the prescribed limit. The judge then asked whether the police had measured the volume to determine if the limit was breached. The APP replied in the affirmative. However, Advocate Muchhala informed the Bench that an RTI application filed in May (included in the petition) showed that the police department neither possessed special volume-measuring instruments nor trained personnel to use them. Both were mandatory according to the Supreme Court's 2022 judgment on the issue. He also referenced the 2023 Gujarat HC judgment which, rejecting a petition to ban loudspeakers on masjids, had ruled that the azaan did not constitute noise pollution. 'Arbitrary action has been taken on the basis of complaints by a political leader who has posted on social media that he's on a 'Bhonga Mukt Maharashtra' mission,' said Muchhala. 'Notices have been issued without details about when the prescribed volume limit was breached.' The petition contained copies of the notices issued, he informed the court. Some of them had been issued even after loudspeakers had been disconnected. Muchhala further informed the court that a sample survey carried out by the petitioners of 117 mosques in Mumbai showed that 23 had been fined ₹ 5000 each since May, and 29 had had their loudspeaker license terminated. The APP asked for two weeks' time to file a 'brief reply'. When the bench rejected this, APP Gavand said, 'This is not a life and death issue, it's not as if a demolition has taken place.' Justice Ghuge then asked the APP if he knew why the azaan was called five times a day. 'It is a call telling believers that now is the time to pray. Namaz has to be offered at fixed times. Temples don't make similar calls because there are no fixed timings when people must go and pray there. If loudspeakers are completely removed, how will the people be called for namaz?' The HC ruling comes a few days after Mumbai police commissioner Deven Bharti had said that the city was 'loud-speaker free'. While not naming any community, he claimed that following meetings with community leaders and trustees of religious bodies, more than 1,500 loudspeakers were removed.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Five savvy ways to help you plan ahead and put cash aside for the festive period
Plus how you can save big on new workout gear SUN SAVERS Five savvy ways to help you plan ahead and put cash aside for the festive period Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SIX months of the year have passed and it's time to look ahead and start saving. Put aside a little cash now to plan ahead for the festive period and life will be a lot easier come December. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up BUDGET BOOST: Work out your Christmas costs for gifts, food and booze, then divide it by 25 — the approximate number of weeks until Christmas — to see how much you need to put aside each week. So if you need to save £500, save £20 per week. Sell a few items on an auction site each month and save the cash and that's your festive period sorted. NO-SPEND DAYS: Pick one weekday to spend nothing. Pack lunches, walk to work, skip the takeaway coffee. Save £15 each no-spend day until November 1 and that's £270 towards the cost of Christmas. AUTOMATE IT: Use banking apps to squirrel away money. Try Monzo Round-Ups or NatWest's Digital Regular Saver to start stashing away spare change. With 175 days until December 22 — the last Monday before Christmas — 50p per day means £87.50 saved. FOOD SHOP: Asda's Christmas Savings Card is a helpful way to save. Sign up now or add a little every time you buy groceries and get a bonus amount in November depending on your balance. If you save £5 per week until November, that would be £90 put aside by November 1. Find out more at BANK BONANZA: To make extra cash, switch banks. Open the new TSB Spend & Save account and you get £100, then for up to six months earn £15 cashback when you make at least 20 card payments per month, with further incentives in December. See All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. 7 Our tips will help you put aside cash ahead of the festive period Credit: Getty Save £10k in 5 Months: Milly's Box Challenge Revealed! Deal of the day 7 Save £75 on a five-pack of Bench T-shirts, now just £24.99 Credit: Supplied GET your summer wardrobe sorted at A five-pack of Bench T-shirts, with a recommended retail price of £99.99, is £24.99. SAVE: £75 Cheap treat 7 This £4 Glade candle is now just £1.29 at Home Bargains Credit: Supplied GIVE your home the scent of cherries with a Glade candle, usually £4, now £1.29 at Home Bargains. SAVE: £2.71 What's new? DINE at Las Iguanas with a friend today – on Tuesdays get a two-for-one deal on all your Mexican favourites including burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, and chillies. Top swap 7 This pair of Athena Dr Martens sandals is £100 from Credit: Supplied 7 Or opt for this similar style from Next, just £38 Credit: Supplied STEP into summer in a pair of Athena Dr Martens sandals, £100 from or pick up a similar style at Next, for £38. SAVE: £62 Little helper NEED some new workout wear? Get up to 50 per cent off in the sale. These leggings were £45, now £22.50. Shop & save 7 Save £2.02 on the Villa Maria Blush Sauvignon at Asda Credit: Supplied SIP on a glass of Villa Maria Blush Sauvignon with lots of ice. It's the perfect summer drink. A bottle was £9.98, now £7.96 at Asda. SAVE: £2.02 Hot right now GET up to 70 per cent off toys and games at – it's the perfect time to stock up on birthday or even Christmas pressies. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 Join thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket. The more codes you enter, the more tickets you'll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!
