• NATIONAL NEWS

High Court struck down Sub-quota for religious minorities

AP High Court has struck down Central Government's step to create a sub- quota for minorities from the existing 27 percent reservation of Other Backward Classes. Bench held that, this action of the Central government was based upon religious lines and not on any other intelligible consideration.

Bombay High Court issued notice to Centre against Petrol hike

Legal notice has been issued to Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Finance Ministry and oil marketing companies in response to a PIL filed against the Petrol hike. PIL claims that the hike is unconstitutional as it lacks the parliamentary approval.

Bhopal Gas tragedy: Supreme Court slams Centre for 'failure' to dispose waste

Supreme Court slams the Center for not being serious on the disposal of toxic waste of Union Carbide India Ltd, in Bhopal."You are not sure even after 28 years. It is because people affected and living in Bhopal are poor. It is a failure on your part to deal with this," court observed while dealing with the case.

Finance Bill 2012 receives Presidential Assent

The Finance Bill, 2012 has received the presidential assent on 28th May, 2012 as Finance Act No. 23 of 2012 [dated 28.5.2012]

Marks could not be treated as "information" under Right to Information Act: Delhi High Court

Setting aside a ruling of the Central Information Commission, requesting the CBSE to disclose the marks of the students obtained in Class X board examination, Delhi High Court held that marks of the Class X board cannot be revealed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Constitution deadline passes, Nepal call fresh elections

With the passage of Sunday's deadline, Nepal's political parties failed to agree a new constitution. The members of the Constitution assembly were not able to find consensus over the constitution of the nation. Nepal's Prime Minister has announced the fresh elections in next 6 months.

Delhi Govt presents Budget on 28th May, 2012

The Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will present the budget in the budget session starting from Monday. On Sunday Chief Minister promised a "people friendly, situation friendly" budget. However the opposition,BJP, may corner the government on issues such as unauthorised colonies and cleaning of drains

2G Case: Special court grants bail to Essar and Loop Telecom promoters and executives

2G special court has granted bail to Essar and Loop Telecom executives in the 2G telecom case on a surety of Rs 5 lakh each. They will also have to surrender their passports.

Army chief general VK Singh exceeded his jurisdiction by issuing 'Defamatory' press release: Del HC

Delhi HC has ruled that army chief general VK Singh has exceeded his jurisdiction by issuing 'Defamatory' press release against retired Lt Gen Tejinder Singh saying that govt cannot be asked to withdraw press release, but disciplinary action can be taken against the army chief and others who had exceeded their jurisdiction.

SC rejects N D Tiwari's plea for stay on paternity suit

SC has rejected the N D Tiwari's plea for stay on paternity suit while directing him to give blood samples for DNA profiling to test the authenticity of paternity claim. Further, directed doctor and the district judge to visit him at his residence on May 29 to collect blood sample.

Delhi HC reserves order on Indraprastha Gas Ltd plea

Delhi HC has reserved its order on a plea filed by Indraprastha Gas Ltd against Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board's decision to slash network tariff and CNG compression charge and refund the excess amount to consumer since 2008.

Interlocutors panel on J&K ruled out a return to pre-1953 status

Centre's interlocutors panel on J&K has recommended setting up of constitutional committee to review all central Acts and articles of Constitution extended to the state and ruled out a return to pre-1953 status saying that the clock cannot be set back.

Court frames charges against Rajesh and Nupur Talwar: Aarushi Murder Case

Court has framed charges against Talwars to cover offences of murder and destruction of evidence. However, Rajesh Talwar is to be also charged with furnishing false information to court.

CBDT: Explanatory notes to the provisions of Finance Act, 2011

CBDT has released a circular comprising of explanatory notes to Finance Act, 2011, in order to explain the substance of the provisions of Finance Act relating to direct taxes.

Interest Rate on General Provident Fund Raised to 8.8 per cent

Govt has raised the interest rate on contribution to General Provident Fund and other similar funds to 8.8 per cent year 2012-13. The interest rate on such funds was 8.6 per cent during December 2011-March 2012.

AP High Court directs Jagan Mohan Reddy to appear before CBI tomorrow

Andhra Pradesh HC directs Jagan Mohan Reddy to comply with the CBI directive and appear before the investigating agency on May 25 in the asset disproportion case.

Delhi HC issues contempt notices to striking AI pilots

Delhi HC has issued contempt notices to striking AI pilots and their representative body, Indian Pilots Guild, for disobeying its earlier order by which their stir was termed as illegal.

Micro Finance Institutions (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2012 Introduced in Lok Sabha

Micro Finance Institutions (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2012 has been introduced in Lok Sabha to confer powers upon the RBI to regulate the micro-finance industry and fix maximum interest rates on loan to be provided by lenders.

CIC penalizes own official for delaying RTI info

Central information commission has imposed penalty under RTI Act on its own official for delaying in furnishing information to an applicant, which should have been provided on June 30, 2011 and was provided on April 13, 2012.

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2012 passed by the Parliament

The parliament has passed the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2012 seeking to protect children below 18 years from sexual abuse and enhance the age of consent from 16 years to 18 years. [File Attached]

Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2010 passed by the Parliament

Parliament has cleared the amendments proposed to copyright Act, with the Lok Sabha passing the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2010 designating the authors as the owners which cannot be assigned to producers contrary to the current practices.

SEBI notifies SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012

SEBI has released SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012 striving to extend the perimeter of regulation to unregulated funds with a view to systemic stability, increasing market efficiency, encouraging formation of new capital and consumer protection.

A deaf and dumb person is a competent witness: SC

The Apex court has ruled that a dumb person need not be prevented from being a credible and reliable witness merely due to his/her physical disability. Such a person though unable to speak may convey himself through writing if literate or through signs and gestures if he is unable to read and write.

Delhi Govt Clears Delhi Registration of Marriage Bill

Delhi government has cleared the Delhi Registration of Marriage Bill to make registration of marriage compulsory within 60 days of the marriage, including those under Hindu Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act. The bill is likely to be introduced in the budget session of Delhi Assembly.

Bill liberalising divorce laws deferred by govt

Govt has deferred passage of the Bill striving to include 'irretrievable breakdown of marriage' among the reasons for divorce. It was contended that bill requires more consideration as proposed amendment does not adequately protect women in a situation created due to liberalization of divorce laws.

White Paper on Black Money tabled in parliament

White Paper on Black Money" has been presented by the finance minister to undertake the different facets of black money and its complex relationship with policy and administrative regime in the country. It also reflects upon the policy options and strategies that the Govt has been pursuing or need to take up in the near future.

Lokayukta chargesheet against Yeddyurappa in Karnataka land scam

Lokayukya police has filed a chargesheet against former Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa for criminal misconduct in arbitrarily denotifying land following a complaint accusing him of illegally ordering cancellation of allotment of an industrial site based on a forged signature.

Delhi HC directs N D Tiwari to give blood sample on saturday

Delhi HC's joint registrar has given an option to N D Tiwari to appear voluntarily in the Delhi HC dispensary on saturday to give his blood sample for a DNA test in a paternity suit.

CBI gets govt nod to attach assets of Jagan Mohan Reddy's business

Andhra Pradesh govt has issued government orders permitting CBI to prohibit sale, pledge and transfer of ownership of properties belonging to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his associates.

Delhi HC directs state govt to recruit educators in three months

Delhi HC has granted three months time to the state government to employ special educators for differently-abled students of MCD schools in a contempt plea filed against the state government for failure to notify the rules to employ special educators.

• INTERNATIONAL NEWS

US panel cuts aid to Pakistan for sentencing Abbottabad informer

US senate panel has decided to cut aid to Pakistan over the prosecution of Pakistani doctor for helping the CIA find Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. The panel has approved the amendment to cut aid on a 30-0 vote.

UK Supreme Court rejects WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's plea against extradition

Britain's Supreme Court has rejected the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's plea against extradition to Sweden over alleged sex crimes. Accordingly, it has been ruled that Assange can be extradited to Sweden, closing his final legal avenue of appeal in Britain.