
Centre seeks more time to decide on Wayanad loan waiver
The bench of Justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Jobin Sebastian accordingly adjourned the suo motu petition concerning the rehabilitation of the landslide victims to Aug 13. Earlier, HC had directed the Centre to take a decision on the issue, after the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) stated that it could not decide on loan waivers, as the relevant provision empowering it to do so had been omitted from the National Disaster Management Act.
On Friday, assistant solicitor general A R L Sundaresan informed HC that the files relating to the loan waiver are currently under consideration by the Union ministry of finance and that additional time was required for a decision to be taken.
The court orally questioned the delay, noting that a year had already passed since the tragic incident. Sundaresan sought one more week to obtain instructions, and accordingly, HC adjourned the matter to Aug 13.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
After questioning by HC, Centre withdraws order for 6 cuts in Udaipur Files
NEW DELHI: The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) informed the Delhi High Court on Friday that the Central Government has decided to withdraw its directive recommending six cuts in the film Udaipur Files. This move came after the HC questioned whether the Centre had the authority to order such changes while exercising its revisional powers. Following this development, the Delhi High Court disposed of two petitions that sought to halt the release of the film. It directed all involved parties to appear before the appropriate revisional authority on Monday and instructed that a decision be made by Wednesday. Udaipur Files is based on the 2022 murder of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor from Udaipur, who was killed by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous, allegedly over a social media post supporting an ex-BJP leader. However, the film has drawn sharp criticism. Islamic scholar Arshad Madani and Mohammed Javed—one of the accused in the murder case—petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the film's release, arguing it was inflammatory and communal. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Madani, claimed the film spreads hatred and unfairly targets the Muslim community, warning against allowing hate speech under the guise of free speech. Earlier, the Supreme Court permitted the government to review the movie. A review panel subsequently recommended changes before release. The film's producers then approached the court to challenge the HC's stay on the release. Madani contends the movie generalises a criminal act, portraying an entire community as complicit or supportive of terrorism. Meanwhile, the murder case is ongoing in a Special NIA Court, with hearings set to resume after the summer recess.


Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
HC quashes civil court's gag order against media in Dharmasthala burial case
The Karnataka high court on Friday quashed a sweeping gag order issued by a Bengaluru civil court that barred media outlets, YouTube channels, and people from publishing reports or commentary related to the ongoing investigation into alleged mass burials of victims of suspected sexual assault and murder over a period of two decades in Dharmasthala. The court directed the trial court to reconsider the matter afresh. HC quashes civil court's gag order against media in Dharmasthala burial case According to Bar and Bench, justice M Nagaprasanna allowed a petition filed by YouTube channel Kudla Rampage challenging the ex parte interim injunction issued on July 8, 2025. The civil court order had restrained the publication of any 'defamatory content' against the family running the Dharmasthala Manjunathaswamy Temple. 'The impugned ex parte injunction order passed by the trial court is quashed. The case is being sent back to the competent court for fresh consideration of the interlocutory application. The trial court should take note of the points made in this order,' the high court said. It further added, 'The competent court should decide the case expeditiously. This court has not expressed any opinion on the civil suit, criminal proceedings, charges, counter-charges. All arguments between the parties are kept open except for one point considered in the order.' The original injunction was obtained by Harshendra Kumar D, brother of Veerendra Heggade, who sought the removal and de-indexing of over 8,000 digital links -- including news reports, social media posts, and videos -- alleging they contained defamatory content against him, his family, the Dharmasthala temple, and related institutions. Welcoming the high court ruling, A Velan, counsel for Kudla Rampage, said in a press statement, 'Karnataka High Court did not just pass a judgment; it restored a fundamental pillar of our democracy. The attempt to draw a curtain of silence over a matter of profound public agony and national importance has failed.' 'In a landmark verdict that will resonate far beyond the confines of this case, the High Court has quashed the sweeping and unprecedented gag order that sought to muzzle the media and stifle public scrutiny of the Dharmasthala mass burials case,' Velan said. He also criticised the trial court's order: 'The trial court's ex-parte injunction was a textbook example of an unconstitutional 'prior restraint' on speech. It was overbroad, passed without jurisdiction, and cast a chilling effect not only on the 338 named respondents but on any media house or individual who dared to report on the case. It sought to criminalize journalism.' Meanwhile, in Dharmasthala, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) wound up its search operations for the day after failing to locate any human remains at two more spots -- Spot 7 and Spot 8 -- identified by the complainant. 'Both sites were excavated thoroughly based on the complainant's directions. However, nothing was recovered from either location today. The investigation at the site has been closed for the day,' an SIT officer said, on condition of anonymity. Earlier, partial skeletal remains were recovered from Spot 6, including about 15 bones, some of which were broken. A skull was not found, officials confirmed. These remains have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for further analysis, said officials. 'The FSL team is examining the bones already recovered, but the process is likely to take time. Only after detailed analysis can any clarity emerge about the age, sex, and cause of death,' another officer added, also requesting anonymity. The anonymous complainant, a former sanitation worker, has alleged that multiple bodies -- including those of women and minors -- were buried across temple-affiliated lands in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014. Thirteen such locations were identified as part of the SIT probe, based on his testimony. 'We're following standard procedures and coordinating closely with forensic teams. Not every site may yield physical evidence, but we are documenting everything for completeness,' a senior official said. Home minister G Parameshwara on Friday reviewed the investigation and said the state is monitoring social media posts about the case. 'We will keep a watch on posts that may wrongly impact society,' he told reporters after a meeting with senior officials, including chief secretary Shalini Rajneesh.


Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
Sarpanch killed by Maoists 2 decades ago, his family is first to get home under new Chhattisgarh scheme
The wife of Masa Sodi, a 40-year-old former village sarpanch who was murdered by Maoists in 2005, became the first beneficiary of the new Chhattisgarh Naxal Surrender/Victim Relief and Rehabilitation Policy-2025, getting a permanent house built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) scheme. According to the government, hundreds of surrendered Maoists and victims of Maoist violence will be beneficiaries of the scheme. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, 'The Centre has sanctioned 15,000 houses for such beneficiaries in Chhattisgarh.' Masa Sodi's wife, Sodi Hungi (48), is a resident of Oiras village, located over 20 km from Sukma district headquarters. Hungi has two sons and three daughters. The family has received Rs 95,000 in two instalments under the scheme and is set to get another instalment to make the total amount Rs 1.35 lakh. They also spent some of their own money to build their four-room house. After Masa Sodi's death, Hungi sold liquor and worked as a domestic help to raise their five children, said one of the sons, Rama Sodi (27). While the three daughters did not go to school, the two sons lived and studied in neighbouring Dantewada district. 'My mom did a lot of work and suffered a lot. We have seen many terrible days — I cannot express in words. I do not know why my father was killed… I was in class 1. We never found out which Maoists killed him. For all we know, those Maoists are already dead. For the past several years, Maoists have stopped coming to our village. I dropped out of college after HSC and we are farmers,' Rama said. Until recently, the family had a kutcha house, but last month the construction of their new house was completed and they have since moved in.