Latest news with #AishwaryaBhati
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Business Standard
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
SC allows Delhi govt to withdraw AAP-era cases against Centre, LG
The Supreme Court on Friday permitted the Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government to withdraw several cases initiated by the previous AAP administration against the Centre and the Lieutenant Governor (LG), primarily concerning control over administrative services. The AAP government had moved the top court over multiple issues involving control and governance in Delhi. The cases contested the LG's authority over various administrative and regulatory matters, including the management of waste, the cleaning of the Yamuna River, and the validity of certain legislations and ordinances. Representing the Delhi government, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said, 'These matters should not trouble this court anymore,' signalling a closure to the long-standing legal dispute between the LG and the former AAP administration. Background of the disputes In July 2023, the apex court had issued a notice to the Centre following a plea from the AAP-led government challenging the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023. The legislation, which replaced an earlier ordinance, established an authority to oversee the posting and transfer of Group-A officers in Delhi. It was enacted shortly after the Supreme Court had ruled in favour of the elected government's control over services, excluding matters related to police, land, and public order. One of the withdrawn cases involved a stay granted by the top court in July 2023 against a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order. The NGT had, in January 2023, directed the LG to head a high-level committee tasked with rejuvenating the Yamuna River. Another petition pertained to the alleged withholding of funds sanctioned for the Delhi Jal Board by the Finance Department of the Delhi government for 2023-25. Also Read Other withdrawn cases Additional cases included a plea reasserting that the LG is constitutionally required to act on the aid and advice of the GNCTD's council of ministers, and another seeking directives regarding the appointment of the chairperson of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC). The Delhi government has also decided to drop its challenge to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and LG orders concerning the release of payments to government-appointed lawyers, and the process for appointing advocates-on-record and other legal representatives in the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court.
Mint
19-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
‘Cryptocurrency can affect economy, why can't Centre have clear cut policy on Bitcoin trade?': Supreme Court
'Why does Centre not come out with a clear cut policy on regulating cryptocurrency?' the Supreme Court asked on Monday, May 19, highlighting that its impact on the economy. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh termed the Bitcoin trade as an illicit trade more or less like "hawala" business. 'There is a parallel under-market for it and it can affect the economy. By regulating the cryptocurrency, you can keep an eye on the trade,' the bench told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre. Justice Kant added, 'Trading in Bitcoin is an illicit trade more or less like a Hawala business.' Aishwarya Bhati requested to seek instruction on the matter. The remarks from the Supreme Court came when it was hearing a bail plea of an accused who was held for illegal Bitcoin trade in Gujarat. The accused, Shailesh Babulal Bhatt, had moved top court for bail. The court said it could not ascertain whether he was a victim or victimiser. Clearing on that, Additional Solicitor General said the man was one of the biggest aggregators of Bitcoin trade in the state and victimised others by promising high returns and even indulged in kidnapping. On May 5, the top court said trading in Bitcoin in India was like "dealing with a refined way of Hawala business" as it lamented the Centre's inability to come up with a clear regime on regulating virtual currency so far. The accused's counsel said trading in Bitcoin was not illegal in India after the apex court quashed a circular of the Reserve Bank of India in 2020, making his client's arrest illegal. On February 25, 2022, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to clarify its position on whether trading in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin is legal in India or not. The case related to the quashing of multiple FIRs against Bhat for allegedly duping investors across India by inducing them to trade in Bitcoin and assuring them of high returns.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'If women can fly Rafale, why fewer of them in Army legal branch?': SC questions Centre's 50-50 selection criterion
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the Centre over less female representation in the Judge Advocate General (legal) branch of the Army scrutinising its 50-50 selection criterion. A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan last week reserved its verdict on the petition filed by officers Arshnoor Kaur and Astha Tyagi. Despite securing 4th and 5th ranks respectively — ahead of their male counterparts — the two were not selected for the JAG department due to the limited number of vacancies allocated for women. "If it's permissible in the Indian Air Force for a lady to fly a Rafale fighter jet, then why is it so difficult for the Army to allow more women in JAG?" Justice Datta asked the Centre. During the proceedings, the bench was informed that the second petitioner, Tyagi, had joined the Indian Navy. Taking note, SC questioned the Centre on its rationale for allocating fewer posts to women despite asserting that the positions were gender-neutral. In response, additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati argued that the induction and deployment of women officers in the Army, including the JAG branch, was part of an evolving, progressive process aligned with the force's operational requirements. "To say the policy of intake of men and women officers from 2012 to 2023 in the ratio of 70:30 (or now being 50:50) as discriminatory and volatile of fundamental rights would not only be incorrect but will also transgress into domain of executive which is the only competent and sole authority for deciding the intake of men and women officers in Indian Army," she said. SC questioned the Centre's claim of gender-neutral recruitment after it was revealed that women candidates with higher merit were overlooked due to vacancies still being divided by gender. Justice Manmohan remarked that true gender neutrality means selection should be irrespective of gender, not a rigid 50-50 distribution. He further asked whether all ten women would be appointed if they qualified for the JAG branch purely on merit. Defending the existing policy, ASG Aishwarya Bhati stated that gender-specific vacancies exist across all Army branches, determined by operational needs and manpower assessments.
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
JAG entry case: Women playing significant role in armed forces, Centre tells SC
Women have been playing a significant role as part of India's armed forces including in shaping the country's response to hostilities like what was done in Balakot and that as the shape of warfare changes, their roles too will advance, the Centre on Wednesday told the SC. 'Women are playing a very important role… Balakot strike was engineered by a woman sitting in the control role. So, the face of warfare is changing. It will change,' Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan. The court was hearing a pending plea by two women challenging the notification dated January 18, 2023, for the JAG (Judge Advocate General) Entry Scheme 31st Course, inviting applications from Law Graduates. The duo said they had secured ranks 5 and 6 in the common selection process but will not be able to make it to the selection list as 6 of the 9 vacancies are for men and 3 for women. The Centre had earlier said that the criteria for selection in JAG from 2012-2022 was 70 percent men and 30 percent men but will be 50:50 from 2013-2033. The court said this will still not make the process gender neutral as seats continue to be divided into male and female vacancies. Justice Manmohan said, 'once you allow them in JAG, you will have to allow it in (all other positions)…why are you making a discrimination that they will not be posted in A area, B area. Why can't you deploy them everywhere?' Bhati said it is a governmental policy and said things will change when the nature of warfare also changes.
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Business Standard
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Only BS-VI CNG goods vehicles to enter Delhi from Nov 2025, Centre tells SC
Only BS-VI CNG, LNG, EV goods vehicles to be allowed into Delhi from November 1, 2025; ban will not apply to vehicles registered in Delhi, Centre tells SC New Delhi The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that only BS-VI compliant CNG, LNG, and electric goods vehicles — light, medium, and heavy — will be permitted entry into Delhi starting November 1, 2025. This restriction, however, will not apply to vehicles registered in Delhi, LiveLaw reported. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, made the announcement during the hearing of the MC Mehta case, which deals with pollution issues in Delhi-NCR. The case was heard by a SC Bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan. Commission's efforts and restrictions detailed Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, serving as amicus curiae, informed the Bench that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has submitted a comprehensive affidavit outlining a series of actions to address vehicular emissions. ASG Bhati elaborated on Direction 88 (regulating vehicle entry) and Direction 89 (phasing out end-of-life vehicles), highlighting CAQM's focus on cleaner fuel adoption. Bhati said that from November 1, there will be no entry of light goods vehicles (LGVs), medium goods vehicles (MGVs), and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) other than BS6 CNG, LNG and EVs into Delhi except vehicles registered in Delhi. She further clarified that non-BS VI compliant goods vehicles carrying essential supplies will be granted entry only until October 31, 2026. Thereafter, entry will be limited to CNG, LNG, and electric vehicles, the news report said. Delhi-NCR to soon deny fuel to End of Life (EoL) Vehicles. As per Direction No. 89, the Commission has directed that all EoL vehicles identified through the ANPR cameras or other such systems installed at the fuel pump stations shall be denied fueling w.e.f. 01.07.2025 in the… — Commission for Air Quality Management (@CAQM_Official) April 28, 2025 Crackdown on end-of-life vehicles On the issue of older polluting vehicles, Bhati referred to Direction 89, which mandates phasing out of diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old. She noted that the NCR still has 6.1 million overage vehicles in Delhi, 2.7 million in Haryana, 1.2 million in Uttar Pradesh, and 600,000 in Rajasthan. To enforce the ban, automated number plate recognition (ANPR) systems have been installed at fuel stations to identify these vehicles and deny them refuelling. 'All EoL vehicles identified through the ANPR cameras or other such systems installed at the fuel pump stations shall be denied fuelling with effect from July 1, 2025 in the NCT of Delhi, with effect from November 1, 2025 in 5 HVD districts... and with effect from April 1, 2026 in the rest of NCR,' said the CAQM directive. Additional measures include support from traffic police and integrated command centres for enforcement. However, Bhati clarified that these rules would not apply to vehicles exempted by court orders or specific legal provisions. Push for EV adoption gains momentum ASG Bhati presented Advisory No. 17 from the CAQM, which urges NCR states and Union ministries to amend or notify EV policies, set adoption targets, and provide incentives to shift to cleaner fuel technologies. 'The Commission desires that the governments, public sector undertakings (PSUs) and public institutions in Delhi-NCR may take a lead... and mandate future purchase and hiring/ leasing of only such cleaner mode vehicles,' the CAQM said. The Ministry of Finance has also advised central departments to replace leased petrol and diesel vehicles with electric ones. Bhati told the court that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has set standards for EV safety and approval, while the Heavy Industries Ministry has increased EV use in government hiring. The Department of Expenditure is reviewing EV adoption across ministries and PSUs, the news report said. Justice Oka directed officials to present a practical implementation plan and asked all states and institutions to submit EV procurement data from the last five years.
