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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business Standard
Karnataka hikes legal smoking age to 21, bans hookah bars, public smoking
The Karnataka government on Saturday introduced a new law that raises the legal age for buying tobacco products to 21 from 18. Additionally, it has banned hookah bars and public smoking, and said it will introduce strict penalties for any violations. The new rules were notified on May 30, a week after the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Karnataka Amendment) Bill 2024 received the President's approval on May 23. Coincidently, May 30 also marks 'World No Tobacco Day'. While smoking, and chewing or spitting tobacco is banned in public, there are exemptions for specific places like hotels and airports. It allows the creation of a dedicated smoking zone in hotels with at least thirty rooms, restaurants that can seat thirty or more people, and airports. Hookah bars, which had become popular with a younger demographic are to be closed entirely. As per the new provision, "No person shall, either on his own or on behalf of any other person, open or run any hookah bar in any place, including the eating house, pub, bar, or restaurant by whatever name it is called." Anyone found operating a hookah bar will face a minimum jail term of one year, which can extend up to three years as well as a fine of at least ₹50,000, which may go up to ₹100,000. Sales of tobacco and related products are also banned near schools or colleges. "No person shall sell, offer for sale, or permit the sale of cigarettes or any other tobacco products to any person who is under the age of twenty-one years," the new rules say. "It cannot be sold in an area within a radius of one hundred meters of any educational institution, and it cannot be sold in loose or in single sticks." Also, the penalty for smoking in public and for selling tobacco to those under 21 has gone up significantly from ₹200 to ₹1,000.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Murray Watt embraces ‘fixer' role in Albanese Gov after overseeing plans to ban live sheep exports become law
Australia's new Environment Minister Murray Watt is embracing his 'fixer' figure in the Albanese Government, vowing to get the North West Shelf 'job done' in the same way he oversaw a ban to live sheep exports. Mr Watt — who took on the environmental portfolio in Anthony Albanese's recent Cabinet reshuffle — said he would make a 'significant' call on Woodside's controversial gas project by May 31. Speaking to The West Australian at the weekend, the former Federal Agriculture Minister said he would bring the same 'approach' to 'get the job done' that he brought to implementing the Albanese Government's plan to ban live sheep exports by May 2028. 'I think my record does show that I'm someone who can bring different groups together and make decisive decisions and then get matters passed through the Senate,' he said. 'I did that in my agriculture role when it came to live sheep exports — which was a very controversial issue — but we got the job done there. 'And that's the sort of approach I'll be taking here, as well.' Mr Watt previously served as Federal Agriculture Minister from June 2022 until July last year, and during that time oversaw the live export ban pass into law despite opposition from Nationals, Liberal and independent senate. Mr Watt was the Agriculture Minister when the Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024 passed the Senate by 33 votes to 30 after amendments from Opposition and Greens were lost. He was appointed Environment Minister earlier this month, with Tasmanian MP Julie Collins taking on the agriculture portfolio. Mr Watt visited WA this week, meeting with WA Premier Roger Cook and his state counterpart Matthew Swinbourn in Perth on Tuesday after the WA Labor leader wrote to the Prime Minister demanding a swift decision. He was also expected to restart conversations on 'Nature Positive' conservation reforms, or the modernising of the 25-ear-old Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act, fiercely opposed by WA. While the Federal Government has stalled its verdict, the WA Government has already approved Woodside's 50-year extension of the North West Shelf project after a six-year assessment. It wants to extend the life of its gas facility in Karratha from 2030 to 2070. A decision on the plan was delayed twice by former minister Tanya Plibersek before the May Federal election.
Irish Examiner
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Just over €65m paid out in mother and baby home redress scheme
Just over €65m has been so far paid out under the mother and baby home redress scheme. However, renewed calls have been made to end the "arbitrary exclusion" from the scheme of people who spent less than six months in a home as well as those who were in institutions not named in the final report. Labour leader Ivana Bacik has also hit out at the majority of religious orders who were involved in running mother and baby homes who have refused to pay into the scheme. Only two of eight religious bodies linked to mother and baby homes have offered to contribute to a survivor redress scheme despite lengthy negotiations. The Sisters of Bon Secours offered €12.97m, a sum deemed as meaningful and accepted by the Government. The Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul proposed contributing a building to the scheme and this offer is being considered by the Government. A third religious body — the Sisters of St John of God — declined to contribute to the scheme but offered a conditional donation of €75,000 to be used for a charitable purpose associated with mother and baby home survivors. No offer from five religious bodies The remaining five bodies — the Congregation of Lady of the Good Shepherd; the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary; the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy; the Legion of Mary; and the Church of Ireland — made no offer. 'Sadly, many culpable religious orders refuse to pay redress or even acknowledge wrongdoing," Ms Bacik said. "Urgently, the Government must enact Labour's Civil Liability (Child Sexual Abuse Proceedings Unincorporated Bodies of Persons) Bill 2024. "This Bill would enable the State to compel religious orders to pay redress to survivors of abuse perpetrated within or by religious-run institutions, and also to survivors of mother and baby homes. "The bill, which was published last September, aims to provide a remedy for Government to address the legal obstruction tactics so routinely deployed by religious orders and their associated lay-run trusts. "These tactics are used to avoid having to pay redress to those who have endured abuse in institutions controlled by such orders. 'We have a dark and shameful past of institutional abuse in Ireland." For many decades, we have seen religious orders and institutions engaged in the covering up of this tragic history, with resulting injustice to survivors. "If we've learned anything as a nation, it is that accountability must be provided for survivors and victims of abuse," she said. Figures provided to Ms Bacik show that more than 6,460 applications have been made to the scheme, which opened in March 2024. Some 5,670 notices of determination have issued to applicants, over 81% of which contain an offer of benefits under the scheme. Applicants then have six months to consider their offer, before they need to respond to the Payment Office. Almost 5,000 payments are either processed and completed or in the process of being made and the total amount which has been paid out under the redress scheme to date is over €65m.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Governor Gehlot reserves 2 bills for President's assent, approves two others
Bengaluru: In a move that could spark more acrimony between the govt and Raj Bhavan, governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot has decided to send two bills — The Karnataka Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill 2024 and The Karnataka Souharda Sahakari (Amendment) Bill 2024 — passed by the state legislature in July last year, to President Murmu for assent. The govt has sent the bills to Gehlot for his assent on Aug 1 last year, but Raj Bhavan returned both bills in Feb this year, asking the govt to "reconsider" and "modify" them. A provision of the cooperative societies bill increases govt nominations to boards of higher cooperative bodies, such as the state's apex bank, from the current number to three. These nominations would be reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, women, and individuals from the general category, expanding the bank's board of directors from 22 to 25 members. The Souharda Sahakari bill, proposes granting voting rights to all members, including defaulters, and mandates reservation in boards of secondary cooperatives, federal cooperatives, and apex cooperatives. While returning it in Feb, Gehlot had objected to the provision in the cooperative societies bill which grants voting rights to all nominated members. "It will allow them [nominated members] to take control of the society," he wrote. "This is not a democratically sound move as the rights of elected members will be taken away through the backdoor. Re-think this matter." Similarly, he expressed dissatisfaction with the Souharda Sahakari (Amendment) Bill. "Instead of giving voting rights to all defaulters, a proper method should be put in place to prevent them from voting," Gehlot advised. The govt argued that the aim of these bills was to provide social justice by providing opportunities to people from communities that had no representation in cooperative societies. But the governor observed that the "independence" of co-operative societies will be compromised and "will be influenced by political setups irrespective of parties, which in turn will affect the autonomy of the societies". He said he deems it "fit to reserve them for the kind consideration of the President of India to avoid more complications". It may be recalled that Raj Bhavan reserved a bill proposing 4% reservation for Muslims in govt civic contracts valued up to Rs 1 crore for the President's assent, citing potential constitutional hurdles. It also sent back The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2025, on April 15 seeking clarifications. In Jan, law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil suggested the govt would mull legal action if the governor continued to sit on bills. "The authority of the legislature is paramount as it represents the voice of people. Returning bills passed by the legislature, despite providing clarifications, amounts to a violation of constitutional principles. We would be forced to explore legal action by moving court," he said. However, Gehlot gave his assent to the Mysore Development Authority Bill 2024 and Gadag-Betageri Business, Culture and Exhibition Authority Act 2024. Soon after receiving his assent, the govt notified the bills.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
RBI pitches for email, phone numbers in bank A/c nomination
Reserve Bank of India wants to safeguard depositors' interests. It has asked banks for suggestions. The suggestions are about adding nominee contact details to bank forms. This includes email and phone numbers. The move aims to reduce unclaimed deposits. A new banking bill allows up to four nominees. The government will also give its view. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: To further safeguard depositors' interests, the Reserve Bank of India has sought suggestions from banks on adding nominees' email and phone numbers to existing bank nomination forms. With the passage of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, bank account holders can now have up to four suggestions were sought last month, and a view from the government will also be taken, as this will require updating the format for nomination forms prescribed under the Banking Cos. (Nomination) Rules, 1985, said two executives aware of the developments."The idea is to bring down the unclaimed deposits in the financial sector, especially banks. This may help in tracking claimants or their nominees in case of address change or contact details of the account holder," said one of the executives, adding that the current nomination format for deposits, safe deposit lockers, and safe custody articles lack fields for the nominee's mobile number and e-mail ID."The government has also recently amended the Banking Bill, and by updating the nomination form with contact details of nominees, it will further ensure that all such listed persons are informed and are able to claim their due," the above-quoted executive March, the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed by the parliament that amended sections 45ZA, 45ZC, and 45ZE of the Banking Regulation Act to allow for up to four nominees and includes provisions for simultaneous and successive nominations, offering greater flexibility and convenience for depositors and their legal heirs, especially concerning deposits, articles in safe custody, and safety Companies (Nomination) Rules 1985 permits banks to pay dues to nominees in the event of the death of depositor(s) without asking for a succession certificate or verifying claims of legal bank executive said that there may be consent issues in capturing details of nominees. "What if the nominee is not comfortable with sharing details and can bank without consent reach out to them?" he asked, adding that this may require more deliberations, including changes in the know your customer (KYC) lying in bank accounts that have not been operated for 10 or more years are transferred to the RBI 's Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund.
