Latest news with #PresidentialReference
The Hindu
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Pahalgam attack perpetrators killed, says Amit Shah; Supreme Court to first hear T.N.'s and Kerala's challenge against maintainability of Presidential Reference, and more in The Hindu's top news of Ju
Three terrorists who carried out Pahalgam terror attack killed: Amit Shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) that the three Pakistani terrorists who carried out the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack were killed during an operation by security forces at Dachigam in the Kashmir Valley a day ago. The Minister said that since locals are not joining the ranks, Pakistan is sending terrorists from across the border to strike terror. 'We ensured that the terrorists do not flee to Pakistan,' the Minister said while participating in a discussion on Operation Sindoor. Talked of Nehru, my mother's tears but did not answer why war was stopped: Priyanka Gandhi slams government Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) said leadership is not just about taking credit but also taking responsibility, and claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump announcing the ceasefire between India and Pakistan reflects the PM's 'irresponsibility'. Participating in a special discussion in the Lok Sabha on 'India's strong, successful and decisive Operation Sindoor in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam', the Congress MP said Home Minister Amit Shah talked about Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, even her mother's tears but did not answer 'why the war was halted at a time when the enemy had nowhere to go'. Owaisi seeks answers on fighter jet squadrons, accuses Centre of failing to make use of internal unity during Operation Sindoor Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi raised concerns in the Lok Sabha over India's defence preparedness and sought to know why only 29 fighter squadrons are operational despite a sanctioned strength of 42, and compared this military capability with adversaries like China and Pakistan. 'After 60 years, we have only 29 squadrons. Pakistan has 25. China has more than 50. You have been in power for 11 years,' Mr. Owaisi said during a discussion on Operation Sindoor on Monday (July 28, 2025) night. He also sought to know whether India would obtain source code on weapons during its future acquisitions. Opposition leaders protest against SIR in Parliament complex Several MPs of the INDIA bloc parties protested in the Parliament House complex on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) against the Election Commission's voter roll revision in Bihar and demanded its rollback. Ahead of the day's proceedings in Parliament, several MPs of the Opposition, including those of the Congress, DMK, TMC, RJD and Left parties, among others, participated in the protest on the steps of the Makar Dwar of Parliament and raised slogans. Supreme Court fixes Presidential Reference hearing from August 19, to first hear T.N. and Kerala on maintainability The Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) agreed to hear first a simultaneous challenge raised by Tamil Nadu and Kerala against the maintainability of a Presidential Reference questioning the power of the Court to draw timelines for the President and State Governors while dealing with State Bills sent for approval. A Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai said the hearing on the Reference would kick off on August 19 with the two States, variously represented by senior advocates K.K. Venugopal, A.M. Singhvi and P. Wilson, getting an hour to convince the Court to return the Reference unanswered. Manipur preparing for Special Intensive Revision, says Joint CEO Manipur has begun holding training sessions of Block Level Officers and meetings with political parties for a Special Intensive Revision of the photo electoral rolls of the State, an exercise that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is currently holding in Bihar and one that Opposition parties have criticised as being a roundabout way of conducting a National Register of Citizens. Election officials in the State said that the training sessions and meetings with political leaders of the State for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) are being conducted as per communication from the ECI 'both formally and informally'. U.S. team to visit India on August 25 for next round of talks for trade pact The U.S. team will visit India on August 25 for the next round of negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement between the two countries, an official said on Tuesday (July 29, 2025). The official added that the two sides continue to be engaged in an interim trade deal as the August 1 deadline is approaching. AIIMS Bhubaneswar nursing officer held for 'sexual harassment' of woman attendant A nursing officer at AIIMS Bhubaneswar was arrested for 'sexually harassing' a woman attendant at the medical facility, police said on Tuesday (July 29, 2025). Accused nursing officer Nanu Ram Choudhury was booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, after a complaint was lodged against him at the Khandagiri Police Station in the city, a senior officer said. On Monday (July 28, 2025), the woman attendant at AIIMS Bhubaneswar had alleged that she was sexually harassed and attempts were made to outrage her modesty by the male nursing officer. BJP in Kerala defends 'mistaken' arrests of nuns in Chhattisgarh, distances itself from Bajrang Dal BJP Kerala State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has sought to distance the party in Kerala from the Bajrang Dal, a Hindu right-wing organisation suspected of mobbing two Keralite nuns at the Durg railway station in Chhattisgarh last Friday and allegedly browbeating the local law enforcement into arresting the nuns on 'questionable charges' of attempting to spirit away three local women, including a tribal community member, to Agra for 'forced' conversion to Christianity. Top Chinese, U.S. trade officials huddle in Sweden for second day of thorny talks over tariffs Chinese and U.S. trade officials arrived for a second day of meetings in the Swedish capital on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) to try to break a logjam over tariffs that have skewed the pivotal commercial ties between the world's two largest economies. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng made no public comments to reporters after the first day of talks that lasted nearly five hours behind closed doors at the Swedish Prime Minister's office on Monday (July 28, 2025). New York officer killed in Manhattan shooting was Bangladeshi immigrant whose wife was pregnant The New York police officer killed in a mass shooting in a Manhattan skyscraper on Monday (July 28, 2025) was described by the city's mayor and police commissioner as a heroic Bangladeshi immigrant who saved lives while 'putting his life on the line.' A gunman opened fire on Monday (July 28, 2025) inside a midtown office tower, killing five people, including Officer Didarul Islam, 36, before fatally shooting himself, officials said. India will try to replicate U.K. deal's pro-MSME features in future trade deals Indian negotiators are trying to ensure future trade agreements, such as those with the U.S. and the EU, include similar carved-out features to benefit Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) along the lines of what was included in the recently signed agreement with the U.K., according to Commerce Ministry officials. 'The primary goal is to enhance cooperation and information sharing to improve the ability of MSMEs to participate in bilateral trade and investment,' an official in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry told The Hindu on the condition of anonymity as negotiations for a trade deal with the U.S. and the EU are still ongoing. Gautam Gambhir and Oval curator involve in heated exchange of words India head coach Gautam Gambhir was on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) involved in a heated exchange of words with the Oval's chief curator Lee Fortis and was heard telling him 'you don't tell us what we need to do' while pointing fingers at the ground staff. The tiff started when Fortis told Gambhir: 'I will have to report this' and to that the Indian head coach replied rather tersely: 'You go and report whatever you want to report.' Kotak stepped in at this point, took the Englishman to a different corner and said: 'We won't damage anything.' Other Indian support staff such as bowling coach Morne Morkel and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate were seen listening keenly to the argument.
United News of India
29-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
SC to hear Presidential Reference on timelines for Governor, President's assent to bills from August 19
New Delhi, Jul 29 (UNI) The Supreme Court today announced that it will begin hearings on the Presidential Reference concerning the constitutional powers of the Governor and the President in relation to granting or withholding assent to state legislation, under Articles 200 and 201 of the Constitution. The hearings will commence on August 19 and continue through September 10, with the Court making it clear that the schedule is non-negotiable and will not be altered under any circumstances. A Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Justice BR Gavai, and comprising Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, PS Narasimha, and AS Chandurkar, will adjudicate the Reference made by President Droupadi Murmu under Article 143 of the Constitution. The Court has directed all parties to submit their written submissions by August 12. The hearing schedule will be as follows: August 19: Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments to raise preliminary objections to the maintainability of the Reference. August 19, 20, 21, 26: Attorney General and the Union of India to argue in support of the Reference. August 28, September 2, 3, and 9: States opposing the Reference will present their arguments. September 10: Rejoinders, if any, to be heard. The Court has appointed Advocate Aman Mehta as the nodal counsel for the Union and Advocate Misha Rohatgi as the nodal counsel for the opposing States to compile and coordinate submissions. Senior Advocate KK Venugopal, appearing for the State of Kerala, informed the Bench that Kerala has filed an application contending that 11 out of the 14 questions raised in the Reference have already been answered by the Supreme Court in the Tamil Nadu Governor case. He submitted that invoking Article 143 in this instance amounts to an attempt to bypass or undermine that judgment. Senior Advocates Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi and P Wilson, appearing for the State of Tamil Nadu, informed the Court that Tamil Nadu has also challenged the maintainability of the Reference, echoing similar concerns. The Reference follows the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in the Tamil Nadu Governor case, where a two-judge bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan held that Governors must act within a three-month timeframe when deciding on assent to Bills passed by the legislature. The Court also stated that if the Governor reserves a Bill for Presidential assent, the President must likewise act within three months. Importantly, the Court ruled that if either constitutional authority fails to act within the stipulated time, a writ of mandamus can be sought by the concerned State. In that judgment, the Court also held that ten Bills kept pending for over a year had received deemed assent. The Reference by the President seeks clarity on 14 substantive constitutional questions, including, What options are available to a Governor under Article 200 when a Bill is presented? Is the Governor bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers while acting under Article 200? Is the Governor's discretion under Article 200 subject to judicial review? Does Article 361 bar courts from reviewing the Governor's actions under Article 200? Can courts impose timelines on Governors and prescribe how their powers should be exercised in the absence of constitutional guidelines? Is the President's discretion under Article 201 justiciable? Can courts prescribe timelines for the President's actions under Article 201? Is the President required to consult the Supreme Court before acting on a Bill reserved by a Governor? Are the decisions of the Governor and President under Articles 200 and 201 justiciable before a law comes into force? Can orders or actions by the President or Governor be overridden using Article 142? Does a law passed by a State legislature come into force without the Governor's assent under Article 200? Should constitutional benches determine in advance if a matter involves substantial questions of constitutional interpretation under Article 145(3)? Does Article 142 empower the Supreme Court to issue orders contrary to existing constitutional or statutory provisions? Is Article 131 the sole remedy for resolving disputes between the Union and States? The hearing promises to be a landmark event, with far-reaching implications on Centre-State relations, constitutional conventions, and judicial limits on executive discretion. UNI SNG AAB
The Hindu
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court fixes Presidential Reference hearing from August 19, to first hear T.N. and Kerala on maintainability
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) agreed to hear first a simultaneous challenge raised by Tamil Nadu and Kerala against the maintainability of a Presidential Reference questioning the power of the Court to draw timelines for the President and State Governors while dealing with State Bills sent for approval. Supreme Court hearing on Presidential Reference highlights on July 29, 2025 A Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai said the hearing on the Reference would kick off on August 19 with the two States, variously represented by senior advocates K.K. Venugopal, A.M. Singhvi and P. Wilson, getting an hour to convince the Court to return the Reference unanswered. Mr. Venugopal, appearing for Kerala, said the Bench must hear the States on the question of maintainability of the Reference before the Union Government began its submissions in support of the presidential questions. 'A preliminary hearing should be held on the maintainability of the Reference. This should be done first,' Mr. Venugopal pressed. Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani intervened graciously, saying the States must get their 'full say', after which he would respond on the question of maintainability and continue with his submissions on behalf of the Reference. The Bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P.S. Narasimha and Atul Chandurkar, asked the parties to file their respective written submissions on or prior to August 12. The Union Government would be heard on August 19, 20, 21, 26. The opposing parties would submit their response on August 28 and September 2, 3 and 9. The Union Government would then rebut on September 10. 'Timelines must be followed scrupulously,' the Chief Justice told the lawyers. The Bench said no lawyer, except Mr. Venugopal, would be allowed to appear online. Mr. Mehta supported wholeheartedly, says the distinguished counsel was 'sui generis' (unique). The States of Tamil Nadu and Kerala has urged the Court to dismiss the Presidential Reference, arguing it was really an 'appeal in disguise'. Kerala, represented by senior advocate K.K. Venugopal and C.K. Sasi, said the President could only refer questions to the Supreme Court under its advisory jurisdiction of Article 143 of the Constitution if they had not been decided by the Supreme Court. Quoting judicial precedents, including the 1993 Reference in the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, the State said powers of the Governors and the President under Article 200 and 201 of the Constitution have been the subject of three separate authoritative judgments in the cases filed by the States of Telangana, Punjab and, finally, Tamil Nadu on April 8. The State pointed out that the Tamil Nadu Governor case judgment authored by Justice J.B. Pardiwala on April 8 had already addressed in detail the questions raised in the Presidential Reference in May. 'When the Supreme Court in its adjudicatory jurisdiction pronounces its authoritative opinion on a question of law, it cannot be said that there is any doubt about the question of law or the same is res integra so as to require the President to know what the true position of law on the question is. The decision of this Court on a question of law is binding on all courts and authorities. Hence, the President can refer a question of law only when this Court has not decided it,' Kerala submitted. If the government wanted to challenge the April 8 judgment, it should have filed a review or a curative petition in the Supreme Court, and not take the route of Presidential Reference, Kerala has contended.
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SC fixes schedule for hearing Presidential Reference on timeline for assent to state bills
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed a time schedule for hearing the Presidential Reference raising constitutional issues on whether timelines could be imposed for dealing with bills passed by assembly, and proposed to start the hearing from August 19.A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice BR Gavai asked the Centre and states to file their written submissions by August the parties to adhere strictly to the timeline, the bench also comprising Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar said that it will be first hearing preliminary objections filed by states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu questioning the maintainability of the Presidential Reference on August 19 for one top court said the Centre and the States supporting the Presidential Reference will be heard on August 19, 20, 21 and 26, while those opposing it will be heard on August 28 and September 2, 3 and bench said rejoinder submissions, if any, will be heard on September July 22, the top court observed that the issues raised in the Presidential reference will affect the "entire country".In May, President Droupadi Murmu exercised powers under Article 143(1) to know from the top court whether timelines could be imposed by judicial orders for exercise of discretion by the President while dealing with the bills passed by state President's decision comes in light of the April 8 verdict of the apex court passed in a matter over the powers of governor in dealing with bills questioned by the Tamil Nadu verdict for the first time prescribed that the President should decide on the bills reserved for her consideration by the governor within three months from the date on which such reference is a five-page reference, President Murmu posed 14 questions to the Supreme Court and sought to know its opinion on powers of governor, President under Articles 200 and 201 in dealing with bills passed by the state verdict has set a timeline for all governors to act on the bills passed by the state assemblies and ruled that the governor does not possess any discretion in exercise of functions under Article 200 of the Constitution in respect to any bill presented to them and must mandatorily abide by the advice tendered by the council of had said state governments can directly approach the Supreme Court if the President withholds assent on a bill sent by a governor for consideration.
The Hindu
28-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
President reference ‘misleading', wants SC to sit on appeal against its own verdict in TN Governor case: Kerala to SC
The State of Kerala on Monday (July 28, 2025) urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the Presidential Reference seeking clarity on whether judiciary can fix timelines for the President and State Governors to clear State Bills, saying it is a ruse to make the apex court sit in appeal of its own authoritative pronouncement in the Tamil Nadu Governor case. The Constitution, the State said, does not allow the apex court to sit in appeal of its own judgments, nor can the President vest appellate jurisdiction in the court through a Presidential Reference. The State said the Reference was 'misleading' and 'suppressed facts'. Kerala, represented by senior advocate K.K. Venugopal and C.K. Sasi, said the President can only refer questions to the Supreme Court under its advisory jurisdiction of Article 143 of the Constitution if they had not been decided by the apex court. Quoting judicial precedents, including the 1993 Reference in the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, the State said powers of the Governors and the President under Article 200 and 201 of the Constitution have been the subject of three separate authoritative judgments in the cases filed by the States of Telangana, Punjab and, finally, Tamil Nadu on April 8. 'When the Supreme Court in its adjudicatory jurisdiction pronounces its authoritative opinion on a question of law, it cannot be said that there is any doubt about the question of law or the same is res integra so as to require the President to know what the true position of law on the question is. The decision of this court on a question of law is binding on all courts and authorities. Hence, the President can refer a question of law only when this court has not decided it,' Kerala submitted. The State pointed out that the Tamil Nadu Governor case judgment authored by Justice J.B. Pardiwala on April 8 has already addressed in detail the questions raised in the Presidential Reference in May. If the government wanted to challenge the April 8 judgment, it should have filed a review or a curative petition in the apex court, and not take the route of Presidential Reference, Kerala said. The State argued the very fact the government has not sought a review of the April 8 judgment, establishing it as settled law. 'The Union of India has not filed any review or curative petition against the judgment delivered by the court in the Tamil Nadu case, and has thus accepted the judgment…The judgment, having not been assailed or set aside in any validly constituted proceedings, has attained finality and is binding on all concerned under Article 141, and cannot be challenged obliquely in collateral proceedings such as in the instant reference. The President and the Council of Ministers have to act in aid of the Supreme Court under Article 144 of the Constitution,' the State of Kerala reasoned. EOM
