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Telecommunications, 3 criminal justice Bills get President Murmu's assent

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday gave assent to the three new criminal justice bills which were cleared by Parliament last week. The three new laws -- the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Act -- will replace the colonial era Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. While replying to a debate on the three bills in Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said the focus were on delivering justice rather than handing down punishment. The legislation aim at completely overhauling the criminal justice system in the country by giving definition of various offences and their punishments. These have given a clear definition of terrorism, abolished sedition as a crime and introduced a new section titled "offenses against the state".

Over Rs 55,000 cr in foreign contributions received by NGOs in 2019-22

More than Rs 55,000 crore in foreign contributions were received by over 13,500 FCRA registered NGOs in the country in three financial years 2019-22, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in order to accept foreign contributions, all associations or NGOs have to obtain registration or prior permission under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA, 2010). "A total of 13,520 associations or NGOs have received a total of Rs 55741.51 crore foreign contribution in last three financial years i.e. 2019-2020 to 2021-2022," he said in a written reply. Rai said a total of 1,615 applications for registration under FCRA were received in the last two years i.e. 2021 and 2022. Out of these, 722 applications have been granted and 225 applications have been rejected as on December 14, 2023. The refusal of these applications was due to not fulfilling the eligibility criteria in accordance with the provisions of the FCRA, 2010 and rules

Parliament security breach: Delhi court sends accused to 7-day custody

A Delhi court on Friday sent Lalit Jha, arrested in the Parliament security breach case, to 7-day police custody for his sustained custodial interrogation. Special Judge Hardeep Kaur remanded Jha in Delhi police's custody after the public prosecutor said he was the mastermind of the incident and was required to be questioned to unearth the entire conspiracy. The court passed the order on an application filed by the city police which sought his custody for 15 days.

HM to move Bills on J-K Reservation Act, Reorganisation Act on day 2 of LS

The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act provides for reservation in appointment in state government posts, and admission to professional institutions, for certain reserved categories

Expansion of BSF jurisdiction doesn't take away power of Punjab Police: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday orally observed that the power of the Punjab Police has not been taken away by the Centre's decision to expand the BSF's jurisdiction to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a larger 50-km stretch from the International Border as compared to the earlier 15 km limit. The bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, hearing the 2021 lawsuit of the Punjab government, said the issues for adjudication by this court have to be settled. It asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, lawyer Shadan Farasat, representing the Punjab government, to sit together and jointly decide on issues to be decided by the bench. The parties shall exchange issues so that they can be settled before the next date of listing, the bench said, adding the advocate general of Punjab can also take part in the meeting of parties. After perusing the records, the CJI prima facie observed that there were concurrent pow

Delhi High Court closes hearing on drafting and implementation of UCC

The petitions said that the country-wide application of UCC would end multiple personal laws promoting tolerance among various groups across the nation

Mamata Banerjee writes to Shah, seeks consensus-building on criminal laws

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023 were introduced in the Lower House of Parliament on August 11

Parliamentary panel seeks robust safeguards for technology in legal process

A parliamentary panel, which examined the three proposed criminal laws, has hailed the move to enhance the use of technology in legal proceedings but said the adoption of electronic means for communication and trials should proceed only after the establishment of robust safeguards. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, headed by BJP MP Brij Lal, also said enabling online or electronic FIR registration is a positive step forward but these should be allowed only through modes specified by the state. "The committee notes that the Sanhita provides for acceptance of trials in electronic mode as provided in 'Clause 532' wherein all trials, inquiries, and proceedings may be held in electronic mode by production of electronic communication devices, likely to contain digital evidence, for investigation, inquiry, or trial," the panel noted. "Electronic communication includes communication through devices such as mobiles, computers, or telephone. The committee notes the enhance

Parliamentary panel approves Hindi names for proposed criminal laws

A parliamentary panel has held that the Hindi names given to the three proposed criminal laws is not unconstitutional, dismissing criticism against the move by some political parties and their leaders. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs headed by BJP MP Brijlal has taken note of the wording of Article 348 of the Constitution, which says that the language to be used in the Supreme Court and in the high courts, as well as for Acts, Bills and other legal documents shall be in English language. "The committee finds that as the text of the Sanhita is in English, it does not violate the provisions of Article 348 of the Constitution. The committee is satisfied with the response of the Ministry of Home Affairs and holds that the name given to the proposed legislation is not in violation of Article 348 of the Constitution of India," the panel said in its report submitted to Rajya Sabha. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS-2023), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS-2023) a

Telangana elections 2023 LIVE: Amit Shah to address election rallies today

Telangana Assembly Elections 2023 LIVE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive at Begumpet airport at 12:35 pm on November 20

Telangana Assembly elections: Amit Shah to address poll rallies, roadshow

This is Amit Shah's 2nd visit to Telangana in the last 3 days. Other than this, PM Narendra Modi is also scheduled to visit Telangana on November 25, 26, and 27 to garner support for the state BJP

Manipur govt terms ITLF's demand for 'self-ruled administration' illegal

The Manipur government has strongly condemned the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum's (ITLF) call for "self-governed separate administration" in districts dominated by members of the Kuki-Zo community and termed it as illegal. State government spokesperson and Education Minister Th Basantakumar Singh told reporters on Thursday night that "the irresponsible statements appear to be motivated and aimed at vitiating and disturbing the law and order situation in the state." "Meeting of the ruling party legislators held on Thursday strongly condemned the statement and appropriate legal actions is being initiated against ITLF and persons concerned," the minister said. ITLF, a frontal organisation of Kuki-Zo tribes in Manipur, had on Wednesday threatened to establish a "self-governed separate administration" in areas where these tribes have a majority. The forum said even after more than six months of ethnic strife in the northeastern state, the central government is yet to accept their dema

Parl panel reports on bills to replace criminal laws submitted to Dhankhar

Reports on the three bills which seek to replace the criminal and procedural laws were submitted to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday. The Vice President's Secretariat posted on X that chairman of the standing committee on home Brij Lal called on Dhankhar in Parliament and handed over the three reports. Soon after Home Minister Amit Shah had introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bills in Lok Sabha in August, he had urged the Speaker to refer the measures to the standing committee for threadbare examination. Shah had described the current set of laws guiding the criminal jurisprudence as a colonial legacy, a reference to their British Raj provenance, and asserted that they focussed on punishment while the proposed laws give primacy to justice. The standing committee on Home, which comes under the Rajya Sabha secretariat, was given three months to examine the bills which seek to replace the Indian Penal

New Bills replacing IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act will be passed soon: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the three new Bills replacing Indian Penal Code (IPC), CrPC and Indian Evidence Act will be passed by the Parliament soon. Speaking at the Passing Out parade of IPS cadets at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy here, Shah said India is dispensing with the laws made during British rule and is entering a new era with new confidence and new hopes. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs is examining the three new bills and they will be passed soon, he said. The new laws are aimed to protect the people's rights, he said. Noting that the women IPS cadets' number is increasing, Shah said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the country is progressing in women-led development.

Telangana elections: Home Min Amit Shah to address public rally on Oct 27

So far, BJP has released its first list of 52 candidates, which includes 3 of BJP's sitting MPs -- Soyam Bapu Rao, Arvind Dharmapuri, and Bandi Sanjay from Boath, Koratla, and Karimnagar, respectively

LIVE: Hiranandani confesses helping LS MP Moitra in attacking Adani group

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11K old vehicles of Central Armed Police Forces identified; to be scrapped

As many as 11,000 vehicles belonging to the Central Armed Police Forces such as the BSF, CRPF and CISF will be scrapped as part of a Central government policy to dispose of all automobiles older than 15 years, officials said. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also requested all state governments and Union Territory administrations to take necessary steps for scrapping worn-out operational vehicles of state police organisations and to replace them with better technology and fuel-efficient vehicles. The MHA has taken steps to ensure that vehicles that are older than 15 years are scrapped as per the 'Vehicle Scrapping Policy' of the Government of India, officials said on Monday. In this connection, around 11,000 vehicles of the CAPFs have been identified that are older than 15 years and these vehicles shall be scrapped in a phased manner, they said. The CAPFs are the BSF, CRPFs, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG and the Assam Rifles. According to an estimate of the MHA, the CAPFs together have mor

FIU likely to launch global crypto exchange database by March next year

The exchange will also have information on the exchanges which are operating on the dark web

PM Modi took country forward on the path of progress: Amit Shah in Gujarat

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the country forward on the path of progress in the last two months

Home ministry conducts special campaign for reducing pending matters

The Ministry of Home Affairs has conducted a special campaign for reducing pending matters, including "swachhta" drives, on a monthly basis from November 2022 to August 2023. A total of 3,438 "swachhta" (cleanliness) campaigns have been conducted at various sites by the ministry with a special focus on field and outstation offices having public interface, according to an official release. During the period, 632 references by Members of Parliament, 37 parliamentary assurances, six cabinet proposals, 213 state government references and 47 PMO references were disposed of. Also, a total of 38,550 public grievances received between November 2022 and August 2023 have been disposed of by the ministry, the release said. A total of 25,504 sq. ft. of space has been freed in the offices of Central Armed Police Forces. Further, for coordinating with all the divisions within the ministry efficiently, an intra-ministry portal has been developed. This has been the best practice of the ministry .