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Himachal Assembly passes Bill, bars defected MLAs from receiving pension

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday passed a Bill which will bar the members of the House who are disqualified under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution (anti-defection law) from drawing pension. The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members (Amendment) Bill, 2024 will affect six former Congress MLAs, who were disqualified by the Speaker for defying the whip and abstaining from the House during discussion on cut motions and passing of Budget in February. The opposition BJP objected to the Bill stating that it smacks of "political revenge" and it cannot be implemented with retrospective effect. The six former MLAs who will be impacted due to the Bill are Sudhir Sharma, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Rajinder Rana, Devinder Kumar Bhutto, Chetanya Sharma and Ravi Thakur. All of them had voted in favour of the BJP nominee Harsh Mahajan during the Rajya Sabha elections held in February. All six had contested the bypolls on BJP tickets earlier this year. While

Himachal bill to end pension for MLAs disqualified under anti-defection law

Earlier this year, six Congress MLAs - Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma, and Devinder Kumar - were disqualified under the anti-defection law

LDF backs Mukesh, says Cong MLAs who face rape charges should resign first

The ruling LDF in Kerala on Thursday threw its weight behind CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh, booked in a rape case, saying that the two Congress legislators who are accused in sexual assault cases should resign first before the Malayalam actor's resignation is sought. At the same time, LDF convener E P Jayarajan also said that neither the CPI(M) nor the Left government will protect any wrongdoers in any of the cases registered on the allegations against various actors and directors. Jayarajan was responding to reporters' queries on whether Mukesh will resign or not. He said that earlier, much bigger sexual assault cases were lodged against two other MLAs who had not resigned. He was referring to Congress MLAs M Vincent and Eldhose Kunnappilly. "Had they resigned, then the third MLA (Mukesh) too would have to resign. The law is applicable equally to all legislators. By asking for Mukesh' resignation, you are protecting the other two," he said. On being told that some CPI leaders, including A

Kangana Ranaut in legal trouble for 'misrepresenting' Sikhs in 'Emergency'

SGPC has issued a legal notice to actress and producer Kangana Ranaut to remove the trailer of the film and for the filmmakers to issue a formal apology to the Sikh community

Sikkim CM Tamang announces minimum monthly pension of Rs 50,000 for ex-MLAs

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced that former MLAs would now receive a minimum monthly pension of Rs 50,000. Tamang made the announcement at the 22nd Foundation Day of Former Legislators Federation of Sikkim (FLFS) on Saturday. The chief minister said former legislators who had served a single term as MLA will now receive a monthly pension of Rs 50,000. At present, they are getting Rs 22,000 as monthly pension. Former legislators who have served two terms or more as MLA will now get Rs 55,000 as pension from Rs 25,000, Tamang said. The CM also announced that the Sikkim government will provide an annual grant-in-aid of Rs 20 lakh to the Former Legislators Federation of Sikkim. This fund is meant to meet the emergency and medical needs of former legislators and to enhance their support system, he said.

Law ministry invites proposals to 'comprehensively evaluate' MP-MLA courts

The Union law ministry has invited proposals from top institutes, including IIMs, IITs, law universities and judicial academies, to carry out a "comprehensive evaluation" of special courts set up to hold expeditious trial of criminal cases involving MPs and MLAs to assess their functionality, efficacy and overall impact. The proposals have been invited under 'Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms' of the Department of Justice which functions under the law ministry. Following the directions of the Supreme Court in 2017, the central government had facilitated setting up of 12 special courts in states for expeditious trial of criminal cases involving MPs and MLAs. Accordingly, 12 special courts -- two in Delhi and one each in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala -- were constituted. Ten such courts are currently functional in nine states. The special courts of Bihar and Kerala

Had to go with Ajit Pawar as my bank faced troubles: NCP MLA Shingne

NCP MLA Rajendra Shingne has claimed that due to troubles faced by a cooperative bank with which he was associated, he had to side with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar after the party split last year. Ajit Pawar and several other MLAs joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in the state last year, leading to a split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founded by Sharad Pawar. Shingne on Saturday shared the dias with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar at a programme in Wardha. Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the programme, the MLA, representing Sindkhed Raja in Buldhana district, said he has always respected Sharad Pawar. Shingne said he worked under the leadership of Sharad Pawar for around 30 years and that the latter has made a huge contribution to his political career and he will always be indebted to him. "However, of late, due to troubles faced by my district cooperative bank (in Buldhana) and helplessness, I had to go to them (ruling side) with Ajit Dada.

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Elected MLAs take oath in Arunachal, Speaker to be elected on June 15

Newly elected MLAs of Arunachal Pradesh took oath on Friday. Pro-tem Speaker Ninong Ering administered the oath to the newly elected members during the inaugural day of the two-day special session summoned by Governor Lt Gen (Retd.) K T Parnaik. Eleven of the newly elected MLAs took oath in Hindi. Fifty-nine of the 60 MLAs took oath during the day, while Ering was administered the oath by the governor on the previous day. As many as 35 members of the outgoing assembly were re-elected while five former members also got elected this time. There are 20 fresh faces in the current assembly. A total of four woman candidates were also elected to the assembly in the April 19 polls. Ering, while congratulating the elected members, advised them to perform their duties diligently to keep the tradition of the House and the aspirations of the people alive. "Participate in healthy deliberation and debates to uphold the dignity of the temple of democracy," Ering said. The House also observed

SKM supremo PS Tamang to take oath as Sikkim Chief Minister on June 10

The swearing-in ceremony of PS Tamang as Sikkim chief minister was deferred by a day and the SKM supremo will now take oath for the second term on June 10, party leaders said on Friday. The decision to defer the swearing-in ceremony to June 10 was taken during the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) legislature party meeting, held earlier in the day at the chief minister's official residence, Mintokgang, as Tamang will visit Delhi on Sunday to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi as prime minister for the third time, they said. Tamang is likely to leave for New Delhi on Saturday, an SKM leader said. "Tamang and his council of ministers will now take oath on June 10 at Paljor stadium," another party leader said. During the legislature party meeting, the newly elected SKM MLAs unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the party's support to Modi. We congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji and the NDA on the remarkable victory in the Lok Sabha elections. The Sikkim ...

Odisha Assembly polls: 73% of newly elected MLAs are 'crorepatis'

Seventy-three per cent of the newly elected MLAs in Odisha are 'crorepatis' with BJD's Sanatan Mahakud the richest legislator having total assets worth Rs 227.67 crore, a report said. The Odisha Assembly has 147 members. Odisha Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 147 elected MLA candidates and found that 73 per cent of the newly elected MLAs in 2024 are 'crorepatis' while 95 (65 per cent) 'crorepati' MLAs were elected in 2019 polls. Out of 107 crorepati MLAs, 52 candidates are from BJP, 43 from BJD, 9 from Congress, 1 from CPI (M) and 2 independent candidates. The BJP won 78 Assembly seats while BJD secured 51, Congress 14, three independent nominees emerged victorious and CPI (M) won one seat in the 2024 Assembly polls. Out of the 147 winning candidates, 85 candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, which includes 67 candidates who are facing serious criminal cases. As per the report, 46 out

AAP suspends ex-MLA Nitin Tyagi for 'anti-party' activities during LS polls

The AAP on Friday suspended former MLA Nitin Tyagi from the party for alleged "anti-party" activities during the just concluded Lok Sabha polls. In his response, Tyagi claimed the action was taken against him for "speaking the truth". In a communication to Tyagi, AAP Delhi state convener Gopal Rai said, "It has come to our notice that you have been involved in anti-party activities during the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The party has taken a decision to suspend you from its primary membership pending disciplinary proceedings." Responding to the news, Tyagi wondered if "speaking the truth in the party has become an anti-party thing?" Sharing Rai's letter on X, Tyagi said what is anti-party is "destroying its basic ideals". "It is anti-party to ask for votes for those against whom people had chosen you," he said tagging Rai, in an apparent reference to AAP-Congress alliance in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls.

Haryana CM Nayab Saini administered oath by Speaker Gian Chand Gupta

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was administered oath of legislator by the Assembly Speaker on Thursday here. Speaker Gian Chand Gupta administered the oath to the BJP leader in his chamber. Saini recently defeated his main rival, Congress's Tarlochan Singh to win the bye-poll for the Karnal Assembly seat, which was earlier held by party colleague Manohar Lal Khattar. In the 2019 Assembly polls, Khattar had retained the seat defeating Tarlochan Singh. Saini, the outgoing MP from Kurukshetra, had contested the by-election for the Karnal assembly seat after he replaced Khattar as chief minister. The bypoll was necessitated by Khattar's resignation as MLA from Karnal after his removal from the post of chief minister. Polling for the state's 10 Lok Sabha seats and the Karnal assembly constituency was held in the sixth phase of the general election on May 25 and the results were declared on June 4. Saini was sworn in as the chief minister on March 12. Khattar, who was field

NBW issued against Amanatullah, son; MLA's aide nabbed in petrol pump case

An aide of AAP's Delhi MLA Amanatullah Khan was arrested while non-bailable warrants were issued against the legislator and his son in connection with a case of assault registered here following a quarrel at a petrol pump, police said on Monday. Iqrar Ahmed (50), who was apprehended near Kalindi Kunj, was not named in the FIR lodged on May 7 at Noida's Phase 1 police station after an argument broke out between Khan's son Anas Ahmed and some workers at a petrol pump. The Delhi lawmaker also got involved later. Amanatullah Khan, who represents Okhla in Delhi Assembly, was the only named person in the FIR. His son was mentioned as the "unidentified son of MLA Amantullah Khan" while the other accused were identified as "others in two cars". "On Monday, with the help of local intelligence and electronic surveillance, accused Iqrar Ahmed, who was wanted in the case lodged at Phase 1 police station, was arrested. He was held near the border of Kalindi Kunj," a Noida Police spokesperson ..

Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA Khatik's daughter held by police on bribery charges

The daughter of a BJP MLA in Madhya Pradesh was arrested for allegedly seeking and accepting a bribe from a businessman, a Lokayukta official said on Friday. Amangang Nagar Parishad president Sarika Khatik (40), who is the daughter of BJP's Hatta MLA Uma Khatik, was held on Thursday, Sagar-based Lokayukta Inspector Roshani Jain told PTI. "One Raghvendra Raj Modi lodged a complaint with us on April 29 stating Sarika Khatik had demanded Rs 40,000 from him to clear his bill of more than Rs 1,30,000. The next day he provided us with a recording to back his claim. We arrested her while she took Rs 30,000 during a trap on Thursday at her office in the Nagar Parishad," Jain said. She was charged under Prevention of Corruption Act and released on bail on the spot, the Lokayukta inspector added. In a video, the complainant Modi alleged the accused was seeking commission to clear his bills ever since she became president of the rural civic body. "Initially, she demanded a commission of Rs .

HC asks judges to prioritise criminal cases against MPs/MLAs for disposal

The Delhi High Court has asked its judges to give priority to the criminal cases pending before them against members of Parliament and legislative assemblies to ensure their expeditious and effective disposal. The high court was informed by its registry that presently there are 34 pending cases or appeals or revisions involving MPs and MLAs before a single judge bench of the high court in which orders of stay of trial have been passed and are continuing for a period of more than six months. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora transferred the cases from the single judge concerned and directed the registry to re-allocate or re-distribute those 34 cases to other courts or benches as is considered appropriate and effective for their expeditious disposal so that stay applications are disposed of expeditiously and trial of such cases can conclude before the designated special courts. In line with the directives passed by the Chief Justice of India....we .

Khattar announces resignation as MLA, says Saini will take care of Karnal

The former chief minister, who was named in the BJP's second list for the Lok Sabha polls, announced he was resigning after the Nayab Saini government won the trust vote in the Assembly

BJP's Nayab Saini sworn in as Haryana CM, 5 others take oath as ministers

BJP leader Nayab Singh Saini was sworn in as Haryana's new chief minister on Tuesday, hours after Manohar Lal Khattar and his Cabinet ministers resigned from their posts. Five others took the oath as members of the new council of ministers along with Saini. They are BJP leaders Kanwar Pal, Mool Chand Sharma, Jai Parkash Dalal and Banwari Lal and Independent MLA Ranjit Singh Chautala. Saini was administered the oath by Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya during a ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan here. He bowed before Khattar and sought his blessings after being sworn in. Earlier in the day, the BJP named OBC leader Saini (54) as Haryana's new chief minister. He is the party's state unit president and the MP from Kurukshetra. The development comes just weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Khattar's second term as chief minister was also to end in October when the assembly polls are due. Khattar and all 13 other members of the BJP-led council of ministers submitted their resignatio

Ahead of LS polls, BJP-JJP alliance reaches breaking point in Haryana

Meanwhile, according to the sources, the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) called a meeting in Delhi and the discussion will be held at the residence of Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala

Disqualified MLAs moved like they are being shepherded: Himachal CM Sukhu

Firing a fresh salvo at the six disqualified Congress MLAs, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said they are being driven from one place to other like a shepherd herds a flock. Six Himachal Pradesh Congress MLAs who voted against party nominee Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha elections, along with three Independent lawmakers, have shifted to a hotel in BJP-ruled Uttarakhand amid an ongoing rebellion against Sukhu. Addressing a public meeting at in Mandi, Sukhu said the BJP is shepherding the six disqualified Congress MLAs, who betrayed the party, from one place to another, according to a statement. He also asked why the BJP kept the rebels MLAs in a hotel in Haryana's Panchkula before flying them to Dehradun in a chartered plane and lodging them in a seven-star hotel in Rishikesh. "These MLAs breached the trust of the people of their constituencies and the party by not listening to the call of conscience," he said. Sukhu added that the publi