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CJI to Shinde: Ignoring political parties after being elected, isn’t a danger to democracy?

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 The Supreme Court on Thursday queried Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s counsel, that ‘if completely ignoring political parties after being elected, is it not a danger to democracy?’

Shinde’s counsel submitted that his client is not disqualified, and he has also not left the party, and emphasized on the aspect of dissent within a political party.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing Shinde, submitted that disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution takes place, only if the Speaker reaches a conclusion that a member has voted against the stand of a party. Salve added that if the Speaker of an Assembly takes one or two months to decide on disqualification pleas against MLAs, then what does this mean? That they should stop attending the proceedings of the House? He further added, “There is no per se illegality principle, until and unless there is a finding of disqualification…”

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli said, “What is the use of whip then? Does anti-defection apply to only those things?”

Salve replied that the anti-defection law cannot be an anti-dissent law.

The Chief Justice queried, if completely ignoring political parties after being elected, is it not a danger to democracy? Justice Ramana further queried “You say this court and high court should not hear this and this is after you had approached us first.”

Salve said that in facts of this case, there is nothing to show that these people left the party. The Chief Justice told Salve, “Today you say the court can’t go into the issue…because the Speaker has the power”. Salve said, “I am not disqualified, I have not left the party…”

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Uddhav Thackeray faction, submitted that there was no need to refer the issue to a constitution bench.

The Chief Justice posed a query, suppose there are two groups saying we are the real political party, and general members of the political party cannot claim to recognise who is the original political party. Sibal contended that a group may say that they have the support of 40 out of 50 MLAs, so they are the real political party. He added, if the 40 are disqualified? If the Election Commission decides one way or the other, what happens to this defection?

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, also representing the Thackeray group, said that till this court decides, how can Election Commission decide this issue, and later they would say that these proceedings are infructuous?

Senior advocate Arvind Datar, representing the Election Commission, submitted that disqualification of rebel MLA means their disqualification from the House, not from the political party. Datar added that this is not a political issue and the Tenth Schedule cannot interdict this. “I can only decide who can have the symbol after the evidence is adduced,” said Datar.

After hearing arguments, the top court orally asked the Election Commission of India to not take any precipitative action on the claim raised by the Shinde group for recognising them as the real Shiv Sena party in the meanwhile, and allow Thackeray faction to submit their response. The top court said it will decide by Monday whether to refer to a larger bench regarding the constitutional questions involved in the disqualification of MLAs arising from the Maharashtra political scenario.

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World Jr C’ships: India beat Korea in quarters to assure first-ever mixed team medal

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Guwahati, Oct 9: India rode on the energy of the vociferous fans and the knowledge of the home conditions to beat Korea and assure themselves of a historic BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships medal at the National Centre of Excellence, here on Thursday.

The hosts came through a nerve-wracking quarterfinal clash that lasted almost three hours and needed the team to pick themselves up after a heartbreaking reversal in the opening set to beat Korea 44-45, 45-30, 45-33 to set up a semi-final clash against Asian U-19 Mixed Team champions Indonesia, who defeated Chinese Taipei 45-35, 45-35.

The semi-final appearance also assured India of their first-ever mixed-team medal in the history of the BWF World Junior Championships.

The way India had lined-up for the quarterfinals, it was quite clear that they were heavily relying on their singles players to bail them out in case the Koreans made the most of their doubles strength.

The first set went accordingly as Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu went down 5-9 in the first boys’ doubles against Cho Hyeong Woo and Lee Hyeong Woo. The girls’ doubles combination of Vennala K and Reshika U managed to reduce the deficit by one point by beating Cheon Hye In and Moon In Seo 10-9 before Rounak Chouhan brought them within one point by beating Choi Ah Seung 11-9.

However, a 4-9 loss for C Lalramsanga and Aanya Bisht in the mixed doubles against Lee and Cheon meant that Unnati Hooda had to win 15 points before her opponent Kim Han Bi could reach nine. Unnati began strongly by taking a 3-0 lead, but Kim managed to draw level at 6-6, and it felt that the set was slipping from India’s hands.

However, Unnati dug deep, played long rallies to win five straight points to build pressure on her opponent, and then went on to draw level at 44-44. However, her serve on set point landed in the net, and the distraught Unnati just dropped her racquet in despair.

India made two substitutions ahead of the second set, with Lalramsanga replacing Gobburu in boys’ doubles and Vishakha Toppo coming in for Bisht.

Lalramsanga and Bhargav then gave India a positive start with a 9-7 win over Cho and Lee and Vennala and Reshika extended that advantage to six points. India never looked back thereafter and by the time Unnati took the court for the second set, they were already leading by nine points and all she had to do was wrap up the set.

The third set started in the same manner as Lalramsanga and Bhargav gave India a 9-4 lead but Vennala and Reshika ran out of steam after the first 10 points and the Korean combination of Cheon and Moon put their team ahead by two points.

Chouhan then stepped up turned the match decisively in India’s favour with a 11-4 win over Choi and gave India a five point lead. Lalramsanga and Bisht then increased that lead to seven points and Unnati then hammered Kim 9-4 to kick-off the celebrations.

Speaking about the tactical changes in the second set, India’s doubles coach Ivan Sozonov of Russia said the changes were made because he felt Gobburu and Bisht were feeling the pressure of the occasion and they needed to change something to catch the Koreans off-guard. “I am very happy with the way Lalramsanga played and also how Rounak and Unnati handled the pressure,” he added.

Badminton Association of India secretary general Sanjay Mishra was understandably elated as BAI and the team management had set their eyes on winning a mixed-team medal. “The players had been preparing at this very venue for the last few months and we were confident that we could win a medal if they played to their potential. I am very happy that everyone stood up when it mattered today and I am sure they have the ability to beat Indonesia and reach the final,” he added.

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Mumbai Accident: Porsche Crashes On Western Express Highway During Alleged High-Speed Race With BMW; Driver Injured

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Mumbai: A Porsche car, reportedly engaged in a high-speed race with a BMW, lost control and crashed into a divider on Mumbai’s Western Express Highway late Wednesday night. The luxury vehicle, a 718 Boxster, bearing the number plate DN 09Q 1777, sustained extensive damage on its right side due to the violent impact, while the driver suffered injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

According to preliminary reports, the Porsche was allegedly being driven recklessly when the driver lost control near a busy stretch of the highway. The force of the crash caused parts of the car’s front and side panels to crumble, scattering debris across the road. Visuals shared by news agency media show the wrecked sports car lying by the divider, its airbags deployed and police personnel inspecting the site.

While no casualties have been reported so far, authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the accident. Officials are also probing whether the Porsche and the BMW were involved in illegal street racing and if there was any violation of speed limits or other traffic regulations.

This crash comes just two days after another major accident in Mumbai, where a speeding car plunged into the Arabian Sea off the Coastal Road. On Monday night, a 29-year-old driver, identified as Frashogar Darayush Battiwala, lost control of his Ertiga vehicle while allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. The car broke through the railing and fell nearly 30 feet into the water near Worli around 11 pm.

In a heroic rescue effort, Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel Pandurang Kale and Vikas Rathod, along with a Byculla Police constable, jumped into the sea and pulled Battiwala to safety using a rope. He sustained minor injuries and was later taken to a hospital for treatment. Police later registered a case against him under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act.

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Mumbai News: BMC Finalises Developers For 15 Stalled Slum Rehabilitation Schemes

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Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finalized developers for 15 out of 21 stalled slum rehabilitation schemes built on municipal land, bringing new hope to thousands of slum dwellers waiting for homes.

The civic body announced that developers offering at least 25 percent more than the land value would be selected, while some developers have offered premiums as high as 150 percent. For the remaining six schemes, the BMC plans to hold discussions with the top two bidders before finalizing the developer.

Out of the 228 stalled slum schemes across Mumbai, 78 were taken over by the BMC for redevelopment. The civic body had earlier invited letters of interest from developers for 63 of these projects and finally decided to implement 47 of them. A total of 96 developers came forward, but since 26 schemes received interest from only one developer, tenders will be reissued for those.

Under the finalized plans, developers must construct the rehabilitation buildings free of cost and provide slum dwellers with two years of advance rent, along with cheques for the following year. Only those who meet these conditions will be approved. The proposal will be sent to the Municipal Commissioner for final approval, said Umesh Bodkhe, Deputy Chief Engineer overseeing the project.

Some of the finalized projects include Shri Saibaba in Jogeshwari East by Saroj Landmark, Hariom in Vile Parle by Seth Nine Splendor LLP, and Mahavir Dham in Borivali West by Ruparel Infra and Realty. Other developers include Labdhi Lifestyle, Siroya Corp, DGS Township, and Skylark Buildcon.

Projects that will be finalized after discussions include schemes like Sahyog in Jogeshwari East, Ajit Nagar in Borivali West, Sai Adarsh in Wadala, and Panchsheel in Mulund West.

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