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Submit records connected with 2016 demonetisation decision: SC to Centre

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to submit relevant records in connection with the government’s 2016 demonetisation decision for its perusal.

After hearing detailed arguments on a batch of petitions challenging the demonetisation move, a bench headed by Justice S.A. Nazeer reserved the judgment.

The bench, also comprising Justices B.R. Gavai, A.S. Bopanna, V. Ramasubramanian and B.V. Nagarathna, said: “Counsel of the Union of India and Reserve Bank of India are directed to produce the relevant records.”

Attorney General R. Venkataramani represented the Centre and senior advocate Jaideep Gupta represented the RBI, and senior advocates P. Chidambaram and Shyam Divan appeared for some of the petitioners.

Reserving the judgment on the petitions, the top court directed the parties to file written submissions by December 10.

The AG contended that he will submit the relevant records in a sealed cover.

On Tuesday, Justice Nagarathna said the courts will not go into the merits of the decision, but it can always go into the manner it was taken, two things are totally different.

“Because it is an economic policy court cannot fold its hand and sit. Merits of the decision, it is for the government in its wisdom it knows what is best for the people, but while taking that decision what was the material on record, relevant considerationsa,” said Justice Nagarathna.

Chidambaram, representing a petitioner, said the government should confidently defend the decision and also the decision-making process (involved in 2016 demonetisation), and added they should place those documents before the court.

He said that if the government were to adopt a route through Parliament, then the parliamentarians would have stopped the policy but they did not follow the legislative route.

Chidambaram submitted that the RBI Governor must be fully aware of the fact that in 1946 and 1978, the central bank opposed demonetisation and they resorted to plenary power of legislature.

“Surely the history of RBI is published by the RBI. They must be deemed to know that also,” he said, urging the court to see the documents to see whether the decision-making was fair and not arbitrary.

The Centre had told the Supreme Court that the November 2016 decision to withdraw legal tender of Rs 500 and 1,000 currency notes was one of the critical steps in the series of transformational economic policy steps and this decision was taken after extensive consultation with the RBI and advance preparations.

The Union Ministry of Finance, in an affidavit, said: “The withdrawal of legal tender character of a significant portion of total currency value was a well-considered decision. It was taken after extensive consultation with the RBI and advance preparations.”

It further added that demonetisation was also a part of larger strategy for combating the menace of fake money, terror financing, black money and tax evasion.

“The notification issued on 08.11.2016 was a major step to fight the menace of fake currency notes, storage of unaccounted wealth and financing of subversive activities,” it said.

National News

28 Tourists From Kerala, Maharashtra Feared Missing After Uttarakhand Cloudburst And Landslides

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Kochi: A 28-member group of tourists, who are natives of Kerala, has gone missing after a cloudburst triggered massive mudslides in Uttarakhand, family members said on Wednesday.

Of the 28 individuals, 20 are reportedly from Kerala settled in Maharashtra, while the remaining eight are from various districts in Kerala, a relative of one of the couples in the group told the media.

She said the couple’s son last spoke to them a day ago.

“They said they were leaving from Uttarkashi to Gangotri at around 8.30 am that day. The landslides occurred along that route. We have been unable to contact them since they left,” she said.

She added that the Haridwar-based travel agency, which arranged the 10-day Uttarakhand tour, was also unable to provide any update on the group’s whereabouts.

“Their phones may have run out of battery by now. There is no mobile network in that region currently,” she said.

At least four people have been confirmed dead in the disaster that struck Dharali, an ecologically fragile region in Uttarakhand, following the cloudburst on Tuesday afternoon.

Officials said nearly half of Dharali was buried under a massive mudslide of slush, debris, and water. The village is a key stop on the route to Gangotri, the origin of the Ganga, and hosts several hotels and homestays.

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Crime

Bihar: BSc Student Shot Dead By Father-In-Law In Front Of His Wife In Darbhanga Over Intercaste Marriage, Accused Beaten Up By Hostel Students

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Darbhanga: A shocking incident surfaced from Bihar’s Darbhanga, where a man allegedly shot dead his son-in-law in front of his daughter. The deceased has been identified as Rahul Kumar, a 25-year-old second-year student of BSc (Nursing) at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital.

The accused, Premshankar Jha, opened fire at Kumar in front of his newlywedded wife, Tannu Priya. Jha was upset due to Priya’s intercaste marriage with Kumar. The victim was rushed to a hospital. However, he could not survive.

Priya is a first-year nursing student. She got married to Kumar four months ago. They reportedly stayed on different floors in the same hostel building. The woman notices that a person wearing a hoodie approached her husband on Tuesday evening.

“He had a gun. It was my father, Premshankar Jha. He shot my husband in the chest, in front of my eyes. My husband fell into my lap,” she said as quoted by the media house. The woman alleged that her whole family was part of the conspiracy to kill her husband.

“We had also gone to court and said that my father and my brothers may harm me or my husband,” Priya added. Kumar’s friends also beat up Jha after he shot at the victim. He was also rushed to a hospital. The video of students beating up the accused also surfaced online.

After receiving the information, a senior official rushed to the spot. Jha was taken into custody. “A love affair was ongoing with the deceased, and a love marriage had taken place in April 2025. After the death incident, the people present there caught and beat Prem Shankar Jha, due to which Prem Shankar Jha is injured and has been sent to PMCH Patna for treatment,” the Darbhanga Police said.

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National News

Devastating Visuals: 2 Cloudbursts Reported In Uttarakhand; 4 Dead, 50 Missing

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Uttarkashi: Two cloudbursts were reported in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, on Tuesday, 5 August 2025. The cloudbursts caused severe flash floods along the Khir Ganga River, devastating villages including Dharali and Tharali.

At least four people were reported dead, and several others were missing, as villages were washed away after a major cloudburst struck the Dharali area near Harsil. Another cloudburst was reported in Sukhi Top, approximately 16 kilometers away. Resuce operations are underway.

Devastating visuals have surfaced from the scene. The video shows a strong water current flowing down the hills, leaving a trail of destruction behind.

The footage shows the flash floods destroying several houses within seconds. Whistles can be heard, blown to alert residents. The force of the water is so intense that the destruction of homes appears as though toy houses are being swept away. People can also be seen fleeing for their lives. At least 50 hotels are believed to be submerged or washed away.

The Jyotirmath-Malari motor road has been washed away due to the incessant rains and flooding. Authorities have requested travelers and locals to avoid unnecessary travel.

PM Modi Condoles Loss Of Lives

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of those who lost thier lives in the cloudburst.

“I express my condolences to the people affected by this tragedy in Dharali, Uttarkashi. Along with this, I pray for the well-being of all the victims. I have spoken to Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami ji and obtained information about the situation. Under the supervision of the state government, relief and rescue teams are engaged in every possible effort. No stone is being left unturned in providing assistance to the people,” he said in a post on X.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over Uttarakhand on Tuesday.

Emergecy Numbers Issued

Uttarkashi District Emergency Operation Centre has issued the following emergency numbers: 01374222126, 01374222722, 9456556431

NDRF Teams

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Indo Tibetan Border Patrol (ITBP) teams have been deployed for rescue operations.

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