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Tuesday,05-August-2025
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‘What is the exact stand’, SC to Centre on pleas against Places of Worship Act

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to bring on record its exact stand on petitions challenging the validity of certain provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991, and how much time will it take to file a response in the matter.

A bench headed by Chief Justice U.U. Lalit and comprising Justices S. Ravindra Bhat and Ajay Rastogi asked the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, “What is the exact stand of the central government…, how much time, and when are you going to file (its response in the matter…”

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing one of the petitioners, submitted that the law was passed without debate and the matter involved questions of national importance. Referring to the 11 questions framed by him, Dwivedi said questions of law involve interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution and may be considered by the court in the present case.

Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, contended that Centre’s response is important to take this matter forward. Mehta submitted that the reply was still under consideration and sought two weeks’ time. The bench noted that the Centre’s response was relevant when the validity of a legislation was challenged.

Referring to the questions framed, a counsel for one of the petitioners submitted that questions were not considered by the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya judgment which upheld the Places of Worship Act.

The bench asked Mehta about his personal view regarding the impact of the Ayodhya judgment on the challenge to the 1991 Act. The bench asked Mehta, “Was the legislation covered in the Ayodhya judgment?” Mehta said it may not be covered and sought time to file the response in the matter.

After hearing arguments, the bench directed the Centre to file an affidavit on or before October 31. It listed the matter for further hearing on November 14.

On March 12, 2021, a bench headed by then Chief Justice S.A. Bobde had sought the Centre’s response on the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay challenging the validity of certain provisions of the law.

Upadhyay’s plea said, “The 1991 Act was enacted in the garb of ‘Public order’, which is a State subject (Schedule-7, List-II, Entry-1) and ‘places of pilgrimages within India’ is also State subject (Schedule-7, List-II, Entry-7). So, the Centre can’t enact the Law. Moreover, Article 13(2) prohibits the State to make law to take away fundamental rights but the 1991 Act takes away the rights of Hindus, Jains, Buddhist, Sikhs to restore their ‘places of worship and pilgrimages’, destroyed by barbaric invaders”.

It further added, “The Act excludes the birthplace of Lord Rama, but includes the birthplace of Lord Krishna, though both are incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the creator and equally worshiped throughout the word, hence it is arbitrary.”

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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National News

Former J&K Governor Satyapal Malik Dies At 79 In Delhi Hospital

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New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik passed away on Tuesday after a prolong illness in New Delhi. Malik was of 79 years. He breathed his last at around 1 pm at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. According to reports, he was suffering from kidney-related ailments.

Malik served as the 10th and last Governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, from August 2018 to October 2019. It was during his tenure that Article 370 was abrogated in J&K on August 5, 2019.

Satyapal Malik’s Political Career:

Prior to serving as Jammu and Kashmir’s governor, Malik was appointed the Governor of Bihar in 2017. In 2018, he was also given the additional charge of Odisha. Later, he was appointed Governor of Goa. He also served as the Governor of Meghalaya until October 2022.

Malik was born in Hisawada village of Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat in a Jat family on July 24, 1946. In 1968, the former J7K Governor began his political career after elected as the students union president. In 1974, Malik was elected an MLA of Chaudhary Charan Singh’s Bharatiya Kranti Dal. He also served as a Rajya Sabha MP. He was elected as Lok Sabha MP from Aligarh on Janata Dal ticket in 1989.

In 1996, Malik again contested the Lok Sabha elections from Aligarh. However, he lost the polls. In 2012, Malik also served appointed National Vice-President of the BJP.

Satyapal Malik’s Criticism For The Narendra Modi Government:

In recent times, the former J&K Governor was in the news for his criticism of the Narendra Modi government. In an interview in 2023, he alleged lapses in security arrangements which led to the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. He claimed that the Centre turned down the CRPF’s request for aircraft for its convoy movement.

CRPF soldiers were attacked when they were travelling by road in Pulwama district. Notably, he was the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir when the attack took place. At least 40 CRPF soldiers lost their live sin the terror attack.

Malik also supported the farmers’ protest against the three farm laws passed by the Centre in 2020.

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Maharashtra

Anil Ambani Reaches ED Office In Delhi; Reliance Chairman To Be Quizzed Over Alleged ₹17,000 Crore Loan Fraud Case

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Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is set to question Reliance Group Chairman and Managing Director Anil Ambani on Tuesday, August 5, in connection with a multi-crore money laundering and loan fraud case. The probe involves financial irregularities amounting to a staggering Rs 17,000 crore, with a specific focus on a Rs 3,000 crore loan fraud linked to Yes Bank.

Anil Ambani has already reached the ED office in Delhi for questioning. Visuals of his car reaching the investigation agency’s office have surfaced on the internet. The interrogation comes days after the agency intensified its investigation into financial dealings linked to companies associated with Ambani’s Reliance Group.

Recently, the ED had earlier issued a lookout circular against Anil Ambani on August 1, effectively restricting his international travel without prior approval from the agency. Officials confirmed that Ambani could be detained at any Indian airport if he attempts to leave the country.

ED Searches On Multiple Locations Linked To Anil Ambani

The latest development follows an extensive crackdown by the ED last week, during which over 50 locations linked to Anil Ambani, including offices and premises in Mumbai and Delhi, were raided. The operation was conducted under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). More than 25 individuals were also questioned as part of the ongoing probe.

The case reportedly centres around loans disbursed by Yes Bank to various firms under the Reliance Group between 2017 and 2019. Preliminary findings suggest that a major portion of the funds were allegedly diverted to shell companies or siphoned off to other entities within the group. Investigators are also probing potential kickbacks paid to top officials at Yes Bank during the loan disbursement process.

The ED’s probe aims to uncover whether these funds were used for legitimate business activities or laundered through a web of fake firms. The agency is also looking into possible violations of banking norms and financial misappropriation on a large scale.

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