INDIA

The Supreme Court of India has raised serious concerns over the practice of demolishing houses of individuals accused or even convicted of crimes, emphasizing that such actions cannot be justified under the law. This statement came during a hearing on Monday, where the Court was addressing a petition filed by the Muslim scholars' body, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, challenging the use of bulldozers to demolish properties of those accused in various cases. Justice B.R. Gavai, who was presiding over the hearing, questioned the rationale behind such demolitions, asking, "How can a house be demolished just because someone is accused? It can't be demolished even if he's a convict." He further noted that despite previous admonishments from the Supreme Court Bar, there seems to be no change in th...

In response to increasing criticism of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill by key Muslim organizations, the BJP’s Minority Morcha has decided to gather feedback from the Muslim community on the proposed reforms to Waqf boards, Press Trust of India reported. The party aims to address concerns and present a balanced view to the parliamentary committee currently reviewing the Bill. A group of seven BJP members, including state Waqf Board chairpersons, will be reaching out to the minority community nationwide. Their goal is to collect suggestions and ease worries regarding various issues tied to the Bill. A senior BJP leader emphasized that while concerns will be communicated, there is widespread recognition within the community of the need for Waqf board reforms. The findings from this outr...

The Indian government has banned 156 drug combinations, including popular medications like Paracetamol and Cetirizine. Alongside this ban, an additional 34 multivitamins are currently under review. The ban follows a thorough evaluation by an expert committee appointed by the Central Government, which deemed these Fixed-Dose Combinations (FDCs) irrational. The Drugs Technical Advisory Board also reviewed these FDCs and concluded that they lack therapeutic justification and may pose risks to human health. As a result, the manufacture, sale, or distribution of these drugs has been prohibited under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The Health Ministry has banned several fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs due to safety concerns. Among them, the combination of Acec...

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved a new social media policy that allows influencers to earn up to Rs 8 lakh per month by promoting government schemes on platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube. According to the policy, the maximum payouts are set based on platform and content type: Rs 5 lakh for X, Rs 4 lakh for Facebook, Rs 3 lakh for Instagram, and Rs 2 lakh for other social media platforms. On YouTube, payouts range from Rs 8 lakh for videos to Rs 4 lakh for podcasts. The policy also introduces guidelines to regulate objectionable content and outlines the role of the digital agency 'V-Form' in managing advertisements. The agency will oversee the dissemination of videos, posts, and tweets. An earlier version of this report inaccurately mentioned penalties f...

Eminent scholar, lawyer, and political commentator A.G. Noorani passed away on Thursday in Mumbai at the age of 93. A prolific author, Mr. Noorani penned several books, including "The Kashmir Question." Renowned for his expertise in constitutional matters, Mr. Noorani's incisive analysis and extensive writings on Indian Muslims marked a distinguished academic and journalistic career. He frequently presented papers at seminars nationwide, educating audiences on various critical issues. Mr. Noorani's passing has been widely mourned. Asaduddin Owaisi, in a message on X, said, "A.G. Noorani, a giant among scholars, has passed away. I learned a great deal from him, from the constitution to Kashmir, to China, and even the art of appreciating good food. May Allah grant him maghfirah."...

Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday ordered creation of new five districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh. The creation of new districts in the region will take the benefits meant for the people to their doorsteps by bolstering governance in every nook and cranny Union Home Minister Amit Shan in a post on X (formerly twitter) informed: “In pursuit of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s vision to build a developed and prosperous Ladakh, the MHA has decided to create five new districts in the union territory”. “The new districts, namely Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang, will take the benefits meant for the people to their doorsteps by bolstering governance in every nook and cranny,” Shah in a post on X said. Along with giving “in-principle approval” for the formation of five ne...

A Zomato delivery agent was assaulted by four customers in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar area on August 21 after they inquired about his religious identity. The delivery person, Mohammed Aslam, reported that the altercation began when he requested the customer to collect the order at the gate due to a high volume of deliveries. Initially reluctant, Aslam agreed to deliver the order to the customer’s door when told the customer was unable to come down. Upon reaching the customer’s residence, Aslam was suddenly pulled inside, questioned about his name, and attacked after revealing his Muslim identity. Aslam alleged that the four men, who were reportedly intoxicated, beat him with a helmet and held him hostage for over an hour. He was released only after being forced to sign a statement f...

Hospitals and dialysis centers in Jammu and Kashmir empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme will cease services from September 1 due to non-payment of funds since March, according to a report by the Daily Excelsior. The hospitals’ association had met with the CEO of the State Health Agency in April, where a resolution was promised by May. After no payments were made, they submitted an application to the Chief Secretary on May 18, seeking the release of funds by May 31. Despite a meeting with the Medical Education Department on May 31, where assurances were given, the issue remains unresolved. The hospitals also sent a letter to the DC Srinagar regarding the lack of funds but have yet to receive a response.

The central government may have ended the hopes of Jama’at-e-Islami Jammu & Kashmir (JeI), which had been seeking to have its ban lifted in order to participate in the electoral process. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal on Friday upheld the ban, initially imposed on February 28, 2019, and extended in February 2024 for another five years. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had earlier constituted the tribunal to assess the justification for labeling JeI an "unlawful association" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The tribunal supported the government's stance, citing JeI's involvement in secessionist activities and its support for militancy. Despite JeI’s recent efforts to re-enter mainstream politics, the ban will remain in force, effectivel...

The Assam Cabinet has announced that moving forward, Muslim marriages in the state will be registered exclusively by government sub-registrars, effectively removing Qazis from the official registration process. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made this announcement on Wednesday. "Muslim marriages were previously registered by Qazis, but this practice was discontinued through a recent ordinance. Now, we have decided to introduce legislation that requires all Muslim marriages to be registered solely by a sub-registrar," CM Sarma explained. He clarified that this change impacts only the legal registration process, leaving traditional marriage rituals unaffected. "Our bill does not interfere with the cultural practices of any community. Traditional rituals, whether Hindu or Muslim,...