FridAY Madhya Pradesh reports 23 tiger deaths in first six months of 2024 12 july, 2024 epaper.morningstandard.in Of the 75 deaths reported from 12 states since the start of the year, 23 have been in Madhya Pradesh, National Tiger Conservation Authority data said facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard france 785 Macron calls for broad coalition The Left attacked President Macron on Thursday after he called for a broad coalition govt, demanding their movement alone should propose a PM. Page 9 SC postpones NEET-UG hearing to next Thursday S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a n t y @ New Delhi The Supreme Court on Thursday deferred its hearing on a batch of pleas seeking cancellation of NEET-UG, as the bench said some of the parties haven’t received the affidavits filed by the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the test. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, however, said they have served their affidavit to the counsel for the parties. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud postponed the hearing to July 18 to allow the petitioners to file their responses to the government and the NTA’s affidavits. Initially the court suggested , that it be deferred by a day or till Monday but Mehta said he , had a personal difficulty on that day The bench also said it . has received a status report from the Central Bureau of Investig ation (CBI) on the progress made in the probe into alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET-UG 2024. In its affidavit on Wednesday , the Centre said data analytics of the results of NEET-UG conducted by IIT Madras found there was neither any indication of mass malpractice nor a localised set of candidates benefiting from it and scoring abnormally high marks. While hearing the pleas on July 8, the bench had observed that the exam’s sanctity had been breached. Another key operative in paper leak arrested The CBI on Thursday arrested one of the alleged kingpins in the NEET-UG paper leak. Rockey alias Rakesh Ranjan, who hails from Bihar’s Nalanda, and is said to be a relative of mastermind Sanjeev Mukhia, was nabbed from the outskirts of Patna. It produced him before a special court in Patna, which remanded him in 10 days of CBI custody. The CBI raided a few locations in Patna after his arrest | P8 Infighting among top causes of deaths A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS @ New Delhi The Supreme Court will on Friday pronounce its verdict on the appeal filed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest and remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Delhi excise case. A two-judge bench of the top court, led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna had reserved the verdict on May 17. The court extensively heard for four days the ED and Kejriwal’s arguments. The bench went through written records and asked ED to submit a chart to show what new evidence emerged after Manish l New Delhi Continental conquests: Familiar Foes to the fore Spain stand between England and a first ever Euro title. On the other side of the Atlantic, Messi can win a third major international title in four years. A look... Spain vs England for European glory Spain have the chance to add a fourth European crown and will begin the final as favourites. They have sparkled in Germany but they will be wary of England who are now into a second consecutive final. They have found different ways to win as was the case against Netherlands on Wednesday England’s Harry Kane (up) celebrates with his teammate Ollie Watkins | AFP l J8.00 Chance for Messi to make more history against Colombia After Lionel Messi unretired, he has led Argentina to major titles including the last World Cup in 2022. However, Colombia, who beat Uruguay in a typically feisty clash, have one of the longest unbeaten streaks in football, having now gone 28 matches without defeat Wednesday’s results England 2-1 Netherlands, Colombia 1-0 Uruguay Sunday’s finals: England vs Spain, Colombia vs Argentina Delhi univ V-C nixes proposal to add Manusmriti readings in LLB If r a h M u f t i @ New Delhi A proposal to introduce readings of the Manusmriti in Delhi University’s LLB programme on jurisprudence was nixed by Vice-chancellor Yo gesh Singh on Thursday . The proposal had drawn a firestorm of protests as it was to be discussed at the University’s academic council meet on Friday . “Today a proposal by the Faculty of Law was submitted to the Delhi University. In the proposal, they had suggested changes in the paper titled Jurisprudence. One of the changes was to include readings on Collegium recommends names for cjs of 8 hcs The SC Collegium on Thursday recommended the appointment of chief justices to eight HCs and elevation of acting CJ of Madras HC R Mahadevan as well as J&K and Ladakh HC CJ Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh to the apex court. If okayed by the Centre, Justice Singh would be the first judge from Manipur to be elevated to the SC SC verdict today on Kejriwal’s appeal challenging ED arrest S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a n t y Sisodia’s arrest to justify its decision to arrest Kejriwal. Additional solicitor general SV Raju, appearing for the ED, had told the SC that the agency formally made AAP and Kejriwal the accused in the excise policy case. The ED told the SC that it discovered the alleged chats between Kejriwal and some hawala operators on the alleged proceeds of crime. The probe agency claimed that chats were recovered from the devices of hawala operators after Kejriwal refused to share the password of his mobile phones. The SC gave a week’s time to all the parties to file additional documents in the case. P4 Manusmriti. We have rejected both the suggested readings and the amendments proposed by the Faculty Nothing of this . sort will be taught to students,” said Singh in a video message. The proposal had been unanimously approved in a June 24 meeting of the Faculty of Law’s Course Committee headed by its dean Anju Vali Tikoo, according to its minutes. The suggested readings for Unit 5 of the course include Manusmriti with the Manubhasya of Medhatithi by G N Jha and Commentary of Manu Smriti — Smritichandrika by T Kristnasawmi Iyer. Protesting against the proposal, the Social Democratic Teachers Front on Wednesday wrote to Singh stating, “It has come to my knowledge that Manusmriti has been recommended to the students as “suggested readings” which is highly objectionable as this text is adverse to the progress and education of women and marginalized communities In India. In the country 85 percent of the population belongs to marginalized and 50 percent population is women. Their progress depends on progressive education system and teaching pedagogy not regressive.” , Dean Tikko was not available for comments. Mahayuti govt tables bill on ‘Urban Naxals’ S u d h i r S u ryawa n s h i @ Mumbai The MahaYuti government on Thursday tabled in the assembly the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, which aims to arrest the “proliferation of urban Naxalism”. According to the bill, the menace of Naxalism is increasing in urban areas through their frontal outfits. “These outfits give logical support and refuge to the ar med cadre. Seized literature of the Naxals shows safe houses and urban den of their network in cities in Maharashtra. They are creating unrest and propagating their ideology of armed rebellion against the constitutional mandate,” the bill states. Naxal-hit states of Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have already enacted the public security Act and banned 48 such outfits. Maharashtra has decided to do likewise for effective prevention of unlawful activities of such frontal outfits, the bill said. The legislative initiative comes three months before the assembly election in October. It defines an unlawful organisation as one that indulges in or abets or assists or gives aid or encourages directly or indirectly through any medium, devices or otherwise, any unlawful activity . “If a member of an unlawful organisation takes part in meetings or activities of any such organisation or contributes or receives or solicits any contribution, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine up to `3 lakh,” reads the bill. The state government will constitute the advisory board that will determine which outfits can be designated as “urban Naxal”. The proposed law allows the police to enter the premises of anyone to check for literature that can be used for unlawful activities. They can seize the literature and properties if they find they are used for propogating “urban Naxalism”. Express read Biden should leave Prez race, says George Clooney The top Democrat fundraiser’s call for Joe Biden to quit the US presidential race came hours after Nancy Pelosi joined the growing number of leaders expressing doubts about the 81-year-old’s winning chances. Clooney said that nobody, including Biden, can win “the fight against time” | P9 Vehicle pollution check rates up in city after 13 yrs A n u p V e r m a @ New Delhi After a gap of 13 years, the Delhi government on Thursday increased the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate charges for petrol, CNG and diesel vehicles. According to revised rates, petrol, CNG, or LPG two and three-wheelers will cost total tiger population in madhya Pradesh as per 2022 tiger census `80, while `110 will be charged for petrol, CNG, or LPG fourwheelers and above. For the diesel-propelled vehicle, the rate has been set at `140. Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said, “In response to the demands of the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association and to keep up with the rising costs of pollution checking services, we have decided to revise the rates. This revision is necessary to ensure that pollution checking stations can continue to operate efficiently and provide quality services to the public.” According to sources, as the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association had been advocating for an increase in pollution checking fees, a meeting was held with its representatives on June 20. The sources said that the increase in rates mainly aims to balance the operational costs of pollution checking stations, t h e r e by c o n t r i b u t i n g t o Delhi’s ongoing efforts to combat pollution. l PAGES 12 At least 10 of the 23 tiger deaths were reported in the state’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR). A probe into tiger deaths by a three-member committee constituted by the Madhya Pradesh forest department found that at least 17 big cat deaths in BTR in the last three years were due to territorial fights. Two-three deaths were blamed on poaching and the rest on old age | p8 Farmers to revive protest ahead of Assembly polls Mahapanchayats to be held in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir states of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir. Mahapanchawith the upcoming Assembly yats will be held in these states, elections in sight, farmers’ sources said. body Samyukt Kisan Morcha Senior SKM leader and presi(SKM) on Thursday announced dent of All India Kisan Federaits plan to resume protests over tion Prem Singh Bhangu said its pending demands, including the protest is to pressure the a legal guarantee to MSP and government to implement the loan waiver. Leaders of the agreement between the SKM SKM, an umbrella and the Centre, signed Protest body of farm unions on December 9, 2021. in front of that led the 2020-21 Apart from MSP, the protest, said they will Mann’s house d e m a n d s i n cl u d e seek appointments to withdrawal of all casOn August 17, the meet Prime Minister SKM’s Punjab unit es related to the farmNarendra Modi and ers’ agitation, disburwill hold 3-hour Leader of Opposition protests in front of sal of compensation in the Lok Sabha Rafor those who died the residences of hul Gandhi to submit during the protest, CM Bhagwant their list of demands. protection from crimMann and his They will also meet inal liability for stubministers over all MPs of the Lok ble burning, etc. water crisis, debt Sabha and Rajya SabIn the general body burden, opening ha to urge them to put Indo-Pak trade via meeting, the SKM pressure on the govleaders congratulated road corridor etc er nment to accept farmers for “teaching their demands. The appoint- the BJP a lesson” in the Lok ments will be sought between Sabha elections, sources said. July 16 and 18, they added. The meeting discussed how SKM leaders said the deci- farmers in many states voted sion to revive protests was tak- against the BJP for its policies en at the general body meeting against the interest of farmers. held in Delhi on Wednesday, The BJP has lost as many as 38 adding that this time there seats in western UP, Punjab, might not be a march to Delhi. Haryana, northern Rajasthan, Rather, the protests will be con- and onion-growing belt in Macentrated on the election-bound harashtra, it was pointed out. J ITENDRA CHOUBEY & HARPREET BA J WA @ New Delhi / Chandigarh 94% of agri crops out of MSP net: SBI BENN KOCHU V EEDAN @ Mumbai WHILE the farmer unions are demanding legal backing for minimum support price (MSP), a new report by the research team of SBI says the MSP regime currently covers just 6% of the agriculture basket, mostly food grains. The government spent `3.4 lakh crore on MSP in FY23 and if the government decides to procure all MSP crops, then it will leave a fiscal burden of a whopping `13.5 lakh crore, says Soumyakanti Ghosh, chief economic advisor, State Bank of India, in the report. The report says foodgrain output (a key MSP item) is only 17% of overall output of the agri sector, while other key segments such as livestock, vegetables, and fruits, representing 71% of the agricultural output, receive inadequate support. However, “the politics of MSP fails us to address the concerns of 71% in a more holistic manner as even after best efforts, the government is able to procure 6% of overall output as MSP”, Ghosh says in the report. For a cause Remove all encroachments on Yamuna riverbank: HC to DDA S h e k h a r S i n g h @ New Delhi The High Court has directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to eliminate all unauthorized constructions and encroachments along the Yamuna riverbank, riverbed, and its tributary drains. A division bench, consisting of acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, has appointed DDA’s vice-chairman as the nodal officer. This role includes coordinating efforts with MCD, Delhi Police, Delhi Metro and other agencies to ensure the removal of these encroachments. “This court directs the vice chairman, DDA, shall convene a meeting of all the officials concerned within a week,” read the court order. The case is scheduled for a follow-up hearing on September 9 to assess compliance with the court directive. The order was issued in response to a petition by Shabnam Burney who called for the , demolition of illegal structures on the Yamuna riverbank and measures to prevent further encroachments. The government counsel acknowledged that the floodplain area is critical to the river ecosystem and that encroachments could cause significant issues. The HC’s decision mandates immediate action to restore Yamuna and its surrounding areas to their natural state, emphasizing the importance of maintaining ecological balance. The counsel for Delhi Police and the government said many representations on illegal constructions on the river bank have been forwarded to the DDA and the MCD for action. On April 8, while dealing with a case, the HC ordered removal of encroachment from the floodplain and sought a report from DDA on biodiversity parks and wetland there. People move to safer places after Munak canal breached in Bawana | Express Bawana flooded after Yamuna canal breach p r a b h at s h u k l a @ New Delhi A breach in the Munak canal, which channels water from Haryana to Delhi, led to severe waterlogging in north-west Delhi’s Bawana, leaving residents stranded in their homes. Early Thursday, water from the canal’s barrage inundated the J, K, and L blocks of the colony, forcing residents to wade through waist-deep water. Sunil Yadav, a resident of JJ colony, said: “Every street in the locality is filled with water. We are unable to leave the house.” A police officer said, “We informed all concerned departments, including NDRF, Flood Control Department, PWD and MCD at midnight after the canal overflowed.” Officials said that the water flow from Sonipat has decreased and that Haryana has been asked to close the canal gates to manage the flow. The Munak canal originates from the Yamuna in Munak, Karnal district of Haryana. In a post on ‘X’, Water Minister Atishi said, “Today early morning there was a breach in one of the sub-branches of Munak canal. Delhi Jal Board is working in coordination with Haryana Irrigation Department, which maintains the canal. Water has been diverted to the other sub-branch of the canal.” She also visited the affected areas and said that repair was in progress. Yogender Chandoliya, BJP MP for North West Delhi, also visited the site and said, “Once the water flow is stopped, concrete work will commence, which will surely take 24 hours and will also impact water availability for the residents.” He said he received a call at 2.30 am about the flooding. “Water is being drained by temporarily puncturing the existing stormwater drain. Resources such as JCBs, dewatering pumps, drinking water tankers and mobile toilets have already been deployed at the location,” the DDA said.
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