331

#Adani: Will Not Accept Sealed Cover, Want Full Transparency, Supreme Court Tells Centre

The Supreme Court Friday said it did not want to accept in a “sealed cover” the Centre’s suggestions on who could be the members of a committee the court had proposed to assess the market regulatory framework and recommend measures, if any, to strengthen it in the wake of the Adani-Hindenburg affair. It refused to accept any suggestions on names from the petitioners as well.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, who headed a three-judge bench hearing a clutch of petitions on the Hindenburg Research report and its aftermath, told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the court wanted to maintain “full transparency”. The court would appoint a committee of its own that will promote a sense of confidence in the process, he said.

311

#RamSetu: Supreme Court To Consider Hearing PIL Seeking Declaration Of Sethu As National Heritage Monument

The Supreme Court Thursday agreed to list for hearing a PIL filed by former Rajya Sabha lawmaker Subramanian Swamy seeking a direction to the Centre to declare the Ram Sethu as a national heritage monument.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha took note of the submissions of the BJP leader that so far no decision has been taken on the issue and hence, the PIL be listed for hearing now.

“We will list it after the Constitution bench matters get over,” the CJI said.

291

#Congress on I-T Survey At BBC, 'India Is The Mother of Democracy, But PM Modi Is The Father…’

Continuing its tirade against the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, Congress on Wednesday condemned the Income Tax survey at the BBC's offices and said that the incident has damaged India’s global image at a time when the country is hosting the G-20. Leading the attack, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said anyone questioning Prime Minister Modi about his past is "raided" and accused the government of “demolishing the fourth pillar of democracy.”

The Income Tax Department survey operation against BBC India continued for the second day on Wednesday with sleuths understood to be making copies of electronic and paper-based financial data of the organisation.

261

#Tax Survey At BBC India Office Continues Overnight, Phones Seized, Laptops Scanned

Income Tax officials searched the BBC's Delhi and Mumbai offices on Tuesday and seized phones and laptops, weeks after a massive controversy over the UK national broadcaster's documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the deadly sectarian riots in Gujarat in 2002.

The taxmen sealed off the offices for a "survey" linked to alleged diversion of profits and irregularities in transfer pricing involving the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation).

Sources say, the Income Tax authorities are checking account details dating as far back as 2012. 

231

#Parliament: Dhankhar Adjourns Rajya Sabha Till March 13, Warns Kharge, 'Not The Way To Run House'

Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Monday (February 13) adjourned till March 13 with Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar telling the Opposition parties  that it is "not the way to run the House.

Rajya Sabha was first briefly adjourned in the morning as Opposition leaders disrupted the House, demanding revocation of the suspension of Congress MP Rajani Patil and setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe allegations against the Adani Group.

Chairman Dhankar was also upset at Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for alleging that the government was putting pressure on the chair.