QBullet: HC Judges Under Scanner; Relief For Unitech Homebuyers

Read The Quint’s compilation of all the top stories in national dailies across the country in QBullet.

The Supreme Court has ordered Unitech to pay Rs 80,000 to each of the 39 homebuyers. Photo used for representational purpose.

(Photo: iStock)

1. You’ll Get Your Money Back: SC Assures Jaypee Homebuyers

Securing the interest of the homebuyers, the Supreme Court said on Monday, 18 September, that it could ask Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL) to deposit Rs 10,000 crore -15,000 crore more to ensure that homebuyers got their money back.

Economic Times quoted CJI Dipak Misra as saying:

Let us wait and see what interim resolution mechanism is submitted by IRP. If it requires Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore more, we will ask them to deposit the money. You (the homebuyers) will get back your money. What else do you want?

Read the full story on The Quint

2. Lens on UP IG for Taking 45 Lakh Bribe to Let off Terrorist

In a huge embarrassment for Uttar Pradesh police, their Punjab counterparts have alleged that a senior IPS officer of the rank of inspector general took a bribe of Rs 45 lakh to release Gopi Ghanshyampura, a Khalistani terrorist and the key accused in last year's high-security Nabha jailbreak.

According to sources, immediately after Punjab police submitted audio recording as “proof” of the alleged deal made by the official who heads one of the special agencies in UP, chief minister Yogi Adityanath called DGP Sulkhan Singh and principal home secretary Arvind Kumar and ordered a high-level probe.

(Source: The Times of India)

Also Read: The Nabha Jailhouse Rot: Punjab’s Prison System is in Shambles

3. Sitting, Retired HC Judges Under Scanner for MBBS Admission Scam

Sitting and retired judges of the High Courts are under the scanner for the MBBS admissions scam. Photo used for representational purpose. (Photo: iStock)

The rot in medical education has been laid bare, with the Supreme Court and probe agencies looking into the role of sitting and retired judges of High Courts in enabling private medical colleges admit students to MBBS courses despite the apex court's order to the contrary.

Investigating agencies have also lodged an FIR against two IAS officers serving in Puducherry, former Health Secretary BR Babu and Narendra Kumar, who headed the committee looking after admissions to medical colleges, for allegedly denying admissions to deserving students and selling seats to others at "exorbitant" rates.

The apex court is examining two judges of the Allahabad high court, Justices SN Shukla and Virendra Kumar, for permitting a private medical college to admit students despite the apex court’s categorical order that no HC would allow any college to fill MBBS students for academic year 2017-18.

(Source: The Times of India)

Also Read: MBBS Admission Scam: 17 Expelled for Using Fake Caste Certificates

4. Calcutta HC Flays Bengal Govt Over Immersion Ban on Muharram

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.(Photo: PTI)

The Calcutta High Court on 20 September told the Bengal government that it could not block a citizen's constitutional right to practice religion on the mere assumption that there could be disruption of law and order.

“Let them (Hindus and Muslims) live in harmony, do not create a line between them,” acting chief justice Rakesh Tiwary said, referring to the government’s decision to disallow the immersion of Durga idols on 1 October, when Muharram would be observed.

(Source: The Times of India)

Also Read: ‘Won’t Spare Those Who Instigate Violence on Muharram’, Didi Warns

5. In the Shadow of Brutal Crackdown, Rising Signs of Anger, Rakhine Jihad

Fishing has been good this year, says Muhammad Illyas, letting his oar rest as his small wooden boat caught the tidal current of the Naaf estuary, drawing it gently towards Bangladesh. “I caught some great ilish here the other day.” Light had begun to break and the far shore had receded enough to make it possible to imagine the soft grey cloud rising from the forests around the remote village of Nakhpura was mist, not smoke from the burning homes.

“The thing is,” the boatman went on, “I just can’t eat fish anymore.”

“Everyday, you say bodies floating down the river, and I know what they have been feeding on.”

(Source: The Indian Express)

Also Read: Refugee Crisis: Indian Realpolitik or Hostility to Rohingyas?

6. Rahul Gandhi: Modi Came to Power Because People Wanted Jobs

Leaders such as Narendra Modi and Donald Trump are being elected all over the world as the people are in pain due to unemployment, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said on 20 September, but stressed that even the Prime Minister was not doing enough to solve the key problem facing India.

Gandhi, 47, who is in the US on a two-week-long tour, during his interaction with students at the prestigious Princeton University admitted that the Modi-led BJP came to power in India as the people were angry with his Congress party over the issue of unemployment.

Employment is an all-encompassing means to empower, enfranchise and involve Indians in the nation building process, he said.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

Also Read: Can Rahul Gandhi Turn US Yatra Into A Tangible Political Gain?

7. Govt Will Announce Additional Measures to Boost Economic Growth: Arun Jaitley

Arun Jaitley. (Photo: Reuters)

Maintaining that inflation is under control, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on 20 September said the government is working on additional measures to bolster economy. He added that an announcement regarding those additional steps will be made after consulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Jaitley’s comment came days after official data showed GDP hitting a three-year low of 5.7 percent in the June quarter.

The Minister has held a series of meetings in the past few days with some of his ministerial colleagues and senior government officials to take stock of the situation and firm up steps to push up growth. Jaitley was expected to meet Modi over the slowdown of economy on 19 September, but the meeting was cancelled at the last minute.

(Source: The Indian Express)

Also Read: A ‘Package’ of Measures to Bolster the Economy, Promises Jaitley

8. Madras HC Stays Floor Test till 4 Oct, Dinakaran Says ‘Justice on Our Side’

The Madras High Court on 20 September extended the stay on a floor test in the Tamil Nadu assembly till a petition challenging the disqualification of 18 MLAs was disposed of.

Though the court refused to rescind the disqualification of the 18 legislators, its stay on the trust vote and by-elections for the vacancies is being seen as a boost to the rebel camp led by sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran.

Eight of the 18 MLAs had moved the court on 18 September, challenging the action against them under the anti-defection law. The dissident MLAs had challenged the Speaker’s order as ‘unauthorised’ and ‘illegal’ in their individual petitions. Dinakaran had said the Speaker move was aimed at favouring Chief Minister E Palaniswami.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

Also Read: Live: Madras HC Extends Stay Order on Floor Test in TN Assembly

9. 30 Lakh Trained in Skills, Less Than 2 Lakh Get Job Offers

The government’s flagship scheme is struggling to achieve end-results.(Photo Courtesy: Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana)

The government’s flagship skilling scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), is struggling to achieve end-results. Data for the PMKVY scheme until the first week of July 2017 reveals that out of a total 30.67 lakh candidates who had been trained or were undergoing training across the country, less than a tenth — 2.9 lakh candidates — had received placement offers.

(Source: The Indian Express)

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