1. SC to Pronounce Verdict on Fate of Section 377
A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court will pronounce on 6 September the judgment on the constitutionality of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a colonial-era provision which criminalises private consensual sexual acts between same-sex adults.
The Bench is led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and comprises Justices Rohinton F Nariman, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra.
There will be two opinions for the Bench. They will be authored by Chief Justice Misra and Justice Chandrachud.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Pompeo Urges Pakistan to Take Action Against Terrorists
The United States on Wednesday, 5 September, urged Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership to take “sustained and decisive” action against terrorists and militants threatening “regional peace” as secretary of state Mike Pompeo held talks in Islamabad aimed at resetting bilateral ties.
Pompeo travelled to Pakistan with the US military chief, Gen Joseph Dunford, ahead of a visit to New Delhi for the inaugural 2+2 dialogue with India. This was the first high-level US visit since Prime Minister Imran Khan’s new government assumed power last month, and came days after Washington cancelled $300 million in security-related payments to Islamabad.
Though Pompeo adopted a conciliatory tone by saying his meetings with Khan and foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had laid the ground for outcomes that can build “confidence and trust”, he also made it clear there was “a long way to go” before the US could think of resuming security-related aid to Pakistan.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
3. Reasons for Fall in Rupee Not Domestic but Global, No Need to Panic: Arun Jaitley
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday, 5 September, sought to allay growing apprehensions over the unprecedented fall of the Indian Rupee by saying the currency has either consistently strengthened or remained in a rage, not weakened. In a press conference after the Cabinet meeting today, the finance minister said there’s no need to panic and come out with knee-jerk reactions. “There are no domestic reasons… Reasons are global. In the last few months, the dollar has strengthened against every currency,” he said.
Jaitley said contrary to what people are saying, the Rupee is better off. “Most of the other currencies of the world, compared to what it was 4-5 years ago, Rupee is better off,” he said.
The rupee’s unabated fall continued for the sixth straight session on 5 September, as it hit yet another closing low of 71.75 against the US dollar, tumbling 17 paise.
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. Thousands Of Farmers March Through Delhi Streets
Thousands of farmers, workers and agricultural labourers marched Wednesday to India's Parliament demanding better wages, more jobs, higher prices for their produce and an end to privatisation of state-run companies.
Waving red communist flags and banners, the protesters blamed the Hindu nationalist government for hardships caused by years of declining earnings in the agriculture sector. The farmers want the government to ensure they earn at least one and a half times their costs in producing their crops.
The march was organised by the opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Vijoo Krishnan, joint secretary of the All India Farmers' Group, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government came to power after making many promises, but had betrayed the people.
(Source: The Telegraph)
5. Gutkha Scam: CBI Raids TN Minister, DGP’s Residences
The CBI on Wednesday, 5 September, conducted simultaneous searches in the residences of Tamil Nadu Health Minister Dr C Vijaya Baskar, Director General of Police TK Rajendran, former Minister BV Ramana and many others in connection with the gutkha scam.
Searches were also made in the residence of the former Chennai Police Commissioner, S George.
Special teams, comprising officials of the CBI’s Anti Corruption-III Unit from New Delhi, commenced the searches early morning.
This is the first time the CBI is conducting searches in the residence of a DGP in the State.
(Source: The Hindu)
6. Ramdas Athawale to Move SC Over Directive to Use Scheduled Castes Instead of ‘Dalit’
Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale Wednesday, 5 September, announced that his party will approach the Supreme Court against recent orders directing the media to refrain from using the term ‘Dalit’ and instead to use the constitutional term ‘Scheduled Castes’ to refer to the community.
“The Union government seems to have issued the statement on the orders of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High court. In fact, it was our Dalit Panthers movement that started using the term as a mark of pride. ‘Dalit’ was used to refer to all those who are from lower socio-economical background and it is in no way an insult,” Athawale said on Wednesday.
(Source: The Indian Express)
7. PM Modi Chairs Rafale Briefing For Ministers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 5 September, chaired a meeting of his full council where the ministers got a detailed briefing on the Rafale deal, betraying the government's jitters over the countrywide campaign the Congress has launched on what it calls a scam.
Sources said Ajay Kumar, secretary, defence productions, was called to the meeting to give the briefing on the fighter jet agreement with France.
"Yes, we were briefed in detail on the Rafale deal. The secretaries of other departments too briefed us about various schemes," one minister said.
The meeting came at a time the Congress has been sending party leaders to different states to raise the political heat over the deal, directly accusing Modi of corruption.
(Source: The Telegraph)
8. Bandh in Madhya Pradesh: Security Beefed up Ahead of Protest over SC/ST Act
The Madhya Pradesh police has stepped up security ahead of a call for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ by some organisations on Thursday in protest against the dilution of SC/ST Act. Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in the state, while schools and petrol pumps will remain shut across different districts. Internet services are also expected to be affected in some places.
Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) Makrand Deuskar told PTI that orders prohibiting the gathering of people in large numbers have been imposed. “The administration in most of the districts have clamped prohibitive orders under CrPC section 144 in view of the bandh on 6 September,” he said, adding that 34 units of the special armed force of police have been deployed in various districts.
(Source: The Indian Express)
9. Ravi Shastri Questions Performance of Past Greats While Defending Poor Show in England
India coach Ravi Shastri has rejected criticism of the current team’s failings in the last two Test series in South Africa and England, instead countering that the previous teams in the last two decades with stalwarts had done less.
“Nothing to take away (from England), the endeavour of this team is to travel well, compete and win. If you look at the last three years, we have won nine matches overseas and three series,” he said in a media interaction on Wednesday, 5 September, and India’s credentials as No 1 had been questioned.
“I can’t see any other Indian team in the last 15-20 years that has had the same run in such a short time, and you have had some great players playing in those series.”
(Source: Hindustan Times)