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1. ‘People’s Faith Restored in Judiciary’: Delhi CM Kejriwal Hails SC
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejrwal said the “faith in judiciary was restored” after a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, ruled that the Lieutenant Governor cannot interfere with policy decisions taken by the state government.
While stating that Delhi could not be granted “full statehood”, the bench ruled that the elected government could make rules on all subjects in the concurrent list and subjects in the state list, barring three – law, police and public order.
The CJI further added that the L-G should work “harmoniously” with the council of ministers and act in “their aid and advice.”
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2. Minimum Support Price for Paddy Hiked By 13%
The government has decided to increase the minimum support price for paddy by more than double of what it did last year, said a government official.
The MSP for common variety paddy will be raised by Rs 200 over last year’s Rs 1,550 per quintal, said Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. That works out to be a 13 percent increase for FY19 compared to a 5.4 percent increase in FY18.
The Cabinet has ensured that MSP is 50 percent above cost of production, Agriculture Secretary Shobhana Pattanayak told BloombergQuint, even as he refused to confirm the cost formula used by the government to compute the increase. In the Union Budget, the government had assured farmers of a minimum support price of 50 percent above cost.
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3. 10 Killed in Massive Fire at Warangal Cracker Warehouse
A massive fire broke out in a cracker manufacturing unit in Warangal, Telangana, at 11 am on Wednesday, 4 July, killing 10 persons. Fifteen workers were reportedly inside the factory when the fire broke out.
Three workers are extremely critical, and have been admitted to MGM Hospital in Warangal. Two others are yet to be found. According to sources, most of the victims were women, and one minor boy has also reportedly died in the accident.
The fire broke out at Bhadrakali Fireworks, situated in the Kashibugga area.
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4. Sonali Bendre Diagnosed With Cancer; Friends Send In Their Prayers
Sonali Bendre has been diagnosed with cancer. The actor tweeted a statement regarding her condition to her fans and followers on social media. Excerpts from Bendre’s statement read:
- “I have recently been diagnosed with a high-grade cancer that as metastised, which we frankly did not see coming”.
- “A niggling pain led to some tests, which led to this unexpected diagnosis”.
- “My family and friends have rallied around me, providing the best support system that anyone can ask for”.
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5. Decoding Mass Suicide: What Leads People to Take the Final Step?
The death of 11 members of a family found hanging inside their home in Burari, Delhi, remains an unsolved mystery. While relatives and neighbours refute the police version that the deaths were mass suicide, speculations are rife around this narrative.
Even if one remotely glances at the idea of a mass suicide, the morbidity of the whole situation raises several questions. Dr Sameer Malhotra, director, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, points out that a person has to be in a very vulnerable state for them to take such a drastic step.
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