Day: September 1, 2023

  • One Nation, One Election’: Terms Of 10 State Assemblies To End Before Or Around 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

    One Nation, One Election’: Terms Of 10 State Assemblies To End Before Or Around 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

    GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

    NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 01:– The constitution of a committee by the Centre to explore the feasibility of “one nation, one election” has opened up the possibility of Lok Sabha polls being advanced so that they could be held with a string of state assembly polls.

    Headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind, the committee has been tasked with exploring how the country could go back to having simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly polls, as was the case till 1967.

    The terms of at least ten state Assemblies will end before or around the scheduled time for the general elections in 2024.

    While Assembly elections in five states — Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh — are due by the end of this year, polls in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Jharkhand are likely to be held along with the Lok Sabha elections.
    The tentative schedule of the completion of the terms for various states and Union Territories are listed below.

    1. Mizoram: December 2023
    2. Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana: January 2024
    3. Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim: June 2024
    4. Haryana, Maharashtra: November 2024
    5. Jharkhand: December 2024
    6. Delhi: February 2025
    7. Bihar: November 2025
    8. Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal: May 2026
    9. Puducherry: June 2026
    10.Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand: March 2027
    11.Uttar Pradesh: May 2027
    12. Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh: December 2027
    13. Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura: March 2028
    14. Karnataka: May 2028
    There is still no clarity on the completion of the term of Jammu and Kashmir UT, which was formed after the erstwhile Assembly was dissolved in 2018. (AGENCIES)

  • Abrogation Of Article 370 Was Not Executive Decision, Entire Parliament Was Taken Into Confidence: SC Told

    Abrogation Of Article 370 Was Not Executive Decision, Entire Parliament Was Taken Into Confidence: SC Told

    GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

    NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 01:– The decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 that accorded “special status” to the the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was not made by the political executive alone and Indian Parliament was taken into confidence, the Supreme Court was told on Friday.

    As the long-winded debate on the issue continued, the five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was also told by senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for intervenor Ashwini Upadhyay, that the word ‘recommendation’ in Article 370 meant that the assent of the constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir was not necessary for abrogation.

    “The abrogation of the provision was not an executive decision and that the entirety of Parliament which included Members of Parliament (MPs) of Jammu and Kashmir had been taken into confidence,” the senior lawyer said.

    While framing the Constitution for Jammu and Kashmir, its constituent assembly did not enjoy the same freedom which the constituent assembly of India did, he said, while attempting to draw a distinction between the two constituent assemblies.

    Referring to Article 370(3), Dwivedi said, “The word ‘recommendation’ under Article 370(3) means that the assent of the Constituent Assembly was not necessary to abrogate Article 370.” “Article 370 (3) says notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this article, the President may, by public notification, declare that this article shall cease to be operative or shall be operative only with such exceptions and modifications and from such date as he may specify:
    Provided that the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the State referred to in clause ( 2 ) shall be necessary before the President issues such a notification.

    The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai and Surya Kant, which was hearing arguments on the 14th day of hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the Centre’s August 5, 2019 decision to abrogate the provision, was told by Dwivedi that “the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly was bound by various things including various dictats of Indian constitution.” “It had to ensure justice, liberty, fraternity. It was also bound by Article 1. It could not declare that we’re not the federal unit of India. They couldn’t say that any part of their territory could not be part of India,” he submitted.

    Dwivedi, who defended the abrogation, said Article 370 was always considered to be a temporary provision and the speeches of Dr. BR Ambedkar, N.G. Ayyangar (in Constituent Assembly), Jawaharlal Nehru, and Gulzarilal Nanda (in Parliament) clearly indicate that complete assimilation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir at par with other States, in due course, was envisaged from the very beginning.

    Therefore, Article 370 was mentioned in the Constitution of India as a temporary and transitional, he submitted.

    “The framers were conscious that the constituent assembly would be dissolved after framing of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, yet they did not provide that upon dissolution of J-K Constituent Assembly, the power of the President would cease or become defunct. They also did not declare Article 370 as a permanent provision…,” Dwivedi said.

    The senior lawyer said this was done for a good reason as the power to repeal Art 370 was vested by the main part in the President of India, who is the head of the State, and is advised by the council of ministers, which is responsible to Parliament.

    “The fact that the President has over the years issued several Constitution Orders and has brought about fuller assimilation of J&K and parity with the other States of India shows that the trust was rightly reposed in the President…The constitutional practice shows all relevant actors understood the power of the President as continuing despite cessation of Jammu and Kashmir constituent assembly,” he added.

    Senior advocate V Giri, appearing for intervenor ‘All India Kashmiri Samaj’ submitted that Article 370 of the Constitution, as is textually explicit, was intended by the framers of the Constitution as a temporary provision.

    “The cessation of operation of Article 370 has always been considered as dependent on a Presidential Order. Once Article 370 is abrogated, then the entirety of the constitutional provisions, including those providing for distribution of legislative power, exercise of executive authority, separation of powers among different organs of the state and provisions providing for a federal structure, would ipso facto apply,” he said.

    The hearing remained inconclusive and would continue on September 4.
    Several petitions challenging the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which split the erstwhile state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh – were referred to a Constitution bench in 2019. (Agencies)

  • Farooq Inqlabi distributed Dustbins among shopkeepers under Swachh Bharat Mission

    Farooq Inqlabi distributed Dustbins among shopkeepers under Swachh Bharat Mission

    GNS ONLINE RAJOURI

    BUDHAL SEPTEMBER01:–: Sarpanch Gram Panchayat Kewal Lower of Block Budhal New Mohammad Farooq Inqlabi on Friday distributed dustbins among shopkeepers at Ward No 2 Tran and Ward No 3 Beji of Gram Panchayat Kewal Lower.

    Farooq Inqlabi, appealed to the Market Association, Kewal, to cooperate with the Gram Panchayat employees and asked shopkeepers to put garbage of their shops in the dustbins. The dustbins were distributed under the Swachh Bharat Mission in order to improve the sanitation of rural areas particularly in markets.

  • Inaccurate electric billing & working Of smart meters issues In UT J&K : DPAP Leader Altaf Dar

    Inaccurate electric billing & working Of smart meters issues In UT J&K : DPAP Leader Altaf Dar

    GNS ONLINE KASHMIR

    SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 01:– Provincial Vice President Kashmir Democratic Progressive Azad Party(DPAP) Mohammad Altaf Dar(Rajbagh)in a statement issued to press here said Electricity is an essential resource that powers homes, business­es, and industries,playing a pivotal role in a state/UT economic growth and development. However, in a UT Jammu And Kashmir, issues related to electric bills have consistently been a concern for consumers, leading to frustra­tion and financial challenges.
    One major issue that UT J&K faces is the problem of inaccu­rate billing. Many consumers re­port receiving bills that do not ac­curately reflect their actual energy consumption, resulting in over­charging.This problem can be at­tributed to various factors, in­cluding faulty metre readings, outdated metreing technology, and errors in data entry. Inaccurate billing not only strains the financ­es of citizens but also undermines their trust in the utility providers.Electric bill issues serve as a re­flection of the intricate nature of democratic processes. Crafting ef­fective and balanced legislation re­quires consideration of numerous factors, including fairness, trans­parency, accessibility, and techno­logical advancements.
    As societies continue to evolve, the discourse surrounding elec­tric bill issues will remain dynam­ic, prompting stakeholders to find solutions that uphold democratic ideals while addressing the unique challenges of their time.

  • Rajouri: People avail array of e-services on Day 2 of Digital Week Mela

    Rajouri: People avail array of e-services on Day 2 of Digital Week Mela

    GNS ONLINE RAJOURI 

    RAJOURI, SEPTEMBER 01:– To celebrate the remarkable digital strides achieved under the Digital India campaign and promote a digitally empowered society, the district administration Rajuori hosted a mega Digital Week Mela here in the Dak Bungalow.

    The event saw enthusiastic participation from numerous government departments, each setting up their respective stalls to showcase their contributions to the Digital India campaign.

    The Visitors were treated to an array of on-the-spot e-services, ranging from Aadhar enrollment to Golden Cards, services by the Revenue Department, Holistic Agriculture Development Schemes, RDD Schemes, and an assortment of other online services available to the public.

    A standout feature of the event was the various department stalls where attendees received valuable insights into different initiatives. The event extended technical support to applicants for online registration and service access, further promoting digital literacy.

    Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Vikas Kundal urged the public to take full advantage of these initiatives, emphasizing how they have streamlined the process of accessing various government services.

    The District Administration Rajouri proudly inaugurated the Digital J&K Week-2023 at Dak Bungalow, Rajouri, with a spirited rally flagged off by Deputy Commissioner. The rally witnessed wholehearted participation from people of all walks of life.

    The event commenced with a live telecast of the inauguration of the Digital J&K Week by Chief Secretary J&K, Arun Kumar Mehta, virtually. The proceedings were attended by district administration officials virtually, with a significant turnout of attendees present at Dak Bungalow.

    A total of 37 stalls were erected by various government departments, agencies, banks, and more, all with the aim of creating public awareness about the 1000+ online services launched by the government.

    This week-long extravaganza will spotlight citizen-centric IT initiatives that have enhanced transparency in governance and improved the quality of life for citizens. Moreover, it will generate widespread awareness about digital solutions and emerging technologies. Distinguished officers present at the occasion included PO ICDS, Shoket Mehmood, ACR Imran Kataria, ACP Sheraz Chouhan, and other officials representing different departments.

    The Digital India campaign is a transformative initiative launched by the Government of India to harness the power of technology and digital infrastructure to empower citizens and enhance service delivery. It encompasses various projects and initiatives aimed at creating a digitally inclusive society.

    NO: PR/DDI/J-2871//