Today in History (October 31st, 1517)
On October 31, 1517, according to tradition, Martin Luther is said to have posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This event marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Luther’s Ninety-five Theses were a list of propositions and arguments that criticized certain practices within the Roman Catholic Church, particularly the sale of indulgences.
Summary of Today’s News
Electoral bonds promote and help donate clean money to parties: AG
The Attorney-General of India, R. Venkataramani, has supported the government’s electoral bonds scheme in the Supreme Court, asserting that it encourages the contribution of “clean money” to political parties and ensures that tax obligations are met. He argued that citizens do not have a “general right to know anything and everything without being subjected to reasonable restrictions,” citing Article 19(2) of the Indian Constitution.
Indefinite suspension from House a matter of concern, says CJI
Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, expressed his concerns about the “death of a sense of humour” in public life and questioned the “indefinite suspension” imposed on Raghav Chadha, a Rajya Sabha member from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), for a comment he made to the media. Raghav Chadha had been suspended for a breach of privilege for his remark that he had sent “birthday invitation cards” to other members to join a select committee for the GNCTD (Amendment) Bill, 2023, without taking their consent.
Researchers identify a new mushroom species from the Western Ghats.
A new, tiny, and fragile-looking mushroom with a honey-yellow cap has been discovered on the campus of the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) in Palode, Thiruvananthapuram. This discovery has drawn attention to the incredible biodiversity of the Western Ghats and has rejuvenated the study of fungal diversity in the region..
SC puts Maharashtra Speaker on deadline over defection pleas
The Supreme Court has directed Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to decide on disqualification petitions filed under the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) of the Constitution against the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde camp in the Shiv Sena dispute by December 31, 2023 and on the disqualification petitions against the breakaway faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) dispute by January 31, 2024.
