Today in History (November 21st, 2002)
On this day, A North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit meeting in Prague extended an official invitation to become new alliance members to Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Summary of Today’s News
Governor can’t withhold repassed Bills, says SC
The Supreme Court is considering the Tamil Nadu government’s argument that once Bills are “repassed” by the State Legislative Assembly, the Governor lacks the discretion to withhold assent. The Chief Justice indicated that such Bills should be treated like Money Bills and cannot be rejected. The discussion revolves around the interpretation of Article 200 of the Constitution, specifically its first proviso.
‘China is the biggest security anxiety for India and Australia’
During a 2+2 dialogue between Australia and India, officials highlighted China as the biggest trading partner for both countries and a major security concern. Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles stressed the significance of the China relationship, while Foreign Minister Penny Wong described it as consequential for Australia and crucial for the region.
Case against Fact Check Unit: Madras HC decides to await Bombay HC ruling.
The Madras High Court has postponed a decision on a case challenging the Tamil Nadu government’s Fact Check Unit (FCU) until the Bombay High Court rules on a similar case against the Centre’s FCU filed by satirist Kunal Kamra. The hearing for the public interest litigation, filed by AIADMK’s IT wing official R. Nirmal Kumar, has been rescheduled to December 6. The petitioner argues that the state government established the FCU without proper authority, and concerns were raised about potential censorship on government criticism, threatening free speech.
Centre’s selective transfers, appointments may trigger ‘embarrassing’ outcomes: SC
The Supreme Court has expressed concerns about the government’s interference in judicial seniority through selective appointments and transfers of High Court judges. The court warned that these actions might lead to responses from collegiums, resulting in embarrassing outcomes such as the deferral of swearing-in ceremonies for new judges or the withdrawal of judicial work.
