Today in History (Mar 16th, 1968)
My Lai Massacre occurred on March 16, 1968, during the Vietnam War. It was a tragic event where American soldiers from Charlie Company, a unit of the Americal Division, indiscriminately killed hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, in the hamlet of My Lai. The soldiers were conducting a search-and-destroy mission in what they believed to be a Viet Cong stronghold.
Summary of Today’s News
SC asks why SBI didn’t give all the details of poll bonds.
The Supreme Court has questioned the State Bank of India (SBI) for not disclosing the unique alphanumeric numbers of individual electoral bonds to the Election Commission (EC) for publication on its official website. Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, leading a five-judge Bench, emphasized their previous judgment on February 15, directing disclosure of all details related to electoral bonds, including purchase date, amount, purchaser names, political parties redeeming the bonds, etc.
New ECs take charge; SC refuses to stay their appointments
Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu assumed office as Election Commissioners following their selection by a high-powered panel chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the Supreme Court declined to immediately intervene on a petition seeking a stay on their appointments, citing concerns over the government’s perceived haste and lack of transparency, which raised suspicions of favouritism towards the ruling regime.
SC to hear pleas seeking stay on CAA, its rules on March 19
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear multiple petitions on March 19 concerning a stay on the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and its accompanying rules, which expedite Indian citizenship for non-Muslim migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
EC to announce schedule for Lok Sabha poll today
The Election Commission is poised to unveil the schedule for elections to the Lok Sabha and certain State Assemblies on Saturday. With the current Lok Sabha’s term ending on June 16, the formation of a new House is imperative before that date. Additionally, Assemblies in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha are nearing the conclusion of their terms in June.
