Today in History (May 23^rd,1947)

On this day, the British Cabinet approved the partition of India, agreeing to Lord Mountbatten’s plan to divide the country into India and Pakistan along religious lines. This decision led to the division of British India into two independent dominions, the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan.

Summary of Today’s News

Supreme Court Criticises ED Raid on Tamil Nadu’s TASMAC

Introduction:
The Supreme Court of India has strongly criticised the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for conducting raids on Tamil Nadu’s State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), raising concerns about violations of federal principles and questioning the legal basis of the probe.

The key points

• The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai, stayed the ED investigation and raids on TASMAC, a government-run body in Tamil Nadu.
• The CJI remarked that the ED was “crossing all limits” and violating the federal structure by intervening in a matter already under the State’s jurisdiction.
• The case was brought to the apex court after the Madras High Court refused to stay the ED’s investigation.
• Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing TASMAC, alleged that employees’ phones were cloned by the ED, raising privacy concerns.
• Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Tamil Nadu government, pointed out that the State had already filed 41 FIRs against liquor outlet operators on corruption charges.
• The CJI questioned the basis of the ED’s actions, asking, “How can a corporation commit an offence?”, and emphasized that criminal charges should be directed at individuals, not the corporation.
• Additional Solicitor-General S.V. Raju, defending the ED, claimed that the case involved a ₹1,000 crore fraud and alleged political involvement.
• The court pressed for clarification on the predicate offence that justified ED’s involvement, especially in light of the existing State investigations.
• Raju requested two weeks to file a detailed reply, which was granted.

Conclusion:
The Supreme Court’s strong remarks highlight tensions between the Centre and States over investigative jurisdiction, especially when federal agencies like the ED operate in areas under State governance. The stay on the investigation reinforces the Court’s stance on maintaining the federal balance and ensuring lawful conduct by central agencies.

Supreme Court Clarifies History and Legal Standing of Waqf Registration

Introduction:
During a hearing on the amended Waqf law, the Supreme Court of India clarified that the mandatory registration of Waqfs has been a legal requirement since 1923, not a new provision introduced by the Waqf (Amendment) Act of 2025. The Court and petitioners debated the implications of historical non-compliance and the impact of the 2025 amendments on religious freedoms and minority rights.

The key points

• CJI B.R. Gavai noted that mandatory Waqf registration dates back to the 1923 Mussalman Wakf Act, contradicting claims that it began only with the 2025 amendment.
• Post-independence laws, including the 1954 and 1995 Waqf Acts, retained mandatory registration, including for Waqf by user.
• The Waqf Enquiry Committee had long warned about widespread non-registration and called for stricter enforcement.
• Section 4 of the 1995 Act empowered states to conduct surveys to identify unregistered Waqf properties, but implementation has been poor.
• Kapil Sibal, for the petitioners, argued that state governments failed to act, and communities should not suffer due to that failure—only one state has completed the required survey since 1954.
• M. Singhvi emphasized that Waqf by user is an essential Islamic concept recognized by law—not created by it—and removing its recognition is legally flawed.
• The petitioners warned the 2025 Act could deprive historic, unregistered waqfs, including mosques and burial grounds, of legal protection.
• Rajeev Dhavan rejected the government’s claim that Waqfs are not essential to Islam, arguing that charity is one of Islam’s five pillars, making waqf integral to religious life.
• Dhavan and other petitioners challenged the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf Boards, stating it violates Article 26(d) of the Constitution, which protects religious denominations’ rights to manage their institutions.
• Huzefa Ahmadi criticized a clause in the 2025 Act requiring individuals to prove five years of Muslim practice before creating a waqf, calling it unjustified.

Conclusion:
The Supreme Court’s observations highlighted that the obligation to register Waqfs is not new, and failures lie primarily with state governments. The petitioners argue that the 2025 amendment unjustly penalizes communities for administrative lapses and infringes on constitutional protections for religious practices and minority rights. The case underscores tensions between legal regulation and religious autonomy.

India Launches Global Political Mission Against Terrorism

Introduction:
India has launched a wide-reaching diplomatic and political campaign to rally international support against cross-border terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan. As part of this initiative, multi-party delegations are visiting over 30 countries to highlight India’s concerns and reinforce global cooperation against terrorism.

The Key points

• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the initiative as a “political mission” aimed at building international consensus to combat terrorism in all its forms.
• The campaign is a response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which India says was designed to incite social disharmony.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is currently touring Europe, covering the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany, where he emphasized India’s demand for a “definitive end to terrorism.”
• Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Japan, where he met key officials including National Security Adviser Masataka Okano and reaffirmed bilateral cooperation on counter-terrorism.
• India is sending seven multi-party delegations to 33 partner countries, consisting of 59 delegates from across political parties, the diplomatic corps, and civil society.
• The delegations are tasked with meeting political leaders and influencers to press for accountability, especially from Pakistan, which India accuses of supporting cross-border terrorism for over four decades.
• The first delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde, visited the UAE and met with Minister of Tolerance Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, who pledged support for India in combating terrorism.
• A delegation in Japan, led by Janata Dal (U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, met with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, reinforcing the shared commitment to fight terrorism.
• The MEA stressed that the outreach aims to call out and isolate state sponsors of terrorism and ensure the international community acts against them.

Conclusion:
India’s multi-party diplomatic initiative represents a coordinated global outreach to counter cross-border terrorism and push for collective international accountability. Through visits to key global capitals, India is not only seeking solidarity but also reiterating its firm stance on holding perpetrators and enablers of terrorism responsible.

DGCA Mandates Window Shades Closed During Flights at Defence Airfields

Introduction:
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a directive requiring that window shades remain closed during critical phases of flight at defence airfields, following recommendations from the Ministry of Defence. The move is intended to enhance security at sensitive military locations that also serve civilian flights.

Main Points:

• The DGCA directive, dated May 20, applies to airlines, helicopter, and chartered aircraft operators.
• Window shades for passenger seats (except emergency exits) must remain closed during take-off and landing at defence airfields, until the aircraft crosses or descends below 10,000 feet.
• The rule is based on a recommendation from the Ministry of Defence and is aimed at enhancing operational security at civil enclaves, which are military airfields used for commercial flights.
• Airlines must inform passengers of the new rule and remind them that photography and videography are prohibited at military installations.
• Standard operating procedures (SOPs) must be implemented, including announcements before take-off and landing, especially at airfields near India’s western border.
• The DGCA has warned that violations will attract legal action against passengers.
• Several pilots raised safety concerns, arguing that open window shades during take-off and landing are a global safety norm to allow crew and passengers to spot external hazards such as engine fires or bird strikes.
• DGCA responded that emergency exit windows will remain open for safety purposes and that the order will be reviewed within a week.

Conclusion:
The DGCA’s order aims to balance national security concerns with flight safety protocols at dual-use military-civilian airfields. While the move reinforces security at sensitive locations, it has sparked a debate within aviation circles over potential safety implications, prompting the DGCA to consider a review of the directive.