Today in History (March 26^th,1971)

March 26th is celebrated as Independence Day in Bangladesh. It marks the declaration of independence from Pakistan in 1971.

Summary of Today’s News

Govt., Opposition call for changing collegium system

• and Opposition agree on the need to change the collegium system: Both sides believe the current system lacks transparency.
• Meeting chaired by Jagdeep Dhankhar: The Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman convened a meeting of Rajya Sabha floor leaders on Tuesday.
• Issue at hand: Discussion prompted by the discovery of half-burnt Indian currency notes at the official residence of High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma on March 14.
• Focus on judicial appointments: The meeting built grounds for a possible intervention by Parliament regarding judicial appointments.
• Mallikarjun Kharge’s stance: The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, urged the government to clarify its position on the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, which was struck down by the Supreme Court.
• P. Nadda’s role: BJP President and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, J.P. Nadda, will hold one-on-one meetings with floor leaders to work towards a solution.
• Jagdeep Dhankhar’s remarks:
• Seriousness of the half-burnt notes issue: He called it a “very critical issue” affecting governance.
• National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC): Dhankhar referenced the NJAC Act, which was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015, and emphasized that if it had been upheld, things might have been different.
• Importance of the NJAC Act: Dhankhar called the NJAC a “visionary step” and questioned Parliament’s relevance in the current judicial appointment process.

India imposes tax demand on Samsung

• Customs authorities have ordered Samsung and its executives to pay $601 million in back taxes and penalties.
• Reason for the demand: The charge is for evading tariffs on the import of key telecom equipment.
• Financial impact: The demand is a significant portion of Samsung’s net profit of $955 million in India for the previous year.
• Issue with imports: Samsung imported telecom equipment through its network division and misclassified certain imports to evade tariffs of 10% or 20%.
• Warning issued: In 2023, Samsung received a warning for the misclassification.
• Affected product: The misclassified component is a critical transmission part used in mobile towers, which was sold to Reliance Jio.

Cannot be compelled to join the SAHYOG portal: X to Delhi HC

X (social media platform) told the Delhi High Court that it cannot be compelled to join the Centre’s SAHYOG portal.

• Reason for non-compliance: X argued that it has its own portal to process legal requests.
• SAHYOG portal’s purpose: The SAHYOG portal aims to create a unified framework to combat cybercrime.
• X’s legal argument:
• X referred to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Shreya Singal vs Union of India
• X contended that the SAHYOG portal falls outside the scope of Section 69A of the IT Act, which empowers the government to order online platforms to block information in certain circumstances.
• Concerns with the portal: X stated that the SAHYOG portal would create a parallel mechanism to the existing one under Section 69A of the IT Act, but without proper procedures or safeguards.
• X’s petition in Karnataka HC: X has also filed a petition before the Karnataka High Court, challenging the SAHYOG portal and calling it a “censorship” tool.
• Legal representation: Senior counsel Akhil Sibal represented X during the hearing on March 18.

Groups sever relations with the Hurriyat, sign dissociation form; Shah welcomes move

• Two groups sever relations with the Hurriyat and sign a dissociation form; Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomes the move.
• Police personnel conduct a raid at a location in Kulgam, south Kashmir, on Tuesday (PTI report).
• Amid fresh raids on Hurriyat constituents in Kashmir, two prominent separatist leaders publicize their dissociation from the 35-year-old separatist amalgam after signing a prescribed dissociation form.
• Leaders of the J&K People’s Movement and Democratic Political Movement declare their dissociation from Hurriyat’s politics.
• Sources report that security forces raided scores of residences of second and third-rung Hurriyat members in the past 24 hours across Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama (south Kashmir), Budgam, Srinagar (central Kashmir), and Baramulla (north Kashmir).
• A senior J&K People’s Movement leader, a close aide of Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was asked to sign a dissociation form.
• Most raids targeted second and third-rung members of Hurriyat factions led by either Mirwaiz Umar Farooq or the late Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
• Official sources confirm security agencies visited homes of members of banned groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, J&K Democratic Freedom Party, and J&K People’s League.
• An official states that the searches are linked to multiple cases filed in 2024 under Sections 10 (member of an unlawful association) and 13 (unlawful activities) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
• The prescribed dissociation form requires Hurriyat supporters to state they and their organizations have no connection or affiliation with APHC (G), APHC (A), their constituents, or any entity pursuing a separatist agenda.
• The form demands a written pledge denouncing Hurriyat’s politics, stating that the supporter and their organization have no inclination or sympathy for the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) ideology, which has failed to address the legitimate aspirations and grievances of the people of J&K.
• The form also seeks a loyalty pledge: “My organisation and I are not affiliated with any organisation or association having an agenda that goes directly or indirectly against India and its interests. Both my organisation and I owe allegiance to the Constitution of India.”
• Amit Shah, in an X post, states: “Separatism has become history in Kashmir. The unifying policies of the [Narendra] Modi government have tossed separatism out of J&K. Two organisations associated with the Hurriyat have announced severing all ties with separatism. I welcome this step towards strengthening Bharat’s unity and urge all such groups to come forward and shed separatism once and for all.”

Use of the term ‘UT’ in NC govt.’s first Bill sparks House protest

• Use of the term ‘UT’ in the National Conference (NC) government’s first Bill sparks protests in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
• BJP MLAs stage a walkout from the J&K Assembly over the issue of daily wagers’ protests.
• The incident reported by Peerzada Ashiq in Jammu.
• Opposition parties, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and J&K People’s Conference (JKPC), protest the mention of “Union Territory (UT)” in the Omar Abdullah government’s first legislation.
• NC tables the J&K Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, substituting “Government of J&K” with “Government of Union Territory (UT) of J&K.”
• Bill introduced by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on behalf of the Chief Minister to align UT’s GST Act with the Central GST Act, 2017 amendments.
• Bill passed through a voice vote despite opposition.
• PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehmaan Parra and JKPC legislator Sajad Lone stage a walkout, objecting to the term “UT.”
• Parra: “This normalises the August 5 changes… undermines the call for restoring special status and statehood… tantamount to endorsement of UT status.”
• Lone: “The voices emanating from the Assembly do not do justice to the sentiments of the people of J&K.”
• Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defends the move: “Until Parliament restores our statehood, we remain a UT.”
• Abdullah notes all Assembly business has been conducted under ‘UT of Jammu and Kashmir’ so far.
• Abdullah’s first Cabinet meeting passed a resolution demanding statehood, submitted to the Prime Minister.
• Abdullah: “The people of J&K do not want UT status. They want their statehood back.”
• BJP MLAs walk out after a ruckus over daily wagers’ protests, demanding government talks with protesters.