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Despite political uproar, PIL in Raj HC, Raje govt tables immunity Bill in Assembly

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8 years ago

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Vasundhra Raj

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Centre has defended the controversial Bill while Congress, a section of jurists and the Editors Guild have called it illegal

Amid a huge political uproar and even dissent within its own legislators, the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in Rajasthan, on Monday, tabled a controversial Bill for passage in the state Assembly. The move came on a day when senior lawyer AK Jain filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Rajasthan High Court challenging the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 on the ground that its provisions are “unconstitutional”.

The controversial Bill, which if enacted would replace an ordinance of the same title that was promulgated by the Raje government on September 7, seeks to protect serving and former judges, magistrates and public servants in the state from being investigated for on-duty action, without prior sanction to prosecute being granted by the Rajasthan government. The Bill also proposes a gag on the media from reporting on such cases against former and serving babus and the state’s judiciary till such a time when sanction to prosecute the public servant is granted by the state.

The Congress, which is the principal Opposition party in the state, along with a section of jurists, the Editors Guild of India, and even BJP legislators Ghanshyam Tiwari and Narpat Singh Rajvi have slammed the Vasundhara Raje government over the ordinance (now a Bill), terming it “unconstitutional” and “reminiscent of the days of Emergency”.

However, the BJP-led central government has come out in support of the ordinance with minister of state for law and justice, PP Choudhary – a Lok Sabha MP from Rajasthan’s Jodhpur constituency – terming the proposed legislation as one that is “very much needed in these times”. Speaking to news agency ANI, Choudhary said about the proposed Bill: “This is a perfect and balanced legislation. It takes care of the media as well as rights of an individual. This legislation was very much needed in these times.”[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]On Monday, as the Bill was tabled in the Rajasthan Assembly, the Congress announced that it would fight against the Raje government’s “attempt to cover up their own corruption” and that the party will submit a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind over the issue. Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot along with several other party members, who were carrying out a peaceful protest march to the Raj Bhavan in Jaipur to submit a memorandum to the Governor challenging the ordinance, were detained by the police earlier in the day.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Interestingly, the political opposition to the immunity ordinance has come not just from Congress but also from a section of BJP legislators. Soon after the Bill was tabled in the Rajasthan Assembly on Monday morning, BJP MLAs Ghanshyam Tiwari and Narpat Singh Rajvi termed it “a black law” and said that the “legislation seeks to grant immunity to the corrupt”.

Tiwari, senior BJP MLA from Sanganer constituency and a former state education minister, said: “The law ushers in an era of emergency and violates the basic freedoms guaranteed to a citizen. They (the government) issued this ordinance, a month ago. They have granted immunity to themselves, their ministers, and the members of the CMO who have been involved in corrupt practices. This black law, which is unconstitutional and reminiscent of the days of the Emergency, will protect those in power.”

Meanwhile, in a statement issued late on Sunday night, the Editors Guild of India termed the ordinance as a “pernicious instrument” to harass the media and asked the Rajasthan government to “withdraw the harmful ordinance” that bars the media from reporting on accusations against public servants, judges and magistrates without its sanction.

“The ordinance promulgated by the State government last month was ostensibly done to protect the judiciary and the bureaucracy against false FIRs. But in reality it is a pernicious instrument to harass the media, hide wrongful acts by government servants and drastically curb the freedom of the press guaranteed by the Constitution of India,” the Guild said in its statement.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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PM Modi urges people to read Tirukkural on Thiruvalluvar Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thiruvalluvar Day appealed to people to read the Tirukkural, calling it a reflection of the humane and harmonious ideals of Tamil philosopher-poet Thiruvalluvar.

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4 hours ago

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January 16, 2026

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pm modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged people across the country to read the Tirukkural, highlighting its enduring relevance and the intellectual legacy of Tamil philosopher-poet Thiruvalluvar.

Marking Thiruvalluvar Day, which coincides with the Pongal celebrations every year, the prime minister paid tribute to the revered scholar, describing him as a symbol of harmony, compassion and Tamil cultural excellence.

In a message shared on social media platform X, Modi said Thiruvalluvar’s works and ideals continue to inspire countless people even today. He noted that the philosopher envisioned a society rooted in compassion and balance.

The prime minister encouraged citizens to engage with the Tirukkural, a classical Tamil text that deals with various aspects of human life, ethics and governance, calling it a window into the profound intellect of Thiruvalluvar.

Thiruvalluvar Day is observed annually to honour the philosopher-poet, whose literary contributions remain central to Tamil culture and thought.

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BJP, Thackerays or Pawars: Maharashtra civic body poll results awaited today

Counting of votes for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the key BMC and Pune civic bodies, begins today, with BJP, Thackerays and Pawars awaiting crucial results.

Published

4 hours ago

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January 16, 2026

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The political balance in Maharashtra’s urban centres will become clearer today as votes are counted for elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state. The results are keenly awaited amid high-stakes contests involving the BJP, the Thackeray cousins and the reunited Pawar factions.

Polling was held for 2,869 seats across 893 wards, with 3.48 crore eligible voters deciding the fate of 15,931 candidates. Counting is scheduled to begin at 10 am.

Mumbai and Pune in sharp focus

All eyes are on Mumbai, where the contest for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has drawn statewide attention. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray joined hands after more than two decades in a bid to reclaim control of the country’s richest civic body.

The BMC, which has an annual budget of over Rs 74,400 crore, went to polls after a nine-year gap, following a four-year delay. A total of 1,700 candidates contested the 227 seats.

Exit polls suggest a strong performance by the BJP–Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) alliance in Mumbai. An aggregate of multiple surveys projects the ruling alliance ahead, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and allies trailing, while the Congress is expected to secure a limited number of seats. Exit polls have also indicated possible voting consolidation among Maratha and Muslim voters behind the Thackeray-led alliance, while women and young voters may tilt towards the BJP.

The last BMC election in 2017 saw the undivided Shiv Sena retain control of the civic body it had dominated for decades.

In Pune, the spotlight is on the unusual alliance between rival NCP factions led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar. Exit polls indicate the BJP could emerge as the largest party in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), with both NCP factions and the Shiv Sena also expected to secure a share of seats.

Statewide counting underway

Apart from Mumbai and Pune, counting will take place in several other key municipal corporations, including Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Nagpur, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Amravati, Akola, Jalgaon, Malegaon, Latur, Dhule, Jalna, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Nanded-Waghala, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Panvel, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Ulhasnagar, Ahilyanagar and Ichalkaranji.

With major parties treating these civic polls as a referendum on their urban appeal ahead of future state and national elections, today’s results are expected to shape Maharashtra’s political narrative in the months to come.

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Supreme Court flags risk of lawlessness, pauses FIRs against ED officers in Bengal case

The Supreme Court paused FIRs against ED officers in the Bengal I-PAC raid case, warning that obstruction of central probes could lead to lawlessness and seeking responses from the Centre and state.

Published

19 hours ago

on

January 15, 2026

By

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Wednesday delivered a sharp rebuke to the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, pausing FIRs lodged against officers of the Enforcement Directorate over searches linked to political consultancy I-PAC. The court said the case raises serious questions about interference in investigations and warned that failure to address them could lead to “lawlessness”.

A bench of Justice Prashant Mishra and Justice Vipul Pancholi sought replies from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Personnel and Training, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress government on the ED’s plea. The central agency has also sought the suspension of Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma, and a probe by the CBI. The matter will be heard next on February 3.

The ruling follows a standoff between the ED and the Bengal government after the agency conducted searches at premises linked to I-PAC, which manages election campaigns for the Trinamool Congress, in connection with a corruption case.

Court questions obstruction of central probes

Recording its prima facie view, the Supreme Court said the petition raised a “serious issue” concerning investigations by central agencies and possible obstruction by state authorities.

“There are larger questions which emerge and if not answered shall lead to lawlessness. If central agencies are working bona fide to probe a serious offence, a question arises: Can they be obstructed by party activities?” the bench observed.

Earlier in the day, the court also expressed disturbance over scenes of chaos in the Calcutta High Court during a hearing related to the same dispute.

ED alleges interference, seeks action against top cops

The Enforcement Directorate accused the West Bengal administration of interfering with its searches and investigation. Appearing for the agency, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta alleged that evidence was removed from the residence of an I-PAC co-founder and argued that such actions could encourage state police officers to aid and abet obstruction. He sought suspension of senior police officials.

Describing the disruption in the Calcutta High Court on January 9, Mehta called it “mobocracy”, saying a group of lawyers unconnected to the case disrupted proceedings, forcing an adjournment. The bench asked whether the high court had been turned into a protest site, to which Mehta responded that messages had circulated calling lawyers to gather at a specific time.

Banerjee’s counsel defends move, cites election confidentiality

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mamata Banerjee, questioned the timing of the ED’s presence in Bengal ahead of Assembly elections. He said the last development in the coal scam case dated back to February 2024 and argued that I-PAC handled election-related work under a formal contract with the Trinamool Congress.

According to Sibal, election data stored at the premises was confidential and critical to campaign strategy. He said the party leadership had a right to protect such information.

Representing the Bengal government and the DGP, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi referred to the January 9 disruption but argued it could not justify parallel proceedings in different courts. The bench responded that emotions “cannot go out of hand repeatedly”.

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