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Sushma Swaraj launches Passport Seva app post Lucknow passport row

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Sushma Swaraj launches Passport Seva app post Lucknow passport row

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj has announced a passport application can now be processed easily from anywhere in India from mobile phones via Passport Seva App.

Marriage certificates will no more be required at the passport offices and divorced women will no longer be required to fill the name of their ex-husband and their children of their estranged father, said EAM. The app was launched on Tuesday, 25 June.

Swaraj, while addressing the officials of several Passport Seva Kendras and members of the Ministry of External Affairs on the occasion of Passport Seva Diwas, stated that the two new schemes – Passport application from anywhere in India and filling passport application forms from mobile phones – would now make the procedure for obtaining passports simpler.

A person can apply for a passport from any of the Regional Passport Offices (RPO) and Passport Seva Kendras (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK) from any city, irrespective of the place of stay.

The passport will be printed and dispatched to the applicant’s address mentioned at the time of submitting the form from the same centre where he/she had applied, the MEA said. Once an applicant submits the form and all the required documents and fee, the further process of police verification, if needed, will be conducted at the address specified in the application.

Swaraj also launched a mobile app – ‘mPassport Seva App’ through which a person can apply, pay and schedule appointment for the purpose. The app will be available on Android and iOS operating systems.

This new scheme and the mobile application was launched on the occasion of sixth Passport Seva Divas on Tuesday.

As of now, to apply for a passport, one had to travel to the RPO office under the jurisdiction of his/her place of stay. But now onwards, a person who is staying temporarily in Delhi and has his/her permanent address in another city can apply for a passport at any RPO or the above-mentioned centres in Delhi.

The app ‘mPassport Seva App’, Swaraj said, will further ease the process for applying for the document which is required when you travel abroad.

While terming it as a “passport revolution”, the minister said that the simplified new passport application rules will make things much easier for hundreds of Indian citizens. During her speech, she also stated that new passport centres now function in separate northeast regions of the country as earlier there was just a single centre in Guwahati.

“In the first two phases, we announced 251 passports registration centres out of which 212 centres are already established. In the third phase, 38 additional centres were announced out of which two centres have been operationalized,” the EAM said.

Addressing the officials of several Passport Seva Kendras and members of the Ministry of External Affairs on the occasion of Passport Seva Diwas, she said, “Married men and women complained that their marriage certificates are required at the passport office, we scrapped the rule.”

The step comes at a time when recently there was much controversy regarding the documents of an inter-faith couple, Tanvi Seth and Mohammad Anas Siddiqui after they took to twitter to allege harassment by Passport Granting Officer Vikas Mishra in Lucknow. Then there were a series of reports suggesting that the matter was regarding consistency of documents presented as a proof.

The Husband alleged that he was asked by the Passport Seva Official Vikas Mishra to convert to his wife’s religion (Hindu) if he wanted a passport.

A day later, the Regional Passport Office in Lucknow transferred Mishra and issued passports to the couple.

Mohammad Anas Siddiqui and Tanvi Seth show their passports issued to them by the Regional Passport Office, in Lucknow on June 21

Mohammad Anas Siddiqui and Tanvi Seth show their passports issued to them by the Regional Passport Office, in Lucknow on June 21

A section of social media also trolled Swaraj and the ministry for taking action against Mishra, claiming that he was just doing his duty.

The Congress on Sunday jumped into the fray and responded to the external affairs minister’s statement, saying, “No matter what the situation or reason, nothing calls for threats of violence, disrespect and abuse. Sushma Swaraj ji, we applaud your decision to call out the heinous trolls of your own party.”

Meanwhile, UP Police said Tanvi Seth has not been staying at the current mentioned address for a year. “We have sent our report to the Regional Passport Office, further investigation will be done by them,” said Deepak Kumar, ANI reported.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJlbiUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRUluJTIwb3VyJTIwaW52ZXN0aWdhdGlvbiUyQyUyMHdlJTIwZm91bmQlMjBvdXQlMjB0aGF0JTIwVGFudmklMjBTZXRoJTIwaGFzJTIwbm90JTIwYmVlbiUyMHN0YXlpbmclMjBhdCUyMHRoZSUyMGN1cnJlbnQlMjBtZW50aW9uZWQlMjBhZGRyZXNzJTIwZm9yJTIwYSUyMHllYXIuJTIwV2UlMjBoYXZlJTIwc2VudCUyMG91ciUyMHJlcG9ydCUyMHRvJTIwdGhlJTIwUmVnaW9uYWwlMjBQYXNzcG9ydCUyME9mZmljZSUyQyUyMGZ1cnRoZXIlMjBpbnZlc3RpZ2F0aW9uJTIwd2lsbCUyMGJlJTIwZG9uZSUyMGJ5JTIwdGhlbSUzQSUyMERlZXBhayUyMEt1bWFyJTJDJTIwU1NQLiUyMEx1Y2tub3clMjBvbiUyMEludGVyLWZhaXRoJTIwY291cGxlJTIwcGFzc3BvcnQlMjByb3clMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdC5jbyUyRmVId3BwNjNUZ0UlMjIlM0VwaWMudHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZlSHdwcDYzVGdFJTNDJTJGYSUzRSUzQyUyRnAlM0UlMjZtZGFzaCUzQiUyMEFOSSUyMFVQJTIwJTI4JTQwQU5JTmV3c1VQJTI5JTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGQU5JTmV3c1VQJTJGc3RhdHVzJTJGMTAxMTU2MjAwMjcxODc4NTUzNiUzRnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFSnVuZSUyMDI2JTJDJTIwMjAxOCUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0MlMkZibG9ja3F1b3RlJTNFJTBBJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwYXN5bmMlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnBsYXRmb3JtLnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGd2lkZ2V0cy5qcyUyMiUyMGNoYXJzZXQlM0QlMjJ1dGYtOCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRnNjcmlwdCUzRSUwQQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Parliament winter session: Government lists 15 bills, including Waqf bill

The session will kick off on November 25 and conclude on December 20.

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The government has listed five new ones and one to amend the contentious Waqf law out of 15 bills for the winter session of Parliament. The session will kick off on November 25 and conclude on December 20.

The government has introduced five new bills, including the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, which aims to promote coasting trade and increase the participation of Indian-flagged vessels owned and operated by Indian citizens for both national security and commercial purposes.

Another significant legislation that will be introduced by the government is the Indian Ports Bill, 2024. This bill is designed to implement measures for the conservation of ports, enhance security, and manage pollution, ensuring compliance with India’s international obligations and statutory requirements.

Additionally, the government plans to introduce the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, which aims to meet India’s obligations under maritime treaties and support the development of Indian shipping while ensuring the efficient operation of the Indian mercantile marine in a way that serves national interests.

Pending legislation includes the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which is awaiting consideration and passage after the joint committee of both Houses submits its report to the Lok Sabha. The committee is expected to report by the end of the first week of the winter session.

Currently, there are eight bills, including the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, pending in the Lok Sabha, while two additional bills are in the Rajya Sabha.

Furthermore, the government has also listed the Punjab Courts (Amendment) Bill for introduction, consideration, and passage, which seeks to increase the pecuniary appellate jurisdiction of Delhi district courts from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

The Merchant Shipping Bill, along with the Coastal Shipping Bill and the Indian Ports Bill, is slated for introduction and eventual passage.

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International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes

The court accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant of crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare.

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International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) today issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The court accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant of crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare. The leaders allegedly restricted essential supplies such as food, water, and medical aid to civilians in Gaza, resulting in severe humanitarian crises and deaths, including among children.

Last year in October, Israel had launched attacks on Gaza in retaliation for the surprise attack by Hamas. The Israel-Hamas war has led to the death of thousands of civilians, while lakhs have been displaced. The major infrastructures in Gaza, including hospitals and schools, were also destroyed as Israel vowed to wipe out Hamas.

The International Criminal Court stated that it found reasonable grounds to believe the accused intentionally targeted civilians and limited medical supplies, forcing unsafe medical procedures, which caused immense suffering. This ruling was based on the findings from at least October 8, 2023 until at least May 20, 2024.

The court remarked that it has assessed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that PM Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Gaza.

Furthermore, it also noted that the lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and medical supplies created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, leading to death of civilians, including children due to malnutrition and dehydration.

Additionally, the International Criminal Court dismissed two challenges by Israel against its jurisdiction in the situation in the State of Palestine.

Notably, Israel had contested the ICC’s jurisdiction, claiming it could not be exercised without Israel’s consent. Nonetheless, the Chamber ruled that the Court has jurisdiction based on Palestine’s territorial scope, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. It further noted that Israel’s objections were premature, as jurisdictional challenges under the Rome Statute can only be made after an arrest warrant is issued.

Reportedly, Israel had also requested a fresh notification regarding the investigation, started in 2021. Denying the request, the court stated that Israel had earlier declined to request a deferral, making additional notifications unnecessary.

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Yogi Adityanath accords tax-free status to Sabarmati Report film in Uttar Pradesh

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have also praised this film.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday accorded a tax-free status to ‘The Sabarmati Report’ film, based on the train burning incident at Godhra in Gujarat in 2002, in the state.

The announcement was made after Chief Minister Adityanath attended the screening of Vikrant Massey and Raashii Khanna-starrer ‘The Sabarmati Report’ in Lucknow with the film’s cast.  

Speaking to reporters, actor Vikrant Massey thanked the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister for making ‘The Sabarmati Report’ film tax-free in the state. “I want to thank Yogi Adityanath ji. This is an important film and I appeal to everyone to go and watch this film,” he said.

Chief Minister Adityanath along with many of his cabinet colleagues watched the film ‘The Sabarmati Report’ under a special screening at a cinema hall in the capital, said a spokesperson of the state government.

Several people associated with the film unit were also present on the occasion. Later the chief minister announced to make this film tax-free in UP.

The BJP-ruled states have been praising the makers of The Sabarmati Report, claiming the team has tried to bring out this truth in front of the people of the country through the film.

The saffron party is appealing to people to watch this film and try to get closer to the truth of Godhra.

Uttar Pradesh becomes the sixth BJP-ruled state after Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to declare lead actors Vikrant Massey and Raashii Khanna’s film tax-free.

Adityanath said along with identifying the faces of those who are conspiring against the country for political gains, there is also a need to expose them. The film team has discharged its responsibilities to expose the truth, he said, adding an attempt has been made to bring the real truth in front of the country in a big way through the film.

The Sabarmati Report is said to be based on the incident of setting fire to a train full of ‘karsevaks’ in Godhra on February 27, 2002, killing 90 devotees. After this incident, communal riots broke out in Gujarat. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have also praised this film.

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