QBullet: GST Rules in Place; ICJ Halts Jadhav’s Hanging
The Quint brings you a compilation of news stories making headlines in dailies across.
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1. Pak Could Ignore ICJ Order on Jadhav; India May Again Seek Consular Access
With the International Court of Justice staying Kulbhushan Jadhav's execution, Pakistan will have to wait till the case is heard in detail and a verdict delivered.
The earliest he could have been hanged is 19 May, so at least that will not happen now.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said on Thursday, "India is a law abiding country. We expect others would be too."
However, as a precedent between the US and Germany shows, the ICJ verdict could be openly flouted by Pakistan like the US did. Pakistan could theoretically toss the ICJ judgment to the winds and execute Jadhav, hoping to weather the international opprobrium.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. GST Rules in Place, First List of Goods and Rates Is Out
Aiming to keep most items, especially those of mass consumption, at affordable prices, the states and the Centre evolved a consensus on the first day of the 14th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting on Thursday to keep 81 percent of a total of 1,211 items at the modal tax rate of 18 percent or below.
The council also gave final approval to seven rules pertaining to registration, payment, refund, invoice debit, credit note, input tax credit, valuation, and composition scheme – essential prerequisites for the industry to gear up for the transition to GST. Two rules on transition provisions and returns have been sent for legal vetting.
Foodgrain, including cereals and jaggery, have been exempted with a zero percent tax slab, while essential items of normal sugar, tea, coffee and edible oil have been placed in the 5 percent tax slab.
(Source: Indian Express)
3. Railway Safety Cess Likely to Make Train Tickets Costlier
Passenger train tickets could see a marginal hike if the government decides to implement a ‘safety cess’ to shore up revenues of India’s biggest transporter, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has hinted.
The cess could be fixed at less than 2 percent of the total fare amount, officials said.
The state-run behemoth is reeling under mounting losses, a Rs 32,000-crore debt burden and galloping operating ratio, the calculation of paisa spent against every rupee earned.
“A safety cess on passenger tickets is under consideration,” Prabhu told reporters on Tuesday. He, however, did not say when the cess was likely to be introduced.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
4. Triple Talaq Case: Muslim Judge on Multi-Faith Bench Kept Mum All Through
A unique, multi-faith five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, with a Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Hindu and Muslim on it, concluded hearings on the challenge to the triple talaq practice on Thursday, but Justice Abdul Nazeer did not utter a single word during the six-day hearing.
CJI JS Khehar and Justices Kurian Joseph, RF Nariman and UU Lalit freely engaged the counsel seeking clarifications on doubts over religious practices and customs of the Muslim community, but Justice Nazeer had no question to ask.
Probably, he was well aware of the origin, practice and prevalence of triple talaq among Muslims in India and abroad.
(Source: The Times of India)
5. Justice Karnan Files Mercy Plea Before President Against Contempt of Court Charges
Calcutta High Court judge Justice CS Karnan, awarded six-month jail by the Supreme Court for contempt, has filed a mercy plea before President Pranab Mukherjee seeking stay of the order.
Counsel Peter Ramesh Kumar told IANS that the mercy plea was filed on Wednesday, under Article 72 1B of the Constitution.
Earlier, Ramesh Kumar had said that since Karnan is set to retire in June, sentencing him to jail will delay clearance of his retirement benefits.
High Court judges get paid out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
6. Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave Passes Away, PM Says He Was 'Passionate About Conservation'
Union environment minister Anil Madhav Dave passed away this morning. He was 60.
Dave had not been keeping well for the last few months. He complained of uneasiness at his home this morning and was rushed to AIIMS where he passed away, official sources told PTI.
Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan will now hold additional charge of the Environment Ministry.
The minister was in meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as late as last evening, the latter tweeted, calling him "a devoted public servant". Several Central and state politicians also expressed their condolences.
(Source: The Times of India)
7. ED Files Case Against Karti, Others
The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday registered a money-laundering case on the basis of a first information report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation against Karti Chidambaram and others for allegedly scuttling a probe against INX Media with respect to foreign investments from three Mauritius-based entities in 2007.
The case was filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after the ED received a copy of the FIR.
The directorate will investigate the allegation that Mr. Karti Chidambaram received money in lieu of the “services” rendered to INX Media by his company Chess Management Services, through another company, Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd (ASCPL), indirectly “controlled” by him.
(Source: The Hindu)
8. Over 10 Feared Dead as Goa Bridge Collapses
At least 10 people are feared to have drowned in the Zuari river at Sanvordem, 60km from Panaji, after a 30-metre span of a steel footbridge adjacent to an old bridge collapsed on Thursday evening.
One body was fished out of the waters late night by fire brigade personnel and six people were rescued. Police said the footbridge collapsed around 6:30 pm as fire personnel were recovering the body of a person, Santosh Vandar, found floating in the river. He had allegedly committed suicide.
Onlookers crowded on the footbridge to watch the operation when the structure gave way, sending a large number of people crashing into the river. While several swam ashore to safety, eye witnesses said those who tried to save the drowning people, were also carried away by the strong current.
(Source: The Times of India)
9. Hacker Steals 17 Million Zomato Users’ Data, Briefly Puts It on Dark Web
At least 17 million user records have been stolen from online restaurant search platform Zomato, the company said in a blog post on Thursday. According to information security blog and news website HackRead, the data was being peddled online on the “dark web” for about $1,000.
The company, also a food delivery platform, has advised all its users to change their passwords.
Late on Thursday, Zomato claimed that it had managed to contact the hacker, who agreed to not only destroy all copies of the data, but also to take the database off the dark web marketplace.
In an official blog updated with this information, Zomato said, "The hacker has been very cooperative with us.
(Source: The Times of India)
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