7 Stories You Probably Missed Due to the SC Verdict on Sec 377

From the rupee breaching 72/dollar mark to Section 144 being imposed in parts of MP, here are the other big news.

Swarn Sen activists burn tyres on railway tracks in Patna. 

(Photo: PTI)

The Supreme Court’s landmark judgment on Section 377 – of striking down consensual gay sex – on Thursday, 6 September overwhelmed India with love and hope. Chances are a few other important stories might have missed your attention.

But, don’t worry, we have got you covered.

Scroll down to see the other big news stories today.

1. Rupee Breaches 72/$ Mark for the First Time

The Indian rupee breached the 72 per US dollar mark for the first time.(Photo: iStockphoto)

The Indian rupee breached the 72 per US dollar mark for the first time on Thursday, 6 September as against Wednesday’s closing of 71.76 per dollar.

According to analysts, the fall in the rupee is due to the Sino-US trade tensions along with high crude oil prices and outflow of foreign funds.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said external factors have caused the depreciation of the rupee.

2. India, US Ties Gets Strategic Boost at 2+2 Dialogue

India and the US elevated their strategic ties to a new level and signed a long-negotiated defence pact.(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@MEAIndia)

India and the US elevated their strategic ties to a new level and signed a long-negotiated defence pact, Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), that will enable India to buy critical defence technologies from the US.

The two sides held their first 2+2 talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and their US counterparts Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis.

3. Bharat Bandh: Section 144 in Parts of MP, Trains Stopped in Bihar

Swarn Sena activists stop a train during ‘Bharat Bandh’, called to press for reservation, in Patna on 6 September.(Photo: PTI)

In the wake of a fresh 'Bharat Bandh' proposed by several organisations on Wednesday, 6 September, the Madhya Pradesh police has reportedly imposed Section 144 across five districts in the state.

The bandh has been in protest against the SC/ST Amendment Bill that was passed in the Parliament in July that overrode the Supreme Court ruling diluting it.

4. Fuel Prices Continue to Rise

The fuel prices, after a day's halt, continued to rise with petrol being sold at Rs 79.51 per litre and diesel at Rs 71.55 per litre in the national capital breaking all previous record highs.

The petrol price surged by 20 paise from Rs 79.31 and the hike in diesel price was of 21 paise from Rs 71.34 per litre, according to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). Fuel prices had risen consecutively for 10 days till Tuesday.

5. Bhima Koregaon: SC Extends Activists’ House Arrest Till 12 September

Five activists — lawyer and trade union activist Sudha Bhardwaj, poet P Varavara Rao, activist Gautam Navlakha, and lawyers Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves — had been arrested on 28 August. (Photo altered by The Quint)

The Supreme Court on Thursday, 6 September, extended the house arrest of the five activists till 12 September in the Bhima Koregaon case. The top court also reprimanded the Maharashtra Police over their press conference, reportedly saying that they cannot make statements in the press when the court is seized of the matter, as it affects the reputation of the people.

On 5 September, the Maharashtra government had submitted a rebuttal in the SC saying the five activists were arrested not due to their "dissent" or "difference in their political or other ideologies". The affidavit said they were "in the process of creating large-scale violence, destruction of property, resulting into chaos in the society.

6. Telangana CM KC Rao Dissolves Govt; Sets Stage for Early Polls

File photo of KCR. (Photo: Reuters)

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s cabinet dissolved the Legislative Assembly, thereby paving way for an early elections in the state.

Chief Minister Rao convened a cabinet meet at 1 pm at Pragati Bhavan, his official residence, which was abuzz since morning with the arrival of ministers and top officials.

The cabinet then passed a resolution, recommending Governor ESL Narasimhan to dissolve the Assembly.

7. SC Recommends Elevation of 5 Advocates as Judges of Delhi HC

The Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra has recommended the elevation of five advocates as Judges of Delhi High Court, reported Live Law.

The recommendation was earlier made in the year 2017 by the acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. The advocates who are being recommended include Jyoti Singh, Prateek Jalan, Anup Jairam Bhambhani, Sanjeev Narula and Manoj Kumar Ohri.