Individuals facing custody disputes often consult experienced Oklahoma family lawyers to better understand their legal rights and responsibilities during divorce proceedings.

 The Importance of Family Law in a Divorce

Significant life transitions can be legally navigated through family law. It deals with important matters such as: Arrangements for the custody of a child Schedules for Parenting Time

• Child support obligations
• Dividing assets
• Marital maintenance

Agreements on settlement and mediation

It might be more difficult and time-consuming to resolve issues when one does not have legal expertise. Producing fair results for all parties and reducing ambiguity can be achieved through clear legal procedures.

 Issues Frequently Raised Regarding Child Custody

Choosing a parenting plan is a challenging aspect of every divorce. The best interests of children are often considered by the courts when making decisions.

Many things can affect child custody arrangements:
The child’s emotional and physical well-being

• The local environment is stable.
• Dialogue between parents and children
• School and everyday life stuff
• The capability of long-term care
  When it’s possible for both parents to work together, joint parenting plans are a great way to keep kids and parents connected.

The Role of Mediation in Family Disputes

Mediation is becoming popular in family law matters because it promotes dialogue and mutual agreement as opposed to long court battles.
Potential benefits of mediation include:

• Faster resolution of conflict
• Decreased cognitive load
• Reduce legal fees
• More flexibility in contract conditions
• Better communications between both sides
  Mediators may also be able to help develop parenting plans that are tailored to each family’s unique routine and future needs.

Financial and Property Division Issues

Financial disputes can complicate divorce proceedings. Family law sets out procedures for dividing up assets, liabilities, savings and other financial matters.
Common monetary areas are:
1. Consolidated Wealth & Real Estate
2. Housing and mortgage schemes .
4. Savings and retirement accounts
4. Expenses related to children
5. Things to Consider in Spouse Maintenance
When each person moves into their own apartment with careful financial planning it might be easier to keep things financially stable.

Protecting Children During Legal Transitions

Children may have difficulties emotionally when family arrangements change. Some parents are told to have regular schedules, polite conversation and to work together as a team whenever possible.
Possible ways that might help:

• Punctuality to time tables
• Not engaging in fights when children are around
• Foster constructive dialogue
• Promoting psychological health

Developing systematic ways to raise children
The aim is to resolve conflict, but family law processes need to serve as a vehicle to foster more healthy family structures over the long term.

 Conclusion

When it comes to divorce, child custody and financial disputes, family law can be an excellent guiding and organizing help to individuals. Knowing the legal responsibilities and promoting positive communication is key to best assist families through difficult transitions and help promote long-term stability for children and parents.

The post Understanding Child Custody and Family Law Challenges During Divorce appeared first on Social News XYZ.

President Trump has issued an executive order that would ban the social media app TikTok from operating in the US in 45 days if it is not sold by its Chinese parent company ByteDance.

Here is the full text of the executive order:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,

I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that additional steps must be taken to deal with the national emergency with respect to the information and communications technology and services supply chain declared in Executive Order 13873 of May 15, 2019 (Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain). Specifically, the spread in the United States of mobile applications developed and owned by companies in the People’s Republic of China (China) continues to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. At this time, action must be taken to address the threat posed by one mobile application in particular, TikTok.

TikTok, a video-sharing mobile application owned by the Chinese company ByteDance Ltd., has reportedly been downloaded over 175 million times in the United States and over one billion times globally. TikTok automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users, including Internet and other network activity information such as location data and browsing and search histories. This data collection threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information — potentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage.

TikTok also reportedly censors content that the Chinese Communist Party deems politically sensitive, such as content concerning protests in Hong Kong and China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. This mobile application may also be used for disinformation campaigns that benefit the Chinese Communist Party, such as when TikTok videos spread debunked conspiracy theories about the origins of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

These risks are real. The Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, and the United States Armed Forces have already banned the use of TikTok on Federal Government phones. The Government of India recently banned the use of TikTok and other Chinese mobile applications throughout the country; in a statement, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology asserted that they were “stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.” American companies and organizations have begun banning TikTok on their devices. The United States must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security.

Accordingly, I hereby order:

Section 1. (a) The following actions shall be prohibited beginning 45 days after the date of this order, to the extent permitted under applicable law: any transaction by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with ByteDance Ltd. (a.k.a. Zìjié Tiàodòng), Beijing, China, or its subsidiaries, in which any such company has any interest, as identified by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) under section 1(c) of this order.

(b) The prohibition in subsection (a) of this section applies except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted before the date of this order.

(c) 45 days after the date of this order, the Secretary shall identify the transactions subject to subsection (a) of this section.

Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate the prohibition set forth in this order is prohibited.

(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

Sec. 3. For the purposes of this order:

(a) the term “person” means an individual or entity;
(b) the term “entity” means a government or instrumentality of such government, partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization, including an international organization; and

(c) the term “United States person” means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States.

Sec. 4. The Secretary is hereby authorized to take such actions, including adopting rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to me by IEEPA as may be necessary to implement this order. The Secretary may, consistent with applicable law, redelegate any of these functions within the Department of Commerce. All departments and agencies of the United States shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to implement this order.

Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,
August 6, 2020.

The post President Trump Issued Executive Order To Ban Tik Tok From Operating In The US In 45 Days appeared first on Social News XYZ.

US Supreme Court justices ruled President Trump is not immune from New York’s subpoena, but prosecutors will not get documents now.

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. issued a statement via his press office regarding the Supreme Court ruling this morning that President Trump is not immune from New York’s subpoena.

“This is a tremendous victory for our nation’s system of justice and its founding principle that no one – not even a president – is above the law. Our investigation, which was delayed for almost a year by this lawsuit, will resume, guided as always by the grand jury’s solemn obligation to follow the law and the facts, wherever they may lead,” the statement said.

The opinion was 7-2, with Chief Justice John Roberts and both of Trump's appointees — Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — joining the liberal justices.

Here are the seven justices on the majority opinion:

Stephen Breyer
John Roberts
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Neil Gorsuch
Sonia Sotomayor
Elena Kagan
Brett Kavanaugh
And these are the two justices who dissented:

Clarence Thomas
Samuel Alito

Read the full text of court opinion on the case here:

The post US Supreme Court Opinion On Trump Vs Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr For Trump’s Financial Records appeared first on Social News XYZ.

US Supreme Court blocked Congress from getting the President's records for now, sending a controversial case back down to the lower court for further review.

The opinion was 7-2, with Chief Justice John Roberts and both of Trump's appointees — Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — joining the liberal justices.

Here are the seven justices on the majority opinion:

Stephen Breyer
John Roberts
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Neil Gorsuch
Sonia Sotomayor
Elena Kagan
Brett Kavanaugh
And these are the two justices who dissented:

Clarence Thomas
Samuel Alito

Read the full text of court opinion on the case here:

The post US Supreme Court Opinion On Trump Vs United States Congress For Trump’s Financial Records appeared first on Social News XYZ.

WASHINGTON (SocialNews.XYZ) — The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics, reasserting a commitment to abortion rights over fierce opposition from dissenting conservative justices in the first big abortion case of the Trump era.

Chief Justice John Roberts joined with his four more liberal colleagues in ruling that the law requiring doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals violates the abortion right the court first announced in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973.

Source: AP

Read The Full Transcript Here:

The post Supreme Court Ruling Transcript Blocking Controversial Louisiana Abortion Law appeared first on Social News XYZ.

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President Donald Trump’s effort to end legal protections for 650,000 young immigrants. For now, young immigrants retain their protection from deportation and their authorization to work in the United States.

Here is the full transcript of the historical judgment:

The post Supreme Court Full Order Blocking Trump Attempt To End DACA appeared first on Social News XYZ.

By Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jul 11 (PTI) The US lawmakers Wednesday passed a Bill aimed at lifting the current seven percent country-cap on issuing Green Cards, a development which would benefit thousands of highly-skilled Indian IT professionals.

A Green Card allows a person to live and work permanently in the US.

Passed by the US House of Representatives, the Bill, on being signed into law, would considerably reduce the agonising wait for talented professionals from countries like India seeking permanent work and residency permits in the United States.

Titled the Fairness of High-Skilled Immigrants Act, 2019 or HR 1044, the Bill was passed by the 435-member House by an overwhelming majority of 365-65 votes.

As per the present system, out of the total number of family-based immigrant visas to be given by the US in a particular year, the people of a country can be given a maximum of seven percent of such visas. The new Bill seeks to increase this seven percent per-country limit to 15 percent.

Similarly, it also seeks to eliminate the seven percent per-country cap on employment-based immigrant visas. Additionally, it removes an offset that reduced the number of visas for individuals from China.

The bill also establishes transition rules for employment-based visas from FY 2020-22 by reserving a percentage of EB-2 (workers with advanced degrees or exceptional ability), EB-3 (skilled and other workers) and EB-5 (investors) visas for individuals from other than the two countries that get the largest number of such visas.

As per another provision of the Bill, not more than 85 percent of the unreserved visas, would be allotted to immigrants from any single country.

Before it can be signed into law by the US president, the Bill, however, has to be passed by the Senate, wherein the Republicans enjoy a majority.

An identical bill sponsored by Senators Kamala Harris and Mike Lee are likely to be taken up soon. The Senate bill S386 currently has 34 co-sponsors.

Congressman John Curtis, speaking on the floor of the House, said the Bill will create a first-come, first-served system providing certainty to workers and families and enabling the US companies to flourish and compete in a global economy as they hire the brightest people to create products, services, and jobs, regardless of where they were born.

If President Donald Trump is serious about merit-based legal immigration, he should help usher this bill into law, said Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren.

The passage of the Bill was hailed by Indian professionals from across the US, particularly those from the Silicon Valley in California, Seattle area in Washington state, the Greater Washington DC area and the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The Department of Homeland Security, however, has said it does not support the Bill.

This bill would do nothing to move the current employment-sponsored system toward a more merit-based system, said Joseph S Joh, Assistant Director and Senior Advisor in the Office of Legislative Affairs, Department of Homeland Security.

Top American IT companies welcomed the passage of the bill and urged the Senate to pass it at the earliest.

Today the US House passed the legislation to ensure people from all countries are treated alike in the Green Card process. This promotes a fair high-skilled immigration system that's good for the business and our economy, said Microsoft president Brad Smith.

This bill will help ensure those seeking permanent residency don't have to wait for extraordinary long periods, -- projected at 50 years or more for people from countries like India and China -- simply because of their country of origin, said FWD.US president Todd Schulte, hailing the passage of the FHSI Act.

FWD.US is an advocacy organization representing top Silicon Valley firms including Facebook, Google, Microsoft and DropBox.

Eliminating per-country' caps for employment-based Green Cards and raising caps for family-based green cards will make the system fairer for immigrant families and strengthen the United States' ability to recruit and retain top global talent by establishing a fair and predictable path to permanent legal status, he said.

Hindu American Foundation too welcomed the passage of the Bill.

It is now up to the Senate to ensure that fairness is delivered to high-skilled immigrants who have been stuck in a decades-long backlog waiting for their chance to become full-fledged contributors to the American economy. The time to act is now," said Jay Kansara of the Hindu American Foundation.

The post US House passes Bill removing country-cap on issuing Green Cards appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Attorney General William Barr has released a redacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election to Congress and the public.

Mueller also was tasked with looking into "any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation."

The post Robert Mueller Full Report PDF appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi: Media persons wait outside the Supreme court during the hearing on petitions against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that makes homosexuality a crime; in New Delhi on July 10, 2018. (Photo: IANS)

The Supreme Court on Monday sought to know why government officials are involved in running and managing religious places. It noted that most people who go to Puri's Jagannath temple come back harassed and mistreated.

Senior counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan urged the court to address on "how far the government in a secular state can run and manage the temple".

"It is a matter of perspective. I don't know why government officials should run and manage religious places," asked Justice S.A. Bobde sitting with Justice S. Abdul Nazeer.

As Justice Bobde flagged the issue, senior counsel Gopal Shankarnarayanan urged the court to address the question on "how far the government in a secular state can run and manage the temple".

The court said that the lawyers could touch this aspect in the next hearing on May 13.

The post Temples and religious places can’t be managed by Government: SC appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, Nov 30 (PTI) The CBI Friday accused the Andhra Pradesh government of leaking secret information to trap some corrupt officials, saying this resulted in nabbing of just one person, while the others escaped.

Enraged by its planned operation to trap the corrupt central government officers getting ruined by state anti-corruption bureau (ACB) half-baked action, the CBI said it had asked the Andhra home department to treat the information with utmost secrecy.

The turf war between the central agency and the state government became public when the ACB claimed the arrest of a central excise officer when he was allegedly taking a bribe in Machilipatnam district on Friday.

"The CBI had sought the consent of the state government to conduct a trap operation against some central government employees and others suspected of indulging in corrupt practices," CBI Spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said.

He said the state home department was asked to treat this information with utmost secrecy. Instead, the department shared this information with its ACB, Dayal said.

"The operation by the Andhra Pradesh anti-corruption bureau resulted in the arrest of only one suspect whereas several others under the scanner managed to escape possible arrest," a CBI official said.

This comes days after the state government issued an order withdrawing the "general consent" accorded to the CBI under the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act.

This effectively banned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from exercising its authority in the state.

Central Excise official M K Ramaneswar was caught red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 for doing an official favour to a businessman in a Goods and Services Tax related matter, the state ACB said in a press release Friday.

Dayal said the CBI had received the information that Ramaneswar was seeking a bribe from a businessman.

"Immediately, on receipt of the written complaint, (Superintendent of Police) SP, CBI, Visakhapatnam, wrote a 'top secret' letter addressed to the principal secretary (Home), government of Andhra Pradesh on November 28, and sent the letter by hand to the principal secretary through a Deputy SP rank officer of the CBI," Dayal said.

He said the letter was delivered to the principal secretary in the afternoon. In the letter, it was requested to issue specific consent to the CBI to lay a trap in this particular complaint, the official said.

"It was also requested to keep the information strictly confidential and not to share the information with any other party," he said.

Dayal said SP, CBI, Visakhapatnam, had also personally called on the principal secretary, home department, at her office in Velagapudy on November 29 morning.

The SP had requested for early action in issuing the specific consent under Section 6 of the DSPE Act to enable the CBI to register the case and lay the trap as the state government has withdrawn the general consent, he said.

This was also followed up by another letter to the principal secretary with a copy to the chief secretary from the CBI's head of zone on Saturday, requesting for immediate issue of specific consent, Dayal said.

"However the Andhra Pradesh government did not issue the specific consent as requested by the CBI, instead the details were shared by the home department with the state ACB and the state ACB laid a trap on November 30 in the evening against the central government public servant by using the contents of the above request letter," he said.

CBI deeply regrets such noncooperation by the state home department in this matter, he said.

"This will only make the fight against corruption more difficult for the anti corruption agencies and the mutual trust between the agencies will be vitiated. Corruption can be eradicated only through mutual cooperation, and trust," Dayal said.

The post AP govt leaked info to trap corrupt officials: CBI appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Washington, Oct 6 (AFP) The US Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh in the closest such vote in more than a century, amid controversy over sexual abuse allegations against him.

The Senate Saturday voted 50-48 to approve Kavanaugh in a major win for Trump as more than 1,000 protesters rallied in Washington against a nominee who had to overcome questions over his candor, partisan rhetoric and lifestyle as a young man.

The post US Senate confirms Kavanaugh to Supreme Court after divisive fight appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Amaravati (AP), Sept 13 (PTI) A local court in Maharashtra has issued an arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 15 others in a 2010 case related to an agitation by them over the Babli project across river Godavari.

The judicial first class magistrate of Dharmabad in Nanded district, N R Gajbhiye, issued the order, directing police to arrest all the accused and produce them in the court by September 21.

Naidu and others, then in the opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh, had been arrested and lodged in a jail in Pune in connection with the agitation staged by them near the Babli project site in Maharashtra, opposing it on ground that it would affect the people downstream.

All were released later though they did not seek bail.

The court order, dated July 5 and supposed to be executed by August 16 but corrected to September 21, was issued on a petition filed by a Maharashtra resident.

Besides Naidu, state Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and Social Welfare Minister N Anand Babu, former MLA G Kamalakar (who subsequently joined the TRS) were among the Telugu Desam Party workers booked in the case.

They have been charged with the Indian Penal Code offences, including assault or criminal force, to deter public servant from discharge of duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, act endangering life or personal safety of others, criminal intimidation among others.

Naidu was the leader of opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh then and the case has been pending trial all these years.

Reacting to the news about the court order, Naidu's son and state Information Technology Minister N Lokesh said his father and other TDP leaders would attend the court.

"He fought to protect the interests of Telangana. He even refused to seek bail when he was arrested," Lokesh said.

The chief minister is currently camping in Tirumala near Tirupati, attending the annual brahmotsavam of Lord Venkateswara temple there.

The post Maharashtra court issues arrest warrant against AP CM Naidu and others appeared first on Social News XYZ.

By Lalit K Jha

Washington, May 5 (PTI) A US Navy veteran who killed Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla in a racially motivated hate crime at a bar in Kansas City last year has been sentenced to life in prison.

In March this year, Adam Purinton, 52, had pleaded guilty to the charges of murdering Kuchibhotla.

He was charged with first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla, 32, and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shootings of his friend, Alok Madasani, and a bystander, who chased Purinton after he fled the Austin's Bar and Grill in Olathe city on February 22 last year.

Purinton, yelled, "Get out of my country," before shooting Kuchibhotla, who later died from injuries sustained in the attack.

A federal judge in Kansas yesterday sentenced Purinton to life in prison for the first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla and 165 months imprisonment for each of the other two murder charges.

Kuchibhotla is survived by his wife Sunayana Dumala, who welcomed the court's decision.

"Today's sentencing in the murder of my husband will not bring back my Srinu, but it sends a strong message that hate is never acceptable," Dumala said in a statement.

"I want to thank the District Attorney's office and the Olathe police for their efforts to bring this man to justice," she said.

The post US Navy veteran who murdered Indian techie gets life imprisonment appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Washington, Nov 13 (AP) President Donald Trump is nominating white men to America's federal courts at a rate not seen in nearly 30 years.

An Associated Press analysis has found that so far, 91 percent of Trump's nominees are white and 81 percent are male.

Three of every four are white men, with few African- Americans and Hispanics in the mix.

The last president to nominate a similarly homogenous group was George H W Bush.

The shift could prove to be one of Trump's most enduring legacies. These are lifetime appointments, and Trump has inherited both an unusually high number of vacancies and an aging population of judges.

The White House says Trump is focused on qualifications and suggests that prioritizing diversity would bring politics to the bench.

The post Trump choosing white men as judges, highest rate in decades appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Washington, Nov 11 (AFP) A Republican Senate candidate reported to have sexually abused a 14-year-old girl lashed out at his accusers, calling their allegations a "dangerous lie" that would harm real victims of molestation.

Roy Moore -- a former state judge and Christian evangelical whose defence of a Ten Commandments display brought him national attention -- added he had "never engaged in sexual misconduct."

The issue has reverberated through Washington weeks ahead of a crucial Senate election in which the conservative Republican party is hoping to hold on to its slim 52-48 seat majority.

Four women, speaking on the record, told The Washington Post that Moore pursued them when they were 18 or younger, while he was in his early thirties working as an assistant district attorney.

According to the Post, Leigh Corfman, now 53, said when she was 14 Moore took her into his house in the woods near Gadsden, Alabama, removed her shirt and pants, and fondled her over her bra and underpants.

Moore guided her to touch him through his underwear, she said.

"I wasn't ready for that," Corfman told the Post.

Now 70, the anti-establishment conservative faces Democrat Doug Jones in a special Senate election December 12 to replace Jeff Sessions, who became US attorney general earlier this year.

"I have never engaged in sexual misconduct," he said in a statement issued yesterday that went beyond his campaign's earlier simple denial.

He also turned on his accusers, saying: "I cannot understand the mentality of using such a dangerous lie to try to personally destroy someone."

"False allegations are gravely serious and will have a profound consequence on those who are truly harassed or molested," he added.

He also appeared on conservative media personality Sean Hannity's radio show to rebut the story.

Asked whether he remembered dating women in their teens when he was in his 30s, he said: "Not generally no."

He added: "I don't remember that, or dating any girl without the permission of her mother."

Earlier, President Donald Trump issued a statement that appeared to equivocate on the matter, saying Moore should step aside if the claims proved true, while adding that a mere allegation should not destroy the Alabama politician's life.

"Like most Americans the president believes we cannot allow a mere allegation, in this case one from many years ago, to destroy a person's life," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said aboard Air Force One, before the president landed in Vietnam for a summit.

"However, the president also believes that if these allegations are true, Judge Moore will do the right thing and step aside," she said.

The accusations by the four women reverberated through Washington, with many traditional Republicans withdrawing their support for Moore -- though he has received considerable support in his native Alabama and from former Trump advisor Stephen Bannon.

"If these allegations are true, he must step aside," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. At least a dozen other Republicans followed suit.

Senator John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, declared the allegations "disqualifying" for Moore and called on him to immediately leave the race.

But in Alabama, state auditor Jim Zeigler brushed off the allegations.

The post Republican candidate Roy Moore accused of abusing teen denies sexual misconduct appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Besides the 21.5 km half-marathon, there will be mini-marathon of 10 km and dream run of three km, a police officer told IANS.

The theme of half-marathon is "Drug-Free Himachal".

The event would start at the historic Ridge, an open space just above The Mall.

In all categories, the participants above the age of 75 would be given a consolation prize of Rs 750 for the dream run, Rs 1,100 for the mini-marathon and Rs 2,100 for the half-marathon.

The post Himachal police to hold half-marathon against drug abuse appeared first on Social News XYZ.

From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Apr 22 (PTI) The FBI paid more than USD one million to a company to break into the locked iPhone used by a Pakistani-American shooter involved in the San Bernardino terror attack, Director James Comey has hinted.

Speaking at a security conference in London, Comey did not give the exact amount that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) paid to unlock the iPhone, but threw hints by his statement.

Comey, according to media reports here, said yesterday the cost of the tool was "more than I will make in the remainder of this job, which is seven years and four months, for sure."

The Washington Post said the FBI Director makes USD 185,100 a year.

"As a result, Comey's remarks strongly implied that the bureau paid at least USD 1.3 million to get onto the phone, which had belonged to Syed Rizwan Farook, who with his wife, killed 14 people during the December 2 terror attack in San Bernardino, in California," the daily reported.

Farook, a Pakistani-American and his wife Tashfeen Malik, a Pakistani national, died in a firefight with police after the terror attack.

"But it was, in my view, worth it," Comey said in defence of his decision.

The Washington Post said FBI cracked the phone with the help of professional hackers who were paid a onetime flat fee.

However they were not able to find any links to foreign terrorists on the phone, it said.

"I am hoping that we can somehow get to a place where we have a sensible solution, or set of solutions, that does not involve hacking and does not involve spending tons of money in a way that is unscalable," Comey said.

The FBI chief underscored the need for a continued national conversation over the issues surrounding universal encryption and how that factors into the privacy versus security debate.

"This will be a feature of our work - there will be other litigation, I am sure - but it will be a feature of our work, increasingly, over the months and years to come," Comey added.

The FBI had taken Apple to court to force it to break into the encryption-protected iPhone 5C.

Apple, backed by technology giants such as Google and Facebook, was opposed to assisting the agency in unlocking the iphone, citing it would have wide-reaching implications on digital security and privacy.

The post FBI hints it paid over USD 1 mn to hack terrorist’s iPhone appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Panama City, Apr 5 (AFP) The state prosecutor's office in Panama has said it will launch an investigation into revelations contained in a massive data leak of a law firm that created offshore companies for the world's rich and powerful.

"The facts described in national and international communication media publications under the term 'Panama Papers' will be the subject of criminal investigation," the office said in a statement yesterday.

The probe will aim to establish what crimes might have taken place and who committed them, as well as identifying possible financial damages, it said.

The law firm involved, Mossack Fonseca, says the leak of 11.5 million documents from its servers was the result of a "limited hack," suggesting it believed an outside party was responsible.

One of its founders, Ramon Fonseca, told AFP the leak was an attack on Panama itself, which is dependent on its financial services sector.

Panama's president, Juan Carlos Varela, said his country would cooperate with "whatever government and whatever investigation" resulted from the scandal.

But he also vowed to "defend the image of our country," which had been making progress in trying to lose a reputation as a hub for money laundering and other shady transactions.

Offshore entities, of themselves, are not illegal. But they can be used to launder money or hide assets from tax authorities in other countries.

Panama to launch criminal probe of 'Panama Papers'

The post Panama to launch criminal probe of ‘Panama Papers’ appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Los Angeles, Mar 29 (AFP) The FBI has unlocked the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino attackers, officials said, ending a heated legal standoff with Apple that had pitted US authorities against Silicon Valley.

Apple, backed by a broad coalition of technology giants like Google and Facebook, was fiercely opposed to assisting the US government in unlocking the iPhone on grounds it would have wide-reaching implications on digital security and privacy.

A key court hearing scheduled earlier this month to hear arguments from both sides in the sensitive case was abruptly cancelled after the FBI said it no longer needed Apple's help and had found an outside party to unlock the phone.

"Our decision to conclude the litigation was based solely on the fact that, with the recent assistance of a third party, we are now able to unlock that iPhone without compromising any information on the phone," US attorney Eileen Decker said in a statement yesterday.

"We sought an order compelling Apple to help unlock the phone to fulfil a solemn commitment to the victims of the San Bernardino shooting -- that we will not rest until we have fully pursued every investigative lead related to the vicious attack."

It was unclear who helped the FBI access the phone and what was stored on the device. But news reports have said the FBI may have sought assistance from an Israeli forensics company.

In a statement, Apple said the FBI case should never have been brought before the courts and that the company would continue to increase the security of its products.

"Apple believes deeply that people in the United States and around the world deserve data protection, security and privacy," it said. "Sacrificing one for the other only puts people and countries at greater risk."

In a court filing asking that the case be dismissed, federal prosecutors said the US government had "successfully accessed the data stored on (Syed) Farook's iPhone and therefore no longer requires assistance from Apple Inc."

Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California on December 2 before dying in a firefight with police. Two other phones linked to the pair were found destroyed after the attack.

Tech companies, security experts and civil rights advocates had vowed to fight the government all the way to the Supreme Court, saying the case was not about a single phone and could set a precedent to compel companies to build backdoors into their products.

Evan Greer, campaign director of Fight for the Future, a non-profit that supports Apple, said Monday's announcement was clear proof the government had an alternative motive in the case.

The post FBI hacks attacker’s iPhone, drops Apple suit appeared first on Social News XYZ.

St Petersburg (US), Mar 19 (AFP) A US jury has ordered the news and entertainment website Gawker to pay wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan USD 115 million for posting online a secretly recorded video of him having sex.

The six-member jury reached the decision yesterday in favour of Hogan after deliberating for six hours following a two-week civil trial in Florida.

Hogan, 62, has argued that the video, in which he is seen having sex with the wife of a friend, invaded his privacy and humiliated him.

Hogan's lawyer has said it was viewed around seven million times.

Hogan, now retired, was one of America's most famous entertainment wrestlers. Known for wearing a bandana and a handlebar moustache, his real name is Terry Bollea.

The sex tape lasts one minute and 41 seconds.

During the trial, Hogan testified that a friend of his, radio personality Bubba "the Love Sponge" Clem, had an "open marriage" and wanted his wife to have sex with Hogan.

After several entreaties, Hogan said he finally agreed, not realising that the encounter was secretly recorded.

The post US jury awards USD 115 mn to Hulk Hogan in sex tape case appeared first on Social News XYZ.

From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Mar 18 (PTI) Two Indians in the US have been charged with allegedly smuggling people from India into America and could face up to 20 years of imprisonment.

Nilesh Kumar Patel, 41, and Harsad Mehta, 66, appeared in federal court yesterday and have been charged with one count of conspiracy to bring in and harbor aliens and one count of money laundering conspiracy.

Patel and Mehta were arrested on October 21 last year upon their arrival at the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and the duo remain detained pending the outcome of the charges.

According to federal prosecutors, beginning in April 2014, an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a smuggler began meeting with Patel and Mehta in Bangkok, Thailand.

Patel and Mehta stated that they were involved in the smuggling business and had multiple Indian nationals that they were intending to smuggle into the United States.

Both of them agreed to transport the Indians from India to Thailand, at which point the undercover law enforcement officer would presumably use his contacts to smuggle the Indians into the United States via commercial airline flights.

Patel and Mehta agreed to wire a USD10,000 down payment for each individual to be smuggled into the US and to pay a balance of tens of thousands of dollars for each individual once the foreign nationals arrived in the country, federal prosecutors alleged.

In total, Patel and Mehta arranged for six Indian nationals to be brought to Thailand for smuggling into the US via Newark Liberty International Airport on three occasions.

The conspiracy to bring in and harbor aliens charge carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.

The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.

Two Indians charged with smuggling people into US

The post Two Indians charged with smuggling people into US appeared first on Social News XYZ.

San Francisco, Mar 16 (AFP) Apple has fired anew at the US government's legal fight to force it to break into an attacker's iPhone, saying the tactic would "appall" the country's founders.

Apple dug into its legal position in a written filing ahead of a hearing set for March 22 before a federal judge in Southern California.

Apple stuck to its argument that the FBI was overstepping legal bounds by using an All Writs Act to compel the company to help break an iPhone used by one of the shooters in the December terror attack in San Bernardino, California.

"The government attempts to rewrite history by portraying the Act as an all-powerful magic wand rather than the limited procedural tool it is," Apple attorneys yesterday said in a filing that responded to one submitted to the court a week earlier by the Justice Department.

"Thus, according to the government, short of kidnapping or breaking an express law, the courts can order private parties to do virtually anything the Justice Department and FBI can dream up. The founders would be appalled."

Apple urged the court to reject the FBI request on the ground it is forbidden by the Constitution.

Forcing Apple to help unlock an iPhone is a "modest" demand that may turn up vital evidence in a terrorist attack, the US government argued in a brief filed last week, upping the ante in its legal standoff with the technology giant.

Apple, which is backed by a broad coalition of powerful rival technology firms and activists, argues that the FBI is seeking a "back door" into all iPhones as part of the probe.

The government brief, in sharp contrast, argued it is a single case of technical assistance in an important national security investigation.

"The court's order is modest," Justice Department lawyers wrote.

"It applies to a single iPhone and it allows Apple to decide the least burdensome means of complying."

An FBI victory in the case could serve as a legal precedent backing requests for access to iPhones by law enforcement agencies throughout the US.

Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell last week slammed the Justice Department brief as reading "like an indictment" and apparently crafted to smear the iPhone maker with innuendo such as implying a "sinister" relationship with China.

He bashed the "cheap shot" brief as "an unsubstantiated effort to vilify Apple" that was on a flimsy legal footing.

Apple attorneys said that the California-based company has "categorically and absolutely not" been asked by any government other than the United States to build a backdoor into a product.

The post Apple says FBI out to ‘rewrite history’ in iPhone case appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Sydney, Feb 29 (AFP) Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell today admitted the Catholic Church "mucked up" in dealing with paedophile priests and vowed he would not "defend the indefensible" before an Australian inquiry.

Pell gave evidence from a hotel in Rome via video-link to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Sydney rather than appear in person as he has a heart condition.

The inquiry is currently focused on the Victorian state town of Ballarat, where Pell grew up and worked, and how the church dealt with complaints, many dating back to the 1970s, against the Catholic clergy.

Pell, who rose to be the top Catholic official in Australia, said the church historically made grave errors in not properly addressing the issue and was now working to remedy them.

"Let me just say this, as an initial clarification, and that is I'm not here to defend the indefensible," he said after swearing on the Bible to tell the truth.

"The church has made enormous mistakes and is working to remedy those. The church in many places, certainly in Australia, has mucked things up, has let people down."

He acknowledged that in the past the church's general attitude to abuse was that it was "much, much more difficult for the child to be believed" and complaints were often dismissed.

"I don't have the statistics on that but too many of them certainly were dismissed and sometimes they were dismissed in absolutely scandalous circumstances," he said, adding that the instinct was to protect the church from shame.

"They were very, very, very plausible allegations made by responsible people that were not followed up sufficiently."

But he denied the church's structure was to blame for the way it handled paedophile priests, despite counsel assisting the commission Gail Furness saying many inquiries around the world had found those in senior positions did not take proper action.

"I think the faults overwhelmingly have been more personal faults, personal failures rather than structures," he said.

Pell has always denied knowing of systemic child abuse occurring in Ballarat, including by Gerald Ridsdale, seen as Australia's worst paedophile priest who preyed on dozens of children over two decades.

The pair shared a home but Pell has dismissed claims he helped move him to another parish or that he tried to buy anyone's silence. He told the commission the way Ridsdale was dealt with by church officials was "catastrophic".

"I have just re-read the file of Ridsdale. The priest -- ex-priest -- and the way he was dealt with was a catastrophe.

A catastrophe for the victims and a catastrophe for the church," he said.

"If effective action had been taken earlier, an enormous amount of suffering would've been avoided.

The post Church mucked up with paedophile priests:Vatican finance chief appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Lahore, Feb 29 (PTI) Former Pakistani police commando Mumtaz Qadri, convicted in the killing of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, was hanged to death early today at a Rawalpindi jail.

Qadri, deputed on the security of Taseer, had killed the governor at a market close to the latter's house in 2011 in Islamabad for allegedly criticising the country's controversial blasphemy laws.

The self-confessed killer was arrested and handed down death sentence the same year by an anti-terrorism court.

He was hanged today at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, the Dawn reported.

His appeal against the sentence were successively rejected by the Islamabad High Court and the Supreme Court last year.

Radical religious groups had been demanding that Qadri should be forgiven as he killed a "blasphemer".

Taseer, who died aged 66, had termed the blasphemy regulations as "black laws" drawing the ire of extremists.

The laws were introduced by Pakistan's military ruler Zia-ul-Haq in 1980s.

The post Taseer’s killer Qadri hanged to death appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Mumbai: Actress Karishma Kapoor during the launch of Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri- TBZ, new Jewellery store in Mumbai on Oct 21, 2015. (Photo: IANS)

Mumbai, Feb 28 (IANS) Actress Karisma Kapoor has filed a complaint of mental harassment against her estranged husband Sunjay and mother-in-law Rani Kapur. The "Biwi No.1" star's lawyer says it is a case of harassment which is completely different from her divorce case.

"It's not a dowry case. It's a case of harassment and this case is completely different from the ongoing divorce case. This doesn't even come under family court. It's in the magistrate court. She is not claiming anything for herself," Karisma's lawyer Kranti Sathe told IANS.

"It is basically for the settlement of children (son Kiaan Raj Kapoor and elder daughter Samiera Kapoor). She basically wants to protect her children," Sathe added.

Reports earlier this year said the divorce petition filed by Sunjay claimed that she had married him for his money.

Karisma Kapoor files a case of harassment

The post Karisma Kapoor files a case of harassment appeared first on Social News XYZ.

President Pranab Mukherjee. (File Photo: IANS)

Kochi, Feb 26 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday that the Indian Penal Code (IPC) requires thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the 21st century.

Inaugurating the valedictory function of 155th anniversary of the IPC which was enacted in 1860, organised by Kerala's directorate of prosecution, he said there is no doubt that the IPC as a premier code for criminal law was a model piece of legislation.

"Nevertheless, it requires a thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the 21st century. The IPC has undergone very few changes in the last one 150 years. Very few crimes have been added to the initial list of crimes and declared punishable. Even now, there are offences in the Code which were enacted by the British to meet their colonial needs," he said.

There are many new offences which have to be properly defined and incorporated in the code, the president noted.

Stressing security of citizens and of property was an essential function of a state and achieved through criminal law, he said its mandate is to punish criminals and prevent recurrence of crime but it also "has to be a reflection of contemporary social consciousness and a faithful mirror of a civilisation underlining the fundamental values on which it rests".

Terming rule of law the cardinal principle of a modern state, he said this has to be upheld at all times, while law enforcing agencies, particularly police force, must fulfil their foremost duty of maintaining law and order, but also go beyond the role a law enforcing body and be a "proactive partner in growth and development".

"The founding fathers of our constitution had conceived inclusiveness, tolerance, self-restraint, honesty, discipline, respect and protection of women, senior citizens and weaker sections as essential ingredients of our democracy. Our police force must incorporate these features in its functioning," he said.

The president said public prosecutors play a crucial role in upholding the rule of law, and also called on them to play a more pro-active role in formulating crime control policies.

IPC needs revision to meet needs of 21st century: President

The post IPC needs revision to meet needs of 21st century: President appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Mumbai, Feb 26 (IANS) The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Maharashtra government to procure the required number of breathalysers used for checking alcohol consumption by vehicle drivers within four months and release money for it within a month.

Hearing a PIL filed by senior journalist Nikhil Wagle seeking adequate compensation for the victims of the 2002 accident case in which he was acquitted last year, a division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice C.V. Bhadang said it was obligatory for the state government to have sufficient number of breathalysers.

Government pleader A. Vagyani informed the court that against 1,174 breath analysers required across the state, there are only 507 available of which 196 are non-functional.

Mumbai police has just 119 such devices against a requirement of 327 to check drunken drivers, he added.

At a previous hearing, the court had said that the total number of drunken driving cases in Mumbai increased from 16,525 in 2013 to 17,849 in 2015.

However, the number of licences suspended as per court orders came down from 3,422 to 1826 during the same period.

Ordering the purchases of the breathalysers, the court posted the matter for further hearing on March 3.

Last year, actor Salman Khan who was sentenced to a five-year jail term by a sessions court, was acquitted of all charges by the high court in the 2002 accident in Bandra in which one pavement dweller was killed and four others injured.

While the actor had already deposited the compensation amounts for the victims as per high court directives, Wagle's PIL continued as the court expanded its scope over the issue of enhancing punishment in accident cases and other related aspects.

The post Get sufficent breathalysers to detect drunk drivers: Bombay HC appeared first on Social News XYZ.

(Photo: IANS)

New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday asked the central government to suggest ways and means to curb child pornography in its all forms as it ould not be allowed by invoking constitutional guarantee of liberty and freedom of speech and expression.

"Suggest ways and means so that these things are curbed. Innocent children can't be made prey to this kind of painful situations. Nation can't afford to carry on any experiment with its children in the name of liberty and freedom of speech," said a bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh.

The court said this as the government told the court that "as far as the child pornography is concerned, exercise has been undertaken and the central government shall come with the scheme so that appropriate directions in that regard can be issued".

The court said: "What is not permissible under Indian law must be curbed, it is matter of mechanism of doing it.

"Watching pornography or compelling watching pornography can't come with the freedom of expression, speech and thought."

As Additional Solicitor General Pinki Anand tried to explain the difficulty that government faced in dealing with the issue, the court said that that watching pornography can't come with the freedom of expression, speech and thought.

Not being clear about the stand being taken by the government, the bench said it didn't understand their stand. "Are you supporting or opposing the plea" for banning child pornography, it asked.

At one point in the course of the hearing, the court sought to make distinction in pornography, obscenity and art saying that "everything that is obscene is not pornography".

"Some people will find the picture of Mona Lisa obscene, others may not," it said.

"Doing it for art purpose is different from some one doing for gains, business.."

Justice Singh said that government will have to draw a line. "You can block the child pornography websites. There has to be ways and means. What has United Kingdom done?"

The court recorded the submission by the senior counsel Vijay Panjwani appearing for the petitioner Kamlesh Vaswani that "watching pornography or being compelled to watch pornography in a public place can never come within concept of freedom of speech or expression or thought as enshrined under article 19(1)(a) of the constitution, for the freedom, as envisaged under the Constitution, is not absolute".

Directing the next hearing of the matter on March 28, the court allowed intervention by the Supreme Court Women Lawyers association seeking "strict measures to prevent distribution and access to pornography including measures regarding file sharing software".

Counsel Mahalakshmi Pavani and Sneha Lakita had further sought the adoption of "various measures towards improvement in the effectiveness of blocking child pornography on the internet and to take measures to eliminate child pornography".

Suggest ways to curb child pornography, SC tells Centre

The post Suggest ways to curb child pornography, SC tells Centre appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. (File Photo: IANS)

New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) The Delhi Police on Friday said that it has alerted its Punjab counterparts over a life threat to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently visiting Punjab.

The complaint about the issue was registered at IP Estate police station on February 20, a police official said.

"We received a complaint from the CM's office. The complaint has been registered," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central, Parmaditya told IANS.

On being asked further about the complaint, he said: "We cannot comment due to security reasons."

Kejriwal, who arrived in Punjab on Thursday, is on a five-day political visit to the state ahead of the February 2017 assembly polls.

Delhi Police alerts Punjab over life threat to Kejriwal

The post Delhi Police alerts Punjab over life threat to Kejriwal appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during the press conference to announce Satyamev Jayate Water Cup in Mumbai on Feb 17, 2016 (Photo: IANS)

Mumbai, Feb 26 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has slapped a defamation notice on senior Congress leader Manikrao Thakre for his allegations pertaining to nepotism to favour his wife, banking professional Amruta Fadnavis, his lawyer said on Friday.

A former state Congress chief and home minister, Thakre has been asked to tender an unconditional apology within two weeks for his statements failing which Fadnavis would resort to further legal measures, said advocate Govind Sovani.

Accroding to Sovani, Thakre had addressed the media on Wednesday in Nagpur, and resorted to "false insinuations to tarnish the image of Fadnavis".

Thakre had questioned a decision by the Maharashtra Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), headed by Fadnavis, ordering all developers of slum pockets to open bank accounts with the private sector Axis Bank, of which his wife is deputy vice president, transaction banking.

The rationale behind the move was to ensure that all developers deposited the rental amounts due to the slumdwellers on time, as there have been many complaints of default by the developers, said Sovani.

Last year, the SRA had issued a guideline asking all developers to open a separate bank account for every SRA scheme and to transfer the due rents through that accounts electronically for the benefit of the slumdwellers, but complaints of non-compliance continued.

Meanwhile, Sovani said that the Axis Bank offered a scheme to open Special Accounts for Developers with zero balance and no cheque facility to ensure that the entitled slumdwellers got their rents regularly, within 48 hours after it was deposited by the developer.

He added that the Axis Bank has already been conducing business with several governmental departments and agencies as per directives of the central government issued in July 2011.

In the notice, Sovani said neither Fadnavis or his wife were in any manner concerned with the SRA directive and Thakre's allegations amounted to defamation.

Thakre has been asked to retract his allegations along with an unconditional apology within 15 days failing which Fadnavis would initiate criminal/civil defamation proceedings.

Fadnavis slaps defamation notice on Congress leader

The post Fadnavis slaps defamation notice on Congress leader appeared first on Social News XYZ.

The assets included a quarry, company shares, bank accounts, real estate and vehicles.

The 56-year-old quarry-owner, Francesco Antonio Cammarata, from the town of Gela, had close ties to local mafia boss Giuseppe Piddu Madonia, according to investigators and allegedly laundered "huge" sums of money for the Madonia clan through a fraudulent system of over-billing.

In exchange, the mafia clan used intimidation to ensure Cammarata a dominant market position in the supply to local building firms of aggregates (crushed stone or gravel) and their transportation, police said.

Earlier this week, anti-mafia prosecutors in the province of Catania on Tuesday froze over 1.5 billion euros of stocks and shares in three building firms belonging to the Costanzo Bosco Lo Giudice group and put them under special administration.

On Monday, anti-mafia police impounded seven million euros of property from the Sicilian mafia's Nardo clan in the province of Syracuse including construction, steel-making and solar energy companies, as well as a luxury villa and financial assets.

The post Anti-mafia police seize 3 mn euro from Sicilian businessman appeared first on Social News XYZ.

(Photo: IANS)

New Delhi, Feb. Feb 26 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday sought response of the central government on a petition seeking the establishment of a National Court of Appeal with regional benches at Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata.

A bench of Chief Justice T.S.Thakur, Justice R.Banumathi and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit issued notice on a plea by advocate V.Vasanthakumar seeking direction to the law and justice ministry to reconsider his representation for setting up of the National Court of Appeal with three regional centres.

The petitioner has sought implementation of the 1986 suggestion by the apex court constitution bench for establishment of National Court of Appeal with its three regional benches within a such reasonable time as he questioned the legality of the law ministry's response declining his November 21, 2013 representation for the purpose as suggested by the constitution bench and by the Law Commission in two of its reports.

Referring to the constitution's article 130 which says that Supreme Court shall be located in Delhi, the ministry in its December 3, 2014 reply to Vasanthakumar had said that idea of separate National Court of Appeal with regional branches has not found favour with successive Chief Justice of India with whom it was discussed.

Pointing to the geographical vastness of the country spread over 3.29 million kms and regional and linguistic diversities, the petitioner pointed to the hardship including that of boarding and lodging that litigants coming from south face in coming to Supreme Court in Delhi to agitate their matters.

He contended that the establishment of a National Court of Appeal "would considerably reduce the cost of litigation and would enable the litigants to have the services of the lawyer who appeared for them before the high court".

To buttress his point, he cited figures which say that the lowest number of cases were coming the apex court from the South.

Referring to an article in a newspaper, Vasanthakumar said: "Of all the cases filed in this court, the highest number are from high courts in northern states; 12 percent from Delhi, 8.9 percent from Punjab and Haryana, seven percent from Uttarkhand, 4.3 percent from Himachal Pradesh, etc. The lowest figures are from the southern high courts: Kerala 2.5 percent, Andhra Pradesh 2.8 percent, and 1.1 percent from Madras High Court."

SC notice on plea for National Court of Appeal with regional benches

The post SC notice on plea for National Court of Appeal with regional benches appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Shimla, Feb 26 (IANS)

The Special Judge in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh also handed over one-year jail terms each to two other accused and three-year jail each to four others along with Rs.5,000 fine in the case dating back to 1998.

The court, however, agreed to suspend the sentence for a month to enable time to the convicts to appeal in the high court against the conviction.

Asha Kumari is presently secretary of the All India Congress Committee.

A former municipal councillor Kuldeep Kumar lodged a complaint against Asha Kumari and her husband Brijender Singh and some revenue officials accusing them of tampering with revenue records to transfer 67.3 bighas of government land, including forest, near Dalhousie in their name.

The state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau registered an FIR on December 15, 2001.

Thirteen people were made accused in the case, of which six people including Brijender Singh, have since died.

On Jan 4, 2005, a court in Chamba charged Asha Kumari, the then education minister, and others with grabbing over 60 bighas of forest land by tampering with government records and fabricating wills in connivance with revenue officials.

Following the framing of charges by the court, Asha Kumari resigned from the ministry.

Asha Kumari moved the high court that set aside the Chamba court order on the ground that she was denied an opportunity of proper hearing. But, in December 2011, the Supreme Court set aside the relief granted to the Congress leader by the Himachal Pradesh high court.

Confirming the order dated January 4, 2005 on framing of charge passed by the Special Judge, Chamba, a division bench of the apex court directed him to proceed further in accordance with law.

In August 2012, the Special Judge framed charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and forgery against Asha Kumari and others.

The post Congress MLA gets one-year jail in land grab case in Himachal appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Addressing a press conference at the Assam Police headquarters at Ulubari, Sahai said police have so far seized 83 illegal arms including two AK 47 rifles, 810 rounds of ammunition, 47 grenades and 800 gms of explosives from different areas of the state.

"Most of these illegal weapons were seized from Bodoland territorial Areas Districts (BTAD) which consists four districts "Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang and Udalguri", Sahai said, adding along with the operation to seize illegal weapons, the process of deposition of legal arms had also been started.

He said Assam Police have so far executed 4,000 NBWs and there are 6,000 more such NBWs pending execution.

It may be mentioned here that election to the Assam Legislative Assembly is due in couple of months.

While according to the official records, more than 50 percent of the polling booths in Assam are considered as safe there are 8000 sensitive polling booths in Assam. There are 3,000 hyper sensitive booths in Assam, of which 1,000 are marked as critical.

The post Assam police intensifies drive against illegal arms appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. (File Photo: IANS)

New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) A plea seeking registration of a first information report (FIR) against Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and two others for alleged involvement in solar panel allocation case was filed on Friday in a Delhi court.

Metropolitan Magistrate Rakesh Kumar Rampuri on Friday sought action taken report from Delhi Police and listed the matter for March 31.

The court was hearing a plea seeking registration of FIR against Chandy, Thomas Kuruvilla and prime accused Saritha S. Nair for their alleged involvement in solar panel allocation case.

The plea was filed by Dilip, who claims to be a member of socio-cultural organization "Navodayam" and is an anti-corruption activist.

"The complainant and his organisation has come to know that on December 27, 2012 accused namely Nair came in a four wheeler alongwith a driver and unknown person as per her plan to bribe high dignitaries, ministers, government officials of state of Kerala to get favour involving huge public exchequer and transferred said cash to accused number 1 (Kuruvilla) and two unknown persons, representatives and agents of high dignitary, at a parking lot in Chandni Chowk, Delhi (sic)," the plea stated.

The complaint, filed by advocate K.V. Sreemithun, said that Nair had collected huge amounts from public at large, assuring them to install solar device at their respective household units at cheaper rate in active collusion with Kuruvilla, close aid of chief minister Chandy.

In a well-planned manner, Nair collected millions of rupees from public at large, by inducing and mis-representing the public to provide the solar panel and instruments at cheaper rate and also by offering subsidy when she had no authorisation or government authority under the said scheme Jawahar Lal Nehru National Solar Mission.

In the process of the said illegal transaction of ill-gotten money, huge cash amounting to Rs. 1.90 Crores, was handed over by Nair to Kuruvilla on demand of Chandy at Chandini Chowk here, the plea said.

He added the information is supported and confirmed by further disclosure of Nair.

Dilip also said he approached Kotwali police station here on February 1, 2016 to lodge a complaint but the same was not accepted.

Plea seeking FIR against Chandy filed in Delhi Court

The post Plea seeking FIR against Chandy filed in Delhi Court appeared first on Social News XYZ.