NEW DELHI, Nov 6: In a significant relief to commercial vehicle drivers, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that individuals holding a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving licence are also authorized to drive transport vehicles with an unladen weight of up to 7,500 kg.

The judgment, delivered by a five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, is expected to impact insurance companies, which have previously rejected claims in accidents involving transport vehicles of a certain weight, arguing that drivers lacked the necessary authorization.

Justice Hrishikesh Roy, who penned the unanimous verdict, stated, “There is no empirical data to suggest that LMV licence holders are responsible for an increase in road accidents.” He added that LMV licence holders, who spend considerable time driving, should not have their grievances dismissed on technical grounds.

The bench, also comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha, Pankaj Mithal, and Manoj Misra, had reserved its judgment on August 21. Attorney General R. Venkataramani, representing the Centre, informed the court that consultations on amending the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, were nearly complete, and the court urged the government to expedite the amendment process.

The legal issue at hand was whether LMV licence holders could legally drive transport vehicles weighing up to 7,500 kg. This matter had raised disputes over insurance claims, as companies had contested paying claims for accidents involving such vehicles driven by LMV-licensed drivers.

Insurance companies had argued that tribunals and courts were disregarding their objections based on the LMV licence stipulation, and had adopted a pro-insured stance in deciding accident claims.

Srinagar, Nov 6: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday demanding the restoration of the erstwhile state’s special status, prompting a strong protest from BJP members who termed the move an “anti-national agenda.”

BJP leaders alleged that the Speaker of the House displayed bias toward the ruling party, despite claiming neutrality. They argued that the Speaker was favoring the National Conference (NC). In a dramatic display, BJP leader Sham Lal Sharma climbed onto a table in the Well of the House, accusing the NC of historically manipulating the sentiments of J&K residents since 1947.

“Yesterday, you spoke differently. Article 370 is final; this political gimmick won’t work. From Sheikh Abdullah to Omar Abdullah, emotional blackmail has been routine in J&K. The Speaker should act impartially,” Sharma stated, as BJP members chanted “Shame, Shame.”

The BJP MLAs also raised slogans, saying, “Jahan Huway Balidan Mukherji, wo Kashmir hamara hai, desh drohi agenda nahi chalega” (Where Mukherji sacrificed, that Kashmir is ours; no anti-national agenda will succeed). Additionally, they expressed support for the government of India’s actions on August 5, 2019, which revoked J&K’s special status.

Kolkata, Nov 6: The ‘East Tech 2024’ defence technology symposium launched today at the Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan in Kolkata, gathering experts, industry leaders, and officials to explore innovations aimed at enhancing operational capabilities in the Indian Army’s Eastern Theatre.

Jointly organized by the Eastern Command, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), the event underscores India’s focus on indigenous defence solutions. West Bengal’s Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs, Power, Non-Conventional Energy, and Housing, Aroop Biswas, opened the event, emphasizing the strategic role of West Bengal in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem. Biswas noted the state’s extensive MSME presence and potential to support defence technology advancements, aligning with India’s goal of self-reliance in defence.

According to the Ministry of Defence, East Tech 2024 covers a spectrum of technological advancements critical to military readiness, including AI, communications, tactical mobility, drone technologies, robotics, and firepower solutions.

Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari, GOC-in-C of Eastern Command, highlighted the Eastern Command’s multifaceted challenges, such as conventional warfare, counter-terrorism, and emerging cyber and grey-zone threats. He stressed the importance of continuous modernization and integrating indigenous technologies to meet operational needs. The symposium, he stated, is essential for bolstering the Command’s capabilities with advanced, homegrown solutions.

‘East Tech 2024’ serves as a collaborative platform, aiming to boost India’s defence readiness while fostering partnerships across government, industry, and technology sectors.

NEW DELHI, Nov 5: In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court declared on Tuesday that states do not possess the constitutional authority to confiscate all privately-owned resources for redistribution aimed at serving the “common good.” The majority verdict, delivered by a nine-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, was passed with a 7:2 majority.

While the court maintained that states can claim ownership over private properties in certain specific instances, it overruled the previous interpretation by Justice Krishna Iyer, which allowed for the acquisition of all private resources under Article 39(b) of the Constitution.

Chief Justice Chandrachud, along with six other judges, addressed the contentious legal question regarding whether private properties qualify as “material resources of the community” under Article 39(b), thus justifying state appropriation for public distribution. The ruling overturned several earlier judgments that had endorsed a more socialist perspective, enabling the state to seize private properties for the common good.

Justice BV Nagarathna partially dissented from the majority opinion, while Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia disagreed with the entire ruling. The court’s decision follows the precedent set in the 1980 Minerva Mills case, where it struck down provisions of the 42nd Amendment that restricted judicial review of constitutional amendments and prioritized the Directive Principles of State Policy over individual fundamental rights.

Article 31C of the Constitution allows for laws made under Articles 39(b) and (c) to enable the state to take control of community resources, including private properties, for redistribution to promote the common good.

The Supreme Court considered 16 petitions in total, including a significant one from the Mumbai-based Property Owners’ Association (POA), which has contested Chapter VIII-A of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) Act. This chapter, added in 1986, empowers state authorities to acquire cessed buildings and the land beneath them if 70% of occupants request restoration. The MHADA Act was enacted in line with Article 39(b), which mandates the state to distribute ownership and control of material resources to best serve the community’s interests.