WASHINGTON, Dec 2: The Biden administration has designated two leaders of al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and two of the Tehrik i Taliban Pakistan (TTP) movement in Afghanistan as global terrorists, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a press release.
“Yesterday, the Department of State designated four AQIS and TTP leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order (EO) 13224, as amended, for their leadership roles in their respective groups,” Blinken said in his statement on Thursday.
The four individuals are Osama Mehmood, Atif Yahya Ghouri, Muhammad Maruf and Qari Amjad, the statement said.
“As a result of these actions, all property and interests in property of those designated yesterday that are subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and all US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them,” Blinken said.
The US Government remains committed to using its full set of counterterrorism tools to counter the threat posed by terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan, including al-Qaeda and the Taliban, Blinken added. (AGENCIES)
US designates 4 leaders of AQIS, TTP as global terrorists
Supreme Court quashes Kerala High Court order granting anticipatory bail to 4 in ISRO espionage case
NEW DELHI, Dec 2: The Supreme Court Friday quashed the Kerala High Court order granting anticipatory bail to four people, including a former Director General of Police (DGP), in a case of alleged frame-up of scientist Nambi Narayanan in the 1994 ISRO espionage matter.
A bench of Justices M R Shah and C T Ravikumar remanded the matter back to the high court and directed it to decide the issue within four weeks.
“All these appeals allowed. Impugned orders granting anticipatory bail passed by HC are quashed and set aside. All matters are remitted back to the HC to be decided afresh on it own merits. This court had not observed anything on merits for either of the parties.
“It is ultimately for the HC to pass orders. We request the HC to decide the anticipatory bail applications at the earliest preferably within four weeks from date of this order,” the bench said.
The top court directed the registry of the high court to notify bail applications before the bench concerned within one week from today.
“Till then by way of an interim arrangement, and without prejudice to rights, it is directed that for a period of five weeks and till the bail applications are finally decided by HC on remand, the respondents may not be arrested subject to cooperation in the investigation,” the apex court said.
The judgement came on the CBI’s appeal against the high court order granting bail to former Gujarat DGP R B Sreekumar, two former police officers of Kerala S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt, and a retired intelligence official P S Jayaprakash. (AGENCIES)
India records 275 new COVID-19 cases, tally of active infections now 4,672
New Delhi, Dec 2 : India recorded a single-day rise of 275 new coronavirus infections, while the count of active cases has dipped to 4,672, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
The total tally of COVID-19 cases in the country now stands at 4.46 crore, it showed.
The death toll due to the disease has climbed to 5,30,624 with one fatality being reconciled by Kerala and one death reported from Chhattisgarh in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the ministry.
A decrease of 95 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload of the country in a span of 24 hours, the data showed.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 4,41,37,617, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.
According to the ministry’s website, 219.93 crore doses of vaccines have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5, 50 lakh on September 16, 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and the one-crore mark on December 19, 2020.
The country crossed the grim milestones of two crore cases on May 4, 2021, three crore on June 23, 2021, and four crore on January 25 this year. (Agencies)
Ludhiana court bomb blast conspirator Happy Malaysia arrested at Delhi airport
Delhi : A most wanted terrorist and the main conspirator behind the Ludhiana court bomb blast was arrested from Indira Gandhi International Airport here, an official of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Friday.
Harpreet Singh alias Happy Malaysia, a resident of Amritsar in Punjab who was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh, was arrested by the sleuths shortly after he arrived at the airport from Kuala Lumpur, the NIA spokesperson said.
He was arrested in a case relating to the massive bomb blast in the Ludhiana Court Building in December last year, which left one person dead and six others injured.
The case was initially registered on December 23, 2021, at Police Station Division-5, district Ludhiana Commissionerate, Punjab and re-registered by the NIA on January 13.
Investigations revealed that Singh, an associate of Pakistan-based self-styled Chief of International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) Lakhbir Singh Rode, was one of the conspirators of the Ludhiana Court Building blast, along with Rode,” the spokesperson said.
Acting on the directions of Rode, he coordinated the delivery of the custom-made Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which had been sent from Pakistan to his India-based associates, that was used in the Ludhiana Court Complex blast, the spokesperson added.
The NIA said the arrested accused was also involved and wanted in various cases, including smuggling of explosives, arms and narcotics.
Earlier, the NIA had declared a reward of Rs 10 lakhs on Singh against whom a Non-Bailable Warrant from the Special NIA court had been issued and Look Out Circular (LOC) was opened. (Agencies)
Guidelines issued for transfer of J&K employees to Ladakh
SRINAGAR: The government has issued new guidelines for deputation of employees of UT Jammu and Kashmir to Ladakh.
“In supersession of all previous orders on the subject, the ‘Guidelines for deputation of employees of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to Union Territory of Ladakh’, forming Annexure to this Government Order, are hereby notified for implementation with immediate”, reads an order issued by General Administration Department.
Here are the details.1
. General Principles:
1.1 The guidelines shall be applicable to substantive Government employees of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
1.2 All the Administrative Departments/ HODS/ Controlling Offices shall maintain a complete database of employees relating to their period of deputation/ service in Ladakh region,
1.3 While processing the proposals for deputation to Union Territory of Ladakh, the eligibility and suitability of the concerned employees and the interest of government work shall be given the utmost priority. The convenience of the employees may also be considered, as far as possible.
1.4 Employees deputed from Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall, as far as possible be posted at or around the District/ Sub Divisional headquarters of Leh/ Kargil Districts.
1.5 All proposals relating to deputation of employees to Union Territory of Ladakh and any repatriation from said Union Territory, shall be submitted to General Administration Department, J&K for seeking approval of the Competent Authority interms of the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.
2. Calendar for Transfers
2.1 Transfers of teaching staff shall only be ordered in the first month of the financial year i.e. April every year. However, in exceptional cases, the transfers of teaching staff may be considered at the close of an academic session or during the academic session, in consultation with Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh.
2.2 An employee, whose order of deputation to Union Territory of Ladakh is issued, shall be immediately relieved and be eligible for availing joining time as provided under Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations.
2.3 No employee shall be repatriated from Union Territory of Ladakh unless a suitable replacement is provided by the concerned department.
3. Tenure of Deputation
3.1 The employees shall be deputed for a period of two years to Union
Territory of Ladakh. The period of two years shall be counted from the date of joining of such employees in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
4. Selection of employees for Deputation to Union Territory of Ladakh:-
4.1 An employee, who has completed the prescribed tenure of two years in the Union Territory of Ladakh, shall not be deputed to Union Territory of Ladakh for a second term. However, in case of nonavailability of suitable substitute and in case of specific request made by the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh, an employee may be considered for deputation for another term, in the interest of administration.
5. Aqe and Health factors:
5.1 No employee having residual service of less than two years shall be deputed to Union Territory of Ladakh. In exceptional circumstances, and, if a specific request is made by the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh, officers having less than two years residual service may be considered for deputation to Union Territory of Ladakh.
5.2 No Physically Challenged employee shall be deputed to Union Territory of Ladakh.
Once the transfer/ deputation order is issued with the approval of competent authority, the only ground for modification of such order shall be serious illness of the employee or his/ her spouse/ children fully dependent upon him/ dependent parents, to be certified by Standing Medical Board of Government Medical College in the Union Territory of J&K, The Board shall give a categorical opinion in such cases after examining the employee or his/ her spouse/ children/ parents.
5.4 Proposals for cancellation/ modification of deputation orders, wherever found genuine shall be submitted by the concerned Administrative Department only after receiving clear recommendation of Standing Medical Board to the effect that employee is medically unfit to serve in Union Territory of Ladakh or alternatively his/ her spouse/ children/ dependent parents suffer from an illness of the nature that warrant the presence of the employee at his home.
5.5 In order to enable settlement of pension cases, employees deputed to Union Territory of Ladakh, who are having less than 6 months residual service, shall be repatriated to Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir at least 3 months prior to their date of superannuation
6. Incentives
6.1 The employees of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir deputed to Union Territory of Ladakh shall be eligible for incentives, as may be made available to them in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
6.2 Employees, on completion of their prescribed term in the Union Territory of Ladakh, as far as possible, but not necessarily, may be posted in their home districts or as per their convenience.
Interpretation
7.1 If any question arises relating to interpretation or implementation of these guidelines, the matter shall be referred to General Administration Department for a decision thereon which shall be final.
8. Repeal and savings:
8.1 The existing policy/ guidelines relating to the deputation of employees to Ladakh region is/are hereby repealed with immediate effect.
8.2 Notwithstanding such repeal, any order made or action taken under the repealed provisions shall be deemed to have been made or taken under the corresponding provisions of these guidelines.
India ready to take its place at global top tables: Kamboj
India is ready to take its place at the global top tables including G-20 and the UN Security Council presidency as the country is willing to bring solutions to the table, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj said on Friday.
During the press briefing, when asked about UNSC reforms and India’s permanent seat at the security council, Kamboj said, “India is ready to take its place at the global top tables as a country that is willing to bring solutions to the table. One of the central tenets of our foreign policy is human-centric and which will remain the same.”
India has been one of the leading voices for the long-standing reforms due in the UNSC, stating that it surely deserves a position at the highest level of the UN as a permanent member.
Proposals to restructure the security council which now has five permanent members and ten elected to two-year terms, have been around for over two decades, but have hit a stalemate in the UN General Assembly.
Ambassador Kamboj told reporters that even as the world grapples with a pandemic and multilateralism is under stress, India has emerged on the international stage as a rallying point of hope.
“In the last 2 years when the world was going through a crisis, India has always been there as a solution provider. Like during COVID and more such matters, India is already ready to take its place at the global top table,” she added.
The top Indian diplomat at UN further underscored nations backing India’s long-standing demand, where several nations have called for reforms, making it more representative, inclusive, and transparent.
Talking about the UNSC reforms, Kamboj said that the UN is far from “reflective of the true diversity” of its wider membership. She also said that after 22 years, the world leaders called for comprehensive UNSC reform but the Council has “not moved an inch.” Calling the countries’ favour for UNSC reform a “ray of hope” Kamboj said that during the 77th plenary session, 76 countries favoured UNSC reform and 73 spoke for
UN reforms
India, on Thursday, assumed the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of December. It is the second time in its two-year tenure as an elected member of the UN Security Council that India has assumed the Presidency of the Council.
In the special briefing about the UNSC presidency, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN said, “Over the last two years of our membership of the council, I can say with confidence that we have been shouldering responsibilities well and making every effort to reach the different voices within the council so, as to ensure that the Council itself speaks in one voice as far as possible on a variety of issues,” adding “We will bring the same spirit to our December presidency.”
She also said that the focus will be on two major themes, the first one is an all-encompassing theme focused on building a new orientation towards reformed multilateralism and the second one is a “focus on the global counter-terrorism approach and the way forward.”
Giving more details about the schedule of the UNSC presidency, Kamboj said that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will chair two high-level signature events that will take place on December 14-15.
The high-level open debate on the theme – “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism” is scheduled to be held on December 14. The open debate will encourage the UN members to take the conversation forward on reforms in the current multilateral architecture with the UN at its Centre to make it “more representative and fit for purpose.”
On December 15, a high-level briefing on the theme – “Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts: Global Approach to Counter Terrorism – Challenges and Way Forward” will seek to build a consensus on the principles of a global counter-terror architecture. The high-level briefing aims to enhance the Delhi Declaration adopted during the special meeting of the counter-terrorism committee held in October in India.
J&K Land Revenue Act amended
Jammu: J&K government on Thursday directed that the legal heirs viz., mother, father, wife, and children of an agriculturist would also fall in the Agriculturist category for the purpose of section 133-H of the said Act.
As per an order issued by Commissioner/Secretary Revenue Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, the revenue field formation were receiving the applications wherein wife, children and their children were also claiming to be an agriculturist for the purpose of the said Act and accordingly the matter was referred to this department for taking the decision.
The matter was examined in the department and referred to the Department of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs for advice.
“Section 141 of Jammu & Kashmir Land Revenue Act, Svt. 1996 enables the government to make such provision for removal of difficulties and the difficulty faced by the revenue field formation is within the ambit of the Act and this difficulty is required to be removed for the purpose of implementation of the provisions of the 133-H of the Act,” read the order, while referring to the opinion of Law Department.
“Now, therefore in exercise of the powers conferred by section 141 of Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, Svt. 1996, the Government hereby directs that the legal heirs viz. Mother, Father, Wife, and Children of an agriculturist shall also fall in the Agriculturist category for the purpose of section 133-H of the said Act,” Bidhuri ordered.
Anti-terrorist operations will not stop till last terrorist is eliminated: LG Sinha
Jammu, Dec 1: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday asserted that anti-terrorist operations will not be stopped until the last terrorist is eliminated in the Union Territory.
Sinha also said Jammu and Kashmir has marched a great distance in the last three years in ensuring that no section of society is left behind. “Jammu and Kashmir government is committed that until last terrorist and mentors on the ground are eliminated, anti terrorist operations will not be stopped and assault on terror ecosystem will not be slowed down,” the LG said while inaugurating Amar Jawan Shourya Sthal in Reasi.
He said that fear, corruption and dynasty rule in Jammu and Kashmir for a long time had caused damaged to the social setup here, but during past 2-3 years, there has been a great change.
“The effort is to bring major positive changes in social setup in J&K.” He said that for the past thirty years, cross-border terrorism in the Union Territory has been posing a challenge to us. “It is history in itself, the way the army, paramilitary forces and police has given befitting reply to this challenge.” The LG said that the crackdown against terror came became more intense after the Indian Parliament took a “historic decision” in August 2019 under the command of Prime Minister.
In 2019, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union territories – Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir – and the Article 370, that granted special powers to the state, was abrogated.
The army, CRPF and police have got many successes and stone-pelting and strike have become part of history now, he said. “Salute to veer naris, our veterans and tributes to all those martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for our country,” Sinha said after laying a floral wreath at Vir Stambh. The LG observed that after the abrogation of Article 370, the ecosystem nurturing terrorism has been dismantled.
GST Revenues Rise 11% To Rs 1.46 Lakh Crore In November
NEW DELHI, Dec 1: The collections from Goods and Services Tax (GST) grew by 11 per cent to about Rs 1.46 lakh crore in November on increased consumer spending and better compliance.
This is the ninth month in a row that the revenues have remained above the Rs 1.4 lakh crore mark. However, the collection in November was the lowest since August.
In October, GST collections had touched the second-highest level of Rs 1.52 lakh crore on festive spending.
The gross GST revenue collected in the month of November 2022 is Rs 1,45,867 crore of which Central GST is Rs 25,681 crore, State GST is Rs 32,651 crore, Integrated GST is Rs 77,103 crore (including Rs 38,635 crore collected on import of goods) and cess is Rs 10,433 crore (including Rs 817 crore collected on import of goods).
“The revenues for the month of November 2022 are 11 per cent higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year, which itself was Rs 1,31,526 crore,” the Finance Ministry said in a statement.
KPMG Partner Indirect Tax Abhishek Jain said continuing festive procurements, year-end reconciliations of input tax credits, credit notes, etc. would have played a significant role in the GST revenue uptick.
N.A. Shah Associates, Partner, Indirect Tax, Parag Mehta said the major factors for the increase in collections are the festive and wedding seasons.
“There has also been a major increase in sales for real estate and vehicle markets. Overall, there is substantial spending by consumers. Further, the authorities have been cracking down on tax evaders, defaulters, fake invoice instances etc,” Mehta said.
AMRG & Associates Senior Partner Rajat Mohan said GST collections for the month of October 2022 are encouraging and now it seems to be stabilizing around 1.5 lakh crores.
“October and November are festival months, which drove up purchases of goods and services, fueling GST numbers once again. In October, individuals splurged on real estate, automobiles, vacations, and other essential items,” Mohan said During November, revenues from the import of goods were 20 per cent higher and the revenues from the domestic transactions (including import of services) are 8 per cent higher than the revenues from these sources during the same month last year.
TIOL Knowledge Foundation, Chairman Shailendra Kumar said a very good sign is the sustained growth in IGST collections from imports, including services. This will cushion future growth in the economy.
Revenues from GST touched a record of about Rs 1.68 lakh crore in April. In May, the collection was about Rs 1.41 lakh crore, June (Rs 1.45 lakh crore), July (Rs 1.49 lakh crore), August (Rs 1.44 lakh crore), September (Rs 1.48 lakh crore), October (Rs 1.52 lakh crore) and November (Rs 1.46 lakh crore).
Tax Connect Advisory Partner Vivek Jalan said the Budgeted GST Revenue for the Government of India for 2022-23 was Rs 7.8 lakh crores out of which Central GST was Rs 6.6 lakh crore and compensation cess was Rs 1.2 lakh crore. It means that the budgeted GST collection is Rs 14.4 lakh crore approx. Till the month of November, Rs 11.91 lakh crore has already been done.
“Hence even if one takes a conservative estimate of Rs 5 lakh crore in the next 4 months, then the fiscal year would end with an uptick of Rs 2.5 lakh crore approx which is a 17 per cent growth over budget,” Jalan added. (Agencies)
LG Sinha chairs meeting of financial institutions, public sector banks and Govt departments
Jammu, December 01: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today chaired a meeting of financial institutions, public sector banks and government departments at the Civil Secretariat.
During the meeting, the Lt Governor directed banks and the departments to work in close collaboration for seamless credit flow to address the needs of industries, youth, and farmers for their capacity building and entrepreneurship development.
Sharing his views on the overall assessment of financial inclusion led interventions and reaching out to underbanked sections of rural economy, the Lt Governor said that our collective efforts must strive towards supporting sectors working as the power engines of our economy.
Earlier, department-wise issues and analysis of banking sector services were presented before the Lt Governor via a PowerPoint presentation.
Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department; Prashant Goyal, Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department; Baldev Prakash, MD& CEO, J&K Bank; Mandeep Kaur, Commissioner/Secretary, Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj; Sheetal Nanda, Commissioner/Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, CEO, Mission Youth; Ms. Indu Kanwal Chib, Mission Director, JKRLM; HODs, Heads and representatives of several banks operating in the UT were present.