The Union government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it was justified in appointing two new election commissioners (ECs) under a recently enacted statute because the new law envisions a “democratic, collaborative and inclusive” regime that cannot be faulted solely for not having a judge on the selection panel. HT brings you a round-up of the most important and interesting stories, so you don’t miss your daily dose of news. |
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THE BIG STORY System to pick ECs is valid even if no judge is on panel, says govt The Union government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it was justified in appointing two new election commissioners (ECs) under a recently enacted statute because the new law envisions a “democratic, collaborative and inclusive” regime that cannot be faulted solely for not having a judge on the selection panel. The Centre submitted its affidavit in the court a day before a pair of applications demanding a stay on the operation of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, is to be taken up by a bench led by justice Sanjiv Khanna. Read more. |
THE BIG QUESTION DMK manifesto says will clip guv’s powers: How will it happen? The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) released its manifesto ahead of the coming general elections, promising chief ministers a say in the appointment of governors and restricting the latter’s powers — an unprecedented promise by any party in India’s history, and one that points to the country’s fraying federal fabric. The party, which governs Tamil Nadu, said in its manifesto that it would amend the Constitution’s Article 361, which shields a governor from criminal proceedings, apart from scrapping of the National Education Policy, 2020, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, and the “One Nation, One Election” proposal. It also opposed the imposition of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Read more. |
STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED |
 Local railway stations in Mumbai may be rechristened from Currey Road to Lalbaug, Sandhurst Road to Dongri, Marine Lines to Mumbadevi. Which station, whose name changed when the city was renamed in 1995, may soon be called Nana Jagannath Shankarsheth? |
FROM THE EDIT PAGE Clean air as a poll guarantee After a year’s reprieve, New Delhi is back to being the world’s most polluted capital as per Swiss firm IQAir’s assessment of cities’ air quality in 2023. New Delhi’s annual population-weighted PM 2.5 concentration of 92.7 μg/m3 is 19 times the World Health Organization’s annual limit recommended in 2021 for the pollutant. The picture is no better as far as the larger Union Territory of Delhi is considered — an annual PM2.5 record of 102.1 μg/m3 makes it the third most polluted city globally. Read more. |
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Infographic of the Day  (Click to expand) |
 Mumbai Central |
Photo of the Day Chronicling the march of time |
HT This Day: March 21, 1995 6 dead in Tokyo toxic gas attack  (Click to expand) The morning rush-hour turned into a scene of horror on three crowded Tokyo subway lines on Monday as several toxic gas containers, apparently planted deliberately, flooded subway cars and stations with fumes that killed at least six people and injured hundreds, many critically. Read more. |
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