Abhishek Singhvi On "Venerable Old Power Article 142" And Veep's Comments

Congress MP and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi has termed Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's criticism of the Supreme Court as a matter which "absolutely needed no comment" from the holder of the second-highest constitutional office.

Vice President Dhankhar criticised the Supreme Court's judgment that set deadlines for the President to clear bills passed by state assemblies, and also the use of extraordinary powers by the Supreme Court under Article 142 of the Constitution.

"With the deepest respect to him, I would disagree with almost all aspects of this. And the first aspect I would disagree with is that the Vice President is the holder of a very, very high office, indeed the second-highest constitutional office in the country. There is absolutely no need for him to comment or deal with such matters. This is my humble opinion," Mr Singhvi told NDTV on Friday.

"The President of India does not comment on such things and on this issue, there is no difference between the President and the Vice President. Previous incumbents of the office have not commented on such issues and there is no reason to start this process," the Congress MP said.

In a hearing on the tussle between the Tamil Nadu Governor and the ruling DMK government over bills passed by the assembly, the Supreme Court on April 12 said the President should decide on bills reserved for her consideration by the Governor within three months from the date on which such a reference is received.

The Supreme Court used its plenary power under Article 142 of the Constitution to make the bill re-presented to the Tamil Nadu Governor as deemed to have been passed.

"The next in the warrant of precedent, the Prime Minister doesn't comment on these issues and he should not. So I think that is really not necessary. Before I tell you other aspects of what Article 142 is and why in the facts of this case, where I happen to be the lead counsel, what the Supreme Court did was eminently reasonable, necessary and required to be done..." Mr Singhvi told NDTV.

Mr Singhvi supported the Supreme Court's use of the powers under Article 142 in giving "full and complete justice".

"Before we turn to the case at hand where this judgment came, any important question is what is Article 142? The Vice President has said that [Article] 142 could have become a misguided, unguided missile etc. But we forget that [Article] 142 is a venerable old power, put in our Constitution by the framers, people far wiser than us, led by Babasaheb Ambedkar, the drafting committee, and various other members of the Constituent Assembly.

"It is a power given 75 years ago when it was being considered to be given exclusively to the Supreme Court, not to any high court. It is a recognition of the entrustment of what is called a special, a unique and a sui generis power, only to the Supreme Court to do full and complete justice, even beyond the law, even beyond the text of the law. The idea is that you will be able to tailor, modulate and, you know, create a relief which will do justice in all respects," Mr Singhvi told NDTV.

The Congress MP said this power [Article 142] is not something new, and so it would be wrong to question this power.

"I must add here, this power has been exercised for the last 75 years repeatedly. And once or twice when the power was exercised in the early years, subsequent judgments have put guidelines and various criteria. So it's not a lawless power. It's not an uncontrolled power. It's been confined, clarified, cribbed and conditioned by the Supreme Court itself. So to suggest it is kind of a Jungle Raj power is not right," he said.

In the Tamil Nadu case, the Supreme Court had previously framed questions to answer in the dispute between the state government and the Governor over the delay in assent to bills passed by the assembly.

The delay by the Governor prompted the state government to file a petition in the Supreme Court in 2023, claiming 12 bills, including one from 2020, were pending with him.

On November 13, 2023, the Governor declared he was withholding assent to 10 bills following which the assembly convened a special session and re-enacted the very same bills on November 18, 2023.

Later, some of the bills were reserved for the President's consideration.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/SJxKeUm
via IFTTT

University Professor Claims Assault By Troops In J&K, Army Orders Probe

The Indian Army on Friday ordered an inquiry after a university professor accused the troops of assaulting him during the checking of vehicles at a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, officials said.

Police have also registered an FIR against unidentified army personnel, they said.

Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the incident and said “such individuals tarnish the reputation of a respected institution through their unacceptable and high-handed behaviour”.

The professor, Liaqat Ali, suffered head injuries in the alleged assault near the border village of Laam late on Thursday night. A video purportedly showing the bleeding professor has surfaced online.

“An incident has come to light wherein certain individuals were allegedly manhandled by army personnel in Rajouri district. The army had inputs on the likely movement of terrorists in a vehicle in this sensitive area. Accordingly, search operations were being conducted.

“Preliminary information suggests that on being stopped, the individual tried to snatch weapons from the soldiers on duty, with whom he got into a scuffle. However, an inquiry has been initiated. Should any personnel be found guilty of misconduct, strict action will be taken in accordance with the existing law,” the army said in a statement in Jammu.

It said the army remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of professionalism and discipline in the conduct of counter-terror operations.

“All sections of society are requested to continue to cooperate and collaborate with the Indian Army for collective and comprehensive security in this sensitive area,” the statement said.

The alleged incident took place when Mr Ali and some of his relatives, including his cousin brothers serving in the army and ITBP, were returning to Kalakote after attending the pre-wedding ceremony of one of their relatives.

Officials said an FIR under Sections 126(2) dealing with crime of wrongful restraint and 115(2) -- voluntarily causing hurt -- of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at the Nowshera police station against unidentified army personnel for a thorough investigation.

Mr Ali, a professor at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) posted in Delhi, wrote a post on X claiming he was "assaulted" without any reason.

“My entire family is in the army. I've always been proud of that. Proud of the uniform, the service, the sacrifice. But today, what I experienced shook that pride to the core. Without any reason, without any question, I was assaulted -- hit on the head with a weapon by the very people I once trusted blindly," Ali said in the post that also had a picture showing him bleeding.

“It made me realise one terrifying truth: if the system chooses to, it can 'encounter' any human being -- without evidence, without trial, without justice. There's no apology that can undo this wound. Only one haunting question remains -- has justice now become the privilege of the uniform alone?” the professor wrote.

Mr Ali got nearly half-a-dozen stitches to close his wound, besides undergoing necessary tests at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu.

“I was sitting inside the vehicle when army personnel came and asked for my identity. I came out of the vehicle as a matter of respect to show my identity card, but they started beating me with their weapons,” the professor told reporters.

He said he saw his younger brother, who is in ITBP, also knocked to the ground along with him.

“The army is our country's pride… I want nobody to be treated like this and justice be given to me,” Mr Ali said.

Mehbooba Mufti, in a post on X, urged the army to take immediate and strict action against those responsible for this “shocking incident”.

“Such individuals tarnish the reputation of a respected institution through their unacceptable and high-handed behaviour,” she said.

Former J-K BJP president Ravinder Raina assured the professor of justice and said “law of the land is supreme and nobody in India is above the law. Whosoever made it happen, have to face the consequences...” 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/87oEvjL
via IFTTT

Watch: Triple Olympic Champion Wins Parent's 100m Race During Son's Sports Day

It wasn't the Olympic final but Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's competitive edge remained intact as she stormed to victory in the parents' 100m race during her son Zyon's sports day, leaving fellow mums to chase her shadow. In a video that has gone viral, the triple Olympic champion was also seen stepping on to the line and doing some warm-up exercises before the 'real' event in her son's school, even as fellow mums geared up for the race. Asked why she took part in the competition, the 38-year-old said, "Yes, why not. I'm a parent. It said parent race so I showed up for the parent race.

🇯🇲Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was GONEpic.twitter.com/99W4a3oceB

— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) April 16, 2025

"Honestly I wasn't planning on running. But then my son and my husband didn't show up like we planned. So I had to show up "They haven't banned me yet so I'm at the line," Fraser-Pryce, who won back-to-back 100m Olympic titles in 2008 and 2012 and then clinched the 4x100m relay gold at the Tokyo Olympics, wrote along with the clip of her win.

One of the greatest sprinters of all time, Fraser-Pryce announced last week she will return to the track in 2025 season after her final Olympics ended in a heartbreak last year in Paris where she missed her 100m semi-final due to an injury sustained during the warm-up.

This is the second time that she has won the school competition, having emerged winner in 2023 at the same event.

Fraser-Pryce, who stood on the Olympic podium no less than eight times besides her 10 World Championship titles, ran in the middle lane and finished more than four seconds ahead of the field on Wednesday.

She is now aiming to leave the scene on a high at the World Championships, scheduled to be held in Tokyo in September. PTI AH AH PDS PDS

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/DvZVCu2
via IFTTT

Sehwag's 'Jane Ka Time Aa Gaya' Take Turns Prophetic As Rohit Fails Once Again

Former Indian cricket team batter Virender Sehwag was extremely critical of Rohit Sharma as the Mumbai Indians star continued to struggle for runs in the ongoing IPL 2025. Rohit, who came into the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad with 56 runs in five innings, was dismissed for 26 by Pat Cummins. Rohit's dismal run has resulted in a lot of criticism from both experts as well as fans and Sehwag warned him that he needs to safeguard his legacy. Sehwag pointed out that he has just one 400-plus run IPL season and even hinted that it is time for Rohit to retire from the format.

“If you look at Rohit's IPL numbers in the last 10 years, he scored more than 400 runs only once. So he is not the kind of player who thinks that I need to score 500 or 700 runs. If he thinks, he might. When he became the Indian captain, he said that he wanted to be the player who wants to cash in on the powerplay and take the chances, so he wanted to make all the sacrifices alone, but he is not considering the fact that at the end of the day when he is not performing, it is your legacy that is getting hurt. Ab uska jaane ka time aagaya, (It's already time for him to retire), and before retiring, you would want to give fans something to remember you by, and not moments that force them to think, why are they not dropping him,” he said.

Rohit looked in good touch once again but was dismissed after playing a loose shot against Cummins.

“Take 10 balls extra, but at least play and give yourself a chance. He has been getting out to that pull shot many times against the back of the length deliveries. So he should decide that in one innings he will not play the pull shot at all. But who will explain it to him? There should be someone telling him to play normal cricket. When I was there, Sachin, Dravid or Ganguly used to tell me to play normal cricket,” he added.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/lIvjoG9
via IFTTT

Sanju Samson Forced To Retire Hurt Against DC. Commentator Says 'Tear In...'

Rajasthan Royals were dealt a massive blow as Sanju Samson left the field retired hurt during the IPL 2025 match against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday. Samson, who was batting on 31 off 19 balls, suffered a rib injury while trying to play a shot against Vipraj Nigam. Samson looked in a lot of pain and while he did play another delivery after his check-up, the RR captain ultimately decided to leave the field. Samson played the first three matches of IPL 2025 as an Impact Player while he was recovering from injury. While Samson received treatment from the RR physio, one of the commentators said that "a little here and there and it could be grade 1 to 3 muscle tear" for the Indian cricket team star.

Coming to the match, a strong middle-order performance led by skipper Axar Patel and South African Tristan Stubbs propelled the Delhi Capitals (DC) to a solid 188/5 in 20 overs.

After being asked to bat first, the Capitals made a flying start with opener Abhishek Porel taking charge early. He was particularly harsh on Tushar Deshpande, smashing 23 runs in the second over. However, Delhi's momentum took a hit when Jake Fraser-McGurk fell for 9 to Jofra Archer, and Karun Nair followed soon after without troubling the scorers.

Porel, undeterred, stitched together a valuable 63-run partnership with KL Rahul, who made a composed 38 before falling to Archer--his second scalp of the innings. Porel narrowly missed a half-century, dismissed for 49 off 37 deliveries, including five boundaries and a six, by Wanindu Hasaranga.

The Capitals then found impetus through their captain. Axar Patel smashed 34 off just 14 balls, peppering the boundary with four fours and two sixes, before being dismissed by Maheesh Theekshana. Alongside Stubbs, Axar stitched a 41-run stand that kept the scoreboard ticking.

Stubbs anchored the final flourish, finishing unbeaten on 34 off 18 balls, which included two boundaries and two sixes. He targeted Sandeep Sharma in the final over, collecting 12 runs himself as the pacer leaked 19 in total, helping DC close on a high.

Stubbs also shared an unbeaten 42-run partnership with Ashutosh Sharma (15*) in the death overs, ensuring Delhi finished with a competitive total. For the Royals, Archer stood out with figures of 2/32, while Hasaranga and Theekshana chipped in with a wicket apiece.

(With ANI inputs)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/0HWz2em
via IFTTT

Colossal Squid Seen Alive For the First Time In 100 Years In Deep Ocean

In a breathtaking deep-sea discovery, marine scientists have captured the world's first footage of a colossal squid swimming freely in its natural habitat - nearly a century after the species was first identified.

According to The Metro, the rare sighting was made by researchers aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor, during an expedition between the waters of Argentina and Antarctica. The juvenile squid - measuring around 30 cm - was filmed on March 9 near the South Sandwich Islands at a depth of approximately 600 metres using a remotely operated underwater vehicle.

The species, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, also known as the colossal squid, had previously only been known through remains found in the stomachs of whales or as dying specimens pulled up by fishing vessels. This marks the first time it has been observed alive in its deep-sea environment.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Schmidt Ocean Institute (@schmidtocean)

Still transparent due to its young age, the squid glides eerily through the dark ocean using its long tentacles. As it matures, it will grow up to seven metres in length and weigh nearly 500 kg - making it the heaviest invertebrate on Earth.

"It's exciting to see the first in situ footage of a juvenile colossal squid and humbling to think that they have no idea that humans exist," said Dr Kat Bolstad of Auckland University of Technology, who helped verify the species.

One of the most distinctive features of the colossal squid is the presence of rotating hooks on its arms, distinguishing it from other glass squid species.

In another major highlight from the same expedition series, scientists also captured the first-ever footage of the glacial glass squid - another elusive deep-sea species - earlier this year in January.

"These back-to-back sightings of two rare squid species underscore just how much of our oceans remain unexplored," said Dr Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute. "The ocean continues to reveal its wonders, and we are only just beginning to understand the diversity that lies beneath."

The discovery has generated global excitement among marine biologists and ocean enthusiasts, offering a rare glimpse into the hidden world of the Southern Ocean's deep-sea inhabitants.
 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/mEi9hQu
via IFTTT

Preity Zinta Lauds Chahal's Heroic 4/28 After PBKS Defend 111 vs KKR

Punjab Kings defended the lowest-ever total in Indian Premier League (IPL) history as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs in a thrilling match in Mullanpur on Tuesday. Chasing 112 for a win, KKR were comfortably placed at 71 for 3 in 9.1 overs, but they suffered a sensational collapse to be bowled out for 95 in 15.1 overs. KKR lost seven wickets and scored just 24 runs in six overs after that.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was the main architect of Punjab's improbable-looking win with his excellent figures of 4/28. He took the crucial wickets of Ajinkya Rahane (17), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (37), Rinku Singh (2) and Ramandeep Singh (0) to orchestrate KKR's stunning downfall -- the last two in consecutive balls in the 12th over. 

The win put a broad smile on PBKS co-owner Preity Zinta's face and she celebrated the win with the PBKS player. She went and hugged Yuzvendra Chahal for his great bowling vs KKR.

Preity Zinta hugs Yuzi Chahal. pic.twitter.com/BmMxRZMDBM

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 15, 2025

Ricky Ponting congratulates Preity Zinta. pic.twitter.com/UPQKcvHOe2

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 15, 2025

THE HAPPINESS OF PREITY ZINTA WHEN PUNJAB KINGS WON THE MATCH. pic.twitter.com/ZPUE0nRQFp

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) April 15, 2025

what a match... ab kro troll shreyas ko pic.twitter.com/BJAoNLCfGn

— ...(@SPARSHMaur77561) April 15, 2025

Pacer Marco Jansen chipped in with three wickets for 17 runs while Xavier Bartlett, Glenn Maxwell and Arshdeep Singh got one each as KKR allowed PBKS to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat.

The earlier lowest total defended was 116 by Chennai Super Kings against then Kings XI Punjab in 2009.

Sunil Narine (5) was looking for his characteristic explosive start but Jansen had other ideas as he was cleaned up by the South African. That was the start Punjab were looking for and it got even better as Xavier Bartlett got the other opener Quinton de Kock (2) in the next over.

KKR captain Rahane held the innings together for a while along with Raghuvanshi, digging into his vast domestic and international experience.

Rahane was at his best when he lofted a Bartlett half-volley for a straight six into the sightscreen, taking his side to 55 for 2 at the end of powerplay.

The introduction of Chahal in the eighth over did the trick for PBKS as the leg-spinner got Rahane out LBW. Chahal struck again in his next over to give PBSK some hope. He had Raghuvanshi caught at backward point by Bartlett who leaned forward to take a low catch. KKR were 72 for 4 at the halfway stage.

The match seemed to have opened up when Venkatesh Iyer was ruled out LBW off Maxwell in the 11th over, with the third umpire upholding the on-field umpire's decision after a long look.

Chahal then turned the match on its head as he removed the dangerous Rinku Singh (2) who was foxed by a delivery that sneaked between his bat and pad for Inglis to do the rest behind the stumps.

There was no stopping Chahal as he dismissed Ramandeep Singh (0) in the next ball to leave KKR at a precarious 76 for 7 in 11.4 overs.

Jansen joined the party as he got Harshit Rana (0) out with a short delivery that the batter played on. Andre Russell has not scored in double-digit figures before Tuesday's match and he was on fire in the 14th over, hitting two sixes and a four to take 16 runs in total.

KKR needed 17 runs from six overs but they have just two wickets in hand.

Vaibhav Arora survived five balls bowled by Arshdeep Singh but he offered a simple catch to Inglis in the final ball of the 15th over.

Earlier, KKR dished out a clinical bowling show to bundle out hosts Punjab Kings out for a mere 111 -- the third lowest total in this season of the Indian Premier League here on Tuesday.

PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer's ploy to bat first after winning the toss at their home ground backfired as all their batters, except openers Priyansh Arya (22) and Prabhsimran Singh (30) struggled on the home pitch.

Only three more batters -- Nehal Wadhera (10), Shashank Singh (18) and Xavier Bartlett (11) -- could register double-digit scores.

Some PBKS batters were also guilty of reckless batting and poor shot selection.

Harshit Rana (3/25) was the most successful bowler while Varun Chakaravarthy (2/21) and Sunil Narine (2/14) chipped in with two apiece.

Arya (22 off 12 balls), who hit a sensational hundred to win PBKs' match against Chennai Super Kings, struck two fours off Anrich Nortje in the second over to set the tone of the home side's innings.

Prabhsimran then struck a six and two fours in the next over bowled by Vaibhav Arora, who conceded 20 runs.

Rana was welcomed by Arya with a six but the bowler had the last laugh as the batter holed out to Ramandeep Singh.

In-form PBKS captain Iyer was dismissed first ball with Ramandeep taking a stunning catch.

Ramandeep ran a few yards and made a full length head-first dive and grabbed the ball inches above the turf.

Punjab's shoddy batting show continued as Josh Inglis (2) was bowled by Chakaravarthy as the home side were three wickets down in the fifth over.

Prabhsimran, however, was not affected by the fall of wickets as he smacked Rana for two consecutive sixes in the sixth over. But he got out two balls later to become Rana's third victim of the day.

Ramandeep also grabbed his third catch of the day, all of them off the bowling of Rana, as the duo made a perfect pair.

With 54 for 4 at the end of powerplay, Punjab were clearly in trouble. 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/yFHLCr5
via IFTTT