During the opening of the National Judicial Museum, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud asked an AI lawyer whether the death penalty is constitutional in India. The AI confirmed it, saying the death penalty is allowed but only for the most serious crimes. This marks an important moment in the growing use of AI in India’s legal system.
The Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, Canada, suspended and later reinstated Priest Rajinder Parsad after his controversial speech urging Hindu unity following an attack by pro-Khalistani protesters on Diwali weekend. The priest had warned that division among Hindus would lead to destruction. His suspension and reinstatement followed a review by the temple’s board.
A CID investigation has been launched into an incident where samosas and cakes meant for Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu were mistakenly served to his security staff during his visit to the CID headquarters on October 21. The incident has sparked a political debate, with the BJP criticizing the government for focusing on the samosa issue instead of state development.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has carried out raids across India targeting sellers on Amazon and Flipkart as part of an investigation into suspected money laundering. The focus is on uncovering financial irregularities, including how third-party vendors might be using these platforms to hide illegal funds. This comes as the government increases its oversight of the e-commerce industry in India.
The GST Council is expected to meet soon after the Parliament's winter session to discuss changes in GST rates on insurance products, packaged drinking water, bicycles, notebooks, luxury wristwatches, and shoes. One of the key topics will be adjusting insurance tax rates and reviewing the compensation cess. The proposed changes could bring in ₹22,000 crore in additional revenue by lowering taxes on some goods and increasing them on high-end items.
TV Mohandas Pai has criticized the Centre’s increasing use of Hindi for official communication with non-Hindi speaking states, especially in the south. He called it "wrong and worrisome" and opposed the imposition of any language. Pai emphasized that citizens should be able to respond in their native languages or English, not only in Hindi. Kerala MP John Brittas also protested the use of Hindi in government correspondence, calling it a deliberate policy shift.
The Supreme Court ruled that people with a light motor vehicle (LMV) license can now drive transport vehicles weighing up to 7,500 kg. The decision, made by a five-judge bench, also tackled insurance companies' refusal to cover accidents involving these drivers, pointing out there was no evidence showing that LMV license holders cause more accidents.
The Bombay High Court has ordered a Maharashtra Police officer to pay Rs 2 lakh to a man who was wrongfully arrested. Another police constable, the complainant in the case, was told to pay Rs 50,000 to his brother-in-law. The court found the arrest illegal because the charges were wrong and proper procedure was not followed. The case involved defamation and wrongful detention during a family dispute over marital cruelty.
India has ordered fintech companies to stop using PAN cards without permission to create customer profiles or access personal information. This move, led by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), comes in response to growing concerns over the misuse of PAN data and follows the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. The goal is to protect citizens' data and ensure that companies get proper consent before using personal details.
Amazon is requiring employees to work from the office five days a week starting in January. AWS CEO Matt Garman said that in-person collaboration is crucial for innovation. Employees who don’t want to return to the office are encouraged to find another job. While some workers are on board, many are frustrated by the added commute time and stress, questioning if it’s more effective than remote work.