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Senior advocate <keyword id="38062" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ram-Jethmalani">Ram Jethmalani</keyword>, who has been fighting the legal battle to bring back <keyword id="6356023" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Black-Money">black money</keyword> stashed money abroad, has expressed disappointment over the government's failure in recovering the black money. He called the government's response on the issue a "total disappointment." 
 "I am not recovering my money, but the nation's money. Till a legislation is passed, not a farthing will come. I drafted a law and sent a copy to the Prime Minister. It has been passed on to the finance ministry. Are they in favour of this legislation? If they don't want to do it, they should let it be known. Otherwise, I will go to the real sovereign — the people," said Jethmalani, a former member of the <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword>. 
 The BJP had promised to bring back black money during the election campaign. It had also constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to look into this. “But not a single rupee has been brought back in the last six months,” Jethmalani's lawyer Anil Divan told the Supreme bench of Chief Justice HL Dattu and justices <keyword id="135052" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Madan-B-Lokur">Madan B Lokur</keyword> and AK Sikri. 
 
Jethmalani had played a key role in filing a public interest litigation (PIL) on the issue of black money.

Not A Single Rupee Has Been Brought Back In The Last 6 Months: Ram Jethmalani

The <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> asked Reliance ADAG's power distribution company, BSES Yamuna to pay up its dues to electricity generating utilities totaling Rs 257 crore by July 15. Currently, the company has 13.5 lakh customers in central and east Delhi.
 As per the records till June 30, the power distribution company owes Rs 60 crore to central generating and transmission utilities, including <keyword id="75753" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Damodar-Valley-Corporation">Damodar Valley Corporation</keyword>, <keyword id="105181" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Power-Grid-Corporation">Power Grid Corporation</keyword> and <keyword id="2402471" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Aravali-Power-Company-Ltd-">Aravali Power Company Ltd.</keyword> <keyword id="75796" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="BSES-Yamuna">BSES Yamuna</keyword> also owes Rs 195 crore to Delhi-based power generating units Indraprastha, Delhi Transco and <keyword id="301258" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Pragati-Power-Corporation">Pragati Power Corporation</keyword>. 

	BSES Yamuna also clarified that the government subsidy, which was promised but not factored in, was to the tune of Rs 96 crore and hence its total liability would be Rs 161 crore.
 Appearing for Delhi Transco and Indraprastha, <keyword id="132134" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Additional-Solicitor-General">additional solicitor general</keyword> <keyword id="243257" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Tushar-Mehta">Tushar Mehta</keyword> said the total dues as per their calculation was Rs 370 crore. However, <keyword id="45179" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="NTPC">NTPC</keyword>, which was the first to approach the court with a threat to disconnect power supply to the national capital because of mounting arrears from BSES Yamuna, informed the court that it had been fully paid by the discom. BSES’s <keyword id="2117" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="senior-advocate">senior advocate</keyword> K V Vishwanathan attempted to put forth the discom's grievance. He said the state had not kept its promise of giving proper return on the Rs 15,000 crore investment made by the company. However, a bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha and Justice <keyword id="135052" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Madan-B-Lokur">Madan B Lokur</keyword> and Justice <keyword id="108280" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kurian-Joseph">Kurian Joseph</keyword> said the apex court would decide about BSES Yamuna's grievances against the <keyword id="6354952" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Delhi-Government">Delhi government</keyword> later. 

	“We are directing you only to pay current dues. Power generation and transmission companies are no baniya shops. You must clear all dues since January 2014 if you want electricity. You can’t continue like this. You are in arrears, arrears, arrears... This isn’t our headache,” observed the court.

	(Image: The Supreme Court of India's official webite)

SC Orders BSES Yamuna To Clear Rs 257 Crore Dues By July 15

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Monday informed the Supreme Court that the Centre has taken a holistic view of the issue of <keyword id="755878" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-pollution-in-Delhi">air pollution in Delhi</keyword> NCR, which also includes pollution due to stubble burning, and it intends to bring out a legislation in next three to four days to tackle this issue. A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde told Mehta, representing the Centre, it welcomes the Centre's decision to establish a body to address the menace of air pollution. "Everybody is choking in the city, it must be curbed", said the Chief Justice citing the menace of air pollution in the national capital. Mehta replied the Centre will come out with the legislation in three to four days and the government is keen to establish a permanent body of experts to address air pollution. "We can come out with the legislation in three to four days", submitted Mehta, insisting that the top court should keep its earlier order, which directed formation of a panel headed by retired judge Justice Madan B. Lokur to monitor steps taken to curb the stubble burning issue in the neighbouring states of <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword>, in abeyance. The top court reiterated that it welcomes this step by the Centre, in which it will create a permanent body by enacting a legislation to deal with the annual air pollution problem, which includes pollution from stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The bench asked the counsels opposing this submission by Mehta saying that why must the court interfere if the Centre intends to bring out a comprehensive legislation to tackle air pollution. Senior advocate Vikas Singh, representing the petitioner who filed PIL to address stubble burning, contended before the bench, "I don't understand the interest of Union of India in getting the order suspended." Mehta reiterated that the legislation will be brought within 3-4 days. After a detailed hearing in the matter, the top court agreed to keeps in abeyance it's order of appointing Justice Lokur as one-man commission to monitor steps to prevent stubble burning. The top court is likely to hear the matter again on Thursday this week. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/kotak-mahindra-bank-q2-results-show-profit-up-by-27/articleshow/78869757.cms">Kotak Mahindra Bank still on ‘alert’ as profit improves 27% over the last three months</a>

Indian government to bring a new law addressing air pollution issues due to stubble burning

<ul><li>The Delhi government is formulating a policy to curb <keyword id="622388" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-wastage">food wastage</keyword> at extravagant weddings after the matter was flagged in a <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> order rolled out on 6 December, PTI reported. </li><li>The bench, headed by Justice Madan B Lokur, has marked 31 January, 2019 as the last date for Delhi government to formulate the policy and enable its implementation, to benefit citizens. </li><li>Usually, all of the leftover food from such weddings goes to waste. It is alleged that stale food in consequent weddings leading to major health problems.</li></ul>Amid the high wedding season in India’s capital, Delhi government is working on formulating a policy to curb food wastage at extravagant weddings along with limiting the number of guests at such functions after the Supreme Court’s directive, PTI <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sc-contemplating-limiting-number-of-guests-manage-food-wastage-at-weddings/story-ZipvMC8cyaHkPvsF1oQhHN.html">reported</a>. A bench directed by Justice Madan B Lokur was formed. Vijay Kumar Dev, Delhi Chief Secretary, reportedly told the bench that the issue has been discussed after it was flagged in a court order rolled out on 6 December. According to one Delhi government official, Dev also said that there was ‘artificially enhanced demand’ to have such outrageous wedding functions in Delhi, said the report. To address the issue, the government has suggested that wedding organisers should work with with NGOs that provide food to the needy, under the Food Safety and Standards Act. The bench said that the first step should be to formulate a policy followed by its implementation. The council for Delhi government said that it took eight weeks to roll out the policy and register caterers under the Food Safety and Standards Act. A policy is expected by the end of January. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/an-indian-electricity-tribunal-has-a-bizarre-job-requirementyou-must-not-have-been-married-twice/articleshow/67055748.cms">An Indian electricity tribunal has a bizarre job requirement—you must not have been married twice</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-supreme-court-approves-round-the-clock-witness-protection-scheme/articleshow/66964318.cms">India's Supreme Court approves round-the-clock witness protection scheme</a>

India’s Supreme Court wants the Delhi government to crack down on big, fat Indian weddings to curb food wastage — and a policy could be in place by next month

New Delhi, Dec 18 () Automobile dealers' body FADA on Wednesday said it has moved the Supreme Court seeking sale and registry of unsold BS-IV vehicles beyond April 1, 2020.
 The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) said it should be allowed to offload inventory purchased before March 1, 2020 which remain unsold by the month-end.
 Last year, the Supreme Court had ordered that no Bharat Stage IV vehicle shall be sold in the country with effect from April 1, 2020. The Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission norms would come into force from April 1 next year.
 The FADA said that it on behalf of its members has filed an impleadment application in the Supreme Court along with an application seeking modification of the court's order of last year.
 "We have appealed to the Honourable Apex Court to protect the inventory and in turn the dealership survival of our members and allow us to sell and register inventory purchased before March 1, 2020, which remains unsold by March 31, beyond the current deadline of April 1,2020," FADA President Ashish Harsharaj Kale said in a statement.
 With the current timeline of pan-India BS-VI fuel availability of April 1, most manufacturers will shift to 100 per cent BS-VI vehicle production only by February-end or first week of March 2020, he said.
 "Looking at this timeline and the current fluctuating demand situation, despite putting in the best of efforts, there is a possibility that many of our members will not be able to ensure 100 per cent liquidation of BS-IV inventory," Kale said.
 He added that FADA members range from large dealership groups to family-run small scale entities operating in the remotest corners of the country operating at 3-5 per cent gross margins.
 "Despite their best efforts to sell, if dealers are left with any inventory of BS-IV on April 1, 2020, many of them will face financial hardships which could even threaten the existence of their business," Kale said.
 Last year, a three-judge bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur made it clear that only BS-VI compliant vehicles shall be sold in the country from April 1, 2020.
 The bench said the need of the hour was to move to a cleaner fuel. The BS-IV norms have been enforced across the country since April 2017. MSS ABM
ABM

FADA moves SC seeking relief in sale of BS-IV vehicles after April 1 deadline

<ul><li>India’s pollution control body believes stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and other neighbouring regions may not contribute much to Delhi’s deteriorating air quality this year.</li><li>The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said it is going to deploy 50 teams on the ground for an extensive field to ensure strict vigilance as pollution levels mount in Delhi. </li><li>The government is going to identify air pollution hotspots and implement its Micro Level Action Plan. </li></ul>In India’s national capital, winter is coming — and so is the thick layer of smog all over the city. Touted as being one of the most polluted cities in the world, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is gearing up to crackdown on violators. In addition to its new Micro Level Action Plan, the CPCB is also bringing in new measures. This includes doubling on measures like field inspections, deploying anti-smog guns, and keeping a closer eye on industries and construction projects. 50 teams have already been deployed on ground to ensure compliance. “All offenders will be punished. We must also do our bit by minimising the use of personal vehicles,” said Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. However, the air quality levels in New Delhi are already deteriorating — that too much earlier than anticipated, according to data shared by CPCB. Delhi’s air quality dips sooner than expected <div type="image" title="Delhi" msid="78703968" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Smog at NH-9 near Akshardham due to smoke with burning smell on Wednesday&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> A layer of smoky haze was spotted lingering over the Delhi-NCR region on October 15 with the air quality in the region hitting '<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/at-308-delhi-s-aqi-slips-into-very-poor-category-today/story-APUfzl0mndk9ceqRlE0yZI.html">very poor</a>' levels. This is despite stricter anti-air pollution measures, including a ban on electricity generators, coming into force under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). CPCB Member Secretary Prashant Gargava said the concentration of particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10) between September 1 and October 14 this year has been more as compared to the corresponding period last year. Meanwhile, NASA's <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pollution-could-worsen-covid-19-impact-in-winter-experts/story-Oik2qbJkAR2AcGdrXuaxsJ.html#:~:text=NASA's%20satellite%20imagery%20showed%20a,Ambala%20and%20Rajpura%20in%20Haryana.&amp;text=The%20Environment%20Ministry%20recently%20held,Uttar%20Pradesh%20on%20stubble%20burning.">satellite imagery </a> showed a large cluster of farm fires near Amritsar, Patiala, Tarn Taran, and Firozpur in Punjab, and Ambala and Rajpura in Haryana — suggesting an increase in stubble burning across the region. That being said, India’s pollution control body believes stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and other neighbouring regions may not contribute much to Delhi’s deteriorating air quality moving forward. Gargava said that as compared to last year, there is currently less area under cultivation for non-basmati crop and stubble burning also started early, which is why the city saw air quality levels dip earlier than usual in the first place. On ground teams, anti-smog guns and a one-man panel against pollution <div type="image" title="Smog gun" msid="78704000" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;DELHI GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENT MINISTER GOPAL RAI GESTURES DURING A DEMONSTRATION OF AN ANTI-SMOG GUN&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> In addition to the 50 teams that have already been deployed, The government is going to identify air pollution hotspots and implement its Micro Level Action Plan to ensure strict vigilance over pollution levels in Delhi. Apart from that, the government is planning to introduce BS VI compliant fuel and vehicles to remove pollution from vehicles. They are also working on 124 projects to install anti-smog guns across the city. The CPCB’s announcement comes on the heels of the Supreme Court appointing retired apex court judge Justice Madan B Lokur as a one-man committee to take steps to preventing stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh — which is considered to be one of main reasons behind the high level of smog in Delhi during the winter months. Experts believe pollution could worsen COVID-19 impact in winter <div type="image" title="22" msid="78704020" hostid="261"></div> The air pollution reaches a peak in Delhi and surrounding regions every winter. The pollution from stubble burning when combined with suspended water droplets in the lower atmosphere, form a thick blanket of noxious smog. In 2019 alone, air pollution killed an estimated 1.67 million people in the country, <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-pollution-tops-list-of-5-biggest-risk-factors-for-death-in-india-in-2019-study-2311228">according to the Global Burden of Disease </a>(GBD) study.However, little has been done to address the problem. The Kejriwal government didn’t pass a single bill to protect the environment in the last five years and has also been criticised by the Supreme Court for carelessness. Amid the coronavirus pandemic this year, the impact of pollution may be more fatal as it compromised the immune system. “Researchers have linked air pollution with mechanisms that may reduce our immune defences such as damage to human airways, cilia and epithelial barriers. In the case of COVID-19, current evidence indicates that chronic exposure to air pollutants is associated with more severe infections and higher mortality,” said Avinash Chanchal, a climate campaigner with Greenpeace India. (With inputs from PTI and IANS) <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/hdfc-bank-q2-earnings-impact-by-moratorium-restructuring-and-npa-loans/articleshow/78702092.cms">HDFC Bank likely to remain ahead of peers in second quarter — all eyes on loan restructuring, moratorium, and asset quality</a>

Delhi's pollution will go up against anti-smog guns, hotspot detection, and 50 teams this winter as stubble burning makes an early mark in its skies

On 13 September, <keyword id="245445" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ranjan-Gogoi">Ranjan Gogoi</keyword>, was appointed the Chief of Justice of India (<keyword id="6363345" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="cji">CJI</keyword>), succeeding <keyword id="6355251" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="dipak-misra">Dipak Misra</keyword>. The moment was historic. Gogoi is the first CJI from the Northeast of India. He is also stepping into Misra’s shoes ahead of the latter’s retirement on 2 October. Given his status as the senior-most judge on the <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> after Misra, his appointment was all but guaranteed. He was recommended for the post on 4 September by his predecessor. Gogoi has had a long and varied career since passing the bar in 1978. He spent the initial chunk of his career at the Guwahati High Court, before his transfer to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2010 and eventual elevation to the Supreme Court in 2012. Here are five things you should know about the 46th CJI:- He will only have a tenure of 13 months As per the Indian Constitution, Chief Justices cannot be above the age of 65. Just like his predecessor Misra, Gogoi, who is currently 63 years of age, will only hold the post of CJI for 13 months. He will turn 65 on November 17th next year. Following his retirement, he will likely be replaced by the Madan Bhimarao Lokur, who is the senior-most judge after him. The short stints of Chief Justices has long been an issue of debate among Indian parliamentarians. Since independence, the 65-year limit has resulted in the average tenure of a CJI being around 18 months. Earlier this year, the government was said to be mulling a proposal to raise the retirement age of the CJI. However, this was mired in accusations that this was a ploy to prolong the tenure of Misra, who is said to favour the current administration. His father is a former chief minister of Assam Gogoi’s father, Keshab Chandra Gogoi, was a lawyer-turned politician and influential Congress leader in Assam. He became the chief minister of Assam for two months in 1982 as protests over the issue of illegal immigration swelled. Interestingly, according to the book Gauhati High Court: History and Heritage by Arup Kumar Dutta, when a colleague asked him if he wanted his son to become Chief Minister, KC Gogoi said that his son would one day become the CJI. He’s presided over a number of important SC judgements Gogoi has overseen a lot of important cases and judgements during his tenure as a Supreme Court judge. In May 2018, he revoked a proposal from the Uttar Pradesh government that allowed all ex-chief ministers to retain their official residences. He also presided over the cases of Arushi Talwar’s murder, the setting up of special courts to try Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies and a judgement prohibiting the government from using photographs of anyone else but the PM, President and the CJI for advertising purposes. He is currently leading a bench that has been tasked with monitoring updates to the National Register of Citizens in order to prevent unnecessary deportations of Assamese residents. He has released details of his assets to the public Gogoi is among the 11 out of 23 sitting judges in the Supreme Court who have published details of their assets and financial holdings on the SC website. According to <a href="https://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/pdf/ASSETS/ranjangogoi.pdf">the filing</a>, he does not own a car and does not have any outstanding debts or investments in mutual funds or shares. Until this year, his most prominent assets were a piece of a land in Assam that he sold for ₹6.5 million in June 2018 and an old house he inherited from his mother in mid-2015. He was one of the judges who criticised former CJI Dipak Misra Gogoi’s possible appointment as CJI came under speculation after he and three other senior Supreme Court judges called a press conference at the beginning of 2018 to criticise CJI Misra and state the India’s democracy was under threat. In what was the first such event in the history of the Indian judicial system, the group of judges - which included Gogoi, Madan B Lokur, Kurian Joseph and the now retired J Chelameswar - said that Misra’s system of allocating certain cases was faulty and politically motivated. As he takes on the post of CJI, one of Gogoi’s first tasks will to be clean the SC’s image and improving the roster system of case allocation.

Here are 5 things you should know about Ranjan Gogoi, the new Chief Justice of India

<ul><li>The SC had asked social media platform-owners to list measures taken to block videos of sexual abuse.</li><li>A fine of ₹1 lakh was imposed on these companies after they failed to present an affidavit listing the same. </li><li>These companies, including <keyword id="736869" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Facebook-India">Facebook India</keyword>, <keyword id="45395" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google-India">Google India</keyword>, WhatsApp and <keyword id="6363100" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="yahoo">Yahoo</keyword>, have got till June 15 to comply. </li></ul>Tech giants <keyword id="6355629" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="google">Google</keyword> India and <keyword id="6354576" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="facebook">Facebook</keyword> India now face a <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/social-media/offensive-content-apex-court-imposes-1-lakh-fine-each-on-google-fb-microsoft-others/article23953471.ece">fine</a> of ₹1 lakh ($14,720 approximately) for failing to comply with the <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword>’s orders to inform the court of measures taken to block videos that include sexual abuse on their social media platforms. Google and Facebook aren’t the only companies under fire. The justice bench that comprises of Madan B Lokur and UU Lalit issued notices to Yahoo, Facebook Ireland, Google Inc., <keyword id="10387" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> and WhatsApp as well. Thus far, these companies have not filed any documents to highlight their efforts. As per the court’s new directive, the penalty amount will be kept with the Registry as a short-term fixed deposit while the companies will have until June 15 to file an affidavit that outlines the steps taken by them to curb videos of sexual offences. The Centre also informed the court that their Portal Integration with Crime and <keyword id="4041000" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="criminal-tracking-network-systems">Criminal Tracking Network &amp; Systems</keyword> would be ready for its official launch in another two months. The bench has issued a deadline of July 15, for the task to be completed along with the coordination required between the relevant ministries. The Supreme Court has, in the past, criticized search engines by Google and Microsoft over sex determination advertisements. They, in fact, <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pre-natal-gender-test-search-engines-results-blocked-supreme-court-3039418/">ordered</a> these companies to block 43 keywords relating to pre-natal gender tests. Google is already in a legal battle with the Competition Commission of India for having abused its dominant position in the market and violating <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/google-says-indias-anti-trust-ruling-could-cause-irreparable-harm/articleshow/64220156.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">‘anti-trust’</a> laws. Even Facebook isn’t out of hot water with the <keyword id="3168816" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="cambridge-analytica">Cambridge Analytica</keyword> data scandal hanging over its head and the Indian government <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/India-says-it-will-continue-probe-despite-Cambridge-Analytica-shutdown/articleshow/64029610.cms">declaring</a> it has no plans of retracting its inquiry.

Indian Supreme Court slaps Google, Facebook, Microsoft with ₹100,000 fine

<ul><li>The court has asked the <keyword id="6355180" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="archaeological-survey-of-india">Archaeological Survey of India</keyword> (<keyword id="46215" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ASI">ASI</keyword>) why the monument is changing its hue from a bright white to a dull brown and green.</li><li>ASI has cited many reasons for this, including dirty socks, green slime emitted by millions of mosquito-like insects and algae. </li><li>The ASI said the <keyword id="6355354" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="taj-mahal">Taj Mahal</keyword> floor was dirty at several places because many walking on it do not wear socks. </li></ul> India’s <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> is supremely <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/supreme-court-expresses-concern-over-change-in-colour-of-taj-mahal/articleshow/63985113.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">annoyed</a> with the caretakers of the Taj Mahal, who have not been able to prevent or combat the world heritage site’s discolouration. It has sought answers from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as to why the monument is changing its hue from a bright white to a dull brown and green. The apex court has been hearing the case based on a plea filed by environmentalist M.C. Mehta, seeking protection of the Taj. On May 1, the court asked the Centre and <keyword id="6357713" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</keyword> government to consider hiring experts from outside if local experts could not get the job done. "We don't know whether you have or perhaps don't have the expertise. Even if you have the expertise, you are not utilising it," Justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta told the government. "Or perhaps you don't care," the bench added. “You all appear to be helpless. Money should not be the consideration. We might order you to hire experts from within India or abroad. We need to save it,” it further added. ASI, the body entrusted with the upkeep of the 17th-century tomb, has cited many reasons for this, <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/saving-taj-mahal-supreme-court-says-throw-out-asi-govt-says-calling-experts-5170706/" data-type="tilCustomLink">including</a> dirty socks, green slime emitted by millions of mosquito-like insects and algae. ASI also suggested that water stagnation in the Yamuna river and high phosphorus levels on the riverbed made it a breeding ground for insects that formed patches on the walls of the Taj every summer. On hearing ASI’s advocate A.D.N Rao’s comment that algae were a big source of the discolouration, Justice Madan B. Lokur asked how the algae reached the top parts of the Taj Mahal. “It flew there,” the lawyer said. “Can algae fly?” the judge asked. The ASI also told the court that the Taj Mahal floor was dirty at several places because many walking on it do not wear socks. Apparently, the ASI provides clean socks only to VIPs when they tour the Taj Mahal. Rao also told the bench, "I am not saying that there is no problem but we are trying our best." Clearly miffed with the ASI's feeble attempt to provide a satisfactory explanation or a solution, the judges told the Additional Solicitor General A.N.S. Nadkarni, appearing for the Centre: “You (Centre) please consider if the ASI is needed there or not. The view of ASI is very clear from their submissions. They are not prepared to accept the problem… you have to remove the ASI because they are saying they are doing an excellent job. ASI will have to be thrown out of the picture.” To this, Nadkarni told the bench that the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) was already considering the recommendation to involve international experts in the monument’s conservation.

India’s Supreme Court asks for the top archaeological body to be “thrown out” to preserve the Taj Mahal

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeepachetan/11268502654/sizes/o/">Flickr/sandeepachetan</a></div></div></div><ul><li>India's Supreme Court has made a statement threatening to demolish the Taj Mahal or to shut it down.</li><li>The statement came in response to the lack of action taken to prevent and remedy the discoloration of the monument.</li><li>The damage appears to be caused largely by air pollution from nearby factories and the excrement of insects coming from Yamuna River.</li></ul> In a drastic statement, India's Supreme Court has presented the local government where the Taj Mahal is situated with an ultimatum, threatening either to demolish the iconic monument or to shut it down."Either we shut down the Taj, demolish it or you restore it," stated Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak to the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments on Wednesday.The Taj Mahal, erected by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century, is one of the world's "seven wonders" and was built in Agra as a mausoleum for Shah Jahan's wife, Mumtaz Mahal.The court was already in the middle of another similar hearing from May, prompted by environmentalist Mahesh Chander Mehta's petition, when it was raised that pollution was turning the monument's once pristine white marble facade green, brown, and yellow.Since then, the court has begun implementing various preservation laws - the most recent being that non-locals are prohibited from offering prayers on the monument's premises - but officials have declared the case a "hopeless cause", rebuking the local government for its failure to devise a preservation plan swiftly enough.Over the past three decades, the building has degraded largely due to particulate matter given off by industrial units in its vicinity, but also due to the Yamuna River, at the west side of which the Taj Mahal is situated.Yamuna River also contains considerable waste and, as a result, now houses a breeding ground for insects - whose excrement corrodes the building's marble. In addition, household generators running on diesel and kerosene are also common in India and are thought to be another culprit in pollution levels.The court also questioned the chairman of the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) - the 10,400 square kilometre region around the Taj Mahal - about why the court's ban on the expansion of industrial units in that area was contravened.Uttar Pradesh government has defended itself saying IIT, Kanpur was conducting an assessment of air pollution levels in and around the TTZ and would give its report within four months. The court, which said the issue had dragged on for too long with too few clear plans of action, said the case will now be heard on a day-to-day basis as of July 31.Read the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-pollution-issues-may-claim-one-of-the-wonders-of-the-world-soon/articleshow/64950925.cms">original article</a> on <a href="http://businessinsider.in/">Business Insider India</a>. Copyright 2018. Follow Business Insider India on <a href="https://twitter.com/BiIndia">Twitter</a>. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-happens-when-hold-in-your-pee-too-long-2018-6">What happens when you hold in your pee for too long</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

The Taj Mahal is under threat of demolition because pollution has damaged it so much

<ul><li>The Supreme Court has now given an ultimatum to the Central and <keyword id="6357713" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</keyword> governments saying, "Either we will shut down the Taj or you demolish or restore it." </li><li>The judges also said that single monument could have solved the foreign exchange problem single-handedly, if it was preserved well. </li><li>The court has also questioned the chairman of the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), about the violation of the court's ban on the expansion of industrial units in the zone.</li></ul>After repeated interactions over the <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/on-taj-mahal-supreme-court-slams-centre-for-apathy-says-either-we-will-shut-it-down-or-you-demolish-1881433">issue</a> of the preservation of the <keyword id="6355354" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="taj-mahal">Taj Mahal</keyword>, the Supreme Court of India, the country's apex court, has now given an ultimatum to the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments saying. The court said, "Either we will shut down the Taj or you demolish or restore it." The court was hearing another petition regarding the protection of the Taj by environmentalist M.C. Mehta when they finally declared it a “hopeless case” and tried to call the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments out on their “lethargy” and “apathy”. The statement comes as a shock to Indian citizens as the marble monument is a Wonder of the World and a must-see for all who come to India. The judges also said that the monument could have solved the foreign exchange problem of the country if the governments had looked after it since it invited so many foreign tourists every day. They went on to compare the <keyword id="36539" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="eiffel-tower">Eiffel Tower</keyword> to a TV tower, in establishing the superiority of the Taj, which is “more beautiful”. They court said, "Eighty million go to watch Eiffel Tower which looks like a TV Tower. Our Taj is more beautiful. If you had looked after it your foreign exchange problem would have been solved. Do you realise the loss caused to the country due to your apathy?” The <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/supreme-court-slams-centre-for-lethargy-in-protecting-taj-mahal/articleshow/64944524.cms">bench</a> of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak made it a point to express its displeasure over the UP government's failure to come out with a vision document to preserve and protect the Taj. It also asked for details on what the Centre has done and now, aims to do for the monument. The court has also questioned the chairman of the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), which is a defined area of 10400 sq km around the Taj Mahal to protect the monument from pollution, about why the court's ban on the expansion of industrial units in the zone was violated. The Uttar Pradesh government defended itself saying it was also trying to take care of the environment around the historic monument so that it could be there for another 400 years and not just for a generation. The <a href="https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/supreme-court-on-taj-mahal/313348">Centre</a> also mentioned that IIT, Kanpur was conducting an assessment of air pollution level in and around the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) and they would give their report within four months. However, the court shot back calling the initiatives vague or of no consequence. It said that steps taken by the authorities appear to have a "negative effect" on Taj. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court had blamed the Archeological Survey of India for failing to do what was required for the preservation of the iconic monument. The marble monument has been long struggling against deterioration. It had started turning green and yellow due to pollution and the matter was brought to the court in May. Since then the court has tried to make several laws to preserve Taj. The latest one <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/no-offering-namaz-at-taj-mahal-supreme-court-5251922/">prohibits</a> non-locals from offer namaz in the Taj premises. The court said that as the issue was lingering on for a long time and since there were no concrete steps or reports to present, the case will now be heard on a day-to-day basis only from 31 July.

India’s pollution issues may claim one of the wonders of the world soon

NEW DELHI: The <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> on Wednesday cancelled 214 <keyword id="6356966" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Coal">coal</keyword> block allocations, giving the owners six months time to wind up their work. 
 A bench, headed by <keyword id="42759" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Chief-Justice">Chief Justice</keyword> RM Lodha, saved only four blocks — one belonging to <keyword id="45179" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="NTPC">NTPC</keyword> and SAIL each and two allocated to Sasan ultra mega power projects — from being cancelled.
 The bench, also comprising justices Madan B Lokur and <keyword id="108280" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Kurian-Joseph">Kurian Joseph</keyword>, granted six months breathing time to mining companies to wind up their operations in the coal blocks.
The saved four coal mines' allottes will pay government an additional levy of Rs 295 per tonne of coal extraction. 
 
The top court said it has given six months breathing time to functioning plants to arrange for coal from other sources. 
 
SC said government’s stand that it was prepared for cancellation of allocation as logical consequence of the court’s judgment declaring all allocations illegal and arbitrary helped it in arriving at a decision quickly on fate of coal blocks. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Coal-blocks-allocation-Centre-tells-Supreme-Court-something-went-wrong/articleshow/28590200.cms">Coal scam — Centre admits something went wrong</a> 
 
The bench also directed the companies, which were allocated coal blocks but had not operationalized them, to pay a compensation to the government for the loss of exchequer. It accepted the findings of the CAG which came to the conclusion that the loss of Rs 295 per tonne was caused due to the non-operation of the mines. 
 
The apex court had on August 25 held that all coal blocks allocation since 1993 by various regimes at the Centre have been made illegally and arbitrarily. 
 
During an earlier hearing in the case, the UPA govt had opposed cancellation of coal blocks allocation saying that around Rs 2 lakh crore had been invested by various companies after blocks were alloted to them. 
 
 
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		SC has given Govt 6 months to cancel the 214 coal allocations: Mukul Rohatgi, AG <a href="http://t.co/6Sdko2dhtl">pic.twitter.com/6Sdko2dhtl</a>
	— ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/514700054729211905">September 24, 2014</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
	
		 
		We welcome SC's judgement,today our stand has been vindicated : Sambit Patra,BJP on SC's verdict on coal blocks <a href="http://t.co/9aqLNk8okr">pic.twitter.com/9aqLNk8okr</a>
	— ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/514704955798605824">September 24, 2014</a></blockquote>
 
(With inputs from PTI)

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