Black money a problem, but no magic solutions: PM

June 25, 2012

New Delhi, June 25: As G-20 countries worked on steps to tackle black money, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said it is a problem but no "magic solutions" were available to deal with menace.

"The problem is there but there are no magic solutions available. I think it is going to be a slow process," Singh told reporters accompanying him on his return home after his eight-day foreign tour.

The Prime Minister's remark came when he was asked whether the black money issue has become irrelevant for the Group of Developed and Developing countries (G-20) or any improvement was there in dealing with the problem.

"It is too early to say one way or the other," he said. The just concluded G-20 Summit at Los Cabos in Mexico welcomed the efforts to enhance interagency cooperation to tackle illicit financial flows.

In its communique, the G-20 said it supported the renewal of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mandate, thereby sustaining global efforts to combat money laundering.

In the tax area, the G-20 leaders including Prime Minister Singh reiterated their commitment to strengthen transparency and comprehensive exchange of information.

The 14-page document also called on relevant stakeholders to play an active role in fighting corruption, saying graft impeded economic growth, threatened the integrity of markets, undermined fair competition and undermined the rule of law.

Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a US NGO, praised G-20 leaders today for prominently focusing on the issue of illicit financial flows and committing to move toward the automatic exchange of tax information.

G-20 leaders have committed "to lead by example in implementing" the practice of automatic tax information exchange, and called upon other "countries to join this growing practice as appropriate," a move lauded by GFI as a major step in the right direction.

Corruption, crime, and tax evasion in the form of illicit financial outflows cost the developing world US$1 trillion per year, according to GFI research.

"We are thrilled to see the G-20 commit to adopting a standardized system of automatic tax information exchange," said GFI Director Raymond Baker. "Automatic information exchange will go a long way towards curtailing tax evasion."

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You all can protest as much as you want, but Modi will surely amend Waqf Act: Amit Shah

News Network

November 15,2024

Union minister Amit Shah on Friday, November 15, said PM Narendra Modi will amend the Waqf Act despite opposition from leaders like Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar.

"Modi ji wants to change the Waqf Board law, but Uddhav ji, Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule are opposing it," Shah said, addressing a rally at Umarkhed in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district.

"Uddhav ji, listen carefully, you all can protest as much as you want, but Modi ji will amend the Waqf Act," he said. Shah said there are two camps in the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, one of 'Pandavas' represented by the BJP-led Mahayuti and the other of 'Kauravas' represented by Maha Vikas Aghadi.

"Uddhav Thackeray claims that his Shiv Sena is the real one. Can the real Shiv Sena go against renaming Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar? Can the real Shiv Sena go against renaming Ahmednagar to Ahilyanagar? The real Shiv Sena stands with the BJP," Shah said.

"Rahul Baba used to say that his government would credit money in the accounts of the people instantly. You were unable to fulfil your promises in Himachal, Karnataka, and Telangana," he said.

Shah said the Mahayuti alliance has promised that women will get Rs 2,100 per month under the Ladki Bahin Yojana. "Kashmir is an integral part of India and no power in the world can snatch it away from us," Shah said.

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‘Officials to pay from salary’: Supreme Court issues guidelines on ‘bulldozer justice’

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November 13,2024

New Delhi: The Supreme Court took a firm stance on ‘bulldozer justice’ today, affirming that the Executive cannot bypass the Judiciary and that the legal process must not prejudge the guilt of an accused. In a significant judgment, the bench led by Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan set new guidelines for demolition practices, responding to petitions challenging the controversial bulldozer actions taken against individuals accused of crimes.

The rise of this practice, termed 'bulldozer justice,' has seen authorities in various states demolish what they claim to be illegal structures belonging to accused individuals. However, multiple petitions questioned the legality and fairness of this approach, bringing the matter before the court.

Justice Gavai highlighted that owning a home is a cherished goal for many families, and an essential question was whether the Executive should have the authority to strip individuals of their shelter. “In a democracy, the rule of law protects citizens from arbitrary actions by the state. The criminal justice system must not assume guilt,” stated the bench, underscoring that due process is a fundamental right under the Constitution.

On the principle of separation of powers, the bench reinforced that the Judiciary alone holds adjudicatory powers and that the Executive cannot overstep these boundaries. Justice Gavai remarked, “When the state demolishes a home purely because its resident is accused of a crime, it violates the doctrine of separation of powers.”

The court issued a strong warning about accountability, stating that public officials who misuse their power or act arbitrarily must face consequences. Justice Gavai observed that selectively demolishing one property while ignoring similar cases suggests that the aim might be to penalize rather than enforce legality. “For most citizens, a house is the product of years of labor and dreams. Taking it away must be an action of last resort, thoroughly justified,” he said.

In its directives under Article 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court established new demolition guidelines. These include:

Mandatory Show-Cause Notice: No demolition should occur without first issuing a show-cause notice. The person served has a minimum of 15 days or the duration stated in local laws to respond.

Transparency of Notice Content: The notice must include specifics about the alleged unauthorized construction, the nature of the violation, and the rationale for demolition.

Hearing and Final Order: Authorities are required to hear the response of the affected individual before issuing a final order. The homeowner will have 15 days to address the issue, with demolition proceeding only if no stay order is obtained from an appellate authority.

Contempt Proceedings: Any breach of these guidelines would lead to contempt proceedings. Officials who disregard these norms will be personally accountable for restitution, with costs deducted from their salaries.

Additionally, the court mandated that all municipal bodies establish digital portals within three months, displaying show-cause notices and final orders on unauthorized structures to ensure public transparency and accountability.

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