NGO’s S N Shukla said Supreme Court, in the M S Gill case, had ruled that it should not make Election Commission a law unto itself

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court has agreed to test the constitutional validity of a law giving lifelong immunity to the Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners from civil and criminal prosecution after a PIL alleged it would make the Election Commission a law unto itself, reports Dhananjay Mahapatra. After hearing arguments from S N Shukla for NGO ‘Lok Prahari’, a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the Union govt and EC, and sought their responses. “We will examine whether it is constitutionally permissible to give CEC and ECs (election commissioners) such immunity from prosecution,” the bench said Monday.Present provision could jeopardise free and fair elections, NGO tells SCNGO ‘Lok Prahari’ challenged Section 16 of CEC and Other ECs (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, which provided that “…no court shall entertain or continue any civil or criminal proceedings against any person who is or was a chief election commissioner or an election commissioner for any act, thing or word, committed, done or spoken by him when, or in the course of acting or purporting to act in the discharge of his official duty or function”. The NGO’s S N Shukla said Supreme Court in the M S Gill case, while giving Election Commission independence and autonomy to conduct elections, had ruled that it should not make EC a law unto itself. The present provision would enable the CEC and election commissioners to act in an unaccountable manner and could jeopardise free and fair elections, which is the basic requirement of a democracy. The NGO alleged that Section 16 was not part of the original bill tabled in Parliament in Aug, 2023 and was surreptitiously introduced “as an afterthought in the last-minute amendment to the bill at the time of debate on the bill in Dec, 2023 without giving any valid reason and adequate justification in support of it”. Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, had recently targeted the CEC and election commissioners by saying if Congress and its allies came to office at Centre, it would disband this immunity and change the law retrospectively to hold them accountable for any past wrongdoings in the conduct of elections. The NGO said Section 16 is against the settled law that no one is above the law, and pointed out govt gave no reason for hurried inclusion of immunity clause for CEC and election commissioners. The petitioner claimed that such immunity is not available to the President, governors or judges. The NGO alleged the offending clause was not discussed during the debate on the bill and that “the amendment was put to vote in a rushed hush hush manner”. The petitioner said, “Evidently, the approval of the House on the said amendment was obtained and given without application of mind.” It said, “The blanket permanent immunity from all civil or criminal proceedings against any present or former CEC or election commissioners is not only against the constitutional scheme and the intentions of the framers of the Constitution.”

NEW DELHI: BJP working president Nitin Nabin is set to take over as full-fledged national president of the party on Jan 20, in the presence of PM Modi and other senior leaders, including chief ministers, national office-bearers, state party presidents and national executive council members, reports Akhilesh Singh. He will replace JP Nadda, one of the longest-serving party presidents. Since his appointment as working president, Nabin has enjoyed the support of the party brass. His ascension, following elections on Jan 20, therefore, is being seen as a formality.Nabin ascension is seen as a move towards overhaul of BJP With full-throttle endorsement from the saffron fountainhead, RSS, Nitin Nabin (46) will be the youngest party president, and his ascension is seen as a move towards a complete overhaul of the party, with a possible mix of youth and experience. Party sources have indicated that nominations for the president’s election will take place on Jan 19, followed by election the next day. Party sources said that after completing the nomination process, Nabin will be elected national president the next day. He had been appointed BJP working president on Dec 15, but his formal takeover was on hold due to “kharmas”, an inauspicious phase when Hindus avoid taking up new work or marking a beginning. Since his appointment, Nabin has been meeting party workers at the BJP headquarters. Widely regarded as an organisational chief, Nabin currently represents Bankipur assembly constituency in Patna district. Nabin is the son of the late BJP politician and former BJP MLA Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha. With nearly two decades of organisational experience, Nabin has held several key roles within the party, including as Bihar president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and BJP’s election in-charge for Chhattisgarh.

Canada updated its country-wise travel alert in the first week of January and advised Canadians to avoid traveling to a list of countries. This takes into account political tension, flight situations, internal protests etc.

Iran

Canada advises its nationals to avoid all travel to Iran due to ongoing nationwide demonstrations, tensions in the region, the high risk of arbitrary detention and the unpredictable enforcement of local laws. “The Iranian authorities have arrested and/or detained individuals, including foreign and dual nationals, to exert political or diplomatic influence on their governments. You should leave Iran if you can do so safely. Many airlines have suspended flights to and from Iran at this time, but there are overland crossing options. Our ability to provide consular services in Iran is extremely limited,” it said.

Venezuela

“Avoid all travel to Venezuela due to the heightened security situation, unstable political and economic situations, significant level of violent crime, the risk of arbitrary detention, and the decline in basic living conditions, including shortages of medication, gasoline and water,” the advisory said.

Central African Republic

“The political and security situation remains unstable in the Central African Republic. Military operations are regularly taking place throughout the country and armed criminal groups are committing acts of violence in several regions. The security situation is more stable in Bangui but could deteriorate rapidly,” the alert said.

South Sudan

Avoid all travel to South Sudan, due to the ongoing volatile security situation, armed conflicts, inter-ethnic violence and high levels of violent crime, the advisory said on South Sudan. “You should leave by commercial means if you can do so safely. If you choose to stay in South Sudan, you do so at your own risk,” it said.

Yemen

“Avoid all travel to Yemen, including the Island of Socotra, due to ongoing tensions in the region, armed conflict, terrorist attacks, and kidnapping. If you’re in Yemen, you should leave the country if it’s safe to do so.”Also on ‘do not travel list’ but last updated in December 2025SyriaSudanRussiaNigerMaliLibyaIraqBurkina FasoBelarusAfghanistanUkraineHaitiSomaliaMyanmarNorth Korea

Avoid non-essential travel

This is the list of countries where the Canadian government advises to avoid non-essentual travel. NepalEthiopiaBurundiChadDemocratic Republic of CongoEritreaLebananMauritaniaNigeriaPapua New Guinea

Why India is on the list of ‘high degree of caution’

The advisory, last updated in December 2025, listed India as a destination where a high degree of caution is to be exercised due to the “threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country”. The advisory listed J&K, border areas with Pakistan in Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan under ‘do not travel’ and Assam, Manipur under ‘avoid non-essential travel’.

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/venezuela-leader-nicolas-maduros-bodyguard-gets-key-role-in-cabinet-10738886” on this server.

Reference #18.34fdd417.1768250577.5ef0898

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.34fdd417.1768250577.5ef0898

In a heart-warming revelation that has sent social media into a frenzy, former Indian opening batter Shikhar Dhawan officially announced his engagement to his longtime partner, Sophie Shine, on Monday, January 12.

Known for his persona on the field and his infectious smile off it, Dhawan took to Instagram to share the joyous milestone with his millions of followers, marking a beautiful new beginning in his personal life.

The announcement comes after months of quiet speculation and subtle hints, confirming that the veteran cricketer has indeed found love again. Fans and the cricketing fraternity have flooded the couple’s social media pages with congratulatory messages, celebrating the union of two individuals who have remained remarkably poised amidst public curiosity.

Shikhar Dhawan and Sophie Shine’s evolution of a quiet romance

While the engagement news feels like a sudden celebration, the relationship between Shikhar and Sophie has been a journey of steady companionship and discretion. The pair first publicly confirmed they were dating on May 1 of last year, yet they managed to keep the finer details of their bond away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

The initial spark of public interest ignited when Sophie uploaded a candid photo of the couple with the simple yet profound caption, “My love,” accompanied by a heart emoji. That single post served as the first official acknowledgment of their relationship, putting an end to months of rumours. Since then, Sophie has been a fixture in Dhawan’s support system. She was frequently spotted in the stands during the Indian Premier League (IPL), cheering fervently for the Punjab Kings during Shikhar’s tenure with the franchise.

Their bond became even more apparent earlier in 2025 when they were seen together in Dubai during a Champions Trophy match. Furthermore, at a recent media conclave, Dhawan spoke with a sense of renewed peace, subtly hinting that he had opened his heart to love once more. Their ability to maintain a level of privacy while navigating the high-profile world of international sports has been widely admired by their supporters.

Also READ: Shikhar Dhawan to marry his Irish girlfriend Sophie Shine on THIS date

The official engagement announcement was every bit as soulful as fans expected from Dhawan. Sharing a beautiful moment captured with Sophie, Shikhar expressed his gratitude for the life they are building together. His post radiated a sense of maturity and deep affection, moving away from the “bad boy” tropes of sports stardom toward a narrative of healing and partnership.

“From shared smiles to shared dreams. Grateful for the love, the blessings and every good wish for our engagement as we choose togetherness forever,” Dhawan wrote in his heartfelt Instagram post.

The post, which featured the couple’s hands flaunting their rings, quickly went viral, garnering hundreds of thousands of likes within the first hour. For Dhawan, who has been vocal about his personal growth and the importance of emotional well-being following his previous separation, this engagement represents more than just a ceremony – it is a testament to resilience.

Also READ: Fastest to 28,000: Here’s the breakdown of Virat Kohli’s international run

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delegation-from-communist-party-of-china-visits-bjp-headquarters-in-delhi-10738862” on this server.

Reference #18.27fdd417.1768254225.5c153796

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.27fdd417.1768254225.5c153796

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the Board of Control for Cricket in India has not received any communication from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on reports suggesting a change of venue for Bangladesh’s matches in the T20 World Cup. He said the issue is between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC.India and Sri Lanka are scheduled to co-host the T20 World Cup from February 7. The Bangladesh Cricket Board had written to the ICC requesting that its matches be moved to Sri Lanka, citing “security concerns” due to tensions between the two countries. The BCB also said it had received a response from the ICC, which assured them that the matter would be examined.The BCB’s apprehensions followed the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the instructions of the BCCI for unspecified reasons, amid reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.Meanwhile, some reports suggested that the ICC is looking at alternative venues for Bangladesh’s matches. It was reported that Bangladesh is unlikely to play in Sri Lanka, which was its preferred option, and that Chennai and Trivandrum are being considered instead of the originally scheduled venues of Kolkata and Mumbai.However, Saikia said the BCCI has not been informed of any such development.“The BCCI has not received any communication regarding the matter of shifting Bangladesh matches to Chennai or anywhere else, and it is beyond our control. It is a matter of communication between the BCB and the ICC, as the ICC is the governing body. If the ICC conveys any decision to us regarding a change of venue, the BCCI, as the host, will take the necessary steps. At present, we are not privy to any such information,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.As per the existing schedule, Bangladesh are set to play three matches in Kolkata — against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14. They are then scheduled to play Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.