The bench said that the omission on part of the trial judge was not such a ‘fatal’ defect as to vitiate the entire trial

NEW DELHI: It was a minor lapse by a trial judge of not affixing his signature to the order framing the charges, but it led to a washout of 17 years of trial proceedings, with the Allahabad HC ordering retrial despite the case having reached a conclusive state. Disagreeing with the high court, the Supreme Court has said criminal procedure is intended to advance the ends of justice and not thwart them over technicalities.A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan said that the omission on the part of the trial judge was not such a “fatal” defect as to vitiate the entire trial and that the procedural irregularity is curable.In the 2007 murder case, which had nine accused, the trial court framed charges in 2009, but the order for the same remained unsigned owing to the absence of one of the accused. The trial in the case, however, went on smoothly for 15 years, and this issue was raised only at the fag end of proceedings in 2024, making the HC order a retrial.Referring to a constitution bench verdict, the bench said, “This court distinguished fundamental illegality and curable procedural irregularity. It was held that only those defects which go to the root of jurisdiction or occasion real prejudice can vitiate the proceedings, whereas defects of a lesser degree constitute irregularities requiring proof of failure of justice. The distinction between an illegality and an irregularity is thus well established...”Quashing the HC’s order, the court said, “Acceptance of such belated challenges founded on procedural irregularities would defeat the object of criminal procedure, which is to advance the cause of justice and not to frustrate it on technical grounds”. It also questioned the conduct of the accused in raising the issue at the fag end of the trial, that too after the demise of key eyewitnesses.It said the omission of a signature on the order did not render the proceedings invalid when the framing of charges was done, recorded, read over, and acted upon by the court and the parties. “The record affirmatively demonstrates that the accused had full knowledge of the accusations and effectively contested the prosecution’s case. The nature of cross-examination and the defence adopted leaves no manner of doubt that the accused were neither misled nor prejudiced,” the bench said.

NEW DELHI: At a time when Pakistan has inserted itself in the West Asia frame and proposed to position itself as a mediator, the latest US congressional research service (CRS) report offers a sharp reality check. It says Pakistan remains a sanctuary for a wide array of terrorist groups despite decades of state-led military offensives and strategic policy shifts.Despite the 2014 National Action Plan’s mandate to dismantle all armed militias, 15 major groups continue to operate across five broad categories — globally oriented, Afghanistan-oriented, India- and Kashmir-oriented, domestically oriented, and sectarian, the report noted.Twelve of these 15 groups are designated as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs) under US law, with most animated by extremist ideology. The report underscores a fundamental failure in dismantling these networks, noting that both US- and UN-designated terrorist organisations continue to operate openly on Pakistani soil. Particular emphasis is placed on India-centric groups like Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Muhammed, which maintain active cadres of 1,500 and 500 armed supporters, respectively.On the regional front, Pakistan remains a base for India-oriented groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks), Jaish and Hizbul, which seek the annexation of Kashmir.While Islamabad accuses India of backing militants in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — charges India denies — US officials have conversely linked the Haqqani Network, led by Afghanistan’s interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, to Pakistan’s own intelligence services. Despite being removed from the FATF “grey list” in 2022, Pakistan remains designated by the US as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom, as some madrassas continue teaching doctrines which could lead to greater acceptance of extremist ideology. From the dormant anti-Shia Sipah-e-Sahaba to the active Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, the sheer diversity of these outfits illustrates a multi-layered security challenge that neither airstrikes nor diplomatic maneuvers have been able to resolve, the report said.The reality is further punctuated by a spike in terrorism-linked deaths that reached 4,001 in 2025 — highest in 11 years. TTP remains the deadliest domestic threat, seeking Sharia law in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

J&K CM Omar Abdullah makes strong pitch against amendments to Jammu and Kashmir Preservation of Specified Trees Act, 1969

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah, on Monday, made a strong pitch against a bill brought by his own party MLA that seeks to grant landowners the right to cut walnut trees on their property.Omar said passage of the bill would harm the country’s largest walnut economy, of which Kashmir accounts for about 90 per cent, and would rob J&K of a key part of its identity.The bill, moved by National Conference legislator from Pahalgam, Altaf Ahmad Wani, sought amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Preservation of Specified Trees Act, 1969, to allow felling of walnut trees on private land.Under the 1969 law, no person is allowed to cut a walnut tree, whether on private or state land, without prior permission from the competent authority, and any violation of the law attracts a fine ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000.Defending his bill, Wani said the law is creating a huge problem for landowners as walnut trees occupy significant space, around three trees per kanal (0.05 hectares), and they don’t give reasonable revenue to landowners.He said walnuts were once a major source of income in Kashmir, but most of the trees have aged and stopped yielding. Wani said harvesting is largely done by the owners themselves, and over the years, many people have been injured and died due to falls from trees during the harvesting. He advocated replacing ageing trees with high-density plantations.“It is a strange law where I am not allowed to cut a tree standing on my own land. One has to knock on many doors to get permission, which has become a source of corruption,” Wani said.Omar, however, defended the restrictions, saying the law serves a broader purpose of conserving walnut and chinar trees. He said J&K produces about 3.5 lakh metric tonnes of walnuts annually, around 90 per cent of the country’s total output.The CM said walnut wood is integral to the handicrafts industry, particularly wood carving, and voiced concern that allowing felling of walnut trees could lead to their replacement with concrete buildings. “I am sure once walnut trees are cut, owners will build houses or other structures there,” Omar said, adding that the government could consider changes only if felled trees would be replaced with walnut cultivation on the same land.Though the walnut industry faces competition from soft-shelled varieties from regions like California, Chile, Kashmiri walnuts are valued for their superior taste. Major export destinations for Kashmiri walnuts include the UAE, Turkey, Iraq, Singapore, Algeria, Qatar, Bhutan, Kuwait, Seychelles and Nigeria.

LUCKNOW: A full-scale emergency was declared at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) on Monday evening after an Air India Express flight operating from Bagdogra to Delhi issued a Mayday call mid-air following suspected smoke inside the aircraft.The flight, IX 1523, was cruising at 36,000 feet above Ghaghara river in Ambedkar Nagar district at around 4.58 pm, when pilots claimed to have detected, as what they believed to be smoke emanating from the aircraft’s avionic panels in the cabin and immediately informed air traffic control.“As a precautionary measure, the crew declared a Mayday, triggering the deployment of oxygen masks and causing panic among a section of passengers,” said a source familiar with the incident.Several passengers later said the sudden drop of oxygen masks, combined with the Mayday announcement, led to moments of fear and confusion inside the aircraft. Some passengers reported that anxiety spread quickly as cabin crew rushed to reassure travelers and calmly guided them on how to use the masks while the aircraft prepared for diversion.Following the alert, the aircraft was diverted to Lucknow and made a safe precautionary landing at CCSIA at 5.17 pm. Emergency response teams, including airport fire and medical services, were positioned in advance as part of standard protocol for such situations.All 148 passengers and crew were safely deboarded and escorted to Terminal 3. Officials said no injuries were reported. A detailed inspection of the aircraft was carried out by the airport fire department and technical teams, but no visible signs of smoke or fire were found.Despite the absence of any immediate findings, the aircraft has been grounded as a safety measure and will return to service only after a comprehensive technical evaluation and formal certification of airworthiness.The incident triggered frustration among some passengers due to delays and uncertainty about onward travel. One passenger, identified as Hemron Michael, shared an image of the oxygen mask deployment on social media, seeking clarity on revised travel arrangements as the delay extended beyond two hours.According to officials from Lucknow International Airport Ltd, passengers were initially brought to Terminal 3. A number of them were accommodated on alternate flights to Delhi, while others were provided overnight hotel accommodation and assured priority booking on the next available flights.Airport officials reiterated that the emergency procedures followed during the incident ensured passenger safety, noting that precautionary diversions and grounding of aircraft are standard practice when potential technical issues are reported mid-flight.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cautioned that a petrol and diesel crisis was developing worldwide as ongoing conflicts continued to affect key energy regions.Speaking during the 132nd episode of Mann Ki Baat, he said, “This month of March has been extremely eventful on a global level. We all remember that, in the past, the entire world faced numerous problems for a long time due to Covid. We all expected that, after emerging from the Covid crisis, the world would move forward on the path of progress with a fresh start, but in the different regions of the world, conditions of war and conflict continued to emerge.”Referring to the ongoing war between US, Israel and Iran, he said, “Currently, a fierce war has been going on for the past one month in our neighbourhood. Relatives of lakhs of families reside in these countries, particularly working in the Gulf regions. “I am very grateful to the Gulf countries for providing every kind of assistance to over 1 crore Indians there. The region where the war is underway is a major hub of our energy needs. Due to this, a petrol and diesel crisis is developing worldwide,” he added.Despite the challenges, the Prime Minister said India was in a stronger position to deal with the situation. “India is resolutely facing these challenges because of its global relations, assistance from different countries, and the capability the country has built over the past decade,” he said. Calling it a difficult time, PM Modi urged people to stay united. “This is undoubtedly a challenging time. I once again urge countrymen to get united and overcome this challenge,” he said.Hitting out at the opposition’s criticism of the government’s alleged mishandeling of the crisis, PM Modi said, “All those who are politicising the issue should not do it. This is an issue related to the interests of 140 crore citizens. There is no place for self-serving politics in this.”“All those who are spreading rumours are causing great harm to the country. I would appeal to all the countrymen to remain aware and not get misled by rumours. The government is continuously providing information. Trust that and take steps based on it only,” he added.This is a developing story