Diya Kumari with mother Padmini Devi. The row involves land in what used to be ‘Hathroi village’ in official records

JAIPUR: Supreme Court has reopened proceedings in a Rs 400-crore land dispute between Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) and the family of former royal and deputy CM Diya Kumari, setting aside a Rajasthan high court order that allowed a 2011 trial court decree in favour of the princely estate to “stand without examination on merit”. The bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Vishwanathan held that there was no justification in the high court declining to consider JDA’s appeal on technical grounds. The judges directed the HC bench to decide JDA’s first appeal on merit within four weeks and submit a compliance report. The dispute involves land in what used to be “Hathroi village” in official records before becoming part of central Jaipur’s urban sprawl, including prime real estate, schools, hospitals and other civic infrastructure. JDA pegs the value of the land parcel, mentioned in revenue records as “Siwai chak” (uncultivable govt land), at Rs 400 crore. The petition says the civic administration took possession of the land in the 1990s, challenging the erstwhile royal family’s claim that it was registered as private property under the 1949 Covenant linked to Jaipur’s accession to the Indian Union. JDA insists the land was never listed as the former royal family’s private property in the covenant schedule, and that swathes of land were lawfully acquired between 1993 and 1995 after paying compensation. In 2005, the royal family filed a civil suit, seeking declaration of ownership. On Nov 24, 2011, the trial court decreed the suit in their favour, declaring them owners. The court set aside revenue entries in favour of the state and restrained JDA from interfering with possession. JDA filed its first appeal in 2012. It was dismissed in Nov 2023, before being restored just over a year later. On Sept 15 last year, HC declined to intervene in the dispute, leaving the trial court decree intact without appellate scrutiny. JDA approached Supreme Court on Dec 10, arguing that public land was lost on technical grounds despite issues involving public title, completed acquisitions, settled revenue records and a constitutional bar under Article 363.

NEW DELHI: In a significant escalation of govt’s anti-narcotic approach, home minister Amit Shah on Friday announced a three-year war on drugs – set to commence on March 31 this year. Chairing the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) meeting at Vigyan Bhawan, Shah reframed the drug menace as a matter of “narco-terrorism” rather than a mere law-and-order or crime issue, labelling it a strategic conspiracy to “destroy the country’s future generations”. To cement this offensive, Shah directed all govt departments to finalise a comprehensive “Drug-Free India” roadmap by 2029. “As India targets 2047 for its centenary of independence, the administration views this upcoming three-year window as a critical inflection point to purge the nation’s social fabric of narcotics and secure the health and performance of its youth,” he said. Shah also informed that between 2014 and 2025, India seized drugs worth over Rs 1.71 lakh crore, a massive jump from the Rs 40,000 crore seized in the preceding decade. To sustain this momentum, the home ministry has now mandated the use of AI and advanced forensics to increase conviction rates and track evolving digital payment models used by international cartels. The minister asked officials to focus on the “ruthless” dismantling of supply chains and the financial backbones of drug kingpins. The central pillar of the 2026-2029 campaign is a “three-pronged” tactical approach involving a merciless crackdown on traffickers, a strategic push for demand reduction through awareness, and a humane, medical-first approach for harm reduction among users. “There should be no leniency for those who manufacture and sell drugs, but a humane approach must be adopted toward those who have fallen into usage,” Shah said, clarifying govt’s clear policy distinction between victims and perpetrators. He also directed state DGPs to transition into “mission mode,” creating permanent specialised teams to monitor intelligence and coordinate drug destruction efforts. By integrating Forensic Science Laboratories more deeply into the investigative process, govt aims at ensuring timely chargesheets and higher conviction rates. The deliberations also centered on the escalating challenges of darknet-based drug commerce and the illicit use of cryptocurrency. Shah emphasised that the anonymity of these digital platforms necessitates advanced technological interventions, including the deployment of darknet analysis tools and machine learning models to trace anonymous transactions and secure the country’s borders against cyber-enabled trafficking. A major portion of the meeting was dedicated to disrupting the financial lifelines of narco-terror networks. The stakeholders discussed a “360-degree investigation” model, which integrates traditional law enforcement with forensic financial audits to target hawala operations and freeze assets tied to the drug trade.

President Donald Trump warned that the United States will take action on Greenland, saying it will act “the easy way” or “the hard way” to prevent Russia or China from gaining influence on the Arctic island.Addressing a gathering on Saturday at the White House, Trump said, “We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour. I would like to make a deal the easy way, but if not, we are going to do it the hard way.”Emphasising the strategic importance of the island, he said, “When we own it, we defend it… Look at what happened with the horrible deal Obama made with Iran, which was a short-term deal… Countries need to have ownership… We have to defend Greenland, because if we don’t, China or Russia will.”The Trump administration is reportedly considering offering direct cash payments to Greenlanders to encourage closer ties with the United States. Sources cited by Reuters said officials have discussed lump sums ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person. Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory with around 57,000 residents, is rich in natural resources.Denmark has expressed alarm over the potential US actions, warning that its troops are under standing orders to “shoot first and ask questions later” if Greenland comes under attack. European officials have also voiced concern over the United States openly weighing military options in the Arctic territory.The plan remains at a preliminary stage, with aides estimating that total payments could amount to nearly $6 billion. Another option under discussion is a Compact of Free Association, similar to agreements the US has with several Pacific island nations, in which the United States provides financial aid and defence protection in exchange for military access. Greenland would likely need to become independent from Denmark first, and the payments could be used to encourage public support for such a step or a future agreement with the United States.Polls indicate that most Greenlanders favour independence from Denmark but do not want to become part of the United States.

US President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration would decide which oil companies will be allowed to operate in Venezuela following the capture of its leader, Nicolas Maduro, and pledged to guarantee security for their operations.“We’re going to be making the decision as to which oil companies are going to go in, that we’re going to allow to go in, going to cut a deal with the companies,” Trump told top energy executives at the White House. He said foreign firms had no safety guarantees under Maduro, adding, “But now you have total security. It’s a whole different Venezuela,” as quoted by AP.Trump made the remarks during a White House meeting with executives from 17 oil companies, part of an effort to secure $100 billion in investments to revive Venezuela’s oil sector. “You’re dealing with us directly, you’re not dealing with Venezuela at all, we don’t want you to deal with Venezuela,” Trump told the gathering.“At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House,” Trump said in a pre-dawn social media post.The investment push comes days after a U.S military raid captured Maduro, an action Trump has since framed as a major economic opportunity for the United States. He has said the US is seizing tankers carrying Venezuelan oil and taking over sales of 30 million to 50 million barrels of previously sanctioned oil, with plans to control those sales worldwide indefinitely.On Friday, US forces seized a fifth tanker over the past month linked to Venezuelan oil. The move highlights the administration’s intention to exert control over Venezuela’s exporting, refining and production of petroleum, signaling long-term US involvement in the sector as it seeks commitments from private companies.The strategy also aligns with Trump’s broader goal of keeping gasoline prices low. With many Americans focused on affordability, the administration has portrayed its actions in Venezuela as a way to influence global energy markets and ease pressure on prices at home.Companies attending the meeting include Chevron, which continues to operate in Venezuela, as well as ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, which lost oil projects during a 2007 nationalization under former President Hugo Chávez. Other participants include Halliburton, Valero, Marathon, Shell, Singapore-based Trafigura, Italy-based Eni and Spain-based Repsol, along with companies involved in construction and commodity trading.