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President is not king, can go wrong: Uttarakhand HC to Centre

The Uttarakhand High Court, while hearing the Centre's move to impose President's Rule in the state on 20 April, stated that everything is subject to judicial review and there is a chance that even the President of the country can go wrong.

"Even the President can go wrong, everything is subject to judicial review. You should rejoice at the evolution we have had, we are not doubting the President's wisdom but everything is subject to judicial review," the high court said in response to the Centre's counsel statement which said that courts can't interfere with the President's decision.

The court, hearing the former Chief Minister Harish Rawat's petition challenging President's Rule in the state for the third consecutive day, added, "There is no such decision like that of a king which cannot be subject to judicial review."

Minor relief for BCCI as Bombay HC grants permission for 1 May IPL match in Pune

In a minor relief to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Bombay High Court has granted permission for the 1 May IPL match at MCA stadium, in Pune. The match will be played between the Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians.

The cricket board had stated that the match can't be shifted out of Maharashtra due to logistical difficulties. It also added that it is nearly impossible to make all the arrangement for the match to be played out of the state at such short notice.

In the wake of the severe drought that has seized Maharashtra, a PIL was filed by the Foundation for Democratic Reforms and Loksatta Movement. The PIL listed that a huge volume of water is used during the IPL for purposes including maintenance of the pitch. 

J&K govt orders Whatsapp local news groups to register with authorities

As Kashmir simmers after police firing at Handwara on 12 April, the state government on Tuesday announced that all Whatsapp groups that share local news must register with district authorities within 10 days.

According to Asghar Samoon, divisional commissioner, Kashmir, the order was issued keeping in mind law and order.

"There are many unauthorised news groups on WhatsApp that disseminate news," said Samoon. "...they have thousands of followers who post news without verification and many times lead to law and order problems."

Group administrators are now responsible for rumours that spread on Whatsapp, according to the Hindustan Times.

Govt backtracks, says all possible efforts will be made to bring back Kohinoor

After telling the Supreme Court on Monday that the government will not ask the UK to return the Kohinoor diamond to India because it was given as a gift, the Centre backtracked on Tuesday and said it would "make all possible efforts to bring back the Kohinoor Diamond in an amicable manner".

The Culture ministry issued a statement on Tuesday evening which said: "...with regard to the Kohinoor Diamond too, Government of India remains hopeful for an amicable outcome whereby India gets back a valued piece of art with strong roots in India".

According to sources, the government changed tack on the order of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says The Economic Times.

Bhujbal's Maharashtra Sadan scam was routed through 6 shell cos: ACB

Former deputy CM of Maharashtra Chhagan Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal routed kickbacks in the Maharashtra Sadan construction case through six shell companies they had floated, says the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) chargesheet.

The two Bhujbals were arrested in a money laundering case linked to the scam and are now at Mumbai's Arthur Road jail, says The Indian Express.

Modi may finally address US Congress in June

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may finally address both houses of Congress when he visits the United States in June, say sources. Neither India nor the US have made any announcements to the effect.

Eliot Engel, the Democratic ranking member of the House of Representatives foreign affairs committee, moved a letter on Tuesday to speaker Paul Ryan to extend an invitation to Modi, while committee chairperson Ed Royce is likely to sign it, among all the other members, says the Hindustan Times.

Modi invokes Vajpayee on visit to J&K

On his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the PDP-BJP combine took power two weeks ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's doctrine in Jammu and Kashmir, "Insaniyat, Jhamooriyat and Kashmiriyat" (humanity, democracy and Kashmiriness) were the pillars on which the state would succeed.

Modi also praised the late chief minister Mohammed Mufti Sayeed, who died on 7 January, for his dream of an inclusive development of the state.

The prime minister was in Katra to inaugurate the Mata Vaishno Devi Super Speciality Hospital and Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board sports complex, says The Economic Times.

Govt plans 'India, Land of Yoga' campaign with Julia Roberts

The tourism ministry is planning a global campaign to project India as the land of yoga, with Hollywood actor Julia Roberts as the campaign's face.

Roberts has been associated with yoga since she shot for the film Eat Pray Love at an ashram near Gurugram in 2009.

"The plan has to be approved by tourism minister Mahesh Sharma and the Prime Minister's Office before we approach the actress, but having an international face recognised for practicing yoga is crucial for the success of the campaign," said a tourism ministry official, according to The Telegraph.

'Unknown sources' constitute 54% of 5 national parties' income

India's election watchdog Association of Democratic Rights has found that

54 per cent of the total income of national level political parties in 2014-15 was from unknown sources.

The ADR analysed the income and expenditure of the BJP, CPM, CPI, BSP and the NCP, based on their income tax returns submitted to the Election Commission of India. It found that among the five parties, the NCP was the only one to make the details of all voluntary donations public, according to The Telegraph, whilethe sources of about 50 per cent of the voluntary contributions to the BJP are unknown.