TOP STORY OF THE DAY |
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| Centre moves to reshape J&K Assembly, UT laws amendment bill tabled in LS | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 16: In a significant legislative move with direct implications for Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Government on Wednesday introduced the Union Territory Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha, alongside the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2026 during a special three-day session of Parliament.
The proposed legislation seeks to align the legal framework governing Union Territories—particularly Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and Puducherry—with the evolving constitutional provisions on delimitation and women’s reservation.
At the core of the bill is an effort to harmonise existing laws with the provisions of the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, and the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026. The amendments aim to standardise rules related to the definition of “population,” delimitation of constituencies, and reservation of seats for women across Union Territories, bringing them in line with the broader ... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| No region will be discriminated against in delimitation exercise: PM Modi | | | | Early Times Report
New Delhi, Apr 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that no state — big or small, north or south, or east or west — will be discriminated against in the delimitation of constituencies linked with the implementation of women quota law and warned that those who oppose this reform will not be forgiven by the women of the country.
Intervening the debate in Lok Sabha on the three bills introduced for amendment of the women’s quota law and to set up a delimitation commission, Modi also made it clear that the proportion of Lok Sabha seats in any state will not come down as a result of the delimitation exercise.
“There will be no change in that proportion (o... | |
| | | | Lok Sabha’s strength to go up to 815, 272 of these for women: Meghwal | | | | Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, Apr 16: The strength of the Lok Sabha will increase to 815, of which 272 seats will be reserved for women and neither men nor any state will suffer any loss due to the implementation of this
quota, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said on Thursday.
In his introductory remarks in the Lok Sabha on the three bills moved to amend the women’s quota law and set up a delimitation commission, Meghwal also said that 272 seats out of 815 in the House is the simple formula of reserving 33 per cent seats for women.
“According to the women’s reservation bill, the strength of the Lok Sabha will increase to 815, of which women’s quota will be of 272 seats,” the min... | |
| | | | Rs 792 crore heroin empire of Lahu Gujjar exposed, funds funneled to terror groups | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 16: In a sensational breakthrough, Jammu Police have unmasked the staggering scale of the criminal empire run by dreaded narco‑terrorist Gulzar Ahmed alias Lahu Gujjar. Interrogation has revealed that the kingpin raked in nearly Rs 792 crores from the sale of heroin alone money that investigators believe was funneled directly into terror outfits operating across Jammu & Kashmir.
At a press conference on Wednesday, SSP Jammu Joginder Singh disclosed that Gujjar had trafficked 360 kilograms of heroin, building a sprawling network that stretched from Jammu and Kashmir into Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Police sources confirmed that his operations were orchestra... | |
| | | | GST tribunal appeal deadline extended | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has extended the deadline for filing appeals before the GST Appellate Tribunal to make the process easier for taxpayers.
As per a notification issued by the Finance Department, taxpayers who received appealable orders before April 1, 2026, can now file their appeals till June 30, 2026.
For orders issued on or after April 1, 2026, a standard time limit of three months has been fixed from the date of receiving the order to file an appeal.... | |
| | | | CAT pulls up J&K Govt for withholding retirement dues, orders full pension release in 6 weeks | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 16 : In a significant relief to a retired government officer, the Central Administrative Tribunal, Srinagar Bench, has directed the Jammu and Kashmir authorities to process and release the pension along with all retiral benefits of former Principal, Government Polytechnic College, Pulwama, Firdous Ahmad Itoo, within six weeks. The Tribunal further warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would make the respondents liable to pay interest at 6 per cent per annum.
The order was passed by a Bench comprising Member (Judicial) M.S. Latif and Member (Administrative) Prasant Kumar in OA No. 660/2024. The petitioner had challenged Government Order... | |
| | | | SIA files chargesheet against 10 accused | | ‘Doctors Terror Module’ Case | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 16: The State Investigation Agency (SIA), Kashmir, on Thursday filed a chargesheet against ten accused in a major terror conspiracy case involving a covert network dubbed as “Doctors Terror Module.” In a statement issued a SIA spokesman said, “The chargesheet was submitted in connection with an FIR registered at Police Station Nowgam, Srinagar, following an incident on October 19, 2025, when threatening posters surfaced in the area in the name of the banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). The posters were intended to spread fear, disrupt public order, and challenge the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.”
“Investigations revealed that th... | |
| | | | Justice Hali’s tenure extended | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 16: The J&K Government has extended the tenure of retired Justice Sunil Hali as Chairperson of the Committee for Fixation, Determination and Regulation of Fee of Private Schools. According to a notification issued by the School Education Department, his term, which ended on March 31, 2026, has been extended by one month or till a new successor is appointed, whichever is earlier.... | |
| | | | Quota on basis of religion unconstitutional: Amit Shah | | | | Early Times Report
New Delhi, Apr 16: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that Muslims will not be given reservation on the basis of religion as such a quota would be unconstitutional.
During a fiery 40-minute debate, following which three bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha for amendment of the women’s quota law and to set up a delimitation commission, Shah said a caste census will be carried out along with population enumeration during the ongoing census exercise.
“The question of providing reservation to Muslim women on the basis of religion does not even arise. Our Constitution does not allow at all to give reservation on the basis of religion. I want to make it clea... | |
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