MLC Daily Current Affairs – 09 May 2025

Today in History (May 9^th,1540)

Maharana Pratap Jayanti (महाराणा प्रताप जयंती), also known as Maharana Pratap Jayanti, is a festival and a public holiday in Rajasthan, marking the birth anniversary of the Indian ruler Maharana Pratap. It is usually celebrated on 9 May, Maharana Pratap was born on 9 May in 1540.

Summary of Today’s News

India hits back after intercepting Pak. Strikes

Pakistan launched drone and missile strikes on Thursday targeting civilian and military areas in northern and western India.

• Targeted Indian locations included Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, Awantipura, Srinagar, Amritsar, and others.
• Indian air defence systems intercepted a substantial number of incoming threats, preventing losses.
• Attacks were part of escalating tensions following Indian strikes on terror facilities under Operation Sindoor.

Indian Response:

• India retaliated with targeted strikes using loitering munitions on Pakistani air defence systems.
• An air defence system in Lahore was reportedly neutralized.
• Indian military targets included air defence sites in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
• Indian actions were described by the Defence Ministry as “focused, measured and non-escalatory.”

Statements and Warnings:

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized India’s restraint but warned of “quality action” if provoked.
• The Indian government reiterated its commitment to non-escalation unless further provoked.

Air Defence Activation:

• Indian systems like the S-400 Triumf and Akash SAM were used to counter threats.
• The Integrated Counter-UAS Grid played a role in intercepting drones and missiles.

Casualties and Damages:

• No Indian military losses reported from the attacks.
• Sixteen civilians, including women and children, were killed due to Pakistani firing across the Line of Control (LoC).

LoC Situation:

• Pakistan intensified firing across the LoC using mortars and heavy artillery in several Jammu & Kashmir sectors.

Security Measures:

• Blackouts were enforced in parts of Punjab, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
• Over 100 companies (10,000+ personnel) of the CRPF were deployed to the Jammu region for reinforcement.

OTTs asked to remove content from Pakistan

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory to OTT and media streaming platforms in India to remove all content of Pakistani origin with immediate effect.
• The advisory cites national security concerns as the reason for the directive.

Scope of Ban:

• Affects web series, films, songs, podcasts, and any other streaming content from Pakistan.
• Applies to both subscription-based and free content.
• Platforms covered include OTT services and intermediaries operating in India.

Legal Basis:

• Advisory refers to Part III of the IT Rules, 2021, which outlines a Code of Ethics for online curated content.

Platform Responses:

• Spotify acknowledged the advisory and stated it is working to comply.
• Google and Netflix did not comment immediately.
• ZEE5 appears to have already removed Pakistani content from its catalog.
• Many Pakistani YouTube channels have previously been blocked by government orders.

If Rohingya are foreign, Central govt. can deport them, says SC

• The Supreme Court stated that if Rohingya are classified as “foreigners” under the Foreigners Act, the Central Government can deport them in accordance with the law.

Hearing Details:

• A three-judge Bench led by Justice Surya Kant was hearing petitions challenging the Centre’s authority to deport Rohingya refugees.

Petitioners’ Arguments:

• Lawyers argued that as UNHCR-recognized refugees, Rohingya should be protected from deportation under the principle of non-refoulement, citing risk of torture or death in Myanmar.
• They claimed some refugees, including women and children, were deported on Wednesday night despite holding UNHCR cards.

Centre’s Stand:

• Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention.
• He cited an earlier interim order granting the Centre absolute power under Section 3 of the Foreigners Act, especially in matters of national security.

Judicial Remarks:

• Justice Dipankar Datta clarified that Article 19(1)(e) (right to reside and settle) applies only to Indian citizens.
• Justice Kant stated that if the refugees have no legal right to remain, they will be deported according to law.

Result of the hearing:

• The Supreme Court will hear the case in detail in July.

CJI Forwards Inquiry Report on Justice Yashwant Varma to President and PM, Paving Way for Possible Removal

On March 14, partially burnt sacks of currency notes were found in the gutted storeroom of High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma’s former official residence in Delhi.

• • This prompted a preliminary inquiry by Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya, who recommended a deeper investigation.
• Constitution of Inquiry Panel:
  • On March 22, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna constituted a three-judge in-house inquiry committee comprising Justices Sheel Nagu, G.S. Sandhawalia, and Anu Sivaraman to investigate the incident thoroughly.
• Panel Findings and Judge’s Response:
  • The inquiry committee reportedly found sufficient material to justify the initiation of removal proceedings against Justice Varma.
  • Justice Varma, who was transferred to the Allahabad High Court, submitted his response to the panel’s report on May 6.
• CJI’s Action:
  • CJI Khanna forwarded the panel report, along with the judge’s response, to the President and the Prime Minister, a step required when a judge refuses to resign or take voluntary retirement after serious findings.
  • This move signals the initiation of removal proceedings under the constitutional framework.
• Legal and Constitutional Context:
  • The process follows the 2014 Supreme Court judgment in Additional District and Sessions Judge vs. Registrar General, which guides in-house procedures for judicial misconduct.
  • According to the Constitution (Articles 217 and 124), a judge can only be removed for proved misbehaviour or incapacity, and the motion must pass both Houses of Parliament by a special majority.
• Next Steps:
  • The matter now lies with the President and Parliament, where a formal removal motion can be initiated if deemed necessary.

India Slams Pakistan for State Honours to Terrorists, Exposes Deep Ties with LeT, JeM, TRF

In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, India has highlighted Pakistan’s deep-rooted ties to UN-designated terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and The Resistance Front (TRF).

• Photographic Evidence of Terror Support:
  • Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri presented images of Abdur Rauf, a U.S.-designated terrorist, leading funeral prayers in Muridke, Pakistan, for those killed in Indian strikes on LeT’s headquarters.
  • The deceased were buried with state honours, wrapped in Pakistan’s national flag, suggesting official support and glorification of terrorists.
• Key Terror Leaders Affected:
  • Masood Azhar’s family, including his brother Abdul Rauf Azhar (JeM commander and 1999 IC-814 hijacking mastermind), were reportedly killed in the strikes.
  • Rauf Azhar played a central role in securing the release of top terrorists during the Kandahar hijacking, including Masood Azhar and Omar Sheikh Saeed.
• U.S. and UN Designations:
  • Abdur Rauf and the Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), an LeT-linked front, were designated as global terrorists by the U.S. in 2010, following Indian lobbying post the Mumbai attacks.
• India Targets TRF in Global Forums:
  • TRF, which initially claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack that killed 26, then backtracked.
  • India has reported TRF to the UN 1267 Monitoring Team and criticized Pakistan for pushing to exclude TRF’s name from a recent UNSC resolution.
  • India plans to pursue UNSC terrorist designation and U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) status for TRF.
• Domestic Political Consensus:
  • At an all-party meeting, Opposition leaders urged the government to lobby for U.S. sanctions on TRF and push for Pakistan’s re-listing on the FATF grey list due to its overt support for terror groups.