FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI New Zealand actor Sam Neill dies at 78 BUSINESS EDITORIAL Sitharaman urges banks to step up NRI outreach Page 9 Page 6 Kolkata, 13 July D efending the implementation of West Bengal’s anti-organised crime law, that came into effect on Monday Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the legislation was “the need of the hour” to curb, what he described as decades of political violence and criminality in the state. “For 34 years, Bengal was ruled by Communist harmads and for the next 15 years by Trinamul goondas. The law was essential to rein them in. We passed it in the Assembly and the Governor has given his assent,” Mr Adhikari said after accompanying the BJP’s three Rajya Sabha candidates to file their nomination papers. His remarks came on a day the state’s new anti-organised crime legislation formally came into force, empowering police and district authorities with sweeping powers, including preventive detention, externment of habitual offenders and confiscation of properties allegedly acquired through organised criminal activities. The West Bengal government’s new anti-organised crime legislation came into effect from Monday, empowering police and district authorities with sweeping powers, including preventive detention for up to one year, externment of habitual offenders, and confiscation of properties acquired through organised criminal activities. Adhikari had announced the implementation of the legislation during a visit to Baruipur in South 24-Parganas district on Friday. The state secretariat Nabanna said the law has been brought into force to further strengthen the state’s law and order machinery and create a deterrent against organised crime and Supreme Court directs SIT to submit status report on Ram Temple donation theft probe anti-social activities. Officially titled the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, the legislation significantly expands the powers of the police and civil administration to curb organised criminal networks and habitual offenders. New Delhi, 13 July The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government, to submit a status report on its investigation into the alleged theft of devotees’ donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohan also issued notices to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, which manages the affairs of the Ayodhya Ram temple. The Bench sought an update on the progress of the SIT’s investigation into the alleged misappropriation of donations made by devotees at the temple and directed the investigating agency to place its status report before the Court. Posting the matter for further consideration on Monday, 20 July 2026, the Court said in its order: “Since it is averred in the petition(s) that an FIR has already been registered and an SIT has been constituted to investigate the matter, we direct the SIT constituted by the State of Uttar Pradesh to submit a status report. The status report shall also provide details of the composition of the SIT.” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government as well Page 12 A BENCH COMPRISING CHIEF JUSTICE SURYA KANT AND JUSTICES JOYMALYA BAGCHI AND V MOHAN ISSUED NOTICES TO THE CENTRE, THE UTTAR PRADESH GOVERNMENT AND THE SHRI RAM JANMABHOOMI TEERTHA KSHETRA TRUST, WHICH MANAGES THE AFFAIRS OF THE AYODHYA RAM TEMPLE. as the Uttar Pradesh government, informed the Court that the SIT's status report would be submitted in a sealed cover since the investigation was still underway. He also urged the Court not to issue notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust at this stage. The Bench, however, did not accept the request. The Court's order came while hearing three petitions relating to the alleged theft of donations. The Solicitor General also opposed a plea by one of the petitioners seeking a direction that the SIT's status report be shared with the petitioners, submitting that the investigation was still in progress. At this stage, Chief Justice Surya Kant observed, “We will see later on. It’s an ongoing investigation. You know the law well.” Three petitions raising different but related prayers were heard by the Supreme Court. (Representational image) • Related report: Page 8 One of the key provisions of the Act is preventive detention. Under the new law, authorities can detain an individual without trial for up to 12 months if they believe the person poses a threat to public safety or is planning to commit a major anti-social or organised criminal offence. Legal experts have compared the provision to those available under the Centre’s National Security Act (NSA). The Act also introduces “externment orders”, allowing District Magistrates, Police Commissioners and officers of the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) or above to direct habitual offenders to leave a specified area or even an entire district for up to one year if their presence is considered likely to disturb public order. The legislation further makes all offences under its ambit non-bailable. Police will be empowered to arrest accused persons without a warrant, making it more difficult for those charged under the Act to secure bail. Another major provision authorises the government to confiscate assets and properties allegedly acquired through organised criminal activities, including syndicate operations and other unlawful enterprises. SC sets aside 28 Gauhati HC judgments declaring several people foreigners STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 13 July The Supreme Court on Monday set aside 28 judgments of the Gauhati High Court upholding the orders of the Foreigners Tribunals declaring 27 people as foreigners, holding that the determination of such status must be made through a process that is “fair, lawful and reasoned” in conformity with the constitutional mandate and statutory provisions. Remitting all the cases back to the concerned Foreigners Tribunals for fresh adjudication in accordance with law, a Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, in a judgment pronounced on Monday, ordered, “Accordingly, the impugned judgments and orders passed by the High Court in all these matters are set aside. The corresponding opinions and orders passed by the concerned Foreigners Tribunals or the erstwhile Illegal Migrants (Determination) Tribunals are also set aside.” Having set aside the High Court judgments as well as the Tribunal orders upheld by it (High Court), Justice Vikram Nath, authoring the judgment, said, “Citizenship and foreigner status occupy a field of high constitutional and legal significance... The State has a legitimate and compelling interest in ensuring that persons who are not legally entitled to claim Indian citizenship do not secure such status by misuse of process, by false claims, or by taking advantage of procedural delays.” However, while discharging its “legitimate and compelling responsibility”, Justice Vikram Nath said that the State must ensure that the “determination of such status must be made through a process which is fair, lawful and reasoned. The statutory burden under Section 9 of the Foreigners Act, 1946 remains fully applicable.” The Court further said that the remand of the matters to the Foreigners Tribunals for fresh consideration was “not intended to dilute that burden, nor is it intended to confer any equity in favour of a person who is unable to establish his or her claim in accordance with law. It is only to ensure that the serious consequence of being declared a foreigner follows from an adjudication which satisfies the requirements of the Foreigners Act, 1946, the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964, and the constitutional mandate of fairness.” Monsoon session all set for a stormy start as Constitution Bills, NEET row and political realignments take centre stage SHAHID K ABBAS New Delhi, 13 July PARMOD KUMAR End of an era: Fleming leaves Chennai Super Kings after 18 years Page 10 Bengal’s Goonda Act takes effect; CM calls it key to tackling organised crime STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Tuesday, 14 July 2026 SPORTS WORLD Law and fury | The Monsoon Session of Parliament, beginning on 20 July, is shaping up to be one of the most contentious sittings of recent years, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Central government preparing to push a series of politically sensitive constitutional and electoral reforms while the Opposition readies an aggressive offensive over the NEETUG examination paper leak, inflation, unemployment and a host of other controversies. The nearly four-week session, which will conclude on 13 August, will comprise 19 sittings and is expected to witness high-decibel debates, sharp political confrontations and crucial legislative business. Ahead of the session, the Centre has convened an all-party meeting on 19 July in an attempt to build consensus and ensure the smooth functioning of both Houses. Announcing the schedule earlier, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had said, “The Session will commence on 20 July, 2026 and continue till 13 August, 2026 for meaningful debate, discussion and decisions on issues of National Importance." The government’s legislative agenda is expected to be dominated by a series of landmark constitutional proposals. At the centre of the debate is the proposed 130th Constitution Amendment Bill, which seeks to provide for the automatic vacation of office by the Prime Minister, a Chief Minister or a Cabinet Minister if they remain in judicial custody for 30 consecutive days. Equally significant will be the government's renewed attempt to secure parliamentary approval for the Women's Reservation Bill linked to delimitation. After the failure of the earlier effort during the winter session, the NDA is expected to reintroduce the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill to operation- alise 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies through a fresh delimitation exercise, including a proposed expansion in the strength of the Lok Sabha. The measure is likely to once again revive the wider national debate on representa- tion, federal balance and constituency redistribution. The government is also expected to press ahead with the proposed One Nation, One Election legislation and amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), making the Monsoon Session a crucial test of its broader governance and institutional reform agenda. The political arithmetic in Parliament has undergone noticeable changes since the previous session, with recent defections from regional parties, particularly the Trinamul Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), strengthening the National Democratic Alliance and bringing it closer to the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments. The changing numbers are expected to influence legislative strategy as well as seating arrangements inside the Lok Sabha. Speaker Om Birla’s rulings on recognition of defecting members and revised seating plans, including the reported distancing of the DMK from the Congress benches, are likely to attract considerable political attention. For the Opposition INDIA bloc, the session presents an opportunity to mount a coordinated challenge to the government on issues it says have generated widespread public concern. Foremost among them is the nationwide NEET-UG examination paper leak controversy and alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. Opposition parties are expected to demand accountability from the government, seek discussions on examination reforms and question the functioning of agencies responsible for conducting national entrance tests. JPC recommends ‘suspension’ instead of ‘removal’; report likely in Monsoon session VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, July 13 Festive Build Workers prepare the wheels of the chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath ahead of the annual Rath Yatra festival at Jagannathpur Temple in Ranchi, Jharkhand, on Monday. UNI A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) reviewing the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to prevent individuals from holding executive office while jailed for serious crimes, has recommended replacing the provision for automatic “removal” of a Prime Minister, Chief Minister or minister with “suspension” if detained or held in judicial custody for 30 consecutive days. Among its recommendations, the committee suggested replacing the Bill’s provision that a minister should cease to be a minister after some members argued that the existing wording carried “a sense of finality and associated stigma”. According to those familiar with the developments, the committee believes that removing an elected office-holder solely on the basis of detention would also not be consistent with the Constitution. The final decision on the said person should follow a due judicial process, also because neither the Constitution nor the Representation of the People Act, 1951, currently provides for the status of a sitting Prime Minister, Chief Minister or minister who is arrested and detained on serious charges. The suspension is viewed as a reversible measure, similar to the practice of suspending government employees who remain in custody beyond a prescribed period without presuming guilt, they said. The Bill proposes the automatic removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister or a minister after 30 consecutive days in judicial custody. The report is expected to be tabled soon, ahead of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. The Bill, aimed at strengthening action against corruption, also proposes that a suspension should automatically end if the accused is discharged or acquitted, or if the trial does not proceed within the stipulated time period. The committee said this safeguard would ensure that suspension does not become permanent in cases where the accused is eventually found not guilty. Introduced in August last year, the Bill also seeks to define “serious criminal offences” as those punishable with a minimum sentence of five years' imprisonment. Meanwhile, the panel has reportedly also recommended the creation of fast-track courts to hear cases involving top constitutional office-holders and a separate schedule specifying the offences that would trigger the proposed provisions. The legislation had faced strong opposition when it was introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah, with Congress leaders and other Opposition parties questioning both its intent and constitutional validity.