Author: Legal Parivar

A previously fringe Marxist politician, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, is poised to become Sri Lanka’s next leader following a presidential vote marked by widespread dissatisfaction over the government’s handling of an unprecedented financial crisis. Early results from Saturday’s election indicate that Dissanayaka, the 55-year-old head of the People’s Liberation Front, garnered over 42% of the vote, leading by nearly 1.3 million votes against opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who received about 33%. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe trailed in third place with around 17%. The election operates under a preferential voting system, and further counts of second-choice votes will take place before a…

The ministerial panel on GST rate rationalization is set to convene on September 25 in Goa to discuss potential adjustments to tax slabs and rates. An official informed PTI that the Group of Ministers (GoM), led by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, last met on August 22 and submitted a status report to the GST Council on September 9. During the previous meeting, the panel tasked the fitment committee, consisting of tax officers from both the Centre and the states, with analyzing the implications of any proposed tax rate changes on various items. Currently, the Goods and Services Tax…

Amid ongoing concerns over the “poor maintenance” of the Taj Mahal, recent reports indicate multiple cracks and damage to the monument’s walls and floors due to heavy rainfall in Agra over the past week, according to the Times of India. Shakeel Chauhan, national general secretary of the Tourist Guide Federation of India, noted that the doors surrounding the main dome, which feature inscriptions from the Quran, show signs of wear. He also mentioned that semi-precious stones inlaid using the intricate pietra dura technique are suffering from the effects of time. “In the western direction, stones from the floor in front…

Hezbollah launched over 100 rockets into northern Israel early Sunday, targeting areas near Haifa in a significant escalation of hostilities. In response, Israel conducted hundreds of airstrikes across Lebanon, raising fears of an all-out war. The attack prompted air raid sirens throughout northern Israel, forcing thousands of residents to seek shelter. The Israeli military reported that many rockets targeted civilian areas, marking a dangerous shift from previous strikes aimed at military positions. One rocket hit close to a residential building in Kiryat Bialik, injuring at least three people and causing fires. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported one death and another injury…

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has officially introduced the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme (DTVSV) 2024, which will come into effect on October 1, 2024. This initiative, announced during the Union Budget 2024-25 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, aims to resolve pending income tax disputes, as stated by the Ministry of Finance in a press release. A key feature of the scheme is the reduced settlement amount for “new appellants” compared to “old appellants.” Taxpayers who file their declarations before December 31, 2024, will also be eligible for lower settlement amounts, the ministry added. To implement the…

Mumbai-based non-banking financial company (NBFC) Manba Finance is set to launch its ₹151 crore initial public offering (IPO) for public subscription from September 23 to September 25. Ahead of the offering, the grey market premium (GMP) for Manba Finance is approximately ₹55-60, indicating a 46% premium over the issue price. The price band for the IPO has been established at ₹114-120 per share. This IPO consists entirely of a fresh issue of up to 1,25,70,000 shares, with no offer-for-sale component. The total size of the issue is based on the upper price band. The company plans to utilize the proceeds…

Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has been issued a notice by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for allegedly violating environmental regulations at its Chakan manufacturing plant near Pune, as reported by NDTV. Jagannath Salunkhe, the regional officer of MPCB, stated that a team from the board, including sub-divisional officers, had inspected the Chakan facility, where multiple breaches of pollution norms were discovered. As a result, Mercedes-Benz has been given 15 days to respond to the notice. The notice was issued after a surprise inspection in August, led by Chairman Siddesh Kadam and other officials. The report highlights that the sewage treatment…

Romal Shetty, CEO of Deloitte South Asia, highlighted that India remains a bright spot amid a challenging global economic landscape and could achieve a 7% growth rate in the current fiscal year despite various headwinds. Shetty, the youngest CEO of a Big Four accounting firm in India, pointed out that inflation is under control, rural demand is picking up, and vehicle sales are improving, which will help sustain growth. “We anticipate growth in the 7-7.1% range this fiscal. Although global challenges, like the geopolitical crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as a slowdown in Western economies, may…

At the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Google CEO Sundar Pichai unveiled a $120 million initiative aimed at expanding AI education and training globally. The initiative, in collaboration with nonprofits and NGOs, will provide resources in local languages, making AI education accessible to diverse communities worldwide. Speaking at the first-ever “Summit of the Future” during UNGA, Pichai reflected on his childhood in Chennai, India, highlighting how the advent of technology transformed his life. “The technology that impacted me the most was the computer,” Pichai shared, adding that his experience with computing in the U.S. during graduate…

Philanthropist Rohini Nilekani, wife of Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, purchased shares worth ₹8.55 crore in logistics firm Allcargo Gati through open market transactions on Thursday. According to NSE block deal data, Nilekani’s small-cap portfolio acquired 8,13,375 shares, representing a 0.62% stake, at ₹105.21 per share. Earlier in July, Allcargo Gati raised ₹169.28 crore via a qualified institutional placement (QIP), which was approved by its board’s fund-raising committee. The funds are earmarked for investments in technology, infrastructure, and reducing the company’s debt, strengthening its financial position and growth initiatives. In the June quarter, Allcargo Gati reported a year-on-year revenue decline of…