Recent Developments in Indian Law and International Affairs

YouTuber Agrees to Remove Defamatory Video

Mohak Mangal, a popular YouTuber, informed the Delhi High Court of his decision to eliminate certain segments from his video concerning Asian News International (ANI), which were deemed objectionable. This announcement followed the court's directive to Mangal to remove parts of the video that contained defamatory remarks about the news agency.

The presiding judge remarked that Mangal should have conveyed his message in a more respectful manner.

This case arose from a defamation lawsuit filed by ANI against Mangal, who accused the agency of extortion and blackmail in his video. The lawsuit also included comedian Kunal Kamra and Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of AltNews, as defendants for sharing Mangal's video on social media.

Deportation of Indians from the US

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 1,080 Indians have been deported from the United States since the beginning of the year. Notably, 62% of these individuals returned via commercial flights.

This situation has arisen amidst stricter immigration policies implemented during the Trump administration, which began in January. In certain instances, military aircraft were utilized by the US government to repatriate undocumented migrants.

Rajnath Singh on Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that individuals residing in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are considered part of the Indian family and will eventually return to India of their own accord. He expressed that the majority of people in that region maintain a strong connection to India, with only a minority being misled.

Singh expressed confidence that those who are currently separated from India will one day rejoin the nation, guided by their intrinsic connection.

Karnataka High Court Overturns Withdrawal of Criminal Cases

The Karnataka High Court has annulled the state government's decision to withdraw 43 criminal cases, including those linked to the 2022 Hubballi riots. In October, the state had instructed public prosecutors to seek the withdrawal of these cases.

The petitioner argued that these cases involved influential figures, such as former ministers and MLAs, suggesting ulterior motives behind the state's actions. The petitioner contended that the state lacked the authority to direct public prosecutors to withdraw cases.

US Court Blocks Trump's Tariffs

A court in the United States has blocked tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on imports, citing a law that grants him extraordinary powers in emergencies. The Court of International Trade in New York ruled that the US Constitution grants Congress exclusive authority over international commerce, and that the president's emergency powers do not supersede this.

The court issued an injunction that halts all tariff-related orders made by Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.