Ahead of AMMA elections, an FIR under Section 67A was filed against Shweta Menon over alleged obscene content in her film Kalimannu, prompting colleagues and director Blessy to call the move politically motivated.
An FIR was filed against Shweta Menon for alleged obscenity, sparking political controversy ahead of AMMA elections where she’s contesting for president, supported by colleagues and director Blessy.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has put a four-week stay on the implementation of the Punjab government’s Land Pooling Policy, 2025. The decision was passed by a division bench while hearing multiple petitions challenging the legal, social, and environmental basis of the policy.
The petitioners, including farmers and activists, have argued that the policy violates the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. They claimed the state notified fertile land without carrying out any mandatory social or environmental impact assessments, and without safeguarding the rights of landless labourers who also depend on the land for livelihood.
During the hearing, the High Court raised specific queries about whether the government had taken steps for rehabilitation of landless workers and whether it had conducted proper impact studies before rolling out the policy. The court observed that large-scale acquisition of agricultural land without these safeguards could have serious consequences.
Following the court’s concerns, the Advocate General representing the Punjab government assured that no further steps would be taken under the policy until the next hearing. The court has now granted a four-week stay, during which the state has been asked to file a detailed response.
This is being seen as a significant development amid growing opposition to the policy across Punjab. Farmer groups, opposition parties, and even some Aam Aadmi Party leaders have voiced concerns, with protests gaining ground in several districts. Political parties like the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal have also planned statewide campaigns against the policy.
The next hearing in the matter is expected after four weeks, where the state government’s reply will be scrutinized. The verdict is yet awaited as stated by counsel.
