SC forms SIT for Vantara
Supreme Court formed an SIT headed by retired Justice J Chelemeswar for inquiry into the allegations on the affairs of Reliance linked Vantara Winldlife Rescue Centre in Gujarat. Other members of SIT are former Uttarakhand HC Chief Justice Raghavendra Chouhan, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale and Customs commissioner Anish Gupta. There are several petitions on the series of violations at Vantara, headed by Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant Ambani. SIT is directed to submit report on September 12.
Tribal groups hit at FRA tweaks
Over 150 tribal rights and civil society organisations have urged the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) to withdraw recent guidelines and advisories they say undermine the authority of gram sabhas under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. In a joint letter dated August 21, they criticised the 2023 CFR guidelines and the 2024 joint advisory with the Environment Ministry for promoting bureaucratic control over community forest resources. The groups allege MoTA has ceded its statutory authority, allowing forest departments to override gram sabha powers. They demand reinstatement of the 2015 guidelines and reaffirmation of gram sabhas as key FRA decision-makers.
RSS meet fuels Chouhan buzz
Speculation is mounting that Union Agriculture Minister and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan could be named the next BJP national president. A recent meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has intensified buzz, with sources citing Chouhan’s mass appeal, administrative experience, and acceptability across factions as key strengths. As the party prepares for organisational elections, Chouhan is seen as a unifying figure with deep RSS ties. Other contenders reportedly include Dharmendra Pradhan, Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal. The decision, expected in the coming weeks, is likely to shape the BJP’s internal cohesion and electoral strategy ahead of key polls.
Chanu strikes gold again
Mirabai Chanu made a triumphant return to international competition, winning gold at the Commonwealth Championships with a record-breaking total lift of 193kg (84kg snatch + 109kg clean and jerk) in the women’s 48kg category.