SC Split on Sanction for Prosecuting Public Servants; Govt ‘Intervenes’ to Stop Promises of ‘Ten-Minute Deliveries’; Thackeray Cousins Invoke Adani's Rapid Expansion In Battle For Mumbai's Civic Body
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January 13, 2026
Sidharth Bhatia
Is Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act – which was inserted through a 2018 amendment and mandates the government’s sanction for an investigation into a public servant – unconstitutional? The matter will have to be referred to another bench of the Supreme Court because a two-judge bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and K.V. Viswanathan delivered a split verdict today. While Justice Nagarathna held that it is unconstitutional because it brings back a provision previously struck down by the judiciary and which “protects the corrupt”, Justice Viswanathan held that striking it down would amount to “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” – he said that sanction must be required, but from a body independent of the executive, like the Lokpal or the Lokayukta, reports Amisha Shrivastava.
Blinkit has stopped advertising ‘ten-minute deliveries’ after an intervention by Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya, while other gig work-based delivery platforms are expected to do the same soon, reports have said. Although the government has not made an announcement to this effect yet, its ‘decision’ has been hailed by some politicians and gig workers’ unions, which had called for strikes last month in protest against the ten-minute delivery promise on the grounds that it compelled workers to drive dangerously.
In what could be more cause for worry for India, United States President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran, saying the measure will take effect immediately. The announcement, made on Trump’s Truth Social platform yesterday, comes amid reports of protests in Iran that have been met with a crackdown. India, which is among Iran’s five largest trading partners, could be affected by the move, along with countries including China, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Brazil and Russia. According to India’s embassy in Tehran, the two countries are important trade partners, with India exporting items such as basmati rice, tea, sugar, fruits and pharmaceuticals to Iran, while importing apples, pistachios, dates and kiwi. Figures of the Union commerce ministry show that trade of $ 1.68 billion took place between Iran and India in 2024-2025.
Washington also announced that it has revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump came to power last January, marking a 1.5× increase compared to 2024. “That includes revoked visas from thousands of foreign nationals charged or convicted with crimes, including assault, theft, and driving under the influence,” the state department’s deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
An agency of the Chinese industry and IT ministry has said in a new report that China’s J-10CE fighter jet achieved “actual combat results for the first time” last year. State-run news agency Xinhua elaborated that the aircraft “successfully shot down multiple enemy aircraft while sustaining zero losses” in mid-May, referring of course to the India-Pakistan military conflict during that time. Islamabad, which deployed the platform then, has claimed to have shot down seven Indian aircraft, while New Delhi while denying that figure has not specified the exact extent of the losses it suffered.
Another platform that Pakistan deployed during the conflict was the JF-17 fighter jet that it jointly makes with China, and Reuters reports citing sources that Pakistan’s air force chief had discussed potential deliveries of the jet to Indonesia with the latter’s defence minister on Monday. Islamabad has already inked
