Author: Agniv Chowdhury

TMC rebel MLAs: Supreme Court sets October 8 timeline from Bengal Speaker

The Supreme Court on Monday said West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Nath Bose has time until October 8 to decide disqualification petitions filed against 10 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs.

The petitions were filed on July 8 by TMC leader Sohandeb Chattopadhyay.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana referred to the Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling on disqualification proceedings while dealing with the matter.

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The court said the Speaker, while deciding such petitions, acts as a tribunal and is expected to take a decision within a reasonable period.

What the Supreme Court said on TMC rebel MLAs

The bench relied on its earlier judgment in Keisham Meghachandra Singh v Speaker, Manipur Legislative Assembly, decided in 2020. In that case, the Supreme Court had held that a Speaker exercising powers over disqualification petitions acts as a tribunal.

The court noted that the 2020 judgment had prescribed a three-month period for the Manipur Speaker to decide the pending disqualification petitions.

Applying that principle to the West Bengal case, the bench said the Speaker should follow the same timeline.

The bench stated, “We have every reason to believe that the Speaker is fully cognisant” of the principles laid down by the court and would make efforts to take an appropriate decision within the prescribed period.

The Supreme Court ultimately disposed of the petition after taking the earlier ruling into account. It did not keep the matter pending despite a request from the petitioner’s side.

Who filed the disqualification petitions?

The petition before the Supreme Court was filed by senior TMC leader Sohandeb Chattopadhyay. He had also filed the disqualification petitions against the 10 rebel MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly.

The legislators named in the proceedings include Ritabrata Banerjee, Arup Roy, Firhad Hakim, Sandipan Saha, Akhuruzzaman Ansari, Shiuli Saha, Sabina Yasmin, Biplab Mitra, Javed Khan and Rathin Ghosh.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for Chattopadhyay. He asked the Supreme Court to keep the matter pending, pointing out that similar issues were arising in several proceedings.

The bench, however, declined that request. During the hearing, the court remarked that there were several proceedings in which judicial timelines had not been followed, saying it was “gloriously in breach” of such timelines.

What is the TMC rebel MLAs dispute?

The dispute follows the political developments after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election. According to the Hindustan Times report, around 58 newly elected TMC MLAs broke away from the party and backed Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition. The group described itself as the “real TMC”.

SC sets October 8 timeline for rebel MLAs’ pleas.(ANI)

The TMC subsequently expelled Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, citing “anti-party” activities. The disqualification proceedings against the 10 MLAs form part of the wider dispute involving the rival TMC factions.

The Supreme Court’s order does not itself decide whether any of the 10 MLAs should be disqualified. That decision remains with the West Bengal Assembly Speaker under the applicable proceedings.

Separate case involving 20 rebel TMC MPs

The West Bengal Assembly case is separate from another disqualification matter involving 20 rebel TMC Members of Parliament.

TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has filed a separate petition in the Supreme Court seeking an expedited decision on disqualification petitions against the 20 rebel MPs pending before the Lok Sabha Speaker.

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The October 8 timeline discussed in Monday’s order concerns the 10 rebel MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly. It should not be confused with the separate proceedings involving the 20 rebel MPs in the Lok Sabha.

Reports on the latter indicate that October 8 is the deadline given to the MPs to submit their replies, rather than a court-imposed deadline for the Lok Sabha Speaker to deliver a final decision.

The Supreme Court’s latest order therefore places the focus on the West Bengal Assembly Speaker’s handling of the 10 disqualification petitions, with October 8 now marking the timeline referred to by the court.

September 28, 2026
UPI MDR charges: Supreme Court questions Centre over ₹2,000 payments

On Monday, the apex court asked the government to file its reply to a petition against the imposition of the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for certain UPI transactions above ₹2,000.

The arguments centered around the legality of the newly imposed fee, which is set to be effective from October 15.

Justice Surya Kant, sitting in a three-judge bench with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, heard a public interest litigation case filed by advocate Anjan Datta, seeking quashing of the decision of the Centre to impose MDR on certain UPI transactions.

SC raises doubts over legality of UPI MDR

The bench said that during the hearing, it wanted the Centre to clarify the source of law behind this charge.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said, “It is more of a technical matter and less of a legal one. You need to give us the facts through a brief affidavit.”

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Bagchi, Justice asked, “What is the executive power to impose this charge? If it is a fee, then it cannot be imposed as per executive fiat. Then what does it become?”

All India Mobile Retailers Association has announced a protest against UPI MDR charges on October 2. Credit: X/ANI

The questions were raised as part of the hearing into the petition filed against the notification issued on September 14 by the Ministry of Finance. The notification is related to the new MDR structure that will come into effect from October 15.

What is the new UPI MDR framework?

As per the new framework, an MDR of 0.4 per cent will be levied on the specified UPI payments exceeding ₹2,000 for merchants. However, for transactions that exceed ₹75,000, the maximum cap for the MDR will remain ₹300.

The new framework does not affect all UPI users in the same way. The Central Government informed the Supreme Court that 96 per cent of the individuals who use payment gateways will be exempted from the MDR of UPI payments exceeding ₹2,000.

(Representational Image) Supreme Court seeks Centre’s response on new MDR

Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman, representing the Centre, stated, “The decision is yet to come into effect on October 15. To begin with, I would like to say that 96 per cent of persons using the UPI payment gateway are exempted. Even for the remaining four per cent, essential services are capped.”

Centre tells the court how it will use MDR money

In addition to this, the Supreme Court inquired about the nature of the proposed charge and where exactly the money collected via MDR would be used.

To this, Venkataraman responded, “Not even a single rupee will go to the government. It is a settlement fee between the two parties, the bank and the service.

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It is said that the Supreme Court will use the Centre’s reply in order to find out which party the amount would form an “income” in the end.

Supreme Court does not stay UPI MDR decision

Though the Supreme Court sought replies from the Centre and others regarding the matter, it has not stayed the decision for imposing the MDR on specified UPI transactions above ₹2,000. The charges will continue to be imposed from October 15.

The case was filed against the Union of India, Reserve Bank of India, NPCI and the UPI & Services Steering Committee.

Retailers hold a placard of “No UPI Day” to protest the proposed 0.4 per cent MDR on eligible UPI merchant transactions. Credit: X/ANI

This legal challenge arises in advance of the scheduled implementation date of October 15. This petition has brought the new charges of the UPI to the Supreme Court, where the court is now seeking the response of the Centre on the legal and technical issues relating to the system.

September 28, 2026
Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj eyes Delhi after Bankipur bypoll win

Kishor-led Jan Suraaj Party may venture out of Bihar and take its politics beyond the state. Some supporters of the party based in the national capital are lobbying for the party to create a unit in Delhi.

The matter is expected to come up in talks with Kishor at an event on Sunday, wherein he will receive felicitations for winning the Bankipur by-poll.

After Bankipur victory, Jan Suraaj supporters push for Delhi entry. (ANI)

Jan Suraaj seeks Delhi entry

“People connected with Jan Suraaj in Delhi want the party to have a presence here, but tomorrow’s event is all about felicitating Kishor for his victory in Bankipur,” said Kumar Shantanu, member of the Jan Suraaj core committee and a professor at Delhi University, as quoted by PTI.

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According to him, it will be decided later whether the party should contest elections in Delhi or not, depending on the chances of the party in the city. Creation of a Delhi unit would be the first major expansion of the Jan Suraaj party outside Bihar.

What is the Bankipur link?

The talk of an expansion move to Delhi follows Kishor’s election victory in Bihar. In the Bankipur bypoll conducted in August, Kishor got elected for the first time as a candidate and helped his Jan Suraaj get its first seat in the Bihar Assembly.

Kishor beat BJP’s Neeraj Kumar by 19,324 votes in the Patna constituency. He got 64,151 votes compared to Kumar’s 44,827 votes, the report said.

This happened after Jan Suraaj’s first serious electoral test in the upcoming 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. The party fought for 238 seats but failed to win any, although Kishor did not contest that particular election.

Jan Suraaj’s possible Delhi cell

Thus far, all the political campaigns carried out by Jan Suraaj have taken place in Bihar, where the movement was built up by Kishor on the basis of problems like education, employment, and governance.

However, a new Delhi cell would mean a new political scenario for the party, since there has been no announcement that it would contest the elections in Delhi.

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The event planned for Sunday has been organised by Biharis settled in Delhi under Jan Suraaj. According to Shantanu, there will not be any representatives of other political parties at this closed-door meeting, but those who want to join Jan Suraaj are welcome.

It is up to Kishor and Jan Suraaj’s leadership to make the final decision about opening a Delhi cell.

Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj weighs Delhi expansion after Bankipur win. (ANI)

For the time being, the issue of expanding into Delhi remains in the hands of Prashant Kishor and the party leadership.

The supporters in the city are demanding a proper organizational structure from the party, while taking any decision for contesting elections in Delhi will come after an assessment of its potential in the region.

September 26, 2026
Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Sam Altman join Trump’s Dinner for Xi Jinping

US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a White House state dinner on Thursday, bringing together senior political figures, business leaders and some of the biggest names in the global technology industry.

Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI chief Sam Altman were among the prominent tech executives at the dinner.

Their presence put technology and artificial intelligence in focus alongside the wider discussions surrounding US-China relations, trade and other areas of disagreement between Washington and Beijing.

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The dinner came after a day filled with ceremonial events at the White House as Trump welcomed Xi for his state visit to the United States. While the formal proceedings projected close engagement between the two leaders, tensions between the world’s two largest economies remained visible.

Elon Musk, Tim Cook and Sam Altman join Trump’s state dinner for Xi Jinping. (ANI)

Trump hosts Xi Jinping at White House state dinner

Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the White House before the state dinner. The visit featured a formal welcome ceremony, a military parade, a flyover and a tour of the new White House helipad.

Trump later described the discussions with Xi positively. During the dinner, he said, “President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure.”

Earlier in the day, Trump said he and Xi had made “tremendous strides”. Later, after their talks, he described the discussions as a “Great meeting”.

The event also drew protesters outside the White House. Demonstrators chanted “Xi Jinping is not welcome” and “Free Hong Kong,” according to AFP reporters at the scene.

Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Sam Altman attend dinner

The attendance of Musk, Cook, Huang and Altman brought some of the world’s most influential technology executives into a diplomatic setting dominated by discussions over US-China relations.

Artificial intelligence was one of the important subjects during Xi’s visit. The technology sector has become increasingly important to the relationship between Washington and Beijing, particularly as both countries compete over AI development and related technologies.

Tech titans meet diplomacy as Trump hosts Xi Jinping at the White House. (ANI)

Xi addressed the issue directly during his remarks. Calling for the United States and China to “coexist in peace”, he said, “China and the United States must act as responsible major countries.”

The Chinese president also stressed that there should be “no conflict and no confrontation” between the two countries. On artificial intelligence, Xi said the technology must remain “always under human control.”

Xi also urged Trump to exercise “prudence” over Taiwan and oppose independence for the self-governing island, which Beijing claims as its territory. He also called for an end to the Iran war “through negotiation as soon as possible.”

Trump gifts Xi a bald eagle statue

The formal dinner included a symbolic gift from Trump to Xi. The US president presented the Chinese leader with a custom-made statue of a bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States.

The menu for the evening included yellow squash velouté, sesame-crusted sea bass and vanilla cremeux served with White House honey ice cream.

After the meal, Trump invited the guests to visit the construction site of the White House’s new ballroom, which is expected to cost $400 million.

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“In honor of you, you’ll be the first people to step foot on that,” Trump told the guests while referring to the building site.

US-China trade truce extended by two months

Despite the high-profile meeting and the presence of several major business leaders, the visit did not produce a major breakthrough on the broader US-China relationship.

One outcome was an extension of the existing trade truce between Washington and Beijing by two months, taking it through January. The report noted that this was shorter than the two-year extension Chinese officials had reportedly hoped for.

Trump shakes hands with Xi Jinping At White House state dinner.(ANI)

The trade relationship remains one of the central issues between the two countries, with tariffs and restrictions continuing to affect businesses and supply chains.

The state dinner therefore came against the backdrop of both economic negotiations and wider strategic disagreements involving artificial intelligence, Taiwan and Iran.

Military display and White House events

Xi’s visit began with a formal welcome on the White House South Lawn. Trump and Xi later watched a military parade held on the newly paved-over Rose Garden.

US military aircraft also took part in a flyover. Among them was a B-2 bomber, the same type of aircraft used in last year’s US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The two leaders then moved to the Oval Office for talks. Trump made a light-hearted remark about the Chinese press corps while discussing the meeting.

US-China relations among key discussions at state dinner.(ANI)

Later, Trump showed Xi the new White House helipad and took the Chinese president aboard Marine One. Their public appearances highlighted the ceremonial side of the state visit even as major disagreements remained unresolved.

What happens next?

Xi’s US visit is scheduled to conclude on Friday. Before leaving, Xi and Peng Liyuan are expected to visit the US National Archives with Trump and Melania Trump.

The National Archives houses important founding documents of the United States, including the Declaration of Independence. The visit comes as the country marks its 250th anniversary this year.

The White House dinner, meanwhile, brought diplomacy and the technology industry together at a time when AI, trade and US-China relations remain closely connected. The presence of Musk, Cook, Huang and Altman reflected the growing importance of technology in the relationship between Washington and Beijing.

September 25, 2026
Planning a Malaysia Trip? Indians can go visa-free, but jobs are different

Indian passport holders can currently travel to Malaysia without a visa for short visits, but the facility comes with specific conditions.

The visa waiver has been extended until December 31, 2026, and permits stays of up to 30 days for purposes including tourism, social visits, business and transit.

However, visa-free entry should not be confused with permission to work in Malaysia.

Malaysia is visa-free for Indians, but that does not mean you can work there without a permit. (ANI)

The Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur has now cautioned Indian nationals against using the 30-day facility to travel to Malaysia in search of employment. The warning comes after the mission noticed an increase in Indians arriving in the country after being allegedly misled by agents promising jobs.

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The High Commission said:

“There is a noticeable increase in Indian nationals arriving in Malaysia using the 30-day visa-free facility, to seek employment.

“The High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur alerts Indian nationals travelling to Malaysia on tourist visas against taking up employment. Many Indian nationals are misled by unscrupulous agents with false job promises, leading to overstay, illegal status, exploitation, detention, and legal action.”

Can Indians work in Malaysia on a tourist visa?

No. The visa-free facility does not give an Indian traveller the right to take up employment in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s Immigration Department separately states that foreign nationals entering the country for employment must follow the relevant immigration procedure. For Indian workers, permitted sectors include certain areas of services, plantation, agriculture, manufacturing and construction.

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The distinction is important because entering Malaysia for a holiday and entering the country as a foreign worker are governed by different requirements.

Malaysia’s Expatriate Services Division has also clarified that the visa exemption for Indian nationals applies to tourist visits and does not extend to employment-related passes. These include Employment Passes, Professional Visit Passes and Residence Pass-Talent.

Tourist visa vs work permit: What is the difference?

For a tourist, the visa-free arrangement is designed for a temporary visit. It does not automatically create a route to employment.

Those travelling to Malaysia for work need the appropriate approval and documentation before entering the country. Malaysian immigration rules state that foreign workers generally require a Visa With Reference, or VDR, and an entry visa before arrival. A Visit Pass Temporary Employment is issued after the relevant procedures are completed.

Indians can visit Malaysia visa-free, but jobs require the right work permit and approvals.(X/Malysiatourism)

The Malaysian Immigration Department also lists a VDR or Visa Approval Letter route for foreign nationals travelling for purposes such as employment or study.

This means an Indian traveller should not assume that a visa-free tourist entry can later be converted into permission to work.

High Commission warns against fake job offers

The latest warning also highlights the risks faced by people who rely on unofficial agents or unverified job offers.

According to the High Commission, some Indian nationals have reportedly been attracted to Malaysia by false employment promises. Such situations can result in overstaying, illegal immigration status, exploitation, detention and legal action.

The warning is particularly relevant for travellers who are planning to visit Malaysia specifically to look for employment after entering the country as tourists.

Documents tourists should carry

For genuine tourists, the High Commission has advised travellers to keep valid and verifiable travel documents ready.

The advisory says:

“Genuine tourists must carry valid and verifiable documentation such as a confirmed return ticket, hotel booking, online submission of the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) three days before the arrival date, and a passport with minimum 6-month validity, to avoid any immigration-related issues on arrival in Malaysia.”

Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry also lists a passport validity of at least six months, a confirmed return ticket, hotel booking and submission of the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card among the requirements for Indian passport holders using the visa waiver.

Malaysia travel rules for Indians: What to remember?

The key point for Indian travellers is simple: visa-free travel does not mean visa-free employment.

Indians can use the current waiver for eligible short visits, subject to Malaysian immigration requirements. But anyone planning to work in Malaysia must obtain the appropriate employment approval, work permit and related entry documentation before travelling.

Travellers should also be cautious about agents offering jobs in Malaysia on the promise that they can enter first on a tourist visa and complete the paperwork later. The Indian High Commission has specifically warned against this practice.

The visa waiver is currently scheduled to remain in place for Indian nationals until December 31, 2026.

September 23, 2026