-The Telegraph The Supreme Court today refused to stay field trials of genetically modified food crops for now despite a court-appointed panel recommending a 10-year moratorium, after the Centre said such a freeze would hit food security for a growing population. The five-member technical expert committee’s (TEC) interim report had advocated the moratorium till the country improved its regulatory system for GM field trials to ensure proper evaluation of these crops’ health,...

-The Times of India The Supreme Court on Friday stayed all proceedings before the Delhi High Court relating to 20 petitions by 2G spectrum scam accused, including former telecom minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and others who had challenged the trial court's decision to frame charges against them. Appearing for the CBI, senior advocate K K Venugopal informed a bench of Justices G S Singhvi and K S Radhakrishnan that though...

-The Economic Times The government has opposed suggestions to ban open-field trials of genetically modified crops, telling the Supreme Court on Friday that any such move will be detrimental to the country's food security and set back research in this area by 20 years. "We are not accepting this report at all. The Government of India supports carrying out of field trials," Attorney General GE Vahanvati told a two-judge bench, referring to...

-The Hindustan Times A right to information (RTI) activists has filed a police complaint against the wife of revenue minister Raman Bhalla, alleging that she has threatened him against pursuing the case of multi-crore land transfer to hoteliers in Gulmarg. RTI activist SK Bhalla has been fighting the case of alleged illegal transfer of land earmarked for the development of tourist infrastructure under the masterplan of Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) by...

-The Hindu Commission’s powers under RP Act limited to candidates, agents Ahmedabad: In a stinging indictment, the Gujarat High Court on Friday called “unconstitutional” and “illegal” the searches and seizure of anything over Rs. 2.5 lakh (in cash and kind) from any car by static surveillance teams of the Election Commission. Observing that the action was not only uncalled for as the names of Assembly election candidates had not even been announced, a...