The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has ordered that holders of light motor vehicle driving licenses can drive transport vehicles including 

auto rickshaws without a badge.LMV driving license holders can drive transport vehicles less than 7500 kg without any other documents.The order came from a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. The Supreme Court also clarified that LMVs and heavy vehicles can be seen as one in license related matters. The judgment of the five-member bench upheld the judgment of the three-member bench in 2017. The Supreme Court has considered the appeal filed by insurance company Bajaj Alliance.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Devaswom Board has instructed Sabarimala pilgrims to avoid three items from Irumudikattu. The notification is to avoid camphor, Agarbati and rose water. A large part of the goods brought by the devotees are taken away as waste and burnt. The Devaswom Board says that the move is in view of this situation.

Now a lot of plastic comes in the Irumudikettu brought by the Ayyappa devotees who come to Sabarimala. This is causing major environmental problems in Sabarimala. Now Irumutikat comes loaded with many things that are not needed. The Devaswom Board is of the opinion that this should be avoided. On the other hand, the front knot of the Irumudikkettu is to be offered to Sabarimala and the back knot is to offer food items for devotees. But in olden days Ayyappa devotees used to reach Sabarimala by walking. The method is to bring coconut, rice etc. in a back knot to cook and eat food among them. There is no need for it now. So just keep some rice in your Irumudikettu. It can be offered and bought at Sabarimala. Agarbatti, camphor and rose water which are not required in the front knot should be avoided. This is also not used there. The Devaswom Board says that coconut, ghee coconut, jaggery, banana, betel, and kanippon are enough for the front knot.

Kothamangalam: Actor Nivin Pauly was acquitted in the case of molesting a young woman by promising to act in a film.

Based on the investigation of the allegation, DySP Kothamangalam 1st Class Magistrate submitted a report that Nivin Pauly, the sixth accused in the case, was acquitted as it was found that Nivin Pauly was not there at the exact time or on the day of the incident. Investigation against other accused will continue.

Based on the woman’s complaint, the OOnnukal police registered a case against six people including Nivin Pauly. The complaint was filed by a native of Neriyamangalam who works in Dubai. The first accused is a young woman named Shreya who took the young woman to work in Dubai. Nivin Pauly’s friend Sunil, Basheer, Kuttan, Binu and others from Thrissur are the other accused.

Nivin Pauly had met the media stating that the complaint was baseless. At the same time the woman replied that she will move against Nivin Pauly in the case. 

Third accused in Ashwini Kumar murder case gets life imprisonment. The third accused MV Marshook was sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000. The sentence was passed by the Thalassery Additional Sessions Court. The court acquitted 13 NDF workers in the case. RSS leader Ashwini Kumar was killed on March 10, 2005.

Bengaluru: Lokayukta sent notice to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam case. The Lokayukta has directed Siddaramaiah to appear for questioning on November 6. Siddaramaiah’s wife BM Parvathi was questioned in the case on 25th of last month. Investigation into the case is still ongoing as the Lokayukta has sought clarity on the alleged irregularities in the land deal.

Apart from Siddaramaiah, the names of his wife Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy and Devaraju are present in the case. However, Siddaramaiah had earlier responded that the opposition’s fear of him in the case was behind the case and neither he nor his family had done anything wrong in this incident. He said then that this is just a political case.

Thiruvananthapuram: Palakkad by-election date changed. The Election Commission has changed the polling date to 20th of this month.

Earlier, the election was scheduled for 13th. Meanwhile, there is no change in the date of polling in Chelakkara and Wayanad.

Parties including the BJP had requested the Election Commission to change the date of the Palakkad by-election in view of the Kalpathi Rathotsavam. Reports state that the date has been changed considering this. The Election Commission has changed the date of polling in 14 constituencies including Kerala.

Apart from Kerala, the by-elections scheduled for 13th in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have been shifted to 20th. The Election Commission has decided to change the date of polling in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in view of various festivals.