Thu Apr 17 00:57:32 UTC 2025: ## India News Roundup: Supreme Court Questions Waqf Act, US VP to Visit, and More

**New Delhi, April 17, 2025** – A busy day in Indian news saw the Supreme Court questioning the constitutional validity of the amended Waqf Act, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance announcing a visit, and several other significant developments.

The Supreme Court raised concerns over provisions in the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which altered the recognition of waqf properties and granted the state increased power over their designation. The Chief Justice proposed an interim order to maintain a balance while the case proceeds.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Vance will undertake a four-day visit to India starting April 21st. His itinerary includes meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the launch of a new India-U.S. technology partnership. Prior to arriving in India, Mr. Vance will visit Rome and the Vatican.

In other news:

* **Release of Convict:** Mahendra Hembram, one of the convicts in the 1999 Graham Staines murder case, was released from prison after 25 years due to good behavior.
* **Northeast’s Potential:** External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar countered recent comments describing India’s Northeast as “landlocked,” emphasizing its potential as a gateway to Southeast Asia.
* **Tamil Nadu Politics:** AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami ruled out a coalition government with the BJP in Tamil Nadu following the 2026 Assembly elections.
* **Election Commission Appointments:** The Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for May 14th on pleas challenging the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners under the 2023 law.
* **ATM on Train:** The Central Railway experimentally installed an ATM on the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express.
* **ED Raids:** The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at the premises of EaseMyTrip co-founder Nishant Pitti in connection with a money laundering case.
* **Congress Protests:** The Congress party held nationwide protests against the ED following a chargesheet naming Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.
* **Jharkhand Mukti Morcha:** Hemant Soren assumed the presidency of the JMM, succeeding his father.
* **Fatwa Against Actor:** A fatwa was issued cautioning Muslims against supporting actor Vijay and his party due to his portrayal of Muslims in films.
* **Nagpur Demolition Apology:** The Nagpur Municipal Commissioner apologized to the Bombay High Court for the demolition of properties without adhering to Supreme Court guidelines.
* **Kunal Kamra Case:** The Bombay High Court reserved its order on a petition by comedian Kunal Kamra seeking to quash an FIR against him.
* **Drug Ban:** The CDSCO directed states to stop the manufacture and sale of 35 unapproved fixed-dose combination drugs.
* **Robert Vadra Questioned:** Robert Vadra faced questioning by the ED for a second day in connection with a land deal case.
* **Israel’s Gaza Stance:** Israel’s Defence Minister stated that troops will remain indefinitely in security zones in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.
* **Pandemic Treaty:** A landmark accord on tackling future pandemics was finalized after years of negotiations.
* **US Remains Top Trading Partner:** The U.S. remained India’s largest trading partner in 2024-25, while the trade deficit with China widened.
* **WTO Cuts Trade Forecast:** The World Trade Organization significantly lowered its global merchandise trade growth forecast.

This is a developing story, and further updates will follow.

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