May 21, 2025 07:30 IST
First published on: May 21, 2025 at 07:30 IST
Central government offices and establishments all over the country will observe the five-day week schedule with Saturday and Sunday as holidays from June 3. Government offices will have an extra hour every day to offset the loss in the number of working hours. The official press note claimed that a five-day week, which had been found successful in advanced countries, would increase the overall efficiency of the governmental machinery.
Anti-terror Bill
The Lok Sabha gave its assent by voice vote to the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Bill, which gives the government sweeping powers to combat the menace of terrorism. The measures include a maximum penalty of a death sentence for terrorist acts resulting in loss of life. Both Law Minister Asoke Sen and Home Minister S B Chavan sought to allay the Opposition’s fears about the possibility of misuse of this law to curb political opponents.
Indira Gandhi Case
Special judge Mahesh Chandra once again adjourned hearing in the Indira Gandhi assassination case to May 24, as one of the three accused, Balbir Singh, failed to find a lawyer to defend him. Hearing in the case began in a makeshift courtroom in Tihar Jail, where the three accused are lodged. The accused were held in tight security before proceedings began, made to stand in a special bulletproof glass cage the size of a public telephone booth.
Sarkaria Commission
The Union Cabinet on Monday approved the extension of the term of the Sarkaria Commission for one year, till June 1986. The term of the commission set up last year to go into the entire gamut of Centre-state relations was to expire next month. The commission itself is understood to have sought the extension as it had not completed discussions with all the state governments.
