Nuns, priests in govt service have to pay income tax: Kerala HC

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KOCHI: Kerala high court on Thursday held that nuns and priests employed in government service are liable to pay income tax.

The court passed the order dismissing 49 petitions by nuns and members of congregations, who are employed in aided educational institutions in the state.

Justice AK Jayshankar Nambiar upheld the stand of income tax authorities that tax was required to be deducted at source from payments by way of salaries, pensions from persons, who are members of religious congregations.

The court held that right to receive payments by way of salary or pension accrues to them as individuals and not to the congregations.

The petitioners contended that they have to handover their salaries to congregations and hence, it cannot be considered as their own income.

The court held that remuneration in the nature of salary and pension has to be treated as income.

Singer Shreya Ghoshal ties knot with Shiladitya

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Mumbai: Singer Shreya Ghoshal got married to Shiladitya Mukhopadhyaya at a private function held on Thursday night. The marriage was held as per Bengali tradition, revealed Shreya on her Facebook and Twitter. Only relatives of the couple and close friends attended the marriage.

'Married the love of my life yesterday night (5th feb) in a beautiful bengali traditional wedding in presence of our families and closest friends. Shiladitya and I both seek your good wishes in this exciting new phase of our lives,' Shreya posted on her Facebook page.

Mukhopadhyaya is anentrepreneur, as per his Twitter handle.
 

Acts of religious intolerance in India would have shocked Gandhi: Obama

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Washington: US President Barack Obama on Thursday invoked India's example to make a plea for religious freedom and how faith leads people to do good and what's right but that faith also can be twisted to be used as a weapon.

In a 25-minute address to the National Prayer Breakfast, Obama who last month visited India with First Lady Michelle called it 'an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent diversity'.

But it was also 'a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs', he said.

These, Obama said, were 'acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation,' he said.

'So this is not unique to one group or one religion. There is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and distort our faith,' he told the meeting, attended by several international leaders including the Dalai Lama.

'We see faith driving us to do right. But we also see faith being twisted and distorted, used as a wedge - or, worse, sometimes used as a weapon,' Obama said.

'From a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris, we have seen violence and terror perpetrated by those who profess to stand up for faith, their faith, professed to stand up for Islam, but, in fact, are betraying it,' he said.

Earlier this week, a senior aide of Obama had said that Obama's last speech in New Delhi referring to the need for religious tolerance in India had been misconstrued by some commentators as a kind of a parting shot.

'I think that's been somewhat misconstrued, if you look at the context of the entire speech, it's really about inclusivity. It's about the power of diversity,' Phil Reiner, White House's senior director for South Asian Affairs, told foreign media.

As he began speaking, Obama called the Dalai Lama a 'good friend' and 'a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion and who inspires us to speak up for the freedom and dignity of all human beings'.

Earlier as he arrived, Obama nodded and smiled at the Dalai Lama, waving after clasping his hands together in a bow-like gesture toward Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.

The two did not meet directly, but senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett was seated with the Dalai Lama at a table in the front row across from the president.

Despite Beijing's objections, Obama has met the Dalai Lama previously three times, most recently in February 2014.

As he arrived at the Washington Hilton Hotel for the meeting, two groups of supporters of the Dalai Lama chanted to drum beats and waved banners and Tibetan flags on the street outside the hotel.

IANS

Students locked in room for not paying fees; principal in custody

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Kozhikode: Causing psychological and mental trauma to the children of Hill Top Public School in Kozhikode, school authorities locked the children in a room for failing to pay the school fees. Police have taken the principal of the school into custody. Many children suffered uneasiness because of the heat.

The last day for paying school fees was December 10 and many students had defaulted on payment. They were asked to remain in a locked room. The school principal said that the children were only asked to remain in a separate room and it was not locked. However, children and their parents protested over this and the police took the principal into custody.

AAA Lalism: Will return the full amount to govt, says Mohanlal

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Thiruvananthapuram: Cine Actor Mohanlal, who owns musical band Lalism, on Monday said he would return the whole amount he received for the show at the inaugural of he 35th National Games.

The band had received Rs 1,63,77,600 for the event. It will be remitted in the same account, he said in an e-mail sent to governement.

Mohanlal said he took the decision in the wake of the event receiving widespread criticism. He added that the allegations hurt him deeply.

Earlier in the day, Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan had said that Mohanlal would come up with reply to the criticism over Lalism.

'It is obvious that those opposing Mohanlal would attempt to spread negative opinion about his programme. Mohanlal has the capability to give them a fitting reply. We considered many, including A R Rahman, for the ceremony. Given the low expense and star value, Lalism was chosen,' he had said.

The minister further said that he is not talented enough to analyse the show critically.

'However, the controversies should not overshadow the grandeur of the inaugural ceremony,' he said.

Petrol price slashed by Rs.2.42 per litre, diesel Rs.2.25

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New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS) With international crude oil prices continuing to rule below $50 per barrel, the three state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) Tuesday decided to reduce petrol and diesel prices.

Taking into account the effect of state levies, the petrol price in Delhi will be cut by Rs.2.42 per litre, while diesel cost will come down by Rs.2.25 per litre from midnight Tuesday.

As a result of the latest price revision, consumers would have to shell out Rs.56.49 per litre for petrol and Rs.46.01 per litre for diesel at the fuel stations in the national capital (subject to state levies).

Currently, petrol is priced at Rs.58.91 per litre and diesel cost per litre is pegged at Rs.48.26.

According to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the latest revision was done keeping in account the deceleration of prices globally and the appreciation in rupee-dollar exchange rate.

'The combined impact of both these factors warrant a decrease in retail selling prices of both petrol and diesel,' IOC said.

On Jan 16, the three state-run OMCs had cut petrol price by Rs.2.42 a litre and that of diesel by Rs.2.25 per litre.

This is the third time since the beginning of 2015, that the prices of both the transportation fuels have been reduced.

IANS