#High Court compliance

[townpostin]

JNAC Enforces High Court Order on Sakchi Mall Parking

Commercial spaces on ground floor vacated to restore designated parking area Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee takes action against map deviation in Sakchi SNP area, enforcing compliance with 2011 High Court directive. JAMSHEDPUR – The Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) has launched a stringent campaign to address map deviations in the Sakchi SNP area, following a High Court mandate. On…

[seemabhatnagar]

"UP High Court Upholds Food Safety Standards: Sugandhit Supari Classified as Food Product Under FSSA, 2006"

The court held that "sugandhit supari" is classified as a food item under the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006, and not merely a tobacco product under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003. The summoning order passed by Additional Session Judge Jhasi and the non-bailable warrant issued by Additional District Judge Jhasi were upheld. The application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing these orders was dismissed.

Jagdish Prasad & Another v. State of UP & Another

Crl. Misc. Case No.11772/2024

Before the High Court of Allahabad

Heard by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal J

Fact:

The applicants firm M/s Balaji Traders Orai was involved in the manufacturing and sale of a product named "sugandhit supari".

An inspection was conducted by the Food Security Officer on 20.02.2020 at the manufacturing unit of the firm.

During the inspection, 370 packets of "sugandhit supari" were found, four of which were purchased and sent for analysis.

The food analyst's report indicated that the product contained tobacco, was of substandard quality, and did not meet labeling requirements.

A complaint was filed, leading to the summoning of the applicants and the issuance of a non-bailable warrant.

Legal Issue

Whether "sugandhit supari" is classified as a tobacco product or a food item under the relevant laws.

Whether the proceedings under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA, 2006) are valid if "sugandhit supari" is a tobacco product.

Point of arguments

Applicant's argument

"Sugandhit supari" is a tobacco product, and thus proceedings under the FSSA, 2006 are erroneous.

The product should be regulated under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA, 2003).

Even if considered a food item, the applicants hold a valid license, making the invocation of the FSSA, 2006 incorrect.

Opposite Party's Argument

"Sugandhit supari" is a food item and thus falls under the purview of the FSSA, 2006.The applicants failed to present a valid license at the time of inspection.

Court's Observation

The FSSA, 2006 regulates food items to ensure safety for human consumption, while the COTPA, 2003 focuses on regulating and controlling tobacco product.

It considered the inclusion of betel nut (supari) under the definition of food and primary food in the FSSA, 2006 and its standards under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.

Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: Defines "food" as any substance intended for human consumption and includes primary food (Section 3(1)(j)). Betel nut falls under this category as it is a primary food product derived from agriculture.

COTPA, 2003: Regulates tobacco products listed in its schedule. Betel nut (supari) is not listed as a tobacco product under COTPA, 2003 unless it contains tobacco as an ingredient.

[truthtrend]

Former Cork-based Deloitte executive fails in bid to halt criminal prosecution

In the complex realm of financial regulations and legal agreements, the case of Brian Murphy, a former senior audit partner at Deloitte, has stirred significant debate and legal scrutiny. Mr. Murphy finds himself entangled in a legal battle concerning alleged tax offences, despite asserting his belief that he was shielded from criminal prosecution.

The saga began with a summons issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in February 2014, relating to an alleged VAT refund claim during Mr. Murphy's tenure as a director of a company. Subsequently, in October 2015, further allegations surfaced regarding tax returns spanning from 2008 to 2012, prompting the DPP to seek criminal summons against him.

Mr. Murphy vehemently denies any wrongdoing, basing his defense on an agreement he claims was reached with Revenue in August 2015. According to him, this agreement, made within the context of civil proceedings, included provisions that would shield him from prosecution as long as he complied with a settlement payment plan.

Adding to the complexity are alleged oral representations made to Mr. Murphy by a legal executive acting on behalf of solicitors representing Revenue. These representations, he argues, reinforced his belief that he would not face criminal prosecution.

However, the High Court's ruling in May of the previous year dealt a blow to Mr. Murphy's hopes, affirming that he could indeed be prosecuted for the alleged tax offences. Despite his legitimate expectations based on agreements and representations, the court's decision sets a precedent that emphasizes the primacy of legal process and obligations.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the case of Brian Murphy underscores the intricate interplay between contractual agreements, oral representations, and the authority of legal institutions in matters of taxation and criminal prosecution.

A FORMER senior audit partner at financial services giant Deloitte has lost an appeal against a High Court ruling that he can be criminally prosecuted for alleged tax offences, despite arguing he had a legitimate expectation that he would not be prosecuted. In May of last year, the High Court ruled that Brian Murphy, a qualified accountant and former audit partner with the finance firm Deloitte who brought proceedings against the Revenue Commissioners and the Director of Public Prosecutions, could be prosecuted.

In February 2014, the DPP issued a summons against Mr Murphy in relation to an alleged offence concerning a VAT refund claim on behalf of a company of which Mr Murphy had been a director.

In October 2015, the DPP further applied to have a criminal summons issued against Mr Murphy in relation to alleged offences regarding tax returns between 2008 and 2012.

Mr Murphy, of Carrigaline, Co Cork denies any criminal wrongdoing.

Mr Murphy claimed that a criminal prosecution would breach the terms of an agreement between him and Revenue in August 2015 in the context of certain civil proceedings which he claims meant that he would avoid prosecution if he adhered to a settlement payment plan.

Mr Murphy had further relied on certain oral representations he claimed were made to him on behalf of a legal executive working for solicitors acting for Revenue that he would not be prosecuted.

The appellant claimed his prosecution would amount to a breach of his ‘legitimate expectation’.

Legitimate expectation is a legal principle which may apply where a public body leads a person to believe a particular state of affairs to be undertaken and that person acts to his detriment in reliance on their representation.

Dismissing the 2022 application Mr Justice Garrett Simons said Mr Murphy had not established the grounds for his claim of the breach of his legitimate expectation.

Mr Justice Simons said the agreement between Revenue and Mr Murphy was reached in 2015 following a separate decision in 2014 made by the DPP to issue a criminal summons against him.

That summons related to an alleged offence concerning a VAT refund claim on behalf of a company of which Mr Murphy had been a director.

Mr Murphy then entered into talks with Revenue to also discharge other unrelated arrears of tax before coming to an agreement on payments in August 2015.

He undertook to make monthly payments of €4,000 from August 2015 to December 2018 to settle the outstanding taxes. In addition, Mr Murphy offered to make annual lump sum payments ranging between €20,000 and €75,000.

The judge found that the 2015 agreement did not amount to a representation that the DPP would not pursue criminal proceedings against the appellant.

Mr Justice Simons said that if there was an element in the agreement to prevent criminal prosecution it was “inconceivable that this would not have been expressly recorded in its terms”.

Mr Murphy appealed and his lawyers submitted that the judge did not adequately analyse a series of communications between Revenue and Mr Murphy before the signing of the settlement.

At the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham said Mr Murphy had been “anxious” to enter into a settlement agreement with Revenue that could allow him to keep working in order to make his payments but to also enter into a “highly desirable” agreement that would “preclude criminal proceedings already instituted or any further proceedings”.

“On the other hand, the position of the Revenue Commissioners was that they were not going to commit themselves to non-prosecution or to preclude other means of enforcement,” said Mr Justice Birmingham.

The judge said that Revenue had “articulated clearly” to Mr Murphy that their position would be without prejudice to any other enforcement action or prosecution and had stated that this position be “clearly stated” throughout the settlement document.

However, the draft agreement furnished to Mr Murphy had no mention of a “without prejudice” clause. “It was silent on the issue,” said Mr Justice Birmingham. Mr Murphy then signed the document and claimed that the absence of any mention of prosecution meant he had achieved his objective based on previous discussions with Revenue.

“I am quite unable to conclude that the absence of a ‘without prejudice’ clause amounts to an unambiguous and unequivocal representation to the effect that there would be no prosecutions,” said the judge.

Mr Justice Birmingham said that if Mr Murphy’s position regarding any clause was correct then the “prosecution, which had already been launched, would be halted and that the investigation which was at an advanced stage, would also be halted”.

The judge said that if the appellant was correct then it would have meant that even if underpayment of tax during other years, or other irregularities came to light, then “enforcement would be prohibited”.

“I am bound to say that I regard this as an extraordinary proposition. I cannot believe there was any representation to that effect and most certainly I cannot believe there was any representation that was unambiguous and unequivocal,” said the judge, who stressed that the document was “silent” on the matter.

“Nobody who was facing a prosecution and then found that threat lifted would allow the appearance of the threat to remain in place for a day longer than necessary,” he said, adding that Mr Murphy would have “moved immediately” to have them struck out.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the trial judge properly assessed the case and “he was fully entitled to reject the claim, whether formulated in terms of legitimate expectation, or contract, or some cross between the two”.

Mr Justice Birmingham then dismissed the appeal.

[thetaxguyin]

ED Provisions: Immovable Properties Worth ₹43.84 Crore Attached in PMLA Cas

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Mumbai recently made a significant announcement regarding the provisional attachment of immovable properties, including several floors of Hotel One Continent in Hyderabad. Valued at ₹43.84 crore, these properties have been provisionally attached under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a loan fraud case…

[techminsolutions]

Landmark Ruling on Input Tax Credit by Honorable Madras High Court: Transforming GST Compliance for Businesses

A Groundbreaking Ruling on Input Tax Credit by the Honourable Madras High Court: Insights from SRI SHANMUGA HARDWARES ELECTRICALS Case In the intricate realm of tax compliance and regulatory frameworks, the Honourable Madras High Court has recently issued a landmark judgement that promises to significantly impact the way input tax credit (ITC) claims are approached in India. The case in question,…

[eternalduos]

I think that Season 10 and especially the Doc v. Cleo trial really epitomizes what I mean when I say that Hermitcraft operates on Wonderland/Feywild logic, where everything is orderly but so nonsensical. There are no laws but you can sue people for whatever you want. The courtroom is explicitly a TV court and the judge makes desicions by flipping a coin, and punishments are decided by whatever is funniest. You MUST address the judge as "Your Highness" instead of "Your Honor." If you want a permit to sell something you have to complete a bunch of nonsense impossible tasks like you're making a deal with a fairy. The only law enforcement does not have the power to enforce any laws and mostly just stands around in slutty outfits. The governmental system is a bunch of people "yes and"ing each other and everyone will complain about the bureaucracy but also begrudgingly follow all of the rules, sometimes with malicious compliance. Your lawyer is a muppet.

[metamatar]

October 10, 2022

Amit Kumar had everything going for him. After graduating in engineering and landing a decent job, Amit wanted to settle down with his childhood sweetheart Renu. The couple had known each other since Class IX and dreamt of a life together. The only difficulty was that Renu belonged to a Brahmin family and Amit was a Dalit.

With their homes barely a kilometre apart in Garhwa district of Jharkhand, Renu knew her family would never approve of the match. The couple decided to run away and tie the knot in another State. And thus began their tale of unending harassment and tragedy.

The couple married at a temple in Dehradun and got their marriage registered there. They had just about settled down at Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh when, in a midnight raid, the Uttar Pradesh police took away Renu, claiming that she had been abducted. Amit and Renu have not seen or spoken to each other since that fateful night of August 13, 2021.

Amit’s life has been a quagmire of legal battles and dismissed habeas corpus petitions since then. “I fear my wife is no more,” he told The Hindu.

Activists say such tragic situations can be avoided if couples like Amit and Renu are provided safe houses and special protection by the State governments as mandated by the Supreme Court.

According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the number of “honour killings” in the country was 24, 25 and 33 in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand topped the list in 2021 and 2020, while Manipur was on top in 2019.

The government in 2021 informed Parliament that there were 145 “honour killing” incidents in the country between 2017 and 2019.

Interestingly, though the NCRB report attributed only 25 deaths to “honour killings” in 2020, it said there were 27 deaths due to casteism and 1,558 due to “illicit relationship”. Similarly, in 2021, 33 deaths were listed under “honour killings”, but 1,544 and 1,532 under “illicit relationship” and “love affairs”, respectively.

So far, only Delhi, Haryana and Punjab have safe houses for inter-faith and inter-religious couples. Kerala has only announced the setting up of a safe house.

In fact, only 21 States have said that they have complied with the Supreme Court directives, which means that they have asked the police officers concerned of a State for strict compliance, according to Dhanak for Humanity, a non-governmental organisation which works with such couples, helping them solemnise their marriages and providing legal support.

The Supreme Court had in 2018 directed that safe houses be set up in every district as well as a special cell in States for couples facing opposition from families and community.

Gaurav Yadav, an engineer from IIT Chennai, said he was working with survivors of “honour crimes” and couples who are in hiding to petition the government for more safe houses across the country.

“Soon we will form an official grouping and petition the government to follow the Supreme Court directives on safe houses and special cells,” Mr. Yadav said, adding that he had organised a convention regarding the same in Delhi recently.

He said though couples had been demanding that safe houses be set up, the State administrations had looked the other way.

An example is of Ravikant Chandrawanshi and Alisha, who had a harrowing time getting married under the Special Marriage Act in Chhattisgarh.

The inter-faith couple at first decided to elope and marry in Bilaspur. However, a lack of support system and security, including finances, saw them return home in Kawardha within four days.

“As my wife’s family were well to do and politically connected, they kept up the pressure on us. Finally, we had to take legal recourse and approached the High Court asking them to direct the State administration to provide the mandated safe house and police protection.

“However, we were informed that there was no safe house and Alisha had to go to a sakhi centre or a women’s safe house,” Mr. Chandravanshi said.

Though the couple approached the highest of authorities, they were not given any police protection either and had to go into hiding for around six months after their marriage.

According to Asif Iqbal of Dhanak for Humanity, most States send the girl to a Nari Niketan after couples approach them. “It is here that the girl is the most insecure as her family mostly approaches her and puts pressure to go back. Many a time, this also leads to what is known as honour killing of the girl”.

Sanjay Sachadev of Love Commandoes, an organisation which rescues and shelters such couples, said, “The need of the hour is safe houses across the country. In almost every case, the police try and send the girl to a women’s shelter and the boy is left to fend for himself.”

A couple who are staying in a Delhi safe house and did not wish to be identified said that they could not have thought of living together had it not been for the security of the safe house.

Mr. Iqbal, whose organisation has helped many couples seek legal recourse to stay together and get married, said that of the distress calls he receives, the most were from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

[lanitalay]

At sea pt. 2

Rhysand x reader

a/n: I am terrible at naming fics lol

word count:1.4k warnings: none

Part 1

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can’t control your face as your eyes widen and your mouth gapes at the news. 

“Oh…” is all you managed to say as an emptiness creeps up to your throat. He was your friend and nothing more. You had never so much as pecked the High Lord. There was no reason for such a reaction from you. It should not have shocked you, either. He would have had to marry eventually and the renegade daughter of an unstable sailor would not do anything to strengthen the court. “She accepted the proposal?” 

“Beron did”

That was another thing to consider. The High Lord of Autumn was well known for his cruelty. You could only imagine the life his only daughter had lived so far. Marrying Rhysand would be a mercy. It would grant her his protection, give her an escape from her rotten father. So being upset by the news was entirely selfish. You could not protest.  It would take every single one of your efforts to move on. But for the sake of the war, for the sake of maintaining peace amongst the courts and for helping a helpless female you would grit your teeth and accept that the attraction you felt to the male standing before you was hopeless.

“Congratulations are in order then, High Lord” you say with whatever smile you could muster. 

“I-” he begins but stops, looking away from you. His eyes remain on the drawings on the book in front of you and the air feels heavy with something bigger than your own sorrow. A few heartbeats later he returns his gaze to yours and offers you a solemn grin “thank you”. 

Weeks pass by as you catalog each new finding from your travels. Paula, your head researcher, was happy with the outcome of the expedition but that only meant more work for you as she asked you to write a meticulous article for each sample being cataloged. By the end of the day your hands were cramped and your writing was barely legible. The exhaustion was also mental, but that was more than welcome because in a few short days your High Lord would be marrying a princess. You were grateful for the fatigue as you reached your bed and collapsed into a dreamless sleep night after night. 

“All I’m saying is that you don’t have to marry her” Mor’s voice bounces off the walls of Rhysands study. 

“There is no other way, cousin. Ever since the situation with Eris the Autumn Court has refused diplomatic relations. We need their fire wielders and their footmen to stand a chance against Hybern” the blonde sighs, exasperated. They have had this discussion plenty of times before. 

“You could hold off the wedding until after the war. Once everything is settled you can break it off” 

“Beron made it clear his compliance is reliant on us getting married before the leaves begin to brown” 

“You don’t love her! She’s basically a child Rhysand and you’d be condemning the rest of your life to be spent with a female who is not right for you” he massaged his temples as he listened to the same arguments she had been making since the announcement. 

“As High Lord I need to make sacrifices for the well being of the court. This is the price I must pay” 

“Cousin, please” 

“Mor, I can’t keep having this conversation” she heaves a breath and leaves the room. The slam of the door rattling the painting and shelves on the walls

“He’s the most stubborn person I’ve ever known, and gods above, I’m Kier’s daughter” Mor rants while pacing the length of your sitting room. She had winnowed to your apartment a few moments ago and knocked so loud on the door that you thought Hybern was invading. 

“He has his reasons, Mor” you breathe, trying to keep your composure. Hiding your unhappiness about the matter was easier when you did not think or talk about it. 

“You should talk to him, he always listens to you more than he does the rest of us” you begin to shake your head in negation but she insists “you were the only one that got through to him when he wanted to get that awful face tattoo”. 

“I only said I didn’t like it” 

“Exactly! He cares about your opinion. Just… talk to him. He won’t listen to me” you give her a stern look and she replies “please, I know he’ll live to regret it”. 

How could you tell your friend, the day before his wedding, that what he is doing is a mistake? He was not doing it with thoughtless intent. More backup was needed and he found a way to get it, at his own expense. What would be a good argument to convince him otherwise? Would he tell you to mind your business? Would this wreck your friendship? 

Three knocks on a wooden door alert him to your presence.

“Come in” 

“Hi, Rhys,” you greet him. Smiling as you see his face for the first time in weeks. He looks up from the paper he is reading and his features soften as soon as he spots you. 

“Hi, y/n” you shift on your feet. He clears his throat and motions towards a chair in front of the desk “sit, please”. When you sit he adds “what can I help you with?” 

The golden buttons of your blouse feel cool against your fingers as you fiddle with them. “I have to talk to you… about tomorrow”.

His jaw clenches in a way you are not used to “what about tomorrow?” 

“Are you positive you want to go through with it?” 

“Y/n I have no interest in debating my nuptials. It will happen tomorrow and I hope to see you there. But if not, then it won’t make a difference”. Burning fills your chest. Stinging warns you there’s tears that are threatening to spill over. He had never spoken to you like that. Not once. 

“Are you sure it is the right thing to do?” You manage to ask. 

“Is there a reason you don’t want me to go through with it?”

“Mor believes you’ll regret it, in time” 

“I did not ask about what Mor thinks, she has made her opinions clear. I asked if there is a reason you don’t want me to marry the princess?” 

You can only think of one. Selfishly, you think he'd be happier with you, in the long run. But confessing you have a crush the day before his wedding is too pathetic. He is thinking of everyone but himself. You are only thinking about him and yourself. So you lower your gaze back to the golden buttons, and say “no, I’m only here because Mor asked me to talk to you but I see you are certain so I’ll tell her I tried”. You stand and leave, refusing to meet his stare as you feel it burning at your back. 

For the second night in a row you hear knocks at your door. This time they are even and heavy handed. You smell him before reaching the knob and your heart sputters as if recoiling from who stands outside

“What is it, Rhys?” You ask, voice meek against the High Lord towering over you. 

“Why don’t you want me to marry the princess?” 

“I already told you” he remains in the doorway, eyes grave, breath unsteady. 

“Answer me truthfully” you step aside and motion for him to come inside, no need for your neighbors to hear about this. He walks in and immediately turns on his heels, you slam your back on your closed door and look up at him. His heart is also uneven, you’re close enough to hear it. 

“Rhys…”

“Y/n…. please… if you think I’m making a mistake I need you to tell me why” it hurts to see him like this. He’s not resplendent as usual, his shoulders are slanted and his head hangs low. 

Low enough you can feel his breath mixing with your own. 

“I…” you think of the war, of Hybern, of the princess and of the chaos that will unfold if this wedding does not happen. But then you think of your friend, of the male you love spending the rest of his days with another female and, thinking of yourself, knowing it is illogical and self centered, finish saying “I want to be the one you marry”.

[cinnamontails-ff]

Magistrate Astarion Week - Day 1

*Magistrate Astarion fandom event rolls around*

*me with my Magistrate Astarion longfic that's currently sitting at 150k words* This is my moment to shine!

Day 1: Appearance

By the time she reached his office, she held her head high and hardly even glanced at the golden sign next to the door, proudly proclaiming the owner of these rooms to be Astarion Ancunin, Magistrate of Baldur’s Gate. Because she was fine. And perhaps she really was, right until the moment she opened the door and … there he sat. Feet up on his desk and head thrown back with his eyes closed, silver curls pushed back by the wet towel he pressed to his forehead. “Not yet!” he proclaimed, somehow managing to sound regal and cranky at the same time. “Court shall be in session just as soon as I can evict whatever creatures are currently using the inside of my skull as a practice ground for their heavy infantry.” “Good morning, Astarion.” His eyes flew open and his body straightened, the wet towel landing on the floor carelessly as he rose from his chair. “Oh, what a good morning it is indeed.” The sound of his voice alone, so close to her, not muffled through classroom chattering or the pattering of boots in the hallway, sent an almost physical jolt through her. Astarion rounded the desk leisurely and leaned against it, his chest pushed out in a way that seemed too practiced to be casual. “Zoraya Naelgrath in the flesh,” he drawled. “They told me you were coming, of course, but I wouldn’t believe it until I saw it for myself. Come here, darling. Let me have a proper look at you.” Zoraya willed herself to maintain eye contact as she approached the desk. Up close, Astarion was even more beautiful than in those fleeting glances she had stolen around law school and the courthouse. He had always been attractive, but as a boy, he used to have an almost angelic presence, full of soft cheeks and sweet smiles. At some point during his teenage years, that had sharpened. Like a steel blade being honed to perfection. The kind of beauty that was scary for what it could get people to do for him. She stopped two steps away from him, trying to take comfort in the fact that in her high heels she was a few inches taller than him. If Astarion was bothered — as most men tended to be — he didn’t let it show. He remained in his comfortable slouch, golden eyes raking over her body as if he intended to draw her from memory as soon as she left. Possibly naked.

(adapted from chapter 2 of "Magistrate's Advocate"; tiny bit of backstory left out to maintain focus on his appearance in compliance with the prompt)

[muzanswaifu]

I'm Yours (Sneak Peek)

Alpha!Rengoku x Omega!Fem!Reader

SNEAK PEEK

Have a snack my lil babies

Lord knows this fic wont be out for a while though 😭

Warnings: Human Trafficking, hints of sexual slavery, ruts, heats

-

Footsteps echoed in the long corridor, the air thick with scents of need and desperation coming from the frail creatures beyond the doors ahead, causing all but one to grow eager with excitement. Growls and snarls came from behind him, making him all the more hopeful for this to be done with quickly. A firm hand on his shoulder shook him loosely, as if to remind him of what was ahead.

Tengen had been begging him for what seemed like ages to adopt a mate, if not find one. He'd been opposed to it at first, disgusted with the idea of essentially purchasing a human life. HIs mother was an omega after all, he'd seen how she struggled against arrogant alphas during her living years, including his own father. But that wasn't to say he was opposed to mating with one, he just hadn't found the right person yet. There were many wonderful, noble omegas he'd come across through the years, all of them well-mannered and behaved. But the courting system for omegas of high status was a lengthy one. Proposals, dowries, accustoming. Hell, it would be several moons before they would even be permitted to actually mate together. And the only reason Tengen was so avid he finally mate up was to get his rut attended to.

Kyojuro would be honest, his rut wasn't exactly... tame, per say. It seemed each passing triad of months his natural cycle became more unkept, his aggression and instinct going feral as the days closed in. He would feel the hormones in his body change, testosterone pumping through his blood at a dangerous rate while his urges ran rampant. In summary, he would become a complete asshole. He supposed the last straw was his last visit to his dear friend's estate when he'd snapped at his wives to quit badgering him with their stench, that of properly mated omegas that had his alphan brain desperate to find properly available options. Uzui was thoroughly surprised by his sudden tantrum, promptly removing him from his home and commanding that he not come back until he have himself a mate. And some manners.

Another horrid rut and a few pitiful brothel visits later, he was at his friend's doorstep yet again, pleading for assistance, and subsequently ending up here - an omegean market. These markets now-a-days were quite rare and heavily looked down upon, given that most of the product came unwillingly and were sold to less than respectable customers. But surprisingly, some stores still remained intact, preaching honest sales and consenting parties. He doubted both. Yet here he was, wallet in hand, ready to offer a hefty sum for any omega he could half-way tolerate, his mind fogging with the remembrance of the powerful words his friend had muttered closely to get his approval.

"Maybe she'll give you a few pups along the way, right?"

Kyojuro gulped thickly, wiping the sweat from his brow. The thought alone was enough to get his gut swimming with yearn. He'd always, always, known he'd wanted children, a family to come home to and spend the rest of his days with. It seemed like a distant future back then, but now that fantasy seemed to draw closer, so much so that he could taste it. Tengen must've sensed his renewed ambition as he gave a wide smile, leering at the guarding salesman to just open the damn door already. The beta gave him a hesitant nod, looking off to his fellow colleague whose hand gripped the nob.

"Listen up! Once we get you all inside you can finally get a good look at the selection. These are the rules: No touching, no scenting, and definitely no biting. Any breach of these rules will result in an automatic purchase."

A few alphas mumbled their compliance, Rengoku standing firm in front of the entrance, ready to begin. The two betas gave one final glance to each other before throwing open the doors, revealing the overload of sensory details that were kept within.

[mariacallous]

[Breaking news update, published at 1:19 p.m. ET]

In a historic decision Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled the state must adhere to a 123-year-old penal code barring all abortions except in cases when “it is necessary to save” a pregnant person’s life.

The law, which can be traced to as early as 1864, also carried a prison sentence of two to five years for abortion providers.

[Original story, published at 1:11 p.m. ET] CNN  — 

The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled on whether the state’s current ban on nearly all abortions after 15 weeks will stay in place, or if it will revert to a far narrower 123-year-old law with roots in the Civil War era. CNN is currently reviewing the decision.

The older law barred the procedure in all cases regardless of gestation, except when “it is necessary to save” a pregnant person’s life. It carried a prison sentence of two to five years for abortion providers.

The case is the latest high-profile example of the battle over abortion access that has played out across several states since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2022. Since that decision, nearly two dozen states have banned or limited access to the procedure. Providers have warned that restrictive policies on abortion access place patients at risk of poor health outcomes and doctors at risk of legal liability.

In a notice Monday, the Arizona court indicated it will file an opinion in Planned Parenthood of Arizona vs. Mayes/Hazelrigg at approximately 10 a.m. PT Tuesday.

Justices heard opening arguments in the case last December, when abortion rights opponents claimed the state should revert to the 1901 ban, and advocates asked the court to affirm the 2022 law allowing abortions up to 15 weeks, CNN previously reported.

When he signed the law in March 2022, then-Gov. Doug Ducey stated the 2022 law would not override the older law.

In late 2022, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled both abortion laws in the state must be reconciled, or “harmonized,” and that abortion is legal through 15 weeks when provided by licensed physicians in compliance with the state’s other laws and regulations, CNN previously reported.

The state Supreme Court was asked for clarity following months of uncertainty and legal wrangling over which law should apply in the state.

Last week, Arizona for Abortion Access, a group of abortion rights organizations, announced it had gathered enough signatures for a November 2024 ballot measure that would ask voters to enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution.

The push is part of a massive effort to get abortion on the 2024 ballot in several states, a move abortion rights advocates are hopeful will restore some power to voters rather than state courts.

[townpostin]

High Court Demands Action on Jamshedpur Building Violations

JNAC Ordered to Provide Comprehensive Report Within Two Weeks Jharkhand High Court reprimands JNAC for slow progress on building infractions, demands detailed report. Only 39% of high-rises compliant. Court seeks comprehensive data on violations. JAMSHEDPUR – The Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee has been criticized by the Jharkhand High Court for its insufficient response to the pervasive…

[tragedybunny]

Meet Serafina

Serafina

Half-High Elf

28 Years Old

Archfey Warlock In Service To The Summer Queen - Titania

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Black with Blue Highlights

Complexion: Pale

Height: 5’4”

Build: Petite

Identifying Marks: One scar along her right wrist and forearm

TW: suicide/ self-harm

Serafina is the second daughter of a noble house in Baldur’s Gate’s Upper City. Her older sister Samara is the heir of the house, making Serafina the spare child, destined to be wed for whatever cause her Mother decides (money, power, favors).

Since her family’s rise to wealth and power, they have served as Warlock’s to the Queen of Air and Darkness, the Winter Queen, and Titania’s sister. They operate as her agents in the material plane in exchange for the powers that help keep them at the top of society. The family has a tendency to produce female children, especially the firstborn, so Serafina’s Mother is the current Matriarch of the House. 

Serafina’s Father was a Moon Elf from Elturel. The marriage was an arranged one, and Serafina’s Father cared neither for his wife nor children, ignoring them to indulge in the luxurious lifestyle his marriage afforded him. Serafina cannot speak or read elvish and is, in fact, very curious about elven trance. The family often marries elves to bring their natural magic to the bloodline as they believe it makes them better Warlocks. Her Mother was unbothered by her husband’s inattention, two healthy births meant he served his purpose. 

From a young age, it was emphasized to Serafina that power and privilege were the most important things in life, and you had to be ruthless to get and keep them. Despite early attempts to live up to her Mother’s vision for her, young Sera couldn’t bring herself to be that cold person. She was often punished severely for her inability to do so. Due to her non-compliance, she was kept close to home, only allowed to socialize with other, approved nobles, and never allowed in the Lower City. Most of the time, the family Garden’s were the furthest she was allowed to wander. 

At 18, she attempted to run away with a young nobleman she had started an affair with, their moments stolen whenever they were able to meet through the proper social functions. The two planned to live a life adventuring around Faerun. One day, Her Mother had forced her to watch as she punished a servant for theft and in her horror, Sera rushed her bid for freedom. The two were soon caught by their families and never allowed to see one another again.

For months, Sera was kept locked in her bedroom, cut off from the world. The family manor was always cold and dark, as though it were a conduit for the energies of the Winter Court. And in this seemingly endless misery, Sera found a dagger she had hidden away and attempted to take her own life. 

The effort was technically a success, and Sera died in a pool of blood in her own bed. Only to awaken the next evening, a necromancer’s foul art used to revive her. After that time, she fell into a numbness and depression that led her to become the child her Mother wanted. Cold and cruel, she served the family’s interest as she was ordered. With her new obedience to her Mother, she was given new freedom she exploited. Often she could be found with a gang of other noble children, tormenting servants, drinking, and harassing any common folk they came across in the Upper City. 

During this time, Sera still took refuge in the gardens she loved, fighting the conflict about the person she was coming. One day she met a new gardener, a Tiefling named Ophelia. It was love at first for Sera and she was desperate to make the other woman fall in love with her too. Ophelia was kind and good though, and wanted nothing to do with Sera until she changed her ways. Gradually, she began to distance herself from her court of noble brats, and find herself again. And Ophelia began to return her affection. 

All too soon though came the night of Samara’s wedding. She was wed to a cousin of the infamous Vanthampur family. At the grand feast and ball to celebrate the occasion, Sera’s Mother informed her that she too would soon celebrate her marriage, to Cazador Szarr. Cazador was an associate of her Mother’s and Sera sensed something wrong and awful about him. That night, he had loaned the family his servants for an evening, among them a pale, white-haired Elf that Sera barely noticed. In the morning, Ophelia had disappeared, and Sera would never hear from her again. 

Months later, Cazador hosted a ball to formally meet his betrothed. In deepest misery Sera attended, the atmosphere full of a hungry evil causing her to hold back panicked tears. She didn’t see the same servants as at her sister’s wedding, the pale Elf included, staring with wicked glee at her predicament. The ball lasted until sun rise, Sera being forced to dance over and over again with her husband to be. 

That morning, as the dawn lit the gardens, Sera stood among the same flowers that had witnessed her love for Ophelia, and wept. There was nothing she could do, even if she tried to die again, her Mother would revive her. It was then that Titania herself appeared to her, offering a deal. She could leave her family, pledge herself as Titania’s Warlock, and have her freedom. Titania would cast a Fey glamour over her, causing all who knew her to forget her, but she could never speak of her past, lest the glamour be broken. She could leave Baldur’s Gate and live a life of adventure, look for Ophelia even. All Titania asked in return was that she return to the city one day to raise a house up in Titania’s service, just as her current house served the Winter Queen. 

She accepted, and was whisked away to the Feywild to see Titania’s kingdom and receive her powers. There she also pledged to never forget the example of Ophelia, who strove with intention to be kind and good to all people. Days passed in Baldur’s Gate and she was returned with a pouch of gold in a rented room in Wyrm’s Crossing. Ready to leave the city and start a new life, she left the Inn, only for everything to go dark. When next she woke, she was on the Mindflayer ship. 

Sera tried to see the best in all her companions, even if some of them were easier to get along with than others. Karlach and Wyll were dear friends from the moment they. Gale and her grew close, despite his yearning for her. Other’s took some time. 

Although initially Sera thought of Astarion as the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, his prickly nature put her off and she resigned that not all of them would be her friends. When he attempted to bite her though, she was moved by compassion when she looked into his mind. It hadn’t been intentional, she was genuinely a bit afraid of him at the moment, but she did decide to help after seeing it. 

As Astarion warmed to Sera, her feelings for him softened. When he propositioned her though, she was under no delusion he meant all those pretty words. After all his lewd comments, she figured he was just looking for some fun on the road, and it was the sort of thing that her Mother would hate. Fucking one of Cazador’s lowly Spawn. 

Despite her acknowledgement that Astarion was using her, Sera began to fall for him. He was fun, and she liked his wit, and the little bit of danger about him. But she also saw how hard he was trying to make his life his own, a striving they shared. And she saw the moments where he was, even against his own claims, a good person.

When he finally confessed what he had done, it felt like her heart was being ripped out, but she saw how afraid he was at that moment. She chose to keep loving him, to give their relationship another chance. As their relationship grew, Astarion saw more of the real Sera, and the suffering she hid. He tried to be a better partner, to be someone she could lean on, like he leaned on her. 

When the Netherbrain fell, and Astarion began to burn, Sera was devastated, but could do nothing as Karlach’s infernal engine began to fail. With a heavy heart, she persuaded her to go to Avernus with Wyll, and took off to find Astarion. She promised to never leave his side, no matter what, from then on. 

Shortly, they would go to explore Faerun, to live a life of adventure, and find a way for him to walk in the sun again.

[beardedmrbean]

The Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures extends to the length of a seizure, a federal court ruled last week, significantly restricting how long law enforcement can retain private property after an arrest.

"When the government seizes property incident to a lawful arrest, the Fourth Amendment requires that any continued possession of the property must be reasonable," wrote Judge Gregory Katsas of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in a unanimous ruling.

Most courts of appeal to pass judgment on the issue—namely, the 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, and 11th circuits—have held that, once an item is seized, law enforcement can retain the item indefinitely without violating the Fourth Amendment. These precedents have allowed police to retain personal property without clear legal grounds, effectively stripping people of their property rights merely because they were arrested. The D.C. Court of Appeals' ruling complicates this general consensus.

Though law enforcement does not have to return property "instantaneously," Katsas wrote, the Fourth Amendment requires that any "continuing retention of seized property" be reasonable. So while police can use seized items for "legitimate law-enforcement purposes," such as for evidence at trial, and are permitted some delay for "matching a person with his effects," prolonged seizures serving no important function can implicate the Fourth Amendment, the court ruled.

Given that the D.C. court finds itself in the minority on the question, some say that the case may be primed for the Supreme Court if the District chooses to appeal. "This case has potential to make national precedent," Paul Belonick, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco law school, tells Reason. "The influential D.C. Circuit deliberately intensified a circuit split and put itself in the minority of circuits on the question, teeing it up cleanly for certiorari."

The plaintiffs each had their property seized by D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Five of the plaintiffs were arrested during a Black Lives Matter protest in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of D.C. on August 13, 2020.

As they were arrested, MPD officers seized their phones and other items. Though the protesters did not face any charges and were, in Katsas' words, "quickly released," MPD retained their phones for around a year. Some of the plaintiffs had to wait over 14 months to get their property back.

In the meantime, the plaintiffs say that they were forced to replace their phones and lost access to the important information on the originals, including personal files, contacts, and passwords. "The plaintiffs have alleged that the seizures at issue, though lawful at their inception, later came to unreasonably interfere with their protected possessory interests in their own property," Katsas explained.

"MPD is aware of the ruling and will continue to work with our partners at the United States Attorney's Office to ensure that our members are trained appropriately to ensure compliance with recent rulings," a spokesperson for MPD tells Reason.

"Practically, this case is important because police have been exploiting a gap in the Fourth Amendment," Andrew Ferguson, a professor at American University's Washington College of Law, tells Reason. "In situations where there is a lawful arrest, but no prosecution, there are no clear rules on retaining personal property. In these cases, police have been confiscating phones to punish protestors."

Michael Perloff, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, agreed that the D.C. Circuit's decision could set an important precedent going forward. "Nationally, we've seen litigants attempt to challenge similar practices only to fail because the court concluded that the Fourth Amendment does not limit the duration of a seizure," he tells Reason. "Moving forward, we are hopeful that the D.C. Circuit's opinion will lead courts to reconsider those rulings and, instead, enforce the Fourth Amendment as fully as the framers intended."

[cyle]

been waiting for Matt Levine to write more about AI, and he doesn't disappoint

"Wells Fargo is using large language models to help determine what information clients must report to regulators and how they can improve their business processes. “It takes away some of the repetitive grunt work and at the same time we are faster on compliance,” said Chintan Mehta, the firm’s chief information officer and head of digital technology and innovation. The bank has also built a chatbot-based customer assistant using Google Cloud’s conversational AI platform, Dialogflow."

Do you think that Wells Fargo’s customer chatbot pushes customers to open more accounts to meet its quotas? Do you think that its regulatory-reporting chatbot then reports it to regulators? Soon Wells Fargo may be able to generate and negotiate billion-dollar regulatory settlements without any human involvement at all. ... Isn’t this sort of exciting? The widespread use of relatively early-stage AI will introduce new ways of making mistakes into finance. Right now there are some classic ways of making mistakes in finance, and they periodically lead to consequences ranging from funny embarrassment through multimillion-dollar trading loss up to systemic financial crises. Many of the most classic mistakes have the broad shape of “overly confident generalizing from limited historical data,” though some are, like, hitting the wrong button. But there are only so many ways to go wrong, and they are all sort of intuitive. ... Now some banker is going to type into a chat bot “our client wants to hedge the risk of the Turkish election,” and the chat bot will be like “she should sell some Dogecoin call options and use the proceeds to buy a lot of nickel futures,” and the banker will be like “weird okay whatever.” And that trade will go wrong in surprising ways, the client will sue, the client and the banker and the chat bot will all come to court, the judge will ask the chat bot “well why would this trade hedge anything,” and the chat bot will shrug its little imaginary shoulders and be like “bro why are you asking me I’m a chat bot.” Or it will say “actually the Dogecoin/nickel spread was ex ante an excellent proxy for Turkish political risk because” and then emit a series of ones and zeros and emojis and high-pitched noises that you and I and the judge can’t understand but that make perfect sense to the chat bot. New ways to be wrong! It will make life more exciting for financial columnists, for a bit, before we are all replaced by the chat bots.

🔥

[workersolidarity]

[ 📹 Children of Gaza protest the extreme hunger and famine they are experiencing, chanting slogans saying, "We have been under brutal siege for 135 days. No food, no water, no medicine!"]

[ 📸 An infographic published by the Quds News Network detailing that food aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip have been reduced by more than a third.]

🇮🇱⚔️🇵🇸 🚨

ISRAELI ENTITY REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH ICJ DECISION, FOOD AID TO GAZA DROPS BY A THIRD

In a report issued by Human Rights Watch, the rights organization says that, in the month since the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its ruling, the Israeli entity has refused to comply with the decision, continuing its genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and preventing humanitarian aid from reaching the Palestinian enclave.

Back on January 26th, 2024, the ICJ issued a ruling where, citing "catastrophic conditions" in the Gaza Strip, the ICJ ordered Israeli authorities to “take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian aid,” and to report back to the Court with evidence of its compliance to the ordered measures “within one month.”

Now, one month following the ICJ ruling, the Israeli occupation continues to "obstruct the provision of basic services and the entry and distribution within Gaza of fuel and lifesaving aid," all while committing "acts of collective punishment that amount to war crimes and include the use of starvation of civilians as a weapon of war."

Human Rights Watch says that "fewer trucks have entered Gaza and fewer aid missions have been permitted to reach northern Gaza" in the month after the ICJ ruling, over the weeks preceeding it, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

“The Israeli government is starving Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians, putting them in even more peril than before the World Court’s binding order,” said Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch. “The Israeli government has simply ignored the court’s ruling, and in some ways even intensified its repression, including further blocking lifesaving aid.”

Human Rights Watch emphasized that "other countries should use all forms of leverage, including sanctions and embargoes to press the Israeli government to comply with the Court's binding orders in the genocide case."

Human Rights Watch previously found in December of 2023 that the Israeli authorities were "using starvation as a weapon of war" as part of a policy "set out by Israeli officials and carried out by Israeli forces" to deliberately block the delivery of food, water and fuel, "willfully impeding humanitarian assistance."

According to data published by OCHA and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA), the average number of trucks entering Gaza with food, aid supplies and medicine "dropped by more than a third in the weeks following the ICJ decision, with 93 humanitarian aid trucks entering Gaza between January 27th and February 21st, 2024, compared with 147 trucks between January 1st and January 26th, 2024, and only 57 trucks between February 9th and February 21st, 2024.

A survey of "impediments to the entry of aid" faced by the 24 humanitarian organizations operating in the Gaza Strip between January 26th and February 15th, 2024 "pointed to a lack of transparency around how aid trucks can enter Gaza, delays and denials at Israeli crossings and inspection points, and concerns about safety of trucks."

By comparison, Human Rights Watch says that an average of 500 trucks filled with food and goods entered Gaza each day prior to the escalation of hostilities beginning on October 7th, 2023, during which time 1.2 million Palestinians in Gaza were estimated to to be "facing acute food insecurity," with 80% of Gaza's population reliant on humanitarian aid under Israel's 16-years-long blockade of the Palestinian enclave, which Human Rights Watch calls "unlawful."

"High-ranking Israeli officials have articulated a policy to deprive civilians of food, water, and fuel, as Human Rights Watch has documented," the rights organization said.

The Israeli authorities, for their part, blame the UN for "distribution delays," and accuse Hamas of "diverting aid" and the Gaza police for "failing to secure aid convoys."

"The Israeli government cannot shift blame to evade responsibility," Human Rights Watch said in its report.

"Israel is obliged to provide for the welfare of the occupied population and ensure that the humanitarian needs of Gaza’s population are met. The Israeli human rights group Gisha challenged the Israeli government’s claims that it is not obstructing entry or distribution of aid and also found that it is not complying with the ICJ order."

Human Rights Watch also accuses Israel of destroying the offices of at least two humanitarian organizations and have undermined the work of UNRWA, the largest such aid organization currently operating in the Gaza Strip, with the organization's chief, Phillippe Lazzarini, stating in a letter on February 22nd that the aid organization has reached the "breaking point" due to suspensions of funding after accusations by Israel that a handful of its personnel were involved peripherally in the October 7th attacks on illegal Israeli settlements.

The report also blames Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, for blocking aid shipments, including a shipment of Flour from the United States, because "it was going to UNRWA," based on the accusations that 12 of the Agency's 30'000 employees might have participated, directly or indirectly, in the October 7th attacks, which the United Nations is currently investigating.

According to the report, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a multiparty initiative, concluded that "over 90% of Gaza's population is at a crises level of acute food insecurity or worse," with the IPC emphasizing that "virtually all Palestinians in Gaza" are regularly skipping meals as a result of near famine conditions in the enclave, while adults commonly go without eating entirely in order for their children to eat.

“This is the highest share of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity that the IPC initiative has ever classified for any given area or country,” the group is quoted as saying.

Furthermore, on February 19th, a study published by the United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that over 90% of children under the age of 2, and 95% of pregnant and breastfeeding women are facing "severe food poverty," while on February 22nd, the organization Save the Children said Gaza's Palestinian families are "forced to forage for scraps of food left by rats and eating leaves out of desperation to survive." The organization also added that, "all 1.1 million children in Gaza [are] facing starvation."

The ICJ's ruling orders Israel to "protect the rights claimed by South Africa that the Court has found to be plausible," including "the right of the Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide," and although South Africa asked the Court to provide "provisional measures" to make any report it ordered public, the court has not yet done so.

However, since the Court's ruling, in the period from January 26th to February 23rd, the Israeli occupation has slaughtered more than 3'400 Palestinians, according to figures from Gaza's Ministry of Health and compiled by OCHA.

According to Human Rights Watch, "South Africa's case against Israel for genocide is distinct from the proceedings on the legal consequences of Israel's 57-year occupation, which began at the ICJ on February 19th."

According to Human Rights Watch's Israel and Palestine director, Shakir Omar, "Israel’s blatant disregard for the World Court’s order poses a direct challenge to the rules-based international order."

“Failure to ensure Israel’s compliance puts the lives of millions of Palestinians at risk and threatens to undermine the institutions charged with ensuring respect for international law and the system that ensures civilian protection worldwide," the director added.

#source

#videosource

#infographicsource

@WorkerSolidarityNews