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Supreme Court Rules Lottery Distributors Are Not Required to Pay Service Tax to the Centre

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The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that lottery distributors are not obligated to pay service tax to the Central government, confirming that only state governments have the authority to impose taxes on lotteries. In a decision that dismissed the Central government’s appeal against a judgement from the Sikkim High Court, Justices BV Nagarathna and Nongmeikap Kotiswar Singh stated, “A thorough examination of the relevant sections of the Finance Act, 1994, along with the amendments made in 2012, 2015, and 2016, in conjunction with the clauses of the Agreements presented during submissions and prior judgments from this Court, does not compel us to deviate from the interpretation made by the Sikkim High Court.”The Central government had appealed against the Sikkim High Court’s ruling from November 29, 2012, which declared that lotteries fall under the definition of betting and gambling as specified in Entry 62 of List II in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Consequently, it ruled that a service tax could not be levied on these activities.

Justice Nagarathna noted that attempts in 2012, 2015, and 2016 to amend the Finance Act, 1994, to impose a service tax on lottery distributors by the Central government had ultimately failed. The Justice remarked, “We find that at every juncture, the amendments intended to levy service tax on the sole distributor/purchaser of lottery tickets (the respondents-assessees such as Future Gaming Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and others) have not succeeded.”

Furthermore, Justice Nagarathna clarified that the nature of the relationship between the State Government and the lottery distributors is one of principal to principal, not principal-agent. The Supreme Court articulated, “Since there is no agency relationship, nor any service provided by the respondents-assessees to the Government of Sikkim, a service tax cannot be imposed on the transactions between the purchasers of lottery tickets (the respondents-assessees) and the Government of Sikkim.”

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One Year On: Pahalgam Attack Still Haunts the Nation

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National: One year after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, the nation remembers the 26 people who lost their lives. The attack took place on April 22 at Baisaran, a popular tourist spot.

At first, reports said only five people were injured. Later, it became clear that it was one of the worst terror attacks in the region in decades. Terrorists came out of the forest and opened fire on tourists.

Survivors said the attackers separated men from women and children. They then shot the men at close range. Many victims were reportedly targeted after being asked about their religion.

A heartbreaking image of Himanshi Narwal sitting beside her husband’s body became a symbol of the tragedy. Her husband, a naval officer, was among those killed.

The group The Resistance front, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. The case was investigated by the National Investigation Agency.

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READ MORE : Father Kills Teen Daughter over Relationship in Lucknow

After months of tracking, security forces launched Operation Mahadev. On July 28, 2025, all three terrorists were killed after a long search operation.

The attack remains a painful memory and a reminder of the need for strong security.

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Social Media Influencer-Turned Gangster Held Abroad

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New Delhi: Rao Inderjeet Yadav has been arrested in Dubai. He is wanted in a murder case from Haryana.

He fled India in 2024 after a businessman was killed in Rohtak. Police had been searching for him since then. Officials said Dubai authorities have asked for documents. He is likely to be brought back to India soon.

Yadav faces more than 15 criminal cases. These include extortion, fraud, and illegal land deals. The Enforcement Directorate also investigated him for money laundering. Raids led to the seizure of cash, cars, and documents.

He also ran a music company called Gems Tunes. It produced regional songs.

READ MORE:Heartwarming Video of Father and Daughter Wins Hearts Online

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Yadav had a large social media following. He often showed his rich lifestyle online. He has denied all charges. He claims he is being framed.

Police are now preparing for further action.

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Man Killed by Wife’s Lover in Andhra Pradesh, Son Raises Alarm

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Andhra Pradesh: A 45-year-old man was killed by his wife’s lover in Annamayya district of Andhra Pradesh. The incident happened on Monday night in a forest area near Chowdepalli.

The victim, Gandhi from Tamil Nadu, had come with his five-year-old son to search for his wife. Police said the wife was in a relationship with another man named Narasimhulu.

Narasimhulu allegedly took Gandhi and the child into the forest. He and his aides then attacked Gandhi with a stone and killed him in front of the boy.

The frightened child hid in nearby bushes. After the attackers left, he stayed beside his father’s body the whole night.

READ MORE:Woman Delivers Baby Girl on Train in Andhra Pradesh

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At sunrise, the boy walked to a nearby village and informed locals. The police were alerted and started an investigation.

Police have taken the accused and his two aides into custody. The child has been placed in a care centre.

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