The ruling Left government in Kerala has told the High Court here that the state was facing a “huge financial crisis”.

The submission was made by the government in an affidavit placed before the court in a matter related to repaying a depositor of the Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation (KTDFC) Ltd.

“Our state is now passing through a phase of financial constraints. Any monetary benefit has to be allowed within the financial resources available with the government,” the government contended.

The submission by the government did not find favour with the High Court, which questioned whether Kerala was in a state of financial emergency.

The state also said in its affidavit that the KTDFC and the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) can mortgage the property or sell one or two items of the property to outside parties or government agencies to solve their financial issues.

“But, unfortunately, no positive steps have been taken by KTDFC or KSRTC,” it told the court, adding that the two entities together have immovable properties worth about Rs 1,000 crore in the state.

The government also claimed that despite facing a huge financial crisis, it has released Rs 8,440.02 crore to KSRTC for various expenditures from 2018-19 to October 15, 2023.

“Even though the government is supporting Public Sector Undertakings, including KSRTC, in different ways, it is obvious that the government is not legally bound to give financial support to meet its day to day affairs,” it said in the affidavit.

The affidavit came in response to a private company’s plea urging the government to intervene and direct KTDFC to release the money deposited with it by the petitioner’s company.

The contention comes amidst the Keraleeyam 2023, a week-long mammoth celebration announced by the Left government to showcase Kerala’s progress, achievements, and cultural heritage to the world, which commenced on Wednesday.

The Congress-led UDF opposition had boycotted the event alleging extravagant expenditure by the Left administration at a time the state was going through a huge financial crisis.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said it has filed a charge sheet under the anti-money laundering law in a case related to alleged fraudulent sale of a Waqf property worth over Rs 10 crore in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow.

A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Lucknow took cognisance of the prosecution complaint, the ED’s equivalent of a charge sheet, on Tuesday, the agency said.

In a statement, the ED said its case stems from a Lucknow police FIR registered against some accused identified as Mohd. Mustafa Khan, Saqib Khan and Anush Faridi.

They were charged by the police with alleged fraudulent sale of a Waqf property situated at No.3/1, New Berry Road in Lucknow and valued at Rs 10.92 crore, it said.

The agency said Mohd. Mustafa Khan is the “main accused” in this case. He was arrested by the ED in August and is currently in judicial custody.

During the probe, the ED said, it was found that the said Waqf property was “fraudulently” converted as non-Waqf,… regularised from Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) and sold to some private person”.

The European Data Protection Board said Wednesday it had adopted a binding decision that will result in Facebook and Instagram owner Meta being banned from using the personal data of users for targeted advertisements.

The order will “impose a ban on the processing of personal data for behavioural advertising on the legal bases of contract and legitimate interest across the entire European Economic Area,” the EDPB said in a statement posted on its website.

The EDPD said it took the decision following a request from Norway’s data regulator, which earlier this year imposed a ban on sending Facebook and Instagram users targeted advertisements based on their personal data which the social media platform collects without their explicit consent.

The EDPB decision forces Ireland’s data regulator, which has authority over Meta’s operations in Europe, to take final measures on the issue within two weeks, with a ban to enter force a week later.

The statement said Meta was informed Tuesday of the EDPB’s decision and indicated that it plans to ask for consent to use personal data to target ads that users see when they use the apps.

“The EDPB takes note of Meta’s proposal to rely on a consent based approach as legal basis” and said this was being evaluated.

Facebook had some 300 million daily users in Europe at the end of 2022, out of about two billion users worldwide, with Europeans generating about a fifth of Meta’s advertising sales.

Losing the ability to target ads may deal a financial blow to Meta if advertisers reduce their spending.

EDPB Chairwoman Anu Talus said in a statement that the decision to impose a ban was taken after Meta was found not to have complied with orders issued at the end of least year.

“It is high time for Meta to bring its processing into compliance and to stop unlawful processing,” she said.