The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a plea seeking the recall of its recent split verdict regarding the 2023 law on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. This law notably excludes the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel, a change from a previous Supreme Court directive.
A letter sent by the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust to Venu Srinivasan, Tata Trusts vice-chairman and nominee director on Tata Sons, a day before the Tata Sons board meeting on September 17, is at the centre of deliberations.
Delhi is under extraordinary security for the second day as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continues its protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Over 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel are deployed, with heightened surveillance across the capital following detentions on Saturday.
A prayer meet was held in Mumbai to honour Nana Patekar, with Rohini Hattangadi, Shivaji Satam and Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe attending to pay their respects.
Delhi is under stringent security as over 30,000 personnel are deployed for an opposition protest march to the Supreme Court against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Centre has announced a major bureaucratic reshuffle, appointing Prakash Rajpurohit as Deputy Election Commissioner and approving appointments for 27 civil servants at joint secretary and equivalent levels across various ministries and departments.
Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been sent to five-day judicial custody in Tihar Jail following their alleged violation of peace bonds and unauthorised protest at Jantar Mantar.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has clarified that he has not been transferred, dismissing speculation about his removal. He affirmed that the crackdown on unsafe food and substandard drugs will continue, despite recent appointment to an MPSC inquiry committee.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant has rejected the INDIA bloc leaders' request for a meeting to submit a representation over alleged electoral irregularities, stating that they should approach the court by filing a petition as the matter is already sub judice.
Rahul Gandhi has convened a high tea for INDIA bloc MPs to discuss a strategy for joint protests against alleged "vote theft" and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This meeting follows a "March for Democracy" by opposition leaders and activists to the Supreme Court, where they filed a petition challenging alleged poll irregularities.
The Gujarat government has proposed to allot a long-disputed municipal plot in Vadodara to former cricketer Yusuf Pathan, gifting 500 square metres and offering the rest at a concessional rate. This proposal comes months after Pathan, a newly elected MP, broke away from the Trinamool Congress to join the NDA. The plot has been subject to legal battles and encroachment notices since 2012.
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman has voiced serious concerns regarding the Election Commission's functioning, stating that the right to vote is 'at great peril'. He called for the Supreme Court's intervention to address 'disturbing developments' within the poll panel, particularly citing issues like voter disenfranchisement during electoral roll revisions and the controversial appointment process of Election Commissioners.
A Class XI Dalit student in Coimbatore allegedly died by suicide after facing caste-based harassment and bullying from classmates over his caste and food choices, including beef. Police have registered cases against the principal, a teacher, and two classmates for abetment of suicide and under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, with the class teacher already arrested.
Anti-drug activist Parvider Singh Jhota was shot dead in Mansa on October 13. His family and supporters are refusing to cremate his body until their demands for justice, including a CBI probe and resignations of top officials, are met. The incident has triggered political protests and condemnation across Punjab, with various leaders visiting the protest site and the SGPC announcing a tribute.
A Delhi-based content creator, Amir Shokeen, has been arrested for allegedly racially abusing and humiliating a youth from Tripura in a viral video. Delhi Police took suo motu cognisance of the incident, which has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders including Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Tripura CM Manik Saha. The Tripura Students Forum Delhi also filed a complaint seeking urgent investigation into the alleged sexual assault and derogatory remarks.
A Class XI Dalit student in Coimbatore died by suicide on October 21, allegedly due to caste-based harassment and bullying by classmates over his caste and food choices, including beef. Police have registered cases against the principal, a teacher, and two classmates, with the teacher already arrested. The incident has led to protests and calls from political leaders for stringent action and measures to eliminate caste discrimination in schools.
Delhi Police registered a non-cognisable report against unidentified individuals for allegedly threatening a magistrate during the bail proceedings of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The CJP alleges deliberate delays in their leaders' release, with their legal head claiming the magistrate received threats. The leaders were arrested on October 14 for scaling gates at Jantar Mantar during a protest.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, clarified that former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's arrival in New Delhi two years ago was unexpected and not facilitated by the Indian military. He addressed ongoing extradition requests from the current Bangladeshi government, stating India acted out of duty during tragic circumstances in Bangladesh.
Several protesters, including CPI(M) MP John Brittas, were detained in Delhi as the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation entered its second day on Sunday. Protesters alleged manhandling by security personnel, while police maintained extensive security arrangements, detaining thousands over the weekend.
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding a plea filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 12 other opposition leaders concerning alleged large-scale voter deletions and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) irregularities.
American singer Mary Millben has ignited a political debate by calling on 'young patriots' in India to protest the Cockroach Janata Party..
India is deeply concerned by the growing consolidation of Pakistan-backed jihadi and radical Islamist groups in Bangladesh, particularly in the strategically vital Chittagong Hill Tracts, which experts warn is transforming the country into a new safe haven for these networks and posing a direct threat to India's security.
A 32-year-old man, Ebin B Paul, has been arrested in Kochi for allegedly setting fire to a plant nursery in front of a synagogue. Police suspect a wider conspiracy and have seized various narcotic substances from his residence during the investigation. The incident occurred on September 12.
Delhi is under an unprecedented security clampdown with 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed, 45 metro stations shut, and mobile internet suspended in parts of the city, as authorities deny permission for a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
A 22-year-old man from Sonipat was arrested in Indore, becoming the 11th person held in connection with the shooting incident involving Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff. Mumbai police also recovered two firearms from Surat, allegedly used in the attack, while sources revealed assailants received real-time police probe updates via news channels.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has initiated a thorough inquiry into allegations of misconduct against IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, who is accused of using abusive language towards a female JKAS officer during a recent virtual review meeting, an incident that has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for strict action.
A curative petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the September 23 split verdict on the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. The petition, filed by Jaya Thakur, alleges a "reasonable apprehension of bias" due to claims that Justice Satish Chandra Sharma's son is a standing counsel for the Election Commission, raising questions about judicial propriety.
Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of withholding details about the software and algorithm used for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Citing an RTI response, Gokhale highlighted the ECI's claim that the information relates to "commercial confidence, trade secrets and intellectual property matters," raising concerns about transparency in the electoral process.
A network of volunteers, including doctors, lawyers, and social media influencers, has mobilised in Delhi to provide medical assistance, legal aid, and mental health support to thousands of protesters detained during the recent CJP agitation. The initiative includes transport for released detainees, first aid, and therapist connections.
Police are investigating the death of a 17-year-old Class 12 student found burnt on her school premises in east Delhi's Krishna Nagar on Saturday. A three-page purported suicide note was recovered, and a suspected breakup is being probed as a possible reason. The family, however, alleges a conspiracy, and all angles, including foul play, are under examination.
Online video games are emerging that recreate scenes from the Jantar Mantar protests in Delhi. Games like 'Jantar Mantar Chalo', 'Bhaag Neha Bhaag', and 'Jantar Mantar to Jail' allow players to experience elements of the demonstrations, from gathering crowds and dodging police to collecting 'Accountability' and 'Democracy' coins. Creators, inspired by news and real-life events, developed these games rapidly using AI and coding, gaining significant traction online.
The Indian government has ordered the removal of Jack Dorsey's Bitchat app from app stores in India, citing law-and-order concerns. The Bluetooth messaging app, which allows offline communication, was previously scrutinised during protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and has now been pulled from both Apple's App Store and the Play Store following the IT Ministry's directive.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced that its much-anticipated elections will take place on December 20. This decision, made at a Special General Body Meeting attended by FIFA and AFC officials, aims to resolve governance uncertainties and elect new office-bearers at a critical time for Indian football. Rajeev Sharma has been appointed as the electoral officer.
The article details a history of internal disagreements among Election Commissioners in India, highlighting instances from 1993 to the present, including clashes between CECs and commissioners over various issues like removal recommendations, dissent notes, and affidavits, culminating in recent objections regarding voter list revisions.
Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer has formally requested the Election Commission to modify the ECINet software, seeking greater discretion for Electoral Registration Officers in addressing over 2 crore voter discrepancies.
Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat on Saturday demanded punishment for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid an ongoing political row over the SIR exercise, declaring that "Kala Pani" is the appropriate punishment for Kumar based on the magnitude of his position and the alleged gravity of his misconduct.
Modi's greater weakness is his inability since July when he directed the exit of Dharmendra Pradhan, to come up with a political counter strategy. Security measures and executive orders as seen in recent days will only likely further weaken him and make him as lame duck a premier as many prior to him, Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh included, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.
AISA national president Neha Bora was released at the Narela Industrial Area police station after being picked up during the organisation's protest march towards Jantar Mantar, with AISA members alleging procedural violations during her detention.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has initiated legal proceedings, including seeking a court injunction and filing a police complaint, against a video circulating on social media that he claims falsely links him to a sting operation. He and his son, Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, assert the video is a fabricated attempt at character assassination and disinformation.
The Election Commission of India has announced decisions addressing concerns raised by two election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, over the past 10 months. These issues included changes to voter registration forms, access to the electoral roll database, the handling of Goa's 97 voters, communications issued without full commission approval, oversight of the IT division, and appeals against voter restoration. The EC has provided responses and outlined steps to resolve these internal disputes and improve transparency and compliance.
