News for 'Observation Post'

Dust storm, rain lash Delhi, trees uprooted; 15 flights diverted

Dust storm, rain lash Delhi, trees uprooted; 15 flights diverted

Rediff.com12 Apr 2025

A strong dust storm and gusty winds followed by rain hit Delhi-NCR on Friday evening, causing trees to be uprooted in several parts and leading to traffic congestion. Thunderstorms caused power disruptions in several parts of the city, primarily due to trees and branches falling on electricity cables. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert, recommending people stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

Failed as CM, no 'cheap politics' on Pahalgam attack: Omar

Failed as CM, no 'cheap politics' on Pahalgam attack: Omar

Rediff.com29 Apr 2025

The Jammu and Kashmir assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Monday expressing shock and anguish over the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and resolved to fight resolutely to defeat the nefarious designs to disturb communal harmony and hinder progress.

Did Pahalgam Attack Have A UN Angle?

Did Pahalgam Attack Have A UN Angle?

Rediff.com8 May 2025

Pakistan was waiting for an opportunity to bring the Jammu and Kashmir issue to the global agenda and resorted to the terrorism route to provoke India, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Notices slapped on Ola, Uber for unfair pricing

Notices slapped on Ola, Uber for unfair pricing

Rediff.com24 Jan 2025

Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday that the Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued notices to cab aggregators Ola and Uber for alleged differential pricing for identical rides based on the user's mobile operating system -- Android or iOS.

Juvenile court cancels Porsche driver's bail, sends him to observation home

Juvenile court cancels Porsche driver's bail, sends him to observation home

Rediff.com22 May 2024

A 17-year-old boy, who allegedly crashed his high-end car into a motorbike killing two persons in Pune, was granted bail on a surety of Rs 7,500 and an assurance from his grandfather to keep him away from bad company, as per the order.

World urges India and Pakistan to 'exercise restraint'

World urges India and Pakistan to 'exercise restraint'

Rediff.com7 May 2025

World leaders, including the UN Secretary-General and US President Donald Trump, have urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and seek peaceful solutions to the ongoing tensions. The calls for calm come after India conducted airstrikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to a recent terrorist attack. Leaders from the US, Russia, UK, China, UAE, Qatar, and Japan have expressed concern over the escalating situation and emphasized the need for dialogue and de-escalation.

Terms like 'miyan-tiyan', 'Pakistani' not a religious offence: SC

Terms like 'miyan-tiyan', 'Pakistani' not a religious offence: SC

Rediff.com4 Mar 2025

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that using terms like "miyan-tiyan" and "Pakistani" does not constitute an offence of hurting religious sentiments, though the court acknowledged that such language is in "poor taste". The court discharged a man who had been accused of using these terms against an Urdu translator in Jharkhand.

'Full-Scale War Would Be Catastrophic'

'Full-Scale War Would Be Catastrophic'

Rediff.com9 May 2025

'India enjoys conventional superiority, but nuclear deterrence imposes clear boundaries.'

Millwall keeper's ban raised after Mateta horror injury

Millwall keeper's ban raised after Mateta horror injury

Rediff.com8 Mar 2025

Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts has had his suspension for a high-footed challenge on Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta extended to six matches, the FA said on Friday.

'Unlikely Pakistan Shot Down 3 Rafales'

'Unlikely Pakistan Shot Down 3 Rafales'

Rediff.com9 May 2025

'There is no independently verified imagery or battlefield evidence to support Pakistan's claim.'

As it is we are being accused of...: SC judge responds to attacks

As it is we are being accused of...: SC judge responds to attacks

Rediff.com21 Apr 2025

Justice Gavai's comment came while the apex court bench, also comprising Justice Augustine George Masih, was considering a fresh plea seeking an inquiry into the recent violence in West Bengal during anti-Waqf law protests.

90-mt wide asteroid likely to miss Earth but Nasa's not taking any chances

90-mt wide asteroid likely to miss Earth but Nasa's not taking any chances

Rediff.com20 Feb 2025

Initially, NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies estimated a roughly 3% chance of a collision on Tuesday, the highest probability ever assigned. However, additional analysis on Wednesday lowered those chances to approximately 1.5%.

'Nitish Kumar Is Playing The Last Over Of His Last Match'

'Nitish Kumar Is Playing The Last Over Of His Last Match'

Rediff.com27 May 2025

'If his health was good he would have become CM again after polls.' 'Those who are with Nitish Babu today will remain with him till the elections to use his name for votes and would definitely play games with him after the polls.'

Poll tweets: HC rejects Delhi minister Kapil Mishra's plea to stay trial

Poll tweets: HC rejects Delhi minister Kapil Mishra's plea to stay trial

Rediff.com18 Mar 2025

The Delhi High Court has refused to stay the trial court proceedings against Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra for allegedly posting objectionable tweets during the 2020 assembly elections. The court rejected Mishra's plea challenging a sessions court order dismissing his petition against the summons of a magisterial court in the case. The court said there was no need to stay the trial court proceedings and that the trial court was at liberty to proceed further with the matter. The high court granted four weeks to the police to file its response to the petition and posted the hearing on May 19. The hearing is slated to come up in the trial court on March 20.

HC orders revival of 2007 Nandigram murder cases

HC orders revival of 2007 Nandigram murder cases

Rediff.com13 Feb 2025

The Calcutta High Court has ordered the revival and prosecution of ten criminal cases related to murders in Nandigram and Khejuri during an anti-land acquisition movement in 2007. The court deemed the West Bengal government's decision to withdraw prosecution in these cases, involving the deaths of at least ten individuals, as unlawful. The bench emphasized that murders had indeed occurred and that allowing the prosecution to withdraw under Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code would not be in the public interest. The court stated that violence in any form should be eschewed in a democracy and that a state must exhibit zero tolerance towards it. The court set aside the state government's decision to withdraw prosecution and directed the public prosecutor to take appropriate measures within a fortnight.

Kerala: YouTuber distressed after haircut in jail, hospitalised

Kerala: YouTuber distressed after haircut in jail, hospitalised

Rediff.com24 Jan 2025

A YouTuber from Thrissur, India, who was arrested in an attempt to murder case, has been transferred to a mental health center after experiencing distress due to the jail authorities cutting his hair. Muhammad Shaheen Shah, known as 'Manavalan' (groom) on YouTube, was remanded to judicial custody for allegedly attempting to run over college students with a car. He was shifted to a hospital in Thrissur after he was seen experiencing distress and is currently under observation.

OCI cardholder's rights cannot be curtailed arbitrarily: HC

OCI cardholder's rights cannot be curtailed arbitrarily: HC

Rediff.com2 Apr 2025

The Delhi High Court has ruled that the rights of an overseas citizen of India (OCI) cardholder cannot be arbitrarily curtailed, stating that the deportation and blacklisting of a US citizen holding an OCI card, accused of unauthorized missionary activities, did not follow proper statutory procedure. The court emphasized the need for natural justice, requiring an opportunity for the individual to be heard and contest the allegations before any action is taken.

Why BJP Still Hasn't Named Nadda's Successor

Why BJP Still Hasn't Named Nadda's Successor

Rediff.com18 Apr 2025

The prolonged delay over electing J P Nadda's successor possibly stems from the RSS leadership wanting a person who is at least equidistant from the Sangh as well as the Modi/BJP edifice, observes BJP-RSS watcher Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

Touching minor's lips without sexual intent not POCSO offence: HC

Touching minor's lips without sexual intent not POCSO offence: HC

Rediff.com7 Mar 2025

The judge, however, ruled that there was a clear prima facie case under Section 354 of IPC for 'assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty".

Blow for Mamata as SC cancels appointment of 25,753 teachers

Blow for Mamata as SC cancels appointment of 25,753 teachers

Rediff.com3 Apr 2025

The Supreme Court of India has invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff in West Bengal's state-run and state-aided schools, deeming the selection process "vitiated and tainted." The court ordered the state government to conduct a fresh selection process within three months. The decision comes after a Calcutta High Court verdict in April 2024, which also annulled the appointments. The apex court, while upholding the high court's order, made some modifications, including exempting disabled employees from returning their salaries. The case stemmed from alleged irregularities in the 2016 recruitment process by the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC), involving OMR sheet tampering and rank-jumping. The Supreme Court had previously termed it a "systemic fraud." Former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee and Trinamool Congress MLAs Manik Bhattacharya and Jiban Krishna Saha are among the accused being investigated in the recruitment scam.

The Politics of A Caste Census

The Politics of A Caste Census

Rediff.com2 May 2025

While data can empower communities, it reinforces identities, making local politics more caste-centric, with decisions increasingly contested on the grounds of representation.

Such dynamics could lead to shifting alliances and, in the worst case, local governance getting paralysed as each group demands proportional power-sharing, explain Amitabh Kundu and Mehebub Rahaman.

Dhananjay Munde resigns hours after photos of Deshmukh murder go viral

Dhananjay Munde resigns hours after photos of Deshmukh murder go viral

Rediff.com5 Mar 2025

Beleaguered Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde resigned from the cabinet on Tuesday, days after his close aide Walmik Karad was named as the mastermind in the murder of a village sarpanch and three months after the new Mahayuti government assumed office.

If govt fails to protect people ...: HC on post-poll violence in Bengal

If govt fails to protect people ...: HC on post-poll violence in Bengal

Rediff.com7 Jun 2024

The order came following a petition in the high court seeking direction to the police to ensure protection to Opposition party workers in the wake of alleged post-poll violence in some places of the state following the elections.

Team India's Bus Driver Is From Pakistan

Team India's Bus Driver Is From Pakistan

Rediff.com4 Mar 2025

A local newspaper photographer had an unusual challenge -- capturing a photo of an Australian fan. He admitted he had been waiting for an hour but hadn't spotted a single one.

'Slim, fair' messages to unknown woman obscenity: Court

'Slim, fair' messages to unknown woman obscenity: Court

Rediff.com21 Feb 2025

A Mumbai sessions court has ruled that sending messages like "you are slim, look very smart and fair, I like you" to an unknown woman at night amounts to obscenity. The court upheld the conviction of a man booked for sending obscene messages on WhatsApp to a former corporator, stating that the messages were sent between 11 pm and 12.30 am with content like "you are slim", "you are looking very smart", "you are fair", "my age is 40 years", "are you married or not?" and "I like you". The court deemed these messages and the act an insult to the modesty of a woman, rejecting the accused's claim of political rivalry as the motive behind the case.

Former AAP MLA moves HC to get Kejriwal removed from CM's post

Former AAP MLA moves HC to get Kejriwal removed from CM's post

Rediff.com7 Apr 2024

Former Aam Aadmi Party MLA Sandeep Kumar has approached the Delhi high court seeking the removal of arrested party leader Arvind Kejriwal from the post of chief minister of the national capital.

'LoC stable': Indian Army refutes ceasefire violation reports

'LoC stable': Indian Army refutes ceasefire violation reports

Rediff.com13 Feb 2025

In a statement on Thursday, the Indian Army said that the ceasefire on the LoC is intact.

Cong sends Gehlot, Baghel to Maharashtra ahead of results

Cong sends Gehlot, Baghel to Maharashtra ahead of results

Rediff.com22 Nov 2024

A day before the assembly poll results, the Congress on Friday appointed observers for Maharashtra and Jharkhand to oversee the post-election scenarios.

Khakee: The Bengal Chapter Review: Entertaining Crime Saga

Khakee: The Bengal Chapter Review: Entertaining Crime Saga

Rediff.com21 Mar 2025

An upright police officer fighting wrongdoing is something we have seen umpteen times before, but Khakee: The Bengal Chapter holds our interest, thanks to a layered and complex story with a dozen of well-detailed characters, observes Mayur Sanap.

Watching Reels Can BADLY HARM Your Eyes!

Watching Reels Can BADLY HARM Your Eyes!

Rediff.com1 Apr 2025

'Reels may be short, but their impact on eye health can last a lifetime.'

No denotification of Waqf properties till May 5, govt tells SC

No denotification of Waqf properties till May 5, govt tells SC

Rediff.com17 Apr 2025

The Centre on Thursday assured the Supreme Court that it will neither denotify Waqf properties, including "Waqf by user", nor make any appointments to the central Waqf council and boards till May 5.

Erdogan Faces Mass Protests After Istanbul Mayor's Arrest

Erdogan Faces Mass Protests After Istanbul Mayor's Arrest

Rediff.com25 Mar 2025

Thousands of protesters are out on the streets of Istanbul after the arrest of the city's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

AAP-Cong cross-voting puts BJP in Chandigarh mayor's seat

AAP-Cong cross-voting puts BJP in Chandigarh mayor's seat

Rediff.com30 Jan 2025

The BJP won the Chandigarh mayoral election on Thursday, defeating the AAP-Congress alliance. Harpreet Kaur Babla of the BJP was elected as the new mayor, while the AAP-Congress alliance won the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. The victory of the BJP candidate indicated that cross-voting took place during polling. The Supreme Court had previously overturned the result of the 2023 mayoral poll, which had seen the BJP candidate win despite allegations of tampering with ballots. The court had ordered prosecution of the returning officer for the poll, Anil Masih, a BJP leader, for his "misdemeanour." The court had also declared defeated AAP-Congress alliance candidate Kuldeep Kumar as the new city mayor. This latest victory is a significant win for the BJP in the city and represents a setback for the AAP-Congress alliance.

SC to hear woman SP's rape case against IPS officer

SC to hear woman SP's rape case against IPS officer

Rediff.com20 Jan 2025

The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing on a plea filed by a Bihar Police woman officer against a Patna High Court order that quashed the FIR against an IPS officer whom she accused of rape on the false promise of marriage. The court asked the woman's lawyer to make certain amendments to the petition before the next hearing in two weeks.

HC asks J-K MP Engineer Rashid to deposit Rs 4 lakh for Parl travel

HC asks J-K MP Engineer Rashid to deposit Rs 4 lakh for Parl travel

Rediff.com28 Mar 2025

The Delhi High Court has ordered Jammu and Kashmir MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, alias Engineer Rashid, to deposit Rs 4 lakh with the prison authorities as travel expenses for attending Parliament. The court allowed Rashid to attend the ongoing Parliament session "in-custody" till April 4, but the NIA had raised concerns about him being a flight risk. Rashid has been lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail since 2019 after the NIA arrested him in a 2017 terror-funding case.

'Second Coming' For TN's Autonomy Panel, But...

'Second Coming' For TN's Autonomy Panel, But...

Rediff.com18 Apr 2025

Given the possibilities that next year's assembly elections could throw up, Stalin told the state assembly that an interim report had to be submitted by January 2026. The outcomes may well find its way into the DMK's poll manifesto, thus seeking to keep the electoral focus still on the BJP-ruled Centre and Prime Minister Modi, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Will Pakistan's Generals Never Learn?

Will Pakistan's Generals Never Learn?

Rediff.com19 Apr 2025

Asim Munir and his brand of short-sighted army officers give no inkling of paying heed, changing course or learning lessons from the past, observes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.

Why India's Youth Faces Severe Mental Distress

Why India's Youth Faces Severe Mental Distress

Rediff.com27 Mar 2025

Factors that cause severe distress include early smartphone usage, consumption of ultra-processed foods, exposure to environmental toxins, and a growing sense of loneliness.

Indian Pharma Gets Relief from Trump's Tariffs

Indian Pharma Gets Relief from Trump's Tariffs

Rediff.com4 Apr 2025

Indian drugmakers supply 47 per cent of the generic medicine requirements in the US, and tariffs would have increased prices in the US domestic market for patients, who are already dealing with drug shortages.

Will The Caste Census Boomerang On Modi?

Will The Caste Census Boomerang On Modi?

Rediff.com3 May 2025

The government has to specify what it intends to do with caste census data. It will be closely tracked if the government would simultaneously move towards removing the present 50% bar on reservations using means which are permitted in law. If this is not done, the entire exercise will become meaningless and could boomerang on the BJP, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.