News for 'religious institutions'

Religious institutions need structure, cannot have anarchy: SC

Religious institutions need structure, cannot have anarchy: SC

Rediff.com28 Apr 2026

The Supreme Court of India has stated that religious institutions must have structure and norms for their functioning, emphasising that the right to manage a religious institution does not imply an absence of order.

Roads can't be blocked for religious activities: SC

Roads can't be blocked for religious activities: SC

Rediff.com28 Apr 2026

The Supreme Court has stated that roads cannot be blocked for religious activities and that while religious denominations have autonomy in worship, the government can interfere if secular activities are affected.

Supreme Court to address Parsi woman's plea on religious identity after inter-faith marriage

Supreme Court to address Parsi woman's plea on religious identity after inter-faith marriage

Rediff.com25 May 2026

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea on May 29 seeking a direction to the Nagpur Parsi Panchayat to treat a Parsi woman equally with her male counterparts, even after she marries a person of another faith, challenging a rule that allegedly strips Parsi women of their religious identity upon inter-faith marriage.

Bengal to enforce strict loudspeaker curbs at religious places, events

Bengal to enforce strict loudspeaker curbs at religious places, events

Rediff.com14 May 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari has directed police to take strict action against the use of loudspeakers beyond permissible sound limits at religious places and events across the state.

No plans to sell temple gold, clarifies govt

No plans to sell temple gold, clarifies govt

Rediff.com19 May 2026

The government has refuted rumours of a monetisation scheme for gold held by temple trusts and religious institutions, clarifying that such claims are false and misleading.

Court cannot judge religious beliefs, Sabarimala board tells SC

Court cannot judge religious beliefs, Sabarimala board tells SC

Rediff.com15 Apr 2026

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), managing the Sabarimala temple, argued in the Supreme Court that religious beliefs should be judged subjectively by the community, as the court hears petitions related to discrimination against women at religious places.

Why West Bengal Is Ending Religious Leader Payments

Why West Bengal Is Ending Religious Leader Payments

Rediff.com18 May 2026

The West Bengal cabinet has decided to discontinue assistance-oriented schemes based on religious categorisation for Imams, muezzins and purohits from June. The cabinet also approved the 'Annapurna' scheme of Rs 3,000 monthly support to women from June 1, and granted in-principle consent for their free travel in state-run buses.

Nagaland postpones yoga day events to Monday after widespread opposition

Nagaland postpones yoga day events to Monday after widespread opposition

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

The Nagaland government has postponed its official International Day of Yoga programme from Sunday to Monday following significant opposition from student bodies, tribal organisations, churches, and political groups. These groups cited religious sentiments in the Christian-majority state against holding the event on a Sunday.

Puri Jagannath Temple Secures Trademark Protection

Puri Jagannath Temple Secures Trademark Protection

Rediff.com12 Jun 2026

This marks a significant step towards legally safeguarding the cultural and spiritual identity of one of Hinduism's most revered pilgrimage centres.

SC refuses to change religious practices at Banke Bihari temple in UP

SC refuses to change religious practices at Banke Bihari temple in UP

Rediff.com13 Apr 2026

The Supreme Court has stated it will not make structural changes to religious practices at the Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan, hearing a petition challenging administrative decisions affecting traditions.

VHP Appeals To UN For Religious Minorities' Protection In Pakistan, Bangladesh

VHP Appeals To UN For Religious Minorities' Protection In Pakistan, Bangladesh

Rediff.com27 Apr 2026

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has appealed to the United Nations to intervene on behalf of religious minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh, citing human rights violations.

Abuse charges rock Kerala Christian prayer centre, BJP protests

Abuse charges rock Kerala Christian prayer centre, BJP protests

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

A Christian worship centre in Omallur, Kerala, faced protests from BJP workers following allegations that staff members assaulted a 17-year-old boy. Police have arrested three individuals, including the manager, after a Child Welfare Committee inquiry indicated potential exploitation of children housed at the facility.

HC to UP: Is it secular to fund religious institutions?

HC to UP: Is it secular to fund religious institutions?

Rediff.com1 Sep 2021

The Allahabad High Court has sought details from the Uttar Pradesh government on funding of religious institutions like madrasas recognised and aided by it, and asked whether the policy to provide financial aid to such institutions is consistent with the secular scheme of the Constitution.

Uttar Pradesh DGP Highlights Improved Law And Order, Warns Social Media Strongmen

Uttar Pradesh DGP Highlights Improved Law And Order, Warns Social Media Strongmen

Rediff.com14 Jun 2026

Uttar Pradesh DGP Rajeev Krishna stated that the state's law and order situation has significantly improved, with criminals losing their former confidence. He warned against anti-social elements using social media to intimidate and discussed ongoing probes into the Ayodhya Ram Mandir irregularities and the extradition of a drug trafficking kingpin. The DGP also highlighted the rising challenge of cybercrime and police efforts to combat it.

India Dismisses US Religious Freedom Concerns as 'Distorted'

India Dismisses US Religious Freedom Concerns as 'Distorted'

Rediff.com2 Apr 2026

The Indian government has dismissed the US Commission on International Religious Freedom's (USCIRF) report on religious freedom in India, stating that it does not recognise the commission's authority to comment on the rights of Indian citizens.

Punjab To Enact Strict Anti-Drug Law, Confiscate Properties

Punjab To Enact Strict Anti-Drug Law, Confiscate Properties

Rediff.com7 May 2026

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the state government will introduce a stringent anti-drug law allowing for the confiscation of drug smugglers' properties. Mann criticised previous administrations for allegedly enabling the drug trade and vowed stricter penalties for sacrilege. He also accused the BJP of divisive politics and criticised the Akali Dal for alleged political manipulation of religious institutions.

UP govt seals two illegal madrasas in Ghaziabad amid intensified drive

UP govt seals two illegal madrasas in Ghaziabad amid intensified drive

Rediff.com7 Jun 2026

Ghaziabad authorities have sealed two illegal madrasas in Indirapuram and Loni, citing lack of registration, NOCs, and inadequate facilities. This action is part of an intensified crackdown on unrecognised institutions, which gained momentum following the recent killing of a teenager in the area.

Not PM, here's who will be attending Khamenei funeral

Not PM, here's who will be attending Khamenei funeral

Rediff.com1 days ago

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

Police Arrest 16 in Shillong Prostitution Crackdown

Police Arrest 16 in Shillong Prostitution Crackdown

Rediff.com29 Mar 2026

Police in Shillong arrested 16 people during a crackdown on prostitution activities following complaints from citizens and local stakeholders.

Search On For Missing Lucknow Woman After Abduction Claim

Search On For Missing Lucknow Woman After Abduction Claim

Rediff.com10 Jun 2026

Lucknow police are searching for a 21-year-old woman whose father filed an FIR alleging she was forcibly taken away by an acquaintance. While the father initially mentioned conversion, police clarified that the complaint does not include religious conversion allegations, dismissing social media rumours.

Spirit Of Giving: Households Earning Rs 5,000 A Month Give To Charity

Spirit Of Giving: Households Earning Rs 5,000 A Month Give To Charity

Rediff.com11 Mar 2026

Of the donations, 48% is in kind -- such as food, clothing, or other household goods -- followed by cash (44%) and volunteering (30%) with non-profits, religious institutions, or community groups.

Why India-China Border Dispute Remains Unresolved

Why India-China Border Dispute Remains Unresolved

Rediff.com8 Jun 2026

While tensions have eased at several friction points and mechanisms for managing the boundary have been reactivated, underlying differences persist. Disputes over naming practices in Arunachal Pradesh, continued infrastructure development on both sides, and unresolved questions regarding patrolling rights indicate that the structural gap remains, notes Dr Kumar.

Abhishek Banerjee Accuses BJP of Misusing Institutions and Fueling Communal Discord

Abhishek Banerjee Accuses BJP of Misusing Institutions and Fueling Communal Discord

Rediff.com4 Apr 2026

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee has accused the BJP of misusing democratic institutions and stoking communal discord in Bengal, criticising their 'double engine' governance model.

Saffron shawls not allowed in schools under new order, clarifies Siddaramaiah

Saffron shawls not allowed in schools under new order, clarifies Siddaramaiah

Rediff.com14 May 2026

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has clarified that saffron shawls are not permitted in educational institutions, while existing practices such as hijab, turbans, rudraksha beads, and sacred threads will continue to be allowed.

'1.38L CCTVs, 51k jammers': Over 2.8L students to take NEET re-exam amid tight security

'1.38L CCTVs, 51k jammers': Over 2.8L students to take NEET re-exam amid tight security

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has implemented extensive security and logistical arrangements, including AI-based CCTV monitoring, biometric verification, and police escorts, to ensure the smooth, secure, and transparent conduct of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.

Illegal migration impact spreads beyond border areas: Govt

Illegal migration impact spreads beyond border areas: Govt

Rediff.com27 May 2026

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes to study the impact of illegal immigration and other factors on India's demographic landscape.

Bandi jacket in, colonial legacy out in Army uniform overhaul

Bandi jacket in, colonial legacy out in Army uniform overhaul

Rediff.com14 Jun 2026

The Indian Army has removed several colonial-era vestiges from its dress regulations, the mandatory carriage of swords by Reviewing Officers, and the use of pouch belts with certain mess dresses. It has also dropped the use of archaic terminology such as "Royal".

SC to examine if Parsi women lose faith rights after interfaith marriage

SC to examine if Parsi women lose faith rights after interfaith marriage

Rediff.com23 Mar 2026

The Supreme Court of India has agreed to examine a constitutional challenge regarding gender discrimination within Parsi personal law, specifically focusing on whether a Parsi woman loses her religious identity upon marrying outside the community.

BJP's New Game: Political Engineering

BJP's New Game: Political Engineering

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

Ideology is dead; long live the numbers game that is being played with the sole intention of securing a two-third majority in the Lok Sabha for the NDA, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

BJP Files Cyber Crime Case Over Misuse Of Leaders' Images

BJP Files Cyber Crime Case Over Misuse Of Leaders' Images

Rediff.com3 Jun 2026

The BJP's Bahraich unit has filed a cyber crime case against a social media account for allegedly misusing images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister J P Nadda, along with party symbols, to circulate misleading content. Police have registered a case under the IT Act and initiated an investigation.

Ladakh relaxes liquor curbs, extends sales to 4 more districts

Ladakh relaxes liquor curbs, extends sales to 4 more districts

Rediff.com31 May 2026

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday approved a new Excise Policy, permitting the sale of hard liquor through retail vends, reducing documents to obtain a licence from 16 to six and extending the liquor availability to four more districts.

4 injured in violent clashes inside Germany gurdwara

4 injured in violent clashes inside Germany gurdwara

Rediff.com21 Apr 2026

A clash between two groups at a gurdwara in Moers, Germany, resulted in injuries to four people and prompted a large-scale police response.

Centre forms high-level panel on demographic change

Centre forms high-level panel on demographic change

Rediff.com27 May 2026

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said infiltration and other reasons are causing 'unnatural' demographic change, which poses a significant challenge to the present and future of any nation.

Ex-Student Robs IAS Coaching Director Of Rs 1.89 Crore

Ex-Student Robs IAS Coaching Director Of Rs 1.89 Crore

Rediff.com4 May 2026

A woman director of an IAS coaching institute was allegedly robbed of Rs 1.89 crore by a former student and his associates at gunpoint in Bhopal after being held captive at a house.

3 US nationals get 'Leave India' notice for 'propagating religion'

3 US nationals get 'Leave India' notice for 'propagating religion'

Rediff.com29 Apr 2026

Police in Pune have issued 'Leave India' notices to three American nationals for allegedly engaging in religious propagation activities and violating tourist visa norms.

NCW orders TCS to form PoSH panels in all its units after harassment case

NCW orders TCS to form PoSH panels in all its units after harassment case

Rediff.com23 May 2026

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has directed Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to establish separate internal committees in all its 127 units with 10 or more employees within four weeks to strengthen compliance with the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act, following concerns raised in the TCS Nashik case.

'BJP Will Have To Show It Can Govern Bengal Without...'

'BJP Will Have To Show It Can Govern Bengal Without...'

Rediff.com6 May 2026

'...appearing culturally coercive or administratively vindictive.' 'If it governs as a conquering force, resistance will build.'

Congress Expresses Distrust In SIT Probe Of Sabarimala Gold Misappropriation

Congress Expresses Distrust In SIT Probe Of Sabarimala Gold Misappropriation

Rediff.com21 Apr 2026

The Congress party in Kerala has expressed a lack of faith in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple, stating that a thorough investigation will be conducted if the UDF comes to power.

Former Shaolin Temple Abbot Jailed For Corruption: What It Means

Former Shaolin Temple Abbot Jailed For Corruption: What It Means

Rediff.com29 May 2026

Shi Yongxin, the former head priest of China's Shaolin Temple, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison on graft charges, including embezzlement and bribery.