Congress seeks EC action against Modi over remark
Congress onMonday knocked Election Commission ( EC)doors over PM Modi’s claim that Congress Manifesto talks of redistribution ofwealth to Muslims .
Congress alleged thatthe prime Minister evoked religious symbolsto create enmity between two groups
P Chidambaram alleged that the PM said that under theCongress regime the property and Gold ofTribals will be surveyed and will betaken off .
PM Modi in his recent rally in Banswara , has alleged that Congress manifesto held todistribute Gold and important valuables among Muslims .
HC terminates 25,753 school staff hired in West Bengal
The Calcutta High court on Monday directed the terminationof appointment of 25,753 teachers and non teaching staff .
A division bench declared the selection process held in 2016to be “ null and void “ , and directed the CBI to probe the appointment processand submit a report within three months .
The bench also directed the return of salaries from allthose who obtained Jobs from unfair means along with interest calculated at 12%per annum .
West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee termed the court order “illegal “ and said that her government would challenge the verdict in theSupreme Court.
The High court made scathing remarks on the STATE cabinetdecision to protect the employment obtained fraudulently .
SC granted centre a week’s time to look into Karnataka pleafor draught relief.
The Supreme Court on Monday remedies the centre andKarnataka about the need to amicably resolve the differences that arise in a federal structure .
“ Resolve this amicably . We have a federal structure . Boththe Union and states are equal partners “ . Justice B R Gavai said .
The Union government assured that “ something will be done “to resolve the state’s draught worries in a week’s time . Centre will have totake concurrence of EC as the election is going on .
Karnataka in its petition has said that it had sought ₹18,141 crore under NDRF ( National Disaster Relief Plan ) six month ago , only tobe met with silence . The total estimated loss due to crop damage in the statewas ₹35, 162 crore . This is because the state is facing severe draught .
Form AIIMS panel to examine Kejriwal , decide on Insulindemand : Delhi Court
The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the AIIMS toconstitute a medical board to examine Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar Jail and todecide on his demand for insulin .
Earlier AAP had alleged that Mr Kejriwal , A diabetic havebeen denied access to insulin doses by the jail authorities despite repeatedrequests by him amid fluctuating blood sugar .
levels .
The court said that Mr. Kejriwal will continue to get homecooked food , subject to it comply with the diet prescribed by Doctor team .
The Enforcement Directorate had alleged that the CM was deliberately eatingmangoes , sweets and other food items sent from home to spike his sugar levelto get bail on health grounds .
BJP candidate wins out in Surat after rivals opt out of LokSabha polls
BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal from Surat Lok Sabha constituencywas elected unopposed from the Surat Lok Sabha Constituency after all thenominees dropped out of the contest .
The nomination papers of Congress candidates were rejectedon Sunday .
Four independents , BSP’s Pyarelal Bharati and threecandidates from little known parties withdrew one by one in an unprecedentedmove .
The returning officer thus declared the BJP candidate thewinner .
The election in this constituency was to be held on 7 May .
Following this Congress has knocked the door to EC topostpone the election in Surat .
2 women Navy officers return after historic transoceanicexpedition
Lieutenant CommanderDilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa became the first two ladies of IndianNavy to complete a historic transoceanicexpedition of nearly two months .
They sailed INSV Tariniwhich returned on base port in Goa on April 21 .
The two officers will now prepare for Sagar Parikrama – IV expedition to be started in September .
INSV Tarini reachingback Goa
SC allows termination ofpregnancy of minor rape survivors
The Supreme Court on Monday, used its extraordinary power under Article 142 to do “ complete Justice” , to terminate medical termination ofpregancy of a 14 year old rape survivor.
Her pregnancy was nearing 30 weeks while the limit fortermination under the Pregnancy Act is 24 weeks .
A medical board has recommended that continuation ofpregnancy against the will of a minormay impact her physical and mental well being .
After dip in voter turnout , EC forms task force to trackhumidity , heatwave risks
The official aggregate of first phase turnout is 62.34% ,while in previous elections it was 69.43% . Concerned with the fact that theheatwave could have resulted in reduction in voter turnout in the last election.
Concerned with this, the Supreme Court has formed acommission comprising the Indian Meteorological Department ( IMD ) , NationalDisaster Management Authority ( NDMA ) and the Health ministry . It will reviewthe impact of weather conditions onhealth five days before the polling .
World
Rwanda deportation flights in 10 -12 weeks
UK. Prime MinisterRishi Sunak said that he would push a parliamentary vote on carrying asylumseekers to Rwanda . He also promised that flights would start taking asylumseekers to Rwanda in 10 -12 weeks .
The law on Asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda has passed inone house while voting in other housewill be on Monday night .
About 5,000 people had arrived in the UK on boats via theEnglish Channel in the first quarter of this year , according to UK governmentdata .
Afghanistan , Pakistan , India and Bangladesh were the topcountries of migrants arriving in 2023 through boats .
In a recent amendment of law , Afghanistan citizens havebeen left out from deportation , this is Afghanistan’s support in the departureof UK forces from Afghanistan .
The law had earlier faced many challenges in courts . InNovember the UK Supreme Court ruled that the deportation was unlawful .
Senior Israeli Officer resigns for failing to preventHamas attack
The head ofIsraeli military intelligence Maj Gen Aharon Halliva resigned on Monday overfailure to prevent the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel .
The attack had killed 1200 Israeli mostly civilians , Hamasalso took around 250 hostages . Israel later attacked Gaza to eliminate Hamas .
The resignation could set off more resignation from Israelisecurity brass.
Iran President vows to boost trade ties with Pakistan to10 billion dollar a year
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi reached Islamabad on a threeday visit . He met his counterpart Shahbaz Sharif . The two sides vowed toincrease trade to 10 billion dollars .
The two countries had tit for tat border clashes in recenttimes .
SPORTS
Teen Prodigy Gukeshearns the right to battle Ding for the world crown
D Gukesh will play for the world Championship as theyoungest challenger in history .
The 17 year old won the qualifying event , the Candidatestournament , in Toronto after drawing a win in the final round of the encounterwith Hiraku Nakamura .
Next Step
Gukesh will take on reigning Works Champion Ding Liren ofChina .
D Gukesh
Text / Context
What are the rulesaround star campaigners ?
The story so far :
Sunita Kejriwal , wife of Delhi CM Arvind. Kejriwal has beenappointed as a ‘ star campaigner ‘ by the AAP for Gujarat .
What is the legalprovision ?
Section 77 , of Representation of People’s Act ( RPA ) ,1951 provides law regarding ‘ leaders of a political party ‘ , which arepopularly known as ‘ star campaigners ‘.
A national party can appoint a maximum of 40 while theunrecognised political party can appoint 20 star campaigners .
The Expedititure by star campaigners in travelling is notaccounted in electoral Expedititure , also the electoral Expenditure limit perLok Sabha constituency for these is higher than other campaigners .
There have been several instances when EC ordered removal ofcertain candidates from star campaigner list for making inflammatory utterancesthat violated Model Code of Conduct.