The Supreme Court on Sunday decided to conduct all hearings in virtual mode for two weeks starting from January 3, in view of rising number of cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

 

The Supreme Court administration issued a circular announcing the decision on Sunday evening.

It stated that an earlier circular prescribing standard operating procedure for physical hearing (hybrid hearing) will remain suspended for the time being.

"It is hereby notified for the information of the members of the bar, party-in-person and all concerned that keeping in view the rising number of cases of Omicron variant (COVID-19), the competent authority has been pleased to direct that modified Standard Operating Procedure notified on October 7, 2021, for physical hearing (hybrid mode) will remain suspended for the present, and all hearings before the courts for a period of two weeks from and with effect from January 3, shall be through virtual mode only," the circular read.

The top court is reopening on Monday after its winter vacation.

On October 7, 2021, it had issued an SOP stating matters that require lengthy hearings will be taken up on Wednesdays and Thursdays for physical hearing.

To avoid overcrowding on miscellaneous days like Mondays and Fridays, hearing of cases was done through virtual mode only, and on Tuesdays, it was through a hybrid mode.

The top court has been hearing cases through video-conferencing since March 2020 due to the pandemic. The October 7, 2021 SOP was issued after several bar bodies and lawyers demanded that physical hearings should 

be resumed immediately as there was a fall in coronavirus cases at that time. -- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "break the silence" over Chinese "incursions" in the Galwan region of eastern Ladakh.

 

The opposition party has been targeting the Modi government over its handling of Chinese incursions in eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

"Our tricolour looks good at Galwan. There should be a response to China. Modi ji, break the silence," Gandhi said on Twitter.

 

Earlier, Gandhi had sought to corner the government after China ''renamed'' 15 places in Arunachal Pradesh.

 

"Just a few days back we were remembering India's glorious victory in 1971. For the security and victory of the country, wise and strong decisions are needed. Hollow words do not win," he had said on Twitter on Friday.

Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh had hit out at the government saying that while China was renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh and setting up villages in Indian territory, the government was still carrying on with 100-billion-dollar trade with China. 

He alleged that in the last 19 months, the Indian reaction to Chinese aggression has been to remain silent. -- PTI 

The National Commission for Women has written to the Delhi Police to expedite its action in the case involving 'Bulli Bai', a dodgy app that has listed Muslim women for auction, to ensure that such crime does not recur.

   

Netizens and women rights groups have expressed outrage over the matter. Hundreds of Muslim women were listed for "auction" on 'Bulli Bai' app with photographs sourced without permission. It has happened for the second time in less than a year. The app appeared to be a clone of Sulli Deals which triggered a row last year.

 

As the issue snowballed, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tweeted on Sunday, "Govt. of India is working with police organisations in Delhi and Mumbai on this matter." Police of both the metropolitan cities have registered cases in the matter.

 

NCW chief Rekha Sharma, on Twitter, "noted" a tweet from a journalist whose photo was used in the app. The journalist also raised a complaint with the Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police.

 

"@NCWIndia  has taken cognizance of this incident. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to @CPDelhi to immediately register FIR in the matter. The process must be expedited so that such crime is not repeated," the NCW tweeted.

 

"The action taken in both the cases must be apprised to the Commission at the earliest. A copy of the letter has also been sent to Dy Commissioner of Police CyPAD, Delhi," the NCW said in another tweet.

 

The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against unknown persons for allegedly uploading a doctored picture of the woman journalist on a website.

 

IT Minister Vaishnaw has said GitHub, the hosting platform, has confirmed blocking the user and that Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) and police authorities are coordinating further action in the matter.

 

The All India Progressive Women's Association alleged that "Hindu supremacists" were behind this and expressed solidarity with the victims.

 

Women rights activist Shabnam Hashmi asked till when will the majority remain a mute spectator or are all secular people dead mentally and physically. "Where is the outrage? Many people on Twitter also raised the issue," she said.

 

Many netizens took to Twitter to raise the issue.

 

"The Indian government, police, media, society at large ignored Sulli deals. And now you have #BulliDeals, a horrifying cruel depraved sadistic "auction" of Muslim women using their pictures. The more you ignore these things, the more sure you can be that it'll be your family soo," a netizen tweeted.

 

"Solidarity with the women facing this horrendous abuse, rooted in both misogyny and Islamophobia that have flourished in India in recent years. #BulliDeals," another netizen tweeted. -- PTI 

Music maestro AR Rahman's eldest daughter and musician Khatija Rahman on Sunday announced her engagement with Riyasdeen Shaik Mohamed.

 

Khatija Rahman, who is in her 20s, took to Instagram and shared a picture collage of herself with Mohamed, a sound engineer.

The duo got engaged on December 29.

"With the blessings of the Almighty I'm happy to announce to you all my engagement with Riyasdeen Shaik Mohamed @riyasdeenriyan, an aspiring entrepreneur and a wizkid audio engineer. 

"The engagement happened on 29th December, my birthday in the presence of close family and loved ones. #ThankYou," she captioned her post.

Last year, Khatija Rahman sang a song called Rock A Bye Baby for the Kriti Sanon-starrer comedy drama Mimi, which was composed by her father. -- PTI

Mumbai recorded a steep rise in the daily coronavirus cases with 8,063 infections on Sunday, 1,763 more than the figure added to the tally on Saturday, the civic body said.

      

The city did not see any death during the day due to the infection and 89 per cent of the cases reported are asymptomatic, it added.

    

On Saturday, the city recorded 6,347 infections, and Sunday's addition was a rise of 27 per cent, officials pointed out. -- PTI 

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said states and union territories should take necessary measures, including setting up separate vaccination centres, to avoid mixing-up of Covid vaccines during administration of shots to those in the 15-18 age group.

 

Inoculation of children in this age category will start on January 3. 

The vaccine option for those in the 15-18 age group would only be Covaxin, according to a set of new guidelines issued by the Union health ministry. Besides Covaxin, the adult population of the country is being administered Covishield and Sputnik V.  

To ensure smooth implementation of the guidelines, Mandaviya held an online interaction with health ministers and principal secretaries and additional chief secretaries for health of states and union territories (UTs).

He advised them to ensure orientation of vaccinators and vaccination team members for the inoculation exercise for those in the 15-18 age group and for identification of dedicated vaccination session sites for this category of beneficiaries, a health ministry statement said. 

"To avoid mixing-up of vaccines during administration, separate Covid vaccination centres (CVCs), separate session sites, separate queue (if at same session where adult vaccination is ongoing) and separate vaccination team (if at same session site) are to be strived for," Mandaviya said.

States and UTs were advised to share their requirement of vaccine doses by giving district-wise estimation of beneficiaries, using Co-WIN, and plan for distribution of Covaxin to identified session sites well in advance, the statement said.

Mandaviya reviewed the public health preparedness for COVID-19 and progress of the national vaccination campaign in view of rising cases of the Omicron variant.

The statement said that he also reviewed the recent decisions to roll-out vaccination for the 15-18 age group and "precautionary dose" (third dose) for identified vulnerable categories. 

The online meeting was officiated by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan. 

The minister noted that at the outset, countries are experiencing three to four times surge in Covid cases in comparison to their earlier peaks. 

The Omicron variant being highly transmissible, a high surge could overwhelm the medical system, Mandaviya noted. 

He advised states to leave no stone unturned in ramping up infrastructure to manage a high surge so that India escapes unscathed from this episode of the pandemic, the statement stated. -- PTI

The Railways earned Rs 403 crore from tatkal ticket charges, an additional Rs 119 crore from premium tatkal tickets, and Rs 511 crore from dynamic fares during 2020-21, even as much of its operations remained suspended through most of the year due to the Covid pandemic, revealed an RTI reply.  

Passengers in these three categories are usually last minute travellers who avail these services mostly for emergency travel by paying premium charges.  

In a reply to a RTI filed by Madhya Pradesh-based Chandra Shekhar Gaur, the Railways said that it earned Rs 240 crore from dynamic fares, Rs 353 crore from tatkal tickets and Rs 89 crore from premium tatkal charges in the financial year 2021-22 till September.  

In the 2019-20 financial year, when there were no restrictions in train operations, the national transporter earned Rs 1,313 crore from dynamic fares, Rs 1,669 from tatkal tickets and Rs 603 crore from premium tatkal tickets.  

The data from the railway ministry comes a month after a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways remarked that the charges levied on tatkal tickets are "a little unjustifiable" and put a huge burden particularly on those passengers who are financially weak and are forced to travel in urgency to meet their kith and kin or so for a very short distance also. 

The committee desired that the ministry devise measures for a pro rata fare for distance travelled.  

Tatkal ticket charges have been fixed as a percentage of fare at the rate of 10 per cent of basic fare for second class and 30 per cent of basic fare for all other classes subject to minimum and maximum. 

Under the premium version, which was introduced in 2014 in select trains, 50 per cent of tatkal quota tickets are sold using the dynamic fare system. 

The committee also said that flexi or dynamic pricing appeared to be "somewhat discriminatory" given the facts that fares of Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and Durontos are already higher as compared to other mail and express trains and are almost at par and at some instances higher than those of budget airlines.  

Data also shows that over 52 lakh people who were on wait list after finalisation of seat reservation charts could not travel by trains in the first six months of the current fiscal. 

Around 32,50,039 PNRs (passenger name records), against which 52,96,741 passengers had bookings, were auto-cancelled as they were in wait status after preparation of the charts till September of this financial year.  

 

"The problem is that we do not have enough trains to meet the demand of the general public. Those that can afford the premium fares, spend money to get tatkal tickets. Some trains are out of reach for some who cannot pay the dynamic fares. Even if we book in advance, the tickets are wait listed in most trains," said Sujeet Rai, who travels to see his parents in Bihar every year. 

"What I do is book tickets in advance and when they are wait listed till the very end, I try and get tatkal tickets and cancel the previously booked ticket. Even if its not an emergency and you have made plans with your family, you have to try to get confirmed tickets," he said.  

 While the Railways did not launch any new trains during Covid-hit 2020-21, it brought in as many as 144 new train services in 2019-20, 266 services in 2018-2019, 170 services in 2017-2018 and 223 services in 2016-2017. -- PTI 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said he is ready to contest the upcoming assembly elections from wherever his party decides.

    

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader also said he has fulfilled whatever was promised and has no regrets about his tenure. 

  

"I am ready to fight the election from wherever the party says," Adityanath told reporters when asked whether he will contest from Ayodhya, Mathura, or from his home district Gorakhpur.

 

The chief minister, who is currently a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, was interacting with the media in Lucknow on Saturday night.

 

After former UP CM Mulayam Singh Yadav fought the state elections in 2003, none of his successors have contested the assembly polls. 

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Adityanath were members of the legislative council during their tenure as chief minister.

           

 Adiyanath's challenger Akhilesh Yadav had recently indicated that he might not contest polls. 

He, however, had later said the party would take a call on it.  

 

Asked if there was any work he could not do in his five-year tenure, the BJP leader said, "Whatever was said, was done. There is no work left for which there should be any regret."

To another question, Adityanath said, "Work is under progress in Mathura as in Kashi and Ayodhya."

      

He also tried to allay concerns among some of the sitting MLAs over distribution of party tickets saying the BJP was a very big family and people's role in it may change with time.

 

"Every person's role is different at different times. It is not necessary that one person should always be in the government, sometimes he can also do the work of the organisation," he said.

 

The chief minister said COVID-protocol will be followed to the hilt whenever the dates for the election are announced.

 

Asked about what changed since the 2017 election, Adityanath said: "In 2017 we fought on the failures of the state government. This time we are contesting on the basis of our achievements."

            

He said cases of omicron variant of COVID-19 have been reported from Ghaziabad and Rae Bareli but urged people not to panic. -- PTI

Eighty-five students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Nainital's Gangarkot tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the administration to declare the school a micro containment zone.  

   

He said samples of 496 students and school staff were sent for the RT-PCR testing after 11 students of the school tested positive recently.

 

Eighty-five students of Classes 6-12 tested positive for Covid on Saturday, he said.

 

The students have been kept in isolation at the school, which has been declared a micro containment zone, the official said.

 

The district administration and the Health Department will soon take a call on whether or not to send home students whose reports have come negative, the official said. -- PTI 

An organisation that works for the rights of the Naga people globally has denounced extension of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, days after the death of 14 civilians by security forces. 

 

The demand for withdrawing the AFSPA was raised by several quarters following the killing of 14 civilians by army para-commandos in Oting area of Mon district of the Noirth-eastern state in a botched up operation and its aftermath on December 4 and 5.

"The leaders of state governments in the region, including Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Manipur have appealed for the removal of AFSPA. The people and civil society of the region have long wanted AFSPA repealed," the Global Naga Forum said in an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Centre has constituted a high-level committee to examine the possibility of the withdrawal of the controversial Act from the state. However, on December 30, the government declared the entire Nagaland as a "disturbed area" for six more months under the AFSPA while terming the state's condition "disturbed and dangerous".

Family members of those who were killed are still in mourning but the "government has taken no moral responsibility for the murders, nor tried to remove the cause of the murders, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1958)," GNF co-convener Prof Rosemary Dzuvichu and secretary Prof Paul Pimomo said in the letter.

The AFSPA empowers security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone without any prior warrant. It also gives immunity to the forces if they shoot someone dead.

Modi will be seen as the prime minister who extended AFSPA, after the Oting killings, as a "New Year gift to the people of Nagaland, the GNF letter claimed.

"We still believe that as long as there's life, there's hope for changing course for the better in the life of individuals and for nations," the letter read.

Altogether 14 civilians in Nagaland's Mon district were killed in three consecutive episodes of firing by security forces, the first of which has been claimed to be a case of mistaken identity.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had told the Lok Sabha that the army had received information on the movement of insurgents in Mon and '21 Para Commando' unit had laid an ambush. "A vehicle was signalled to stop but it tried to speed away. Suspecting the presence of insurgents in the vehicle, the security personnel opened fire, leading to the death of six of its eight occupants," Shah said.

Regretting the death of the civilians, he had said security forces fired in self-defence. -- PTI

The technical committee appointed by the Supreme Court issued a public notice on Sunday asking citizens to come forward and contact the panel if they suspected that their mobile devices were infected by Pegasus malware.

 

The public notice asked such citizens to also specify the reasons as to why they believed that their device may have been infected with Pegasus malware, and whether they would be in a position to allow the technical committee to examine the said device.

 

The public notice, issued in leading dailies on Sunday, said "such person who suspects her/his device is infected" should send an email to the technical committee "before noon of January 7, 2022".

 

"In case the committee feels your reasons for suspicion of the device being infected with the malware compel a further investigation, then the committee shall request you to allow examination of your device," the notice said.

 

The public notice "is issued to request any citizen of India who may have felt her/his mobile device/instrument that may have been infected by Pegasus malware".

 

"The committee requests any citizen of India who has reasonable cause to suspect that her/his mobile has been compromised due to specific usage of NSO Group Israel's Pegasus software to contact the technical committee appointed by...

 

"Supreme Court of India with reasons as to why you believe your device may have been infected with Pegasus malware, and whether you would be in a position to allow the technical committee to examine your device," it said.

 

The panel will give an acknowledgement for having received the instrument and also make and give the user a digital phone image for their records.

 

The collection point would be in New Delhi. "The mobile instrument collected from you will be delivered back on completion of the tests/investigation," it said.

 

Last year, a row erupted over Israeli spyware Pegasus allegedly being used for targeted surveillance in India.

 

In October last year, the Supreme Court directed a panel of experts to investigate whether the government used military-grade private Israeli Pegasus spyware to surveil opposition leaders, activists, tycoons, judges and journalists.

 

The apex court had also observed that the state cannot get a "free pass" every time the spectre of national security is raised and that its mere invocation cannot render the judiciary a "mute spectator" and be the bugbear it shies away from. -- PTI

Names of 23 candidates recommended by various high court collegiums since 2018 and reiterated by the Supreme Court collegium were pending with the government at the end of 2021, people aware of the process of appointments to the higher judiciary have said.

 

At least seven high courts had recommended these names for appointment as high court judges, the sources said.

They said the 23 names were returned by the government with a request to reconsider.

But the Supreme Court collegium reiterated these names on different occasions.

Two of the names -- one for appointment as judge of the Karnataka HC and the other for appointment as judge of the Jammu and Kashmir HC -- have been reiterated by the SC collegium to the government twice, they noted.

Both the candidates are advocates. While the name of the candidate from Jammu and Kashmir was recommended in 2018, the name of the candidate from Karnataka was recommended in 2019.

As on December 31, 2021, 23 such names recommended by various HC collegiums since 2018, and later reiterated by the SC collegium after being returned by the Executive, were pending with the government.

In 2021, a total of 120 high court judges were appointed. In 2016, a record 126 HC judges were appointed.

The combined sanctioned strength of the 25 high courts is 1,098 and as on December 1, 2021, they were working with 696 judges -- a vacancy of 402. 

The government has maintained that filling up of vacancies in the high courts is a continuous, integrated and collaborative process between the Executive and the Judiciary. It requires consultation and approval from various constitutional authorities both at the state and the central level. -- PTI 

The West Bengal government brought back COVID-related restrictions amid a steep rise in cases, shutting all educational institutions from Monday and allowing offices to operate with 50 per cent workforce.

 

At a press conference on Sunday, Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi announced that only essential services will be permitted between 10 pm and 5 am in the state.

Local trains would be allowed to operate with 50 per cent capacity till 7 pm, while all shopping malls and markets would be allowed to remain open till 10 pm but with half their capacities, he said.

Long-distance trains will operate as per their usual schedule. Metro trains in Kolkata will also operate as per their usual timing but with 50 per cent capacity.

All tourist attractions, including the zoos, would remain closed. Besides, swimming pools, parlours, spa, wellness centres and gyms were also told to shut down, he added.

Flights from Mumbai and New Delhi will ply only twice a week, and no flights from the UK will be allowed for the time being, Dwivedi said.

Cinema halls and theatres have been allowed to operate with 50 per cent capacity. Meetings and conferences have been allowed with a maximum of 200 people at a time or 50 per cent capacity of the hall, whichever is lower.

Bars and restaurants were allowed to remain open with 50 per cent capacity till 10 pm, while home delivery of food and other essential products was permitted as per usual operational hours.

Not more than 50 persons shall be allowed in weddings, and only 20 persons will be allowed during funeral and burial services, the chief secretary said.

The state government asked the management of industries, factories, mills, tea gardens and other commercial establishments to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines.

West Bengal on Saturday reported 4,512 fresh COVID-19 cases, 1,061 more than the previous day, with Kolkata accounting for 2,398 new cases, as per the state health department. -- PTI

Hitting out at the previous government in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said earlier criminals and the mafia used to play their games, but now the Yogi Adityanath government is playing "jail-jail" with them.

 

Addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation stone for the Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut, Modi said, "During the previous government, criminals used to play their games, the mafia used to play its games. Earlier, there were tournaments of illegal grabbing (of land). People making bad remarks ('phabtiyaan') on daughters used to roam openly."

People living in Meerut and adjoining areas can never forget how houses used to be set ablaze, and the earlier government used to indulge in games of criminals and the mafia, he said. 

The result of these games played by earlier governments was that people were forced to leave their ancestral homes and there was "exodus", the prime minister said.

   

"Now, the government of Yogi (Adityanath) ji is playing 'jail-jail' with such criminals. Five years ago, the daughters of Meerut used to fear leaving their homes after evening. Today, the daughters of Meerut are bringing laurels to the entire country," Modi said.

   

Taking an apparent jibe at Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, Modi said, "The role of the government should be that of a guardian. Capability ('yogyata') should be encouraged. In the event of youths committing a mistake it should not be ignored by saying 'boys make mistakes (ladko se galtee ho jaati hai)". -- PTI 

A Pakistani national was killed by the Army while trying to infiltrate into Kashmir in Kupwara district, an official said on Sunday.

   

An AK-47 and large quantity of ammunition was recovered from him, the official said. 

 

"In a complete breach of the ongoing Ceasefire Understanding between the two armies across the Line of Control, an infiltration or BAT action (Pakistan Army's Border Action Team) was attempted in the Keran Sector of Kupwara district on January 1. Swift action by the troops foiled the bid and eliminated the terrorist," the official said. 

 

The slain man was identified as Mohammed Shabbir Malik, a Pakistani national, equipped with weapons, ammunition and warlike stores, he said. 

 

"The incident site is located on the Pakistani side of the Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System, kept under surveillance by the Indian Army to effectively counter any nefarious activity by the infiltrators or Pakistan Army," the official said.    

 

Giving out details, the official said an armed intruder was detected moving from areas under the control of Pakistan Army across the Line of Control at around 3 pm on Saturday. 

 

"Ambushes were laid along likely routes that could be adopted by the intruder and movement was followed  till 16.00 hours (4 pm). The ambush was sprung at the opportune moment and the infiltrator eliminated. The body of the slain infiltrator was recovered along with one AK-47 and large quantity of ammunition, including seven grenades," he said. 

 

The surveillance of the area is in progress, denying any exploitation of the bad weather condition prevailing in the area and the operation is underway, he added. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone of Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh.

            

The University will be established at Salawa and Kaili villages on the outskirts of the Sardhana town of the district at an estimated cost of about Rs 700 crore.

         

The sports university will be equipped with modern and state of the art sports infrastructure including synthetic hockey ground besides those of football, basketball, volleyball, handball and kabaddi.

          

It will also have a lawn tennis court, gymnasium hall, synthetic running stadium, swimming pool, a multipurpose hall and a cycling velodrome.

          

The university will also house facilities for shooting, squash, gymnastics, weightlifting, archery, canoeing and kayaking, among other facilities.

          

The varsity will have the capacity of training 1,080 sportspersons including 540 female and 540 male ones.  

          

The prime minister earlier saw exhibits and also tried his hands on a few fitness gadgets. -- PTI  

Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Sunday fired a fresh salvo at the Narcotics Control Bureau, alleging that an NCB officer called a 'panch' to sign back-dated panchnama papers in a case.

          

Malik's comments came days after the NCB approached the Bombay high court to cancel the bail granted to his son-in-law in a drugs case. 

       

When contacted, an NCB official refuted Malik's allegations and termed them as "false and baseless".

        

Addressing reporters, Malik also released two audio clips - one of a conversation purportedly between an NCB officer calling a panch (witness) 'Maddy' to sign back-dated papers related to a case. 

        

Another audio was of a phone call purportedly between the panch and NCB's Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede, whose tenure with the central anti-drugs agency ended on December 31. 

        

"The NCB's falsehood doesn't seem to stop...the way officers have made bogus cases by getting signatures from  witnesses on blank papers, implicating people in false cases. And now, to set the cases right, they are calling the panchs to sign on back-dated panchnama papers," Malik said.

        

"I am going to approach a court in this matter," the NCP spokesperson said. 

        

Malik said his son-in-law Sameer Khan -- arrested in a drugs case last year and later released on bail -- was being singled out to put pressure on him, but he will continue to "expose the falsehood" of NCB officials. 

       

"The agency has the right to appeal in a higher court if they are not satisfied with the order, but appeals are pending in  (actor) Rhea and Showik Chakraborty's case (a drugs case linked to death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput). It would have been better had the papers (pertaining to Sameer Khan's case) come (in public domain) from court," he said. 

        

"But, the way PR agencies circulated unsigned papers of the NCB reflects malafide intention behind this," the minister claimed. 

        

Malik, without taking any name, also claimed that a "very senior BJP leader" in the state has been lobbying with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for Wankhede's extension in the central agency in Mumbai. 

       

When contacted, an NCB official said the person 'Maddy', who is talking to an NCB officer (in the audio clip), is one of the witnesses in a case.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not call himself  a 'fakir' now with the addition of a "Rs 12 crore" car in his cavalcade.

          

In his weekly column Rokhthok in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana, Raut also praised former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for always using an Indian-made car, and late PM Indira Gandhi for not replacing her security guards despite a threat to her life.

       

"On December 28, media reported pictures of a Rs 12 crore car for Prime Minister Modi. A person who calls himself a fakir, a pradhan sevak, uses a foreign made car," Raut said. 

        

"The prime minister's security and comfort are important, but from now on, the pradhan sevak should not reiterate that he is a fakir (ascetic)," the Rajya Sabha member said.

         

A Mercedes-Maybach S650 Guard was recently added to the prime minister's cavalcade by the Special Protection Group.

           

The price quoted for a Maybach car in a section of the media is over Rs 12 crore.          

        

However, government sources had said the new car was a replacement of the BMW used by the prime minister as the German carmaker stopped production of the vehicle.

              

Official sources had also said the SPG security detail has a six-year norm to replace vehicles used for the protectee and that Modi has not given any preference on which cars to use. 

They also said that the car costs about one-third of the price quoted in the media.

       

Raut on Sunday said Modi, who started 'swadeshi' initiatives like 'Make in India' and 'Start-Up India', is using a foreign manufactured car. 

        

Praising Jawaharlal Nehru, the Shiv Sena's spokesperson said the country's first prime minister, despite security threat after the partition, always used  an Indian-made Ambassador car. 

        

He also said that (former PM) Indira Gandhi, despite a threat to her life,  did not change Sikh security personnel deployed for her security. Besides, (former prime minister) Rajiv Gandhi mingled with crowd in Tamil Nadu and got killed by the LTTE, he said. -- PTI

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Sunday called Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to seek an update on the state's preparedness to tackle the possible third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

   

Gandhi voiced concern over the sharp increase in coronavirus cases across the country, particularly those of Omicron variant, officials said.

 

Baghel briefed Gandhi on the availability of hospital beds and oxygen in the state. He assured the Congress president that the state was fully prepared to deal with the emerging situation, they said.

 

Chhattisgarh reported 279 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday morning, but is yet to report a patient of the Omicron variant. -- PTI  

A SpiceJet passenger flight took off from Gujarat's Rajkot without the mandatory clearance from the Air Traffic Controller on December 30, following which aviation regulator DGCA has ordered a probe into the incident, officials said on Sunday.

   

The pilots of Rajkot-Delhi flight have been off-rostered pending an inquiry by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, a SpiceJet spokesperson said.

 

The Rajkot-Delhi flight took off at around 9.30 am on December 30 and landed at the Delhi airport at 11.15 am, the officials said.

 

An aircraft has to take multiple permissions from ATC before taking off from an airport. It needs to take permission to push back from the aircraft stand. Then, it has to take permission before starting the engines. Then, it has to take permission to stand in the line up, and then a final permission is given for take off.

 

The pilots did not take requisite clearance from the ATC before taking off from the Rajkot airport on December 30, the officials noted.

 

The DGCA is probing the December 30 incident to find out the reasons for this incident, they said. -- PTI  

Her is the list of 15 most affected states.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that though the number of daily COVID-19 cases and active cases are increasing in the city, there is no need to panic as those are very mild and do not need hospitalisation. 

   

He presented data to show that despite an increase in the number of cases, bed occupancy in hospitals is even lesser than one per cent and is very low as compared to last year's deadly second wave of coronavirus in April.

 

"Active COVID-19 cases rose from about 2,000 on December 29, 2021 to 6,000 on January 1, but the number of patients in hospitals dipped during this period. On December 29, 2021 as many as 262 beds were occupied while on January 1 it was 247 only," Kejriwal said in a virtual press conference.

 

He said that on March 27 last year, Delhi had 6,600 active cases and 1,150 oxygen beds were occupied. As many as 145 patients were on ventilator compared to five now, he said.

 

Kejriwal said that COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly in Delhi, but there is no need to panic. 

 

"Currently, the number of active cases in the city is 6,360 and today (Sunday) 3,100 new cases are expected to be reported. All cases are mild and in most of them patients don't need hospitalisation," the CM said. PTI 

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi have ordered closure of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University till further orders after 13 students tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Sunday.

   

The decision to close the university located at Kakriyal near Katra town, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine, was taken to contain the spread and ensure safety of the students and general public, an order issued by Reasi District Magistrate Charandeep Singh said.

 

The order said the screening for COVID-19 was conducted at the university on December 31, 2021 and January 1, during which a total of 13 students have tested positive. 

 

Ordering immediate closure of the university till further orders, Singh, who is also chairman of the district disaster management authority, said "any violation of the order shall invite punitive action under section 188 of Indian Penal Code and other relevant sections of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and the Disaster Management Act, 2005".

 

Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 169 fresh coronavirus cases on Saturday, taking the infection count to 3,41,459, while two more fatalities pushed the death toll to 4,530. -- PTI 

Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath has tested positive for COVID-19 days before the Pink Test which is played in memory of his late wife Jane, who died of breast cancer, and is used as a fundraiser to support patients suffering from the dreaded disease.

   

The time Australia's opponent in the Pink Test will be England as part of the Ashes series. 

 

The year-opening Test will be played at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 5.

 

The third day of the SCG Test is known as Jane McGrath Day and it remains to be seen if the former cricketer will turn negative in time to attend the event.

 

McGrath, however, will be present virtually when both sides are presented with their baggy pink caps.

 

"Glenn has had a PCR test which unfortunately returned a positive result," McGrath Foundation chief executive Holly Masters was quoted as saying in the Australian media. 

 

"We wish Glenn and his family good health.

 

"We are grateful to our partners at Cricket Australia and the SCG. As well as the England cricket team and the broadcasters for their ongoing support for the Pink Test and look forward to still making this the 'pinkest' Ashes," she added.

Australia have already retained the Ashes by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. -- PTI 

Delhiites woke up to a cold morning as the minimum temperature settled at 5 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal, according to the India meteorological department. 

Meanwhile, the AQI of Delhi's neighbouring Faridabad stood at 332, Ghaziabad at 368, Greater Noida at 314 and Noida at 367, all in the 'very poor' category. 

The IMD has forecast cold to severe cold wave conditions in northwest India till January 3. -- PTI

Legal action will be taken against those who are found to guilty in the case, said deputy inspector general of police, Garhwal, Karan Singh Nagnyal. --ANI

In the movie, actor Vicky Kaushal is seen riding the motorcycle with Bollywood actor Sara Ali Khan seated behind him. 

Speaking to ANI, Jai Singh Yadav, Indore resident and complainant said, "The vehicle number used in the movie sequence is mine. I don't know if the film unit is aware of it but this is illegal. They can't use my number plate without permission. I have given a memorandum at the station. Action should be taken in the matter." 

Responding to the complaint, Rajendra Soni, sub-inspector at Indore's Banganga police station said, "We received a complaint. We will see whether the number plate was used illegally. Action will be taken as per provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. If the film unit is in Indore, we will try probing them." -- ANI

Maharashtra recorded a maximum of 460 cases, followed by Delhi at 351, Gujarat 136, Tamil Nadu 117 and Kerala 109.                  

India's Covid tally rose to 3,48,89,132 with 27,553 fresh cases, while the active cases have increased to 1,22,801, according to the data updated at 8 am.                  

The death toll has climbed to 4,81,770 with 284 more fatalities, the data showed.                  

The active cases have increased to 1,22,801 comprising 0.35 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.27 per cent, the ministry said.                  

An increase of 18,020 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of  24 hours. 

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.55 per cent.                  

The weekly positivity rate was also recorded at 1.35 per cent, according to the ministry.                  

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,42,84,561, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.38 per cent. -- PTI

As per an official release issued by the hospital, the minister has received monoclonal antibody cocktail therapy and is currently stable. 

"Aroop Biswas, minster of power and youth affairs and sports, government of West Bengal, got admitted at Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital on January 1, 2022 afternoon with a COVID positive status with a CT Value of 22.12. He has received monoclonal antibody cocktail therapy and is currently haemodynamically stable," read the release. 

A medical board comprising Dr Saroj Mondal, Dr Soutik Panda and Dr Saptarshi Basu is keeping a close watch on his health status, the release said. -- ANI

CoWIN registration for the age group began on Saturday. 

As per Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain, the national capital has the capacity to vaccinate 3 lakh children falling in the age group of 15 to 18 years every day. 

Kerala's health minister Veena George informed that separate teams have been set up in the state for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to children. 

PM Modi on December 25, 2021, had announced that the vaccination for the age-group 15-18 years is scheduled to begin from Monday while administration of precautionary third dose for the vulnerable categories is to commence from January 10, 2022. 

In the context of the vaccination of the age group 15-18 years, the Union health secretary informed the states and Union Territories that only 'Covaxin' is to be administered in this population category and additional doses of 'Covaxin' will be sent to all states and UTs. 

Those with the birth year of 2007 or before will be eligible for vaccination under this category. -- ANI

According to an official order, the three other districts where these restrictions are applicable are Ambala, Panchkula, and Sonepat. 

The order stated that all the sports complexes, swimming pools, and stadia shall remain closed except when being used for training of sportspersons for participation in national and international sports events. 

"The government and private offices, except for emergency or essential services have been advised to function with 50 per cent staff attendance. Malls and markets will be allowed to open till 5 pm, while bars and restaurants will be allowed to operate at 50 per cent seating capacity," the order read. 

It further said, "Only fully-vaccinated people are allowed to enter at places like markets, public transport, religious places, bars and restaurants." 

"In funerals and marriages, gathering should not be more than 50 and 100 persons respectively," it added. -- ANI

As per an official statement issued by Prime Minister's Office, the university will be established at Salawa and Kaili villages of Sardhana town in Meerut at an estimated cost of about Rs 700 crore. 

One of the key areas of focus for the prime minister is inculcating sporting culture and establishing world-class sporting infrastructure in all parts of the country. 

The establishment of Major Dhyan Chand Sports University at Meerut will be a major step towards fulfilling this vision, PMO said. 

The sports university will be equipped with modern and state-of-the-art sports infrastructure including synthetic hockey ground, football ground, basketball, volleyball, handball, kabaddi ground, lawn tennis court,gymnasium hall, synthetic running stadium, swimming pool, multipurpose hall, and a cycling velodrome. 

It will also house facilities for shooting, squash, gymnastics, weightlifting, archery, canoeing, and kayaking, among other facilities with the capacity of training 1,080 sportspersons including 540 females. -- ANI 

The move is aimed at generating employment and providing market for farm produce, besides attracting large scale investors, additional chief secretary excise and sugar industry Sanjay Bhusa Reddy told PTI on Saturday.                  

Under the new policy, the price of liquor will not be increased, but the license fee will be increased by 7.5 per cent, he said.                  

He said the decision will help provide quality liquor to customers at reasonable rates.                  

Liquor made in Uttar Pradesh will be supplied only in glass bottles instead of tetra packs, the official said.                  

He said tetra packs will be allowed in case there is a difficulty in procuring glass bottles.                  

The time of sale of country liquor, foreign liquor, beer retail shops, model shops, and premium retail is kept from 10 am to 10 pm, same as before.                  

The official said till now the state was a buyer of liquor and beer, but now it will be developed as a production state.                  

He said liquor will be made from the fruits grown in Uttar Pradesh, like Dussehri mango of Lucknow. -- PTI

"India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 145.40 crore (145,40,51,828) on Saturday. More than 22 lakh (22,56,362) vaccine doses have been administered till 7 pm on Saturday," read the ministry's official press release. 

The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level. 

The vaccination for the children aged 15-18 years will also begin in the country from January 3. -- ANI