I&B panel OKs 'Udaipur Files', but no SC nod yet
NEW DELHI: The I&B ministry's special committee on Monday cleared the release of the film 'Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder' with a new disclaimer, replacing the name 'Nutan Sharma' (representing
Nupur Sharma
in true story) and the line 'maine toh wohi kaha hai jo unke dharm grantho mein likha hai (I said what is written in their religious books)".
But the film, whose screening was objected to by Maulana Arshad Madani and the main accused Mohd Javed who beheaded the tailor at Udaipur for sharing a controversial post by Nupur Sharma on the Prophet's marriage, would not be released in theatres as a
Supreme Court
bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi asked the petitioners to file their objections to the committee's Monday order. The bench posted the matter for hearing on Thursday.
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Hindustan Times
40 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
SC issues nationwide norms amid rising student suicides
The Supreme Court on Friday issued sweeping nationwide guidelines mandating mental health safeguards, mandatory counsellors, and regulatory frameworks for all educational institutions across India, responding to an alarming rise in student suicides. The Supreme Court ruling delivered by justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta covers private coaching centres, schools, colleges, universities, training academies, and hostels, describing the situation as a 'systemic failure that cannot be ignored.' (HT) The ruling by justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta covers private coaching centres, schools, colleges, universities, training academies, and hostels, describing the situation as a 'systemic failure that cannot be ignored.' The judgment held that the gravity of the crisis warranted constitutional intervention, as it drew upon powers under Article 32 of the Constitution to enforce fundamental rights, and treating its pronouncement as the law of the land under Article 141. The ruling emerged from the case of a 17-year-old NEET aspirant, identified as Ms X, who died at a hostel while preparing for medical entrance examinations at Aakash Byju's Institute in Visakhapatnam on July 14, 2023. The court has ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the probe after the girl's father challenged an Andhra Pradesh High Court order of February 14, 2024, that had dismissed his plea for CBI investigation. The bench noted such distress among young people was 'emblematic of a deeper, structural malaise that afflicts India's educational ecosystem,' citing 'deeply distressing' National Crime Records Bureau data showing India recorded 170,924 suicide cases in 2022, of which 7.6% — approximately 13,044 — were student suicides. Of these, 2,248 deaths were attributed directly to examination failures. 'These figures, taken in conjunction with emerging patterns of distress in educational institutions, coaching centres, and residential educational institutions, point to a systemic failure in addressing students' emotional and mental health needs,' the court observed. The guidelines mandate that all educational institutions adopt uniform mental health policies based on existing government initiatives including UMMEED draft guidelines, the MANODARPAN mental health programme, and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. These policies must be publicly available and updated annually. 'There remains a legislative and regulatory vacuum in the country with respect to a unified, enforceable framework for suicide prevention of students in educational institutions, coaching centres, and student-centric environments,' it noted to justify its directions. Institutions with more than 100 students must appoint at least one qualified mental health professional — a psychologist, counsellor, or social worker. Smaller institutions must establish formal referral linkages with external mental health experts. To ensure consistent support, mentors or counsellors must be assigned to smaller groups of students, especially during examination periods and transition phases. The court specifically targeted coaching institutes, directing them to discourage batch segregation based on academic performance, public shaming, and unrealistic academic targets. Helpline numbers, including Tele-MANAS suicide prevention services, must be prominently displayed in hostels, classrooms, and common spaces. All teaching and non-teaching staff must undergo mandatory training at least twice yearly in identifying warning signs, psychological first aid, and referral protocols. Training must include sensitive engagement with vulnerable groups: students from SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories, LGBTQ+ communities, students with disabilities, and those experiencing trauma or bereavement. Institutions must establish confidential mechanisms for reporting sexual assault, ragging, and harassment based on caste, gender, disability, religion, or sexual orientation, with immediate psycho-social support access. The court warned that failure to act promptly in cases leading to self-harm or suicide would constitute 'institutional culpability' with legal consequences. The court directed that parents and guardians be actively involved through regular sensitisation sessions designed to reduce undue academic pressure and promote supportive home environments. Institutions must integrate mental health literacy and life skills into orientation programmes and extracurricular activities. To reduce intense academic pressure, institutions must prioritise extracurricular development, periodically review examination formats, and broaden success definitions beyond ranks and test scores. Structured, inclusive career counselling must be provided to both students and parents to enable interest-based choices and reduce pressure towards conventional career paths. For residential facilities, enhanced physical safety measures are required, including tamper-proof ceiling fans and restricted rooftop access to deter impulsive self-harm acts. Major coaching hubs — Kota, Jaipur, Sikar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai — where students migrate in large numbers, were singled out for heightened preventive and counselling infrastructure. States and Union territories have two months to notify rules mandating registration and student protection norms for private coaching centres. District-level monitoring committees under District Magistrates will oversee implementation, conduct inspections, and receive complaints. The Union government has 90 days to file a compliance affidavit detailing implementation steps, regulatory rule-making status for coaching centres, coordination mechanisms with state governments, and timelines for the National Task Force's final report. Despite existing Centre initiatives, the court identified a 'legislative and regulatory vacuum in the country with respect to a unified, enforceable framework for suicide prevention of students in educational institutions, coaching centres, and student-centric environments,' necessitating immediate judicial intervention under India's constitutional and international mental health commitments. The next hearing is scheduled for October 27.
Indian Express
42 minutes ago
- Indian Express
2 months after his remarks on Col Sofiya Qureshi sparked outrage, SIT finally questions Madhya Pradesh minister
Two months after Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah sparked outrage with his remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with looking into the matter has finally recorded his statement. Sources said the questioning lasted nearly an hour and took place earlier this week in Jabalpur. The SIT is expected to submit its report to the Supreme Court ahead of the next hearing in the matter on July 28. The delay in recording Shah's statement has prompted strong reactions from the Opposition, which has questioned the neutrality of the investigation. Shah came under fire after he was heard saying at an event that India taught a lesson to those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack using 'their own sister'. He has been widely criticised by many who allege that the statement was a reference to Col Qureshi, who gained nationwide prominence along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh during media briefings on Operation Sindoor. The Madhya Pradesh High Court earlier rebuked Shah for using 'language of the gutters' and ordered the police to register an FIR against him on the charge of promoting enmity and hatred. After drawing severe condemnation, the minister expressed regret and said that he respects Col Qureshi more than his sister.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Govt blocks 25 OTT platforms for streaming obscene, vulgar content
ANI The government has ordered the blocking of 25 Over the Top (OTT) platforms for airing obscene content, the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry said on Friday. The platforms including Ullu, Gulab, Hulchul, MoodX, and Mojflix, among others, have 'obscene, vulgar and in some cases pornographic content', the ministry said in a statement. The action to disable 26 websites and 14 apps have been taken in consultation with the ministries of home affairs, electronics and IT, and women and child development, and will be enforced through the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021. The government finally cracked the whip on the 25 platforms after the I&B ministry had warned all of them back in September last year. Meanwhile, five platforms blocked earlier in March 2024, started publishing obscene content on new website domains, the ministry said. "There was hardly any storyline, theme or message in a social context. A large portion of the content was obscene and vulgar," the statement read. Content on these platforms have fallen foul of multiple sections of IT Act, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. "While these sections criminalise the publication and uploading of obscene content, the power to ban or order takedown of offending material online is governed by Section 69A of the IT Act read with Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009," Vikram Jeet Singh, partner at law firm BTG Advaya, said. Singh pointed out this was important, since the government has in the past relied upon Section 79 of the IT Act while ordering content takedowns. In May, the web series 'House Arrest' had been taken down by Ullu after intervention by the I&B inmistry. Ullu had been censured earlier by the Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council, when over 100 web-series were asked to be removed. But after removing them, the OTT had re-uploaded the unedited versions, the ministry said. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Can Chyawanprash save Dabur in the age of Shark-Tank startups? Piaggio sues former employee for 'Coldplay' reference on CEO Why Air India could loom large on its biggest rival IndiGo's Q1 results Can medicines inject the vitamins Amazon is missing? How India's oil arbitrage has hit the European sanctions wall Stock Radar: Bajaj Finance breaks out from falling supply trendline; likely to hit fresh highs above Rs 1,000 Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus These large- and mid-cap stocks can give more than 25% return in 1 year, according to analysts For investors with patience & cash: 6 large-caps with strong balance sheets & big TAM; and an upside potential of more than 24%
