Kannur jailbreak reveals negligence among top officials of prisons dept
As per the Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services (Management) Act, the Prisons DG should visit the central prisons and the high-security prison once every six months. This practice helps the DG personally take stock of the security situations inside the prisons and suggest measures to address them. However, the incumbent DG has been reluctant to visit prisons, sources said.
The central prisons, open prisons, women prisons and the high-security prison have jail advisory boards that meet every six months. The norm that was keenly followed earlier was that the DGs would go the prisons to take part in the advisory board meetings so that both purposes- attending the meeting and jail visit- were served. However, in the case of the incumbent DG, he prefers attending the meetings, which are held offline, online.
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Hindustan Times
25 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Odisha: 8 people arrested for murder of man on suspicion of practising witchcraft
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Hindustan Times
25 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
UP govt clears proposals for 3 private varsities, UK scholarship scheme, municipal ad policy reform
Lucknow, The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved a series of proposals spanning higher education, international scholarships and urban governance reforms, paving the way for new private universities, a Chevening-style UK collaboration, and long-term municipal advertisement regulation. UP govt clears proposals for 3 private varsities, UK scholarship scheme, municipal ad policy reform The decisions of the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, were announced by Finance Minister Suresh Khanna along with his cabinet colleagues Rakesh Sachan and Yogendra Upadhyay during a press conference here. According to the decisions, the Cabinet granted an intent letter to Lala Fateh Chand Charitable Trust, Muzaffarnagar, for the establishment of Vedanta University in Muzaffarnagar under the Uttar Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2019. The proposed university will be set up on 23.3349 acres of land in village Hussainpur Bopada, tehsil Khatauli, within the Muzaffarnagar Development Authority limits. The high-level committee, headed by the chief secretary, had recommended the issuance of the letter of intent in its meeting held on December 19, 2024. In a similar move, the Cabinet also cleared the establishment of KD University in Mathura under the same private universities framework. The approval was based on provisions under the Uttar Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2019, which regulates and facilitates the establishment and incorporation of private universities across the state. The Cabinet further approved the setting up of Bodhisattva University in Barabanki. The sponsoring body, Bodhisattva Charitable Trust, Lucknow, has earmarked 25.31 acres of land in Gadia village, pargana Deva, tehsil Nawabganj of Barabanki district. A letter of intent had earlier been issued to the trust on February 9, 2024. The Cabinet has now cleared the promulgation of the "Uttar Pradesh Private Universities Ordinance, 2025" to officially include the new university under the Act and issue it the operational licence. In a landmark collaboration, the Cabinet gave its approval for launching the "Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee-Chevening Uttar Pradesh Government Scholarship Scheme," in partnership with the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office . The scheme aims to sponsor five meritorious students from Uttar Pradesh each year to pursue a one-year master's degree in the UK at recognised institutions. It will cover tuition, examination and research fees, a living allowance, and one return economy-class airfare. The program will run from academic year 2025-26 through 2027-28. For each selected student, the state government will bear approximately 19,800 pounds , while the remaining scholarship amount - ranging between 38,048 pounds and 42,076 pounds per student - will be provided by the FCDO. In another major decision, the Cabinet approved an amendment to Section 305 of the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1959, related to permissions and renewal durations for aerial signage and advertisements. The amendment proposes increasing the validity period for advertising licenses from two years to 15 years. The new rule, to be implemented through the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Rules, 2025, is expected to attract larger investments and innovations in the urban advertising sector. It will also reduce the frequency of tender processes and offer greater revenue stability for municipal corporations across the state. Following Cabinet approval, the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Ordinance, 2025, will be promulgated to formalize this change. The Cabinet also approved a proposal to reintroduce a bill in the upcoming session of the State Legislature to amend the King George's Medical University , Uttar Pradesh Act, 2002. The amendment seeks to insert Section 24, providing for the nomination of one senior-most professor each from the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes and from the Other Backward Classes to the university's executive council. The nominations will be made by the state government on a rotational basis in consultation with the Vice-Chancellor. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Actor Shwetha Menon gets BIG relief: Kerala HC orders interim stay in alleged obscene films scenes case
On Thursday, the Kerala High Court ordered in favour of Malayalam film actor Shwetha Menon after an FIR was lodged against her for allegedly earning money via vulgar or obscene films. The court stayed the proceedings for now. The interim order was passed by Justice V G Arun on a plea moved by the actor to quash the FIR against her. The High Court has observed that there is a prima facie basis to the argument made by the actor's legal counsel, which stated that proper procedure was not followed before the complaint was referred for police investigation. As per legal protocol, a preliminary inquiry or a police report should have been sought prior to forwarding the complaint. The court noted, "Given the brief time span between the filing of the complaint and its referral to the police, it appears that the mandated procedure was bypassed. The Registry is directed to obtain a report from the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Ernakulam to verify the steps taken before forwarding the complaint for investigation." The High Court has ordered a temporary stay on further proceedings in Crime No. 1075/2025 registered by the Ernakulam Central Police. Additionally, the court has issued notices to both the state government and the complainant who had initially approached the magistrate's court, leading to the registration of the FIR. An FIR has been filed against actor Shwetha Menon under Section 67 of the IT Act (for publishing or sharing obscene content online) and sections of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Shwetha, known for Malayalam films like Salt N' Pepper, Rathinirvedam, and Kalimannu, is currently contesting for the president's post in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). The election is scheduled for August 15. In her petition to quash the FIR, Shwetha argued that the case is false and motivated. She also said that the charges don't apply to her. The complaint, filed by public activist Martin Menachery, alleges that Shwetha appeared in films like Rathinirvedam, Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha, and Kalimannu, as well as a condom ad, featuring obscene visuals for financial gain. However, the actor has denied all claims, saying that all the films and ads mentioned in the complaint, were cleared by the censor board and have been available publicly for years. She also mentioned that her role in the film Paleri Manikyam won her the Kerala State Award for Best Actress. The petition also called the claim that she is involved in porn websites "absurd and defamatory," and stated that such allegations were made irresponsibly without any proof. Shwetha further said the complaint was filed only after she submitted her nomination for the AMMA president post, hinting towards bigger motives.
