19 May 2025: Temple-Mosque Survey, Spy Ring Busted & Airtel, Vodafone Blow
UPDATED: May 19, 2025 19:12 IST
On today's News at 7, Prateek Lidhoo brings you the top stories of Monday, May 19. The Allahabad High Court has upheld the order to survey the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, dismissing the mosque committee's plea amid an ongoing dispute over claims of a demolished temple. A major Pakistani spy network has been busted, with arrests across Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh revealing deep links to the ISI. The Supreme Court has rejected Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah's apology for his communal remarks against Army officer Col. Sofiya Qureshi, calling his statement insincere and setting up a special probe team. And finally, telecom giants Vodafone Idea and Airtel suffered a major blow as the Supreme Court refused to waive interest dues on their Adjusted Gross Revenue liabilities. Stay informed with News at 7 — your daily news wrap from India Today Podcasts.
Produced by Prateek Lidhoo
Sound mix by Suraj Singh
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Indian Express
2 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Deesa fire tragedy: Kin move SC, seek Rs 2 crore compensation per victim, probe outside Gujarat
The family members of the April 1 Deesa fire tragedy — during which at least 21 workers, including seven children, were killed and six others were injured after a blast, involving a massive blaze, destroyed a firecracker warehouse — have moved the Supreme Court seeking a compensation of Rs 2 crore per victim and also directions to transfer the case probe to police officers from outside Gujarat. While moving the top court, the victims' kin mentioned the infringement of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees 'protection of life and personal liberty'. The Supreme Court has issued notice to the respondents, including the Chief Secretary of Gujarat, returnable on September 26. The Supreme Court Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant, Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh issued the notice to the respondents on July 31, after admitting the petition filed by Chandar Singh Nayak, from Madhya Pradesh's Devas village, who works as a labourer in Ahmedabad, and has lost six family members in the tragedy. The State of Gujarat, through the Chief Secretary as well as the Home Secretary as well as the Regional Fire Officer of Gandhinagar, District Collector of Banaskantha and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Deesa are respondents to Nayak's petition before the SC. On April 1, when a fire broke out in the illegal firecracker manufacturing facility, comprising six warehouses in Deesa, Nayak lost his daughter, son-in-law, siblings of son-in-law, and mother-in-law of his deceased daughter in the incident. In his petition, filed through Advocate Utkarsh Dave, Nayak has informed the court that the firecracker warehouse ran without proper licensing, sale permissions, fire safety equipment and regulatory insights. 'A majority of the deceased migrant workers, who were brought by the warehouse owners from the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh, worked in the firecracker factory without any formal contract, with no or minimal safety measures and equipment,' the petition states, enlisting four similar incidents that have occurred in Gujarat since 2023, including the April 20, 2023 blaze in a firecracker factory in Aravalli, in which four labourers were killed as well as a fire in Bapunagar godown storing firecrackers without permission in Ahmedabad on May 10, 2023, that caused injuries to some persons. The petition also lists the death of two persons in a blast in a firecracker factory in Ahmedabad's Vanch on April 21, 2024 that killed two as well as the May 25, 2024 Rajkot TRP gaming zone fire. 'Several persons lost their lives and many others suffered serious injuries to their person and property in these incidents due to the repeated failure of the State authorities who failed to keep a check on these illegal activities and, therefore, are jointly and severally liable to pay compensation to the kin of the victims and injured persons… In such cases, the state must see that the victims do not remain in the constant state of suffering and despair…' the petition states. Seeking a higher compensation of Rs 2 crore each for the families of the deceased victims and Rs 50 lakh to the injured victims, the petition states, 'It is submitted that the Central Government and the State Governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh announced paltry compensation amounts of Rs 2 lakh, Rs 4 lakh, and Rs 2 lakh respectively to the next of kin of the deceased persons and Rs 50,000/- each for the injured by overlooking the fact that a majority of the victims were the sole bread earners of their respective families…' The petition seeks 'directions' for the state government to 'immediately locate and carry out an inspection of all the firecracker manufacturing units in the State of Gujarat in respect of compliance with applicable fire safety norms' under prevailing laws.' Advocate Dave said that the petition seeks investigation into the role of the state officials, who have 'shown extreme administrative lethargy and even complicity despite judicial interventions'. Dave said, 'Gujarat has seen several tragedies in the past that have caused loss of lives due to negligence of authorities and repeated failure of the officials working in state government. Our petition is seeking that the amount of compensation should be enhanced, which can bring a life of dignity to the kin of the victims, if not closure in the matter… In the specific case of Deesa, we have sought that the investigation should be conducted by officers from outside the state of Gujarat so that the state government officers responsible for the tragedy are not given scope to escape the law. A total of 21 people had lost their lives in the tragedy. The warehouse owners were illegally manufacturing fireworks in the said premises. An FIR was lodged in the case in Deesa Rural police station.
Indian Express
2 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Fadnavis hails SC order reconfirming 27% OBC quota in Maharashtra local body polls
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court directive on conducting elections under the new ward structure with 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Class (OBC) of 2017. This has paved the way for holding the long-due polls to the municipal corporations, municipal councils, zilla parishads, and other local bodies in Maharashtra. CM Fadnavis said, 'The Supreme Court directive regarding OBC reservation has two meanings. In the previous decision, the court had said that elections should be held as per the old OBC reservation, the same direction has now been confirmed. Therefore, the OBC quota will be applicable in the upcoming local, and civic body elections. The Supreme Court has also said that elections will be held as per 2017 ward structure, not as per of the year 2022. Therefore, both the demands of the state government have been accepted.' Former president of Ausa municipal council Afsar Sheikh had approached the court, seeking to conduct elections as per 2022 ward structure. The process for new ward formation is already underway and is likely to get over within a month and the court has refused to stay the same. NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the ensuing local and civic body elections will be held with this 27 per cent OBC reservation and new ward structure. 'In its judgment on May 6, 2025, the Supreme Court had ruled that elections will be held with 27 per cent reservation. In today's ruling, the apex court has confirmed its earlier judgment saying the elections will be held with new ward structure. The Supreme Court has clearly said that composition of wards and its structure is entirely the prerogative of the state government, which has enacted a law in this regard. There is no stay on that. Therefore, today's apex court order has paved the way for holding local and civic body elections in the state with 27 per cent OBC quota and with new ward structure,' he remarked. NCP SP legislator Jitendra Awhad also hailed the apex court order. However, he accused the Mahayuti government of wasting three years due to vested interest. In Maharashtra, the local body polls will be nothing less than mini-assembly polls. In urban areas, out of 29 municipal corporations (Jalna and Ichalkaranji newly formed), all are run by administrators and are without an elected body. The state has 248 municipal councils and all have administrators. Out of 147 nagar panchayats, administrators — i.e. expired and newly formed nagar panchayats are 42, where elections will be held. In rural Maharashtra, out of total 34 zilla parishads, 32 have administrators, except for Bhandara and Gondia whose term will end in May 2027. In case of panchayat samitis, out of total 351 panchayat samitis, 336 have administrators where elections will be held.
New Indian Express
11 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Supreme Court clears path for local body polls in Maharashtra with 27 per cent OBC reservations
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the path of Maharashtra election commission to conduct the local body elections as per new ward delimitation with 27 per cent Other Backward class reservations (OBC). The petitions were filed in the Supreme Court seeking to halt the State Election Commission's process and demanding that elections be conducted as per the 2022 ward structure without OBC reservation. The local body elections were not held since the pandemic in the state therefore many civic bodies are run by the administrator rather than the elected bodies. However, during the hearing, the apex court rejected all such petitions and clarified that, in line with its order dated May 6, 2024, the 27% OBC reservation will remain applicable in local body elections in Maharashtra. Furthermore, the court stated that elections will be conducted based on the new ward delimitation, not the old structure of March 11, 2022. The court has directed the State Election Commission to issue election notifications within four weeks and complete the entire electoral process within four months. This ruling comes as a significant relief for the state government and has sparked excitement within the OBC community. Following the judgment, elections in 29 municipal corporations, 290 municipal councils, 32 district councils, and 335 panchayat samitis are expected to be announced. The new delimitation will be submitted to the state election commission by August 6. NCP minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal welcomed the Supreme Court order saying this is their victory. He said that the OBC's right in local bodies cannot be snatched and he is glad the Supreme Court has dismissed the petition that challenged the OBC reservations in local bodies. 'The Bhantia commission has directed the 10%, 10% and 30% reservations for the OBC in local body elections as per the size of OBC populations in respective districts and areas. We received the Bhantia commission report. There were 27 % OBC reservations given by the centre so in totality it has to be implemented in local body elections as well. There should not vary in reservations from 10% to 30% in the local body. We wanted 27% OBC reservations across the state. We consistently fought for our rights and we got victory. Now, it is the right of the state government to prepare the delimitation wards and submit them to the election commission,' Bhujbal said.
