CAT stays J&K govt order on ‘Urdu must' for naib tehsildar posts
The tribunal directed Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) to accept applications from candidates possessing graduation in any of the five official languages listed in Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020, which includes Hindi, Kashmiri, English, Dogri, and Urdu.
CAT issued notices to the respondents, directing them to file their reply within four weeks and scheduled the matter for hearing on August 13.
BJP's J&K unit has welcomed the CAT decision. BJP's legislative party had held a dharna at civil secretariat and the assembly, pressing for the revocation of the govt order.
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Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
MNS leaders clash with PMC commissioner over protocol breach
The civic headquarters witnessed high drama on Wednesday after former Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporator, advocate Kishore Shinde, and a group of party workers allegedly stormed into an official meeting held by Pune municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram. MNS workers, including former corporator Kishore Shinde (red top) were taken away by police after causing a ruckus at the Pune Municipal Corporation HQ on Wednesday. (MAHENDRA KOLHE/HT PHOTO) The incident occurred at around 5 pm when Shinde and group entered unannounced the room where the commissioner was holding a meeting related to solid waste management. According to civic officials, the delegation had come to submit a letter regarding items missing from the commissioner's official bungalow. Reportedly, commissioner Ram asked them to leave saying in Hindi, 'Who are you? Please go out'. Shinde objected to the use of Hindi and demanded that the commissioner speak in Marathi, asserting his position as a former corporator and two-time assembly election candidate. This triggered a heated exchange, with Shinde alleging that the commissioner called them 'goons'. In protest, the MNS group staged a sit-in outside the office. The police were called to control the situation, and the protesters were later detained. Following the incident, the police have filed an FIR against the MNS leaders. A senior police official said that a case was filed late evening against Shinde and the others under section 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) which deals with assault or use of force against a public servant on duty. The police said that the section was applied due to the serious nature of the confrontation. Ram told the media, 'They entered without permission and disrupted an ongoing meeting. They insisted I speak in Marathi and threatened to throw me out of Maharashtra. This is a serious breach of protocol. I have lodged a police complaint.' Shinde, however, denied the allegations. 'We were waiting outside and simply asked about the meeting schedule. Instead, we were insulted, called goons, and our phones were snatched. We will not back down. Let the CCTV footage and mobile videos speak for themselves,' he said. Later, senior MNS leaders Babu Waghaskar, Ranjit Shirole and Sainath Babar met the commissioner to discuss the matter. Heavy police deployment at PMC office After the incident, there was heavy police deployment at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) office. Commissioner Ram contacted the police commissioner following which, the deputy commissioner of police, senior inspectors, and other officers rushed to the spot. All main gates of the PMC building were shut. Even the gates to the commissioner's office were closed due to which, many people got stuck inside. The situation normalised after around 7 pm. By late evening, several MNS workers were taken into custody. Frequent faceoffs: Political aggression inside PMC continues The latest incident involving MNS leader Kishor Shinde is part of a pattern of disruptive protests by political leaders within the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), often under the pretext of raising public concerns. In February 2014, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporators protested the city's garbage crisis by dumping waste on the table of then municipal commissioner Vikas Deshmukh. The BJP leaders, including Anil Shirole and Mukta Tilak, carried trash bags into the PMC building and staged a protest targeting the then Nationalist Congress Party/NCP-Congress administration. In September 2006, former MLA Deepak Paigude and 10 MNS workers barged into then commissioner Nitin Kareer's office, locked the doors from inside, and held him hostage for over two hours demanding written assurances on road repairs. The police arrested all participants after the protest ended. In February 2019, Congress corporator (now with the Shiv Sena Shinde faction) Ravindra Dhangekar allegedly got into a physical altercation with additional commissioner Rajendra Nimbalkar during a protest over water hyacinth in the city's lakes. The incident occurred inside the mayor's cabin, and a police case was filed. Dhangekar and others were remanded to one-day police custody. These recurring confrontations have raised concerns over growing political interference in civic functioning and the safety of administrative officers.
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Approve BC quota bills or face ‘political tsunami' in 2029, Revanth warns Modi
Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday launched a blistering attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the Centre of deliberately stalling the approval of Telangana's 42% Backward Classes (BC) reservation bills. He warned that Telangana's BC empowerment model of a caste survey and a bold quota expansion would turn into a political tsunami and "wash away the Modi-led BJP into the Bay of Bengal." Revanth's remarks came during a high-profile dharna—dubbed 'BC Poru Bata'—held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, which saw participation from a wide spectrum of INDIA bloc leaders, Congress ministers, MPs, MLCs, MLAs, and prominent BC leaders. While Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi were not present as they had gone to attend JMM leader Shibu Soren's funeral on Tuesday night, they deputed senior party leaders and MPs to show solidarity with what Revanth described as a 'historic movement' for BC justice. In a fiery speech, Revanth declared, "If PM Modi wants to remain in office, he must ensure the approval of the two BC reservation bills. Telangana's BC community is prepared to sacrifice everything for this cause. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Best-Selling Luxury Watches – Selling Out Fast Luxury Watches Buy Now Undo If Modi fails, the OBCs will bring down his govt and make Rahul Gandhi the next prime minister." You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad He went on to warn, "Don't force us to return to Delhi again in such numbers. Next time, we will confront you in Telangana. Either sign the blls while you are still PM or watch us implement them after Rahul Gandhi takes charge. You have delayed them for four months. That's why we are here—not in Hyderabad—to expose your 'anti-BC' stand on a national stage. We are vowing from Jantar Mantar on behalf of four crore people of Telangana that we will bring down Modi govt in 2029. " Revanth also questioned the rationale behind the Centre's objection to the state-specific legislation. "We are not asking for a piece of land in Gujarat or its ports. We're only demanding the right to implement 42% reservations in Telangana—for our people, in our state. Who gave you the authority to crush this mandate?" He dubbed Modi the "biggest enemy of the BCs" and didn't spare state BJP leaders either, calling out Union ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay, and Telangana BJP chief N Ramchander Rao for their silence. "With what face will you go to BC voters now? You didn't even join this dharna. Have you aligned with Modi to block BC empowerment?" he asked. Revanth also targeted the BRS for its past decisions, blaming former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao for capping overall reservations at 50% under the Panchayat Raj Act, 2018. "We've moved an ordinance to scrap that cap. It's now pending with the President," he said. Taking a swipe at the BJP's 2029 ambitions, Revanth responded to party MP Nishikant Dubey's comments that Modi will again be the PM face. "Let Modi contest 2029 if he dares. Rahul Gandhi-led INDIA bloc will defeat him decisively, and the BJP won't cross 100 seats," he predicted. He invoked Rahul Gandhi's slogan 'Jitni hissedari, utni bhagedari' (proportional representation for social justice), warning political consequences for those who defy it. "No matter how powerful, if anyone opposes Rahul Gandhi's vision, Telangana will mark the political death of their career," the CM asserted. Revanth insisted that the BJP's continued delay is a deliberate attempt to suppress BC aspirations. "The BC quota bills are pending with the President for the last four months. If we don't get an appointment with her tomorrow (Thursday), it will confirm BJP's 'anti-BC' bias," he said. Calling himself as a 'crusader for social justice,' Revanth added, "Over 300 chief ministers have led different states in India, but I am proud to be the one who conducted a caste survey and passed 42% BC reservations. I thank my cabinet colleagues and Rahul Gandhi for their unwavering support."
The Print
40 minutes ago
- The Print
Row over BJP ex-spokesperson's nomination as Bombay HC judge reaches Parliament. Who is Aarti Sathe
A day after the collegium's decision, Trinalmool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale posted on X: 'Supreme Court collegium has recommended the name of lawyer Aarti Sathe for elevation as a judge of the Bombay High Court. Just curious because there's an Adv Aarti Sathe who has been a spokesperson of Maharashtra BJP.' On 28 July, the Supreme Court Collegium approved the appointment of Aarti Arun Sathe, once a Maharashtra BJP spokesperson, as a high court judge, which sparked a row as the Opposition raised concerns over whether she would be impartial as a judge. Mumbai: The controversial nomination of an advocate for judgeship at the Bombay High Court has now reached Parliament, with Congress MP Hibi Eden moving an adjournment motion to discuss the matter in the Lok Sabha. Supreme Court collegium has recommended the name of lawyer Aarti Sathe for elevation as a judge of the Bombay High Court. Just curious because there's an Adv Aarti Sathe who has been a spokesperson of Maharashtra BJP. Legal fraternity – same person or just similar names? — Saket Gokhale MP (@SaketGokhale) July 29, 2025 Earlier this week, others in the Opposition in Maharashtra began voicing their concerns. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar wrote on X: 'The appointment of a person who advocates for the ruling party from a public platform as a judge is the greatest blow to democracy. The judge is a highly responsible position which should be impartial. When someone is appointed as judge from the ruling party, it raises a serious question mark on neutral position and also democratic process…' The Bharatiya Janata Party, however, clarified that the allegations are unfounded, and that her appointment is based on merit. Keshav Upadhye, chief spokesperson of Maharashtra BJP, said she had resigned from the party a year and half ago. 'She now has no connection with the BJP. The Congress party and Rohit Pawar are criticising her recommendation, which was made as per the decision of the judges' Collegium,' he posted on X. After resigning from the BJP, Aarti Sathe was recommended as a judge of the High Court after one and a half years. She now has no connection with the BJP. The Congress party and Rohit Pawar are criticizing her recommendation , which was made as per the decision of the judges'… — Keshav Upadhye (@keshavupadhye) August 5, 2025 Congress's state unit president Harshwardhan Sapkal also questioned Sathe's nomination. 'Democracy and the Constitution have been systematically sidelined in the country since 2014,' he said. 'All autonomous institutions are operating under government directives, even the Election Commission of India. But the most serious and worrying development is within the judiciary itself.' ThePrint attempted to reach Sathe via call, but she declined to comment on the matter. Also Read: Come to Maharashtra & speak—3 women MPs hold Nishikant Dubey to task over 'patak ke marenge' remark Who is Aarti Sathe? Sathe was affiliated with BJP Mumbai, and was appointed as a spokesperson in 2023. She was previously made a panelist for media interactions in 2020. She was also the head of the party's Legal cell. However, she had resigned from the position on 6 January, 2024, and also from the party's primary membership that year. 'I wish to be relieved from the responsibility as the head-legal cell BJP Mumbai for personal and professional reasons,' she had written in a letter addressed to Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar, a copy of which is with ThePrint. Sathe has been a lawyer for the last 20 years, and has mainly dealt with matters linked to direct and indirect taxes, along with issues related to Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) before the Bombay High Court. As party spokesperson, she often appeared in media debates on issues related to Mumbai. In debates on television news channels, she regularly spoke about the alleged mismanagement in the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation), the condition of dilapidated buildings in the city, or the condition of roads. Back in 2016, in a conversation with Mirror Now, she had defended demonetisation, saying that it would help clean up the corruption in BMC and MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority). She had also spoken against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in 2021 when Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan had been arrested in a drug bust, accusing the then cabinet minister Nawab Malik of the undivided NCP of trying to influence the case. Referring to such statements by Sathe in the past, Rohit Pawar told media persons Wednesday, 'She has in the past taken the side of one party vociferously. So we want to request the Supreme Court Collegium to stop this proposal. We don't have doubt over her merit or capability. But looking at the current political scenario, question arises if common people will get justice? We as Opposition continuously speak against the government, so if our case goes in front of this judge, will we get justice?' Arun Sathe's BJP-RSS link Much like the current row, a similar controversy had erupted back in 2015, when Sathe's father, Arun Sathe, who is also the brother of former Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan, was appointed to the board of market regulator SEBI as a part-time member. Arun Sathe is also a lawyer, and has been a BJP worker with RSS background. He was a national executive member of the partyBJP, and held various positions in the student wing, ABVP. However, he had said at the time that he had been nominated by the finance ministry, and would do his job judiciously. '…I understand the differences between politics and market issues. As a lawyer, I will have views independent of biases,' he had told Business Standard in 2015. He had also said that he had been connected with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since childhood, and had been a part of the party since its Jan Sangh days. In 1989, he had tried to contest Lok Sabha polls from the Mumbai North West constituency against Congress's Sunil Dutt, but had lost. (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: Farmers' crosshairs to 'rummy' row, NCP's Kokate loses agri ministry after string of controversies
