Latest news with #NoObjection
Scroll.in
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Allahabad HC grants relief to journalist booked for reporting on mosque demolition in UP
The Allahabad High Court has set aside two orders in a case against Mohammad Seraj Ali, a BBC journalist named in a first information report for reporting on the demolition of a mosque in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district, Live Law reported. The orders had denied him a No Objection Certificate for the renewal or re-issuance of his passport, which was quashed by the High Court. Ali, along with another journalist named Mukul Chauhan, had published a video report in June 2021 about the mosque in Barabanki while working for The Wire. The district administration demolished the mosque in Ram Sanehi Ghat in May 2021, claiming that it was an illegal structure, PTI reported. An FIR was subsequently lodged against several persons, including Ali, under Indian Penal Code provisions pertaining to wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot, promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, etc., punishment for criminal conspiracy and printing or engraving defamatory matter. In September 2021, Ali joined the BBC. A year later, a chargesheet was registered against him and a trial court took cognisance of the matter, Live Law reported. At the same time, Ali had applied for renewing his passport in September 2022 as his passport was set to expire in April 2023. However, the Regional Passport Office asked for an NOC from the trial court in Barabanki in light of the criminal case against him, according to Live Law. Ali moved the trial court for the required document but his application was rejected. The journalist then approached the Allahabad High Court. In an order on Thursday, Justice Abdul Moin of the Allahabad High Court said that the rejection of Seraj's request for an NOC to issue his passport reflected a clear non-application of mind by the trial court, Bar and Bench reported. Quashing the orders of the trial court, the High Court said that Seraj may file a fresh application for the renewal or re-issuance of his passport before the Regional Passport Officer within 20 days. 'Upon receipt of the same, the passport authority must decide the application within one month, post verification and due formalities, based on the certified copy of this order,' the order added. It also said that Ali must seek prior permission before travelling abroad, adding that he must also adhere to the schedule and conditions imposed by the trial court. During the proceedings in the High Court, the counsel representing Ali said that the NOC was wrongly denied because the trial court ignored key government guidelines from two office memorandums, Bar and Bench reported. The two memorandums outline how NOCs should be handled even in cases with pending criminal matters.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Residents seek measures to expedite road cuts for resolving civic problems
: Owing to frequent disruption of power supply in zones such as Sholinganallur, where roads are being dug up for laying underground drainage network, residents have demanded faster processing of requests for road cuts to prevent a delay in restoration of services. V. Parthiban, general secretary of the Confederation of Residents' Welfare Associations, Sholinganallur, demands that civic agencies find a solution to prevent such delay in road cuts. Around 50% of the civic issues that require road cuts in various zones of the Chennai Corporation are related to electricity, water, and sewage, according to data complied by the GCC. Though a large number of service departments, more than 20 in number, carry out road cuts for resolving civic issues and implementing infrastructure projects, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board alone accounts for around 25% of them, and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), more than 25%. Residents have urged the civic agencies to develop a system to expedite road cuts. 'When there is disruption of power or water supply, we request officials to give permission for road cuts instantly, without any delay,' they say. A. Francis, president of the Federation of Thoraipakkam Residents' Welfare Associations, said work on digging a cement concrete road, which was laid only a few months ago, is under way. 'The residents want the dug-up roads to be restored immediately. But this has not always been the case. There has been a delay in the restoration of the new road after the sewer network was built. We request that a new system be formed for improved coordination between all the line agencies,' he said. AIADMK councillor J. John said, in the past, the AIADMK government had initiated work to build sewer network in close proximity to all houses so that sewer connection could be established without digging up roads. 'The scheme to provide connection to all houses should be strengthened, similar to that of the previous regime,' he said. DMK councillor T.V. Shemmozhi said residents had demanded permission for road cut along Anna Nagar Second Avenue to resolve a sewage-related civic issue in the area. Following an overwhelming demand from residents in various parts of the city, the Chennai Corporation has proposed to expedite the work, and introduce a seamless system for granting permission for road cuts. An official said the new system would be implemented in one or two days, and the guidelines issued shortly. 'We have decided to expedite approvals for pending road cuts across the city. The online system will be altered. Under the new system, the residents will be able to raise claim charges after applying for Metrowater connection. Additionally, the No Objection Certificate from the traffic police can be obtained online,' another official said. At a meeting attended by more than 20 service departments on Tuesday, GCC officials decided to take measures to resolve issues with the departments. On the CMWSSB work under way in zones such as Manali, Madhavaram, Sholinganallur, and Perungudi, an official said they would expedite the road cut and restoration work.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
How Nepali "job-seekers" cross into India via Bihar to reach Qatar, UAE from Mumbai
In the past week, 10 Nepali nationals were arrested at Mumbai airport for trying to travel to Gulf countries using fake documents. Police say the group had entered India illegally by crossing the open Nepal-Bihar border and each of them had paid Rs 2.5 lakh to agents in Nepal for forged papers. How did they enter India? According to police, the group entered India through seven districts along the porous 601km Nepal-Bihar border—namely West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, and Kishanganj. Instead of using legal entry points, they chose hidden routes to avoid checks. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo Where were they going? On May 26, six men, Ramekbal Mahto Dhanuk (27), Mohammad Samim Alam (23), Raki Yadav (20), Mohammad Haroon Manihar (37), Mobin Musalman (32), and Jogindra Yadav (36), were caught while trying to board flights to Doha and the UAE. They said they were going for job opportunities. Just three days later, four others, Jogindra Bishnu Das (24), Anish Kumar Sije Das (19), Sindhu Kumar Upendra Jha (22), and Jhagaru Ram Sobhait Das (38), were also caught. They claimed to be electrical assistants and labourers heading to the UAE. Live Events What raised suspicion? Immigration officer Ajay Mhatre noticed something odd in the documents of one passenger, Ramekbal Dhanuk. On checking further, they found the same issues with the other five travellers. Immigration officer Radha More later confirmed that the foreign employment permits shown by the four caught on May 29 were fake. The Nepal embassy in Delhi said they hadn't issued any NOC (No Objection Certificate) or work permit to these men, though they had submitted documents saying otherwise. Who's behind this? Police are now tracking two suspected agents in Nepal, Shakir Yadav and Ahmed. They are believed to have arranged fake Indian passports and forged embassy permits. The authorities are also checking if these agents had helped other people in a similar way. The investigation is ongoing to find out more about the network and how many people may have used this illegal route in the past. Inputs from TOI
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
ETPB announces Sikh pilgrimage schedule despite Pakistan-India tensions
Listen to article The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has announced the schedule for two major Sikh religious events to be held in Pakistan this month, despite ongoing tensions and the continued suspension of cross-border movement between India and Pakistan. According to the official schedule, the death anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Jor Mela) will be commemorated on June 16 at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore. The death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will be observed on June 29 at his samadhi, also located in Lahore. Sikh pilgrims from around the world, including India, have been invited to attend. However, due to strained diplomatic ties, India is unlikely to issue the required No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for Indian pilgrims to travel to Pakistan, according to sources. Pakistan has expressed its readiness to facilitate cross-border pilgrimage. The ETPB has finalised all necessary arrangements for potential arrivals, including security, accommodation, and transportation across key religious sites. If India grants travel permissions, the first group of pilgrims is expected to arrive on foot via the Wagah Border on Monday, June 9. The group will begin their pilgrimage at Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and visit local gurdwaras during a two-day stay. The pilgrims will then proceed to Gurdwara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad, followed by a visit to Hassan Abdal on June 11. They are scheduled to stay at Gurdwara Panja Sahib on June 12 and are expected to visit the nearby shrine of Muslim saint Baba Wali Qandhari. On June 13, the group will travel to Narowal to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, staying until June 14. They will proceed to Lahore via Gurdwara Rori Sahib in Eminabad on June 15. The main religious ceremony for Guru Arjan Dev Ji's martyrdom, including the Bhog Akhand Path Sahib ritual, will be held on June 16 at Gurdwara Dera Sahib. Pilgrims will remain in Lahore on June 17 and return to India via Wagah on June 18. A second group of Indian pilgrims is scheduled to arrive on Sunday, June 22, for the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. They will begin their visit in Nankana Sahib on June 23 before travelling to Hassan Abdal via Farooqabad on June 24. The group will stay at Gurdwara Panja Sahib on June 25, visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on June 26–27, and travel to Lahore on June 28. The main ceremony at the samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will take place on June 29, featuring the Bhog Akhand Path Sahib. Pilgrims will spend June 30 in Lahore and depart for India on July 1, 2025. ETPB officials said all arrangements have been made to ensure a secure, comfortable, and spiritually fulfilling experience for pilgrims, contingent on Indian approval for cross-border travel.
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Delhi excise policy case: Arvind Kejriwal moves court seeking NOC for passport renewal; ED, CBI asked to respond by June 4
Arvind Kejriwal, an accused in the Delhi excise policy scam, has applied to a Delhi court for an NOC to renew his passport, which expired in 2018, seeking a 10-year renewal. The court has sought responses from the ED and CBI by June 4. NEW DELHI: Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, an accused in the Delhi excise policy scam, on Thursday approached a city court seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the renewal of his passport. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh issued notices to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), asking them to respond by June 4, the next date of hearing. Kejriwal's counsel informed the court that his passport had expired in 2018, and the AAP chief was seeking a 10-year renewal. CBI ready for arguments on charge framing Meanwhile, the CBI told the court it is prepared to argue on the framing of charges in the corruption case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. While the CBI is probing the corruption angle, the ED is investigating the money laundering charges arising from the same FIR. The case stems from a complaint filed after Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena recommended a probe into alleged irregularities in the implementation of the excise policy. According to investigators, undue favours were extended to liquor licence holders through changes made in the policy. The Delhi government had implemented the new excise regime in November 2021, but it was rolled back in September 2022 following allegations of corruption.
