Latest news with #PKMishra
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
SC refuses urgent hearing on Tamil Nadu's plea against alleged freezing of education scheme funds by Centre over NEP row
ANI 09 Jun 2025, 14:44 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday refused to list the Tamil Nadu government's plea against non-disbursal of education scheme funds under the Centre's Samagra Siksha Scheme for an urgent hearing. A bench of Justices PK Mishra and Manmohan stated that there was no urgency on the matter. Tamil Nadu recently approached the apex court seeking directions for the release of the education funds. In its plea, the state alleged that the Union government had frozen the disbursal of the said funds due to the state governments' refusal to implement the National Education Policy (NEP). In its plea, the Tamil Nadu government has sought the Court to declare that the National Education Policy, 2020, and the PM SHRI Schools Scheme are not binding on the state unless a formal agreement is entered into with the Union Government. The Tamil Nadu government further argued that its entitlement to funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme has been unlawfully made conditional on the implementation of these central schemes, which it considers to be unconstitutional, arbitrary, and illegal. 'The glaring reason for such non-disbursement is that the Defendant has linked the release of Samagra Shiksha Scheme funds with the implementation of 'National Education Policy' and 'NEP exemplary PM SHRI Schools' Scheme, despite the fact that these policies/schemes are separate schemes. That the reason of such apparent linkage is the fact that the MoU pertaining to the PM SHRI Schools Scheme dictates for implementation of the NEP-2020 in the Plaintiff State (Tamil Nadu) in its entirety which is not agreeable to the Plaintiff State due to the vociferous opposition to the Clause 4.13 of the NEP-2020 which envisages three-language formula', the plea read. (ANI)
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
SC grants protection from arrest to two MP-journalists alleging police assault over report on illegal sand mining
New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday granted 'protection from arrest' to two Madhya Pradesh-based journalists who alleged they were assaulted by Bhind police for reporting on illegal sand mining in the Chambal region. A bench of Justices PK Mishra and Manmohan dismissed their petition and granted the journalists liberty to approach the jurisdictional High Court (High Court of MP) within two weeks in this regard. '...Considering the allegations made in the petition, we relegate the petitioners to approach the concerned High Court within a period of two weeks from today,' the Court said in its order. The bench clarified that the journalists shall not be arrested until the concerned High Court considers the matter. Journalists Shashikant Jatav and Amarkant Singh Chouhan had moved the top court seeking protection for their lives as they claimed that Bhind police had assaulted them over their reporting on illegal sand mining in the Chambal region. As per their plea, they had been abducted, assaulted and were subjected to casteist slurs by the Bhind police. At the previous hearing, the top court refused to grant interim protection to the journalists, stating that it was unaware of the facts of the case and that a response from State authorities (respondents) in this regard was necessary before taking any decision. The Court also raised doubts over the journalists' allegations that their lives were under threat in the last hearing. Further, the Court had also taken a dim view of the fact that certain allegations had been made against an IPS officer in connection with the alleged assault on the journalists without allowing him to explain the matter. The Court also sought the responses of the Madhya Pradesh and Delhi governments to the plea in the last hearing. Today, the Court granted the journalists interim protection from being arrested and referred them to the MP High Court. (ANI)
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
SC stays Madras High Court order, allows NHAI to collect toll on Madurai-Tuticorin highway
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Madras High Court order that prevented the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) from collecting toll on the Madurai-Tuticorin highway till it is relaid and maintained. A bench of Justices P K Mishra and Manmohan issued notice on the appeal by the NHAI challenging the June 3 order of the Madurai bench of the high court. Turning down the request not to stay the order, the bench said, 'Let them recover now, then we can see.' Opposing the stay on the NHAI, Senior Advocate P Wilson, appearing for the respondents, said, 'The ordeal of the road users every day is that we pay the toll, but we are not able to enjoy the road. This is daylight robbery.' Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman, who appeared for the NHAI, countered this and said thousands of commuters use it on a daily basis. The Supreme Court asked Wilson to file a counter-affidavit and said it will hear the matter in detail later. The writ petition before the high court had earlier sought a direction to the NHAI authorities 'to take necessary action against…officials for mismanagement in allocating funds for planting saplings in Madurai-Tuticorin National Highways-NH-38…and further to plant roadside trees on both sides and median on Madurai-Tuticorin National Highways-NH-38…'. The high court had also made it clear 'that after the highway road is maintained in a good condition as per the standards prescribed under the said Act, the National Highways Authority of India is at liberty to collect toll fee from the road users.' Though the NHAI had contended that arbitration proceedings are pending with regard to the alleged breach of conditions like planting saplings, etc, the high court did not accept the argument. The high court had said, 'Pendency of arbitration proceedings is not a ground to reject the writ petition, since the National Highways Authority of India is under obligation to maintain the highways properly and thereafter, collect toll fee from the road users. Instead, they are maintaining the highway road in a bad condition.' 'Therefore, collection of toll fee in Madurai – Tuticorin National Highways is impermissible and the road users are entitled to a good conditioned National Highways and then alone they are liable to pay toll fee as prescribed by the authority concerned,' it had added.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Health
- India Gazette
India has taken a proactive and forward-thinking approach to extreme heat risk management under leadership of PM Modi: Dr P K Mishra
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, PK Mishra, has emphasised the urgent need to address extreme heat as a global crisis, echoing the call from the UN Secretary-General. Delivering the keynote address during the Special Session on Extreme Heat Risk Governance at Geneva on Friday, he underlined that rising temperatures pose a systemic risk to public health, economic stability, and ecological resilience, according to a PMO statement. India welcomes the UNDRR's initiative to advance the Common Framework for Extreme Heat Risk Governance as a platform for shared learning, guidance, and collaboration. Mishra emphasised that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has taken a proactive and forward-thinking approach to extreme heat risk management. He pointed out that India has moved beyond disaster response toward integrated preparedness and mitigation strategies. Since 2016, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has developed comprehensive national guidelines on heatwave management, revised in 2019, which laid the foundation for decentralised Heat Action Plans (HAPs). He acknowledged the pioneering Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan, which demonstrated how early warnings, inter-agency coordination, and community outreach can save lives. 'Over 250 cities and districts across 23 heat-prone states have operational Heat Action Plans, supported by NDMA's advisory, technical, and institutional mechanisms', stressed the Principal Secretary, underscoring that strengthened surveillance, hospital readiness, and awareness campaigns have significantly reduced heatwave-related mortality. Mishra highlighted that India's approach is whole-of-government and whole-of-society, engaging ministries from health, agriculture, urban development, labour, power, water, education, and infrastructure. He noted that public health institutes, research groups, civil society organisations, and universities are playing a crucial role in supporting local governments in improving heat action plans. 'Extreme heat deeply impacts communities, and India has actively incorporated traditional wisdom and local experiences into its response', stressed Dr Mishra. He noted that schools have become catalysts for behavioural change, educating children about climate resilience. He also emphasised that hospitals and primary health centres must be strengthened to ensure swift and effective emergency responses. Outlining India's transition from a preparedness-only approach to long-term heatwave mitigation, including cool roof technologies, passive cooling centres, urban greening, and the revival of traditional water bodies, Shri Mishra affirmed that India is integrating Urban Heat Island (UHI) assessments into city planning. Mishra announced a major policy shift, stating that National and State Disaster Mitigation Funds (SDMF) can now be used for heatwave mitigation. This allows local governments, private sector entities, NGOs, and individuals to co-finance prevention and mitigation projects, fostering shared responsibility. Mishra acknowledged key challenges that remain and called for a global focus on developing a localized heat-humidity index based on real-time data to enhance early warning systems, advancing affordable and culturally appropriate building technologies and passive cooling innovations, and addressing equity concerns, as extreme heat disproportionately affects women, outdoor workers, the elderly, and children. 'Heatwaves are transboundary and systemic risks, particularly for densely populated urban areas', stressed Dr Mishra, urging the international community to enhance technological collaboration, data sharing, and joint research on heat resilience. He called for the Common Framework to provide accessible knowledge, research, and practical solutions, alongside institutional and financial support mechanisms. As per the statement, Mishra affirmed India's full commitment to sharing its expertise, technical capacities, and institutional strengths with global partners, ensuring a resilient, coordinated, and proactive global response to extreme heat.(ANI)
News18
3 days ago
- Health
- News18
India Proactive On Extreme Heat Risk Management: PM's Principal Secretary
Last Updated: Mishra emphasised that India's approach to heatwave management is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort, involving multiple ministries and stakeholders. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr PK Mishra, has emphasised the urgent need to address extreme heat as a global crisis, echoing the call from the UN Secretary-General. While addressing a Special Session on Extreme Heat Risk Governance at Geneva on Friday, he underlined that rising temperatures posing a systemic risk to public health, economic stability, and ecological resilience, and India welcomes the UNDRR's initiative to advance the Common Framework for Extreme Heat Risk Governance as a platform for shared learning, guidance, and collaboration. Mishra emphasised that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has taken a proactive and forward-thinking approach to extreme heat risk management. He pointed out that India has moved beyond disaster response toward integrated preparedness and mitigation strategies. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) developed national guidelines on heatwave management in 2016, revised in 2019, facilitating decentralised Heat Action Plans (HAPs). He acknowledged that the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan showcased the effectiveness of early warnings, inter-agency coordination, and community outreach in saving lives. 'Over 250 cities and districts across 23 heat-prone states have operational Heat Action Plans, supported by NDMA's advisory, technical, and institutional mechanisms", stressed the Principal Secretary, underscoring that strengthened surveillance, hospital readiness, and awareness campaigns have significantly reduced heatwave-related mortality. Mishra emphasised that India's approach to heatwave management is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort, involving multiple ministries and stakeholders. He highlighted the crucial role of public health institutes, research groups, civil society organisations, and universities in supporting local governments to enhance heat action plans. 'Extreme heat deeply impacts communities, and India has actively incorporated traditional wisdom and local experiences into its response", stressed Dr Mishra. He noted that schools have become catalysts for behavioural change, educating children about climate resilience. He also emphasised that hospitals and primary health centres must be strengthened to ensure swift and effective emergency responses. Outlining India's transition from a preparedness-only approach to long-term heatwave mitigation, including cool roof technologies, passive cooling centres, urban greening, and the revival of traditional water bodies, Mishra affirmed that India is integrating Urban Heat Island (UHI) assessments into city planning. Mishra announced a significant policy change, allowing National and State Disaster Mitigation Funds to be utilised for heatwave mitigation. This enables local governments, private sector entities, NGOs, and individuals to co-finance projects, promoting shared responsibility for prevention and mitigation efforts. He acknowledged key challenges that remain and called for a global focus on developing a localized heat-humidity index based on real-time data to enhance early warning systems, advancing building technologies and passive cooling innovations that are affordable and culturally appropriate and addressing equity concerns, as extreme heat disproportionately affects women, outdoor workers, the elderly, and children. 'Heatwaves are transboundary and systemic risks, particularly for densely populated urban areas", stressed Dr Mishra, urging the international community to enhance technological collaboration, data sharing, and joint research on heat resilience. He called for the Common Framework to provide accessible knowledge, research, and practical solutions, alongside institutional and financial support mechanisms. Mishra reaffirmed India's commitment to sharing its expertise, technical capabilities, and institutional strengths with global partners to foster a resilient, coordinated, and proactive global response to extreme heat. First Published: June 07, 2025, 15:13 IST
