Latest news with #SoP
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Pune: Poll officer says EVM inspection, verification done; Dodke claims demand not met
The Pune district election office on Friday said it has completed inspecting and verifying electronic voting machines (EVMs) of two polling stations in Khadakwasla assembly constituency. However, NCP(SP) candidate Sachin Dodke claimed that the process was stopped midway, after election officers refused to accept his demand to count the VVPATs of respective polling booths to verify the actual voting. Dodke was defeated by BJP candidate Bhimrao Tapkir by 52,000 votes in Khadakwasla assembly seat in the November 2024 assembly elections. He was one of the many who raised doubts over the EVMs and alleged it was being tampered with. EVM inspections and verifications, which also involves mock polls, for Khadakwasla was done at a Bhosari godown in the district, where voting machines are stored in a strong room. 'We have carried out the process of inspection and verification of EVMs of two polling stations in the Khadakwasla assembly constituency as per the demand of the applicant. He was shown the count on EVM of the assembly election. However, he refused to have the EVMs' memory erased for the next step, which is conducting the mock poll, and has given it in writing, so the process stands completed now from our side,' said Yashwant Mane, returning officer of Khadakwasla assembly seat. Regarding the demand to count the VVPATs of respective polling booths to match the count on EVMs, he said, 'This was not part of the SoP laid down to us for inspection and verification of EVMs. However, matching EVM data and VVPAT data of five EVMs was done during the counting process.' Dodke said that EVM count was shown during the counting process and questioned why he would spend money to do the same thing again. 'My demand was to hold a recount by verifying the EVMs' count with VVPAT slips to assure that there was no tampering of EVMs during elections. I am not satisfied and will appeal against it in the court,' he said. He claimed the verification process and selection of EVMs was stopped as the election officers were unable to justify his demands. The district election office was to inspect and verify EVMs of 27 polling booths in Hadapsar constituency as per the demand of NCP(SP) candidate Prashant Jagtap. He later informed his election petition was pending in the Bombay High Court so the process of his application was suspended on Thursday. After losing the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates had alleged irregularities. Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More
Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Flying out of Delhi Airport? Here's when full-body scanners will be in use
Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has expanded trials of its full-body scanners to include passengers as well, sources said. Originally scheduled to begin in May, the trials started on June 16 and have now been underway for over a month. 'Initially, only airport staff were part of the trials. Now, passengers have also been included,' a source said. The trials will go on for three to four months, after which 'a Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)-led committee will evaluate the findings and establish a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for full-scale implementation,' according to an earlier press statement by airport operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). The airport operator had procured four scanners, with two installed at Terminal 1, and another two set up at Terminal 3. These scanners are designed to improve security while expediting passenger movement. It can detect both metallic as well as non-metallic threats, including explosives. 'To address privacy concerns, the scanners generate a standardised 2D image on a preset human avatar, ensuring no personal images are stored. They are equipped with four touchscreen monitors for image evaluation and passenger guidance, and can scan individuals between 3.3 ft to 6.7 ft in height,' the press statement had stated. Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, DIAL CEO, had earlier said, 'The Delhi Airport remains committed to deploying the latest technology to enhance security while ensuring a seamless passenger experience. The introduction of these body scanners is a game-changer in security screening, allowing for faster and more effective checks without compromising privacy.' Each scan takes approximately three seconds, with a maximum capacity of 1,200 scans per hour. The scanners will use millimeter-wave technology operating between 70 to 80 GHz, DIAL had said. Unlike conventional X-ray scanners, they do not emit radiation, making them safe for all travellers, including pregnant women and those with medical implants. The technology is already in use at major international airports in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Devansh Mittal is a trainee correspondent with The Indian Express. He studied political science at Ashoka University. He can be reached at ... Read More
Hans India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Ravenshaw University revokes order on women students' stay
Bhubaneswar: Facingcriticism from different quarters, authorities of Ravenshaw University in Cuttack have withdrawn their earlier order of denying permission to women faculty members and students to remain on campus after 5.30 pm. In an order issued on Thursday and signed by the university registrar, the administration had said: 'No female faculty, staff or students, are permitted to remain in the workplace or on campus after 5.30 pm. This decision will remain in effect until a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) is issued.' The directive further noted that in case of urgent work, women would be required to obtain consent from the Head of the Department and submit a written request expressing their willingness to stay beyond the specified time. The order was apparently issued in the wake of the death of a woman student by self-immolation on Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College campus in Balasore on July 12 over an alleged sexual harassment incident. However, after facing strong backlash from students, civil society, and political leaders, Ravenshaw University revoked the order within hours. The revised statement read: 'The office order restricting the stay of female faculty, staff and students in the workplace or on campus after 5.30 pm is hereby withdrawn.' Taking to X, BJD spokesperson and an alumnus Lenin Mohanty said, 'The Ravenshaw authorities, acting under the direction of their political masters, issued an order asking female students not to stay inside the campus after 5.30 pm. Facing backlash over this shameful directive, they were forced to cancel it. Is this how the authorities plan to protect our sisters — by issuing such obnoxious orders? Is Odisha becoming unsafe for women and the girl child?.'
News18
18-07-2025
- Health
- News18
States ought to frame common over release of terminally ill prisoners: SC
Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday said prison rules were applicable individually to states, which ought to frame common rules on the release of terminally ill prisoners. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta reserved its order on a plea of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) seeking the release of a group of either terminally ill prisoners or those above 70 from jail. The Centre claimed of framing a standard operating procedure (SoP) on the issue and the same being on record. The bench, however, noted, 'Ultimately, the prison rules are all applicable individually to the states. All states have to come out with a common prison rules wherein this consideration for terminally ill for their release, that has to be there." Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said the government was concerned about terminally ill prisoners and all states and union territories were advised in the SoP to take steps for the effective management of such inmates. The government said the states or union territories might also consider the release of such prisoners as a part of 'general amnesty". The bench, flagging the 'possibility of misuse", observed there had to be guidelines on the standard to treat such prisoners and who were entitled to the benefit of the release. The petitioner's counsel referred to NALSA's SoP and said, 'We have defined who should be considered under the terminally ill category and it would be certified by the medical officer of the jail concerned." The bench then remarked, 'Identification is different, but the certification is where the catch is. There is a huge possibility of misuse." Bhati said the Centre's SoP contemplates a medical board to be set up for this. The law officer, who was also appearing for the Delhi government, said there was a prisoner who was suffering from asthma since 1985. The NALSA's counsel said in Kerala, there was a 94-year-old prisoner. The bench also deliberated on prisoners awarded life imprisonment till their natural lives. 'There are end number of convicts in the Jaipur Central Jail who have been convicted for bomb blast cases… One of them probably expired a few months back. He was a doctor, 104 years," Justice Mehta observed. The Uttar Pradesh counsel said the state, in its policy framed in 2018, incorporated certain specific clauses for the terminally ill, providing for a medical board to be set up. On May 5, the top court sought responses from the Centre and 18 states, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, on the plea. These prisoners, who have not come to the top court against denial of bail, require special care but it may not be possible for jail authorities to provide in view of the overcrowding in prisons, the plea said. NALSA said these elderly and terminally ill prisoners were incarcerated in several states including Bihar, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha. The NALSA's counsel had referred to data and said many terminally ill persons, whose convictions were upheld by various high courts, were unable to move the apex court to challenge their convictions and seek bail or suspension of sentence and the matter needed an intervention. The plea urged the top court to issue directions to facilitate the release of prisoners aged above 70 years and those suffering from terminal illnesses. NALSA said as of December 31, 2022, India's prison occupancy rate stood at 131 per cent, severely straining infrastructure and impacting the quality of medical care and dignified living conditions within jails. PTI ABA ABA AMK AMK view comments First Published: July 18, 2025, 15:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Indian Express
Following backlash, premier Odisha university withdraws order imposing restrictions on women staff and students
Cuttack's premier Ravenshaw University has withdrawn its order asking women faculty, staff and students not to stay on campus past 5.30 pm in the face of backlash. The order, issued by the registrar of the 157-year-old storied institution but withdrawn hours later, said: 'No female faculty, staff and students are permitted to remain in the workplace or on campus after 5.30 pm. This decision will remain in place until a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) is issued, which will outline the necessary guidelines and protocols for work hours and safety measures'. It was withdrawn through a separate order. According to sources, university authorities may have been prompted to take the step in the wake of a student's suicide following alleged sexual harassment at a college in Odisha. 'However, the higher education department interfered saying that such an order would send the wrong message,' one official said. When contacted, the university's registrar refused to comment, saying only that the order stood withdrawn. Founded in 1868 with intermediate level classes at Cuttack Zilla School – known now as Ravenshaw Collegiate School — the Ravenshaw University became a degree college in 1876 and eventually became a state university. The college was named after Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, a British officer who remained in charge of Orissa until 1878, and was initially affiliated to Calcutta University. Meanwhile, Odisha government has directed all departments to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 by all institutions/organisations. In a letter to all secretaries and collectors, the Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja asked for strict implementation of the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) Act in workplaces and institutions to ensure a safe, respectful and inclusive environment, particularly for women.
