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Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Assam begins drive to raze over 2.6K encroachments
The Assam government on Tuesday launched a massive eviction drive in the Rengma forest area of Golaghat district bordering Nagaland to demolish over 2,600 alleged encroachments spread over 1,500 hectares of forest land, officials aware of the matter said. The move is set to affect at least 3,000 to 4,000 families. Assam begins drive to raze over 2.6K encroachments According to forest officials, a total of 2,648 illegal houses, spread across 12 villages within the reserve forest area, have been marked for eviction. 'On the first day, over 4.2 hectares of the encroached land, which included 50 concrete residential structures and nearly 200 small and medium-sized business establishments, was cleared,' an official said. The drive is being carried out in Sonaribil, Pithaghat, Dayalpur, Dalanpathar, Kherbari, Vidyapur, Vidyapur Bazaar, Madhupur, Anandpur, Rajapukhuri, and Gelajan localities — all Muslim dominated. According to the Golaghat district administration officials, over 2,000 Assam Police personnel, including battalions from different districts, along with 500 forest guards, have been deployed to maintain law and order during the eviction process. 'This is part of a series of eviction drives. In the past, we have faced challenges, including attacks on government officials,' chief forest conservator MK Yadava said. This is the third large-scale eviction drive in Assam since July 8. The first two were conducted in Dhubri and Goalpara, where over 2,000 allegedly illegally constructed houses were demolished. While the earlier phases witnessed protests from locals, no major protest has yet been reported in Uriamghat. A local resident said his family settled in the area in 1974. 'We have documents like Voter ID and Aadhaar. We have lived here for decades and faced attacks from tribal groups. But now the government is demolishing our houses. We have nowhere to go.' Another resident, Ali Kazi, told PTI: 'Where will we go from here? My father had come from Nagaon district around 40 years ago, but I was born here. We were brought here during the 1980s to protect the forest land from encroachment from Nagaland.'
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Will step in if there is any mass exclusion of voters in Bihar: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Tuesday warned that it will 'step in' if there is any mass exclusion of voters in poll-bound Bihar, asking petitioners challenging the Election Commission of India's (ECI) special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to bring before it at least 15 individuals who have been wrongly declared dead in the draft electoral list, scheduled to be published on August 1. The Supreme Court reiterated that it would take a supervisory role as the revision process unfolds. (File/PTI) 'This is a constitutional institution. We will deem that its actions are in accordance with law. But if there is mass exclusion, we will immediately step in,' remarked a bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi. The court scheduled the next hearing for August 12 and 13, indicating that the first stage of hearings will focus on objections to the draft list, while the broader constitutional challenges to ECI's notification could be taken up in a second phase in September. Also read: Chirag Paswar predicts Nitish's return as CM after Bihar polls, backs NDA The court's comments came as petitioners alleged that the Commission has arbitrarily excluded or moved nearly 6.5 million voters from the rolls, either declaring them deceased or marking them as having permanently relocated. 'If you say people have been declared dead, bring 15 such people before us who are alive,' the court told the petitioners. Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, Gopal Sankaranarayanan and advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, raised serious concerns about the transparency of the process, arguing that neither the basis nor the names of the 6.5 million voters have been publicly shared. 'How will voters even know they have been excluded unless they see the draft list? And how do they get themselves included again?' Bhushan asked. Sibal said ECI has refused to provide them with the list of names, stating that it would be available on the website. ECI, represented by senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, maintained that the process remained open for additions and corrections for 30 days after publication of the draft. 'Objections are yet to be considered. The real picture will emerge only after that,' he said. But the court remained cautious, reminding ECI of its constitutional responsibility. 'If you deviate from your own notification, of course we will interfere,' said the bench, adding that political parties should act as 'NGOs at this time' to ensure voters are included. The court reiterated that it would take a supervisory role as the revision process unfolds. 'We are overviewing the thing as a judicial authority,' it added. The hearing follows the court's earlier warning on Monday, when it refused to stay the publication of the August 1 draft list but emphasised that the revision process must promote en masse inclusion, not exclusion. On Monday, it also instructed ECI to treat Aadhaar and EPIC (Voter ID) cards as valid identification documents, noting that both carried a 'presumption of genuineness.' 'You proceed with Aadhaar and EPIC. Where forgery is found, act on a case-to-case basis. Any document on this earth can be forged. Instead of en masse exclusion, you should be going for en masse inclusion,' the court said then. Similar oral directions were issued on July 10, and the petitioners on Monday told the bench that field officials were still refusing to accept Aadhaar and Voter ID cards. 'The impression on the ground is that EC officials are not accepting Aadhaar and EPIC cards,' said senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra. In response, the court again reminded the ECI to comply with its oral directions and proceed with the presumption of authenticity of official documents unless specific evidence of forgery exists. The petitions, filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Congress MP KC Venugopal, RJD MP Manoj Jha and others, have challenged ECI's June 24 notification that initiated a special revision of electoral rolls in Bihar under Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The petitioners argue that the Commission's list of 11 accepted documents, excluding Aadhaar, voter IDs and ration cards, is arbitrary and lacks statutory backing. They have also questioned ECI's authority to conduct such a revision and seek proof of citizenship — functions, they argued, that are constitutionally vested in the Union government. ECI, in its affidavit, contended that while determining foreign citizenship falls within the Union's exclusive domain, it is well within the Commission's powers to verify claims of citizenship by birth and require relevant documentation for inclusion in the electoral rolls. The court previously observed that the case 'goes to the root of the functioning of a democratic republic' and involves the fundamental right to vote. On July 10, another bench had said it will examine three key issues — whether ECI has the power to carry out the SIR, the manner in which it is being implemented, and the timing of the exercise in light of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The draft electoral rolls for Bihar are expected to be released on August 1. The next phase in the legal battle will hinge on whether substantial numbers of legitimate voters have been excluded, and if so, whether the court should step in.
Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Manipur district election officers begin SIR outreach, meet parties
Even as Manipur remains under President's Rule, district election officers have begun holding meetings with local representatives of political parties to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. While these meetings have already been held in at least five of the 16 districts in the state, notices convening such meetings have been issued in the remaining districts. On Monday, representatives of the BJP, Congress and the Kuki People's Alliance attended one such meeting in Kangpokpi district. According to an official there, the meeting was held based on 'informal' instructions issued by the State Election Commission. 'There was no formal notice from either the Election Commission of India or from the State Election Commission to conduct such meetings. However, we were given an informal communication that in view of the ensuing SIR, a meeting should be held with political parties to sensitise them on the process, as well as on pre-revision house-to-house surveys and rationalisation of polling stations,' the official said. At the meeting, representatives of all three parties are learnt to have expressed concern over the non-inclusion of Aadhaar cards for the exercise. Amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, ahead of the Assembly elections there, the Supreme Court has asked the Election Commission to consider inclusion of Aadhaar, Voter ID and ration cards as proof for updating the rolls. 'We had communicated with the representatives about the 11 documents that are permissible for proving identity and address. They were concerned that in a hilly, tribal area like this, most people may not have the other required documents but are most likely to have Aadhaar since it is linked with so many things,' said the official. Thangjamang Kipgem, a BJP leader who attended the meeting, said the concern was shared by other parties as well. 'We are very concerned about this, because Aadhaar is one document that everyone, from new voters to old people, are most likely to have. The officials told us that they will convey our concerns to the authorities,' he said. A similar meeting was also held in Kamjong on Monday, which was attended by representatives of the BJP, Congress and the Naga People's Front. 'We explained what the process is and what the documents required are. The representatives emphasised that every eligible citizen must be a part of the electoral roll,' said a district official. Similar meetings have also been held in Noney, Ukhrul and Thoubal districts. Earlier this month, the state also conducted training sessions on the SIR for booth level officers and their supervisors across multiple Assembly constituencies. With these preparatory steps, Manipur has set the ball rolling for an imminent SIR, even as its neighbour, Assam, has effectively sought a delay in the exercise in the state by asking for the inclusion in a final NRC — a matter that has been in limbo for six years — as among the admissible documents.
India.com
20 hours ago
- India.com
Worried About Aadhaar Misuse? Heres How To Safely Delink It From Mobile Numbers And Wallet Apps To Avoid Scams
photoDetails english 2938653 Aadhaar Card Frauds: Aadhaar has quietly become a part of our everyday digital life — whether it's linking to mobile numbers, wallets, or apps we barely use anymore. But with every new link, there's a hidden risk. Imagine your digital world as a house. Every time you share your Aadhaar, you're leaving a door unlocked. And if one of those doors falls into the wrong hands, it could lead to trouble. Criminals are finding ways to exploit Aadhaar-linked accounts for fraud. That's why it's so important to revisit where your Aadhaar is connected and start locking those unused doors. Delinking is your way of protecting your identity before something goes wrong. Updated:Jul 29, 2025, 06:06 PM IST Audit Your Aadhaar Use Via UIDAI Portal 1 / 8 Visit log in with your Aadhaar number and OTP, then check 'Aadhaar Authentication History'. You'll see every instance your Aadhaar was used—spot and list the services or apps you don't recognize or no longer use. Delink Aadhaar From Telecom Operators 2 / 8 Post-2018, telcos can't mandate Aadhaar for KYC. Visit your mobile operator's nearest store with a PAN card or Voter ID and ask them to delete Aadhaar from their records. They are legally required to comply as per TRAI directives. Clean Up Payment And Wallet Apps 3 / 8 Apps like Paytm, PhonePe, or MobiKwik often store your Aadhaar for eKYC purposes. Go to the app settings, then open the KYC or Personal Information section, and look for the option to remove or change your Aadhaar. If the app does not provide this option, send an email or write to their customer care team to formally request delinking. Replace Aadhaar With Alternative IDs 4 / 8 After Aadhaar removal, apps may ask for re-verification. You can use your passport, driver's license, or voter ID. Some apps might require a selfie or short video to complete verification—do this quickly to avoid disruption. Report If You Can't Delink 5 / 8 If you face issues delinking your Aadhaar from any app or service, start by raising the concern with their grievance redressal team. If your complaint remains unresolved, escalate the matter directly to UIDAI through their official complaint portal. In the case of telecom-related problems, you can file a complaint with TRAI, as they oversee such services. If none of these steps work, consider seeking legal assistance, which has become more accessible and responsive in recent times. Use Masked Aadhaar Or Virtual ID Instead 6 / 8 Need to share Aadhaar but fear misuse? Use a Masked Aadhaar (only last 4 digits visible) or a VID (Virtual ID)—a temporary 16-digit code. Both carry valid QR codes and signatures, making them safe and legally valid in most cases. Avoid Aadhaar For Verification For Every App 7 / 8 Going forward, don't use Aadhaar for verification unless absolutely necessary. Most services accept alternate IDs. Using Aadhaar less means fewer chances of it being misused. Revisit And Repeat Every 6 Months 8 / 8 Digital footprints evolve fast. Set a reminder to revisit UIDAI's authentication history every 6 months. Regular checks help you identify new linkages and stop misuse before it starts.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
MPESB Recruitment 2025: Online applications begin for Paramedical CRE posts at esb.mp.gov.in; direct link to apply here
The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB) has started the online application process for the Health and Paramedical Recruitment Test 2025 from today, July 28. This recruitment drive covers a wide range of posts including Pharmacist Grade-2, Physiotherapist, Eye Assistant, OT Technician, and Counsellor, under the Directorate of Public Health and Family Welfare and the Directorate of Medical Education. Candidates can submit their applications until August 11, 2025. A correction window is also available from July 28 to August 16, 2025, allowing applicants to make necessary edits to their forms. The recruitment examination is scheduled to be held on September 27, 2025, in two shifts. How to apply for MPESB Recruitment 2025 Here is how interested candidates will be able to apply for the recruitment process online: Visit the official MPESB portal: Register with valid credentials and obtain login ID. Fill in the application form with accurate academic, personal, and communication details. Upload scanned copies of documents and passport-size photo. Pay the application fee (Online). Download and save a copy of the submitted application for future use. Direct link to apply for the MPESB Recruitment 2025 is here . MPESB Recruitment 2025: Application fee The application fee varies based on the candidate's category and must be paid online. Unreserved (UR): ₹500 per paper. Reserved (SC/ST/OBC/EWS – MP residents): ₹250 per paper. Online Portal Charges: ₹60 (₹20 for MP Online kiosk users). MPESB Recruitment 2025: Documents required Candidates must carry an original photo ID (such as Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport, or Driving Licence) to the exam center. Entry will not be allowed after the reporting time. For more details on eligibility, reservation, syllabus, and exam pattern, candidates are advised to refer to the official Rule Book available on TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
