Delhi Records Minimum Temperature Of 16.1 Degrees Celsius

Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 31.1 degrees Celsius on Friday, a notch below the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department.

The national capital's minimum temperature settled at 16.1 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average, the IMD said.

The relative humidity oscillated between 89 per cent and 45 per cent.

The IMD has predicted mainly clear skies for Saturday. The maximum and minimum temperatures in the city are likely to settle at 32 and 16 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 190 around 7 pm, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News-India-news https://ift.tt/XKJvREQ
via IFTTT

Read More

India Invites G20 Leaders For Virtual Meet Next Month

India has sent invitations to leaders of the G20 member nations for a virtual summit of the grouping next month. At the end of the G20 summit in New Delhi last month, India had announced that it will hold a virtual meet of the leaders before the end of its presidency of the grouping.

"Yes, invitations have been extended. I am not sure whether the date (of the summit) is made public. The countries know the date. There is a fixed date in November that we have," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing in reply to a question.

"We look forward to participation by as many leaders as they can. It's a virtual event. The participation is dependent on the invitee," he said.

"But we do hope that there is a high degree of participation at this summit," he added.

The G20 joint declaration unveiled on September 9 was seen as a significant diplomatic victory for India as it pulled off a breakthrough on the contentious Ukraine conflict amid apprehensions that the summit may not be able to release the document in view of sharp differences on the matter.

As the G20 president, India has been focusing on issues like inclusive growth, digital innovation, climate resilience, and equitable global health access with an aim to benefit the Global South or the developing countries.

The G20 member countries represent around 85 percent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.   The grouping comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union (EU).

The African Union was inducted as the new member of the G20 at the New Delhi summit. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News-India-news https://ift.tt/8aeTd7H
via IFTTT

Read More

"Bar And Bench Worked Together For Equality For Citizens": Justice Siddharth Mridul

The bar and the bench are the two wheels of administration of justice and have always worked together to secure liberty, equality and justice for the people of this country, Manipur High Court's chief justice designate Justice Siddharth Mridul said on Wednesday.

Justice Mridul, who has been a judge of the Delhi High Court for more than 15 years, was speaking at the full court reference organised by the high court to bid farewell to him following his appointment as the chief justice of the Manipur High Court.

"I candidly admit that I would not have achieved (what I have) without each one of you holding my hand and raising my spirits through difficult times... "The bar and the bench are the two wheels of the administration of justice which have always worked together in Delhi to secure for the people of this country liberty, equality and justice - social, economic and political," Justice Mridul, who became emotional during his address, said.

He was appointed as additional judge of the Delhi High Court on March 13, 2008 and became a permanent judge on May 26, 2009.

During his address, he made a request to the senior members of the bar to adopt young lawyers and impart necessary skills of advocacy to them and support them with the resources they need to earn a dignified living.

Justice Mridul also advised young lawyers to remember the famous words of scientist Albert Einstein that "you never fail until you stop trying".

"My personal belief is that the objective all of us seek to attain is to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of the lowest social and economic denominator. In other words, the upliftment of the weakest section of the society," he said.

He said he would miss Delhi, the beautiful city, and all the courts here where he has practised as a lawyer.

"I reiterate what I said in the glorious and unforgettable farewell given to me by the Bar today. "Meharban hokar bulalo mujhe chahe jis waqt, main gaya waqt nahi hoon ke fir aa bhi na sakoon (Be kind and call me any time you want, I am not the time gone by that I cannot come back again)," Justice Mridul, known for his penchant for 'Shayari', said.

Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma congratulated Justice Mridul on his elevation and said the citizens of Manipur will greatly benefit from his presence.

"Certainly the blessings will ensure that your tenure in Manipur is a successful one... I am experiencing mixed emotions today. Delhi's loss is Manipur's gain. The citizens of Manipur will be greatly benefitted with your presence, ensuring their confidence in the due process of law," the chief justice said. PTI SKV ADS SKV SK

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News-India-news https://ift.tt/7LR6X82
via IFTTT

Read More

Supreme Court Denies Bail To Chandrababu Naidu In Corruption Case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday denied interim bail to former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and said it will pronounce its verdict on his plea challenging the high court order refusing to quash the FIR against him in the Skill Development Corporation scam case.

A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi, which reserved its verdict on the TDP leader's petition, did not accept the prayer of senior advocate Harish Salve, who sought interim bail for Mr Naidu, 73, citing his age and the period of 40 days that he has spent in custody.

"I have a request for interim bail. Your Lordships may consider releasing him. If you eventually rule against him, he can go back. In the 2015-16 inquiry, the government's lament was that nothing came of it. Now, in 2021, they are desperately grasping at straws," Mr Salve said, reaffirming that Mr Naidu was falsely implicated in the case.

Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, also representing Mr Naidu, too sought interim bail for the former chief minister.

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government, opposed Salve and Luthra's request for relief to Mr Naidu, saying his bail application was pending before the trial court which will consider it.

The bench told Mr Luthra it has heard the main matter related to a challenge to the high court order and applicability of section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act in the case against Mr Naidu, and was reserving the judgment.

Section 17A was introduced by an amendment to the PC Act with effect from July 26, 2018. The provision stipulates a mandatory requirement for a police officer to seek prior approval from the competent authority for conducting any enquiry or inquiry or investigation into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Mr Naidu has contended the FIR against him was registered without obtaining the prior approval of the competent authority in the Skill Development Corporation scam case, and therefore his arrest was illegal.

The top court also listed for Friday Mr Naidu's separate plea for anticipatory bail in the FiberNet case.

The FiberNet case relates to alleged tender manipulation in allotting a work order under Phase-1 of the AP FiberNet Project involving Rs 330 crore to a favoured company.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Andhra Pradesh police has alleged irregularities in the project right from awarding the tender to completion of the work, causing a huge loss to the state exchequer.

Mr Naidu was arrested on September 9 for allegedly misappropriating funds from the Skill Development Corporation when he was the chief minister in 2015, causing a purported loss of Rs 371 crore to the state exchequer. He is under judicial remand in the Rajamahendravaram central prison. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News-India-news https://ift.tt/fJ79sMT
via IFTTT

Read More

Court Orders Woman To Pay Rs 25,000 Over Rape Charge U-Turn After 6 Years

The Bombay High Court imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on a woman, who six years ago accused a man of raping her and forcing her to abort twice, only to clarify later that it was a consensual relationship and there was no coercion.

A division bench of Justices Anuja Prabhudessai and NR Borkar in its September 20 order, made available on Tuesday, noted that the woman said before the High Court that she terminated her pregnancies of her own will.

The accused in the case went to the High Court seeking to quash the FIR in the case.

"The complainant has filed her affidavit stating that the relationship with petitioner (the accused) was consensual and that she had taken a conscious decision to abort the pregnancies since she was not legally married. She claims that she is already married to another person and has a child and is living a peaceful family life. She has accorded her consent to quash the FIR and all consequent proceedings," the court noted in the order.

The judges directed that the FIR be quashed accordingly, but also asked the woman to pay Rs 25,000, by way of cost, to the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai within two weeks.

In 2017, the woman alleged that the petitioner raped her and his family members compelled her to terminate the pregnancies twice.

Even if the allegations in the FIR were accepted in their entirety, the physical relationship between the parties was consensual, the court observed.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News-India-news https://ift.tt/MkKGZIj
via IFTTT

Read More

AAP To Make Electoral Debut In Northeast By Contesting Mizoram Polls

Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party has decided to make electoral debut in the northeast by contesting in the Mizoram assembly polls. Rajesh Sharma, AAP's northeast in-charge, told reporters in Delhi today that the decision to expand the organisation and contest elections in the northeastern states was made on Sunday at a meeting with Mr Kejriwal. A coordination committee and a northeast cell will be formed for organisational expansion.

"AAP will also participate in the upcoming Mizoram assembly elections. The details of the number of seats contested and the constituencies will be provided by the state committee, and an announcement regarding it will be made soon," Mr Sharma said.

People in the northeast are grappling with various issues, including education, healthcare, inflation, and unemployment, and they believe that AAP can provide solutions to these problems, he said.

The northeast faces a multitude of issues, including rampant corruption and nepotism. The Chief Ministers in these states often treat the state as their family estate, and government contracts are typically awarded to their family members and friends, he said.  

Government schools, hospitals, and roads are in poor condition and inflation is on the rise. Unemployment is a significant problem. Addressing these issues has become crucial, he added.

After witnessing the party's track record in Delhi and Punjab, the people of the northeast believe that only AAP can accomplish these tasks, Mr Sharma said. So they want AAP to expand its organisation and participate in elections in all the northeastern states.  

In states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Manipur, where the BJP is in power, they have initiated divisive politics in a forceful manner, he said, "by dividing communities and stoking tensions, including conflicts like the Kuki-Meitei dispute".

"This has left the people of the northeast quite distressed because they never support this kind of politics. That's why the AAP is determined to expand its organisation with full force in the northeastern states," he added.

from NDTV News-India-news https://ift.tt/Q0V5gFa
via IFTTT

Read More

Haryana Chief Minister Lays Foundation Stone Of Domestic Airport At Ambala

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday laid the foundation stone of a domestic airport in Ambala Cantonment, saying it will not only improve connectivity but also spur economic activity.

The civil enclave -- a military airbase area allotted for civil aviation use -- was sanctioned under the UDAN scheme. The airport -- touted as the dream project of Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij, a six-time MLA from Ambala Cantonment -- will be established on 20 acres, alongside the Air Force Station.

The "bhoomi pujan" and foundation stone laying ceremony was done in the presence of Mr Vij, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, and Rajya Sabha MP Kartikiye Sharma.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Khattar said the airport will further increase Haryana's connectivity with other states and also spur economic activity.

It can also act as a support facility for the Chandigarh airport, he said.

"When an airport comes up, it spurs economic activity and development," the chief minister said.

The airport, once completed, will also use the already-existing runway of the Ambala Cantonment Airport Station for the landing of commercial aircraft.

Officials said the Union Ministry of Defence has agreed to allow the use of the Air Force airstrip for civil aviation. The ministry also allotted about 20 acres of its land to build the civil enclave, with the Haryana government paying Rs 133 crore.

The Public Works Department of the Haryana government has issued a tender worth Rs 16 crore for the construction of a terminal building.

It has separately approved Rs 25 crore for other works at the airport.

Mr Chautala said a passenger terminal, which can cater to at least 200 people at a time, will come up within six months.

The Haryana government has applied for permission to start flights from Ambala to destinations, including Srinagar, Varanasi, Jaipur, Amritsar and Delhi, under the UDAN scheme.

Mr Vij said once the airport becomes operational, it will also cater to people from western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

The BJP-led government in the state has done a lot of work in Ambala Cantonment and Ambala has made great progress, Mr Vij said.

About the airport project, he said a lot of effort was made to ensure its realisation as it required permission from the Army, Air Force, defence ministry and other departments.

It is a matter of great joy for the people of Ambala that the foundation stone of a very ambitious project has been laid. Every single person in Ambala must thank Khattar for the efforts he made to realise the airport project, the minister said.

It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream that the common man should be able to afford and undertake flight travel and that is why the UDAN scheme was launched, Vij said.

He added that India's prestige has risen globally under Modi's leadership.

Mr Vij also lauded Mr Chautala and said he facilitated all permissions that were required.

When an airport comes up, it does not benefit a city alone but the entire region gets a boost, Mr Vij said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News-India-news https://ift.tt/OojcepM
via IFTTT

Read More