Covid-19 restrictions in Delhi will be eased as soon as possible, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said. (File)Delhi Live News: Delhi on Tuesday logged 6,028 Covid-19 cases, 9,127 recoveries, and 31 deaths. The active case tally of the national capital went up to 42,010 along with the positivity rate dipping to 10.55 per cent.
Covid-19 restrictions in Delhi will be eased as soon as possible, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said at an event organised by the city government to celebrate Republic Day 2022. “We don’t want people’s livelihoods to be affected by Covid-19,” Kejriwal added.
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According to the IMD forecast, Delhi’s minimum temperature will be recorded at 6 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature at 16 degrees. The air quality is likely to remain in the ‘poor’ category on Tuesday and Wednesday with the current Air Quality Index at 253.
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A plea was filed on Tuesday in the Supreme Court seeking postponement of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) scheduled on March 12 for admissions in post graduate medical courses, claiming that many MBBS graduates would not be able to take up the examination due to non-completion of mandatory internship period.
The plea filed by six MBBS graduates, through Dubey Law Chambers, seeks a direction to the National Board of Examination to defer the scheduled test until various requirements, such as completion of mandatory internship period, set forth in the PG Regulations, are met by many aspirants.
One of the NEET PG regulations said that 30 beds of a hospital have to be assigned to one unit of students pursuing the PG course and now two students of two academic sessions will have to be accommodated in the same facility. (PTI)
Director of Security in Parliament House complex Bhuwan Chandra Joshi was on Tuesday selected for President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service on the eve of Republic Day, officials said.
Joshi, a DIG from the Border Security Force (BSF), is currently on deputation and serving as the director of security in the Parliament House complex, which was attacked by terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based terror organisations on December 13, 2001. Joshi had served in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast in various capacities and took part in counter-insurgency operations. (PTI)
Security in the national capital was tightened on the eve of 73rd Republic Day on Tuesday. DCP Central Delhi, Shweta Chauhan said, " We are focussing on anti-terror measures. Tenant and servant verifications are done continuously. CCTVs are being monitored on the route where the parade will move."
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Tuesday slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that the AAP-led government in the national capital “miserably failed” in improving the condition of schools and dispensaries in the past seven years.
Further hitting out at the Kejriwal-led regime, Tiwari claimed that the number of liquor vends had been increased to 859 from 220 and the number of dry days reduced from 21 to 3 in Delhi. (PTI)
The government on Tuesday announced a total of 939 service medals, including 189 for gallantry, for personnel of various central and state police forces on the eve of Republic Day.
The Union home ministry published a list containing names of personnel who have been decorated with the police medal for gallantry (PMG), president's police medal for distinguished service and police medal for meritorious service.
No one has been given the top category president's police medal for gallantry (PPMG) this time. (PTI)
A 40-year-old man was killed allegedly after an unidentified vehicle hit his motorcycle in southwest Delhi's Safdarjung Encalve area, police said on Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Anup Bhatt, a resident of Dayalpur who worked with a private firm here, they said.
The accident took place on January 20, police said, adding they were informed about a man lying unconscious near a flyover at Safdarjung Enclave area.
On reaching the spot, the man was found lying unconscious but there were no apparent injury marks on his body. His motorcycle which did not sustain much damage was found lying next to him, a senior police officer said. (PTI)
A year since violence broke out in the national capital on the Republic Day following a tractor parade by farmers protesting against central farm laws, the Delhi Police has arrested around 160 people and registered 54 cases, officials said on Tuesday.
As India celebrated its 72nd Republic Day on January 26, 2021, thousands of protesters entered Delhi on their tractors and wreaked havoc on roads, clashed with police, and even hoisted a religious flag from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort, a privilege reserved for the Indian tricolour.
According to Delhi Police officials, around 160 people have been arrested in connection with the violence that unfolded last year, of which 20 were held for the violence at the Red Fort. In addition, 54 cases were registered, of which, 16 are with the Crime Branch.
In May last year, the Delhi Police had filed a 3,224-page first chargesheet against actor-activist Deep Sindhu and 15 others. (PTI)
Delhi Police on Tuesday informed of an alleged incident of sexual assault with a minor girl in the area of New Usmanpur. The child was counselled and given immediate medical assistance and is now stable, the police said.
'Immediately taking necessary action, FIR was registered and both the accused juveniles were apprehended,' the police said in a tweet.
The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 163.49 crore on Tuesday, the Union Health Ministry said.
More than 51 lakh (51,64,473) vaccine doses have been administered till 7 pm. Over 93 lakh (93,53,837) precaution doses have been given to healthcare workers, frontline workers and citizens aged 60 and above with comorbidities so far.
The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night.
The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2.
For more LIVE updates on Covid-19 follow: Coronavirus Omicron India LIVE
Senior AAP leader and Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will campaign for his party candidates for the Uttarakhand assembly polls from January 26 to 31.
During his six-day 'Nav Parivartan Samvaad Yatra', Rai will attend meetings and other programmes in five assembly constituencies in the hill state.
"We are getting a very good response from the people of Uttarakhand as they see the Aam Aadmi Party as a credible alternative today. In the past 21 years, people have seen that neither the Congress nor the BJP could fulfil their aspirations and achieve the goals with which Uttarakhand was formed as a state," Rai told PTI when asked about the poll prospects of his party in the state.
He said the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal had contested assembly polls in the state in the past but could not become an alternative to the BJP and the Congress. (PTI)
On the eve of Republic Day, the national capital was illuminated by the laser and drone lights rehearsal at Vijay Chowk.
Here's a look from the lightshow captured by Tashi Tobgyal:
The central government announced Padma awards on Tuesday, the eve of Republic Day. Among other honours, late General Bipin Rawat and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh have been awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
The Padma Bhushan will also be conferred on Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and SII MD Cyrus Poonawalla.
Olympians Neeraj Chopra, Pramod Bhagat and Vandana Kataria, and singer Sonu Nigam will be awarded the Padma Shri. (Read more)
Questioning the government decision to provide ex-gratia amount of Rs 1 crore to the next of kin of healthcare professionals who died of Covid while working at government or private hospitals requisitioned by the state to deal with cases, the Delhi High Court Tuesday said the government needs to reconsider its policy as the distinction – between such healthcare workers and those working at other hospitals – does not appear to be justified. (Read more)
Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh on Tuesday said his office is moving forward in line with the Election Commission's vision of leaving no voter behind as evidenced in the outcomes of the recent special summary revision exercise.
On the occasion of National Voters' Day, he also said this occasion is to encourage, facilitate, and maximise voter registration and participation, particularly among first-time voters.
The theme for the 12th National Voters' Day set by the Election Commission of India (ECI) is 'making elections inclusive, accessible and participative'.
"Voters are the backbone of a democracy. Our constant endeavour is to educate, motivate, facilitate, engage and empower the voters so that they could play their democratic role more and more effectively. Let's renew our commitment for making elections truly inclusive, accessible and participative on this special occasion," Singh told reporters. (PTI)
A delegation of Delhi BJP MLAs met Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday and requested him for lifting of weekend curfew and odd-even system of opening shops dealing in non-essential items, citing improvement in Covid situation in the city.
Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said after the meeting that the LG responded positively to the requests of the BJP legislators. The legislators also raised other issues like liquor shops opened in residential areas of Delhi in violation of the Master Plan-2021 and non-payment of salaries to the staff of 12 colleges of Delhi University funded by the Delhi government, Bidhuri said.
BJP MLAs Omprakash Sharma, Jitendra Mahajan, Anil Bajpai, and Ajay Mahawar joined the delegation. Bidhuri said people are facing a lot of trouble due to the rules implemented by the Kejriwal government "in the name of controlling coronavirus" in Delhi. (PTI)
Delhi government will hoist 115-foot tricolours at 75 locations across the city on January 27 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country's independence, PWD Minister Satyendar Jain said on Tuesday.
The installation of the high-mast national flags is being done by the Public Works Department (PWD) under Delhi government's “Deshbhakti Budget” to celebrate India's 75th year of independence.
“To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the independence, the Delhi government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has decided to hoist 115-ft high tricolours at Delhi's 75 locations. This step will instil the feeling of patriotism among crores of people of the country,” Jain said in a tweet in Hindi.
Addressing the nation on the eve of 73rd Republic Day, President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday urged the countrymen to follow the precautions suggested by the scientists and experts in the fight against the Covid spread.
“In the fight against the COVID pandemic, it has now become a sacred national duty of every citizen to follow the precautions suggested by our scientists and experts. We have to discharge this duty till the crisis is behind us,” he said.
For more Republic Day updates follow: Republic Day 2022 LIVE Updates
Delhi on Tuesday recorded the lowest temperature during winter this year. Day-to-day progress of maximum and minimum temperature over the national capital as per SFD airport:
Delhi on Tuesday logged 6,028 Covid-19 cases, 9,127 recoveries, and 31 deaths. The active case tally of the national capital went up to 42,010 along with the positivity rate at 10.55 per cent.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) on Tuesday launched a campaign pressuring the Delhi government to lift the weekend curfew and the odd-even rule for opening shops here.
They said traders will die of hunger if the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the highest decision-making body on COVID-19-related issues, decides to continue with the restrictions and thereby cripple businesses.
Representatives from around 50 markets here participated in the rally, “Remove Odd Even and Weekend Curfew, Save Delhi's Business”, from the Kashmere Gate Market.
CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal said the campaign will run in more than 100 markets for the next three days and that all market associations have been requested to conduct similar campaigns. (PTI)
President Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation at 7 pm on the eve of Republic Day, which will see low-key celebrations amid the ongoing third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The government has decided to significantly curtail the number of people, who will physically attend the celebrations this year.
For more live updates from Republic day celebrations follow: Republic Day 2022 LIVE Updates
The Supreme Court Tuesday sought replies from the Centre and the Election Commission on a PIL seeking direction to seize the symbol or deregister a political party that promises or distributes “irrational freebies” before polls, saying it is a “serious issue” as sometimes “freebie budget is going beyond regular budget”.
A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli sought the response in four weeks on the PIL filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay.
The plea, filed ahead of assembly polls in five states, said there should be a total ban on such populist measures to gain undue political favour from voters as they violate the Constitution and the EC should take suitable deterrent measures.
The bench took note of submissions of senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Upadhyay, that a law need to be framed on the issue and steps like seizure of party symbols or taking back the registration of parties or both may be thought of as ultimately it is the citizens who have to pay up.
The Delhi High Court Tuesday proposed to reduce from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 lakh the costs imposed on actress Juhi Chawla and two others by a single judge while dismissing her plea against 5G roll out, with a condition that she would have to do some work for public cause, considering that she is a celebrity and has presence in public.
Chawla's counsel, senior advocate Salman Khurshid, on instructions from her, consented to the court's suggestion which came during the hearing of an appeal by Chawla and the two others against the order dismissing her lawsuit against the 5G roll out.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh issued notice to the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) secretary seeking his response on the appeal and listed the matter for further hearing on January 27. (PTI)
The national capital shivered on Tuesday under harsh winter conditions as the minimum temperature dropped to 6.2 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal.
Delhi had experienced cold day conditions on Monday with the maximum temperature settling at 14.8 degrees Celsius, seven notches below the season's average, and minimum at eight degrees Celsius. A shallow fog enveloped the city on Tuesday and people largely stayed indoors or many in streets huddled around bonfires to stay warm.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the minimum temperature recorded at the Safdarjung Observatory, whose reading is considered the official marker for the city, stood at 6.2 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal.
The minimum temperature at Narela was recorded at 5.6 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal. On Monday, a dense cover of fog had engulfed the national capital in the morning causing difficulty for early morning commuters. (PTI)
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Monday launced a special train under the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav-celebrating 75 years of India’s Independence’ flagship. A specially decorated Metro train was launched in the presence of Managing Director, DMRC, Dr Mangu Singh along with other senior officials.
In a tweet, the DMRC said, "The exterior of this 8-coach special train has been decorated with collage of photographs and slogans depicting the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements in the last 75 years signifying the spirit of ‘Aatmnirbhar Bharat’."
Ahead of Republic Day, the Delhi Police on Monday was seen putting up posters of suspected terrorists near Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place.
A day after a 23-year-old assistant manager working with a public sector bank was molested and robbed by an auto-rickshaw driver near IGI Stadium, Delhi Police sleuths posed as financiers and followed at least half a dozen vehicle sellers and buyers to trace the accused driver and arrested him Tuesday.
The woman was travelling in an auto-rickshaw Monday when the driver stopped on the side of the road to answer nature’s call but then grabbed the woman and molested her. The woman alleged he grabbed her by the neck and the two got into a scuffle after which he threatened to kill her. She jumped off the moving vehicle to save herself and the accused fled with her bag. (Read more)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday while addressing a Republic Day function organised by the Delhi government said, "Not a picture of any leader, but pictures of Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar ji and Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh ji will be installed in Delhi government offices from today."
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the Covid restrictions imposed across the national capital will be eased soon so that people’s livelihood and economic activities can return to normalcy.
“After receiving several requests from the market and traders’ association, we sent a proposal to the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) to lift the weekend curfew and ease restrictions. He agreed to some recommendations, but deferred others like the odd-even system and weekend curfew. All these restrictions are imposed for public safety and people need not worry; all these restrictions will be lifted soon,” said Kejriwal after hoisting the national flag ahead of Republic Day. Read more
Engineering student Neeraj Bishnoi (21), who is accused of creating an app using GitHub which hosted photographs of more than 100 Muslim women without their consent, has approached a sessions court for bail pleading that the case is detrimental to his career.
Advocate L Ojha made the submissions on behalf of Bishnoi before Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana who adjourned the matter after directing the police to file a detailed reply on it. Read more
In view of the Republic Day celebrations, the entry of heavy commercial vehicles from Palwal towards Faridabad for entry into Delhi, will be restricted from 10 pm on January 25 to 2 pm on January 26, the Faridabad traffic police said Tuesday.
In an advisory, the traffic police said there will be a ban on entry of heavy vehicles to the city for 16 hours starting 10 pm on Tuesday. The police said heavy vehicles coming from Palwal should use the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway or the Eastern Peripheral expressway. Read more
With the maximum temperature likely to remain significantly below normal, another ‘cold day’ is on the forecast for Delhi on Tuesday.
The maximum temperature is likely to be 16 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature could be 6 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast.
Over the past 24 hours, the maximum temperature was 14.8 degrees Celsius, seven degrees below the normal for this time of the year. The minimum temperature recorded was 6.2 degrees Celsius, a degree below the normal. Read more
Delhi High Court proposes to reduce costs imposed on actor Juhi Chawla and two other plaintiffs from Rs 20 Lakh to Rs 2 Lakh, albeit with a condition that she'll do some service for public cause given her celebrity status.
Juhi Chawla has filed an appeal against a single-bench order which in June 2021 dismissed her suit against the introduction of 5G technology in India. The single bench, in the order dismissing the suit, had said it was filed to gain publicity and imposed a cost of Rs 20 lakh on the three plaintiffs, including Chawla, for “waste of judicial time”.
Senior Advocate Salman Khurshid, representing Chawla, before a division bench submitted that he'll seek her instructions on the suggestion made by court. The matter has been passed over. The hearing in the appeal will take place again later.
"We will reduce the costs. We will not completely waive it. We will reduce it substantially but that comes with another condition that considering your client is a celebrity and she has a presence in the public, she should do some public work also. Her image and her position should be utilised by the society for some good campaign, good purpose," said the division bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Jasmeet Singh.
The court said that she could do a programme for the Delhi State Legal Services Authority. "The DSLSA would get in touch with her and they could work out one program which she could feature in and she could promote," it said.
Khurshid said that he'll speak to her and tell her that it's an opportunity of the lifetime.
"All Delhi Govt offices will now have pictures of Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar & Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Apart from this two pics, offices will not have or put pics of any politicians & chief ministers. From now on, Delhi govt will work on the principles of these two great leaders : Arvind Kejriwal said today while addressing the public at a Republic Day event.
"After receiveing several requests from the market and traders association, we sent a proposal to LG to lift weekend curfew and ease restrictions. He agreed to some recommendations but deferred others like odd even and weekend curfew. All these restrictions are imposed for the public safety and people need not to worry, all these restrictions will be lifted soon," Arvind Kejriwal said at the Republic Day event in the city.
Covid-19 restrictions in Delhi will be eased as soon as possible, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said at an event organised by the city government to celebrate Republic Day 2022. “We don’t want people’s livelihoods to be affected by Covid-19,” Kejriwal added.
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation would be constructing several new parking facilities near Gk-1 market, Nizamuddin, Gk-2 market, Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar and Punjabi Bagh, mayor Mukesh Suryan said on Tuesday.
He said that the space to construct multi-level parking lots have been identified at Punjabi Bagh Club Road and Janakpuri.
Suryan also said that the construction of a parking facility with a capacity to accommodate 399 cars at GK-1 market and another parking facility with a capacity to accommodate 86 cars at Nizamuddin is in full swing. Read more
After finding that several teachers in its schools have been on leave for years without prior intimation, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has started taking action against those who have been absent for more than five years and can’t provide a satisfactory reason.
Officials said all teachers on long leave were issued notices to re-join work or give valid reasons for their continued leave/absence. Read more
According to the IMD forecast, Delhi’s minimum temperature will be recorded at 6 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature at 16 degrees. The air quality is likley to remain in the ‘poor’ category on Tuesday and Wednesday with the current Air Quality Index at 253.
Delhi on Monday recorded a decrease in its daily tally with 5,760 fresh cases and 30 deaths, according to the city health department. The positivity rate also dropped to 11.79 per cent on Monday with active cases at 45,140.
The BJP on Monday alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party has been deliberately not implementing the Janlokpal Bill and is only “misleading” people over the issue, a party statement said.
However, the AAP in a statement responded that the saffron party was playing politics over the issue of corruption by raising the issue of Lokpal when their own Lieutenant Governor rejected the proposal.
BJP's Delhi unit chief Adesh Gupta in a statement charged the Kejriwal government with “lying” on the Janlokpal Bill and “misleading” people and said that AAP came to power by repeatedly talking about the Janlokpal bill but now they stand exposed before the country as the Bill is not yet implemented.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader claimed that for the past seven years despite getting it passed Arvind Kejriwal government did not implement the Janlokpal Bill. (PTI)
For the first time, a laser show would be held at the Beating Retreat ceremony, which would be held on January 29th at the Vijay Chowk. Rehearsals for the ceremony are ongoing.
Senior advocate Rebecca John on Monday told the Delhi High Court that she has been receiving “hate mails” asking her to step down from the position of amicus curiae in petitions seeking the criminalisation of marital rape as she already has an “opinion” on the issue.
The senior lawyer, who contended that the marital rape exception was not constitutional, said that the marital rape exception would be tested on the anvil of its constitutionality and an individual's opinion was not relevant.
“To all those who asked me to recuse from the matter because I have an opinion on the subject... I've been receiving a lot of hate mail. Ultimately the challenge is only to be tested on the anvil of constitutionality. If it is constitutionally sound, the exception remains. If it is unconstitutional, it goes. It doesn't matter what views we hold on the subject,” she said.
“If having a view was a ground for recusal then everyone should recuse from every case. Every intelligent person has a view on everything,” remarked Justice C Hari Shankar, who is part of the division bench headed by Justice Rajiv Shakdher.
The bench is hearing PILs filed by NGOs RIT Foundation, All India Democratic Women's Association, a man and a woman seeking striking down of the exception granted to husbands under the Indian rape law. (PTI)
Delhi experienced cold day conditions on Monday with the maximum temperature settling at 14.8 degrees Celsius, seven notches below the season's average.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 8 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year. A dense cover of fog engulfed the national capital on Monday morning causing difficulty for early morning commuters. Almost all parts of Delhi recorded cold to severe cold day conditions, the weather department said.
The maximum temperature at Narela was recorded at 13.5 degrees Celsius, eight notches below normal, while at Palam, it stood at 14.8 degrees Celsius, six degrees below normal. Humidity levels oscillated between 100 per cent and 74 per cent. (PTI)
The Delhi High Court Monday said it will hear on a daily basis, a batch of pleas challenging the constitution of all Town Vending Committees (TVC) in the national capital under the Street Vendors Act and asked the Delhi government to address the issue.
“We want to first deal with the issue of constitution of TVCs by the Delhi government, which according to the petitioners was bad,” a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh said.
Besides the issue of the constitution of TVCs, the pleas have also raised a challenge to the validity of the Street Vendors Act, its implementation, certain provisions of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2019 and other connected issues raised by various market associations and vendors and hawkers.
The high court said it will commence hearing the matter on a day-to-day basis from Tuesday. (PTI)
Delhi on Monday reported 5,760 new Covid-19 cases and 30 deaths. With the positivity rate being 11.79 per cent on Monday, the active cases in the city stood at 45,140.
In a happy news to the boozers, the Delhi Government has reduced the number of 'dry days' from 21 to just three days. Now, the shutters of wine and beers shops across the city will only be closed on Republic day, Gandhi Jayanthi and Independence day.
The changes in the number of dry days were made under the New Liquor policy. An official notification was however issued on Monday. Delhi observes a large number of dry days as compared to any other state.
"In pursuance of the provisions of Rule 52 of Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, it is hereby ordered that the following dates shall be observed as 'Dry Day' in the National Capital Territory of Delhi by all the licensees of the Excise department and opium vends located in Delhi for the year 2022. Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti. Apart from the above three dry days, the Government may declare any other day in the year as Dry Day from time to time," said read the order issued by Deputy Commissioner (Excise), Anand Kumar Tiwari.
Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal will chair a DDMA meeting on January 27 in order to review the Covid-19 situation in Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBR) award to 29 children from across the country ahead of Republic Day. The children received digital certificates through the blockchain technology – the first time that the technology has been used in conferring awards by the government – and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh each. The Prime Minister also interacted with the winners virtually.
The awards have been given for winners of 2021 and 2022 PMRBR – certificates were issued to 61 children from both years.
The children have been awarded for “exceptional achievement’’ in different sectors, including – Innovation (7), Social Service (4), Scholastic (1), Sports (8), Art and Culture (6) and Bravery (3). There are 15 Boys and 14 Girls among the awardees belonging to 21 states and Union territories.
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The prosecution opposing former JNU student Umar Khalid’s bail in a northeast Delhi riots case has told a Delhi court that all 25 anti-CAA protest sites in Delhi were picked because of their proximity to mosques, but were “purposefully given secular names”.
Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad made these arguments before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat, arguing that the 25 protest sites were close to local mosques. Giving out examples, the SPP said: “Shreeram colony protest site was actually Noorani Masjid protest. Sadar Bazar protest site was Shahi Idgaah. Shastri Park protest site was actually Wahid Jama Masjid. Gandhi Park protest site was actually Jamila Masjid… All 25 protests sites I have pointed out are in close vicinity of masjids. That is the identification of these protest sites.”
The SPP argued that the organisers of the protest sites wanted to “create ground work for 24X7 sit-in protests”.
Read More
Two arm suppliers of Neeraj Bawania and Tillu Tajpuria gangs were arrested on Monday and 27 illegal firearms along with a live cartridge were recovered from their possession, said Delhi police special cell.
The minimum temperatures in northwest and central India are likely to drop by three to five degrees Celsius over the next five days, leading to cold day conditions in Delhi and a cold wave in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Cold day to severe cold day conditions are very likely over parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat over the next two to three days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.
Cold wave to severe cold wave is very likely in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Gujarat over the next five days.
Read More
At least 20 cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital in the first three weeks of January this year, according to a civic report released on Monday.
For the January 1-22 period, no cases were recorded in the preceding three years, while three cases were logged in 2017 and five in 2018, as per the report. Cases of vector-borne diseases are usually reported between July and November, but the period may stretch till mid-December.
Last year, 9,613 dengue cases, the highest number of cases of vector-borne disease recorded in the national capital in a year since 2015, and 23 deaths were reported. As per the civic report on vector-borne diseases released on Monday, a total of 20 dengue cases have been recorded this year till January 22, with five fresh cases added in the past one week. (PTI)
The Centre reiterated its request before Delhi High Court, seeking more time to file a reply to the petitions seeking criminalisation of marital rape on Monday.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta before the division bench of Justices Rajiv Shakdher and C Hari Shankar submitted that the consultation is presently on and the government will have to look at the issue in a holistic manner.
"The dignity of women is at stake. There are family issues. There is no imminent threat to anyone here," submitted Mehta.
"I'll give you a week, 10 days. Let her (Rebecca John) conclude. You make your attempt. I know you can," Court to Mehta.
A Delhi court on Monday framed charges against JNU student Sharjeel Imam for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at Aligarh Muslim University and in Delhi’s Jamia area against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Additional sessions judge Amitabh Rawat framed the charges under Sections 124A (sedition), 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc.), 153B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration), 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief) of the IPC along with Section 13 (Punishment for unlawful activities) of the UAPA).
The FIR was registered against Imam on January 25, 2020, at Crime Branch police station under Section 124-(A), 153A, 505 of the IPC with regard to speeches made in the area of Jamia on December 13, 2019. The said speech was shared on social media. Another speech was uploaded on Twitter handle and on different websites in which he is seen addressing the gathering in Aligarh Muslim University. According to the State, Imam is accused of an offence relating to sedition, promoting enmity between groups on the ground of religion and indulging in unlawful activities to cause disaffection towards India.
A dense layer of fog enveloped Delhi and adjoining areas on Monday morning with the minimum temperature settling at eight degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year.
The relative humidity at the Safdarjung observatory, considered the official marker for the national capital, was recorded at 95 per cent. The Palam and Lodhi Road observatories recorded minimum temperatures of 9.4 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal and 8 degrees Celsius, a degree above season's average, respectively.
The weather office has forecast partly cloudy sky for the day with cold conditions likely to prevail at a few places.
Delhi's air quality was recorded in poor category as the Air Quality Index (AQI) read 244 at 8 am. (PTI)
Delhi Metro services will be partially curtailed on January 26 due to security arrangements for Republic Day as part of which four stations in the vicinity of Rajpath will down shutters in the morning hours. The stations are Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk and Lok Kalyan Marg.
The services on Line-2 (HUDA City Centre-Samaypur Badli) of the Delhi Metro will be partially regulated on Wednesday.
Entry and exit at Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan metro stations will be closed till 12 noon, DMRC said in a statement. Central Secretariat station will only be used for interchange of passengers between Line 2 and Line 6, officials said. Entry and exit at Patel Chowk and Lok Kalyan Marg Metro stations will remain closed from 8:45 am to 12 noon.