High Court allows two women aged 50+ to get tested for conception through ART. india news
The remarks came when senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam told the CJI, comprising Justices BV Nagarathna, MM Sundaresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Arvind Kumar, AG Masih, PB Varale, R Mahadevan and J Bagchi, that the personal faith and belief of a devotee is non-justiciable and even the government cannot infringe the religious rights of a sect or community in the name of social reform.“Social reforms and religious reforms come from the wishes and desires of the people, to which the government responds (by bringing laws). But it is very difficult for the court to act on such issues (social or religious reforms). Courts can decide the validity of a social reform law by examining whether it interferes with the faith or religious beliefs of devotees.The important observation acknowledging the limitations of the court in playing its role as a social reformer came on the seventh day of hearing on the fundamental rights versus faith issue.The bench continued to express its reservations and doubts on judicial monitoring of religious issues. Justice Kumar asked, “Can the courts adjudicate a dispute over religious practice between two groups within the same sect or temple? What could be the judicial basis for a constitutional court while considering a writ petition or PIL to decide whether one type of religious practice is more desirable?” Justice Sundaresh said it appears that apart from the three constitutionally specified grounds – public order, morality and health – there is no other ground, not even a violation of fundamental rights, to restrict an individual’s right to freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice and propagate any religion.Appearing for the general secretary of Sabarimala Karma Samiti, senior advocate CA Sundaram said the court’s constitutional or legal views are immaterial to the devotees’ conscientious and genuine religious beliefs and practices of worshiping God, which is protected as a fundamental right under Article 25.Criticizing the 2018 verdict for misapplying the equality and non-discrimination test to religious practices at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, Sundaram said the right to equality applies to government employment and cannot be a tool to quash a long-standing religious tradition that is intrinsically linked to people’s faith and belief about the attributes of the deity.Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi said that the judiciary should adopt a soft stance in religious matters.
The campaign continues on the tightly monitored net. india news
Under sections 126, 126A and 135C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, all election-related activities carried out or likely to be done or intended to influence the results of the election – such as holding public meetings, giving speeches, etc. – are prohibited during the silence period. Violation is punishable with imprisonment of up to six months, a fine or both.If candidates or parties are found campaigning from their official handles, the candidate will first receive a warning. If the offense is serious then they will be barred from campaigning. However, it failed to stop parties from using their IT cells or fan accounts to trend videos with Tamil songs and hashtags. In some cases, some creators created independent reels using the voices of the candidates to solicit votes.ECI TN Additional Chief Electoral Officer V Sridhar said the agency is monitoring all the official handles of candidates and parties. “Monitoring private and individual handles is a job. In such cases, we take action if we get complaints. We have already written to social media platforms to remove the content. We will release these details after the polls, as officials are busy conducting the elections,” he said.Officials said the EC has an IT team that monitors videos, but it takes at least a day for them to report to the web platform’s nodal officer and arrange for them to be removed, thereby reducing the impact of curbing content.
Mamata shocked by Supreme Court’s rebuke, BJP gets additional weapon on the eve of elections. india news
New Delhi: Supreme CourtWest Bengal CM’s rebuke Mamata Banerjee For his interference in the ED raid on I-PAC, which worked for his government Trinamool Congresshanded over BJP A useful weapon on the eve of the first phase of state elections, as the party steps up its last-minute efforts to end his 15-year tenure in office.The BJP took advantage of the apex court’s sharp remarks to allege that he is a symbol of “jungle raj” and anarchy and has no right to remain the chief minister. Party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said on Wednesday that people will rid the state of their anarchic government on May 4 (counting day).BJP officials, particularly in West Bengal, stepped up criticism of the Supreme Court by waging a multi-pronged campaign on the eve of the first phase of voting.Residents in parts of Kolkata woke up to “anonymous” posters sharing a QR code (pay2tmc) to avail various benefits, a sharp satire on the alleged cut-money practice linked to the TMC, which many saw as an extension of the BJP’s outreach and ground game in its rival stronghold of South Bengal, which is scheduled to vote in the second phase on April 29.Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a marathon meeting with key party functionaries in the state capital at midnight (Wednesday) to take feedback and give instructions, aimed at booth management and mobilizing the maximum number of party supporters, especially in the second phase areas where BJP had badly lagged TMC in the last elections. Shah, the BJP’s chief election strategist, will be camping in the state till April 27, the last day of campaigning, as the BJP is making all-out efforts.The view within the BJP is that it has managed to build a powerful narrative by riding on the twin planks of anti-incumbency against Mamata, one of the most formidable opposition satraps, and its reach is boosted by her Hindutva agenda, welfare promises targeting women and youth and action against infiltrators.BJP officials believe that what makes this election different from 2021, when their party ran a strong campaign with an expected victory but the Trinamool Congress trounced Mamata by winning 215 seats in the 288-member assembly, is that her cultural narrative has taken deeper roots and her grassroots presence is more widespread.He claimed that due to the heavy presence of SIR and central police forces, some of the gains that the ruling parties in the state have made through electoral irregularities for a long time have been largely neutralized.
‘Big Indian role possible in global conflicts’: Rajnath warns neighbors on Pahalgam anniversary india news
-Rajnath Singh India has consistently maintained a balanced diplomatic approach under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, while remaining open to the possibility of a larger Indian role in resolving global conflicts, including the Middle East crisis, he said in Berlin on Wednesday.Paying tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam attack on the first anniversary of the Pahalgam attack at an Indian community event at the Indian Embassy in the German capital, Rajnath strongly rebuked Pakistan, saying, “(Our) neighbors are more or less fine; there is just one problem, which you all know about. But if any neighbor tries to mess up now, dot-dot-dot.”Rajnath also held bilateral talks with Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to further boost the strategic defense partnership with the European nation. The two sides discussed a range of bilateral security and defense issues, including priority areas for co-development and co-production of defense equipment, especially in the area of specialized technologies.Addressing the Indian community, Singh highlighted India’s efforts to resolve conflicts. “India has tried… but everything has its time. It is possible that tomorrow the time may come when India plays its role in this and also achieves success. We cannot deny this possibility. The PM has appealed to all parties to end the war.”He further said that Modi has personally interacted with leaders of countries involved in major conflicts to encourage dialogue and peaceful solutions. “When he (PM Modi) met Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky, he discussed it. When he met Trump, he also discussed the issue and said it should be resolved.”He also cited India’s diplomatic efforts that allowed many Indian ships to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.At the meeting between Singh and Pistorius, a defense industrial cooperation roadmap and implementation arrangements for cooperation in UN peacekeeping training were signed and exchanged. Rajnath said India is looking forward to the participation of the German Air Force in the next edition of X-Wave Shakti, which will be held in India in September-October.
Army chief visits US command in Hawaii to strengthen security framework in Indo-Pacific region india news
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Wednesday paid a high-level visit to the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, as both the countries look to strengthen the security architecture across the Indo-Pacific.During the visit, General Dwivedi held extensive discussions with General Ronald P Clarke, Commanding General, USARPAC, and other senior military leadership.“General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS, was accorded a Guard of Honor at Fort Shafter, Hawaii during his ongoing visit to United States Army Pacific. He met with General Ronald P. Clarke, Commanding General of @USARPAC, and other senior leaders to discuss strengthening India-US defense cooperation and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” ADGPI said in a post on Twitter.Beyond the boardroom, the Army chief took an aerial tour of the island of Oahu. The survey gave the Army Chiefs a first-hand look at the U.S. military’s training ecosystem, observing the sophisticated infrastructure used for jungle and littoral warfare training and multi-domain readiness, and gaining insight into how the U.S. integrates land, air, sea, cyber, and space capabilities to maintain operational dominance.The Army Chief’s visit comes on the heels of Air Chief Marshal Singh being hosted by US Air Force Chief General Ken Wilsbach at the Pentagon on April 10. The two air chiefs met to discuss mutual assistance and plans for a productive future for both the countries.
‘Reply to acts against India is certain’: Army on Pahalgam anniversary india news
New Delhi: On the first anniversary of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists, the Indian Army has issued a stern warning to perpetrators of terrorism, saying when “the limits of humanity are crossed, the response is decisive”.The army warned on social media that any misdeed against the country would be responded to. “Response is assured for acts against India. Justice will be delivered. Always,” the Army said in a post on Twitter. It also shared a photo showcasing Operation Mahadev, with the tagline “It was only a matter of time” in red.Operation Mahadev was launched last year to kill the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack. It was a joint operation by the Army and other security forces as they tracked down and neutralized three terrorists involved in the terror attack. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had then confirmed that three terrorists, identified as Suleman, Hamza Afghani and Jibran, were killed in an encounter under Operation Mahadev in the dense forest area of Lidwas near Harwan on the outskirts of Srinagar.Since the anti-Pakistan operation last May, top military leaders have said several times that Operation Sindoor is “still ongoing”, and the country’s military preparedness is at a “very high” level around the clock and throughout the year.Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi recently highlighted that the deployment of a carrier battle group in the North Arabian Sea affected Pakistan’s naval movements, forcing them to remain close to their ports. On the Navy’s role in Operation Sindoor, Admiral Tripathi said, “It is no longer a hidden fact that we were minutes away from attacking Pakistan from the sea when they requested to stop the kinetic action.”Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi had also described Operation Sindoor as the best example of “tri-service synergy under clear political direction”. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh had also said that Operation Sindoor was a defining moment which demonstrated the precision, strength and unity of purpose of the Indian Air Force in responding to Pakistan’s “nefarious” (cowardly) act.
Tamil Nadu Elections 2026: From Vijay’s Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur to Stalin’s Kolathur, key seats to watch. india news
As Tamil Nadu goes to the polls on Thursday, the assembly election is emerging as a crucial political contest that could test the resilience of the state’s long-dominant Dravidian model.Several constituencies in Tamil Nadu will be closely monitored. While MK Stalin wants to retain Kolathur Udayanidhi Stalin An important test will be faced in Chepauk. Vijay is making his high-profile debut from Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur. Edappadi K Palaniswami aims for another win in Edappadi Hey Panneerselvamswitch to DMK Makes Bodinayakkanur a major battlefield. Tamilisai Soundararajan in Mylapore and Nainar Nagendran in Sattur have further increased the competition.
Key seats to note:
Kolathur: MK Stalin is back in Kolathur, the seat he has held since 2011. The DMK chief is looking to consolidate his stronghold by leading the party’s massive re-election campaign.Chepauk: Udhayanidhi Stalin wants to retain Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni. After the victory in 2021, this contest is being seen as an important test of his growing political stature.Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur: Vijay is making a big claim by contesting from Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur. His party, TVK, is contesting all 234 seats, making it one of the most watched campaigns.Edappadi: Palaniswami of Edappadi is contesting from his stronghold Edappadi. The former Chief Minister is aiming for his fourth consecutive victory here. AIADMK charge.Bodinayakkanur: O Panneerselvam, once a prominent face of the AIADMK, is now contesting on a DMK ticket from his long-time bastion Bodinayakkanur. His party change makes it a high-voltage fight.Mylapore: Tamilisai Soundararajan contested from Mylapore. The former Governor of Telangana is a prominent face of the BJP in the state.Sattur: Nainar Nagendran has moved to Sattur from Tirunelveli, making this constituency another important contest to watch.
Vaishnav sets targets for top railway officials after reality check on ‘light equipment’ for trackmen india news
“This is wrong. There is a huge gap between your (official) reporting and the reporting of the people here. In how many months will you achieve the target of providing light equipment to everyone? … In six months, everyone across the country will get these, and in 6-8 months you will also get gauge measuring equipment,” Vaishnav said, lauding the railway staff who play a vital role in safe train operations.The Minister told the track maintainers that the safety of passengers and railway workforce remains the prime focus of the government and several steps have been taken to successfully reduce accidents and deaths. Vaishnav said the Railways has developed a mobile app that more accurately updates and alerts track staff about incoming trains to prevent accidents. He said the app is being tested for more than 18 months and will soon be made available to everyone working on the track.“The reliability of receiving updates through the mobile phone system is much higher than a VHF-based device. Every person working on the tracks will get the app for personal safety. If you are safe, the railways is safe,” the minister said.Assuring that there will be complete modernization of track maintenance in the next 7-8 years, Vaishnav said that soon track workers will get torque machines to replace heavy weight hammers. Currently, they need to carry these heavy weight items and walk for long periods of time to maintain track.The All India Railway Federation (AIRF), which hosted the conference to advocate for the safety and well-being of over 2.5 lakh workers, said it strives for two things – the railways operate safely and the trackmen are taken care of.
Cumulative seizures of possible election inducements in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu reach Rs 1,072 crore. india news
New Delhi: Cumulative seizures of potential election baiters in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have reached Rs 1,072 crore, with the former accounting for 96% of the value of liquor seized and the latter accounting for 78% of illegal cash seizures.While Tamil Nadu will vote in one phase on Thursday, West Bengal will vote in two phases on Thursday and April 29.Of the total seizures of Rs 1,072 crore since the activation of the Election Commission’s Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26, 2026, Rs 599.2 crore (56%) were seized from Tamil Nadu and Rs 472.9 crore (56%) from West Bengal.Of the total cash seizure of Rs 127.7 crore, more than Rs 100 crore was in Tamil Nadu and Rs 27.5 crore was in West Bengal. About 39.3 lakh liters of liquor worth Rs 102.5 crore was seized in West Bengal, while 1.2 lakh liters of liquor worth Rs 3.8 crore was seized in Tamil Nadu.The value of seized free items was over Rs 259 crore in Tamil Nadu, while it was Rs 178.8 crore in West Bengal. Seizures of precious metals are almost three times higher in Tamil Nadu compared to West Bengal. Drugs worth Rs 108 crore were seized in West Bengal and Rs 76.7 crore in Tamil Nadu.The Election Commission, in several review meetings with Chief Secretaries, Chief Electoral Officers and Director Generals of Police as well as heads of enforcement agencies of both the poll-bound states and their border states, has directed them to ensure violence-free, fear-free and inducement-free elections. It has deployed more than 5,011 flying squad teams and 5,363 static surveillance teams in both the states for this purpose.
Assembly Elections 2026: Voting on all seats in Tamil Nadu, Bengal in first phase; Will Stalin and Mamata be able to save their stronghold? | india news
New Delhi: The stage is all set for a high-profile electoral battle for the assembly elections to be held in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu on Thursday (April 23).Voting is being held on all 234 seats in Tamil Nadu in a single phase, while in West Bengal, voting will be held on 152 seats in this phase.Voting for the second phase of West Bengal assembly elections will be held on April 29. Both electoral states, ruled by regional giants, have seen intense, high-decibel campaigns.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) brigade led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah has worked hard to challenge Mamata Banerjee And mk stalinWhile Rahul Gandhi and other leaders intensified the campaign.Taking an aggressive stance, Amit Shah said, “Congress will not even cross the double digit mark in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.”Despite political rhetoric being at its peak, the Election Commission has tightened its monitoring. Over Rs 1,000 crore in cash, liquor, drugs and other inducements have been seized in both the states, taking the total recovered since February 26 to Rs 1,072.13 crore.At the ground level, Tamil Nadu witnessed large-scale movement of electronic voting machines and voting materials amid heavy security cover. Meanwhile, West Bengal saw significant deployment of central forces, a move that was questioned by Mamata Banerjee, who asked, “Are they trying to intimidate?”He also flagged the use of CRPF armored vehicles during polling and alleged that the BJP-led Center was deploying state machinery to influence the election results as voters prepare to cast their votes in a tight contest.
west bengal
Key seats in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly battle include Suvendu Adhikari’s Nandigram, where he had earlier defeated sitting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.Mamata Banerjee has since shifted to Bhabanipur, while Suvendu Adhikari is challenging her politically, as he has also filed his nomination papers from Bhabanipur.
Other important constituencies in this phase include Darjeeling, Siliguri and Jalpaiguri. The election campaign for the phase ended on 21 April.
North Bengal main focus
North Bengal remains the focal point of the first phase, where voting will be held on 54 assembly seats in this round.Suvendu is contesting against Adhikari in Nandigram. Trinamool Congress Candidate Pabitra Kar, along with other contenders, is making it one of the most watched contests.
Mamta wants to retain the throne of Kolkata
The fight for West Bengal remains intense as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tries to retain power and consolidate voter support, while the BJP looks to maintain its strong lead in 2021.Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah have put forward the slogan of “Sonar Bangla”, targeting Mamata Banerjee’s “Bohiragata” statement.BJP has also intensified its attack on issues like law and order and infiltration, citing incidents like RG Kar, Murshidabad and Sandeshkhali.
Opposition and Left fight for relevance
Despite a prolonged electoral decline, the Congress factor may still play a role in shaping the outcome in Kolkata and beyond. The Left Front, once dominant under the leadership of Jyoti Basu, is struggling to regain relevance in the state.
Meanwhile, despite its efforts to maintain its stronghold in the political landscape of West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress is also facing fire from its Indian block allies, the Congress and the Left.
Tamil Nadu
Over 5.73 crore voters are set to decide the fate of 4,023 candidates in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on April 23, which will be marked by tight security arrangements and a sweeping crackdown on inducements by the Election Commission of India.
DMK vs AIADMK :main battle
The contest is primarily between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led front, with Chief Minister MK Stalin seeking a second term, while Edappadi K Palaniswami is aiming to return to power after five years.Tamil Nadu’s political landscape has long been dominated by Dravidian parties and this election largely continues that bipolar trend.However, the DMK has appeared electorally strong in recent years, while the AIADMK has struggled to regain its footing after the death of former chief minister J Jayalalitha.The last assembly election that AIADMK managed to win was in 2016, under Amma’s shadow, just a few months before her death.The five-year chief ministerial tenure was then divided between Jayalalithaa, O Panneerselvam and later EPS, who now commands the party.The national parties, BJP and Congress, are close behind their Dravidian allies, with the BJP in electoral alliance with its old and traditional ally AIADMK, while the Congress is in alliance with the ruling DMK.
Vijay Factor adds a new twist!
However, this election comes with a new change. Tamil superstar Vijay has entered the political arena with his party Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam and has been drawing huge crowds in rallies and road shows.Their popularity has translated into strong grassroots mobilization, although one such gathering in Karur tragically led to a stampede.
Can crowd support convert into votes?
While Vijay’s entry has added a new dimension to the contest, his party is contesting the elections independently outside the DMK and AIADMK alliance. Unlike national parties like BJP and Congress, TVK is not seen as an “outsider” in the political structure of Tamil Nadu.However, the key question is whether this visibility can translate into mass support votes, a challenge that has historically tested celebrity-led political ventures in the state.