New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) Opposition leaders, particularly the Congress, on Wednesday targeted the BJP, alleging that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls had been misused for the benefit of one political party. Further, they questioned that if the deleted voters regain their right to vote after filing appeals, will the elections which have already been conducted, be still considered valid?The response came after the Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission of India’s (EC…

Lucknow, May 27 (IANS) Islamic religious scholars on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court judgment on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying no one should now have any objection to the electoral process.The apex court on Wednesday upheld the Election Commission of India’s decision to undertake an SIR of electoral rolls, saying that the voter revision exercise was within the constitutional and statutory powers of the poll body and was aimed at preserving the integrity of the …

New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) The Supreme Court, while upholding the validity of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, on Wednesday directed that persons whose names have been deleted from the 2003 electoral roll on the ground of doubtful citizenship must be referred within four weeks to the competent authority under the Citizenship Act, 1955, for adjudication. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi clarified that the competent …

Guwahati, May 27 (IANS) Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Assam government over the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), alleging that the draft law would pave the way for state intrusion and surveillance into the private lives of citizens. Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Gogoi claimed that the proposed legislation would empower bureaucrats and authorities to monitor personal relationships, lifestyles and intimate aspects of people’s lives, …

Saharanpur, May 27 (IANS) Padma Shri awardee Bharat Bhushan on Wednesday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he described as visible transformation across sectors during the completion of 12 years of the Modi government, saying development, cultural revival and India’s growing stature on the global stage reflected the leadership of the Prime Minister.Speaking to IANS, Bharat Bhushan said the country had witnessed clear and far-reaching change over the past 12 years.”Just as the sun shi…

Hyderabad, May 27 (IANS) The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) will soon add 2,200 electric buses to its fleet, state Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar Goud said on Wednesday.Flagging off 60 electric buses at Kukatpally depot here, he said currently 960 electric buses are operational in Telangana, and another 2,200 buses will soon become available.The minister said as part of the green challenge, the TGSRTC is introducing EVs with the aim of controlling pollution and strength…

New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has barred the State Bank of India (SBI) from recovering alleged excess pension payments from a widow drawing family pension, holding that the overpayment arose entirely due to errors in pension processing and not because of any misrepresentation or concealment on her part. A single-judge bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula, allowing the plea filed by a woman identified as Indra, directed the SBI to refund the amounts already deducted from her family pen…

Amaravati, May 27 (IANS) Expressing concern over the large-scale deletion of votes during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy blamed the exercise for the defeat of leaders like Mamata Banerjee and MK Stalin in their respective Assembly segments in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. With SIR set to be undertaken in Andhra Pradesh, the YSR Congress Party leader cautioned party leaders to remain alert.Addressing YSRCP leaders at the party’s …

Sheopur (Madhya Pradesh), May 27 (IANS) A day after an elderly man allegedly consumed some poisonous substance during a public hearing at the Sheopur Collectorate in Madhya Pradesh and later died during treatment, family members and residents staged a protest demanding action against officials. The deceased, identified as Devendra Goyal, had reportedly visited the Collectorate on Tuesday to submit complaints regarding alleged encroachment on his shop.Family members claimed that he had approached…

Bikaner, May 27 (IANS) Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level security review meeting in Rajasthan’s Bikaner to assess and strengthen security arrangements along the India-Pakistan International Border, officials said on Wednesday. The meeting held on Tuesday was attended by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, senior state government officials, and the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police from Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Sri Ganganagar, and Phalo…