DELHI (national capital territory)

New Delhi: Commuters in Delhi-NCR are advised to plan their metro journeys carefully as certain gates at six metro stations will remain closed on account of Republic Day celebrations. From 3 AM on 23 January until the conclusion of the events on 26 January, some gates at Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Delhi Gate, and ITO stations will be non-operational, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced. Security Alert Ahead of Republic DaySecurity agencies have issued heightened warnings ahead of the Republic Day events. Threats now extend beyond conventional methods, with adversaries potentially using fake IDs, uniforms, and official labels to gain access to restricted areas. Items such as tiffin boxes, torches, toys, and perfume bottles could be used to...

New Delhi: Residents of Delhi-NCR woke up to early morning rainfall on Thursday, signaling a sharp drop in temperatures and the onset of a cold spell in the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rainfall alert for today, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–40 km/h. Light rain showers are expected in one or two spells from morning to afternoon across the city and surrounding areas, including Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram. Record Warmth Followed by Sudden CoolingJust a day earlier, Delhi experienced unseasonal warmth, with mercury touching 27.1°C—around seven degrees above normal—marking the hottest January day in the past seven years. The unusual heat was attributed to persistent warm easterly winds and clear skies, which a...

New Delhi: The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) announced on Thursday that it will challenge the acquittal of former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case before the Delhi High Court. Kumar was acquitted by the Rouse Avenue District Court in a case related to instigating violence in the Janakpuri area during the riots. The court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. Allegations of Leading the MobDSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka and General Secretary Jagdeep Singh Kahlon stated in a release that three Sikhs were killed on 1–2 November 1984, with five witnesses testifying that Sajjan Kumar led the mob responsible for the killings. Despite this, the court acquitted him. The committee said it will study ...

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has ruled that high blood pressure cannot be considered a sufficient reason to deny disability pension to a retired Indian Air Force (IAF) officer by merely categorizing it as a lifestyle-related health issue. A bench comprising Justice V. Kameshwar Rao and Justice Manmeet P.S. Arora emphasized that each individual’s lifestyle is different and it is the responsibility of the medical board to conduct a proper examination and provide a reasoned conclusion. Denial of Disability Pension Not JustifiedThe bench dismissed the Centre’s petition challenging an Armed Forces Tribunal order, which had held that the IAF officer was entitled to a disability pension for early-onset high blood pressure. In its judgment on 19 January, the court stated, “It is important to...

New Delhi: Following a slight improvement in air quality, GRAP-3 restrictions in the Delhi-NCR region have been lifted. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced on Thursday that the easing comes after monitoring current Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. The sub-committee will continue to closely track air quality and review AQI data and forecasts issued by the IMD/IITM to take timely decisions if necessary. Improvement in Delhi’s Air QualityEarlier, the air quality in the capital region was recorded as “Very Poor” with an AQI of 313. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), AQI is categorized as follows: 0–50 “Good,” 51–100 “Satisfactory,” 101–200 “Moderate,” 201–300 “Poor,” 301–400 “Very Poor,” and 401–500 “Severe.” The India Meteorological Department (I...

New Delhi: Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday granted relief to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by acquitting him in two cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) concerning alleged violations of the Excise Policy. The order was passed by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Paras Dalal. The ED had filed the petition against Kejriwal in February 2024. Why Did the ED File the Case?The ED had approached the court alleging that Kejriwal failed to comply with summons issued under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Despite five summons being issued on different dates in connection with the alleged excise policy irregularities, Kejriwal did not appear before the central agency. According to reports, Kejr...

New Delhi: A shocking incident in Sadatpur, North-East Delhi, left a mechanical engineer dead after a dispute over borrowed money turned violent. Vipin Kumar, 38, suffered a fatal head injury after his neighbor allegedly attacked him with a screwdriver-like tool. He succumbed to a brain hemorrhage nearly two weeks after the assault. According to police, the case was registered based on a complaint by Vipin’s wife, Pooja Kumar, at Khajuri police station. Vipin, who worked near Sarita Vihar Metro Station, had gone to collect ₹40,000–50,000 he had lent to his neighbor Satish to pay school fees for his children. A heated argument ensued, during which Satish allegedly struck Vipin on the head with a tool resembling a screwdriver or pliers. The family initially treated Vipin at a local pri...

New Delhi: Rashtrapati Bhavan’s famed Amrit Udyan will be open to the public from February 3 to March 31, 2026. Visitors can explore the garden from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily, except on Tuesdays, when the garden will remain closed for maintenance and cleaning. An official statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan clarified that the garden will also be closed on March 4 in observance of Holi. Entry and booking for Amrit Udyan are free of charge, and visitors can register through the Rashtrapati Bhavan website. Entry and exit will be through Gate No. 35 of the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex. To facilitate visitor access, a shuttle bus service will operate every 30 minutes from Central Secretariat Metro Station to Gate No. 35 between 9:30 AM and 6:00 PM. The buses will display banners reading “...