Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: The issue of government officials allegedly ignoring calls from MLAs and other public representatives has sparked major political debate in Uttar Pradesh. The matter was recently raised strongly in the State Assembly by Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey, and even several BJP legislators echoed similar concerns, highlighting what they termed as growing disrespect towards elected representatives. In response to the controversy, Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana has taken a strict stand and directed government officers to ensure full respect and timely communication with public representatives. The state government is now preparing to introduce a new monitoring mechanism to address the problem. Officials Must Respond or Call Back Within 10 Minutes As per the...

Noida: With the arrival of spring, Noida is set to witness a vibrant celebration of nature as a grand Flower Show begins today at Shivalik Park in Sector-33. The floral exhibition will continue till 22 February, and the best part is that entry for visitors is completely free. The official inauguration ceremony will be held today at 2:00 PM, which will be attended by the local Member of Parliament along with other dignitaries. The park has been beautifully decorated with colourful flowers, ornamental plants, artistic floral designs, and attractive lighting arrangements, making it a major attraction for residents and visitors alike. According to the Noida Authority, this year’s flower show promises greater creativity and diversity compared to previous editions. Theme-based floral struc...

Prayagraj: The Supreme Court of India has overturned a controversial decision of the Allahabad High Court, holding that grabbing a girl’s private parts and attempting to remove her clothing constitutes an offence of attempt to rape. The apex court ruled that such acts cannot be treated merely as “preparation” for rape, as earlier stated by the High Court, but clearly fall under the definition of an attempt to commit rape under criminal law. Bench Headed by Justice Surya Kant The matter was heard by a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice N.V. Anjaria. While delivering its judgment on Wednesday, the bench observed that the Allahabad High Court had wrongly interpreted established principles of criminal law. The Supreme Court stated that the Hig...

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh): A detailed research study conducted by IIT Kanpur has raised serious concerns about earthquake preparedness in Uttar Pradesh. According to the study, if an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 or above strikes the Gangetic plains, the cities of Kanpur and Prayagraj could suffer massive destruction due to a dangerous phenomenon known as soil liquefaction. The warning comes years after the devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake, whose tremors were strongly felt across Uttar Pradesh. Despite that experience, experts believe that the state has still not developed adequate preparedness to handle a major seismic disaster. Liquefaction Identified as the Biggest Threat Explaining the findings, Professor Nihar Ranjan Patra from the Civil Engineering Department of IIT Kanpur said ...

Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh): A political and social controversy has erupted after Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and Principal of Darul Uloom Deoband, made a strong and provocative statement during a public address on the issue of ‘Ghar Wapsi’ (religious reconversion). Speaking at a Unity Conference, Madani reacted sharply to claims allegedly made by certain organisations regarding the reconversion of minorities. In his speech, he referred to statements suggesting that “20 crore Muslims” and “6 crore Christians” would be brought back into Hinduism under the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ campaign. “Seems Like Only They Have Drunk Their Mother’s Milk” During his address, Madani reportedly said that those making such statements appear to believe that only they have the courage...

Lucknow: The Lucknow Bench of the High Court has issued a stern directive to the Uttar Pradesh government, emphasizing that government orders alone are insufficient to curb the sale and use of hazardous Chinese-manufactured kite strings (manjha). The court has called for the creation of a specific law to regulate these strings, warning that continued negligence may compel authorities to pay compensation to victims. Court Observations Hearing a public interest petition filed by local advocate Motilal Yadav, a bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice A.K. Chaudhary highlighted the urgent need for strict regulations on the manufacture, sale, and use of lead-coated and nylon manjha. The bench noted that government orders have largely failed in effective implementation and that a pe...

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has emphasized that maintenance (alimony) should neither burden the husband excessively nor leave the wife and children in hardship. In a recent judgment, the court reduced a monthly maintenance order from ₹16,000 to ₹8,000. Case Details The order came on a criminal revision petition filed by the husband, Anil Kumar, challenging a previous ruling by the Family Court in Fatehpur. The Family Court, on 22 April 2025, had ordered Kumar to pay ₹10,000 per month to his wife and ₹6,000 to his son under Section 125 of the CrPC, based on an estimated income of ₹32,000 per month. Kumar’s lawyer argued that the maintenance of ₹16,000 represented nearly 50% of his income, an unreasonably high burden. Justice Madan Pal Singh, hearing the case, noted that gen...

Ghaziabad: The administration in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, has taken a strict stance on the city’s deteriorating roads. Following the identification of 83 damaged and pothole-filled locations, District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandad has issued a 30-day deadline to concerned departments to complete all necessary repairs. He warned that any accidents resulting from neglected roads will be the direct responsibility of the respective department. During a meeting with officials on Wednesday, the DM emphasized that negligence in repair work will not be tolerated. Officers were instructed to personally inspect sites to ensure high-quality repairs and safe, smooth travel for the public. Allocation of Responsibilities The administration has distributed responsibilities across various dep...

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana has directed strict disciplinary action against officials who fail to respond to legislators’ calls or disregard their complaints. The move comes after repeated concerns raised by Assembly members about unresponsive officials. On Wednesday, the Speaker took a firm stance, instructing that such officials be held accountable to ensure such behavior does not recur. He emphasized that the disciplinary measures should be exemplary, serving as a deterrent. Mahana also directed that clear orders be issued from the government, and existing instructions be strictly enforced. While addressing the House, Speaker Mahana highlighted the distinct responsibilities and limits of the executive, judiciary, and legislature. He stressed that any encr...

Meerut, Uttar Pradesh: The Nauhchandi police in Meerut have apprehended a fugitive with a ₹25,000 bounty, wanted in a murder case, following a brief encounter. The accused sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and has been admitted to the district hospital. Police have also recovered a pistol and a scooter used in the murder based on his disclosure. Background of the Case On February 6, two scooter-borne assailants opened fire on Aslam and his friend Shoaib in the Nauhchandi area. Aslam succumbed to his injuries. Three of the suspects involved in this killing were arrested in Delhi during a separate encounter three days ago. The police were actively pursuing the remaining fugitives. Encounter and Arrest Late Tuesday night, police arrested the absconding suspect, identified as Ah...