Metro Encounter TV (2025)

15/07/2025

KERALA NURSE'S EX*****ON IN YEMEN POSTPONED

From Our Bureau

NEW DELHI: The ex*****on of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya (36) in Yemen has been postponed with the Indian government intensifying its efforts in the hectic parleys underway in Yemen in a last-ditch effort to save her from the sentence of death awarded in 2018 by local authorities for killing a Yemen man who was harassing her.

Ms Priya's ex*****on was scheduled for July 16, but it has now emerged that the murdered man's family has been convinced to postpone it at least for now. This does not mean she would be released or sent back to India.

She is currently in Sanaa, the Houthi-held capital of Yemen. India does not have any diplomatic relations with the Houthi rebels.

The Indian government had asserted ob Monday in the Supreme Court that it had done everything within its limits to stop the ex*****on, suggesting 'blood money' is likely the last option that Ms Priya can avail to evade death.

The government, which has been providing all possible assistance in the matter, had made concerted efforts in recent days to seek more time for the family of Nimisha Priya to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the victim's family, said sources.

Despite the sensitivities involved, Indian officials had been in regular touch with the local jail authorities and the prosecutor's office, leading to securing this postponement, they added.

Nimisha Priya had taken up the role of a nurse in Yemen in 2008 while looking for a lucrative job to support her parents back in Kerala. She initially worked in hospitals but later opened her own clinic. And to comply with the local law, she took on board a local business partner named Talal Abdol Mehdi, 37.

Mehdi, however, started harassing her. He stole her money and snatched her passport, practically stopping her from leaving the country. With no other option to escape him, Ms Priya had injected him with a sedative in 2017, planning to recover her passport after he lost consciousness. Mehdi, however, died, and Ms Priya was arrested while trying to flee Yemen.

The government had earlier appointed a Yemeni lawyer to represent her in the local courts, but all her petitions were dismissed, said Babu John, an activist leading efforts on behalf of the nurse on death row. In 2023, Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council upheld her conviction, following which the country's President approved her death sentence, he said.

The Indian government on Monday described it as a "very complex case", with Attorney General R Venkataramani telling the Supreme Court, "There is not much that the Indian government can do...we tried whatever was possible."

"The only way is if the family (of the Yemeni man) agrees to accept the 'blood money'," he said, referring to the financial compensation mentioned in the Quran that must be paid to the family of a murdered person for pardon.

The murdered person's family reserves the right to accept or reject this 'blood money'. Ms Priya cannot be executed if the 'blood money' is accepted by the murdered man's family, as per the Islamic law.

# # #

15/07/2025

INDORE CARTOONIST GETS INTERIM PROTECTION AGAINST ARREST

From Our Bureau

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted Indore-based cartoonist an interim protection from arrest, as he sought anticipatory bail after being accused of uploading “objectionable" cartoons of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and workers of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on social media.

The case was being heard by a bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Aravind Kumar.

While granting the cartoonist protection, the Supreme Court remarked that it was not okay to make any statement against anyone.

“Kisi ko kuch bhi bol do" (Say anything to anyone), the bench said.

“They want to become heroes", it added.

As the hearing began, advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for the cartoonist, said, “In addition to deletion, my lords had sought something. I think this will satisfy the court."

Further defending the cartoonist, Grover said, “The person can have a critical opinion about things, it does not constitute an offence."

“Can he not say something just because there is an FIR against him? Has he lost that liberty?" he asked.

# # #

15/07/2025

SC QUASHES OVER 1,000 ASSISTANT PROFESSOR APPOINTMENTS IN PUNJAB

From Our Bureau

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the Punjab Government's appointments of over 1,158 assistant professors and librarians of Punjab in 2021 over UGC norm violations, setting aside a Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment, which had upheld the recruitment process.

A Bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran delivered the judgment in a batch of appeals challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court's Division Bench judgment, which had upheld the recruitment process.

"In the present case, there are multiple deficiencies. Giving away of a rigorous criteria laid down in UGC regulations with a single, multiple-choice question based written test, and the complete elimination of the viva-voce, all establish the arbitrary nature of the exercise which cannot pass the test of reasonableness laid down under Article 14 of the Constitution. Hence, the single judge (of Punjab and Haryana High Court) had rightly struck down the entire selection process, and the division bench of High Court erred in interfering with that conclusion," the Court said.

In January 2021, the State of Punjab requisitioned the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) to conduct the recruitment of 931 Assistant Professors and 50 Librarians. Later, the government sanctioned an additional 160 Assistant Professors and 17 Librarians for newly established colleges.

However, in September–October 2021, amid a change in government, the State altered the process, bypassing the PPSC and deciding to fill all 1,091 Assistant Professor and 67 Librarian posts through two departmental selection committees headed by Vice-Chancellors of state universities. The selection was to be conducted solely through a multiple-choice written test, dispensing with UGC-mandated parameters like academic record, research performance and interview/viva voce.

The case was first heard by a single judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who, by an order passed in August 2022, quashed the entire recruitment process.

Subsequently, intra-court appeals were filed by the State of Punjab and the selected candidates. These were heard by a Division Bench of the same High Court, which, by its judgment in September 2024, reversed the single judge’s decision and upheld the recruitment.

Aggrieved by the order the petitioners approached the Supreme Court.

The apex court observed that the State has failed to justify its deviation from standard recruitment norms, offering no valid reason for ignoring UGC Regulations or bypassing the Public Service Commission.

"Moreover, as discussed earlier, the reason for this departure were narrow political and clearly arbitrary," it added.

It held that the State cannot defend such an arbitrary practice under the garb of a policy decision and that a specialised body like UGC has prescribed a selection process for these posts, which was arbitrarily violated.

The Court reiterated that that UGC Regulations have a mandatory character and are binding on all universities, State or Central, that have opted to receive the financial assistance of the UGC under its scheme.

It further observed that a State has a duty and responsibility to act fairly and reasonably in terms of the mandate of Article 14 of the Constitution.

"Any decision taken by the State must be reasoned, and not arbitrary. This Court has consistently held that when a thing is done in a posthaste manner, mala fides would be presumed, and further that anything done in undue haste can also be termed as arbitrary and cannot be condoned in law."

Accordingly, Supreme Court restored the single judge’s verdict and quashed the entire selection. It directed the State to conduct a fresh recruitment process for these posts in line with the 2018 UGC Regulations.

# # #

15/07/2025

THOSE SPYING FOR PAK LINKED WITH BJP, CLAIMS CONGRESS

From Our Bureau

NEW DELHI: Congress spokesperson and social media head Supriya Shrinate on Tuesday asked why should one not believe that individuals arrested for spying on India for Pakistan are connected to the BJP?

It's concerning that those arrested for espionage claim ties to the BJP, have been photographed with BJP leaders, and assert their membership in the party, she said.

For instance, she said Jyoti Malhotra, a travel vlogger, claimed to be from the Haryana BJP when crossing into Pakistan. Investigation revealed she was in contact with Danish, her handler at the Pakistan High Commission, who facilitated her trips to Pakistan. Her phone records showed contacts like Jatt Randhawa, a Pakistani national.

The BJP's connections to individuals involved in plotting and spying against India are not isolated incidents, Shrinate told a press conference here on Tuesday.

Recall the case of Dhruv Saxena, who worked in the BJP's IT cell and was found spying for the ISI in Madhya Pradesh. Then- Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh's attempt to downplay Burhan Wani's death as an accident raises questions. The Pathankot terror strike investigation, where the BJP government invited the ISI to investigate, and Amit Shah's satisfaction with their findings, despite Pakistan's role in the attack, is troubling.

Other instances include Prime Minister Modi's unannounced visit to Nawaz Sharif's birthday party in 2015, General VK Singh's attendance at Pakistan Army Day celebrations despite ceasefire violations, and the visibility of ISI flags during the BJP's tenure in Jammu & Kashmir.

The BJP's decision to feature Asiya Andhrabi, a known Pakistan sympathizer, in its Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign, and Pradeep Kurulkar's association with the RSS while leaking sensitive DRDO information to Pakistan, Shrinate said.

The questions remain:
❓ What action has been taken against Jyoti Malhotra?
❓ What information has she revealed?
❓ What measures are being taken to apprehend the terrorists?

More importantly, why does the Modi government maintain a close relationship with China, which continues to support Pakistan against India's interests? These are questions that Mr. Modi and his government must answer before the nation and in Parliament, Shrinate said.

# # #

14/07/2025

NINE NEW HIGH COURT CHIEF JUSTICES

From Our Bureau

NEW DELHI: President Murmu on Monday signed an order transferring four chief justices of the High Courts, including Manindra Mohan Shrivastava from Rajasthan to Madras and Chief Justice K R Sriram from Madras to Rajasthan.

Tripura chief justce Aparesh Kumar Singh has been transferred to Telangana while Jharkhand chief justice MS Ramachandra Rao from Jharkhand to Tripura.

Also Himachal judge Tarlok Singh is made the chief justice of Jharkhand while acting Chief justice Sanjeev Sachdeva is confirmed as the Madahya Pradesh High Court chief justice and Patna acting chief justice Ashutosh Kumar made Gauhati's chief justice while Patna Judge Vipul Panholi as the chief justice of Patna and Delhi judge Vibha Bakhru as Chief justice of Karnataka.

# # #

14/07/2025

SC REBUKES INDORE CARTOONIST OVER PM'S CARICATURE: NO RELIEF

From Our Bureau

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on Indore-based cartoonist Hemant Malviya for his objectionable caricature depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), terming his conduct “inflammatory” and lacking in maturity.

A bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Aravind Kumar, while hearing Malviya’s plea for anticipatory bail, noted in sharp terms: “Cartoonists, comedians etc., must look at their conduct.” The bench observed that Malviya, aged over 50, had failed to display the discretion expected at his age.

“Still no maturity,” Justice Dhulia remarked, while stating that the caricature was “inflammatory.”

# # #

14/07/2025

BIHAR IS NOW CRIME CAPITAL OF INDIA, SAYS RAHUL GANDHI

From Our Bureau

NEW DELHI: Calling Bihar the “crime capital” of the country, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for being busy saving his seat and his BJP ministers were raking in commission while the law-and-order situation in the state was going down.

Gandhi also asserted that in the upcoming assembly polls, the vote will not be just to change the government, but to save the state.

The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha shared on X screenshots of media reports pointing to 31 murders in 11 days and on the "contract killing industry" in the state.

In his post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "Bihar has become the 'crime capital of India' -- fear in every alley, unease in every home! Unemployed youth are being turned into killers by 'GuNDA raj'." "The CM is busy saving his seat, while BJP ministers are raking in commissions. I’m repeating again - this time, the vote is not just to change the government, but to save Bihar," he said.

Earlier this month, after prominent businessman Gopal Khemka being shot dead outside his residence in Patna, Gandhi had said the incident has once again proven that the BJP and Chief Minister Kumar have together made Bihar the "crime capital of India".

Gandhi had also asserted that in the upcoming assembly polls, the vote will not be just to change the government, but to save the state.

Khemka was shot dead outside his residence in Patna by a bike-borne assailant, seven years after his son was gunned down in Hajipur.

Meanwhile, All-India Adivasi Congress President Dr Vikram Bhuria told a press conference at the party headquarters here on Monday that five members of a family were killed in Tatgam village of Purnia district in Bihar mercilessly killed on July 6 and the Nitish Kumar government is tring to suppress it. He said all were burnt alive. First they were beaten up and their legs were broken before burning them by sprinkling petrol on them.

He said there were around 200 people who conducted the human slaughter to frighten the villagers. He said Rahul Gandhi spoke to the villagers and assured that the Congress will stand with them for justice.

# # #

14/07/2025

MODI GOVT FACES TOUGHEST MONSOON SESSION OF PARLIAMENT

From Our Bureau

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi-led government has set a new record for the lowest number of parliamentary sitting days in the history of independent India, raising serious concerns among constitutional experts and opposition parties alike. Analysts say this trend reflects a deliberate attempt to avoid legislative scrutiny, especially in light of a stronger opposition post-2024 general elections.

Comparing the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha in 2019 with the current 18th Lok Sabha, the difference is stark. While the 17th Lok Sabha's monsoon session lasted 37 days and saw the passage of 16 bills—including the landmark abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir—most were passed without meaningful debate or opposition consultation.

In contrast, experts highlight that the first 12 months of the current Lok Sabha have seen even fewer sitting days, marking a worrying decline in parliamentary productivity.

Observers link this shrinking of legislative time directly to the Modi government’s weakened political standing. Now dependent on support from coalition partners like the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by N. Chandrababu Naidu, the BJP is navigating a more assertive and united opposition both inside and outside Parliament.

With the INDIA bloc gaining traction, political commentators see a pattern: as opposition strength grows, the Modi government increasingly curtails parliamentary sittings to limit debate on contentious public issues.

Sources point out that Prime Minister Modi’s own presence in Parliament has been noticeably reduced. Opposition leaders recently criticized him for skipping crucial all-party meetings on the Pahalgam incident, especially when national security and diplomacy were at stake.

Against this backdrop, the upcoming monsoon session starting July 21 is being described as one of the Modi government’s toughest legislative tests. Opposition parties are preparing to challenge the government on several fronts: from the Pahalgam incident and Operation Sindoor, to the sudden ceasefire announcement allegedly made under U.S. pressure without consulting Parliament.

Domestic issues such as the spiraling Manipur violence, unemployment, price rise, agrarian distress, caste census data management, and electoral roll revision are also on the agenda.

The Supreme Court’s recent observations questioning the Election Commission’s functioning have added fuel to the fire. Fresh allegations surrounding crony capitalism linked to top industrialists and worries over parliamentary disruptions further complicate the government’s position.

One particularly controversial move was the government’s decision not to refer the Waqf Bill to the parliamentary standing committee on minority and social justice. Instead, it was sent to a joint parliamentary committee dominated by the ruling party, triggering further opposition protests. Analysts see this as part of a broader strategy by the Modi government to bypass wider legislative consultation.

With regional demands and coalition pressures within the NDA also rising, managing legislative business while addressing public sentiment will be a formidable challenge for the Modi government. This monsoon session may well determine whether the government can retain control over its political narrative or whether it finds itself cornered by an increasingly organized and vocal opposition bloc.

# # #

14/07/2025

BJP MAY NOT GET RSS VOLUNTEERS IN POLL CAMPAIGN

From Our Bureau

NEW DELHI: Many RSS volunteers are deliberately staying away from BJP’s electoral campaign, expressing clear dissatisfaction.

A recent detailed investigation by ThePrint highlights widespread unrest within RSS ranks in Uttar Pradesh:

Volunteers feel betrayed by the BJP government—accusing it of ignoring their concerns (e.g., job terminations, bank loans, lack of FIR filings).

As a result, many have chosen not to campaign at all-—no protests, but a passive resistance by absence.

The RSS-linked magazine Organiser has repeatedly observed:

The BJP, in its candidate selection and campaign planning, failed to consult RSS volunteers (“swayamsevaks”).

This has deeply hurt the morale of longstanding RSS workers, many of whom were then not even approached for electoral campaigning.

The BJP will feel the pinch in the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar in October-November. Multiple RSS volunteers across states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand quietly opted out of ground-level campaigning, citing sidelining in ticket allotment and strategy.

This withdrawal is being seen as a "reality check" for BJP’s leadership, which counted on RSS cadre as its backbone.

Implications of the RSS volunteers quietly withdrawing from the poll campaign for the BJP are:

Grassroots campaign efforts could weaken in areas where RSS swayamsevaks traditionally deliver door-to-door outreach.

BJP may need to re-engage with RSS leaders directly, especially during candidate selection and election strategy, to rebuild trust and union.

This dynamic adds a layer of complexity for BJP’s electoral planning—especially in key battleground states.

# # #

14/07/2025

DOING UTMOST POSSIBLE TO SAVE EX*****ON OF KERALA NURSE NIMISHA PRIYA IN YEMEN ON WEDNESDAY

From Our Bureau

NEW DELHI: "There's a point till which Government of India can go. We have reached that point", Attorney General for India R Venkataramani told the Supreme Court on Monday in a plea seeking to stall Keralite nurse Nimisha Priya's ex*****on in Yemen, which is scheduled to take place on July 16.

The matter was before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.

The 36-year old is facing death sentence for the 'murder' of a Yemeni national in 2017, who allegedly tortured and assaulted her. To retrieve her documents, including passport, from the Yemeni man's possession, Nimisha Priya apparently tried to sedate him using ketamine, but unfortunately, an overdose caused his death. At present, her family is trying to negotiate with the Yemeni man's family and offering 'blood money' so they would pardon her as per Shariat law.

On behalf of the petitioner, an organization called "Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council", Senior Advocate Ragenth Basant informed the Court that Priya's family and supporters are negotiating 'blood money' with the victim's family, so she can be pardoned in terms of Shariat Law.

The Union government can assist in the negotiations through diplomatic channels, he urged. It was further clarified that the petitioner is not seeking financial assistance from the Centre to assemble the 'blood money'.

The AG however highlighted the sensitivity of India's diplomatic ties with Yemen, saying it's not like any other country in the world with which India can negotiate. It was stated that India has no embassy in Yemen, and had Nimisha Priya been lodged in universally recognized-Aden, instead of Houthi-controlled Sanaa, the situation could have been different.

Nonetheless, the AG added, utmost possible efforts are underway to save the Keralite nurse. Recently, he informed, the government has also written to the concerned Yemen Public Prosecutor to find out if the ex*****on can be suspended.

Supreme Court "There's nothing much government can do...looking at sensitivity of Yemen...it's not diplomatically recognized...blood money is a private negotiation...There's a point till which government of India can go. We have reached that point. Yemen is not like any other part of the world. We didn't want to complicate situation by going too much public, we are trying to do as much as possible at private level...the government is also engaged with some Shaikh, who are very influential people there, all that is being done..." the AG said.

Justice Mehta noted that the case is "sensitive" in nature and indeed a "sad" one. "Real cause of concern is the stance of the girl...the manner in which the incident took place, and inspite thereof, if she loses her life, that is really sad", the judge remarked.

The AG conceded that what's happening is rather unfortunate, but reiterated that it's not a case where the government can be asked to do something beyond the defined limit. He also mentioned that there appears to be a standstill in the negotiations taking place between Priya's family and the victim's.

Insofar as Basant prayed "let the death sentence not happen", the bench wondered how it could pass such an order with respect to a foreign nation. "How can that order be passed? Who is going to respect that order?" asked Justice Mehta.

At this point, the petitioner submitted that if the Union government is able to establish a negotiating link with the victim's family, the amount of 'blood money' may not be allowed to act as a stumbling block.

Considering the Union's limited role in the matter, the Court ultimately adjourned the case till Friday, saying that it be apprised of the fresh status.

On July 10, the matter was mentioned before a partial Court working days bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi, which listed it on July 14, while asking the Union government to apprise the Court through Attorney General R Venkataramani about the steps taken regarding the case.

BACKGROUND: MiNimisha Priya, an Indian origin nurse from Kerala, was sentenced to death in 2018 for the murder of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi. As per claims, Talal was Nimisha Priya's business partner but forged documents to show that she was his wife. Allegedly, he even seized her passport and subjected her to physical and mental torture. One day, in 2017, she injected him with sedatives to retrieve her passport. Unfortunately however, Talal died and Nimisha Priya was sentenced to death.

# # #

14/07/2025

UDAIPUR FILES" HEARING IN SC ON WEDNESDAY

From Our Bureau

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a plea challenging the Delhi High Court's stay on the release of the film 'Udaipur Files" scheduled for screening on July 11. The movie depicts beheading of tailor Kanhaiya Lal Sahu in the Rajasthan city in June 2022.

After the counsel appearing for the producers sought urgent listing of the plea saying that the film's release was stayed despite the censor board certification, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said it would hear it on Wednesday or any day thereafter.

The counsel contended that the apex court's vacation bench had refused urgent listing of the plea by one of the accused seeking a stay on the film's release but the high court interfered and stayed it on July 10.

"We have spent money on the movie and obtained CBFC certification, but despite that the high court stayed its release. This is a violation of our rights," the counsel contended. He sought urgent listing of the plea on Tuesday. The bench said it would hear the plea on Wednesday or any day thereafter.

On July 10, the Delhi High Court stayed the release of 'Udaipur Files' till the Centre decides on pleas seeking a permanent ban on the film over its potential to "promote disharmony" in society.

The high court had directed the petitioners to approach the Centre within two days with their grievance and its stay will operate till the Centre takes the decision, while noting that they have not taken the recourse to approach the Central government.

The petitions, including one filed by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president and Darul Uloom Deoband principal Maulana Arshad Madani before the high court, had claimed that a trailer of the movie released on June 26 was replete with dialogues and instances that had led to communal disharmony in 2022, and carries every potential to stoke the same sentiments again.

The film's producer contended before the high court that "this is a typical India-Pakistan plot. The petitioner has taken dialogues out of context." The high court on July 9 directed the producers to arrange a screening of the film for the petitioners. Udaipur-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal was murdered in June 2022 allegedly by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous.

The assailants had later released a video claiming that the murder was in reaction to the tailor allegedly sharing a social media post in support of former BJP leader Nupur Sharma following her controversial comments on Prophet Mohammed.

The case was probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the accused were booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, besides provisions under the Indian Penal Code. The trial is pending before the special NIA court in Jaipur.

On July 9, the top court had refused to urgently list a plea challenging the release of 'Udaipur Files', and orally observed, "Let the film be released". The petition before the top court was filed by Mohammed Javed, who is facing trial as the eighth accused in the case. He sought a stay on the film's release till the trial in the case is over.

# # #

Metro Encounter TV

15/07/2025

15/07/2025

15/07/2025

15/07/2025

14/07/2025

14/07/2025

14/07/2025

14/07/2025

14/07/2025

14/07/2025

14/07/2025

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share