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Arjun Ram Meghwal, the new law minister, had introduced a private member bill against a Delhi High Court judgment decriminalising homosexuality

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Arjun Ram Meghwal, the new law minister, had introduced a private member bill against a Delhi High Court judgment decriminalising homosexuality

In a major union cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs & Culture And Cabinet Minister of Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal replaced Kiren Rijiju as the Law Minster. Kiren Rijiju has been assigned the portfolio of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

In 2012, the new Union Law Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Bikaner MP Arjun Ram Meghwal had presented a private member bill titled Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2012 in the Lok Sabha against the Delhi High Court judgment of 2009 which termed section 377 of the Indian Penal Code unconstitutional and decriminalised gay sex. However, the bill was not discussed until next year in the lower house.

The Delhi High Court in the Naz Foundation vs Government Of NCT Of Delhi had ruled that provision of criminalising consensual sexual acts of adults in private under Section 377 of the IPC violative Articles 21, 14 and 15 of the Constitution.

However, the Supreme Court upheld Section 377 and set aside the high court order in 2013. The Supreme Court held that homosexuality or unnatural sex between two consenting adults under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code is illegal and will continue to be an offence. A Bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and S.J. Mukhopadaya set aside the Delhi High Court’s verdict decriminalising homosexuality and added that this provision did not suffer from any constitutional infirmity.

In light of the judgement, the BJP leader brought Lok Sabha’s attention to his proposed legislation. He also held discussions across his constituency over the issue and maintained people were unanimously opposed to de-criminalising gay sex. “The main point of my bill is that the honourable Delhi High Court’s decision is not in accordance with Indian culture,” he asserted.

Notably, he qualified Rajasthan Public Service Commission Administrative Services Exam in 1982 and was promoted to Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1999 batch in the Rajasthan cadre and worked in many significant administrative positions including District Collector and District Magistrate.

In 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalised consensual gay sex under section 377 of the IPC.

Arjun Ram Meghwal took voluntary retirement from IAS in order to join politics. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 2009 representing the Bikaner constituency and got re-elected from there in 2014 and 2019.

During his 2nd term as a member of the parliament, he was Chief Whip of the BJP in Lok Sabha. The speaker of Lok Sabha also nominated him as the Chairman of the House Committee, in the lower house. In May 2019, Meghwal became Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

Govinda’s wife Sunita Ahuja carries bag inside sanctum sanctorum of Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple despite ban, authorities assure action

OpIndia Staff
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Govinda’s wife Sunita Ahuja carries bag inside sanctum sanctorum of Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple despite ban, authorities assure action

Bollywood actor Govinda’s wife Sunita Ahuja has come under fire for flouting rules during her visit to Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar temple on Monday, May 15. The star’s wife had reportedly carried a handbag to the temple’s garbha-griha (sanctum sanctorum). Reportedly, it is prohibited to carry a bag inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Mahakal temple.

The matter caused a massive stir after Sunita Ahuja shared pictures from her visit to the temple on Instagram. She captioned her post, “Had a wonderful darshan at Mahakal Ujjain.” 

In one other picture that emerged online, Sunita Ahuja could be seen with a bag hanging from her shoulder whilst posing for a photo with the priest.

Source: India Today

The pictures that went viral left Netizens wondering how Sunita carried her handbag inside the sanctum sanctorum despite the ban. The social media users were quick to call out the temple’s security system and wondered how she could get past the guards with her bag when it is strictly not allowed.

When the matter was flagged to the temple authorities, the temple administrator Sandeep Soni assured that action will be taken after watching the footage regarding how the bag was allowed to be taken inside.

Mahakaleshwar temple administrator Sandeep Soni mentioned that the security team was engaged at the gate during that time. It was their responsibility to make sure whether bags and purses were taken inside or not. He also said that action has been taken against the officials who were at fault.

He further added that action will be taken against Sunita Ahuja as well after checking the CCTV footage.

This is not the first time Sunita Ahuja has attracted public attention. In fact, Bollywood actor Govinda and his wife Sunita Ahuja are frequently making headlines for their alleged fallout with nephew Krushna Abhishek.

Land for Railway jobs scam: Former Bihar CM Rabri Devi appears before Enforcement Directorate for questioning

OpIndia Staff
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Land for Railway jobs scam: Former Bihar CM Rabri Devi appears before Enforcement Directorate for questioning

On Thursday, May 18, former chief minister of Bihar, Rabri Devi, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in the money laundering case pertaining to the alleged land-for-jobs scam. Rabri Devi, the wife of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, is recording her statement in this case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Prior to this, Rabri Devi was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in March at her residence in Patna as part of its probe into the alleged land-for-jobs scam. The alleged scam occurred while Lalu Prasad was the railways minister in the UPA-I government between 2004 and 2009.

The federal agency questioned Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and his sister MP Misa Bharti in March of this year.

The CBI searched nine premises belonging to RJD Rajya Sabha MP Prem Chand Gupta, party MLA Kiran Devi, and her husband Arun Yadav in connection with the land-for-jobs scam on Tuesday, May 16.

Land for Jobs scam

The CBI in the first chargesheet filed in connection with the alleged land-for-job scam stated that irregular appointments of candidates were made in Central Railway, violating the laid down norms and procedures of Indian Railways for recruitment.

As a quid-pro-quo, the candidates directly or through their immediate relatives/family members, sold land to the family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav (then Union Railway Minister) at highly discounted rates up to 1/4th to 1/5th of the prevailing market rates, stated CBI.

The investigations revealed that Lalu Prasad Yadav during the period 2007-08, when he was Union Minister of Railways, with the intent to acquire the land parcels situated in Vill- Mahuabagh, Patna and Vill-Kunjwa, Patna which were situated adjacent to the land parcels already owned by his family members; entered into a criminal conspiracy with his wife Rabri Devi, daughter Misa Bharati, Officers of Central Railways namely Sowmya Raghvan the then General Manager, Kamal Deep Mainrai, the then Chief Personnel Officer, and residents of Vill-Mahjabagh, Patna and Vill-Bindaul, Bihta, Patna and Patna City namely Raj Kumar Singh, Mithlesh Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Dharmendra Kumar, Vikas Kumar, Abhishek Kumar, Ravindra Ray, Kiran Devi, Akhileshwar Singh, Ramashish Singh.

According to the CBI, all the candidates after their engagement as substitutes were subsequently regularized.

In lieu of getting them appointed in Railways, Lalu Prasad Yadav got the lands transferred owned by candidates and their family members in the names of his wife Rabri Devi and Misha Bharti for sale consideration which was much lesser than the prevailing circle rates as well as the prevailing market rates.

Maharashtra: Hindu wedding attacked with stones for playing songs of Lord Ram, slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ raised by the attackers

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Hindu wedding attacked with stones for playing songs of Lord Ram, slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ raised by the attackers

On Wednesday, a group of people from a specific community pelted stones at a Hindu wedding procession in Chikhli religion of Buldhana district in Maharashtra, objecting to a song played on the DJ system during the procession. The massive stone pelting began as the people from the community heard songs of Lord Ram being played on the DJ system. They also are said to have raised the slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ before pelting stones at the procession.

The mob first objected to the music and then asked the people from the procession to stop playing the songs of Lord Ram. The mob also asked the participants to stop dancing to the said music. The incident is said to have happened while the procession was passing through the Sailani Nagar area of ​​Chikhli city in Buldhana district.

The police were informed as soon as the stone pelting began in the area injuring a total of 13 people who participated in the procession. The state police had to resort to lathi-charge as the situation worsened and people from both communities engaged in a brawl. The 13 injured persons meanwhile have been shifted to the hospital for treatment.

The police took cognizance of the event and booked around 30 persons in a rioting case. The police also have arrested 15 persons and are conducting investigations in the case. Reports mention that BJP MLA from Chikhli Shweta Mahale, member of the Shinde faction Sanjay Gaikwad and Buldhanae MP Prataparao Jadhav visited the spot of violence and appealed to the citizens for peace.

MLA Sanjay Gaikwad (Shinde faction) while talking to the local media confirmed that slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ were raised by the people from the specific community before pelting stones at the procession. “The DJ was vandalized and people from the Hindu Mali community were pelted stones at. We have also been informed that slogans of Pakistan Zindabad were raised. If this is true, we won’t spare these people supporting and lauding Pakistan while they are staying in India,” Gaikwad said.

The Police have so far booked 30 people in a rioting case and have arrested 15 persons for creating violence. Further investigations into the case are underway.

The British censor board had to give in before the public pressure: The Kerala Story producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah after the movie gets clearance in the UK

OpIndia Staff
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The British censor board had to give in before the public pressure: The Kerala Story producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah after the movie gets clearance in the UK

In positive news for the filmmakers of The Kerala Story and overseas audiences, the film which was unexpectedly pulled from theatres in the United Kingdom before its scheduled premiere on May 12, was given the green light to screen by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Now, it will be screened from  19 May in the country.

In a statement to the media on Wednesday, producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah said that the audience’s support is the solution to the alleged discrediting propaganda.

“Britain’s censor certification agency had to give the certificate yesterday. There was a lot of public pressure there. Some political elements were trying to stop the film illegally. Whatever was happening was political. The British censor board had to give in before the public pressure. The film is being screened in the UK today,” he stated.

“We have met thousands of girls ourselves, so there is no point in 32,000 vs. 3 conversions. We have based our film around three girls; that is why the number 3 is being said, and it has nothing to do with what is happening in Kerala. Through these 3 girls, we have brought you the stories of thousands of girls,” the producer responded on the veracity of the statistics.

He remarked, “And we were disappointed when some media people supported them and tried to discredit our film. So many girls’ lives are ruined, but instead of supporting them, they tried to defame the film and prove it wrong.”

“They said 7,000, and very soon we will come up with more statistics and expose everything, including 32,000 girls. We want to request that you please help these girls get justice,” he urged.

He praised the appreciation that the audience had shown for The Kerala Story and asserted that the support is confirmation that the movie is not, as some have claimed, ‘propaganda.’

The press conference of The Kerala Story in Mumbai was attended by the director Sudipto Sen and the lead cast of the movie, Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani, and Sonia Balani.

“The way the journey started and the point it reached, it’s a long one. But the journey is still not over. The audience watched the movie, and I feel they have given answers to all those tags labelled against the movie. Our commitment didn’t end with the making of the movie. We are also committed to the girls, who were trapped in this vicious net,” he noted.

Director Sudipto Sen tweeted ‘You won. Terrorism lost’ after the movie was cleared to screen in the UK.

Last week, all of the scheduled screenings of The Kerala Story were cancelled because the BBFC had not assigned the movie an age rating. However, it has now rated the movie as ’18.’ It has also given detailed content advice to viewers watching the film.

Notably, under the ‘Discrimination’ rating, the BBFC has written, “The film presents a partial and unbalanced view of Islam which focuses on radical Islamist characters and motivations to the exclusion of more moderate and mainstream forms of the faith. There are regular scenes of discrimination on the basis of religion and gender. A woman spits on her dying father for not sharing her faith.”

Amidst all the controversy and objections The Kerala Story has performed phenomenally well at the box office. It has made more than 165 crores in its second week, exceeding all forecasts and will shortly surpass the 200-crore threshold.

Watch the entire press conference below:

It is notable that the topic of the movie The Kerala Story, which is the story of women who ended up becoming ISIS terrorists or wives of ISIS terrorists, is very much relevant to the UK. Several British women went on to become ‘ISIS brides’ in Syria when the terror group ISIS had captured the country, and the UK government has refused their appeal to return to the country. The UK has revoked the citizenship of Shamima Begum, one of the most famous ISIS brides, who is currently staying at the Al-Hawl refugee camp in Northern Syria, and higher court of UK has rejected her appeal against the govt decision.

Supreme Court agrees to hear Muslim Side’s petition against determining age of Gyanvapi Shivling

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court agrees to hear Muslim Side’s petition against determining age of Gyanvapi Shivling

Supreme Court agreed to hear a petition filed by the Gyanvapi mosque Management Committee opposing the Allahabad HC order that directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific survey of the Shivling found inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi to determine its age. The plea will be heard on Friday, May 19.

A bench comprising of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala took note of senior attorney Huzefa Ahmadi’s remarks on behalf of the Gyanvapi mosque management committee and consented to list the petition for hearing on Friday.

“The Allahabad High Court has passed an order pending the appeal,” the senior lawyer said.

Notably, the Allahabad Court had on Friday, May 12 issued the order while hearing a revision petition filed by four women Hindu worshippers challenging the Varanasi Court’s October 14 order, that rejected a plea for scientific investigation, including carbon dating, of the structure found in May 2022 during a court-mandated survey of the mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

This came after the ASI submitted its report as ordered by the High Court, which rebuked the ASI in April this year for its laxity in submitting its report on the feasibility of carbon dating the Shivling found inside the mosque. 

Shivling found in wuzukhana of the disputed structure at Gyanvapi

The Gyanvapi dispute dates back decades but in August 2021, five women filed a petition in a local court demanding the right of unhindered worship at the Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal, located inside the complex that houses idols of Hindu Gods. In April 2022, the local court ordered a survey of the complex.

During the survey, a Shivling was found submerged in the wuzukhana, the place where people who offer namaz, the Islamic prayer, clean their hands and feet and gargle water as a cleansing ritual, inside the complex where the disputed structure called ‘Gyanvapi mosque’ is located. The mosque was allegedly constructed after destroying the Hindu temple of Kashi Vishwanath. The centuries-old Nandi inside the new complex right next to the disputed structure also points towards the place where the Shivling was found in the wuzukhana.

Upon discovery of the Shivling, the judge ordered the sealing of the complex and forbade those offering prayer in the masjid from cleaning their feet and hands where the Shivling has been found. However, after the Shivling was found, Islamists and many ‘liberals’ mocked the idol as a ‘fountain’ and other innuendos which have hurt the religious feelings of Hindus.

Uttar Pradesh: Hanuman Temple in Aligarh bans entry to Muslims, issues dress code for Hindu devotees

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Hanuman Temple in Aligarh bans entry to Muslims, issues dress code for Hindu devotees

An ancient Hanuman Temple in Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh has implemented a new policy that restricts entry for Muslim men and women. Additionally, a dress code has been established for both Hindu male and female devotees. The Shri Gilharaj Temple in Aligarh now prohibits individuals from entering while wearing short clothes or torn jeans.

The temple’s priest has issued guidelines emphasizing that Hindu devotees should not worship in the temple while wearing torn jeans or inappropriate attire. The purpose of these guidelines is to prevent any distractions caused by indecent clothing that may divert the attention of worshippers. Pamphlets have also been displayed outside the temple to inform people about these new guidelines.

The priest of the temple, Mahant Yogi Kaushalnath, announced that a decision has been made by the temple committee to prohibit non-Hindus from entering the temple for worship. He also said that this decision was prompted by an incident where a few Muslims reportedly entered the Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik on 13th May 2023. According to him, the reason behind this decision is that Muslims do not visit the temple solely for the purpose of worship, and the investigating agency will determine the intentions behind such visits. He told that the intention behind banning Muslims from entering the temple in Aligarh is to prevent any similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Upon noticing the pamphlets outside the temple, the worshipers expressed their appreciation for the decision made by the temple’s priest. They believe that it is commendable to wear only appropriate attire during worship to ensure the devotee’s focus remains undisturbed.

The devotees further stated that they support the decision to prohibit the entry of Muslims, as they perceive no connection between Muslims and the temple. According to them, these individuals visit the temple solely with the intention of theft. Thus, they warmly welcomed the priest’s decision.

Situated near the Achal Talab in Aligarh, in the vicinity of Gandhi Park Police Station, lies this centuries-old sacred temple of Lord Hanuman. This historically significant temple reveres Lord Hanuman in the form of a squirrel. Devotees from various regions across the country travel to this temple to offer their prayers to the Hindu deity. It is widely believed that any wishes made by the devotees in this temple are granted, adding to its spiritual significance.

Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari had illegally occupied land belonging to Shia Waqf Board, the board appeals to UP CM to get their land back

OpIndia Staff
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Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari had illegally occupied land belonging to Shia Waqf Board, the board appeals to UP CM to get their land back

Alleging that several bighas of land belonging to the Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board (UPSCWB) have been usurped by deceased gangster Atiq Ahmed and imprisoned don Mukhtar Ansari, the board has written to CM Yogi Adityanath imploring him to intervene in the matter. According to a report by Live Hindustan, the board has written a letter to the UP government urging it to free the large swathes of their land and properties that are in possession of the mafias and their families.

The board, in its letter, has written that the henchmen of deceased gangster Atiq Ahmed are illegally occupying several bighas of land in Prayagraj’s Imambara Ghulam Haidar’s Chhoti Karbala aur Qabristan (graveyard). It further informed the government that the mutawalli (caretaker) of the Allal Aulad Waqf in the Saadatganj area in Uttar Pradesh has complained that out of the 10-12 bighas of Waqf land, several bighas have been illegally encroached upon. The mutawalli was quoted as also saying that Afshan Ansari, the wife of the mafia don Mukhtar Ansari is the director of the firm which got plotting done on these encroached lands through illegal registry.

The Shia Waqf Board officials also alleged that several letters were written to the local administration urging them to take action against those who have illegally grabbed portions of the Chhota Karbala land in Prayagraj but to no avail. This land is under the management committee nominated by the Shia Waqf Board.

Interestingly, Atiq Ahmed and his gang’s role in grabbing several plots belonging to the Sunni and Shia Waqf Board came to the fore following his death. The matter came to light when the Uttar Pradesh police were probing him for illegally-acquired wealth. It brought out some evidence indicating how the slain mafioso-turned-gangster usurped Waqf’s properties for commercial use.

The police had earlier, also filed an FIR against a close aide of Atiq for allegedly grabbing a Waqf property in the Chak locality on Zero Road in Prayagraj in 2016. Locals in Chakia alleged that a portion of the graveyard adjacent to Atiq’s partially demolished office was illegally grabbed by one of his relatives. The land is currently being used for selling construction materials.

Yogi Adityanath government builds houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana on land seized from mafia Atiq Ahmed

It may be recalled that recently, reports emerged indicating that the Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh is building houses for the poor on the land seized from the mafia in the state. It has been started with the land in Prayagraj vacated from the possession of the deceased mafia Atiq Ahmed.

Verification of the applicants for 76 flats being built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana on land freed from the possession of mafia Atiq Ahmed in the Lukerganj area of Prayagraj has been completed by the district Urban Development Authorities (DUDA). As many as 6,030 people had applied online for the flats. Of these, 5127 people were found ineligible. 903 applicants are found eligible.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath laid the foundation stone of this project on December 26, 2021. Flats will be available to the poor here for only three and a half lakh rupees. The construction work on the 1731 square meters of land freed from the possession of mafia Atiq Ahmed in Lukarganj is going on at a fast pace and this building is being prepared with better quality and the best safety standards. It will also provide parking facilities for people, community halls and common areas.

Arjun Ram Meghwal replaces Kiren Rijiju as Union Minister of Law and Justice, Rijiju made the Minister of Earth Sciences

OpIndia Staff
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Arjun Ram Meghwal replaces Kiren Rijiju as Union Minister of Law and Justice, Rijiju made the Minister of Earth Sciences

On Thursday, May 18, Kiren Rijiju was removed from the post of Union Minister for Law and Justice, and Arjun Ram Meghwal has been given the portfolio. A press notice issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said that President Droupadi Murmu replaced Kiren Rijiju with Arjun Ram Meghwal as Union Minister for Law and Justice as advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Meghwal has been assigned the independent charge of Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice, in addition to his existing portfolios. He is currently the minister of state for parliamentary affairs and the minister of state for culture.

Press communiqué released by Rashtrapati Bhavan

Kiren Rijiju has been assigned the portfolio of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Till now, Union Minister Jitendra Singh was in charge of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Rijiju was appointed as Law Minister in July 2021, after Ravi Shankar Prasad. As law minister, Rijiju made headlines by repeatedly criticizing the collegium system for judicial appointments. 

In December last year, Kiren Rijiju Kiren informed Rajya Sabha that the nation needed a new system to appoint judges. The law minister also commented on long vacations of the courts, saying that it hampered the delivery of swift justice.

Kiren Rijiju said, “There is a feeling among people of India that the long vacation which the courts obtain is not very convenient for justice-seekers and it is my obligation and duty to convey the message or sense of this House to the judiciary.”

In the first Modi government, Kiren Rijiju was the minister of state for home affairs, then minister of state for minority affairs and after that minister of state for youth affairs and sports with independent charge.

About Arjun Ram Meghwal

Arjun Ram Meghwal is the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs as well as the Minister of State for Culture.

The politician hailing from Bikaner, Rajasthan, was born on December 20, 1953, and possesses a law degree from the Dungar College in Bikaner. In 1977, he earned a law degree (LLB). The BJP leader is also a former IAS officer who was re-elected to the Bikaner Parliamentary constituency for the third time.

Meghwal was the Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs from 2016 to 2017. He was the Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, and Parliamentary Affairs from 2017 to 2019. He had been the Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and Parliamentary Affairs since 2019.

All flights of Go First canceled till May 26, how to get refunds and change flights: Details

Shraddha Pandey
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All flights of Go First canceled till May 26, how to get refunds and change flights: Details

On Wednesday, May 17, crisis-hit Go First Airlines announced that the cancellation of its flight operations has been extended till May 26 due to “operational reasons”. In a notice published on the website of Go First Airlines, it stated that the company has filed an application for immediate resolution and revival of operations adding that it may resume bookings soon. 

“A full refund will be issued to the original mode of payment shortly. As you are aware, the company has filed an application for immediate resolution and revival of operations. We will be able to resume bookings shortly,” the notice read.

Taking to Twitter, Go First Airlines wrote, “Due to operational reasons, Go First flights until 26th May 2023 are canceled. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and request customers to visit http://bit.ly/42ab9la for more info. For any queries or concerns, please feel free to contact us.”

Go First to resume flight operations from May 27

As per an Economic Times report, Go First Airlines is planning to resume its flight operations on May 27, 2023 and has also started training classes for its pilots. The report cited an internal memo issued by the airline to its pilots informing them about the resumption of flights and training classes.

“Operations are likely to commence from 27 May. Since there has been a lapse in flying operations, it has been decided to conduct an online ground refresh course,” according to a memo obtained by the Economic Times.

The airline, which is now in insolvency procedures, has had flights canceled since May 3. It has also halted further flight bookings at the request of India’s aviation authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

On May 10, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) accepted the airline’s voluntary plea insolvency resolution proceedings. Three lessors— SMBC Aviation, GY Aviation, and SFV Aircraft Holdings have appealed the NCLT’s ruling to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). NCLAT will pass its order on May 22 on these petitions. 

How to get refunds?

Abhilash Lal has been named Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) to oversee the carrier’s operations. IRP has set up a website for requesting reimbursement after the airline’s operations were halted due to financial challenges.

Claimants seeking refund are required to visit gofirstclaims.in/claims. The claimant must first register on this website and fill out a claim form. The next step is to provide at least one supporting document that confirms the claimant’s claim (for example, a ticket/cancellation copy). After filling out every section of the form, the claimant is required to sign it and upload it. Tickets bought prior to May 26 cannot be rescheduled or transferred to another airline.

Go First blamed “faulty” Pratt & Whitney engines forcing the company to ground 28 planes

The airline blamed the “faulty” Pratt & Whitney engines used on its Airbus A320 flights earlier this month, as half of its fleet was grounded due to engine-related issues. The airline said in a statement that it was facing a financial crunch due to Pratt & Whitney engine non-supply, which has forced the company to ground 28 planes, more than half of its fleet.

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