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Mamata govt delays DA to employees in violation of SC order, claims ‘severe financial crisis’ but doles out ‘bhata’ to 55,000 Imams: Here is what you should know about it

OpIndia Staff
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Mamata govt delays DA to employees in violation of SC order, claims ‘severe financial crisis’ but doles out ‘bhata’ to 55,000 Imams: Here is what you should know about it

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government has not yet cleared the pending Dearness Allowance (DA) of nearly 10 lakh State employees in complete violation of the order of the Supreme Court of India.

For the unversed, DA is paid to employees and pensioners (often called Dearness Relief or DR) alike to help them deal with inflation and rising cost of living.

While the Central government pays 55% DA to its employees, the West Bengal government gives a paltry 18%.

In February this year, the Mamata govt announced a 4% increase in DA, which was to become effective from 1st April 2025.

This would have essentially taken the total DA from 14% to 18%, which is 37% less than what is being paid by the Modi government at the Centre. The Mamata government has not disbursed the pending DA to the employees and pensioners.

The prolonged and deliberate delay on the part of the State, despite a Supreme Court order, forced government employees to hold a protest march on Monday (28th July) to the State Secretariat (Nabanna).

To muzzle the demonstrations, the Mamata government ensured a heavy deployment of police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, water cannons, and double-layer barricades. 

A govt employee stated, “There are more police here than protestors, they are scared of us. They have stolen our jobs, have not paid our dues.”

This development comes amid the cancellation of 25,753 jobs of individuals who were appointed by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) for the positions of Assistant Teachers and non-teaching staff.

It becomes politically significant as well when analysed in the context of the 2026 Vidhan Sabha elections.

The verdict by the Supreme Court in May 2025

On 16th May this year, a 2-Judge Division Bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta directed the West Bengal government to release 25% of the DA arrears accumulated between 2009 and 2019.

The total outstanding DA to be disbursed to employees stands at ₹41,871 crores. The apex court ordered that 25% of the amount i.e. ₹10,468.

“We find the Tribunal and the High Court to have adjudicated the right of the employees to receive Dearness Allowance pursuant to the 5th Pay Commission. The paucity of funds is a ground which stands negated both by the Tribunal and the High Court,” the Division Bench ruled.

“We are of the considered view that the employees need not be kept waiting endlessly to receive the money in question. Needless to add, disbursal of such an amount shall be without prejudice to the respective rights and contentions of the
parties and subject to the outcome of the instant petition,” it added.

Supreme Court orderDownload

The matter was adjourned and listed for 4th August 2025. The order of the Supreme Court came in response to a May 2022 verdict by the Calcutta High Court in the case – The State of West Bengal & Ors. Vs Confederation of State Government Employees, West Bengal & Ors.

The Calcutta High Court had directed the TMC government to release the DA and Arrear DA to employees as per the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowances) Rules of 2009 within 3 months.

It upheld a previous order of the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT). The Calcutta High Court also pointed out that Dearness Allowance is a legally enforceable right of employees.

“Such right of the employees to sustain their livelihood with dignity has been fructified or elevated as a fundamental right as enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution,” it stated.

At that time, TMC had attempted to blame the Centre, claiming that the financial crisis in West Bengal was due to an alleged non-clearance of ₹92,000 crore by the Modi government.

Interestingly, the case was filed by petitioners Malay Mukhopadhyay and Shyamal Kumar Mitra, who are associated with the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).

Mukherjee told The Indian Express, “We realised then that the government is not in the mood to pay our outstanding DA, and the courts are the only way to get it. So, we went to the SAT, which gave an order against us. We challenged the order and went to the Calcutta High Court. After that, our journey began, and the West Bengal government has lost every case against us.”

Mamata govt seeks extension of 6 months

On 27th June this year, the Mamata government pleaded with the Supreme Court to extend the deadline to clear 25% of the outstanding DA from 6 weeks to an additional 6 months.

The development followed the expiry of the term set by the apex court on 16th May. The Trinamool Congress government alleged a ‘severe financial crisis’ to justify its failure to adhere to the stipulated time set by the Supreme Court.

Additionally, it filed a petition to review the verdict given by the Division Bench of the Supreme Court.

The General Secretary of the Confederation of State Government Employees, Malay Mukherjee, pointed out that he had anticipated the move by the TMC govt and hence sent a notice to the Chief Secretary in advance.

“The state government has been informed that we will file a contempt of court case against the state government in the Supreme Court in the coming days,” he added.

No funds for DA but monthly doles to Imams and Muezzins

In August 2023, the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government increased the monthly honorarium of Islamic clerics (Imams) by ₹500.

As such, the effective monthly increase of allowance to Imams have increased to ₹3000 (up from ₹2500) since then. Muslims who give Islamic call to prayer (Azaan), popularly called muezzins, are also paid an honorarium of ₹1500 per month.

OpIndia had recently reported how a Bangladeshi national named Mohammed Salim Ansari was also a beneficiary of the ‘Imam Bhata’ scheme.

It must be mentioned that the West Bengal government under Mamata Banerjee introduced the scheme of honorarium for 55,000 Islamic clerics and muezzins within just a year of coming to power.

In a notification released on 19th April 2012, by the Department of Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education, the govt announced, “The District Magistrate will also requisition funds for a period of 2(TWO) months, initially, on the basis of the number of imams of the District @ Rs. 2500/- per IMAM per month.”

The Mamata government appears flush with funds when it comes to appeasing the Muslim community and strengthening her vote bank. She is now faced with increasing demands to raise ‘Imam Bhata’ to ₹20000 per month.

Clearing the pending DA of government employees and pensioners is certainly not the priority of her government.

Muzaffarpur, Bihar: Muslims pelt stones on Mahaviri flag procession by Hindus when it passes near Meenapur mosque

Shraddha Pandey
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Muzaffarpur, Bihar: Muslims pelt stones on Mahaviri flag procession by Hindus when it passes near Meenapur mosque

On 31st July 2025, a stone pelting incident has been reported in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, during Mahaviri flag procession. The incident unfolded as a Muslim mob pelted stones from stockpiles on rooftops when the Hindu procession was passing from the area.

The incident took place in Meenapur village of Rajpur under the Sahebganj police station area. A Muslim mob is reported to have pelted stones from the roofs of houses near Meenapur Mosque. In this incident, many policemen including Rajepur station in-charge Radheshyam and devotees participating in the procession have suffered serious injuries. A hut was also set ablaze during the clashes.  

After the incident, SSP Sushil Kumar himself, Rural SP Rajesh Singh Prabhakar, SDM Western Shreya Shri and many administrative officers reached the spot.

Informing about the matter, Muzaffarpur SSP Sushil Kumar said, “During the Mahaviri flag procession in the Meenapur village under the Rajepur Police Station area, some anti-social elements pelted stones at the procession from the roof. Many people have been injured in this incident and have been admitted to the hospital…We are identifying the anti-social elements and they will be arrested soon…Videography has also been done using drones. After identification, a named FIR will be registered. The situation is now under control…”

Notably, the Mahaviri Jhanda Yatra is an annual tradition and it passes through Meenapur village and reaches Lakhnasen Akhara where it is immersed. During this time, people from many villages including Sheetal Semra join the procession with Mahaveeri flag. Mahaveeri fair is held on a large scale in Lakhnasen.

On Thursday, the procession was being taken out with the local administration’s permission and as per the pre-decided route. However, as the Hindu procession reached near the Meenapur mosque, Muslims started pelting stones from their rooftops. Reports say that a similar incident had taken place in this area over the Mahaviri flag procession in three years ago.

Indian Army signs MoU with Axiscades Aerospace for next-generation indigenous 50-ton tank transporter trailers

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Army signs MoU with Axiscades Aerospace for next-generation indigenous 50-ton tank transporter trailers

In a significant step towards enhancing its operational mobility and supporting the ‘Aatmnirbhar Bharat’ initiative, the Indian Army on Friday (1st August) signed a contract worth Rs 223.95 Crores with Axiscades Aerospace and Technologies Private Limited for the procurement of 212 state-of-the-art 50-ton Tank Transporter Trailers. The contract was signed under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, reinforcing the commitment to boost indigenisation in defence manufacturing.

These next-generation Tank Transporter Trailers come equipped with hydraulic/pneumatic loading ramps and steerable and liftable axles, enabling swift and efficient transportation of tanks and other armoured vehicles across diverse and challenging terrain. These capabilities will enable the swift and efficient transport of tanks and other armoured vehicles over challenging terrain, enhancing the operational mobility of the Indian Army.

This procurement is expected to significantly improve the logistical and operational efficiency for the field units of the army. This indigenous procurement not only marks a boost to the Indian defence manufacturing ecosystem but also promises sustained employment generation.

Woke liberals in the USA are outraged over a Sydney Sweeney ad for Eagle Jeans, Elon Musk joins in with his robots to hail ‘great genes’

Shraddha Pandey
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Woke liberals in the USA are outraged over a Sydney Sweeney ad for Eagle Jeans, Elon Musk joins in with his robots to hail ‘great genes’

‘Great jeans’ or ‘great genes’? The new American Eagle advertisement featuring Sydney Sweeney donning blue denim jeans has taken the internet by storm. While many hailed the ad campaign as a breath of fresh air and a pivot towards non-woke ad themes, the woke-liberal section is outraged and alleged that the campaign promotes ‘eugenic thinking’.

The woke liberals also claim that somehow, an ad campaign featuring a popular white actor-model with blonde hair and blue eyes reflects an ‘unbridled shift towards whiteness’.

‘Nazi propaganda, an example of white supremacy’: How a harmless pun triggered woke-liberal meltdown

The claims of US fashion retailer American Eagle promoting white racial and genetic supremacy emerged due to the “genes” pun used in the ad campaign titled: “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”. The limited edition “Sydney Jean” denim collection features a butterfly motif for domestic violence awareness.

The American Eagle ad simply plays on the homophone “jeans/genes” with videos showing Sydney Sweeney saying things like, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality, and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”

In another video, Sweeney crosses out “genes” on a billboard and replaces it with “jeans”. American Eagle’s stock has skyrocketed since the campaign was launched on 23rd July, and so has the frustration of the woke-liberal-leftist sections in America.

American Eagle’s harmless wordplay has stoked a debate about racial biases, western standards or ideals of beauty. The woke cabal is calling the American Eagle ad a deliberate or inadvertent nod to eugenics, who believe humanity could be ‘improved’ through selective breeding for certain traits. The leftists suggest that either American Eagle should not have used the “genes” pun or should have shown models of various races other than just white Sydney Sweeney. Some went as far as to label the campaign ‘Nazi propaganda’ and an example of ‘white supremacy’.

One of the prominent voices to criticise, or rather mock, Sydney Sweeney and the American Eagle ad campaign is Doja Cat. In a TikTok video, Doja Cat mocked the viral gene puns. The controversial rapper and singer made a TikTok video mocking Sweeney’s dialogue, twisting the final word into ‘blee’.

An Indian-American girl made a video criticising the American Eagle advertisement and said, “It is so difficult to grow up as a person of colour, specifically a woman, and view yourself as beautiful in any sense of the word.”

Another American woman called the “genes” pun a “dog whistle”, saying that the ad came at a time when ‘fascism’ is rising in America, adding that the ad suggests that “white thin, traditionally feminine bodies are not just aspirational but symbols of morality, traditional purity.”

Somehow, she connected Sweeney’s “blue jeans” with her blue eyes, and argued that it echoed “white purity politics and the purity of blonde hair, blue eyes.” She claims that the American Eagle ad campaign positions white skinned, blue-eyed, blonde-haired and thin body of Sydney Sweeney as a lineage of genes as “worthy of reproduction”.

She, however, did not explain if it is acceptable when black or brown, obese, black-eyed, weirdly dressed woke models are presented as ideal or aspirational.

Another TikToker slammed the ad and said, “If you haven’t seen or comprehended how bad it is, I need you to open your f–king eyeballs and listen. This is Nazi s–t. Pure Nazi s–t.”

Meanwhile, the supporters of the campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney hailed the advertisement as a clap back at the woke culture.

Donald Trump’s White House Chief of Staff, Steven Cheung, also joined the debate and called the outrage against the Sydney Sweeney headlined ad campaign “just another example of cancel culture.” Cheung further asserted that it was due to the frustration over this cancel culture that Donald Trump won the US presidential election last year.

“Cancel culture run amok. This warped, moronic, and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024. They’re tired of this bullshit,” Cheung posted on X on 30th July 2025.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk-owned Tesla also added a fun element to the otherwise charged debate by posting a video of a robot sitting on car seats. The post read, “Our seats robot also has great jeans.”

Musk also shared the post and said, “Testing rubbing jeans on our seats.”

Besides TikTokers and Woke commentators, the liberal media outlets have also jumped on the bandwagon to bemoan the American Eagle fall season ad campaign featuring the ‘Euphoria’ actor Sydney Sweeney.

Not just people, even the Leftist mainstream media is ‘offended’ over a harmless ad

In this vein, Vulture, a New York-based entertainment magazine, published an article headlined: “No One Is Keen on Sydney Sweeney’s New Jeans Ad”. The article draws equivalence between the Brooke Shields Calvin Klein campaign from the 1980s, wherein Shields said, “Genes are fundamental in determining the characteristics of an individual.”

“During a time when DEI is under attack and there are mass deportations occurring daily, an ad campaign centered on how awesome it is to be white and blonde-haired and blue-eyed reads as rather tone-deaf,” the Vulture article reads.

Meanwhile, Vanity Fair also published a piece recently, and called the “jeans/genes” pun in the American Eagle ad ‘a sinister message’.

“Does Sydney Sweeney have ‘great jeans,’ or has the American Eagle brand simply had a very, very bad idea?” while noting that the campaign is “based around a play on words that may seem harmless − but has been criticized by onlookers who see a sinister message lurking beneath the pun,” the article reads.

MSNBC also criticised the said ad and argued that “the choice of Sweeney as the sole face in it and the internet’s reaction reflect an unbridled cultural shift toward whiteness, conservatism and capitalist exploitation.”

It further targets Sweeney, arguing that “Sweeney has been transparent that her goal as a public figure is to make as much money as possible,” as if making money as-much-as-possible is a crime. Maybe, MSNBC’s Hannah Holland saw a capitalist element in this aspiration too.

While the backlash over the Sydney Sweeney-American Eagle ad has yet to subside, Dunkin Donuts, an American food franchise, has also rolled out an ad for its summer Refresher drinks featuring “The Summer I Turned Pretty” star Gavin Casalegno. In a 35-second video, Casalegno, often called the “King of Summer” in pop culture, is seen crediting his summer tan to his “genetics”.

“Look, I didn’t ask to be the king of summer. It just kind of happened,” he said. “This tan? Genetics. I just got my colour analysis back. Guess what? Golden Summer. Literally,” Casalegno says.

Much like the American Eagle ad, this one has also been labelled as “racially tone-deaf”. Casalegno’s support for Israel, which is at war with the Palestinian Islamic terror group Hamas, has further fuelled the outrage. Many are trying to trace a ‘pattern’ as Dunkin Donuts put out an ad with ‘genetics’ used in it.

Sydney Sweeney indeed checks all the boxes of conventional Western beauty standards; however, blaming her for pulling off the campaign’s aesthetics gracefully, presenting the ‘genes’ pun in a playful manner, and trolling her for the same is like blaming sunset for being too pretty. It requires a different level of mental gymnastics to interpret a surface-level pun, as some sort of treatise on selective breeding or a nod to eugenics. Is the charity cause, the American Eagle campaign, contributing exclusively to whites?

As per American Eagle, the butterfly motif on the back pocket of the jeans in the limited “The Sydney Jean” collection represents domestic violence awareness. In support of the cause, 100% of the purchase price from ‘The Sydney Jean” will be donated to Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit offering free, 24/7, confidential mental health support to those in need.

The accusations of racism, and promotion of white supremacy, Nazi propaganda and whatnot, come across as an overzealous interpretation. Countering the woke outrage, the American right wing has praised the ad as a rejection of woke advertising, which has become increasingly mainstream in the last few years.

The very people outraged over the American Eagle and Dunkin Donuts advertisements and slandering Sweeney and Casalegno never allege promotion of racial superiority or dominance when non-white celebrities headline ad campaigns of big brands. These big brands take into account the marketability and popularity of those they want to be the face of their campaign, not necessarily as avatars of any racial ideology.

However, it seems like the anguish of the victory of the conservatives has inflicted a trauma so deep on woke liberals that even harmless puns and advertisements featuring white actors come across as far-right, white supremacist conspiracy to them.

Victim changes her statement after Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi pick up Chhattisgarh Nuns case, blames Bajrang Dal which complained against human trafficking

OpIndia Staff
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Victim changes her statement after Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi pick up Chhattisgarh Nuns case, blames Bajrang Dal which complained against human trafficking

Days after the Congress party and its leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi politicised the arrest of 2 Catholic nuns, accused of forcibly converting and trafficking 3 young women, one of the victims has now turned hostile.

A 21-year-old woman, who was rescued by the Government Railway Police (GRP) based on a complaint by Bajrang Dal, has alleged coercion by the Hindu rights organisation.

She claimed that her family has followed Christianity for the past 4-5 years. The victim alleged that she was going to Agra with the 2 Catholic nuns with the ‘consent’ of her parents.

She claimed to have been going to Bhopal to work at a Christian hospital on a salary of ₹10,000. The 21-year-old woman, essentially rescued by the Bajrang Dal, has alleged assault by an activist named Jyoti Sharma.

The victim turned hostile within 2 days of the Congress party raking up the case, with the outrageous claim of persecution of Christian minorities. They attempted to blame the BJP and RSS while giving a clean chit to the 2 Catholic nuns.

In a tweet on Monday (28th July), Rahul Gandhi had claimed, “Two Catholic nuns jailed in Chhattisgarh after being targeted for their faith – this isn’t justice, it’s BJP-RSS mob rule. It reflects a dangerous pattern: systematic persecution of minorities under this regime.”

“UDF MPs protested in Parliament today. We will not be silent. Religious freedom is a constitutional right. We demand their immediate release and accountability for this injustice,” he further alleged.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi also posted a similar tweet on Monday (28th July), wherein she absolved the 2 nuns of serious charges pertaining to forced religious conversion and human trafficking.

She claimed, “I strongly condemn the shocking incident at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh on July 25. The detention of two Christian nuns—Sister Vandanha and Sister Preethi—along with others, without legal basis and on false allegations of conversion and trafficking, is a grave attack on minority rights.“

“This is not an isolated case — under BJP rule, minorities are being systematically harassed and vilified. Mob justice and communal targeting have no place in our democracy. The rule of law must prevail,” Priyanka Gandhi brazened out.

She did not stop at a tweet but was seen leading a protest outside the Parliament building on Wednesday (30th July). Priyanka Gandhi was seen holding a placard, which read, ‘Release the Nuns. Arrest the Goons.’

Coincidentally, a day later on Thursday (21st July), reports surfaced in the media stating that a 21-year-old victim (rescued by the GRP on the basis of a complaint by Bajrang Dal) has claimed that the two Catholic nuns are innocent.

Similar to Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the victim, in a statement (after 6 days of the arrest), blamed the RSS and the police.

The Background of the Case

On 25th July, the Government Railway Police (GRP) arrested two Catholic nuns from Durg city of Chhattisgarh. The accused were identified as Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis.

The duo, originally from Kerala, were found involved in forced religious conversion and human trafficking. The two Catholic nuns were caught taking 3 young women, aged between 18 and 20 years, to Agra.

The GRP foiled their plans and arrested Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis along with a third accomplice, identified as Sukaman Mandavi. The accused were produced before a local court in Durg, which sent the trio to 14 days in judicial custody.

Preeti Mary, Vandana Francis and Sukaman Mandavi were booked under Section 143 (trafficking of persons) of BNS and relevant sections of the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

The 3 young women, who were being trafficked by the Catholic nuns, hailed from Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh.

After being rescued by the Government Railway Police, the victims were sent to ‘Sakhi One Stop Centre.’

In the meantime, Hindu rights group Bajrang Dal demanded strict action against the 3 accused, involved in forced conversion and human trafficking.

Bajrang Dal leader Ravi Nigam informed, “The nuns had come to Durg merely a day before without any valid reason. They were about to board a train along with the rescued girls to Agra when we spotted them.”

Election Commission removes Cricketer Rinku Singh from voter awareness campaign due to his engagement with SP MP Priya Saroj, orders removal of all campaign material

OpIndia Staff
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Election Commission removes Cricketer Rinku Singh from voter awareness campaign due to his engagement with SP MP Priya Saroj, orders removal of all campaign material

The Election Commission has taken strong action and ordered to remove cricketer Rinku Singh from the SVEEP (Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation) campaign due to his recent engagement with Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj.

The district administrations have been instructed by the commission to take down any promotional materials pertaining to the star batsman, including banners, posters, videos and website content, regarding the awareness drive. The Election Commission has clarified that retaining him in the SVEEP campaign following his relationship with the SP leader Priya Saroj would be deemed inappropriate, as it could suggest political bias or interest.

Rinku Singh was appointed as the representative of the voter awareness initiative by the Uttar Pradesh government. He appeared in numerous government advertisements, stadium billboards, social media campaigns and video messages. However, on the commission’s orders, he is now being removed from all these platforms.

Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur District Election Officer and Additional District Magistrate for Finance and Revenue, Lalta Prasad has issued directives to all Sub-District Magistrates and election-related officers, as well as the SVEEP teams after the instructions from the Election Commission. According to the ADM, subordinates have been given specific instructions to carry out this task.

Chief Electoral Officer’s office convayed that Rinku Singh is an icon of the state. The latter was involved in the voter awareness campaign. However, if an individual becomes affiliated with a political party in any capacity or if there is any suspicion of their potential involvement in the elections, they cannot participate in the awareness drive. This could create a conflict with their personal interests.

Machhali Shahar MP Priya Saroj got engaged to Rinku Singh in June 2025 and the couple was frequently spotted together in public venues, particularly at cricket matches. Their photographs also gained significant attention on social media.

The Election Commission felt compelled to address the situation and expressed concerns that political influence in a crucial initiative such as voter awareness might compromise the integrity of the elections.

Protests break out against the mismanagement in SSC examination, applicants demand immediate reforms in the exam, cite rampant tech issues

Aditi
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Protests break out against the mismanagement in SSC examination, applicants demand immediate reforms in the exam, cite rampant tech issues

Thousands of applicants and teachers are protesting against the mismanagement in the ongoing Staff Selection Committee Commission (SSC) examination. On Thursday (31st July), the protestors gave a ‘Delhi Chalo’ call and gathered at Jantar Mantar seeking reforms in the examination, which receives lakhs of applications.

Thousands of students and educators gathered near the the Department of Personnel & Training (DOPT) office in New Delhi to meet to Minister of State for Personnel, Jitendra Singh to present their demands. However, the protestors alleged that the police used physical force to disperse them, even detaining many students and teachers for hours despite the protests being peaceful.

Why are the applicants outraged?

Phase 13 of the SSC exam began on July 24 and was to be concluded on August 1st, 2025. The protests stemmed from the rampant complaints of poor management of the examination, involving technical and logistical issues. The applicants have stated that at many exam centres, servers crashed, systems were unresponsive, and the equipment malfunctioned.

In some cases, the exam centres were reportedly allotted as far as 500 km away from the candidates’ homes or misallocated. This was made worse by last-minute exam cancellations, leaving the applicants who reached at the faraway centres bearing travel expenses, distraught.

“Even if we manage to reach the centre after spending thousands, we are told the exam is cancelled. There’s no clarity on rescheduling. Our time, money, and most importantly, crucial years of preparation are being wasted. Who is answerable for that?” a protesting applicant reportedly said. Several applicants stated that when they raised concerns of mismanagement at the exam centres, they were manhandled or mistreated by staff and security personnel.

“Aspirants are being sent to far-flung centres, only to discover that the exam is cancelled. At some venues, cattle heads were kept on the ground floor while students were giving exams upstairs. Bouncers have been deployed to silence students who raise concerns. The mouse doesn’t work, and systems hang. This is what we’re facing,” a protesting teacher was told PTI.

Applicants told the media that there were rampant technical issues in the exams. Somewhere, the systems crashed, or the mouse stopped working. Some applicants were notified that their exam had been ‘cancelled’ just hours before, after reaching a faraway exam centre. Some said their exam was stopped midway, and nothing happened after complaining. Some applicants stated that the exams were delayed.

Applicants demand inquiry into mismanagement of the exam and immediate reforms

The teachers further claimed that during a meeting, the SSC director and officials admitted that they received 55,000 complaints related to the exam, which underscores the gravity of the problem. “If there are 3 lakh students and 55,000 have registered issues, that alone speaks volumes. SSC-CGL, with 30 lakh aspirants, is scheduled to start from August 13. How will SSC manage that with these broken systems?” the teacher reportedly said.

The protests found widespread support on social media with hashtags like #SSCVendorFailure, #SSCMisManagement, and #JusticeForAspirants trending on X. Many students shared their stories of lost opportunities, financial hardship, and emotional stress caused by these repeated administrative failures.

Several applicants and teachers have alleged that the police administration used physical force on them as they were protesting at Jantar Mantar and the CGO Complex. Several videos of a teacher being detained and taken away in police vehicles are doing the rounds on social media.

Protesting candidates and teachers at the Najafgarh Police Station after detention. (Image via X/India News)

As per reports, the tender to organise the SSC examination was given to a company with a dubious track record. Applicants are demanding immediate government intervention and reform in the examination, on which lakhs of young aspirants coming from the lower middle class and middle class pin their hopes.

Tender for the SSC exam was given to a company, which was once blacklisted

This year, the tender to conduct the SSC examination was reportedly given to a Bengaluru-based firm called Eduquity Career Technologies. The firm was previously blacklisted by the Directorate General of Training (DGT). However, subsequently, it was given the tender for conducting the MP Patwari recruitment examination in 2023. The firm is said to have organised several national and state-level examinations. But the track record of the company has been marred by mismanagement and paper leaks. The company was accused of mishandling the MP Patwari examination, paper leaks in teacher eligibility tests, and subcontracting duties by taking commissions. It firm has faced multiple allegations of technical issues and paper leaks in several other examinations conducted for the National Testing Agency and the Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra.

Students have alleged that the company was given the tender despite its poor track record to cut the examination cost. As per reports, Eduquity was given the tender as it quoted a rate of ₹220 per student compared to the rate of ₹350 per student quoted by the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The authorities’ sole focus on lowering the cost of conducting these examinations has cost the applicants their time and future, apart from the added cost of holding a re-examination, the protesters lament.

Chhattisgarh: ED raids 18 locations linked to ₹650 crore “medical supply scam” under Congress-rule, premises of jailed CGMSCL official searched- Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh: ED raids 18 locations linked to ₹650 crore “medical supply scam” under Congress-rule, premises of jailed CGMSCL official searched- Read details

On 30th July, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids at 18 locations around Chhattisgarh in relation to a medical supply scam worth over ₹550 (650 per some reports) crore.

Senior officials from the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) and Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Limited (CGMSCL) were involved in the money laundering scam, along with Mokshit Corporation which transpired during the Congress government of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

Apart from a few “middlemen,” the action happened on sites connected to certain government officials, medical suppliers and agents in Raipur, Durg, Bhilai and the neighbouring regions.

The team also searched the residence of Kamalkant Patanwar, former deputy manager (equipment) of CGMSCL who is lodged in jail. The fraud entailed buying equipment and reagents without verifying their availability or necessity in state-run medical facilities.

The Enforcement Directorate acquired documents pertaining to Mokshit Corporation from the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) which uncovered evidence of money laundering after which the action was initiated.

The background of the scam

According to Chhattisgarh Anti Corruption Bureau and Economic Offences Wing, the CGMSCL conspired with Mokshit Corporation and its shell firm to make transactions of billions of rupees between January 2022 and 31st October 2023. An 18,000-page chargesheet against six individuals submitted in April is the basis for the ED investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The chargesheet accused them of purchasing medical equipment and reagent chemicals in a dubious manner, resulting in a loss of ₹550 crore for the state exchequer. EOW-ACB also executed a joint raid in this matter, six months prior.

On 22nd January, the ACB/EOW launched a complaint against representatives of the Directorate of Health Services department and the state-run Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Ltd (CGMSCL) in Raipur. Four companies were also booked: Records and Medicare System HSIIDC (Panchkula, Haryana), Mokshit Corporation (Durg), CB Corporation (Durg) and Shri Sharda Industries (Raipur).

Shashank Chopda, director of Mokshit Corporation, Basant Kumar Kaushik, Chhirod Rautia, Kamalkant Patanwar, Dr. Anil Parsai and Deepak Kumar Bandhe were named in the chargesheet. They were working with the CGMSCL at the time.

An ACB/EOW official conveyed, “Kaushik was the in-charge general manager (equipment) and deputy manager (purchase and operations) of CGMSCL. Rautia and Bandhe were biomedical engineers. Patanwar was then deputy manager (equipment) and Parsai was then deputy director (stores).” According to the official, Chopda was taken into custody on 29th January and the others were detained in March.

The probe agency stated that in one case, it was discovered that the EDTA tube used to collect blood samples was bought from Mokshit Corporation for ₹2,352 per piece, whereas other institutions were able to buy the same material for a maximum of ₹8.50. According to the ACB/EOW, Mokshit Corporation gave the CBC machine which is offered on the open market for ₹5 lakh to CGMSC for ₹17 lakh.

The purchase process which takes several months was completed in just 26 days. The scam was also raised in the state assembly. The purpose of the current raids was to find proof of connections between public officials and private organisations in the state’s healthcare procurement system, financial irregularities and deceptive sourcing methods.

2008 Malegaon blast case: Special Court orders inquiry against ACP Shekhar Bagde of ATS for planting evidence to implicate the accused

OpIndia Staff
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2008 Malegaon blast case: Special Court orders inquiry against ACP Shekhar Bagde of ATS for planting evidence to implicate the accused

On 31st July, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai acquitted 7 accused including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Colonel Shrikant Prasad Purohit in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. An investigation into the potential planting of evidence by a Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officer was also recommended by special judge AK Lahoti.

According to the NIA inquiry, two Army officers observed Shekhar Bagde who is currently the assistant commissioner of police (ACP), visit the residence of the accused Sudhakar Chaturvedi on 3rd November 2008. The agency took over the probe regarding this case from the ATS in 2011.

In its chargesheet and court submissions, the NIA also disclosed that Bagde had unlawfully entered the residence of Sudhakar Chaturvedi, an individual implicated in the Malegaon blast and planted traces of RDX there. Chaturvedi served as a military informant and resided with Lt Col Purohit in the Deolali Cantonment region of Nashik.

Purohit was also apprehended in connection with this case, facing charges of conspiracy in addition to supplying RDX and manufacturing explosives. The judge acknowledged that the NIA referenced the statements of an army major and a subedar during its investigation. Both individuals reported that when Chaturvedi was away from home, Bagde quietly entered his residence and hid evidence of RDX there.

The two Army men also informed the court that Bagde instructed them not to report this to anyone, however, two days later, the ATS team conducted a raid on the house and used cotton swabs to find a substance resembling RDX, which they reported was used in the Malegaon blast.

The court remarked that the actions of Bagde arouse suspicion. Furthermore, the ATS failed to offer any clarification on this issue. Hence, it concluded that the entire case points to the likelihood of “evidence planting” (deliberate creation of false evidence).

The court also stated that certain medical certificates which documented the injuries of the purported victims were provided by non-accredited physicians at the request of ATS officials and refused to accept them. It discovered that some medical certificates had been intentionally altered and mandated an investigation into the bogus medical certificates.

The Supreme Court granted bail to Lt Col Purohit in 2017 and highlighted the dubious conduct of ATS official Bagde. It stated, “During scrutiny of the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry (CoI) carried out by the Army, a different story of assembling of IED in the House of Sudhakar Chaturvedi (A-11) came to light.”

“During re-examination of the witnesses by the NIA who deposed before the Court of Inquiry (CoI), it was revealed that they suspiciously found API Bagde of ATS in the house of A-11 when A-11 was not present in the house. On considering the facts narrated by the witnesses, the question arises here as to why API Bagde visited the house of A-11 in his absence,” it declared.

A copy of the ruling will be forwarded to the DGP (Director General of Police) Maharashtra, DG (Director General) ATS, and DG NIA. At the ATS’s request, the judge also asked authorities to look into the falsification of the medical records of 6 of the 101 bomb victims and those of unlicensed medical professionals.

The judgment regarding the Malegaon blast spans over 1000 pages and indicates that Maharashtra’s leading investigative body, the ATS, along with the central agency, the NIA were unable to uncover any substantial evidence to support the case against the accused persons.

How the probe was messed up by ATS

The judgment decisively dismantled the prosecution’s case. The court ruled that no cogent material was presented against any of the accused. Specifically, the court noted that the ATS failed to produce any evidence that the motorcycle used in the blast belonged to Pragya Thakur. The judge observed that she had become a Sadhvi at least two years prior to the blast and the prosecution failed to establish her link to the plot.

The court noted that “no material was brought on record” to show that explosives were ever stored at Col Purohit’s residence. It added that even basic investigative procedures were ignored: the sketch of the alleged storage room was never drawn, and the forensic samples were found to be contaminated. The court further rejected the ATS’s narrative around Abhinav Bharat, a right-wing organisation allegedly founded by Thakur and Purohit, saying there was no evidence that the group used its funds for terror activities.

Married woman drags underage boy to court, claims he had ‘raped’ her with promise of marriage, Uttarakhand High Court dismisses case

OpIndia Staff
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Married woman drags underage boy to court, claims he had ‘raped’ her with promise of marriage, Uttarakhand High Court dismisses case

In a recent ruling, the Uttarakhand High Court has junked a rape case against a minor boy who was accused of raping an older married woman on the pretext of marriage. Married to another man, the complainant woman, who is also a mother, was in a relationship with the accused boy who was a minor at the time the allegations were made.

Justice Pankaj Purohit dismissed the criminal proceedings against the accused on the ground that it was a “consensual relationship”.

The woman had alleged that the accused raped her with the promise of marrying her, and also threatened to make her obscene videos viral on social media.

Based on the woman’s complaint, the accused youth was summoned by Kashipur Judicial Magistrate’s court under Indian Penal Code Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) in 2022.

The judge asked that how can a 28-year-old mature woman, who is also mother of a 7-year-old son, could engage in sexual relations with the boy on the basis of a marriage promise. Judge Purohit also raised question over the legal validity of such a promise allegedly made by the accused since he was a minor at the time.

“It was a consensual relationship that deteriorated rather than a case of false promise. Cases like these are not only a burden on courts but also blot the identity of the individual accused of such a heinous crime,” the High Court noted.

The court also pointed out that the accused minor was not of legally marriageable age, the complainant on the contrary, was already married and was well aware of the marriage, adding that she even had a child from her marriage.

Moreover, the court stated that the proposal of marriage from the accused minor was not probable given the complainant was already married, the High Court quashed the complaint and the chargesheet against the accused minor and dismissed the criminal proceedings against him.

With the rise in cases of false rape cases being filed due to failed relationships or the breach of promise of marriage, the Indian courts are now exercising caution in entertaining such cases.

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