A Shiva temple has been discovered inside a locked house in Mahmood Khan Sarai, Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh. This house belonged to a Hindu family during the 1976 riots and was later sold. It is said that the house has remained closed ever since.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: A temple has been reopened in Sambhal.
Patron of Nagar Hindu Sabha, Vishnu Sharan Rastogi claims that the temple has been re-opened after 1978. pic.twitter.com/UQdzODtuYa
On Saturday morning, the district administration carried out a large-scale operation against encroachment and electricity theft in the Shahi Jama Masjid area of Sambhal. During this drive, a Lord Shiva temple, which had been closed for 46 years, was reopened. The temple was found inside a locked house in the Mahmood Khan Sarai area, which belonged to a Hindu family during the 1976 riots.
The house was later sold and had remained closed ever since. Under the supervision of District Magistrate (DM) Rajendra Pensia and Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishna Kumar Bishnoi, the temple was cleaned, and excavation of the well was initiated. DM Pensia stated that an investigation is underway to determine the ownership of the house.
Strict action is ongoing in the Shahi Jama Masjid area to remove encroachments and prevent electricity theft. The administration’s team has ordered the removal of encroachments from roads and drains in the area. During the campaign against electricity theft, over 300 houses were found involved in power theft, including several mosques.
The team discovered that one mosque was running 59 fans, a refrigerator, a washing machine, and 25-30 light points using stolen electricity. Executive Engineer of the Electricity Department, Naveen Gautam, stated that action is being taken against the offenders. To ensure the safety of the electricity department teams, the police have deployed two platoons of force in the area. This strict action by the administration has caused a stir in the region.
Unauthorised electricity connection inside mosque
Under the leadership of DM Dr. Rajendra Pensia and SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi, the electricity department conducted a checking drive in areas like Raisatti, Nakhasa, Hindupara Kheda, and Deepa Sarai under the Nakhasa police station limits. Power theft was detected in several houses, including some mosques. Reports of electricity theft will be filed against all offenders, and fines amounting to lakhs of rupees will be imposed.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shreesh Chandra stated that during the investigation, it was found that some individuals had encroached on the temple land and built houses. The temple contains idols of Lord Shiva and Hanuman. Earlier, Hindu families lived in this area but left for some reason. The temple is now being cleaned, and action will be taken against the encroachers.
Information has also surfaced about an ancient well, which is currently under investigation. This operation has caused a stir in the area. The administration has made it clear that encroachment on any religious site or public property will not be tolerated, and strict legal action will be taken against the encroachers.
Temples discovered during operation against electricity theft in Jama Masjid area
During an anti-electricity theft drive on Saturday in the Jama Masjid area, a Lord Shiva and Hanuman temple that had been closed for 46 years was discovered. The temple had been encroached upon and turned into residential houses. The administration cleaned the temple and announced strict action against the encroachers.
District Magistrate (DM) Dr. Rajendra Pensia stated that during the campaign against electricity theft, a temple was found that had been encroached upon and closed.
The temple is being cleaned, and an ancient well nearby, which had been covered with a ramp, has been uncovered. The temple will be handed over to its rightful owners, and action will be taken against the encroachers. Additionally, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will be approached to conduct carbon dating to determine the temple’s antiquity.
Amid the ongoing debate on the constitution in Parliament, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Congress, accusing it of giving away Kachchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka in 1974 for political reasons.
He claimed that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was ready to give away Siachen to Pakistan. “This is their commitment to the territorial integrity of this country, Surya added.
“A very important (Kachchatheevu) island belonging to India was gifted, given away for political reasons by the Congress. This is not the first instance. Even in the case of Aksai Chin and more recently it was learned that the UPA government was ready to even give away Siachen to Pakistan. This is their commitment to the territorial integrity of this country…” BJP MP Suryav said in Lok Sabha.
The BJP MP said that Parliament was not taken into consideration while giving away the Kachchatheevu island. He said that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) under M Karunanidhi also supported it.
“Pandit Nehru was asked about this (Kachchatheevu) Island which was part of the then Madras presidency. He said, ‘I attach no importance at all to this little island and I would have no hesitation in giving up our claim to it.’ This was his position on a very important island. DMK under Karunanidhi also supported it. Parliament was not taken into confidence,” Surya added.
The BJP MP further attacked Congress, saying that the party didn’t subscribe to the view that India was a millennia-old state and they approached India as a union of states.
“Starting from the first Prime Minister Pandit Nehru to the communists and the others who followed, India was not considered sacred geography because they didn’t have the civilisation worldview that India was a millennia-old state. They approach India as a union of states, more a private jaagir, any part of which could be given to anybody. The attack on the Constitution by the Congress party started from the very first article…Congress government and the DMK gave away Kachchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka in 1974 without following any due process envisioned in the constitution,” Surya said.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
The BJP has announced plans to construct a Ram temple in West Bengal following TMC MLA Humayun Kabir’s remarks about building a Babri Masjid-like mosque in the state.
However, BJP leader Agnimitra Paul stated that the construction of the Ram temple should not be seen as a reaction to the proposed mosque. Paul slammed Kabir over his remarks about constructing a Babri Masjid-like mosque in West Bengal, accusing him of making provocative statements and alleging that no action was taken for his earlier inflammatory comments against Hindus.
“Ram Mandir should not be built as a response to the mosque. Babri Masjid can be constructed, and Ram Mandir can also be constructed… The same person who said Babri Masjid will be constructed once said that Hindus would be massacred and thrown into the Bhagirathi. There was no show-cause notice or punishment for these statements,” Paul said.
She further accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of encouraging communal tension for political gains. “Mamata Banerjee is behind these remarks… She is preparing another Bangladesh for her vote bank. Ram Mandir will be constructed. We will commemorate the one year of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, and the foundation stone will be laid in Berhampur,” Paul further alleged.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Shankar Ghosh also weighed in, calling the construction of the Ram temple “natural” and a representation of Indian culture. He criticized Kabir’s remarks, saying, “Constructing the temple is natural; it symbolizes our culture. The mosque is associated with those who invaded us. Bangladesh tells us the mentality of this community. Associating the construction of a temple with the construction of a mosque will not be right. Babri Masjid has a history of its own; how can it be constructed here in West Bengal?”
Earlier, TMC MLA Humayun Kabir clarified his statement, describing the Babri Masjid as a deeply emotional issue for Muslims. He explained, “The Babri Masjid was a sentimental issue for Muslims. It was built by Babur, and we all know that in 1992, the Babri Masjid was demolished. It’s been 30 years, and the Babri Masjid hasn’t been rebuilt yet. In 2019, the Supreme Court passed a unanimous verdict, allocating five acres of land for constructing a mosque. With time, it will be built.”
Kabir also addressed allegations regarding the proposed mosque in Bengal. “In Bengal, particularly in Murshidabad, some are saying that a new Babri Masjid will be built to provoke people. But there’s no issue with that. There’s no problem. Regarding the Babri Masjid land, if asked where the land will be bought, let me clarify that we haven’t approached the state government for any land for the Babri Masjid. No, we have no intention of taking any government land or grants,” he added.
Kabir underlined that no government land or grants would be used for the mosque. “A trust will be formed with respected individuals, who will decide on the location and purchase the land with the trust’s funds. The process will follow all legal norms, including tax payments and registrations. This is a matter of faith, not meant to trouble anyone,” he said.
Rejecting allegations of involvement with Bangladeshis, Kabir stated that maintaining border security is the responsibility of the central government. “If someone enters illegally, it’s the job of the central government and the security forces to handle it. My responsibility doesn’t extend to that. Whether they catch them or deport them, it’s up to them. I haven’t noticed any such issue so far,” he said.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On 14th December, several schools in Delhi received bomb threats via email. The threats were sent just a day after 30 schools in Delhi received similar bomb threats. According to Delhi Police, the bomb threats were sent to DPS RK Puram, Ryan International School, and Vasant Kunj at around 6:12 am. As soon as the schools received the emails, they promptly alerted the police. In the email, the sender referred to children as “brave servants of Allah”.
Bomb detection teams and fire department officials were sent to the schools. However, no suspicious items were found during the search of the school premises.
In the email, the sender wrote that when the students are not in the school buildings, the bombs would explode. The email read, “Allah watches your futile efforts to resist His punishment, for no mortal can escape Allah’s justice. Prophet Muhammad declared that those who go against Allah are enemies of the world. Your attempts to stop us are visible and will fail. Prophet Muhammad has permitted children to burn in Allah’s holy flame.”
It further warned, “On Saturday, when students will not be in your buildings, they will be blown up. Our bomb vests are blessed by Prophet Muhammad and will not fail. Our children are brave servants of Allah who will complete their mission.”
Speaking to the media, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Southeast, Ravi Kumar Singh, said that on 13th December, 30 schools across Delhi received fake bomb threat emails. During the investigation, the police found that the emails were sent from outside the country. Following the threat, the schools were evacuated, and bomb squads checked all locations.
The bomb threats have caused serious concerns among parents and staff. However, the police assured them that the investigation is underway and that safety is the top priority for the authorities. The police further stated that no explosives or any other hazardous materials were found at any school.
Third bomb threat in one week
The bomb threat on 14th December was the third in just one week. Earlier, 70 schools received bomb threats in the past week. On 13th December, 30 schools, including Bhatnagar Public School in Paschim Vihar, Cambridge School in Srinivaspuri, Delhi Public School in East of Kailash, and Delhi Public School in Defence Colony, were among those targeted. On 8th December, over 40 schools received bomb threats along with a ransom demand of USD 30,000.
Indian nationals evacuated from war-torn Syria reached Delhi airport on Saturday. They expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian embassy for bringing them back home.
Indian nationals who returned to India shared their experience of staying in Syria in the past few days and how the embassy helped them to come back to India.
Recounting how embassy helped him, an Indian national said, “I had been there in Syria for about six months and the situation was normal there. When the conflict broke out between the rebels and the government, we contacted the embassy and also to those people close to us. They told us that we have to leave today. We were ready but then they told us to hold for sometime as there were celebrations there and you might get hurt. Then after three days, they told us to leave. 75 people had left before me. We were there in the embassy for two days. The embassy helped us and took very good care of us. After that, embassy talked to the company. My company booked tickets for me. The embassy booked tickets for 75 people.”
Praising government’s efforts for evacuating them from Syria, he said, “After that, the embassy team brought two of us to the Lebanon border, then took us to the hotel. Then the next team went from Lebanon to Beirut. There was contact with everyone, whether someone is in Emirate or somewhere else and everyone is in the group. There are about 80-90 people. Everyone else has just left. Now we will sleep peacefully. The government has done well. It is not easy to evacuate 75 people and bring us out of the naxalite area, although there is embassy there. We would visit embassy on 15 August and 26 January. We always remained in touch with the embassy.”
Another Indian national said that he was living in Syria for past six years. He said that Indian embassy supported them and provided them food, accomodation.
He said, “I have been in Syria for six years. We two men have been together. There has never been any such problem in Syria for six years, there has never been any such problem. This time it has happened. We used to visit Indian Embassy on Independence Day and Republic Day and know Indians there. Those people who are there have helped them and have provided us everything. Our company had booked ticket for us. We were in touch with embassy. We reached the Embassy and stayed for two nights, then our company booked the tickets, then sent us from the embassy to Lebanon. The embassy supported us with accomodation and food.”
Speaking about the arrangement made by the Indian embassy, he said, “It is very good. I am saying that the system is very good. Everything is good. From Damascus to Lebanon, the arrangement and facilities done by the embassy is very good.”
Another Indian national said that the embassy had given them assurance that they would evacuate them in case the situation turns bad in Syria. He thanked PM Narendra Modi for the support.
He said, “We were in touch with Indian Embassy. We always told the Indian Embassy that we will do as you say, we will not be stressed for it. They told us that it’s a civil war, if it settles down, it’s okay. If it does not, then we’ll take you out. One day, the embassy called us and told us that we have to leave. We came to the Indian Embassy in Damascus and they then took us to Lebanon border. I wanted to thank PM Modi for their support.”
Praising Indian embassy’s efforts, he said, “People from Pakistan had to wait for 36 hours for visa. But, we got visa within six hours. The Indian embassy helped us a lot. We were kept in a five-star hotel for three to four days and provided food.”
This action of embassy comes as part of India’s ongoing efforts to protect its citizens caught in the violence in Syria.
Earlier in the day, four Indians evacuated from Syria arrived at Delhi airport. Indian nationals have expressed happiness on reaching India and praised Indian embassy for their efforts in bringing them back home.
Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that 77 Indian nationals had been evacuated from strife torn Syria so far. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Indian embassies in Middle East region are in touch with Indians there and will help them if need arises.The spokesperson also said that there is no need for evacuation from any other country as of now.
“So far, 77 Indians have been evacuated, these are those who wanted to return. In addition to that, several other Indians have settled there, married there or are pursuing some vocation and still continue to live there. If they want to return, we will facilitate their return. These 77 were evacuated via Lebanon, and our embassies in Lebanon and Syria coordinated very closely. We brought them by road, after which the Indian embassy in Lebanon facilitated their immigration. The immigration at the border was long and there was a lot of people, so it was quite an exercise. Then we took care of their boarding and lodging, made arrangements for the stay. Out of the 77, 44 were on a pilgrimage to various sites in the region. They have left Beirut for other places and the remaining 30 have either returned or are travelling as we speak, and will be returning to India soon,” he said.
Jaiswal added that the MEA has issued several advisories to people in different Middle Eastern countries like Lebanon and Israel and are in touch with them. However, they do not need to be evacuated as of now.
“We are in touch with others in Damascus and if they require, the Indian embassy will give them a helping hand. We have 3,000 people in Lebanon, about 1,000 people in UNDOF and UNIFIL. We have issued several advisories to stay in touch with our embassies. If tomorrow there is any need for evacuation, we will do that. But, as of now, nothing of that sort is in pipeline. In Israel, we have 32,000 Indian nationals who are working there and the Indian embassy is in touch with them for their welfare. So far there are no evacuation plans from any other country,” he said.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On 14th December, 39-year-old gangster Anil alias Sonu Matka died following an encounter with the police in the district of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. According to the police, he was a known associate of the Hashim Baba gang in Delhi. He was critically injured in an encounter during a joint operation by the Delhi Police Special Cell and UP STF. Later, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment at the hospital.
Delhi Police's Special Cell arrested a criminal named Sonu Matka in an encounter in Meerut. He is accused of shooting his uncle and nephew on Diwali night. The Special Cell team surrounded the area in the early hours of Saturday after receiving information about Sonu Matka's… pic.twitter.com/NPd37QHdp5
Sonu Matka was wanted in several crimes in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, including the murder of a man and his nephew in the Farsh Bazar area of Delhi. A bounty of Rs 50,000 was announced by the police for his arrest.
Details of the encounter
According to media reports, the encounter took place in the early hours of 14th December in the TP Nagar area of Meerut after the police received input about his location in the region. During the encounter, Matka was critically injured and was taken to a hospital for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries. Following the encounter, the police recovered two sophisticated pistols, 10 live rounds, and a bike from Matka.
Statements from law enforcement
In a statement, STF Meerut SP Brijesh Singh said, “Sonu Matka was an infamous gangster from Delhi. The Special Cell of Delhi Police received input about his location in TP Nagar Ved Vyas Puri. Delhi Police informed the STF about the input. In a joint operation, both teams reached Ved Vyas Puri at 7 AM.”
Police located him as he was waiting for someone on his bike. Upon noticing the police, he tried to escape, and the police followed him. Matka opened fire at the police and fired 5-6 shots. The police retaliated to the firing, and one of the bullets hit Matka, causing him to fall from the bike.
STF took him to the District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by the doctors. Around 12-15 rounds were fired during the encounter. He was wanted in 12 murder and robbery cases. Several cases were registered against him in Delhi and UP. He was linked to the Hashim Baba and Umesh Pandit gangs.”
Joint operation details
Additional Director General of Police (STF) Amitabh Yash was quoted by news agency PTI as saying, “The encounter took place in the jurisdiction of the TP Nagar police station. The joint operation was conducted by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police and the Delhi Police’s Special Cell.”
He added that Matka, who was a native of Baghpat, was involved in several cases of robbery and murder in both Delhi and UP. He said, “During the encounter, Matka suffered critical injuries and subsequently succumbed to them while undergoing treatment.” Further investigation into the matter is underway.
Uncle-Nephew murder in Delhi linked to Matka
Matka was wanted for the murder of a man and his nephew in Delhi. The duo was killed on the night of Diwali while they were celebrating outside their home. A 17-year-old boy had allegedly hired Matka over a financial dispute. Forty-four-year-old Akash Sharma and his 16-year-old nephew Rishab Sharma were killed in the incident. Police stated that the teenager, who had hired the shooter, had lent Sharma around Rs 70,000 and had not received the money back. Sharma was allegedly not responding to his calls.
Escape after parole
Notably, Matka had been in prison since 2014 in a murder case. In 2021, he came out on parole using his wife’s operation as an excuse. In June 2021, he was supposed to surrender to the police, but he escaped. According to media reports, he was planning to attack former MLA Amarpal Sharma.
Failed attack and investigation
Matka and his associate Ajay went to Sahibabad to attack Sharma but had to run away as there were many people around Sharma. They left a bike at the crime scene that was registered to one Amir alias Salim Tillan of the Hashim Baba gang. Ajay was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police on 30th November. He was interrogated to obtain information on Matka.
On 13th December, a video surfaced on social media showing a man, later identified as Mehboob, pulling a minor girl’s hair and beating her in the middle of the road. According to media reports, the incident took place within the jurisdiction of Kithore police station in Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh. Mehboob was harassing the minor schoolgirl as she was returning home from school.
When the girl protested, Mehboob pulled her hair and beat her up. A few seconds-long video of the incident was recorded by a bystander and later went viral on social media. It drew the attention of the authorities, after which a police case was registered and the accused was arrested.
UP के मेरठ मे कॉलेज से लौटती कक्षा 9 की छात्रा को छेड़छाड़ के बाद सरेआम पीटने की वीडियो वायरल होने के बाद पुलिस ने मनचले महबूब को एनकाउंटर मे अरेस्ट किया है। महबूब की टांग मे गोली लगी है।#viralvideo#Meerut#UttarPradeshpic.twitter.com/Nma4yhCRtD
The matter, however, did not end there. While the police were taking the accused for a medical examination to CHC hospital, he had the audacity to attempt an escape by snatching the service pistol of a head constable. Reportedly, he ran through the canal track and nearby bushes after jumping off the motorcycle on which he was being transported to the hospital.
The station-in-charge of Kithore police station, along with his team, immediately initiated a search for him. He was spotted in the bushes, and the police asked him to surrender. Amidst the chaos, Mehboob opened fire at the police, prompting a retaliatory response from the police personnel. Mehboob reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and was subsequently apprehended by the police. He was then taken to a hospital for treatment.
मेरठ-नाबालिग छात्रा से सरेआम हुई छेड़छाड़,पिटाई
➡छेड़छाड़ का विरोध करने पर शोहदे ने पीटा
➡स्कूल से लौट रही छात्रा से शोहदा कर रहा था छेड़छाड़
The victim in the case was a Class 11 student. While returning home, Mehboob, who was a resident of the same village, started harassing her. She resisted, angering him, after which he attacked her. Passers-by intervened and rescued the minor girl. The victim later informed her family, who approached the police station to lodge a complaint.
In a statement, Meerut Superintendent of Police, Rakesh Mishra, said: “A video had gone viral showing a man harassing and troubling a minor girl. Taking cognisance of the video, an FIR was lodged at the concerned police station based on the complaint received. The individual, identified as Mehboob, a resident of the Shahjahanpur police station area, was immediately arrested. Later, while being taken to the CHC for a medical check-up, he snatched a pistol from the accompanying police team and attempted to escape. Subsequently, under the leadership of the SHO, a combing operation was conducted. During the operation, when confronted, he fired at the police party. In retaliatory self-defence firing by the police, the individual sustained injuries. He has been sent for initial medical treatment.”
Uttar Pradesh: Rakesh Mishra, SP Dehat Meerut says, "…A video had gone viral showing a man harassing and troubling a minor girl. Taking cognizance of the video, an FIR was lodged at the concerned police station based on the complaint received. The individual, identified as… pic.twitter.com/z8XUFriVH8
On 13th December (local time), San Francisco police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that former OpenAI researcher and whistleblower, 26-year-old Suchir Balaji, was found dead in his apartment. As per the Mercury Times report, he allegedly committed suicide in his apartment located on Buchanan Street in San Francisco. His body was recovered on 26th November 2024 at around 1 PM after a call was made to the police to check his well-being.
Suchir publicly accused OpenAI of violating copyright law
According to the medical examiner’s office, Suchir committed suicide, and police officials found no “evidence of foul play” in the matter. Reportedly, he held information that was expected to play a key role in a lawsuit against OpenAI. Around three months ago, Suchir publicly accused OpenAI of violating US copyright law while developing ChatGPT. For those unaware, ChatGPT is a generative artificial intelligence program currently used by hundreds of millions of people around the world.
Official statements from authorities and OpenAI
Speaking to TechCrunch, the medical examiner’s office said, “The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) has identified the decedent as Suchir Balaji, 26, of San Francisco. The manner of death has been determined to be suicide. The OCME has notified the next-of-kin and has no further comment or reports for publication at this time.”
In a statement, OpenAI said, “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news today and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time.”
OpenAI’s copyright controversies
In late 2022, several lawsuits were filed against OpenAI by computer programmers, journalists, and authors, accusing the company of illegally stealing their copyrighted material to train ChatGPT and increase its value beyond USD 150 billion. Over the past year, several news outlets, including The New York Times in the US and ANI in India, have sued OpenAI for copyright infringement.
On 23rd October this year, Suchir argued that OpenAI was harming businesses and entrepreneurs by stealing their data to train ChatGPT. He said, “If you believe what I believe, you have to just leave the company. This is not a sustainable model for the internet ecosystem as a whole.”
Suchir Balaji’s views on AI
During an interview with The New York Times, Suchir revealed that he initially believed AI could benefit society, including its ability to cure diseases and stop ageing. He said, “I thought we could invent some kind of scientist that could help solve them.”
However, his views about AI began to change in 2022, two years after joining OpenAI as a researcher. He expressed concerns about his assignment to gather data from the internet for ChatGPT’s fourth version, which analysed text from nearly the entire internet to train the program.
In late October, in a post on Suchir’s personal website, he wrote that no known factors seemed to weigh in favour of the AI software being a fair use of its training data. He wrote, “That being said, none of the arguments here are fundamentally specific to ChatGPT either, and similar arguments could be made for many generative AI products in a wide variety of domains.”
I recently participated in a NYT story about fair use and generative AI, and why I'm skeptical "fair use" would be a plausible defense for a lot of generative AI products. I also wrote a blog post (https://t.co/xhiVyCk2Vk) about the nitty-gritty details of fair use and why I…
Notably, on 18th November, the attorneys of The New York Times filed a letter in federal court naming Suchir Balaji as someone who had “unique and relevant” documents that could have supported the news outlet’s case against the AI company. The paper also named 11 other past and present employees of the company who might have material helpful in the case.
Rise of ChatGPT and AI challenges
ChatGPT was released in 2022. In a short span, it has become a worldwide sensation, challenging other companies to release similar platforms, such as Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), which has developed its own AI engine, Grok. These AI engines analyse vast amounts of data from the internet to generate answers for prompts submitted by users, creating text, images, and videos. With time, AI is becoming more intelligent, posing challenges to writers, editors, artists, journalists, authors, and coders, among others.
Ongoing copyright disputes
In the case against OpenAI, news outlets have argued that the company plagiarised and stole articles, undermining their business models. The lawsuit stated, “Microsoft and OpenAI simply take the work product of reporters, journalists, editorial writers, editors and others who contribute to the work of local newspapers — all without any regard for the efforts, much less the legal rights, of those who create and publish the news on which local communities rely.”
However, the company has refuted the claims, stressing that the work done by OpenAI to train ChatGPT remains under “fair use” laws. The company said, “We see immense potential for AI tools like ChatGPT to deepen publishers’ relationships with readers and enhance the news experience.”
IT giant Accenture has locked its official X account following demands for the sacking of AI expert Atul Subhash’s wife after he committed suicide. Subhash tragically took his life on December 9, 2024, leaving behind a 24-page suicide note and a 90-minute video in which he accused his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania, an employee at Accenture, of harassment and extortion.
Before long, several users on X demanded Accenture dismiss Singhania for allegedly pushing her husband to take the drastic step of taking his own life. One of the users tweeted, “The bare minimum @Accenture should do is sack the murderer responsible for the death of Atul Subhash.” Many others accused the company of being complicit in Subhash’s death.
As the barrage of tweets asking Accenture to dismiss Singhania began to mount, the company locked its official X account, trying to handle the online repercussions of the 34-year-old software engineer’s suicide, which has brought to the fore the issue of harassment faced by men in a toxic relationship.
However, the move is widely perceived as an effort to minimize scrutiny as the situation unfolds. Additionally, Accenture CEO Julie Sweet also locked her X profile amidst the escalating criticism. Meanwhile, candlelight vigils were organised outside Accenture’s offices in Bengaluru, where IT professionals gathered in solidarity with Subhash, calling for justice.
The marriage between Nikita Singhania and Atul Subhash, which took place in 2019, ended in a contentious separation in 2021. In his suicide note, Subhash accused Singhania and her relatives of relentless harassment, including demands for a significant portion of a ₹3 crore settlement and filing false domestic violence and dowry harassment cases against him. He claimed these pressures pushed him into despair, ultimately leading to his tragic decision to end his life.
The police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Subhash’s death. An FIR has been filed against Singhania and some of her family members, charging them with abetment of suicide, among other offences. Authorities are also probing allegations of extortion and harassment leading up to the incident. While both families have denied the accusations, the case has sparked a broader debate about marital disputes and the legal rights of men in India.
On the 12th of December 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that no further petitions will be registered against the Places of Worship Act while the pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Act are being heard. A special bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Viswanathan issued a directive that no effective interim or final orders should be passed by lower courts, including orders for surveys, until the court decides on the constitutionality of the Act. In addition, the Centre was given four weeks to file its response.
The Supreme Court directive came at a time when a nationwide debate is ongoing over the disputed Sambhal Jama Masjid, which the Hindu side contends to be the Harihar temple, the Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath dispute, and the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi dispute among others wherein the crux of the issue demolition and subsequent encroachment and construction of mosques by Islamic invaders like Babur.
While the Muslim side sees the Places of Worship Act (1991) as no less than a protective shield in facilitating its encroachment of ASI-protected and erstwhile Hindu religious sites, the Hindu side views it as opposed to the principles of natural justice. As the fate of this Act relies on the judgment of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Viswanathan, let’s take a look at the career trajectory of these judges.
CJI Sanjiv Khanna
Sanjiv Khanna is the nephew of former Supreme Court Judge Hans Raj Khanna, who infamously took on Indira Gandhi’s government in 1976. Inspired by his uncle, Justice Sanjiv Khanna enrolled at the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983 and was appointed to the Delhi High Court as an Additional Judge in 2005. Justice Khanna was thereafter elevated to the Supreme Court in January 2019. He is set to serve in the capacity of Chief Justice of India for a brief period of 6 months until 13th May 2025.
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On the 11th of November 2024, Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India.
He was a part of the 7-Judge Bench that overruled the 1967 Azeez Basha case, which denied minority status to Aligarh Muslim University. CJI Sanjiv Khanna and three other judges directed that the status of AMU be freshly determined based on the tests laid down in that particular case (Aligarh Muslim University Through its Registrar Faizan Mustafa v Naresh Agarwal).
In April 2024, he along with Justice Dipankar Dutta shot down [pdf] a petition filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), seeking 100% VVPAT verification of votes cast on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Justice Khanna was previously part of the 2019 Bench that increased the number of booths, which undergo VVPAT physical verification, from 1 to 5 per Assembly Segment.
In February this year, Justice Khanna was part of a 5-judge bench that dubbed the electoral bond scheme ‘unconstitutional.’ Justice Khanna in a concurring judgment dismissed the argument that donor privacy applied to donations made through banks. He noted that bank officials are aware of the identities of the donors who purchased the bonds.
He was part of the 5-Judge Bench that unanimously upheld the constitutionality of abrogation of Article 370. In a concurring judgment, Justice Khanna stated that the removal of Article 370 did not undermine India’s federal structure.
In 2019, Justice Khanna did not interfere with the decision of the Election Commission of India (ECI), which stalled the release of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s biopic amid the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). He was also part of the Bench which rejected the Centre’s petition to increase the compensation given to victims of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy. The apex court contended that the settlement could be set aside only on grounds of ‘fraud’, which was not pleaded by the Centre.
He along with 4 other Judges also upheld that the Supreme Court has the authority to grant divorce to couples using its discretionary powers under Article 142 of the Indian Constitution without the need to approach lower courts (Shilpa Sailesh v Varun Sreenivasan). In 2018, Justice Khanna also ruled in favour of the decriminalisation of adultery in Joseph Shine v Union of India.
In August this year, Justice Sanjiv Khanna was a part of the bench that challenged the DK Marathe College’s ban on hijab, questioning why the prohibition had not been applied to other religious markers like tilak and bindi although the College contended that the dress code applied to students of all religions and castes.
In September this year, Khanna led the bench which granted bail of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested by the CBI in connection with the Delhi Liquor Scam.
In November this year, a bench led by CJI Khanna stopped the Sambhal court from proceeding with the survey order till the Jama Masjid Commitee’s plea was listed in the High Court.
On 25th November, a bench comprising CJI Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar rejected several petitions contesting the use of the terms “socialist” and “secular” in the Constitution’s Preamble under the 42nd Amendment passed in 1976 during the emergency imposed by former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi. The bench, which included Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar noted that the Preamble is also subject to parliamentary amending authority and added that the Preamble’s adoption date does not limit the Parliament’s ability to make changes to it. The retrospective argument was dismissed on this basis.
CJI Khanna stated that “being socialist” in the Indian context only refers to a “welfare state”. “The way we understand socialism in India is very different from other countries. In our context, socialism primarily means a welfare state. That is all. It has never prevented the private sector which is thriving well. We have all benefited from it. The word socialism is used in a different context, meaning that the state is a welfare state and must stand for the welfare of the people and shall provide equality of opportunities,” he said.
CJI Khanna is also known for his observations on ‘secularism’. As the Supreme Court judge in August 2023, he called the alleged call for boycott of Muslims as “unacceptable”.
Controversy: Justice Khanna’s elevation to the Supreme Court was a bit controversial since he superseded 32 judges, sparking debates on the collegium system’s selection criteria.
Justice KV Vishwanathan
Born on 26th May 1966, in, Kerala’s Kalpathy, KV Vishwanathan graduated from Coimbatore Law College, Bharathiar University. In the year 2009, the Supreme Court designated Vishwanathan as a Senior Advocate, after 20 years of legal practice. In August 2013, he was appointed the Additional Solicitor General of India who served as ASG till May 2014. In 2023, he was ascended directly from the Bar to the Supreme Court. With this, he became the 10th advocate to be appointed to the Supreme Court without any prior High Court-level judicial experience.
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As a lawyer, KV Vishwanathan represented petitioners in several noted cases like the Right to Privacy and the validity of the Aadhaar Act, the case involving a challenge to WhatsApp’s privacy policy wherein he represented the Internet Freedom Foundation. In addition, Vishwanathan advocated for the recognition of the marriages and rights of transgender people. “Centre says that by our very nature, we cannot procreate. Is procreation a valid defence from keeping us from effects of marriage? None of the marriage statutes prescribe any upper limit for marriage. Women beyond 45, who are unfit for pregnancy, are allowed to marry. Heterosexual couples who cannot have children are allowed to marry,” he argued in this case. Notably, Vishwanathan also represented YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy in the disproportionate assets case filed by the CBI.
As the Supreme Court judge, Justice Vishwanathan delivered certain notable judgments. In the K.P. Khemka v. Haryana SIIDC case, Justice Vishwanathan was involved in deciding whether time-barred debts might be recovered using special legislation rather than civil suits. This case raised important issues about the junction of legislative limitations and recovery mechanisms.
Recently, Justice Vishwanathan alongside Justice BR Gavai directed the Central government to grant a permanent commission to a woman officer serving in the Army Dental Corps. This came as the woman officer had alleged that she was unfairly excluded from the benefits available to her colleagues. The bench noted that it was a case of discrimination and stressed the necessity to implement policies in a fair and consistent manner.
Justice Viswanathan has also been vocal about revising bail proceedings. He raised concern over the alleged abuse of incarceration as a pre-trial punishment and called for reforms to end bail delays, particularly for undertrial inmates. Alongside Justice BR Gavai, while granting relief to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s aide, Prem Prakash, in an illegal mining-related case filed by the Enforcement Directorate, he said that even in PMLA cases, bail should be the norm and jail should be the exception. “Section 45 PMLA does not re-write this principle [that bail is the rule] to mean that deprivation is the norm and liberty is the exception..” he stated.
Notably, Justice Viswanathan was a member of the SC bench that deemed ‘bulldozer justice’ “unconstitutional” on the 13th November, stating that the right to shelter is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. The bench held the verdict that state authorities cannot determine the guilt of a person and alleged crimes cannot be the basis for demolishing a person’s house or properties. Determining the guilt of an individual is the job of the judiciary, the verdict said.
During the hearing of please challenging the constitutional validity of the Places of Worship Act (1991), Justice Vishwanathan said, civil courts cannot “run a race with the Supreme Court” when a Constitution bench has laid down certain principles regarding the Act.
Justice PV Sanjay Kumar
Born in Hyderabad in 1963, PV Sanjay Kumar obtained his law degree in 1988 and later served as a government pleader from 2000 to 2003. In August 2008, Kumar was elevated as an additional judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. In October 2019, despite being the second senior-most judge, in Telangana High Court, he was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana HC. His transfer was widely opposed by the Telangana Advocates Association given that he was likely to become the next CJI of the state high Court. However, he was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court and later served as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court in 2021.
Justice Sanjay Kumar (Credit: Supreme Court of India)
In the 2024, Mumbai college Hijab ban case, Justice Kumar alongside CJI Khanna stayed the ban questioning why the prohibition had not been applied to other religious markers like tilak and bindi. “Can you forbid someone from wearing a tilak? Is this not included in your guidelines?” Justice Kumar questioned.
In April this year, Justice Kumar alongside Justice Aniruddha Bose allowed Karikho Kri’s appeal and set aside the impugned order in a group of two civil appeals against the Itanagar Bench’s decision, in which the High Court partially allowed the election petition holding Karikho Kri’s election from 44 Tezu (ST) void under Sections 100 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Bench held that the broad premise that a candidate must lay his life out for scrutiny by the electorate is unacceptable, and the candidate’s ‘right to privacy’ would still exist.
In April 2023, Justice Kumar was a part of the Supreme Court bench that stayed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in the Modi surname defamation case and restored his status as a Member of Parliament. While pronouncing the judgement, the 3-judge bench observed that the utterances of Rahul Gandhi were not in “good taste” and said that a person in public life ought to have been more careful while making public speeches. However, questioned why the maximum sentence was given, which led to his disqualification.
In 2021, a division bench of the then Manipur HC CJI Sanjay Kumar and Justice Jamir decided that although India has no proper refugee protection framework, it does grant refuge to refugees coming from neighbouring countries. The court ordered that seven Myanmarese people must initially approach the UNHCR in New Delhi before the Union of India can determine whether they are eligible for refugee status and asylum in India.
In the 2012, Shaik Farid vs Government of Andhra Pradesh case, an Andhra Pradesh HC bench including Justice Sanjay Kumar was to decide whether the term of the Members of the Waqf Board is co-terminus or concurrent with their terms as MPs. In this case, the court held that the expiry of an MP’s tenure or of the state legislature does not impact his elected membership of the Waqf Board.
Places of Worship Act and the “exemption
Back in 1991, the PV Narasimha Rao-led Congress regime passed the Places of Worship Act to protect the religious character of places of worship as they existed in 1947, with the exception of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue, which was already in court. It also provided for the preservation of the religious character of such a place of worship on that particular day.
As per this Act, a site of worship’s religious character must remain the same as it was on August 15, 1947. The law also says that nobody ever shall translate any religious denomination’s holy site into one of a distinct denomination or section. In addition, the law asserts that each and every lawsuit, appeal, or other proceedings pertaining to changing the character of the area of worship pending before any court or authority on August 15, 1947, will be terminated as soon as the legislation becomes effective, meaning there cannot be any further legal proceedings. Furthermore, the act also imposes a positive obligation on the state to maintain the religious character of every place of worship as it existed at the time of independence.
However, the Act also mentions a crucial exception. Legal proceedings can be filed under the Places of Worship Act of 1991 if the change of status occurred after the August 15, 1947 deadline. This prevents judicial proceedings, litigation, and appeals over the possibility of status that occurred after the cut-off date. Furthermore, the law exempts any place of worship that is an ancient and historical monument or archaeological site protected by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958. This means that if a place of worship of any religion is designated as an ancient and historical monument or archaeological site, it may be exempt from the Places of Worship Act.
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