New Delhi, Dec 9: India recorded 249 fresh coronavirus infections on Friday, while the number of active cases declined further to 4,228, according to Union health ministry data.
With this, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country stands at 4,46,74,439. The death toll has climbed to 5,30,653 with six fatalities reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.
No deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.
The active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the ministry website.
A decrease of 16 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,39,558, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.
According to the ministry’s website, 219.96 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 last year, three crore on June 23 and four crore on January 25 this year. (Agencies)
249 fresh COVID-19 cases in India
Confident of rooting out terrorism menace from our soil: Lt Governor
Jammu, Dec 08: Noting that social development and aspirations of people can be fulfilled only in conditions of peace, the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said every segment of society must realise the futility of conflict and utility of peace, harmony and brotherhood.
Addressing the Message of Humanity Conference organised by Dogra Sadar Sabha, J&K. Lt Governor said We are witnessing new threats to peace, and terrorism exported by the neighbouring country is one of them. We are dealing with threat of terrorism firmly and confident of rooting out this menace from our soil.”
The Conference was presided over by Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammed Khan.
In his presidential address, Arif Mohammed Khanspoke elaborately on the message of different religions. He said Secularism has been a core characteristic of Indian society since ages and organisations like Dogra Sadar Sabha represent the inherent values and traditions of our ancient Indian culture.
‘Prosperity and growth require unity and oneness. Our nation is home to unity in diversity and it has always welcomed every religion that ever came to this land. Many prominent religions have their deep connections with this land about which many people do not know,’ he added.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt Governor said that the convention provided a unique platform to spread the eternal & universal message of peace, social equality and communal harmony; aptly echoing the belief of all humanistic thinkers around the world.
‘We are the inheritors of a great civilisation that has always believed in world peace and universal brotherhood. Thinkers and individuals must take advantage of the immense moral force of the two and contribute to create an inclusive ecosystem for the society, ‘he said.
As India has assumed G20 Presidency for the next one year, the message of peace, friendship and cooperation enshrined in our cultural heritage should become the guiding principle for the world, said the Lt Governor
Earlier, prominent religious scholars from different religions, including Padma Shri Vishwamurti Shastri, Moulana Shahzad Azam AnwariQasmi, President SGPC, S Ranjit Singh and Fr.Lawrence Tharsis, spoke about the message of fraternity and love as taught by all religions which need to be instilled in the hearts of younger generations.
Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak, President Dogra Sadar Sabha, in his welcome address threw light on the foundation of Dogra Sadar Sabha and the vision behind organising the conference on “Message of Humanity”.
Office bearers and senior members of Dogra Sadar Sabha, and prominent personalities of society and large gathering of people from all walks of life were present on the occasion.
Supreme Court dismisses curative petition seeking probe into ‘genocide’
New Delhi, December 8
The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed a curative petition seeking a probe by the CBI/NIA or any other court-appointed agency into the alleged mass murders and genocide of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) in Jammu and Kashmir during 1989-90.
“In our opinion, no case is made out within the parameters indicated in the decision of this Court in Rupa Ashok Hurra v. Ashok Hurra,” a Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice S Abdul Nazeer said, dismissing the curative petition filed by Roots in Kashmir, a group of Kashmiri Pandits.
The order dated November 22 was uploaded on the top court’s website recently.
“No evidence will be available after 27 years. What happened is heart-wrenching but we can’t pass orders now,” the top court had said on July 24, 2017 while dismissing the main petition. On October 24, 2017, the top court also dismissed the petitioner’s review petition.
However, citing the re-opening of anti-Sikh riots’ case after over 30 years, the petitioner had in the curative petition contended that no limitation period was applicable in crimes against humanity and in cases of genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Questioning the court’s 2017 order, the curative petition alleged that the J&K Police miserably failed to make any progress in hundreds of FIRs pending with them.
On September 2, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain a PIL seeking direction to the government to rehabilitate/resettle Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs, including those who migrated since 1990 from Kashmir to any other part of India due to terrorism. However, it had given liberty to the petitioner NGO to approach the Central Government and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with the grievances.
However, citing the re-opening of anti-Sikh riots’ case after over 30 years, the petitioner had in the curative petition contended that no limitation period was applicable in crimes against humanity and in cases of genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Questioning the court’s 2017 order, the curative petition alleged that the J&K Police miserably failed to make any progress in hundreds of FIRs pending with them.
On September 2, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain a PIL seeking direction to the government to rehabilitate/resettle Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs, including those who migrated since 1990 from Kashmir to any other part of India due to terrorism. However, it had given liberty to the petitioner NGO to approach the Central Government and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with the grievances.
Srinagar-Leh highway closed for vehicular movement
SRINAGAR: The Srinagar-Leh road was on Friday closed for vehicular movement after fresh snowfall at Zoji La Pass, officials said on Friday.
An official said that the Srinagar-Leh highway has been closed keeping in view the slippery condition of the road.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir police traffic on its official Twitter handle also confirmed that SSG road & Mughal Road has been closed for vehicular movement.
“Traffic update at 0700 hrs. Traffic plying on Jammu-Srinagar NHW. Mughal road and SSG Road closed for vehicular movement due to fresh snowfall,” Traffic Police tweeted.
Landslide win of PM Modi’s BJP in Gujarat grabs global headlines
Global news outlets have widely reported on the landslide victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat where Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a campaign to a record win on his home turf.
On Thursday, the ruling BJP recorded a historic win in Gujarat, winning 156 seats. The BJP’s 7th consecutive Assembly poll win in Gujarat is also its biggest since the founding of this state in 1960. The Straits Times of Singapore, the Nikkei Asia, Al Jazeera, Independent, ABC News were among the global publications which displayed photographs of jubilant celebrations of the BJP’s win in Gujarat.
British publication The Guardian reported that Prime Minister Modi had given a significant boost to his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a sign of the party’s enduring popularity before a general election due in 2024.
Noting how BJP has not lost a Gujarat assembly election since 1995, Japan’s Nikkei Asia attributed this win to PM Modi’s popularity in the state of Gujarat.
“Modi is wildly popular in the state, where he served as chief minister for nearly 13 years before becoming prime minister in 2014,” the newspaper said.
The Japanese daily said Modi held a series of campaign rallies in the state, lending his star power to the BJP’s campaign. “Many residents take pride in the fact that the Gujarat-born Modi represents India at the global level, and feel a sense of responsibility to support him,” the newspaper added.
The UK-based The Independent said the record win in Gujarat is a big boost to the BJP ahead of the national elections in 2024.
Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Ajay Gudavarthy told Al Jazeera that the BJP’s comfortable win in Gujarat shows a deeper consolidation of the Hindu vote.
BJP gets 53.33% vote share in Gujarat; AAP eats into Congress with 12%
Dec 8 (IANS) It is a big win for the BJP and the AAP in the Gujarat Assembly elections with the former bagging 53.33 per cent vote share and the latter getting a 12 per cent share.
The Congress share has shrunk to 26.9 per cent, as per the Election Commission (EC)figures of 12 p.m.
According to the EC data, BJP was leading in 150 seats, Congress in 22 seats, AAP six, Samajwadi Party on one and independent on three seats.
BJP General Secretary Pradipsinh Vaghela told the media that people have rejected the Congress and AAP both, and one more time Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the party to not just a landslide victory but the BJP has won record breaking seats, setting a new record in Gujarat’s electoral politics.
Congress candidate Lalit Vasoya alleges that the AAP worked as the ‘B’ team of the BJP by denting the Congress votes. “Its presence helped the BJP to cross 150 seats,” said Vasoya.
SKIMS announces winter vacation for faculty members from Jan 01
Officials said 50 percent of the faculty will take vacation of 28 days in January, another half will avail the vacation in February.
“The Winter vacation holidays 2023 for Faculty Staff of SKIMS will be due w.e.f. 01.01.2023 to 28.01.2023 (1st half) and w.e.f. 01.02.2023 to 28.02.2023 (2nd half). In this behalf all Heads of Departments are requested to furnish the names of faculty members who are desirous to avail 1 half/2nd half of vacation. It may be kept in view that 50% of faculty staff is available in the department for both the halves,” read a circular reported by news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
“Heads of departments must ensure that one amongst the senior faculty members remains available in the department during each half of vacation, wherever possible. No change will be entertained after receipt of the roster from the concerned Heads of Departments. The Administration has right to call back any faculty member during vacation, in case of emergencies and if need arises,” it read further.
“It is reiterated that the departure reports of faculty members proceeding on vacation shall not be entertained unless their residential addresses /contact numbers are recorded therein,” it added.
“Further, it should be specifically mentioned in the roster whether any station leaving permission is required or not. No faculty member on duty will be permitted to avail any leave for attending conference/Seminar/Workshop entailing station permission,” the circular added.
Congress leading on 35 seats in Himachal, BJP wins 7 as counting continues
Congress candidate Harish Janartha on Thursday won from Shimla constituency in Himachal Pradesh with a margin of 3037 votes. While Congress is leading on 39 seats out of 68 and BJP is leading on 18.
Janartha won with a total count of 15803 votes while the candidate of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sanjay Sood trailed behind with 12766 votes. As per the latest trends, the Shimla seat is the first to be won by Congress in Himachal Pradesh, however, so far, the BJP has won 7 seats including Mandi, Nurpur, Paonta Sahib, and Sundernagar, by 1.25 pm.
As per the EC till 2:10 pm congress is leading on 35 seats and won 5 seats so far while the BJP has won 7 seats and leading on 18 seats.
Despite the Congress leading in the trends of the Election Commission of India, the BJP is still very hopeful of continuing to govern the hill state for the next five years. In contrast, Congress says it would be “too soon” to say anything in accordance with the trends.
“Though Congress is leading in many constituencies in Himachal, there is a neck-and-neck competition at many others. We should wait till the election results are announced as the counting is still underway,” Bhupesh Baghel said in his address to mediapersons in Raipur.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also said that it is too early to make comments and the party will respond when the final results are declared.
“It is too early to speak now. Our party will speak in the evening only after the final results are declared,” Kharge told reporters.
In Himachal Pradesh, as per the latest trends by the ECI, the BJP is currently leading in 21 seats after registering victory in four of the 68 assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh. The competition is tough as congress leads in 39 of them.
Counting votes for Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh began at 8 am on Thursday.
Hardik Patel Credits Gujarat Win To Removal Of Article 370
Dec 8: With the Bharatiya Janata Party taking a clear lead in the vote counting underway today for the Gujarat Assembly polls, BJP’s Viramgam candidate and Patidar leader, Hardik Patel, attributed the party’s success to work done so far.
He also highlighted the 2019 revocation of ‘Article 370’ from Jammu and Kashmir. “It’s a win of BJP’s work, the removal of ‘Article 370’,” said Patel, who had left Congress months ahead of the state polls and joined the BJP.
The Modi government had on August 5, 2019, scrapped the controversial ‘Article 370’ which provided special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We’ll focus on the work to be done in the next 20 years. There was no competition with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Viramgam ‘made’ Hardik Patel win for the further development of the constituency,” said Patel while hoping for his clear win from the seat.
Patel, who switched from Congress to the BJP this June, contested against Congress’ Lakha Bharwad and Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Amarsinh Thakore. The Patidar quota stir leader contested the polls from his hometown, Viramgam – one of the 182 assembly constituencies of Gujarat. (Agencies)
Justice Chandrachud takes key judicial, administrative decisions in his first month as CJI
Dec 8: In his first month in office, Justice D Y Chandrachud has taken several key judicial and administrative decisions having a far-reaching impact such as deciding to examine the right to marriage of gay couples and ordering protection of an area in Varanasi’s Gyanvapi complex where a ‘shivling’ was claimed to have been found.
Justice Chandrachud, who has been credited with taking steps for digitisation of the judiciary, gave a green signal for operationalising an online RTI portal and making available an updated android version 2.0 of SC mobile application.
The Chief Justice of India has also attempted to streamline the listing of cases by giving primacy to bail petitions and matrimonial transfer cases and decided that every apex court bench will hear 10 such pleas each before starting regular proceedings.
Besides, Justice Chandrachud has also decided to set up four special benches to hear criminal appeals, direct and indirect tax and land acquisition matters and motor accident claim cases respectively.
Justice Chandrachud was sworn in as the 50th CJI by President Droupadi Murmu on November 9.
Born on November 11, 1959, Justice Chandrachud studied in St Stephen’s College and the Campus Law Centre before going to Harvard. He was elevated to the top court on May 13, 2016.
Justice Chandrachud has been part of several Constitution benches and landmark verdicts like on the Ayodhya issue that paved the way for the construction of the Ram Temple at the disputed site in Uttar Pradesh and Right to Privacy.
He will have a tenure of two years as the CJI and during this period, as many as 19 posts of judges in the Supreme Court will have to be filled.
Presently, there are seven vacancies in the top court against the sanctioned strength of 34 judges including the CJI.
The last 30 days have been quite eventful as the CJI batted in favour of the collegium system of appointment of judges and also called for respect of the district judiciary while asking judges of the higher judiciary to get rid of the “colonial mindset”.
He also expressed his disapproval of the notion that only educated people are better decision-makers.
Over four years after a bench of which he was a part decriminalised consensual gay sex between adults, a CJI-led bench sought response from the central government to separate pleas by two gay couples seeking enforcement of their right to marry and a direction to authorities to register their marriage under the Special Marriage Act.