The Supreme Court on Monday refused to relax GRAP IV measures in Delhi and ordered the CAQM to consider relaxing norms for students. The apex court observed that several students cannot avail midday meals, online classes and cannot access air purifiers.

The court also pulled up the Delhi Police over no checkpoints at the borders of the city for checking the pollution measures and said that it was a serious lapse. A bench headed by Justice AS Oka stated that they would consider prosecution of the Delhi Police Commissioner under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Act for deploying police personnel at only 23 checkpoints, when Stage 4 of the GRAP was implemented.

Earlier, the court has also appointed 13 members from the court as commissioners to check whether the GRAP IV measures are being implemented or not. On Monday, the commissioners submitted their report to the court.

Subsequently, the court told the Delhi government that there were no checkposts at borders of the city and that the ban on trucks entering into the capital was not being followed properly.

The top court bench said that they were informed that no police or government personnel were present at the border checkpoints, and they were only manned by toll collection staff of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Mentioning that they will direct prosecution against all officials, the court questioned why the police were not directed to take action under Stage IV of the GRAP.

Responding, Advocate Shadan Farasat representing the Delhi government said that the CAQM had issued directions. Consecutively, the court asked him to show what written instructions were given by the state and the central government to the police on November 18. To this, Advocate Farasat said that directions were issued to post police personnel at 23 checkpoints where trucks could enter the city.

The court continued that this was negligence, adding that it will direct CAQM to prosecute the Delhi Police Commissioner.

After the Maharashtra Assembly Elections results, NCP leader Ajit Pawar criticized NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar for its decision to field his nephew Yugender Pawar against him in the family bastion of Baramati. Ajit Pawar also mentioned that his decision to field wife Sunetra Pawar against his sister Supriya Sule in the Lok Sabha election was a mistake. 

Sharad Pawar led NCP had fielded Yugender Pawar, son of Ajit Pawar’s elder brother Shrinivas Anantrao Pawar, in the Baramati Assembly segment. The constituency was represented by Sharad Pawar for over two decades, followed by Ajit Pawar for over three. In this assembly election, 33-year-old Yugendra Pawar was backed by Sharad Pawar and four-time Baramati MP Supriya Sule. However, Yugender Pawar lost out against his formidable uncle by a margin of over 1 lakh votes.

While addressing the media, Ajit Pawar said that Yugendra is a business person, and he had no connection with politics. He added that there was no reason to field his own nephew against him in the elections.

Earlier in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, Ajit Pawar had fielded his wife Sunetra Pawar against his cousin and Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule, who won the contest by a 1.5 lakh votes margin. Later, Ajit Pawar admitted that it was a mistake.

Sharad Pawar had defended the decision to field Yugendra Pawar, mentioning that someone had to contest the polls. He had also said there was no comparison between Ajit Pawar and Yugendra Pawar. 

Notably, a 2023 rebellion led by Ajit Pawar against his uncle split the NCP founded by Sharad Pawar. Since then, the senior Pawar has been fighting to win his party’s name and symbol back. 

Previously In the Lok Sabha election, the veteran had trumped his nephew, with his faction winning 8 seats compared to Ajit Pawar’s score of 1. However this time, the tables turned as NCP (Sharad Pawar) scored 10, but Ajit Pawar’s party won 41.

Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq, and his party colleague Iqbal Mahmood’s son Nawab Suhail Iqbal are among the 400 people who have been charged in the violence over the survey of a mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal. Nearly 25 people were arrested for the violence which killed 4 people.

During a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid on Sunday, Sambhal witnessed deadly clashes between the locals and the police. The Shahi Jama Masjid is at the centre of a contentious legal battle over claims that it was built on the site of a Hindu temple.

Reports said that the protesters also set some vehicles on fire and threw stones at the police, who used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob. Considering the situation, the district administration has imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders till November 30.

Around 20 police personnel were also injured and a constable, who suffered an injury to the head, is said to be critical. Addressing a press conference, Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar said that due to Ziaur Barq’s statement earlier, the situation became worse. He added they were identifying the protestors using drone footage and that the accused would be charged under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

Reacting to the incident, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP today, saying the party was responsible for vitiating the situation.

The Congress leader said that the biased and hasty attitude of the state government on the recent dispute in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh is extremely unfortunate. He expressed deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the violence and firing. He claimed that the administration’s insensitive action without listening to all parties further vitiated the situation and resulted in the death of many people, for which the BJP government is directly responsible.

Rahul Gandhi further said that the BJP’s use of power to create rift and discrimination between Hindu-Muslim communities is neither in the interest of the state nor the country. He also requested the Supreme Court to intervene in this matter as soon as possible and provide justice.

Earlier on Sunday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP, along with the state government and administration of orchestrating the violence.