India’s banking sector is expected to face significant disruption next week as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called for a nationwide strike on March 24 and 25, following a breakdown in negotiations with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) over certain demands.

The UFBU, representing over 8 lakh bank employees across public, private, foreign, co-operative, and regional rural banks, has warned that banking operations will be severely impacted during the strike.

Which days will be affected?

With March 22 falling on the fourth Saturday and March 23 being a Sunday, both of which are already bank holidays, the addition of the strike on March 24 (Monday) and March 25 (Tuesday) could result in a four-day disruption of several banking services.

What services will be impacted?

According to banking officials, the strike will affect a range of key banking services including:

• Cash transactions
• Clearing house operations
• Fund remittances
• Loan-related services

However, ATM facilities and online banking services are expected to function normally. Yet, there might be delays in high-value or time-sensitive transactions during the four-day disruption period.

The strike is expected to impact both urban and rural banking operations, given the wide representation of employees across all banking categories under the UFBU.

The Supreme Court has initiated an in-house inquiry following serious allegations against Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. Reports said Justice Varma’s transfer was just the beginning of the process.

The matter came to light during Holi, when a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi, leading firefighters to discover a large amount of unaccounted cash.

Justice Varma has been transferred to his parent High Court in Allahabad, as per a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court Collegium. However, reports said Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna has sought a detailed report from the Delhi High Court Chief Justice Justice DK Upadhyaya and has briefed fellow judges on the situation.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, Justice Varma could be asked to resign or face removal through parliamentary procedure under Article 124(4) of the Constitution. Currently, the judge is on leave and has not issued any comment.

The incident that sparked, no pun intended, the probe occurred when a fire at the judge’s home required emergency response. Upon entering the premises, firefighters discovered the cash in a room and informed police. The matter was then escalated to the judiciary, prompting a swift response from the Supreme Court Collegium.

Sources revealed that the Chief Justice of India took the discovery very seriously, leading to the Collegium’s unanimous decision to transfer the judge. Reports indicate that discussions around the judge’s resignation had already begun.

The issue has ignited a broader debate over the integrity of the judiciary and the workings of the Supreme Court Collegium. Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Indira Jaising have urged greater transparency in handling such incidents. Sibal emphasized that concerns over judicial corruption have long existed, while Jaising argued for a full and frank disclosure of facts, including the amount of cash recovered.

The matter was brought up in Parliament by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, who questioned the delay in the matter becoming public. Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed concern over the delay in disclosure and emphasized the need for a “systemic response” that is transparent and accountable.

Singer-composer Amaal Mallik, known for his work in Bollywood music, has taken down a deeply personal social media post in which he opened up about his clinical depression and a difficult relationship with his family. In a fresh statement issued on Instagram, he addressed the media and public reaction to his earlier post and urged for sensitivity during what he described as a “very tough time.”

In his new message, Amaal Mallik wrote,
“Thank you for the love and support, it truly means a lot, but I would request the media portals not to harass my family.. Please don’t sensationalise and give negative headlines to my vulnerability…It’s a request. It’s taken a lot for me to open up & it is a very tough time for me…I will always love my family, but for now, from afar. Nothing changes between us brothers, Armaan and I are one, and nothing can come between us. Love & Peace.”

The clarification followed the deletion of an earlier post in which Mallik shared that he had been clinically diagnosed with depression. He also revealed that despite composing 126 songs in his decade-long career, he felt undervalued, particularly by his family.

In the now-deleted post, Mallik spoke about strained ties with his brother Armaan, which he attributed to actions by their parents. He indicated that he would be maintaining only professional relations with his family going forward, stating that their behaviour had impacted his mental health and self-esteem.

An excerpt from his deleted post read:
“The journey has been terrific for both of us but the actions of my parents have been the reason we as brothers have gone too far from one another and all of this has made me step in for myself as it has left a very deep scar across my heart. Through the last many years, they have left no opportunity to disturb my well-being and belittle all my friendships, my relationships, my mindset, my self-confidence.”

He further admitted that while he holds himself accountable for his own actions, he felt repeatedly diminished by those closest to him, contributing significantly to his deteriorating mental health.

As the industry and fans react to Amaal’s honesty, the singer has requested that his vulnerability be met with compassion, not sensationalism. His heartfelt appeal seeks to redirect focus toward healing rather than headlines.