India News
There is no arresting Vinod Dua till July 15, says SC
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 7) provided veteran journalist Vinod Dua immunity from arrest till July 15 and also told him that he is free to not answer any questionnaire that might be sent to him by Himachal Pradesh police.

Dua’s counsel says this sedition charge and its follow-up is basically harassment. Court says the veteran journalist is free to not answer any Himachal Pradesh police questionnaire if he so chooses.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 7) provided veteran journalist Vinod Dua immunity from arrest till July 15 and also told him that he is free to not answer any questionnaire that might be sent to him by Himachal Pradesh police.
This directive was given by a three-judge bench, headed by Justice U U Lalit. The hearing was conducted over video conferencing.
Dua was seeking a stay on FIRs accusing him of sedition and other charges filed against him in different cities. The court has allowed the police time till next Monday to file their own investigation details. The matter will be heard on Wednesday for final disposal.
On June 14 the court had conducted a special Sunday sitting and had asked for a response from both the Himachal Pradesh government and the central government regarding Dua’s petition. While the governments were given two weeks to reply, the investigation was to continue during that time. The court had asked Dua to cooperate, stating that he could be interrogated at his residence, after being given a 24-hour notice.
During the hearing today, Advocate Vikas Singh appearing on behalf the journalist, informed the court that many questionnaires are being sent to the petitioner, and the same questions are being asked again and again, leading to a lot of harassment. Even after a status report was asked for by the court itself, they refused to inform the content of the complaint. The police, however, refused to give the details on the nature of complaint. At the end, when nothing could be done, the Disaster Management Act was invoked by them, the counsel said.
According to Singh, Dua is a responsible journalist with 45 years of experience and has the freedom of speech and the right to criticise the government.
Singh also cited before the court recent cases with similar charges involving media persons. He stated that in the case of Amish Devgan, who was also a media person and faced similar charges, interim protection and stay on investigation was granted. In the case of journalist Nupur Sharma too a stay was granted on the investigation. He added that all these cases fall under the scope of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, providing them with the freedom of speech and expression.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta didn’t agree with Singh’s comparison of the present case with Amish Devgan’s case and stated that Devgan had mistakenly referred Alauddin Khilji as Moinuddin Chishti and had apologised for it.
Justice Lalit questioned the seriousness of the investigation and stated that, after obtaining a notice from the crime branch, a letter was written to the media house on May 11, and after that no action was taken till June 11.
“What happened from May 11 to June 11? This shows your seriousness about the investigation. We will dispose off the matter in the next hearing. If we are satisfied with correctness of the petitioner’s contention, we will quash everything. The matter will be listed next Wednesday for disposal,” the court said.
The Delhi High Court had previously ordered a stay on an FIR filed against Dua for allegedly spreading fake news on the communal violence in Delhi in February through his YouTube show.
After this, similar FIRs were filed in Shimla regarding the same show, and the Shimla Police had summoned Dua in connection with the sedition charge, accusing him of spreading fake news and instigating violence.
India News
Gorakhnath temple attack convict sentenced to death by NIA court
Gorakhnath temple attack convict Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi was sentenced to death, Monday, by a special anti-terror court.

Gorakhnath temple attack convict Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi was sentenced to death, Monday, by a special anti-terror court.
A report quoting Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Prashan Kumar, said that Abbasi was awarded the death penalty under Section 121 of the Indian Penal Code by a special NIA court for attacking security personnel stationed at Gorakhnath temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur in April last year.
Abbasi, a chemical engineer, was arrested following an attack with a sharp-edged weapon on Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel posted at the Gorakhnath temple.
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Police said that after interrogation, Abbasi revealed he was in cahoots with the Islamic State and had taken an oath to fight for the global terrorist group. They said that Abbasi was also providing financial aid to the terror group’s sympathizers and supporters.
Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, a resident of Civil Lines area in UP’s Gorakhpur, is an IIT-ian with a degree in chemical engineering from IIT-Mumbai.
According to the police, Abbasi suffered from mental health issues for which he underwent treatment from several doctors and ultimately led to him separating from his wife in 2017.
On April 3 last year, Abbasi tried to force his way inside the Gorakhnath temple, when stopped, he proceeded to attack the security men deployed there with a sickle in which two constables were injured. However, he was overpowered and arrested.
The ATS investigation revealed that the Abbasi’s attack was part of a “deep conspiracy.” The UP Home Department had said the attack could be termed as a terror incident.
Mughal Garden: Opening date, timing, entry price and how to book Amrit Udyan tickets online
India News
Mughal Garden: Opening date, timing, entry price and how to book Amrit Udyan tickets online
Mughal Garden, now renamed Amrit Udyan, at Rashtrapati Bhavan is all set to open for the public from January 31. President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday graced the opening of the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Udyan Utsav 2023.

Mughal Garden, now renamed Amrit Udyan, at Rashtrapati Bhavan is all set to open for the public from January 31. President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday graced the opening of the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Udyan Utsav 2023.
Mughal Garden has been renamed to commemorate the 75 years of independence. In keeping with the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration’s theme, the garden has also been given a new name, Amrit Udyan.
Amrit Udyan’s opening and closing date
Amrit Udyan opens once a year to the public. This year, it will remain open for the general public from January 31 to March 26. However, it will be closed on all Mondays and on March 1 and 2 due to G20 meetings and March 8 on the occasion of Holi.
The garden will be accessible to special groups from March 28 to March 31. Amrit Udyan will open for farmers on March 28, people with disabilities on March 29, members of the armed forces, paramilitary groups, and police on March 30, and self-organized groups of tribal women on March 31.
Entry and exit for all visitors will be from gate number 35 of the President’s Estate, close to where North Avenue meets Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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Amrit Udyan timings
People can visit Amrit Udyan during the time period between 10 am and 4 pm.
How to book Amrit Udyan tickets online?
- Go to the official website of Rashtrapati Bhavan at https://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in or https://rb.nic.in/rbvisit/visit_plan.aspx.
- On the homepage, select the option that reads Mughal Garden Visit.
- Enter the required details such as name, date of visit, etc.
- After that, you are required to submit your photo ID.
- Click on the register button.
People can also buy Amrit Udyan tickets offline. Walk-in visitors have to register themselves at the facilitation counters as well as at the self-service kiosk near Gate 12 of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The visitors will have 6 slots to choose from, so it is advised to make prior bookings to avoid rushing at the gate.
The number of guests that can be reserved at once is 30. However, schools and colleges reserve a maximum of 50 at a time.
Amrit Udyan entry/ticket price
There is no fee for the booking of slots or entry to the Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan during Udyan Utsav. Visitors must, however, pay Rs 50 to enter Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Rashtrapati Bhavan will be open five days a week from Wednesday to Sunday and the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday. People can also witness the change of guard ceremony every Saturday, except on gazetted holidays.
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India News
Bank holidays February 2023: Banks to remain shut for 10 days, check dates here
Apart from festivals, banks will also remain shut on the second and fourth Saturdays.

Every month banks across the country remain shut due to festivals and other public and private holidays. In February 2023, both private and public banks will not function for 10 days. However, the holidays differ from state to state.
Festivals like Guru Ravidas Jayanti, Hazrat Ali Jayanti, Maha Shivaratri, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and others will be celebrated in February which might affect the functioning of banks in several states.
Full list of bank holidays in February 2023
DATE | DAY | HOLIDAY | STATES |
5 February 2023 | Sunday | Hazrat Ali Jayanti | Uttar Pradesh |
5 February 2023 | Sunday | Guru Ravidas Jayanti | Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana & Punjab |
15 February 2023 | Wednesday | Lui-Ngai-Ni | Manipur |
18 February 2023 | Saturday | Maha Shivaratri | Several states of India |
19 February 2023 | Sunday | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti | Maharashtra |
20 February 2023 | Monday | State Day | Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram |
21 February 2023 | Tuesday | Losar | Sikkim |
Apart from this, banks will also remain shut on the second and fourth Saturdays.
DATE | DAY | HOLIDAY | STATES |
12 February 2023 | Saturday | Second Saturday | All States |
15 February 2023 | Tuesday | Lui-Ngai-Ni | Manipur |
19 February 2023 | Sunday | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti | Maharashtra |
25 February 2023 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday | All States |
For those unversed, the Reserve Bank of India categorises holidays into three categories-Holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act and Real-Time Gross Settlement Holidays, Holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, and Banks’ Closing of Accounts.
In January 2023, banks across the country will remain shut for 14 days.
Date | Day | Holiday | State |
---|---|---|---|
January 1, 2023 | Sunday | New Year Bank Holiday & Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 2, 2023 | Monday | New Year Bank Celebration | Mizoram |
January 5, 2023 | Thursday | Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti | Haryana and Rajasthan |
January 8, 2023 | Sunday | Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 11, 2023 | Wednesday | Missionary Day | Mizoram |
January 14, 2023 | Saturday | Second Saturday Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 15, 2023 | Sunday | Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 22, 2023 | Sunday | Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 23, 2023 | Monday | Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Jayanti | Tripura and West Bangal |
January 25, 2023 | Wednesday | State Day | Himachal Pradesh |
January 26, 2023 | Thursday | Republic Day | All over India |
January 28, 2023 | Sunday | Fourth Saturday Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 29, 2023 | Sunday | Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 31, 2023 | Monday | Me-Dam-Me-Phi | Assam |
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