News updates: Delhi court extends Manish Sisodia's judicial custody till July 26 in excise case

From Indian Army thwarting a major terror attack in Rajouri to Air India issuing full refunds for cancellation of flight due to Mumbai rain, catch all the latest LIVE updates here

4:56 PM

HC asks Swamy, Sonia, Rahul to file written note on plea in National Herald case

The Delhi High Court asked BJP MP Subramanian Swamy and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to file a short note on the submissions in the National Herald case. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna directed them to file the written note on the arguments within four weeks and said thereafter, the written submissions will be accepted with costs of Rs 15,000. The court listed the matter for arguments on October 29.

4:50 PM

Used to go to veg hotel run by Muslim in Kerala as he maintained standards: SC judge

Batting for hygiene at eateries, Supreme Court judge SVN Bhatti said on Monday he used to frequent a vegetarian restaurant run by a Muslim while posted in Kerala as it maintained international standards. Justice Bhatti shared his experience when he was with Justice Hrishikesh Roy on a bench that stayed the directives issued by BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand asking eateries along the Kanwar Yatra routes to display the names of their owners and staff but said they may be required to display information about the kind of food they are serving like they are vegetarian or non-vegetarian.

4:40 PM

Over 170 contractual, outsourced staff at NTA; setting up of question papers not outsourced: MoE

Over 170 employees at the National Testing Agency (NTA) are either contractual or outsourced staff, the Ministry of Education (MoE) informed the Parliament on Monday. The ministry, however, clarified that "all core activities involving setting up of question papers" for the exams conducted by the agency are not outsourced. Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar shared this information in response to a written question in the Lok Sabha asked by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Member of Parliament (MP) Kanimozhi Karunanidhi.

4:26 PM

How will the state develop and how we will get investment: JD(U) MP backs demand for special status

When asked about the government's response on Special Category Status, Bihar Congress chief and MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh told ANI, "...Ever since Nitish Kumar became the CM, he has been raising the issue of Special Status for Bihar. If there is no such provision, amend the provisions. You are in power, why are you misleading the people? Government of India should take this decision at the earliest, in the interest of Bihar." Meanwhile, JD(U) MP Devesh Chandra Thakur said, "Demand for special status will be there in future also...How will the state develop and how we will get investment, these all need to be seen by the central government..."

4:23 PM

PM Modi suppressed voice of country for 10 years: Cong hits back at PM for his criticism of Oppn

The Congress hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday over his remarks criticising the opposition, alleging that it was he who "suppressed the voice" of the country for 10 years and for which people "punished" him in the Lok Sabha polls. Talking to reporters ahead of the start of a Parliament session, Modi said in the first session of this Lok Sabha, "an undemocratic attempt was made to scuttle the voice of the government that had been ordered by 140 crore Indians to serve".

4:12 PM

NEET-UG 2024 exam: Supreme Court asks IIT Delhi Director to constitute a team of three experts

Hearing the NEET-UG case on Monday, the Supreme Court asked the IIT Delhi Director to constitute a team of three experts of the subject concern to form opinion on the correct answer of a question in the exam by Tuesday 12 noon. Some students challenged the decision of the NTA to award marks for two options for the question. Hearing in the case alleging paper leak and malpractices to continue tomorrow, 23rd July.

4:01 PM

TDP leader kept quite on special status, tweets Jairam Ramesh; Kiren Rijiju slams Cong leader's conduct

Sharing a post on X while attending the all-party meeting, Jairam Ramesh said, “In today’s all-party meeting of floor leaders chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the JD(U) leader demanded special category status for Bihar. The YSRCP leader demanded special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Strangely, the TDP leader kept quiet on the matter.” Reacting to this, Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju criticised Congress veteran Jairam Ramesh for ‘live-tweeting’ the issues raised by different parties at an all-party meeting. “This is unfortunate… Everyone must maintain the sanctity, propriety and protocol of Parliamentary traditions,” Rijiju said.

3:48 PM

Delhi excise policy case: Manish Sisodia's judicial custody extended till July 26

In Delhi excise policy case filed by the CBI, the Rouse Avenue Court has extended the judicial custody of Manish Sisodia and other accused till July 26. The court has also asked the CBI to produce BRS leader K Kavitha before it through video conferencing at 2 pm on July 26.

3:29 PM

Rains pummel Vidarbha, more than 700 houses damaged, villagers evacuated Nagpur

More than 700 houses were damaged, and several roads were inundated as rains pummelled Maharashtra's Vidarbha over the weekend, and intermittent spells continued in the region on Monday. In Chandrapur, seven gates of the Irai Dam were opened by one metre as incessant showers lashed the district in the morning. According to officials, 740 houses were damaged, particularly in villages in Chandrapur, in the last 48 hours.

3:25 PM

Two teenagers die after being hit by train in Uttar Pradesh

Two teenagers, sitting on a railway track with their earphones on, were killed after being hit by a train as they couldn't hear the horn, police said on Monday. SHO of Kotwali police station, Deendayal Pandey, said the two friends, Sameer (15) and Zakir Ahmed (16), are residents of Rajdepur.

3:22 PM

Central Vista: File plea when Centre acts against Waqf properties, HC to Delhi Waqf Board

The high court told the Delhi Waqf Board on Monday that it can approach the court whenever the Centre takes any action against its properties in connection with the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav observed that the project has received the Supreme Court's nod and asked the board to withdraw its petition filed in 2021, seeking directions for the preservation and protection of six of its properties in the area.

3:17 PM

Centre's order allowing employees to take part in Sangh activities aimed at appeasing RSS: Mayawati

2:48 PM

'India to seek licences to scout Pacific Ocean for critical minerals'

India will apply for licences to explore for deep-sea minerals in the Pacific Ocean as it competes to secure supplies of minerals critical for energy transition technologies, a top government scientist told Reuters. M. Ravichandran, the top scientist at India's Ministry of Earth Sciences, said his ministry will work closely with India's mining industry as it readies to apply next year for exploration of seabed minerals in the Pacific.

2:42 PM

Madhya Pradesh High Court adjourns hearing on Bhojshala dispute

The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque complex in Dhar district, a week after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted its scientific survey report on the issue. A division bench of Justice S A Dharmadhikari and D V Ramana said it would hear the matter once the Supreme Court order comes, ASI's counsel Himanshu Joshi said. The Supreme Court on July 15 agreed to consider listing a plea against a scientific survey of Bhojshala filed by the Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society challenging the high court's March 11 order for a survey to ascertain which community the shrine belonged to.

1:55 PM

Students will not get justice if this minister continues: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav

Kannauj MP Akhilesh Yadav said this government will create new records in paper leaks. "Students across the country are protesting. Investigation is leading to revelations, arrests are being made. I have only one request, students will not get justice if this minister continues," he said.