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What report claims Rape-murder of A law student: Petitioner Ameer-Ul-Islam seeking transfer from Viyyur Central Prison in Kerala to a jail in Assam NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday laid down safeguards against the immediate arrest of a parent or family member accused under the POCSO Act when the alleged offence involves a child living under the same roof and there is a matrimonial dispute between the child’s parents.A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan, flagging a rise in fakecases, said police should not act in haste in such cases and directed that, as a general rule, an expert in child and adolescent psychiatry or clinical psychology should evaluate the child before authorities decide whether there is sufficient reason to arrest the accused.The court said the safeguards were necessary in cases where allegations may be influenced by a strained relationship between the parents. It stressed that the measures do not dilute the seriousness of offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, but are intended to ensure that the power of arrest is exercised after considering all relevant circumstances.The court said immediate arrest should not take place when two conditions are present: a POCSO offence is alleged against a parent or family member living with the child, and a matrimonial dispute exists between the child’s parents, whether or not the dispute is pending before a court.The police officer receiving the complaint must verify whether such a matrimonial dispute exists, the court said. “When the above-stated threshold conditions are met, post the registration of an FIR, we are of the considered opinion that the investigating officer should not act in haste or take coercive actions in the form of arrest immediately,” the bench added, as quoted by PTI.The verdict came in a matrimonial dispute involving an estranged Bengaluru couple. The wife had alleged that the child was sexually assaulted. The case was investigated by the CBI, which found the allegation to be false. The Supreme Court restored custody of the child to the father, taking into account the welfare of the minor.The court also directed the investigating officer or the Special Juvenile Police Unit to seek the services of an expert in child and adolescent psychiatry or clinical psychology, in consultation with the District Child Protection Unit or, where one is unavailable, the District Legal Services Authority, adding that the expert’s evaluation must be conducted independently and without influence from either the parent or investigating authorities.After receiving the evaluation, investigators must consider the expert’s opinion along with other evidence and circumstances before deciding whether there is “reason to believe” that the accused committed the offence and whether an arrest is warranted. The court said an exception could be made in cases where the material available is “palpable”, allowing the investigating officer to dispense with an expert evaluation, but reasons for doing so must be recorded in writing.The bench also stressed that arrest is not automatically required merely because an offence is cognisable. The court said an arrest can cause “irreparable harm” to an accused parent or family member, particularly where the allegation later turns out to be unfounded.The Supreme Court also raised concerns about the consequences of allegations on children and their relationship with the accused parent.”The trauma that a child is put through in the process and the accusation can damage the very fabric of the parent-child relationship,” the bench said, adding that such a wound could leave an “indelible scar” on both the child and parent.The court also flagged what it described as an increase in false allegations in matrimonial disputes.”What is alarming is that this tendency of making false accusations is on the rise,” it said.The bench cautioned against parents being influenced by advisers during matrimonial disputes, saying that some may be driven by a “win at any cost” approach.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAt the same time, the court said the safeguards were not a finding that allegations made in such circumstances are false. Investigating authorities must examine the allegations along with the surrounding circumstances and other evidence.For complaints filed directly before a special court, the Supreme Court said an order taking cognisance and summoning an accused must demonstrate application of mind. The special court should also involve an expert in child and adolescent psychiatry or clinical psychology to evaluate the child and submit a report.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTrisha MahajanTrisha Mahajan is a journalist with The Times of India digital, with keen interest in covering business and corporate affairs. She also reports on key national and world developments and global news trends. A keen reader with a strong interest in storytelling that adds context, clarity, and depth to complex issues.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | WatchWhen The Umpires Clash: 10 Questions At The Heart Of The Election Commission-SIR Row21-Year Search Ends As Jamui Police Arrest Double Murder Accused While Raiding House Of His Son‘Anti-National’ Gyanesh Kumar Must Resign: CJP’s Dipke, Saurav Das List 3 Demands Amid SIR-EC RowLoP Role ‘Largely Ornamental’?: SC Judges Split Over EC Appointment Law, Matter Sent To CJIRam Temple Donation Case: SIT Files 74,000-Page Chargesheet Against 8 AccusedSahil Wakode Death Case: CCTV Footage Surfaces; IIT Bombay Sets Up 10-Member Probe Panel’Illegal’ Changes to IT System Row: Timeline of Sandhu & Joshi’s Objections Over Form 6, ECINet, SIRVivek Joshi & SS Sandhu: The 2 Election Commissioners Who ‘Raised Objections’ Over SIR, Form-6123Hot PicksIBPS PO Prelims Result 2026Bank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysSchool holiday todaySamastipur girl molestationTelangana school holidayMumbai-Pune ExpresswayCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Salman Khan and Nayanthara’s ‘Monster’ locks a Rs 100 crore theatrical deal with multiplex chain: ‘Leading giant in exhibition is confident of making big profits’ – Report ‘US and China should coexist in peace’: Xi meets Trump at White House on second state visit Built in 1951, Gavin Newsom’s San Francisco childhood home listed for $4.5 million after renovation; property was owned by his maternal grandfather and sold by family in the 1970s Akhilesh Yadav greets the crowd at the party’s PDA Rath Yatra campaign for the 2027 Assembly elections, in Raebareli NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday accused the Election Commission of facilitating what he called “vote theft” of the PDA bloc in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, claiming that his party would have formed the government had the alleged irregularities not taken place.Addressing a public meeting in Raebareli after arriving on the party’s specially designed PDA Rath, Yadav also said the SP would contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in alliance, with seat-sharing based on the ability of a candidate or party to win.”The Election Commission has been exposed and has worked like a puppet. Such a low level of work may never have happened in a democracy. Now, there is no trust in the Election Commission,” Yadav said.The PDA acronym, coined by Yadav in 2023, refers to Pichhde (backward classes), Dalits and Alpsankhyak (minorities).Akhilesh links 2022 result to alleged ‘vote theft’Yadav alleged that the BJP was using the election machinery because it knew people would not vote for the party on issues such as inflation.He claimed that the alleged “vote theft” in the 2022 Assembly polls had prevented the SP from forming the government in Uttar Pradesh.The SP chief also attacked what he described as “bulldozer politics”, saying the PDA movement would challenge it in the 2027 elections.”This time (in 2027) the electoral verdict would not merely defeat them but would ‘demolish’ and permanently eliminate such negative politics,” he said.Yadav also referred to the 2024 Lok Sabha election, saying, “We defeated them in 2024 and in 2027 we will work for their (BJP) permanent defeat.”The SP and Congress had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh as allies, winning 37 and six seats respectively, for a combined tally of 43. The BJP won 33 seats in the state.SP says 2027 alliance will depend on winnabilityYadav said the SP would contest the 2027 polls as part of an alliance, although he did not specify its partners or the number of seats each party would contest.”We will have an alliance,” he said, adding that the basis for deciding seats would be winnability.”Whoever can win a seat should get that seat,” Yadav asserted.His remarks come as the SP and Congress face the question of whether they can maintain their alliance for the next Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.Yadav’s PDA Rath campaign was launched from Raebareli, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is the sitting Lok Sabha MP. The SP had said Yadav’s visit also included a planned meeting with Harchandpur MLA Rahul Lodhi, following a September 17 clash involving members of the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha and ABVP.Police had denied allegations of manhandling by SP workers and said a magisterial inquiry into the police action had been ordered.The specially designed PDA Rath carries slogans including “Samajwadi PDA Yatra” and “PDA hi parivartan layega”, along with the definition of PDA as Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak.Yadav attacks BJP over UCC, jobs and schoolsYadav also criticised the BJP over the alleged demolition of religious structures in Kashi and Saharanpur, accusing the party of pursuing communal politics and weakening social harmony.On the proposed Uniform Civil Code, he said laws should follow efforts to ensure equality among citizens.”We say first make the citizens equal; first, let all of us become one. When everyone’s respect becomes equal, then bring laws to increase that respect and take people forward,” he said.On employment, Yadav promised that an SP government would increase government recruitment and provide jobs to young people.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”If outsourcing has to be ended, we will end outsourcing,” he said.He also promised free treatment in hospitals, saying people would not have to search for a card before receiving healthcare.Yadav accused the state government of shutting primary schools while opening liquor shops and said an SP government would reopen schools that had been closed.He also promised to restore the old pension scheme for government employees.The Raebareli visit marks the beginning of the SP’s PDA-focused outreach ahead of the 2027 Assembly election, with Yadav using the campaign to reiterate his allegations against the Election Commission, outline his alliance strategy and present the party’s key electoral promises.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWhen The Umpires Clash: 10 Questions At The Heart Of The Election Commission-SIR Row21-Year Search Ends As Jamui Police Arrest Double Murder Accused While Raiding House Of His Son‘Anti-National’ Gyanesh Kumar Must Resign: CJP’s Dipke, Saurav Das List 3 Demands Amid SIR-EC RowLoP Role ‘Largely Ornamental’?: SC Judges Split Over EC Appointment Law, Matter Sent To CJIRam Temple Donation Case: SIT Files 74,000-Page Chargesheet Against 8 AccusedSahil Wakode Death Case: CCTV Footage Surfaces; IIT Bombay Sets Up 10-Member Probe Panel’Illegal’ Changes to IT System Row: Timeline of Sandhu & Joshi’s Objections Over Form 6, ECINet, SIRVivek Joshi & SS Sandhu: The 2 Election Commissioners Who ‘Raised Objections’ Over SIR, Form-6CJP Takes On Election Commission After Report; Will This Lead To Next Jantar Mantar? | WatchCEC, ECs And The Power To Decide: What Happens When Election Commissioners Disagree?123Hot PicksIBPS PO Prelims Result 2026Bank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysSchool holiday todaySamastipur girl molestationTelangana school holidayMumbai-Pune ExpresswayCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Mushtaq Khan passes away at 56: Revisiting his iconic roles in ‘Welcome’, ‘Gadar’ and more 5 dirtiest places in your office that you probably touch every day From red carpet to flypast to banquet, Trump lays it on thick for Xi Widow of Indian-origin pilot killed in helicopter accident minutes after their wedding in Georgia sues venue, chopper company: She was trapped under her dead husband for hours Sep 24, 2026, 20:50 IST Who is Rishikanth? From Temple Monkeys to ‘Modha Rathiri’ and ‘Dorothy’, the 15-year journey behind Tamil cinema’s rising star UPI merchant payment row: Banks to ensure merchants don’t pass charges to consumers, say govt sources In New York, 29 million discarded glass bottles were ground into concrete for JPMorgan Chase’s 60-storey headquarters; replacing 40% of its cement cut over 5,000 tons of carbon and enhanced concrete strength Electric transmission towers in frame as Power ministry sends draft National Electricity Policy 2026 to Cabinet NEW DELHI: Union power ministry has finalised the draft National Electricity Policy (NEP) and moved the Cabinet note for inter-ministerial consultation.Released in Jan this year, the draft National Electricity Policy has proposed index-linked automatic annual tariff revision, sought to limit cross-subsidies for the manufacturing sector and railways, increase nuclear capacity, repurpose older thermal units for grid support, and take measures to reduce transmission and distribution losses.Union power secretary Pankaj Agarwal said the ministry received a number of comments and suggestions from stakeholders, which were subsequently examined and accommodated in the draft policy.“We have aggregated all the stakeholders’ comments. We have already moved the Cabinet note for inter-ministerial consultation and I think it shouldn’t be taking very long,” Agarwal told reporters on the sidelines of the 2nd Indian Power Sector Conference organised by Ficci.The last NEP was notified in 2005, when the sector was facing challenges such as demand-supply gaps, limited electricity access and inadequate infrastructure.“Today we are at a very different level…we are already at 300 gigawatt of non-fossil and now going forward, the challenges are entirely different like grid management and building transmission systems,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesWith the rise in renewable energy, grid stability has emerged as a major challenge, along with under-utilisation of transmission lines during non-solar hours. Agarwal said grid utilisation was also a dimension of NEP 2026. “You can’t expect it to be utilised 24×7 at a particular level. There will be more fluctuations. If we can really use 60% of grid capacity, I think that’s a fairly good thing,” he said.The power secretary also said steps were being taken to indigenously design and produce chips for smart meters and the ministry had mandated requirements for their manufacturing, along with timelines. He added that some of the designs had to be tested and validated before commercial production began.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWhen The Umpires Clash: 10 Questions At The Heart Of The Election Commission-SIR Row21-Year Search Ends As Jamui Police Arrest Double Murder Accused While Raiding House Of His Son‘Anti-National’ Gyanesh Kumar Must Resign: CJP’s Dipke, Saurav Das List 3 Demands Amid SIR-EC RowLoP Role ‘Largely Ornamental’?: SC Judges Split Over EC Appointment Law, Matter Sent To CJIRam Temple Donation Case: SIT Files 74,000-Page Chargesheet Against 8 AccusedSahil Wakode Death Case: CCTV Footage Surfaces; IIT Bombay Sets Up 10-Member Probe Panel’Illegal’ Changes to IT System Row: Timeline of Sandhu & Joshi’s Objections Over Form 6, ECINet, SIRVivek Joshi & SS Sandhu: The 2 Election Commissioners Who ‘Raised Objections’ Over SIR, Form-6CJP Takes On Election Commission After Report; Will This Lead To Next Jantar Mantar? | WatchCEC, ECs And The Power To Decide: What Happens When Election Commissioners Disagree?123Hot PicksIBPS PO Prelims Result 2026Bank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysSchool holiday todaySamastipur girl molestationTelangana school holidayMumbai-Pune ExpresswayCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Updated: Sep 24, 2026, 20:31 IST Alia Bhatt gives shout-out to Ranbir Kapoor after ‘Love And War’ first-look release: ‘Hey handsome’ 6 simple tips to grow onions at home in pots, containers and small garden spaces | Maricarmen Eviction: 87-year-old’s eviction in Madrid sparks protests as Spain’s housing crisis deepens CNN, MS NOW, Politico seek emergency hearing after White House denies access despite court order | World News Dhanush calls Karthik Subbaraj’s ‘Dorothy’ ‘a masterpiece’ and says Ilaiyaraaja’s background score ‘will blow your mind away’ ahead of September 25 release How Microsoft helped uncover an urban myth; it went that Atari buried millions of game cartridges in Mexico desert; unravelling 30-year-old ‘El Paso warehouse mystery’ Palestinian president delivers UN speech by video after US denies visa again The Election Commission has barred both Trinamool Congress factions from using the party’s name. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission to give rival factions in the Trinamool Congress dispute reasonable time to present their evidence, but to ensure that the proceedings are completed in time for the upcoming West Bengal elections.The court’s direction came against the backdrop of the prolonged Shiv Sena name-and-symbol dispute. “We know what delay did in Shiv Sena,” the bench observed, stressing that the TMC dispute should not be allowed to drag on indefinitely, according to news agency ANI.A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing a plea filed by former West Bengal chief minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee challenging the Election Commission’s decision concerning the use of the original TMC name and its traditional ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol.The court asked the Election Commission how much time it would need to complete the adjudication, particularly since its order was intended to operate for the current by-election.The bench said that while the dispute needed to be resolved within a reasonable timeframe, both sides must have adequate opportunity to place their evidence before the poll panel.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesSenior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mamata Banerjee, sought a stay on the Election Commission’s order, submitting that it had left his client without an effective remedy.”EC order has left me without a remedy,” Sibal said.The Supreme Court said it was conscious of the consequences of delay in disputes involving the identity of political parties and their election symbols.The court asked the Election Commission to provide the rival sides reasonable time to submit their evidence and complete the adjudication sufficiently ahead of the West Bengal elections.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTrisha MahajanTrisha Mahajan is a journalist with The Times of India digital, with keen interest in covering business and corporate affairs. She also reports on key national and world developments and global news trends. A keen reader with a strong interest in storytelling that adds context, clarity, and depth to complex issues.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos21-Year Search Ends As Jamui Police Arrest Double Murder Accused While Raiding House Of His Son‘Anti-National’ Gyanesh Kumar Must Resign: CJP’s Dipke, Saurav Das List 3 Demands Amid SIR-EC RowLoP Role ‘Largely Ornamental’?: SC Judges Split Over EC Appointment Law, Matter Sent To CJIRam Temple Donation Case: SIT Files 74,000-Page Chargesheet Against 8 AccusedSahil Wakode Death Case: CCTV Footage Surfaces; IIT Bombay Sets Up 10-Member Probe Panel’Illegal’ Changes to IT System Row: Timeline of Sandhu & Joshi’s Objections Over Form 6, ECINet, SIRVivek Joshi & SS Sandhu: The 2 Election Commissioners Who ‘Raised Objections’ Over SIR, Form-6CJP Takes On Election Commission After Report; Will This Lead To Next Jantar Mantar? | WatchCEC, ECs And The Power To Decide: What Happens When Election Commissioners Disagree?ECI’s ERONET Controversy: Voter Database Row, Software Errors & 17.6 Million Notices Raise Questions123Hot PicksIBPS PO Prelims Result 2026Bank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysSchool holiday todaySamastipur girl molestationTelangana school holidayMumbai-Pune ExpresswayCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Dubai-based Indian bought two Mumbai flats, but later cancelled them after delayed possession; builder sought deductions, but MahaREAT orders full Rs 1.15 crore refund plus interest Mushtaq Khan, ‘Welcome’ and ‘Gadar – Ek Prem Katha’ actor, passes away at the age of 56 In 2017, this man got a bank job; 8 years later, he returned to his family in Andhra Pradesh after his father’s death and started farming again; he now earns Rs 5,000 daily from vegetables | In 1999, Mariah Carey paid $9 million for two Tribeca apartments, combined them into a 12,728-sq-ft triplex and had Mario Buatta design the interiors; 27 years later, the penthouse is asking $27 million In 2000, California packed 662,700 shredded waste tires beneath an I-880 on-ramp; they cut foundation stress 40%, saved $477,000, and CalRecycle later reported 22 years without repairs or issues The report alleges outdated data fed to AI may have caused the tragedy Saudi Arabia issued an emergency alert for Mecca on Thursday amid an escalation in attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, warning of potential danger in the holy city for the first time during the latest flare-up.The alert was later lifted, with Saudi Civil Defence saying the danger had passed and urging residents to follow safety instructions and avoid gathering or filming. Mecca is home to Islam’s holiest site, the Grand Mosque.Saudi Arabia’s Saudi-led coalition in Yemen also said it had intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis at areas including Taif and Yanbu. It was not immediately clear whether the attacks caused any casualties or damage.Saudi authorities had first issued a brief warning for Mecca, Jeddah and Taif on September 15, with the Mecca alert marking the first such warning during the latest escalation.”Any escalation and violations by the terrorist Houthi militia will be dealt with firmly,” the Saudi-led coalition said after Thursday’s attacks.The Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July, opening another theatre in the wider regional conflict. The group has also seized much of Yemen’s western coastline, bringing it closer to the strategic Bab el-Mandeb waterway.The latest escalation comes alongside renewed fighting in Yemen’s civil war. Houthi forces have been pushing against the Riyadh-backed government, while government forces earlier repelled overnight attacks on the Taiz-Aden road, a key supply route to the southern port city of Aden.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe fighting is the latest episode in Yemen’s 12-year civil war, which had largely been frozen since a 2022 truce. The Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention the following year in support of the internationally recognised government.More than 700 people have been killed and thousands wounded in the latest fighting, according to the United Nations. Nearly 130,000 Yemenis have been displaced within Yemen, while more than 3,000 have fled by boat across the Red Sea to Africa.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTrisha MahajanTrisha Mahajan is a journalist with The Times of India digital, with keen interest in covering business and corporate affairs. She also reports on key national and world developments and global news trends. A keen reader with a strong interest in storytelling that adds context, clarity, and depth to complex issues.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWhen The Umpires Clash: 10 Questions At The Heart Of The Election Commission-SIR Row21-Year Search Ends As Jamui Police Arrest Double Murder Accused While Raiding House Of His Son‘Anti-National’ Gyanesh Kumar Must Resign: CJP’s Dipke, Saurav Das List 3 Demands Amid SIR-EC RowLoP Role ‘Largely Ornamental’?: SC Judges Split Over EC Appointment Law, Matter Sent To CJIRam Temple Donation Case: SIT Files 74,000-Page Chargesheet Against 8 AccusedSahil Wakode Death Case: CCTV Footage Surfaces; IIT Bombay Sets Up 10-Member Probe Panel’Illegal’ Changes to IT System Row: Timeline of Sandhu & Joshi’s Objections Over Form 6, ECINet, SIRVivek Joshi & SS Sandhu: The 2 Election Commissioners Who ‘Raised Objections’ Over SIR, Form-6CJP Takes On Election Commission After Report; Will This Lead To Next Jantar Mantar? | WatchCEC, ECs And The Power To Decide: What Happens When Election Commissioners Disagree?123Hot PicksIBPS PO Prelims Result 2026Bank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysSchool holiday todaySamastipur girl molestationTelangana school holidayMumbai-Pune ExpresswayCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Sep 24, 2026, 19:49 IST ‘Hi’ OTT release date confirmed: When and where to watch Kavin and Nayanthara’s romantic drama 10 baby girl names that reflect beauty in different languages YouTube CEO Neal Mohan says ‘no’ to joining Meta’s multistate child safety settlement; Facebook parent has agreed to $18 billion fine, says: We are no … Meet Natalie Flaherty, the Minnesota girl who turned a 2023 Halloween idea into an anti-hate campaign distributing 100,000+ bracelets across 50+ countries; now the 12-year-old has won a $10,000 national Young Hero prize File photo: BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi NEW DELHI: Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday escalated his attack on the Centre and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that India’s elections had been “rigged” and demanding the immediate resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.Congress MP said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and Kumar were “deshdrohis” (traitors) for what he alleged was the destruction of the country’s vote.He said the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections were “all rigged” and asserted that PM Modi and Shah would be investigated over what he described as a conspiracy to “steal elections”.His remarks came a day after an investigation by a media report claimed that election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections to decisions and orders related to electoral-roll management and the SIR exercise.The Election Commission has rejected the suggestion that these objections reflected a disagreement over its final decisions, saying its decisions, including those concerning SIR, were unanimous.Rahul Gandhi demands CEC’s resignationAddressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, Rahul said the Election Commission was responsible for protecting the vote and accused the poll panel of failing in that duty.”Mr Gyanesh Kumar must resign immediately. We are not going to let democracy be destroyed in India and sit silent, and the people responsible for this are going to be punished,” Rae Bareli MP said.He said the reported objections by Sandhu and Joshi showed that questions were being raised within the poll panel itself.”The two Election Commissioners have done a wise thing, and I appreciate it,” he said.Former Congress president further alleged that the Prime Minister and home minister were “at the top of this conspiracy” and would be investigated. He also suggested that Kumar should “turn approver”, describing that as an act of nationalism.”I can say with certainty that Indian elections — 2024 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls — were all rigged,” Rahul said.He also linked the alleged manipulation of votes to the functioning of Parliament, laws and institutions.”From vote chori (vote theft), comes kanoon chori (law theft) and from that comes sanstha chori (institutional theft),” he said.Explaining the argument, the Congress leader said the vote was the foundation of the constitutional system.”If the vote has been destroyed, then our Constitution has been destroyed. If our Constitution has been destroyed, our laws are illegal. If our laws are illegal, our institutions are meaningless,” he said.He said the alleged issue was therefore not limited to electoral rolls but concerned the wider constitutional framework.”The central question here is this is not just an attack on the vote; this is an attack on the idea, the basic infrastructure, and the expression of every single Indian person,” Rahul said.What triggered the latest row?The immediate trigger was an Indian Express investigation reporting that Sandhu and Joshi recorded at least 14 objections over 10 months to decisions and orders issued in the name of the Election Commission.The objections reportedly covered voter registration and deletion, changes to Form 6 used for new voter registration, access to and centralisation of electoral-roll databases, and other aspects of the SIR exercise.The report said the two commissioners had objected four times on a single day and had raised concerns about decisions they said were taken without their knowledge or approval.The Election Commission, however, has disputed the interpretation that the reported internal notes amounted to a breakdown or disagreement over final decisions.The poll panel said internal technical notes, queries and suggestions were part of the normal administrative and decision-making process and maintained that the final decisions of the Commission were unanimous. Its response did not dispute the existence of the notes but said focusing on individual objections presented only part of the overall decision-making process.The EC’s position is that all decisions relating to SIR had the approval of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and election commissioners Sandhu and Joshi.BJP rejects Rahul’s allegationsThe BJP hit back at Lok Sabha LoP’s allegations, with party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari describing his press conference as a “damp squib” and dubbing it “Jhoot Ki Goonj”.In a post on X, Bhandari accused Rahul of making false claims and said the Congress leader was unable to win public support through democratic means.He also challenged Rahul’s assertion that there had been no anti-incumbency against the BJP since 2014, saying the BJP had lost 20 elections since then.BJP leader and MP Sudhanshu Trivedi also challenged Rae Bareli MP’s argument on anti-incumbency.He pointed to the Congress’s electoral record in states including Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and argued that anti-incumbency had affected the Congress as well.On the media report, Trivedi questioned the basis for treating the reported objections as evidence that the Election Commission’s final decisions were not unanimous.”Do you have even a single report indicating that a decision was not unanimous?” Trivedi said, adding that there was no quoted statement from any Election Commissioner saying that a final decision had not been unanimous.He also questioned whether the reported internal objections should be treated as evidence of a wider institutional dispute when the Commission had maintained that its decisions were unanimous.Rahul’s anti-incumbency argumentA significant part of the Congress leader’s press conference focused on what he described as the disappearance of anti-incumbency against the BJP.He cited electoral swings in Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and said governments and political parties in India had historically faced anti-incumbency.”Haryana swings from one party to another for 50 years. Suddenly anti-incumbency disappears. Maharashtra swings; suddenly it disappears. Uttar Pradesh swings. Sometimes Samajwadi, sometimes BSP; it disappears. Madhya Pradesh, it disappears. Gujarat, it disappears,” Rahul said.He cited former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s experience after the 1971 Bangladesh war as an example of how anti-incumbency, according to him, had affected even highly popular leaders.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”It happens to leader after leader. It does not happen to PM Modi, Shah and the BJP – now we know the answer to it,” he said.He also played videos of PM Modi and Shah, including remarks about the BJP remaining in power for decades and Modi’s “Abki Baar 400 Paar” slogan. He argued that such statements were inconsistent with the normal operation of democratic politics.However, BJP has rejected Rahul’s allegations, while the Election Commission has maintained that the reported objections were part of its internal decision-making process and that its final decisions, including those related to SIR, were unanimous.The dispute over the electoral-roll revision and the reported objections by the two election commissioners is now at the centre of the political exchange between Congress, BJP and the poll panel.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos21-Year Search Ends As Jamui Police Arrest Double Murder Accused While Raiding House Of His Son‘Anti-National’ Gyanesh Kumar Must Resign: CJP’s Dipke, Saurav Das List 3 Demands Amid SIR-EC RowLoP Role ‘Largely Ornamental’?: SC Judges Split Over EC Appointment Law, Matter Sent To CJIRam Temple Donation Case: SIT Files 74,000-Page Chargesheet Against 8 AccusedSahil Wakode Death Case: CCTV Footage Surfaces; IIT Bombay Sets Up 10-Member Probe Panel’Illegal’ Changes to IT System Row: Timeline of Sandhu & Joshi’s Objections Over Form 6, ECINet, SIRVivek Joshi & SS Sandhu: The 2 Election Commissioners Who ‘Raised Objections’ Over SIR, Form-6CJP Takes On Election Commission After Report; Will This Lead To Next Jantar Mantar? | WatchCEC, ECs And The Power To Decide: What Happens When Election Commissioners Disagree?ECI’s ERONET Controversy: Voter Database Row, Software Errors & 17.6 Million Notices Raise Questions123Hot PicksIBPS PO Prelims Result 2026Bank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysSchool holiday todaySamastipur girl molestationTelangana school holidayMumbai-Pune ExpresswayCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Updated: Sep 24, 2026, 19:24 IST Quote of the day by Humphrey Bogart: ‘Everybody has something to conceal,’ when the American actor highlighted that everyone keeps a part of their life hidden People who keep old birthday cards may have this emotional reason behind the habit ‘No anti-incumbency against BJP?’ Party counters Rahul Gandhi with Tamil Nadu, Bengal poll history A Wisconsin university campus closed in 2025 after roughly six decades of classes; one year later, its 76-acre property has been approved for sale and could be redeveloped into about 670 homes “POCSO offence cannot be quashed on basis of compromise”, says Delhi High Court NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has held that proceedings under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cannot be quashed on the basis of a compromise between a child victim or the victim’s family and the accused.Justice Sachin Datta made the observation while dismissing a petition seeking quashing of an FIR and related proceedings on the basis of a settlement allegedly reached with the victim with the intervention of her family, according to news agency ANI.The court noted that the case involved allegations of aggravated penetrative sexual assault against a child by a person allegedly in a position of trust or authority. It observed that such offences are heinous and have a serious impact on society.The high court relied on a Supreme Court judgment which held that while a high court has inherent powers to quash criminal proceedings in appropriate cases where parties have settled their dispute, such powers must be exercised after considering the nature and gravity of the offence.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe Supreme Court has held that heinous and serious offences, including rape, ordinarily cannot be quashed merely because the victim or the victim’s family and the accused have reached a settlement, as such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society.Applying the principle, the Delhi high court held that an offence under the POCSO Act cannot be compromised by the child victim or the victim’s family. It said quashing the proceedings at this stage on the basis of a compromise would defeat the object of the statute and the ends of justice.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAastha JhaAastha Jha is a writer at The Times of India, covering politics. She also writes on business, global affairs, social issues, with a focus on policy, governance and their impact on everyday lives. Her work brings together reportage and analysis, tracking developments in India and abroad while examining the broader social and economic currents shaping public discourse.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos21-Year Search Ends As Jamui Police Arrest Double Murder Accused While Raiding House Of His Son‘Anti-National’ Gyanesh Kumar Must Resign: CJP’s Dipke, Saurav Das List 3 Demands Amid SIR-EC RowLoP Role ‘Largely Ornamental’?: SC Judges Split Over EC Appointment Law, Matter Sent To CJIRam Temple Donation Case: SIT Files 74,000-Page Chargesheet Against 8 AccusedSahil Wakode Death Case: CCTV Footage Surfaces; IIT Bombay Sets Up 10-Member Probe Panel’Illegal’ Changes to IT System Row: Timeline of Sandhu & Joshi’s Objections Over Form 6, ECINet, SIRVivek Joshi & SS Sandhu: The 2 Election Commissioners Who ‘Raised Objections’ Over SIR, Form-6CJP Takes On Election Commission After Report; Will This Lead To Next Jantar Mantar? | WatchCEC, ECs And The Power To Decide: What Happens When Election Commissioners Disagree?ECI’s ERONET Controversy: Voter Database Row, Software Errors & 17.6 Million Notices Raise Questions123Hot PicksIBPS PO Prelims Result 2026Bank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysSchool holiday todaySamastipur girl molestationTelangana school holidayMumbai-Pune ExpresswayCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Amitabh Bachchan overtakes Shah Rukh Khan by a slim 1 lakh-follower margin on social media – Report What you see first reveals if you’re logical or an intuitive thinker IIT-Bombay student suicide: Sahil Wakode’s parents begin hunger strike in Mumbai, seek action against ‘tormentors’ Rare Captain America and Batman comics were stored for 75-80 years; recently discovered collection heads to auction | World News Rahul targets Centre, CEC amid SIR row; Iran threatens to extend war to Indian Ocean in case of new US strikes SIR row: Rahul Gandhi questioned CEC Gyanesh Kumar amid the SIR row and asked why PM Modi and Amit Shah face no anti-incumbency.Iran-US tensions: An adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader warned that a new US attack could see the conflict spread to the Indian Ocean.CEC impeachment: Congress has reached out to opposition parties seeking support for an impeachment motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.Market crash: Sensex plunged 1,248 points and Nifty fell 384 points as rising US bond yields triggered heavy selling.Paneer labelling: FSSAI has proposed restricting the use of the term “paneer” for analogue paneer and cheese products to prevent consumer confusion.Here are top 5 news of the dayRahul Gandhi questions CEC over SIR, asks why PM Modi, Shah face no anti-incumbencyLeader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi questioned Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid reports of differences within the poll body over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.Rahul alleged that elections were “rigged” and questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah did not face anti-incumbency. “I come from a political family, and I have spent more than 50 years in a political family… In India, there is a fundamental force called anti-incumbency,” he said. Read full storyIran warns war with US could spread to Indian OceanAn adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Tehran could expand any new conflict with the United States to the Indian Ocean if Washington launches another attack, AFP reported. The warning comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US, with Tehran signalling that a fresh confrontation could widen beyond the region. Follow live updatesCongress seeks Opposition backing for impeachment motion against CEC Gyanesh KumarCongress has approached opposition parties seeking their support for an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid the ongoing SIR row, ANI reported, citing party sources. The sources said the notice would be moved in both Houses of Parliament within two weeks. Congress has also directed its state units to hold protest marches to Election Commission offices on September 25, demanding Kumar’s arrest and removal. Read full storySensex plunges 1,248 points, Nifty falls 384 points on global cuesIndian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty ended sharply lower, dragged by weak global signals and a sharp rise in US bond yields. The Nifty 50 declined 383.70 points, or 1.64%, to 23,063.10, while the BSE Sensex dropped 1,247.71 points, or 1.67%, to 73,580.54. Both indices came under intense selling pressure during the session, falling more than 1.5% as US bond yields hit a 19-year high, raising investor concerns.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines Read full storyFSSAI proposes curbs on use of ‘paneer’ tag for analogue productsThe Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed restricting the use of the term “paneer” for analogue paneer and cheese products to ensure consumers are not misled about their composition. The proposal covers food businesses, including hotels, restaurants and caterers, using dairy substitutes. Such products would need clear identification, with businesses required to prominently disclose the information on menu cards, packaging and other consumer touchpoints under existing labelling rules. Read full storyGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAastha JhaAastha Jha is a writer at The Times of India, covering politics. She also writes on business, global affairs, social issues, with a focus on policy, governance and their impact on everyday lives. Her work brings together reportage and analysis, tracking developments in India and abroad while examining the broader social and economic currents shaping public discourse.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Anti-National’ Gyanesh Kumar Must Resign: CJP’s Dipke, Saurav Das List 3 Demands Amid SIR-EC RowLoP Role ‘Largely Ornamental’?: SC Judges Split Over EC Appointment Law, Matter Sent To CJIRam Temple Donation Case: SIT Files 74,000-Page Chargesheet Against 8 AccusedSahil Wakode Death Case: CCTV Footage Surfaces; IIT Bombay Sets Up 10-Member Probe Panel’Illegal’ Changes to IT System Row: Timeline of Sandhu & Joshi’s Objections Over Form 6, ECINet, SIRVivek Joshi & SS Sandhu: The 2 Election Commissioners Who ‘Raised Objections’ Over SIR, Form-6CJP Takes On Election Commission After Report; Will This Lead To Next Jantar Mantar? | WatchCEC, ECs And The Power To Decide: What Happens When Election Commissioners Disagree?ECI’s ERONET Controversy: Voter Database Row, Software Errors & 17.6 Million Notices Raise QuestionsJaishankar Meets Rubio At UNGA, Raises India’s Concerns Over Trump’s Russia Sanctions Bill Impact123Hot PicksIBPS PO Prelims Result 2026Bank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysSchool holiday todaySamastipur girl molestationTelangana school holidayMumbai-Pune ExpresswayCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Updated: Sep 24, 2026, 18:52 IST ‘Definitely, I will do it, sir’: Keerthy Suresh explains why she AGREED to Karthik Subbaraj’s ‘Dorothy’ right after reading the synopsis