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Tuesday,13-October-2026
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‘Can’t bulldoze govt authority by judicial orders’, SC on land allotment for lawyers’ chambers

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The Supreme Court on Friday observed that a signal must not go to the government that the court can bulldoze its authority by passing judicial orders, while hearing a plea moved by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to convert a land measuring 1.33 acres allotted to the top court for the construction of lawyers’ chambers.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices S.K. Kaul and P.S. Narasimha, said it would take up the land allotment issue for lawyers’ chambers with the government.

The bench queried senior advocate and SCBA president Vikas Singh, how could the court pass an order to take over the land for allotment of chambers? Lawyers are part of us, but can we use our own judicial powers to safeguard our own people?

The bench added it would appear that the apex court is exercising its own judicial powers to meet its own needs.

Singh said the apex court is surrounded by roads on all sides, there is no way to grow except within the campus, and futuristic planning is required for the court campus and urged the court to issue notice on the plea, so that a discussion can start. It was pointed out that a building close to the court has received eviction orders, and they have got another land.

The bench asked how it could take over all the buildings judicially, and added that the court did not doubt the requirement of the lawyers, but under Article 32, how can it take over these buildings? “We must trust the court to take it up on the administrative side with the government. A signal must not go to the government that we can bulldoze their authority by passing judicial orders”, said the bench.

Singh pressed for issuing notice in the matter and added that the Delhi High Court expansion land was taken over. The bench replied that it was done administratively. Expressing his reservation, Singh said the bar and other stakeholders will not be a part of such administrative consultation.

The bench further added that for the e-courts project, the government allotted Rs 7,000 crore because they said that we need it, and the government engages with the top court on the administrative side and the lawyers’ chambers issue can be put to it.

Thanking the bench on behalf of the entire bar, Singh said that the entire bar is with the institution and “we will not do anything to undermine the majesty of the institution irrespective of whatever happens in this case”.

Counsel for Bar Council of India contended that there is a need for space for the bar body and also Supreme Court Advocate on Record Association (SCAORA) sought to be a part of the proceedings and intervene in the issue.

Attorney General R. Venkataramani submitted that flexibility of the administrative side would certainly be helpful to resolve the matter. After hearing detailed submissions, the apex court reserved its order.

Crime

Delhi Police file 4 FIRs over INDIA bloc march to SC; detain Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das from Jantar Mantar

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New Delhi, Oct 13: Delhi Police have registered four FIRs in connection with the INDIA bloc’s protest march to the Supreme Court, police sources said on Tuesday. The cases were registered at the Connaught Place, Tilak Marg, Mandir Marg, and Barakhamba police stations.

These FIRs have been filed for violation of Section 163 of the BNSS.

Two FIRs have been filed at the Tilak Marg police station, one at the Mandir Marg police station, and one at the Barakhamba police station, according to Delhi Police sources.

In another development, the police detained several protesters, including CJP’s Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, from Jantar Mantar. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke posted a video of a flash protest at Jantar Mantar where CJP volunteers were seen climbing an iron gate and a police barricade to reach Jantar Mantar to protest.

In the video of the protest, CJP leader Ranka and Das alongwith a few volunteers can be seen jumping a gate with flags in their hands and entering the area to stage a protest. The group raised slogans as they were chased by the police who were stationed there. The protesters had a little run in with cops who tried to stop them while they raised Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Inquilab Zindabaad slogans. The protesters were later detained and taken away.

The march on Monday witnessed a gathering of INDIA bloc leaders, activists and civil society members in central Delhi protesting against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. A delegation of the leaders subsequently approached the Supreme Court with a joint petition challenging the SIR process.

The march came a day after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined a request to meet Opposition leaders over the issue, citing that the matter was sub judice.

Meanwhile, the Congress party claimed on its social media handles that 2.5 lakh people had participated in the protest. The ‘March for Democracy’, which began at the Constitution Club around 1.30 p.m., continued for more than four hours and proceeded largely unhindered by police barricades.

The march also witnessed several lighter moments, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge donning a Batman mask.

Despite a proposal by the INDIA bloc leaders that only the national flag should be displayed during the march, Congress flags dominated the gathering. Flags belonging to Left student organisations were also visible.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has invited the INDIA bloc leaders, civil society members and student organisations for a high tea at his residence at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. A press conference is also scheduled ahead of the meeting, a day after the Opposition’s march to the Supreme Court over the SIR of electoral rolls.

Meanwhile, a security review of three newly designated protest sites has been completed, sources said. The decision was based on real-time inputs received by the Ministry of Home Affairs’ control room. Security deployment strategies are being assessed and revised daily, they added.

A majority of the protesters were Congress supporters who had travelled from different parts of the country to participate in the demonstration.

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Shiv Sena(UBT) accuses Centre of dictatorial tactics amid Oppn protests in ‘Saamana’

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Mumbai, Oct 13: The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Tuesday criticised the Central and state leadership, accusing them of creating a civil-war-like, anarchic situation across the country.

The Thackeray camp in the party’s mouthpiece, ‘Samaana’, condemned the alleged police brutality against ‘peaceful’ student protesters, youth, and women in Delhi and Mumbai, while sharply criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their “silence and apathy”.

The editorial said that the country is witnessing an atmosphere akin to a civil war, with Delhi transformed into a massive police station where children and young girls are being shamelessly beaten. Despite Supreme Court directives stating that police should not use batons on protesters when there is no rioting, police forces in Delhi and Mumbai have reportedly behaved high-handedly, subjecting peaceful satyagrahis to brutal force. In Delhi, women satyagrahis and journalists faced ruthless behaviour, with allegations that male police personnel molested and manhandled them. Prominent political figures, including MP John Brittas, CPI General Secretary M.A. Baby, and Kerala opposition leader P. Vijayan, were dragged, beaten, and stuffed into prison vans while participating in a peaceful satyagraha, said the Saamana editorial.

The editorial further stated that similar tactics reportedly spread to Mumbai, where students and numerous female college students staging a satyagraha near Shivaji Park were cruelly dragged and forced into police vans.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena accused Home Minister Amit Shah of “crushing” Supreme Court orders and “unleashing brute force on peaceful protesters”, claiming these actions are fuelling public anger against the Prime Minister. It criticised Prime Minister Modi for visiting Chennai to review metro presentations and deliver lectures on development instead of uttering a single word over the unrest.

The Thackeray camp accused Home Minister Amit Shah of “staying sequestered behind armed guards, ignoring public uprisings and police crackdowns, and instead celebrating by distributing sweets on social media over the BJP’s by-election victories in states like West Bengal and Puducherry”.

The editorial launched a severe attack on the nation’s prominent award-winning personalities — holders of honours like Bharat Ratna, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Jnanpith, and Sahitya Akademi awards — as well as film and theatre celebrities, comparing them to submissive artists dancing to the tune of power.

Drawing a parallel to the silence of intellectuals and artists during the eras of Hitler and Mussolini, the editorial quoted writer Harishankar Parsai, stating that the country’s intellectuals are “nominal tigers who merely play band in a jackal’s wedding”.

“While actors and public figures deliver heavy dialogues on screen, they zip their mouths when the nation faces a crisis, acting as beneficiaries of the government just like beneficiaries of welfare schemes”, claimed the editorial.

In contrast, the editorial praised figures like Prakash Raj, Naseeruddin Shah, and Jaya Bachchan, along with former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar — who voiced opposition to police high-handedness — as showing true spirit and greater nationalism.

The Thackeray camp warned that treating these opportunistic celebrities as neutral when a political shift occurs would be an ultimate betrayal of the youth who are currently suffering under police oppression and fighting against dictatorship.

The editorial concluded by declaring that “intellectuals who silently watch such atrocities are enemies of society and of no use to the nation”.

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‘Rahul Gandhi has lost his mental balance’: BJP MP Ravi Kishan

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New Delhi, Oct 13: BJP MP Ravi Kishan sharply criticised the Opposition parties’ ongoing protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and stated that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has ‘lost his mental balance’.

Speaking to reporters in Chhattisgarh, Ravi Kishan said, “Rahul Gandhi, as you can see in recent visuals, seems to have lost his mental balance. They are resorting to physical violence. The day before yesterday, there was a fight involving shoes and slippers in Uttar Pradesh during a clash over the state party president. Akhilesh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party are also involved. Since they are unable to defeat PM Modi and the BJP, they are now trying to hijack things.”

Highlighting the inconvenience caused to the public due to recent protests in the national capital, he said, “For 65 years, the Congress party has exploited this country. They want India to go back 65 years. They are trying to hijack things and cause inconvenience to the people in Delhi. Someone travelling in an ambulance with a sick person is being inconvenienced, and someone else is unable to get to work. They are not even asking the public what it wants. The people want PM Modi and this government, under which India is progressing so well…”

Kisan further mentioned that when the Opposition loses elections, they make such allegations against EVMs and elections.

“Gyanesh Kumar came in 2025. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi, wherever you won elections, there were no problems, but when you lose, suddenly you start questioning the EVM, alleging vote theft. When you fear losing, then you do such drama, ask people what they want — they want BJP. Youth is satisfied with BJP; you are trying to hijack a few youngsters,” he said.

Opposition leaders have alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and raised concerns over the electoral rolls, while the BJP has defended the process and accused the Congress of politicising the issue.

Earlier, the INDIA bloc leaders had also sought an appointment with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to discuss their concerns. However, the CJI declined their request and advised them to approach the court through a petition in accordance with the established legal procedure.

Following this, Gandhi led a protest march of the INDIA bloc leaders towards the apex court on Monday.

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