National News
Nupur Sharma case: Retired judges, bureaucrats term SC observations ‘unfortunate, unprecedented’
A group consisting of 15 retired judges of various high courts, 77 retired bureaucrats and 25 retired armed forces officers have issued an open statement saying that ‘unfortunate and unprecedented comments’ were made by a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Surya Kant and Justice J.B. Pardiwala, while hearing a petition by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, which has sent shockwaves in the country and outside.
The statement said the observations, simultaneously relayed by all news channels in high decibel, are not in sync with judicial ethos and by no stretch these observations, which are not part of the judicial order, can be sanctified on the plank of judicial propriety and fairness.
“Such outrageous transgressions are without parallel in the annals of judiciary. Nupur Sharma sought access to the justice system before the highest court as that court alone could consider grant of relief being sought. The observations that have no connect jurisprudentially with the issue raised in the petition, transgressed in an unprecedented manner all canons of dispensation of justice,” said the statement.
It added that such observation, perceptionally there is virtual exoneration of the dastardliest beheading at Udaipur in broad daylight. “The observations also graduate to the most unjustifiable degree that this was only to fan an agenda… In the annals of judiciary, the unfortunate comments have no parallel and are an indelible scar on the justice system of the largest democracy,” said the three-page open statement.
The officers’ said Sharma was de facto denied access to the judiciary and in the process, there was an outrage on the Preamble, spirit and essence of the Constitution.
“The observations, judgmental in nature, on issues not before the court, are crucification of the essence and spirit of the Indian Constitution. Forcing a petitioner by such damning observations, pronouncing her guilty without trial, and denial of access to justice on issue raised in the petition, can never be a facet of a democratic society”, added the statement. Sharma had moved the top court seeking clubbing of FIRs, registered in various parts of the country, into one FIR at Delhi in the matter connected with her remarks against the Prophet Muhammed.
The statement said the allegations constitute only one offence for which separate prosecutions (FIRs) were launched and Article 20 (2) of the Constitution prohibits prosecution and punishment more than once for the same offence. “Article 20 falls under Part III of the Constitution and is a guaranteed fundamental right. The Supreme Court in a number of cases including Arnab Goswamy vs. Union of India (2020) and T.T. Anthony vs. State of Kerala clearly laid down the law that there can be no second FIR and consequently there can be no fresh investigation in respect to the second FIR on the same issue. Such an action is violative of fundamental rights as guaranteed under Article 20(2) of the Constitution”, it said.
“Such an approach of the Supreme Court deserves no applause and impacts the very sanctity and honour of the highest court of land”, it added.
The coordinators are Justice P.N. Ravindran former judge of Kerala High Court, and Anand Bose, former chief secretary, Kerala
Business
Indian Railways throws open 3,584 jobs for young graduates

New Delhi, Oct 11: Indian Railways has announced 3,548 graduate-level vacancies for jobs under the Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC–Graduate), which provide opportunities for graduates to work across different functional areas of railway operations and administration, according to an official statement issued on Sunday.
The recruitment through Centralised Employment Notification issued by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) covers four categories of posts, including Chief Commercial Cum Ticket Supervisor, Goods Train Manager, Junior Accounts Assistant Cum Typist, and Senior Clerk Cum Typist. These positions offer career opportunities across commercial services, train operations, accounts and administration, supporting the efficient functioning of railway services across the country, the statement said.
Of the total 3,548 vacancies, as many as 2,750 are for Goods Train Manager, followed by 371 for Senior Clerk Cum Typist, 300 for Junior Accounts Assistant Cum Typist, and 127 for Chief Commercial Cum Ticket Supervisor.
The posts offer initial basic pay under the Seventh Central Pay Commission. Chief Commercial Cum Ticket Supervisor carries an initial basic pay of Rs 35,400 per month at Pay Level 6, while the other three categories carry an initial basic pay of Rs 29,200 per month at Pay Level 5. Applicable allowances and service conditions will be governed by the relevant rules.
The online application process commenced on October 8, and eligible candidates can submit their applications until 11:59 p.m. on November 6. The last date for payment of the examination fee is November 8, while the application modification window is scheduled from November 9 to 18 November.
Candidates must possess a degree from a recognised university or its equivalent and fulfil the prescribed post-specific eligibility conditions. The notified age limit is 18-33 years as on January 1, 2027, with applicable age relaxations for eligible categories under the prescribed rules.
The selection process comprises a first-stage Computer-Based Test (CBT), a second-stage CBT, followed by document verification and medical examination, as applicable. The recruitment framework also provides applicable reservation and age-relaxation benefits, along with scribe assistance and compensatory time for eligible candidates with disabilities, in accordance with the prescribed provisions.
Another provision under CEN No. 06/2026 is the dispensation of the Computer-Based Typing Skill Test (CBTST) for the posts of Junior Accounts Assistant Cum Typist and Senior Clerk Cum Typist. Candidates are nevertheless expected to possess basic computer and typing proficiency, which will be assessed after joining, as specified in the notification, the statement said.
Candidates can access the detailed notification, vacancy distribution, eligibility criteria and recruitment updates through the official Railway Recruitment Boards website:https://rrb.indianrailways.gov.in
Crime
Illegal firecrackers worth Rs 50 lakh seized from Jama Masjid shop, 2 persons arrested

New Delhi, Oct 11: A total of 590 kg of illegal firecrackers worth Rs 50 lakh were seized from a shop in the Jama Masjid area and two people arrested, officials said on Sunday.
Ahead of the festive season, the Vigilance branch of Central District was directed to conduct surprise raids in market areas to curb the illegal storage and sale of firecrackers. In compliance with this, inputs were collected, and secret informers were activated.
Following this, specific information was received regarding the illegal storage of firecrackers for sale during the festive season at a Jama Masjid shop, at 1110, named SS & Sons Ram Dass Janki Dass in Bazar Guliyan.
Acting upon the information, Sub-Inspectors Parmendra Kumar and Narender, Assistant Sub-Inspector Bijender, Head Constable Sunny, and Constables Gurcharan and Ct. Rajesh conducted a surprise raid on the shop and found that a signboard was covered with a white plastic sack to conceal its identity.
The officials further informed that initially the shop appeared vacant, with only wooden and glass showcases inside. During a thorough inspection of the wooden ceiling, the police team noticed a marked wooden panel measuring approximately 4 × 4 feet. On examination, the panel was found to have a sliding mechanism concealing a large storage space above the shop.
The team searched the concealed storage area and discovered a large quantity of firecrackers stored illegally. Upon weighing, the total quantity was found to be approximately 590 kg, with an estimated market value of Rs 50 lakh.
Along with the illegal firecrackers, the team also apprehended two persons, Janki Dass and Abheek Dass, from the location. Both the accused, who are residents of Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar, were handed over to the local Jama Masjid police for further investigation.
An FIR No. 534/2026 under Sections 288/223(b) of the BNSS and Sections 5/9(B) of the Explosives Act, 1884, was registered at PS Jama Masjid, and further investigation was taken up by the local police.
During questioning, both apprehended persons admitted their involvement in the present case and disclosed that the firecrackers had been supplied by another person, the official statement read.
Crime
DRI seizes gold worth Rs 8.98 crore after high-speed chase near Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam, Oct 11: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized foreign-origin gold worth Rs 8.98 crore near Visakhapatnam and arrested two persons.
The gold weighing over 5.8 kg was seized from a car after a high-speed chase near Visakhapatnam, the agency said on Sunday.
The gold hidden under the car seat was being transported from Kolkata to Hyderabad.
According to the DRI, it seized 5,832.90 grams of gold worth Rs 8.98 crore in the market from a car travelling from Kolkata to Hyderabad, following a chase and search on the night of October 8-9.
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officials maintained heightened vigilance along the National Highway. They intercepted the car carrying two passengers after a prolonged chase.
After sustained questioning and a systematic search of the vehicle, officials detected a specially fabricated cavity beneath the leg space of the front co-passenger seat. They recovered three packets containing 5,832.90 grams of 24-carat gold of 999 purity from the concealed compartment.
According to the officials, the gold had been smuggled into India through the India-Bangladesh border and was being transported to Hyderabad.
Officials seized the recovered gold under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. They arrested and produced both passengers before the jurisdictional magistrate, who remanded them to judicial custody.
The DRI said in another press release on Sunday that it intensified its crackdown on cross-border gold smuggling from Bangladesh, seizing around 7.8 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at more than Rs 11.50 crore in intelligence-led operations conducted on October 8-9 in the eastern region.
The operations exposed the use of road and railway networks to transport smuggled gold from border areas towards Kolkata, resulting in the arrest of six persons, the DRI said.
The officials seized 50 gold bars, weighing around 6.8 kg and valued at approximately Rs 10 crore, from a four-wheeler at Dankuni Toll Plaza. The vehicle, carrying four persons, was travelling from Banpur, near the Bangladesh border, towards Kolkata.
On the same day, DRI teams in West Bengal intercepted passengers on trains at two railway stations, i.e., Malda Town Railway Station and New Jalpaiguri Railway Station and seized around 1 kg of foreign-origin gold, valued at around Rs 1.5 crore, from their possession.
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