New Delhi, Aug 21: Former Supreme Court judge Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, the Opposition INDIA bloc’s nominee for the post of Vice President, filed his nomination papers here on Thursday, saying his candidature is a commitment to the values of the Constitution and the strength of India’s democracy.

“Today, I had the honour of filing my nomination papers for the office of the Vice President of India as a joint candidate of the Opposition parties. I did so with a deep sense of humility, responsibility, and unwavering commitment to the values enshrined in our Constitution,” Justice Reddy (retd) said in a statement after filing his papers.

Reflecting on his career, he said: “My life in public service as a judge of the Supreme Court of India, as a student of law, and as a citizen rooted in the democratic traditions of this Republic has taught me that the true strength of India lies in the dignity of every individual, the protection of constitutional morality, and the unity in our diversity.”

He said that the contest is about more than individuals. “This election is not merely about one person. It is about reaffirming the idea of India as envisaged by our founders — an India where Parliament functions with integrity, where dissent is respected, and where institutions serve the people with independence and fairness,” he said.

Calling the Vice President’s role as Rajya Sabha Chairperson a custodian of parliamentary traditions, Reddy pledged: “If elected, I will discharge that role with impartiality, dignity, and a steadfast commitment to dialogue and decorum.”

Expressing gratitude to opposition parties and citizens alike, he added: “I am deeply grateful to the leaders of the Opposition parties for reposing their trust in me, and to the countless citizens who continue to inspire this collective struggle for justice, equality, and harmony. With faith in our Constitution and hope in our people, I embark on this journey. May our democratic spirit continue to guide us all.”

Justice Reddy’s (retd) nomination was filed in the presence of senior Opposition leaders, including Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, and DMK leaders, among others.

As many as 80 MPs from different parties have signed his nomination papers.

Justice Reddy (retd) will face off against NDA’s C.P. Radhakrishnan, the incumbent Governor of Maharashtra and a veteran BJP leader from Tamil Nadu. The election is scheduled for September 9.

New Delhi, Aug 21: The government on Thursday clarified that no user fee is levied from two-wheelers at the toll plazas on National Highways and National Expressways across the country.

The clarification came after reports surfaced that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would collect user fees from two-wheeler riders at toll plazas.

“In reference to the fake news circulating on social media regarding toll collection from two wheelers on toll plaza, NHAI would like to clarify that no user fee is levied from two wheelers at the Toll plazas on National Highways and National Expressways across the country,” the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement.

User fee on National Highways is collected as per the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, and there is no proposal to charge toll fee from the two wheelers, the ministry added.

According to the rules, the user fee at toll plazas is charged from four or more wheeled vehicles which include categories like car, jeep, van or light motor vehicle/light commercial vehicle, light goods vehicle or mini bus/bus or truck/heavy construction machinery (HCM) or earth moving equipment (EME) or multi axle vehicle (MAV) (three to six axles)/ oversized vehicles (seven or more axles.

Meanwhile, the NHAI sold over 5 lakh FASTag-based annual toll permits in just four days, collecting Rs 150 crore in revenue. Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of purchases of annual passes in four days, followed by Karnataka and Haryana.

Further, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest number of transactions through FASTag annual passes at toll plazas, a statement by NHAI said. Private vehicles can now use an annual toll pass for free passage through toll plazas on national highways and expressways, with each pass priced at Rs 3,000.

The annual pass is valid for one year from activation or for 200 toll trips, whichever occurs first.

Mumbai: Raising concerns over the growing number of orphaned children in the country, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MP from Mumbai North-West, Ravindra Waikar, on Wednesday urged the government to include a special column for orphans in the upcoming 2027 Census. He made this demand in the Lok Sabha under Rule 377, drawing the attention of the House to the issue.

Waikar said that according to UNICEF data, India has nearly 2.5 crore orphaned children, many of whom lack any form of support. Despite being one of the largest population surveys in the world, the national census has so far failed to record the number of such children. He reminded the House that the Supreme Court had earlier expressed concern over the increasing number of orphaned children and directed states to conduct surveys to identify them.

The court had also emphasized that these children must receive all benefits guaranteed under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. “Including a special column for orphaned children in the 2027 Census, as suggested by the Supreme Court, will ensure that they are identified and provided with their rightful access to education and welfare schemes. It is both a moral and constitutional responsibility to secure their future,” Waikar said in his submission.

The proposal, tabled through the Lok Sabha Speaker, stressed that only through accurate enumeration in the Census can the government effectively plan policies to safeguard the lives and futures of orphaned children.