NEW DELHI: In every organisation, be it government or private, increment in an employee’s salary is an annual affair. Not in Supreme Court, where CJIs, on the eve of retirement and irrespective of length of tenure, used discretionary powers to sanction multiple increments to a select few employees.Those who had been Chief Justice of India for a short tenure, too, granted two or three increments in addition to the annual one in salaries to employees — mainly the chief justice’s personal staff or those who had performed exceptionally well and displayed organisational skills.While all 2,000-odd employees received at least two to three additional increments in their pay scale in the last four years, there were some lucky ones in CJIs’ good books who earned as many as six additional increments to get 150% of what should have been their salaries in the normal course.To correct the anomaly in pay scales and salaries of employees caused by discretionary sanctioning of increments, former CJI B R Gavai had called a full court meeting of all judges to discuss the issue. Most judges felt neither was SC a kingdom nor CJI a king to distribute increment largesse to a select few.After a detailed deliberation, the full court decided to stop this practice and withdraw discretionary increments given to employees in the last few years. It was also decided that discretionary allotment of increments would henceforth be decided in the full court, sources told TOI.Those who had got additional increments, apart from annual increments given every year, suddenly discovered their salaries had been reduced considerably. It came as a shock to those who had planned their budgets based on the increased salary — like taking house or vehicle loans that had to be repaid through EMIs.Some of those who had put in additional work and performed exceptionally well to get the increments said their monthly salaries were reduced considerably, in some cases up to Rs 40,000, and vented their ire against one or two registrars who, according to them, briefed the then CJI incorrectly on the issue.TOI spoke to a cross-section of employees, the majority of whom said that it would have been better had SC adjusted the additional increments against future annual increments. That would have kept their salaries intact and enabled them to maintain household budgets and investments in houses or vehicles.

Shamanuru Shivashankarappa (File photo)

Veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa passed away at a private hospital in Davanagere on Sunday due to age-related ailments, family members and officials said. He was 95.A six-time MLA who represented the Davanagere South Assembly constituency, Shivashankarappa had been undergoing treatment for some time. He was the senior-most legislator in Karnataka and among the most senior lawmakers in the country, according to sources.“He was admitted to hospital on October 23. Age-related issues were there. He was fine and comfortable and the situation continued till the end. Unfortunately, at 6.20 PM, Shamanuru Shivashankarappa passed away,” Dr Sharan Patil of Sparsh Hospital, who is also a family member, told reporters.Shivashankarappa is survived by three sons, including Karnataka Minister for Mines and Geology and Horticulture S S Mallikarjun, and four daughters. His daughter-in-law, Prabha Mallikarjun, is the Member of Parliament from Davanagere.A former minister, Shivashankarappa served as treasurer of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) for several decades and was also president of the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, the apex body of the influential Veerashaiva-Lingayat community. Known for his forthright views, he worked to unify the community amid internal differences and did not hesitate to speak against his own party government on issues related to it.Apart from his political career, Shivashankarappa was a noted educationist who founded several educational institutions and was also an industrialist. He had earlier served as a minister and was once elected as a Member of Parliament.Chief minister Siddaramaiah expressed grief over his death, saying, “The society has been left poorer by the loss of a politician who, during his long public life, stayed away from accusations and allegations and devoted his power to the welfare of the people.” He added that Shivashankarappa’s role in making Davanagere district a model district would keep his memory alive among the people.Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said Shivashankarappa, who dedicated his life to social service, made a significant contribution to the field of education. “His departure has caused an irreparable loss to the country and the Congress Party,” he said in a post on X.AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge recalled his long association with Shivashankarappa and his family since 1972. “I pray to the Almighty to give strength to Shivashankarappa’s family to bear the loss,” he said in a video message, adding that he would visit Karnataka to take part in the last rites.Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda also expressed grief, recalling his long association with the veteran leader. “His simplicity and his long service to the people in public life will always be remembered. His departure is an irreparable loss to the state,” he said.Veteran BJP leader and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa described Shivashankarappa as a close associate. “Personally, I have lost a dear elder brother,” he said, adding, “His departure is an irreparable loss to state politics, especially to Davanagere district and the Veerashaiva-Lingayat Mahasabha.”Union ministers HD Kumaraswamy and V Somanna, several members of the Siddaramaiah cabinet, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka, state BJP president B Y Vijayendra, and many other leaders and legislators also expressed condolences.

Raipur: Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday unveiled “Anjor Vision 2047” in the Assembly — an ambitious, people-centric blueprint aimed at transforming the state into a fully developed region by the time India celebrates 100 years of Independence.Calling the moment historic, the CM said the vision document lays out a clear, mission-driven roadmap with phased goals, governance reforms, and a strong push for infrastructure, investment, jobs and social development.Recalling that Chhattisgarh’s first Assembly session was held on Dec 14, 2000, at Rajkumar College soon after the state was formed, Sai said the new Assembly building marks the start of a fresh development journey. Reflecting the state’s culture and democratic values, the building, he said, would stand as a symbol of both heritage and progress.Using an analogy from Jashpur’s archery tradition and the Mahabharata, Sai said Chhattisgarh now has a single-minded focus. “Like Arjuna’s eye on the bird, our target is a developed Chhattisgarh,” he said, adding that the state has a clear and achievable plan to reach that goal. Work on the vision document began soon after the government took office, Sai said. It was prepared through wide public participation, involving farmers, youth, women, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders. Describing it as carrying the “fragrance of the soil,” he said the plan reflects the spirit of Antyodaya — development for the last person in the queue.The document identifies 13 priority sectors and 10 key missions, with good governance at the core. According to the CM, over 400 governance reforms implemented in the past two years have already made administration more transparent and citizen-friendly.Taking a political swipe at the previous Congress regime, the Chief Minister alleged that while his government has a vision for development till 2047, the Congress’s five-year rule was marked by “systematic loot” through an organised syndicate. He claimed central agencies have placed concrete evidence of financial irregularities before courts and said the public has understood the “true character” of the opposition.Sai highlighted major gains in road, rail and air connectivity, expansion of premier institutions like IIT, IIM and NIT, and growth in medical education, with medical colleges increasing from 10 to 15, in addition to AIIMS.A new industrial policy and a single-window clearance system have helped attract investment proposals worth over Rs 7.5 lakh crore, he said.On energy, Sai said Chhattisgarh ranks second nationally in power generation and aims to top the list by 2030, with a strong push towards renewable energy, including large-scale solar projects and rooftop solar with double subsidies. He also underlined opportunities in agriculture, forest-based economy, mineral resources and tourism. Concluding, Sai expressed confidence that the goals outlined in the Anjor Vision 2047 would be realised from the new Assembly building and called upon all members to work together to translate the vision of a developed Chhattisgarh into reality.Congress boycotts AssemblyCongress boycotted the Assembly on the first day of the winter session, held on Dec 14, in protest against the government’s decision to dedicate the entire sitting exclusively to a discussion on “Vision 2047.” Congress claimed that this approach sidelined routine legislative business, including Question Hour, Calling Attention notices, and adjournment motions. Leader of Opposition Charandas Mahant described the presentation as misleading, arguing that it focused heavily on long-term plans and promises while ignoring pressing day-to-day issues faced by the people, such as unemployment, delays in paddy procurement, crimes against women, potholes, lack of tap water, and electricity billing problems. He accused the government of using the session to project a futuristic agenda without addressing current grievances, and termed the vision document “heavy on claims but weak on substance.” Mahant said the Congress’s boycott was a way to protest the sidelining of ordinary legislative business and highlight the government’s neglect of immediate public concerns.

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday criticised Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, saying that it is not appropriate to mock anyone taking a “Vipassana,” despite both of them having political differences over the handling of the pollution crisis in the national capital region. “You (Rekha Gupta) harbor political enmity towards me. Due to this, it does not behove you to mock the divine Vipassana meditation method taught by Lord Buddha in this manner. You too should certainly try Vipassana once. You will like it a lot, and you will experience boundless peace. Going to do Vipassana is not called “running away.” Only those with great fortune are blessed with Vipassana,” Kejriwal wrote on X, replying to an earlier post by CM Gupta.The AAP leader’s comments come a day after CM Gupta alleged that while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are trying to fight pollution by staying in Delhi, Kejriwal simply abandons Delhi by taking a Vipassana every six months.“We are finding solutions to the pollution problem in Delhi by living in Delhi itself. We are not like them who abandon Delhi to its fate and run off for Vipassana every 6 months. My Delhi, My Responsibility-we are working with this sentiment. The problem is here too, and the solution will also emerge from here…for Delhi, by staying in Delhi,” the Delhi CM said. Meanwhile, AAP’s Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj also hit out at the Delhi government for the illnesses people are getting due to increased pollution. He criticised CM Rekha Gupta over the worsening air quality in the national capital, stating that she is unaware of the air quality index (AQI) and its parameters, adding that she must leave the pollution problem for the experts to deal with.Speaking to ANI, Bharadwaj said, “This government has been in power for almost a year. Nowhere in this country are there incidents of stubble burning. The condition of pollution is that even inside a closed room, we can see smog. The CM of Delhi doesn’t know what AQI is? She says any instrument can measure AQI. She can’t even properly pronounce AQI. What will the people of Delhi expect from the chief minister for the next 4 years?”“I think experts should come in front and the Chief Minister should take a step back,” he added.Residents of Delhi on Sunday expressed deep concern over deteriorating air quality as the city’s AQI surged to 497, remaining in the ‘severe’ category, according to the central pollution control board (CPCB).In response to the severe pollution, the Delhi Government’s Directorate of Education on Saturday directed that schools conduct classes for grades IX and XI in hybrid mode. This decision followed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoking Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as AQI levels approached the ‘severe’ mark.

NEW DELHI: Two gunmen opened fire at Sydney’s Bondi Beach which killed at least 11 people, prompting a major police and emergency response; one shooter is reported dead as well and the other critical, with multiple injured receiving treatment. Back home, the BJP appointed Nitin Nabin as its national working president, replacing JP Nadda. Meanwhile, Congress held a large rally in Delhi, accusing the government of vote manipulation and questioning the Election Commission’s neutrality, claiming to have collected over five crore signatures nationwide.

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11 killed in shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach targeting Jewish festival Two gunmen fired several gunshots at Sydney’s Bondi Beach killing at least 11 people, triggering a major response from police and emergency services. Authorities have advised the public to stay away from the area and seek shelter. One shooter is also reported dead and another is critical, while multiple injured individuals are being treated. Read full storyBJP appoints Bihar minister Nitin Nabin as national working presidentThe Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) parliamentary board on Sunday appointed Nitin Nabin the national working president of the party. Nabin, a Kayasth by caste, will be replacing incumbent BJP chief JP Nadda. Nabin is a PWD minister in Bihar and MLA from Bankipur in Patna. Read full story ‘Our fight is against gaddars indulging in vote chori’: Congress slams BJP, EC in mega rally The Congress stepped up its attack over alleged vote manipulation and revisions to electoral rolls by holding a large rally in Delhi. Senior leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, addressed the gathering, accusing the government of undermining electoral mandates and raising questions over the Election Commission’s neutrality. The party said it has gathered more than five crore signatures across the country to flag these issues. Read full story BJP alleges ‘Congress wants to eliminate PM Modi’; flags ‘abusive language’ at ‘vote theft’ rallyThe Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday accused the Congress of revealing the “real agenda” behind its SIR and ‘vote chori’ rally, alleging that it was aimed at “eliminating” Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla shared a video on X, claiming it showed Congress leaders raising slogans such as “Kabr khudegi Modi ki, aaj nahi to kal khudegi (Modi’s grave will be dug – if not today, then tomorrow)”. Read full story AQI ‘severe plus’ in Delhi-NCR: CAQM suspends all outdoor sports; warns serious health risk to childrenAir quality in Delhi-NCR has dropped to ‘severe plus’, leading the commission for air quality management (CAQM) to suspend all outdoor sports activities to safeguard children’s health. The move coincides with the enforcement of Stage IV, the strictest level of the graded response action plan (GRAP). Construction work is banned, truck movement is restricted, and schools have shifted to a hybrid learning model. Read full story

Rahul Gandhi at Congress’s Ramlila Maidan rally on Sunday

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said his party stood with “satya” (truth) and pledged to oust the “Narendra Modi-RSS government” from power.Addressing the Congress party’s ‘Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod’ rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission. He named Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, alleging that they were working in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party.“We will stand with ‘satya’ (truth) and will remove the Narendra Modi-RSS government from power. They have ‘satta’ (power), and they indulge in ‘vote chori’,” Gandhi said.He claimed that the BJP transferred Rs 10,000 during elections but alleged that the poll panel failed to take action. “In this fight between truth and untruth, the Election Commission is working with the BJP government,” Gandhi said.Gandhi further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had brought in a new law granting immunity to the Election Commission and said it would be changed. “(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi brought a new law to give immunity to EC; we will change this law retroactively and act against election commissioners,” he said.Asserting that truth would ultimately prevail, even if it took time, Gandhi added, “We’ll work with truth and non-violence to defeat Modi and (Amit) Shah.”Kharge says RSS ideology will destroy the countryAlleging that the ideology of the Manusmriti, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will “destroy the nation”, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday pitched that it is only the ideology of the opposition party which will ultimately save the country’s Constitution from being destroyed.“Only Congress party’s ideology can save the nation; ideology of (Mohan) Bhagwat, (Madhav Rao) Gowalkar Guruji, or the Manusmriti will not save the nation, but destroy it. The path the BJP, PM Modi is going, slowly and steadily, they are trying to finish the Constitution,” Kharge said during his speech.The Congress chief praised Rahul Gandhi for working to “save the country” and the people’s vote.“Rahul Gandhi is fighting for the country, and to strengthen that fight is the responsibility of us all, that is what I want to request you all. If you do strengthen those ideas then it is your loss, the country’s loss, not his loss. If you want to save the country, if you want to save your vote, protect it, if you want to save the Constitution, then you can work for yourself. The work of bringing forward our ideology, ideas, is being done by Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, today Priyanka is also doing,” Kharge said.Launching a scathing attack on the party, Kharge alleged that the ideology of the ‘sangh parivar’ is looking to enslave people under the guise of Hinduism.“Everyone is there under the Hindu religion, but under the guise of Hinduism, they want to enslave people. If you want to be a slave, if you give up your self-respect, then you will be finished. The freedom we got (from the Britishers) was given by Congress. Did Modi give it? Modi was not even born then. Amit Shah was just a kid then. These people talk against Nehru, Gandhi, and Ambedkar,” he said.

NEW DELHI: West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose on Sunday termed the chaos at football star Lionel Messi’s event at Salt Lake stadium an episode that “brought untold shame” to Kolkata and football lovers, and called for strict accountability, including a judicial inquiry, arrests of organisers and a standard operating procedure (SOP) for managing large congregations.After visiting the venue and interacting with affected spectators, the governor said a committee headed by a retired high court judge, with the state chief secretary and home secretary among its members, is already inspecting the incident. “This should be an eye-opener for all of us. This incident has brought untold shame to the football lovers everywhere, and in Kolkata,” Bose said.Earlier on Saturday, at Salt Lake stadium, around 50,000 spectators, many of whom had paid between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000 for tickets, and, in some cases up to Rs 20,000 in the black market, expressed anger after politicians, VVIPs and security personnel surrounded Messi, restricting visibility for the general public. The situation later escalated, with some spectators throwing bottles, which are banned inside stadiums. Chairs were pulled out and thrown, causing damage to fibreglass seats across the ground and the synthetic track.Stressing that the public should not suffer when private parties commercialise sporting events, he said, “There should be a standard operating procedure for such congregation management in future. Because when a private party is allowed to commercialise sports and make money, the public should not be the sufferers.” He added that the issue involved “larger issues of administrative governance” as well as “the fundamental rights and the human rights of the people.”The governor said he would submit a report after discussions with victims. “My report after discussing with some of the victims will be submitted to the concerned authorities, and I do not want to reveal the content right now, but my report is almost ready. After the mark of this field visit, I will submit my report,” he said, adding that it would also be sent to the Centre.Bose outlined steps he has suggested to the authorities, including a judicial inquiry into the matter; arrest of organisers, “not just the organiser”; refund of ticket money to the public; immediate freezing of the organiser’s accounts; laying down an SOP for such gatherings; and putting in place an insurance scheme for spectators with the premium to be paid by the organiser.He said he has proposed 12 points to the government, covering remedial, short-term and long-term measures.

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi unit President Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday criticised chief minister Rekha Gupta over the worsening air quality in the national capital, stating that she is unaware of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and its parameters, adding that she must leave the pollution problem for the experts to deal with.Speaking to ANI, Bharadwaj said, “This government has been in power for almost a year. Nowhere in this country are there incidents of stubble burning. The condition of pollution is that even inside a closed room, we can see smog. The CM of Delhi doesn’t know what AQI is? She says any instrument can measure AQI. She can’t even properly pronounce AQI. What will the people of Delhi expect from the Chief Minister for the next 4 years?”“I think experts should come in front and the Chief Minister should take a step back,” he added.Residents of Delhi on Sunday expressed deep concern over deteriorating air quality as the city’s AQI surged to 497, remaining in the ‘severe’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).Locals reported experiencing breathing difficulties, eye irritation and other health issues due to the worsening pollution levels. Many residents also expressed concern for vulnerable groups, including the elderly and children, who are more susceptible to respiratory problems.Speaking to ANI, Suresh, a resident of Jalgaon, highlighted the importance of clean air for health and well-being.According to CPCB, the AQI, which ranges from 0 to 500, is divided into six categories, each reflecting the level of pollution and associated health risks.As per the AQI categorisation, readings between 0-50 are classified as ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.In response to the severe pollution, the Delhi Government’s Directorate of Education on Saturday directed that schools conduct classes for grades IX and XI in hybrid mode. This decision followed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoking Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as AQI levels approached the ‘severe’ mark.

NEW DELHI: The Congress will hold a major rally at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital on Sunday, stepping up its campaign over alleged “vote chori” and the SIR issue, party leaders said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi are expected to address the rally. Ahead of the rally, senior leaders will assemble at the party’s Indira Bhawan headquarters and proceed together to Ramlila Maidan in a bus.

The rally comes days after a fiery debate in the Lok Sabha, during which the government and the Opposition clashed over the special intensive revision of electoral rolls and “vote chori” allegations.

Senior leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and Sachin Pilot, are also set to participate, while former Congress president Sonia Gandhi is also likely to be present.“Our party has organised the ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ rally at Ramlila Maidan. The Congress party has taken a step towards a decisive battle, and a large number of people will attend this rally,” Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel was quoted as saying by ANI.Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy is also expected to attend the rally.According to a party spokesperson, 1,027 Congress leaders and activists set out from Jammu on Saturday to attend the rally. The group raised slogans of “vote chore, gaddi chhore” and “Delhi chalo” while en route, as cited by PTI. Jharkhand Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh said the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee has undertaken extensive preparations for the rally. Describing the programme as historic, Kamlesh added that party leaders, workers and representatives from across Jharkhand have already arrived in Delhi in large numbers.

Congress MP K C Venugopal on Saturday criticised the Election Commission of India, saying the country was “lacking a neutral umpire” to conduct elections. He also referred to earlier press conferences addressed by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, which highlighted alleged electoral malpractices.“We are lacking a neutral umpire in this country for conducting elections. This is actually very dangerous to democracy. That is why we are going completely for a campaign and movement. The five-crore signature has to be submitted to the President of India. We are seeking an appointment… In Parliament, we also discussed this vote chori issue. Our LoP has given straightforward suggestions. Not only criticising, but we are also providing clear suggestions...There are a lot of complaints about the machines, the EVMs. Lakhs of people will participate in that… This is an internal party program,” Venugopal was quoted as saying by ANI. Venugopal said the Congress has gathered over five crore signatures nationwide to highlight alleged vote theft, calling it a core democratic issue. He alleged the presence of “bogus” and duplicate votes, claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s press conferences exposed irregularities favouring the BJP, and said the Election Commission ignored the party’s complaint while instead targeting the Congress.

Tensions flared in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as Union home minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sparred over allegations of “vote chori.” Gandhi repeatedly challenged Shah to debate the issues raised during recent press conferences, including claims of irregularities in electoral rolls.Moreover, Rahul launched a sharp attack on the government and the Election Commission, raising three questions that he said demonstrated how the BJP was “directing and using” the EC to undermine India’s democracy.Rahul also put forward a series of proposals, including providing machine-readable voter lists to all political parties a month before elections, scrapping the provision that allows CCTV footage to be destroyed after 45 days, granting access to EVMs, and amending laws that, he alleged, allow election commissioners to “get away with whatever they want to do.”Responding sharply, Shah said Parliament would not function according to Rahull’s wishes and asserted that he would address the questions in his own sequence. He defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, describing it as a necessary exercise to “sanitise” the electoral rolls.Accusing the Opposition of double standards, Shah said the Election Commission was praised after electoral victories but criticised after defeats. The exchange ended with Opposition MPs staging a walkout during Shah’s reply, forcing an adjournment of the House.