Category: INDIA

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court, on Tuesday, March 10, has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) not to carry out further demolitions until Wednesday, March 11, against the houses of two individuals allegedly accused in the Uttam Nagar Holi clash that resulted in the death of 26-year-old Tarun.

The petitions were filed by Jarina, the mother of the accused, Imran, and Shahnaz, whose children the police questioned during the investigation of the case.

Justice Amit Bansal directed the authorities to maintain status quo until the next hearing, Live Law reported.

One of the petitioners said that the house in JJ Colony in Uttam Nagar lawfully belongs to them, as they have been residing there for the past four decades. The petition stated that the petitioner and her husband were regularly paying bills and other municipal charges.

A first information report was registered on March 5 under Sections 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) regarding the altercation between the two families, according to the plea.

However, the petitioner said the incident originated from a petty dispute between children playing with balloons that escalated into a verbal spat and a scuffle between the neighbouring families. The petitioners claimed that the dispute was personal, and certain elements are being used to give it a communal angle.

According to the plea, a mob gathered in the area on March 7 and allegedly spread rumours, misinformation categorising the incident as a communal attack. It added that individuals from certain organisations broke the locks and doors of the accused’s house, vandalised the property, and set it on fire.

Following the dispute, on March 8, the MCD demolished the entire residential building of one of the accused using bulldozers without prior notice, a show-cause notice, or an opportunity to hear the affected persons.

The plea alleged that the demolitions were carried out immediately after the FIR was registered, raising questions that the drive was undertaken as a disciplinary measure, as the occupants were implicated in the case.

It also mentioned that the doors and locks of the petitioner’s house were broken open by the public, and that she feared her house might be demolished.

The petitioner sought a court order to restrain the MCD from carrying out an arbitrary and illegal demolition of her house, citing violations of Supreme Court guidelines against punitive actions.

“Tell them, between now and 4 pm and 10:30 am tomorrow, when this matter is taken up, nothing should happen,” the judge said.

Advocate Divyesh Pratap Singh, through whom the petitions were filed, said that tearing down parts of the accused’s house created “an atmosphere of terror and insecurity” in the area. It raised concerns that other petitioners’ homes could be demolished as well, leaving them homeless.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi carried out a demolition drive and razed “only the illegally constructed parts” of the accused’s house on Sunday, March 8.

On March 4, Tarun (26) was killed in a clash that broke out between his family and their neighbours in the JJ Colony area. The violence broke out after water from a balloon thrown by a girl from Tarun’s family splashed on a woman from his neighbour’s family.

Police maintained that there was no communal angle and that the dispute arose from past disagreements. The two families had known each other for the past five decades and got into rows over parking and garbage disposal, among other things, the police said.

The incident had triggered massive protests from right-wing groups, with vandalism and looting reported following the alleged murder. While JJ Colony remained in heightened tension, the MCD carried out the demolition drive, saying it was taken as part of “removing encroachment” built upon the drains.

New Delhi [India], March 12: Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed on Wednesday warned that the ongoing conflict in West Asia could have serious economic consequences for small island states like the Maldives, particularly due to declining tourism and rising fuel prices, and said that India could play a key role in de-escalating tensions, given its strong ties with the major actors involved in the conflict.

Speaking to ANI, Nasheed said the conflict could disrupt the country’s fragile economic stability.

“Tourist arrivals have come down. So that is going to have a very big impact on our economy and the prosperity of the people. So, yes, it is very, very difficult,” he added.

Security concerns if conflict expands

He also expressed concern over the broader security implications if military action expands in the region.

“Especially if the United States is going to attack people near our borders or within our borders, then there is a likelihood that our own people also will be in danger,” the former Maldives President said.

India could play role in de-escalation

On the diplomatic front, Nasheed said India could play a key role in de-escalating tensions, given its strong ties with the major actors involved in the conflict.

“I think India will try to speak to the United States and Israel. India has very good relationships with these countries. Hopefully, it will impress upon them the need to stop the war. The war must end, and I think India can play a very big part in ending the war,” he said.

Rising fuel prices pose risks for island states

The former Maldivian leader also flagged severe risks posed by rising energy prices to small island developing states. With shipping disruptions and threats to supplies moving through the Strait of Hormuz, global oil markets have been under pressure.

Nasheed said the Maldives has limited fuel reserves, leaving it vulnerable to sudden price shocks.

“Some countries have one year of fuel reserves. I think we have just about two months of fuel reserves. When fuel prices rise, everything rises. All prices rise, production stops,” he said.

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Debt pressure amid declining tourism

Highlighting the economic fragility of climate-vulnerable nations, Nasheed pointed to mounting debt pressures and the impact of falling government revenues due to declining tourism.

“Debt burden is a very, very big issue. For instance, in the coming month, we have a big payment to make. And because government revenue will be down as tourism is decreasing, we might not be able to pay the debt. It is a big challenge for us,” he said.

(Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by GPlus’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav has directed officials to place municipal property boards on vacant plots with pending dues and dispose of pending property mutation cases within the stipulated time.

The directions were issued during a review meeting held at the City Bus Office to assess the progress of revenue recovery for the financial year 2025-26 and preparations for the National Lok Adalat scheduled on March 14.

The meeting was attended by revenue in-charge Niranjan Singh Chauhan, additional commissioner Shringar Srivastava, deputy commissioners Keshav Sagar and Pradeep Jain, along with assistant revenue officers, bill collectors and other officials of the Indore Municipal Corporation.

During the meeting, Bhargav instructed revenue officials to run a special drive to achieve the corporation’s revenue targets before March 31, the end of the financial year. He said the upcoming Lok Adalat would be the last one for the current financial year and officials must work actively to maximise recovery of pending dues.

Highlighting the benefits of the Lok Adalat, the Mayor said the initiative provides relief to taxpayers through surcharge waivers, encouraging citizens to clear pending property tax and other municipal dues. He directed assistant revenue officers and bill collectors to set clear targets and ensure higher recovery compared with previous Lok Adalats.

Bhargav also appealed to taxpayers to take advantage of the surcharge waiver being offered during the Lok Adalat and cooperate with the civic body by clearing their pending property tax and other dues.

Reviewing the performance of the revenue department, the Mayor sought zone-wise details of revenue collection in the previous financial year and the targets set for the current year. He instructed officials to accelerate recovery efforts and ensure higher revenue collection than last year.

He further directed that boards indicating municipal property be installed on vacant plots where property tax dues are pending so that defaulters receive notice of their liabilities.

Officials were also asked to maintain regular contact with major defaulters, including operators of hotels, hostels, restaurants, petrol pumps and other commercial establishments, to ensure recovery of outstanding dues.

The Mayor said the objective of the civic body is not only to collect revenue but also to provide cooperation and convenience to taxpayers.

He also reviewed pending property mutation cases and directed officials to resolve them within the stipulated time frame, warning that cases pending for more than 30 days would be examined and action would be taken against officials found negligent.

Mumbai: Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to issue the highest number of Farmer IDs under the AgriStack initiative, Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne informed the state Assembly on Wednesday.

AgriStack Ensures Faster Benefits
The Farmer ID initiative is part of the AgriStack programme implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the Government of India to ensure that benefits of agricultural schemes reach farmers quickly and efficiently.

Over 1.31 Crore IDs Issued
Responding to a question raised by MLA Karan Devtale, Bharne said that over 1.31 crore Farmer IDs had been issued in Maharashtra as of March 4, 2026, making it the leading state in the country in implementing the programme.

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No Complaints Yet, Government Vigilant
The minister clarified that no complaints of bogus Farmer IDs have been received so far under the AgriStack system. However, he assured that if any such irregularities are detected, the government will conduct an inquiry and take action against the concerned Common Service Centre (CSC) responsible for issuing the IDs.

MLAs Raise Concerns in Assembly
During the discussion in the Assembly, MLAs Vijay Wadettiwar and Namita Mundada also participated and raised related concerns.

Simplified Process Encourages Registration
Bharne added that the process of obtaining a Farmer ID has been kept simple to encourage more farmers to register and benefit from various government schemes in the agriculture sector.

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Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The escalating tensions across the Middle East and Gulf region have begun casting a shadow on Madhya Pradesh’s export sector, disrupting shipments of commodities worth nearly Rs782 crore to these markets.

Several key industries that depend heavily on the war-hit region for trade are now feeling the strain as uncertainty over maritime routes and security concerns in the Red Sea region slow the movement of goods.

Export data for April 2024-March 2025 shows that the state exports commodities worth thousands of crore globally, with pharmaceuticals, textiles and rice among the major sectors that depend on Middle Eastern markets.

4 lakh tonnes of basmati rice stranded

Exports of rice from Madhya Pradesh between April 2024 and March 2025 were valued at about Rs4,054 crore. In March 2025, rice exports from the state were valued at around Rs336 crore.

Traders say basmati rice exports have almost come to a halt in the past one week. It is estimated that more than four lakh tonnes of basmati rice are currently stranded, leading to a fall in prices.

Farmer Sourabh Solanki said that from last week farmers have stopped selling rice due to the price decline. Prices that had reached around Rs4,400 per quintal have dropped to nearly Rs4,000, reflecting a 10-15% fall in the market.

Farmer leader Kedar Sirohi warned of additional pressure from fertiliser imports and diesel availability, both of which depend on global supply chains. Diesel demand is currently high due to the harvesting season, and any shortage could increase transportation costs and further affect mandi prices.

Textile, garment exporters face shipment delays

Exports of cotton yarn between April 2024 and March 2025 were around Rs7,940 crore, accounting for about 12.22% of the state’s total exports. In March 2025, exports from this segment were around Rs748 crore.

Ready-made garments of all textiles from the state recorded exports worth around Rs327 crore during the same period.

Akshay Jain, president of the Retail Garment Association, said business activity has slowed considerably due to disruptions in shipping routes.

He said exporters usually dispatch consignments ahead of Ramzan, but this year only partial shipments could be sent as several exporters were unable to dispatch their full consignments. Jain said many exporters have decided to hold back goods temporarily as consignments getting stuck midway during transit could lead to major financial losses.

Rising freight costs hit pharma export competitiveness

Between April 2024 and March 2025, exports of drugs and pharmaceuticals from the state were valued at about Rs13,830 crore, accounting for 21.29% of the state’s total exports. In March 2025 alone, pharmaceutical exports from the state were valued at around Rs1,318 crore.

Industry stakeholder Gautam Kothari from the Pithampur industrial area said maritime freight costs have risen by 60-100%, increasing logistics expenses and reducing the global competitiveness of Madhya Pradesh’s pharmaceutical exports by nearly 3-5%.

The escalating tensions across the Middle East and Gulf region have begun casting a shadow on Madhya Pradesh’s export sector, disrupting shipments of commodities worth nearly Rs 782 crore to these markets.

Several key industries that depend heavily on the war hit areas for trade are now feeling the strain, as uncertainty over maritime routes and security concerns in the Red Sea region slow down the movement of goods.

Export data for April 2024-March 2025 shows that the state exports thousands of crores worth of commodities globally, with pharmaceuticals, textiles and rice among the major sectors that depend on Middle Eastern markets.

Textile and Garment Exports

Exports of cotton yarn, between April 2024 and March 2025 were around Rs 7,940 crore, accounting for about 12.22% of the state’s total exports. In March 2025, exports from this segment were around Rs748 crore.

Apart from this, ready-made garments of all textiles from the state recorded exports worth around Rs327 crore during the same period. Akshay Jain, President of the Retail Garment Association, said that business activity has slowed considerably due to disruptions in shipping routes.

He said that exporters usually dispatch consignments ahead of Ramzan, but this year only partial shipments could be sent, as several exporters were unable to dispatch their full consignments.

Jain said many exporters have decided to hold back goods temporarily, as consignments getting stuck midway during transit could lead to major financial losses.

Pharmaceuticals Sector

During the period from April 2024 to March 2025, exports of drugs and pharmaceuticals from the state were valued at about Rs13,830 crore, making it 21.29% to the total exports.

In March 2025 alone, pharmaceutical exports from the state were valued at around Rs1,318 crore. Industry stakeholder Gautam Kothari from Pithampur industrial area said that maritime freight costs rising by 60-100% have increased logistics expenses, reducing the global competitiveness of MP’s pharmaceutical exports by nearly 3-5%.

Rishita Tomar

The shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has reached the Delhi High Court gates after the lawyers’ canteen reportedly dropped its main course, citing “unavailability of gas supply.”

“This is to respectfully inform you that due to the unavailability of the LPG gas cylinder at present, we regret that we are unable to prepare and serve the main course items in the Lawyers Canteen,” the canteen said in a notice dated Wednesday, March 11.

The notice said they have no idea when the supply of the LPG cylinders will be restored. “At the moment, we do not have any information regarding when the LPG supply will be restored. We will resume the preparation of the main course as soon as the gas supply becomes available,” the notice read.

India’s hospitality sector is facing an acute commercial LPG cylinders shortage due to ongoing tension in the Middle East and the closure of Strait of Hormuz.

It consumes some 31.3 million tonnes of LPG annually. As much as 87 per cent of this is in the domestic sector, i.e. household kitchens, and the rest in commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants.

Of this total requirement, as much as 62 per cent is met through imports. The US and Israel’s attack on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation have shut the Strait of Hormuz – the conduit through which India got 85-90 per cent of its LPG imports from countries like Saudi Arabia.

The government has prioritised domestic cooking gas supplies to households. The Union Ministry for Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued a government order (GO) under the Essential Commodities Act, and gas is diverted to domestic use only.

Hotel associations in major cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai and Chennai have warned of a total shutdown.

 

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the state government while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the proposed 6-km elevated corridor between LIG Square and Navlakha Square in the city.

The petition, filed by Atul Sheth, questions the legality and necessity of the project. According to the plea, the elevated corridor was initially proposed in 2018–19, but the plan was shelved after preliminary surveys.

The petitioner alleged that the project was revived in 2024 without conducting a fresh and comprehensive traffic survey, and construction work was initiated without proper assessment of the city’s traffic requirements.

The plea further claimed that the project is not in line with the report of the Indore Development Authority (IDA) and lacks clear public utility.

During the hearing before a division bench comprising Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi, the state government sought time to file its reply.

The court granted the request and posted the matter for further hearing on April 2, along with other related petitions.

Act against illegal bus parking near Bhandari Bridge: HC

The High Court on Wednesday directed traffic authorities to take immediate action against illegal parking of private buses near Bhandari Bridge in the city.

The direction was issued by a division bench of Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi while hearing a petition filed by Puneet Sharma.

During the hearing, the court was informed that encroachments between Shastri Bridge and Rajkumar Bridge had already been removed and roadside kiosks dismantled.

However, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that private buses continue to be parked near Bhandari Bridge, causing encroachment and obstruction on the public road.

Taking note of the submission, the bench directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to ensure that illegal parking is not allowed in the area and ordered that videography of the enforcement action be carried out.

ACP (Traffic) Indu Singh was present in court during the hearing. The matter has also been listed for further hearing on April 2.

Mumbai: In a country where the bond between humans and animals is historically and spiritually profound, a new study has revealed that India’s youth are ready to turn cultural sentiment into concrete action. The India Karuna Collaborative (IKC), in partnership with global research firm YouGov, released a comprehensive report identifying young India’s attitudes to farmed animals, their welfare and plant-forward eating.

The study surveyed 3,010 respondents, aged 18–30 years, across Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities, providing a definitive look at how the next generation views the ethics of the plate. The survey established that a significant majority of young Indians recognise animal sentience, which is the ability to feel pain and experience emotions. However, the data reveal a hierarchy of empathy in the public imagination.

Interestingly, youth attributed higher levels of sentience to farmed animals (70%) and pets (67%) than to wild animals (55%) or fish (47%). Only 33% viewed insects as sentient. This recognition of farmed animal suffering serves as a critical foundation for the report’s more surprising findings on consumer behaviour.

The report highlighted a significant gap between awareness and the reality of modern industrial farming. While roughly 50% of respondents are aware of the use of hormones, antibiotics, and the confinement of animals in small cages, many still cling to idealised versions of Indian agriculture. Around 44% believe dairy cows graze freely in open pastures, while 41% believe meat chickens are typically raised outdoors. Despite these misconceptions, the appetite for transparency is high, as 61% of respondents expressed a willingness to learn more about the actual conditions on factory farms.

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The most striking takeaway for the private sector is the economic shift in the youth mindset. Animal welfare is no longer just a fringe concern but a purchasing driver. The survey highlighted that 54% of young Indians rate animal welfare as “very” or “extremely” important when buying products. About 69% of dairy consumers and over 50% of meat and egg consumers stated they are willing to pay a 10% premium for products that adhere to higher welfare standards. At the same time, 63% youth believe the animal welfare movement will grow significantly in the coming years.

As global conversations link industrial farming to climate change and public health risks, Indian youth are showing openness to dietary shifts. About 53% of survey respondents said they were open to replacing some or all of their animal protein with plant-based alternatives. However, the road to a plant-forward India has hurdles. The study identified three primary barriers to adoption: 34% fear nutritional deficiency, 32% cite taste, and 31% cite difficulty changing traditional family meal structures.

The IKC report provided a roadmap for policymakers and businesses to bridge the gap between empathy and action. It suggested the development and integration of welfare standards that meet the “5-freedom framework,” which advocates for animals to be free from hunger, discomfort, pain, and fear, and to be able to express normal behaviour.

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Indore (madhya Pradesh): The district administration has clarified that there is adequate availability of domestic LPG cylinders, petrol and diesel in the district, and consumers need not panic. However, amid fears of a shortage, refill bookings have nearly doubled in the district in the past two days.

To prevent illegal hoarding and misuse of LPG, the administration has constituted three monitoring teams. Meanwhile, petroleum companies have also released customer care numbers for consumers to register complaints or seek assistance.

To review the LPG supply situation, Collector Shivam Verma held a meeting with sales officers from BPCL, HPCL, IOC, Avantika Gas, representatives of gas agencies, the manager of the HPCL Gas Plant at Mangliya, and other officials.

The collector directed officials to continuously monitor the supply situation and ensure that no consumer faces inconvenience. He emphasised that there is no shortage of any fuel, including LPG, PNG, petrol or diesel in the district.

District Supply Controller M.L. Maru said the spike in bookings is mainly due to public apprehension. According to him, data from the past two days shows that bookings are nearly ten times higher than normal levels, reflecting unnecessary panic among consumers.

He added that there is sufficient availability of 14-kg domestic LPG cylinders, and consumers will continue receiving deliveries based on regular bookings. At present, home delivery is being made within three days of booking through OTP verification.

Commercial LPG supply temporarily affected

Officials informed that the supply of commercial LPG cylinders is currently temporarily affected. Hotels, restaurants and catering businesses have been advised to use alternative cooking methods such as diesel furnaces, induction furnaces or infrared electric coils for the time being.

Strict action against illegal supply

Collector Verma instructed gas agencies to ensure timely home delivery to domestic consumers and strictly prevent black marketing. He warned that strict action will be taken if domestic cylinders are supplied illegally to commercial establishments.

Inspection teams formed

To monitor gas distribution, the administration has formed three inspection teams, which will work from 6 am to 10 pm to ensure transparency and prevent irregularities.

Consumers will now have to provide an OTP at the time of cylinder delivery, a step aimed at preventing misuse and ensuring proper distribution.

Hotels asked to switch to PNG

Hotels and restaurants in areas where PNG pipelines are available have been instructed to complete the process of obtaining PNG connections immediately. Avantika Gas Company has assured that the required arrangements will be made promptly.

LPG helpline numbers

Consumers can register complaints if cylinders are not supplied by dealers:

Bharat Gas: 1800-22-4344

Indane Gas: 1800-2333-555

HP Gas: 1800-2333-555

Officials said complaints received through these numbers will be acted upon by the concerned petroleum companies.

Bengaluru: Panic enquiries for domestic LPG cylinders have risen at several gas agencies in Bengaluru in the past few days amid concerns over supply disruptions due to the widening West Asia conflict, though dealers said on Wednesday that stocks are adequate as of now.

However, there is an acute shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, forcing several hotels and restaurants in the city to operate under strain, an LPG dealer told PTI.

Hotel and restaurant owners reiterated that they would be forced to shut down once their stock is exhausted.

A representative of Indane distributor, Sri Giridhar Agencies, said there has been no disruption in the supply of LPG cylinders for domestic use.

“Every day we have been receiving loads. There is no disruption in supply. However, we have been getting numerous panic calls from customers enquiring whether there is sufficient stock. Calls for bookings have also gone up,” the representative, who did not wish to be identified, said.

He assured customers that adequate loads were arriving regularly and there was no need for panic.

Several LPG gas dealers in the city said that panic enquiries have also led to advance bookings for LPG cylinders, with many customers opting to secure refills in advance, fearing possible supply disruption due to the widening West Asia conflict.

Ravi Gowda of Balaji Stores, a private cylinder gas agency, said the shop has been receiving many enquiries about LPG availability in the past two days.

“We have been getting a lot of queries related to the availability of LPG cylinders. But we have sufficient stock as of now. We are getting stock on a daily basis, and it can be delivered on an urgent basis,” he said.

A representative from Mahhan Enterprises in Uttarahalli attributed the situation to a temporary disruption in supply, saying LPG cylinders had not arrived for about a week, but supplies have now resumed.

“If customers book now, the cylinder will be delivered within four to five days. In case of an emergency, they can also come and collect it directly from the agency,” the representative said, adding that there is no major crisis, though deliveries may sometimes be delayed by a day or two.

An LPG dealer, on condition of anonymity, said commercial cylinders are not available and hotels are bearing the brunt, with the Bangalore Hotel Association saying that the hotels and restaurants in the city will be forced to shut down.

“There is a crisis for commercial cylinders, but there is no problem with the domestic supply. Earlier, we used to supply within two or three days, but now, after the crisis, we cannot deny supplies for domestic use. One cylinder lasts about a month for a household, so they have fixed a 30-day time period for stock here. People may panic, so this has to be handled carefully,” he told PTI.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday sought the Centre’s urgent intervention to ensure the supply of adequate commercial LPG cylinders to hotels and restaurants in Bengaluru.

He said hotels, restaurants and catering establishments in the city would be forced to suspend operations if supplies are not restored, affecting a large number of students and working professionals who depend on them for regular meals.

In his letter to Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, he also requested that appropriate directions be given to the oil marketing companies to address the current supply constraints and help ease the situation.

Referring to the March 9 order issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas prioritising LPG supply for domestic consumers, Siddaramaiah said while the intention behind the order to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply to households across the country is well understood and appreciated, its implementation appears to have led to an unintended shortage of commercial LPG in Bengaluru.