The Supreme Court on November 4 issued notice to the Centre and the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a petition challenging Section 16 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023. The provision grants the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners immunity from civil and criminal proceedings for actions performed in their official capacity, even after retirement. Filed by activist and lawyer Arun Kumar Agrawal, the petition argues that such blanket protection is unconstitutional and prevents accountability for alleged misconduct. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant sought responses from the concerned authorities. (PC: India Today)

Portal The Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) declaration from the online Form 6 voter registration process on its ECINET portal. The decision follows objections from Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, who questioned the legality of adding the declaration without formally amending the statutory form. Applicants in states where SIR is ongoing must now submit Form 6 and the separate SIR declaration independently. The ECI informed the Supreme Court that the separation was implemented on October 21, bringing the online process in line with physical applications. 

The Supreme Court on November 3 ordered a freeze on the November salary of Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and concerned officials for failing to remove encroachments from land reserved for a BEST bus station in Borivali. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant rejected the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s request for an additional 30 days and imposed a ₹5 lakh cost. The court issued a show-cause notice to Bhide over alleged contempt and questioned possible collusion between officials and encroachers. It criticised administrative delays, including the need to translate Marathi documents, and demanded immediate compliance with its earlier directions. 

India has retained its position as Asia’s second most represented higher education system, with 34 new entrants in the 2027 QS Asia University Rankings. However, 71 per cent of its ranked universities slipped, including all six of its highest-ranked institutions. IIT Delhi remained India’s top-ranked university at 66th, down from 59th, while IISc Bengaluru fell from 64th to 79th. Delhi University dropped out of the top 100 to 106th. Meanwhile, Manipal Academy of Higher Education entered the top 200 at 195th, and Chandigarh University reached 104th. India’s representation has grown over 13-fold since 2016, reaching 325 institutions, with strong performance in research publications per faculty. (PC: X)

The Ladakh administration has ordered the Desert Flower School, founded by climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk, to suspend all activities until the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court delivers its final verdict in a pending case involving the institute.The directive applies to the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL), which runs the school in Phyang, Leh. The legal dispute concerns the administration’s cancellation of land allotted to HIAL, measuring 1,076 kanals and one marla approximately 134.5 acres and 270 square feet. The administration’s order seeks to maintain the status quo until the court reaches a final decision.  

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified that voters whose names are missing from draft electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) can submit Form 6 to seek inclusion in the final voters’ list, even if they were registered earlier. The clarification addresses fears that reapplying could amount to a false declaration under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The ECI said no action should be initiated solely because of previous enrolment, provided the applicant is not registered in another constituency and the declaration follows the law. It cited an October 14 Delhi High Court ruling. (PC: India Today)

A probe agency has taken action against the Anil Ambani Group by attaching assets worth around ₹510 crore, including 2 aircraft and 6 land plots. The action is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving companies linked to industrialist Anil Ambani. The attached properties reportedly include valuable land assets and aircraft identified during the probe. The move is aimed at securing suspected proceeds linked to the case. The latest action adds to the scrutiny facing the Reliance Group as investigating agencies examine alleged financial transactions and possible violations. (PC: NDTV)

The government has told the Delhi High Court that the over-century-old Qadeemi Masjid inside Krishi Bhavan must be removed as part of the Central Vista redevelopment project. In an affidavit, it argued that retaining a permanent religious structure within a central government office complex is “impermissible and incompatible with the secular character” of government property. The government maintained that Krishi Bhavan and the Central Secretariat complex are secular public premises exclusively designated for administrative, governmental and public service activities. The submission forms part of the legal proceedings before the High Court over the mosque’s proposed removal. The supplied report excerpt does not provide the petitioners’ arguments or the court’s response. (PC: X)

India's military leadership is preparing for a major relocation as the Army and Navy chiefs are set to leave the historic South Block in New Delhi. Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, along with the Vice Chief and 7 senior officers, is expected to move to the newly built Shaurya Bhavan in Delhi Cantonment by the end of November. Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and senior officers will also shift to Sena Bhavan. The Army War Room and the Director General of Military Operations office are among the facilities being relocated. The move is part of a wider restructuring of defence establishments. (PC: India Today)

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to restore an awareness video featuring actor Dia Mirza after it was removed following objections from BJP leaders. The video was part of the civic body's eco-friendly Diwali campaign and urged people not to burst firecrackers on public roads, in line with court directions. A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale expressed displeasure over politicians giving the environmental campaign a communal angle. Calling India a secular country, the court said everyone breathes the same air and stressed the need to respect all communities. (PC: NDTV)