The Supreme Court on Thursday directed high courts across India to "register suo motu proceedings" to monitor trials against MPs and MLAs. A bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud said chief justices should prioritize cases involving "death sentence or life imprisonment." Though no timeline was set, the bench said "special benches" led by HC CJIs will list matters "at regular intervals" for "expeditious and effective disposal." Trials with over 5-year jail term will also be prioritized after the death penalty and life term cases. The court said high courts will list stalled trials and "all attempts will be made to expedite such trials." CJIs can issue "orders and directions as necessary" for swift disposal.

In the face of escalating pollution woes in Delhi and neighboring regions, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has put forward a novel solution: artificial rain. With the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi hitting a 'very poor' level of 398, IIT Kanpur's project aims to alleviate the crisis. Cloud seeding, a process involving chemicals like silver iodide and dry ice released from aircraft, attracts water vapor and forms rain clouds, potentially offering temporary relief for up to a week. Having secured the necessary permissions from government authorities, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), to carry out cloud seeding, IIT Kanpur's initiative holds promise in mitigating the hazardous air quality affecting millions in the National Capital Region.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids at over 55 locations in 10 Indian states, arresting 44 middlemen involved in a pan-India human trafficking network facilitating Rohingya Muslims' entry from Bangladesh. The agency, in collaboration with Border Security Force and state police, dismantled the illegal immigration support networks, seizing forged documents, Indian and foreign currency. NIA plans to seek assistance from Bangladeshi authorities. The operation followed Assam Police's discovery of the racket in February, underscoring the serious national security concern. India asserts the threat posed by illegal Rohingya immigrants, citing links to anti-national activities and terror organizations. [ Representative Image from Twitter ]

The Delhi government has announced an early winter break for schools from November 9th to 18th due to hazardous air pollution levels in the city. The decision was made by the Delhi education department, which issued a notice rescheduling the winter break that was originally planned for December. The move aims to protect students from exposure to the capital's severely polluted air, which has been at dangerous levels in recent weeks. All schools in Delhi will now be closed for 10 days starting next week. The air pollution crisis in Delhi worsens each winter as emissions combine with colder temperatures and wind patterns.

The recently released Bihar caste survey exposes deep socio-economic disparities in the state. Out of 27.6 million families, 34.13% (9.4 million) earn less than ₹6,000 per month. The report highlights significant poverty rates among different caste groups, with 42.93% of SCs and 33.58% of EBCs falling below the poverty line. Additionally, 67% of the state's population consists of housewives and students. The survey also reveals limited vehicle ownership (4.27%) and laptop access (1.15%), emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to uplift marginalized communities.

Delhi's air quality deteriorated, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 421, categorizing it as 'severe.' Several monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar, recorded alarming AQI levels, with Anand Vihar hitting a hazardous 999 before Diwali. The Supreme Court reprimanded states, urging them to halt stubble burning, while emphasizing the ban on certain firecrackers applied nationwide. Delhi authorities implemented measures, including water spraying and bans on construction, to mitigate pollution.          

Punjab witnessed a surge in stubble-burning incidents, with over 1,500 reported in a day, raising the total to 20,978. Sangrur had the highest cases, exacerbating air quality issues in Haryana, where several cities recorded 'severe' pollution levels. The worsening situation prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management to enforce Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan in the National Capital Region. Authorities are urging farmers to refrain from burning crop residue to mitigate the severe air pollution crisis affecting both states. [ Representative Image ]      

The Supreme Court has clarified that its directions regulating firecrackers, including the ban on crackers containing barium salts, are applicable not just in Delhi-NCR but across India. Hearing a plea seeking Rajasthan's compliance, the SC said its previous orders on curbing air and noise pollution bind all states. It directed Rajasthan to specifically take note of the orders banning barium and other chemicals in firecrackers. The SC bench reiterated that no fresh directions are needed as its orders apply nationwide, not just in Delhi-NCR. In a separate hearing on Delhi's air pollution crisis, the SC ordered UP, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi to ensure stubble burning is stopped to control rising pollution levels.

The Aligarh Municipal Corporation has unanimously passed a proposal to rename the Uttar Pradesh city to Harigarh. If approved by the state government, it will join the growing list of places renamed under BJP rule, including Allahabad to Prayagraj and Faizabad district to Ayodhya. Aligarh mayor Prashant Singhal said the longstanding demand to rename Aligarh was unanimously supported by all councillors in a meeting. The proposal will now be sent to the state administration. In 2019, CM Yogi Adityanath indicated his government will continue renaming places, having already changed names like Mughal Sarai to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Nagar. The move comes after previous demands by BJP members to rename other UP cities like Agra and Muzaffarnagar.

The Supreme Court said states must take steps to stop stubble burning, a major cause of Delhi's severe winter air pollution. The court said Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan's practice of crop residue burning spikes pollution levels in Delhi every winter, terming it responsible for "murder of people's health". While calling out Delhi government over polluting vehicles, the court ordered an urgent meeting of states to find solutions. It said curbing pollution can't become a "political battle" and states must act immediately as "it's your job" to stop stubble burning. The court will also look at vehicular emissions contributing to the crisis.