Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court of India has urged the Union government to consider introducing a “Romeo–Juliet” clause in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to prevent the harsh criminalisation of consensual adolescent relationships. A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and N. Kotiswar Singh observed that while the POCSO Act was enacted to…
Bhubaneswar: Courts across the country have passed a series of significant orders over the past three days in cases involving governments led by opposition parties, drawing attention to ongoing legal scrutiny of executive and investigative actions. On Monday, the Supreme Court issued a notice to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and granted interim relief…
Bhubaneswar: Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami on Tuesday set a strong example of civic responsibility by appearing before the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing and urging citizens to actively participate in the voter list verification process. After attending the hearing at Swarnamoyee Vidyalaya, Shami dismissed concerns surrounding the exercise and emphasized that voter list correction is…
Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has filed a police complaint after the circulation of AI-generated images and videos depicting Lord Jagannath on social media sparked widespread outrage among devotees. According to SJTA officials, the fabricated visuals were shared by a social media account identified as ‘vishvrajcreation’. The content allegedly misrepresented the revered deity…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has approved the reappointment of 800 retired police personnel to strengthen policing and internal security across the state. Retired Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASI), Sub-Inspectors (SI), and Inspectors will be re-engaged and deployed as Special Police Officers (SPOs). The Home Department on Tuesday formally informed the Director General of Police (DGP) about the…
Bhubaneswar: A devastating fire broke out in the early hours at No. 1 Haat’s Plastic Market in Bhubaneswar, destroying more than 40 shops and causing extensive property damage estimated at several lakhs. The blaze erupted around 1:38 am, spreading rapidly through the congested market area. The fire escalated quickly, fueled by the market’s extensive use…
Bhubaneswar: The Madras High Court has suggested that the Union government consider introducing an Australia-like legal framework to restrict access to social media platforms for children below the age of 16, citing growing concerns over online safety and exposure to harmful content. The observation was made while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking stronger…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced the establishment of ‘Nari Adalats’ (women’s courts) at the village level to ensure faster access to justice for women and strengthen legal awareness within communities. The initiative was announced by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who said the women-led forums will function as mediation centres operated by trained volunteers…
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has approved a performance-based incentive scheme for Ama Bus captains (drivers) and guides (conductors), aimed at strengthening road safety, improving passenger convenience, and upgrading workforce skills. The scheme will come into effect from January 26, with incentives disbursed on a quarterly basis based on evaluations of safe driving practices and overall…
Bhubaneswar: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a penalty of ₹22.2 crore on IndiGo Airlines for large-scale operational disruptions reported in December, the aviation regulator said in a statement on Saturday. According to the DGCA, the fine includes a penalty of ₹3 lakh per day for 68 days, amounting to ₹20.4 crore,…