Latest news with #UttarPradesh-based
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Uttarakhand HC continues stay on toll collection at George Everest Park
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand high court on Friday continued the stay on toll collection at George Everest Adventure Park in Mussoorie while hearing a petition alleging lease violations and illegal toll collection on public roads inside the 142-acre park. The bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra directed the petitioner to file an affidavit at the next hearing. The matter was heard on a public interest litigation filed by advocate Vinita Negi. The petition mentioned that the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Corporation leased the 142-acre park to an Uttar Pradesh-based private company for ₹1 crore annually. The petitioner argued that this lease disadvantaged locals and tourism operators and raised objections over "unauthorised" toll collection on public roads, along with the leasing of helipads, huts, cafes, museums, and observatories inside the park. The petitioner also pointed to the operation of helicopter services for tourists, raising environmental concerns given the park's proximity to a wildlife sanctuary. While the petitioner alleged that toll was being collected even from locals, the opposing counsel claimed that the charges applied only to external vehicles and not tourists. The company maintained that the road where tolls are collected is private property. The court asked the respondents to produce original lease documents and relevant records from the tourism development council authorising the lease for verification.
The Wire
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Opposition Politicians, Journalists' Bodies Condemn Blocking of The Wire's Website, Int'l Media Takes Note
Following the government blocking users' access to the website of The Wire, Communist Party of India general secretary D. Raja has written to Union minister of information and broadcasting, while news bodies Digipub and Chennai Press Club, and opposition politicians have condemned the move. The Wire has learnt that the block on its website is according to the orders of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Various internet service providers are saying multiple things. Stalin and Mufti DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin has noted that the effort to silence the media now harms democracy. On X, he wrote: 'Silencing the media at a critical juncture undermines the spirit of democracy. I hope the Union government reconsiders and lifts the ban on @thewire_in 'Let not press freedom be strangled in the world's largest democracy.' In times of war it is truth that's always the first casualty, wrote Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, who also cited the move against Sanjay Sharma's Uttar Pradesh-based 4 PM News. '[B]oth silenced for speaking the truth. While every nation may engage in some form of war-time propaganda what pliable propaganda driven godi media is doing goes far beyond. It's not just irresponsible but also dangerous. In such critical times independent & credible platforms like 4 PM News and The Wire play a vital role in informing & shaping public opinion with facts instead of fiction . By banning them we're not just censoring voices but also hammering the final nail into the coffin of true journalism.' Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also extended support to The Wire. In a post on X, Raut wrote 'The Wire-OFF; Liar-ON' hinting at misinformation being peddled by pro-government channels like Republic that are freely accessible by the public while others are being censored. — Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) May 9, 2025 Other politicians who spoke up in support of The Wire include Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Sasikanth Senthil. 'This is a great pity. India must allow the free interplay of different voices. That's one of the things that distinguishes us from our enemies! No Indian site should be banned,' Tharoor wrote on X. Senthil posted official statements from The Wire and Maktoob Media , whose X handle has been withheld in India, and wrote,'Using the crisis as cover, those in power are targeting independent voices while giving a free pass to loyalist media that spreads propaganda. Instead of holding biased outlets accountable for misinformation, they are silencing those who speak the truth!' Using the crisis as cover, those in power are targeting independent voices while giving a free pass to loyalist media that spreads propaganda. Instead of holding biased outlets accountable for misinformation, they are silencing those who speak the truth! — Sasikanth Senthil (@s_kanth) May 9, 2025 Raja's letter In his letter to minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, D. Raja has highlighted how misinformation was allowed to run rampant during 'Operation Sindoor'. I, on behalf of the Communist Party of India, register my deep concern over the inflammatory and misleading content being aired by several television news channels following Operation Sindoor. While the nation stands united against terrorism, we are witnessing a dangerous trend where certain channels are communalising the issue, spreading unverified claims, and promoting war hysteria—without any official confirmation from the Government or Armed Forces. Raja said that such coverage creates panic and fear. Here, he mentioned that responsible news portals like The Wire have been blocked, in contrast. Such coverage not only undermines responsible journalism but also poses a direct threat to national cohesion. Warmongering and targeting of communities erode trust, create fear among citizens, and play into the hands of those who seek to destabilize the country. Public anxiety is being inflamed, not addressed. Even public broadcasters have echoed this irresponsible tone, failing the basic duty of informing people with accuracy and dignity. The Armed Forces themselves had to counter claims made by such news channels on many occasions. At the same time, access to responsible news portals like has been blocked. Raja noted that the CPI rejected attempts to turn the tragedy of Pahalgam into a spectacle of hate and division. 'Conflict must not become a tool to distract from facts or delegitimize fellow citizens. The cost of such narratives is paid by ordinary people in the form of insecurity, polarization, and long-term damage to the democratic fabric,' he wrote. He urged for decisive communication from the government. We urge the Ministry to act decisively against channels and platforms that promote communal hatred and spread falsehoods. Access must be restored to platforms which are responsible and act to maintain national unity. We also call for coordinated and periodic, fact-based briefings from your Ministry, in consultation with the ministries of Defence, Home Affairs, and External Affairs, to counter misinformation and provide the public with credible updates. Raja added that it is rightly said that truth is the first casualty of war, but 'today, truth is being sacrificed even before a war exists—buried under noise, prejudice, and sensationalism.' The airwaves must not become battlegrounds of distortion when the nation needs calm and clarity. We hope this urgent and pressing matter concerning national unity in challenging times will find your immediate attention. CPI(M), leader condemn move The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has also condemned what it has called an 'attack on independent journalism.' We condemn the attack on independent journalism.@thewire_in — CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) May 9, 2025 Its leader M.A. Baby has also written against the move on X: Strongly condemn the censorship of The Wire. When media outlets that are continuously peddling fake news on #OperationSindoor are being allowed to run uninterrupted, credible news portals are being blocked. Such attacks on the freedom of the press are not acceptable. Digipub statement DIGIPUB, a group of digital news websites of which The Wire is a member, said that it strongly condemns the blocking of The Wire's website. It said: DIGIPUB's founding member The Wire has released a statement on Friday, May 9 stating that the access to their website has been blocked by some Internet Service Providers following government orders. One of the ISPs says the block has been done by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the IT Act, 2000. If the Indian government has indeed blocked access to The Wire, then it is a blatant attack on press freedom. Silencing independent media doesn't protect democracy-it weakens it. The statement noted that this 'is a critical time for the nation and such actions impede rational thinking. The urgency and horrors of battle cannot be used as an excuse to silence independent journalism.' It added that a free media is the best antidote to misinformation and fake news and said: 'We demand the immediate reversal of such censorship, the orders for which have not even been made public. The Indian Government must uphold constitutional values of free speech and restore unrestricted access to independent media democracy cannot survive in silence.' Chennai Press Club statement The Chennai Press Club also strongly condemned the recent actions by the Union government to block access to the websites and social media accounts of independent media organisations, including The Wire and Maktoob Media. 'These actions, taken without prior notice or transparent explanation, amount to a grave infringement on the constitutional guarantee of press freedom and a worrying sign of escalating censorship.' It said that at a time when the public urgently needs access to accurate, diverse, and independent information – particularly amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan – such arbitrary blocks set a dangerous precedent and suppress voices committed to public interest journalism. We urge the Government of India and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to immediately revoke these bans and restore access to the affected media platforms, the press club said, adding that democratic discourse cannot thrive in an environment where critical and alternative narratives are silenced. 'At the same time, we also call upon all media organisations—both national and regional—to exercise utmost responsibility, accuracy, and restraint in their coverage of the current India-Pakistan conflict. Sensationalism, misinformation, or unverified reporting at this sensitive time can inflame public sentiment and compromise national security and harmony.' Kafila's statement The academics' and thinkers' collective, Kafila, noted that it stands in solidarity with The Wire and calls upon all democratic forces and voices to speak up against censorship, to stay calm and united for peace, and to reject and resist the bloodthirsty politics that has brought the region to the edge of catastrophe. 'We join our voices with other citizens of Southasia calling on both governments to de-escalate tensions, turn decisively towards diplomacy and ensure peace in the region,' it said. 'Dangerous erosion of constitutional rights': CPI(ML) In a statement expressing its 'deepest concern and strongest condemnation' over the Union government's 'arbitrary' blocking of access to The Wire as well as to the X accounts of Maktoob Media and Anuradha Bhasin among others, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation said the actions reflect 'a dangerous erosion of democratic freedoms and constitutional rights'. 'At a time when fake news and jingoistic propaganda dominate the mainstream airwaves, it is the voices committed to factual reporting that are being silenced, vilified and attacked,' the party said, also noting with alarm the government's reported orders to withhold over 8,000 X accounts in India. 'The freedom of press and expression cannot be sacrificed at the altar of jingoism,' it added. Four press bodies condemn crackdown against media The blocking of The Wire 's website 'would constitute a grave action against the interests of a free press in India' if it was indeed ordered by the Union government, a joint statement from the Press Club of India, the Indian Women's Press Corps, the Press Association and the Delhi Union of Journalists said. They also noted the blocking of access to the X accounts of various journalists and news outlets, including the BBC's Urdu service. 'While there is no doubt that the media as a whole has to conduct itself responsibly, the arbitrary blocks on some social media accounts of media-persons and news organisations, the orders for which have not been made public, must be lifted,' the press bodies said. 'Such crackdowns are against the freedom of the press and directly against the interests of the Indian public,' they said, adding that the government must be transparent in its actions and journalists ought to be allowed to do their job without restrictions. International media notes blocking of access to 'The Wire', others Newspapers and broadcasters from abroad have noted The Wire 's being blocked in India. Among these international media organisations are the BBC, Deutsche Welle, The Independent , the Washington Post and the New York Times . They also noted the blocking of other websites and social media accounts run by media houses. '…With Pakistani media and several other foreign sources banned in India, and now also critical Indian websites like The Wire , it had become a guessing game which of the claims and images on social media were worth repeating,' the New York Times ' Alex Travelli wrote.
Hans India
09-05-2025
- Hans India
Airline CEO Accused Of Assaulting Lift Installers In Lucknow
The chief executive officer of Uttar Pradesh-based carrier Shankh Air stands accused of detaining and violently assaulting employees of a lift installation company at his Lucknow residence. According to reports, one worker was allegedly suspended upside down and beaten during the incident. The confrontation occurred on Monday when technicians from Johnson Lift Private Limited were installing an elevator at CEO Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma's home in Gomti Nagar Extension. Tensions reportedly arose when Vishwakarma demanded the installation be completed within a single day. When the installation team explained this timeline was not feasible, Vishwakarma allegedly responded with verbal abuse and physical violence against four sales executives: Prabhat Lohani, Parvez, Santosh, and Pawan Yadav. The workers claim they were forcibly detained at the residence with their mobile devices confiscated. In the most serious allegation, Lohani was reportedly suspended upside down at gunpoint and subjected to a beating by the airline executive. The situation was brought to light when Yadav managed to access an alternative phone and alert company officials about their predicament. Following the incident, the four Johnson Lift employees filed a formal complaint at the Gomti Nagar Extension police station. Inspector Sudhir Awasthi confirmed that three individuals associated with Shankh Air have been taken into custody for questioning. "A case was registered against Shravan Vishwakarma, Alok Pandey, Sagam Abhiral Agarwal, Upendra Singh and two to three unknown people," the inspector stated.
India Today
06-05-2025
- India Today
Lift operator says he was hung upside down, assaulted by airline CEO in Lucknow
A CEO of an Uttar Pradesh-based domestic airline has been accused of holding lift operators hostage and assaulting them in Lucknow. One of the employees was allegedly hung upside down and beaten up. The incident occurred on Monday when employees of Johnson Lift Private Limited were installing a lift at the house of Shankh Air CEO Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma in the city's Gomti Nagar Extension. Vishwakarma allegedly wanted the work to be completed in one day, to which the lift company staffers said that it would not be possible. However, the CEO allegedly started to abuse them and beat up three of the company's sales executives - Prabhat Lohani, Parvez, Santosh and Pawan Yadav. They were held hostage at Vishwakarma's house and their phones were taken away. Lohani was allegedly hung upside down at gunpoint and beaten up by the CEO. Later, Yadav found an opportunity to call the company officials from another phone and inform them about what had transpired. Four employees from the lift operator company have filed a complaint at the Gomti Nagar Extension police station. Inspector Sudhir Awasthi said three people from Shankh Air were taken into custody and are being questioned. "A case was registered against Shravan Vishwakarma, Alok Pandey, Sagam Abhiral Agarwal, Upendra Singh and two to three unknown people," he added.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Time of India
HC slaps Rs2L cost on state for illegal seizure of ethanol tanker
1 2 Patna: In a scathing indictment of " police high-handedness " under Bihar's liquor prohibition law, the Patna high court has imposed an exemplary cost of Rs 2 lakh on the state govt for the unlawful seizure of a tanker transporting 40,000 litres of industrial ethanol. The court directed that the amount be recovered from the erring police personnel within six months and also ordered the immediate release of the seized tanker. The division bench of Justices P B Bajanthri and Alok Kumar Sinha, while allowing a writ petition filed by a Uttar Pradesh-based transport firm, observed, "Such misuse of power has eroded public confidence in law-enforcing agencies in Bihar and has also weakened the rule of law." The judgment was made public via the high court's official website on April 25. Senior counsel Satyabir Bharti, representing the petitioner, informed the court that his client, engaged in the logistics business, owns a tanker bearing registration number UP-15-FT3741. The tanker had been assigned to transport 40,000 litres of ethanol, an industrial-grade alcohol unfit for human consumption, to the Indian Oil depot at Barauni in Begusarai district. The ethanol was intended for blending with petroleum and its transportation is legally sanctioned by the central govt. On Dec 2 last year, the tanker was loaded at a distillery plant and was on way to Barauni. It was digitally sealed and carried all requisite documentation, fully compliant with instructions issued by the state's excise department. Despite this, it was intercepted near Phulwariya police station, just 12km from its destination, and seized by local police and excise officers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fully Loaded 4BHK - Last Call, Only 9 Units Left! ATS Triumph, Gurgaon Book Now Counsel Bharti demonstrated to the court that the seizure was made without any supporting evidence, solely based on the assumption that the ethanol might be diverted for manufacturing liquor, which is prohibited in Bihar. Crucially, there was no indication of tampering with the digital lock. The bench described the incident as a "classic case of police high-handedness and arbitrary action", which had infringed upon the constitutional rights of a citizen. It directed that half the cost, Rs 1 lakh, be paid to the petitioner with the remaining amount to be deposited in the Lawyers' Association Welfare Benevolent Fund at Indian Bank, LNMI branch, Bailey Road, within eight weeks. The court further ordered disciplinary action against the officials responsible and reiterated that the full cost amount must be recovered from them within six months.
