‘System failed our children’: Congress holds candle march in Dehradun over paper leaks
The march began from the residence of 23-year-old Riya Thapa in Pooja Vihar. Riya, a resident of Dehradun, was found dead at her home a few days ago. DEHRADUN: Congress workers took out a candle march in Dehradun on Saturday to protest recurring paper leaks, corruption and mismanagement in competitive examinations across the country. The march began from the residence of 23-year-old Riya Thapa in Pooja Vihar. Riya, a resident of Dehradun, was found dead at her home a few days ago. A Class 12 topper with 97.6% marks, she was preparing for NEET after completing school. Family members, relatives, local residents and Congress workers paid tribute to her and observed a two-minute silence for the peace of her soul. Party leaders said the protest was held both to demand justice for Riya and to highlight the plight of lakhs of aspirants facing uncertainty in national examinations. Congress leader Vaibhav Walia said Riya’s death reflects a larger crisis in the education system. “Riya Thapa’s untimely death is not just the tragedy of one family. It is a symbol of the failure of the country’s education system,” Walia said. He alleged that repeated paper leaks in NEET and other examinations, along with corruption and administrative negligence, have pushed the future of millions of students into darkness. “Students who work for years have lost faith in the government’s system. Their dreams are being toyed with again and again,” he said. “The government has completely failed to secure the future of the country’s youth.” The Congress organised a torchlight procession in Dehradun, led by State Mahila Congress president Jyoti Rautela. Students, parents, youth and citizens joined the march to demand accountability and a fair examination system. Rautela said the participation showed that young people will no longer accept any tampering with their future. “By joining this people’s movement, the youth have sent a clear message that they will not accept any kind of manipulation with their future,” she said. She added that the student campaign being led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has now become the voice of the common people. “This is not just a fight for justice for Riya Thapa. It is a fight for a fair and transparent examination system, for accountability, and for the dignity of every student in the country,” Rautela said. The Congress said similar protests will be held in other districts to press for strict laws against paper leaks and for the protection of students appearing in competitive examinations. Narendra Sethi Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Parliament passes Transgender Persons Amendment Bill, 2026 with Rajya Sabha approving it today
Parliament has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha yesterday by a voice vote amid an Opposition-led walkout. The bill seeks to redefine the category of transgender, removes the provision of self-perceived gender identity and excludes several socio-cultural identities as well as transmasculine individuals from its ambit. It also further defines transgender persons within a biological framework, based on intersex variations and differences in sexual development. Replying to the discussion on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar said the government is compassionate towards the well-being of the transgender community. He said the Bill has provisions to empower the transgenders and give them dignity. The Minister said that the NDA government has taken several initiatives to bring transgender people to the mainstream and stop discrimination against them. Starting the discussion in the Upper House, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said this bill dilutes the privacy of an individual provided under the Constitution. Opposing the Bill, Ms Chowdhury said self-identification cannot be taken away through bureaucratic certification. Criticizing the government, she said that the proposed bill undermines the fundamental rights and dignity of transgender persons. Calling such a move wrong and illegal, she argued that forcing transgender persons to provide their identity through official certificates is against the spirit of equality and dignity guaranteed by the constitution. She also questioned the government’s approach for not properly consulting with the transgender community before bringing the Bill. She also referred to the Supreme Court’s landmark NALSA judgement of 2014, which recognized the right of transgender persons to self-identify their gender. Ms Chowdhury said the proposed Bill violates the principles laid down in that judgement and fails to respect an already established legal framework. DMK MP Tiruchi Shiva also opposed the Bill, saying that even if the Bill is passed in Parliament with a majority, it will be struck down by the Supreme Court. He further added that the Bill violates Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution and it deprives the community of the right to freedom, dignity and self-determination. Supporting the Bill, BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni said, ” This Bill ensures justice, dignity, protection from criminalisation and legal safeguards for transgender persons. She also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing this bill with certain amendments in order to ensure that the benefits reach the deserving people in a proper manner. She said there is a need for a law that brings justice to real transgender individuals and punishes fake ones. Mrs Kulkarni said the benefits should be extended to those who are transgender by birth. She said that the amendment to extend punishment will bring down the rate of crime and forced identities. TMC’s Saket Gokhale said that 31% of Transgender people in India have attempted suicide because of the discrimination that they are facing. He alleged that now the government is going to start discriminating against them as though social discrimination were not enough. He called it unacceptable. Mr Gokhale expressed concern that gender is going to be decided by the Chief Medical Officer and a District Magistrate, and the bill does not prescribe any qualifications for the Chief Medical Officer. Sanjay Singh of AAP said the Bill is a big let-down for the transgender community. He accused the government of not doing anything for the community. RJD’s Manoj Kr Jha said that prejudices against transgender people should stop, and they should be able to live with dignity. He added that self-determination of gender should not be taken away. CPI(M)’s John Brittas said it is a black-letter day and the Bill is taking India a century back. He pleaded with the government to either withdraw the Bill or refer it to a Select Committee. Jaya Bachchan of the Samajwadi Party also questioned the government over the legislation. She sought to know what the urgency was in bringing the Bill, without examining it with the depth and care that it deserved. Courtesy : NOA Note: This news is originally published on https:/newsonair.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Anaya Bangar Undergoes Transgender Verification Test; Says She Was ‘Asked To Undress In Front Of Male Doctors, Felt Exposed’
Anaya Bangar, the daughter of former Indian cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, has shared a deeply personal account of the transgender verification process she recently underwent as part of a legal gender recognition procedure. In an emotional video posted on Instagram, Anaya described the medical assessment as invasive and said the experience left her feeling vulnerable and exposed. Anaya Bangar, the daughter of former Indian cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, has shared a deeply personal account of the transgender verification process she recently underwent as part of a legal gender recognition procedure. In an emotional video posted on Instagram, Anaya described the medical assessment as invasive and said the experience left her feeling vulnerable and exposed. Speaking about the process, Anaya revealed that she was required to appear before a medical panel at a government hospital following the implementation of the recent transgender amendment law. According to her, the assessment involved a full physical examination conducted in the presence of multiple doctors. Explaining what happened, she said, “Because of the recent trans bill being passed and as part of the process I had to stand in front of a medical panel at a government hospital. They asked me to undress and have my whole body assessed in a room full of doctors, which included men as well at the same time. An invasive gynaecological assessment was also performed as part of the assessment.” Recalling the emotional impact of the experience, Anaya shared, “I remember lying there thinking, why do I have to prove my body to be recognized as who I am on the paper? This whole experience was very invasive and I felt very vulnerable and exposed at the same time.” She said she chose to speak publicly about the ordeal to create awareness about what many transgender individuals may encounter during the legal recognition process. “I’m sharing this cause not all of us know what this process can involve, and I hope that we all can agree that legal recognition respects people’s dignity,” she added. Earlier this year, Anaya underwent gender-affirming vaginoplasty surgery and has since been documenting her recovery while continuing to advocate for transgender rights and inclusion. What Is The Transgender Verification Process? Under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, individuals seeking legal recognition of their gender identity may be required to undergo verification by a state-appointed Medical Board as part of the certification process. The procedure, often referred to as medical board certification or state verification, is intended to validate an applicant’s gender identity for official documentation. Courtesy : TFPJ Note: This news is originally published on https:/thefreepressjournal.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Alleged rape of a Dalit girl in Neemgaon: Family apprehended the accused and handed him over to the police, a case has been registered.
A case of alleged rape of a 15-year-old Dalit girl has come to light in the Neemgaon police station area of Lakhimpur Kheri. It is alleged that on the night of July 5th, a young man named Mehboob, a resident of the same village, entered the house and forcibly raped the girl. The family apprehended the accused on the spot and handed him over to the police. According to the police, the accused, Mehboob, son of Ahmed Raja, entered the house by jumping over the wall at night. The girl was sleeping inside at the time. It is alleged that the accused tore her clothes and raped her. The family members were awakened by the girl’s screams. The family members apprehended the accused Mehboob on the spot and immediately informed Dial 112 police. Upon receiving the information, a police team arrived at the scene and took the accused into custody and took him to the police station. Based on the complaint filed by the victim’s mother, a named FIR has been registered against the accused at the Neemgaon police station. Neemgaon Police Station Chief Praveer Kumar Gautam stated that a named case has been registered based on the complaint filed by the victim’s mother, and further legal action is underway. Tension prevails in the village due to the case involving two communities. Ashwani Bajpai | Behjam (Lakhimpur Kheri), Lakhimpur Kheri Courtesy: Hindi News
Following the High Court’s reprimand, Bihar Police took major action: 7, including 5 officers, arrested in the case of a Dalit youth missing for 10 months.
Following the Patna High Court’s strictness, Bhojpur Police took major action, with Excise Department officials facing serious charges of custodial death and concealment of evidence. New Delhi: Following the Patna High Court’s strictness, the police have taken a major step in the case of a Dalit youth missing for 10 months in Bhojpur district, Bihar. A total of seven people, including two Excise (Excise) Department officials and three Home Guards, have been arrested in this sensational case. Court and Judiciary Bhojpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Raj confirmed that six of the seven arrested accused have been sent to judicial custody, while one has been taken on police remand. The arrested officers include Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) Dheeraj Kumar and Raj Kumar. In addition to these, Home Guards Dharmendra Paswan, Umesh Kumar Yadav, and Raju Kumar Singh have also been arrested. Along with these five government employees, two private drivers, Surendra Kumar Singh and Vikas Kumar, have also been arrested. The entire case is related to the disappearance of Sanoj Kumar, a 31-year-old Dalit youth. In August 2025, the Excise Department conducted a raid in Dharhara Musahar Toli near Bihiya in Bhojpur district in connection with a liquor case. The family alleges that Sanoj has been missing since he was taken into custody on August 13, 2025. The Excise Department has consistently claimed that the youth escaped from their custody, but the family has made serious allegations of murder and destruction of evidence in police custody. The High Court took a tough stand while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Sanoj’s father, Gauri Shankar Ram. Citing the July 2 order before a division bench of Justices Rajiv Ranjan Prasad and Kumar Manish, the Bhojpur Superintendent of Police made a shocking revelation. Law Enforcement The Superintendent of Police informed the court that interrogation of the arrested excise department personnel revealed contradictory versions of the incident. The investigation revealed that Sanoj was manhandled while in custody, and that a private driver driving the excise department vehicle had pulled him upwards by putting a towel around his neck. Excise officials also relied on CCTV footage to support their theory of Sanoj’s escape in court. They claimed that the young man escaped by opening the rear door of the vehicle. However, after reviewing the footage, the Patna High Court, in its oral observation, stated that the vehicle was a fully enclosed Bolero. The court clarified that escaping by jumping out without opening the rear door was impossible. Given the sensitivity of the case, the court directed adequate security for key witnesses. The police informed the court that two other individuals detained with Sanoj were afraid to speak the truth. The court also recorded the statement of Sanoj’s father, Gauri Shankar Ram, in which he stated that several people were pressuring him to hush up the case. The court directed the police to conduct an impartial investigation into these allegations. In the previous two hearings, the High Court had raised serious questions about the investigation’s conduct. On June 30, the court recorded that on the day of the raid, Sanoj had called his father at 6:35 and 6:43 pm to inform him that he had been apprehended by excise department officials. Investigators also discovered that the last tower location of one of Sanoj’s mobile phones was at the Jagdishpur Excise Police Station. South Asians and Expatriates The court expressed strong displeasure that excise officials handed over the mobile phone to the police the next day but did not send it for forensic examination. On June 24, the court remarked that despite being identified as suspects 10 months earlier, no seven members of the team had been questioned or arrested. The High Court has warned that if the investigation continues to be slow, the case may be handed over to an independent agency. The next hearing in the case will be held on July 7, where the Bhojpur police will have to present a further investigation report to the court. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
July 8th deadline, caste certificates not issued: Will 11,000 SC students in Karnataka be deprived of reserved CET seats?
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the KEA has written to the Secretary of the Revenue Department, requesting the prompt issuance of certificates for affected students. Bengaluru – Thousands of Scheduled Caste (SC) students in Karnataka are facing a serious crisis amid the Common Entrance Test (CET) counseling. July 8th is the deadline for Option Entry, but more than 11,086 SC students have not yet obtained the required caste certificates in accordance with their internal reservation. If the certificates are not issued by the deadline, these students may be denied their choice of reserved seats. This information has emerged in a detailed report by The Hindu, which states that the main reason for the problem is the delay in issuing new caste certificates at tehsil offices across the state. What is the cause of the problem? The Karnataka government recently implemented internal reservation within Scheduled Castes. Under this, the SC community is being divided into different categories: Category A, Category B, and Category C. However, when CET applications were filed, the government had not implemented internal reservation. Therefore, students applied based on their old caste certificates. After the government implemented internal reservation, the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) directed that students seeking internal reservation within the SC category must update their Revenue Document (RD) number of the caste certificate issued in the new format on the online portal. This is where the crisis began. More than 11,000 students are stuck in this predicament. According to information, a total of 43,353 Scheduled Caste students applied. Of these, 32,267 students have entered their new RD number, while 11,086 students have not yet received their new caste certificates. These students say they applied several weeks ago, but the certificates have not been issued by the tehsil offices. Due to this, the KEA (Karnataka Examination Authority) portal is not allowing them to enter options. Some students told The Hindu that new certificates were not required when they applied. KEA subsequently demanded a new certificate under internal reservation. They applied about a month ago, but the tehsil office has not yet issued the certificate. As a result, they are unable to complete the counseling process. Given the gravity of the situation, KEA has written to the Secretary of the Revenue Department, requesting the immediate issuance of certificates to the affected students. According to KEA Executive Director H. Prasanna, students who have not yet updated their RD numbers have been notified via SMS and newspapers so they can complete the process as soon as possible. He expressed hope that all eligible students will receive their certificates in time. Meanwhile, a Revenue Department official claimed that there are no unusual delays on the department’s part. According to him, most applications are being processed within the stipulated 21-day deadline. However, some new applications and cases related to amendments to old certificates are still pending. What is Karnataka’s internal reservation system? Internal reservation in Karnataka is a “quota within quota” system within the 15% Scheduled Caste (SC) quota. Under this system, all 101 SC sub-castes are divided into three distinct groups based on their socio-economic status, so that the most backward castes can directly benefit from reservation. Under this formula, in April 2026, the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah government divided the SC quota as follows: Group A (SC Left): 5.25% (includes the most disadvantaged castes) Group B (SC Right): 5.25% (includes more aware and influential castes) Group C (Other SCs): 4.5% (nomadic castes) The government made this decision in light of continued protests by students and job seekers, with widespread unrest in Dharwad and other areas of Karnataka due to recruitment delays. What experts say Senior IRS officer Netra Pal has questioned the government’s process regarding this entire controversy. He said that he had already warned that adding the internal reservation category directly to the caste certificate would prove to be unnecessarily complex and cumbersome. Netrapal said, “I have always maintained that adding the internal reservation category to the caste certificate was a wrong decision. Instead of changing the original caste certificate, the government should have issued a separate sub-caste certificate.” He further stated that scrutiny committees will now face numerous technical disputes, and innocent students will face questions that will be extremely difficult for them to answer. According to him, the confusion surrounding caste certificates that arose after the implementation of internal reservation has not yet been resolved, and students may suffer the greatest loss. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
House not found even after High Court order: Dalit widow makes serious allegations against accountant, son appeals to Chief Minister
Sitapati, a Dalit, disabled, and elderly widow, is unable to regain possession of her land despite a High Court order. She alleges that the administration is re-encroaching on the land she had been granted possession of. She is running around officials seeking justice. Sitapati, a resident of Poore Bhatta Majra Azadpur in Tiloi tehsil, has alleged in a petition to the District Magistrate that the regional accountant, Akhand Pratap Singh, without informing her, staked a stake in plot number 2309 in favor of a person named Naseem. When she protested, the accountant allegedly behaved rudely, threw away documents, and threatened her. The woman also alleges that a demand of 10,000 rupees was made in this matter. The victim’s son, Devi Prasad, alleges that when she showed the accountant the Honorable High Court order and other revenue records, the accountant allegedly tore the documents and threw them away. Devi Prasad claims that the accountant said, “I keep the High Court in my pocket.” The family has demanded an impartial investigation into these allegations. Sitapati says she is financially weak and has been constantly running around officials to seek justice, but has received no relief so far. She has appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the District Magistrate of Amethi, and the Revenue Department to conduct an impartial investigation into the entire matter, take strict action against those found guilty, ensure the safety of her land, and provide speedy justice. When contacted, regional accountant Akhand Pratap Singh stated that he had no knowledge of the matter. Anand Kumar Trivedi | Tiloi Courtesy: Hindi News
Samajwadi Party plans to field 100 Dalit, tribal candidates in UP assembly polls
The strategy is intended to project the SP as a party willing to provide Dalits greater political representation than the number of reserved constituencies. The Samajwadi Party (SP) is planning to field around 100 Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, including 14 candidates in general constituencies, as part of its strategy to strengthen its PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) alliance. According to party sources, the plan includes contesting all 84 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes, both Scheduled Tribe seats, and around 14 general seats with Dalit candidates, subject to the availability of suitable nominees. Party leaders said the move is aimed at expanding the SP’s support beyond its traditional Yadav-Muslim base and attracting Dalit voters as the Bahujan Samaj Party’s electoral influence declines. “We are working on zeroing in on candidates from Dalit communities who can contest on general seats. While our target is to give 100 seats to the community, it will depend on suitable and strong candidates,” a party source said. The SP had fielded Dalit candidates in two general constituencies during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Awadhesh Prasad won from Faizabad, while Sunita Verma narrowly lost in Meerut. Party leaders said the strategy is intended to project the SP as a party willing to provide Dalits greater political representation than the number of reserved constituencies. The BSP, which once commanded a significant share of Dalit votes, won only one seat in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and failed to win any seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP and Congress have also intensified their outreach to Dalit voters ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. SP Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman expressed confidence that a significant section of Dalit voters would support the INDIA bloc, while party chief Akhilesh Yadav has urged voters not to back the BSP, arguing that a vote for the party would be wasted Courtesy : Madhyamam Note: This news is originally published on https:/madhyamam.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Forced into sexual relations since 2017’: Dalit domestic help alleges rape, pressure to convert religion in UP
BALLIA: Police have registered a case against a man based on a complaint by his Dalit domestic help, who alleged that she was raped on the promise of marriage and pressured to convert her religion, officials said on Sunday. The woman, who had been working at the man’s house in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district for several years, alleged that he entered into a “written agreement” of marriage with her five years ago when she was 17, promising to formalise the marriage when she turned 20. She further alleged in her police complaint that he had molested her and forced her into other sexual acts even before that period. According to the police, a case was registered against Jalaluddin (24) on Saturday. He has been booked under relevant sections of BNS, including rape, and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the SC/ST Act. A police official told news agency PTI that, in her complaint, the woman stated that Jalaluddin brought her to his house for domestic work, taking advantage of the fact that she was poor and an orphan. He allegedly began molesting her gradually and later developed physical relations with her. The victim alleged that when she threatened to speak up, Jalaluddin, entered into a “written agreement and married” her on August 10, 2021. At the time, she was told that he would formally marry her and give her a share in his property once she turned 20, the official said. When she later pressured him to marry her, she was allegedly coerced to convert her religion. When she refused, she was allegedly threatened with death, police said. The woman further alleged that Jalaluddin had been forcing sexual relations with her since 2017. She also claimed that he is now planning to marry another woman, police added. Rasra Circle Officer (CO) Rajnish said a case has been registered based on the victim’s complaint. He added that procedures are underway to record the victim’s statement before a local court in Ballia, and police have initiated a detailed investigation into the matter. (The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault) Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Historical necessity to make Rahul Gandhi PM’: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy
NEW DELHI: Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday announced that Rahul Gandhi, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, should be the next Prime Minister, urging the people of Telangana to support his efforts to promote Gandhi as the country’s future leader. “The people of Telangana need to stand in support of this. We have a duty to express our gratitude to Sonia Gandhi, who granted us Telangana. Walk with me and let us make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister in 2029. And the first step towards this must be taken right here from Midjil Mandal,” he added. Addressing a public meeting after laying foundation stones for development works in Midjil Mandal, Reddy appealed to the public to express their gratitude to Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the statehood of Telangana by backing Rahul Gandhi’s prime ministerial bid. “Congress will remain in power until 2034. Congress must come back to power in the state, and Rahul Gandhi must become the Prime Minister of this country. There is a historical necessity in the country to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister,” Reddy said. Reddy’s appeal to the people of Telangana is significant, given that the state has traditionally been a Congress stronghold before the formation of the BRS. The Congress returned to power in Telangana in December 2023, ending the BRS’s 10-year rule, and has since been focusing on consolidating its position in the state. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights