Indian-Origin Woman Charged With Murder Of 10-Year-Old Daughter In UK

A 33-year-old Indian-origin woman on Wednesday appeared before a UK court charged with the murder of her 10-year-old daughter, who was found dead at their home in a town in the West Midlands region of England.

Jaskirat Kaur, also known as Jasmine Kang, appeared before Wolverhampton Magistrates Court charged with the murder of Shay Kang, described as "bright and fun-loving" in a tribute from her school. West Midlands Police said the girl had been found with injuries at an address in Rowley Regis on Monday and pronounced dead at the scene.

"Our thoughts remain with Shay's family and friends. Her tragic death has had a profound impact on those who knew her as well as the wider community. We ask that they are left to grieve in private as our enquiries continue," said Detective Inspector Dan Jarratt of West Midlands Police.

"The community has understandably been left shocked by what's happened, and we'll continue to have a police presence and offer our support in the area over the coming days," he said.

Jaskirat Kaur had been arrested on Monday from the residential property where her daughter's body was found. A cordon remains in place at the property on Robin Close and a post-mortem is to be held in due course to establish the cause of death.

"At this stage we are not looking for anyone else as part of the investigation," the police said at the time.

Brickhouse Primary School, where Shay was a pupil, issued a statement to say the school was deeply saddened by the tragic death.

"Shay was a bright, happy, fun-loving child who was well liked by all, and she will be very sadly missed by everyone. School is the heart of the community and we have already begun working with our children and staff to support them following this devastating news," read the statement. Tributes including toys, cards and balloons have since been laid near the police cordon on Robin Close in the town of Rowley Regis, where the schoolgirl lived with her mother. Some parents of children who attended the same school have also set up an online Go Fund Me fundraiser to collect money for Shay's funeral, with over GBP 3,800 raised so far.

The fundraiser reads: "As you may be aware she had no family except her mum. The purpose of this is to come together as a community to help raise funds for her funeral and to also help with flowers, head stone etc.

"She didn't deserve this at all and the best we can do is make sure she flys (sic) high in the most beautiful way."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Thala' MS Dhoni Joins CSK In Chennai Ahead Of IPL 2024. Internet Explodes

Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni landed in Chennai on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season. The defending champions posted a picture of Dhoni, who led them to their fifth title last season, exiting a vehicle on social media, captioning it "#THA7A Dharisanam!" Speculation is rife that this season will be Dhoni's final one as a player. Last year, the 42-year-old mostly came out to bat towards the fag end of CSK innings. CSK began their pre-season training camp on Saturday with the first batch of CSK players landing here a day before.

The players who have arrived so far include Deepak Chahar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Simarjeet Singh, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, Ajay Mandal, Shaik Rasheed and Nishant Sindhu (all-rounder).

#THA7A Dharisanam!#DenComing pic.twitter.com/dJbdsDd6wf

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 5, 2024

CSK will open their IPL 2024 campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22. 

Barely two weeks before the start of the IPL, the enigmatic MS Dhoni sent speculation into overdrive by claiming that a "new role" awaits him in the "new season" in a viral social media post on Monday.

The former India captain, who led the Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title last season, however, neither mentioned the league nor elaborated on the new role, leaving everyone guessing.

"Can't wait for the new season and the new 'role'. Stay tuned!," Dhoni wrote in a rare social media post on Facebook. Speculation is rife that this season will be Dhoni's final one as a player.

ThalaiVanakkam!#DenComing pic.twitter.com/YYsyEXPAJY

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 5, 2024

Last year, the 42-year-old mostly came out to bat towards the fag end of CSK innings. He has not yet clarified on whether he will captain CSK in IPL 2024.

At the post-match ceremony after winning the final last year, Dhoni was asked if he will retire on a high, but the Ranchi dasher, in his inimitable style, deflected the query by saying that it would amount to taking an easy way out.

He went on to add that he would try to come back next season as CSK captain if his body allowed him.

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"Love It": Kareena's Loud Shout Out To Kunal's Madgaon Express Trailer

The trailer of Kunal Kemmu's directorial debut Madgaon Express dropped on Tuesday and Kareena Kapoor and Soha Ali Khan cannot stop gushing over it. On Tuesday, Kareena Kapoor reshared the film's trailer on her Instagram stories and sent big love to her brother-in-law Kunal Kemmu. Reacting to the trailer, she wrote, "love it, looks so much fun." ICYDK, Kunal Kemmu is married to Saif Ali Khan's sister Soha Ali Khan. Besides Kareena, Kunal's wife Soha also dropped a sweet comment below the post. She wrote, "Congratulations I am so so proud of you - the trailer looks phenomenal."

See what Kareena Kapoor posted:

Now watch the trailer of Madgaaon express below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kunal Kemmu (@kunalkemmu)

Kunal Kemmu announced his directorial debut via Instagram post in August of 2022. "Ganpati Bappa Moriya! As all good things begin with his name I can't think of a better day to share this with all of you. It started with a thought in my head, which grew into a dream which flowed out through my fingers into words on my laptop, and now it is becoming a reality on its way to the silver screen. A big thank you to @ritesh_sid @faroutakhtar and @roo_cha at @excelmovies for believing in my script and my vision and partnering with me on this exciting journey in the world of cinema. With folded hands and a bowed head I seek all of your blessings and the blessings of Ganpati Bappa. Introducing Madgaon Express," his post read.

Madgaon Express is all set to hit theaters on March 22.

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Amit Shah Holds Meet On Maharashtra Seat Tangle, Talks Positive: Sources

Finalising seat-sharing in Maharashtra, which sends the second-highest number of MPs to the Lok Sabha, has proven to be tricky for the National Democratic Alliance, with all three key partners - the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP - pushing for a higher number of seats than the others are willing to concede. With BJP's chief troubleshooter and Union Home Minister Amit Shah holding a late-night meeting on Tuesday with leaders of the other parties, sources said a breakthrough is expected soon.

Party sources said the meeting started around 10.15 pm and Mr Shah held a discussion with Deputy Chief Minister Pawar in the presence of BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the first 30 minutes, after which the two leaders left. The next 50 minutes saw talks between the Home Minister and Chief Minister Shinde. 

Of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the BJP wants 30 to be able to achieve its twin targets of winning 370 seats nationally and taking the NDA to the 400 mark. Sources said the party is willing to leave 12 seats from the Shiv Sena and six for the NCP, a prospect the other partners of the Mahayuti - as the alliance is known in Maharashtra -  are not happy with. 

Pointing out that the Sena symbol and name are with him, Chief Minister Shinde, sources said, has been pushing to be allocated 23 seats, the same number that the undivided Shiv Sena had contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls - before the split in 2022. Failing that, Mr Shinde and his party are reportedly ready to settle for 18 seats, which the Shiv Sena had won in the last Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP's division of constituencies with the then Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena had caused heartburn on both sides even in 2019. The national party had contested 25 seats and won 23 while the Sena had contested 23 and won 18. The BJP camp, sources said, believes it is entitled to a larger share than last time given PM Narendra Modi's popularity and the fact that it is the single-largest party in the Maharashtra Assembly. 

Complicating matters, however, is the entry of Ajit Pawar's NCP, which joined the government last year and is pushing for 10 Lok Sabha seats. The then Sharad Pawar-led united NCP had only won four in 2019.

Contentious Seats

Sources said while a consensus is emerging on most other seats, 10 are proving to be a bone of contention. These are Kalyan, South Mumbai, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, Shirur, Amravati, Sambhajinagar Nagar, Hingoli, Nashik, Ramtek and Maval

In Kalyan, Chief Minister Shinde's son, Shrikant Shinde is the sitting MP, but the local unit of BJP wants to contest from the constituency. The BJP claims Kalyan is a traditional seat of the party which it had given to Shiv Sena in 2019 under pressure from Uddhav Thackeray. Union Minister Anurag Thakur had also conducted a review of the constituency and apprised the central leadership.

Arvind Sawant of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) is the sitting MP from the South Mumbai constituency and the Shinde faction is keen to contest on it because it is traditionally a Sena seat. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar from the BJP has, however, also shown interest.

In Pune district's Maval, Shrirang Barne from the Shinde Sena is the sitting MP.  But Ajit Pawar is keen on this seat as his son, Parth Pawar, had lost to Mr Barne in 2019.

Ratnagiri-Sindhadurg in the Konkan region is a Shiv Sena seat but Narayan Rane claimed it for the BJP last week in a post on X. Strongly opposing this, Ramdas Kadam of the Shinde Sena had asked whether the BJP wanted to eliminate every party and contest the Lok Sabha election alone. 

Shirur in Pune district has proven to be another point of friction. Amol Kolhe from the NCP (Sharadchanrd Pawar) is the sitting MP and the seat is now being claimed by the Ajit Pawar faction. The intent to beat Mr Kolhe has been announced by Mr Pawar himself, but former MP Shivaji Adhalrao Patil from Mr Shinde's Shiv Sena is also keen on throwing his hat in the ring. 

Navneet Rana is the independent MP from Vidarbha's Amravati and the BJP has offered the constituency to her to contest on its ticket. The Shinde Sena's Anandrao Adsul, a former MP, has also claimed the seat. 

Sambhaji Nagar in Aurangabad is the lone seat won by the AIMIM in Maharashtra and Imtiaz Jaleel is the sitting MP. Though the constituency has been traditionally fought by the Shiv Sena, which plans to field Minister Sandeepan Bhumre, the BJP wants it for Union Minister of State for Finance, Bhagwat Karad.

A seat which is being eyed by all three members of the Mahayuti is Nashik. Hemant Godse from the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena is the sitting MP, but the NCP is keen on fielding someone from Minister Chhagan Bhujbal's family and the BJP has also staked claim. 

In Aurangabad's Hingoli, Sena's Hemant Patil is the sitting MP and had offered to resign during the Maratha reservation protest. The BJP is also, however, interested in fielding its candidate.

Krupal Tumane of the Sena is the sitting MP from Ramtek in Nagpur seat but the local BJP cadre want the constituency for the party. They are, however, willing to settle for Mr Tumane fighting on a BJP ticket, sources said. 

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Meme Rush On Elon Musk's X As Thousands Report Facebook, Instagram Outage

Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Messenger - platforms managed by Meta - were down for over an hour on Tuesday evening for thousands of users in India and several other countries. Within minutes of the outage, people moved to Elon Musk-owned X and #Instagramdown, Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg are trending on the social media platform, with users sharing memes over the global server issue.

Users were unable to load apps, deliver messages and refresh their search feeds on Facebook and Instagram. 

Here are some of the top memes on X:

Facebook and Instagram users rushing to Twitter after Meta applications are down. #facebookdown #instagramdown #meta #MarkZuckerberg #whatsappdown #CyberAttack pic.twitter.com/vV9V1uT2kx

— Shadan Aagya (@SigmaRuler_) March 5, 2024

Sharing a clip from Akshay Kumar's comedy classic 'Khatta Meetha', a user said, "Mark Zuckerberg And Meta trying to restart Instagram and Facebook Servers."

Mark Zuckerberg And Meta trying to restart Instagram and Facebook Servers

Abhe Thik Karke Deta hun 😭#instagramdown #facebookdown#whatsappdown #Meta #MarkZuckerberg pic.twitter.com/tQBUqArLm3

— MUNAWAR KI JANTA ™ (@MunawarKiJanta1) March 5, 2024

A user shared a clip from an episode of Mr Bean and took a jibe over Meta. Mr Bean, as X, is in a hospital sitting next to a patient covered with bandages, representing Meta and crosses his leg to make fun of him.

Elon Musk after seen Mark Zuckerberg both Instagram down and Facebook down 👇#instagramdown #facebookdown #meta pic.twitter.com/gg1nt4MnPk

— Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) March 5, 2024

X owner Elon Musk wasn't behind, he responded to Meta spokesperson Andy Stone's statement with a meme.

pic.twitter.com/VTOACNfb3E

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2024

American pop star Paris Hilton shared a picture on the Meta outage

Me because Instagram's down pic.twitter.com/hv20xzMIsV

— ParisHilton (@ParisHilton) March 5, 2024

"Facebook, Instagram & Whatsapp users rushing to Twitter after Meta applications are down," another user wrote.

Facebook, Instagram & Whatsapp users rushing to Twitter after Meta applications are down.
#CyberAttack pic.twitter.com/61jMfVcXar

— Chai-Shai (@aashishsarda07) March 5, 2024

There were more than 300,000 reports of outages on Facebook, while there were more than 20,000 reports on Instagram, according to the website. 

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Andhra Man Murders Wife With Sickle, Crowd Looks On, Films Brutal Attack

A man brutally hacked his wife to death and injured his mother-in-law in broad daylight on a busy street in Andhra Pradesh's Nandyal today.

The man, identified as Rangaswamy, attacked his wife, Kumari, and her mother with a sickle-like sharp weapon as a crowd gathered and shouted at him to stop.

In a horrific video recorded by one of the onlookers, Rangaswamy is seen mercilessly hacking a woman slumped on the ground in the middle of roadside stalls and covered in blood. The stalls lay abandoned as he continued to brutally strike her in the middle of a busy road.

The man's wife died, while her mother sustained severe injuries.

The police rushed to the spot and arrested Rangaswamy. They then took his mother-in-law to a local hospital for treatment.

A case of murder has been registered against Rangaswamy and further investigation is underway. The police are yet to find out what prompted the brutal attack.

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Maldives To Get Free Military Assistance From China Amid Row With India

China on Monday signed a defence cooperation agreement with the Maldives to provide free military assistance to foster "stronger" bilateral ties, weeks after President Mohamed Muizzu set a deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from his island nation.

The Defence Minister of the Maldives Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon met with Major General Zhang Baoqun, Deputy Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China, to discuss enhancing defence cooperation between the two countries.

Maumoon and Major General Baoqun "signed an agreement on China's provision of military assistance gratis to the Republic of Maldives, fostering stronger bilateral ties," the Maldivian defence ministry posted on its X handle.

The details of the defence cooperation agreement were not provided.

Meanwhile, China has also gifted 12 eco-friendly ambulances to Maldives, Edition.mv news portal reported on Monday.

In a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health on Sunday, Chinese Ambassador to Maldives Wang Lixin presented the letter gifting the ambulances to the Maldives, it said.

The visit of the Chinese military delegation took place days after Male allowed Xiang Yang Hong 03, a hi-tech Chinese research ship to make a port call for the "rotation of its personnel and replenishment."

On January 5, Sri Lanka, while denying entry to the same ship, said it has declared a moratorium on foreign research ships entering its waters for a year amid concerns from India over Chinese research vessels docking in its neighbourhood and collecting data from the oceans, including in the Indian Ocean Region, for military purposes, especially for submarine operations.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson has previously defended the port call by the Chinese research ship to the Maldives saying, "China's scientific research activities in relevant waters are for peaceful purposes and aimed at contributing to humanity's scientific understanding of the ocean." The visit of the Chinese military delegation to the Maldives is taking place days after India confirmed that its first civilian team of technical experts has reached the island nation to replace the military personnel operating an advanced light helicopter in the country.

President Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, has set March 10 as the deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from his country.

"The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter has reached the Maldives. It will replace the existing personnel who were operating this platform," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in New Delhi at his weekly media briefing on February 29.

Following meetings of the high-level core group that was set up to address the issue of withdrawal of the Indian military personnel, the Maldivian foreign ministry had said India will replace all its military personnel in two phases by May 10.

According to the Maldivian government, 88 Indian military personnel are in the country, primarily to operate two helicopters and an aircraft that have carried out hundreds of medical evacuations and humanitarian missions.

The ties between the two countries came under some strain since Muizzu came to power in November last year.

Muizzu maintained after assuming charge as the president that he would keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country.

Muizzu defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year.

The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties, including in the areas of defence and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male. The current government has said that it was reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements signed with India by the previous governments.

The Maldives' proximity to India, barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles from the mainland's western coast, and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) gives it significant strategic importance.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Car Hangs On Edge Of Giant Pothole As Lucknow Road Caves In After Rain

A massive sinkhole appeared on a road in Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow today after heavy rain. In visuals, a car was seen dangerously hanging on the edge of the giant pothole as a portion of the road caved in.

Several passersby were seen around the pothole in the city's Vikas Nagar area, recording the scene on their mobile phone.

Lucknow divisional commissioner Roshan Jacob has sought a report from the Public Works Department within 24 hours regarding the matter. Orders have also been given to repair the road immediately.

Heavy rain and hailstorms hit parts of Uttar Pradesh today, resulting in four deaths from separate lightning strike incidents. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the concerned district magistrates to promptly provide permissible financial assistance to affected individuals, including cases of livestock loss and damage to houses due to disasters like lightning, hailstorm, heavy rain, and storms.

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On Dhoni Comparisons, Ganguly's "Different League" Reminder To India Star

Young India wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has played just two Tests, but he has been already compared to the legendary MS Dhoni by several former cricketers. Former India batter Sunil Gavaskar labelled Jurel as the next Dhoni, while ex-spinner Anil Kumble feels the yougster has all the tools to become as good as the former India captain. Jurel scored a match-winning 90 in the first innings of the 4th Test against England and also hit an unbeaten 39 in the second innings to help India get the win.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly too pointed similarities between Jurel and Dhoni, but refrained himself from comparing the youngster with Dhoni, who according to him is in "different league".

"Dhruv Jurel... what a Test match he had under pressure on a difficult wicket. There is huge talent and if you miss you and you go back down in the ladder, it will be very hard to come back. MS Dhoni is in a different league. Jurel has talent; there's no doubt about it. But it took MS Dhoni 20 years to be MS Dhoni. Rather 15 years for Dhoni to be Dhoni. So let him [Jurel] play. Jurel's ability to play spin, pace and most importantly to perform under pressure. That's what you look for in a youngster," Ganguly told RevSportz.

Jurel marked his debut in Rajkot's third Test with a first-innings 46 to give a glimpse of his promise.

Jurel then displayed nerves of steel to rescue India from trouble twice in the fourth Test in Ranchi.

The 23-year-old faced a hat-trick ball when he joined Shubman Gill at 120-5 chasing 192 but calmly blunted England's spinners to guide his side to a five-wicket triumph that showed "composure and maturity", said captain Rohit Sharma.

India will hope that Jurel can continue his prowess when they take on England in the fifth and final Test, with the series already in the bag.

India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will return for the final Test against England after missing the team's series-clinching win in the fourth match, the country's cricket board said Thursday.

Bumrah was rested in the previous Test, which India won by five wickets in Ranchi to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

KL Rahul, on the other hand, will miss out again after he was forced out of the previous three due to a quad injury he picked up in the opener.

(With AFP Inputs)

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Scientists Discover Brain Messaging, Hinting At Greater Processing Power

Scientists have uncovered a new way brain cells talk to each other, hinting at a far more complex and powerful human brain than we previously understood. This discovery, detailed in a 2020 study, reveals a unique type of signal using calcium ions, adding another layer to the brain's communication toolbox, according to a report by Sciencealert.

Researchers observed this novel messaging system in the outer layer of the brain's cortex. By analysing brain tissue samples from epilepsy surgery patients, they found individual cells firing signals using not only the usual sodium ions but also calcium ions. This unexpected combination creates entirely new electrical waves called calcium-mediated dendritic action potentials (dCaAPs), the news outlet mentioned.

The human brain is often likened to a computer, both relying on electrical signals for processing information. In computers, this involves a simple flow of electrons, while neurons use a cascade of opening and closing channels to exchange charged particles. This exchange, known as an action potential, is how neurons traditionally communicate. The newly discovered dCaAPs offer an additional communication channel, potentially enabling more complex information processing within the brain.

"The dendrites are central to understanding the brain because they are at the core of what determines the computational power of single neurons," Humboldt University neuroscientist Matthew Larkum told Walter Beckwith at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in January 2020.

Dendrites are the traffic lights of our nervous system. If an action potential is significant enough, it can be passed on to other nerves, which can block or pass on the message.

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Driver Was Watching Cricket: Minister On Andhra Train Crash That Killed 14

The driver and the assistant driver of one of the two passenger trains that collided leading to death of 14 passengers on October 29, 2023 were watching a cricket match on phone, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday while highlighting the cause of the accident.

The Rayagada Passenger train hit the Visakhapatnam Palasa train from behind at 7 pm that day on the Howrah-Chennai line in Kantakapalli in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. Over 50 passengers were injured.

Mr Vaishnaw referred to the Andhra train accident while talking about new safety measures that Indian Railways has been working on.

"The recent case in Andhra Pradesh happened because both the loco pilot and co-pilot were distracted by the cricket match which was going on. Now we are installing systems which can detect any such distraction and make sure that the pilots and the assistant pilots are fully focussed on running the train," Mr Vaishnaw told PTI Videos.

He added, "We will continue to put our focus on safety. We try to find out the root cause of every incident and we come up with a solution so that it is not repeated." While the probe report conducted by the Commissioners of Railway Safety (CRS) is yet to be made public, a preliminary railway probe, a day after the accident, had held the driver and the assistant driver of Rayagada Passenger train responsible for the collision as it passed two defective auto signals violating norms. Both crew members were killed in the accident.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Chief Justice Spotlights "Tareekh Pe Tareekh" Syndrome In Judicial System

The perception that adjournment has become a part of the judicial system is disheartening, underlined Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on Saturday, adding that it prolongs the agony of litigants and perpetuates the cycle of backlog.

"One of the major issues is that of "adjournment culture." This practice, characterized by repeated requests for delays in proceedings, has far-reaching implications for the efficiency and integrity of our legal system," said the Chief Justice addressing the All India District Judges Conference at Dhordo in Gujarat's Kutch.

"The issue of adjournment and tareekh pe tareekh prolongs the agony of litigants. Common citizen feels that adjournment is part of judicial process and my experience is that it is easy to decide a complex case with a judgment than to persuade a lawyer to argue a case," he said.

The Chief Justice also expressed concern that the longstanding principle of "bail is the rule, jail is the exception" is losing ground with district courts hesitating to deal with matters involving personal liberty.

"Imagine a victim of sexual assault whose case remains unresolved in the courts for several years. Isn't this a clear violation of their fundamental right to access justice? The concept of access to justice should extend beyond mere access to the courts; it should also guarantee that citizens receive timely judgments from courts of law," said the Chief Justice.

While even one adjournment might look like a routine affair, it can have severe ramifications for the litigants, said the Chief Justice.

"Often, the outcome of the legal battle never comes to light during the farmer's lifetime. Instead, the burden falls upon their legal heirs, who find themselves embroiled in protracted legal proceedings long after their loved one's passing. We should not wait for our citizens to die for their case to be decided by a court of law," the Chief Justice said.

Courts nationwide, the Chief Justice noted, are grappling with a significant backlog and an "alarming level of pending cases". This backlog and pendency of cases present a formidable challenge to the efficient administration of justice and the timely resolution of legal disputes, he said.

"Addressing the backlog and pendency of cases requires a multi-faceted approach encompassing systemic reforms, procedural enhancements, and the deployment of technological solutions. Efforts to streamline court procedures, expedite case disposal, and promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms can help alleviate the burden on the judicial system," said the Chief Justice.

Technology can be a great tool for improving efficiency, the Chief Justice noted.

"Just as sunshine is said to be the best disinfectant, I believe that technology is the best tool at our disposal to eliminate the inefficiency and opacity surrounding judicial processes," he said.

Emphasising the importance of inclusivity and diversity in the judiciary, Chief Justice Chandrachud said much improvement has been made towards achieving greater gender representation with women now constituting 36.3 per cent of the working strength of the district judiciary.

"However, while progress has been made in terms of gender representation, there remains a pressing need to ensure that our judicial institutions are truly inclusive and accommodating for all," he added.

Judges should not be unduly affected by criticism and commentary on social media, he said.

"In recent times, there has been a noticeable increase in judges facing criticisms and commentary on social media platforms. And let me tell you, I have had my fair share of scrutiny too! Even if I say just a single word on the bench, it seems to get reported faster than a speeding bullet. But, should we, judges, be unduly affected by this? The role of a judge is to dispense justice impartially, without being swayed by external pressures or public opinions," said the Chief Justice.

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Amid Spike In "Digital House Arrest" Cases In Delhi, A Warning By Police

Cyber crooks are now adopting a new modus operandi called 'digital house arrest', causing serious concern for Delhi Police with over 200 such cases recorded every month in the national capital, officials said.

According to a police officer, 'digital house arrest' refers to a fraud where impostors impersonating law enforcement officers deceive the victims into believing that their bank account, SIM card, Aadhaar card, or other cards linked to their bank account has been used unlawfully.

The fraudsters then virtually restrain the victims from moving out of the house and coerce them into paying them money, the officer said.

"Digital house arrest has become a major concern nowadays. However, our special unit only investigates those cases where the cheated amount is above Rs 50 lakh," a senior police officer of the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police said.

The officer said such 'cyber thugs' are technically sound and know how to convince their targets and drain their hard-earned money.

According to the report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), cases of cybercrime in the national capital nearly doubled in 2022.

The number of such cases rose from 345 in 2021 to 685 cases in 2022, NCRB's comprehensive crime data for 2022 showed.

In 2020, the count was much lower with only 166 cybercrime cases, it added.

Giving an example of a recent case, the officer said, "A man was getting ready for his office on December 30, last year when he got a call at around 8.43 am. The caller took his name and said he was speaking from the Crime Branch of Mumbai. He told the victim that his Aadhar card was used to transport drugs in some courier packages which were seized by the crime branch." The accused also started interrogating him, which created fear in the mind of the victim. They also asked the victim to not move out of his house for around 8 hours during the "questioning", the officer said.

"The victim had told police that he heard some voices coming from behind which were voices similar to wireless radio transmission of police. Later the accused asked him to download a Skype application and remote access to the desktop. A man appeared before him wearing a cop dress, interrogated him for hours, and asked the victim to show his bank account details to see if he had received any 'foreign funds'. Meanwhile, they hacked his system and drained his account completely," said the officer.

The complainant later lodged an FIR and police are further investigating the matter.

Another police officer said several such cases are being registered in the national capital region of late with over 200 registered every month.

These fraudsters use translation tools for better English to send threatening letters and forge letterheads of police departments. They usually procure Aadhar cards from other sources, the officer said.

"They usually target old people. In such situations, the victims must immediately call the police helpline numbers to report the matter and to get help," said the officer.

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