6 days ago
Nepal Flood Toll Rises as Maharashtra Drivers Get Marathi Extension
A major flood and mudslide in Nepal has killed at least 359 people.
More than 1,380 people are still missing, and many Indian citizens cannot be contacted.
Twenty-one Indians from Tamil Nadu have been rescued.
In Maharashtra, taxi and auto drivers will get one year to learn Marathi before penalties can be imposed.
A tribunal also approved a very small repayment by businessman Subhash Chandra compared with the amount creditors said he owed.
India’s Chief Justice is examining allegations made against a senior Rajasthan High Court judge.
A United States religious-freedom panel asked the US government to cancel RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s visa.
Bhagwat is visiting the US for an RSS centenary-year programme and is scheduled to speak in New York.
Nepal’s flash flood and mudslide death toll reached 359, while more than 1,380 people remained missing.
India said 288 citizens in Nepal were uncontactable and that 21 Indians, all from Tamil Nadu, had been rescued.
Maharashtra will give auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers one year to learn Marathi without penalties during that period.
The National Company Law Tribunal approved Subhash Chandra’s repayment of Rs 6.2 crore against admitted claims of about Rs 22,006 crore.
India’s Chief Justice said allegations against Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma were being examined, while a US panel urged action against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s visa.
- Who
- People affected by Nepal’s disaster, Indian citizens, Maharashtra auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, Subhash Chandra, Indian judges, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
- What
- The reports cover a deadly Nepal disaster, a Marathi-learning extension for Maharashtra drivers, a personal insolvency repayment plan, a judicial complaint, and a US visa-related recommendation.
- Where
- Nepal, Maharashtra, India’s Supreme Court and Rajasthan High Court, and the United States, including New York’s Madison Square Garden.
- When
- The Nepal toll and rescue figures were reported as search operations continued; the Maharashtra extension was announced after a statewide inspection campaign; Bhagwat was scheduled to speak on Saturday.
- Why
- The developments involved disaster response, compliance with Maharashtra’s Marathi requirement, repayment of insolvency claims, examination of judicial allegations, and religious-freedom concerns raised about Bhagwat’s visit.
Critics and Affected Groups
Authorities and Respondents
Marathi requirement for drivers
Critics and Affected Groups
Auto-rickshaw and taxi organisations sought more time to comply, while hundreds of drivers had received notices for lacking basic Marathi knowledge.
Authorities and Respondents
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said drivers would have one year to learn Marathi and would not face action during that period for not knowing the language.
Subhash Chandra’s insolvency repayment
Critics and Affected Groups
Creditors had admitted claims of about Rs 22,006 crore, making the approved Rs 6.2-crore payment an approximately 99.9% haircut.
Authorities and Respondents
The National Company Law Tribunal approved the repayment plan under Chandra’s personal insolvency resolution process.
Mohan Bhagwat’s US visit
Critics and Affected Groups
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom urged the Donald Trump administration to revoke Bhagwat’s visa, citing alleged violence by groups associated with the RSS against religious minorities.
Authorities and Respondents
Bhagwat is in the United States for the RSS centenary-year global outreach programme and was scheduled to address a large Hindu American and non-resident Indian gathering in New York.
Allegations against a Rajasthan High Court judge
Critics and Affected Groups
Justice Sandeep Mehta alleged that Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma manipulated case listings and used his position to appoint associates to administrative posts.
Authorities and Respondents
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the allegations were being examined at the appropriate level and that Sharma must be given an opportunity to respond.
Key facts
- Nepal disaster toll
- 359 dead and more than 1,380 missing.
- Uncontactable Indians
- At least 288 Indian citizens in Nepal were reported uncontactable.
- Indians rescued
- Twenty-one Indians, all from Tamil Nadu, had been rescued.
- Marathi compliance period
- Maharashtra auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers will receive one year to learn Marathi.
- Subhash Chandra repayment
- The approved payment is Rs 6.2 crore against admitted claims of about Rs 22,006 crore.
- Bhagwat event
- Mohan Bhagwat was scheduled to address about 5,000 Hindu Americans and Hindu non-resident Indians at Madison Square Garden.
Sources
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