Uttarakhand HC Lifts 31-Year Ban on ONGC Hiring Contract Workers 2
The Uttarakhand High Court has struck down a 31-year-old notification that barred the hiring of contract workers at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited. A single-judge bench, led by Justice Pankaj Purohit, ruled that the 1994 notification issued by the Centre was invalid as it failed to follow mandatory consultation under Section 10 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970.
ONGC had challenged the notification, contending that the Central Advisory Contract Labour Board was not consulted and that the decision relied on a subcommittee report examining only four of the corporation’s 34 units. The Centre argued that the notification had been issued through due process. However, the court found that the lack of proper consultation and limited scrutiny rendered the notification unsustainable.
The bench cited multiple Supreme Court rulings, emphasizing that compliance with Section 10(2) is mandatory and any violation renders such notifications invalid. This landmark decision now allows ONGC to hire contract workers without legal constraints stemming from the three-decade-old prohibition.
Gold Futures Hit Historic Rs 1.32 Lakh Mark as Global Jitters and Fed Easing Hopes Fuel Rally 4
Gold prices skyrocketed to an all-time high on Friday, driven by surging safe-haven demand as investors reacted to intensifying global economic concerns and growing hopes of monetary easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures for December delivery jumped ₹2,442 or 1.88%, to a record ₹1,32,294 per 10 grams. The February 2026 contract also surged ₹2,927 or 2.23%, touching a new peak of ₹1,34,024 per 10 grams — marking the sixth straight session of gains.
“Gold continues to rally to unprecedented levels as fears of a potential U.S. credit crisis overshadow optimism around improving U.S.-Russia ties. A weaker dollar and expectations of Fed rate cuts are further fueling the uptrend,” said Darshan Desai, CEO of Aspect Bullion & Refinery.
Silver mirrored gold’s momentum, hitting record highs on the commodities bourse. The December silver futures rose ₹2,752 or 1.64%, to ₹1,70,415 per kilogram, while the March 2026 contract gained ₹3,274 or 1.93% to reach ₹1,72,350 per kg — extending its rally for the fifth straight session.
Globally, Comex gold futures also soared, with the December contract gaining $71.09 or 1.65% to $4,375.69 per ounce, after breaching the $4,300 level for the first time. The yellow metal later touched an intraday record of $4,391.69 per ounce.
“The relentless safe-haven demand and strong technical momentum are keeping gold and silver on a bullish path, sidelining market bears,” said Rahul Kalantri, Vice-President of Commodities at Mehta Equities Ltd.
Jigar Trivedi, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities, noted that the yellow metal is on track for its sharpest weekly advance in the ongoing nine-week rally, supported by escalating economic worries, renewed U.S.-China trade tensions, and fears of a U.S. government shutdown.
He added that comments from U.S. Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinting at a weakening labor market have strengthened expectations of a 25-basis-point rate cut later this month, with another possible in December.
Gold has now surged over 65% so far this year, buoyed by strong central bank buying, rising ETF inflows, and heightened investor appetite for safe-haven assets.
FIR Filed Against Five for Forcing 13-Year-Old Tribal Girl Into Marriage and Sexual Abuse in Palghar 6
A 13-year-old tribal girl from Maharashtra’s Palghar district was allegedly forcibly married off and raped, police said on Friday.
Based on a complaint lodged by the minor, the police have registered a case against five persons, including the groom and his family from Ahilyanagar, an official said.
According to the police, the girl’s grandfather allegedly got her married to a man from Ahilyanagar in September, and she was repeatedly sexually assaulted. The groom’s parents also mentally harassed her.
“We have registered a case against five individuals, including a family member, for the forced marriage, trafficking, and repeated sexual assault of a minor girl. The case involves multiple jurisdictions, and we are coordinating the investigation to ensure immediate action is taken against all the accused involved in this serious crime,” the official said.
The offence has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, he said.
210 Naxalites Lay Down Arms in Chhattisgarh's Jagdalpur, Hold Constitution as Symbol of Surrender 8
In a significant blow to Left-Wing Extremism, as many as 210 Naxalites, including a Central Committee member of the banned CPI (Maoist), surrendered before police and paramilitary forces in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, on Friday. The surrender ceremony took place in the presence of senior security officials and tribal community leaders.
The Naxalites, holding copies of the Indian Constitution as a symbol of their return to the democratic fold, also handed over 153 weapons — including 19 AK-47 rifles, 17 self-loading rifles, 23 INSAS rifles, one INSAS light machine gun (LMG), 36 .303 rifles, four carbines, and 11 barrel grenade launchers (BGL).
The surrendered group included one Central Committee member, four members of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DSZC), 21 divisional committee members, and 61 area committee members, according to officials. Tribal leaders welcomed them with flowers, symbolizing their reintegration into mainstream society.
Photographs from the event showed police officers, paramilitary personnel, and community representatives standing together with the surrendered cadres in a display of reconciliation and peace.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also serves as Home Minister, are expected to address a press conference regarding the development.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has consistently emphasized the government’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism, particularly in the Bastar region, by March 31, 2026. Earlier this week, Shah announced that Abujhmarh and North Bastar — two of the worst-affected regions — have been declared free from Naxal terror, reiterating that while surrendering rebels are welcome back into society, those persisting with violence will face decisive action.
Bombay HC Upholds Herbal Hookah Rights, Warns State Against Unlawful Raids 10
The Bombay High Court has reiterated that serving herbal or tobacco-free hookahs is permissible, provided there is no violation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA). Reaffirming its 2019 order, the court warned the Maharashtra government against arbitrary police action and directed that authorities must act strictly as per law.
A division bench of Justices Riyaz Chagla and Farhan Dubash stated that authorities can conduct searches only if a complaint is received. “If any tobacco substance is found in the hookah parlour, then they can take action against those persons,” the bench observed.
The court disposed of a series of petitions filed by restaurant owners who alleged that police continued to raid establishments serving herbal hookahs, despite the 2019 ruling. The petitioners said the raids were causing financial losses and disruptions to their businesses.
“The petitioners are not prohibited from running restaurants or serving hookah that does not contain tobacco or nicotine,” the bench clarified, adding that authorities “shall strictly act under the provisions of COTPA.”
The court took note of the state government’s affidavit and emphasized that only police officers of the rank of Assistant Police Inspector or above are authorized to take action under COTPA. It further stated that any parlour found serving drugs or narcotics will face action under relevant laws.
The petitioners, represented by advocates Rajendra Rathod and Dhruv B. Jain, had approached the court after the state home department issued a circular on June 6, 2025, calling for strict action against illegal hookah parlours. They argued that the directive should not apply to businesses serving only herbal hookahs.
Concluding the matter, the bench said, “As long as the petitioners comply with COTPA and do not serve any prohibited substance, no action can be taken against them,” and directed the state to circulate the order to all concerned authorities.
Fake Cops on the Prowl: Two Mumbai Residents Duped in Separate Scams 12
In two separate incidents, Mumbai residents were duped by impostors posing as police officers, exposing a growing trend of conmen using fake uniforms and digital payment scams.
In the first case, a 67-year-old yoga instructor, Anand Joshi, from Santacruz West, was approached by two men claiming to be policemen collecting funds to distribute clothes and food to the poor. They convinced Joshi by showing a fake register with a false entry stating that his neighbour had donated ₹10,000. When Joshi agreed to contribute, they asked him to scan a QR code, through which he transferred ₹2,000. Later, he learned from his neighbour that the men were frauds. Police discovered that the duo wore fake uniforms and arrived on a motorcycle.
In another incident, Ratikrushna Patnaik, 55, a hotel and lodge owner from Goregaon West, was conned by a man pretending to be a crime branch officer named “Prakash.” The impostor allegedly booked a room, claiming it was for VIP bandobast duty. When the staff asked for identification or payment, he threatened them and left without settling the bill.
Police have registered both cases under Section 204 (personating a public servant) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigations are underway to trace the accused.
Mumbai Court Denies Bail to Alleged Mithi River Scam 'Mastermind' Ketan Kadam 14
A Mumbai court has once again denied bail to Ketan Kadam, the alleged middleman and CEO of Virgo Specialties Pvt Ltd, accused in the ₹65-crore Mithi River desilting contract scam. The court noted that Kadam had “direct involvement” in the conspiracy linked to the large-scale civic corruption case.
Additional Sessions Judge N. G. Shukla rejected Kadam’s second bail plea on October 14, with the detailed order made public on October 16. The accused had sought bail after the police filed a chargesheet in the case.
While dismissing the plea, the court stated, “It is a settled position of law that filing of the chargesheet would strengthen the allegations against the accused.”
According to the prosecution, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) awarded multiple desilting contracts for the Mithi River between 2019 and 2024 through tenders. Kadam allegedly colluded with BMC officials and contractors to manipulate tender conditions, compelling bidders to hire machines from his company. The court order emphasized that the agreements “were created only to manage the money trail received from the bidders,” pointing to Kadam’s central role in the scam.
Prime Accused Unnikrishnan Potty Arrested in Sabarimala Missing Gold Case 16
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the disappearance of gold from Kerala’s Sabarimala temple has arrested the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, officials confirmed on Friday.
Potty, a Bengaluru-based businessman, was taken into custody from his residence in Pulimath near Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday and was interrogated at the Crime Branch office before his arrest was officially recorded. Following the interrogation, he underwent a medical examination at a government hospital and was later shifted to Pathanamthitta.
According to police sources, Potty will be produced before a court in Ranni, Pathanamthitta, and the SIT will seek his custody for further interrogation.
The investigation, ordered by the Kerala High Court, focuses on two cases — the missing gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and the loss of gold from the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frames. The SIT is also probing the possible involvement of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) members and officials in handing over gold-clad copper plates of the idols and door frames to Potty for electroplating work in 2019.
Earlier, Potty had been questioned for two days by the TDB Vigilance Wing during its preliminary inquiry. The Kerala High Court has directed the SIT to complete its investigation within six weeks.
A court in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district has declared Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen chief Mohammad Yousuf Shah, also known as Syed Salahuddin, a proclaimed offender in connection with a 2012 case, police said on Thursday.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Sopore issued the proclamation against Salahuddin under Section 153-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration) and Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code (criminal intimidation).
“The war against terror continues: J&K Police secures proclamation orders against the proscribed self-styled Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, Md Yousuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, who has been provided sanctuary by Pakistan, in FIR 67/2012 of PS Dangiwacha,” the Jammu and Kashmir Police stated on X.
Earlier in July, an NIA court in Srinagar had also declared Salahuddin a proclaimed offender under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The court had directed the militant leader, a resident of Soibugh in Budgam district, to appear in connection with serious terror-related charges under the UAPA and the Ranbir Penal Code.
The fresh proclamation further strengthens India’s ongoing legal and diplomatic efforts against Pakistan-based terror masterminds operating across borders.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway Chaos Enters 5th Day: School Buses, Ambulances Stranded in Endless Jam 20
The traffic crisis on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway (NH-48) has entered its fifth straight day, stranding thousands of commuters and laying bare severe infrastructure and traffic management lapses. The congestion near Vasai and Palghar has brought movement to a near standstill, leaving school buses, ambulances, and heavy vehicles trapped for hours in seemingly endless queues.
Officials attribute the gridlock to ongoing road repair work and diversion of heavy vehicles, but the situation has spiraled out of control. NH-48, a lifeline connecting Maharashtra and Gujarat and one of India’s busiest economic corridors, continues to suffer from poor planning and incomplete infrastructure upgrades.
The crisis deepened on Tuesday evening when nearly a dozen school buses carrying students from Classes 5 to 10 were stranded for nearly 12 hours while returning from a picnic near Virar. Several students reportedly went without food or water, sparking panic among parents. Volunteers from a local social organisation distributed biscuits and water to the stranded children, according to a report by India Today.
Former MAMFDC chairman and educationist Javed Shroff praised MNS chief Raj Thackeray for swiftly mobilising party workers to help nearly 500 stranded students. “Appreciate the yeomen & good initiative of Shri Raj Thackeray ji to have made arrangements for the students stuck in traffic and provided safe passage,” Shroff wrote on X, lauding the humanitarian response.
Appreciate the Yeomen & Good Initiative of Shri @RajThackeray ji to have made arrangements for the students stuck in traffic on the highway & provided safe passage. Best Regards. @mnsadhikrut
The ordeal has forced several Mumbai schools to postpone their educational trips. Anil Garg, chairman of the Educational Tour Operators Association, confirmed that more than 20 schools have delayed upcoming picnics to Vasai until after Diwali. “Even today, two buses from Nashik carrying 64 students from a Kandivli-based school were delayed by two hours,” he said.
For residents of Vasai-Virar, NH-48 remains the only viable route to Mumbai. Alternative travel options such as the Ro-Ro ferry service are overcrowded, with vehicle queues stretching up to 125 cars. As commuters, truckers, and students remain caught in gridlock, frustration and anger continue to grow—highlighting yet again Mumbai’s crumbling infrastructure and lack of effective urban planning.
