FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLII No. 142 | INDORE | WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 29, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports Smriti extends lead at top; youngster Pratika breaks into top 30 P.13 Unhappy with govt’s employee data, HC asks for unified chart of depts Chart should show representation of reserved categories Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Hearing a batch of petitions challenging the state’s new promotion policy, the High Court, principal bench of Jabalpur, on Tuesday expressed displeasure at the quantifiable and employee data the government submitted in a sealed envelope, which revealed that in a particular department, all the posts were occupied by the reserved categories.   A division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf noted that some departments already have a large number of employees from the reserved categories.  The court then directed the state government to submit a unified chart of all departments, showing the current representation of reserved categories in each department. It also stated that this exercise should not merely be a collection of data, but a calculation based on correct rules.  Senior advocate C.S. Vaidyanathan presented the government's case via video conferencing, while Advocate General Prashant Singh appeared in court.  Speaking about the developments, Naresh Kaushik, the advocate of the petitioner, the Samanya PichhdaAlpasankhyak Kalyan Samaj Sanstha (SAPAKS), said, “The HC has directed the state government to re- fp Briefs INDORE Newborn abandoned A newborn was abandoned by an unidentified couple onboard a bus at Sarwate Bus Stand under Chhoti Gwaltoli police station limits on Tuesday. The police registered a case and are examining CCTV footage to identify the couple. Chhoti Gwaltoli police station in-charge Sanju Kamle said that they were informed by the bus driver and conductor that a man and woman had left a 15-day-old infant in the bus. After being alerted by the bus staff, the police rescued the boy. Pg3 NEW DELHI No rain after cloud seeding After a gap of 53 years, Delhi conducted cloud seeding trials on Tuesday to induce artificial rain in the national capital amid surging pollution levels, even as the weather department did not record any traces of rainfall in the city. The Delhi government, in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur, conducted the trials in parts of Delhi, including Burari, north Karol Bagh, Mayur Vihar, and Badli, with more such exercises planned over the next few days, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said. NEW PROMOTION POLICY HC also says this exercise should not merely be collection of data, but a calculation based on correct rules prepare a unified chart of all departments and present it to the court, showing the current representation of reserved categories in each department. The government has submitted data in a sealed envelope; however, the HC observed that the reserved categories were occupying all the posts in a particular department, and there was no mention of the general category. Wondering how the government will justify that, the court asked it to re-prepare the report.” The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for November 12. ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE MONEY Preference shareholders cannot file insolvency petition: Supreme Court UJJAIN PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL On November 1, the state’s Foundation Day, a helicopter will leave the MP capital for Ujjain under the PM Shri Paryatan Heli Sewa. Regular helicopter services will be made Mistry set to exit Tata Trusts Palazhi Ashok Kumar Cinema The Family Man S3 release date out P.14 SEVERE STORM | Nearly 76,000 people shifted to relief camps SC slams MPHC Cyclone Montha makes for bail on ‘plant landfall, lashes AP, Odisha trees’ condition PTI Online Report AMARAVATI/BHUBANESWAR NEW DELHI Severe Cyclonic storm Montha on Tuesday made landfall off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, causing disruptions in the southern state, while the impact was also felt in neighbouring Odisha, where normal life was affected in 15 districts. The landfall process started around 7 pm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, adding that the weather system in the Bay of Bengal will cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada. It will cross with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90 to 100 kmph and gusting up to 110 kmph. Under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm Montha, The Supreme Court has set aside a Madhya Pradesh High Court order that granted bail to two murder convicts on the condition that they plant ten saplings each. The bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria, in Surajpal Singh Jadon v. Prashant Sikarwar and Others (SLP (Crl) No. 13465/2025), said the Gwalior Bench’s April 29, 2024 order “lacked legal reasoning” and could not “stand the test of law even for a second.” The High Court had suspended the life sentence of two men convicted under Sections 302 (murder) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the IPC, directing them to plant trees as a “social cause.” The Supreme Court observed that the order neither discussed the evidence nor provided reasons for granting bail. “On granting of suspension, the judge says you do the plantation? What is this?” Justice Kumar remarked during the hearing. The petitioner had challenged the order, calling it “whimsical” and contrary to Section 389(1) of the CrPC, which requires judicial reasoning while suspending a sentence. The counsel argued that equating a murder conviction with a symbolic act like planting trees trivialized justice. The respondents, however, defended the condition as reformative and socially High waves as severe cyclonic storm advances towards Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh; NDRDF team during a rescue operation which means a fragrant flower in Thai, Nellore district in Andhra recorded the highest amount of rainfall on Tuesday. A woman died at Makanagudem village in Konaseema district as an uprooted palmyra tree fell on her due to gales, a police official told PTI. Due to the impact of the cyclone, standing crops in as many as 38,000 hectares in Andhra Pradesh were destroyed and also horticulture crops in 1.38 lakh hectares. Nearly 76,000 people were shifted to relief camps while the government arranged 219 medical camps at various places. It also arranged 865 tonnes of animal fodder keeping the cyclone in view. Retention of govt houses: Rules amended to bar ineligible staff Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The state cabinet has amended rules 17 and 37 of the Government House Allocation Rule, to tackle the problem of government employees not vacating allotted accommodations after retirement or transfer. Under this, after passing of a certain period, if a government servant does not vacate a government accommodation, then he will have to pay ten times the rent and a penalty available for tourists and pilgrims from the month, said CM Mohan Yadav on Tuesday while reviewing preparations for the Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day at Samatva Bhawan of his official residence.  The speciality of this service is that through the Madhya Pradesh Tourism department, tourists and pilgrims will get lodging and a 4Continued on | P8 NEW DELHI The society will not forgive the judiciary if it doesn't take care of doctors and stand for them, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday while reserving its judgement on a plea against non-inclusion of doctors and health workers who lost their lives battling Covid-19 at private clinics, dispensaries and non-recognised hospitals in insurance policies. A bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and R Mahadevan said the government must ensure that insurance companies settle the valid claims, and added that the assumption that private doctors were working for profit mak- 4Continued on | P8 Govt preparing to take fresh loan of Rs 5,200 cr Our Staff Reporter Electrification of PVTG houses T government residence for six months on general rent. Ahead of the Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day, the state government is gearing up to take a fresh loan of Rs 5,200 crore. It will be the 20th loan to be taken by this government so far. This will increase the state debt to Rs 4.64 lakh crore. Earlier, the government took a loan of Rs 3,000 crore on October 1.  The loan would be taken in two instalments of Rs 2,700 crore and Rs 2,500 crore, respectively. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 he state government has identified 18, 833 houses of extremely backward tribals, called Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) which were left out under the “Electricity for Every Home” scheme. The cabinet has decided to electrify such homes situated in far-flung areas of the state with the help of the Government of India (GoI). The GoI will give 60% share and 40% cost of electrifying such houses will be borne by the state government. As many as 211 houses were identified where electricity could not be supplied through the grid as they were situated too far. Hence a decision has been taken to light up such houses through solar batteries. A sum of around Rs 79 crore has been approved in this regard. of 30 times the rent. As per the new norm, on transfer or retirement, a government servant can occupy a First region include Bhopal, Ujjain, Indore, Mandav and Omkareshwar local transport facility. The helicopter service will be started for three different regions of the state, he said. The first region comprises Bho- Society won’t forgive us: SC on docs’ insurance PTI The government has decided to suspend the movement of vehicles on roads in the cyclone-affected districts, including Krishna, Eluru and Kakinada from 8:30 pm tonight to 6 am on Wednesday. Emergency medical services will be exempted. BHOPAL MUMBAI  As the curious onlookers expected, the fate of Mehli Mistry to continue as trustee at Tata Trusts has become uncertain as the majority voted against his reappointment, a veteran source close to the philanthropic arm of the Group said on Tuesday. The power tussle at Tata Trusts has been simmering for months. “Mistry mushkil hai, fir kon? Let’s wait, but rift is likely to deepen at Tata Trusts. “No more ‘Yeses’ at Tata Trusts, the three Big ‘Nos’ came from Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata, TVS Motor Co’s chairman emeritus Venu Srinivasan and former defence secretary Vijay Singh. E-paper Edit SIR still sparks controversy P.6 PM Shri Paryatan Heli Sewa from Nov 1 3 services for three regions MUMBAI Top court directs Centre to provide relevant data and information ing was not correct. "Society will not forgive us if we don't take care of our doctors and don't stand for them... "You should compel the insurance company to pay if according to you the condition is met that they were on COVID response and they died because of COVID. Merely because they were not in government duty, the assumption that they were making profits and then they were sitting is not correct," the bench observed orally. 4Continued on | P8 pal, Ujjain, Indore, Mandav, and Omkareshwar. The second region covers Pachmarhi, Tamia of Chhindwara, and Khajuraho, while the third region has Jabalpur, Kanha, Pench, and Panna National Park. All three helicopter services will be started in November itself, he said.   4Continued on | P8 Bibi orders strikes on Gaza Agencies TEL AVIV Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday instructed his military to immediately break the ceasefire and carry out attacks on Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. Reports emerged of heavy gunfire and explosions in Rafah, southern Gaza. The circumstances of the fighting remain unclear. Israel accused Hamas of misidentifying the most recently returned captive's remains, which were of an abductee whose body was recovered two years ago. Netanyahu said he's deciding on next steps after Hamas returned the remains of a previously recovered captive, as per Al Jazeera. 4Continued on | P8 Terms of reference of 8th pay panel okayed Benefits to 50L Central staff Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Terms of Reference of the 8th Central Pay Commission which was earlier announced by the Centre in January this year. The government had then stated that the Commission would examine and recommend changes in the salaries and other benefits of Central Govt employees. Taking the matter forward, a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi PK in trouble over name in 2 poll rolls PATNA/KOLKATA: Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor was on Tuesday served a notice over his name being reportedly registered as a voter in his home state of Bihar as well as adjoining West Bengal. The notice has been issued by the district election office in Bihar's Rohtas, where Kishor has been registered as a voter in Kargahar assembly segment, directing him to respond within three days. Pg7 offgrid Bangkok designer finds peace in Narmada journey FP News Service KASRAWAD Leaving behind the glitter of Bangkok’s fashion world, 50year-old designer Hurra (Hardevi) Tanwani has embarked on a spiritual journey along the sacred Narmada River. Beginning her parikrama from Omkareshwar on Saturday, she reached Navdatodi on Sunday afternoon. Deeply in- spired by Sanatan Dharma, Hardevi says, “Maa Narmada has transformed my life. True happiness lies not in luxury but in simplicity and devotion.” Her family migrated to Thailand after the 1947 Partition but Indian traditions remain central to their lives. “We celebrate all Hindu festivals in Bangkok with full rituals,” she said. Hardevi also runs a Gita Ashram there, where children learn the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and Vedic scriptures. Initially she was travelling alone but later she was joined by Dr Mansi Jadhav, a dentist from Pune. Dr Jadhav remarked that the journey not only brought spiritual awakening but also exposed them to the simplicity and challenges of rural life. Spiritually inclined since the age of ten, Hardevi credits her Jabalpur-based Guruji from Amarkantak for guiding her path. She has worked with global brands including BMW but now dedicates her life to spirituality. “Maa Narmada’s dust has given me the peace I never found in foreign luxuries,” she said emotionally. 4Continued on | P8 The High Court had suspended the life sentence of two men convicted under Sections 302 (murder) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the IPC, directing them to plant trees as a “social cause” beneficial, claiming it did not harm the prosecution’s case. Rejecting that argument, the Supreme Court said environmental causes cannot substitute for legal standards in criminal law. It held that the High Court appeared “swayed by considerations alien to criminal jurisprudence.” While quashing the order, the Apex Court refrained from canceling the convicts’ bail and directed the High Court to reconsider the suspension of sentence afresh on merits within six weeks. Justice Kumar quipped, “Operation successful, patient died,” noting that although the flawed order was struck down, the accused’s interim liberty would continue until a fresh decision. BJP leader shot dead in Katni Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL approved the Terms of Reference as per which the Commission will be a three-member body comprising a chairperson, a member (part time) and one member-secretary. The Commission is to be chaired by former judge of the SC Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai while Professor Pulak Ghosh of IIM Bangalore will be its Member (part time) and Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas in Government of India, Pankaj Jain, will be its MemberSecretary.Announcing the decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Justice Desai has a long history of public service. BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) leader NeeleshRajakwas killed in broad daylight on Tuesday after two unidentified assailants opened fire on him in Kamore town of Katni district, saidthe police. The police station in-charge was removed following the incident. As per reports, the deceased was associated with the Bajrang Dal and also with the BJP. Taking cognizance of the incident, state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal asked the collector and SP to take appropriate action. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 India-Russia to jointly produce civil aircraft PTI NEW DELHI India and Russia have firmed up a joint collaboration to produce a twin-engine narrowbody civilian commuter aircraft for short-haul flights in line with growing strategic ties between the two countries. State-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) signed a pact with Russia's Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) in Moscow on Monday for production of SJ-100 aircraft in India. It will be the first such project to produce a passenger aircraft in India. The joint venture was finalised a little more than a month before an expected visit to India by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The SJ-100 was earlier known as the Sukhoi Superjet 100. As on date, over 200 SJ100 aircraft have been pro- duced and are being operated by more than 16 commercial airline operators. The finalisation of the collaboration came almost a decade after both sides explored the possibility of producing the aircraft in India. The HAL has a long-standing partnership with UAC, including for the manufacturing of the Su-30MKI combat jet for the Indian Air Force. "SJ-100 will be the game changer for short-haul connectivity under the UDAN scheme in India. Under this arrangement, HAL will have the rights to manufacture SJ100 aircraft for domestic customers," the Indian aerospace major said. 4Continued on | P8