Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | Vol. 69 No. 19 | 30 Pages Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation FROM OCT 28 | CEC clarifies Aadhaar card to be accepted as valid identity document SIR Phase 2 to cover 9 states, 3 UTs Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI Claiming that the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been “successfully completed” in Bihar with “zero appeals”, the Election Commission on Monday announced the start of SIR second phase from October 28 in 12 states and UTs that have nearly 51 crore voters. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the Election Commission had met election officials from all 36 states to discuss the process of the second phase of SIR in detail.  The phase 2 of SIR, he said, would be undertaken in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Puducherry, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, MP, UP, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Lakshadweep.  The CEC also announced that revision of electoral rolls in Assam will be announced The phase 2 of SIR in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Puducherry, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, MP, UP, Rajasthan, WB, TN & Lakshadweep separately despite the state also headed for Assembly elections in 2026.  “A fresh SIR order will be issued for the state of Assam,” he said. Since the issue of validity of Aadhaar card as proof of residence had come up during the SIR in Bihar and the matter had gone up to the Supreme Court, Kumar clarified that “Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship, date of birth or domicile, but can be furnished as a valid identity document in SIR exercise”. 4Contd on | nation SC NOTICE ON ED PLEA FPJ News Service NEW DELHI Maha BJP needs no crutches: Shah Kalpesh Mhamunkar The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenging the Bombay High Court’s decision that declared the arrest of suspended IAS officer and VasaiVirar City Municipal Commissioner Anilkumar Pawar as illegal. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order after hearing Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju for the ED. CONTD ON NATION MUMBAI Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Monday asserted that the party in Maharashtra no longer needs “crutches” and stands firmly on its own strength. Addressing party workers after laying the foundation stone for the Maharashtra BJP’s new headquarters near Churchgate railway station in South Mumbai, Shah challenged the cadre to ensure that the Opposition is defeated so decisively in the upcoming local body polls that they are “not seen even with the help of binoculars.” Shah’s strong remarks sparked political debate, with speculation that the comments were directed at Mahayuti’s alliance partners — Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde) and the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP. However, CM Devendra Fadnavis promptly dismissed such interpretations, saying Shah’s statement was being misread. CONTD ON NATION Iyer rushed to Sydney hospital Haridev Pushparaj MUMBAI Star India batter and vice-captain of the national ODI team Shreyas Iyer was admitted to the ICU of a Sydney hospital after injuring his left lower rib cage while taking a catch running backwards to dismiss Alex Carey in the third and final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday. Latest reports from certain news sources reveal that Iyer has been moved out of the ICU and is under observation in the hospital. CONTD ON NATION DIGITAL ARRESTS SHOE-THROWING STRAY DOGS CJI SUCCESSOR SC mulls CBI probe For preventive steps SC calls Chief Secys Gavai for Surya Kant FPJ News Service FPJ News Service FPJ News Service FPJ News Service NEW DELHI NEW DELHI NEW DELHI NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to all States and Union Territories, directing them to submit details of FIRs registered in connection with digital arrest scams. The Court also indicated that it is considering transferring all such cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a uniform probe across the country. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a suo motu case it had initiated on October 17 to address the growing menace of digital arrest scams. CONTD ON NATION The SC on Monday refused to issue notice to advocate Rakesh Kishore, who recently attempted to throw a shoe at CJI BR Gavai, but said it would consider framing preventive guidelines to avoid such incidents in the future. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, while hearing pleas related to the October 6 incident, made it clear that it was not closing the matter. “We are not closing anything. Suggest preventive measures. We’ll take it up after one week,” the Court said, Live Law and Bar & Bench report. CONTD ON NATION The SC on Monday directed the Chief Secretaries of all States and UTs except West Bengal, Delhi, and Telangana to appear before it next Monday for failing to file compliance affidavits on the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. A bench of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice N.V. Anjaria expressed strong displeasure, noting that only West Bengal, Telangana, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi had submitted their affidavits despite earlier directions. CONTD ON NATION CJI BR Gavai has recommended to the Centre the name of Justice Surya Kant as his successor. Once the government accepts the recommendation, Justice Surya Kant will take oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on November 24, a day after CJI Gavai retires. Justice Surya Kant, currently the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court after CJI Gavai, will have a tenure of a little over 14 months, serving till his retirement on February 9, 2027. 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