Tag: India

The Haryana government has appointed Vikas Barala, son of BJP MP Subhash Barala, as an Assistant Advocate General, despite him facing charges in a 2017 stalking case. Barala’s name appeared in an official list released on July 18, listing advocates appointed on a one-year contractual basis in the office of the Advocate General in Chandigarh and the State Legal Cell in Delhi. He has been assigned to the Delhi office, with the list identifying him only by his first name. Vikas Barala first came into the spotlight in 2017 while still a law student, after he and his friend Ashish Kumar were accused of stalking and chasing the daughter of an IAS officer late at night in Chandigarh. The incident occurred during the intervening night of August 4 and 5, as the woman was returning to her Panchkula residence. Barala was arrested and spent nearly five months in jail before securing bail in January 2018. The criminal case remains pending before a magistrate, with the defence evidence scheduled for presentation on August 2. The accused recorded their statements in May this year, following the closure of prosecution evidence in April. Despite the ongoing trial, Barala completed his law degree and enrolled as an advocate in 2019. Since then, he has been empanelled by the state to represent various Boards and Corporations. Under the Haryana Law Officers (Engagement) Act, 2016, an advocate is barred from being appointed as a law officer only if convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude. The mere pendency of a case does not disqualify a lawyer from such appointments. Attempts by Bar & Bench to contact Advocate General Pravindra Singh Chauhan for comments on the appointment were unsuccessful, as he disconnected the call.

The 13-day Shravan Kanwar Mela concluded on Tuesday with a record-breaking footfall of 45 million (4.5 crore) Kanwariyas, surpassing last year’s 41.4 million and 40.7 million in 2023, officials from the Kanwar Mela cell confirmed. Pilgrims continued arriving till late evening on July 23, prompting final figures to be updated accordingly. To mark the successful conclusion, District Magistrate Mayur Dixit and SSP Pramendra Dobhal offered prayers at Har-ki-Pauri’s Brahmakund and Daksheshwar Mahadev temple in Kankhal. Officials also met with Mahant Ravindra Puri, head of the Mata Mansa Devi Temple Trust, and expressed gratitude to saints and akhadas for their support. Massive influx of devotees caused traffic chaos in several cities, particularly in Delhi, where major congestion was reported from Anand Vihar to Apsara Border. Movement remained restricted in these areas till 8 AM on July 23. Despite concerns over littering and garbage accumulation at ghats, Dixit announced a three-day post-mela cleanliness drive. Religious leaders called for greater awareness among devotees, emphasizing reverence for the Ganga river. Security during the yatra was handled by an extensive deployment of forces including 3,000 policemen, 1,350 home guards, 15 PAC companies, nine paramilitary units, and multiple specialized teams such as bomb disposal squads, anti-terror units, and drone operators. Surveillance was maintained 24/7 via drones and CCTV. Twelve FIRs were filed, 17 people arrested, and 150 unidentified Kanwariyas booked for hooliganism and violence during the yatra. DGP Deepam Seth had earlier issued a stern warning, stating that disorder in the name of faith would not be tolerated. The Uttarakhand High Court also intervened during the yatra, seeking clarity from state authorities on conducting Panchayat elections amid the Kanwar rush and heavy monsoon. The court was responding to a PIL filed by a Dehradun-based petitioner urging a rescheduling of elections due to logistical and safety concerns.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday initiated the process to elect a new Vice President of India, following the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar earlier this week due to health reasons. Dhankhar, whose tenure was to last until August 10, 2027, stepped down midway, triggering a constitutional requirement for a fresh election. In its official statement, the EC confirmed that it has started preparing the electoral college, which includes all elected and nominated members of both Houses of Parliament — the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The poll body is in the process of appointing returning officers, after which it will formally announce the election schedule. Electoral Process The Vice President is elected by an electoral college of 786 members (subject to vacancies), through a secret ballot using the proportional representation system via the single transferable vote method, as mandated by Article 66(1) of the Constitution. Under Article 68(2), the election to fill the vacancy must be held “as soon as possible” after it arises. The person elected will begin a full five-year term, regardless of the remaining tenure of the previous officeholder. Current Parliamentary Strength This brings the total strength of the electoral college to 782 at present. NDA’s Numerical Advantage The BJP-led NDA coalition holds a clear majority with: This gives the NDA a total of 422 votes, comfortably surpassing the estimated 394 votes required for a majority, putting it in a strong position to ensure the victory of its nominee. Significance of the Office The Vice President of India is the second-highest constitutional post in the country and also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The role is crucial for maintaining parliamentary order and ensuring smooth legislative proceedings. With the process underway, the Election Commission is expected to announce the date and nomination schedule soon, setting the stage for the selection of the next occupant of this high constitutional office.