Author: Supriya Jena

On Monday, the Supreme Court will look at some appeals challenging a decision made by the Calcutta High Court. This decision said that 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff members in West Bengal’s government and aided schools were wrongly appointed. The Supreme Court’s Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar will hear the case.

In a previous hearing, some people argued that the High Court’s ruling negatively affected the lives of honest candidates who were appointed correctly. The Chief Justice agreed that it’s essential to find a balance between fixing wrong appointments and protecting those who got jobs fairly. He suggested that if possible, cases should be arranged to help innocent candidates first.

There are 124 petitions waiting to be discussed in the Supreme Court, including one from the state government. Last December, the court asked why the West Bengal government created extra posts for teachers instead of removing those who were supposedly hired illegally.

On May 7, 2023, the Supreme Court paused the High Court’s order about the teacher appointments but allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to keep investigating. The court determined that if it finds any teachers or staff were appointed wrongly, they would have to return their salaries.

The Supreme Court noted that in May 2022, the state government created 6,861 extra teaching positions to help those who were on a waiting list. More than 23 lakh people applied for the 24,640 vacancies during the State Level Selection Test-2016, and 25,753 appointment letters were issued.

Andhra Pradesh is getting ready to create a new plan called “demographic management” to handle important changes happening in the state. These changes include fewer babies being born, more older people living here, and families becoming smaller. This was said by Governor S Abdul Nazeer on Republic Day in Vijayawada.

The Governor explained that as the number of young workers decreases and the population ages, the state needs to be proactive. He talked about the need for a public discussion on how these changes affect everyone. The government wants to invest in better healthcare, social security, and support systems for families and communities.

He also mentioned the challenges the state faced when the previous government mismanaged money and resources. This left Andhra Pradesh in a difficult position with lots of debt and stalled projects. But now, the public has shown strong support for the current government led by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu.

Looking ahead, Andhra Pradesh’s economy is expected to grow significantly, reaching a value of Rs 305 lakh crores by 2047. This growth means that the average income in the state could go from Rs 2.68 lakh to Rs 53.34 lakhs over 24 years.

To help with water management and agriculture, the government plans to use new technologies like AI, drones, and satellite tools for better crop monitoring and irrigation. This is all part of a vision called Swarna Andhra 2047, which aims for a better future for everyone in the state.

On Saturday, President Droupadi Murmu spoke at the 15th National Voters’ Day event in New Delhi. She encouraged voters to be open-minded and not let discrimination or outside influences affect their choices in elections. She believes that smart voters make democracy stronger.

During her speech, the President praised the Election Commission for using new technology to make voting clearer and fairer. She hopes India will continue to inspire other countries with its democracy.

Murmu highlighted the growing participation of women in elections as a positive sign for the country’s progress. She also mentioned that the Election Commission has made special efforts to help older citizens, people with disabilities, and tribal members vote, especially those living in hard-to-reach areas.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal spoke about recent laws to make the Election Commission more fair and clear. He noted that the government is working on a law for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha (the lower house) and state assemblies. He also mentioned a proposal for simultaneous elections, which is currently being reviewed by a committee.

At the event, President Murmu honored state and district officials with the Best Electoral Practices Awards for their great work in conducting elections. She also received the first copy of “India Votes 2024: A Saga of Democracy.”

National Voters’ Day has been celebrated for 15 years, marking the start of the Election Commission on January 25, 1950, the day before India became a republic.

Himangi Sakhi Maa, a transgender leader, has spoken out about former actress Mamta Kulkarni being named Mahamandleshwar of the Kinnar Akhada during the Maha Kumbh festival. Himangi Sakhi raised concerns about Mamta’s past, saying, “Many people remember her controversies, including a time she was in jail for drugs. Now, she suddenly appears in India, attends the Maha Kumbh, and gets this important title. We should investigate this.”

Himangi stressed that appointing someone like Mamta as a guru raises ethical questions. “What kind of leader are we giving to Sanatan Dharma? Someone who doesn’t deserve such a title is being made one,” she added.

On the same day, Mamta Kulkarni performed ‘pind daan’ at Sangham Ghat in Prayagraj. She told ANI, “This was the order of Mahadev and Maha Kaali. They picked this day for me. I didn’t do anything.”

Laxmi Narayan, the head of Kinnar Akhada, announced Mamta’s new spiritual role. He said Mamta has been connected with them for over a year and a half. “She can express herself in any devotional way she wants,” he explained.

Mamta Kulkarni rose to fame in the 1990s with movies like ‘Karan Arjun’ and ‘Baazi,’ acting alongside stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. However, she left Bollywood in the early 2000s and has been living a quiet life abroad.