Rush Hour: Backlash over Sanchar Saathi app, Shinde Sena MLA booked for poll code violation & more

Amid criticism from Opposition leaders and technology policy experts, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia claimed that users will be able to delete the government cyber security app Sanchar Saathi, which smartphone manufacturers have been asked to mandatorily preload on all devices. However, the digital rights organisation Internet Freedom Foundation pointed out that Scindia's explanation was incorrect.

Paragraph 7(b) of the order issued by the Department of Telecommunications on Friday states that the app “cannot be ‘disabled or restricted'”, the organisation said on social media. It also said that the directive was a “deeply worrying expansion” of executive control over personal digital devices.

The Congress also criticised the directive, stating that it was “beyond unconstitutional” and demanded that it should be rolled back immediately. Read on.

Shiv Sena MLA Santosh Bangar was booked for allegedly violating the election rules after a video showed him entering a polling booth while a woman was casting her vote during the local body polls in Maharashtra's Hingoli district. Bangar belongs to the Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The video widely shared online showed Bangar entering the polling booth, peeking into the enclosure and speaking to the woman who was casting her vote.

Opposition leader Varsha Gaikwad alleged that Bangar was “directly telling a lady to vote for him”, and that the MLA and his supporters were “openly using phones inside the booth”. The video also showed him allegedly shouting political slogans inside the polling booth. Read on.

The Bombay High Court postponed the counting of votes and declaration of results for the local body elections in Maharashtra from December 3 to December 21. The order came on petitions stating that declaring results in phases would “materially influence” voting and the outcome of the second leg of elections.

Last week, the State Election Commission rescheduled polls in 24 local bodies to December 20.

The High Court directed that the Model Code of Conduct remain in force until the results are declared and prohibited the conduct of exit polls till December 20. Read on.

The Supreme Court stayed the trial proceedings against Karnataka's former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in a case pertaining to the alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl. The decision came on a petition filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party leader against the Karnataka High Court's refusal to quash the case against him.

The top court issued a notice to the state government, asking it to examine whether the matter should be remanded back to the High Court for fresh consideration. Read on.

The Supreme Court recommended that the Election Commission further extend the deadline from December 11 for submitting enumeration forms under the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Kerala. The court made the recommendation in view of the ongoing preparations for local body elections in the state.

Local body polls are scheduled in two phases on December 9 and December 11. The counting of votes will take place on December 13. The Kerala government has moved the court seeking to postpone the revision exercise until after the polls are conducted.

On Sunday, the Election Commission extended by one week the timeline for the exercise. Read on.

If you haven't already, sign up for our Daily Brief newsletter.

Source: Scroll
Related Posts: Centre defends UP government’s school merger policy amid criticism India's Economy Poised For Strong FY26 Growth Amid Policy Reforms Technology & Innovation Strong Pillars Of India-Singapore Partnership DIIs continue to provide strong support to markets driven by strong domestic Strong policy important for India's border security Kerala Freezes PM SHRI Scheme After CPI’s Strong Opposition Netanyahu touts his strong connect with world leaders Tilak Varma Supports Gautam Gambhir Amid Batting Order Criticism After SA Loss Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ passes key Senate hurdle amid criticism Prices Of Imported Agricultural Goods Rise Amid Strong US Dollar in S