When she saw me walking into her home in Assam’s Barpeta district, Amina Begum attempted valiantly to get up from the bed. Her body shook as the 68-year-old tried – and failed – to raise herself. When I had visited Begum in June last year, she was not this infirm. She was walking
Violence erupts as ED raids for Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s housesDuring the raids, top CPI(M) leaders and hundreds of party workers protested outside the homes of Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur. Updated on: May 28, 2026 7:33 AM IST By Vishnu Varma Share via Copy link The Directorate
Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express cut flights as fuel costs surgeOfficials also said Air India Express would reduce some domestic frequencies, though the impact would remain below 10%. Updated on: May 28, 2026 7:43 AM IST By HT Correspondent Share via Copy link Major Indian carriers
The two factions of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Wednesday withdrew disqualification petitions against each other’s MLAs, and reached a truce two weeks after the rift surfaced, the Hindustan Times reported. The rift had taken place after 25 AIADMK MLAs led by former ministers
Delhi employee stunned after boss gifts him a brand-new SUV for his appraisal: ‘I was shocked’Speaking to Hindustantimes.com, a Delhi employee shared his shock at receiving a brand-new MG Hector SUV as a surprise appraisal gift. Published on: May 28
ECI cites motive to disrupt SIR in response to Kerala’s plea for deferring it
The only motive behind the Kerala government's assertion of administrative impasse in holding local body polls and revising the electoral roll simultaneously is to “disrupt” the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the Election Commission of India (ECI) has said in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court. The ECI said over 98% of SIR enumeration forms had been distributed so far.
“The assertion that the state administrative machinery will come to a standstill is imaginary, and the only motive is to disrupt the SIR process, which is at the stage of completion of [the] enumeration phase,” said the affidavit in response to the Kerala government's petition seeking SIR deferment.
A Chief Justice of India Surya Kant-led bench is due to take up the matter on Tuesday. The bench last week sought ECI and Kerala State Election Commission (KSEC)'s response to the state's plea.
The Kerala government highlighted difficulties in undertaking SIR, which will coincide with polls for 1200 local self-government institutions (LSGI) on December 9 and 11, and counting on December 13.
The ECI affidavit said the SIR enumeration phase will conclude by December 11. It added that 98.67% of enumeration forms had been distributed as of November 30, and 81.19% % have been digitized.
The ECI called the assertion regarding the logistical or administrative inconvenience baseless and unsustainable. It said the polling will be over by December 13, and 176,000 personnel employed for poll duty will be free, and that the claims and objections phase begins on December 16 under the SIR. “Hence, there is no possibility of disruption of LSGI elections due to SIR,” the ECI said.
The ECI reiterated that district collectors have been authorised to engage only those personnel for SIR who are not assigned to local body election duties.
In its petition, Kerala said about 176,000 personnel are required for the LSGI election process, apart from 68,000 security personnel. “...SIR requires the services of additional personnel numbering 25,668. This puts a severe strain on the state administration, bringing routine administrative work to a standstill,” said the plea filed through advocate CK Sasi.
The state reserved its right to later question the SIR's validity as “not conducive to the democratic polity”. It clarified that the present petition only seeks a limited relief to ensure the smooth conduct of local body polls by deferring SIR.
The ECI said the plea of logistical or administrative inconvenience is wholly misconceived and unsustainable, as both processes are structured to proceed in a staggered and mutually exclusive manner, enabling their smooth and efficient conduct without prejudice to either. It pointed out that an overlap is not unprecedented, as the last LSGI election in Kerala in 2020 was conducted simultaneously with the Special Summary Revision. “Except for the enumeration phase, all pre-revision and revision activities during the 2020 special summary revision were identical to those of the current SIR exercise.”
The ECI questioned the maintainability of the state government's plea. It said the superintendence and conduct of local body elections is within the state election commission's domain. It said that the KSEC has expressed no difficulty in holding the polls along with the SIR.
“The KSEC has not raised any objections to the simultaneous conduct of SIR. In fact, the KSEC and the chief electoral officer (CEO), Kerala, are functioning in close coordination to ensure the smooth and efficient conduct of both the local body elections and the SIR without disruption to either process,” the ECI said.
KSEC supported this view in a separate affidavit. “There is no report of paucity of polling staff by the District Election Officers. There is adequate administrative machinery at the command of the SEC.”
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: China’s crackdown on Christians is an assertion of domestic religious policy and a message to the US JPMorgan confirms Trump’s assertion that bank CEO Dimon was not offered Fed chair job JPMorgan confirms Trump assertion that bank CEO Dimon was not offered Fed chair job Teen behind viral ‘lore behind your header’ tweet has 700 mn views Kerala Woman, At 74, Breaks Barriers To Become India’s ‘Only Female’ With 11 Vehicle Licences Ex-CM N Biren Singh and 26 BJP MLAs in talks with central government to form Manipur government UDF set to form government in Kerala This Airport, In Kerala, Was Built By ‘Desh Ka Aam Insaan’ — No Government Support, No Big Investors Kerala HC refuses to stay state government’s order allowing Muslim girl to wear hijab to school What potholes say about a government’s priorities – from Kerala to New York
Haier’s new Desert Rose AC comes with many tall claims like supersonic cooling, AI-driven energy savings and the ability to maintain performance even at 60°C ambient temperatures. The real question, however, is whether these features genuinely improve the day-to-day experience for everyday users
2 hours ago
The live-in personal assistant to Friends star Matthew Perry has been sentenced to 41 months in prison, capping a multi-year legal saga surrounding the actor's death. Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, who injected Perry with ketamine, worked with two doctors to provide the actor with more than $50
2 hours ago
TikTok appears to be experiencing a widespread outage with hundreds of users flagging issues with openig the popular social media app. According to outage tracking website Downdetector, reports of issues with TikTok spiked sharply around 6 AM ET in the United States on May 28
2 hours ago
Global carmakers are facing a reckoning as US, European and Japanese brands lose ground to Chinese rivals setting the pace not only in electric vehicles, but also in batteries, design and software. The BBC visited factory floors in Beijing and Hefei on the sidelines of Auto China 2026 - the world's
3 hours ago
Micah Parsons injury update: Adam Schefter gives devastating news on LB's return; ‘Will miss…’Micah Parsons is expected to miss the “first few weeks” of the upcoming season for Packers as his ACL recovers, Adam Schefter said. Updated on: May 28
3 hours ago
Laid-off Webflow employee calls out CEO: ‘Locked out of laptop, didn’t get email’A Webflow employee has called out the company’s CEO over the way in which she handled layoffs, claiming he did not receive an email about his termination Updated on: May 28
2 hours ago
Indian scientists have found strong evidence of subsurface ice near the Moon's south pole. Data from Chandrayaan-2's radar instrument revealed ice in craters. This discovery adds to growing evidence of water resources on the Moon. These findings will help shape future lunar missions
3 hours ago
Gujarat Titans bowlers set new IPL records. Kagiso Rabada took the most powerplay wickets in a season. The team also achieved a historically balanced bowling performance with five bowlers taking 15 or more wickets. Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted a record playoff total
3 hours ago
The complaint alleged that Mamata Banerjee’s remarks insulted the sentiments of followers of Sanatan Dharma and promoted communal disharmony. An FIR was registered on Tuesday against TMC Chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her alleged derogatory remarks about Sanatan
3 hours ago
Pradosh Vrat happens to be one of the most sacred fasts dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This vrat is observed during the auspicious period on the Trayodashi tithi which starts after sunset. The time window after sunset, when Trayodashi Tithi and Pradosha time overlap
2 hours ago
Several labour unions have demanded, in writing, that India’s labour codes be reformed to include more explicit provisions for working in extreme heat. Record-breaking heat in recent years has moved government bodies to issue advisories urging employers to reschedule working hours and make
3 hours ago
When Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish first met Oliver Glasner in late 2023, he had no idea it would be a meeting that would change the course of the club's history. It was then sporting director, Dougie Freedman, who had set up the get-together in south London
3 hours ago
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is reportedly set to resign Thursday following Congress high command directives, paving the way for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to assume the top post. Celebrations erupted in Shivakumar's camp amid speculation
3 hours ago
Feeling bloated after meals? Gastroenterologist shares the benefits of post-meal ‘fart walks’ to ease discomfortGoing for a short walk after meals – popularised as “fart walks” on social media – is a simple way to get your digestive tract moving and ease bloating. Published on: May 27
1 days ago
From Spielberg's epic alien drama to J-Lo in an office romcom and the return of Toy Story, these are the films to watch at the cinema and stream at home this month. "By the power of Grayskull! I – have – the power!" Readers of a certain age may remember that booming battle cry: it rang out
1 days ago
IIT Madras graduate rejected ₹10 LPA job for UPSC, later found success through trading: 'Never give up'An X post detailed the man’s 12-year struggle through UPSC preparation, failed career shifts, heartbreak and unemployment before finding success through trading Published on: May 27
1 days ago
said it has turned across all its established businesses in FY26, marking a key profitability milestone for one of India's largest platforms, as it accelerates expansion across pharmacy, and speciality care.The company said its diagnostics business crossed an annualised revenue run rate of more
1 days ago
Penpa Tsering sworn in for second term as head of Tibet’s 'government-in-exile' in DharamshalaTsering said that "Middle Way Policy" which seeks a resolution to the Sino-Tibet conflict through non-violence, dialogue and mutual benefit would be lasting. Updated on: May 27
1 days ago
As innovation becomes more open and collaborative, thanks to an AI-Driven economy, companies are rethinking how visibility is built. This article explores why presence in innovation ecosystems matters, how long-term technical credibility is earned, and why platforms such as ET AI Hackathon 2
1 days ago
Man serves lemon juice as prashad in office prank, colleagues’ reactions go viralA light-hearted office moment captured on Instagram shows lemon juice being served as prashad. Published on: May 27, 2026 4:47 PM IST By Vaishali Kapila Share via Copy link Office life can feel repetitive at times
1 days ago
The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the government’s retrospective imposition of 28% Goods and Service Tax (GST) on companies, backing tax demands on past transactions in a ruling that could have major financial implications for the sector
1 days ago
India opens ₹15,000 crore race to build AMCA stealth fighterThe shortlisted bidders are: Tata Advanced Systems Limited; Larsen and Toubro plus Bharat Electronics Limited, and Bharat Forge plus Bharat Earth Movers Limited Updated on: May 27, 2026 4:56 PM IST By Shishir Gupta Share via Copy link
1 days ago
A Chinese dissident who fled his country on a rubber boat has been detained in South Korea after spending 30 hours at sea. Dong Guangping, a former police officer and human rights activist, was found in Korean waters on Monday night. South Korea's coast guard told the BBC that Dong is under
1 days ago
Ugandan woman, suspected of Ebola infection, tests negative in KarnatakaKarnataka minister says health department continues to closely monitor the situation and remains fully prepared to take all necessary measures Updated on: May 27, 2026 4:40 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link A 28-year-old woman
1 days ago
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla asked the international community for urgent help to prevent disaster in his country, which is under a U.S. energy blockade, in a speech to the UN Security Council on Tuesdayc(May 26, 2026). “I call on the international community to mobilize to
1 days ago
Noida International Airport: Paresh Maity’s art takes flight of fancyIndian artist Paresh Maity’s two public art installations will be part of the Noida International Airport that is expected to be operational from June 2026. These include six huge panels and a bell installation represent
1 days ago
The Assam Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code bill seeking to ban polygamy and make the registration of live-in relationships compulsory, even as the Opposition demanded that it should be sent to a select committee for scrutiny
1 days ago
