HC: How did 2 cops who retired on same day get unequal pension?

 HC: How did 2 cops who retired on same day get unequal pension?

08.10.2026

Ashutosh.Shukla@timesofindia.com 

Bhopal/Jabalpur: The MP high court on Tuesday sought affidavits from director general of police (DGP) of Madhya Pradesh and district pension officer at Sagar on how two police head constables who retired on the same day in 2017 have a three-fold difference in their monthly pension amount. The bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal asked the two officials to present their respective affidavits by October 30 or personally appear in the court on the next hearing of the case on November 4. 

Retired police head constable from Sagar Gopal Krishna Gupta in his petition said that he retired from the job on June 30, 2017. On the same day, head constable Rajendra Prasad Mishra also retired. His monthly pension was fixed at Rs 7,805 as against Mishra’s pension of Rs 23, 350. There is a difference of Rs 15, 545 in their monthly pension. 

Describing this difference in pension as violative of the principle of natural justice and fundamental right of equality, the petitioner said that he filed rejoinder before the higher officials of police but was not heeded to, thus making him to move court. Following initial hearing, the court sought an affidavit from DGP and pension officer Sagar on the matter explaining how there could be such a huge difference in their pension despite retiring from the same post on the same day

Employee faked sick leave for a Coorg trip, then manager sent the viral reel with five awkward words

Employee faked sick leave for a Coorg trip, then manager sent the viral reel with five awkward words

etimes.in | Oct 1, 2026, 11.06 AM IST

A sick day can sometimes become the most complicated day off, especially when social media decides to join the story.

A Reddit user on r/antiLinkedIn shared how a planned Friday trip to Coorg turned into an awkward workplace episode. The employee claimed to have stomach flu while actually heading out for a holiday. The plan might have worked, except a holiday reel accidentally put the employee in the frame.

The sick leave excuse had one small problemAccording to the Reddit post, the employee took Friday off to travel to Coorg and told the manager that they had stomach flu.

There was no mention of the trip to the workplace. Instead, the employee went to a homestay and apparently ended up appearing in the background of a video featuring people dancing.

The unexpected part came later. The video reportedly took off on Instagram and crossed 13,000 likes.

That made a private holiday much less private.

Monday brought an awkward messageWhen the employee returned to work on Monday, the situation apparently became clear.

The Reddit user said their skip-level manager sent them the reel and wrote: “Hope your stomach is better.”

It was a short message, but the meaning was difficult to miss.

The employee said they were still employed after the incident, but claimed that their subsequent WFH requests were no longer being approved because the manager had lost trust in them.

The internet found the story painfully familiarThe post quickly attracted amused reactions from other Reddit users. Some laughed at the timing, while others pointed out the obvious risk of using a false excuse when social media can expose plans unexpectedly.

One commenter summed up the lesson bluntly: “Lies are short lived.”

Another joked about deleting Instagram altogether.

The original poster also appeared surprised by how quickly the story travelled, replying that they had not expected the reel to go viral.

A holiday can stay private, but a viral reel cannotThe interesting part of this story is not really the Coorg trip. Taking a day off is normal. The trouble came from giving a reason that did not match what happened.

A holiday photo shared with friends can remain buried in someone's feed. A reel that suddenly reaches thousands of people is a different matter.

And once a workplace connection sees it, explaining the coincidence can become harder than simply asking for a day off.

Social media has changed the old workplace ruleEarlier, an excuse given to a manager usually stayed between a few people. Today, a single tagged post can travel far beyond its original audience.

This Reddit story is a humorous example, not evidence that every workplace handles leave or WFH in the same way. Still, it captures an increasingly familiar workplace reality: online posts can sometimes reveal more than their creators intended

Disclaimer: This article is based on a Reddit post and comments shared by users. The claims and workplace circumstances described in the post have not been independently verified.

K’taka OKs auto approval of period leave for govt staff

K’taka OKs auto approval of period leave for govt staff

Niranjan.Kaggere@timesofindia.com  06.10.2026

Bengaluru: Women govt employees across Karnataka will no longer need to justify their need for menstrual leave with their sanctioning authority, as the state govt Monday ordered automatic approval of all such leave applications through the Kartyavya app. 

In a move aimed at ensuring menstrual leave remains an entitlement rather than a matter of discretion, the latest directive from the Praja Seva department has made the leave sanctioning process virtually automatic, eliminating the need for human intervention. Officials have been instructed to ensure that employees apply for menstrual leave only through the Kartyavya app.

App-authorised leave can’t be reversed Continued from page 1 

The Kartyavya app is an AI-powered mobile attendance registration platform. Once a menstrual leave application is authorised through the app, no sanctioning authority can withhold, question or reverse the decision. The decision follows recent reports that women employees were facing hurdles in availing the leave, with applications allegedly being held up and some sanctioning officers even questioning the need for such leave.

The state govt has now made it clear that such discretion cannot be exercised once the prescribed conditions are met. The circular issued by Praja Seva department said state govt had already extended a day’s menstrual leave every month to women govt employees. The benefit was specifically introduced to do away with the need for a medical certificate. “An application that fulfils the prescribed conditions should be sanctioned promptly, and the sanctioning authority has no discretion to reject it,” the circular further clarified.

HC sets 6-month timeframe for disciplinary action against errant state govt employees

HC sets 6-month timeframe for disciplinary action against errant state govt employees

K.Kaushik@timesofindia.com 03.10,2026

Madurai: Reminding Tamil Nadu govt of its stated ‘zero tolerance’ towards corruption, Madras high court has ordered that disciplinary proceedings initiated against errant govt employees should be completed within six months. “If govt servants who are violating the conduct rules and engaging in corrupt practices are dealt with in a prompt manner, then it would send a strong message against corruption and discourage other officers from committing such acts,” said Justice B Pugalendhi. Directing the govt to amend the Tamil Nadu Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules and relevant conduct rules by incorporating GOs and court rulings that permit simultaneous conduct of disciplinary and criminal proceedings against delinquent govt servants, the judge said: 

“By keeping the disciplinary proceedings in abeyance merely because the criminal case is pending, and thereby permitting such delinquent officers to continue in service and receive benefits, the very purpose of the conduct rules would be defeated. Such an approach would have the effect of enabling delinquent officers to avoid or delay the consequences of their misconduct.” The judge said, “When the entry of a person with criminal antecedents into govt service is considered to have a bearing on the purity of administration, the involvement of a serving govt servant in a criminal case cannot be viewed with any lesser seriousness. The continued presence of such a person in service, without timely departmental action, has a direct bearing on the purity, functioning and reputation of the administration.” 

He added, “The court is unable to understand as to how the disciplinary authority can take a call on whether the disciplinary proceedings can be kept in abeyance, when the decisions of the Supreme Court have consistently made it clear that there is no legal bar for simultaneous disciplinary proceedings during the pendency of criminal cases.” The court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by govt servants against whom criminal cases were filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, based on traps conducted by DVAC. On being placed under suspension, they filed petitions challenging their suspension orders saying they were under suspension for a prolonged period and that disciplinary inquiry has not been conducted against them.

LU allows girls to supervise mess operations

LU allows girls to supervise mess operations 

02.10.2026

Lucknow: Following a strong protest over the quality of food served at Kailash Hostel, the Lucknow University administration has decided to allow girl students to directly monitor food preparation in the hostel mess. 

Residents of the hostel will also be allowed to prepare an inclusive menu schedule for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The decision was taken on the directions of vice-chancellor Prof JP Saini, who conducted a surprise inspection of the hostel on Thursday morning. The inspection followed a demonstration by students on Wednesday against the alleged serving of contaminated food, which reportedly led to food poisoning among five residents. 

Earlier in the day, the university had decided to shut the hostel mess after students staged an overnight protest over the issue. However, the order was later withdrawn following a request from the students. According to the university, the new arrangement is aimed at improving food quality, hygiene and transparency by giving students direct participation in the functioning of the mess. LU spokesperson Mukul Srivastava said: “The VC interacted with students, reviewed the facilities available to them and issued instructions for immediate improvements, The administration will follow up on these directions” Times News Network

Higher edu council summons pvt varsity officials for records

Higher edu council summons pvt varsity officials for records 

01.10.2028 TIMES BENGALURU

Bengaluru: Karnataka State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) Wednesday summoned vicechancellors, registrars and finance officers of private and deemed-to-be universities in the state for a meeting, seeking extensive financial, academic and administrative records, including five years of audited accounts. 

The meeting, convened under the chairmanship of higher education department principal secretary Thulasi Maddineni, follows a Sept 17 Supreme Court order. The universities were asked to submit information and documents listed by the council in both hard and soft copies. 

The state has 28 private universities, one public-private university and 11 deemed varsities. However, not all submitted data, citing that some of them have huge enrolments and submitting such numbers could be cumbersome. Among the documents sought are five-year signed audited financial statements, income-tax returns and computation records, general ledgers, bank statements, cash books, investment records and details of opening and closing balances of various funds. 

The council also sought course-wise fee details, including development and special-event fees, along with admission rules, prospectus, merit and entrance records, student ledgers, fee receipts, refunds and scholarship details. The scrutiny covers university governance and functioning, with institutions asked to furnish details of sponsors, trusts or societies, board members, related-party transactions, remuneration, leases, procurement and service contracts, along with invoices and payment records. 

The council has also sought information on course approvals, examinations, question-paper preparation, answer-script evaluation, staff recruitment, contracts, service rules, payroll, attendance and class registers. The Supreme Court has emphasised financial accountability and transparency in private universities, including disclosure of funds generated and utilised and payments made to nonoperational individuals or governing board members. Times News Network

Fake details, blank documents: ‘Donkey’ gets nursing certificate

Fake details, blank documents: ‘Donkey’ gets nursing certificate

30.09.2026

Jamal.Ayub@timesofindia.com 

Bhopal: An online nursing registration application submitted in the name of a donkey was approved by the Madhya Pradesh Nurses Registration Council, raising questions over the verification process of its newly launched portal. 

The application was submitted by NSUI state vice-president Ravi Parmar as a test of the council’s online system. According to Parmar, the form carried the name “Donkey”, a photograph of a donkey and fictitious details, including “Donkey Father” and “Donkey Mother” in the parents’ fields and “Animal” in the caste column. 

Despite the details, a temporary nursing registration certificate was issued after an online payment of Rs 2,050, Parmar claimed. He said the certificate was generated around five minutes after the application was submitted and payment made on Sept 25.

The application also contained arbitrary Class 10 and 12 examination details, while Bhopal Nursing College and Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre were entered as training institutions. Blank sheets were uploaded instead of training completion and degree or diploma certificates, Parmar said. 

The council’s response was not immediately available. Parmar has sought an inquiry into the portal and the agency managing it, saying the probe should establish how the application was approved without verification.

Jamia’s first PG dental surgery batch asked to sign nostrike undertaking

Jamia’s first PG dental surgery batch asked to sign nostrike undertaking

27.09.2026

Sugandha.Jha1@timesofindia.com 

New Delhi: Candidates allotted seats in Jamia Millia Islamia’s first batch of Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) this year are being asked to sign an undertaking that prohibits them from participating in or associating themselves with any strike or activity deemed “prejudicial to the interests, discipline, peace and functioning” of the university. The undertaking, which is part of the documents required for completing admission formalities, comes alongside a Rs 10-lakh bond that MDS students are required to furnish if they leave the course midway. 

The bond requires the student and the surety to pay Rs 10 lakh, with 15% interest till realisation, if the student withdraws from the course “for any reason whatsoever”. Jamia, however, said the undertaking “will have no bearing” on admission. The university said MDS seats were being allotted through counselling by Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) on the basis of NEET-MDS merit and the undertaking was merely an admission formality. 

“In case someone does not sign the undertaking, it does not mean that admission will not be granted as seats are allotted by MCC,” chief public relations officer Saima Saeed told TOI. The bond, Saeed said, is intended to compensate for the public investment in infrastructure, faculty, manpower and clinical resources and the loss of a PG seat once the programme has commenced. It is intended to ensure that scarce MDS seats are utilised responsibly, she added. 

However, Jamia’s newly framed ordinance for the course, approved by its executive council in June, says admissions will be in accordance with the rules prescribed by National Dental Commission (NDC) and the university. The undertaking and bond are among the documents prescribed by the ordinance, but NDC doesn’t ask for them. Explaining the no-strike clause, Saeed said it was intended to maintain academic discipline in the demanding postgraduate programme. 

“As these are rigorous courses, attendance is a major requirement and indulging in protest, etc., can impact that. That clause is there to ensure general discipline and maintain a cordial and healthy environment,” she said.

Jamia claimed that no other course had a no-strike clause. Its Bachelor of Dental Surgery students, however, are required to furnish a Rs 3-lakh discontinuation bond. Such bonds are also introduced by several other institutions. Maulana Azad Dental College has a Rs 10-lakh bond, while Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University have bonds of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, respectively. 

The PG programme is a sought-after choice among candidates appearing for the highly competitive NEET-MDS examination, Jamia said.

771 Gujarat MBBS-BDS allottees skip seats over fees

 771 Gujarat MBBS-BDS allottees skip seats over fees 

Many Eye Cheaper Alternatives Or Better Allotments 

Bharat.Yagnik@timesofindia.com 26.09.2026

Ahmedabad: For Meman Mohammad Shaikh, a resident of Salad village in Vadodara district, a confirmed admission at a private medical college came with a hefty price tag which his family could ill afford. The open-category candidate secured admission at Parul University, but the annual fee of about Rs 10 lakh made him abandon his long-held dream to study medicine. 

“My family cannot afford paying such exorbitant fees. I am now looking at a BHMS or BAMS course at another institute, where the annual fees of around Rs 2 lakh fit our budget,” said Meman, whose father runs a saree shop in Salad near Vadodara. 

“I have secured a government scholarship of about Rs 2 lakh and expect another Rs 2 lakh as financial assistance from my community. Despite this, my family will have to bear Rs 6 lakh for the first year itself and then Rs 10 lakh subsequently every year if I pursue the medical course,” he explains. 

Meman is among 771 students who were allotted MBBS or BDS seats in the first two rounds of Gujarat’s UG medical and dental counselling but have failed to confirm their admissions, according to data from the state Admission Committee for Professional Undergraduate Medical Educational Courses (ACPUGMEC). 

“Students leaving confirmed seats in MBBS and BDS courses in such high numbers is unprecedented,” said a senior member of the medical admission committee. High fees have emerged as a key concern among students who are weighing whether to accept their allotted seats or wait for the next round, officials said. 

Several students said they were considering dental, pharmacy, Ayurveda and homeopathy courses where the fee burden is lower. Uday Karavadra, who scored 421 in NEET and was allotted a seat at SAL Medical College, Ahmedabad, also declined admission in MBBS. 

“The annual fee of Rs 11.68 lakh would have taken the five-year cost to nearly Rs 55 lakh. My father is a farmer and under no circumstances can we afford such a high fee,” he said. Karavadra is now considering studying Ayurveda.  

Representational pic High fees have emerged as a key concern among students who are weighing whether to accept their allotted seats or wait for the next round

Govt seeks 250 crore from VTU

 Govt seeks 250 crore from VTU

25.09.2026

Bengaluru: Karnataka govt reportedly sought Rs 250 crore from Visvesvaraya Technological University, after the institution got back Rs 700 crore from income tax department.

VTU recently recovered more than Rs 700 crore of its corpus fund that had been seized over “tax dues”. The university’s accounts were frozen in 2012-13 after I-T department raised a demand of Rs 250 crore, claiming VTU hadn’t secured exemption under Section 12(A) of Income Tax Act, which allows certain institutions and non-governmental organisations to claim full exemption from income tax.

When the accounts were seized, VTU had about Rs 450 crore accumulated as corpus, built up through examination fees, those collected from affiliated colleges and annual reimbursements from Karnataka Examinations Authority. Along with another Rs 250 crore belonging to the university, it had more than Rs 700 crore.

The govt is learnt to have sought Rs 250 crore from this fund. “The issue was discussed at the executive council meeting and govt letter was read out. The council decided not to part with the money. It belongs to students, who took admission in affiliated colleges. It should be used for their benefit; govt has no right to it,” said a source.

However, vice-chancellor S Vidyashankar said he hasn’t received any such letter. “If we receive any letter from govt, we will discuss at the executive council and take a decision,” said the VC.

Last year, govt sought funds from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences — Rs 600 crore from its Rs 1,400-crore corpus. tnn

While one group seeks accountability, another is rallying around IIT-B prof

While one group seeks accountability, another is rallying around IIT-B prof 

22.09.2026

Yogita Singh & Hemali Chhapiatnn 

Mumbai: Opinion within IIT-Bombay is sharply divided on the death of by suicide of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode on Sept 18, mirroring the debate outside its gates and on social media. “Among many of us in engineering, the feeling is that the institute authorities have largely done what they were required to do,” said a second-year student from hostel 4. “We also feel the director has handled the situation well. He heard students out and helped calm the anxiety on campus.” 

The student said the mood was different among sections of the humanities students, where demands for the director’s resignation have been far more vocal. Others cautioned against reading the protests as representative of the entire campus. “IIT-B has close to 14,000 students. Those protesting are a relatively small number compared to the total student population,” said a student. 

Those divisions are also playing out online. One section has sought accountability over allegations of caste discrimination and questioned whether institutional processes adequately protect students at moments of extreme distress. Another has rallied around professor Suryanarayana Doolla who was the invigilator at the exam where Wakode was allegedly found with a phone, arguing that faculty cannot be publicly pronounced guilty for enforcing exam rules before an inquiry establishes the facts.

Faculty voices have attempted to separate the two issues. Academic misconduct, they argued, must be dealt with firmly, but disciplinary systems must simultaneously have safeguards, counselling and sensitivity built into them. The inquiry will now have to establish what transpired before Wakode’s death, whether institutional procedures were followed, and where accountability, if any, lies — in a campus where grief and anger have produced sharply competing versions of the same events. During the initial stage of the investigation, the crime branch will collect all documents and case-related paperwork from Powai police, where the FIR was initially registered. The team will examine the case records and subsequently record statements of various people.

Wakode’s family in Yavatmal sought a CID investigation into the death, alleging foul play. IIT-B said it will constitute an independent inquiry committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the death. “We apologise for the statements contained in our earlier communication concerning the circumstances surrounding the demise of Sahil... The details and circumstances leading up to the incident remain subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities,” it said. Students have alleged that due procedure was not followed after Wakode was found with a phone, with some also alleging that he was threatened with suspension. In its first statement, issued on Friday, IIT-B had maintained that “no disciplinary action was initiated against the student”. 

Institute sources said Monday’s decisions were taken at a meeting of the board of governors. An open house, which had first been scheduled and then cancelled, was held in the evening, where students again raised their demands. Wakode’s family has filed an FIR against Doolla and “other institute officials”, accusing them of abetment and harassment over the past three months. Protesting students had demanded an apology for what they described as the “defaming” of Wakode, besides an independent inquiry committee with student representatives and external members recommended by them. No decision has yet been taken on the composition of the committee. With Doolla’s suspension among their foremost demands, a section of students said the protests will continue. The Wakode family’s lawyer, Nikhil Kamble, said they were seeking police permission to stage a hunger strike on campus.

BU paid 2L for Minto Hall, rented out own auditorium for 25k

BU paid 2L for Minto Hall, rented out own auditorium for 25k

Ramendra.Singh@timesofindia.com  22.09.2026

Bhopal: A day after TOI reported how a half-cup tea at Barkatullah University went for a princely Rs 450 and a 1-km ride to the campus cost Rs 3,000, more disturbing details tumbled out from its 2022-23 convocation event, raising further questions over alleged fiscal mismanagement. It now turns out that the varsity hosted its annual convocation at an external venue, Minto Hall, paying Rs 2 lakh as rental fee, despite having its own auditorium on campus. 

The varsity’s own auditorium was, instead, rented out to the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology (MPCST) for just 25,000, raising questions about the logic and costeffectiveness of the venue decision. The decision has drawn criticism from students, who have questioned why an outside venue was selected for the convocation.

The disclosures are gaining traction, inviting scrutiny of the varsity’s financial administration as it prepares to host the Bhopal Science Fair, organised by MPCST, from Sept 22. As the controversy unfolds, BU has decided to constitute a probe committee to examine the damning finds from the 2022-23 convocation event. The registrar, SB Singh, said the panel would look into the revelations around the convocation. 

Students have alleged that the contrasting rental amounts raise questions about the financial prudence and transparency of the university’s decision-making process, demanding an independent probe to determine if the expenses were justified. “This raises serious questions about the logic behind the decision,” a student said. Another said, “If the auditorium was available, the university should explain why it wasn’t used for its own convocation. The rental agreements and expenditure details must be made public.” 

‘Demand’ must be proved for graft conviction: HC ‘Mere Recovery Of Tainted Cash Not Enough’

‘Demand’ must be proved for graft conviction: HC ‘Mere Recovery Of Tainted Cash Not Enough’ 

Partha.Behera@timesofindia.com 

21.09.2026

Raipur: Chhattisgarh HC has held that mere recovery of “tainted currency” from an accused cannot sustain a conviction under Prevention of Corruption Act unless the prosecution proves the demand for a bribe beyond reasonable doubt. 

Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi, hearing an appeal by an accountant in the office of the Surajpur district education officer on Sept 18, observed that the prosecution had failed to establish the foundational requirement of demand and acceptance of bribe.

The court also found serious deficiencies in the electronic evidence relied upon to establish the alleged demand. The HC set aside the March 2017 judgement of the special judge, Prevention of Corruption Act, Surajpur, and acquitted the accountant of the bribery charges. 

According to the prosecution, the accountant had demanded Rs 15,000 from the president of Maa Saraswati Shiksha Samiti for the recognition of a school run by the society. The alleged demand was reduced to Rs 8,000. Following a complaint to Anti-Corruption Bureau, a trap was laid at the DEO’s office in Surajpur on June 30, 2014. The prosecution said the accountant accepted Rs 8,000 in tainted currency, and was apprehended. 

The amount was recovered from his pocket and chemical tests indicated handling of the currency. However, during the trial, the complainant stated that the accountant had never demanded a bribe from him. A witness said the complainant had forcibly put the money into the accountant’s pocket. HC noted none of the witnesses supported the crucial question of the demand for a bribe. 

The court also said the investigating officer had admitted no certificate under Section 65-B of Indian Evidence Act had been obtained for the electronic recording. No voice sample was taken and no forensic examination was conducted to establish that the voice in the recording belonged to the accountant.

Nothing wrong if people happily give tips to govt officials, says K’taka mantri, sparks row

Nothing wrong if people happily give tips to govt officials, says K’taka mantri, sparks row 

Ranjith Kandyatnn 21.09.2026

Hassan: Karnataka minister KM Shivalingegowda has waded into a row with his rem-ark that there is “nothing wr-ong” if people happily give “tips” or “honorarium” to govt officials. The Hassan district minister made the comment during a public-grievances meet here on Saturday, drawing sharp reactions from the public and opposition BJP in the state. 

Puneeth, a farmer who was there to highlight his land case, confronted the minister. “Officials are paid a salary. Why should we give them tips? Doesn’t this amount to encouraging bribery?” he said. 

People in attendance backed Puneeth and the meeting turned into chaos. Sensing the situation getting out of hand, Shivalingegowda tried to defend himself. “I meant officials should not extort money. I said honest workers should be respected, not that bribery should be encouraged,” he said. 

Deputy commissioner KS Latha Kumari pacified the protesters. “The minister’s statement has been misinterpreted. If officials demand bribes for work, stringent legal action will be taken against them,” she said. BJP MLC CT Ravi, in an X post, said while CM D K Shivakumar tells people to complain to him if anyone asks for even Rs 10 as a bribe, his ministers are asking people to “respectfully give bribes”. “It may be natural for you to receive or give bribes, minister, but not for the people of Karnataka,” he added.

Govt employee dumps wife, and two daughters on street

Govt employee dumps wife, and two daughters on street 

07.09.2026

Ahmedabad: A govt employee allegedly dumped his 52-year-old wife and two daughters on the streets saying he could not arrange for their accommodation. The woman from Kalol on Saturday filed a complaint with Sola police alleging that the husband, posted with the supply department in Una, and his family have been harassing her. 

The woman harmed herself after being left on the road. The woman told police that she lived in a rented room in Kalol while her husband lives in Una, Gir-Somnath. A few days ago, rainwater entered the room, forcing the woman and her daughters, aged 14 and 17, to move to Trimandir in Adalaj. The husband came to see them and suggested arranging accommodation elsewhere for a month. According to the complaint, the woman wanted a permanent arrangement, to which the husband allegedly said he did not have the money and she could do what she wanted. 

She alleged that he left the three on Ognaj Road and went away. According to the complaint, the woman harmed herself with a blade and was taken to a hospital. She has also accused her brother-in-law and sister-in-law of subjecting her to harassment. Times News Network

Can’t recover excess salary from retd Class III, IV staff: HC Bhopal/Jabalpur:

Can’t recover excess salary from retd Class III, IV staff: HC Bhopal/Jabalpur:

02.09.2026

Recovery of excess salary payments from retired Class III and Class IV govt employees is illegal, Madhya Pradesh HC has held while dismissing a revision petition filed by the state govt against a 2025 order. The case relates to Ramrao Bhimte, who joined the police force as a constable in 1991 and retired as a sub-inspector after 36 years of service. 

In 2024, seven years after his retirement, the Bhopal DIG ordered the recovery of Rs 10,87,192 from his pension on the grounds of “erroneous payment of ad hoc increase in the salary during his service period”. The division bench of acting Chief Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Pradeep Mittal, in its Aug 25 order, referred to a 2015 SC judgement in which the apex court had held that there should be no recovery from Grade C and Grade D employees after retirement. tnn

Don’t collect excess fees, RGUHS warns its colleges

Don’t collect excess fees, RGUHS warns its colleges 

01.09.2026 TIMES BENGALURU

Bengaluru: Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has warned affiliated nursing, allied health sciences (AHS) and physiotherapy colleges against collecting fees in excess of govt-prescribed amounts during admission. In a circular, the university said admissions must be made strictly through Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) counselling process and colleges cannot impose additional or hidden charges on students. 

The directions follow complaints that some RGUHS-affiliated nursing colleges were charging exorbitant fees. According to the Aug 8 order issued by medical education department, the prescribed annual fee for nursing admissions is Rs 10,000 for students admitted under govt quota, Rs 1 lakh (management quota for Karnatakadomicile students) and Rs 1.4 lakh (non-Karnataka students). RGUHS directed colleges to maintain a uniform fee structure throughout the course. Colleges cannot charge a higher amount in the first year and adjust or reduce fee in subsequent years. The university has prohibited colleges from making hostel stay compulsory as a condition for admission. tnn

Odisha govt staff face salary cuts over alimony

Odisha govt staff face salary cuts over alimony

Debabrata.Mohapatra@timesofindia.com 31.08.2026

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha govt on Sunday issued an order mandating automatic deduction of alimony payments from the salaries of its employees who default on maintenance obligations to their estranged wives and children despite clear court directives. 

“Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered strict enforcement of court-mandated alimony and maintenance payments by govt employees. Defaulted amounts will now be deducted directly from monthly salaries and transferred to the bank accounts of the estranged wives or children concerned,” the CM office said in a statement. 

The order followed repeated complaints from women in distress reaching the CMO. “Several male employees failed to provide maintenance grants or alimony even after divorce, ignoring explicit court instructions. On an average, 2-3 such complaints are received during the CM’s grievance hearings,” the statement noted. Majhi said, “It’s unacceptable for govt employees to act unjustly towards their spouses and children while drawing salaries from the state exchequer.” Officials said they will track such errant husbands from complaints. 133629165

IIMB’s first UG branch has more boys and CBSE students

IIMB’s first UG branch has more boys and CBSE students 

Sruthysusan.Ullas @timesgroup.com  27.08.2026

Bengaluru: From a whopping 12,000 applications, the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B) has selected its first batch of undergraduate students. The batch comprises 56 boys and 24 girls, with an equal mix of commerce and science students. IIM-B is launching its BSc (hons) programmes in data sciences and economics at its new campus, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore–Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies, in Jigani-Anekal area. 

Each programme has 40 seats. In Dec 2025, TOI had reported that the institute had received an overwhelming 12,000 applications. Subsequently, 453 candidates were shortlisted for interviews for 2026–30 academic year. Classes are set to begin on Aug 31, 2026. The inaugural cohort has 56 male and 24 female students. Of these, 39 have studied commerce, 39 science, and two arts and humanities. “Together, they bring a healthy mix of analytical and quantitative foundations to the incoming cohort, true to the multidisciplinary nature of the programmes,” said the premier institute. The incoming batch also brings an “exceptional academic track record”, the institute added, with more than half of the batch having scored above 90% overall in their class 12 examinations, 24 scoring more than 80%, and 44 students scoring above 90 marks in mathematics. The batch also reflects a diverse educational and geographic footprint. On the schooling board front, the majority of students – 51 – come from a CBSE background, followed by 23 from state boards, four from the IB curriculum, and one each from National Institute of Open Schooling and CISCE. 

The batch draws students from across the country, with the largest contingents coming from Maharashtra (18), Karnataka (13), and Uttar Pradesh (10), and representation spanning 20 states in total, “reflecting the pan-India appeal of the programme”.  Recently, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between IIM Bangalore and Tata Trusts (Sir Dorabji Tata Trust), formalising a significant philanthropic contribution by Tata Trusts towards development of the school. The school was thus renamed Indian Institute of Management Bangalore – Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies. The campus is located approximately 23 kilometres from IIMB’s Bannerghatta Road campus and is being developed as a dedicated residential academic environment designed to foster interdisciplinary learning, research and innovation.

Professor used an endoscopic camera to leak question paper in Chhattisgarh, say police

 

Professor used an endoscopic camera to leak question paper in Chhattisgarh, say police

Shubhomoy Sikdar

RAIPUR  23.08.2026

A professor at a private college in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district and five students from the same institution were arrested for their alleged roles in the leak of an Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV) entomology question paper, police said on Saturday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Cyber) Smruthik Rajanala told The Hindu that 38-year-old Yogesh Sonkesariya, a professor at Bharti Agriculture College in Durg, had allegedly used an endoscopic camera to capture images of the question papers that he received in a sealed envelope and then shared them with his fellow accused before the exam, which was scheduled to be held on August 20.

The officer alleged that the accused were also involved in leaking the question paper of another examination that was scheduled for August 7.

On August 20, an agricultural entomology exam — AENT 221 [Pest Management in crops and stored grains-I(Rabi Crops)] — for second-year students of B.Sc. (Agriculture), was cancelled after it was alleged that the question paper had been leaked. The exam was written by 1,500 students enrolled in different colleges affiliated with IGKV, a government-run university here.

The Deputy Commissioner said Mr. Sonkesariya had received the set of question papers in a sealed envelope on August 17.

“He then inserted an endoscopic camera into the envelope through a tiny hole and captured the contents… The question paper was a one-page document with all the content printed on the same side. He then used glue to cover the opening through which the camera was inserted,” said Mr Rajanala.

After the examination was cancelled, the university administration filed a police complaint, saying that the Agriculture College and Research Centre at Kawardha received an email at 8.41 a.m., in which it was claimed that the paper had leaked. Other officials received the email at 8.54 a.m.

The complaint added that students and their representatives also informed the university through WhatsApp that some purported questions from the paper were circulating.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered against unidentified persons under the Chhattisgarh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2008, and Section 316 (criminal breach of trust) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

A team of more than 100 police personnel, including members of the Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit as well as personnel from the Telibandha police station, was formed to probe the paper leak.