India · 2026-W40 · Global Weekly Agenda

Supreme Court to hear plea against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and SIR decisions next week

First published Tue, Sep 29

The Supreme Court has agreed to list next week a plea seeking the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from office and challenging decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The petition raises doubts over the functioning of the Election Commission of India under Kumar's leadership.1 2 3 4 5 6

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called the poll panel chief a 'puppet' and listed five demands at a party meeting amid the Election Commission row. The demands include full disclosure of electoral roll changes.7 8

The Supreme Court's decision to hear the plea next week follows the Congress's demands and the ongoing controversy over the SIR. The plea specifically seeks to suspend CEC Gyanesh Kumar while challenging the SIR decisions.1 2 6

Supreme Court quashes NSA detention of Sambhal violence accused, fines Uttar Pradesh ₹10 lakh

First published Tue, Sep 29

BACKGROUND

The National Security Act, a preventive detention law, has been the subject of earlier court scrutiny in Uttar Pradesh. The Allahabad High Court reprimanded Noida District Magistrate Medha Roopam over the detention of a student under the NSA, calling the situation an 'Orwellian Dystopia' and her conduct 'worthy of derision.' The High Court's remarks were framed as a timely rap on the misuse of preventive detention laws.

The Noida District Magistrate then moved the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court order that reprimanded her over the student's NSA detention. Reporting at the time detailed how the activist's detention fell apart in court and how the magistrate was paying a price for NSA misuse. This week's news concerns a separate NSA detention arising from the Sambhal violence case.

The Supreme Court quashed the detention of an accused in the Sambhal violence case under the National Security Act and imposed a cost of ₹10 lakh on the Uttar Pradesh government. The judgment was delivered by a bench including Justice Dipankar Datta, who dedicated it to his law clerk who had passed away. The Court held that a confession cannot be the sole ground to convict a person under the NSA.1 2 3

The New Indian Express described the ruling as a finding of 'illegal exercise of draconian power' by the state. Deccan Herald reported that the Supreme Court set aside the NSA detention and slapped the ₹10 lakh cost on the Uttar Pradesh government. Newsdrum and ETV Bharat also reported the quashing of the detention and the imposition of the cost.4 5 6 7

The Week framed its report around why the Supreme Court quashed the Sambhal accused's NSA detention, highlighting the ₹10 lakh fine on the Uttar Pradesh government. Live Law and The Times of India both led with the quashing of the detention and the cost imposed on the state.8 1 2

The Supreme Court's order cancels the NSA detention of the Sambhal violence accused and requires the Uttar Pradesh government to pay ₹10 lakh. The ruling also establishes that a confession alone cannot sustain a conviction under the NSA.9 10 2

Congress calls demography panel's religion-wise data request a 'diabolical agenda'

First published Tue, Sep 29

A central demography panel has asked states to provide religion-wise data on vehicles, schools, and voters, according to reports. States have struggled to respond to the request, which seeks 15 years of such data.1 2 3 4

The Congress party has flagged what it calls a 'patently diabolical agenda' behind the panel's request for religion-wise data from states. The party's reaction was reported by multiple outlets.5 2

The panel's request covers data on vehicles, schools, and voters, and spans 15 years. States have been stumped by the demand, with some struggling to provide the data in the requested format.1 3 4

Ujjain mosque demolition protest: 15 detained after stone-pelting, AI videos blamed

First published Tue, Sep 29

A protest in Ujjain over the removal of a portion of the Shahi Masjid for a road-widening project escalated into stone-pelting at police, leading to 15 people being detained and seven booked. The Madhya Pradesh High Court disposed of Muslim sides' appeals after an agreement with the civic body. The Indian Express reported that the crowd was 'misguided' by AI-generated videos showing the entire mosque being razed, which fuelled rumours.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The Times of India reported that 15 were arrested after the protest, while The New Indian Express said 15 were detained and seven booked. India Today stated that the mosque row was settled with the civic body and 15 were detained for violence. The Hindu and Telegraph India both reported that 15 were detained following clashes over the razing of the mosque's portion.1 2 3 7 8 9

The Indian Express and GujaratSamachar English reported that AI videos showing the entire mosque being demolished misled the crowd and fuelled rumours that sparked the clashes. The New Indian Express noted that police crackdown began on social media creators, and that Ujjain remained on edge after the stone-pelting. ThePrint detailed how a road-widening plan reached the High Court and then the streets.4 5 6 10

Lovely Professional University suspends classes after violent protests over alleged rape

First published Tue, Sep 29

Lovely Professional University in Punjab suspended classes after violent protests over an alleged rape on campus. The unrest included masks, iron rods, and fire during a night of violence at the university. The university has blamed outsiders for the violence, while the incident has triggered a political slugfest in the state.1 2 3

Former Punjab Chief Minister Channi alleged a political motive behind the unrest, saying LPU was targeted after its owner joined the BJP. The university has blamed outsiders for the violence, while the incident has triggered a political slugfest in the state.4 3

A public interest litigation has been filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a CBI probe into the violence at Lovely Professional University.5