Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, April 11, 2025, Kolkata: In a remarkable display of dignity, patience, and purpose, teachers and education workers who lost their jobs took to the streets of Kolkata on Friday with a powerful yet peaceful form of protest. Departing from the usual images of agitations, hunger strikes, or confrontations with law enforcement, these educators chose to carry red roses, not placards, and handed them gently to police officers on duty.
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Court Denies Permission for Hanuman Jayanti Event on Red Road, Seeks Affidavits from Both Sides
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, April 11, 2025, Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday denied immediate permission to the Hindu Seva Dal to hold a Hanuman Jayanti program on Red Road, a historically sensitive stretch in central Kolkata, citing the need for further legal examination and historical context.
PM Modi’s Varanasi Visit Underscores Development Push and Strong Stance on Crime
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, April 11, 2025, Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Friday, marking his fifth trip to the city during this term. The visit carried a dual message, showcasing the Centre’s development agenda while also addressing a recent law and order issue that has stirred public concern.
Firhad Hakim Rejects Implementation of New Waqf Act in Bengal Amid Rising Statewide Protests
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kolkata, April 10, 2025
: Amid intensifying protests across West Bengal against the recently enacted Waqf Act, State Municipal and Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim has publicly declared that the law will not be implemented in the state. The statement, made during a press interaction following a review meeting at MKD in Midnapore on Wednesday, has sparked a fresh round of constitutional debate and political contention.The new Waqf Act, already passed in Parliament and signed into law by the President, has triggered opposition in various parts of Bengal, particularly in regions such as Jangipur and Suti in Murshidabad, where unrest and phased protests have been reported. Demonstrators argue that the Act infringes upon the constitutional rights of minority communities regarding their properties.
Addressing reporters after the development review meeting, Firhad Hakim reaffirmed the state government’s stance against the legislation. “A resolution was passed in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly opposing the Waqf Bill. Despite that, the Bill was passed, which we consider wrong and unconstitutional,” he stated. “The Constitution clearly states that the property of minorities must remain in their hands. The new law violates this principle.”
Hakim alleged that the law is politically motivated, claiming, “This is a BJP move aimed at securing both Hindu and Muslim votes. We will strongly oppose this.” He also reiterated that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is committed to maintaining religious harmony and will not implement any policy that could upset minority communities. “There is no question of this law being enforced in Bengal,” he emphasized.
However, the Minister’s assertion has raised questions about constitutional propriety, as states are not authorized to repeal or ignore a Central law once it has been enacted and signed into law by the President. Legal experts caution that the refusal to implement the Act could lead to a constitutional standoff between the state and the Centre.
Meanwhile, the review meeting in Midnapore also covered several local infrastructure and development projects concerning Midnapore and Kharagpur. Discussions focused on expediting delayed initiatives through coordinated efforts of the Midnapore-Kharagpur Development Board.
As the state government holds firm in its opposition to the Waqf Act, the political and legal dimensions of the issue are expected to evolve, potentially reaching higher judicial forums if the implementation stalemate continues. The unfolding situation highlights the deepening rift between state and central authorities over minority welfare policies and the limits of state resistance within the federal structure.
High Court Greenlights Eviction of Illegal Hawkers from Serampore Station Area
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kolkata, April 10, 2025 :The Calcutta High Court has upheld the railway authority’s decision to evict illegal hawkers from Serampore railway station and its adjoining areas in Hooghly district, marking a key legal milestone in the Centre’s ongoing ‘Amrit Bharat’ railway modernization project.
Burdwan Students Selected for ISRO’s Young Scientist Program, Set to Represent Bengal at National Space Training Camp
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, April 10, 2025, Kolkata : In a moment of pride not just for Purba Burdwan but for the entire state of West Bengal, two Class 10 students from Crystal Model School in Memari have earned the exceptional opportunity to participate in the prestigious ‘Young Scientist Program’ organized by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The students, Kushari Chakraborty of Memory Town, Purba Burdwan, and Saptak Ghosh of Baichi, Hooghly, will travel to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on May 18, 2025. There, they will take part in a specialized training camp on space science that will run until May 31.
Police Action Fails to Deter Agitation by Jobless Teachers Outside SSC Office
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kolkata, April 10, 2025 : Tensions escalated outside the School Service Commission (SSC) office, also known as Acharya Sadan, on Wednesday night as police used force to disperse a group of jobless teachers staging a protest. Despite police baton charges and physical confrontation, including reports of some officers kicking protesters, the demonstrators remained undeterred and vowed to continue their agitation.
Supreme Court Summons Union Transport Ministry Officials Over Delay in Cashless Treatment Scheme for Road Accident Victims
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, April 10, 2025, Kolkata : The Supreme Court has taken strong action against the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for failing to implement a cashless medical treatment facility for victims of road accidents, despite a clear deadline set for March 14, 2025. In a scathing remark, the court emphasized that disobeying its orders is a serious violation of the law, and summoned senior officials from the Ministry, including the Secretary, to explain the delay.
The Court had previously directed the central government to create a scheme that would ensure immediate, cashless treatment for accident victims within the critical “golden hour” period, a term defined under Section 2(12-A) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. This period is crucial as timely medical intervention can often be the difference between life and death following a traumatic injury. The Court’s directive aimed to safeguard the fundamental right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
However, despite the government’s initial promise, the deadline passed with no visible progress, prompting the Supreme Court to take a stern stance. Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, who presided over the case, expressed frustration over the delay. “This is a serious breach not only of the orders of this court but also of a legislation that is meant to benefit the public. It is unacceptable that lives are being lost simply because there is no cashless treatment facility for accident victims,” the bench remarked.
The bench also pointed out that such delays are often only addressed when high-ranking officials are summoned to appear in court, highlighting a pattern of negligence from the government. “When we summon top officials, only then do they take our orders seriously,” the court observed. Additional Solicitor General Vikramjeet Banerjee, representing the Centre, attributed the delay to “bottlenecks,” but the bench was resolute in its demand for action.
In response, the court issued a firm warning, stating that if the government did not implement the cashless scheme immediately, it would take contempt of court action. The Union Transport Secretary and other senior officials have been ordered to appear before the Court on April 28, 2025, via video conferencing, to provide an explanation for their failure to comply with the Court’s directive.
The Court also instructed the Transport Ministry to issue formal instructions to district magistrates across the country to ensure that claims for “hit-and-run” cases are uploaded to the General Insurance Council (GIC) portal, which is part of the framework for providing cashless medical treatment under the scheme.
On January 8, 2025, the Supreme Court had given the Union Government until March 14, 2025, to implement the scheme, citing Section 162(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act. This section mandates insurance companies to cover the treatment of road accident victims during the golden hour period, which the Court emphasized is crucial in preventing fatalities.
The Court’s intervention is seen as a crucial step toward ensuring that road accident victims receive prompt and necessary medical care, particularly in the early moments after an accident, when every second counts. As the case continues, all eyes will be on the government’s response and whether it can deliver on its promise to protect the lives of accident victims across the country.
Crisis Looms Over West Bengal Schools as Supreme Court Verdict Results in Mass Teacher Layoffs
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, April 8, 2025, Kolkata : West Bengal’s educational landscape is facing a significant crisis following the recent Supreme Court verdict, which has led to the cancellation of 25,752 teacher appointments, severely impacting hundreds of schools across the state. The state’s education system is already grappling with a teacher shortage, and the latest ruling has worsened the situation, leaving many schools struggling to maintain basic operations.
Dr. Chandrachud Goswami Offers Free Voluntary Classes to Support Education Amid Teacher Layoffs in West Bengal
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, April 8, 2025, Kolkata : In the wake of the recent Supreme Court verdict on corruption in employment, which led to the dismissal of around twenty-six thousand teachers in West Bengal, the education sector has been thrown into disarray. The unexpected job losses have resulted in a shortage of teachers in several schools, creating concerns about potential disruptions to students’ studies. In response to this crisis, Dr. Chandrachud Goswami, the State President of the Hindu Mahasabha, has stepped forward with a selfless offer to volunteer as a teacher.
Surge in Demand for Raja Jute Seeds Amid High Yield and Profitability for Farmers in West Bengal
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kolkata, April 8, 2025: Farmers across jute-growing regions in West Bengal are increasingly turning to Raja jute, with the growing awareness of its superior benefits driving demand for the ‘Raja NJ-7005’ variety. This surge in interest comes as farmers experience significant profitability, with reports indicating an additional ₹10,000 in earnings per acre for those cultivating this new variety.
The remarkable success of Raja jute has delighted Nuziveedu Seeds, the company behind the development of this high-yield variety. According to the company, the increased earnings are attributed to Raja jute’s ability to produce longer fibers and a consistent yield increase of at least 2 quintals per acre when compared to traditional varieties. Developed in 2020 by Dr. Mohammad Mosiur Rahman, the head scientist at Nuziveedu Seeds’ research division, Raja jute has rapidly transformed the landscape of jute farming in India.
Raja jute offers a combination of cost-effectiveness, higher yields, and better-quality fibers, making it an attractive choice for farmers. The plants grow two feet taller than other varieties, allowing for better yields and thicker bark, which enhances fiber quality. This increased quality and yield are also resulting in more favorable market prices for farmers, further boosting their earnings.
While jute fibers in India are typically shorter than those from Bangladesh, presenting challenges for industrial use, the NJ-7005 Raja jute variety is helping to address this issue by producing longer fibers, thereby meeting the demands of the industry more effectively.
This growing success story highlights the potential of Raja jute in reshaping the future of jute farming, contributing not only to farmers’ income but also to the broader agricultural economy of the region.
Disappointed Teacher Joins Protest Demanding Mamata Banerjee’s Resignation After Losing Job
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, April 7, 2025, Kolkata : Tensions continued to rise in West Bengal as the ongoing sit-in protest, organized by the Jalpaiguri District Congress and Sadar Block Congress Committee, gathered momentum. The protest, which took place at the District School Inspectorate office premises, was fueled by growing demands for the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Among the protesters were teachers who had recently lost their jobs, adding personal testimonies of disillusionment to the movement.