Rush Hour: UP bans caste-based rallies, SC questions speculation on Air India plane crash, & more

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The Uttar Pradesh government has barred caste-based political rallies and public displays of caste-based signage, saying that they threaten public order and undermine constitutional values. The notice directed authorities to take action against those inciting divisions through such activities.

This came days after an Allahabad High Court order prohibited the declaration of caste in police documents and other records.

The state government’s directive said that the the names of both parents should be recorded on police documents instead. Exceptions can be made only when the law requires mentioning caste identities, such as crimes registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, it added.

Besides, vehicles with caste slogans or stickers will be penalised, the directive said. Read on.

The Supreme Court described as “unfortunate” media reports that insinuated that an error by a pilot may have caused the plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 that killed 275 persons. The court issued notices seeking responses from the Centre, the director general of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and the head of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The court was hearing a petition by an...

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