Justice B.V. Nagarathna strongly criticized the historical practice of isolating menstruating women, deeming it a form of «untouchability.» While hearing arguments on the Sabarimala temple entry ban, she questioned the validity of such social customs. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta countered, arguing the deity's unique attributes and devotees' faith should not be tested by gender equality standards.

An appellate tribunal ruled that Motab Shaikh and Motab Herul are the same person, accepting his Aadhaar card as proof of identity after the Election Commission failed to provide reasons for his exclusion. The tribunal noted discrepancies in voter lists and relied on supporting documents like Aadhaar, passport, and driving license to establish his identity.

Television rating points for news channels have been suspended for another four weeks by the information and broadcasting ministry. This decision, citing concerns over sensationalizing the West Asia conflict, aims to curb unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content. The move, following a previous suspension linked to alleged manipulation, signals increased regulatory oversight during crises.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly condemned Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's «illiterate» jibe at BJP supporters and his venomous snake analogy for the RSS and BJP. Shah asserted that such remarks are undemocratic and urged voters to decisively defeat the Congress in upcoming elections, stating the party has become a threat to the democratic system under Rahul Gandhi's leadership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made multiple visits to Tamil Nadu for campaigning, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's absence has fueled speculation about discord within the Congress-DMK alliance. Gandhi's recent campaign in Puducherry also saw him avoid mentioning DMK leader M.K. Stalin, suggesting underlying friction between the parties.

Soaring LPG prices are forcing migrant workers back to Bihar. Families are disembarking at Patna Junction, their journeys driven by unaffordable cooking gas in cities. Construction workers and factory hands cite exorbitant costs, with some stating two days' wages barely cover a kilogram of LPG. This exodus highlights the severe economic strain impacting livelihoods.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has ruled two Kishtwar shrines and their properties as waqf, denying ownership rights to petitioners claiming hereditary custodianship. The court emphasized that property titles must be based on evidence, not public history, dismissing reliance on historical texts for ownership claims.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy engaged in a heated exchange of words during election campaigning. Vijayan responded to Reddy's earlier remarks with a jibe, which Reddy then likened to PM Modi's rhetoric, accusing Vijayan of 'devil's rule' and having BJP support. Vijayan later attempted to de-escalate by sending Reddy a letter detailing Kerala's development achievements.

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has ordered the renewal of long-pending expired lease deeds, offering legal security to land titles for residents. Special camps will be organized starting April 15 to process these cases, marking a significant step towards responsive governance and stability for affected families.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta lauded the central government for regularising Delhi's unauthorised colonies on an «As Is, Where Is» basis under the PM-UDAY scheme, noting that the new framework allows for the regularisation of 1,531 colonies without requiring layout plan approval. Furthermore, she mentioned that all plots and buildings within these colonies will be treated as residential.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat urged public devotion to cows, suggesting it would end slaughter, drawing parallels to the Ram Temple movement. He advocated for supporting cow shelters and emphasized that public sentiment drives systemic change. Bhagwat also expressed confidence in India becoming a global leader, guided by spiritual values and compassion.

Assam Police searched Congress leader Pawan Khera's Delhi residence in connection with allegations against CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and his family. Electronic devices and «incriminating material» were seized. Khera was not found, with Sarma claiming he fled to Hyderabad. Congress accuses the CM of misusing state machinery.

Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishnan has rejected the opposition's motion to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He stated that while the allegations are relevant for political discussion, they do not meet the constitutional threshold for removal proceedings. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha also dismissed a similar notice.

Assam Police searched Congress leader Pawan Khera's Delhi residence following an FIR by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife over passport allegations. Khera had claimed Sarma's wife held three passports, a charge denied by the BJP. The Chief Minister vowed strong action, accusing Congress of using unauthorized documents and alleging Pakistani links.

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has strongly criticized Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for his provocative statement targeting Kolkata. Singh warned Islamabad against repeating past mistakes, referencing the 1971 division of Pakistan. This exchange follows Asif's threat to strike Kolkata if India launches a «false-flag operation.»

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin criticises Puducherry's chief minister N Rangasamy as a puppet. He claims the LG holds excessive power, sidelining the elected government. Stalin argues that this power imbalance hinders governance and accountability. He advocates for full statehood to restore authority to the elected leadership. The upcoming polls are framed as a vote against this imbalance.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused authorities of selectively removing names from voter rolls ahead of assembly elections. She stated that nearly 91 lakh voters were deleted post-revision, with her intervention in the Supreme Court restoring about 32 lakh names. Banerjee alleged that specific communities were targeted in these deletions.

The Election Commission has announced the commencement of the silence period for Assam legislative assembly elections from 5:00 PM today, prohibiting all forms of campaigning, including public meetings and social media dissemination. This 48-hour period before polling on April 9 aims to ensure a free and fair electoral process, with strict compliance mandated for all stakeholders.

The Supreme Court ruled that banks are not required to provide personal oral hearings before classifying accounts as fraudulent. However, banks must furnish customers with a forensic audit report prior to such classification. This decision acknowledges the infeasibility of individual hearings given the significant rise in bank fraud cases.

Nearly 91 lakh names were removed from West Bengal's electoral rolls after a special revision exercise. The Election Commission's data shows significant deletions, impacting the voter base. While some deletions were finalized, others remain under adjudication. Electoral rolls for the first phase of assembly elections have now been frozen.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated new medical facilities at Army Hospital (Research & Referral) and Base Hospital, Delhi Cantonment. These state-of-the-art centers will enhance tertiary care for the Armed Forces Medical Services, focusing on ophthalmology, oncology, and joint replacements. Singh emphasized the critical role of health security in national defense and military operations.

Nearly 27 lakh voters in West Bengal face exclusion from the electoral roll as their claims were rejected by judicial officers. The Supreme Court has ruled against the inclusion of names pending appeals, citing the burden on tribunals and potential chaos. Deletions now stand at 88.8 lakh, impacting 11.6% of the electorate.