Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike on Friday, 26 days after he began it. Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Minister of State in the PMO Dr Jitendra Singh were present when he broke the fast. Both ministers had visited him at the hospital earlier this week, and their meeting appears to have set the stage for this moment.

Roots of the protest

The activist, known for his work on education reform and for inspiring the “3 Idiots” character Phunsukh Wangdu, had been fasting since late June. His protest was tied to anger over repeated NEET UG paper leaks and the demand for accountability, including calls for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to step down. The movement, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, drew large crowds of students and young people across the country.

 

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A moment of relief

By Friday, it seems those talks translated into enough of an assurance for Wangchuk to call off his fast. The visuals from the moment show the ministers standing close to him, visibly moved by the situation. Their expressions in the video reflect a mix of relief and quiet acknowledgment of how serious things had become.

The meeting between Wangchuk and the two ministers on Tuesday night lasted over an hour. According to sources, Nadda asked about his health and both ministers spoke about the government’s willingness to hold a Parliament debate on the protests. They also indicated that education reforms would be taken up in some form. In turn, they asked Wangchuk to urge students to trust the process and avoid taking matters into their own hands.

Wangchuk’s condition had worsened as the fast dragged on. He lost close to 11 kg and was moved from Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram under a Delhi High Court order, arriving under tight security and going straight into the ICU. Doctors placed him under the care of internal medicine specialist Dr Sushila Kataria.

Conditions for ending the fast

Even as his health declined, Wangchuk refused to back down easily. He said in a video message that he was determined to continue unless the government gave a clear commitment protecting student protesters from any punitive action. In a letter to Nadda and Singh, he laid out his conditions plainly. He wanted assurance that no legal action would follow against students who joined the demonstrations, some compensation for families affected by the exam leak issue, and a discussion in Parliament involving Pradhan.

He also raised concerns about police conduct during the protests. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, had earlier alleged that students were lathi-charged and tear-gassed during a march near Parliament, and Wangchuk extended his fast partly in solidarity with them. He asked repeatedly that there be no further use of force against the movement.

Activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday ended his 26-day hunger strike at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a statement addressing key concerns raised by the protest movement. The decision came following a meeting with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr. Jitendra Singh, who visited Wangchuk at the hospital.

According to sources, Prime Minister Modi assured that those responsible for the alleged examination irregularities would face strict and exemplary punishment.

The Prime Minister also stated that the government remained committed to ensuring fairness, transparency and accountability in the examination system while protecting the interests of students.

Wangchuk, who had earlier said he would end his fast if his key concerns were addressed, expressed gratitude before breaking his fast.

“Just now in the presence of Union Ministers Sh. JP Nadda, Dr. Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of Apex Body of Leh Ladakh I finally broke my fast after 26 days. Earlier 65 members of parliament from different political parties had visited or signed letters urging me to break the fast. This was done after long negotiations on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country. I will explain the conditions in detail in a separate video very soon. Meanwhile I urge you all to stay very vigillant about not allowing violence of any kind anywhere,” Wangchuk said on X.

J.P. Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh were present as Wangchuk formally ended his hunger strike by accepting refreshments at the hospital.

Reacting to the development, PM Modi urged Sonam Wangchuk to follow the routine suggested by doctors and regain the 11 kg weight he had lost during the hunger strike.

The 26-day fast had drawn nationwide attention, with Wangchuk demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities and seeking assurances that no punitive action would be taken against young protesters who participated in the movement.

Earlier this week, he had conveyed his willingness to end the fast if the government provided such assurances.

With Wangchuk calling off his hunger strike, attention is now expected to shift to the government’s next steps on the commitments made during the discussions.

Dipke says protest to continue until Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation 

Meanwhile, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has also reacted to the development, saying he was relieved and grateful that Sonam has ended his hunger strike.

“We are relieved and grateful that Sonam sir has ended his hunger strike after 26 days. Thank you, sir, for your extraordinary courage and sacrifice. By putting your own life on the line, you awakened the conscience of an entire nation. Your life is far too precious to this country,” Dipke said on X.

He, however, clarified that the CJP’s protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

“The Cockroach Janta Party’s peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns,” Dipke added.

Amid the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party-led protest at Jantar Mantar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday promised more stringent actions in cases of paper leaks.

In a late night video message, Modi admitted that paper leak is not an ordinary issue as it effects lakhs of students and their families.

“That is why many steps have been taken in the last two and a half months…The culprits have been caught and are in jail. Our most important responsibility was to ensure that students do not waste a single year. It was very important to take the exams immediately,” he said.

He said that following his announcement of fast track courts for paper leak cases, a draft has already been prepared with a provision of stringent punishment and the same would be discussed with the Cabinet during tomorrow’s meeting.

The Prime Minister said that his government would bring a bill and try to ensure its passage during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament.

“But we are not done yet. That is why I had instructed the departments for a fast-track court today. That was our top priority. In the cabinet meeting tomorrow, the fast track courts will be discussed and on Monday, this bill will be introduced in parliament,” PM Modi said in Hindi.

His remarks came amid growing demand for Education Minister Pradhan’s resignation.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke reacted to PM Modi’s “strict action” announcement with a meme.

Earlier today, Dipke had warned that if Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s is not sacked, demands will grow over PM Modi’s resignation too.

Meanwhile, protests were also held across several cities as students across the country demanded Pradhan’s resignation.

The CJP, which has been spearheading the youth-led Jantar Mantar movement, has called for a nationwide peaceful protest on Friday.

Delhi Police on Thursday claimed that they have identified and blocked 480 Pakistan-based social media handles, which were involved in coordinated misinformation campaigns amid the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar.

According to the police, these Pakistani handles were attempting to mislead people by spreading rumours.

“We have noticed that some misinformation is being spread on social media. More than 400 Pakistani social media handles have been identified so far, that are taking advantage of this situation and spreading fake content and rumours. They are being blocked,” the police said in a video message.

These accounts, the police claimed, were the same ones that had been spreading fake narratives during Operation Sindoor.

The development comes amid the ongoing youth-led protests by Cockroach Janta Party supporters, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over paper leaks.

Over 200 Detained in past two days in connection with Jantar Mantar protest

Meanwhile, Delhi’s South East District Police said that it has detained more than 200 people in the past 48 hours in connection with the Jantar Mantar protest.

Police said that most of the people were detained from inter-district pockets at Neela Gumbad, HN Din, Oberoy Hotel Flyover HN Din and the inter-state border at Badarpur.

All detainees were sent to the Detection Centre, STU, PS Badarpur Border for verification and released later in the evening.

The police also intercepted two riders at Badarpur Border Picket while fleeing barricades. They were allegedly found carrying a country-made pistol and a button-actuated knife, exposing attempts by armed elements to infiltrate the protest.

They have been identified as Navin Vats and Saurabh Goswami, both residents of Ballabhgarh.

The Delhi Police also detained over 25 students at Lodhi Colony police station. They all were held today from different areas and were going to Jantar Mantar with posters.

India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill joined a growing list of sporting icons reacting to the nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, urging compassion, peaceful dialogue and keeping students’ interests at the centre of the conversation.

Taking to his Instagram story on Thursday, Gill said India’s youth deserve opportunities to learn, dream and shape the nation’s future, while expressing support for those choosing to raise their voices peacefully.

“As a young Indian, I believe our generation deserves every opportunity to learn, dream and shape the future we all aspire to. I have immense respect for every young person who believes in making their voice heard peacefully,” Gill wrote.

“Education has the power to shape our nation’s future. I hope we move forward with compassion, mutual respect and keeping the best interests of every student at heart. For India’s future.”

Gill’s remarks came as protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continued in Delhi, with demonstrators demanding accountability over the alleged paper leak and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Sporting icons rally behind students, call for education reform

The Indian captain is the latest prominent sporting figure to weigh in on the issue. Earlier in the day, Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra, former India cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj Singh also shared messages on social media, advocating education reform, meritocracy, patience, dialogue and trust in institutions.

Hours before the athletes’ statements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that fast-track courts would be set up to ensure swift punishment for those involved in paper leaks, describing the future of India’s youth as a national priority.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Thursday agreed to hear on Friday a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” protest over the alleged NEET paper leak. The petition seeks the transfer of related FIRs to a specialised agency and action against those allegedly involved in violence during the demonstrations.

Veteran BJP leader and former Education Minister of India, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi on Thursday said that he was ‘pained’ to see the brutal crackdown on protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party’s July 20 march to Parliament, warning that such use of force will alienate society.

In a social media post on X, Joshi wrote, “It is painful to see young students from different parts of the country assembled for days on the streets of New Delhi. Their anxieties and concerns regarding the examination system are genuine and must be handled with empathy and a desire to find a lasting solution.”

He urged the Narendra Modi-led government not to treat the CJP protest merely as a law-and-order issue to be tackled through the use of force.

Joshi warned that such use of force would alienate a large section of Indian society from the goal of a developed India.

“It is very painful to see that even young girls were brutally mishandled. Such use of force will alienate large sections of Indian society from the national goal of Viksit Bharat,” the BJP veteran said.

His remarks came amid nationwide outrage over police brutality against student protesters during their march to Parliament on Monday.

The Delhi Police, which reports to the Union Home Ministry, fired tear gas shells and resorted to a baton charge on protesters demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over paper leaks.

Hundreds of protesters were injured in the police crackdown, with some unconfirmed reports suggesting that pellet guns were also used by the security personnel.

Following the crackdown, the protest intensified into a larger, nationwide movement as students across several cities hit the streets.

The Cockroach Janta Party, which has been spearheading the agitation, has called for a nationwide peaceful protest on Friday, urging students, civil society groups and others to gather at district headquarters in solidarity with the students.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza admitted his side’s batting fell well short of expectations after a seven-wicket defeat to India in the opening T20I, saying the hosts failed to cope with the challenging early conditions at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

After being put in to bat, Zimbabwe slumped to 32/4 inside the powerplay before recovering to post 125/7, a total India chased down comfortably with 40 balls to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Reflecting on the performance, Raza said Zimbabwe’s batting display was simply not good enough.

“Again, not up to the standard, I think. In the morning, I think that moisture certainly played a part, but I didn’t think it was going to play a part for that long.

“I thought it remained tough with the new ball. Unfortunately, we didn’t hit many boundaries up front as well, so the ball stayed new, and because of that, I felt the movement off the deck made batting even tougher,” Raza said after the match.

Sikandar Raza hopes for a fairer surface in second T20I

The Zimbabwe skipper felt the conditions became significantly easier once India began their chase and hoped the next pitch would offer a more even contest regardless of the toss.

“During the Bangladesh ODI series, there was a lot of moisture, and it remained there for a long time. Whereas today, I thought the moisture was there for the first eight to ten or even 12 overs, and apart from that, when India came out to bat, the wicket was very true.

“Hopefully we get a better wicket for the next game so that even when we lose the toss, it doesn’t play too big a part.”

Middle-order resistance offers Zimbabwe hope

Despite the defeat, Raza took positives from the efforts of Wessly Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani, whose partnership helped Zimbabwe recover from a shaky start.

Madhevere top-scored with 39, while Marumani remained unbeaten on 27, lifting the hosts to a respectable total after the early collapse.

“That’s one of the positives. Marumani and Madhevere, it’s a new role as well. I thought they batted really well to give us some sort of a respectable total.

“We’ll take that as a positive, and hopefully the other guys can chip in as well so that we can put up a competitive total if we bat first.”

Zimbabwe will now look to bounce back in the second T20I and level the three-match series.

Delhi Police on Thursday clarified that there is no plan to crackdown on the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party-led protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi tonight.

Replying to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s post on X, in which he raised fears of another brutal attack on students, the Delhi Police advised him to refrain from unverified information.

“There is no plan of Delhi police to crack down on the ongoing protest tonight as is being conveyed. You are advised to refrain from spreading or circulating any misleading- unverified information,” police said.

The Delhi Police clarification comes shortly after INDIA bloc MPs, led by Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, visited Gandhi Smriti to express their solidarity with protesting students.

The MPs gathered at Rahul Gandhi’s residence and boarded a bus to visit the memorial.

CPI(M) MP John Brittas, who was among the Parliamentarians visiting the Gandhi memorial, also expressed fears of a crackdown.

He said that the Opposition MPs went to the memorial as “this government is going to launch a crackdown on students.”

Meanwhile, LoP Rahul Gandhi that “no one can stop us from standing with the students of India.”

“Our leader Mahatma Gandhi ji was assassinated over here. Today, the Modi government is assassinating democracy in India, brutalizing students, and beating students. The Opposition is not going to accept this. We are with the students, and Mr. Narendra Modi has to remove the Education Minister and apologise,” he said.

A day after a policeman was shot dead by terrorists in Anantnag, security forces demolished the houses of two active Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists and launched a massive crackdown across Kashmir, detaining hundreds of suspected overground workers (OGWs), even as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti questioned the legality and effectiveness of the measures.

The overnight operations targeted the residences of active terrorists Adil Ahmad Thokar and Haroon Rashid in Hasanpora and Bijbehara in south Kashmir, with officials describing the action as part of an intelligence-driven offensive to dismantle the terror ecosystem following Wednesday’s attack that killed Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi in Anantnag.

Reports said that explosives were detonated to demolish these houses. The blast caused damage to nearby houses. This is the second time the Thokar family’s house has been demolished, the first time after the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year. The family had constructed a new house and shifted there only a few months ago.

In a separate operation, the house of another LeT terrorist, Haroon Rashid, was also demolished. Both Adil and Haroon have been active terrorists since 2018.

Security agencies also launched widespread raids and detained nearly 2500 suspected Over Ground Workers (OGWs) for questioning. Srinagar district alone saw around 700 detentions, while other districts such as Baramulla, Budgam, Shopian and Ganderbal also reported significant numbers.

Reacting to the police action, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said terrorism cannot be ended through house demolitions or mass detentions alone, stressing that public support is essential to restore lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

He cautioned: “I understand the anguish of the police, but the Supreme Court has issued an order stating that summary action of this kind should not be taken. We witnessed a similar situation after the Pahalgam attack, and at that time, I had to speak to the Central government to stop this.”

He also spoke out against detention of hundreds of individuals in the Valley, stating that this “will not help improve the situation in J&K but in turn strain it further.”

“This cycle will not end without taking the people along. To some extent, we may reach that point by use of Police, Army and the CRPF but its true end will come when people rise against this violence, like after Pahalgam last year,” Omar said.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also criticised the detentions, stating that while the killing of a police officer in the line of duty is “a heinous and condemnable act,” detaining over a thousand people and demolishing the homes of families of two alleged terrorists amounts to “collective punishment that has no place in a democracy.”

Asking authorities to relook at the matter, Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone said, “The actions of J&K Police after yesterday’s dastardly attack will do more harm.”

A Congress march against the alleged NEET paper leak and police action on protesting students turned into a political street showdown in Ranchi on Thursday. BJP and Congress workers confronted each other outside the BJP state headquarters, hurling eggs, tomatoes and stones while police struggled to keep the rival groups apart.

The clash occurred a day after BJP workers protested outside the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee office over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination, underscoring the escalating political battle over recruitment examinations and paper leaks.

Thousands of Congress workers, led by Ranchi Metropolitan Congress Committee president Kumar Raja and Ranchi Rural Congress Committee president Somnath Munda, marched from Harmu Ground towards the BJP office in support of three demands raised by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The party sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, withdrawal of FIRs against students who marched towards Parliament, and a discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament.

Police stopped the procession with barricades a short distance from the BJP office. BJP workers, who had gathered for a counter-protest, also attempted to move towards the Congress march but were restrained by another police cordon. As slogans grew louder, eggs, tomatoes and stones were hurled across the barricades, briefly raising tensions before police restored order.

The Congress alleged that BJP supporters attempted to disrupt what it described as a peaceful protest by pelting stones, eggs and tomatoes. State Congress spokesperson Sonal Shanti accused the BJP of orchestrating the violence and alleged that Congress workers were attacked with stones, sticks and glass bottles.

The BJP rejected the allegations, accusing the Congress of provoking the clash. State BJP president Aditya Sahu alleged that Congress workers, aided by “anti-social elements,” resorted to stone-pelting, leaving several BJP workers injured. He said the party would lodge an FIR over the incident.

Addressing a separate press conference, Sahu renewed the BJP’s demand for a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in JPSC, JSSC and other recruitment examinations in Jharkhand, describing the ongoing CID inquiry as an eyewash. The Congress, meanwhile, accused the BJP of trying to divert attention from alleged paper leak cases at the national level and reiterated its demand for Pradhan’s resignation.

Heavy police deployment prevented the confrontation from escalating further, although the exchange of political accusations continued after the protesters dispersed.

Senior IPS officer and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) of Kerala M R Kumar has been suspended from service with immediate effect. The action came after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) found him guilty of sabotaging the probe into the controversial Alappuzha “rescue operation” assault case.

The suspension order was issued on Thursday after Chief Minister V D Satheesan approved the recommendation submitted by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.

The disciplinary action is based on a damning report by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by SP Shoukath Ali. The investigation revealed that Ajith Kumar used his official position to derail the case involving the brutal assault of Youth Congress and KSU workers by the personal security staff of former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the Nava Kerala Sadas in .2023

The SIT found that Ajith Kumar actively undermined the investigation. He summoned the investigating officers to his office and forced them to manipulate the case diaries. Additionally, key evidence, including forensic data and witness statements, was altered to shield the accused security personnel from accountability. The SIT report concluded that his intervention was a deliberate attempt to weaken the prosecution’s case before it reached the court.

India captain Shreyas Iyer hailed his team’s all-round performance after registering his maiden victory as T20I skipper, saying the commanding seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the series opener would boost the squad’s confidence heading into the remaining matches.

India bundled Zimbabwe out for 125/7 before cruising to the target with 40 balls to spare, thanks to teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s record-breaking 18-ball half-century and disciplined spells from Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav, who picked up two wickets each.

Reflecting on his first win as India’s T20I captain, Iyer praised the bowlers for exploiting the conditions before lauding the batters for making light work of the chase.

“I think the boys were tremendous. Couldn’t have been happier with my first win. There was bounce from good length, and it was also variable. I felt it was there in both innings. The start Mayank gave was great.

“We are going to play two more matches here, so today’s performance gives everyone some confidence. I think Vaibhav has played here, he got 175 in the U-19 World Cup final, so he knows the conditions,” Iyer said after the match.

Mayank relishes lively Harare surface

Named Player of the Match, Mayank Yadav said the conditions suited his style of bowling and credited the collective effort of India’s pace attack.

“It always feels great when you contribute in a win. So it was a very special moment for me. The wicket was very good. After playing in India, I was enjoying bowling here.

“It’s my first time here in Zimbabwe. The bounce I got and the seam movement was a great help for me. We got a good start from the very first ball, and the way they (Prince and Ashok Sharma) were squeezing from their end was really good.”

Prince credits the team’s discipline

Prince Yadav echoed his captain’s sentiments, saying India’s bowlers stuck to their plans despite the assistance on offer.

“I’m very happy with my performance. But even more importantly, we won the match. There was quite a bit of assistance at the start. If you bowled the right length, the ball carried nicely and nipped around a little.”

Prince also praised fellow pacers Mayank Yadav and debutant Ashok Sharma before revealing the simple message from the team management.

“The coaches and Shreyas kept telling us one thing, bowl the right lengths. If a batter hits a good shot off a good ball, that’s absolutely fine. But as long as we keep bowling good balls consistently, everything remains in our control.”

India now lead the three-match series 1-0 and will look to seal the contest in the second T20I.

More than 38,000 cases in the Orissa High Court have remained pending for judgment pronouncement for over a decade, while 7,035 cases pending before the court were filed over 20 years ago, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

The High Court is currently burdened with 1,69,320 pending cases, of which 1,31,359 have been pending for more than one year, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said in a written reply to a question by Rajya Sabha MP Dilip Kumar Ray.

The data highlights the mounting backlog before the High Court even as the judiciary continues efforts to improve case management and digitise court functioning.

Responding to a separate question by Rajya Sabha MP Debashish Samantaray, Meghwal said the e-Courts Project is being implemented across Odisha under the guidance of the Orissa High Court to modernise judicial administration in district and subordinate courts.

Under Phase III of the project, 817 of the state’s 845 courts and 203 of 215 court complexes have been equipped with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hardware to facilitate computerisation.

The digitisation drive has also made significant progress. As of June 30, 2026, around 42.96 lakh legacy case records, comprising 24.17 crore pages, had been digitised across the Orissa High Court and district courts.

According to the Minister, 18 courts in the High Court and 343 district judiciary courts are now functioning in a paperless mode using PDF-based tools, enabling digital access to case records and court proceedings.

All 30 district court websites in Odisha have been migrated to the S3WAAS platform, while 320 court establishments have been upgraded from the Case Information System (CIS) 3.0 to CIS 4.0.

The Minister further informed that since January 1, 2026, the CIS has integrated data relating to 3.10 lakh First Information Reports (FIRs) and 2.29 lakh charge sheets through the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) platform.

The e-Filing 3.0 system has also been rolled out across all courts in the state, with 1.31 lakh cases filed electronically till March 30, 2026. Additionally, video conferencing facilities have been enabled in all courts, facilitating 7.61 lakh virtual hearings up to June 30, 2026.

To improve access to justice, particularly in remote areas, 184 eSewa Kendras have also been established across Odisha, the Minister said.

The Supreme Court on Thursday observed that it was, prima facie, not acceptable for compensation disputes arising out of land acquired under the National Highways Act, 1956, to be decided by government-appointed bureaucrats, terming it a systemic disadvantage faced by landowners under the Act.

Observing that determination of compensation is a purely judicial exercise, the Court favoured amending the National Highways Act so that such disputes are decided by a judicially trained adjudicators, noting that while compensation disputes under all other land acquisition laws are adjudicated by judicially trained authorities, the Highways Act alone entrusts the exercise entirely to bureaucrats.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohan made the observations while hearing a case involving a builder and the Central government.

The Bench observed that the principal land acquisition law ensures that compensation is determined by a judicially trained mind. The National Highways Act, however, carves out an exception by vesting the adjudicatory role in bureaucrats.

“The procedure under the principal land acquisition law ensures that the determination of compensation, which is purely a judicial exercise, is undertaken by a judicially trained mind,” the Court observed, adding that “this is the only enactment where an exception has been carved out and bureaucrats have been vested with this role. Prima facie, that is not acceptable to us.”

The Bench further noted that lands adjoining national highways generally command higher market values and recalled that farmers were denied solatium and interest under the National Highways Act until the Supreme Court intervened.

CJI Surya Kant observed that under the ordinary land acquisition law, although the Land Acquisition Collector is a civil servant, “there is a judicial forum where compensation can be determined by a judicially trained mind.” Under the National Highways Act, he added, “that safeguard is completely absent.”

Attorney General R. Venkataramani informed the Bench that a proposal to amend the National Highways Act was under active consideration so that compensation disputes could be decided by a judicially trained forum.

Taking note of the submission, the Bench indicated that it would await the government’s policy decision, observing: “We are only proposing the amendment. If the Government is examining the issue, we would welcome that… We can wait for some time.”

Even as students’ agitation against the NEET examination question paper leak, demanding the resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan continued in Delhi Uttarakhand Technical University terminated its assistant professor for sharing a semester question paper with students prior to the examination.

Shivalik College of Engineering terminated the guilty professor, Ashish Gupta, who allegedly leaked two semester examination question papers conducted by Veer Madhao Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU). Gupta’s expulsion resulted from the direction from the University for strict action against the erring professor. Following his termination, Gupta was also booked under relevant sections of the BNS and an FIR was lodged against him.

Confirming the incident, Uttarakhand Higher Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat said, “UTU was quick to take all necessary steps regarding the question paper leak at an engineering college in the state. The guilty teacher was terminated after a probe ordered by UTU and reexamination was ordered. No one will be spared by the University if others too are found involved in it.”

TS Sidhu, Director Shivalik College of Engineering, stated that no sooner matter came to the light, a showcause notice was issued to the Ashish Gupta and his increment was stopped while an inquiry was ordered by the UTU. He informed that the charges against assistant professor were found true in a joint probe by the institute and the university and his services were terminated with immediate effect. Sidhu emphasised that no compromise would be made to keep integrity and confidentiality of the examination system.

UTU Vice-Chancellor Dr Trupta Thakur told the media that legal opinion was being sought in the matter and a case was registered as part of legal proceedings against the guilty professor. According to Thakur, the accused assistant professor has been banned from all university examination related activities for seven years.

The UTU VC further shared that investigation revealed that Gupta leaked the question papers for Machine Learning for Internet of Things and Electromagnetic Field Theory to the students much before the examination was to begin. Gupta shared the question paper to the students through internal portal network and in WhatsApp. Thakur said both the examinations were cancelled after the investigation. These papers will be re-conducted in the third week of August.

Reacting to the ongoing protests over the alleged NEET paper leak, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday urged society to foster a culture where hard work, honesty and merit are rewarded, saying India’s youth deserve a future built on fairness and opportunity.

In a social media post, the former India captain recalled a lesson imparted by his father, saying integrity should always take precedence over shortcuts.

“My father was a professor. He was a mentor and guide to many young students. One lesson that he instilled early on was, ‘Failure is okay, cheating is not. Never take shortcuts.'”

Tendulkar said society has a shared responsibility to shape a culture where merit prevails over shortcuts.

“As adults in society, we have the responsibility of shaping culture. A society which prioritises outcomes over effort will seek shortcuts over meritocracy.”

Acknowledging the disappointment felt by students, he said it was understandable that many felt let down when their hard work had not been rewarded.

“Today, when students feel disappointed that their hard work hasn’t been rewarded, it is understandable. Collectively, we should all work together towards ensuring they don’t feel this way again.”

pic.twitter.com/3a8WRHhWIK

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 23, 2026

The cricket legend described India’s youth as the country’s driving force and stressed that parents, teachers, schools, friends and administrators all have an important role in encouraging and supporting the next generation.

“Young India is full of dreams and energy. They are the fuel to our success… We must create a culture where hard work is rewarded, honesty is encouraged, and merit wins.”

Tendulkar’s remarks come amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and follow similar appeals from several prominent figures in Indian sport.

Also Read: ‘Education belongs to all of us’: Abhinav Bindra, Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh weigh in on NEET protests

Earlier in the day, Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra called for a stronger education system built on trust and merit, while former India cricketers Shikhar Dhawan urged patience and faith in institutions, and Yuvraj Singh appealed for dialogue and a peaceful resolution.

The reactions also came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that fast-track courts would be set up to ensure swift punishment for those involved in paper leaks, stating that those responsible for compromising the future of India’s youth “will not be spared.”

Meanwhile, protests continued at Jantar Mantar, Tolstoy Marg and Janpath in New Delhi, with demonstrators demanding accountability over the alleged paper leak and broader reforms in the education system.

Britain’s Deputy High Commissioner in India, Steve Hickling, has lauded the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) 2025 as a new chapter in bilateral relations that will provide a comprehensive economic framework to deepen cooperation in renewable energy and other sectors.

Addressing the 7th Rajasthan Energy Summit here on Thursday, Hickling described the India–UK Vision 2035 as a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.

He praised India’s journey in renewable energy—from becoming a global leader in solar deployment to rapidly expanding wind energy, green hydrogen and smart, resilient infrastructure.

He said, “The signing of the CETA in 2025 marks the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two nations. More than a trade agreement, it provides a comprehensive economic framework to deepen cooperation across renewable energy, green manufacturing, infrastructure, technology and investment.”

“Accordingly, the India–UK Vision 2035 recognises energy cooperation as a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation,” the British diplomat said, adding that both countries share a common vision of building energy systems that are resilient, affordable and low-carbon while advancing energy security and economic growth.

Hailing India’s progress and achievements in the energy sector, he said, “India’s journey in renewable energy—from becoming a global leader in solar deployment to rapidly expanding wind energy, green hydrogen and smart, resilient infrastructure—offers immense opportunities for collaboration in innovation, technology, finance and the clean energy transition.”

He added, “As we move forward, the challenge is no longer simply generating clean energy, but integrating it into our power systems in a manner that is reliable, affordable and accessible to all.”

The summit, on the theme of “Accelerating the Next Phase of Energy Transition,” was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Rajasthan.

Announcing Rajasthan’s preparedness to take a long leap in the energy sector, state Chief Secretary V. Srinivas said, “Rajasthan stands at the forefront of building a future-ready energy system.”

He said Rajasthan has emerged as one of India’s leading energy states under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, with a clear focus on building a self-reliant, future-ready energy ecosystem aligned with the Viksit Rajasthan @2047 vision.

The state’s strategy goes beyond increasing generation capacity to strengthening transmission, distribution, energy storage, and grid resilience.

Furthermore, Rajasthan is also the first state in the country to sign a formal action framework to accelerate the state’s transition towards clean energy. The state currently has more than 42 GW of installed solar capacity, the highest among Indian states, while its total clean energy capacity has reached nearly 48 GW, Srinivas said.

The Chief Secretary further said that the state’s energy policy recognises electricity not merely as infrastructure, but as an enabler of agricultural resilience, rural livelihoods, industrial growth, and employment generation.

Chairman and Managing Director, Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation, Rohit Gupta, said India now has the world’s third-largest installed renewable energy capacity, driven largely by strong private sector participation in both manufacturing and deployment.

On the occasion, Managing Director, GE Power India Limited and Business Leader – Steam Power Services, India, GE Vernova, Puneet Bhatla said India is the world’s third-largest energy consumer and the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter, reflecting the scale of its growing economy and energy demand.

He said that the need of the hour is accelerated modernisation, clear efficiency benchmarks and enabling green finance to strengthen the transition while maintaining grid stability and supporting future energy demand.

Chairman of CII Rajasthan and Managing Director of NeuroEqilibrium Diagnostic Systems Limited, Rajneesh Bhandari, delivered the welcome note. Vice Chairman of CII Rajasthan and Group CEO of Secure Meters Limited, Suket Singhal, and Convener of the ClI Rajasthan Panel on Energy and Water and Managing Director of Danish Power Ltd, Shivam Talwar, also spoke.