SATURDAY FSSAI BANS USE OF ‘100%’ ON FOOD LABELS CITING POTENTIAL MISUSE 31 Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on Friday advised not to use the term ‘100%’ in food labelling, citing concerns over its misuse MAY, 2025 ALL FOOD BUSINESSES ASKED TO FALL IN LINE epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard The apex food regulator asked all Food Business Operators (FBOs) to refrain from using the term on food labels, packaging, and promotional content, owing to its ambiguity and potential for misinterpretation within the existing regulatory provisions. it said the terminology is not only undefined but also misleading and likely to create a false impression TA R I F F US: CHINA TOTALLY VIOLATED PACT US President Donald Trump signalled renewed trade tensions with China on Friday, arguing Beijing had “violated” a deal to de-escalate tariffs. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9  NEW DELHI Economy grew 7.4% in Q4, beat estimates Full-year growth for FY25 pegged at 6.5%; manufacturing down INDIA’s economy ended 2024-25 on a strong note, with real GDP growth accelerating to 7.4% in the fourth quarter (Q4) driven by the robust performance of construction, public administration, and financial services sectors, government data released on Friday showed. This is, however, lower than the 8.4% growth reported in Q4 of the previous financial year, but higher than 6.4% in the third quarter of FY25, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The data surprised most analysts who had forecast the GDP growth to be below 7% in Q4. The real GDP growth for FY25 stood at 6.5%, in line with RBI’s projections. In FY24, the GDP had grown at 9.2%. The surge in the fourth quarter was led by construction (10.8% growth), public administration & defence (8.7%), and financial services (7.8%), signalling strong infrastructure and government-led activity. Agriculture (primary sector) rebounded to 5.0% growth in Q4, a sharp recovery from 0.8% in the same quarter last year. Manufacturing growth declined sharply year-on-year to 4.8% in the fourth quarter of FY25 compared with 11.3% in 2 shifts ‘arbitrary’, hold NEET-PG in 1, says SC two wks before exam S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Friday issued directions that the postgraduate medical entrance exam scheduled on June 15 be conducted in a single shift, saying holding it in two shifts “creates arbitrariness”. A three-judge vacation bench comprising justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Kumar and N K Anjaria rejected the decision of the National Board of Examination to hold NEET-PG 2025 in two shifts. “Holding the exam in two shifts leads to arbitrariness and cannot give a level playing field. The question papers in the two shifts can never be of the same difficulty level…The examining body ought to have considered making arrangements for holding the examination in one shift,” the bench said. Counsel for NBE told the SC that to hold the exam in one shift, 900 extra centres will have to be arranged, which is not possible before June 15. The counsel said NBE has limited centres to hold the exam in one shift. The SC then said, “We are not ready to accept that examining body couldn’t find enough centres to hold the examination in one shift.” The bench, however, said NBE can apply for extension of time if they fail to make the arrangements by June 15, the date of the exam. Real GDP growth 15 13.5% 2022-23 12 9.7% 7.6% 9.2% 6.5% 2023-24 9.3% 6% 2024-25 9.5% 6.4% 8.4% 9 6.5% 6 5.6% 3 Q1 7.4% 6.9% 4.8% Q2 Q3 the corresponding quarter previous year. For the full year, the manufacturing sector in real terms grew at 4.5% against 12.3% in the previous year. Private final consumption expenditure (PFCE) rose 7.2% in FY25, showing robust demand. However, PPCE moderated to 6% in Q4. Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran said contribution of private consumption to GDP rose to 61% (current prices) in FY25—the highest since FY04. Investment, or gross fixed capital formation, slowed down in FY25 to 7.1% against 8.8% in the previous year. However, investments picked up in Q4 of FY25 to 9.4%, the highest quarterly growth during the year. Q4 The CEA said industrial growth picked pace in Q4, helped by the monetary policy —by lowering rates and easing liquidity, while the services sector maintained its pace. Nominal GDP rose 9.8% in FY25 to `331 lakh crore, or $3.92 trillion in dollar terms. Nominal GDP growth hit 10.8% in Q4, reflecting both real expansion and inflation. For FY26, CEA estimated the growth in the 6.3-6.8% range. “If we continue with the efforts to bring in FDI and private capex, and urban consumption picks up on the back of higher capital formation, and tax cuts, we can achieve the growth around 6.8%,” Nageswaran pointed out. J8.00 I F R A H M U F T I @ New Delhi BELIEVE it or not! Just 300 special educators are catering to more than 27,000 children with special needs (CwSN) enrolled in Delhi government schools — a ratio of one teacher for every 90 students. The figures raise serious concerns about the quality of education offered to vulnerable children. In the amendment to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the Supreme Court in 2023 had directed the Centre to notify the norms and standards of Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) for special and general schools. The amendment focused on appointing a special education teacher to teach children with special needs in schools. As per the amendment, schools were A clean road and cleaner surrounding now greet the residents of Geeta Colony in a welcome change just days after this newspaper exposed the appalling neglect of a silt-covered stretch in East Delhi locality. Soon after the report highlighted garbage and filth lying on the road, civic authorities have sprung into action. The prompt response follows this newspaper’s May 12 report, titled ‘The Bad, Worse and Ugly’, which showed how a crucial road segment was rendered useless after it was buried under drain silt, leading to health hazards and traffic snarls for local residents. The current situation, however, depicts a stark difference from what it was 20 days ago, with the road being cleared. This newspaper report shed light on the broken infrastructure, unchecked dumping, and civic apathy plaguing various parts of the national capital. The situation reflected a broader crisis in urban management, where neglected infra and delayed response threaten not just convenience, but also safety, health, and dignity of citizens. The report underscored the urgent need for civic accountability, especially in densely populated neighborhoods, where residents have been deprived of clean, func- INDIGO TO END PACT WITH TURKISH AIRLINES DGCA on Friday asked IndiGo to terminate its leasing of two Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines by August 31 BEFORE A civic group has urged the Centre and the Haryana government to protect the threatened Aravalli range by deeming it a no-go area for mining and declaring any violation an ecological crime. The People For Aravallis has submitted a report, titled ‘State of the Haryana Aravallis: Citizens Report — Part 1’, to Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini. It relates to the ground status of the Aravalli range in seven Haryana districts — Nuh, Faridabad, Gurugram, Rewari, Mahendergarh, Charkhi Dadri, and Bhiwani. ONLY ONE TEACHER FOR EVERY 90 STUDENTS In a sorry state of affairs, just 300 special educators are catering to more than 27,000 children with special needs in the Delhi government schools — a ratio of one teacher for every 90 students. The figures raise serious concerns about the quality of education offered to vulnerable children. asked to appoint one special education teacher for every 10 children with disabilities studying in classes I-V and 15 children with disabilities studying in classes VI-VIII, which will help in their inclusion in the mainstream educational ecosystem. As per data shared by an education department official, over 400 posts are still vacant in the 3.7L 04 in the schools rs around drive to boost numbe in and city in planted of a platation said on Sunday n will be 1 as part Educatio saplings from July Directorate of capital the green cover, rd ningstanda epaper.mor in 1 5 12 05 202 l l new delhi s, ood figure feel-g sights sorry `4,907cr MCD 29% of nearly earMarkeD on, buDget for sanitati Ment Manage waste 353 the aCross Colonies DeClareD ” Capital Colonies waste ties “zero authori by CiviC 100 s road remain afof the sly be one part is obviou the traftion, if traffic too if reduces “There closed, This road also We suggest after feel her ordeal: fected. on Vikas Marg. sludge will on roads shares s the Delhi, walking then it fic load on broken ty remove South where drains, as residents balance scary at the authori it from are places trying to lly ing as well extract commuters safer than It’s especia low.” said. on streetand ty is ays. visibili Associationsagen- benefitarea,” Sharma sludge the purwalkw when of the accumulating negates nights nts that civic t Welfare ally comme ‘The Residen bodies rue pal corpos essenti Sharma chancMunici corner desilting,’ are high out on other citizen r the or PWD, responthe whethe set pose of ly He says there s across to 2 cies — Delhi (McD) . sludge, of footpath to repeated cynical the extracted simply return ration upkeep of ear roads will a deaf “We have es that to dry, sible for ge entire leavregard. multiple often turn the streets or submer showers; city — ints in this ities near nsoon drains compla to the author pavement d,” the g pre-mo items behind. followin the heavy written ng past the broken has change about ing only t, decayi t of north times but nothing rises residen ng presen our block, Vohra, Vihar. llah flyoveryet bea coordi- decayi Barapu traffic; is nesaid Satish Yamun lack of lies of regus flag The sleek the Delhi east Delhi’s plannerenforcement rating , history Barapullah high above Urban -era l of a its shadow ths the deterio and poor neath “Footpa the Mughal nation as reasons for mute sentineyears ucture. secondary, glect. Here, stands a nearly 400 lations ian infrastr as the still pris gets Bridge Delhi. While res, both pedestr are often treated have rt polfor vehicle bygone e the two structu bridge c . in Delhi decay histori road space Jain, a transpoa clear while Ritu needs to be ens separat and the slow, visible noted include flyover same fate: ority,” have allowed dis. “There y that met the of inattention ked sewage take t.” y strateg icy analyst mobilit a key elemen sis on es to 3 Years urban ility as empha ents, unchecactiviti l megament croachm s of the been walkab govern and crimina have charge, ate in the crevice Despite should monument prolifer res. What e ucture structuined as a heritag infrastr ir. of urban disrepa mainta model alarming reveal more and a out under would now rue to the area . Locals point and A visit civic neglect grilles metal s have the than just railing all of flyover, that nearlyof the safety eath the supUndern secure and leavover half to d, been stolen. meant vanishe fixtures re have steel and coniron of structu port the . less tonnes heads. our ing fathom g over atic, not random value; crete hangin systemes to hold away is The theft continu stripped small iron ss, a ls are often Scrap of darkne for petty these materia the cover of income little fear 5 under source with but steady who operate ls here; ence. t water crimina consequ h stagnan of rubbis of legal dump; see the garbage The area “Do you are the piles h is in flyover. Colony turned Barapulla and hereunder the llah Bridge in Geeta ‘nala’ under the ‘antique d in 1. A road ities should dumpe the old Barapu s Road; Nizamudd neglect; 3.Broken Author 2.The on Mathura around condition. before it become flyover screams flyover plastic, household ’ at Ashra with , occupied a terrible and act t. ed lamposts drain choked footpathsin West take notice a residen new. Repeat sight said 4.An open Delhi 5. Broken not East negi a common the authori worse,” woes are waste in Parveen d, so ion debris reached Sahu, These by construct | Shiba PraSad ints have raphs attache the compla ity about 4 photog Vinod Nagar cleanties, with is little ambigu minor it has While ianthere pedestr n that of disregard. carried out, a. more entatio state of amnesi have been the capital implem years have repeatfunds up drives to undo s makingy, on-ground . While interlagging footpath rededone little ts and activist ment basic has perd friendl s to be actual d for Residen d for govern rather the problemrepeate appear allocate of the city, appeale demand are g the drain, ts say safe have been in parts h. Residen months despite once a is edly ; their cleanin h, ent for vention the area, lights, and deployfootpat , the elderly ucture, velopm s remains sluggis the issue age ing infrastr apathy sisted ints. The hildren inhabited a matter — fencing adaquate el to discour progres say, address — it’s compla for schoolc is now ng bil. Broken civic suggesgart story installi ic need accessi experts g, and of the cityte personn these passage commuters, pipes and and urban aesthet g. But mainrequisi nt us differenked dumpin much grim porbeyond safety and cted and dumpin ts, ing and daily gous sewage paveme unchec e to define s is a ambitio on paper. acciden a theft and in its broken to the woes. ted for humon of public ly constru s and e emergees to mainta reduce add m by heaps. The walk project Proper p- continu tions remain What promot ys can nce celebra again? ddin ible to resi- ity. develo ructure scape. a city struggl e; a proble ns bage walkwa flow, and ment. gged patches is it for, infrast rn” urban itself ting nizamu waterlo becom e imposs a local traffic n tained e traffic e environ continue What trait — infrast ructurded, threate Yadav, connec as a vital ts childre now finds vis“mode improver, inclusiv “It’s into but but safety, Delhi public if left unatten residen navigate says Seema two. “My road on The flyover serves ing out cenof ment, ng with a slow spaces. ience, healthi then, Delhi . here,” branch and ely es as they urgent mother the main conven of citizens e- which, and Ashram Until grappli is in south of its public in Delhi, dent and step onto not just it is extrem s. daily struggl s. Unless walkhfares this stretch hs, garbag artery and dignity vehicle act of ible decay to face school; ed footpath civic have to footpat flyovers and er, thoroug health, way to the fast-moving the simple millions. major Howev in point for ed Broken the fractur ties multis across rating for the path? their taken, neglect done.” with all ed the authori tral Delhi. a case to absent upkeep er Where’s d footpathgrowing steps are remain a task roads, the city’s deterio ons into remind has been ng a ed risky contact strewn — allocati owing turning and damage ing may poor is a daily We’ve neglect major fund ”. but nothing trash are becomi as neglect open drains ucture neglect and a stretch - Broken ians, tous times, ucture Delhi, e travers lampdespite fication the capital pedestr ubiqui infrastr te. ple civic infrastr for in east ed with strativ the millions l-style flyoing on sTreeTfor “beauti colony and poordaily commu The navigat — concern sludge For of admini of colonia d at the nance er y At Geetaroad is shrouddrains. laTing lt; damnance. T the city, Rows nient mainte e to endang ally negaTes difficu and enmainte crevices of accuMu the were installe r, majorit ed from a residen the inconve ‘The of g,’ now s essenTi posts just There grieve extract tiles, ing the 2021. Howeve , continu g has become is not corner e of desilTin he says lamps with Ted sludge commuters the road ly. ver in , broken nts, missing ths” posing Walkin ornate al, purposTs cynical the capital ingly unsafe. The exTrac dry, So while of a part of rest aspaveme on “footpa To nction of these s lie cracked Where coMMenchances ThaT sTreeTs ent, it’s increas non-fu fittings entireor c- aged ments tial arhed upon. footpath closure feet. movem on The The drains ected, clean. of remain bulbs or Here, tely encroac are high lie constru . croach threat to nts ing To s to residen t disconn , seT ouT for traffic drains are ucys, now paveme followonly missing sewage reTurn serious busy market and hang the or comple walkwa a residen sight many roads hs bywaste, Laxmi sludge sured, others lighting infrastr From Singh, same will siMply enTire s; leaving footpat Areas like plastic the congested ge once were naly, whilethe entire Aman says its the ities come n. shower behind. subMer Vasant their Lajpat from eas, broken author remove silt nsoon tion debris, iTeMs Delmaking ant. appeal, too commo Saket, to suave “The ians the area, no the city, pre-MoThe heavy redund aesthetic are all Vasant Kunj, parts of east ns and year. no obpedestr Across Laxmi nagar n. With pavethe monsoothat there is rains ture and of comto every nagar, ng traffic, cracked ent blocks, before Bagh, s in questio Despite lanes so the here oncomi stent appears ion of e, and uneven n at nights, apartm remain e when it out on gar, Karol the drains debris Kunj y crawl amid to non-exi exhibit g some utility light emissio crucial flyover . For ction cleanthis g from n in drainag putting proper hi is anexposed drainag hazards with to sevgingerl accidents duelks. Drain er, ned followin visible navigating warnin public those relack of The constru before d. structio Howev on end leadshazard. but no on. risking ns over e of public g muters been abando ted sidewacarried out sludge ments, s that pose n, and far worse. work, installe come for daysis the health concer d to childre iate n is to have lete civic have been or obstruc ons, often mounds of g surface raise g and wastag use of spendin expose the road des One elderly, the situatio right next immed incomp barrica if the are d creatin the s the ing operati ns, leave days, ties, eral issues. the area said. nagar, sway, a large ts deman h and better a, lightin . “What’ ying the flyover signs or in disabili ded for traffic snarls. DeVinod for show,” the monsoo residen Sharm sources beautif tand unatten an emLocal ce of the footpat Works Yet, People risks,” Singh Manoj In West eerut expres been fashon It’s just t, as anlying Public hazards stood as h has crores work? , a daily commu dump, mehealth ement . clearan ring by the civic bodies. r residen see don’t the Delhi-M footpat garbage both health had once as a modern . stretch ned often lights of the Anothe traffic manag s ent p Rastogi and l rise n. “We signs and and planns stretch Pradee through the Flyover perman if the “concer The monito nt (PWD) e still awaited said concer n into a Delhi’s mentio ed. upkeep h the drives and nationa respons traffic disrup ts major g partme blem ofs; now, poor VashBeneat fly- ioned into questio er who other disobeying even concern dumpin this an official mental activist Akash situatropoli the image.Barapullahllah calling ties” are of open the sight have no people g red lights; In this environ al lawyer the mars ning osity that is Barapu both authorihealth risks ted; but t and adTribun pedestrians alongjumpin flow of traffic. l-era roads Green reitera severe monstr says that on to the lives. Mugha reflecting how not be mismanagemen te pipes, smooth the step ishta ructure need over, languishes; ter in but to risking their and a. concre infrast of civic choice waste, commu s, Bridge e and modern ence. Missing s, reeks ative amnesi plastic forcvehicle , a daily fixture indiffer ministr ction rubble, walkways, they side Sharma heritag the as Renu the same stolen metal systems constru t water line g roads s, suffer lightin railing y traffic. the busy stagnan onto ctional safety ease. push people amid highwa and non-fun on urban ment’s rian- ing tly walk shadow city govern hesitan cast a the and pedest tells a Despite ficatio n ground s, the for beauti y reform friendl in resident bad orse w ugly ion teD ColleCt Designa establisheD taCkle sites City to aCross Ction waste Constru 80L of tonnes MetriC ateD waste a, aCCuMul r, bhalsw s at ghazipu lanDfill anD okhla & n My childre on have to steproad to the main to way on their with all school... oving the fast-mWe’ve vehicles. the contacted authorities times, multiple g but nothin done has been ecked ture, unch continue infrastruc apathy cape. Broken , and civic the citys rait — a dumping e much of port ic its publ to defin rges is a grim eme maintain left What gling to , which, if just city strug structure atens not ty, infra sed, thre but safe unaddres enience, citizens. How conv the of urban dignity fare against and i health, y’s Delhof a ‘modern’ out finds ises does toda fair prom City Team lis, the metropo IMPAC T TMS reported on May 12, 2025 West Yadav, Seema resident Vinod Nagar ities The author from remove silt that drains so no there is obstruction. However, on out putting it days for the road to end leads on several issues. One is the . health hazard O tional, and safe public spaces. Earlier, the one-way stretch of Geeta Colony road going towards Gandhi Nagar was being misused by motorists as a twoway throughfare in violation of Aman Singh, resident Geeta Colony You see the water; stagnant are and here h piles of rubbis under dumped . Areas the flyover old around the Barapullah in Bridge is terrible shape. Authorities before should act s it worsen Nizamudd government schools for the special educators and that’s why trained graduate teachers are roped in to take care of the special kids in the schools. The principal of a government senior secondary school in Shalimar Bagh said, “The children with special needs should be accommodated in separate dedicated schools so that special attention can be The report highlights rampant licensed and illegal mining, along with deforestation, illegal encroachments, and the diversion of Aravalli land for various projects. The group’s founder member, Neelam Ahluwalia, said: “This report highlights the lack of sufficient legal and on-ground protective measures escalating given. At times, other children tease special kids leaving them embarrassed. It’s a critical situation because we don’t even give separate classrooms to the CwSN due to inadequate infrastructure. Special educators are burdened with regular work in schools.” When the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) was functional till 2023, it had issued notices to over 150 schools for not appointing special educators. The list of schools included private ones too. The schools were asked to submit a report within 15 days, but there has been no change in the situation in the past two years. D i re c t o r o f E d u c at i o n Veditha Reddy was not available for comments. BHALLA, KHULLAR OR ANANDA BOSE — WHO’LL Ex-BJP neta’s son gets life in BECOME DELHI L-G? ’22 Ankita case R A J E S H K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi DELHI is likely to get a new Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) soon, with the Centre reportedly mulling reshuffle of gubernatorial positions. Three names — Ajay Bhalla, Rajesh Khullar, and C V Ananda Bose — are prominently being considered for Delhi L-G, sources said. The current Delhi L-G V K Saxena may be sent to J&K or West Bengal, sources said. J&K L-G Manoj Sinha, who is close to PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, is reportedly being considered for a major role in the party organisation.“Sinha is one of the best electoral strategists and a tough taskmaster. He can’t be overlooked for the party chief ’s position,” a BJP leader, pleading anonymity, said. Sources said Bhalla, currently Manipur governor, is the frontrunner to replace Saxena, followed by former IAS officer Khullar. Bhalla is favourite due to his experience in administrative roles in Delhi. However, Bhalla’s return to the national capital seems possible only after the formation of goverment in Manipur. There are reports that the government may appoint a former IAS or IPS officer having experience in handling Northeast affairs as Manipur governor. If Saxena is not sent to J&K, he is suitable for the role of Manipur governor. election with 65% participation. There’s an elected governDAYS after the Cong ress ment in Kashmir today, and squir med after its leader therefore, for people to want to Shashi Tharoor aligned him- undo everything that has hapself with the government’s Op- pened, the prosperity that has eration Sindoor against Paki- come to Kashmir, it would not stan’s terror nests, another be advisable,” the Congress veteran leader Salman Khur- leader added. shid on Friday went completely The delegation led by Janata against the party line, Dal (United) MP Sanjay saying the abrogation Kumar Jha reached Jaof Article 370 in J&K in karta on Wednesday as 2019 ushered in prosperpart of India’s diplomatity and democratic ic outreach on Operation progress to the region. Sindoor. It engaged with Speaking to members various think tanks, inof Indonesian think cluding the Indonesian tanks and academia as Council of World Afpart of an all-party Infairs; Centre for Stratedian parliamentary delgic and International For people to egation, Khurshid acStudies; Foreign Policy want to undo knowledged that the everything that Community of Indonespecial status previous- has happened, sia; The Habibie Centre; ly granted to J&K had the prosperity Indo-Pacific Strategic Incontributed to a sense that has come telligence Centre for Into Kashmir, it of separation from the donesia Policy Studies, would not be rest of India. University of Indonesia, advisable “Kashmir had a maand the Indonesia Air jor problem for a long Power Studies Centre. time. Much of that was reflectThe BJP national spokespered in the thinking of the gov- son Shehzad Poonawalla used ernment in an Article called Khurshid’s comment to poke 370 of the Constitution, which Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. somehow gave the impression “Hope Congress does not desigthat it was separate from the nate Salman Khurshid as “Surest of the country But Article . per Pravakta” after he has 370 was abrogated and it was busted their narrative on 370... finally put to an end,” Khur- Will Rahul Gandhi admit Art shid said. 370 was his family blunder?” he “Subsequently there was an wondered. , PA R V E Z S U LTA N @ New Delhi y Monda 2006 Look who’s seeing merit in Art 370’s abrogation in J&K traffic norms. Local residents had written to authorities many times to get the road fixed. The change has come as a relief to local residents and shopkeepers. Poonam Verma, a home-maker, said, “For days, we were living with foul smell right outside our homes. Now it’s a relief to see the road clean. We are grateful the issue was highlighted and taken seriously by the authorities as well.” Make mining in Aravallis ecological crime: Report H A R P R E E T BA J WA @ Chandigarh PAGES 12 3 CONVICTED SHIBA PRASAD SAHU AFTER N I T I N R AWAT @ New Delhi  FOOD SAFETY ACT IS THE BASIS OF MOST REGULATIONS IN INDIA 300 educators for 27K kids with spl needs TMS report sparks civic response, filth and garbage on road cleared THe D I PA K M O N D A L @ New Delhi  MANDAR PARDIKAR the region’s environmental and public health crisis.” Only a few small hillocks stand in the name of the ‘mighty Aravallis’ in Bhiwani, the report points out. “The range’s geological features have been nearly annihilated because of the mining,” said Dr RP Balwan, retired Conservator of Forest, South Circle, Haryana. N A R E N D R A S E T H I @ Dehradun A court in Kotdwar on Friday sentenced three accused to life imprisonment in the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case. Additional district and sessions judge Reena Negi found Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta guilty under sections 302, 201, 120B, and 354A of the IPC and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. “Justice has been served,” said those present in the court as the verdict was delivered. Besides the life sentence, the court also slapped a fine of `50,000 each on all three convicts and directed a compensation of `4 lakh for Bhandari’s family . Bhandari (19), a receptionist at Vanantra Resort located in Yamkeshwar of Pauri district, was killed on September 18, 2022 by resort operator Arya and his two employees Bhaskar and Gupta. Police probes revealed that Ankita was being pressured by Arya and his aides to engage in immoral activities. According to the prosecution, Bhandari and Arya had a dispute after which the three pushed the woman into the Cheela canal in Rishikesh. After her body was found from the canal, all the three convicts were arrested . Arya is the son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya. The party showed the door to Vinod Arya soon after the verdict was delivered on Friday . EXPRESS READ Trump doubles down on ceasefire claim US President Donald Trump on Friday repeated his claim that he stopped India and Pakistan from fighting by threatening the two nations that his administration would not trade with people that are shooting at each other. Courts crumble under spiralling caseload “It has been over five years that I am running from pillar to post to seek justice. It seems the case will be solved after my death,” says 59-year-old Suresh Kumar outside a city court, His words echo the experience of lakhs of people caught in the crippling delays of judicial system. | P4