The Ministry of Women and Child Development on Friday said it would set up a panel to examine the legal framework in place to handle complaints of harassment at work, after the #MeToo campaign began on October 5.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court quashed two separate petitions filed by senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Sachin Pilot alleging duplication of voters on electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, on the other hand, called a Cabinet meeting at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences. This is the first official meeting called by Parrikar since he was admitted to the hospital on September 15.

Here are the day’s biggest stories:

Tata Motors senior executive sent on leave after he is accused of sexual harassment

Tata Motors on Friday said it has asked its head of corporate communications Suresh Rangarajan to go on leave after a former colleague accused him of sexual harassment. The allegations surfaced on Twitter on Thursday. Suresh Rangarajan was accused of inappropriate conduct and sexual harassment in the workplace.

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Retail inflation rose slightly to 3.77% in September

Retail inflation rose slightly to 3.77% in September, government data showed on Friday. It had stood at 3.69% in August and was at 3.28% in September 2017. The increase in inflation was driven by higher food and fuel prices and a depreciating rupee. Prices of fuel rose the most – by 8.47% – in September, the data showed.

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#MeToo: Ministry of Women and Child Development to set up panel to examine existing legal framework

The Ministry of Women and Child Development on Friday said that it will set up a committee to look into matters arising from the #MeToo campaign, in which women have taken to social media to disclose cases of sexual misconduct. The committee will comprise senior members from the judiciary and the legal fraternity, and will look into the framework in place to handle complaints of harassment at work.

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Madras High Court orders CBI inquiry into corruption claims against Tamil Nadu chief minister

The Madras High Court court was hearing a petition filed by Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The petition claimed that there were irregularities in the awarding of state highways department contracts. The court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to submit a preliminary report within three months.

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‘We cannot order everyone to be vegetarian,’ Supreme Court tells petitioners

The Supreme Court on Friday rebuked petitioners who sought a ban on the export of meat for consumption and leather, asking him if everyone in the country should become vegetarian. Non-governmental organisations Healthy Wealthy Ethical World and Guide India Trust had filed the plea.

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SC refuses to stay West Bengal government’s decision to fund Durga Puja committees

The Supreme Court of India on Friday issued a notice to the West Bengal government on a plea challenging its decision to grant Rs 28 crore to Durga Puja committees. However, the bench of Justices Madan Lokur and Deepak Gupta refused to stay the government’s decision to fund the committees.

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Relief operations begin in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha after Cyclone Titli wreaks havoc

Relief operations began on Friday morning in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district where cyclonic storm Titli has wreaked havoc. The National Disaster Management Authority said seven people had died in the state. The storm has now weakened and is moving northeastwards towards Gangetic West Bengal across Odisha.

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‘About time everyone learns to treat women with respect’: Rahul Gandhi supports #MeToo

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday extended his support to the #MeToo movement in India and said that it is time everyone learnt to treat women with respect and dignity. “I’m glad the space for those who don’t, is closing,” he said on Twitter. “The truth needs to be told loud and clear in order to bring about change.”

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Hindutva groups ask meat shop owners in Gurugram to remain shut during Navratri

Several Hindutva outfits in Gurugram have appealed to meat shop owners to remain shut for all nine days of Navratri festival. The police, however, said no one will be allowed to take law in their own hands. There are nearly 1,000 meat and chicken shops in Gurugram.

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SC rejects Kamal Nath, Sachin Pilot’s petitions on voters’ list

The Supreme Court on Friday quashed two separate petitions filed by senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Sachin Pilot alleging duplication of voters on electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. While Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh are scheduled for November 28, Rajasthan will vote on December 7.

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Manohar Parrikar to hold ministerial meetings at AIIMS today

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will hold meetings with his Cabinet colleagues and core committee members of the Bharatiya Janata Party at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on Friday. This is the first official meeting called by Parrikar since he was admitted to AIIMS on September 15.

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Income Tax officials search premises linked to TDP legislator CM Ramesh

The Income Tax department on Friday conducted searches at premises linked to Andhra Pradesh legislator CM Ramesh, including his home and office. The Telugu Desam Party leader, also a Rajya Sabha member, is the promoter of Rithwik Projects Private Limited. The firm is said to have a turnover of close to Rs 1,000 crore.

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Centre rejects World Bank’s Human Capital Index that ranks India 115th of 157 countries

The Ministry of Finance on Thursday rejected the World Bank’s Human Capital Index, which placed India 115th of 157 countries based on several parameters and with a score of 0.43. The index seeks to measure the amount of human capital that a child born today can expect when he or she turns 18.

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Centre increases customs duty on several telecom equipment, imposes tariff on others

The Centre on Thursday increased customs duty on several telecom equipment, and imposed duty on printed circuit boards used to make this equipment, in a continuing attempt to reduce the country’s current account deficit. Telecom products including base stations, optical transport equipment and IP radios will attract customs duty of 20% instead of 10%. Several telecom products, such as populated, loaded or printed circuit board, on which no duty was levied will now attract 10% duty.

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Two women accuse Bollywood director Sajid Khan of sexual harassment

Two women on Thursday accused Bollywood director Sajid Khan of sexual harassment. Freelance journalist Karishma Upadhyay, 41, alleged that Khan sexually assaulted her during an interview in early 2000s when she was a reporter at the Bombay Times. Model-actor Saloni Chopra also accused Khan of sexual harassment in 2011 when she was working as his assistant director. Chopra recounted multiple instances of sexual harassment.

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15th Finance Commission says it cannot look into Andhra Pradesh’s demand for special category status

The 15th Finance Commission, on a visit to Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, said it cannot look into the matter of special category status for the state. Finance Commission Chairperson NK Singh said Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu “forcefully” raised the matter during a meeting, but this does not “directly or indirectly” form a part of the panel’s Terms of Reference.

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Air India flight from Tiruchirappalli to Dubai hits compound wall, diverted to Mumbai

A Dubai-bound Air India flight hit a compound wall at Tiruchirappalli International Airport early on Friday and was diverted to Mumbai. The aircraft, with 136 passengers and crew on board, was damaged on its belly. There were no casualties. The aircraft was declared fit for operations after inspection at Mumbai. Officials told the daily that a bird-hit could be the cause of the accident.

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Government was not involved in selecting Reliance as Rafale partner, claims Sitharaman

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said the government was not involved in selecting businessman Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence as a partner to French firm Dassault Aviation in the Rafale jet deal. “It is a government to government agreement between the French and Indian governments and there is no name [of any company] mentioned,” Sitharaman said in Paris. “This offset obligation may be mandatory, but the names of the companies are not mandatory for me.”

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Cyclone Titli kills eight in Andhra Pradesh, weather department says storm has weakened

At least eight people died in storm-related incidents in Andhra Pradesh after Cyclone Titli made landfall in Odisha on Thursday. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority said the storm caused major damage to crops and buildings in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts after heavy rain lashed the state on Wednesday.

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