Mon Nov 04 13:06:00 UTC 2024: ## Election Commission Reschedules Bypolls, Transfers Maharashtra DGP

**New Delhi, November 4, 2024:** The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday rescheduled Assembly bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Kerala from November 13 to November 20, citing upcoming festivals. The ECI also ordered the immediate transfer of Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Shukla, following complaints from political parties.

The ECI, in its order, directed Maharashtra Chief Secretary to hand over Shukla’s charge to the next senior-most IPS officer in the cadre. The Chief Secretary was also instructed to submit a panel of three IPS officers by Tuesday for the appointment as DGP.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of a report highlighting the “all-time high” pollution levels during Diwali 2024 due to firecrackers, despite a ban by the court. The court noted that pollution levels from farm fires and firecrackers were higher than in 2022 and 2023.

In other news, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in his address to the state assembly’s first session, pledged his government’s commitment to restoring full statehood and constitutional guarantees for the state. He also urged all stakeholders to work together to fulfill the aspirations of the people.

A tragic bus accident in Uttarakhand’s Almora district claimed the lives of at least 36 passengers, with 24 others injured. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced compensation for the bereaved families and financial assistance for the injured.

In separate incidents, a MiG-29 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, with both pilots ejecting safely. The Indian High Commission in Canada reported “violent disruptions” at a consular camp in Brampton after Hindu-Canadian devotees were attacked at a temple near Toronto. The High Commission blamed “anti-India elements” for the violence.

The Supreme Court allowed a petition filed by Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan for relaxation of a bail condition that required him to report to the police every week in a UAPA case registered against him.

On the international front, Spain is deploying 7,500 troops to its eastern region, hit by devastating floods that have claimed at least 217 lives. The government has faced criticism over its response to the catastrophe.

In the United States, the race for the White House is heating up, with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump focusing their campaigns on key battleground states. With just days left until the election, both candidates are making their final push to secure victory.

Finally, the Supreme Court of India agreed to examine a petition filed by the Jharkhand Government against an interim order of the State High Court to constitute a fact-finding committee to look into allegations of illegal immigration from Bangladesh. The State Government challenged the Union Government’s opinion on infiltration, saying the conclusion was not backed by data.

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