Chaos, allegations of irregularities, some legislators allegedly out of reach and the routine procedure – a lot unfolded as elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states took place on Monday.. Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary and BJP National President Nitin Nabin at the Bihar Vidhan Sabha to cast their votes amid the Rajya Sabha polls in Patna on Monday. (ANI). While 26 candidates had reportedly been elected unopposed, elections were held to fill the remaining 11 seats, including five from Bihar, four from Odisha, and two from Haryana. Among those elected unopposed are Sharad Pawar, Abhishek Singhvi, Tiruchi Siva, and Vinod Tawade. Track LIVE updates on Rajya Sabha elections here. In the Upper House, members are elected by MLAs of state assemblies through the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote, conducted through an open ballot.. If all seats are not filled through first-preference votes, the surplus votes of winning candidates are transferred to other candidates who fall short of the required number. If that still does not help a candidate reach the required 41-vote mark, second-preference votes come into play.. • The absence of three Congress MLAs and one Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA in Bihar is likely to ensure victory for the NDA candidates contesting for the Upper House in the state. Many NDA leaders, across BJP and JDU, have already stated that they are set for a clean sweep in the elections.. • In Odisha, at least five MLAs from the Opposition Biju Janata Dal and Congress have reportedly voted for an independent nominee Dilip Ray, who has been backed by the BJP, PTI news agency reported.. • Polling for four Rajya Sabha seats in Odisha was halted for about 30 minutes over a dispute on the issuance of a second ballot paper to a BJP MLA, PTI reported. The BJD agent objected to the issuing of the second ballot paper to BJP MLA Upasana Mohapatra, who had sought another for overwriting on the one given to her earlier.. • Meanwhile, ahead of polling, the Congress had moved some of its Haryana MLAs to Kasauli on Friday over fears of cross-voting. The MLAs were moved along with state Congress chief Rao Narender Singh and returned to Chandigarh on Monday morning, according to the PTI report.. • Former Odisha chief minister and BJD leader Naveen Patnaik accused the BJP of horse-trading. “As has been discussed in the last few days about the BJP and their allies, it is clear what is meant for the horse trading they will do. They have collected a number of people to work for them. Most of them have criminal pasts, I am ashamed to say,” Patnaik told the media, ANI reported. 

 President Droupadi Murmu on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the fire incident, which occurred at the SCB Medical College and Hospital’s Trauma Care ICU centre in Odisha’s Cuttack.. File image of President Droupadi Murmu. (Office of the Secretary to the President). The President conveyed her distress at the tragic loss of life.. According to the Rashtrapati Bhavan office, President Murmu wished for the speedy recovery of the injured victims.. “Deeply distressed by the loss of lives in the tragic fire incident at a hospital in Cuttack, Odisha. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” said President Murmu.. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed sadness over the fire incident.. In a post on X from Home Minister’s official handle, Shah described the incident as “extremely painful” and extended his heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.. He said the loss of life in such an unfortunate event is deeply distressing and expressed solidarity with the affected families during this difficult time.. “The incident at SCB Medical College in Cuttack, Odisha, is extremely tragic. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. The Odisha government is engaged in relief and rescue operations. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Shah posted on X.. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated the mishap at the hospital was “painful” and offered condolences to those who have lost their loved ones.. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured, the PMO also announced “an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund) to the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.. Earlier, a devastating fire broke out at the Trauma Care ICU of S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on Monday night, which resulted in the death of 10 people and left at least 11 hospital staff members injured during rescue operations.. According to local corporator Deepak Kumar Das, the incident occurred between 2:00 am and 2:30 am.. Speaking to ANI, Das said, “We came to know at 3 am that. So, I reached the hospital. The incident occurred around 2-2.30 am. It was raining at that time. As per the information available to me, a short circuit had occurred there, which led to this mishap…An inquiry will reveal whether the incident occurred due to an old AC or if there was another reason behind this…”. Following the incident, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief. He visited the site and directed authorities to ensure the safe relocation of all patients. The Chief Minister also announced an ex-gratia of ₹25 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) for the next of kin of each deceased. 

 President Droupadi Murmu on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the fire incident, which occurred at the SCB Medical College and Hospital’s Trauma Care ICU centre in Odisha’s Cuttack.. File image of President Droupadi Murmu. (Office of the Secretary to the President). The President conveyed her distress at the tragic loss of life.. According to the Rashtrapati Bhavan office, President Murmu wished for the speedy recovery of the injured victims.. “Deeply distressed by the loss of lives in the tragic fire incident at a hospital in Cuttack, Odisha. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” said President Murmu.. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed sadness over the fire incident.. In a post on X from Home Minister’s official handle, Shah described the incident as “extremely painful” and extended his heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.. He said the loss of life in such an unfortunate event is deeply distressing and expressed solidarity with the affected families during this difficult time.. “The incident at SCB Medical College in Cuttack, Odisha, is extremely tragic. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. The Odisha government is engaged in relief and rescue operations. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Shah posted on X.. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated the mishap at the hospital was “painful” and offered condolences to those who have lost their loved ones.. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured, the PMO also announced “an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund) to the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.. Earlier, a devastating fire broke out at the Trauma Care ICU of S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on Monday night, which resulted in the death of 10 people and left at least 11 hospital staff members injured during rescue operations.. According to local corporator Deepak Kumar Das, the incident occurred between 2:00 am and 2:30 am.. Speaking to ANI, Das said, “We came to know at 3 am that. So, I reached the hospital. The incident occurred around 2-2.30 am. It was raining at that time. As per the information available to me, a short circuit had occurred there, which led to this mishap…An inquiry will reveal whether the incident occurred due to an old AC or if there was another reason behind this…”. Following the incident, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief. He visited the site and directed authorities to ensure the safe relocation of all patients. The Chief Minister also announced an ex-gratia of ₹25 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) for the next of kin of each deceased. 

 New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Monday appointed former Chief Justice of India U U Lalit as the sole mediator to amicably resolve the dispute over the execution of a money decree of ₹500 crore passed by the UAE court in favour of Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority and against Hyderabad-based industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad.. SC appoints ex-CJI UU Lalit as mediator to resolve dispute over ₹500 cr UAE money decree. RAKIA is seeking to enforce a UAE civil judgment for AED 267,941,374 .. The case stems from the ‘Vanpic Project’, a failed 2008 joint venture to develop ports and an airport in Andhra Pradesh.. RAKIA alleges that Prasad, in collusion with former RAKIA CEO Khater Massaad, misappropriated USD 120 million intended for the project.. On Monday, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was informed by senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, appearing for Prasad, that the industrialist has deposited ₹125 crore as cash security as directed earlier.. The senior lawyer also said that the original title deeds of a 37-acre land parcel in Telangana have also been submitted in the court. He also added that the land parcel is free from encumbrances.. Subramanium said his client was willing to undergo mediation for an amicable settlement of the case.. Senior advocates Abhishek Singhvi and Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the foreign firm, said that they were agreeable to the time-bound mediation to resolve the dispute with a condition that the status quo with regard to the assets of Prasad be maintained and no third party be created till the conclusion of mediation.. Taking note of the consent of both parties, the CJI appointed Justice Lalit as the sole mediator and requested him to undertake the mediation for expeditious disposal.. The bench asked Justice Lalit to undertake a mediation exercise in hybrid mode to enable the representatives of RAKIA to appear through video conferencing mode keeping in mind the security situation in the Gulf region.. Clarifying its earlier order, the CJI said the Hyderabad-based businessman can use the funds for running “day-to-day affairs” of his firms, including payment of salaries and will not alienate immoveable properties without prior nod of the court.. The bench said that Justice Lalit may consider hearing related parties while undertaking the mediation exercise.. It said Justice Lalit will decide his professional fees and other ancillary expenses in consultation with the parties to the litigation.. Earlier, the top court directed Nimmagadda Prasad to deposit ₹125 crore in cash security and submit the original title deeds of a 37-acre land parcel in Telangana in a case stemming from a failed 2008 joint venture to develop ports and an airport in Andhra Pradesh.. It had granted time to the industrialist to propose an alternative arrangement for the remaining security.. The bench had asked Prasad to furnish a security of ₹600 crore for hearing his plea against the UAE decree.. 

 New Delhi, The Central Adoption Resource Authority has issued three office memorandums to all states and Union territories, directing them to ensure strict compliance with adoption procedures, safeguard records of adoptees, and protect children’s identity.. Apex body directs states to ensure compliance with adoption procedures, child identity protection. According to an official statement, the directions were issued to the State Adoption Resource Agencies in accordance with the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 , and the Adoption Regulations, 2022.. Adoption under the Act aims to secure the right to family for orphan, abandoned and surrendered children, as envisaged under Section 56 of the Act.. In the first memorandum, the Central Adoption Resource Authority , the apex body for adoptions in the country, reiterated the mandatory observance of statutory procedures and timelines before declaring a child legally free for adoption, the statement said.. The Authority clarified that no orphan or abandoned child can be declared legally free for adoption without the completion of due inquiry, tracing of biological parents, restoration efforts, and other statutory requirements within the prescribed timeframe, it said.. In case of surrendered children, the mandatory reconsideration period of two months, as provided under the Act, must be strictly followed before the child can be declared legally free for adoption, the statement said.. The second memorandum issued policy clarification on the safekeeping, maintenance and transfer of records of children and adoptees.. The move comes in view of difficulties faced by adult adoptees seeking information about their origins through the root search process under Regulation 47 of the Adoption Regulations, 2022.. It was observed that in some cases, records were unavailable because the concerned specialised adoption agency or child care institution had been closed, de-registered, merged, or its functions transferred to another institution.. CARA reiterated that the responsibility to preserve and safeguard such records continues irrespective of the operational status of the institution.. The states and Union territories have been asked to ensure that all physical and digital records are securely preserved and transferred to the designated authority or institution, and that appropriate arrangements are made for long-term safekeeping to facilitate root search by the adoptees in the future.. Records must not be destroyed, discarded or rendered inaccessible except in accordance with the procedure laid down under the law, it said, adding that these provisions are aligned with Section 99 of the Act, which mandates confidentiality of reports and records relating to children.. In the third office memorandum, CARA directed the states and UTs to ensure strict compliance with Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act, which prohibits disclosure of the identity of children in conflict with law or those in need of care and