Centre appoints former Supreme Court Judge B.S. Chauhan to head judicial inquiry into Leh violence
New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice B.S. Chauhan to conduct a judicial inquiry into the violent incidents that erupted in Leh on September 24, 2025. The violence, which occurred during protests demanding statehood for Ladakh, resulted in the deaths of four individuals.
According to the order issued by the Department of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh Affairs on October 17, the inquiry will examine the events leading to the breakdown of law and order, the subsequent police action, and the circumstances surrounding the fatalities.
An FIR (No. 144/2025) has already been registered at the Leh Police Station under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including Sections 189, 191, 190, 115, 118, 326, 324, 309, 109, 117, 125, and 121.
The notification emphasized that it was “imperative to conduct an inquiry into the said incident by a Retired Judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.” Accordingly, Justice Chauhan has been tasked with leading the probe.
Justice Chauhan will be assisted by Mohan Singh Parihar, a retired District and Sessions Judge, who will serve as Judicial Secretary, and Tushar Anand, IAS, who will act as Administrative Secretary.
The Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of the Union Territory of Ladakh have been directed to extend full administrative and logistical support to ensure the smooth conduct of the judicial inquiry.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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