Three high court chief justices were on Thursday elevated to the Supreme Court and once they take oath, the top court will function with its full strength of 34 judges.

The Rajasthan High Court has allowed a government doctor to contest the November 25 assembly polls and rejoin duty if he loses.

Tamil Nadu received widespread rains across the state, with the southern districts recording heavy showers on Thursday, as the North East Monsoon intensified.

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted protection to Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala from a Non-Bailable Warrant issued by the MP/MLA court of Varanasi in connection with a 23-year-old criminal case.

In a significant verdict aimed at fast-tracking trial in more than 5,000 criminal cases against lawmakers, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed high courts to set up a special bench to monitor cases for their speedy disposal. It also asked special courts not to adjourn proceedings in such matters except "for rare and compelling reasons".

BJP leader Lakhbir Singh Lakhi was attacked and robbed of Rs 63,000 at gunpoint in Haroli area of Una district, police said on Thursday.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, after coming out of the ED office here, on Thursday said he has nothing to hide and is always ready to cooperate with the central agency in its probe into the alleged school jobs scam in West Bengal.

Ahead of November 30 assembly polls, the Income Tax department officials on Thursday carried out searches at the residences and offices of Congress candidate P Srinivas Reddy here and in Khammam, sources said.