Top news of the day: M.P. High Court orders FIR against Minister Vijay Shah over remarks on Col. Sofiya Qureshi; Cabinet approves ₹3,706-crore HCL-Foxconn semiconductor plant U.P., and more

M.P. High Court orders FIR against Minister Vijay Shah over remarks on Col. Sofiya Qureshi; Cabinet approves ₹3,706-crore HCL-Foxconn semiconductor plant U.P., and more in The Hindu’s top news of May 14, 2025.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) directed the State Police to register an FIR within four hours against Cabinet Minister Vijay Shah over his controversial remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army with the court noting that he had called the officer a “sister of terrorists”. Taking suo moto cognizance of the matter, Justice Atul Sreedharan directed Director General of Police (DGP) Kailash Makwana to lodge an FIR against Mr. Shah within four hours under serious criminal charges. Justice Sreedharan said, “Prima facie, the statement of the Minister that Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is the ‘sister of the terrorists’ who carried out the attack of Pahalgam encourages feelings of separatist activities, which thereby endangers the sovereignty and integrity of India.”

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) approved an HCL-Foxconn semiconductor joint venture, which will set up a wafers manufacturing plant at an estimated cost of ₹3,706 crore at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh. The proposed HCL-Foxconn semiconductor plant will manufacture display driver chips for mobile phones, laptops, automobiles, and other devices, said Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw while briefing the media. The unit will process 20,000 wafers per month and create about 2,000 jobs, a release said.

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in by President Droupadi Murmu as the 52nd Chief Justice of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday (May 14, 2025). Justice Gavai is the first Buddhist Chief Justice of India. He took his oath of office, pledging his commitment to uphold the Constitution and faithfully discharge duties, in Hindi. Chief Justice Gavai acknowledged the applause with folded hands, shook hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, other dignitaries and family members sitting in the foremost row, including his immediate predecessor, Justice Sanjiv Khanna. 

A Border Security Force (BSF) Constable, who had inadvertently crossed into Pakistani territory along the Punjab border on April 23, was repatriated on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) by the Pakistan Rangers. The exchange took place at the Attari-Wagah border at around 10:30 a.m., according to an official statement issued by the BSF. The constable, identified as Purnam Kumar Shaw, had crossed the international boundary in the Ferozepur sector during operational duty. Mr. Shaw’s detention occurred a day after the Pahalgam terror attack. The BSF stated that his repatriation was made possible due to “consistent efforts” through regular flag meetings and sustained communication with the Pakistan Rangers.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan along with the chiefs of the three services on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) briefed President Droupadi Murmu about Operation Sindoor. “General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, along with General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, and Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, called on President Droupadi Murmu and briefed her about Operation Sindoor,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a post on X.

A new low-cost Counter Drone System in Hard Kill Mode ‘Bhargavastra’, has been designed and developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) signifying a substantial leap in countering the escalating threat of drone swarms. The micro rockets used in this counter-drone system underwent rigorous testing at the Seaward Firing Range, Gopalpur achieving all designated objectives. Three trials were conducted for the rocket at Gopalpur on May 13 in presence of senior officials of Army Air Defence (AAD). ‘Bhargavastra’ boasts of advanced capabilities for detecting and eliminating small, incoming drones at distances of upto 2.5 km.

If a woman can fly Rafale fighter jet in the Indian Air Force, then why are fewer women officers in gender neutral posts of Judge Advocate General (legal) branch of the Army, the Supreme Court wondered recently and questioned the Centre’s rationale on a 50-50 selection criterion.  A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan on May 8 reserved its verdict on the plea of two officers Arshnoor Kaur and Astha Tyagi, who despite securing 4th and 5th ranks respectively — higher in merit than their male counterparts — weren’t selected for the JAG department due to fewer vacancies earmarked for women. The top court said, “Accordingly, we direct the respondents to initiate whatever action is required for the purpose of her induction in the next available training course for appointment as Judge Advocate General (JAG)“.