Karnataka govt warns schools against flouting online class rules

Jeddah/Dammam, April 15: In a significant legal move, Saudi-based law firm International Justice has served a formal legal notice to Air India Express on behalf of passengers affected by the inordinate delay of Flight IX-886. The flight, originally scheduled to depart from Dammam to Mangaluru on 25 March 2025 at 22:10 hrs, was delayed by over 24 hours—causing severe inconvenience and hardship to passengers, many of whom included senior citizens, children, and individuals with medical conditions.

The legal notice, issued by noted Saudi lawyer and partner at International Justice Law Firm, Adv. Ms. Faten Faiz AlAhmari, outlines the distress and suffering endured by the stranded passengers due to the prolonged delay and lack of adequate assistance from the airline.

The initiative for legal escalation was spearheaded by P.A. Hameed Padubidri, a well-known Indian lawyer and social worker based in Saudi Arabia, who closely monitored the ordeal. Upon receiving numerous complaints and witnessing the passengers’ plight firsthand, he collaborated with Adv. Faten Faiz AlAhmari to ensure the matter was formally addressed through appropriate legal channels.

The legal notice outlines several key grievances:
    •    Unexplained delay and extended detention inside the aircraft
    •    Absence of proper accommodation or official communication
    •    Prolonged waiting hours at the airport without basic support or updates

The notice demands the following actions from Air India Express:
    1.    A formal written apology to all affected passengers
    2.    Full compensation for the physical, mental, and financial distress caused
    3.    A detailed explanation regarding the cause of the delay and preventive measures
    4.    Assurance of strict adherence to passenger rights in future operations

The airline has been given 15 days from the receipt of the notice to respond and take corrective action. Failing this, legal proceedings will be initiated in competent courts in both Saudi Arabia and India, with all financial liabilities resting on Air India Express.

This legal action comes amid rising public dissatisfaction over the handling of flight delays by international carriers, particularly those serving the Gulf-India sector.

Hameed Padubidri remarked: “We expected improved efficiency and passenger care from Air India Express after its acquisition by the Tata Group. However, the continued lapses and negligence—especially on Gulf routes—have deeply frustrated the Indian expatriate community. If the airline fails to respond, we will pursue the matter vigorously in both Saudi and Indian courts to ensure justice for the affected passengers.”

The case is now being closely watched by legal experts and passenger rights advocates, highlighting the pressing need for accountability, transparency, and humane treatment during travel disruptions.

Haveri: The Contractors’ Association of Haveri district has raised a grave concern over the Karnataka government's failure to release pending payments amounting to ₹738 crore for public works executed over the past few years. In a desperate appeal, the association has warned that if the dues are not settled by the end of April, contractors may be forced to seek mercy killing (euthanasia) as a form of protest.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Mallikarjun Haveri, the taluk president of the Haveri District Contractors’ Association, alleged that corruption and commission demands in various government departments have exacerbated the financial distress of contractors.

“The commission racket is rampant,” he said. “Officials and middlemen have been demanding commissions ranging from 10% to 15% for clearing bills. Many contractors have borrowed money at exorbitant interest rates to complete government projects. Despite paying commissions, our dues remain unpaid. Middlemen are bleeding us dry.”

He further claimed that at least 10 contractors have died by suicide due to mounting debt and financial stress.

According to the association, in Haveri district alone:

₹200 crore is pending with the Public Works Department (PWD),

₹138 crore with the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department,

₹400 crore for projects announced during the previous BJP government.

The association reminded that contractors had protested in Belagavi during the winter session of the state legislature. At the time, the Public Works Minister had promised to clear the dues in phases by the end of March. However, the departments—including the RDPR, Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL), and the Minor Irrigation Department—have yet to act on these assurances.

“We don’t want to take such extreme steps,” said the office-bearer. “But if the government continues to neglect us, we will be left with no option but to seek permission for euthanasia.”

Israel has prevented tens of thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank from entering the holy land of Jerusalem to celebrate a Christian festivity at the city’s churches.

The Palestinian WAFA news agency reported that only a limited number of Palestinian Christians were able to attend celebrations in al-Quds for the Palm Sunday feast day. 

Israeli forces issued only 6,000 permits for West Bank Christians, although the population exceeds 50,000, the report added.

The occupation’s soldiers imposed strict measures at checkpoints surrounding al-Quds and its Old City, home to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

“This is the second consecutive year that only a small number of pilgrims are able to participate in Holy Week and Easter celebrations in al-Quds, due to the ongoing conflict,” said Father Ibrahim Faltas, deputy head of the Custody of the Holy Land.

Christians in the Gaza Strip commemorated Palm Sunday at Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church, just hours after an Israeli aerial assault on the nearby al-Ahli Arab hospital.

In a statement, the Gaza-based Hamas resistance group censured Israel for restricting West Bank Palestinians’ access to al-Quds.

The Israeli move is a part of a broader racist and fascist policy aimed at isolating Palestinians from their homeland and holy sites, it added.

Hamas also called on all churches across the world to condemn the occupation and its ongoing attacks on freedom of worship and access to holy sites.

It further urged the international community to take serious steps towards ending Israel’s genocidal war in the Gaza Strip, which is aimed at annihilating Palestinians and liquidating their cause.

Israel launched its brutal Gaza onslaught on October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

After one and a half years of war, the Tel Aviv regime has failed to achieve its declared objectives in the besieged territory, despite killing at least 50,944 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 116,156 others.