A village panchayat in Rajasthan has banned minor girls from using cell phones and directed them to cover their heads when they go outside of their homes. The council also ordered minor boys not to play music on their cell phones. They say they believe cell phones are spoiling girls.

It did not specify the punishment to be handed out to any girl who flouts the council's rules. Most of the villagers agree with the panchayat order.

Earlier another panchayat in Uttar Pradesh issued similar orders to girls in their district, and also ordered girls not to leave their homes without a male escort.

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The continuing downpour of several days of rain over Eid left the Muslim residents of Joshimath in Uttarakhand without their usual prayer venue, the Gandhi maidan, that was turned into a slush pit.

The Sikh temple stepped up and its head priest invited the Muslims to offer Eid prayers at the gurdwara. The grateful Muslim congregation dressed in their Eid finery offered their ritual prayers in the big hall of the gurdwara and after the ceremony they embraced the Sikh community members and Hindus from the town who were also present.

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A West Bengal Court has rejected the bail plea of farmer Shiladitya Chowhury, who was arrested after he publicly questioned CM Mamata Banerjee about her government policies.

He is in judicial custody and has been charged under several non-bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code, one of which carries a prison term of 10 years.

Chowdhury is being punished for standing up during the rally and asking Mamata what she is doing for farmers who are dying because they have no money. Mamata was angry at the question and branded Chowdhury a Maoist.

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The Uttar Pradesh chief minister's uncle, PWD minister Shivpal Yadav, in a meeting with district officials in Etah, told bureaucrats it's okay to steal a little if they work hard.

While chairing a meeting of the district programme committee, he said he has already told PWD people openly that if you work hard, you can steal a little, but don't behave like dacoits!

When his remark drew vocal criticism from all quarters, Yadav hurriedly called a news conference to explain the context of his statement and control the damage, saying his comment was not reported in totality but was made in the context of the previous BSP government. When pressed by reporters he admitted he'd taken back the words.

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Someone from Hardoi, Lucknow, who thought he was being very funny, raised the hackles of the courts and authorities after he sent a notice issued by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate to the Hindu God of Rains, Lord Indra, asking Him to explain within three days why there were inadequate rains in the district during this monsoon, and warning strict action if the Lord does not reply with a time frame.

The notice had been typed in the format and terminology used in government offices, and had the stamp and signature of SDM Satya Prakash Sharma. The postal address on the envelope read 'The Heaven' and was sent to revenue clerk Swatantra Kumar directing him to serve it personally to Lord Indra. Kumar returned the notice with the remark it cannot be delivered due to 'technical reasons'.

The incident has left district officials shocked and angry, saying that forging the signature of the SDM and using a fake stamp is a serious issue.

A probe has been ordered into the matter.

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