24022026-TTC-01.qxd 2/24/2026 12:51 AM Page 1 c m y b 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 54 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 YUNUS TRIED TO REMOVE ME FROM OFFICE, CLAIMS B’DESH PREZ WORLD /thetribunechd KHELO INDIA WINTER GAMES BEGIN IN GULMARG J&K FOCUS ON CORE BIZ, NOT INSURANCE, FM TELLS BANKS BUSINESS CANADA PM CARNEY TO VISIT INDIA ON FEB 26, FOCUS ON AI & DEFENCE BACK PAGE tuesday | 24 february 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com 74 lakh names deleted in IAF grounds entire Tejas fleet after Feb 7 crash final TNvoter list post SIR Ajay Banerjee THIRD ACCIDENT IN 2 YEARS Tribune News Service Tribune News Service & PTI NewDelhi, February23 The Election Commission on Monday released the final electoral roll for Tamil Nadu in which 74.07 lakh names of voters have been deleted under various categories, leaving the number of electors in the southern state at 5.67 crore. Addressing a press conference in Chennai, Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said before the SIR exercise, the state’s electorate stood at 6.41 crore. While 97.37 lakh names of voters were deleted during the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise, 74.07 lakh names have been deleted in the final list after the revision, leaving the number of electors in the southern state at 5.67 crore as on today. However, Tamil Nadu has seen a rise of 4.28 per cent in the number of voters as compared to the draft list. The draft list is the preliminary voter list published during the SIR. At this stage, citizens can raise objections, request corrections and file claims for inclusion. After all claims and objections are resolved, the final electoral roll is published. Compared to the draft list, the count of voters has risen by 23.30 lakh. As per the final list, there are 5,67,07,380 voters in Tamil Nadu, 23,30,624 more than the 5,43,76,756 voters in the draft list, which had come out on December 19, thus showing an increase of 4.28 per cent in total voters’ tally. The Assembly polls in the state are due in April this year. Tamil Nadu has joined states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar, which have witnessed a rise in the number of Mann govt to provide free ration kits to 40L families ahead of poll Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 23 With the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections just a few months away, the Punjab Aam Aadmi Party government has announced a new initiative to distribute free ration kits among all 1.33 crore individual National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries in the state, beginning April. The beneficiaries will get 2 kg each of split black urad dal and sugar, one litre of mustard oil, 1 kg of iodised salt and 200 gm of turmeric powder, along with the wheat that is already being given to the 40 lakh NFSA beneficiary families. The scheme, called “Meri Rasoi Yojana”, was announced by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here today. The ration will be given for a trimester, along with the three-month supply of wheat (5 kg per person per month or 15 kg per person for a trimester) given to these blue card holders in the state. The populist move is being seen as an attempt to woo voters ahead of the Vidhan Sabha elections that are crucial for AAP as this is the only state , where the party is in power. In the past two years, a number of NFSA beneficiaries — nearly 23 lakh — were weeded out after they were found ineligible. The SADBJP government in 2007 had first launched the attadal scheme, where wheat was provided to beneficiaries at Rs 4 a kg and chana dal at Rs 20 a kg. This scheme was a driving force in getting the two alliance partners back to power in 2012. Since then, the scheme has been revised several times, with only wheat being provided to the beneficiaries. voters after the final electoral lists were released last week, marking the completion of the SIR there. Only Goa has seen a dip in the number of voters by 27,000 after its final voters’ list was released last week. West Bengal’s final voters’ list is expected to be released on February 27, which according to rough estimates, is likely to witness heavy deletions amid several postponements in its SIR schedule. SIR 2.0 was held in nine states and three union territories. They said “the IAF and public sector plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited are working together to find the root cause of the incident”. Once that is done, corrective measures would be adopted, if required. The process will include a March 2024 when the aircraft crashed while coming back from a firepower demonstration ■ The second crash happened in November 2025 when the fighter jet was involved in an aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow ■ In the February 7 incident, a jet was in the process of taking off when it veered off the runway into an adjoining mud-ditch check on the metallurgy of the undercarriage, which holds the wheels, electromagnetic system used for applying brakes and the software. Meanwhile, HAL said the February 7 incident was “not a crash”. The event in question was a minor technical incident on the ground, HAL said. “As a standard operating procedure, the issue is being analysed in depth and HAL is working closely with the IAF for a speedy resolution,” the HAL said. Light combat aircraft Tejas maintains one of the world’s best safety Leave Iran at earliest, India tells its citizens Sevenfeareddead as air ambulance Advisory amid heightened tensions in West Asia | Modi to visit Israel tomorrow crashesinJ’khand Ujwal Jalali tourists, to depart at the earli- should do so immediately. ty recalibrations in the region. Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 23 India on Monday advised its nationals in Iran to leave the country by available commercial means in view of the “evolving situation” in the region, signalling growing concern over escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia. In an advisory, the Indian Embassy in Tehran asked all Indian citizens currently in Iran, including students, pilgrims, businesspersons and RAJAJI IN, LUTYENS OUT est. The mission reiterated its earlier advisories of January 5 and January 14, urging citizens to exercise caution, avoid protest sites and demonstrations, and remain in close contact with the embassy. “All Indian nationals in Iran are requested to have their travel and immigration documents, including passports and IDs, readily available,” the advisory said, adding that those yet to register with the embassy Families in India have also been requested to assist in registration in case of Internet disruptions in Iran. The advisory comes against the backdrop of heightened regional uncertainty involving Iran, Israel and the US. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to visit Israel on February 25-26, his first trip to the country since 2017. The visit assumes significance amid continuing diplomatic manoeuvres and securi- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described Modi’s visit as a high point in bilateral ties and linked it to a broader regional security architecture. The outreach coincides with ongoing Omanmediated talks between Washington and Tehran aimed at defusing tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme. Even as diplomatic engagement continues, the security environment remains fluid. continued on page 8 Jaish’s ‘Israel Group’ wiped out in one of toughest18-mth J&K ops Arjun Sharma EXCISE DUTY RAISED, PAY MORE FOR BEER ■ Prices of the Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and beer in Punjab will rise by 5-10 per cent in the next fiscal, while rates of Punjab medium liquor (PML) will remain unchanged ■ The increase in IMFL and beer prices follows a slight hike in excise duty BUDGET SESSION FROM MARCH 6 After Covid, the wheat is being distributed (for three months) free of cost. It is learnt that a sum of Rs 1,000 crore has been set aside for this scheme by the state Finance Department. Official sources told The Tribune that the decision to start the scheme was taken in August last year. MARKFED will procure the ration by floating tenders and these food items will be deposited by dealers at the 100 godowns/covered storage points of the Food and Supply Department. Around 40,000 families, who get their wheat supply from each of these godowns once for a three-month period, will also get these additional ration kits. As soon as the ration supplies are delivered to the godowns by the vendors, Rs 250 crore for each trimester will be released to them. Mann said it was ironic that Punjab had been feeding millions of people in the country and its farmers had made the country food surplus, but many families in the state were just getting one meal a day. “Our children are under-nourished and suffer from iron deficiency. The meals they get are not rich in protein. As a welfare government, it is our duty to ensure that every citizen gets a wholesome meal,” he said. ■ Tejas faced its first crash near Jaisalmer in FILE Assembly elections are due in state in April this year New Delhi, February 23 The entire fleet of 35 Tejas fighter jets in the inventory of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is not flying and is undergoing “exhaustive maintenance checks”. Sources said the decision was taken following a crash on February 7. A jet was in the process of taking off from a forward IAF base along the western front when it veered off the runway into an adjoining mudditch, according to sources. Since the cause of the accident is not known, the fleet is undergoing maintenance checks, the sources said. records among contemporary fighter aircraft, the company added. Meanwhile, describing the incident on February 7, sources said the pilot of the single-seater aircraft was safe, but had sustained injuries in the accident as the plane was moving for take-off. The Air Force has, so far, not made an official statement on the accident, which had led to the fleet being checked. It is further learnt that a Court of Inquiry had been ordered in the incident that would established the cause behind the crash. It will be decided if the aircraft should be written off due to damages on its airframe. continued on page 8 President Droupadi Murmu unveils the bust of C Rajagopalachari, the first and only India-born Governor General of independent India, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. The bust replaced the statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens. ANI Jammu, February 23 After the elimination of three terrorists on Sunday, security forces claim to have neutralised a seven-member Jaishe-Mohammed (JeM) module, named “Israel Group”, following an 18-month operation in the high-altitude areas of J&K’s Kishtwar district. Inspector General of Police (Jammu Zone) Bhim Sen Tuti said on Monday the group had infiltrated into India in April 2024 and had since been involved in 17 engagements with security forces. “Over the last year and a half, we have successfully neutralised all seven members of this module. Sunday marked the culmination of this sustained operation,” Tuti told reporters in Kishtwar. Describing the outfit as a “hardcore terrorist group”, he said it had inflicted significant damage on security The seven terrorists eliminated by a joint team of security personnel. ANI forces. Acting on precise intelligence, the remaining three members, including self-styled commander Saifullah, were tracked and neutralised in the Chhatroo area. The operation was carried out jointly by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Counter-Insurgency Force (CIF) Delta, Major General APS Bal said the success was the result of months of coordinated and intelligencebased operations conducted in extremely challenging terrain and weather conditions. “Displaying high standards of tactical precision, seamless inter-agency coordination and continued on page 8 Shekhar Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 23 Seven persons, including a doctor, a patient and two crew members, were feared dead after a medical evacuation flight crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday evening. The aircraft, operated by Redbird Airways, went down after losing contact with air traffic control mid-air, triggering an urgent search and rescue operation. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the Beechcraft C90 aircraft had taken off from Ranchi at 7.11 pm and was headed for Delhi as part of an air ambulance service. The aircraft established contact with Kolkata air traffic control but communication was abruptly lost at around 7.34 pm. DGCA officials said the crash site was later traced to Kasaria panchayat in Chatra district. The condition of those on board was not immediately confirmed. Officials said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau would conduct a detailed probe into the circumstances leading to the crash. HCliftsstayon fraud proceedingsagainst AnilAmbani,RCom MUMBAI: In a setback to industrialist Anil Ambani, the Bombay High Court has quashed a single-Bench order that stayed proceedings against him and Reliance Communications Ltd to classify their bank accounts as fraud. A Division Bench allowed the appeals filed by three public sector banks and an auditor firm. — PTI Unfair on housewife to be called ‘idle’: HC 800 HP schools wait New Delhi, February 23 Dispelling the myth of an “idle wife”, the Delhi High Court has said a homemaker’s labour enables the earning spouse to function effectively, and it was “unjust” to disregard her contributions while deciding maintenance. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that a wife’s non-employment cannot be equated with idleness or deliberate dependence, and when determining maintenance, the law must recognise not only financial earnings but also the economic value of her contributions to the home and domestic relationship during the subsistence of marriage. “The assumption that a nonearning spouse is ‘idle’ ‘Can’t disregard her contributions for maintenance’ MANAGING HOUSEHOLD TASKS ALSO WORK ❝ Managing a household, caring for children, supporting the family…are all forms of work, even though they are unpaid and often unacknowledged. Justice Swarana Kanta, Delhi HC reflects a misunderstanding of domestic contributions. To describe non-employment as idleness is easy; to recognise the labour involved in sustaining a household is far more difficult,” the court in its judgment passed on February 16. “A homemaker does not sit idle; she performs labour that enables the earning spouse to function effectively. To disregard this contribution while adjudicating claims of maintenance would be unrealistic c m y b and unjust. “This court is, therefore, unable to agree with any view that equates nonemployment of a wife with idleness or deliberate dependence on the husband,” it said. The court made the observations while dealing with the grant of maintenance to an estranged wife under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. A magisterial court had refused to grant interim maintenance to the woman on the grounds that she was able-bodied and well-educated but had chosen not to seek employment. No relief was granted to the wife by the appellate court. The parties married in 2012, and it was alleged that the husband deserted the wife and their minor son in 2020. The husband claimed before the high court that the wife cannot sit “idle” and claim maintenance when she was capable of earning, and that he was meeting the educational expenses of their minor child. The court said the capacity to earn and actual earnings were distinct concepts, and as per settled law, mere capacity to earn was not a ground to deny maintenance. “Women who can and are willing to continued on page 8 for regular principal Subhash Rajta Tribune News Service Shimla, February 23 Around 800 government senior secondary schools across the state are functioning without principals even as 780 headmasters and lecturers were promoted as principal in December 2025. The vacancies continue as the newly-promoted principals have not been given posting by the government yet. “The promoted principals will be allotted stations in March. These schools will have regular principals by the time the new academic session begins in April,” said Education Minister Rohit Thakur. As per officials in the Educa- PROMOTED BUT NOT GIVEN POSTING ■ 780 headmasters and lectur- ers were promoted as principal in December 2025. ■ But they have not been given posting by the government yet. They will be allotted stations in March. ■ The schools will have regular principals by the time the new academic session begins in April. tion Department, the postings have been withheld to ensure there is no impact on the current academic session due to such a large-scale shifting of lecturers and headmasters. A few principals, however, refuse to continued on page 8