12052022-TTC-01.qxd 5/12/2022 12:52 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 142 NO.130 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 K-ISSUE, PAK FOREIGN MINISTER WRITES TO UN WORLD /thetribunechd 3 ULTRAS KILLED, FOUR JAWANS HURT IN ENCOUNTERS J&K PAN/AADHAAR MUST FOR JUNIOR WORLD CUP: CASH TRANSACTIONS RUDRANKKSH WINS GOLD OF ~20 LAKH BUSINESS IN AIR RIFLE EVENT SPORT thursday | 12 may 2022 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Apex court puts sedition law on hold Says it expects Centre, states not to file fresh cases under Section 124A till review Satya Prakash ‘KEEP PENDING TRIALS IN ABEYANCE’ Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 11 In a historic order, the Supreme Court on Wednesday put on hold the sedition law as it asked the Centre and states not to register any cases under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, pending a review of the colonial law. “We hope and expect that the state and Central governments will restrain from registering any FIR, continuing any investigation or taking any coercive measures by invoking Section 124A of the IPC while the aforesaid provision of law is under consideration,” a three-judge Bench led by CJI NV Ramana said. “If any fresh case is regis- ■ All pending trials, appeals and proceedings under Sec 124A should be kept in abeyance, the SC said ■ Centre is at liberty to issue directives in this regard to states to prevent misuse of Sec 124A CENTRE OPPOSES STAY ON SEDITION LAW ■ Opposing the stay on the operation of sedition law, SG Tushar Mehta suggested that future FIRs could be filed after scrutiny by SP ■ In pending cases, courts could be directed to expeditiously consider bail, he said. ■ Further hearing in the third week of July KIREN RIJIJU FLAGS LAKSHMAN REKHA We have a clear demarcation... that ‘Lakshman Rekha’ should not be crossed. Kiren Rijiju ❝ TRUTH IMPORTANT Speaking truth is true patriotism. Heeding truth is duty of the ruling class, muzzling it is arrogance. ❝ Rahul Gandhi tered under Section 124A of the IPC, the affected parties are at liberty to approach the courts concerned for appropriate relief. The courts are requested to examine the reliefs sought, taking into account the present order passed as well as the clear stand taken by the Union of India,” the Bench, which also included Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli, noted. “All pending trials, appeals and proceedings with respect to the charge framed under Section 124A of the IPC be kept in abeyance. Adjudication with respect to other Sections, if any, could proceed if the courts are of the opinion that no prejudice would be caused to the accused,” it said. The top court said the Centre was at liberty to issue directives in this regard to state governments/union territories to prevent any misuse of Section 124A of the IPC. Noting that these directions would continue till further continued on page 10 Split HC verdict on marital rape Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 11 The Delhi High Court on Wednesday delivered a split verdict on petitions seeking to declare marital rape a crime. A Division Bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice C Hari Shankar failed to agree on the constitutionality of Exception 2 to Section 275 of the IPC that treats sex with one’s wife without her consent and against her will as an exception to the crime. While Justice Shakdher declared Exception 2 to Section 375 of the IPC and two other provisions unconstitutional, Justice Hari Shankar disagreed. Having delivered dissenting verdicts, the two judges granted certificate to appeal to the Supreme Court as it TO CRIMINALISE OR NOT... ❝ It would be tragic if a married woman’s call for justice is not heard even after 162 years of the enactment of IPC. Justice Rajiv Shakdher ❝ Marriage is the most pristine institution. It is neither a playground, nor a gladiatorial arena. Justice C Hari Shankar involved substantial questions of law. Maintaining that a married woman’s right to bring the offending husband to justice needs to be recognised, Justice Rajiv Shakdher struck down Exception 2 to Section 375 and Section 376B of the IPC as also Section 198B of the code, insofar as they concern a husband/separated husband having sexual communion/intercourse with his wife not under 18 without her consent, as violative of Articles 14, 15, 19(1)(a) and 21. “It is time that all stakeholders bite the bullet. It would be tragic if a married woman’s call for justice is not heard even after 162 years, since the enactment of the IPC. To my mind, self-assured and good men have nothing to fear, if this change is sustained. If I were to hazard a guess, those amongst us who want status quo to continue would perhaps want to have the MRE (marital rape continued on page 10 6 MHA officials among No refuge to Rajapaksas, Wheat output dips, experts for cap on exports 14 held; ~3.21 cr seized won’t intervene: India Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 11 The CBI today said it had arrested 14 persons, including six officials of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and seized around Rs 3.21 crore during searches at 40 locations across the country over FCRA violations. CBI officials also seized several incriminating documents and mobile phones during the searches in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Manipur. The arrested MHA officials include Pramod Kumar Bhasin, Alok Ranjan and Md FCRA VIOLATIONS ■ They indulged in corrupt prac- tices as regards NGO’s FCRA registration and its renewal ■ The objective was to help NGOs continue receiving donations despite not fulfilling prescribed norms Saheed Khan, who were previously posted in the foreigners’ division of the MHA; besides Raj Kumar, Md Ghazanfar Ali and Tushar Kanti Roy, who were now posted in the foreigners’ division. “A case was registered on May 10 against 36 accused, including seven public servants of the foreigner’s continued on page 10 Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 11 India has made it clear that it has no desire to intervene in Sri Lankan politics even as the island country continued to face political crisis with curfew in force and its Central Bank Governor threatening to quit if stability was not restored in a fortnight. The Indian High Commission in Colombo was on Wednesday quick to squash reports in Sri Lankan media about India planning to send troops to restore order. “These reports and such views are also not in keeping with the position of the Government of India,” said the REPORTS FAKE These are fake and blatantly false reports (about refuge to Rajapaksas), devoid of any truth or substance. ❝ Indian High Commission in Colombo High Commission. On Tuesday, the High Commission dismissed media reports as well as speculation on social media that members of the embattled Rajapaksa clan would be given refuge in India. “These are fake and blatantly false reports, devoid of any truth or substance,” the High Commission has said. Himachal cops arrest Morinda man Rajinder Bhattal Vijay Inder Singla Sunil Jakhar Harsimrat Badal SECURITY OF EIGHT VVIPs PRUNED BUT SIDHU’S STAYS INSIDE Ropar, May 11 In an embarrassment to the Ropar police, a team of cops from Himachal Pradesh today arrested a resident of Morinda for allegedly putting up pro-Khalistan flags on the gates of the Vidhan Sabha complex in Dharamsala and defacing its walls on May 8. The accused, identified as Harbir Singh, alias Raju, is a tipper driver. During interrogation, he named Paramjit IN BRIEF NZ to reopen borders to all tourists by July WELLINGTON: New Zealand will reopen its borders to tourists by July, allow back cruise ships and make it easier for skilled workers to immigrate as it looks outward to the world again after Covid. PTI Delhi riots: HC notice to police on Fatima’s plea NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Delhi Police on an appeal filed by student activist Gulfisha Fatima challenging refusal of bail in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. TNS Uttar Pradesh DGP sacked for ‘neglecting work’ LUCKNOW: UP DGP Mukul Goel was on Wednesday removed from his post for neglecting work, an official statement said. He has been made the DG of Civil Defence Department, it said. PTI KHALISTAN FLAGS IN DHARAMSALA ■ Harbir Singh, alias Raju is key accused; aidePammamissing ■ Embarrassment for Ropar cops, they fail to nab culprits Singh, alias Pamma, of nearby Rurki Hiran village as his accomplice. Pamma, however, managed to escape. Both are facing several theft and drug cases. Sources said the Himachal cops had identified Raju as the main accused who put up flags in Dharamsala. Sources said Khalistan banners were also put up by unidentified persons in Ropar on April 13, but the culprits could not be traced. Ropar SSP Sandeep Garg said they were providing all help to Himachal cops. — TNS In rural Haryana, CHCs 96% short of specialists Bhartesh Singh Thakur Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 11 The community health centres (CHCs) in rural Haryana are 96 per cent short of the required strength of specialists. The Rural Health Statistics 202021 report says that against the requirement of 496, there are just 22 specialists. The specialists include sur- SEVERE CRUNCH 124 CHCs IN VILLAGES 496 SPECIALISTS NEEDED 22 CURRENTLY WORKING geons, obstetricians and gynaecologists, paediatricians continued on page 10 Obit: Sukh Ram JULY 27, 1927 – MAY 10, 2022 End of era: Former Union Minister dies at 94 Pratibha Chauhan S UKH RAM (94), one of the tallest Congress leaders of Himachal, fought adversity with grit during his political career spanning over five decades. He displayed the ability to bounce back even in the most difficult times after his BROUGHT TELECOM REVOLUTION IN HP Known to one and all as Panditji, Sukh Ram dominated the political spectrum of HP for a long time. He is credited with turning around the telecom sector in HP while being Union Telecommunication Minister in 1993-96 own party disowned him. Known to one and all as Panditji, Sukh Ram domi- nated the political spectrum of the state for a long time. He emerged as a very pow- erful leader at the Centre when PV Narasimha Rao was Prime Minister. An astute politician, who was magnanimous to not just his own party men but to all, Sukh Ram commanded a lot of respect. He is credited with revolutionising telecom services in the state as continued on page 10 New Delhi, May 11 Wheat production in the country witnessed a dip this year due to heatwave and early onset of summer. As a result, the prices of wheat flour and related products such as bread, rusks and biscuits are on the rise. Cautioning the government, experts have advised imposition of an upper limit on exports. India needs surplus stocks and private traders can’t be allowed to dictate the market, they say. “The government has no mechanism to check rising prices. The production has reduced and there will be no Flour prices up, say beware of pvt players purchase till next season. All this should be considered before allowing exports,” says Sudhir Panwar, a farm expert and former member of the UP Planning Commission. Suggesting a cap on exports, agri policy expert Devinder Sharma says while wheat prices increased 9 per cent in four years, the prices of flour went up by more than 42 per cent. “There should be an upper cap of say 12 MT on continued on page 10