06022024-TT-01.qxd 05-02-2024 23:04 13 INDIA BEAT ENGLAND BY 106 RUNS IN 2ND TEST SPORT /thetribunechd Page 1 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 36 | 18 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH tuesday | 6 february 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Murder of democracy: SC on ‘tampering’ in UT mayoral poll Says Returning Officer must appear on Feb 19 to explain his conduct Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 5 Terming the alleged defacing of ballot papers in the Chandigarh mayoral polls by the Returning Officer as the “murder of democracy”, the Supreme Court on Monday asked him to appear before it on February 19 to explain his conduct. “Please tell your Returning Officer that the Supreme Court is watching over him. We will not allow democracy to be murdered like this. The only thing… the great stabilising force in the country is the purity of the electoral process,” an angry Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Returning Officer, after watching a video clip of his alleged misdeeds. “We are simply appalled by what has happened…. Is this MUST PROSECUTE RO ❝ It is obvious that he (the RO) has defaced the ballot papers. This man should be prosecuted Justice DY Chandrachud, CJI ‘HC FAILED TO PASS APT INTERIM ORDER’ ■ The CJI-led Bench faulted the Punjab and Haryana High Court for not taking immediate remedial measures ■ “Prima facie, we are of the view that an appropriate interim order was warranted, which the HC failed to pass to protect the purity of the electoral process,” it said MC’s FEB 7 MEETING STANDS DEFERRED POLL RECORD TO BE PLACED IN HC CUSTODY Top court also ordered that “the ensuing meeting of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, which is to take place on February 7, 2024, shall stand deferred, pending further orders of this court”. SC ordered that the poll record such as ballot papers, videography of the electoral process be sequestered under the custody of HC Registrar General by 5 pm on Monday the behaviour of a Returning Officer? He looks at the camera and defaces the ballot and, obviously, where there is a cross at the bottom, he just keeps it into the tray. The moment there is a cross at the top, the man defaces the ballot and then looks at the camera to see who’s looking at him,” the CJI said, coming down heavily on the Returning Officer. “The Returning Officer shall remain present before this Court on the next date of listing to explain his conduct as it appears in the video,” the Bench ordered. BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar had bagged 16 votes against the 12 received by the Congress-AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar after eight votes were rejected in the January 30 polls to elect the Mayor of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. Issuing notice on Kumar’s petition challenging the results and seeking fresh election, the top court directed that the entire record pertaining to the election of the continued on page 10 BJP likely to field 90% of ministers who are RS MPs 370 seats for BJP, 400+ for NDA: PM Modi wagers clean sweep Aditi Tandon Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 5 About 90 per cent ministers who are Rajya Sabha members are likely to be fielded in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with the ruling BJP of the view that the government’s public faces must prove their electoral mettle. The list of RS MP ministercontestants could include big faces such as Piyush Goyal (Commerce Minister), Dharmendra Pradhan (Education), Mansukh Mandaviya (Health), Hardeep Puri (Urban Development), Bhupender Yadav (Environment) continued on page 10 New Delhi, February 5 Vowing transformative decisions in his third term and India’s assured position as the world’s third largest economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday predicted a landslide for the National Democratic Alliance in the upcoming General Election and said the BJP would bag 370 seats and the ruling coalition more than 400 out of 543. “You will be seen in the visitors’ gallery of Parliament next…,” said Modi pointing towards the Opposition as he singled out the Congress and late Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi for a blistering attack on election eve. The PM was replying continued on page 10 IN BRIEF HC upholds summons to Kejri in defamation case NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC has upheld summons to CM Arvind Kejriwal in a criminal defamation case for retweeting a “defamatory” video circulated by a YouTuber in 2018. PTI Will remove 50% cap on reservation: Rahul NEW DELHI: In a major announcement ahead of the polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the 50% cap on reservation would be removed if INDIA bloc was voted to power. BACK PAGE SC notice to Centre over Haryana plea on quota NEW DELHI: The SC on Monday issued a notice to the Centre on Haryana Government’s plea challenging the HC’s order striking down 75% domicile quota in private jobs. TNS PM Modi replies to the ‘Motion of Thanks’ on President’s Address in LS. PTI NEHRU, INDIRA TREATED INDIANS ‘MEANLY’ ■ In direct attack on Nehru & Indira, PM says they treated Indians ‘meanly’ and saw them as ‘lazy & complacent’ ■ PM vows to make country’s economy third largest in the world during the third tenure of his government ■ Says despite Oppn attacks, his war on corruption will continue; counters charge of misuse of probe agencies 3RD LARGEST ECONOMY IN 3RD TERM (as ❝ I promise Indians will not have to wait for 30 yearslargest predicted by ex-FM Chidambaram) to see country as third global economy. This will happen in my third term. Narendra Modi, PM Champai wins trust vote in Jharkhand New Delhi, February 5 Jharkhand’s JMM-led coalition government headed by Chief Minister Champai Soren on Monday passed the floor test, getting 47 votes in the 81-member Assembly, where the majority mark is 41. Twenty-nine votes were cast against the Champai Soren government in the trust vote, which was held five days after the dramatic arrest of former Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged money laundering case related to a land scam. Before his arrest on January 31, Hemant had 47 legislators vote for govt, 29 against it Jharkhand CM Champai Soren & ex-CM Hemant Soren in Ranchi. PTI named Champai Soren as his successor, however Governor continued on page 10 10 FIRs filed against 100 landowners over illegal colonies Gurugram, February 5 In a major crackdown against land-grabbers, the Department of Town and Country Planning has got 10 FIRs registered against 100 landowners for illegally carving out 15 colonies in Gurugram district. Of the 15 illegal colonies, six are in Farrukhnagar, three in Pataudi, two in Sohna, one each in Bhondsi, Sidhrawali, Bilaspur and Bohdakalan. Before taking action against the land owners, the department carried out several demolition drives and issued warnings to violators, but to no avail. INSIDE High five for Indians at Grammys; Zakir Hussain bags 3 AWARDS ACROSS 3 CATEGORIES Nonika Singh Chandigarh, February 5 Sound of Indian music has been winning the West for a long time. The first Grammy win came when sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar received one in 1968. Others too have walked the same hall of fame. More recently there has been a consistent acknowledgement of Indian musicians at what is considered music’s biggest night, the most prestigious music awards, The Grammys. With five Indians — Rakesh Chaurasia, Shankar Mahadevan, Ganesh continued on page 10 MUIZZU SEEKS TO RECLAIM ‘LOST AREAS’ BACK PAGE 1 2 3 BEST GLOBAL MUSIC ALBUM THIS MOMENT Zakir Hussain | Shankar Mahadevan | Ganesh Rajagopalan | Selvaganesh Vinayakram BEST CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM AS WE SPEAK Béla Fleck | Edgar Meyer | Zakir Hussain| Rakesh Chaurasia BEST GLOBAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE PASHTO Béla Fleck | Edgar Meyer | Zakir Hussain | Rakesh Chaurasia TOP MUSIC HONOURS From left: Shankar Mahadevan, Ganesh Rajagopalan, Ustad Zakir Hussain and V Selvaganesh of fusion group Shakti with Grammy award for Best Global Music Album. PTI ALBUM OF THE YEAR MIDNIGHTS Taylor Swift RECORD OF THE YEAR FLOWERS Miley Cyrus SONG OF THE YEAR WHAT WAS I MADE FOR? Billie Eilish BEST NEW ARTIST Victoria Monét c m y b