22072025-TTB-01.qxd 7/22/2025 12:41 AM 13 IRAN CONFIRMS N-TALKS WITH EUROPE WORLD /thetribunechd Page 1 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 201 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 tuesday | 22 july 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com V-P Dhankhar quits In letter to Prez, says demitting office to ‘prioritise health care’ Comesdaysafterhesaidhe’dretire in ’27 subject to divine intervention Process to remove Justice Varma set in motion with MPs’ notices MONSOON SESSION Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar greets members on the first day of the monsoon session. PTI MORE TO IT THAN MEETS THE EYE: CONG The sudden resignation of V-P & RS Chairman is as shocking as it is inexplicable…. No doubt he has to give priority to his health. But clearly there is far more to it than meets the eye. Jairam Ramesh, CONGRESS GENERAL SECRETARY THIRD TO RESIGN WHILE IN OFFICE ❝ Jagdeep Dhankhar is the third Vice-President after VV Giri & R Venkataraman to quit the post while in office; Giri & Venkataraman had resigned from the post to run for Prez. A senior lawyer, Dhankhar had earlier served as the Governor of West Bengal. In his resignation letter to the President, Dhankhar wrote, “To prioritise healthcare and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice-President of India effective immediately in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.” He expressed gratitude to Presi- dent Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while hailing India’s rise as a global power. As per the Constitution, a Vice-President may resign from office by writing under his hand addressed to the President. Since the Vice-President is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, his duties will now be performed by Deputy Chairman Harivansh. WHAT NEXT As per Article 68(2) of the Constitution, if the Vice-President’s post falls vacant due to death, resignation, removal or any other reason, an election must be held as soon as possible. The person elected will serve a full five-year term from the date they take office, subject to Article 67. The Vice-President’s post must be filled through an election as soon as possible. Sources at the Vice-President’s House said Dhankhar’s resignation followed a series of health issues he had faced since undergoing angioplasty at AIIMS, New Delhi, in March. During a recent official visit to Nainital, he reportedly fainted. continued on page 8 New Delhi, July 21 Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Monday presented notices of motion to the presiding officers of the respective houses to remove Justice Yashwant Varma, embroiled in the cash-at-judge’s house case. While 145 MPs, cutting across party lines, presented the motion to LS Speaker Om Birla, 63 MPs did so in the RS. Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, hours continued on page 8 Punjab hikes land pooling payout to woo irate farmers CHANDIGARH: As opposition grows against the land pooling policy, the Punjab Government on Monday announced an increase in compensation for farmers who voluntarily give up their land for acquisition, raising the amount from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 per acre. Farmers in 164 villages, where the government plans to acquire 65,533 acres, have been assured that this enhanced payout will continue to be paid per year until development begins. TNS c m y b NUMERICAL CRITERION MET It is signed by over 50 members of the Council of States and thus, it meets the numerical requirement of signing by MPs for setting in motion a process for removal of HCjudge.Jagdeep Dhankhar ❝ Aditi Tandon New Delhi, July 21 Days after he said he would retire in August 2027 subject to divine intervention, VicePresident Jagdeep Dhankhar, 74, resigned from office on Monday. The abrupt resignation, tendered to President Droupadi Murmu on health grounds, sent political circles into overdrive with speculation over what may have transpired between July 10 — when the 14th V-P speak, ing at JNU, said he would retire in 2027 — and today, when he suddenly stepped down citing health issues. He is the third sitting VicePresident in Indian history to resign before completing his term, which was to end on August 10, 2027. Previously, VV Giri stepped down from the vice-presidency on July 20, 1969, to contest the presidential election following President Zakir Husain’s demise. He then served as acting President and was later elected to the top post. R Venkataraman resigned as Vice-President in July 1987 after being elected President. He had served as Vice-President from August 1984 to July 1987 and went on to hold the presidency until July 1992. Dhankhar, addressing a conference at Jawaharlal Nehru University on July 10, had said, “I will retire in August 2027 subject to divine intervention.” EX-CM ACHUTHANANDAN PASSES AWAY BACK PAGE Justice Yashwant Varma He’s stillajudge,SCtellslawyer notusingJusticebeforeVarma Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 21 The Supreme Court on Monday took strong exception to a lawyer referring to Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court as ‘Varma’, saying he’s still a high court judge. “Is he your friend? He is still Justice Varma. How do you address him? Have some decorum. You are referring to a learned judge. He is still a judge of the court,” a Bench led by Chief Justice of India continued on page 8 Govtagreesto16-hr Pahalgam attack debate next week Animesh Singh and Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 21 The government on Monday agreed to list a discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha next week after the Congress-led Opposition stalled the Lower House proceedings on day one of the OPPN FOR DISCUSSION UNDER RULES THAT ENTAIL VOTING monsoon session seeking an immediate debate on the issue and a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Rajya Sabha, too, witnessed a walkout, led by Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge on the matter. The decision to debate continued on page 8 HC sets aside conviction of 12 for Mumbai train blasts that killed 187 Mumbai, July21 The Bombay High Court on Monday quashed the conviction of 12 persons in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case and acquitted them, noting the prosecution “utterly failed” to prove the case. The judgment comes 19 years after the terror attack that shook the city’s Western Railway network, resulting in the loss of 187 lives and leaving 824 injured. A special bench of Justices Anil Kilor continued on page 8 edit: no closure 7 EXPLOSIONS & LENGTHY COURT BATTLE JULY 11, 2006: Seven blasts rock 7 Mumbai trains in 7 mins, killing 187 JULY-AUG: Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrests 13 suspects NOV 30: Chargesheet filed against 30, including 13 Pak nationals SEPT 11, 2015: Special court convicts 12 of the 13 accused, acquits one SEPT 30: Court imposes death penalty on five, gives life term to seven OCT: All 12 move the Bombay HC against conviction, sentences JUNE 2024: One of the convicts moves HC seeking speedy hearing JAN 31, 2025: Special Bench of Bombay HC completes hearing JULY 21: HC acquits all 12 persons
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).
