28072026-TT-01.qxd 7/27/2026 10:59 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 207 | 14 PAGES | ~6.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH 1 KILLED IN COMMUNAL CLASH IN NEPAL DISTRICT BORDERING INDIA WORLD /thetribunechd LANDSLIDE LEAVES 1.7K TRUCKS STRANDED ON SRINAGAR NH J&K LUDHIANA 2ND AMONG REMOVE ‘KALA HIRAN’ TOP NON-METRO JOB TEASER: HC ON SALMAN MARKETS BUSINESS KHAN’S PLEA BACK PAGE tuesday | 28 july 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Agitation doesn’t justify police excesses, peaceful protest constitutional right: SC CJI Bench seeks uniform norms, says all lives, including of cops, valuable Kejriwal steps up anti-E20drive,calls townhallonAug1 Shekhar Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 27 The Supreme Court on Monday observed that the right to hold peaceful protests is protected under the Constitution and that police excesses during demonstrations cannot be justified merely because an agitation is underway. A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana made the oral observations while hearing a batch of petitions seeking nationwide guidelines to regulate peaceful protests in the wake of police action against protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and in Bihar. The Chief Justice said the constitutional right to peaceful protest could not be denied and emphasised that an agitation, by itself, could not become a reason for the use of excessive force by the police. He said that democratic protests also required self-discipline and observed that every protest should not end in a lathicharge. The Bench also underlined that the lives of all individuals, including police personnel, were equally valuable. Justice Bagchi remarked that the safety of every person, irrespective of who they were, must be protected. Appearing for one of the petitioners, advocate Fauzia Shakil alleged that security continued on page 10 Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 27 Stepping up its campaign against the E20-blended fuel issue, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday called a “National Town Hall Against E20” to be held on August 1 at the Constitution Club here. Addressing a press conference, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal began by congratulating the youth on the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his wife Gitanjali Angmo pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi on Monday following his discharge from Gurugram’s Medanta Hospital. PTI CBI skips first NEET fast-track court hearing; Cong slams PM CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka at a press conference in New Delhi. MANAS RANJAN BHUI CJP warns of fresh protest if FIRs against students not withdrawn Surya S Pillai Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 27 The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday announced a fresh round of protests if the government fails to keep its promise of withdrawal of FIRs against the protesters. “Since the day we called off the protest, we have been pressing the government for the withdrawal of FIRs against the protesters and organisers. Union Minister JP Nadda assured us that a 980 CRIMINALS AT PROTEST, SAY COPS Scrutiny of 2,873 people at the CJP protest has revealed 980 of them have previous criminal records, including cases of murder, robbery, rape, kidnapping, illegal firearms and narcotics, according to police analysis. PTI written agreement in this regard would be provided by Tuesday. If it does not reach us, we will be forced to revolt again,” CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said at a press conference here. “We are even ready to move court if the FIRs are not withdrawn,” he added. The CJP also launched ‘Saakshi’ portal to gather evidence of police brutalities against the students during the NEET paper leak protests on July 20. The party also said that it was making a database of lawyers willing to help the students booked for the protests across the country. continued on page 10 “The youth of this country forced an arrogant government to bow, and Pradhan had to resign before the people. I now urge the PM to also resolve the E20-blended petrol issue. People are facing serious problems. Their vehicles are getting damaged and fuel efficiency is declining. Before this issue grows bigger, I request the PM to take the initiative and resolve it,” he said. The event, scheduled to begin at 12 noon, will bring together experts, vehicle owners and concerned citizens to discuss the impact of E20 petrol and chart the future course of the campaign, he said. Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 27 The first hearing in the NEET (UG)-2026 paper leak case before the newly constituted fast-track court ended without substantive proceedings on Monday after no lawyer appeared for the CBI, prompting the court to direct the agency’s Director of Prosecution to appoint a public prosecutor. Special Judge Anu Grover Baliga of the Rouse Avenue Courts issued the direction while hearing the bail pleas of accused Dinesh Biwal and Vikas Biwal. In the absence of CBI representation, the court adjourned the matter to August 3. The proceedings marked the first hearing before the special fast-track court constituted on July BJP MPs give hero’s welcome to Govtmovesanti-paper GOLDEN ousted minister Pradhan in Parl leak Bill amid din in LS SHOT Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 27 Two days after he resigned as the Education Minister amid students’ protests over accountability around the NEET (UG)2026 paper leak, Dharmendra Pradhan returned to Parliament to a hero’s welcome by his party even as the Congress questioned the BJP’s public praise for him. Soon as he alighted from the car in the Parliament House complex this morning, a group of BJP MPs, including party general secretary Tarun Chugh, greeted the former minister. Quick felicitations followed with one saffron MP placing a shawl around Pradhan’s shoulders and another presenting him a decorative headgear. The ruling party parliamentarians then ushered the two-time Sambalpur Lok Sabha MP into the Low- Miscreants throw petrol bomb at SangrurBJPoffice SANGRUR: A petrol bomb was hurled by unidentified persons at the BJP office in Punjab’s Sangrur district, an incident which drew sharp reactions from the saffron party. The BJP alleged growing audacity of criminals has become the “hallmark” of AAP rule. Police said no one was hurt in the incident. They said efforts were on to trace the culprits and several police teams had been constituted to crack the case. — TNS Oppn Congress fumes, calls it ‘insult to students’ BJP MPs greet former minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Parliament. PTI er House amid “Pradhan zindabad” slogans. Not too far from where Pradhan was being feted stood Congress MPs who framed the salutations to the former minister as an “insult to the students”. But the unfazed BJP made it known that it stood firmly by Pradhan, who, it said, had resigned in the interests of the country and students, and displayed moral courage. Even after he arrived inside the Lok Sabha, several BJP leaders closed in around Pradhan to mark their presence. continued on page 10 New Delhi, July 27 The impasse in the Lok Sabha over the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, is expected to end on Tuesday after Speaker Om Birla secured consensus of leaders from all political parties to take up the proposed legislation for discussion. Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh introduced the Bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday. However, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day on Monday without taking up the Bill, as Opposition members continued protests demanding the government’s response to the use of brute force by the Delhi Police against students during the July 20 march to Parliament. Birla had asked Likely to be taken up for discussion today the government and the Opposition to resolve their differences before 5 pm so the debate could begin. He said six hours had been allocated for discussion. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress of refusing to participate in the debate despite repeatedly demanding a discussion on the NEET paper leak. Addressing Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Rijiju said the government had expected senior Congress leaders to ensure their MPs joined the discussion on a Bill that directly concerns the future of students. Rijiju said, “All members have come prepared. Several members from continued on page 10 deferred because the CBI’s lawyer failed to appear, alleging that while the government focused on “reel-making”, it lacked seriousness in securing justice for students affected by the paper leak. The Congress said the episode exposed the gap between the Prime Minister’s promises and the government’s functioning, claiming that students were still waiting for accountability despite repeated assurances. Echoing the party’s criticism, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh said, “On July 23, the Delhi High Court set up a special fast-track court in the Rouse Avenue complex to hear the NEET (UG)-2026 paper leak case. Tellingly, the CBI failed to dispatch a legal continued on page 10 IndiGoflightmakes emergencylanding aftersmoke scare 40 HITS Aksheev Thakur Tribune News Service 23 under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to exclusively try offences under the law and related cases. Advocate AP Singh appeared for Dinesh and Vikas. The two are among the 13 accused arrested by the CBI over the alleged leak of the NEET (UG) question paper before the examination. All accused remain in judicial custody till August 6. On July 17, the predecessor court had sought the CBI’s response to the bail pleas. The development triggered a political attack from the Congress, which accused the Narendra Modi government of failing to match its claims with action. In a statement, the party said the very first hearing before the fasttrack court had to be ESHA SINGH (21) secured the gold in women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou on Monday Shekhar Singh Nitin Gadkari moves HC over posts linking family to E20 fuel gains the Hyderabadborn fast-rising shooter registered to seal the gold BRONZE FOR MANU BHAKER Esha upstaged Paris 2024 double Olympic-medallist MANU BHAKER, who settled for the bronze | 28 hits the Jhajjar native finished with for the bronze Sonia, Rahul get 3 weekstoreplytoED pleainHeraldcase GURINDERVIR CRASHES OUT India’s fastest man GURINDERVIR SINGH (25) of Jalandhar crashed out of CWG 100m after underwhelming timing of 10.39s left him 28th overall in the heats SILVER LINING Weightlifter GYANESHWARI YADAV won the silver in the women’s 53kg event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Monday. The 23-year-old belongs to Bhondiya village in Chhattisgarh Akal Takht tells gurdwaras Haryana land records go online, get copy for ~100 not to allow yoga sessions New system eliminates need for visits to revenue offices Tribune News Service Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 27 Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Kuldeep Singh Gargaj has said that yoga has no place in Sikhism. He has advised gurdwara managements not to permit yoga sessions on gurdwara premises, including in langar and diwan halls. Addressing the morning congregation at Manji Sahib Diwan Hall, Gargaj said some Sikh youths had recently approached him to express concern that yoga sessions were being organised in certain gurdwaras, where participants performed various postures and breathing exercises. Clarifying the Sikh viewpoint, he said the literal meaning of yoga is to unite with God, but what is commonly being practised today is physical exercise. “There is no objection if someone wishes to exercise at home. However, conducting yoga continued on page 10 Chandigarh, July 27 The Haryana Government has launched an online system enabling citizens to apply for and obtain digitally certified copies of ‘jamabandi’, mutation, ‘fard badar’ and registered sale deeds without visiting revenue offices. Financial Commissioner, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Sumita Misra, said the department had operationalised a new module on the Revenue Haryana Portal, enabling citizens to access c m y b certified land records through a simple online process. She said instructions had been issued to all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to ensure uniform implementation across the state. Explaining the process, Sumita said applicants could log in to the portal using their registered mobile number and OTP authentication. They could submit applications by selecting the required document and enter- NEW DELHI: A Dubai-Mumbai IndiGo flight carrying 194 passengers and crew members made an emergency landing at the Rajkot International Airport in Gujarat on Monday after smoke was detected in the cargo hold area, airport authorities said. All passengers were evacuated safely, while technicians began examining the plane to ascertain the cause of the smoke, the police said. — TNS ing details such as district, tehsil and village, she said. Every application will generate a unique tracking ID and be forwarded electronically to the patwari or revenue official concerned for verification. Once the application is approved and the prescribed fee is paid online, the digitally certified document will be generated automatically and made available for download from the applicant’s dashboard. A uniform fee of Rs 100 will be charged for certified copies of mutation, registered sale deeds and fard badar, irrespective of the length of the document. For jamabandi, a fee of Rs 100 will be applicable for the first 10 pages, while an additional Rs 5 per page will be charged for every page thereafter. Haryana Revenue Minister Vipul Goel said, “The initiative forms part of the state’s broader efforts to modernise revenue administration and deliver government services through technology-driven, citizen-friendly platforms.” NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday granted three weeks to senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others to respond to a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenging a trial court order that refused to take cognisance of its chargesheet against them in the National Herald-linked money laundering case. — TNS UP teacher burns 5-year-old’spvtparts forurinatinginpants VARANASI: A nursery teacher at a private school in Varanasi allegedly branded a five-yearold boy on his private parts with a heated knife after he urinated in his pants when he was denied permission to use the restroom. An FIR was registered against the teacher, the principal and the school management on a complaint filed by the child’s father. — PTI