kochi l saturday l February 21, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 18 l late city EDITION No cash payments at national highway toll plazas from April Starting April, cash transactions may not be accepted at NHAI toll plazas, aiming to create a fully digital National Highway toll ecosystem will aid transparency, says centre The ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) on Friday said the transition will help to enhance ‘Ease of Commuting’ for highway users by improving lane throughput, reducing congestion at fee plazas and bringing greater consistency and transparency in toll transactions. Users are most likely to only be allowed to pay the road toll through digital or UPI mode ■ 1,150 looking at cutting cash transactions ■ As per current National Highway fee rules, vehicles entering a toll plaza without a valid, functional FASTag are charged twice the applicable user fee, if paid in cash, and 1.25 times from UPI mode These initiatives have collectively advanced the objective of reducing dependency on cash transactions and digitizing the toll framework toll plazas across the country are likely to be affected CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Welcome THE GODDESSES OF BIG THINGS Presents 21 February, 2026 5 pm Presenting Partner Associate Partner Banking Partner Shri Suresh Gopi,Union Minister of State for Petroleum, DEVI AWARDS Knowledge Partner Supporting Partner Taj Vivanta, Marine Drive, Kochi Luxury Mobility Partner Celebration Partner Natural Gas and Tourism will be presenting the awards KOCHI US SC strikes SC directs use of judicial officers in Bengal SIR down Trump’s global tariffs s u c h i t r a k a lya n m o h a n t y 2.69 cr voters in final list in Kerala @ New Delhi US President denounces the adverse ruling, announces new 10% global tariff P u s h p i ta D e y & J aya n t h j a c o b @ New Delhi IN a landmark judgment with significant implications for India’s trade outlook, the US Supreme Court has ruled that President Donald Trump acted beyond his legal authority in imposing sweeping global tariffs under emergency powers. The court held that tariffs are effectively taxes and the Constitution assigns taxation powers to the Congress, not the President. In a 6-3 decision authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court held that the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to introduce broad-based tariffs lacked Congressional authorisation. The justices ruled that IEEPA did not grant the power to the President to impose tariffs on trading partners. The court emphasized that the law of imposing tariff is only meant for use in national emergencies. Trump reacted furiously alleging that the , court was influenced by “foreign interests”. He also announced a 10% “global tariff ” under a trade law known as Section 122. In light of the US court ruling, more than half of the Indian exports will not have to pay even the 18% tariff and, therefore, India may choose not to rush to sign the Bilateral Trade Agreement, say experts. “Removal of reciprocal tariffs will free about 55% of India’s exports to the US from the 18% duty, leaving them subject only to standard MFN (most favoured nation) tariffs. On the remaining exports, Section 232 tariffs will continue — 50% on steel and aluminium and 25% on certain auto components — while products accounting for roughly 40% of export value, including smartphones, petroleum products and medicines, will remain exempt from US tariffs,” said Ajay Srivastava, founder of Global Trade Research Initiative. “The US had agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on India to 18%, which shall no longer remain relevant following the Court’s decision,” said Manoj Mishra, partner and tax controversy management leader at Grant Thornton Bharat.  (With agency inputs) India joins US-led ‘Pax Silica’ alliance Exp r e s s n e w s s e r v i c e @ New Delhi INDIA on Friday for mally joined the Pax Silica coalition, which seeks to ensure strengthen strategic technology and supply chain cooperation between India and the US, while addressing China’s dominance in the critical minerals sector. The alliance is expected to bolster India’s growing role in the semiconductor sector. “The semiconductor industry will require one million new skilled professionals, and this is a very big opportunity for India,” said Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw. In a joint statement, India and the US said they plan to deepen cooperation under the Pax Silica framework to support future supply chains. P9 18 pages, including 4 pages of kochi Express I’m ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed, for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country Donald Trump Refunds could be a mess The Treasury had collected more than $133 billion from the import tariffs Trump imposed. But Supreme Court did not clarify whether companies that paid tariffs can get a refund Critics welcome SC ruling Opponents of the tariffs are cheering it. ‘We Pay the Tariffs’ a coalition of businesses, called it a tremendous win IN a dramatic turn of events, the Supreme Court on Friday directed for deployment of judicial officers, including retired judges, for easy and smooth conduct of the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal, after noting that there was a clear lack of cooperation between the State government and the Election Commission of India (ECI). The court said it had to pass the “extraordinary order” due to “extraordinary circumstances.” The court requested the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Sujoy Paul to allot serving and former judicial officers in the rank of district judges or above for SIR duties. Chief Justice Paul has been asked to convene a meeting on Saturday, to be attended by Chief Secretary, DGP, official from the EC, Advocate General of the state, Additional Solicitor General of the Centre and Registrar General of the high court on the issue. “There is an unfortunate blame game of allegations and counter allegations which shows trust deficit between the WB government and the ECI. Now the process is stuck at the stage of claims and objections It’s nothing but vendetta: Wounded SHIRTLESS PROTEST tantri targets state govt for arrest S h a n A S @T’Puram Stirring up a hornets’ nest, tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, who was g ranted bail on Wednesday in the Sabarimala gold theft case, has accused the state government of vendetta, alleging he was implicated for opposing its move to allow women of menstrual age into the hill shrine. In his bail plea before the Kollam Vigilance Court, the tantri contended that the SIT arrested him for taking a “strong stand on preserving temple customs and rituals.” He claimed he resisted political interference and even warned he would refuse to perform rituals if any attempt was made to tamper with established customs and practices. The petition alleged that at the instance of the CPM, a few senior police officers made attempts to facilitate entry of women into the temple. It claimed that his firm stand Centre invokes Official Secrets Act to secure note printing press HQ mation or harm to the headquarters could potentially be THE Centre has designated the exploited by forces inimical to headquarters of the Security India’s interests. Printing and Minting CorporaBy bringing the premises untion of India Limited (SPMCIL) der the ambit of the Official Sein the national capital as a crets Act, authorities have “prohibited place” sought to create a under the provisions All about OSA stronger legal deterof the Official Secrets Under the OSA, areas rent against tresAct, 1923. passing, espionage designated as T he decision is prohibited are subject or other security aimed at reinforcing to heightened security violations. security at the strateThe order also curbs. Unauthorised gic installation and access, photography or clarified that it sucollection of preventing any unaupersedes an earlier information on such thorised access that notification dated premises can attract could compromise February 15, 2022, stringent action sensitive information except in cases under the Act or cause damage to where actions have the premises, officials already been taken said. under the previous directive. They said that the move is The notified premises comprise preventive in nature and in- SPMCIL Headquarters Office tended to strengthen safe- located in Tower-G of World guards around the facility and Trade Centre at Nauroji Nagar noted that any breach of infor- in Delhi. m u k e s h r a n j a n @ New Delhi We are left with hardly any option but to request Calcutta HC CJ to spare serving judicial officers along with former judicial officers who can aid in disposal of claims under logical discrepancy list — SC T’Puram: The final voters’ list for the coming assembly election in Kerala, prepared after completing SIR of electoral rolls, has 2.69 crore voters — around 9 lakh electors fewer compared to the list prior to the revision process. Of the total voters, 1.38 crore are women, 1.31 crore are men and 277 are transgender voters, Chief Electoral Officer- Kerala Rathan U Kelkar said. P6 of the persons who have been included in the logical discrepancy list,” said a three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipin Pancholi. Directing to appoint judicial officers to adjudicate claims and objections in the SIR process in WB, the top court clarfied that it was left with no other option but to involve the state judiciary for conclusion of the SIR exercise in Bengal. The court was hearing a batch of pleas challenging the ECI’s exercise of electoral rolls in West Bengal, where ECI submitted that they were not being provided well-qualified officers to conduct SIR. ‘Booked for strong stand on preserving customs’ In his bail petition submitted before the Kollam Vigilance Court, tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru contended that the SIT arrested him for taking a “strong stand on preserving temple customs and rituals.” The plea claimed that arresting him was meant to build a narrative that even the highest priest was involved in the alleged illegal transactions. against it had led to “public attacks from influential figures of the ruling front.” He further claimed that his opposition to opening the temple on all days ruffled many feathers, and that his implication in the gold heist was a retaliatory move aimed at tarnishing his reputation. The petition also alleged that booking and arresting him was meant to build a narrative that even the highest priest was involved in the alleged illegal transactions. The SIT, however, turned the tantri’s claim on its head, arguing that his assertion of supreme authority over the Sabarimala shrine underscored his responsibility — and his failure — to prevent the sacred artefacts from being handed over to the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti. Opposing the bail plea, the SIT told the court that the tantri was duty-bound to ensure that the deity’s valuable ornaments (thiruvabharanam) were not taken outside the temple premises. It argued that he was responsible for preventing the illegal entrustment of the sacred artefacts with Potti and their unlawful transfer to Smart Creations in Chennai — a chain of events that allegedly led to the misappropriation of the gold. e X P RESS NE W S SER V ICE @ New Delhi A group of Indian Youth Congress workers on Friday staged a bizarre, shirtless protest at the India AI Impact Summit, shouting slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal before being confronted by members of the public and escorted away by security personnel. The protesters were seen waving white T-shirts printed with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. Police said they had registered online and obtained QR codes to enter the venue. They allegedly concealed the T-shirts under their jackets and pulled them out dramatically when they reached Hall No. 5. The protest drew a sharp reaction from the BJP with party , spokesperson Sambit Patra saying, “For the Congress, I have just three words—topless, brainless and shameless.” IYC national president Uday Bhanu Chib defended the action, saying, “Peaceful protest is our right in a democracy, and we will continue to raise the voice of the youth.” E X P RESS REA D Forceps left inside woman after surgery: Min admits to lapses Kerala’s new IT policy opens the door to affiliated private parks Warmest February in one decade, winter shrinks in J&K Alappuzha: Health Minister Veena George has admitted serious medical negligence in the incident where a pair of artery forceps was left inside a woman’s abdomen following surgery at Alappuzha MCH. The department has initiated a high-level probe into alleged lapses. P6 Kochi: In a significant shift aimed at accelerating infrastructure growth in the technology sector, the state’s new IT policy allows the setting up of affiliated private parks — a move experts say could transform sectoral landscape without burdening public finances. P7 Srinagar: Climate change and global warming have impacted the duration and intensity of winter in Kashmir. The day temperature is being recorded between 8 and 10 degrees above normal, making it the warmest February in nearly a decade. P10 celebrating trailblazers Arabian Sea to glow with ‘Devi’ radiance Exp r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e As the setting sun paints the sky crimson on Saturday, the Arabian Sea will glow with feminine energy as The New Indian Express Group hosts the 38th edition of Devi Awards in Kochi. Set to be held at Taj Vivanta, Marine Drive, the event will see Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Tourism Suresh Gopi present the awards to 11 women achievers from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. Since its inception in 2014, the Devi Awards, held across 10 Indian cities, has celebrated more than 300 inspiring women trendsetters from various fields, including arts, sports, cinema, science, education, soc i a l s e r v i c e, a n d business. This year’s Devis from Kerala are: animal conservationist Sosamma Iype, scientist A Seema, scholar Litty Chacko, educator Nalini Chandran, visual artist P S Jalaja, Koodiyattam exponent Kapila Venu, social worker Dr P Bhanumathi, entrepreneur Reshma Suresh, heavy vehicle driver Radhamani Amma, dancer-actor Paris Laxmi, and singer Abhaya Hiranmayi. Each of them has breached gender barriers, defied social expectations and rewritten professional conventions. This is the third time that Kochi is hosting the event. The first edition in the city was held in 2016, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as the chief guest. In 2025, Governor Rajendra Vishwananth Arlekar gave away the awards. With presenting partner Adani, associate partner Joyalukkas, luxury mobility partner Volvo, banking partner Federal Bank, knowledge partner Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, supporting partner Manappuram Finance Limited, celebration partner Radico and content partner Indulge, the Devi Awards event will be a magnificent tribute to women’s empowerment and the trailblazing manifestations of ‘Devi’ radiance.