HYDERABAD l Friday l April 10, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 36 l LATE CITY EDITION Restricting temple entry by denomination harms Hinduism: SC Hinduism will be adversely impacted if temples and mutts restrict entry on grounds of separate denominations inside a religion, SC said Thursday ‘state can step in under article 25(2) (b)’ specificity of denomination not good: sc A nine-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant was responding to submissions of senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan that Article 26(b) supersedes Article 25(2)(b). The SC did not agree with supremacy of Art 26(b) over 25(2b). Justice Nagarathna said the State can step in under Article 25(2)(b) to ensure access to temples for all sections ■ ■ Vaidyanathan, for devotees of Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala temple, submitted that they constitute a separate religious denomination and hence have the right to manage the temple’s affairs To his submission, Justice Nagarathna said, “... if you say only my denomination will attend the temple, that is not good for Hinduism” 9 judge constitution bench is hearing the sabarimala entry case | P7 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 Race to secure 78.27% 85.51% 89.87% energy supplies Democracy wins with record voting amid ceasefire Massive K e r a l a A s s a m turnout Pondy The SIR, which reduced the total number of voters in Kerala by a little over seven lakh, appears to have had a bearing on the voting percentage S o v i V i d ya d h a r a n , P r a s a nta M a z u m d a r & D e b j a n i D u tta @ T’Puram/ Guwahati & Puducherry India sends petroleum minister Puri to Qatar, external affairs minister Jaishankar to UAE day 41 batting for lebanon Turkey, Russia and Germany said the West Asia ceasefire should include Lebanon, which has been pummelled by ongoing Israeli attacks Pakistan praised the “restraint demonstrated by all sides” in the West Asia war, but condemned ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon IMF expects nearterm demand of up to $50 billion in financial aid from countries affected by the West Asian war Iran rules out any restrictions on its enrichment of uranium, saying the demand by the US and Israel “won’t come true” Lebanese PM declared Thursday a national day of mourning Navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be ensured with no payment or toll whatsoever... International law provides for the freedom of navigation European Union Petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri with Ambassador Vipul and a QatarEnergy official in Doha on Thursday | X J AYA N T H J ACOB @ New Delhi IN a diplomatic push amid shifting geopolitical currents in West Asia, India has dispatched two senior ministers to the Gulf, leveraging the narrow opening created by the US-Iran ceasefire. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri arrived in Qatar on Thursday for a two-day visit, while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates from April 11 to 12. Puri’s visit to Qatar reflects India’s urgency to stabilise vital supply lines as regional tensions disrupt established trade flows. A key energy partner, Qatar’s role has come into sharper focus amid shipping uncertainties, with discussions expected to ‘prioritise reliability and continuity of supplies’ rather than routine engagement, officials pointed out. India’s energy security is tied to West Asia, as half of the natural gas demand is met by LNG imports—55% of which transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a chokepoint during the war. Qatar is the single largest supplier, contributing 40% of India’s LNG imports (11.2 million tonnes in 2024-25, met through long-term deals with QatarEnergy as well as spot purchases). Dependence is similarly high for LPG, with imports meeting 60% of the demand and 90% of which also pass through Hormuz and Qatar again is the leading supplier. QatarEnergy’s declaration of force majeure has disrupted supply commitments. Along with Indian envoy to Qatar, Vipul, Qatar Energy officials too were present to receive Puri on his arrival. India’s diplomatic outreach is also anchored in protecting its vast diaspora and reinforcing strategic ties in a region that has become volatile. Over 10 million Indians reside across the Gulf, making their welfare a central concern. Jaishankar’s upcoming visit to the United Arab Emirates will aim to review bilateral cooperation and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. MLA loses `1L to fraudster E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad Cyber fraudsters relieved Jangaon MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy of `1 lakh by convincing the legislator that the deadline to apply for the Viksit Bharat Rozgar Scheme was Sunday . According to Jubilee Hills police, the MLA received a call on that Sunday (April 5) from a man claiming to be an Additional Secretary in the Finance department. The caller offered a Union government grant of `10 lakh as a loan under the scheme and stressed that Sunday was the “last day”. The caller asked for `2,500 each on behalf of 40 applicants. Reassured, the MLA transferred a total of `1 lakh. To complete the formalities, the caller even arranged a Zoom call with the MLA’s PA’s assistant to “verify” the list of beneficiaries. Extremely high voter enthusiasm became the main talking point across Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, which went to polls on Thursday, giving all major players bragging rights to anticipate a good outcome. Kerala recorded its fourthbest tally at 78.27%, with all three fronts — the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) — claiming the surge reflected a mandate in their favour. The state had seen higher tur nouts in 1960 (85.70%), 1987 (80.53%) and 1977 (79.20%). The previous Assembly election, which broke a four-decade-long trend of voting out incumbent governments, had recorded a turnout of 76%. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which reduced the total number of voters in the state by a little over seven lakh, appears to have had a bearing on the voting percentage. Constituencies that had recorded some of the lowest voter participation in 2021 — particularly in Thiruvananthapuram’s urban areas — wit- Voters at the Matha Nagar Public School near Kadavanthara in Kochi, during Kerala Assembly polls; (R) people queue up in large numbers to cast their votes at a polling station in Guwahati for the Assam Assembly elections | A Sanesh/pti nessed a marked rise in polling, with increases ranging between 7 and 11 percentage points. In Assam, the voter turnout at 8 pm stood at 85.51%, better than 82.42% in 2021 and 84.72% in 2016. The final tally is expected to creep up further. The ruling BJP and the Congress were upbeat after the unprecedented turnout on a rain-soaked day when polling was by and large peaceful. In 2016, the NDA had wrested power by dislodging the 15-year-old Cong ress government. Pointing out that the voter participation at many polling Kozhikode dist tops polling percentage Data released by the election commission in Kerala after 8 pm showed Kozhikode district recorded the highest polling percentage at 81.02%, followed by Palakkad with 80.47%. Pathanamthitta at 70.75% was the laggard. The polling process was largely smooth and peaceful across the state NEW LOW Forced into sex work by uncle, minor gangraped for over a mONth N a v e e n K u m a r Ta l l a m @ Karimnagar In what can only be described as a new low in human depravity, a minor girl was allegedly forced into prostitution by her maternal uncle and sexually assaulted by multiple persons, including staff from a private English-medium school in Jammikunta where she was studying in Class 8. According to officials, the abuse had continued for about a month. The main accused, the girl’s uncle, is alleged to have threatened her with death if she refused to comply. Police said she was taken to different places and exploited. The matter came to light after the girl’s mother contacted the child helpline. Teams from the Child Protection Society and Childline, working under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), reached the residence and rescued the girl. She was produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and underwent a medical examination at the district headquarters hospital in Karimnagar on Wednesday . Police said the girl’s father had died a few years ago, and the girl and her younger brother, both students of the same school, live with their mother. Officials from the ICDS are conducting an inquiry based on the complaint lodged by the girl’s mother. Police have registered a case against 13 persons, including two women teachers who allegedly assisted and facilitated the exploitation on a commission basis. Jammikunta police invoked Sections 6 and 17 of the POCSO Act, 2012, along with Sections 65, 70, 87, 96, 127(2), 351(2), 115(2), 74 and 77 read with 49 of the BNS. The girl and her mother have sought justice and protection, stating that they continue to receive threats from the maternal uncle. Huzurabad ACP V Madhavi told TNIE: “The investigation began on Thursday based on the FIR.” booths had crossed 95%, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described it as historic. His bete noire and Assam Congress president, Gaurav Gogoi, was equally optimistic. He expressed gratitude to people for turning out in “unprecedented numbers to vote for a change”. Puducherry saw its highestever voter turnout of 89.87%; the previous highest of 85.57% was recorded in 2011, when N Rangasamy led the All India NR Congress (AINRC) to power. He was back in the saddle after the NDA wrested power in the 2021 polls. `1.4 cr swindled using IDs of deceased cops in Karimnagar P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi In a significant endorsement of the Centre’s push to pass the amendments to the Women’s Reservation Bill, the TDP on Thursday dismissed concerns that the South would be disadvantaged by the proposed delimitation exercise, asserting that a proportional increase in Lok Sabha seats would maintain the existing balance of representation. Speaking to TNIE, TDP parliamentary party leader Lavu Krishna Devarayalu said that with a proposed 50% expansion in Lok Sabha strength, the relative share of each state would remain unchanged. “After the increase, the percentage of a state’s representation in the Lok Sabha will stay the same. For instance, Kerala now accounts for 3.6% of the total 543 seats in Lok Sabha. After a 50% increase, Kerala will retain the same percentage with 30 seats,” he said, dispelling fears of political marginalisation in the South. His remarks come amid mounting Opposition criticism that the proposed changes linked to the rollout of the Women’s Reservation bill could widen the gap between the more populous northern states and their souther n counterparts. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy chairs a review meeting on Kaleshwaram project along with Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy in Hyderabad on Thursday Express News Service @ Karimnagar A major scam involving misappropriation of government funds has been unearthed at the Karimnagar police commissionerate, where salaries were fraudulently drawn in the names of deceased staff. A Task Force probe revealed that around `1.4 crore was syphoned off. Officials said a police employee, who had earlier worked in the pay section, used the employee IDs of three deceased constables and manipulated the IFMIS portal by adding other names. The accused allegedly opened fake bank accounts, linked them to his mobile number and withdrew salaries between 2022 and 2026 and used the money for personal expenses and to clear loans. Cases have been registered at the One Town police station. On Wednesday, DGP Shivadhar Reddy had tweeted: “I have instructed every officer to serve with integrity compassion, and , accountability While many up. hold these values, recent ACB actions are a reminder that deviation will invite strict consequences. Report corruption on 1064.” On delimitation, TDP says South won’t lose out Revanth orders expedited repairs to KLIS barrages Express News Service @ Hyderabad Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday directed officials to take up repairs of the three barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project and restore them to use at the earliest, in line with the recommendations of the National Dam Safety Authority . At a review meeting with Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy Revanth asked officials , to prepare a special action plan, ensure continuous monitoring, and speed up works. He said tests and sample collection under the supervision of the Central Water and Power Research Station should be completed before the monsoon. The chief minister ordered the formation of a joint team comprising the Irrigation department, CWPRS, construction agencies and design consultants, with Central Water Commission members involved at all stages. Engineers informed him that not only the sunken pillar at Medigadda Barrage but the entire 1.6 km stretch requires study. He directed drilling of about 500 borewells near Medigadda and asked officials to prepare a plan, arrange machinery and finalise repair designs. A schedule targeting completion by December should be drawn up. He said funds would not be a constraint, instructed setting up a base camp at Medigadda, and said he would inspect the works. F o g of w a r express read Army steps up info-warfare game, psy-ops after Op Sindoor lessons Uttam asks Centre to double boiled rice quota J AVARIA RA N A @ New Delhi THE Indian Army has operationalised a dedicated Information Warfare Organisation and is in the process of expanding its psychological and cyber units down to the Corps level after absorbing lessons from Operation Sindoor, Ar my Chief General Upendra Dwivedi confirmed on Thursday . Speaking at the Ran-Sanwad tri-services dialogue in Bengaluru on Thursday, the Army chief said the new organisation comprises a Psychological Defence Division and a Command Cyber Operations Wing. “The Psychological Defence Division under a Brigadier is playing a very pivotal role,” Gen Dwivedi said, adding the Command Cyber Operations Wing would also go down to the Corps headquarters later. This means, the Army’s 14 Corpslevel formations will have their own info-warfare capabilities. The Army chief was candid General Upendra Dwivedi that this is the beginning of a longer journey . “This is phase 1. Based on this, we will move on to phase 2 and phase 3.” The phased rollout mirrors Army’s recognition that information warfare is not a monolithic challenge. Domestic operations carry a different character from what expeditionary forces face when deployed in unfamiliar territory . “When the expeditionary forces go, they have a different con- cept because they are going to an alien area. They don’t even know the culture of that area,” he said, underlining the layered complexity of perception management in foreign operational environments. A key operational decision during Operation Sindoor was to shut down all Army social media handles, leaving only the official ADG Strategic Communication channel active. “We closed on all other social media handles... so there was a single source of truth, which went from the soldier to the topman to everybody looking to get the information,” Gen Dwivedi said. This centralisation prevented adversaries from exploiting a fragmented infor mation environment. The Army is also expanding its communication footprint, including on Instagram, to create a clear and authoritative infor mation pipeline for personnel. Hyderabad: Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has requested the Centre to increase the procurement allocation to an additional 20 lakh tonnes of boiled rice — over the already approved 20 lakh tonnes target — for the 2025–26 Kharif marketing season, with 5% broken rice | P4 After KTR’s invite, Jeevan says KCR should be CM | p4