VILLUPURAM  TUESDAY  JANUARY 19, 2021  `7.00  PAGES 12  CITY EDITION CHINESE ECONOMY GROWS 2.3% IN 2020, BUCKS GLOBAL TREND China, the 1st to be hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and the earliest to recover too, registered 6.5% growth in the 4th quarter of 2020 SIZE OF GDP SWELLS TO $15.42 TRILLION ONLY MAJOR ECONOMY TO GROW LAST YEAR GDP of the world’s second-largest economy grew to $15.42 trillion in 2020, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The growth, though the lowest in 45 years, is a remarkable achievement considering the country’s economy had suffered a 6.8% slump in the first quarter in 2020 after it went into lockdown following the Wuhan virus outbreak ■ ■ ■ Chinese economy staged a steady recovery on the back of radical virus containment measures and emergency relief for businesses China is the only major global economy to have grown last year China’s job market also grew at 5.6%, creating 11.86 million new urban jobs in 2020, completing 131.8% of the whole-year target 8.2% PROJECTED GROWTH OF CHINA’S ECONOMY IN 2021 CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ WARANGAL ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI EPS meets Shah Dispose off domestic violence cases in 60 days: HC in Delhi amid alliance whispers H A R I S H M U R A L I @ Chennai CM to meet PM Narendra Modi today; Jayakumar, Shanmugam part of delegation THE Madras High Court on Monday observed that a criminal colour is being unwittingly given to cases booked under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, because the petitions are dealt with by criminal courts, even though the nature of rights protected under the Act are purely civil in nature. The court observed that applications for interim relief under the Domestic Violence Act are not criminal com- plaints, and directed respective Magistrates to dispose of such applications within 60 days. The issue pertains to a batch of pleas pending at the Madras High Court for several years, seeking an interim stay to the criminal proceedings initiated against them for cases filed under the said Act. The court found out that around 1,000 such cases were pending, in which a majority of them have come to a grinding halt, without any BOMBAY HC FINDS MEDIA TRIAL IN RAJPUT CASE CONTEMPTUOUS Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami greets Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Monday EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Chennai BARELY two months after the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah’s high-octane visit to Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami called on him in New Delhi on Monday The two lead. ers are learnt to have discussed the political situations in the State. The 45-minute meeting assumes significance after the CM had sprung a surprise during Shah’s November visit by announcing that the AIADMKBJP alliance would continue for the 2021 Assembly elections. Palaniswami was accompanied by Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar at the meeting, where Chief Secretary K Shanmugam and Chief Minister’s Secretaries were also present. It could not be ascertained whether the Chief Minister had a one-on-one discussion with Shah. The CM is, however, scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday at 10.30 am. The meetings with the BJP’s top brass assume significance as there are expectations of finalising the alliance between the two parties, ahead of the upcoming polls. After the joint announcement of Palaniswami and Panneerselvam on November 21 that the alliance would continue, no further progress in talks have happened between the parties. The BJP has also been planning to schedule high profile visits to the State ahead of the elections as the party is keen to contest a good number of seats. The BJP is also particularly strategising on ways to keep the DMK at bay. While both the parties are likely to continue alliance talks in coming weeks, including the scope of other smaller parties, the CM is likely to invite Modi to visit TN at an earlier day to inaugurate a slew of projects. Meanwhile, speaking at the AIADMK’s Amma Peravai meeting on the arrangements to be made for the celebration of former CM J Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary, deputy CM and party coordinator O Panneerselvam said: “Issues are bound to happen even in families with just two or three siblings. The AIADMK has nearly 1.5 crore cadre. We have to set aside our differences and work for the party’s victory in the elections.” His remarks had triggered speculation about AMMK joining hands with the AIADMK ahead of the polls. FIRST WOMAN FIGHTER PILOT WILL BE PART IN R-DAY PARADE Flight lieutenant Bhawana Kanth will be part of this year’s R-Day parade, the first woman fighter pilot to do so. Rafale fighter jets too will be part of the Indian Air Force’s flypast this year — also a first | P7 E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Mumbai THE Bombay High Court on Monday held the media trial by Republic TV and Times Now against Mumbai Police in the case pertaining to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput was prima facie contemptuous. “Criticism of city police by TV media was unfair, in view of the material placed on record. The city police was at the very basic stage of probe,” the court said. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice G S Kulkarni observed that the media ought to avoid discussions and debates relating to criminal investigations and said they should confine themselves to informative reports in such matters in public interest. During the hearing of the matter over last six months, the high court had expressed concerns over media trial. It asked the media not to cross boundaries, and indicated that it will lay down guidelines. The court said trial by Investigator, media interferes with the prosecutor criminal investigation and and judge runs counter to the code “If you become framed under the Cable TV the investigator, Act. It directed that the prosecutor and Press Council of India’s the judge, what guidelines on crime reportare we here for?” ing be made applicable to the bench had electronic media as well till asked the the electronic media foradvocates mulates its own norms. representing The bench said the meRepublic TV dia should observe restraint in discussions about ongoing investigations so as not to prejudice the rights of the accused and witness. It said publishing an alleged confession by an accused as if it is admissible evidence without letting the public know about its inadmissibility should be avoided. Calling for sensitivity in suicide reportage, the bench advised against character assassination of the victim. Also, reconstructing of crime scenes, interviews with potential witnesses and leaking of sensitive and confidential information should be avoided. FIVE-STAR Speechless Siraj rises above tears and jeers S W A R O O P S W A M I N AT H A N @ Chennai BEING in hard quarantine in a foreign land while grieving the loss of a family member can be soul crushing. The easier option is to go back, to comfort as well as be comforted. Being racially abused is dispiriting. It can leave one feeling worthless. Leading the bowling attack in just the third Test can be equally daunting, in a different way . It’s fair to say Mohammed Siraj aced that latest challenge, becoming just the fifth Indian bowler to grab a five-for at The Gabba. Even though India may not chase down 328 (if weather relents) on the final day to win the series, Siraj held his end of the bargain on the fourth day of the final Test against Australia. And how. His latest act in what has been an emotional series left the Hyderabadi speechless. He visibly struggled to hold back the tears while returning with the match ball. The tears, though, also told a wider story of his struggles. His father died days after India landed in Sydney in November. The son of an autorickshaw driver, the 26-year-old driver hadn’t even bowled with a proper cricket ball till seveneight years. He spent his time playing tennis ball cricket, admitting that concepts like seam and swing were alien to him. But, thanks to a common trait running through this Indian team — ability to fight and create your own destiny — he has fought his way through the system. Through tennis ball tournaments. Through Ranji Trophy Through India A tours. . Through the IPL. Through a tragedy Through racial abuse. . At the Gabba, he went to fight for his father’s dreams and his dreams. He emerged with a smile on his face and happy tears down his eyes. “My dad had wished that his son would play and the entire world would watch him,” he said after the day’s play “I hope he could have . been there to watch this day Be. cause of his blessings I have got a five-wicket haul. I am speechless. I got strength after talking to mom and my focus was on realising my dad’s dreams.” India chase 328 on Day 5 India were set a challenging target to chase on the final day of Brisbane Test. If India manage to draw against hosts, they will retain the BorderGavaskar trophy | P11 13 wkts No of wickets for Siraj in this series, the highest by an Indian progress for over three years. Justice Anand Venkatesh, in his order, observed: “... faulty understanding of the nature of the proceedings has given rise to a tendency to misuse these proceedings as a ‘weapon of harassment’ against parties who are unrelated to the proceedings, by making them stand before a Magistrate like accused persons. It is on account of this abuse that a deluge of petitions came to be filed for quashing the proceedings under Section 12 of the Domestic Violence Act.” The court also cited various High Court and Supreme Court judgments, and said, “A Magis- BATTING FOR THE VICTIMS This comes almost a year after the HC had ordered that magistrates need not insist on Domestic Incidence Report, and delay taking cognisance of victims’ applications trate cannot, therefore, treat an application under the Act, though it is a complaint case under the CrPC.” The court stressed on the point that it was not mandatory for the Magistrate to issue notices to all parties arrayed as respondents, in an application under Section 12 of the Act. In cases involving relatives and other third parties to the matrimonial relationship, the court said that the Magistrate must set out reasons that have impelled them to issue notice to such parties. Didi’s Nandigram googly FIR FILED Tandav cast, to upset Suvendu’s plans crew forced to Mamata’s game plan Mamata wants to confine Suvendu’s campaigning to Nandigram She also wants to cut the Adhikari family’s influence in the district. Suvendu’s younger brother Dibyendu and father Sisir Adhikari are TMC Lok Sabha members from Tamluk and Kanthi. Both gave Banerjee’s Nandigram rally on Monday a miss EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Kolkata UPPING her game in the upcoming West Bengal elections, Trinamool Congress supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said she would contest from Nandigram against her once trusted lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP last month. It was Nandigram, the epicentre of farmers’ movement, that propelled her to power 10 years ago. “It is my lucky place. I will contest from here,” she said while addressing a rally in Nandigram, adding that she would also contest from her own Bhowanipore constituency in south Kolkata. Banerjee’s is a political move to challenge the Adhikari family members, who claim to be the king makers in the district with 16 seats. A senior TMC leader said Mamata wants to confine Suvendu’s political activities to Nandigram. “The BJP has assigned Suvendu to secure victory in all 35 seats in East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Jhargram districts. The CM’s announcement is a pressure tactic as Suvendu’s political activities will be confined to East Midnapore district,” the TMC leader added. Accepting Mamata’s dare, Sunvendu said he will defeat her by 50,000 votes or he will quit politics. The Bengal unit of the BJP said the decision shows Mamata’s ‘nervousness’. EXPRESS READ Pondy Assembly adopts resolution for Statehood Puducherry: The ruling Congress party adopted a resolution in the Puducherry Assembly on Monday, urging the Centre to grant Statehood to the UT. CM V Narayanasamy said, it was a must for implementing schemes | P4 Schools in TN to reopen for classes 10, 12 today BACK TO SCHOOLS A scene from Chennai’s Presidency Girls Higher Secondary School on Monday ahead of the reopening | PC MOULI PRIYA Chennai: As schools get ready to reopen on Tuesday, the health department directed all students and faculty to be screened for Covid within a week. Students must also be given multivitamin tablets, said a statement. issue apology EXPRESS NEW SERVICE @ Lucknow/Patna/New Delhi AT least three criminal complaints were filed in various parts of the country against Saif Ali Khan starrer web series Tandav, forcing its cast and crew to issue an apology on Monday evening. While an FIR was filed in Lucknow, two complaints were lodged with the courts in New Delhi and Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of Hindus and promoting discord among communities. The series, released on Jan 15 and aired on Amazon Prime, is said to be a commentary on the prevailing political situation of the country Other than . Khan, the other prominent actors are Dimple Kapadia, Gauhar Khan, Sunil Grover and Zeeshan Ayub. A statement from the cast and crew said Tandav is a work of fiction and they did not have any intention to offend any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead. “The cast and crew of Tandav take cognizance of the concerns expressed by the people and unconditionally apologize if it has unintentionally hurt anybody’s sentiments,” said the statement. Amazon Prime refused to comment on the controversy .