BENGALURU  THURSDAY  MAY 12, 2022  `9.00  PAGES 20  LATE CITY EDITION NEW PAN MANDATE TO TRACK HIGH-VALUE TRANSACTIONS PAN or Aadhaar must be quoted for depositing or withdrawing over D20 lakh in a financial year or opening a current account COOPERATIVE BANKS, POST OFFICES COVERED ADDITIONAL DATA POINTS FOR TAXMAN In a notification, the Central Board of Direct Taxes said the new mandate also covers deposits and withdrawals from cooperative banks and post offices. Also, a person who wants to open current account or cash credit account with a bank or post office needs to quote PAN, as per the Income Tax (Fifteenth Amendment) Rules 2022 notified on Tuesday ■ It is already mandatory to quote PAN for bank deposits above D50,000 made in a single day. Now that the annual threshold is set at D20 lakh, those making too many smaller deposits below the daily limit without quoting PAN will come under taxman’s lens. This will provide additional data points to I-T dept | P13 7 days THOSE WHO DON’T HAVE PAN MUST APPLY FOR ONE A WEEK BEFORE THE TRANSACTIONS 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 Sedition law on ice till govt takes call DIFFERENT STROKES Rape, as an offence, deserves societal disapprobation in the strongest terms, notwithstanding the fact that the rapist is in a marital relationship with the victim Just as every incident of taking of the life by one, of another, is not murder, every incident of non-consensual sex of a man with a woman is not rape SC uses soft language saying it would be appropriate not to use it; those charged under 124A can seek judicial relief P R AT H M A S H A R M A @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Wednesday sprung a surprise by putting the colonial era sedition law on hold, though its interim order did not say it in as many words. In a measured tone, the court said it would be appropriate not to continue with the usage of the sedition law across the country till the re-examination of the Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 is completed by the Centre. The court directed that all pending trials, appeals and proceedings with respect to charges framed under the sedition law be kept in abeyance till then. In effect, those who have Justice Hari Shankar Justice Rajiv Shakdher DELHI HC DELIVERS SPLIT VERDICT ON MARITAL RAPE A N K I TA U PA D H YAY @ New Delhi THE Delhi High Court on Wednesday delivered a split verdict on the petitions seeking criminalisation of marital rape. Justice Rajiv Shakdher struck down ‘Exception II’ that protects men who have non-consensual intercourse with their wives from criminal prosecution under Section 375 IPC (rape), but Justice C Hari Shankar upheld the validity of the controversial provision saying the exception doesn’t violate Article 14, 19 and 21. Owing to the split verdict, the court permitted the parties involved in the case to approach the Supreme Court. “I concur with my esteemed brother in his decision to grant a certificate of leave to appeal to the Supreme Court in the present matter as it involves substantial questions of law, of which the Supreme Court is presently in seisin,” said Justice Hari Shankar in the order. The Delhi High Court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by NGOs RIT Foundation and All India Democratic Women’s Association, a man and a woman seeking the striking down of the exception granted to erring JAB-O-METER TAKE YOUR SHOT May 10 12,95,705 doses May 11 12,89,175 doses TOTAL: 1,90,81,89,322 husbands under the Indian Penal Code. In India, marital rape is not defined in any statute or law. The case brought focus on crucial subjects like consent, the extent of state control on female sexual autonomy, and nullify a clause in a colonial-era law — Exception II of Section 375 of IPC, 1860, which exempts the concept of marital rape. “Sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under 15 years of age, is not rape,” says the law. In October 2017, the Supreme Court had increased it to 18 years. Earlier, the court had rejected the Centre’s request for more time to respond afresh to the petitions. The court had reserved its verdict in the case on February 21. While the government had replied to and opposed the petitions in 2017, in January it asked the court to defer the proceedings in the case to await the outcome of its consultation on the subject with states and other stakeholders. In an affidavit filed in 2017, the Centre had stated that criminalising marital rape “may destabilise the institution of marriage” and would become an easy tool for harassing husbands. EXPRESS READ Mega outreach on Modi govt’s 8 years in power New Delhi: The BJP is planning to launch a mega fortnight-long outreach programme to highlight the achievements of the government on the occasion of completion of eight years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. The proposed outreach program will begin from May 30 to June 15 P9 Dalit couple attacked, woman assaulted Shivamogg: A Dalit couple was allegedly attacked and the woman was sexually assaulted in Araga village, the native place of Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, in Thirthahalli taluk. Three men reportedly attacked the couple who were returning to their village P5 on Monday night. KARNATAKA MAY 10 MAY 11 Fresh cases Recoveries Deaths Fresh cases Recoveries Deaths Rising mercury puts babies in hospital in Ballari district K I RA N KU M A R BA L A N N A N AVA R @Ballari INTENSE heat in Ballari district has forced many parents to admit their newborns to hospitals with complaints of dehydration over the last two weeks. The maximum temperature in the district is hovering around 41 degrees Celsius this summer. A few babies have also been admitted for high fever. On Tuesday a scattered rainfall was witnessed in Ballari district bringing down the maximum temperature. Though some evenings after rainfall are cooler, the heat picks up again after a day or two. Officials at the district hospital in Ballari said that at least 10 babies are being brought for admission or checkup every day with symptoms of dehydration. The doctors are counselling the parents about steps needed to be taken to safeguard the newborns in high temperatures. The Ballari District Hospital has a dedicated neonatal ward where newborns are treated. Several patients from Ballari and surrounding districts visit the hospital for the treatment P3 of newborns. 129 128 0 167 150 0 AMID dire warnings from the Sri Lankan Central Bank chief of an economic catastrophe if no government is in place in the next two to three days, hectic parleys were on to hammer out a political solution in the riot-torn nation. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held talks with former PM Ranil Wickramasinghe to possibly lead an interim all-party government. Later, in a televised adress to the nation, Gotabaya said he was working with all party leaders to establish a new government and that a new prime minister would be appointed within a week. The Karnataka government has formulated a scheme to regularise lakhs of illegal properties across the state, as a one-time exercise, for a fee. The proposal is likely to be placed before the cabinet on Thursday, and will generate revenue for the government. P4 PRIME Minister Narendra Modi will visit the famous Mayadevi temple at Lumbini in Nepal, the birth place of Lord Buddha, on May 16 to observe Buddha Purnima. But instead of flying direct into the new Gautam Buddha International Airport, about 19 km off Lumbini, he will take a helicopter from the Kushinagar International airport, 54 km east of Gorakhpur in India, for Lumbini. Nepal has built helipads inside the world heritage site for his visit. The Gautam Buddha airport is scheduled to be inaugurated on the same day but Modi will , skip it. Why? “It is possible that since the airport has been built by China’s Northwest Civil Aviation Airport Construction Group, India is keeping its distance,’’ a foreign policy expert from Nepal told TNIE. Modi is likely to speak at the Buddha Memorial Ceremony organised by the Lumbini Development Trust and also lay the foundation stone for a Buddhist monastery that will be built with a requirement to balance both sets of considerations, which is a difficult exercise,” it said. The next hearing is scheduled for the third week of July . The interim order came after the Centre did a U-turn saying it will re-examine 124A itself, and asked the court to await the exercise before proceeding any further. RIJIJU BRISTLES AT RAHUL’S BARB The SC order triggered the usual sparring match between the BJP and the Opposition. Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju urged all wings, including the executive and the judiciary to follow the Lakshman Rekha, while labeling the Congress as the antithesis of freedom, democracy and respect for institutions. He was responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s barb that that telling the truth is patriotism, not treason. Legal eagles hailed the order, calling it historic E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi Modi to skip Chinese infra in Nepal Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi relief. The courts are requested to examine the reliefs sought, taking into account the present order passed as well as the clear stand taken by the Union of India,” the bench said. The court said it is cognizant of security interests and integrity of the state on the one hand and civil liberties of citizens on the other. “There is Central bank warns of catastrophe if Lanka can’t form govt within 3 days AKRAMA-SAKRAMA IN A NEW BOTTLE NATIONWIDE MAY 10 MAY 11 2,288 2,897 3,044 2,986 10 54 been arrested under sedition charges can now seek bail. “Adjudication with respect to other sections, if any, could proceed if the courts are of the opinion that no prejudice would be caused to the accused,” the interim order by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said. In the interregnum, the court hoped that state and Central governments will restrain from registering any FIR, continuing any investigation or taking any coercive measures by invoking 124A. “If any fresh case is registered under Section 124A of IPC, the affected parties are at liberty to approach the concerned courts for appropriate India’s support. In his talks with Modi at Lumbini, Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said he will seek support for developing the West Seti Hydropower Project. “Since India is reluctant to purchase energy produced by Chinese companies in Nepal, we will talk with Modi for the engagement of Indian developers for this project,’’ Deuba said. He added that he would revive talks with India to develop the Pancheshwar Multipurpose project. Soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint in Colombo on Wednesday | AFP According to local media, Gotabaya also offered to abolish the executive presidency to curtail his sweeping powers once a government is in place. After days of street violence, Colombo wore a deserted look on Wednesday except for soldiers at checkpoints. Central Bank Gover nor Nandalal Weerasinghe urged all parties to quickly form a government, saying he would resign if there is no political stability in the next couple of weeks. If the current situation continues for two to three days, things could get worse. Without a government, Lanka won’t be able hold talks with IMF, he warned. Gotabaya reappointed secretaries of defence, finance and public security while trying to restore a semblance of normalcy With rumour mills fanning . the fires, the Indian High Commission in Colombo on Wednesday denied speculation on the country sending troops to Lanka or advising Indian nationals to leave the island nation. P12 Bommai hints at cabinet reshuffle in 2-3 days D E V A R A J B H I R E H A L L I @Bengaluru THE BJP high command is taking a ‘decision’, including a reshuffle of the state cabinet, in two to three days, hinted Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, whose two-day visit to New Delhi concluded on Wednesday with over half-an-hour ‘in depth’ meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “Discussions were held over decisions that have to be taken in the backdrop of political developments. The political impact of yesterday’s (Tuesday’s) Supreme Court order on conducting the local body polls on the reshuffle of the cabinet was also discussed. Shah listened to me and after he spoke to party national president J P Nadda, he said, ‘will take a call in 2-3 days and inform’,” Bommai told the media after meeting Shah. He said that a series of polls in Karnataka over the next few weeks, including Rajya Sabha, BBMP zilla and taluk panchay, ats, will have a bearing on po- litical decisions. “I made my point, while a lot of information from the party in the state too has reached the high command,” Bommai said, indicating that the ball is now in the high command’s court. Asked whether the party leadership will go for a complete overhaul of the cabinet, like it was done in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, Bommai hoped that the party high command will take a decision considering the political situation and the ‘administration’ in Karnataka. CONTINUED ON P4 During Wednesday’s hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought to buy time, saying the Centre has a prepared a draft for issuing directives. “We have a proposed draft. We cannot prevent police from registering a cognizable offence under the provision. It says an FIR under sedition law would be registered only if area SP or similar rank officer is satisfied with the facts of a case.... Staying a statutory provision that is upheld by a Constitution bench would not be correct,” he said. But senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, said the proposal is not acceptable as it doesn’t solve the issue of challenge to the constitutionality of 124A. P5,9 ANOTHER SCARE Tomato flu, Nipah keep state health dept on alert C H E TA N A B E L A G E R E @Bengaluru COVID is on the wane, but two new diseases in the neighbouring states are keeping the Karnataka government on its toes. Tomato flu, a virus infection causing skin irritation, dehydration, and rashes mainly in children under the age of five is being reported in Kerala. Also, as it’s the beginning of the breeding season for bats that carry the Nipah virus, Kerala has sounded an alert. “Two advisories are being sent out to district health officials. Though there have been no cases of ‘tomato flu’ in Karnataka, Kerala has detected 80. It is important for our officials to be aware of its symptoms and to alert us immediately if they notice such cases,” said Randeep D, Commissioner, Health and Family Welfare Department. Border districts -- Mangaluru, Udupi, Kodagu, Chamarjanagar and Mysuru -- have been told to keep a vigil on daily travellers from Kerala and also to monitor children for any symptoms in OPDs. Dr Aditya S Chowti, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, said hospitals in Karnataka have not reported any tomato flu cases till now. Symptoms include red rashes and skin irritation, exhaustion, joint discomfort, high fever, nausea, common cold, cramps and body ache. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it is termed ‘tomato flu’ as the water-filled lesions are red. Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease? Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday | EXPRESS But Dr Archana M, Consultant -- paediatric infectious disease, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, said the medical name for ‘tomato flu’ is ‘Hand Foot P3,8 Mouth Disease’. STRANGE RITUAL Police try, but fail to stop half-naked seva by women devotees in Gadag R A G H O T TA M K O P PA R @ Gadag Police officials warn devotees of action at Dandin Durgamma temple near Gadag AS women devotees of Dandin Durgamma, covering only upper parts of their body with neem leaves, performed a half-naked ritual and sacrificed animals to please the goddess in Gadag, the district administration and police officials had a tough time convincing them against it. The annual fair at the Dandin Durgamma temple in Gadag began on Tuesday and a large number of people from neigh- bouring districts, and Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana had arrived to perform the ritual. Though the authorities said they distribute saris, the women insist on performing the ritual that has been followed for decades. When the administration tried to stop them, the devotees shifted to nearby fields. They believe that if they follow the ritual, the goddess will bless their family members with health and wealth. Earlier, only the Harinshikari community a nomadic tribe, , used to follow this ritual, but of late all other communities have started practising it. A large number of devotees had gathered near the temple on Wednesday . Police officials visited the temple and told the devotees not to sacrifice animals and to stop the half-naked seva. But many of them argued with the police that they had come from far-off places and they would go ahead with it. While some had an altercation with the police, others shifted conducting the ritual to nearby fields. Devotees said, “Performing it is a matter of devotion. Every year, we sacrifice animals. The Goddess likes it and blesses us.” A district administration official said, “We convinced some and distributed saris to stop such rituals. But many went to nearby fields to sacrifice animals. It is difficult to handle P5 thousands of people.