HUBBALLI  FRIDAY  MAY 20, 2022  `9.00  PAGES 12  CITY EDITION RELIEF AS INDONESIA LIFTS BAN ON PALM OIL EXPORT In a major relief for India’s FMGC sector, exports will resume on Monday, almost a month after the ban went into effect 60% PRICE FALL IN LOCAL MARKET BEHIND DECISION DOMESTIC SUPPLY TRIPLES: WIDODO Indonesian President Joko Widodo said palm oil’s price has fallen from $1.35 per litre to about $1.17 since the ban, which was meant to increase its local supply and reduce the domestic price. The war in Ukraine, which accounts for nearly half of the world’s sunflower oil, had put pressure on the global supply of cooking oil, making palm oil prices jump ■ ■ Once Indonesia announced its export ban, the price of palm oil shot up 200%, putting pressure on India, which imports about 8.5 million tonnes of the commodity annually Indonesian leader said the ban has helped triple the supply of palm oil from 64,500 tons to 2,11,000 tons per month OF WORLD’S PALM OIL COMES FROM INDONESIA 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 GST Council’s decisions not binding: SC Says Parliament, assemblies free to legislate on it; experts fear it would trigger fresh face-off with Centre M O N I K A YA D A V @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court opened a can of worms on Thursday when in the course of delivering a verdict in a case, it held that the GST Council’s recommendations have only persuasive value and are not binding. “The Parliament and the state legislatures possess simultaneous powers to legislate on GST. Article 246A of the Constitution does not envisage a repugnancy provision to resolve the inconsistencies between the Central and state laws on GST. The recommendations of the GST Council are the product of a collaborative dialogue involving the Union and states. They are recommendatory in nature,” the court observed. The bench made the observation while upholding a Gujarat High Court order to revoke Integrated GST (IGST) on ocean freight from Indian importers. It held that the IGST paid on ocean freight is unconstitutional and those who have already paid it will be eligible for refund. Some state finance ministers from nonBJP states had in the past questioned the authority of the GST Council and even termed the GST (in its current form and shape) as against the federalism. In May 2021, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan had berated the GST system and council saying they function with an omnipotent and all-encompassing mandate not envisioned in the Constitution. Tax experts believe the SC’s observation might increase the state vs Centre tussle on many GST issues. Mahesh Jaising, Partner, Deloitte India said, “This would have far reaching implications on various other matters where states are not in agreement with the decisions of the GST Council, especially in light of the compensation period coming to an end in June.” Article 279A of the Constitution specifies that the GST Council will only make recommendations to states and the Centre on Dialogue in federalism “Indian federalism is a dialogue between cooperative and uncooperative federalism where the federal units are at liberty to use different means of persuasion,” the ruling said Structure found in Gyanvapi resembles shivalinga: Survey N A M I TA B A J PA I @ Lucknow Court nod for Mathura mosque case E N S @ Lucknow AMID the ongoing litigation on the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, a Mathura district court on Thursday allowed petitions seeking removal of the Shahi Idgah masjid abutting the Shree Krishna Janmabhoomi temple. “The suit to remove the Shahi Idgah mosque on the ground that it was built over the Krishna Janmabhoomi land is maintainable,” district judge Rajeev Bharti said, overturning a civil court’s order dismissing a bunch of petitions demanding it. “Right to sue of the plaintiff will stand restored. Case will be restored at its original number,” the district court said in its order. The order came on a revision petition filed by deities Bhagwan Shrikrishna Virajman of Katra Keshav Dev temple and Asthan Shri Krishna Janmbhoomi, through next of friends Ranjana Agnihotri and six others challenging the dismissal order. In all, three lawsuits were filed. A report of a court-ordered survey conducted in the Gyanvapi mosque on May 14-16, which was submitted to a Varanasi civil court on Thursday claims , a black stone cylindrical structure found in the middle of the wuzu (ablution) pond on the premises resembled a Shivalinga, highly placed sources said. As soon as the cylindrical structure became visible to the court-appointed commission, the plaintiffs and their lawyers started calling it a Shivalinga while the mosque authorities termed it a fountain that was defunct for years, the report adds. Sources citing the report said the mosque staff failed to give a definite timeline on when the fountain became defunct. Initially, they claimed it was not working for the last 20 years but then they scaled down the figure to 12 years. The mosque staff also failed to make it operational when requested to do so, they added. On top of the cylindrical structure is an half-inch thick white layer whose radius is 9 inch and has five equal parts. A narrow 63 cm deep hole was noticed at the centre of the cylindrical structure, but the survey team found no arrangement for a water supply pipe for the fountain to function. Sources claimed the cylindrical structure was 2.5 ft high with a radius of 4 ft at the base. The report says when layers of moss deposited over that structure were removed, its black colour became visible. The survey report also mentions the ground plan, zig-zag cuts inside domes of the mosque and the main mandaps, which matched the map of g round plan of the Aadi Visheshwar temple as printed i n m u l t i p l e b o o k s, s a i d sources. During the survey a swastik , was found on the inner wall near the south pole of the main dome, sources added. Symbols of three damroos were reportedly spotted at the main gate of the mosque. In the north-west direction, a 15 ft x15 ft basement was spotted and it was reportedly covered with debris. Stones lying in the debris had images resembling the architecture of north Indian temples. Sources also claimed that the survey report referred to a 3 ft deep pond having 30 taps all around it. At a distance of 83 ft from the pond, an idol resembling Nandi was spotted by the surveyors. P7 Report submitted 15-PAGE report of court-ordered survey of Gyanvapi mosque submitted to Varanasi judge TWO days after state capital Bengaluru witnessed the second-highest single day rains in May after 1909, which almost brought the city to a halt, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday inspected various developmental projects and lowlying rain-affected areas, even as residents used the opportunity to voice their woes. After the inspection rounds, the CM took officials of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to task, mincing no words to let them know about their lackadaisical approach to completing works in time. Bommai visited JC Road and HBR Layout 4th Block where residents voiced their frustrations with yearly problems caused by the rains and maintenance failures. While speaking to the CM, many complained that rajakaluves and NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU GETS 1-YR JAIL TERM New Delhi: Observing that consequences of loss of temper must be borne, the Supreme Court on Thursday enhanced the sentence of Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu to one-year rigorous imprisonment in a 1988 road rage incident in which a 65-year-old man had died. Sidhu, 58, took to Twitter to say he “will submit to the majesty of law” as the cricketer-turned-politician rode an elephant in Patiala earlier in the day to register a symbolic protest against rising prices of essential commodities. 309 STUDENTS 472 STUDENTS 615 STUDENTS 706 STUDENTS 773 STUDENTS 13,458 624 623 622 621 620 19,125 STUDENTS: 125 marks in first language Education Minister BC Nagesh announces SSLC results S H I L PA P @ Bengaluru THE Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exams 2022 recorded the highest pass percentage in ten years with 85.63 per cent of a total of 8,53,436 students passing the exams. Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, BC Nagesh, on Thursday announced although the pass percentage was 99.99 per cent in SSLC 2021, the students were extended concessions through an official assurance that none of the students appearing for the exams would fail in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the education system. In the last regular exams conducted in 2020, as many as 72.42 per cent students had passed, he said. Of the total 7,30,881 of the 8,53,436 students who passed, THREE New Delhi: Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen emerged world champion with a comfortable 5-0 victory over Thailand’s Jitpong Jutamas in the flyweight (52kg) final of the Women’s World Championships in Istanbul on Thursday. CM slams BBMP officials Siddu flays govt on rain woes Bengaluru: A visibly irritated CM Basavaraj Bommai lashed out at BBMP officials soon after the city rounds on Thursday. He minced no works and took the officials to task at the meeting convened at his home office Krishna. Bengaluru: The government is claiming to have developed roads and drains in Bengaluru, and spent Rs 160 crore to desilt drains. Where is the silt which was removed and transported? asked opposition leader Siddaramaiah Brand Bengaluru is taking a beating due to rain woes which can drive away investors. Drainage system also needs to be improved SM Krishna, ex-CM Citizens voice their grievances during CM Basavaraj Bommai’s visit to rain-hit areas on Thursday | SHRIRAM BN other drains had not been maintained properly and were repeatedly blocking and causing overflows. “We have waited many years for these issues to be fixed, but the progress is v e r y s l o w. N o w w e have to suffer whenever it rains,” the residents told the Chief Minister. P5 The BJP government should maintain the dignity of Bengaluru city. The BJP is only holding an umbrella and doing city rounds DK Shivakumar, KPCC president Bengaluru: As many as 145 students, including 21 students from government schools, have scored cent per cent marks in SSLC exams held this year. Of 145 students, 24 are from Bengaluru. P4 tions were tough, this year only 10 per cent of the questions were difficult. As many as 40,061 students have been promoted with grace marks, including 35,931 students in one subject, 3,940 students in two subjects and 190 students in three subjects. P4 @ Bengaluru EXPRESS READ New Delhi: A day after reports emerged that China was building a second bridge across Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh, India on Thursday said the area where the reported construction is being undertaken is under the occupation of that country for decades. 145 students score full marks, 24 from B’luru E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E 32 GB chips, 1,500 frames of still photographs and 10 hours of video recordings in the sealed boxes Nikhat Zareen wins gold at World Boxing Championships 3,68,579 (92.44 per cent) were girls and 3,52,752 (86.34 per cent) were boys. However, Nagesh said this year the exams were student-friendly While earlier . at least 20 per cent of the ques- Green energy parks, 10GW power plants in next 5 yrs EIGHT MEA: China building second bridge on its own land Students in second language, 43,126 in third language, 13,683 students in maths, 6,592 students in science & 50,782 students in social science have got cent percent marks 85.63% pass SSLC exam, highest in a decade sealed boxes containing maps, chips of still photos and video clips of the survey conducted on May 6 and 7, and May 14 to 16 part of the documentation CM faces angry residents at rain-hit areas E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ Bengaluru taxes, cesses and surcharge levied by them, which may be subsumed in the GST Act. However, Sushil Modi, who has played a crucial role in shaping the GST as a member of the council while he was finance minister of Bihar, says the court’s observation will not make much of a difference. “The Supreme Court’s ruling is not new. It is already there in the Constitution. There won’t be any adverse implication of this amendment as no state would like to deviate from the majority for the fear of being at disadvantage or being singled out,” he said. SSLC TOPPERS MARKS BATTERED BY RAIN People wade through knee-deep water as heavy rain lashed Shivamogga on Thursday | SHIMOGA NANDAN NGT bans sale of sand extracted from CRZ in all coastal districts were approved by the Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Authority THE National Green Tribunal, South- (KSCZMA). ern Bench, Chennai in its order on However, permission for four sandMay 18, 2022 has barred the sale of bars in Kundapur has lapsed and the sand extracted from Coastal Regulato- remaining are operating till date in ry Zone (CRZ) in all coastal districts. Udupi and Brahmavara taluks. Earlier, licensed holders alUdupi DC Kurma Rao M told legedly damaged the natural The New Indian Express that course of river by extracting action will be taken after the the sandbars stating that sand district administration gets a Damaging deposits in the rivers obstruct copy of the NGT’s order. Sandecology and the navigation of fishing boats, eep, a senior geologist in Mines looting of sand and accumulation of silt and Geology Department, in the guise of leads to inundation of neighinformed that there are three clearing the bouring areas. navigation path sand blocks in non-CRZ areas The NGT Bench comprising of fishing boats - two in Halnadu village and Judicial Member K Ramone in Amparu village-in will not be possible akrishnan and Expert Member the district. anymore Dr Satyagopal Korlapati said Environmental activist and that if the sand is extracted convener of National EnvironShashidhar from CRZ to “clear the obstrucment Care Federation (NECF)Shetty, tions in the navigation path of Shashidhar Shetty said that environmental fishing boats”, it should not be NGT has given a activist sold, but can be used only for commendable order. levelling the low-lying areas of river “Damaging ecology and looting of bed and strengthening river bunds. sand in the guise of clearing the naviAccording to sources in the Mines gation path of fishing boats will not be and Geology Department in Udupi dis- possible anymore,’’ he said, congratutrict, there were 23 sandbars identified lating advocate Ranjan Shetty for winearlier in CRZ in Udupi district that ning the case before NGT. E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ Udupi KARNATAKA Energy Minister V Sunil Kumar on Thursday said the state will focus on green energy parks and aim to set up 10 Gigawatt power plants in the next five years. Kumar told reporters, “Our aim is to come up with a hybrid power park. Apart from generating solar and wind energy, the parks will also be used for storage purposes, and 50,000 MW solar power storage will be realized at the earliest. It will give a fillip to PM Narendra Modi’s dream project of green energy .” In the coming days, private players entering the solar power generation sector will also be asked to set up power storage. Hybrid parks will come up at Tumakuru, Davanagere, Chitradurga, G a d a g , H ave r i a n d Vijayapura, and a survey will also be taken up for this purpose, he said. Kumar said there was no shortage of coal in the district. There is a demand for 14,800 MW power in the state, which has never faced any shortage. Karnataka has supplied 1.80 lakh transformers to ensure there are no power supply issues, he added. He attacked the opposition over allegations of irregularities and sought proof of the charges. ‘Nothing wrong in Hedgewar lesson’ Responding to reporters on the saffronisation of school textbooks and the recent controversy over RSS ideologue Keshav Hedgewar’s views in textbooks, the minister said there is nothing wrong. He also clarified that lessons on Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Narayan Guru are intact.