coimbatore l tuesday l december 23, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION S.C. pulls up U’khand govt over forest land grab by pvt entities 2,866 acres of forest land under lens The case concerns 2,866 acres of forest land, a part of which was leased to Pashu Lok Seva Samiti. The society subsequently allotted land parcels to its members. A dispute later arose, and it went into liquidation in 1984, surrendering 594 acres to government. But, some individuals, including the petitioner, claimed to have taken possession of the land in 2001 A vacation bench initiated a suo motu case on Monday observing that the state remained a mute spectator while forest land was being grabbed ■ 1950 Govt’s approach shocking: CJI-led bench ■ “What is shocking to us is that the State of Uttarakhand and authorities are sitting like mute spectators when forest land is being grabbed in front of their eyes,” the bench led by CJI Surya Kant said It directed all construction be halted at once and that vacant land, excluding residential houses, be taken into possession by the state when The land in question was alloted to Pashu Lok Seva Samiti 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 US expands online review of H-1B, H4 applicants e x p r e ss n e w s s e r v i c e @ New Delhi THE United States has extended online presence reviews to all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants worldwide, a move aimed at curbing work visa programme abuse but causing disruptions. “Beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL 10 demands Talks fail, TN govt staff to go on strike from Jan 6 H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening,” the US Embassy in New Delhi said Monday. “This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities… while still permitting VISA companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers.” H-4 visas cover spouses and unmarried children under 21 of H-1B holders. The State De- This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities… while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers —US Embassy in New Delhi partment warned of delays, encouraging applicants to “apply as early as they can”. The expanded vetting has already disrupted travel plans for Indian H-1B holders who returned home to renew visas. Dozens of visa interviews scheduled between December 15-26 were abruptly cancelled or postponed, with many rescheduled for as late as March, The Washington Post reported. The State Department said delays followed expanded social media screening “to ensure that no applicants… pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety .” Immigration lawyers de- scribed the impact as severe. “This is the biggest mess we have seen. I’m not sure there is a plan,” Indian immigration lawyer Veena Vijay Ananth told The Washington Post. Emily Neumann, a partner at Houston-based Reddy Neumann Brown PC, said she had “at least 100 clients stranded in India”. Indians, who comprise 71% of H-1B visa holders according to April 2025 data, are disproportionately affected. Explicit death threats to journos Press freedom has emerged as another flashpoint. Editors warned that threats against journalists have escalated after attacks on media offices last week. “Journalists are receiving explicit death threats,” The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam said at a protest organised in Dhaka by the Editors’ Council on Monday Bangladesh’s Editors’ Council protests the mob attack on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Dhaka, on Monday | AFP Ministers Thangam Thennarasu, EV Velu, and Anbil Mahesh | express T M u r u g a n a n d h a m @ Chennai As the talks between three state ministers and JACTTOGEO — a federation of unions of government employees and teachers — and other unions held on Monday over the latter’s 10-point charter of demands failed to make headway the unions have de, clared that they would go ahead with their indefinite strike from January 6. The talks at the secretariat lasted for around three hours. The ministers — EV Velu, Thangam Thennarasu and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi — did not meet the reporters after the meeting. Representatives of a few unions expressed disappointment over the way the talks were held. The government employees and teachers have been pressing the government to fulfill their demands, particularly the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, pointing out that it was an election promise of the DMK during the 2021 Assembly polls. Addressing a press conference later in the day, JACTTO-GEO’s three state coordinators — K Baskaran, S Prabhakaran and Theodore Robinson — said they will begin preparatory meetings for the stir on December 27 in all district headquarters and will start their indefinite strike on January 6. The coordinators said, at the beginning of the talks, the ministers’ team requested them to put forth their demands, and they would revert after discussing them with the chief minister, so that the employees could expect an announcement ahead of the Pongal festival.  P7 B’desh halts visa to Indians Motaleb Sikdar, leader of the National Citizen Party, shot at, further stoking pre-poll tension J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi The Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi and its consulate in Agartala on Monday suspended all visa and consular services for Indians, as political violence and protests continued to roil the country less than two months ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12. No timeline was given for the resumption of services, amid heightened diplomatic and security sensitivities between Dhaka and New Delhi. The suspension comes two days after a group of around 2025 protesters demonstrated outside the Bangladesh mission in Delhi, condemning the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a gar- ment worker in Mymensingh, fied fears of targeted violence and demanding protection for and political unrest. minorities in Bangladesh. Hadi, 32, was the founder of External Affairs Ministry Inqilab Moncho, a platform spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal that emerged from last year’s had on Sunday said that “there mass protests against then was no attempt to breach prime minister Sheikh the fence or create a seHasina, which culmicurity situation at any nated in her ouster. He time,” adding the police had announced plans to dispersed the g roup contest the February 12 within minutes. elections and was camDays after the killing paigning in Dhaka of prominent youth when he was shot earleader Sharif Osman Motaleb Sikdar lier this month. Bin Hadi, another politiHis death triggered cal activist was attacked on widespread protests across Monday Motaleb Sikdar, Khul- Bangladesh, with supporters . na divisional chief of the Na- alleging that the assailants fled tional Citizen Party (NCP), was to India and demanding their shot in the head in Khulna and arrest. Police, however, said is undergoing treatment in hos- there is no clarity on the suspital. The attack has intensi- pects’ whereabouts. The dete- cricketers Following the World Cup win, BCCI has increased the domestic match fee for women cricketers. It will be a big boost to women players who strive to stay in the game without any WPL or India contracts. A look More on P13 New Zealand joins growing FTA list, fastest deal so far DIPAK MONDAL @ New Delhi IN one of the fastest trade negotiations in recent times, India New Zealand on Monday concluded a free trade pact in just nine months, offering duty-free access for Indian goods to the island nation’s markets. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon after which the two leaders jointly announced the conclusion of what they described as the “historic, ambitious and mutually beneficial” pact. Earlier, New Zealand imposed peak tariffs of up to 10% on key Indian exports such as textiles and apparel, leather, ceramics, carpets, automobiles and auto components. Now, 100% of India’s current exports will get tariff-free access to the New Zealand market. In return, India has offered market access in about 70% of tariff lines, covering 95% of the bilateral trade value, while keeping 29.97% of tariff lines under an exclusion list covering sensitive sectors such as dairy and agriculture. “With zero-duty market access for Indian products, Indian exporters will become more competitive and enjoy a levelplaying field in New Zealand,” 150% B ANBU S ELVAN @ Chennai increase A senior women cricketer will now receive 50,000 for one-dayers and multi-day ties. Reserves will get 25,000. For T20s, the pay has increased from 20,000 to 25,000. Previously, senior domestic women cricketers used to get 20,000 (playing XI) and for reserves it was 10,000 Jr. cricketers also get boost Meanwhile, junior women cricketers (U15, U19 and U23) will receive a match day fee of 25,000 while reserves will get `12,500. For T20s, they playing members will get 12,500 and reserves will receive 6,250. Earlier, the fee was 10,000 for playing XI and `5000 for reserves India’s longest double-decker viaduct, comprising a six-lane elevated highway on the lower deck and a metro corridor on the upper level, has been proposed for an 18.4-km stretch between the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) at Kilambakkam and Chettipunniyam near Mahindra City on GST Road in Chennai. The state government has granted in-principle approval to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for constructing the six-lane ele- vated corridor with pillars designed to accommodate a future metro line. Once completed, it is expected to be the longest double-decker viaduct in the country, and possibly the world. Currently the long, est double-decker viaduct in the metro category is a 5.6-km stretch on Kamptee Road under the Nagpur Metro project. The decision for the proposed corridor was taken at a recent meeting chaired by Chief Secretary N Muruganandam with the state highways, CMRL, NHAI and other officials last week.  P7 Chennai already has a double-decker viaduct between Mugalivakkam and Ramapuram for 3 km | Martin Louis In a little-known Kerala shrine rests the relics of the real-life ‘Santa’ As the Yuletide spirit fills the air, posters, cutouts, and dolls of Santa Claus appear everywhere, heralding the season of love and sharing. However, not many may know that Santa, the most popular symbol of Christmas, is inspired from and modelled after St Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop from Myra in ancient Turkey, who was known for his generosity and secret gift-giving. Some may even find it hard to believe that the real-life Santa has a Kerala connection. For more than a century, Pampakuda, a sleepy village located 35 km away from Ernakulam, has been home to a relic of St Nicholas. Barring residents, not many are aware that the modest wayside shrine at Pampakuda in front of St John’s Ephesus Orthodox Church is home to six priceless relics, one of which is a fragment of the remains of St Nicholas. “St Geevarghese Mar Gregorios, aka Parumala Thirumeni, brought the relics to Pampakuda after visiting the Holy Land in 1895. He wished to gift them to his tutor, Konat Geevarghese Malpan. Upon learning that his beloved guru had passed away while he was overseas, St Gre- the commerce ministry said. With 100% duty-free access, India’s labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, footwear, marine products, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, engineering goods, and automobiles could see a sharp rise in exports. The free trade agreement also includes a future-ready mobility framework with improved entry and stay provisions for Indian professionals, students and youth. A new Temporary Employment Entry Visa pathway will allow up to 5,000 Indian professionals at any given time to work in New Zealand for up to three years. After being bitten by a stray dog around two years ago, an 18-year-old youth from Arakkonam died of rabies early on Sunday at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai. According to the Arakkonam Town Police, the victim, J Diva of Balaji Nagar in Mosur village, was the only son of Jambulingam and Baby , both daily-wage farm labourers. He had completed Class 12 at the Mosur Gove r n m e n t School. J Diva According to experts, the incubation period for the rabies virus — the time taken for the infection to show its symptoms — can vary widely from days to even a few years, depending on the bite location and viral load. The Joint Director of Health Services in Ranipet said that Diva was initially taken to the Arakkonam GH on Saturday evening with complaints of fever for the past two days.  P7 express read century-old connection R e n j i t h L e e n @ Kochi The FTA offers a dedicated pathway for Indian students in NZ, removing numerical caps and guaranteeing a minimum 20 hours of work per week during study D h e e p t h i O J @ Ranipet India’s longest double-decker viaduct to come up in chennai up to Dedicated pathway for Indian students 2 yrs after dog bite, TN youth dies of rabies TN gives nod for 18.4-km structure Massive pay hike for women riorating security situation prompted Indian student bodies to urge New Delhi to ensure the safety of Indian nationals in Bangladesh, particularly medical students. Amid the unrest, Bangladesh’s interim leadership convened a high-level meeting to review law and order. Inqilab Moncho issued an ultimatum, threatening to launch a movement to oust the interim administration if justice is not delivered in Hadi’s murder. Against this backdrop, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin called for de-escalation between Dhaka and New Delhi. “Shoulder to shoulder, India, Bangladesh and Russia were together (since 1971),” he said. Tariff-free access gorios gifted the relics to Fr. Konat Mathen, who was the Malpan (teacher) at the time. My grandfather, Konat Mathen Malpan, was instrumental in enshrining the relics near the wayside cross. Later, a The shrine housing the relic of St Nicholas at Pampakuda; (inset) The reliquary containing the relic | Express proper shrine was built, and the reliquaries were enshrined there,” said the priest whose family had several illustrious Syriac scholars. Fr Konat explained that the relics were gifted to St Gregorios by the Metropolitan of Jerusalem. Today, the bulk of the relics of St Nicholas rests in Bari in Italy, though fragments of his bones are kept in churches throughout Europe. Cooperate with TN on excavations: HC to ASI Madurai: The Madras HC has told the Archaeological Survey of India that if the TN govt seeks its approval to continue excavations in Adichanallur, Thoothukudi, ASI should extend cooperation | P2 Thiruparankundram hill opened for devotees madurai: Three weeks after the deepathoon issue, devotees were allowed to visit Kasi Viswanathar Temple atop Thiruparankundram hill again from Monday | P4