TIRUNELVELI l sunday l january 25, 2026 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l CITY EDITION 400 and counting: Djokovic creates another history On dramatic Saturday, Jannik Sinner survives heat to advance while Serb former World No 1 becomes first man to win 400 Grand Slam matches heat is on at Oz Open as Sinner struggles 38-year-old advances to fourth round Jannik Sinner, the two-time and defending champion, visibly wilted before heat protocols were enforced. With the summer in full flow, the Italian, who has suffered previously, had already lost a set and was down a break when the roof was forced because of soaring mercury. Post the break, he came back to beat Elliot Spizzirri 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Djokovic, chasing a record 25th Major, saw off Netherlands’ Botic van Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) in the evening. The 10-time winner at Melbourne Park hasn’t won a Slam since 2023 but he’s feeling fresh and injury free. Having revamped his coaching staff, he believes he has the chance to break the Jannik Sinner-Carlos Alcaraz duopoly in men’s game 81 The Australian Open is the 81st Major of his career 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 Goes after collegium SC judge criticises executive influence in judge’s transfer s u c h i t r a k a lya n m o h a n t y @ New Delhi express read No one needs to teach us patriotism: Stalin Chennai: Replying to Governor R N Ravi’s continued grouse that the national anthem is not sung at the beginning of the state Assembly session, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday said, “No one needs to give us lesson on patriotism. We are not inferior to anyone in upholding national unity and love for the country.” | P4 TN readopts Co-op Bill returned by Guv Ravi Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Saturday readopted the TN Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was adopted originally on December 10, 2024, and returned by Governor R N Ravi on July 16, 2025, citing objections. The re-adopted Bill will be sent to governor for assent | P4 ‘Keep allied health courses out of NEET’ Chennai: CM M K Stalin on Saturday, in a letter to PM Narendra Modi, urged him to keep the admission process for allied health courses (AHCs) out of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The CM also called for these admissions to remain under the jurisdiction of state governments | P5 WITH THIS ISSUE Our Republic of Rare Rituals PLUS 12 P AGES A sitting judge of the Supreme Court publicly criticising its collegium that appoints and transfers judges to the higher judiciary is decidedly rare. However, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on Saturday stuck his neck out by questioning a decision of the collegium to transfer a high court judge at the request of the Central government. Observing that the executive has absolutely no say in the matter of transfer and postings of judges, Justice Bhuyan made the larger point that judges should not be seen as bending over backwards to justify denial of liberty or human rights. He warned that “if we lose our credibility, nothing will be left of the judiciary .” Justice Bhuyan made the point while delivering the G V Pandit memorial lecture on “Constitutional Morality and Democratic Governance” at ILS Law College, Pune. “When the collegium records that the transfer of a high court judge was being made at the request of the Central government, it reveals a striking intrusion of executive influence into what is constitutionally supposed to be an independent process,” he asserted. In October last year, the collegium headed by the then Chief Justice of India B R Gavai had revised its initial proposal to transfer Justice Atul Sreedharan from the Madhya Pradesh High Court to the Chhattisgarh High Court, recommending instead his transfer to the Allahabad High Court. The collegium said the change was made following a government request. In Chhattisgarh, Justice Sreedharan would have joined the High Court collegium, whereas in Allahabad his seniority would be much lower. The decision drew criticism due to his reputation as an independent judge. Earlier, Justice Sreedharan had taken suo motu action against a Madhya Pradesh minister for remarks against a serving female Colonel. Justice Bhuyan, without naming Justice Sreedharan questioned the reason for his transfer from one HC to another, just because he had passed certain inconvenient orders against the government. “Does it not affect the independence of the judiciary?” he asked. The Central government can have no say in the matter of transfer and posting of High Court Judges... It is within the exclusive domain of the judiciary Justice Ujjal Bhuyan Autonomy must for Collegium Justice Bhuyan emphasised that the collegium system must remain completely independent. If collegium members are getting swayed by executive influence, they are drifting away from the original purpose of the collegium system, Justice Bhuyan said Path open to lift 25% tariff: US Russian oil import down, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sees possibility of easing levy P u s h p i ta De y @ New Delhi A couple of booster shots have arrived just before the Union Budget, which could possibly lift the sentiments of the Indian economy further. Even as the country is all set to sign a free trade deal with the European Union, which both sides see as the ‘mother of all deals’, the US hinted at a diplomatic path to lift the 25% additional import duty it levied on Indian goods after a “marked decline in India’s imports of Russian oil in recent months”. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted during a media interaction that the US administration could consider reducing the 50% tariff imposed on several sectors of Indian exports, as there has been a significant fall in imports of Russian oil in recent months. The indication is being seen as hints of a potential easing of We put 25% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. And Indian purchases of Russian oil have collapsed. I would imagine there is a path to take them off Scott Bessent Relief for exporters Removal of the US tariff, and FTA with the EU, will bring much respite to the Indian exporters trade headwinds at a crucial juncture. Coming just a week ahead of the Union Budget 2026, the development has raised hopes of improved export prospects, stronger bilateral trade sentiment, and a more supportive global backdrop for India’s growth narrative. During his interaction with an American news outlet Politico at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Bessent said: “We put 25% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. And the Indian purchases, by their refineries, of Russian oil have collapsed. That is a success.” Bessent assured that the administration will be open to discussions to ease them. “The tariffs are still on. I would imagine there is a path to take them off.” US President Donald Trump announced a total of 50% tariff (including a 25% tariff due to imports of crude oil from Rus- Stalin’s poll blitzkrieg: `3,500-cr new houses, `1,088-crore rural road works T M u r u g a n a n d h a m @ Chennai As the state readies for poll in the next few weeks, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday made five key announcements in the Assembly, including plan to build one lakh houses at a cost of `3,500 crore under the Kalaignar housing scheme and hike in pension and retirement benefits for noon-meal organisers, anganwadi workers, and panchayat secretaries. Making the announcements while replying to the discus- sion on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address, the CM also said that 2,200km of rural roads will be upgraded at a cost of `1,088 crore, monthly social security pensions will be extended to 1.8 lakh more beneficiaries, and preferential weightage will be given to parttime teachers in recruitment for permanent posts. Under the CM’s rural road development programme, 20,484km of rural roads have already been upgraded at a cost of `8,911 crore, Stalin pointed out. The CM said that through various social security schemes, over 33.6 lakh beneficiaries already receive monthly pensions. Soon, 1.8 lakh more beneficiaries will be covered under these schemes based on applications received under the Ungaludan Stalin scheme, he said. Events to mark the inclusion of these new beneficiaries will be held across TN on February 4, the CM said. Monthly pension for noonmeal organisers, anganwadi workers and village panchayat secretaries will be hiked from `2,000 to `3,400, he said.  P5 India votes against UN resolution condemning crackdown in Iran j aya n t h j a c o b @ New Delhi INDIA voted against a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) condemning Iran’s violent crackdown on recent protests and extending international investigative mandates. The resolution was adopted at the Council’s 39th special session with 25 votes in favour, seven against and 14 abstentions. Besides India, China, Pakistan, Indonesia and Iraq voted a g ainst the measure. European Union members led the support, joined by the UK and Iceland, along with several Latin American countries. The resolution expressed concern over what it said were “widespread and systematic” violations following protests that began on December 28, Earlier instances of abstention by India New Delhi sees this special UNHRC session as “unwarranted”. India has previously abstained on similar resolutions. In November 2022, it abstained on the resolution establishing the FactFinding Mission on Iran, and again in April 2024 on extending its mandate. Officials said those decisions were shaped by broader Council dynamics at that time 2025, citing reports of thousands of deaths, including children, mass arrests and injuries to civilians. India’s vote comes amid sen- sitive diplomatic and strategic considerations. New Delhi is currently in talks with the United States over an extended sanctions waiver for the Chabahar port project in Iran, which expires in April 2026. Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, welcomed New Delhi’s stance. “I extend my sincere gratitude to India for its principled and firm support of Iran at the UNHRC, including opposing an unjust and politically motivated resolution,” he said in a social media post and added that the vote reflected “India’s commitment to justice, multil at e ral ism, an d n at i o n a l sovereignty .” Sources said India’s position was guided by long-standing opposition to country-specific resolutions. a fresh coat Volunteers from a local NGO painting the walls of the Gengu Reddy Subway in Egmore, as part of a beautification project in collaboration with the Greater Chennai Corporation on Saturday | ashwin prasath sia) on several Indian exports, including textile, apparel, carpets, gems and jewelleries from August-end. This additional tariff came as a penalty for buying Russian oil. According to Bessent, the tactic of pressuring India has worked as the import of crude oil from Russia has come down considerably in the last few months. As per Kpler, a real-time trade intelligence tool for global markets, India’s Russian crude import in December stood at 1.2 million barrels per day down 35% from 1.8 mbd in , November. Despite Russia being the top exporter of oil for India, its share in India’s crude imports dipped to 25% in December from the peak of 35%. On the other hand, oil imports from the US have been increasing from a low of 67,000 barrels per day (kbd) in December 2024 to 3,30,000 barrels per day in December 2025. in vellore Two workers die in toxic gas leak at private tanning factory N i m i s h a S P r a d ee p @ Vellore Two workers died at a private leather factory in Vellore’s Pernambut on Saturday, following a gas leak at a tanning drum at the factory. The deceased have been identified as Sheikh Ali (60) and Jamal Basha alias Settu (41), both residents of Pernambut. According to Pernambut police, the two were working at PAB Leather Company located at Bakkalapalli village in Pernambut. The factory is owned by Ashan Basha. T he incident happened around 8.30 am on Saturday, as per police sources. The two employees were checking the tanning drum when they inhaled poisonous gas and collapsed. Other employees, who came later, found Sheikh and Jamal Basha alias Settu lying unconscious inside the factory. They were rushed to a hospital at Umarabad in Tirupattur where they were declared dead. Later, they were shifted to Pernambut GH, where the postmortem examination was carried out. Locals said that the two workers had gone to check on the leather sheets that were left for drying and separating hair in the tanning drum when the accident happened. Pernambut police have registered a case of unnatural death under Section 194 of BNSS and are further investigating it. According to sources, no action has been taken against the company yet.  P5 Gang hurls crude bombs at police team transporting convict, 2 personnel hurt It’s official: Bangladesh out, Scotland in for T20 WC big decision Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai, fired at them using service High tension prevailed near rifle. While the prisoner esthe Thirumandurai toll plaza in caped without injuries, two Perambalur district on armed reserve police Saturday after a 15-mempersonnel were severely ber gang hurled six counhurt, police said. A sentry-made bombs at a hisior police official told tory-sheeter and a police TNIE that the gang had team when they were been tailing the police having lunch at a restauvehicle from Dindigul rant around 2.10 pm. The and executed the attack S Kalimuthu (30) car-borne gang fled the in Perambalur. spot after an SI, who was leadPolice said Vellakali has a ing the team escorting S Kali- running feud with another gang muthu alias Vellakali (30) to the in Madurai and the rivalry has P T h i r u s e lv a m @ Tiruchy resulted in 16 murders so far. The injured policemen, S Vineshkumar (37) of Puliyangudi in Tenkasi district and K Maruthapandi (30) of Vadipatti in Madurai district, were rushed to the Perambalur Government Hospital. Sources said their condition is stable. According to police sources, Vellakali of Kamarajapuram in Madurai has over 30 criminal cases, including murder, attempt-to-murder, robbery and ganja smuggling, pending against him across TN. P5 E x p r e s s N e w s s e r v i c e @ Chennai AND just like that, the Asian bloc, the most powerful bloc in international cricket seems to be in tatters, at least for the time being. But there was no way out once Bangladesh stood their ground of not travelling to India so close to the T20 World Cup beginning from February 7. Though there have been withdrawals in the past, because of the passion involved in the sub-continent, this seems more high profile and talkedabout. On Saturday, Bangladesh carried through its threat of not travelling for the T20 World Cup in India. The end result? The Inter national Cricket Council (ICC) gave their spot to Scotland. The European outfit, who fell during the qualifiers, will now be in Group C with Italy, England, Nepal and West Indies. Bangladesh may have the option of going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but the events of the last three and a bit weeks will take years to repair, if at all. In the 90s, when Bangladesh, regarded as one of the game’s lesser nations, were fighting for Test status, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) believed in them. When Jagmohan Dalmiya was in charge of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Bangladesh finally became a full-member. A few months lat- er, a full-strength India team travelled to Dhaka for Bangladesh’s first ever Test. One can argue that Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made this issue more political than it ought to have been as well. The ICC, on the other hand, maintained that there was no issue of security threat in India and it is safe for Bangladesh but to no avail. There will be a major financial implication too. In any case, the team would be losing at least $250,000 from T20 WC participation fee.