BENGALURU l monday l september 21, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 18 l late city EDITION Need community participation to tackle climate change: President health, livelihood facing risks: Murmu President Murmu said climate change is having serious repercussions on food security, health, and livelihoods. She said the framework to tackle climate change must ensure the participation of communities most affected by it, with special sensitivity towards needs of rural and forestdwelling communities, small farmers, women, and vulnerable sections A well-structured framework of policies and actions is needed to address the challenge of climate change, President Droupadi Murmu said puts Emphasis on traditional knowledge ■ ■ Addressing the valedictory session of the international conference on ‘The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics’, Murmu highlighted the importance of traditional knowledge systems She called for people-centric and community-based climate adaptation approaches rooted in traditional knowledge |P9 17 countries sent representatives to the Conference held in Delhi 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 Tata boardroom Bang on target: Shooting stars sparkle tussle headed for courtroom Indraneel Das Tata Trusts hires Abhishek Manu Singhvi as counsel; Harish Salve to advise Tata Sons IIT bombay Prof booked for abetment of suicide over student’s death S u dh i r s u r ya w a n s h i @ Mumbai An IIT Bombay professor was on Sunday booked for abetment of suicide over the death of a second-year engineering student on the campus. Sahil Ravindra Wakode was found dead at the Powai campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay on Friday evening, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone and ChatGPT during a midsemester examination. Professor Suryanarayan Dulla and two other unnamed persons were booked on Sunday . Sahil’s father alleged that the professor was responsible for driving his son to take his own life. He alleged Sahil faced caste-based abuse, threats and harassment at the campus for three months before his death. A case of abetment of suicide and joint liability has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. A case has also been registered under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 for intentionally insulting or intimidating a person with intent to humiliate a member of a SC/ST community. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by Sahil’s father. Meanwhile, a video of IIT Bombay Director Shireesh B Kedare has gone viral on social media, in which he is seen announcing his resignation, effective Monday . B E N N K O C H UVEE D A N @ Mumbai Noel Tata-led Tata Trusts on Sunday doubled down on its challenge to N Chandrasekaran’s reappointment as executive chairman of Tata Sons, reiterating that the resolution passed at the company’s September 17 board meeting violated the firm’s rules and bylaws. The matter now appears headed for a legal showdown as Tata Trusts, which owns 66.6% in Tata Sons, roped in noted Supreme Court lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi to represent it in the corporate dispute. According to reports, senior advocate Harish Salve is advising Tata Sons. In a detailed statement issued on Sunday, Tata Trusts said that under Tata Sons’ Articles of Association (AoA), the board meeting requires affirmative support from a majority of Trust-nominated directors to pass a resolution. But this condition was not met in the case of Chandrasekaran’s reappointment, rendering it void ab initio (legally void from the outset). In the crucial board meeting held last week, Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata voted against Chandrasekaran’s reappointment while Venu Srinivasan, the other Tata Trusts nominee, supported the resolution. “Whether the result of the vote was 4:1, or any other figure, is irrelevant. A condition is either met, or it is not. In this case the condition was not met,” the Trusts said. The Trusts questioned the argument that Noel Tata’s opposition created a deadlock that needed to be removed through a casting vote. “It is now being suggested that a refusal of support amounts to a deadlock which would paralyse the Company and that the Chairman of the meeting was therefore entitled to resolve the position by a casting vote. There was no paralysis and there was no deadlock. The Board put a question, and the AoA answered it in the negative,” it said. In its latest statement, the Trusts also pointed out that Tata Sons had defended the same AoA during the litigation surrounding the removal of former chairman Cyrus Mistry . Noel Tata There are two Tata Trusts nominees on the Board of Tata Sons. Majority amongst two is two and not one Tata Trusts ‘Entering fray with sadness’ Sr advocate Abhishek Singhvi said he is entering the fray with “sadness and regret” adding the dispute should have been amicably solved. Calling for protecting the fundamental rights of shareholderowners, he said such “rights cannot be nullified” T Express @ asian games Nagoya he bus journey to the Toyota highlands itself is quite fascinating as the road winds up the hills through lush green coniferous forest and gushing streams all along. For Indian athletes and coaches, these are the ‘ghat roads’. It had been quite an ordeal for the shooters right after they landed in Nagoya for the Asian Games. They were made to wait at the airport, then at the hotel and finally when they came to the venue, they realised it was not 70 minutes as the Games organising committee had indicated. It was almost two hours. Not ideal for the shooters. No screen time or games on mobile phone, neck pillow for support during An u p V e r m a @ New Delhi BJP veteran L K Advani, Union Minister S Jaishankar and his wife Kyoko S Jaishankar, CPM MP John Brittas’ wife, former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, and BJP MLA Kailash Gahlot are among a list of 33 lakh people being issued notices for “discrepancies” in their details under SIR. The list includes CBI Director Praveen Sood and his family former Army Chief General , Upendra Dwivedi and his wife, and former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai and members of her family Foreign Sec. retary Vikram Misri, Securities and Exchange Board of India Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Principal Scientific Lal Krishna S Advani Jaishankar Praveen Sood Adviser to the Prime Minister Ajay Kumar Sood and Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava are among those listed as “unmapped with last SIR”. Former economist and Padma awardee Bibek Debroy who , passed away in November 2024, figures in Delhi’s draft electoral roll and has been flagged for “no mapping” with the previous SIR roll. The list includes several D eva ra j B H i r e h a l l i @ Bengaluru Euphoric adieu Devotees take a giant Ganesha idol for immersion in a procession off Kamaraj Road in Bengaluru on Sunday | Kevin Nashon Spurious drug: State halts biz with Pfizer depot Health Minister UT Khader on Sunday said the state has uncovered a large network involved in spurious medicines that has links with networks operating in other states. The investigation is under way and details will be made public after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submits its report. He said action has been taken against several pharmacies and firms involved in the case. “Whoever they may be, however powerful they are, we will not spare anyone,” he said. day. She will compete in the mixed team events next. Among the three, Elavenil was the most experienced and that was visible during the competition. The shooter with roots in Tamil Nadu was in pristine form throughout and managed to exorcise the ghosts of Paris Olympics. For the other two members, prominent political and public figures. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his family, former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and wife Sudesh Dhankhar, former Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B Lokur, former Union Minister Kapil Sibal and wife Promila Sibal, former Union Minister Subramanian Swamy and historian Romila Thapar figure in the list. Cong ress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi is also on the list, though the column against his name specifying the reason for the discrepancy is blank. The Delhi CEO office said “issue of notices does not mean that their names will be deleted from the electoral rolls.” Spl session from today; resolution likely against Kasturirangan report Hormuz Express News Service @ Bengaluru journey and light food before leaving. These were some of the logistical decisions the coaches and support staff took. On Sunday, three shooters managed to win India their first shooting medal in the team event and later, Elavenil Valarivan won her second in the individual silver. Two medals in a Advani, Jaishankar, Kejriwal, CBI chief get notices for SIR discrepancy among Iran’s terms Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Sunday that Tehran laid three conditions to US for ending Hormuz blockade – end to the war, release of frozen funds and end to the naval blockade | P11 (From left) Vidarsa K Vinod, Sonam Maskar & Elavenil Valarivan rejoice after winning the women’s 10m air rifle team silver | PTI Additional Drug Controller Dr Umesh S said licences of 16 firms have been cancelled, while those of eight firms suspended for alleged violations. The punitive action covers both retail pharmacies and wholesalers, he said. On action against Pfizer – a global pharma major – Umesh said the department has stopped business transactions at Pfizer’s C&F depot in Nelamangala until further orders. But the company’s drug stocks have not been seized, he said. “There is only one Pfizer C&F depot in the state, from where the stock is supplied to 14 other stockists across the state,” he said. Action was taken against the depot as the spurious drugs that were seized recently had There is only one Pfizer C&F depot in the state, from where the stock is supplied to 14 other stockists across the state. Unless they identify their products, how can we tell which is spurious and which is not Dr Umesh S, Additional Drug Controller Pfizer labels. The company has not come forward to identify and recall its genuine products from the market. “Unless they identify their products, how can we tell which is spurious and which is not,” he asked. The department has frozen the products. Those drugs that are not identified by the company as its own will be treated as spurious and action taken against those holding them, he added. There is no need for the public to panic as the same drug combinations manufactured by Pfizer are available from other pharmaceutical companies, he said. | P7 A three-day special legislature session, convened exclusively to discuss the Dr K Kasturirangan Committee recommendations on the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in the Western Ghats and the severe drought situation in the state, will begin on Monday . The first day is expected to see a debate on the seventh draft notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on July 27, proposing ESA status based on the Kasturirangan report. With all political parties broadly opposing the seventh draft notification, citing its impact on farmers and residents, the legislature is likely to adopt a unanimous resolution against it. The Centre had given the state 60 days to submit its objec- tions, with the deadline set for September 27, prompting the government to convene the legislative session. As per the Union ministry’s draft notification, around 20,668 sqkm covering 1,576 villages in 33 taluks across 10 districts – Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Mysuru, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Udupi and Belagavi – has been proposed as ESA. Ahead of the session, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar reached out to stakeholders, including farmers, in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Hassan. During one such interaction at Sakleshpur on Sunday, he said, “The government will decide after considering the views of local people and farmers.” Shivakumar also sought to allay farmers’ concerns by directing forest officials not to evict those cultivating bagair hukum lands. | P4 Will quit unless Gadag declared drought-hit: Patil Gadag: Former minister and Gadag MLA HK Patil on Sunday warned that he will resign from his Assembly seat unless Gadag taluk is declared drought-hit by October 10. He was talking to farmers protesting against the taluk being left out of the droughthit list by blocking a state highway connecting Karwar-Kaiga and Gadag-Ilkal near Mulgund town of Gadag district. He asked why the taluk is left out despite CM DK Shivakumar’s visit. “Following a report by officials, the CM visited the area and inspected the crops from Kadampur to Kurtakoti villages. Despite all this, why has Gadag taluk not been declared drought-hit?” he asked. | P4 this is their first Asian Games. If Vidarsa K Vinod became the first from Keralam to win a shooting medal, Sonam Maskar repaid the sacrifices made by her father — he had to sell land for her to pursue the sport. Vidarsa is another fascinating story. She did not have a personal rifle until about recently. According to her coach Manoj Kumar, she bought it just a few months ago. Being part of the Asiad has been a surreal experience for her. “Let alone winning a medal, that I am part of the Asian Games team is a dream,” she told this daily after the win. For Elavenil, it was cathartic. On the day she ensured that the , process she trusted bore fruit. “I’m grateful that I was selected in the first place and this medal means a lot to me,” she said. Mixed Martial Arts gave India its first medal but it’s shooting that India would be banking on for a rich medal haul.  P13 Express Read Pinarayi took money via daughter: Legal opinion Kochi: The legal opinion of Director General of Prosecution T Asaf Ali in the CMRL payoff case said the facts and circumstances of the case shared by the Enforcement Directorate “proved beyond doubt” that former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan acquired Rs 3.28 crore from CMRL through his daughter Veena T | P7 Sharp rise in unallotted engineering seats Bengaluru: The number of unallotted engineering seats through Karnataka’s Undergraduate Common Entrance Test has risen sharply, with 26.35% of the total available seats for Engineering and Architecture going unclaimed this year, compared to 18.12% last year (2025) |P6 Farmers block state highway, wait till CM meets them Express News Service @ Chikkamagaluru Thousands of farmers, who walked nearly 10km from Sangameshwara Pete to Balehonnur where Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was scheduled to address a convention, blocked Sringeri road and raised slogans venting their anger against the Dr K Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats. They blocked the Sringeri State Highway and insisted that Shivakumar visit the protest site. They waited under the scorching sun since morning. But the CM’s helicopter landed at the helipad near Rambhapuri Mutt in the afternoon, and he first visited the mutt to seek the blessings of the seer, delaying his arrival at the convention venue. But the farmers stayed put, insisting that the chief minister visit them. They warned that the road blockade will continue until he arrived. When Shivakumar finally reached the venue, he sought to calm the agitated farmers. The CM said he had come with an open heart to understand the feelings of the farmers and provide appropriate responses during the Assembly session beginning on Monday . “My commitment has always been to improve the lives of farmers and bring positive change to your lives. I have never played the emotional card in politics. I practise politics for the welfare of farmers,” he said.