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NEW DELHI: Frowning upon the Tamil Nadu governor for acting in violation of constitutional provisions by sitting on bills forwarded to him after being passed by the state assembly, Supreme Court, in an extraordinary and first-of-its-kind decision, held that 10 bills reserved by the governor be deemed to have been assented by him, and fixed a timeline for Raj Bhavans to decide on giving or denying nod to bills passed by state legislatures in a time-bound manner in order to prevent what happened in Tamil Nadu.

As the Constitution restricts itself to saying that the governor has to act “as soon as possible” but does not prescribe any timeline, a governor can delay the decision on assent, a prerequisite for a legislation to become law, for months. The court said if assent was to be given, then it has to be done within a month. The court set a timeframe of three months in case a bill is sent to the assembly for reconsideration or to the President. In case a bill is re-sent after reconsideration by the assembly, the governor must grant assent in a month. The court also said any breach of the timeline could be challenged in court. In Tamil Nadu’s case, one bill has been pending for over five years.
Constitution doesn’t let guvs exercise absolute veto: SC
While saying that the Tamil Nadu governor had acted in violation of constitutional provisions by sitting on bills, a Supreme Court bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan on Tuesday said he had shown “scant respect” to various verdicts of the apex court and did not act with bona fides while referring the bills to the President after it was re-sent by the state assembly after reconsideration. It held that governor has no option but to give assent once the bill has been sent back to him after reconsideration by the assembly. The Constitution does not allow him to exercise “absolute veto” or “pocket veto” by indefinitely delaying decision on bills, the bench said.
Reading out the operative part of the verdict, Justice Pardiwala, who penned the judgment, said as per Article 200 of the Constitution, governor has only three options when a bill is placed before him — grant assent, withhold it and send it back for reconsideration, or reserve it for the President. It said a bill could be reserved for the President only at the first instance and not when it was sent after reconsideration by the assembly.
“As a general rule, it is not open for the governor to reserve a bill for the President after the bill has been re-presented by the govt after being passed again by the assembly. The only exception is when the bill presented in the second round is different from the first version,” Justice Pardiwala said.
On Tamil Nadu governor’s contention that he could withhold assent to bills without sending them back to the assembly for reconsideration, the court said such an option was not available under the Constitution.
“Withholding of assent or reservation of bills for the consideration of the President, after their due reconsideration by the state legislature, being in contravention of the procedure prescribed under Article 200, is declared erroneous in law and thus hereby set aside. As a result of the above finding, any consequential steps that might have been taken by the President on these 10 bills is set aside,” the bench said.
“Having regard to the unduly long period of time for which these bills were kept pending by governor, before the ultimate declaration of withholding of assent, and in view of the scant respect shown by the governor to the decision of this court in ‘State of Punjab’ (case), and for other extraneous considerations that appear to be writ large in discharge of his functions, we are left with no choice but to exercise our inherent powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to declare these 10 bills to have been deemed to have got assented,” it said.

The US will take back the Panama Canal, ending China’s influence in one of the world’s most important waterways, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said today after a rare visit to the Central American nation.

Marking the first visit by a US defence secretary to Panama in decades, Mr Hegseth held a closed-door meeting with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino. He also got a close-up look of the canal as Washington reiterated its deep concern over China’s investments and involvement in and around the crucial waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Following talks with Panama’s government, the Pentagon chief vowed to deepen the US military’s security cooperation with Panamanian forces. China, he said, would “not be allowed to weaponize” the canal by using Chinese firms’ commercial relationships as a guise for espionage.

“Together, we (Panama and the US) will take back the Panama Canal from China’s influence,” Secretary Hegseth said in Panama City. Given Donald Trump’s tough rhetoric, the stakes were high for Secretary Hegseth’s visit.

The new arrangement with Panama, a first since 1999, will effectively end China’s influence in the Panama Canal, he suggested. “China did not build this canal. China does not operate this canal and China will not weaponize this canal. Together with Panama in the lead, we will keep the canal secure and available for all nations,” he said.

The Pentagon chief also praised President Mulino, saying his government understood “the threat from China”. His remarks about Panama being in the “lead” on addressing the canal’s security concerns appeared to be a nod to Panamanian sensitivities.

While Secretary Hegseth spoke about removing Chinese influence from Panama, President Trump has spoken in broader terms and not ruled out using military force, if necessary. Even before Mr Hegseth reached Panama, the Trump Administration had reportedly requested options from the US military to ensure access to the Panama Canal.

The United States had built the Panama Canal more than a century ago and handed its complete operations over to Panama in 1999. Today’s development changes that dynamic with the US military likely to start patrolling and accessing the canal frequently, and in coordination with Panama’s security agencies.

According to news agency Reuters, several current and former US officials and strategic experts say that the United States has found a willing partner in tackling Chinese influence in Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino.

In February, President Mulino had announced Panama’s formal move to exit China’s Belt and Road Initiative. He has also aided Donald Trump’s crackdown on migrants in the United States. He did so by accepting US’ deportation flights of non-Panamanians and worked to curb migration from South America by those crossing illegally through his country’s dangerous Darien jungle.

In a significant move last month, US firm BlackRock led a deal to buy out most of the $22.8-billion ports business of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, including its ports on either end of the Panama Canal. At the time President Trump celebrated the deal, saying that the purchase was an example of how the United States was “reclaiming the Panama Canal”.

China however, had slammed the deal. The markets regulator has said that it will carry out an antitrust review of the deal.

Military experts have pointed out that in the event of a war in Asia, the Panama Canal plays a critical role as US naval ships cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific to support war efforts. With China’s vast presence in and around the canal, it could hinder the passage of ships, they said, adding that even if Beijing would not be able to stop American naval vessels in such a scenario, it would be in an advantageous position by being able to surveil vessels passing through it.
 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday that the resilience of the economy and strength of domestic demand will continue to make India an engine of growth amid the rapidly evolving global trade landscape as a result of US tariffs.

In an interaction entitled the ‘Opportunities and challenges for India’s quest to become a developed economy by 2047′ at the High Commission of India in London, she asserted that the economy was well placed to capitalise on domestic efficiencies and competitiveness as it tackles global headwinds.

“The world has seen depressed growth for over several years; earlier, it was low interest for long and now it’s going to be low growth for long, and that’s not happy news for anybody,” said Ms Sitharaman, who is in London on her first UK visit in her current Union Cabinet term.

“India has maintained its fastest growing economy tag continuously now for five years and we still think that momentum may moderate a bit, but it will still be India who will keep that growth… as our growth gets calibrated because of the consumption which exists domestically. It is backed by demand for global-standard goods and that is why globalisation since the 1990s has given India many opportunities,” she said.

“The US is the leading trade partner for India. So, at a time when trade is going to be influenced by tariffs, measures which the US government is taking, we still will have to make sure that the strength that India has in domestic demand as a big magnet which can attract global supplies must be sustained and boosted,” she noted.

The minister said the strength of this demand would prove attractive for foreign direct investment (FDI) and international manufacturing to supply for the domestic market and also export from India.

“We think India, and a few emerging markets, are going to be the engines of growth. The global depressed growth, if it has to pick up, will have to be because of these engines,” she said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

MS Dhoni reacts after his dismissal against Punjab Kings© X (Twitter)

Donald Trump has followed through on his threat of “additional 50 per cent tariffs” on China starting Wednesday. The White House announced that this will make America’s new tariff on China an unprecedented 104 per cent.

President Trump had given China 24 hours to roll back or “withdraw” the retaliatory 34 per cent tariff it imposed on US goods, failing which Chinese goods would be punished with 104 per cent tariffs. Beijing dared Washington to do so earlier today. Within hours Donald Trump approved it.

JOURNEY FROM 10 TO 104 IN UNDER A WEEK

The US used to tariff China at 10 per cent till last month, which President Trump said, “robbed and ripped off” the US economy of billions and billions of dollars as “tariff abuser” Beijing levied a far higher tariff on US goods. Last week the US President announced his “reciprocal tariff” move – wherein the US would charge other countries roughly half the tariff that nation charged the US. For China this was an additional 34 per cent, taking Beijing’s tally to 44 per cent.

Minutes after President Trump’s reciprocal tariff announcement on April 2, the White House told reporters that due to a “national emergency” which has stemmed from security concerns due to persistent trade deficits, the US is imposing a “baseline” 10 per cent tariff on all countries. China’s basket of tariffs now stood at 54 per cent.

Now, with today’s “additional 50 per cent tariff” solely for China, Beijing now faces an unprecedented levy of 104 per cent – a near 100 per cent rise in less than a week. President Trump however, still left the door ajar for Beijing to reconcile. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, he wrote, “China also wants to make a deal, badly, but they don’t know how to get it started. We are waiting for their call.”

CHINA SAYS “WILL FIGHT TO THE END”

Earlier today, China had responded to President Trump’s ultimatum to “withdraw” Beijing’s retaliatory move. They called it “blackmail”.

“The US threat to escalate tariffs against China is a mistake on top of a mistake, which once again exposes the US’s blackmailing nature,” China’s commerce ministry said in a statement, adding that “If the US insists on having its way, China will fight to the end.”

The world faces an uncertain scenario with the two largest economies in the midst of a no-holds-barred trade war. Neither side is willing to blink as global markets have already experienced the biggest fall since the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

D Gukesh (Photo Credits: Lennart Ootes / Freestyle Chess)

NEW DELHI: The preliminary phase of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, hosted in Paris, concluded its eleven-round competition on Tuesday.
This stage saw twelve contenders vying for eight available positions in the subsequent knockout phase. The competition was fierce, and the results were closely contested.
Ian Nepomniachtchi and Magnus Carlsen emerged as the leading players, each amassing 8.5 points by the end of the preliminary rounds.
Nepomniachtchi, however, was declared the top finisher over Carlsen due to having superior tiebreak scores.
Following them, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave claimed the third spot with a total of 7 points. Arjun Erigaisi and Nodirbek Abdusattorov were not far behind, each securing 6.5 points.
Hikaru Nakamura also made it through to the knockout stage by earning 6 points. His qualification was highlighted by a crucial game against Abdusattorov, where Nakamura managed to defend a challenging endgame under significant time constraints.

A significant outcome from the preliminary rounds was the elimination of World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju.
The 18-year-old prodigy faced difficulties from the outset of the final day, having accumulated only 1.5 points.
His situation worsened after an early mistake against Nepomniachtchi in the eleventh round, which put him at a disadvantage from the seventh move.
Winner of the German leg earlier this year, Vincent Keymer’s performance was noteworthy as well, as he clinched his spot in the top eight by defeating Fabiano Caruana in the last round.
This victory brought his total to 5.5 points. Caruana, despite his loss to Keymer, managed to advance to the knockout stage with 4.5 points, aided by Nakamura’s win against Richard Rapport in the concluding game.
The tournament also saw the exit of several strong contenders, including Praggnanandhaa, Rapport, and Vidit Gujrathi.
Newly-married Gujrathi’s victory over Caruana, featuring a tactical mating strategy, was a highlight, though it was not sufficient to overcome his earlier setbacks in the tournament.
Rapport’s play was marked by inventive strategies, including a notable queen sacrifice for mate, yet these efforts did not translate into enough points to secure qualification.
READ ALSO: The mystery of Hans Niemann and his last-minute withdrawal from Freestyle Chess Paris tour

Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, alias Dr N John Kamm, a man who posed as a UK-returned cardiologist and treated dozens of patients at Damoh’s Mission Hospital without a valid medical license, will be in police custody for five days.

His arrest came in the wake of a harrowing revelation: He allegedly conducted 15 surgeries in 45 days. Seven of the patients died.

As he was escorted to a local court today under heavy security, enraged locals attempted to assault him.

NDTV’s exclusive investigation has exposed the layers of deception in this chilling case.

From forged medical degrees to stolen medical equipment, the story of Narendra Yadav is a disturbing tale of fraud and systemic oversight.

Hospital Alleges Theft

Yadav had adopted the name Dr N John Kam to operate within Mission Hospital, Damoh. And he stands accused not only of forgery, fraud and endangering lives, but the hospital has also accused him of theft.

CCTV footage from February 2 obtained by NDTV shows him arriving at the hospital accompanied by a personal bouncer carrying a suitcase. The suitcase allegedly contained a portable echo machine, now reported stolen.

“He took our portable echo machine worth Rs 5-7 lakh. We have lodged a complaint,” said Pushpa Khare, Manager, Mission Hospital.

The Fake Degrees

NDTV has traced Narendra Yadav’s alleged degrees: MBBS from North Bengal Medical College, MRCP from St George’s Hospital, London, DM (Cardiology) from Pondicherry University.

However, these credentials don’t hold up under scrutiny.

Sources said the MBBS registration number belongs to a female doctor, and no credible records exist for the other qualifications. 
“The degree appears to be fake and morphed,” confirmed senior police officer SP Shrutkirti Somvanshi. 

“His mobile, tablet, and even emails suggest fabricated identities. He has possibly been operating in Madhya Pradesh, impersonating a doctor for seven or eight years. We are questioning him using medical terminology to verify the extent of his knowledge or lack thereof,” she added.

19 Years Ago

This is not the first time Yadav’s fraudulent practices came to light.

In 2006, he operated on former Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla at the Apollo hospital. Sources said sources during his tenure, eight patients died there.

At that time, too, investigations pointed toward a fake MBBS degree. 
“I was present when my father’s surgery took place. I grew suspicious after seeing repeated catheter removals,” said Anil Shukla, retired High Court judge and son of the late Speaker. 

“Despite Apollo Hospital branding him as a London-returned expert, 
we were misled. This case deserves a probe by a sitting High Court judge,” he added.

In Chhattisgarh, Chief Medical and Health Officer of Bilaspur, Dr Pramod Tiwari, has now taken action against Apollo Hospital. A formal notice has been issued to the hospital management, seeking a detailed explanation on the appointment of the fake doctor.

The hospital has been asked to submit all documents of his educational qualifications and clarify what action, if any, was taken against him in connection with the deaths of several patients, including the former Speaker.

A Congress delegation meanwhile visited Apollo Hospital and demanded details about Narendra Yadav’s appointment and the verification process of his documents. 

In his 42-day tenure at the Damoh Mission Hospital, the imposter examined around 70 patients and conducted 15 surgeries, seven of which proved fatal.

The Chief Medical and Health Officer or CMHO and the agency that facilitated his hiring will also be questioned, said Ms Somvanshi. 

“We are looking into who is responsible, from the agency to hospital officials. CMHO’s statement will also be recorded,” the officer confirmed.

This case highlights the systemic failure that extends from the hospital’s verification process to the Medical Council’s lack of due diligence and the misplaced trust of families mourning the loss of their loved ones.

MS Dhoni in action for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025© BCCI

Khaleel Ahmed roars at Shreyas Iyer (Screengrabs)

NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings pacer Khaleel Ahmed brought pure fire to the field during his side’s clash against Punjab Kings as he dismissed Shreyas Iyer with a sizzling delivery and then celebrated with raw emotion.
The moment unfolded in the third over of the PBKS innings, just as Iyer was beginning to find his rhythm.
Also See: IPL Live Score, CSK vs PBKS
Having smacked a gorgeous six over long-on just two balls earlier, Iyer looked set for a big score.
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But Khaleel had other ideas. Charging in with intensity, he delivered a full-length ball that tailed in just enough to exploit a slight gap between bat and pad.
The off-stump was sent cartwheeling, leaving Iyer stunned and the Chandigarh crowd momentarily silent.
But what followed was just as eye-catching as the dismissal.
Khaleel, pumped and brimming with adrenaline, let out a primal roar in Iyer’s direction in a fiery, animated celebration.

The raw emotion, the energy — it was a moment that fired up the entire CSK camp.
This wasn’t the first time Khaleel had bested Iyer.
The left-arm pacer has now dismissed the PBKS captain three times in seven IPL innings, keeping him to just 33 runs off 24 balls.
Clearly, he has Iyer’s number.

It was a crucial wicket too, as Iyer’s quickfire nine off seven had begun to shift momentum back to Punjab after the early loss of Prabhsimran Singh.
But Khaleel’s breakthrough and his celebration made sure the pressure stayed firmly on the batting side.
Despite an expensive first over where he went for 17 runs, Khaleel bounced back strongly.
His ability to recover, strike at key moments, and bring passion to the pitch continues to make him a vital asset for Chennai.