DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024, AHMEDABAD, LATE CITY, 16 PAGES SC steps in: Stop all surveys until we decide Places of Worship Act ANANTHAKRISHNAN G NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 12 THE SUPREME Court Thursday barred civil courts across the country from registering fresh suits challenging the ownership and title of any place of worship or ordering surveys of disputed religious places until further orders, and made it clear that no “effective” orders can be passed. Hearing a batch of six petitions challenging the constitu- ‘DIGITAL ARREST’ Key accused buys iPhone, pays MBA fees as doctor duped of Rs 3.9 cr BRENDAN DABHI AHMEDABAD, DECEMBER 12 A 26-YEAR-OLD MBA student from Mumbai, accused of being part of a Cambodia-based gang of cybercriminals, was arrested on Thursday after he allegedly dupeda55-year-olddoctorfrom Ahmedabad. The woman was placed under "digital arrest" for 10daysandRs3.99crorewasextorted from her by making her liquidate her assets, police added. The accused, identified as CONTINUEDONPAGE tional validity of the Places of WorshipAct,1991,athree-judge bench,headedbyChief Justiceof IndiaSanjivKhanna,said,“Asthe matter is sub judice before this Court, we deem it appropriateto direct that, though fresh suits may be filed, no suits would be registered and no proceedings shall be undertaken therein till CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 EXPLAINED PAGE 12 How SC undid what then CJI Chandrachud allowed two years ago APURVA VISHWANATH NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 12 GUKESH BECOMES YOUNGEST WORLD CHESS CHAMPION History at 18 that was enacted to put quietus to such disputes? Thiswasessentiallythequestion before the Supreme Court Thursdayandabench,led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, barred courts from passing “ef● fective orders” in such cases till further orders. E IN AGREEING to hear civil suits questioning the title or ownership of a place of worship, can district courts across the country effectively defeat the purpose of the 1991 Places of Worship Act EXPLAINED Directs Central govt to file its stand on challenge to law within four weeks `5.00 ● WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 CJI-LED BENCH TAKES UP PETITIONS AGAINST 1991 ACT ● CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ‘ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION’ Cabinet clears Bills for joint LS & Assembly polls, to be tabled soon DAMINI NATH & LIZ MATHEW Ex-President Kovind headed panel on joint polls NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 12 ONTHEeveofaspecialdiscussion ontheConstitutioninParliament, theUnionCabinetonThursdayset in motion the process to implement simultaneous elections by approving two Bills — a ConstitutionalamendmentBillto enable joint elections to the Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies, and an ordinary Bill to align Assembly elections in the Union Territories of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu & Kashmir. With the Winter Session on, the two Bills, it is learnt, could be introducedinParliamentasearly asFridayorMonday,andthenbe referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for wider consultations. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 MORE REPORTS PAGE 10 Earliest joint polls likely 2034 if no change DAMINI NATH & RITIKA CHOPRA NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 12 IFTHEBillsclearedbyCabineton Thursday are passed by Parliamentwithoutchanges,the earliest that Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections can be held simultaneously would be in 2034, government sources said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY D Gukesh celebrates after beating China’s Ding Liren on Thursday. FIDE/Eng Chin An AMIT KAMATH MUMBAI, DECEMBER 12 FOR THE first time in almost three weeks, D Gukesh acted everybitlikethe18-year-oldthat he is. Overcome by the weight of the moment, the teenager from Chennai started to sob at the chessboard. It’s not everyday that you become the world champion. It’s definitely not everyday that you become the youngest world champion in history, as Gukesh has after prevailing over Ding Liren in a 14-game World Chess Championship match in Singapore. In fact, the succession line of worldchesschampions—which started in 1886 and has seen 17 men ascend to the throne — has never seen a teenager. Before Gukesh, Garry Kasparov — at 22 years, six months and 27 days — was the youngest-ever world champion. Magnus Carlsen, who chose not to defend his title in 2023, was 22 years, 11 months and 24 days when he won his first championship in 2013. “This was probably the best moment in mylife,” Gukesh said about his opponent making a CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 MORE REPORTS PAGES 15, 16 Ahmedabad