DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA SC steps in: Stop all surveys until we decide Places of Worship Act 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- CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 EXPLAINED PAGE 13 APURVA VISHWANATH NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 12 Ex-President Kovind headed panel on joint polls & LIZ MATHEW NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 12 13/12/2024 82 110 135 86 MUMBAI, PUNE, NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 12 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Cabinet clears Bills for joint LS & Assembly polls, to be tabled soon 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 11 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 A birthday ‘surprise’ for Sharad Pawar as Ajit visits his Delhi home ALOK DESHPANDE & DEEPTIMAN TIWARY 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 NOV INFLATION EASES, FEB RATE CUT HOPES RISE PAGE 15 7 MAOISTS KILLED IN CHHATTISGARH GUNBATTLE PAGE 12 DAMINI NATH 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, 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. ‘ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION’ INSIDE GUKESH BECOMES YOUNGEST WORLD CHESS CHAMPION How SC undid what then CJI Chandrachud allowed two years ago EXPLAINED ANANTHAKRISHNAN G `5.00 ● WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 CJI-LED BENCH TAKES UP PETITIONS AGAINST 1991 ACT 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 REG.NO. MCS/067/2018 - 20 RNI REGN. NO. 1543/57 JOURNALISM OF COURAGE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024, MUMBAI, LATE CITY, 18 PAGES Directs Central govt to file its stand on challenge to law within four weeks ● D Gukesh celebrates after defeating 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 BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY 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 blunder in the 55th move of Game-14 on Thursday, which opened the door to his ascension. “From the time I started playing chess, I have been dreaming about this moment, havebeenlivingthismomentfor more than 10 years,” he said. Till that stage, it looked like CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 MORE REPORTS PAGE 17 EVEN AFTER the stormy battle during Maharashtra Assembly polls that saw the Mahayuti return with a resounding mandate, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar’s birthday became an occasion for Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to meet his estranged uncle in Delhi on Thursday, the first meeting in over a year. Ajit Pawar was accompanied by his wife and Rajya Sabha member Sunetra Pawar, son Parth and other NCP leaders such as Chhagan Bhujbal, Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel. For Sharad Pawar’s family, Ajit’svisitcameasasurprise.The discussion ranged from vandalism in Parbhani and MaharashtraCabinetexpansion, said Ajit Pawar after coming out of the Janpath residence of Sharad Pawar, who turned 84. NCP (SP) leaders, however, scotched any speculation of a possible reunion. Earlier in the day, Ajit Pawar extended birthday wishes to his uncle on X. In a post written in Marathi, he said, “Best wishes to SharadPawarSahebonhisbirthday! May you get good health and a long life.” Speaking to reporters after themeeting,AjitPawarsaid,“It’s Saheb’s birthday and tomorrow Kaki will be celebrating her birthday. Therefore, I came to take their darshan. After taking their blessings, we had some tea and discussion on other issues CONTINUED ON PAGE 2