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 ■ ■ 152 BHUBANESWAR  SATURDAY  MARCH 29, 2025  `9.00  PAGES 12  JEYPORE EDITION DEAD & COUNTING AS 7.7 QUAKE FLATTENS MYANMAR, THAILAND A G E N C I E S @ Bangkok A powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand on Friday, destroying scores of buildings, a bridge and a dam. At least 144 people were killed in Myanmar, where photos and video from two hard-hit cities showed extensive damage. At least eight died in the Thai capital, where a high-rise under construction collapsed. The 7.7 magnitude quake, with an epicentre near Mandalay Myanmar’s second largest , city struck at midday and was , followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock. The full extent of deaths, injury and de- struction was not immediately clear — particularly in Myanmar, one of the world’s poorest countries. It is embroiled in a civil war and information is tightly controlled. The head of Myanmar’s military gover nment said in the televised s p e e c h o n F r i d ay evening that at least 144 people were killed and 730 others were injured. Photos from Naypyidaw showed multiple buildings used to house civil servants destroyed, and rescue crew pulling victims from beneath the rubble. Myanmar has declared a state of emergency . Near Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak market, a 33-storey building under construction, with a crane on top, crumpled into a cloud of dust, with onlookers screaming and running in a video posted on social media. The sound of sirens echoed throughout central Bangkok and vehicles filled the streets, leaving some of the city’s already congested All of a sudden the whole building began to move. A lot of screaming, a lot of panic, people running the wrong way down the escalators , total chaos — Fraser Morton, tourist from Scotland in Bangkok Bench says CJI can order FIR after inquiry Allahabad Bar Association protests transfer ‘Allahabad HC turned into dumping ground’ Allahabad High Court Bar Association president Anil Tiwari said they will boycott Justice Varma’s swearing-in. “I don’t know what compelled the government to issue this transfer notification. We have called an emergency meeting tonight with senior advocates to decide our next course of action. This is injustice, and the Allahabad High Court has been turned into a dumping ground.” Cash row: 1991 SC order back in focus The Supreme Court rejecting a plea for FIR against Justice Varma has brought into focus its 1991 verdict virtually granting immunity to judges. A five-judge Constitution bench in the K Veeraswami case directed no criminal case should be registered against a judge unless the Chief Justice of India was consulted in the matter. No FIR for now against Justice Varma, says SC S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi CALLING it “premature”, the Supreme Court on Friday rejected a PIL seeking Delhi Police to register an FIR against Delhi High Court’s Justice Yashwant Varma over the alleged discovery of burnt wads of cash from his official residence on March 14. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said an in-house inquiry was in progress and there would be several options open to the Chief Justice of India after the probe’s conclusion. The bench, therefore, refused to examine the plea of advocate Mathews J Nedumpara and three others. “We have seen the prayers. After the in-house inquiry is over, several options are open. If the report indicates something is wrong, the chief justice (of India) can direct the register of the FIR or refer the matter to the Parliament after examining the report,” the court said. Petitioners Mathews J Nedumpara, Hemali Suresh Kur ne, Rajesh Vishnu Adrekar and Mansha Nimesh Mehta had submitted that their plea pertained to a larger public interest and sought a direction from the court for registration of an FIR. A fire at Justice Varma’s official residence on March 14 led to the alleged discovery of wads of burnt cash in an outhouse of the judge’s residence. Justice Varma was not in New Delhi at the time of the fire, and has denied all charges. Odisha police presses rioting, assault charges against Congress leaders E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Bhubaneswar A day after violence marked the Vidhan Sabha gherao programme of Congress, Odisha police on Friday booked senior party leaders as well as activists for rioting, assault on public servants and a host of other charges. Police refused to name anyone but said “all Congress leaders and workers present at the protest site have been booked.’ A total of three cases were registered by Capital police station on the day over the series of protests on Wednesday and Thursday. Charges under sections 189 (2), 191 All Congress (2) (rioting), 126 (2) (wrongful) releaders and workers present at straint), 121(1) voluntarily causing the protest site hurt to deter public servant), 324 (4) have been booked. (mischief causing damage), 351 (2) A total of three (criminal intimidation) and 190 of cases have been Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and registered by 96 of Odisha Urban Police Act were Capital police pressed against Congress leaders station a n d w o rk e r s f o r T h u r s d ay ’ s Police sources violence. A separate case was registered under section 327 of BNS for use of fire or explosive substances, as an attempt was made by to set a police vehicle on fire. About 15 policemen were injured when the protesters resorted to stone pelting and hurling of chairs during the Vidhan Sabha gherao. Several Congress activists were also hurt in the police lathi-charge. The third case was for violation of prohibitory orders and demonstration outside the Odisha Assembly’s eastern gate by Congress workers on CONTINUED ON P5 Wednesday. Yashwant Varma Subsequently, CJI Sanjiv Khanna formed a three-member in-house panel, consisting of Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Justice G S Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, and Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka. The panel has been mandated with an inquiry into the allegations against Justice Varma, the second senior-most Judge of the HC of Delhi. In a related development, the Union government Friday notified the transfer of Justice Varma to his parent Allahabad High Court. The Law Ministry issued a notification announcing the transfer of the judge. Strongly opposing the transfer of Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court, its Bar Association president on Friday called it the “darkest day for India’s judiciary” and announced they will boycott his swearing-in ceremony The . Supreme Court on Friday said the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court was asked not to assign any judicial work to Justice Varma. streets gridlocked. The elevated rapid transit system and subway shut down. While the area where the quake struck is prone to earthquakes, they are usually not so big and it is rare for them to be felt in the Thai capital, which sits on a river delta and is at moderate risk for quakes. The US Geological Survey and Germany’s centre for geosciences said it was a shallow earthquake that causes more damage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, said, “Concerned by the situation in Myanmar and Thailand. India stands ready to offer all P9 possible assistance.” 1,500 EARTHQUAKES HAVE HIT MYANMAR SINCE 1950 TILL THE PRESENT DAY WHY ARE SHALLOW QUAKES LETHAL? A videograb of onlookers near the 33-storey high-rise in Bangkok that collapsed on Friday after the earthquake | AP The earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand on Friday was shallow, as per the US Geological Survey. Shallow earthquakes are more dangerous than deeper ones due to their greater energy release closer to the Earth’s surface, causing stronger impact that leads to ground shaking and increased damage to structures and casualties. Seismic waves from deeper quakes lose part of their energy by the time they reach the surface. Judiciary steps up to safeguard free speech Supreme Court junks FIR High Court grants interim against Imran Pratapgarhi bail to Kunal Kamra “The poem’s words do not bring about or promote disharmony or feelings of hatred or THE Supreme Court on Friday ill-will. It only seeks to chalquashed the FIR and criminal lenge the injustice made by the proceedings initiated by Gu- ruler. It is impossible to say that jarat police against Congress the words used by the appellant MP Imran Pratapgarhi over a disturb or are likely to disturb poem in a video clip uploaded public tranquillity,” the bench by him on social media. said. The 46-second video The court observed clip showed the Rajya that different forms Sabha MP being showof art including poetered with flower petals ry, drama, music, satas he walks, with the ire make human life poem playing in the more meaningful and background. The FIR alpeople should be leged the poem con- Imran Pratapgarhi granted the freedom tained provocative lyrics to express through that pitted communities against such art forms. one another aside from hurting “The Constitution says reareligious sentiments. sonable restriction can be imA bench of Justices Abhay S posed on the freedom of right to Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said the speech and expression, but the poem had nothing to do with re- reasonable restriction should ligion, caste, community or any not be unreasonable and fanci, particular group, adding that ful to trample the rights of citithe police must first understand zens,” the apex court added. the meaning of written or spoThe bench had reserved the ken words before lodging FIR in verdict on Pratapgarhi’s appeal such cases. on March 3. S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi EXPRESS READ Odisha Govt seeks to rope in AAI for Puri airport development Bhubaneswar: In a significant development, the Odisha government has decided to approach the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to participate in the bidding process for construction of the Shree Jagannath International Airport at Puri. Sources said, a high-level delegation of officials met officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation last week and discussed the proposed project at Puri | P2 Mohan also issued notice to Khar police and posted the THE Madras High Court on matter to April 7. Friday granted interim anticiThe comedian was booked by patory bail till April 7 to come- the Khar police on a complaint dian Kunal Kamra in a case by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel registered against him by Khar for his alleged defamatory repolice in Mumbai over his marks against the deputy CM jokes on Maharashtra deputy in his comedy show. Kamra was c h i e f m i n i s t e r E k n a t h booked for offences under SecShinde. tions 353(1)(b), 353(2) “The petitioner has (public mischief), and satisfied this court as 356(2) (defamation). to why he is unable to T he contentious approach the courts in stand-up gig was perMaharashtra immediformed at the Habitat ately for protection,” Comedy Club in Khar, Justice Sunder Mohan Mumbai. The caustic Kunal Kamra said in his order. comments in the show In his petition, Kamra said triggered a strong backlash he has been a resident of Tamil with Shinde’s supporters vanNadu’s Villupuram district dalising the venue. since 2021 and that he fears arKamra’s counsel V Suresh rest and physical harm if he said his client received around travels to Maharashtra in re- 500 phone calls threatening to sponse to the summons by harm him. Besides, several perKhar police. sons close to Shinde, including While granting interim pro- a sitting minister of Maharashtection, the HC directed Kamra tra, issued open threats that to execute a bail bond before they will “teach him a lesson in the judicial magistrate. Justice Shiv Sena’s style”. R S I V A K U M A R @ Chennai