July 2, 2026

November 2025

‘Papa, I am not feeling well’: Thrashed in train for ‘not speaking in Marathi’, 19-year-old BSc student kills self near Mumbai

‘Papa, I am not feeling well’: Thrashed in train for ‘not speaking in Marathi’, 19-year-old BSc student kills self near Mumbai

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

MUMBAI: A 19-year-old first-year BSc student from Kalyan died by suicide Tuesday after he was harassed and assaulted in a local train by fellow commuters for speaking in Hindi and not Marathi, alleged his father.Arnav Khaire, a student of Kelkar College in Mulund, was travelling in a second-class compartment as his first-class season pass had…

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‘Masti 4’ & ‘120 Bahadur’ Movie Review and Release Live Updates: Both the films expected to have a dull start in the range of Rs 2 to 3 crore

‘Masti 4’ & ‘120 Bahadur’ Movie Review and Release Live Updates: Both the films expected to have a dull start in the range of Rs 2 to 3 crore

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

The fourth installment of the ‘Masti’ franchise is now in theatres and the film promises everything that the franchise promises and is known for. It brings back the trio of Vivek Oberoi, Riteish Deshmukh and Aftab Shivdasni. The film is clashing at the box office with Farhan Akhtar’s ‘120 Bahadur’. Both the movies are extremely…

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7 Home remedies for dry scalp in winter: Natural solutions to hydrate, soothe, and reduce flakes |

7 Home remedies for dry scalp in winter: Natural solutions to hydrate, soothe, and reduce flakes |

Vamsikrishna05 mins mins

Winter brings cosy days and chilly nights, but it can take a toll on your scalp. Cold, dry air outside and heated indoor environments strip away the natural oils that keep the scalp hydrated, leading to dryness, itchiness, and flakiness. This common condition, often mistaken for dandruff, can cause discomfort and even affect hair health,…

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Karan Johar reveals he hid three years of voice training after being bullied for effeminate voice; recalls coach saying, ‘but you sound like a girl’

Karan Johar reveals he hid three years of voice training after being bullied for effeminate voice; recalls coach saying, ‘but you sound like a girl’

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

In a heartfelt revelation, filmmaker Karan Johar opened up about his tumultuous teenage years navigating issues of masculinity. He candidly admitted to spending three years secretly training his voice and gait to fit societal expectations, all while shielding the truth from his understanding father, Yash Johar, whom he misled with tales of computer courses. Filmmaker…

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21 November 2025: Best time of the day as per your Zodiac sign

21 November 2025: Best time of the day as per your Zodiac sign

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Each day carries a unique cosmic rhythm that influences our thoughts, decisions, emotions, and actions. On 21 November 2025, planetary energies favour each zodiac sign at specific hours—windows when intuition strengthens, clarity peaks, and your efforts align effortlessly with universal flow. Whether you’re working, planning your day, travelling, or nurturing relationships, using your sign’s power…

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Hegseth meets Nigerian NSA: Pentagon talks follow Trump’s ‘guns-a-blazing’ threat; tensions rise

Hegseth meets Nigerian NSA: Pentagon talks follow Trump’s ‘guns-a-blazing’ threat; tensions rise

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (Photo credit: AP) US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine planned to held a closed-door meeting with Nigeria’s National security adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu at the Pentagon on Thursday evening, amid tensions sparked by President Donald Trump’s threat to send American troops into…

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A groundbreaking study reveals kissing predates humans by millions of years, originating with ape ancestors in prehistoric Africa. Researchers define it as non-aggressive mouth-to-mouth contact, observing it across diverse species, particularly primates. This ancient behavior, possibly practiced by Neanderthals, may have evolved for mate assessment or social bonding, offering a glimpse into our deep evolutionary past. BENGALURU: If you think kissing is only about human romance, you’re already missing the story. The first kiss happened long before humans walked the Earth—somewhere in the misty forests of prehistoric Africa, between two ape ancestors, 16.9-21.5 million years ago.As per a new evolutionary study, a kiss is better understood as an ancient, risky mouth-to-mouth gamble that large apes, and probably Neanderthals, started playing millions of years ago. And instead of asking what a kiss means, researchers went after a tougher question: why this odd, germ-sharing behaviour evolved at all in the first place.Researchers from University of Oxford, University College London, and the Florida Institute of Technology began by stripping the sentimentality out of kissing and giving it a cross-species definition: non-aggressive, mouth-to-mouth contact within a species, with some lip or mouth movement and no food transfer.That rules out feeding, “kiss-fighting” and your dog licking your face, but includes everything from human deep kisses to brief pecks between monkeys and apes. As per this definition, they found that kissing occurs in taxa as diverse as ants, birds, and polar bears, but the majority of reports seem to be in the primates.Using this, they sifted through decades of primate fieldwork and video material to classify each Afro-Eurasian monkey and ape species as “kissing observed” or “not observed”.They then mapped the data onto a primate family tree and used statistical methods to estimate when kissing first appeared. Their findings: proper lip-to-lip contact predates humans by a vast margin. The behaviour likely evolved in the common ancestor we share with chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans, making every romantic clinch a faint genetic echo from deep time.The research, published in Evolution and Human Behavior, also indicates an 84% chance that Neanderthals kissed. It is even possible they kissed modern humans during the period both species coexisted. The clue lies in shared oral microbes that could only have been passed through close mouth-to-mouth contact.Why Kiss At All?Kissing poses an evolutionary puzzle because it offers no obvious survival benefit, while the risk of disease transfer is high. Matilda Brindle from University of Oxford and her colleagues wanted to know why animals persist with it. Using primates, the only group where kissing is well-documented, they traced its evolutionary path.The behaviour appears in most great apes and at least eight Old World monkey species. Gorillas do it, though infrequently. Bonobos engage in what researchers call “prolonged tongue-tongue interaction”. Chimpanzees opt for brief, tense kisses, usually after confrontations.So why kiss at all? Leading explanations suggest it may help assess a mate’s health, increase arousal, strengthen social bonds or even transfer beneficial microbes. The study hints that species with several mating partners are more likely to kiss, pointing to a role in sexual selection.Yet kissing is not universal among humans. It is absent in some societies, raising the possibility of cultural learning rather than pure instinct.The researchers note that scientific records of kissing are sparse because the behaviour is often dismissed as trivial. Still, they argue that their framework offers a starting point for understanding a habit so common that we rarely question it.Next time you kiss someone, remember: you’re participating in a ritual older than us, refined across millions of years of primate evolution. Though whether that makes it more or less romantic is anyone’s guess.About the AuthorChethan KumarChethan Kumar is a Senior Assistant Editor with the Times of India. Aside from specialising in Space & Science, he has reported extensively on varied topics, with special focus on defence, policy and data stories. He has covered multiple elections, too. As a young democracy grows out of adolescence, Chethan feels, there are reels of tales emerging which need to be captured. To do this, he alternates between the mundane goings-on of the Common Man and the wonder-filled worlds of scientists and scamsters, politicians and soldiers. In a career spanning nearly 18 years, he has reported from multiple datelines — Houston, Florida, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Sriharikota (AP), NH-1 (J&K Highway), New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Raichur, Bhatkal, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, to name a few — but is based out of Bengaluru, India’s science capital that also hosts the ISRO HQ.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia And Israel Launch FTA Talks; Piyush Goyal, Nir Barkat Sign Terms Of ReferenceDelhi’s Pollution Forces Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong To Cough, Stop Her Speech MidwayJaishankar Meets Afghan Commerce Minister Azizi In Delhi; Trade, Connectivity DiscussedMEA Outlines Agenda For PM Modi’s South Africa Visit For G20 Summit In JohannesburgPenny Wong’s Cricket Banter With Jaishankar Highlights Warm, Confident India-Australia PartnershipJaishankar, Penny Wong Send A Strong India-Australia Message To China And The World on Indo-PacificIFFI 2025 Opens With A Surprise As Korean Minister Sings Vande Mataram And Wins Standing OvationPiyush Goyal’s 10 D’s Pitch in Israel Recasts India As Future-Ready for Worldwide InvestmentsDelhi Student Suicide Case: Massive Protest Outside School After Note Alleges Harassment By TeachersPiyush Goyal Links India, Israel Through Shared Adversities, Predicts 7% Percent GDP Growth For FY26123PhotostoriesRekha to Sharmila Tagore: 5 best celebrity-inspired saree styles for the modern mother-in-law10 nuts for kids for brain health and overall growthAkkineni Nagarjuna Rao shaping Telugu cinema with iconic performances and a magnetic presence on screenHow top Bollywood actresses are embracing a life changing new lifestyleFrom better brain function to stronger heart: 5 reasons why backward walking is excellent for youPrincess Diana finally enters the Grévin Wax Museum and yes, she’s wearing the iconic ‘Revenge Dress’Dipika Kakar breaks down after meeting her oncologist amid liver cancer treatment; says, ‘The reports are normal, but there is a constant fear and anxiety’Peripheral Artery Disease: 5 major causes, and ways to prevent it9 must-try street foods in Udaipur5 expert-approved best foods to control diabetes123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingJoel EmbiidSavannah JamesGiannis AntetokounmpoTrevon DiggsKris KnoblauchAdin RossCandace OwensKona TakahashiKatie JohnsonOlivia Dunne

A groundbreaking study reveals kissing predates humans by millions of years, originating with ape ancestors in prehistoric Africa. Researchers define it as non-aggressive mouth-to-mouth contact, observing it across diverse species, particularly primates. This ancient behavior, possibly practiced by Neanderthals, may have evolved for mate assessment or social bonding, offering a glimpse into our deep evolutionary past. BENGALURU: If you think kissing is only about human romance, you’re already missing the story. The first kiss happened long before humans walked the Earth—somewhere in the misty forests of prehistoric Africa, between two ape ancestors, 16.9-21.5 million years ago.As per a new evolutionary study, a kiss is better understood as an ancient, risky mouth-to-mouth gamble that large apes, and probably Neanderthals, started playing millions of years ago. And instead of asking what a kiss means, researchers went after a tougher question: why this odd, germ-sharing behaviour evolved at all in the first place.Researchers from University of Oxford, University College London, and the Florida Institute of Technology began by stripping the sentimentality out of kissing and giving it a cross-species definition: non-aggressive, mouth-to-mouth contact within a species, with some lip or mouth movement and no food transfer.That rules out feeding, “kiss-fighting” and your dog licking your face, but includes everything from human deep kisses to brief pecks between monkeys and apes. As per this definition, they found that kissing occurs in taxa as diverse as ants, birds, and polar bears, but the majority of reports seem to be in the primates.Using this, they sifted through decades of primate fieldwork and video material to classify each Afro-Eurasian monkey and ape species as “kissing observed” or “not observed”.They then mapped the data onto a primate family tree and used statistical methods to estimate when kissing first appeared. Their findings: proper lip-to-lip contact predates humans by a vast margin. The behaviour likely evolved in the common ancestor we share with chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans, making every romantic clinch a faint genetic echo from deep time.The research, published in Evolution and Human Behavior, also indicates an 84% chance that Neanderthals kissed. It is even possible they kissed modern humans during the period both species coexisted. The clue lies in shared oral microbes that could only have been passed through close mouth-to-mouth contact.Why Kiss At All?Kissing poses an evolutionary puzzle because it offers no obvious survival benefit, while the risk of disease transfer is high. Matilda Brindle from University of Oxford and her colleagues wanted to know why animals persist with it. Using primates, the only group where kissing is well-documented, they traced its evolutionary path.The behaviour appears in most great apes and at least eight Old World monkey species. Gorillas do it, though infrequently. Bonobos engage in what researchers call “prolonged tongue-tongue interaction”. Chimpanzees opt for brief, tense kisses, usually after confrontations.So why kiss at all? Leading explanations suggest it may help assess a mate’s health, increase arousal, strengthen social bonds or even transfer beneficial microbes. The study hints that species with several mating partners are more likely to kiss, pointing to a role in sexual selection.Yet kissing is not universal among humans. It is absent in some societies, raising the possibility of cultural learning rather than pure instinct.The researchers note that scientific records of kissing are sparse because the behaviour is often dismissed as trivial. Still, they argue that their framework offers a starting point for understanding a habit so common that we rarely question it.Next time you kiss someone, remember: you’re participating in a ritual older than us, refined across millions of years of primate evolution. Though whether that makes it more or less romantic is anyone’s guess.About the AuthorChethan KumarChethan Kumar is a Senior Assistant Editor with the Times of India. Aside from specialising in Space & Science, he has reported extensively on varied topics, with special focus on defence, policy and data stories. He has covered multiple elections, too. As a young democracy grows out of adolescence, Chethan feels, there are reels of tales emerging which need to be captured. To do this, he alternates between the mundane goings-on of the Common Man and the wonder-filled worlds of scientists and scamsters, politicians and soldiers. In a career spanning nearly 18 years, he has reported from multiple datelines — Houston, Florida, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Sriharikota (AP), NH-1 (J&K Highway), New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Raichur, Bhatkal, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, to name a few — but is based out of Bengaluru, India’s science capital that also hosts the ISRO HQ.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia And Israel Launch FTA Talks; Piyush Goyal, Nir Barkat Sign Terms Of ReferenceDelhi’s Pollution Forces Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong To Cough, Stop Her Speech MidwayJaishankar Meets Afghan Commerce Minister Azizi In Delhi; Trade, Connectivity DiscussedMEA Outlines Agenda For PM Modi’s South Africa Visit For G20 Summit In JohannesburgPenny Wong’s Cricket Banter With Jaishankar Highlights Warm, Confident India-Australia PartnershipJaishankar, Penny Wong Send A Strong India-Australia Message To China And The World on Indo-PacificIFFI 2025 Opens With A Surprise As Korean Minister Sings Vande Mataram And Wins Standing OvationPiyush Goyal’s 10 D’s Pitch in Israel Recasts India As Future-Ready for Worldwide InvestmentsDelhi Student Suicide Case: Massive Protest Outside School After Note Alleges Harassment By TeachersPiyush Goyal Links India, Israel Through Shared Adversities, Predicts 7% Percent GDP Growth For FY26123PhotostoriesRekha to Sharmila Tagore: 5 best celebrity-inspired saree styles for the modern mother-in-law10 nuts for kids for brain health and overall growthAkkineni Nagarjuna Rao shaping Telugu cinema with iconic performances and a magnetic presence on screenHow top Bollywood actresses are embracing a life changing new lifestyleFrom better brain function to stronger heart: 5 reasons why backward walking is excellent for youPrincess Diana finally enters the Grévin Wax Museum and yes, she’s wearing the iconic ‘Revenge Dress’Dipika Kakar breaks down after meeting her oncologist amid liver cancer treatment; says, ‘The reports are normal, but there is a constant fear and anxiety’Peripheral Artery Disease: 5 major causes, and ways to prevent it9 must-try street foods in Udaipur5 expert-approved best foods to control diabetes123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingJoel EmbiidSavannah JamesGiannis AntetokounmpoTrevon DiggsKris KnoblauchAdin RossCandace OwensKona TakahashiKatie JohnsonOlivia Dunne

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

BENGALURU: If you think kissing is only about human romance, you’re already missing the story. The first kiss happened long before humans walked the Earth—somewhere in the misty forests of prehistoric Africa, between two ape ancestors, 16.9-21.5 million years ago.As per a new evolutionary study, a kiss is better understood as an ancient, risky mouth-to-mouth…

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‘Masti 4’, ‘120 Bahadur’ box office prediction day 1: Both the movies expected to have a dull opening in the range of Rs 2 to 3 crore

‘Masti 4’, ‘120 Bahadur’ box office prediction day 1: Both the movies expected to have a dull opening in the range of Rs 2 to 3 crore

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

If the current advance booking numbers are anything to go by, Bollywood might be heading toward a rather underwhelming Friday at the box office. Bookings opened yesterday, but early ticket sales have been slow for both 120 Bahadur and Mastiii 4. With just a day left before release, the overall count still appears unlikely to…

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NEW DELHI: A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday disapproved in dismay a two-judge bench’s decision to use SC’s Article 142 powers to grant ‘deemed assent’ to 10 Bills pending for long with Tamil Nadu governor and said it was a fallacious exercise of powers to achieve a constitutionally impermissible goal. A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar said, “We have no hesitation in concluding that the concept of deemed assent of pending Bills by the Court in exercise of jurisdiction under Article 142, is virtually a takeover of the role, and function, of a separate constitutional authority. The reliance on Article 142, can’t lead to supplanting constitutional provisions itself.” It also faulted the two-judge bench’s decision in TN case for prescribing the timeline for the governors and the President and then subjecting their decision to judicial scrutiny on expiry of the timelines when the Constitution clearly prescribes that their decision on Bills are non-justiciable. The five-judge bench said, “We have no hesitation in concluding that deemed consent of the Governor, or President, under Article 200 or 201 at the expiry of a judicially set timeline, is virtually a takeover, and substitution, of the executive functions by the Judiciary, through judicial pronouncement, which is impermissible within the contours of our written Constitution.” “… We are of the considered opinion that Article 142 cannot be employed to arrive at a conclusion contrary to the express provisions of the Constitution,” the bench-led by CJI Gavai ruled in its unanimous opinion to the President. “It is a matter of settled law that jurisdiction under Article 142 cannot be invoked to achieve results that are contrary to the Constitution, or statutory provisions,” it said. “The concept of ‘deemed assent’ in the context of Articles 200 and 201 presupposes that one constitutional authority (the SC), could play a ‘substitutional role’ for another constitutional functionary (the Governor, or President). Such a usurpation of the gubernatorial function of the Governor, and similarly of the President’s functions, is antithetical not only to the spirit of the Constitution, but also specifically, the doctrine of separation of powers – which is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution,” it said, adding that “A logical corollary of this reasoning is that if there are no prescribed timelines under Articles 200 and 201, then expiry of them too, cannot amount to ‘deemed consent’.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia And Israel Launch FTA Talks; Piyush Goyal, Nir Barkat Sign Terms Of ReferenceDelhi’s Pollution Forces Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong To Cough, Stop Her Speech MidwayJaishankar Meets Afghan Commerce Minister Azizi In Delhi; Trade, Connectivity DiscussedMEA Outlines Agenda For PM Modi’s South Africa Visit For G20 Summit In JohannesburgPenny Wong’s Cricket Banter With Jaishankar Highlights Warm, Confident India-Australia PartnershipJaishankar, Penny Wong Send A Strong India-Australia Message To China And The World on Indo-PacificIFFI 2025 Opens With A Surprise As Korean Minister Sings Vande Mataram And Wins Standing OvationPiyush Goyal’s 10 D’s Pitch in Israel Recasts India As Future-Ready for Worldwide InvestmentsDelhi Student Suicide Case: Massive Protest Outside School After Note Alleges Harassment By TeachersPiyush Goyal Links India, Israel Through Shared Adversities, Predicts 7% Percent GDP Growth For FY26123PhotostoriesAkkineni Nagarjuna Rao shaping Telugu cinema with iconic performances and a magnetic presence on screenHow top Bollywood actresses are embracing a life changing new lifestyleFrom better brain function to stronger heart: 5 reasons why backward walking is excellent for youPrincess Diana finally enters the Grévin Wax Museum and yes, she’s wearing the iconic ‘Revenge Dress’Dipika Kakar breaks down after meeting her oncologist amid liver cancer treatment; says, ‘The reports are normal, but there is a constant fear and anxiety’Peripheral Artery Disease: 5 major causes, and ways to prevent it9 must-try street foods in Udaipur5 expert-approved best foods to control diabetes5 spectacular animals with the biggest horns on their heads10 father-son duos who left a mark on cricket history123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingJoel EmbiidSavannah JamesGiannis AntetokounmpoTrevon DiggsKris KnoblauchAdin RossCandace OwensKona TakahashiKatie JohnsonOlivia Dunne

NEW DELHI: A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday disapproved in dismay a two-judge bench’s decision to use SC’s Article 142 powers to grant ‘deemed assent’ to 10 Bills pending for long with Tamil Nadu governor and said it was a fallacious exercise of powers to achieve a constitutionally impermissible goal. A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar said, “We have no hesitation in concluding that the concept of deemed assent of pending Bills by the Court in exercise of jurisdiction under Article 142, is virtually a takeover of the role, and function, of a separate constitutional authority. The reliance on Article 142, can’t lead to supplanting constitutional provisions itself.” It also faulted the two-judge bench’s decision in TN case for prescribing the timeline for the governors and the President and then subjecting their decision to judicial scrutiny on expiry of the timelines when the Constitution clearly prescribes that their decision on Bills are non-justiciable. The five-judge bench said, “We have no hesitation in concluding that deemed consent of the Governor, or President, under Article 200 or 201 at the expiry of a judicially set timeline, is virtually a takeover, and substitution, of the executive functions by the Judiciary, through judicial pronouncement, which is impermissible within the contours of our written Constitution.” “… We are of the considered opinion that Article 142 cannot be employed to arrive at a conclusion contrary to the express provisions of the Constitution,” the bench-led by CJI Gavai ruled in its unanimous opinion to the President. “It is a matter of settled law that jurisdiction under Article 142 cannot be invoked to achieve results that are contrary to the Constitution, or statutory provisions,” it said. “The concept of ‘deemed assent’ in the context of Articles 200 and 201 presupposes that one constitutional authority (the SC), could play a ‘substitutional role’ for another constitutional functionary (the Governor, or President). Such a usurpation of the gubernatorial function of the Governor, and similarly of the President’s functions, is antithetical not only to the spirit of the Constitution, but also specifically, the doctrine of separation of powers – which is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution,” it said, adding that “A logical corollary of this reasoning is that if there are no prescribed timelines under Articles 200 and 201, then expiry of them too, cannot amount to ‘deemed consent’.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia And Israel Launch FTA Talks; Piyush Goyal, Nir Barkat Sign Terms Of ReferenceDelhi’s Pollution Forces Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong To Cough, Stop Her Speech MidwayJaishankar Meets Afghan Commerce Minister Azizi In Delhi; Trade, Connectivity DiscussedMEA Outlines Agenda For PM Modi’s South Africa Visit For G20 Summit In JohannesburgPenny Wong’s Cricket Banter With Jaishankar Highlights Warm, Confident India-Australia PartnershipJaishankar, Penny Wong Send A Strong India-Australia Message To China And The World on Indo-PacificIFFI 2025 Opens With A Surprise As Korean Minister Sings Vande Mataram And Wins Standing OvationPiyush Goyal’s 10 D’s Pitch in Israel Recasts India As Future-Ready for Worldwide InvestmentsDelhi Student Suicide Case: Massive Protest Outside School After Note Alleges Harassment By TeachersPiyush Goyal Links India, Israel Through Shared Adversities, Predicts 7% Percent GDP Growth For FY26123PhotostoriesAkkineni Nagarjuna Rao shaping Telugu cinema with iconic performances and a magnetic presence on screenHow top Bollywood actresses are embracing a life changing new lifestyleFrom better brain function to stronger heart: 5 reasons why backward walking is excellent for youPrincess Diana finally enters the Grévin Wax Museum and yes, she’s wearing the iconic ‘Revenge Dress’Dipika Kakar breaks down after meeting her oncologist amid liver cancer treatment; says, ‘The reports are normal, but there is a constant fear and anxiety’Peripheral Artery Disease: 5 major causes, and ways to prevent it9 must-try street foods in Udaipur5 expert-approved best foods to control diabetes5 spectacular animals with the biggest horns on their heads10 father-son duos who left a mark on cricket history123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingJoel EmbiidSavannah JamesGiannis AntetokounmpoTrevon DiggsKris KnoblauchAdin RossCandace OwensKona TakahashiKatie JohnsonOlivia Dunne

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday disapproved in dismay a two-judge bench’s decision to use SC’s Article 142 powers to grant ‘deemed assent’ to 10 Bills pending for long with Tamil Nadu governor and said it was a fallacious exercise of powers to achieve a constitutionally impermissible goal. A bench…

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‘De De Pyaar De 2’ box office collection day 7: The Ajay Devgn, R Madhavan, Rakul Preet Singh film crosses Rs 51 crore by the end of first week

‘De De Pyaar De 2’ box office collection day 7: The Ajay Devgn, R Madhavan, Rakul Preet Singh film crosses Rs 51 crore by the end of first week

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

The sequel to the 2019 ‘De De Pyaar De’ released in cinemas last Friday, November 14 and had a decent opening at the box office. Romcoms are not expected to bring in those huge numbers, especially post pandemic. The film opened at Rs 8.75 crore and saw growth on its first weekend. But over the…

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NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu govt’s 2023 writ petition accusing the governor of deliberately not acting on 10 bills passed by the state assembly had led a two-judge Supreme Court bench to pen a 415-page judgment on April 8, stripping the constitutional heads of states of the minimal discretionary power conferred on them by the Constitution.Alarmed by the strong forays made by the judiciary into the legislative powers of the constitutional heads of the country and states, the President on May 14 sent a 14-question reference in exercise of her powers under Article 143 to seek SC’s opinion, virtually on each ruling of the two-judge bench as also whether the ambit of SC’s exclusive powers under Article 142 included granting deemed assent to bills.In its 111-page judgment, a bench of CJI B R Gavai, and Justices Surya Kant, Vikran Nath, P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar tested the reasoning of the two-judge bench on the constitutional touchstone and found that the directions were beyond the mandate of the Constitution.The only point of convergence of views between the two-judge and the five-judge benches was that the governor could not sit on a bill indefinitely. In such a situation, the five-judge bench said the aggrieved state could move SC. Even then, SC could only ask the governor to act expeditiously and not fix a timeline, it said.The two-judge bench had said, “There is no expressly specified time-limit for the discharge of the functions by the governor under Article 200 of the Constitution. Despite there being no prescribed time-limit, Article 200 cannot be read in a manner which allows the governor to not act upon bills which are presented to him for assent and thereby delay and essentially roadblock the lawmaking machinery in the state.”Assuring itself that prescribing a timeline for the governor was not akin to amending the Constitution, the two-judge bench had said, “In case of either withholding of assent or reservation of the bill for the consideration of the President, upon the aid and advice of the state council of ministers, the governor is expected to take such an action forthwith, subject to a maximum period of one month.” It had said the governor must return the bill to the House, if he was withholding assent, within three months or decide within the same timeline reserving it for President’s consideration.Turning to the President, the two-judge bench had said, “There is no ‘pocket veto’ or ‘absolute veto’ available to the President in discharge of functions under Article 201. The use of the expression ‘shall declare’ makes it mandatory for the President to make a choice between the two options available under the substantive part of Article 201, that is, to either grant assent or to withhold assent to a bill.” The two-judge bench fixed a three-month timeline for the President and then granted deemed assent to the 10 Tamil Nadu Bills.In declaring all the above components of the two-judge bench’s rulings as impermissible under the Constitutional scheme, the five-judge bench said, “The governor enjoys discretion in choosing from these three constitutional options and is not bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers, while exercising his function under Article 200. The discharge of the governor’s function under Article 200, is not justiciable. The court cannot enter a merits review of the decision so taken.”However, in case of glaring circumstances of inaction that is prolonged, unexplained and indefinite, “the court can issue a limited mandamus for the governor to discharge his function under Article 200 within a reasonable time, without making any observations on the merits of the exercise of his discretion”. It said, “The President, too, cannot be bound by judicially prescribed timelines in the discharge of functions under Article 201…the President’s assent under Article 201 too, is not justiciable.”Annulling another ruling by the two-judge bench making it virtually mandatory for the President to seek the court’s opinion on bills whose constitutionally she doubts, the five-judge bench said, “In our constitutional scheme, the President is not required to seek advice of this court by way of reference under Article 143, every time a governor reserves a bill for the President’s assent.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia And Israel Launch FTA Talks; Piyush Goyal, Nir Barkat Sign Terms Of ReferenceDelhi’s Pollution Forces Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong To Cough, Stop Her Speech MidwayJaishankar Meets Afghan Commerce Minister Azizi In Delhi; Trade, Connectivity DiscussedMEA Outlines Agenda For PM Modi’s South Africa Visit For G20 Summit In JohannesburgPenny Wong’s Cricket Banter With Jaishankar Highlights Warm, Confident India-Australia PartnershipJaishankar, Penny Wong Send A Strong India-Australia Message To China And The World on Indo-PacificIFFI 2025 Opens With A Surprise As Korean Minister Sings Vande Mataram And Wins Standing OvationPiyush Goyal’s 10 D’s Pitch in Israel Recasts India As Future-Ready for Worldwide InvestmentsDelhi Student Suicide Case: Massive Protest Outside School After Note Alleges Harassment By TeachersPiyush Goyal Links India, Israel Through Shared Adversities, Predicts 7% Percent GDP Growth For FY26123PhotostoriesAkkineni Nagarjuna Rao shaping Telugu cinema with iconic performances and a magnetic presence on screenHow top Bollywood actresses are embracing a life changing new lifestyleFrom better brain function to stronger heart: 5 reasons why backward walking is excellent for youPrincess Diana finally enters the Grévin Wax Museum and yes, she’s wearing the iconic ‘Revenge Dress’Dipika Kakar breaks down after meeting her oncologist amid liver cancer treatment; says, ‘The reports are normal, but there is a constant fear and anxiety’Peripheral Artery Disease: 5 major causes, and ways to prevent it9 must-try street foods in Udaipur5 expert-approved best foods to control diabetes5 spectacular animals with the biggest horns on their heads10 father-son duos who left a mark on cricket history123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingJoel EmbiidSavannah JamesGiannis AntetokounmpoTrevon DiggsKris KnoblauchAdin RossCandace OwensKona TakahashiKatie JohnsonOlivia Dunne

NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu govt’s 2023 writ petition accusing the governor of deliberately not acting on 10 bills passed by the state assembly had led a two-judge Supreme Court bench to pen a 415-page judgment on April 8, stripping the constitutional heads of states of the minimal discretionary power conferred on them by the Constitution.Alarmed by the strong forays made by the judiciary into the legislative powers of the constitutional heads of the country and states, the President on May 14 sent a 14-question reference in exercise of her powers under Article 143 to seek SC’s opinion, virtually on each ruling of the two-judge bench as also whether the ambit of SC’s exclusive powers under Article 142 included granting deemed assent to bills.In its 111-page judgment, a bench of CJI B R Gavai, and Justices Surya Kant, Vikran Nath, P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar tested the reasoning of the two-judge bench on the constitutional touchstone and found that the directions were beyond the mandate of the Constitution.The only point of convergence of views between the two-judge and the five-judge benches was that the governor could not sit on a bill indefinitely. In such a situation, the five-judge bench said the aggrieved state could move SC. Even then, SC could only ask the governor to act expeditiously and not fix a timeline, it said.The two-judge bench had said, “There is no expressly specified time-limit for the discharge of the functions by the governor under Article 200 of the Constitution. Despite there being no prescribed time-limit, Article 200 cannot be read in a manner which allows the governor to not act upon bills which are presented to him for assent and thereby delay and essentially roadblock the lawmaking machinery in the state.”Assuring itself that prescribing a timeline for the governor was not akin to amending the Constitution, the two-judge bench had said, “In case of either withholding of assent or reservation of the bill for the consideration of the President, upon the aid and advice of the state council of ministers, the governor is expected to take such an action forthwith, subject to a maximum period of one month.” It had said the governor must return the bill to the House, if he was withholding assent, within three months or decide within the same timeline reserving it for President’s consideration.Turning to the President, the two-judge bench had said, “There is no ‘pocket veto’ or ‘absolute veto’ available to the President in discharge of functions under Article 201. The use of the expression ‘shall declare’ makes it mandatory for the President to make a choice between the two options available under the substantive part of Article 201, that is, to either grant assent or to withhold assent to a bill.” The two-judge bench fixed a three-month timeline for the President and then granted deemed assent to the 10 Tamil Nadu Bills.In declaring all the above components of the two-judge bench’s rulings as impermissible under the Constitutional scheme, the five-judge bench said, “The governor enjoys discretion in choosing from these three constitutional options and is not bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers, while exercising his function under Article 200. The discharge of the governor’s function under Article 200, is not justiciable. The court cannot enter a merits review of the decision so taken.”However, in case of glaring circumstances of inaction that is prolonged, unexplained and indefinite, “the court can issue a limited mandamus for the governor to discharge his function under Article 200 within a reasonable time, without making any observations on the merits of the exercise of his discretion”. It said, “The President, too, cannot be bound by judicially prescribed timelines in the discharge of functions under Article 201…the President’s assent under Article 201 too, is not justiciable.”Annulling another ruling by the two-judge bench making it virtually mandatory for the President to seek the court’s opinion on bills whose constitutionally she doubts, the five-judge bench said, “In our constitutional scheme, the President is not required to seek advice of this court by way of reference under Article 143, every time a governor reserves a bill for the President’s assent.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia And Israel Launch FTA Talks; Piyush Goyal, Nir Barkat Sign Terms Of ReferenceDelhi’s Pollution Forces Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong To Cough, Stop Her Speech MidwayJaishankar Meets Afghan Commerce Minister Azizi In Delhi; Trade, Connectivity DiscussedMEA Outlines Agenda For PM Modi’s South Africa Visit For G20 Summit In JohannesburgPenny Wong’s Cricket Banter With Jaishankar Highlights Warm, Confident India-Australia PartnershipJaishankar, Penny Wong Send A Strong India-Australia Message To China And The World on Indo-PacificIFFI 2025 Opens With A Surprise As Korean Minister Sings Vande Mataram And Wins Standing OvationPiyush Goyal’s 10 D’s Pitch in Israel Recasts India As Future-Ready for Worldwide InvestmentsDelhi Student Suicide Case: Massive Protest Outside School After Note Alleges Harassment By TeachersPiyush Goyal Links India, Israel Through Shared Adversities, Predicts 7% Percent GDP Growth For FY26123PhotostoriesAkkineni Nagarjuna Rao shaping Telugu cinema with iconic performances and a magnetic presence on screenHow top Bollywood actresses are embracing a life changing new lifestyleFrom better brain function to stronger heart: 5 reasons why backward walking is excellent for youPrincess Diana finally enters the Grévin Wax Museum and yes, she’s wearing the iconic ‘Revenge Dress’Dipika Kakar breaks down after meeting her oncologist amid liver cancer treatment; says, ‘The reports are normal, but there is a constant fear and anxiety’Peripheral Artery Disease: 5 major causes, and ways to prevent it9 must-try street foods in Udaipur5 expert-approved best foods to control diabetes5 spectacular animals with the biggest horns on their heads10 father-son duos who left a mark on cricket history123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingJoel EmbiidSavannah JamesGiannis AntetokounmpoTrevon DiggsKris KnoblauchAdin RossCandace OwensKona TakahashiKatie JohnsonOlivia Dunne

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu govt’s 2023 writ petition accusing the governor of deliberately not acting on 10 bills passed by the state assembly had led a two-judge Supreme Court bench to pen a 415-page judgment on April 8, stripping the constitutional heads of states of the minimal discretionary power conferred on them by the…

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Updated: Nov 21, 2025, 05:54 IST

Updated: Nov 21, 2025, 05:54 IST

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

India captain Shubman Gill, who has not trained since sustaining a neck spasm during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata, and will take a fitness test on Friday to determine his availability for the second match, has been advised by former cricketer Aakash Chopra to take a break.Gill has become a central figure…

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‘Not even allowed to fail’: Former cricketer questions Sarfaraz Khan’s omission from Indian Test team

‘Not even allowed to fail’: Former cricketer questions Sarfaraz Khan’s omission from Indian Test team

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Sarfaraz Khan’s continued absence from the Indian Test team has led to questions from several former players. The Mumbai batter has not played a Test since November 2024. Meanwhile, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra said Sarfaraz has been affected by a perception issue. Sarfaraz has played six Tests so far, scoring 371 runs…

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‘Dhurandhar’: Aditya Dhar reveals Sara Arjun was chosen from 1300 auditions; calls her ‘best of all’

‘Dhurandhar’: Aditya Dhar reveals Sara Arjun was chosen from 1300 auditions; calls her ‘best of all’

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In an impressive display of dedication, Director Aditya Dhar shared insights about the rigorous audition journey for ‘Dhurandhar’. Casting director Mukesh Chhabra orchestrated an astonishing 1300 auditions for the pivotal role played by Sara Arjun. Dhar lauded Chhabra’s efforts, which culminated in a sensational cast featuring luminaries like Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal….

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