06012024-TTB-01.qxd 1/5/2024 11:56 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 6 | 22 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HARYANA LeT ULTRA INVOLVED IN KILLING OF ARMY OFFICER SHOT J&K 3 INDIANS AMONG POLL OBSERVERS IN DHAKA WORLD /thetribunechd A GREAT IDEA THAT COMES GOOD REVIEW ‘NOT BANANA REPUBLIC’: GUV AFTER ATTACK ON ED TEAM IN WB BACK PAGE saturday | 6 january 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Governor cannot sack minister sans CM’s advice: SC Hijack drama in Arabian Sea, Indian Navy secures vessel, all 21 on board Upholds HC order on TN minister Tribune News Service Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 5 Amid a raging debate over the role of Governors, the Supreme Court on Friday said the Governor of a state had to act on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. A Bench led by Justice AS Oka dismissed an appeal against the Madras High Court’s order refusing to entertain a petition seeking sacking of V Senthil Balaji as a minister in the Tamil Nadu Government following his arrest in a money laundering case, saying no interference was called for under Article 136 of the Constitution under which the top court entertains special leave petitions. “Prima facie, the high court is right that the Governor could not have dismissed the minister. The Governor has to act on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. After having heard the petitioner in person and perusing the impugned judgment of the high court, we concur with the view taken by the high court,” the Bench said. ❝ Prima facie, the high court is right that the Governor could not have dismissed the minister. The Governor has to act on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. SC Bench INSIDE Ajay Banerjee New Delhi, January 5 Elite marine commandos of the Indian Navy on Friday evening secured a merchant vessel, MV Lila Norfolk, and rescued all 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, who had been hiding in a strongroom of the ship since yesterday after pirates go on board. On Thursday, the pirates boarded the ship in the Arabian Sea, 850 km east of Africa’s Somalian coast. An operation had been on mid-sea since the early hours of Friday. 15 Indians among crew hid in strongroom of Liberian-flagged cargo ship MARINE COMMANDOS SANITISE SHIP ■ MV Lila Norfolk sends SOS claim- ing 5-6 armed men are on board ■ Indian Navy aircraft establishes contact with it early on Friday ■ INS Chennai intercepts it at 3.15 pm; commandos get on board, find hijackers missing << Navy commandos move towards the hijacked vessel. “The Indian Navy Marine Commandos present on warship INS Chennai boarded MV Lila Norfolk and have ‘sanitised’ the vessel and confirmed absence of the hijackers,” Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said on Friday evening. The attempt by pirates to hijack the vessel was apparently abandoned following forceful warning by the Indian Navy maritime patrol aircraft and interception by Indian Naval warship, INS Chennai, Commander Madhwal added. INS Chennai is still in vicinity of MV Lila Norfolk, a 1,70,000 tonne bulk carrier registered in Liberia, and rendering support to restore its power generation and propulsion for voyage to next port of call. The merchant vessel was sailing from Porto Do Acu in continued on page 7 PUROHIT SEEKS REPORT ON MINISTER’S CONVICTION While referring to the Governor’s discretionary powers in such matters, the high court had said, “If the Governor chooses to ‘withdraw his pleasure’ in respect of a minister, he must exercise his discretion with the knowledge of the Chief Minister and not unilaterally. In the present case, the Chief Minister had never consented for the exercise of discretion by the Governor.” Balaji was arrested on June 14, 2023, by the Enforcement continued on page 7 IN BRIEF Hand over Wildflower Hall in 2 months: HC SHIMLA: The HP HC on Friday asked East India Hotels Ltd to vacate and hand over Wildflower Hall to the state government in two months. INSIDE Teacher suspended for sexual abuse of 3 A teacher booked by the Majitha police for sexually harassing three minor students has been suspended. INSIDE AMRITSAR: India’s GDP likelyto grow at 7.3% inFY24 NSO estimates beat RBI forecast Sandeep Dikshit Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 5 The Indian economy is estimated to grow by 7.3 per cent in the 2023-24 fiscal as against 7.2 per cent in the previous fiscal, mainly due to a strong showing by mining and quarrying, manufactur- MANUFACTURING BOOM It is likely to be a breakout year for the manufacturing sector as it is estimated to grow to 6.5% in the current fiscal as against a mere 1.3% in the previous fiscal. ing and certain segments of services sectors. “Real GDP or GDP at constant (2011-12) prices in the year 2023-24 is estimated to attain a level of Rs 171.79 c m y b lakh crore, as against the provisional estimate of GDP for the year 2022-23 of Rs 160.06 lakh crore,’’ said a statement by the National Statistical Organisation (NSO). “The growth in real GDP during 2023-24 is estimated at 7.3 per cent as compared to 7.2 per cent in 2022-23,’’ it said. The NSO estimates, if proved correct, will be higher than the RBI’s projection of 7 per cent growth. It is likely to be a breakout year for the manufacturing sector as it is estimated to grow to 6.5% in the current fiscal as against a mere 1.3% continued on page 7 AAP picks DCW chairperson Maliwal for RS New Delhi, January 5 The political affairs committee of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday decided to nominate Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal as one of its candidates to the Rajya Sabha. TO RENOMINATE ND GUPTA, SANJAY SINGH Maliwal will replace Sushil Kumar Gupta, while ND Gupta and Sanjay Singh, who is in jail, will be renominated for a second term. A senior AAP leader said, “Gupta has conveyed his desire to actively engage in the electoral landscape of Haryana and we respect his decision.” Senior leader Saurabh Bharadwaj continued SWATI MALIWAL on page 7