Tuesday, February 24, 2026 | Vol. 69 No. 120 | 31 Pages THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation l E-paper edition is not a replica of the print edition NATION Change inevitable: Modi slams TMC in open letter to Bengal electors, urges them to vote wisely GAMES Cinema BAFTA 2026: Celebrating India’s moment with Alia, Farhan India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak says management may consider changes in the top order Edit Non-partisan enforcement of fiscal rules need of the hour PRAHAAR | Multi-layered doctrine focuses on intelligence-led prevention, disruption, global cooperation and denying terrorists funds and safe havens INDIA UNVEILS ITS FIRST COUNTER-TERROR POLICY Vidhi Santosh Mehta MUMBAI The government on Monday unveiled India’s first comprehensive counter-terrorism policy, “Prahaar”, outlining a multi-layered strategy rooted in “zero tolerance”, intelligence-led prevention and disruption of extremist violence, aimed at denying terrorists, their financiers and supporters access to funds, weapons and safe havens. The policy emphasises prevention, swift response and a whole-ofgovernment approach to deal with evolving terror threats, while reiterating India’s longstanding position that there can be “no justification whatsoever for violence in the world.” Unveiled by the Union home ministry, it is built on seven key pillars — prevention, response, aggregation of internal capacities, human rights and rule-oflaw-based processes, addressing conditions enabling terrorism including radicalisation, alig- ning and shaping global antiterror efforts, and ensuring recovery and resilience through a whole-of-society approach. The document notes that instability in India’s immediate neighbourhood has often cre- ated ungoverned spaces and that some countries in the region have used terrorism as an instrument of state policy, without naming any nation. At the same time, it stresses that India does not link terrorism to any religion, ethnicity, nationality or civilisation and has “unambiguously and unequivocally” denounced its use by any actor. India has long been affected by sponsored cross-border terrorism, with jihadi terror outfits and their frontal organisations continuing to plan and execute attacks. Global groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have also targeted India and attempted to incite violence through sleeper cells. 4Contd on | nation Strategy ■ Zero tolerance policy ■ Intelligence-led prevention ■ Deny terror funding ■ Seven-pillar doctrine ■ Real-time intelligence sharing ■ Targets sleeper cells ■ Drones, crypto threat flagged ■ NIA, NSG key role ■ Counter radicalisation push FPJ News Service The Supreme Court has held that landowners cannot be held liable for delay in construction of flats carried out by a developer under a Joint Development Agreement (JDA). A bench of Justices PS Nara- HC ALLOWS APPEALS AGAINST ANIL AMBANI Urvi Mahajani MUMBAI In a setback for Anil Ambani, the Bombay HC on Monday allowed appeals filed by three banks and auditor BDO India LLP challenging a single judge’s order that had restrained them from taking action against him under RBI’s 2024 Master Directions on fraud classification. A bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad, allowed the appeals, but called the single judge’s judgment “perverse”. The detailed judgment copy is awaited. The HC refused to stay the order, noting that it would amount to continuing an illegal order. “As we have already held that the impugned judgment dated Dec 24, 2025 is illegal and suffers from procedural irregularity and illegality, staying the operation of this judgment shall amount to continuing the illegal order for the next four weeks and perpetuate the illegality. Therefore, the request made on behalf of respondent no.1 (Ambani) by his counsel for staying the operation of this judgment is declined.” 4See also | city simha and Alok Aradhe dismissed an appeal filed by a homebuyer and upheld the decision of National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), which had absolved landowners of liability for the delay, Live Law reports. The case arose from a JDA executed in February 2012 be- tween landowners and Unishire Homes. Under it, the developer was responsible for obtaining sanctions, building the project and selling the flats. A General Power of Attorney (GPA) was also executed by the landowners in favour of the developer. The project was delayed by over six years, prompting homebuyers to move NCDRC for possession and compensation. NCDRC held the developer liable for delay and directed payment of interest to the buyers. But, it exonerated landowners, noting construction wasn’t their responsibility. The homebuyers challenged this decision before the SC Leave Iran: Delhi advisory PTI NEW DELHI India on Monday advised all its nationals residing in Iran to leave the country by all available means of transport, including commercial flights, in view of the evolving security situation. The Indian embassy in Tehran issued a fresh advisory to the Indian nationals amid fresh protests in Tehran and increasing fears of US military Indian embassy in Tehran’s caution comes as protests continue in Iran and there is possibility of US military action. Indian mission in Mexico also issues advisory, given military action against drug mafia strikes on the Gulf nation. Students at several universities in Iran held anti-government demonstrations in a first such agitation since Tehran’s brutal crackdown on the protesters last month. SC flags airfare surges during festival seasons FPJ News Service NEW DELHI The SC on Monday said that fluctuations in airfare and extra charges imposed by private airlines during festive seasons and holidays are a matter of “serious concern”, while the Centre informed SC that the issue is being examined at the highest level and a response will be filed within four weeks. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta made the remark while hearing a petition seeking regulatory guidelines to control unpredictable fluctuations in airfare in S Laxminarayanan Versus Union Of India and Ors. “This is a very serious concern. Otherwise, we don’t entertain 32 petition,” the court remarked, Bar & Bench reports. Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik said the Centre is According to official estimates in January, little over 10,000 Indians, including students, were living in Iran. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | world NEET-PG CUT-OFF SC’S CONCERN ON EFFECT ON EDU QUALITY FPJ News Service NEW DELHI looking into the issue. “Solicitor General has called a meeting. We have taken the matter to the highest level. We are in discussion with highest authority. Four weeks’ time may be given, we will come up with a counter,” it was submitted. The SC on Monday said it would examine whether the sharp reduction in the qualifying percentile for NEET-PG 2025-26 affects standards in postgraduate medical education, noting it was concerned about the impact on quality. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe was hearing pleas against lowering of cut-off, Live Law reports. Justice Narasimha said although the Centre was justified in saying NEET-PG is not an entry into MBBS and candidates are already doctors, SC would still have to consider the effect of reducing cut-off. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation Look at the exploitation you did during Kumbh Justice S Mehta Act fast on statutory notices: Maha Ravikiran Deshmukh MUMBAI A strong rebuke from the Supreme Court of India has prompted the Maharashtra government to remind its officials to act promptly on statutory notices served by citizens. In its judgment in Yerikala Sunkalamma and Anr vs State of A.P. and Ors (Civil Appeal No. 4311/2025), delivered on March 24 last year, the SC expressed concern over the declining efficacy of Section 80 notices. The court observed that such notices have increasingly become a mere formality due to the indifferent approach of government departments and public authorities. The bench stressed that Section 80 gives the State a Circular warns a serious view will be taken if inaction by officials leads to prolonged litigation valuable statutory opportunity to examine claims on merit and resolve genuine grievances without forcing citizens into litigation. It warned that ignoring or failing to respond to such notices could lead to an adverse inference against the government. The court further noted that apathy in dealing with statutory notices weakens the State’s legal defence and unnecessarily prolongs disputes. 4See also | city PTI US pauses collections NEW DELHI Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said it is too early to comment on the impact of the recent tariff changes announced by the United States, as the Commerce Ministry is reviewing the situation. Her remarks come after fresh developments in the US. On Friday, the US Supreme Court gave a verdict against the sweeping import tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on trade partners. Following the ruling, President Donald Trump imposed a 10 per cent tariff on all countries, including India, for 150 days from February 24. Later on Saturday, Trump announced that these tariffs would be raised to 15 per cent. Asked about the impact of these changes on the Indian economy, Sitharaman said it is “a bit too soon” to comment. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | money ■ Global cooperation boost ‘Landowners not liable for construction delay’ NEW DELHI ‘Too early to assess levy change impact’ under Section 67 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. They argued that the landowners, as principals who had executed a GPA in favour of the developer, should be vicariously liable for the agent’s deficiencies. 4Contd on | nation Higher tariffs on nations that play games: Trump FPJ News Service MUMBAI US President Donald Trump on Monday issued a fresh tariff warning, saying countries that attempt to “play games” with a recent US Supreme Court ruling could face “higher trade penalties”. His remarks came after the European Union signalled it would put a key trade deal with Washington on hold amid uncertainty over the impact of the court verdict. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said nations that had “ripped off” the US for years would now face “much higher tariffs, and worse” than those recently announced. 4Contd on | naiton 4See also | world The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency said it will halt collections of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) at 12.01 am EST on Tuesday, more than three days after the US Supreme Court declared the duties illegal. In a message to shippers on its Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS), CBP said it will de-activate all tariff codes associated with President Donald Trump’s prior IEEPA-related orders as of Tuesday, Reuters reports. CBP did not provide a reason for continuing to collect the tariffs at ports of entry for several days after the Supreme Court’s ruling. The message clarified that the halt applies only to tariffs imposed under IEEPA and does not affect other duties introduced by Trump, including those under the Section 232 national security statute and the Section 301 unfair trade practices statute.