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SC refers to CJI Cong leader’s petition for verification of EVMs used in Haryana polls

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New Delhi, Dec 13: A2-judge Bench of the Supreme Court on Friday directed the apex court registry to place before the Chief Justice of India (CJI) for passing an appropriate order to list a plea filed by Congress leader seeking verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used during Haryana Assembly polls.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P.B. Varale opined that the matter should be placed before the same Bench which had passed directions on EVMs in April this year.

It said that the present petition seeking directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to lay down a memorandum for the checking and verification of the original burnt memory/microcontroller of the four components of the EVM relates to interpretation and implementation of the previous judgment of the apex court and therefore, the registry should place the papers before CJI, who is the master of the roster, for passing appropriate orders as to whether the petition should be listed before the previous Bench.

In order to strengthen the integrity of the election process in the country, a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna (now CJI) and Dipankar Datta, in April this year, had passed a direction for checking and verification of the burnt memory/microcontroller in 5 per cent of EVMs for any tampering or modification on a written request made by candidates securing second and third highest votes in an election.

The court said the checking and verification exercise was directed to be undertaken by a team of engineers from the manufacturers of the EVMs, with the candidates and their representatives having the option to remain present at the time of such exercise.

The fresh petition filed by Karan Singh Dalal, a former 5-time MLA, said that the ECI has not issued any procedure for checking and verification of the original burnt memory/microcontroller of the four components of the EVM (Control Unit, Ballot Unit, VVPAT and Symbol Loading Unit) in terms of SC judgment.

The plea sought directions to the poll body to lay down a memorandum for checking and verification of the original burnt memory/microcontroller of the four components of the EVM (Control Unit, Ballot Unit, VVPAT and Symbol Loading Unit).

It further sought that the above exercise be undertaken within eight weeks and be made applicable to the EVM checking and verification forms dated October 14 submitted to the ECI.

The petition said that the issue raised in the petition requires to be authoritatively decided by the apex court owing to significant public importance and ramifications across the country.

“The matter affects the functioning of the democracy in the country and elections being held across the country in various states, and therefore needs to be urgently and authoritatively decided,” it said.

The absence of any procedure for verification of burnt memory for tampering shows reluctance on the part of the ECI to subject the original burnt memory microcontroller from any scrutiny whatsoever, contended the petition.

Business

Apple ships record 4.9 million iPhones to India in Q3 2025

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New Delhi, Oct 23: Riding high on the success of its new iPhone 17 series and festive season demand, Apple Inc recorded its highest-ever quarterly shipments to India, sending 4.9 million smartphones to the country during the July–September quarter of 2025 (Q3 CY25), according to industry estimates.

According to research firm Omdia, this marks a 47 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth and represents Apple’s strongest performance in the Indian market to date.

What’s more, India accounted for 9 per cent of Apple’s total global iPhone shipments in the quarter — the highest share ever for the country — underscoring India’s growing importance in the company’s global strategy.

The launch of the iPhone 17 series on September 9 played a key role in driving record sales.

The new lineup features major camera upgrades, including a 48MP Fusion Main camera and a 48MP Fusion Ultra-Wide lens, alongside a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion.

The device also comes with the new A19 chip for enhanced performance and Ceramic Shield 2 technology, offering three times better scratch resistance and reduced glare.

Apple is expected to post its highest-ever festive quarter in India this year, with analysts forecasting a 28 per cent increase in sales compared to last year, driven by the early popularity of the iPhone 17 series.

This milestone comes on the heels of another major achievement for the Cupertino-based company — record iPhone exports from India.

In the April–September period of the current financial year, Apple shipped iPhones worth about $10 billion (over Rs 88,500 crore), marking a 75 per cent growth compared to the same period last year, according to industry estimates.

The success reflects the strong push of the government’s ‘Make in India’ and production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, which have encouraged Apple to expand its manufacturing base in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

A majority of the iPhones produced in India this year — nearly 78 per cent — were exported to the US, up from 53 per cent a year earlier.

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National News

IND v AUS: Virat Kohli registers successive ducks in ODIs for the first time

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Adelaide, Oct 23: Batting stalwart Virat Kohli’s much-anticipated appearance at his favourite hunting around, the Adelaide Oval, ended in a disappointment on Thursday as the former India captain was dismissed for a four-ball duck in the ongoing second ODI against Australia.

After bagging a duck in the rain-hit first ODI in Perth, Kohli’s return to playing at the Adelaide Oval, where he has scored five international centuries – the most for any ground in his career – was expected to get him some runs under his belt, especially with a huge crowd of Indian fans present at the venue.

But all of that anticipation ended in the seventh over when an impressive Xavier Bartlett hit Kohli flush on the pad with a brilliant inswinger to trap him lbw. After failing to be in the line of the ball, Kohli opted to not go for the review after a brief chat with non-striker Rohit Sharma.

It was an incredible set up from Bartlett, who bowled three deliveries away outside off before getting one to nip back in and dismiss Kohli. It also marked the first time of Kohli being dismissed for consecutive ducks in ODIs.

As he walked off, the Adelaide crowd rose in a standing ovation, acknowledging the batter who has scored 976 runs at the venue – the most by any visiting player. In appreciation of the crowd giving him a standing ovation, Kohli made a gentle raise of his right hand as he walked towards the dressing room.

If this was indeed Kohli’s final outing at the iconic ground, it ended not with a flourish but with a poignant wave to fans who have witnessed some of his finest innings here.

Kohli will now have the third ODI in Sydney, set to happen on Saturday, to have some runs and sign off from the Australia tour on a high.

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Crime

Blast on railway track in Assam’s Kokrajhar, train services disrupted

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Guwahati, Oct 23: Train services were thrown out of gear after a powerful explosion ripped through a section of railway track between Kokrajhar and Salakati stations in Assam’s Kokrajhar district, officials said on Thursday.

The incident happened in the early hours of Thursday, according to officials.

As per the preliminary information, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated around five kilometres east of Kokrajhar railway station, causing extensive damage to the track and forcing the suspension of train movement on both up and down lines.

Railway authorities immediately halted traffic as a precautionary measure, stranding several trains at nearby stations and leaving hundreds of passengers stuck for hours.

Panic and confusion gripped travellers as news of the explosion spread, while emergency announcements advised passengers to remain calm and await further instructions.

Teams from the railway department, security agencies, and bomb disposal units rushed to the spot shortly after the blast. The site was cordoned off as experts examined the cratered track and collected forensic evidence.

Senior police and railway officials also reached the area to supervise repair work and oversee the investigation.

While no casualties have been reported so far, the impact of the explosion severely disrupted train schedules along the busy route.

Authorities have not yet identified those responsible for the incident.

Security has been intensified across Kokrajhar and adjoining districts, with patrols stepped up on key railway stretches as investigators work to trace the perpetrators and determine the motive behind the blast.

A senior police official said, “There was a blast on the railway tracks, which caused disruption in the train services. At least one metre of track suffered damage due to the blast. The track has been repaired and train services have resumed on the route. We have launched a probe to find the details behind this incident. At this point, we can not conclude anything about the blast, whether it was an IED or not. Once we complete the investigation, we will be able to provide further information.”

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