JAIPUR: The Rajasthan HC has held that two consenting adults have the right to be in a live-in relationship even if they have not attained legal age for marriage. The legal marriageable age for women in India is 18 years, and for men, 21. At 18, men and women are considered adults.. Justice Anoop Dhand delivered the judgment on Monday while hearing a protection petition filed by an 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-old youth from Kota. A copy of the order was uploaded Thursday. Both had approached the HC seeking police protection, stating they had entered a live-in relationship by mutual consent.‘Not of right age doesn’t mean one can be deprived of rights’Both had approached the high court seeking police protection, stating they had entered a live-in relationship by mutual consent. The couple executed a live-in agreement on Oct 27, 2025. However, the girl’s family opposed it and allegedly threatened to kill them. The petitioners told the court that despite submitting a written request to the police in Kota, no action was taken.Appearing for the state, Vivek Choudhary, the public prosecutor argued that since the boy had not completed 21 years of age, he could not legally marry, and, therefore, should not be allowed to be in a live-in partnership.However, the HC rejected this reasoning, observing that the “right to life and personal liberty” is guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, and any threat to it amounts to a constitutional violation.Justice Dhand emphasised that the constitutional duty of the State is to protect the life and liberty of every citizen. “Only because the petitioners are not marriageable by law, they cannot be deprived of their fundamental rights,” the court observed.The court also said live-in relationships are neither illegal, nor an offence under Indian law, directing Bhilwara and Jodhpur (Rural) SPs to verify the facts mentioned in the petition, particularly the threat perception, and provide protection to the couple, if needed.

The 36th match of the Women’s Big Bash League 2025 features an exciting clash between Melbourne Renegades Women and Sydney Sixers Women at the Junction Oval, Melbourne. Both teams will look to gain crucial points as the league progresses.

Melbourne Renegades Women are currently positioned fifth in the points table with four wins from nine matches. They are coming off a 30-run loss to the Perth Scorchers Women and will be eager to break their three-match losing streak. Led by captain Sophie Molineux, the team boasts strong players like Deandra Dottin, Georgia Wareham, and Alice Capsey who can influence the game with both bat and ball.

Sydney Sixers Women, captained by Ashleigh Gardner, have shown consistent form with recent wins and hold a psychological edge having won three of their last four encounters against the Renegades. The Sixers’ squad includes experienced international stars such as Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy along with key players like Sophia Dunkley and Amelia Kerr.

MR-W vs SS-W, WBBL|11: Match details

• Date and Time: December 05; 05:10 am IST/ 11:40 pm GMT (Dec 4)/ 10:40 am Local
• Venue: Junction Oval, Melbourne

MR-W vs SS-W, Head-to-Head Record in WBBL

Matches played: 19 | Melbourne Renegades won: 6 | Sydney Sixers won: 13 | No result: 0

Junction Oval Pitch Report

Junction Oval in Melbourne presents a bowler-friendly surface, historically favoring low-scoring encounters in women’s T20 cricket. Recent WBBL matches here, like Melbourne Stars Women’s 160/5 defended against Renegades’ 115 all out, underscore its assistance to pacers and spinners early on, with seam movement under lights adding challenges for batters chasing. Average first-innings scores hover around 140-160, with teams batting second winning 6 of 9 WBBL games due to dew aiding strokeplay later. Expect captains to bowl first if winning the toss, as totals beyond 170 prove rare and defenses dominate proceedings.

Squads:

Melbourne Renegades Women: Emma de Broughe, Courtney Webb, Sophie Molineux (c), Alice Capsey, Georgia Wareham, Deandra Dottin, Nicole Faltum (wk), Issy Wong, Sarah Coyte, Charis Bekker, Milly Illingworth, Naomi Stalenberg, Tess Flintoff, Davina Perrin, Sara Kennedy

Sydney Sixers Women: Ellyse Perry, Sophia Dunkley, Alyssa Healy (wk), Ashleigh Gardner (c), Maitlan Brown, Amelia Kerr, Mady Villiers, Erin Burns, Emma Manix-Geeves, Caoimhe Bray, Lauren Cheatle, Mathilda Carmichael, Courtney Sippel, Elsa Hunter, Lauren Kua

Also READ: WBBL|11: Phoebe Litchfield sizzles in Sydney Thunder’s emphatic win over Brisbane Heat

MR-W vs SS-W, WBBL|11: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• Melbourne Renegades wins the toss and bowl first
• Sydney Sixers powerplay score: 40-50
• Sydney Sixers total score: 130-140

Case 2:

• Sydney Sixers wins the toss and bowl first
• Melbourne Renegades powerplay score: 45-55
• Melbourne Renegades total score: 140-150

Match result: Team bowling first to win the game.

Also READ: WBBL 2025: Ashleigh Gardner’s all-round display leads Sydney Sixers to an 16-run victory over Melbourne Stars

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

BJP state chief Nainar Nagenthran (right), party veteran H Raja (centre) and other partymen being arrested in Thiruparankundram on Thursday

MADURAI: The Karthigai Deepam issue has snowballed into a major controversy in Tamil Nadu, with the state govt Thursday defying for the second time a Madras HC order allowing lighting of the lamp at Deepathoon (a stone lamp pillar) atop Thiruparankundram hills, even as a division bench of the HC rejected its appeal against a contempt order. Meanwhile, BJP state chief Nainar Nagendran and dozens of others were detained by police during protests.State govt filed an SLP in the Supreme Court challenging the division bench order, which dismissed its appeal against a single bench order on a contempt plea.Earlier in the day, the bench of Justices G Jayachandran and K K Ramakrishnan dismissed the state’s appeal, saying it was meant to preempt contempt action. The bench upheld Justice G R Swaminathan’s orders permitting lighting of the lamp at Deepathoon with CISF protection. The single bench had also initiated contempt proceedings Wednesday after the Deepam was lit at Uchi Pillaiyar Temple, not at Deepathoon atop the hill, as directed by it on Dec 1.Despite the single-bench order on Wednesday, police had prevented the petitioner and 10 others, who had been allowed to light the lamp at Deepathoon, from proceeding to the hills citing prohibitory orders.Following the rejection of the state’s appeal Thursday, Justice Swaminathan resumed the contempt proceedings, quashed the prohibitory orders imposed by Madurai district administration, and once again permitted lighting of the lamp atop the hill, this time under protection of Madurai city police. If officials defied the order, “harsh consequences will ensue”, the judge said.However, police once again stopped the individuals from proceeding, saying it would be detrimental to public order. It was a re-enactment of the scene from Wednesday at the Thiruparankundram foothills, with hundreds of BJP workers and Hindu group activists protesting against state govt, and over 1,000 police personnel deployed. BJP’s Nagendran had an argument with police before he was detained along with several others, including H Raja and Amarprasad Reddy, and about 50 cadres to prevent them from proceeding to the hills.Meanwhile, the HC division bench will on Dec 5 take up the appeals filed by Madurai district collector and executive officer of the Subramaniya Swamy temple authorities, challenging the order passed by the single bench allowing the lamp to be lit at Deepathoon.Justice Swaminathan had Monday allowed Rama Ravikumar and other petitioners to light the lamp at Deepathoon, brushing aside objections on proximity of the site to a dargah and the fact that the lamp has been lit at Uchi Pillaiyar Temple for decades.

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Photo credit: X/@eastbengal_fc

NEW DELHI: Punjab FC lost 3-1 to East Bengal in the first semifinal of the AIFF Super Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa, on Thursday.With this win, East Bengal entered their third AIFF Super Cup final. It is also their second final of the season after losing the IFA Shield to Mohun Bagan SG.East Bengal went ahead in the 12th minute when Mohamad Bashim Rashid scored. Punjab FC equalised in the 34th minute through a Daniel Ramirez penalty.Kevin Sibille restored East Bengal’s lead in first-half stoppage time (45+3), and captain Saul Crespo scored in the 71st minute to secure the result for Oscar Bruzon’s team.Both sides began the match slowly, trying to settle into the game. Punjab had the first clear chance when Pramveer met a cross in the tenth minute, but his header went wide.Punjab were without suspended defender Muhammed Uvais, and the team seemed unsettled in defence. East Bengal took advantage of this when they struck in the 12th minute from a short corner. Miguel Ferreira sent a cross that was only partly cleared. The ball fell to Rashid outside the box, and he sent a low shot that went under goalkeeper Muheet Shabir’s glove. It was Rashid’s first goal for East Bengal.Punjab responded by moving higher up the field. Their equaliser came after an error inside the box. A header from Ricky Shabong struck Bipin Singh’s arm, and the referee awarded a penalty. Ramirez sent the spot kick past goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill.East Bengal pushed back soon after. Just before half-time, Ferreira sent in another corner from the left. Sibille jumped higher than his marker and scored with a header. East Bengal coach Oscar Bruzon received a second yellow card while celebrating the goal.In the second half, East Bengal controlled more of the play. In the 56th minute, Bipin Singh moved down the left and took a shot that Shabir saved. Hiroshi Ibusuki reached the rebound but headed the ball off target.Punjab attempted to create openings through Suhail and Ramirez but could not break East Bengal’s defence.East Bengal scored again in the 71st minute. Ferreira moved past multiple Punjab players inside the box before passing the ball to Crespo, who sent a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

File photo (Picture credit: ANI)

The Indian rupee’s slide past Rs 90 per US dollar for the first time ever has shifted sentiment in the equity market and raised fresh concerns for investors. The breach of this psychological level has come on the back of weak capital flows, steady demand for dollars from importers, and uncertainty around the India–US trade agreement, reported ET. The currency touched Rs 90.43 on Thursday, marking its fifth straight day of losses despite the Reserve Bank of India’s rreported interventions. Although it appreciated by 26 paise to close at 89.89 on Thursday.

Why the fall beyond 90 matters

Currency traders cited by Reuters said that once the rupee slipped past Rs 88.80—a level the RBI had been defending—the currency became more sensitive to long-standing pressures such as soft capital inflows and a rise in speculative positions. Anindya Banerjee of Kotak Securities was quoted by ET as saying that the move toward Rs 90 was driven by short-covering and importer demand, calling the 90-mark a “major psychological barrier” reinforced by buy-stop orders. “If the pair starts sustaining above this zone, the market could quickly shift into a higher trending phase toward 91.00 or even higher,” he said.Banerjee also pointed to foreign portfolio investor outflows, early signs of unwinding yen carry trades, and the delayed Indo-US trade deal as factors weighing on the rupee. A clear close above 90, he said, could encourage fresh speculative flows.

Investor sentiment takes a hit

The currency’s decline has already begun affecting domestic equities. As per ET, Dr VK Vijayakumar of Geojit Investments said the Nifty’s roughly 300-point correction from its record high has more to do with technical adjustments, including changes in Bank Nifty weightage, but warned that “continued depreciation in the rupee” is prompting FIIs to sell despite strong fundamentals such as rising corporate earnings and robust GDP growth. He added that the rupee could stabilise once the long-awaited India-US trade deal is sealed, possibly this month.Market watchers say the rupee’s direction will have a direct bearing on import costs, inflation trends, and foreign portfolio flows. Weakness in the currency could push up costs for sectors dependent on imported goods—such as petroleum, electronics, and gems and jewellery—putting pressure on margins. However, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran said on Wednesday that the recent fall has not affected inflation or exports, as per PTI.

What lies ahead for the Rupee

The US dollar index eased to 99.22 in Asian trade as expectations built that Kevin Hassett may become the next US Federal Reserve chair.. Emkay Global expects the rupee to trade between Rs 88 and Rs 91 for the rest of FY26, noting that it has been far weaker than its Asian peers this year. The brokerage said currency movements will hinge on the outcomes of the US–India and US–RoW trade deals.On Thursday, the rupee briefly recovered to Rs 89.89, supported by a softer US dollar and possible RBI intervention, PTI reported. Earlier in the day, it had hit another record low of Rs 90.43 amid foreign selling and firm crude oil prices. Analysts say elevated oil prices, fragile investor sentiment and persistent FII outflows may keep the rupee under pressure, although a weaker US dollar and the possibility of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December may offer some relief.With the currency hovering around a level last seen never before in Indian markets, investors remain on edge. Analysts warn that without clear intervention or a breakthrough on the trade front, speculative momentum could push the rupee toward Rs 91, making the coming weeks critical for D-Street.

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday formally appointed Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a period of five years.The move follows the recent passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment on November 12, which created the post of CDF to unify command across the armed forces and streamline decision-making during critical situations.The newly created CDF replaces the abolished office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), which formally ended on November 27 following the retirement of General Sahir Shamshad Mirza.President Zardari approved the recommendation submitted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Munir’s appointment. A press release from the President’s office extended best wishes to Munir in his new role. The same release also announced a two-year extension in the service of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, Chief of Air Staff, effective from the completion of his current tenure in March 2026. Law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the reforms “bring constitutional oversight to defence appointments while maintaining military honour and tradition” and confirmed there were no legal or political obstacles to Munir’s appointment. He also stated that the Defence Ministry was preparing a new organogram for the CDF to reflect the changes.Field Marshal Munir, who was initially appointed as COAS in November 2022 for three years, had his tenure extended to five years in 2024. With this appointment, he assumes a historic dual role, serving simultaneously as Chief of Army Staff and the first Chief of Defence Forces, marking a significant shift in Pakistan’s military hierarchy and institutional structure.The 27th Constitutional Amendment elevates the army chief to the role of CDF with constitutional authority over all three branches of the military: army, navy and air force. It also introduces judicial reforms, including the creation of a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) to handle constitutional matters, allowing the Supreme Court to focus on civil and criminal cases.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the amendment as a demonstration of national unity, highlighting the role of law enforcement in recent counterterrorism efforts. While the ruling coalition including PPP, PML-N, and MQM-P, supported the amendment, opposition parties criticized it as unconstitutional, warning it could concentrate excessive power in the military.PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan described it as the “Baku Amendments,” accusing the government of undermining democracy. PPP Senator Raza Rabbani warned the changes could damage provincial autonomy and roll back powers devolved under the 18th Amendment, according to Dawn. Following Munir’s appointment, the next key step will be appointing the commander of the National Strategic Command (NSC), a four-star position previously under the CJCSC. The NSC commander will be appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the CDF.