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| Tuesday,
July 3, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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NHRC notice to TN Govt Fathima’s
resignation accepted No
comments, says Jaya Congress
seeks code of conduct for ministers |
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Pak advance team
arriving Railway
Safety Fund to be set up BSF to
be deployed on India-Bhutan border I am
innocent: Sanjay Dutt Gulshan’s
driver identifies killer Chautala
holds fifth rally in UP BSF
team scales Jogin peaks Task
force on employment submits report Uttaranchal
— a saga of ordeals Kumaraswami
new CGDA Telephonic
helpline for farmers Water supply scheme in limbo Work on Sabuvana distributary in last phase
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NHRC notice to TN Govt New Delhi, July 2 Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports and a complaint by People’s Watch Group, a
Chennai-based non-government organisation, the commission has asked the Chief Secretary and the DGP to send their replies within a week to enable it consider the matter further. “In addition to these complaints, the current media reports appear to suggest the likelihood that these requirements of the Constitution and the laws for making any arrest may have been contravened by the Tamil Nadu police in effecting the arrests,” the commission observed in the directive. It further said if this was true, it was a matter of consideration whether such acts constituted the violation of human rights of the arrested persons according to the decisions of the Supreme Court and the law laid down
thereunder. “It has therefore, become necessary for the commission to inquire into the matter and for that purpose to obtain the version of the Government of Tamil Nadu to determine further steps in the inquiry,” the commission said. It said the law laid down by the Supreme Court in Joginder Kumar vs State of Uttar Pradesh and others (1994 (4) SCC 260) and
D.K. Basu vs State of West Bengal (1997(1)SCC 416) pertaining to the exercise of power by the police to effect the arrest of a person accused of a crime, deal with the manner of its exercise and the mode of effecting the arrest in consonance with the provisions of the Constitution and the laws on the subject. The commission said: “By virtue of Article 141 of the Constitution, this is the law of the land declared by the Supreme Court and binds every authority in the country. It has also been indicated in these decisions that indiscriminate arrests and arrests made without complying strictly with the needed requirements which are necessary for a proper balance of individual’s rights and liberties with society’s rights amount to the violation of human rights.” While drawing attention to its guidelines regarding arrests, NHRC said these had been circulated to all states, including Tamil
Nadu. The states had been asked to inform every member of the police force of these constitutional and statutory requirements while effecting any arrest. Sources in the commission said notices had been sent by fax in view of the obvious urgency of the
matter. |
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Fathima’s resignation accepted New Delhi, July 2 A Rashtrapati communique said the President was pleased to accept the resignation of Ms Justice M. Fathima Beevi (retd) as Governor of Tamil Nadu. She resigned yesterday soon after the Union Cabinet decided to seek her recall for failing to discharge her constitutional obligations following the arrest of Union Ministers Murasoli Maran and T.R. Baalu and former Chief Minister K.
Karunanidhi. UNI |
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No comments,
says Jaya Tirur (Ker), July 2 “I am on a purely private visit here. I am not answering any political questions,” Ms Jayalalitha, who arrived here to offer prayers at Alathiyur Hanuman Temple, told reporters. CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha on Monday alleged that media was bent on creating a “bad name” for her and her government by continuously indulging in spreading “falsehood” on the manner in which the DMK President was arrested. In a statement here, she said though Jaya TV, owned by AIADMK MP T.T.V. Dinakaran, had sent a video cassette containing the arrest and explaining the actual position to all satellite TV networks and newspapers, nobody had come forward to telecast it.
PTI |
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Congress
seeks code of conduct for ministers New Delhi, July 2 Replying to questions on the situation in Tamil Nadu where two Central Ministers were taken into police custody, Congress spokesman Jaipal Reddy said the present situation had thrown up the need for a such a code of conduct. Asked if the Congress demand implied that it disapproved of the actions of the two Central Ministers in
Chennai, Mr Reddy said he was not making any such implication. He added that the party was not interested in pressing charges against the Union Ministers. Asked if the party viewed the situation in Tamil Nadu as breakdown of constitutional machinery, Mr Reddy replied in the negative. “It is certainly not like breakdown of constitutional machinery,” Mr Reddy said. The party had yesterday criticised the government decision to recall the Tamil Nadu Governor. |
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Pak advance team
arriving New Delhi, July 2 In response to a question, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs Nirupama Rao said the Pakistani advance team would be arriving in the evening to look into the logistical aspects of the visit. The team would also coordinate with the Indian officials the protocol aspects of the visit of the Pakistani President. The team would stay in India for about four-five days during which it would visit all places where General Musharraf is scheduled to go, the spokeswoman said adding that the members of the team will also take stock of security situation. The team is going to look into the arrangements at General Musharraf’s ancestral home in
Daryaganj, the Taj and the Dargah of Moinudeen Chisti where he is scheduled to go apart from other official engagements. During its stay in the Capital, the team will
review the security arrangement at the airport, Rashtrapati
Bhavan, venue of official functions like Hyderabad House and the route that the visiting President will traverse. After reviewing the security arrangement in the Capital the team will then proceed to Agra, Jaipur and Ajmer
Sharif. The team members are likely to hold talks with senior official of the Delhi police and other security agencies about the security drill to be observed during the President’s visit. Similarly, they will also talk to the police in Agra, Jaipur and
Ajmer. In Agra, the team will visit the three luxury hotels — Amar Vilas, Jaypee Palace and Mughal Sheraton — which have been shortlisted for the Pakistan President’s stay and the summit meeting with the Prime Minister. After getting a nod from the Pakistani team, the venue for the stay and summit will be finalised. Security aspects of the visit are of paramount importance and a massive exercise is underway in which police from Delhi, UP and Rajasthan, intelligence agencies, the Rapid Action Force, the Central Reserve Police, the Home Guards and some other paramilitary forces are participating. While the final programme will be announced after the return of the advance team, the tentative programme indicates that the Pakistan President will arrive on the morning of July 14. He will be given a reception in the forecourt of Rashtrapati
Bhavan. After which, General Musharraf will pay a visit to Rajghat where he will lay wreath at the samadhi of the Father of the Nation. A lunch is being hosted by the Prime Minister and a state banquet will be given by President
K.R. Narayanan. General Musharraf will attend high tea at the Pakistan High Commission and visit his ancestral home in Neharwali Haveli in Daryaganj along with his wife. Union Home Minister
L.K. Advani, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi are expected to call on the Pakistan President. After spending a night at Rashtrapati
Bhavan, General Musharraf will fly to Agra on July 15 for the summit talks. The one-to-one meeting between Mr Vajpayee and Mr Musharraf will be followed by delegation-level talks. A banquet will be hosted by Mr Vajpayee in Agra. The final round of talks may continue on July 16 when General Musharraf will fly to
Ajmer. On its return to Pakistan the team is expected to submit a report to President Musharraf’s office after which only the exact detailing of the security component of the General Musharraf’s team will begin. Asked about India’s reaction to Pakistan’s decision of not having a meeting for the Hurriyat leaders with General Musharraf during his stay here, Mrs Rao reiterated the old government stand saying “Hurriyat is a non-issue, was a non-issue and continues to be so”. |
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Railway
Safety Fund to be set
up New Delhi, July 2 “A Rs 17,000 crore non-lapsable safety fund would be created to be invested for the next five years. This would be funded by the Railways, Budget provisions from the Centre and other sources,” the Union Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, told reporters here today. He said during the current year Rs 2,500 crore would be provided from this fund for making safety related investments. Despite the higher allocation for safety the Railway Minister ruled out any immediate hike in passenger fares. The setting up of this fund was decided at a high-level meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence. Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee expressed concern about the safety and financial issues of the Railways. The Railway Minister said the resource mobilisation for the fund would be worked out by a committee, which would have members from the Railway Board, the Planning Commission and the Finance Ministry. They would submit the report within 15 days. Apart from Mr Nitish Kumar the meeting was attended by the Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr K.C. Pant, and senior officers of the Railway Board, the Ministry of Finance and the Planning Commission. The meeting discussed the recommendations of the Khanna committee regarding investments required for asset replacements and technology upgradation warranted for ensuring better safety. The Railways has identified 550 bridges in the country as distressed bridges and more than 75 per cent of the bridges in the country are more than 60 years’ old. About 12,000 km of overaged tracks have not been replaced and some 35,000 over-the-hill coaches and wagons are still in active service. The areas where the safety measures would be undertaken include bridges, tracks, signals, rolling stocks and wagons, the minister said. Indian Railways ferries 400 million tonnes of goods and 500 crore passengers each year. Mr Nitish Kumar said the meeting also agreed to speedy completion of pending projects with additional resources. The accelerated project development programme would be completed with additional resources, he said, adding that the resources would be generated through multi-lateral agencies, budgetary support and other measures. Mr Nitish Kumar said the normal traffic on the Kadalundi bridge in Kerala would be restored by the end of this month. The minister had earlier stated that the normalcy in the sector would be restored by July 11. |
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BSF to be deployed on
India-Bhutan border New Delhi, July 2 A letter, asking the BSF to deploy its personnel at the India-Bhutan border, has already been sent by the Union Home Ministry to the paramilitary forces’ Director-General, Mr Gurbachan Jagat. According to intelligence reports, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been very active in Bhutan and has been training militants to carry out nefarious activities in India. Besides, ISI operatives trying to sneak into the Indian territory, there has also been a marked increase in smuggling of contraband across the India-Bhutan border. However, the Bhutan Government has been from time to time assuring the Indian Government of not allowing its soil to be used by any organisation for anti-India activities. Mr Jagat, when contacted confirmed the receipt of the letter from the Union Home Ministry asking the BSF to deploy its personnel on the India-Bhutan Border. “The Home Ministry’s order will be complied with very soon. We are now busy identifying the personnel to be posted on the India-Bhutan border,” Mr Jagat told The Tribune. It may be recalled that in one of the major insurgent incidents along the India-Bhutan border, three Buddhist monks were gunned down by some unidentified persons a couple of years ago. On the progress of raising of 27 new BSF battalions, sanctioned by the Centre after the killing of 16 BSF personnel by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) men in Pyrdiwah recently, Mr Jagat said “The process for recruitment is set in motion and the actual recruitment is likely to begin after about two months.” He described the present situation on the Indo-Bangla border as “peaceful”. |
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I am innocent: Sanjay Dutt Mumbai, July 2 “I am innocent and have not committed any crime, Sanjay Dutt told designated TADA Judge P.D. Kode, who was recording his statement under Section 313 Cr Pc. Sanjay Dutt, who turned emotional, told the court that since 1993 he and his family members, particularly his father Sunil Dutt, had suffered great humiliation as a result of which his career had taken a back seat. “Prime years of my career were lost because I was falsely implicated in the bomb blast case. I have suffered losses which cannot be compensated,” he said. The actor further said besides getting permission to go abroad he had never asked for any other facility from the court. Sanjay Dutt said he had never misused the liberty granted by the court. He said he was eagerly awaiting justice as a law abiding citizen and faced the trial by following all directions of the court since his arrest in 1993. Replying to a question, he denied he had telephoned from Mauritius to his friend Yusuf Nullwala in Mumbai to destroy the AK-56 rifle kept in his house. The deposition of Sanjay Dutt ended today. Altogether 107 of the 124 accused had deposed before the court after the prosecution closed its case in September last. Prosecution had alleged that film producers Samir Hingora and late Hanif Kadawala had shown Sanjay Dutt’s residence to co-accused Baba Chavan for supplying weapons. According to the CBI, the film star allegedly accepted AK-56 (a terrorist weapon in a notified area). According to the prosecution, he telephonically instructed his friend Yusuf Nullwala in Mumbai to go to his house and destroy the rifle. Yusuf and his friends went to Sanjay Dutt’s Pali Hill residence and destroyed the rifle in a foundry, the prosecution said. The CBI had produced before the court a spring and a rod claiming them to be the remains of the rifles. Sanjay had earlier denied the charges when his bail plea was argued in 1996.
PTI |
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Gulshan’s driver identifies killer Mumbai, July 2 Deposing before Sessions Judge M.L. Tahilyani, Lal, pointed at Abdul Rauf Daud Merchant saying he was one of the three assailants who had opened fire at Kumar and him. The witness told special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam that he had earlier identified the same accused in the parade conducted by the police. Roop Lal said he was a resident of Delhi and had come to Mumbai in search of a job five months before Kumar was shot dead. The audio king employed him as his driver. They used to visit the Shiva temple in the Jeet Nagar locality every day from the Lokhandwala complex where Kumar resided. On the ill-fated day, Roop Lal said Kumar and he offered prayers at the temple and were returning to their vehicle when an unidentified person opened fire at the audio king. Kumar collapsed on the ground and he ran to his rescue. Meanwhile, two other persons emerged on the scene and they too fired at Kumar, the witness said. Asked who had fired at him, Roop Lal said Abdul Rauf Daud Merchant had done so. The witness said he was injured in left thigh and they were taken to Cooper Hospital in the car. On the way, he informed Kumar’s brother Kishen Kumar on
cellphone. PTI |
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Chautala
holds fifth rally in UP Saharanpur, July 2 Addressing a rally at Islamia Inter College here yesterday, Mr Chautala warned the BJP that it could not recapture power by inducting Mr Ajit Singh, President of the National Lok
Dal, into the Union Cabinet. The BJP could only form the government at the Centre again and accepted their demand for the formation of a kisan
pradesh. He stated that the state executive of the BJP which met at Saharanpur recently had maintained that the formation of another state was not on the agenda of the
BJP. It was said so by the BJP chief, Mr Jena Krishnamurthy. However, judging the sentiments and mood of people of western Uttar Pradesh, the state Chief Minister, Mr Raj Nath Singh, had to state that the formation of a separate state was
needed. Mr Chautala asked people of western Uttar Pradesh to take a united stand on the issue and not be misled by leaders like Mr Ajit Singh. He lauded the contribution made by late Chaudhary Charan Singh for the welfare of farmers and the downtrodden.
Mr Chautala said if a separate state for the farmers was created, the farmers and the poor would get the same prices for sugarcane and wheat as was available to the farmers of Haryana. To further the cause of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti which was spearheading the movement, the venue was carefully chosen in a Muslim dominated area. The principal of the college, Mr Hasim Ali
Chaudhary, presented a “pagri” to the Chief Minister. In order to provide a fillip to the movement, Mr Chautala was able to get the support of Mr Kultar Singh, younger brother of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, and of Mr Ramchander
Vikal, an important Gurjar leader of the area who had played long innings in Congress politics in western Uttar Pradesh. He also garlanded the statue of late Bhagat
Singh. Mr Laxmi Narain and Mr Sardar Singh, two Uttar Pradesh ministers who are with the INLD to support its demands for a “kisan
pradesh”, talked about discrimination against people of western Uttar Pradesh in the field of employment, development, appointment of ministers, distribution of portfolios and spending the revenue earned from here on the development of eastern and central Uttar Pradesh. Yesterday’s meeting was the fifth which was addressed by Mr Chautala for a separate state. |
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BSF team scales Jogin peaks New Delhi, July 2 “The time has come when we give training to our men in various frontiers in mountaineering expeditions so that they get acclamatised with high altitudes and treacherous conditions,” he said after flagging in a 28-member BSF mountaineering expedition team which returned here today after scaling Jogin peaks in Garhwal Himalayas. “They will not be found wanting if a situation like Kargil arose,” he said, adding that “mountaineering expeditions will also help them in keeping physically fit.” Mr Jagat said the expedition symbolised the continuity in alertness, vigilance and bravery on the part of jawans on the borders. Leader of the team N.S. Satish Chander,
Assistant Commandant, 62 Bn BSF, said despite adverse climatic conditions, the team was able to climb Jogin I, II, III and an unnamed peak in the Gangotri area. Inspector-General (Training) V.S. Sirohi said the BSF had planned a trekking expedition under which the team would cover 1,005 km and 10 terrains. It would cover Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. |
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Task force on employment submits
report New Delhi, July 2 “ It is particularly necessary to introduce flexibility by deleting the provision requiring prior permission of the government for retrenchment and closure”, the final report of the task force submitted to the government today said.
The task force, headed by Planning Commission member, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, called for comprehensive changes in the existing labour laws and need to be simplified and brought in line with “contemporary economic realities, including current international practice”.
The provision that retrenchment of labour or closure of a part of unit require prior government permission, as stipulated by the Industrial Disputes Act, 1976, was fraught with negative effects, the report said.
“ Export industries are particularly disadvantaged because exporters face highly competitive markets and need maximum flexibility to remain competitive”, it said.
The 13-member task force also suggested changes in the existing Contract Labour Act to allow all peripheral activities to be freely outsourced from specialised firms, even if it meant employees of the specialised firms provided the services on the premises of the outsourcing firms.
Contrary to the general view that such reforms might be viewed as “anti-labour”, the task force said: “Proposed reforms will have the effect of expanding employment in the organised sector thus extending the many benefits”. Underlining the importance between the growth of the economy and employment generation, the report said the state of infrastructure development was a major constraint on achieving rapid growth.
A comprehensive analysis of the policies were needed to set infrastructure development on the right track, it said.
Poor design of public investment in the rural areas was also a serious problem. The effectiveness of public investments in the rural areas in improving productivity could be increased if there was effective participation which required genuine decentralisation and empowerment of panchayats and zila parishads.
It was also necessary to encourage private and corporate sectors to invest in agriculture and related activities by facilitating the creation of organised and corporatised entities such as integrated agricultural complexes etc, the report said. |
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Uttaranchal
— a saga of
ordeals Dehra Dun, July 2 The failure of the successive governments in the parent state Uttar Pradesh has left these hills undeveloped despite being blessed with natural
resources and scenic beauty. Even after five decades of Independence, 70 per cent of hill villages do not have proper road links and basic facilities like medicare are scarce. Spread over 53,484 sq km Uttaranchal with a population of about 85 lakh according to the 2001 census, continues to remain neglected. Its creation has made little difference in the development of the area, despite an increase in the plan outlay from a meagre Rs 150 crore in the early sixties to around Rs 1,429.5 crore at present. The government spending hardly reflect in the lives of people. Employment avenues are scarce. There are more than four lakh registered unemployed people here. Agriculture, which by and large is unrewarding, still remains the mainstay for a majority of people. Medicare is only for namesake, as hospitals in general are ill-equipped. One cannot hope for medical help in an emergency. Two base hospitals set up at Nainital and Srinagar some few years ago are still without the requisite strength of doctors and other paramedical staff. According to a rough estimate, over 700 posts of doctor are lying vacant in districts. Indira Gandhi had raised the annual budget allocation for the region equal to that of Himachal Pradesh. As most of the villages are inaccessible district officials seldom visit the rural areas. In most cases, the hill region is considered as a dumping ground for the rejected lot of officials and generally they are sent on punishment postings. This leads to lack of motivation and reflects on development work. There are still a large number of villages where people are unaware of the existence of Collectors or Superintendents of Police. For them, the patwari’s word is law. The problems of the region are many and unique which call for a change in the basic approach towards development. |
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Kumaraswami
new CGDA New Delhi, July 2 Mr Kumaraswami is an alumnus of National Defence College and has pioneered the quality movement and introduction of the ISO system in the Defence Accounts Department. Before taking over as the CGDA, he held several important assignments in the Central Government, including Additional CGDA (Audit), Financial Adviser to the Indian Council of Medical Research in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Principal Controller of Accounts Factories and Deputy Financial Adviser in the Ministry of Finance. |
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Telephonic
helpline
for farmers New Delhi, July 2 Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has set up a helpline here to give advice to farmers over telephone relating to farming. A panel of scientists will attend to the calls made at 5724670 and will provide relevant information and cultivation tips. Seeds of the recommended variety and other inputs can be purchased from the newly set up commercial centre at the IARI, Dr Panjab Singh, the institute director, said. He said the farmers should get soil tested from their nearest block office to get a correct idea of the fertility status. This would help them in getting accurate remedial measures of problems related to crop growth. Post-harvest handling and marketing advice would also be available at the institute. He said the institute’s commercial centre would undertake feasibility studies and contract research for the farmers and commercial enterprises intending to do market/export oriented farming of specific crops like mushroom, broccoli, baby corn and grapes. |
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Water supply scheme in limbo Hanumangarh, July 2 Official sources said two overhead tanks having a capacity of 550 kilolitre each were constructed for the scheme. A pond was also constructed near Bhatner fort with a capacity of 500 kilolitre. A new pipeline was also proposed to be laid from the junction to the town. For some years, the work of laying the water pipeline was delayed as the Railways did not give its approval to lay the pipleline beneath the railway track at Satipura. The work has now started after the Railways gave its approval in March this year. However, the water supply has not been in accordance with the capacity of the pipeline, so people still are taking water from tubewells. Two small ponds, having a capacity of 150 kilolitre each, were also constructed for the project and these are in use. Even after spending crores of rupees on construction works the situation is that against a daily requirement of 6,000 kilolitre of drinking water, only 1,600 kilolitre of canal water are supplied and the rest of the demand is met through tubewells. Only a few areas in the town are getting supply of canal water. According to sources, 12 tubewells are at present in use to supply water to the town. But the supply through these is not sufficient. Water Works officials complain that due to power cuts, the water supply through tubewells is being affected. |
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Work on Sabuvana distributary in last phase Hanumangarh, July 2 The project, which is now expected to be completed next month, will solve the problem of shortage of water in the Sabuvana distributary. According to sources, earlier, the Jandwala distributary in Haryana supplied water to Sabuvana and Khara distributaries. But now for the past year, the supply was started from here to the Sidhmukh-Nohar project and supply to the Sabuvana and Khara distributaries was started from Indira Gandhi canal. Sources said supply to the Sabuvana distributary was closed because of water shortage in the canal due to the height of the head regulator. As a result, shortage of water, both drinking and irrigation, arose in Nagrana, Saliwal, Bashir and some other villages. To solve the problem, it was decided to construct a new head regulator at 558 RD of the Indira Gandhi canal at an estimate cost of Rs 50 lakh. For the remaining project, tenders worth about Rs 9 lakh have been issued and the work is expected to be completed within a month. |
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