M A I N   N E W S

High Court refuses bail to Manu Sharma

New Delhi, September 3
The Delhi High Court today rejected the bail application of Siddharth Vashisht, alias Manu Sharma, the prime accused in the Jessica Lal murder case, saying he might tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses.

Mr Justice R.C. Chopra said: “There is a possibility that in case he is enlarged on bail, he may tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses who are yet to be examined by the prosecution.’’

“The offence is punishable with death and as such, there is also a chance that he may jump bail and become unavailable for the trial,” he said.

The judge, however, directed the trial court, where the main case is going on, to make every endeavour to complete the trial within four months. UNI

Petition on Sehajdharis admitted
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 3
Admitting a petition seeking directions to the state of Punjab and other respondents against enrolling Sehajdhari Sikhs as voters for the purpose of electing members to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice for September 19.

In their petition taken up by the Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice M.M. Kumar, the General Secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Prof Jagmohan Singh, along with another petitioner, had earlier challenged the vires of clause 10-A of Section 2 of the Act.

Describing it as ultra vires of the Constitution, the petitioners had added that the clause was against the aims and objectives of the Sikh Gurdwara Act and was liable to be quashed.

Prof Jagmohan Singh, in an earlier petition had claimed that the deletion would prevent so-called Sehajdhari Sikhs from casting their votes and becoming SGPC members.

The petitioners had added that persons not entitled to meddle in the affairs of the gurdwaras were themselves getting enrolled under the garb of Sehajdharis. Their counsel had submitted on their behalf that several complaints about habitual smokers and even Muslims getting themselves included in the list had been received by the Chief Commissioner of Gurdwara Elections.

Brig Yadav heads Military Affairs

New Delhi, September 3
Close on the heels of the controversial appointment of a prominent NRI as Adviser in the Indian Embassy in Washington, the External Affairs Ministry has brought in a serving Army officer and a senior scientist to augment its division dealing with Disarmament and International Security Affairs (DISA).

Brig P.S. Yadav has been appointed Director, Military Affairs, and Anil Kumar, senior scientist with the Defence Research and Development Organisation, has been made Director, Science and Technology, it was officially stated today.

The move is aimed at enabling proper coordination with other government departments, an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson told reporters in response to questions. PTI