 |
|
Fresh affidavit to be filed in arms purchase case
Muzaffarabad bus to pave way for more
Guidelines for HC on election petitions
Naidu made BJP Vice-President |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canadian Sikhs return home to share success
Govt urged not to send elephant calf to Armenia zoo 1 lakh pregnancy-related deaths in India every year, says minister
Video conferencing to be used for Telgi’s trial
Subramaniam implicates Kanchi Seer in murder case
Probe tapping of phones, says Anil Ambani
|
|
Fresh affidavit to be filed in arms purchase case
New Delhi, April 7 "The Defence Ministry may file another affidavit giving complete information to the court and supplement the information given in the existing affidavit," Law Ministry sources said. The sources further explained that Attorney-General Milon Banerjee, who has filed the existing affidavit, would argue the case himself and "explain" the entire situation to the apex court. But the sources refused to comment on the present affidavit, saying the matter was "subjudice and it will not be proper to discuss its merits of it outside the court." However, they said the CBI was looking into some cases pertaining to the defence purchases during the NDA regime. Whatever might be the explanation offered by the government, the existing affidavit said "the ministry has continued to make efforts to address the issue raised in the CAG report (regarding Kargil purchases). The present position is that paragraphs on 11 cases out of the 35 cases have been formally vetted to the satisfaction of the CAG." "The officers of the ministry and Army Headquarters gave oral evidence before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on 11 out the 35 specific cases/paras, as selectedby the Committee…" it said adding that position about the purchases made had been clarified to the PAC under the relevant rules and procedure and the conduct of business in the Lok Sabha. It further said two Action Taken Notes (ATNs) of the 35 cases sent to the CAG, had come back from it with some observation and necessary clarifications were being given to it. "Twentyone ATNs are with the CAG and comments on these are awaited. There is only one para with respect of which the ATN is under examination in the ministry in consultation with the Army Headquarters," it said adding that only two transactions pertaining to the Hand Held Thermal Imagers and Terminally Guided Munitions (Krasnopol), which find mention in the CAG report, had been referred to the CBI. Regarding the examination of the defence procurements by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), it said the panel had only examined all major contracts worth over Rs 75 crore entered into by the Defence Ministry since 1989 when a ban was imposed on the involvement of middlemen and the allegations of former MP Jayant Malhotra and former Rear Admiral S.V. Purohit. The CVC report had already been submitted to the government with certain recommendations. Following the CVC report, three cases regarding T-90 Tanks, Armoured Recovery Vehicles and UP-Gunning of 130 mm M-46 Field Guns to 155mm Calibre (which did not form part of CAG report), had been sent to the CBI, it said. Whatever action the CBI might take in these matters, but the Defence Ministry had categorically stated that while modifying the procedure for expeditious procurement during Kargil conflict the, orders were issued with approval of the then Defence Minister. But the "modified procedure" did not substitute or supercede the prescribed procedure for the normal procurment… and "these in no way violated any of the financial rules of the government or the Defence Procurement Procedure, 1992." |
|
Muzaffarabad bus to pave way for more bus services
New Delhi, April 7 As 48 passengers crossed either side of the LoC on local permits for the first time in 58 years, the development is fraught with myriads of possibilities for greater inter-Kashmir cooperation and integration. Though the bus service in itself is not a solution to the Kashmir problem, it is a sort of a bypass surgery aimed at eventually remedying the core problem. The historic event is bound to pave way for a plethora of bus services connecting two sides of Kashmir: Kargil to Skardu, Mendher to Kotli, Jammu to Sialkot and Poonch to Mirpur. But that would happen only after the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service is stabilised and gets ample patronage from Kashmiris on either side of the LoC. The Kashmir bus diplomacy has the potential of redefiniting Indian diplomacy with all its neighbours in the immediate future. An inkling of this may be witnessed on April 11 when Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who arrives on a four-day India visit on April 9, holds talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. An Indian proposal, made to China quite some time back, on starting several bus services between India and China is
still pending from the Chinese side. Two Ladakh-specific bus routes were part of this Indian proposal: Leh to Tibet and Damchuk to Mansarovar. These routes had traditionally been lifelines of all commercial and cultural contacts between Ladakhis and Tibetans. Beijing had been under pressure from Islamabad not to reopen these bus routes. But now with the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service launch, a forward movement is expected on bus services between India and China. The acid test of the governments of India and Pakistan and the people of Kashmir would be to ensure foolproof security for the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus in its future runs. Today was a different day as it was a high-voltage launch with top brass of Indian government converging in Srinagar. The million-dollar question will be whether the two governments would be able to provide security on such a monumental scale in future as well as was provided today. Obviously, it would be well-nigh impossible to do so and the militants are not reined in, the passengers of Srinagar-Muzffarabad bus would prove to be sitting duck targets. The decision to resume bus links across the Line of Control in nearly six decades is being seen as the “mother of all humanitarian CBMs” between India and Pakistan, though the most vital CBM is the November 2003 ceasefire between the two countries’ armed forces which is still holding. The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road better known as the Jhelum Valley road was the only road that the people took for travel and trade. The road was closed in 1947 after Pakistani raiders invaded Kashmir leading to war between India and Pakistan. The attitude of the militants is so far uncompromising. The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service would thus he an important tug of war between State and non-State actors. Four militant organisations in a joint statement on March 29 issued a threat to the 40 passengers asking them to cancel their visit. A joint statement by Al-Nasreen, Al-Arifeen, Farzandan-e-Milat and the Save Kashmir Movement, which was faxed to Srinagar-based journalists, said that they were opposed to the bus as it would weaken the so-called jehad being fought in Kashmir. |
|
|
Guidelines for HC on election petitions
New Delhi, April 7 “On the language of Section 87(1) of the RPA, it is clear that the applicability of the procedure provided for the trial of election petition is not attracted with all its rigidity and technicality. The rules of procedure contained in the CPC apply to the trial of election petitions under the Act with flexibility and only as guidelines,” a Bench of Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti, Mr Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari and Mr Justice P.K. Balasubramanyan ruled. The ruling was given by the court to clarify important questions whether the CPC rules were applicable to the trial of election petition, whether rules framed by the High Court governing the trial of election petitions would override the CPC and permit filing of a written statement beyond the prescribed period as laid down under the CPC rules and whether the time limit of 90 days was mandatory for filing the written statement by defendant in an election suit. Clarifying that there was no embargo on courts to extend the time for filing of the written statement by the defendant, the court said but such extension would only be given as an exception not a general rule. Certainly cost could be imposed on defendant for “laxity” in filing the written statement, the court said The ruling came on election petition of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council member Kailash, whose election in November 2003 to the House was challenged by another contestant, Nanku. But the Allahabad High Court had dismissed his petition on the ground that written statement was not filed within the prescribed period of 90 days. Asking the High Court to restore his petition within four weeks and decide it on merits, the apex court, however, imposed a cost of Rs 5,000 on Kailash for the delay in filing of the written statement. |
|
Naidu made BJP Vice-President
New Delhi, April 7 The 53-year-old
Naidu, who became party President in 2003 after the resignation of incumbent Jana
Krishnamurthy, quit the post in October citing his wife’s ill health. Mr Advani had requested Mr Naidu to take up the post despite the latter’s stand that he would work for the party without any post. However, on Mr Advani’s persuasion, Mr Naidu accepted the post,” party General-Secretary and spokesman Arun Jaitley told reporters here. In an apparent indication that he was reluctant to take up the post after having been the party chief, Mr Naidu in the past few days had been referring to reports of his possible appointment as Vice-President as “de-promotion”. With his present appointment, Mr Naidu joins the team of eight other Vice-Presidents, including Kalyan Singh, Mukhtar Abbas
Naqvi, Babulal Marandi and Sushil Kumar Modi. — PTI |
|
Canadian Sikhs return home to share success
New Delhi, April 7 Pall, Sodhi and Babra are all members of a growing tribe of successful and influential Canadian Sikhs who started out with nothing but a dream and an intense desire to succeed. Today they are helping forge closer economic ties between the two nations and in the process redefining the contributions by the Indian diaspora. They are among 65 delegates from 51 companies, government officials and agencies who accompanied Canada’s Minister of International Trade Jim Peterson on a trade mission to India from April 3 to 7. Pall is the pioneer in friction-dampening devices that can make buildings safer. Sodhi is a lawyer with Torys LLP, an international business law firm, while Babra is the chairman and president of SkyLink Aviation Inc. The company is an internationally licensed operator of aircraft and helicopters. Pall, who was born in Hoshiarpur, came up with the idea of a friction damper when he was working as an engineer in India. But it wasn’t until he moved to Canada in 1974 to pursue a doctorate that he had access to the computers and testing facilities he needed for his research. He worked on his invention for about 12 years before patenting it. The dampers are attached into a building’s structure and act as a shock absorber during an earthquake. When the earth moves, the dampers act as “brake pads”, enabling a building to ride out the shock waves without suffering any damage. When Pall’s dampers are used for retrofitting of buildings, the savings can reach 60 per cent. Pall’s company is interested in technology transfer to India so that quality friction dampers can be economically manufactured for domestic use. |
|
Govt urged not to send elephant calf to Armenia zoo New Delhi, April 7 CUPA said they had sent copies of the appeal to the Prime Minister’s Office, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. They had also sought the intervention of animal rights activist, Maneka Gandhi. CUPA has said that the elephant calf, Veda, lives at her birthplace, the Bannerghatta National Park in Bangalore, in a herd and the environment is closest to her natural forest habitat. “In view of the financial conditions of the Yerevan zoo as reported by the UK-based Bornfree Foundation and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s announcement that the government would ban any gift of animals by the head of State/government to other heads of state/government or foreign zoos, we have made a fresh appeal. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has not cancelled the commitment for transfer of Veda to the Yerevan zoo.’’ Ms Ganguly has warned the government that if the elephant calf dies due to emotional and physical stress, they will hold the government “accountable’’. Reacting to the appeal, Dr B.R. Sharma, Member Secetary, Central Zoo Authority, told The Tribune that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had promised to send Veda on a request made by the Yerevan zoo for pairing a male Asiatic elephant.
|
|
|
1 lakh pregnancy-related deaths in India every year, says minister New Delhi, April 7 The minister said the majority of births (65 per cent) in India take place at home and in some areas it is almost 92 per cent. A large number of cases are handled by unskilled persons. "In such situations women who experience life threatening complications may never receive the required life saving emergency services because of what we call the `four delays'. These delays can result in maternal mortality or increase the severity of morbidity. There are delays recognising the problem, deciding to seek care, delay in reaching the health facility and in receiving adequate care." The minister announced that the National Rural Health Mission will be launched soon to focus on improving health care delivery to the rural segment of the population. Speaking on the occasion Dr Ujjal Doshanjh, Punjab-born Health Minister of Canada hailed this year's theme `Make every mother and child count '. The Director General of WHO Dr LEE Jong-wook placed on record his appresion of the work done by the Executive Director of UNICEF, Carol Bellamy for being `an excellent champion for women and children.
|
|
|
Video conferencing to be used for Telgi’s trial
Hyderabad, April 7 The scamster is facing over 10 cases, pertaining to distribution of fake stamp papers in several states across the country. Due to logistics and security problems involved in moving Telgi from one court to another, the CBI, which is investigating the scam, has requested the Andhra Pradesh Government to allow Telgi’s trial through video-conferencing. “A three-member CBI team from Delhi headed by Joint Director Archana Ramasundaram was here to request the court for allowing video trial of the accused so that the cases can be expedited,” an official of the state Home Department said. Telgi, who is believed to have masterminded the Rs 32,000-crore fake stamp paper scam, was first arrested by the Andhra Pradesh police in August 1999 but was granted bail a month later. He was again arrested in 2002 by the Karnataka police. |
|
Subramaniam implicates Kanchi Seer in murder case Kancheepuram, April 7 Making a statement before first class judicial magistrate G Uthamaraj, Ravi Subramaniam said he had introduced Appu, alias Krishnasamy, to the Seer. Narrating the sequence of events, he said on September 1, 2004, two days before the murder, he and Appu along with Kathiravan, another accused in the case, met the seer, who had showed a letter purportedly written by Sankararaman and told them that he should be “got rid of” and he should not get any further letters from Sankararaman. — PTI
|
|
|
Probe tapping of phones, says Anil Ambani
New Delhi, April 7 The mastermind of “this criminal operation I am led to believe by reliable sources” is a director of Reliance Infocomm, Anil Ambani said in a letter written to Home Minister Shivraj Patil, in which he has named the director. The government is believed to have forwarded the letter to intelligence agencies for initial inquiry.
— PTI |
|
Kalam did not ask for files on Sonia’s citizenship
Chandigarh, April 7 He said the President had "never asked for any Delhi High Court files of the case stated in the news report, or of any other case in April 2004, or at any other time". He also stated that the news report "based on an alleged statement made by a counsel during the proceedings of a case in the Delhi High Court is totally incorrect and baseless". |
|
New Delhi, April 7
|
|
Speaker not to attend Commonwealth meeting
New Delhi, April 7 "My country's prestige is at stake and I don't want to compromise on it. I would prefer not to go," Mr Chatterjee, who is currently in Manila attending an Inter -Parliamentary Union meeting, had said. |
|
Army to go on major acquisition drive
New Delhi, April 7 “We are looking at further improving and enhancing our war-fighting skills and will acquire some weapon systems, particularly those serving as force-multipliers,” he told journalists on the penultimate day of the Army Commanders’ Conference here.
— UNI |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Videos
