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INSAT-4A in space
Tribune Special
Petitioner against Mulayam admits contesting poll on Cong ticket
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3 cops jailed for bobbytising man
Govt raps ONGC for high gas flaring
Volcker paper theft hoax causes flutter
Panel against lowering marriageable age of men
Criminal Law Bill introduced in LS
CPM allowed to hold rally at Maidan
FLASHBACK 2005
Lucknow’s erstwhile King wins Butler Palace
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INSAT-4A in space
Bangalore, December 22 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G. Madhavan Nair said the satellite signals had been picked up by the Master Control Facility (MCF) of the satellite in Hassan in Karnataka. The ISRO Chairman described the health of the satellite as “good”, adding that the satellite was the most advanced engineered by India. Dr Nair said the satellite, the heaviest the country had produced so far, was expected to give a major boost to DTH services, as it was equipped with 12 ku and 12 c band high-power transponders with a design life of 12 years. ISRO officials in Bangalore meanwhile said 12 ku transponders provided around 150 DTH channels and that the satellite was expected to be operational next month. INSAT-4A was originally planned for launch in the first half of 2005 but due to certain difficulties faced by the Ariane Space Centre, the launch had to be recast. In a few days from now, the MCF at Hassan is expected to carry out operations aimed at putting the satellite in its designated slot of 83 degree east longitude along with INSAT-2E and INSAT 3B. While the MCF is expected to carry out regular operations of the satellite and also control it, Tata Sky has already signed an agreement with ISRO to lease all 12 ku band transponders so that DTH services can be provided in the country. INSAT-4A, which weighs 3,080 kg, was shot into space about 29 minutes after the European launch vehicle Ariane-5 was blasted off at 4.03 am today. The launch was witnessed by the ISRO Chairman besides other senior officials. The rocket also deployed INSAT-4A’s co-passenger, European Meteorological Payload MSG-2, seven minutes later. The satellite is the first of the INSAT-4 series under which seven satellites have been planned, according to ISRO officials. The thrust of the satellites is towards revolutionizing the telecommunication sector in the
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Tribune
Special
New Delhi, December 22 While the Congress had almost finalised the names of Dr Kapila Vatsayan, scientists C.N.R. Rao and M.S. Swaminathan and social activist Ela Bhatt, Mr Yadav threw a spanner when he demanded of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to include Mr Jethmalani, who is retiring early next year. There is another vacancy for which a section of the Congress MPs have been lobbying for Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan or cricket legend Kapil Dev. But Mr Yadav’s demand is being opposed to by not only the other constituents of the ruling United Progressive Alliance but also by the Left parties, sources said adding that Mr Jethmalani is a “politician”. “The list should not have politicians in the nominated list as the original intention of the constitution framers was to have persons having special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art and social services,” Left parties have conveyed to the Prime Minister. Mr Jethmalani’s close proximity to the Shiv Sena and the BJP in the past and he being a lawyer of the assassins of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi are some of the reasons that go against the former Law Minister. The list has to be finalised at the earliest as four nominated members — Lata Mangeshkar, Fali Nariman, Cho Ramaswamy and Nanaji Deshmukh — are retiring this month. The NDA government had nominated wrestler-turned-actor Dara Singh, actor Hema Malini, scientist K. Kasturiranhgan, journalist Chandan Mitra, former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan and Dr Narayan Singh Manaklao for a six year term, which shall end in 2009. Mr Mitra and Ms Malini were also active members of the BJP. Sources said the other constituents of the UPA and Left parties have also resented that the list of the nominated members was being finalised only by the Congress and they have asked the Prime Minister to draw the list in consultation with them. |
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Petitioner against Mulayam admits contesting poll on Cong ticket
New Delhi, December 22 Denying that he was in any way associated with the Congress party’s “PIL Cell”, petitioner Vishwanath Chaturvedi said he was “adopted” as a candidate by the party in the last Assembly elections in the state to fight against senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister Rajnath Singh. A Bench of Ms Justice Ruma Pal and Mr Justice B N Agrawal had kept his public interest litigation (PIL) pending for consideration asking him to prove his “locus standi” to file such a petition by making it clear in a sworn affidavit that he had no “affiliation” with a party and the petition was not “politically motivated”. Mulayam Singh’s counsel Mukul Rohtagi had alleged that Chaturvedi was a member of the Congress party’s “PIL Cell”. His(Vishwanath Chaturvedi’s) affidavit stated that he had “no such connections.” Except contesting the last UP Assembly elections on Congress symbol because the party had “adopted” him as a candidate, he said he had no connection with the party. In the PIL, seen as an attempt to “trap” Mulayam Singh in a litigation on corruption issue in the same manner as Mayawati was caught due to the illegal Taj Corridor project, Chaturvedi had alleged that the UP Chief Minister had amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income in the name of his wife, son Akhilesh Yadav, MP and other members of the family. Chaturvedi’s counsel, senior advocate P N Lekhi while trying to make a case for admission of the PIL during a hearing on November 15, had said that his client was a social worker and had no connection with any political party. The court was expected to take up the PIL, being watched with great interest in political circles, for further hearing in the light of his affidavit after the ongoing two-week winter holidays which will end on January 1. The PIL had given details about various movable and immovable properties, including agriculture land, plots, flats in various places in UP allegedly acquired by Mulayam Singh since 1977 in his name or in the name of his two sons and wife and daughter-in-law. It also gave details of bank accounts, shares and investments in various institutions allegedly made by them. The total worth of the assets ran into several crore rupees, according to the PIL. Accusing Yadav of acquiring the assets through “corrupt” means, the petitioner said he had given a representation to UP Governor and the Union Home Minister for a CBI probe into the matter but they had done nothing. |
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3 cops jailed for bobbytising man
New Delhi, December 22 According to the CBI, Additional District Judge Mr Chandra Sekhar Sharma of Fast Track Court, Barmer, found constable Kishore Singh, ASI Sumer Dan and the then SHO of the Barmer police station, Sohan Singh, guilty of torturing and severing private part of Jugta Ram, an employee in a local shop. While Kishore Singh had been awarded life sentence, Sumer Dan and Sohan Singh were sentenced to 10 years and five years’ rigorous imprisonment, respectively, a CBI press note said here today. The court, after conclusion of trial, which recorded testimony of 41 witnesses, pronounced its judgement yesterday. The proceedings against the fourth accused, Bheru Singh, who died during the trial, were abated, the CBI said. After the case had hogged the headlines in 1994 and issue rocked the Rajasthan Assembly, the state government transferred the case to the CBI for probe. According to the CBI, victim Jugta Ram, who was admitted to the Government Hospital, Barmer, filed a written complaint with the police alleging that Bheru Singh, in whose shop he was earlier working, accompanied by Sumer Dan and Sohan Singh took him to the barracks behind the Sadar police station and severed his penis with a sharp object and thereafter covered him with a blanket. |
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Govt raps ONGC for high gas flaring
New Delhi, December 22 “I am deeply concerned over the wastage of gas through flaring in ONGC fields in Assam. It has increased from 10.7 per cent in 2002-03 to 14.1 per cent, measuring 65.7 million standard cubic meter (MMSC) of a total 467 MMSC gas produced in 2004-05,” said Mr Aiyar while replying to queries in the Lok Sabha today. The members from Assam wondered why so much gas was being wasted at a time when the country had to pay such a heavy price for the import of oil and gas sources. “We demand the Centre should pay compensation to the state of Assam for wasting its natural resources through gas flaring, that could have been otherwise utilised for the industrialisation of the state,” said Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, MP from the state. He said the state should be compensated by providing a subsidised gas supply, proposed to be imported from Myanmar. Mr Aiyar said with the setting up of a gas cracker plant in the state, the problem is likely to be addressed to a great extent. He added that since Assam Gas Co. had not started taking 30,000 tonnes of gas from the company as per the agreement signed last year, it was also causing losses of gas. At other fields, he said, ONGC
has also succeeded in bringing gas flaring to zero level. The gas flaring in OIL fields was also 7.33 per cent of total 1780.14 MMSC in 2004-05 as against 6.49 per cent in 2002-03 amounting 101.89 MMSC gas flaring. In reply to another question, he said, revenue loss suffered by public sector oil retailing firms on sale of petrol, diesel, LPG and kerosene below their production cost will almost double to Rs 38,154 crore this fiscal. “The estimated under-recoveries (on sale of fuel) was Rs 9,274 crore for 2003-04 and Rs 20,146 crore for 2004-05, which was projected to rise to Rs 38,154 crore during the current year,” he said. Reiterating his stand, he said, “ Parliament members should reconsider whether subsidised kerosene should be supplied only to the BPL families and there should be different pricing mechanism for the upper income classes besides revising the LPG prices for them.” |
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Volcker paper theft hoax causes flutter
New Delhi, December 22 It was only in the evening that the government denied that any documents had been stolen from
Mr Dayal’s room. The spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs issued a two-line statement in response to questions from the media on the development, saying: “We have received queries from the media whether any documents have been stolen from the South Block office of Special Envoy Virender Dayal or not. It is clarified that no documents have been stolen from the office of Special Envoy Virender Dayal.” Sources in the PMO also denied that any “theft” had taken place in South Block. Mr Dayal, when contacted by this correspondent, denied that any “theft” had taken place in his office. When pointed out that the MEA statement had not mentioned a word on whether his room had been broken into or not, Mr Dayal categorically denied that any burglary had taken place in his office. “Nothing could be more absurd than this. I don’t know how and from where this story generated. It is an absurdity. It is grotesque. No, my room was not |
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Panel against lowering marriageable age of men
New Delhi, December 22 The committee, which had suggested that marriage of a woman below the age of 18 and man below 21 years should be declared automatically void as per the proposed legislation, however, recommended to insert a new definition of “early marriage” in the Bill to define the solemnisation of marriage by a man above 18 years and below 21 years of age. But the panel was of the view that this insertion in the definition should be subject to a condition that like child marriage, early marriage should also be void and punishable in the same manner as has been prescribed in different clauses of the Bill, introduced in Rajya Sabha in December, 2004. “Consensus emerged on retaining the age differentiation as provided in the definition clause. It was, however, suggested that after the definitions of terms ‘child’, and ‘child marriage’, a new definition of the term ‘early marriage’ be inserted to define solemnisation of marriage by a male above 18 years and below 21 years,” the 27-member committee, headed by
E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan said. The panel said inserting of the definition of “early marriage” in the Bill was necessary to make distinction between the definition of child marriage as applicable to a male and a marriage that is performed by him after attaining majority (18 years) but before 21 years and to clear doubt in this regard. The recommendations for changes in the Bill were suggested by the committee after detailed analysis of the reports on the issue by the National Commission for Women (1995-96), the National Human Rights Commission (2001-02) and comments made by the Legislative Department of Law Ministry after examining various witnesses who were themselves victims of child marriage. The committee, which adopted the report on October 27, said though majority of its members favoured maintaining the age difference between a man and a woman for the marriageable age in the Bill, some members had expressed the views that a common age of 18 years for both men and women be considered by the government carefully. According to these members, “the issue of determination of marriage age is inextricably related to other social aspects, which, if ignored, may entail serious consequences on an individual and society as a whole”. It also recommended that the definition of “minor” be deleted from the Bill and be substituted by “child” in all its subsequent clauses, saying “it adds to the confusion only as the legislation provides a specific definition of a child and all the subsequent provisions of the Bill are in relation to this definition”. The majority members who favoured retaining of the age difference between the male and female, were of the view that such a provision would come in the way of implementing the family planning programme. To take care of the minor girls who would still be victim of child marriage, the panel has suggested a provision in the Bill itself for creation of a rehabilitation fund. |
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Criminal Law Bill introduced in LS
New Delhi, December 22 The Bill was earlier passed by the Rajya Sabha on December 13. Mr Patil informed the House that the government was trying to insert new sections aimed at punishing a person who induced someone to give false evidence. |
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CPM allowed to hold rally at Maidan
Kolkata, December 22 The committee will have to deposit a lump sum amount of money in advance to the Fort William authorities as the maintenance cost of the ground. Accordingly, the CPM’s rally at the ground on January 8 against UPA’s faulty economic policies and the industrial disinvestment policy will also be held as schedule. The Fort William authorities had put a blanket ban on holding of rallies and meetings in the Maidan area following a High Court’s order. The ministry has already allowed the Books Sellers and Publishers guild for holding a book fair on the ground this year too though it was decided last year that no further permission would be given for holding the book fair there. State officials argued if the rally was not allowed at the ground and it was held in the Esplanade area, as it had later been planned, then the entire city would come under heavy traffic jams on December 28. Like the Hyde Park in London, the Maidan has become historically important as the venue of meetings, exhibitions and fairs over centuries. Neither the government nor any political parties had agreed to the authorities’ decision to suddenly denying them the right to use the Maidan for political and official purposes. |
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FLASHBACK 2005 Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 22 The Army men, from an engineering unit here, were reconstructing the bridge after it was washed away in flash floods earlier. This was among several damaged bridges on the Hindustan—Tibet Road (National Highway 22) which were being reconstructed by the Army under an operation to aid the civil authorities. Later, it were men from the same unit which got the task completed. Two new formations, South-Western Command with headquarters in Jaipur and 9 Corps based in Pathankot, came into existence this year, changing the area of responsibility and order of battle of Western Command. Fine tuning new operational, administrative and logistic drills and procedures continued consequent to the restructure. Following this, the Army conducted its first major post-Operation Parakram exercise to validate its newly conceptualised operational doctrine and battle drills in the backdrop of a nuclear environment. Termed Exercise Vajra Shakti, the 10-day battle drill involved more than 25,000 troops along with Air Force elements, and was said to be the largest exercise to be held in the past few years. The exercise, designed for short and intense wars, saw the integration of real-time surveillance capabilities with operational planning and execution and operations in a networked battlefield. Professional impropriety and disciplinary matters also came into sharp focus, with several senior officers being accused of corruption, misappropriation and embezzlement. Notable among such matters is an ongoing court of inquiry probing the role of two lieutenant-generals in a scam involving the procurement of frozen meat and the alleged involvement of a major-general in siphoning off huge quantities of liquor meant for CSD canteens and selling it in the open market. Another scam that rocked the Army was the siphoning off of diesel supplies from tankers on their way to Leh. Instead, water was filled in the tankers and the diesel sold off elsewhere. Two junior officers and a JCO, at present in police custody, were indicted by a court of inquiry (COI). The high-profile courts martial in the Tehelka episode, which began last year, came to a close with a major-general, a brigadier and a colonel being convicted and awarded varying sentences of rigorous imprisonment. They had been caught along with politicians and bureaucrats in a sting operation while allegedly demanding and accepting bribes. Also in the limelight was a colonel from Military Intelligence, held blameworthy by a COI on several counts of impropriety and misappropriation, and a woman officer from the Judge Advocate General’s Branch. She was held blameworthy for allegedly demanding bribes from soldiers facing trial by court martial. Western Command saw a change of guard twice this year, when Lt-Gen S. Pattabhiraman took over as the GOC-in-C in February from Gen J.J. Singh, who was elevated as Chief of Army Staff, the first Sikh officer to be elevated to that position. In October, General Pattabhiraman moved to Army Headquarters as Vice-Chief of Army Staff and Lt-Gen Daljeet Singh was posted as the Western Army Commander. Elsewhere, another Sikh, 19-year-old Harcharan Singh from Nankana Sahib (made history by getting selected for a commission in the Pakistani army. Along with the Army, the Air Force remained heavily engaged in operations for rendering aid to the civil authorities following unprecedented snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir early this year and then the devastating earthquake in October. Sorties by IL-76 and AN-32 aircraft from Chandigarh flew in relief material. Thousands of tonnes of emergency equipment, medical supplies, rations, tents, fuel and other items for providing succour to the affected people were picked up from various places and airlifted to Jammu and Kashmir. The Mi-26 helicopter, the world’s largest and heaviest chopper, was used to place bulldozers in Kinnaur for reconstructing damaged bridges and roads. The defence community here also bid its last farewell to three war heroes. Hony Capt Umrao Singh, the last surviving Indian Victoria Cross winner, died in October, while Lt-Col Dhan Singh Thapa, the last survivour among those who won the Param Vir Chakra in a declared war, passed away in September. Lt-Gen J.S. Aurora, the architect of India’s finest hour — the 1971 victory over Pakistan — died in May.
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Lucknow’s erstwhile King wins Butler Palace
Lucknow, December 22 The newly acquired property is estimated to be worth Rs 1000 crore (over $ 22 million). The fact that, in 1905, it was in Butler Palace that the historic Lucknow Pact was signed at an all-party meet in the presence of stalwarts like Gokhale, Tilak and Chittaranjan Das, makes Khan’s victory significant. Raja Sahib got the possession as per the direction of the Custodian, Enemy Property, Mumbai, this Monday. The Custodian’s directive has come in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict, which went in favour of Raja Sahib after a long court battle in October this year.
— ANI |
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