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ND Tiwari is Rohit Shekhar’s father, rules court

NEW DELHI: N.D. Tiwari is the biological father of a Delhi-based youth Rohit Shekhar, the Delhi High Court on Friday said while declaring the result of the DNA test of the veteran Congress leader. 

Justice Reva Khetrapal declared the result of the DNA test conducted at a Hyderabad-based laboratory in the open court and said as per the report, “Tiwari is reported to be the biological father of Rohit Shekhar and Ujjwala Sharma is reported to be the biological mother.” 

Earlier in the day, the court rejected Tiwari’s plea not to open his DNA report before a single judge bench, adjudicating the paternity suit of Shekhar. 

The court allowed Justice Khetrapal, who has decided to open Tiwari’s DNA report along with those of paternity suit petitioner Shekhar and his mother Ujjwala Sharma, to declare the DNA test result in open court, but asked her not to give its copies to any party to the case. 

Dismissing Tiwari’s appeal against Justice Khetrapal’s July 19, 2012 decision, a Division Bench of acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said, “Not opening the DNA report may lead to a lengthy process”. 

Concurring with the single judge’s observation on Supreme Court’s direction to maintain confidentiality on Tiwari’s DNA profile, the bench said, “We are in agreement with the single judge that nowhere the Supreme Court in its order stated that the DNA profile shall be kept in a sealed cover till the conclusion of trial. This DNA report is a piece of evidence…” 

“The purpose was to cut short the controversy and to avoid an unnecessarily prolonged trial. If the sample is not opened now, it may lead to unnecessary cross-examination of the witnesses. We do not find merit in the petition, so it is dismissed,” the bench added. 

Tiwari’s counsel and senior advocate Mukul Gupta had sought quashing of the single judge’s order or to provide protection till the Supreme Court clarifies its May 24, 2012, order on the issue of confidentiality. 

The senior lawyer submitted to the Bench that after the single judge dismissed their plea to conduct the trial in-camera and also to keep the DNA report confidential, they have filed an application before the Supreme Court, which is yet to hear their plea. 

Opposing Tiwari’s plea, plaintiff Shekhar’s lawyer Amit Sibbal said, “DNA report is a scientific evidence and the truth should come out as early as possible.” 

He further submitted that Tiwari is an old man and if any thing happens to him, the suit will become infructuous. 

Accordingly, the court must decide the matter at the earliest, he added. 

After hearing all the submissions, the bench told Mr. Tiwari’s counsel, “It is a piece of evidence, how can you say that the piece of evidence can’t be opened. It is an open trial and the evidence has to be recorded.” 

In his appeal, Tiwari had pleaded with the court to protect his “right to reputation,” contending that the single-judge Bench has adopted a “shortcut” to decide the suit and it would cause “grave injustice” to him. 

A former Andhra Pradesh Governor, Tiwari earlier had filed an application before the single judge for keeping the DNA report confidential and holding in-camera proceedings in the case, saying that the Supreme Court had given such a direction on May 24, 2012. 

The single judge had dismissed Tiwari’s plea against making public his DNA report saying the apex court’s order to maintain confidentiality was for the purpose of collection of his blood sample for the DNA test and the transmission of the report to the high court but not for the purpose of trial. 

Tiwari had given blood sample for the DNA test on May 29, 2012, at his residence in Dehradun following the Supreme Court order in the case, after repeatedly contesting against undergoing the test on various grounds. 

Tiwari’s pleas were objected to by 32-year-old Shekhar, who had filed the paternity suit in 2008, claiming the veteran Congress leader to be his biological father. 

Tiwari had refuted Shekhar’s claim. 

Hyderabad-based Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) had recently submitted the DNA reports of Tiwari, Shekhar and his mother Ujjwala Sharma to the High Court in sealed covers.

23 TN fishermen released by Sri Lanka: Krishna

New Delhi/Rameswaram: Twenty-three Tamil Nadu fishermen, arrested by Sri Lankan Navy on July 22 when they were fishing near Katchatheevu in the Palk Straits, have been released, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said on Friday. 

The Indian High Commission was making all arrangements for their return, Krishna said at a joint press interaction with his Indonesian counterpart Marty M Natalegawa in Delhi. 

Their release today came a day after India appealed to Sri Lanka to immediately set free the fishermen, who were also accused of ramming their boats into Lankan naval ships, on humanitarian grounds. 

In Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, President of Innocent Fishermen’s Association, Arulanandam said that the fishermen, arrested on charges of entering the island nation’s waters, were brought to the court from Anurathapuram where they had been lodged in prison and judge Anthonipillai Jutesen ordered their release. 

He said the fishermen were expected to arrive in Rameswaram either today or tomorrow. 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, expressing concern over “unrelenting, harsh attitude of the Sri Lankan Navy” towards Indian fishermen and sought the Centre’s intervention in securing the release of the arrested fishermen. — PTI

India to take ‘political call’ on FDI in retail: Sharma

LONDON: The Indian government will soon take a “political call” on the contentious issue of FDI in multi-brand retail as it cannot wait indefinitely, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma has said. 

Speaking to reporters here last evening, Sharma, who is in London to attend the Global Investment Conference and meet senior ministers in the David Cameron government, said the government is seeking to arrive at a consensus not only among political parties but also among all stakeholders, such as farmers, SMEs and community groups. 

“Most Chief Ministers support FDI in retail. There are particular reservations of the Left parties, who continue to have ideological blinkers. The principal opposition also has a partisan agenda, it changes sides when it suits them,” Sharma said. 

“It will be our political decision when to notify it ... 

We can’t wait for unanimity, or we will wait forever. We have taken a decision, we are committed to it, we are trying to build a consensus until which it has been held in abeyance. It will be a political call,” he added. 

The decision to allow 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail was announced in November 2011. But its implementation was put on hold after a strong protest from various parties including key UPA-ally Trinamool Congress. 

After that, the government has renewed its efforts to forge a consensus on the politically-sensitive issue. 

As the UPA supporting Samajwadi Party also opposing the decision, the government would find it difficult to implement the decision. 

Recently, JD-U President Sharad Yadav joined hands with Left and SP in opposing foreign direct investment in retail. — PTI

16 Amarnath pilgrims killed in bus accident

Jammu: A truck carrying Amarnath pilgrims fell into a gorge in Kashmir, killing 16, police say.The worshippers were returning from Amarnath cave, the site of an annual pilgrimage, when the incident happened in Samba district late on Thursday.

Sixteen other pilgrims travelling in the truck were injured. They were taken to a local hospital. Hindus revere Amarnath as the abode of the god Shiva.

This is the second major incident involving pilgrims returning from the Amarnath cave this month. On 14 July, 15 pilgrims were killed when a passenger bus returning from the pilgrimage plunged into a gorge near Ramban on a mountain road.

The pilgrims set off from the state's winter capital, Jammu, for Pahalgam, which serves as base camp for the 45km trek to the cave, 4,000m above sea level.

Olympics: London ready for opening ceremony

London: The stage is set and the athletes are primed as the seven-year countdown to the London 2012 Olympics reaches its finale with Friday's much-anticipated opening ceremony.

The three-hour spectacle, expected to be watched by a global television audience of up to one billion, will mark  the beginning of 17 days of athletic endeavour which will create heroes, shatter dreams and fire national pride.

But London is preparing for its own intense examination as questions over the city's creaking transport system and the ever-present security threat hang over the event, ready to overshadow on-track achievements.

Prime Minister David Cameron insisted on Thursday that Britain would deliver a memorable Games after US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney backtracked on barbed comments he made about the preparations.

The Republican hopeful, in London to attend Friday's opening, said the build-up had been "disconcerting", pointing to the failure of a private security contractor to provide the number of guards it had promised.

Punjab govt to provide 50 pc subsidy to agro processing units

Hoshiarpur: The Punjab government today said it will provide 50 per cent subsidy to the agro processing units to be set up in the state.

The state government has decided that it would provide 50 per cent subsidy to the agro processing units set up in the state, said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Chief Minister said that the state government is well aware of the fact that due to the exorbitant hike in the prices of the agricultural inputs, farmers of the state were in financial distress...So, the need of the hour is to enhance the income of farmers by promoting the agro processing industry.

He was talking to the mediapersons after visiting Sada Shiv Model women self help group who are engaged in Agro food processing.

Appreciating the agro processing unit, he said that this 13-member self help group is engaged in processing of fruits, vegetables and herbs, adding that it is setting a trend in the state by producing pickles, squashes, juices, chutneys, Trifla, aam chur etc.

He said the need of the hour is to ensure all sort of help to these self Help groups which would not only provide sustainability to the economy but would also generate new employment opportunities for the people. 

CBI registers case against former IGNOU VC

NEW DELHI: CBI has registered a case of alleged graft against former Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University for permitting two varsities to run distance learning courses in violation of norms.

Soon after registering the case against Rajshekharan Pillai, the agency on Friday carried out searches at his premises in Trivandrum and Kottayam.

The CBI has alleged that Pillai during his tenure as VC of IGNOU allowed Sikkim Manipal University and Punjab Technical University to run distance learning courses in violation of laid down procedures, sources said.

They said Mr Pillai has been booked under charges of Prevention of Corruption Act, abuse of official position and criminal conspiracy. — PTI

KKR to take on Delhi in CLT20 opener

NEW DELHI: IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Delhi Daredevils, while South Africa’s domestic Twenty20 champions Titans will square off against Australia’s Perth Scorchers in the opening group games of the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa.

The group stage of the tournament will commence with a double-header at Centurion on October 13.

The game between Titans and Perth Scorchers will be played first followed by the clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils, who finished third in the IPL.

The final of the Champions League Twenty20 will be played on October 28 at the Wanderers, Johannesburg. The fourth edition of the Champions League Twenty20 will feature a total of 14 teams and 29 matches across four venues — Centurion, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

The group stage will be preceded by a qualifying stage from October 9 to October 11 featuring six teams. These teams have been equally divided into two pools with each team playing the other two in its pool once.

The top team in each pool, in terms of points, will then qualify for the group stage. If teams from the same pool are equal on points, the qualifier will be decided by net run rate. 

Pool 1: ECB 1 (winners of the ECB’s domestic T20 championship), Sialkot Stallions (Pakistan) and Auckland Aces (New Zealand).

Pool 2: ECB 2 (runners-up in the ECB’s domestic T20 championship), Trinidad and Tobago (West Indies) and the winners of Sri Lanka’s domestic T20 championship.

Group stage: The group stage will comprise 10 teams divided into two groups of five. Each side will play the other four in their group with the top two teams qualifying for the semifinals.

Group A: Kolkata Knight Riders (India), Titans (South Africa), Perth Scorchers (Australia), Delhi Daredevils (India) and Qualifier 1.

Group B: Chennai Super Kings (India), Highveld Lions (South Africa), Sydney Sixers (Australia), Mumbai Indians (India) and Qualifier 2. — PTI

Omar announces NC's student union

Srinagar: Terming debate as the essence of democracy, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced the setting up of National Conference Student Union (NCSU).

"Dialogue, discussion and debate are the essence of democracy and need to be promoted for a healthy strong polity," Omar told the office bearers.

"We hope to create a huge number of young people who can present their own views with conviction and at the same time contribute to socio-political dynamics in an environment of mutual respect and tolerance," he added.

However, student union activities were banned in Kashmir University and other universities of the Valley since 2008 summer agitation. And it was not immediately clear whether the body floated by National Conference will be recognised by the authorities at the universities.

"Omar named Usman Gani as Provincial President (Kashmir), Nida Khan as the senior vice president, Imran Pandit as general secretary and Iqram Shafiee as Joint Secretary of the NCSU," a spokesman of the ruling National Conference said.