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Amending sexual assault law
Shettar unfazed by wafer-thin majority
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Modi ‘begins’ groundwork
for 2014 polls
Reddy govt, Guv lock horns over info commissioner’s appointment
Student hit by bullet during NCC camp; critical
Allahabad HC gets new Chief Justice
SC okay with chargesheeted advocate as Andhra HC judge
Timely rain: Farmers eye bumper yield
SC tells Karnataka to release 2 TMC water to Tamil Nadu
Cassidian showcases 2
made in India defence products
Din in Kerala Assembly over rape charge against Kurien
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Govt: None of Verma panel suggestions rejected
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 4 “It will not be correct to say that any recommendation of the Justice Verma Committee has been ‘rejected’ by the government. The correct position is that some recommendations have not been incorporated in the ordinance because of divergence of opinion on issues that require more consultations and deliberations,” Finance Minister P Chidambaram said while justifying the ordinance route approached to amend criminal laws. The minister said an ordinance amended the criminal laws immediately while the normal lawmaking process took time. Aware of the sensitivity of the issue, Chidambaram said the government hoped the stringent provisions in the ordinance would have a deterrent effect on potential criminals from the date new law was enacted by Parliament. The minister said substantive amendments had been made to the Indian Penal Code while the recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee on punishment had been accepted. Death had been prescribed as the maximum punishment in the case of rape followed by injury which causes death or causes the victim to be in a persistent vegetative state. Besides, the ordinance contains provisions amending the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act, he said, adding that 11 of the 22 clauses in it had either been taken wholly or partially from the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill currently being examined by the standing committee in Parliament. The minister said the ordinance was only the starting point of the legislative process and would end when a Bill was passed by Parliament with the Constitution stipulating six weeks for such action. “Legislative process is not yet complete. I will appeal to everyone to allow it to be completed in the forthcoming session of Parliament,” the minister. Since Friday, when the ordinance was cleared by the Union Cabinet, the government has been criticised by some women groups and political parties for rushing through the ordinance and ignoring several suggestions, including marital rape or such crime conducted by members of the Armed Forces and paramilitary in areas where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is in place. As for amending AFSPA, he said since the recommendations had far-reaching implications, these had to be carefully considered after consulting the stakeholders concerned, including the Armed Forces and central police organisations. On the debate to lower the age under the juvenile justice system, or reduce it only for certain kind of offences, he said the issue had been considered with care and within the permissible limits of the constitution.
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Shettar unfazed by wafer-thin majority
Bangalore, February 4 The 10-day session got off in an orderly manner with Governor HR Bhardwaj’s customary address to the joint sitting of the Assembly and the legislative council. This is the last Assembly session as election to the 225-member House is due in May. Quiet beginning today belied speculation that the opposition Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) will demand that Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar first prove majority as 14 rebel legislators of the ruling party have quit the Assembly and resignations of two more lawmakers are pending with Speaker K G Bopaiah. The resignations have reduced the strength of the ruling party in the Assembly to 106 from 120, including the Speaker. The BJP has the support of one of the seven Independents, who is a Cabinet minister. The nominated member is also a BJP member. The combined opposition strength, including six independents, is 103. If Bopaiah accepts the two pending resignations, the BJP’s strength will come down to 104, including the Speaker. Among the 14, who have quit the Assembly and the BJP, are party’s former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and 13 of his supporters in the party. The two pending resignations with the Speaker are also from Yeddyurappa’s supporters. Opposition parties have been vociferous in demanding that Shettar should quit and not present the Budget for next fiscal not only because his majority is in doubt but also because elections are due in May. But Shettar is determined to present the Budget on February 8. “There is no threat to my government. I will present the Budget as scheduled,” he told reporters after the Governor’s address. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah of the Congress said though the Shettar Ministry “technically” enjoys majority, it “has lost the moral right to stay in office and present the Budget.” However, he said, the Congress would not move a no-confidence motion as it does not have the numbers. The party has 71 members in the Assembly. Besides, Siddaramaiah said it would be like “flogging a dead horse.” Earlier, in his address, Bhardwaj said financial status of Karnataka was sound since tax revenues have doubled over the last five years. “Tax revenue is 10 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP), which is among the highest in the country”, the Governor said. Noting that the plan size had increased 2.5 times during the BJP government, Bhardwaj said per capita plan expenditure of Rs 6,810 was highest in the country.
No threat to govt: Karnataka CM
“There is no threat to my government. I will present the Budget as scheduled,” Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar (pic) said as Opposition parties have been demanding that Shettar should quit and not present the budget for next fiscal because his majority is in doubt. But Karnataka Chief Minister stated that he was determined to present the Budget on February 8
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Modi ‘begins’ groundwork
for 2014 polls
Ahmedabad, February 4 Sources close to the Chief Minister’s office say computer-savvy Modi has instructed his close aides to feed data about the 541 Lok Sabha seats in his computer. They have further been asked to categorise seats according to the degree of difficulty for the BJP and other NDA partners, barring Bihar’s Janata Dal (United), which is unlikely to stay on with the coalition should Modi be named the prime ministerial candidate. A separate list is being prepared of seats that the BJP or other NDA partners have won even once in the past, as Modi believes these seats may be recaptured with a bit of extra effort. Modi plans to identify around 375 seats that the BJP and the NDA have best chance to win and even if it slips on 100 seats, the coalition will still stand a chance to secure a clear majority. The sources say Modi is confident that given a little push, the NDA should secure over 300 seats, considering the alleged poor performance by the present UPA government, facing charges of corruption and high inflation. The sources, however, say Modi may not resign as Chief Minister and station himself in Delhi to prepare for the parliamentary elections if his name is cleared for the post. He may pass on part of his responsibilities to his trusted lieutenants, particularly Nitin Patel, Anandiben Patel and Saurabh Patel, all members of his Cabinet, but will not resign from the Chief Minister’s office in a huff. Modi may spend three to four days a week visiting various states to study the local situations and meet with members of minority communities, local NGOs, and others once he is appointed a member of the BJP parliamentary board. Modi proved as a master strategist in the 1995 elections and was largely instrumental in bringing the BJP in power for the first time in the state. The BJP reaped the fruits of Modi’s good work in the 1998 elections also though he was banished from the state on former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel’s demand.
On drawing board
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Reddy govt, Guv lock horns over info commissioner’s appointment
Hyderabad, February 4 Despite the Governor’s rejection of the four names sent to him last year for appointment as Information Commissioners, under the Right to Information Act, the Kiran Kumar Reddy government stuck to its guns and finalised the same candidates. The government has sent the file to the Raj Bhawan, recommending the names of Imtiaz Ahmed, a former civil judge, L Tantiya Kumari, a former Zilla Parishad member, M Vijaya Nirmala, an erstwhile Praja Rajyam Party leader, and V Venkateswarlu, a youth Congress leader, for
appointment as information commissioners. Incidentally, the Governor had rejected them while approving the names of four others when the proposal was first sent to him. He had returned the file to the Chief Minister in February last year, advising him to reconsider the matter. The Gubernatorial assertion followed widespread public pressure to cancel the appointments and start the selection process afresh. The RTI activists and representatives of several NGOs had alleged that the government had violated the spirit of the RTI Act by turning the institution into a “political rehabilitation center”. However, a year later, the government stuck to its decision and sent the file to the Governor seeking his clearance for the appointments, indicating a widening rift. As per the established convention, the Governors cannot return the file again. “The Governor’s office has received the file. He is yet to go through it,” the Raj Bhawan sources said adding that he might consult legal experts before proceeding further on the matter. Meanwhile, a review petition filed by the Union Government in the Supreme Court is pending final disposal. The Centre had challenged the apex court’s stipulation regarding the legal background for appointment as Information Commissioners. In view of this, the Governor is keen on taking legal advice before proceeding further on the matter. Meanwhile, the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI) has condemned the state government’s blatant move to undermine the spirit of the RTI Act and threatened to move the High Court challenging the appointment of persons with political background. “We will approach the Governor as well, requesting him not to accept the government’s choice,” NCPRI convener B Ramakrishna Raju said.
Politics & Posts
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Student hit by bullet during NCC camp; critical
Mumbai, February 4 The student, 13-year-old Parag Ingale from Loyola English School at Pashan in Pune, was among the 45 students chosen to participate in the camp organised at the NCC's headquarters at SB road in the city. On the fateful day, a group of students were taken to an open ground where firing practice was scheduled. While the instructor, Amod Ghanekar, prepared to fire from a 0.22 rifle as part of the demonstration, the students were asked to crouch on the ground. However, Parag suddenly stood up and turned toward the instructor even as he fired his gun. The bullet hit the boy on the forehead from close range, the police said. The child has been admitted to the Army's Southern Command hospital in Pune where he has been on ventilator support, the police said. The instructor has been taken into custody by the Army. The case is being investigated by the Deccan Gymkhana police.
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Allahabad HC gets new Chief Justice
Lucknow, February 4 Justice Singh had been appointed as a senior judge at the Allahabad High Court on October 17, 2012. He had been functioning as the Acting Chief Justice since October 20, 2012 after the retirement of Chief Justice Ferdino Inacio Rebello. Born on November 13, 1951, Justice Singh obtained his law degree from Patna Law College before starting legal practice at the Patna High Court in 1977. He made a mark in Criminal, Civil, Service and Constitutional matters and was elevated as a judge of the Patna High Court on December 29, 1998. He also served as the Chairman of Bihar State Legal Services Authority from March 7, 2006 to October 16, 2012, besides serving as the Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court thrice.
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SC okay with chargesheeted advocate as Andhra HC judge
New Delhi, February 4 A Bench comprising Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai also imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on two advocates from the state who had filed a PIL in the SC pleading for quashing the appointment of NV Ramana as an HC judge. Senior advocates Shanti Bhushan and Ram Jethmalani, who was instrumental in the appointment when he was the Union Law Minister, had argued for the petitioners seeking the judge’s removal. It was “important to protect the court from uncalled for attacks and the individual judges from unjust infliction of injuries,” the SC said explaining the reason for slapping fine on the petitioners while dismissing their PIL. While studying law in Nagarjuna University in AP, Justice Ramana had reportedly taken part in an agitation in February 1981 demanding better conveyance facility for the students. The police had filed a chargesheet naming five students as accused, including Ramana, who was accused number four, for damaging a bus during the stir. However, trial was conducted only against accused number one who was acquitted in July 1988. Other accused were never served or arrested and as a result Justice Ramana said he was not even aware of the pending case against him. Nevertheless, the state government approached the trial court in December 2001 seeking withdrawal of the case against all the accused which was allowed in January 2002.
Curious case of Justice Ramana
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Timely rain: Farmers eye bumper yield
Chandigarh, February 4 Agriculturists and agriculture experts believe this spell of rain will have a positive effect on the rabi crops, particularly wheat and gram in the plains, and the apple produce in the upper reaches of the adjoining hill state of Himachal Pradesh. While experts maintain that frequent fluctuation in temperature, if it follows with rain, may not augur well for the crop in the fields, the conditions are conducive to the growth of wheat, gram and barley besides mustard that are either at the growing or flowering stage. Haryana holds the record of highest harvested wheat quantity of 5,182 kg per hectare. Rains have particularly enthused farmers in the state where wheat crop is spread in 25 lakh hectares. They are expecting a bumper crop this year. The state has set a target of 125 lakh tonnes of grain this season. "These rains are highly beneficial for wheat crop which is still at its growth stage. The showers at this stage have ripened the chances of good production," said BS Duggal, Additional Director, Agriculture. So far, the crop is not only disease-free but free from insects and pests unlike the last two years when yellow rust had set in to damage the crop. "Long periods of fluctuating temperature where it stays above normal can be detrimental to plant growth and may impact grain formation. However, with this current spell of rain, the farmers might be able to reap a rich harvest, even if they have to go without rain till March," he explained. Punjab's Agriculture Department has also expressed the hope that the rain would particularly benefit the staple wheat crop because it needed water at this time. Director, Agriculture, MS Sandhu said while the fluctuating temperature might not have any lasting impact at this stage, the state was headed for a bumper crop this season given the rains. "This rain will also mean lesser use of pesticides and a lower risk of crop disease. Moderate rainfall will prove good in the total tally," he said. Rains would also benefit crops such as fruits, vegetables and pulses, he added. In Himachal Pradesh, Principal Secretary, Agriculture, AR Sihag said he had taken feedback from officials of the department and they were of the opinion that the apple crop in higher reaches would particularly benefit from these weather conditions," he added.
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SC tells Karnataka to release 2 TMC water to Tamil Nadu
New Delhi, February 4 A Bench headed by Justice RM Lodha asked the Commission to form a three-member expert body which will visit the states and directed it to file its report within two days. "Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu is permitted two TMC water from storage to save standing crops. Irrespective of the report of the expert committee, Karnataka shall compensate Tamil Nadu by releasing 2 TMC water," the Bench said. It posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday. The court was hearing Tamil Nadu's petition seeking immediate release of 12 TMC of water. — PTI
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Cassidian showcases 2
made in India defence products
Bangalore February 4 The high accuracy air pressure measurement system is a critical on-board sensor providing pilots with highly accurate altitude readings. This will be useful for military aircrafts for flying in congested aerospace where there is also a lot of traffic of commercial airliners. The second product developed by the Cassidian Centre at Bangalore is a structurally integrated antenna (SIA). It has a curved shape and can sit on the fuselage of a fighter aircraft. Unlike the conventional antenna, no part of SIA will be protruding from the aircraft and therefore would not affect its aerodynamics.
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Din in Kerala Assembly over rape charge against Kurien
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 4 Placard-waving LDF members, led by slogan-raising women colleagues, rushed to the well, denouncing the government's stand that a fresh probe was not legally possible as the charge had already been inquired into and found baseless with the Supreme Court allowing Kurien's discharge petition in 2007. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, however, maintained the government's avowed stand was that the guilty should be punished, but that the innocent should not be "crucified". He said the complaint against Kurien had been found baseless by the investigators and the result of the probe upheld by both the high court and the Supreme Court. "A guilty (person) should be punished. But at the same time, an innocent should not be crucified in any manner. This is most improper," Chandy said. As LDF members continued to protest, the Speaker adjourned the House. — PTI
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Chandigarh, February 4
