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TMC goes on rampage to protest ‘attack’ on Didi
Govt officials optimistic on key pacts with B’desh, Pak
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Govt must shun red tape, be proactive: Justice Sikri
Minority status: Govt to give a fresh look into demand of Jain community
karnataka poll
Don’t sign Gujarat Lokayukta Bill: Oppn to Guv
Loan waiver scheme
Now, politics over water scarcity in Gujarat
SC adopts 17-yr-old conjoined twins
Kunda murders: CBI recovers motorcycle used in crime
How was minor rape victim put in lock-up? SC asks UP 2 women cops suspended
EVMs with paper ballots ready, EC tells SC
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TMC goes on rampage to protest ‘attack’ on Didi
Kolkata, April 10 Angry TMC workers went on the rampage on the Presidency University premises at College Street and ransacked the historic Baker Laboratory. The protesters also assaulted students and professors. On seeing TMC activists forcibly entering the university, Vice-Chancellor Malabika Sarkar contacted Chancellor Governor MK Narayanan for help. She alleged that repeated requests to the police were to no avail. Protests and demonstrations, including attacks on several CPM and SFI offices, universities, colleges under SFI unions, had started last evening, as soon as reports of the attack on the Chief Minister reached the city. Mamata Banerjee, before leaving the national capital today, however denied that the TMC had indulged in any violence. She said that she would again be in the capital to meet the Prime Minister even though she maintained that “Delhi is not a safe place”. The injured state Finance Minister Amit Mitra continues to undergo treatment at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. State Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee alleged that the SFI was involved in the attacks on the Chief Minister and other ministers. He claimed to have been assaulted by SFI all-India general secretary Ritabrata Banerjee. A complaint has been lodged at the local police station in the capital against Ritabrata Banerjee. The CPM Politburo condemned yesterday’s incident in New Delhi as well as today’s retaliatory action by TMC activists. Politburo leader Sitaram Yechury said that yesterday’s incident could have been avoided if the Chief Minister would have listened to the police’s advice and avoided the gate of the Yojana Bhawan where the SFI and student activists were demonstrating against the “killing” of 23-year-old SFI leader Sudipta Gupta in police custody in Kolkata. Left front chairman Biman Bose also condemned the attack on the CM in the capital. He wondered why adequate police force was not deployed at the Yojana Bhawan when the programme of the students’ demonstration had been officially conveyed to the police.
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Govt officials optimistic on key pacts with B’desh, Pak
April 10 With Bangladesh, government officials have expressed confidence of soon concluding the Land Border Agreement (LBA). This indicates that the government is planning to introduce and get passed in parliament a Bill on the border agreement that has already been signed with Dhaka. On the issue of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status being granted to India by Pakistan, government sources say that Islamabad has assured that this is on track. “But we will have to wait for the outcome of the general elections and the formation of the new government in Pakistan,” said a source while striking a cautious note. If passed by Parliament, the LBA would be significant because it will permit the 56 Indian conclaves spread over about 7,000 acres in Bangladesh to become part of the latter and 111 Bangladeshi enclaves spread over about 17,000 acres in India to formally become part of India. “The Bill seeks to convert what is already de facto as de jure,” explained a highly-placed official. A Protocol on Land Border and Exchange of Enclaves was signed between the two sides in September 2011 but requires a constitutional amendment. The government would be interested to see the Bill passed at the earliest considering that general elections are due in Bangladesh in December this year. Commenting on the internal political situation in Bangladesh, government sources said it was a country with strong political traditions and India was confident of seeing the government deal with it. With the forthcoming elections, various groups are trying to garner support. “Bangladesh has an active and complex civil society, and mass based political parties. We would like to see the election process being completed calmly,” he said adding the two countries had bilaterally achieved a lot on the political, economic and security front. That economic factors has become a major determinant in India’s foreign policy concerns is evident from government sources identifying search for energy, trade and bringing in investment and finances as areas for increasing focus. Significantly, sources said two Indian companies have assured unhindered oil shipments from Iran to India. That India is diversifying its source for oil supply is evident from the fact that New Delhi has been turning to Iraq for its oil requirements. “We go where we get the best deal,” said a source.
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Govt must shun red tape, be proactive: Justice Sikri
Chandigarh, April 10 Interacting with The Tribune, Chief Justice Sikri said the governments in general should shun red tape in challenging orders before appellate courts. He also detailed upon the steps taken by the high court for the convenience of litigants, including establishment of regular courts at sub-divisions and Gram Nyayalays at remote places. “The problem is that red tape still exists,” Chief Justice Sikri said. “The governments must realise that the limitation period for filing appeal is either 30 or 60 days; and it is the same for everyone. “The governments need to finish the process within that period. But the ground reality is that the files move from one desk to another before reaching the Advocate-General’s table for opinion. These then go to the Legal Remembrancer for his views before being placed before the secretaries concerned,” he added. On the problem of pendency of cases, Chief Justice Sikri said the High Court was taking steps for speedy delivery of justice to litigants by minimising delay in decision of cases. “The district courts in Punjab and Haryana, as well as Chandigarh, have set a goal for themselves to wipe out the pendency of cases more than five years old by March 2014. If successful, these states will probably be the first in the country to fulfil this dream of the Chief Justice of India,” he added. The strength of the judicial officers has also been increased considerably. The courts, which were overburdened in the past, have been made efficient. This has been achieved by proper distribution of work. It was now being handled by the presiding officers with quite ease, the Chief Justice insisted. Referring to the steps initiated to minimise problems faced by litigants, Chief Justice Sikri said apart from streamlining the working of the subordinate judiciary as well as the high court, steps have been taken to bring justice to the doorstep of the rural people by establishing regular courts at sub-divisions and opening Gram Nyayalays at other remote places. “A litigant no longer needs not travel 15 to 20 km to knock at the door of a court. Legal services authorities of the two states and the Union Territory are also doing exemplary work. “To resolve disputes amicably at the pre-litigation stage as well as during pendency, mediation movement has been given the desired momentum. Communications received from individuals or NGOs seeking protection for the downtrodden or raising other issues concerning interests of the society at large are being entertained as public interest litigations.” The high court collegium has not only recommended the names of judicial officers but also lawyers for elevation as high court judges to fill vacancies and bring about greater efficiency.
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Minority status: Govt to give a fresh look into demand of Jain community
New Delhi, April 10 The assurance to this effect came from Minister of Minority Affairs K Rahman Khan after he met 10 delegates of Jain organisations earlier this week. The minister has asked the delegation to submit a fresh representation for the same to be taken up with the PM. Present in the meeting was Sneh Lata Jain, wife of MoS Rural Development Pradeep Jain, who is said to be facilitating the process. The government met the delegates after their leader Sanjay Jain today broke his fast unto death following the Centre's assurances in this regard. Speaking to The Tribune, Amit Jain, a delegate, said: "Our demand is old. In 1991 when the Census was published, Jains made up 0.1 per cent of the population. The National Minorities Commission Act under which the minorities were notified was passed in 1992 and the notification regarding five central minorities came in 1993. Jains were ignored." Jains are demanding the minority status on grounds that they are a religions minority and their religion is separate from Hinduism. The Centre, however, keeps citing a review petition currently pending in the Supreme Court on this issue. The review was filed by Bal Patil, Convenor of Dakshin Bharat Jain Subha, after a three-judge bench of the apex court ruled that the Centre should take a decision on the matter while also adding that no further addition be done to the list of notified minorities. The government says the matter is sub judice and no decision can be taken on it despite Jains constituting only 0.4 per cent of India's population as against 13.4 pc Muslims, 2.3 pc Christians, 1.9 pc Sikhs, 0.8 pc Buddhists and 0.4 pc Parsis, the notified minorities under Section 2 C of the National Commission of Minorities Act, 1992. National Commission for Minorities chairperson Wajahat Habibullah told TNS that the Centre can go ahead on the issue. "The Commission has interpreted the Bal Patil judgment to be in favour of Jains because the judgment said if any minority feels challenged, it can approach the NCM and through it the Centre. In the past, the Centre said it was for the states to decide on grant of minority status to communities but we told the Centre that it was empowered under the NCM Act to decide on its own," Habibullah said. Jains argue that they have a separate set of rituals of birth and death and deserve their due as a minority. UP, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra - have notified Jains as a minority. But Jains seek the protection under NCM Act to protect their places of pilgrimage which are allegedly under attack. "Recently Udaygiri and Khandgiri caves in Odisha were occupied forcibly by some sections though these caves have a Jain stamp. Our saints are also being attacked," Sanjay Jain said. Central minorities are entitled to benefits under the PM's 15 point programme and including central scholarships. JAIN DEMAND IS OLD
Jain demand for minority status is almost a century old. When in British India the Viceroy and Governor General of India Lord Minto took a decision in principle of giving representation to important minorities in the Central Legislature, Seth Manek Chand Hirachand from Mumbai, an eminent Jain leader and Acting President of Bharatvarshiya Digamber Jain Subha made an appeal in 1909 to the Governor General for the inclusion of Jains in the Council.
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karnataka poll New Delhi, April 10 Congress sources said a survey conducted before Yeddyurappa floated the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) showed that the party could get about 110 seats, but the figure rose to 133 after the rebel BJP leader formed his party. The surveys have essentially reinforced what has been apparent on the ground: The split in the BJP and the heavy anti-incumbency faced by its government in Karnataka will help the Congress improve its tally and could even catapult it back to power. As the May 5 election draws closer, the Congress is giving final touches to its election campaign. “Our main plank will be the lost pride of Karnataka,” disclosed Madhusudan Mistry, AICC incharge of Karnataka. The Congress, he said, would focus on the BJP government’s misrule, its poor record in governance, the raging factional battle in the party and the corruption scandals which have surfaced during the past five years. “The Congress will tell the electorate that it will give it a corruption-free government...that the party wants to regain Karnataka’s lost pride,” Mistry said, adding that the state was once counted as among the best-administered states but that feeling of pride has disappeared in the past five years. The Congress is all set to launch a no-holds barred campaign against the BJP, having been energised by the results of the recent civic polls when the party surprised itself by notching up victories in BJP bastions like Mangalore and Udipi. However, it can ill-afford to get complacent about its victory. The party could end up hitting a self-goal if it falters in its ticket distribution and is unable to contain the infighting in its state unit. The party list of 177 candidates has come in for flak as there have been complaints that the guidelines laid down for the distribution of tickets have been flouted while allegations about money changing hands are also doing the rounds. However, the most critical decision which has to be taken is about giving tickets to relatives of party leaders. The list includes Union minister Mallikarjun Kharge’s son, former minister Jaffer Sharief’s grandson, senior leader KH Muniyappa’s daughter and AICC general secretary BK Hariprasad’s brother. The decision on these candidates has been left to Congress president Sonia Gandhi who will clear the remaining 47 names on her return from the US where she has gone for a medical check-up. The Congress is in a bind on the issue of giving tickets to relatives. Although it wants to discourage this practice, it may not be able to do so as denial of tickets to them would result in dissension which would cost the party dear in the elections.
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Train derails in TN; 1 killed, 33 hurt
Chennai, April 10 Vellore Superintendent of Police I Eswaran told PTI one passenger was killed and 33 injured in the mishap. The injured have been admitted to the Government hospital at Arakkonam. The derailment occurred at about 5.50 am, a railway official said. Top officials of the Southern Railway visited the spot and commenced an initial probe into the cause of the derailment. Rail traffic on
the Arakkonam sector was disrupted. The Railways cancelled about seven trains, including those bound for Bangalore, and diverted some others. Railway officials have pressed several buses into service to ferry stranded passengers, while at least 200 travellers continued their onward journey to Bangalore by Guwahati Express. A Southern Railway press release later said 11 trains had been fully cancelled, three partially cancelled, four trains diverted, and five trains regulated. Trains fully cancelled are the Chennai Central - Coimbatore-Chennai Kovai Expresses, the Chennai Central - Bangalore-Chennai Central Brindavan Express, the Chennai Central- Coimbatore - Chennai Central Duronto express, the Chennai Central - Mangalore West Coast Express, the Chennai Central-Bangalore Express, the Chennai
Central - Coimbatore Intercity Express, the Chennai Central - Thiruvananthapuram Express and the Chennai Central-Bangalore
Lalbaugh Express. The release said the Bangalore-Chennai central Lalbaugh Express is cancelled between Katpadi and Chennai Central, the Coimbatore-Chennai Central Intercity Express canclled between Salem and Chennai Central and Jolarpettai-Arakkonam Express cancelled between Wallajah Road and Arakkonam. Regulated trains include the Madurai-Chennai Central express at Mahendravadi, the Mangalore-Chennai Central Express at Wallajah Road, the Tirupattur-Chennai Central Express at Katpadi, Thiruvananthapuram Central-Chennai Central Express at Gudiyattam and Bangalore-Chennai Central Shatabdi Express at
Katpadi. — PTI
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Don’t sign Gujarat Lokayukta Bill: Oppn to Guv
Ahmedabad, April 10 The Opposition parties pointed out to the Governor that some provisions of the Bill had sought to reduce the office of the Lokayukta to an extended arm of the state government that would have no powers to check corruption in high offices. The state Congress president Arjun Modhvadia and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Shankarsinh Vaghela led the Congress delegation while former Chief Minister Suresh Mehta led the GPP delegation. The selection of the Lokayukta has been left to the Chief Minister on whom the watch-dog body is supposed to keep an eye and on complaints, hold an inquiry. The provisions of four Up-lokayuktas, including two from government administrative departments, will reduce the effectiveness of the investigation as the administrative officers might not have adequate knowledge of the judiciary and would act in defence of the party in power, the memoranda said. It was also pointed out that though the Bill had provided for a time span of five years within which a complaint must be lodged, one of the subtle provisions in it had effectively reduced the period to one year. The complainant “must submit a complaint with the Lokayukta within one year from the day the matter has come to his or her knowledge.” The tendency of the government would always be to show that the matter had “come to the knowledge” of the complainant on the day of occurrence and that the government would try to negate most of the complaints if there was a lag of more than a year. the objections
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Loan waiver scheme
New Delhi, April 10 This decision was taken at a meeting of the PAC that met here on Tuesday, sources said. The report tabled last month pointed out that several ineligible farmers were favoured while many deserving small and marginal farmers had been left out. Terming the waiver as a major scam, the BJP had demanded a probe by the CBI. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in May 2008 and was aimed at helping farmers in debt in districts from where suicides had been reported. The CAG, in its report, observed that monitoring of the scheme was deficient. This led to lending institutions neither issuing the debt waiver/relief certificates to eligible beneficiaries nor an acknowledgement was sought from farmers that would have made them eligible for fresh loans. The scheme was launched in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. It was estimated that nearly 3.7 crore small and marginal farmers would benefit from it. Post-2009 general elections, many political analysts termed the loan waiver, along with NREGA, as schemes that helped the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government retain power at the Centre. Besides the loan waiver issue, the PAC - headed by BJP's Murli Manohar Joshi - will examine the reports pertaining to the Integrated Child Development Scheme and submissions with regard to Railways and Defence, particularly the loss caused on account of the failure of the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system. The CAG, in its latest report, has observed that the project launched over two decades ago was still burdened by design deficiencies which were affecting both quality and supply of rockets to the Indian Army.
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Ajit Pawar under fire for water ‘diversion’
Mumbai, April 10 As per information obtained by Prayas, a Pune-based NGO, under the Right to Information Act, Pawar during his tenure as the state's water resources minister diverted most of the water in several dams meant for agriculture to industries. The revelations that the ministry under Pawar was responsible for diverting between 40 to 80 per cent of the water in 51 dams between 2003 and 2011 has sparked off fresh demands that he be dropped from the cabinet. “It is a big conspiracy (to favour industries at the cost of farmers), BJP MLA Devendra Fadnavis said. Citing reports on the information obtained by the NGO, he alleged that Pawar had concentrated all the powers on allocating resources to committees headed by himself. In all, Pawar is accused of diverting 2000 million cusecs of water meant for agriculture to industries. As a result, Maharashtra's irrigation potential was reduced by 4 lakh hectares, it is alleged. Meanwhile, Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party today defended Pawar's decision to divert water meant for agriculture to industry. “It was a right decision as industrial hubs like Pune needed water...... People who are opposing the decision are opposing industrial progress. It is important to save industries as well,” NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said. The revelations have united opposition parties against the government in Maharashtra. While the Shiv Sena and the BJP are already protesting, Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has also joined them. The party has organised protests against Ajit Pawar in many parts of the state. Water diverted
Pawar is accused of diverting 2000 million cusecs of water meant for agriculture to industries. As a result, Maharashtra's irrigation potential was reduced by four lakh hectares, it is alleged
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Now, politics over water scarcity in Gujarat Ahmedabad, April 10 While the Congress launched a “Jal Adhikar Yatra” from the temple town of Dwarka to highlight the state government’s alleged failure to fulfil the “people's right” for water, a meeting of the BJP’s state executive held in Gandhinagar today decided to counter the Congress “yatra” with a similar programme to “educate” the people about the Congress-led UPA government’s “failure” to allow the construction of gates on the Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada. “The Centre is deliberately delaying sanction to construct the gates on the Narmada dam,” BJP spokesperson Vijay Rupani said. “Millions of gallons of water overflow to the sea from the dam. If the Centre did not prevent us from constructing the gates on the dam, the water thus saved could have solved the present problem of water shortage in Saurashtra and north Gujarat regions,” Rupani said. The BJP asked its district unit heads not only to highlight the steps taken by the Modi government to solve the water problem, but also to “educate” people about the “real cause and the culprit” for their woes.
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SC adopts 17-yr-old conjoined twins
New Delhi, April 10 “Saba and Farah are now wards of this court. We are sorry to note that nobody is concerned with the pain and agony the conjoined twins are undergoing, not even the parents,” a Bench comprising Justices KS Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra said in the judgment on a PIL petition by a law student. The Supreme Court also directed the Civil Surgeon of the Patna Medical Centre to periodically examine the twins and send quarterly reports to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Delhi for taking expert advice. He should also submit a report to the apex court every six months. “We spent sleepless nights to find out a solution. Seldom society cares or knows the mental and psychological trauma, in such situations, judges undergo, especially when they are called upon to decide an issue touching human life, either to save or take away,” the judges explained in the 16-page verdict. The Supreme Court said it was unable to order surgical separation of the twins as the parents did not allow the AIIMS team, which visited Patna at the instance of the court, to subject the twins to medical tests for exploring such a possibility and assessing the survival chances of at least one of them in that eventuality. The court said it “has a fundamental duty to look after the interest of minor children, especially when they are conjoined twins fighting for their lives”. According a medical specialist from the United States who had examined them had reported that they shared a vital blood vessel in the brain. While Farha had two kidneys, Saba had none. It was then felt that separating them would require five to six operations over nine months, but each stage posed a 20 per cent danger to the life of one of them. At this, the parents had decided against getting them separated despite the fact that the crown prince of Abu Dhabi had offered to meet the entire medical expenses.
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Kunda murders: CBI recovers motorcycle used in crime
Lucknow, April 10 The sustained interrogation of the two accused brothers-Ajay Pal and Vijay Pal, sons of Yadav’s rival Kamta Pal, had resulted in the retrieval of the vehicle. The brothers had been arrested on April 7. Their father Kamta Pal reportedly had an old rivalry with the gram pradhan which had lately aggravated due to a land dispute. According to the CBI, the motorcycle recovered is the one on which the trio arrived at Balipur and opened fire at the gram pradhan near a tea stall. DSP Ziaul
Haq, who was posted as Circle Officer Kunda, was killed along with the gram pradhan’s brother Suresh
Yadav, when he went to the village to probe the incident. According to sources, despite 103 cops from four police stations in Kunda circle being transferred en bloc on the request of the CBI, the confidence of the eyewitnesses has not been won over. While a mob of 300 people were reportedly present in the village when the gram pradhan’s body was brought there and when his brother Suresh and then DSP Haq were killed, no one has come forward to disclose what really happened on that day. Sources point out that during the last six months, Haq had meticulously prepared a list of 47 cases including murder, conspiracy to murder and violations under the Gangster Act against former minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiyya. This had reportedly irked the Raja of Kunda whose men took advantage of the mayhem at Balipur village on that day to get rid of the DSP, sources say.
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6-day remand for realtor’s son
New Delhi, Apr 10 Nitesh (31) and Sehrawat (51) were arrested yesterday for Bhardwaj’s murder. The police alleged that Nitesh had given a Rs 5-crore contract to Shehrawat, who had further entrusted the job to self-styled godman Pratibhanand, who is at large. “The accused were arrested on April 9. Allegations against them are serious in nature. Investigation is still at a nascent stage,” the court noted. “It is specified in the application that co-accused have to be traced, SIM cards used by the accused have to be unearthed, amounts involved in this case have to be recovered, raids on the possible hideouts of co-accused at Dehradun, Solan, Vrindawan and Haridwar have to be made and motives of the accused have to be investigated vis-à-vis their criminal conspiracy in offence in question. “The said aspects of this case need detailed investigation. Therefore, thepresent application moved by the investigating officer is allowed. The accused — Nitesh and Baljeet Singh — are sent to six-daypolice remand,” the magistrate said. The police had sought six-day police remand of the accused saying the investigation was at an initial stage and it needed to interrogate the two to establish the chain of events that led to the murder.
— PTI contract killing
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How was minor rape victim put in lock-up? SC asks UP New Delhi, April 10 “How can the police detain a 10-year-old girl,” a three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir asked while taking suo motu notice of the incident. The Bench, which included Justices Anil R Dave and Vikramajit Sen, asked the state government to respond to the court notice by April 15 when it would take up the matter again. The crime had taken place on the night of April 7 in Bulandshahr when the victim had gone to a shop near her house. After committing rape, the accused had dumped the child in a field in an unconscious state. The next day, the victim’s mother had taken her to the city police station to have an FIR registered. However, two women constables put the victim behind the bars and asked the mother to leave the police station. The victim was let off from police custody after several hours following intervention by local residents. The police, however, managed to nab the accused Harinder (35), father of three children, yesterday from the bus stand when he was trying to flee the city. This is the second time within about a month the apex court has taken suo motu notice of news reports on police brutality against women.
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2 women cops suspended Lucknow, April 10 An FIR has also been lodged against unknown police personnel for illegal confinement of a minor. Yesterday two women constables from the police station had been suspended and the SO and SI had been transferred to the police lines for failing to discharge their duty. Today these two SI-level officers, earlier merely sent to the lines, have been suspended. They are Gayashree Chauhan and Sarita Dwvedi. According to ADG Law and Order Arun Kumar, the action was taken today following the submission of the preliminary report of the probe conducted by SP (City) Bulandshahr. The probe report prima facie confirms that the minor girl had been kept in lock-up when she had come to lodge a complaint along with her parents. She had been released only when the footage of the hapless victim inside the police lock-up was shown by the news channels. Incidentally, today taking suo motu cognizance of the incident, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the state government seeking its response by April 15. The apex court notice to the Uttar Pradesh government is indeed a major set back as it is frantically attempting an image makeover before the 2014 election. However, ADG Kumar maintained that the action taken by the state government today was following the SP (City) Bulandshahr’s preliminary report. The 24-year-old rape accused has already been arrested. According to the ADG as the minor girl’s initial medical report did not confirm rape, a set of more advanced set of tests had been conducted. There result which came out today was also negative not corroborating the rape of the Dalit minor.
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EVMs with paper ballots ready, EC tells SC
New Delhi, April 10 Senior counsel Ashok Desai, appearing for the EC, told a Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi that the EVMs were subjected to field trials in Delhi, Trivandrum, Lakshadweep, Jaisalmer and Cherrapunji, which had varying weather conditions. The EVMs, which would have vote verifier paper audit trail (VVPAT), had also received technical clearance from a committee of experts and manufacturers - Bharat Electronics and Electronic Corporation of India Ltd. The EC planned to hold a meeting with all political parties in the second half of May to get their approval for introducing the new EVMs. The EC would need 13 lakh units of the EVMs involving a cost of Rs 1,690 crore, Desai said. After exercising their franchise, the voters would be able to see the paper ballots come out of the EVMs and drop into the box. This would enable the voters to verify that their choice of candidates had been recorded correctly by the EVM and help the authorities to count the paper ballots in case of disputes over the electronic counting of votes. However, the voters would not be given a copy of their vote as this would provide them a chance to encash their votes with the candidates of their choice, Desai said. The apex court is hearing a PIL filed by Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy seeking the additional facility of paper balloting in order to prevent rigging of elections.
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