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With general election 2014 only a few months away...
Panipat-Jalandhar highway |
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Appointment of child commission member quashed
Fighter pilot flies high with camera
Centre admits sexual harassment of AIR RJs
British PM coming, business ties on
agenda
CBI chief regrets rape remarks
Nod to rural health course
Radia tapes: SC bench opts out of hearing PILs
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With general election 2014 only a few months away...  Rahul, Modi earn EC wrath Tribune News Service
The poll panel has asked Modi to explain by 5 pm on November 16, why action should not be initiated against him for the said remark made while campaigning in Chhattisgarh. The BJP, meanwhile, maintained that Modi did not violate the poll code. The Congress has today also lodged a fresh complaint against Modi for alleging that the CBI and Indian Mujahideen would be contesting the polls on its behalf. The EC had issued a notice to Rahul following his speeches in Rajasthan where he had said that he had knowledge that Pakistan’s ISI was in touch with riot victims of Muzaffarnagar. Four days after Rahul's eight-page reply to the EC denying having violated the model code, the poll body did not buy his explanation, saying it was not satisfied with his contentions. "While the commission acknowledges the underlying intention and spirit of your impugned speeches to foster and promote communal harmony, it takes exception to the tone, tenor and content of the impugned portions of your speeches (extracted in the Commission's notice) which are part of your said speeches.”
Hours after the EC admonished Rahul Gandhi to be circumspect in the use of his language in reference to his "ISI-recruiting-riot-hit-Muslim youth in UP-remarks", the Congress said it respected the EC decision but the spirit of what Rahul said was not in violation of the model code of conduct.
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Apex court reserves verdict on contractor’s plea
R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent
New Delhi, November 13 A Bench comprising Justices Gyan Sudha Misra and PC Ghose directed the NHAI and the company, Soma Isolux, to file their written submissions by November 29. Arguing for the company, senior counsel Abhishek Singhvi said the cancellation of the contract by the Punjab and Haryana High Court was legally untenable. He said his client had already completed 70 per cent of work and spent 77 per cent of the estimated cost and as such it would not be in the interest of the travelling public to hand over the project to someone else which would only delay its completion further. Singhvi said Soma Isolux could resume work and complete the project in one year if one of the three toll plazas on the highway was allowed to be shifted closer to Karnal and Yamunanagar to prevent the vehicles from bypassing the toll gate to avoid payment which was resulting in loss of revenue to the extent of Rs 689 crore. He said shifting the toll plaza would, however, benefit the vehicles coming from Amritsar to Delhi as they would have to pay toll only at two gates, instead of three at present. Conveniently, ignoring this fact, the NHAI was contending that relocating the plaza would result in a windfall profit of Rs 1,000 crore a year to the company. On the other hand, NHAI’s senior counsel Indu Malhotra contended that under the agreement signed on May 9, 2008, the company could choose the location of the toll plazas only once. The company had already exercised this right on September 1, 2008, on the basis of which the Central government issued a notification on April 6, 2009, authorising the contractor to collect toll at these gates. Having exhausted its option to select the locations, the contractor had no right to ask for relocation.
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SC breather for Campa Cola society residents
Mumbai, November 13 Tempers ran high this morning after a large number of civic workers and police personnel forcibly entered the complex to carry out demolition of more than 100 flats ordered by the Supreme Court earlier this year. Civic workers deployed a JCB machine to demolish the gates of the society which were locked and barricaded by the residents. The police then began picking up residents who physically sought to prevent the demolition crews from entering the premises. Police personnel climbed atop cars parked haphazardly in the compound to pick up people who were then dumped into police wagons. While residents alleged that they were beaten up by police, the authorities denied the charges. Leaders of several political parties, including Member of Parliament Milind Deora of the Congress, BJP spokesperson Shaina NC were among those who tried to calm tempers. However, tempers flew after the civic workers broke the main gate. An angry Deora told reporters that Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had promised a delegation of residents Tuesday night that no demolition would take place for 72 hours as the government sought legal opinion from the country's Advocate General. "The force being used today is very wrong. These are innocent people, they are not violent. I will take this issue to the Centre and would complain about this to the Congress's high command," Deora said. The MP went on to say that the CM had become incommunicable and had switched off his mobile phone while the demolition crews began breaking their way into the building. Even while Deora was speaking to the media, news came in of the apex court taking suo motu cognizance of the matter and stayed the demolition of the premises till May 31, next year. Civic officials then quickly ordered the demolition crews to pack up for the day and leave the premises. Chief Minister Chavan later told reporters in New Delhi that the government has begun a probe into the Campa Cola compound mess and was looking at legal options to help the residents save their homes.
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Appointment of child commission member quashed
New Delhi, November 13 The government and the commission member in question, Dr Yogesh Dube, will appeal against the order. Ministry officers say, "There were many appealable grounds in the HC order.” This is the first time that a sitting member of a statutory commission set up under an Act of Parliament (NCPCR was formed under the Protection of Child Rights Act 1995) has been removed by the court. The court quashed the October 22, 2010, government notification appointing Dube as a member of the NCPCR saying "nowhere did the facts reveal that the member was the one having standing, ability of expertise in the chosen field, as required by the Act". Petitioners in the case, Raj Mangal Prasad of the Association for Development and Bharti Ali of HAQ Centre for Child Rights, contended the ministry arbitrarily invited applications for member vacancies in the NCPCR; didn't follow transparent procedures in selecting members and didn't verify the credentials of the said appointee despite discrepancies. The petitioners alleged that Dube had concealed his political affiliation with the ruling Congress and had not disclosed that many organisations he claimed to be associated with were actually unregistered. Though the Additional Solicitor-General defended the ministry asking the court to refrain from commenting on merits of the selection on grounds that the Act was silent on, the court observed Dube was only 31-year-old in 2006 - when he is said to have attained his PhD. "At 31 years, the possibility of Dr Dube having standing, ability or expertise in the elimination of child labour is remote though the ministry says it has carefully considered his application and concluded that he has standing."
Recommendations for vacancies
The court order says out of 165 applications for two vacancies in the NCPCR, 130 came with recommendations (35 from ministers; 18 from political functionaries of which 17 were from the Congress; 33 from MPs, MLAs; seven from CMs, 10 from the NCPCR itself and three from the PMO).
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Fighter pilot flies high with camera
It was a life-altering day for MiG 21 fighter pilot Wing Commander Maneesh Mishra when he was diagnosed with a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system in 2004. As flying the fighters at supersonic speeds was ruled out, Mishra took to photography to channelise his energy. Today, Mishra has probably set a benchmark for those afflicted with such ailments. On November 8, the former pilot opened his photo exhibition “Myriad Touches” at the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, New Delhi. Mishra did not forget to thank the way the Indian Air Force (IAF) held his hand during the tough times throughout the years of difficulties and challenges. He invited the IAF boss, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne to inaugurate the exhibition to which the Chief had agreed. Mishra is still discharging non-combat duties and is posted in New Delhi. Cavalry day lecture
The hard-fought “Battle of Phillora” between Indian and Pakistani troops in September 1965 will be remembered at the “Cavalry Memorial lecture” on November 19. The tank battle was fought in the Sialkot sector with 4 Horse (also popular as Hodson’s Horse) leading the pincher attack. Army Chief General Bikram Singh will deliver a lecture in memory of Brigadier MMS Bakshi, who was decorated with the Mahavir Chakra for the battle. The British Military fraternity is scheduled to be represented by two cavalry officers, including a Major-General who is the Colonel of the Regiment of the British Chapter of 4 Horse. The British officers are in India to kick start the celebrations.
IAF in Philippines
Far away in the South China Sea, the Philippines was ravaged by a typhoon and it was time for India to showcase its “look-east policy”. On November 12, the Indian Air Force was tasked to fly out a special operations plane, the C-130-J Hercules, to Manila carrying relief material-tents, blankets and medicines etc. The material was picked from the Army’s long-term stocks in New Delhi. Notably, China which has overlapping disputes with the Philippines in the hydrocarbon-rich South China Sea, is under criticism for offering a rather meagre $1,00,000 (around Rs 60 lakh) in cash as aid. South Block in New Delhi estimates that the IAF planes landing in Manila will have a more everlasting impact. The US and Japan have pledged millions of dollars in aid, while the UK has sent its warships carrying aid.
Admiral Gorshkov
With India set to acquire the secondhand Russian aircraft carrier, Mohali-based Commander Trilochan Singh Trewn (retd) recalls his meeting the Late Admiral Sergey Gorshkov, after whom the battleship was named. The then chief of the erstwhile USSR Navy visited Vishakhapatnam in late-60s, just when the Soviet-built submarines started arriving in India. The visiting Admiral stayed at the Palm Beach hotel, where Commander Trewn remembers the breakfast meeting with him. The Admiral looked superb in his white naval jacket studded with about 87 medal strips. He was quick witted and jovial. He did not hesitate to order one raw coconut to be brought for him on the breakfast table. We were embarrassed, but he was not. Then milk with cornflakes was served to all. Just when this was done and without waiting for next course of eggs on toast, he suddenly wiped his face with a table napkin and got up saying: “Well gentlemen, let us go.” All 14 members sitting on table had no choice, but to get up mid-way in their breakfast and join him for the scheduled visit to submarines! “I hope the aircraft carrier named after him (which will now be called INS Vikramaditya) is not as unpredictable as the Admiral, who died in 1988,” remarked Commander Trewn. —
Vijay Mohan and
Ajay Banerjee
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Centre admits sexual harassment of AIR RJs
New Delhi, November 13 AIR in its affidavit, filed before a Bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Manmohan, denied the allegations against it that Vishaka guidelines have not been implemented by it and said it is "alive to its responsibility of ensuring that no act of sexual harassment at work place takes place". The submissions were contained in the reports, filed before the court, of two committees formed by the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry and AIR to look into the
allegation that some women presenters of AIR were sexually harassed and exploited by their
senior officials. The reports were filed in the court and a copy was given to the petitioner who was given time till December 11 to file a response after going through the findings of the committees. The committees formed by the ministry as well as AIR had given their findings after going through the statements made by the individual complainant as well as other women radio jockeys of FM Gold as well as submissions of the senior officials who had been accused of sexually harassing them.
— PTI
SC panel summons lady advocate
New Delhi: A Supreme Court panel headed by Justice RM Lodha on Wednesday requested the lady advocate who had levelled sexual harassment allegation against an SC judge to come to Delhi and give the details on November 18. Set up by Chief Justice P Sathasivam, the three-member panel had its first meeting on Wednesday to consider the allegation. Justices HL Dattu and Ranjana Desai are the other members.
— TNS
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British PM coming, business ties on
agenda
New Delhi, November 13 Cameron will be on his way to Sri Lanka to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held from November 15-17. This would be Cameron’s third visit to India and the focus would be on promoting business and economic ties between the two countries, sources said. Exploring new areas of cooperation and the Vodafone tax dues issue are likely to figure prominently. The visit comes days after Britain decided to scrap its controversial plan to impose a 3000 pound immigration bond on visitors from ‘high risk’ countries in Africa and Asia. India, which was one of the countries targeted with the bond, had lodged a strong protest with London at the highest level against the project.
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CBI chief regrets rape remarks
New Delhi, November 13 "I gave my opinion that betting should be legalised and that if the laws cannot be enforced that does not mean that laws should not be made. This is as erroneous as saying that if rape is inevitable one should lie back and enjoy it,” Sinha said in New Delhi. "I regret any hurt caused as the same was inadvertent and unintended. I reiterate my deep sense of regard and respect for women and commitment to gender issues," he said.
— PTI
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Nod to rural health course
New Delhi, November 13 The Ministry of Health went ahead with the proposal despite opposition from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health which had called for compulsory one-year rural posting for all MBBS interns to meet the doctor crunch in villages. The course will enable XII science (physics, chemistry and biology) pass-outs to enrol for BSc (Community Health) at rural health schools which will be affiliated to state health sciences universities for grant of degrees.
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Three more Modi rallies in Delhi BJP MLA Balli joins Congress in Delhi
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It was a life-altering day for MiG 21 fighter pilot Wing Commander Maneesh Mishra when he was diagnosed with a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system in 2004.
As flying the fighters at supersonic speeds was ruled out, Mishra took to photography to channelise his energy. Today, Mishra has probably set a benchmark for those afflicted with such ailments. On November 8, the former pilot opened his photo exhibition “Myriad Touches” at the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, New Delhi.
New Delhi, November 13
New Delhi: