 |
| Tuesday,
August 8, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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SC query on courts’
role in disinvestment Another fraud rocks
Indian geologists Haryana plan pegged at 1920 crore
HP gets 5 lakh for growing herbs CVC submits
report on defence deals |
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IAF to acquire
AJTs soon Ganga-Mekong project launch around
Oct
Make police accountable: NGO Envoy lauds role
of Sikhs in UK Rain likely
in Himachal, J&K areas ITBP told to help
HP in flood relief Zoo case: SC
direction to Centre J & K cops behind
massacres: VHP
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SC query on courts’
role in disinvestment NEW DELHI, Aug 7 (PTI) —Amidst the disinvestment process of major public sector undertakings, the Supreme Court today asked the Centre as to what was the scope of intervention of courts in such processes and sought its response. This direction came from a Bench comprising Mr Justice
B.N. Kirpal and Mr Justice D.P. Mohapatra during the hearing of an appeal challenging a Delhi High Court order upholding the transfer of Bailadila mines from the National Mineral Development Corporation to a joint venture allegedly at a low price. Mr Justice Kirpal said “The case involved a very important question which has bearing on the present disinvestment policy of the government.” “The limited role of the courts as far as privatisation of loss-making
PSUs were concerned was understandable. But if the government was handing over a healthy and profit-making
PSU on a platter to a private party, should the courts not intervene,” the Judge asked Solicitor-General Harish Salve. The Bench was hearing the appeal filed by
B.L. Wadhera who alleged that the transfer of a mine at Bailadila in Madhya Pradesh to Nippon Denro Ispat for a meagre Rs 17 crore was against rules and the interest of the corporation. The court today impleaded the Bailadila Mineral Development Corporation, a joint venture of Nippon Denro, and asked it to file reply to the appeal. The High Court, while dismissing Wadhera’s
PIL, had held “it has to be borne in mind that in the matter of policy particularly dealing with economic matters, the government is within its right to try various experiments so long as such experiments are not arbitrary and malafide.” The petitioner said in 1991, the
NMDC had proposed a joint venture with 12.5 per cent equity participation each by Nippon Denro and Essar, 26 per cent by the
NMDC and 49 per cent public participation for the development of the mine. The petitioner alleged that the proposal was scuttled by the government which formulated transfer guidelines to help the Mittal Group to bag the contract for the development of the 11B iron ore deposit. The mineral extract of the mine has high ferrous content of over 65 per cent and best suited for gas-based sponge iron plants, he said and added that at present Mittal Group held 89 per cent of the share the rest being with the
NMDC. Wadhera said the global tender for the transfer would have earned the government substantial revenue. He stated in the petition that the government in its affidavit before the high court had said, “It is not seriously disputed that the global tender could have brought in larger amount”. |
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Another fraud rocks
Indian geologists
HYDERABAD, Aug 7 (PTI) — The Geological Society of India (GSI) does not plan any action on a scientist who had two years ago astounded the world by claiming to have discovered some unique fossils in the Vindhyan Mountains. Investigations by the GSI have now revealed the fossils do not exist. At the focus of the controversy is R J Azmi, internationally known geologist at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) in Dehra Dun. In 1998 Azmi published a paper in the journal of the GSI claiming the discovery of “small shelly fossils (SSFs)” from Vindhyan Mountains of central India. The discovery, if true, would have made the Vindhyas a lot younger than they are. The GSI said its journal published Azmi’s paper relying on photographic evidence and after a recommendation by Martin Brasier of Oxford University who thought Azmi had made a “momentous discovery.” The GSI has now admitted that Azmi’s claims are “far from convincing and more detailed work is necessary before the authenticity of the find is accepted.” In a special report on “Vindhyan Fossil Controversy” in the June issue of its journal, the GSI said presence of SSFs could not be confirmed either by the GSI’s own team consisting of leading paleontologists who made the field visit, or by the Geological Survey of India, another professional body. The latter one carried out field checks and laboratory studies on samples collected from the localities where Azmi had collected his fossils and concluded that samples were “devoid of SSFs.” According to the GSI team, led by S B Bhatia, former professor of geology at Panjab University, Azmi was befooled by sample contamination or misinterpreted artifacts of volcanic origin to be SSFs. Azmi could not be reached for comments but the GSI report carried his denial saying that he stood by his original claims. While the din raised by Panjab University geologist V J Gupta’s Himalayan fossil controversy has died down, eruption of a new one has embarrassed the scientific community. “Both belong to the same class,” says Arun Ahluwalia of Panjab University who blew the whistle on Gupta. “The difference is that while Gupta at least had fossils, though faked, Azmi had none.” Ahluwalia, one of the experts who examined Azmi’s fossil finds, says it is intriguing that for the third time Azmi reported “early Cambrian micro-shelly fauna” which no other investigator could duplicate. “The first one was from the Infra-Krol Formation of Nainital area, the second was from the Garbyang formation and now this. This repeated “discovery “of shelly fauna not reproducible by others, tends to suggest that there is a permanent source of contamination in Azmi’s lab,” he says. |
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Haryana plan pegged at 1920 crore NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — The Planning Commission today pegged the core plan for Haryana at Rs 1920 crore while agreeing to retain the budgeted size of the Plan, which the State said it would strive to achieve. The annual plan size for Haryana for the year 2000-2001 was approved at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr K.C.Pant and Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. The core plan was approved on the basis of identifiable resources. Mr Chautala at the meeting demanded the release of remaining Rs 29 crore of the Yamuna Action Plan. He said the Centre should revise its share in the old age pension fund from Rs 75 to Rs 150. He said old age pension needed to be revised upwards and the State was willing to contribute the remaining portion. On
accelerated development of the National Capital Region, Mr Chautala wanted all Central ministries to have special provision for the region’s development. He wanted amendments in the laws related to the payment of bonus to the employees of loss-making State PSUs. He said the Centre should either bear the financial burden or discontinue this practice. On the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund the Chief Minister wanted interest rate to be restricted to 8 per cent and repayment period to be extended to 10 years from the present seven years. Mr Chautala demanded a compensation of Rs 2000 crore for the losses suffered because of terrorist activities. The Chief Minister requested special grant from the Commission in carrying out the ambitious information technology programmes. He said all state departments had been directed to make a provision of five per cent for this purpose. Mr Pant in his remarks drew the attention of the State to the Prime Minister’s Gramodya Yojana aimed at rural development. He said the State should come forward in making this scheme a grand success. He said Panchayati Raj institutions have now been involved in the social and village development programmes and the State should ensure flow of adequate funds to these institutions so as to ensure that they can carry out responsibilities successfully. He said of late Haryana had been witnessing slowing down of economic growth and pointed out that from 6.5 per cent in 1980s it had touched 3.6 per cent during the first two years of the Ninth Plan. He said with strong infrastructural support, there was no reason why corrective measures should not be taken. Despite reduction in non-plan revenue expenditure, performance of the State Government in realising the projected balance from current revenues was poor. The State had failed to avail fully the conditional portions of agreed Central assistance particularly in the externally aided projects and accelerated irrigated benefit programme. Mr Pant cautioned the State against increasing dependence on borrowed funds. On the performance in infrastructure sector, it was pointed out that transmission and distribution losses in the power sector were growing and plant load factor was low. Rationalisation of tariff and better operational efficiency were recommended to improve commercial viability. The State was urged to gear up the pace of achievement in the road transport sector, particularly in the wake of the growing private sector participation. |
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North India in
Parliament NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — A grant of Rs 5 lakh has been sanctioned as the first instalment of assistance for implementing a project on growing medicinal plants in Himachal Pradesh, the
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prof Rita Verma, told the Lok Sabha today. To a question by Mr Suresh Chandel whether the Ministry has been requested by the Himachal Pradesh Government’s Directorate of Ayurveda for sanctioning the scheme worth Rs 26.34 lakh for growing medicinal plants in Himachal Pradesh, the Minister said that the first instalment of assistance has been sanctioned for implementing the project at Bilaspur, under the Central scheme for development of agro-techniques and cultivation of medicinal plants used in ayurveda, siddha, unani and homoeopathy. Forest cover in J-K: There is no report with the Centre that the forest cover in Jammu and Kashmir is getting depleted due to failure of the Forest Department in the state to safeguard the forest wealth, the Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Mr Babu Lal Marandi, told the Lok Sabha in reply to a question raised by Mr Vishno Datt Sharma. The Minister said that as per the 1997 assessment of the Forest Survey of India, an increase of 7 sq. km of forest cover had been reported compared to the 1995 assessment. The Union Government, he said, had issued guidelines to the state governments for involving local communities in regeneration and protection of forest lands under the joint forest management. The state government has also been requested to strengthen its forest protection machinery, he said. Leh flights: To a question by Mr Hassan Khan, the Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr Sharad Yadav, said that while Indian Airlines and Alliance Air were both operating four flights each on the Delhi-Leh-Delhi sectors, Alliance Air was also
operating one flight every week on Leh-Srinagar-Leh, two on Leh-Jammu-Leh and one on Leh-Chandigarh-Leh sectors. He said that Alliance Air was also operating additional air services on Delhi-Leh-Delhi sector with a frequency of four flights per week from June 15, 2000, to September 10, 2000. The Minister said that private airlines have also been asked to consider operating more flights to Leh. However, it is up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability subject to compliance of route dispersal guidelines issued by the government, he added. Shahtoosh trade: The Jammu and Kashmir Government is now quite convinced that Shahtoosh is derived by killing the Tibetan antelopes, the Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Mr Babu Lal Marandi, told the Lok Sabha. Replying to a question by Mr Ali Mohammad Naik regarding the problems faced by craftsmen engaged in the processing of shahtoosh shawls and if trade of wool would be allowed as before in absence of adequate proof regarding derivation of shahtoosh wool from slaughtered animals, the Minister said that the state government had even made a public
declaration of their intention to ban Shahtoosh trade. |
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IAF to acquire
AJTs soon NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, has said that the pricing committee for the purchase of Advance Jet Trainers (AJTs) for the Indian Air Force is holding last round of negotiations with the British Aerospace. Speaking in a television interview here today, Mr Fernandes said that all technical and other aspects of the AJT purchase had been gone into and negotiations on prices should be finalised soon. Commenting on the recent MiG-20 crash near the Palam airport Mr Fernandes criticised reports appearing in a section of the press that MiGs with the IAF were old and in bad condition. He claimed that all the aircrafts before flying were inspected thoroughly and their flight worthiness was ascertained. He regretted that whenever an accident took place, some comments without ascertaining full facts about the aircraft and other details, were made. He clarified that MiGs were the largest in number in the IAF inventory and were the most flown aircraft. Therefore, accidents of MiGs were more than the other types of aircraft. However, he denied that old and unserviceable aircrafts were flown. “They are phased out when their life is over”, he asserted. Mr Fernandes also denied reports that he pointed out any lapses in security leading to some pilgrims’ death in militants attack in Pahalgam. He asserted that he had personally visited the place and observed that there was no lapse in security. He clarified that during his visit to the Pilgrims Registration Centre at Jammu he had offered some suggestions for improving security at the centre where a terrorist was gunned down, a few days earlier. These suggestions were misinterpreted and wrongly reported in some section of press, Mr Fernandes said. |
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Ganga-Mekong project launch around
Oct NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — Ganga-Mekong Swarnabhoomi Project having long-term potential of economic and strategic significance, is expected to be jointly launched at the Laotian capital Vientiane around October. The project, a cooperative programme among India and five ASEAN countries of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, aims initially at promoting tourism, culture and
education in the Mekong delta region as well as India. The final date for the launch of the project, which is expected around the festival of lights in Laos, would be announced after Laos intimates the dates. Given commonalities of cultural traditions, including the Buddhist heritage, there is a good scope for India and these countries to join hands to promote tourism, as well as educational and cultural interaction, a senior official said. The project, which was
originally a tourism-based initiative by five ASEAN countries sharing the Mekong river, was
discussed between the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh and the Thai Foreign Minister’s visit to New Delhi last month (July 8-10). The External Affairs Minister not only endorsed the initiative but offered to join it and suggested that its scope could be enlarged to include the entire region from India to the Mekong basin. Mr Jaswant Singh also suggested that the name Ganga-Mekong Swarnabhoomi which appropriately encapsulates the linkage between the two river basins, Ganga and Mekong, might be adopted for the project. During the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting, held in Bangkok in the last week of July, the External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Ministers of the five ASEAN countries jointly agreed to launch the project. It was also agreed that the initiative should also be linked successively to other developmental
areas, to make it truly broad-based and valuable, a senior official said. Since both Ganga as well as Mekong are civilisational rivers, there is an immense potential for promoting not only tourism but also higher education and areas relevant to knowledge-based industries within the ambit of cooperation in the
education sector. In this sector, cooperative efforts would also draw on India’s experience in information technology and various other high technology areas. The project would also provide the basis for development in the transport and infrastructure sector, including railways, roads and air travel, as well as for greater cooperation in science and technology and human resource development, an official said. |
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CVC submits
report on defence deals NEW DELHI, Aug 7 (PTI) — Central Vigilance Commissioner N. Vittal today submitted an interim report on major defence deals since 1989 to Defence Minister George Fernandes. Mr Vittal and the other Commissioner V.S. Mathur submitted the report to Mr Fernandes this morning at South Block. “The report is secret and it is up to the government to reveal the contents,” the CVC told PTI. Though he was silent on the deals the interim report dealt with, Mr Vittal had earlier said he would be giving top priority to cases referred by Rear Admiral Purohit in his petition to the Delhi High Court about exhorbitant rates paid for Russian naval spares. |
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World Sikh University
to expand operations NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — The London-based World Sikh University plans to expand its operations by setting up distance-learning centre using the Internet. “We want to expand our operations and enable the students to undertake the course by using the borderless medium — the Internet,” the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr Sukhbir Singh Kapoor, told The Tribune, here today. The initial success of the university set up in 1997 has attracted huge interest and students in British Columbia and Vancouver, Canada, have enrolled to undertake the course from there. “The two Canadian universities have tied up with our University and the students staying in the American continent would undertake the course work and other evaluation of the British system, which we follow,” Dr Sukhbir Singh said. The success of this initial experiment has evoked positive response from universities across several countries including Malaysia. He said the university is thinking of inviting faculty from reputed universities and institutions from India. The main attraction of the students to this university is do work on comparative study of world religion. “Students here undertake comparative study of Sikhism with six other major world religions — Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism,” he said. They work on any issue relating to society, polity, economy or religion in relation to Sikhism per se or comparing with other religions, he added. The Vice-Chancellor said the tuition fee in this university is one sixth of the normal cost of other universities in London. “The normal tuition fee per annum is around 6000 pounds and the Privy Council has allowed us to charge 1000 pounds for the first five years of the operations,” he said. Dr Sukhbir Singh said “there are several scholarships available for the students and they can get about 50 per cent tuition fee waived. And, after an year, the British government allows them to work for specific number of hours so that the students can manage their studies and work to sustain their education.” The university, which offers undergraduate, post-graduate and doctorate degree, would roll out its first doctorates in 2002. The World Sikh University is funded by Gurdwaras located in England and other European countries, he said, adding that “about 175,000 pounds have been invested by various bodies for the university,” he said. All students enrolling for this university have to undergo a foundation course on religion for three months and their performance would determine their eligibility for scholarship. “Ours is the only university in London, which recognises the school and college degree from India for enrolment to the courses. The masters course is for one year and then they can enrol for doctorate,” he said. The Vice-Chancellor said “the university course is based on the principle of credit accumulation system and there is no undue pressure on students to complete the course within the stipulated time frame.” Of the 150 students pursuing different courses in the university, most of them are professionals undertaking these courses as a second degree. |
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SC ruling on poll petition NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — The Supreme Court has, in an election case, ruled that a petition challenging the election of any candidate on the ground of commission of corrupt practices must enjoin as respondents all candidates against whom allegations of any corrupt practice are contained in the election petition, including any such candidate, who, as a voter, may have subsequently withdrawn his candidature. A three-Judge Bench comprising Chief Justice A.S. Anand, Mr Justice R.C. Lahotia and Mr Justice K.G. Balkrishnan held in their ruling that even after a candidate withdrew his candidature and allegations of corrupt election practices against him were contained in the election petition, it was mandatory for him to be impleaded as a respondent. The Judges gave the ruling while dismissing the appeal of Mr Gadnis Bhawani Shanker challenging the election of Mr Falerio Eduardo Martinho to the Rajya Sabha from Goa in 1999 on the ground of commission of corrupt practices under the Representation of People Act, 1951. The elected candidate, Mr Falerio, who was the lone respondent arrayed before the High Court, raised a preliminary objection for the dismissal of the election petition for non-compliance with the requirements of Section 82 (b) of the Act. The High Court upheld the objection and dismissed the petition. Section 82 (b) of the Act envisages that petitioner shall join as respondent to his petition if any other candidate against whom allegations of any corrupt practice are made in the petition. Apart from the appellant and the respondent, another candidate Mr Luis Alex Cardozo was also in the fray having filed his nomination paper. Before the election took place on July 26, 1999 Mr Cardozo withdrew his nomination on July 17, 1999. In the election petition, certain allegations of corrupt practices were made against him also but he was not impleaded as a respondent. |
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Make police accountable: NGO NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — Establishing more women police stations, better promotional avenues for constables, and posting community relations officers for maintaining regular contact with residents, would go a long way in improving functioning as well as image of the police. Making a series of recommendations for structural and functional improvement of police working in the country, a leading NGO has emphasised the need of police giving up the “colonial legacy.” The recommendations have also been submitted to the Centre. The NGO recommends that State Security Commissions be constituted in each state for monitoring police performance and ensuring its accountability to the law of the land. While recommending that recruitment of constables be entrusted to a State Recruitment Commission, Surya Foundation, the NGO says that more police stations be established in the urban centres of each state. Laying a lot of stress on training, it says that outstanding officers possessing aptitude for training be posted as instructors in all police training institutions. Calling for separation of investigation duties from law and order work at the ‘thana’ level, the NGO says that this would give the much-needed fillip to the investigation work. It says that supervisory officers should conduct more surprise checks and tour rural areas for at least 60 days. The NGO suggests that the SPs should hold “Janata Darbars” regularly and 50 per cent of the vacancies in the rank of Head Constable, Sub-Inspector, Dy SP be filled on the basis of an annual departmental promotion examination in each state. |
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Envoy lauds role
of Sikhs in UK NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — There was a need to attend to the problems of Punjabis living abroad. Speaking at a function in honour of Mr Sukhwinder Gill, president of Lok Bhalai Party, Kuldip Nayar, MP, said hundreds of Sikhs living abroad had been debarred from visiting India for the past 16 years. Adam Noel, Diplomat of the British High Commission, highlighted the role of the Punjabis and the Sikhs in the economic growth of the United Kingdom. The speakers praised the party for its efforts to promote the cause of India and Punjabis living abroad. Mr B.S. Ramoowalia, MP, presided over the function. While thanking the MPs for their support, Mr Gill said that 10 lakh of them were living in harmony in the UK and were celebrating India’s national days and all other festivals together. According to a statement, among those present were Vijay Darda, Chief Editor, LOKMAT, Dr Raja Ramanna, eminent scientist, Mr Dhammaviriyo, Ms Selvie Das and Ms Saroj Dubey (RJD) and Col Sona Ram. |
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Rain likely
in Himachal, J&K areas NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — Rainfall: Rain or thundershowers have occurred at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh, east Uttar Pradesh and the hills of west Uttar Pradesh. Weather was mainly dry in the rest of the region. Balrampur (Uttar Pradesh) recorded 4 cm of rainfall. Forecast
valid until the morning of Aug 9: Rain or thundershowers are likely at a few places in east Uttar Pradesh and at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and the hills of west Uttar Pradesh. Weather will be mainly dry in the rest of the region. Forecast for Delhi & neighbourhood valid until the morning of Aug 9: Sultry weather. Partly cloudy sky with possibility of thundry development and light rain in some areas. Farmers’ weather bulletin for Delhi forecast valid until the morning of Aug 9: Light rain is likely at isolated places. Outlook for the subsequent two days: No large change. |
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ITBP told to help
HP in flood relief NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — To supplement relief measures initiated by the Himachal Pradesh government, the Union Home Ministry has asked the battalions of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) stationed in the State to be on high alert and help the local administration in the relief operations. Besides, the ITBP has been asked give on loan basis 150 sets of tents and digging equipment available with its units in Kulu to the Himachal Pradesh government, Home Ministry sources told The Tribune here today. The ITBP, which has two battalions stationed in the State, has already formed two medical teams to help the State administration for giving treatment to the people suffering from water-borne diseases, the sources said. |
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Zoo case: SC
direction to Centre
NEW DELHI, Aug 7 (UNI) — The Supreme Court today directed the Centre to file an affidavit within 10 days stating measures it proposes to take to protect and preserve the country’s tiger population in the wake of the recent deaths of 13 tigers at Nandankanan Zoo in Orissa. The direction came from a three-judge Bench, comprising Chief Justice A.S. Anand, Mr Justice M.B. Shah and Mr Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, during resumed hearing on a public interest petition. The petition, filed by Mr Navin M. Raheja, sought direction to the Centre, all states and union territories to implement the Wildlife Protection Act with a view to protecting and preserving the tiger population both in protective custody of zoos and in the wild. |
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J & K cops behind
massacres: VHP
NEW DELHI, Aug 7 (UNI) — The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today suspected the hand of Jammu and Kashmir police personnel in the recent massacres of more than 100 persons, including 28 Amarnath yatris, in Jammu and Kashmir and demanded penal action against the policemen who failed to ensure security to the pilgrims. In a letter to Home Minister L.K. Advani, VHP president Vishnu Hari Dalmia said from what the eyewitnesses have narrated, “It is quite apparent that the role of personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir police has been suspicious.” |
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