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| Thursday,
October 26, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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SC upholds judicial review NEW DELHI, Oct 25 — In a judgement that would protect lakhs of government employees from harassment, the Supreme Court has extended court’s jurisdiction by ruling that availability of judicial review even in case of departmental proceedings cannot be doubted. Govindacharya to study globalisation CWC pays tributes to Kesri Maneka holds board meeting Man forced to drink
urine: 4 cops suspended |
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| Naik releases book on
petroleum pricing NEW DELHI, Oct 25 — The Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Ram Naik, today said for the first time in the country, the government has tried to balance the impact of petroleum price hike through adjustments in duties and prices in a manner that the impact on the consumer was minimal. Govt ‘lacks’ long-term
petroleum policy Badal thanks Vajpayee
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SC upholds judicial review NEW DELHI, Oct 25 (PTI) —In a judgement that would protect lakhs of government employees from harassment, the Supreme Court has extended court’s jurisdiction by ruling that availability of judicial review even in case of departmental proceedings cannot be doubted. “Judicial review of administrative action is feasible and same has its application to its fullest extent in even departmental proceedings where it is found that the recorded findings are based on evidence or the findings are totally perverse or legally untenable,” a Division Bench said. Upholding an Allahabad High Court order quashing a departmental inquiry findings against an officer of the Kumaon Vikas Mandal Nigam, the Bench comprising Mr Justice
G. B. Pattanaik and Mr Justice Umesh Chandra Banerjee said doctrine of principles of natural justice was an integral part of administrative jurisprudence of this country. The officer was proceeded against without being served by the documents which showed irregularities committed by him and was given no chance to defend himself in the proceedins. Referring to the case, Mr Justice Banerjee, writing the judgement for the Bench, said “The entire chain of events smacks of some personal clash and the
adoption of a method unknown to law in hottest haste.” The Bench said it was a fundamental requirement of law that the doctrine of natural justice be complied with and the same has, as a matter of fact, turned out to be an integral part of administrative jurisprudence of this country. “The judicial process itself embraces a fair and reasonable opportunity to defend though, however, we may hasten to add that the same is dependant upon the facts and circumstances of each individual case,” it said. Referring to the 60-page report against the officer sent to the Managing Director of nigam recording there in that charges against him stood proved, Mr Justice Banerjee asked a series of questions on the basis, evidence and records on which such a conclusion was reached by the Inquiry Officer. “If the records have been considered, the immediate necessity would be to consider as to who is the person who has produced the same and the next issue could be as regards the nature of the records — unfortunately there is not a whisper in the rather longish report,” the Judge observed. The Bench said “The high court answers it as miscarriage of justice and we do lend our concurrence therewith. The whole issue has been dealt with in such a way that it cannot but be termed to be totally devoid of any justifiable reason.” |
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Govindacharya to study globalisation NEW DELHI, Oct 25 — Former BJP. General Secretary K. N. Govindacharya is going to study the “Impact of globalisation in the civilisational context and the alternatives” over the next two years with the objective of evolving alternative models of development for India. In a widely circulated letter, Mr Govindacharya has informed the BJP leadership that since “globalisation, liberalisation and market fundamentalism has created unprecedented changes in our socio-economic cultural fabric” there was a need to revive the belief that the nation has the resources, the capability, the alternatives to sustain its development. “I have, therefore, decided to devote my next two years for analysing the impact and suggest alternative models for the nation”, Mr Govindacharya said in his letter to the party leaders, MPs, many non governmental organisations (NGOs), his friends and admirers. He has urged in his letter to assist and guide him in his venture. “Globalisation gained momentum since 1985 and has been ill thought. This has affected society, culture, politics as well as economy. Many experts are of the opinion that poverty and unemployment have increased during the last so many years in the rural areas”, Mr Govindacharya said adding that “there is a need to gather information about the activities of the organisations such as International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organisation etc”. Stating that agriculturists, artisans and small industry have been particularly affected by it, the BJP leader said while it was true that rapid progress has been made in the sphere of information technology, communications media etc, but the basic necessities of the common man were far from being fulfilled. “Has the globalisation also affected the basic values of society” and to what extent, Mr Govindacharya has asked in his letter saying that his study would also focus on such issues. “Society should be proud of its identity and its history and should take care of all the aspects of the geography with proper concern and this is the pre-condition of development”, he said adding that “only a strong and prosperous can play its due role with self-confidence in this world”. |
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CWC pays tributes
to Kesri NEW DELHI, Oct 25 — The Congress Working Committee has expressed its profound grief at the passing away of veteran freedom fighter and former Congress president Sitaram Kesri. A resolution passed at the CWC meeting said Mr Kesri had devoted his entire life to the service of the nation. He played an active role in the country’s struggle for freedom and was imprisoned several times. “He began his career as a Congress Seva Dal volunteer and by sheer dedication reached the highest position in the party. He was elected to the Lok Sabha and was member of the Rajya Sabha for a number of terms. He held important portfolios in the central government and discharged his duties with total sincerity.” “He was interested in the welfare of the downtrodden, particularly Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes and minorities. He was a source of inspiration to the youth of the country. The octogenarian leader was a staunch Gandhian and led a life of austerity.” “In his death the country has lost a great patriot and the party a man of exceptional organisational qualities,” the resolution said. The CWC deeply mourned his death and extended its sincere condolences to the members of the bereaved families. President K.R. Narayanan led a large number of political leaders in paying tributes to the former Congress president. Among the leaders who paid their last respects to the departed leader were Vice-President Krishan Kant, Home Minister L.K. Advani, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao, V.P. Singh and Chandrashekhar. Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, in whose government’s fall Kesri played a major role, was among the early callers at the late leader’s house. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, in a message, said in the death of the octogenarian leader the nation had lost an able parliamentarian. Kesri will always be remembered for his services to the weaker sections of society, he said. PTI adds: Meanwhile, the body of former Congress president Sitaram Kesri, who died here on Tuesday night after a prolonged illness, was on Wednesday flown to his ancestral house at Danapur, about 13 km from Patna. Kesri will be cremated tomorrow on the banks of the Ganges at Bansghat in the state capital, family sources said. Senior party leaders Moti Lal Vora, Mohsina Kidwai, Ahmed Patel and Pratap Bhanu Sharma accompanied the body in a special aircraft. Several party leaders, including Mr Pranab Mukherjee, who is in Calcutta, are expected to attend his funeral. Kesri’s body was taken to the Delhi airport from the AICC headquarters where leaders and hundreds of party workers paid homage to the departed soul. |
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Maneka holds board meeting NEW DELHI, Oct 25 — The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Mrs Maneka Gandhi today inaugurated the first meting of the Board of the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities. The 22-member board comprises representatives from non-government organisations working in the disability sector and those from various ministries, including Social Justice and Empowerment, Human Resource Development, Health and Family Welfare, Finance, Labour and Rural Development. Three members are also to be nominated from association of trade, commerce and industry, engaged in philanthropic activity. Sources in the ministry said the board identified several need-based programmes as day-care centres for target groups, short-term homes for the target group and guardians, respite homes for parents, vocational training for the target group, training modules for nursing professionals, training programmes for parents of children from the target group, extending help in the legal field, extending guidance for medical help and guardianship-care arrangements. A sub-committee was also formed to formulate schemes and programmes in these areas. The Trust was set up by an Act of Parliament in December1999. Its prime objective is to ensure that the potential of persons coming under its purview is recognised and the family and the community are drawn into the
rehabilitation process. It also aims at providing such persons protection from abuse and exploitation. A sub-committee has also been constituted on laws, rules and procedures. |
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Man forced to
drink urine: 4 cops suspended BHUBANESWAR, Oct 25 (UNI) — Four police personnel of Bheden police station under Baragarh district were suspended for allegedly forcing one accused to drink urine inside the police station. The incident took place in March but the action came last week after a local daily published the photograph of the accused being forced to drink urine by Assistant Sub-Inspector of the police station. One of the four accused had been arrested yesterday. According to the police, Bheden police station ASI Dolgobinda was suspended on October 21 on charges of forcing Saroj Sandh to drink urine inside the police station while interrogating him in connection with a police case. While Mr Dolgobind Sahu was suspended on October 21, three others were suspended by the District Superintendent of Police yesterday. Those suspended yesterday included one Sub-Inspector, one Assistant Sub Inspector and a constable. They were placed under suspension for standing as mute witness to the perverse incident. ASI Dolgobind Sahu was arrested after a case was registered against him. He was forwarded to the Baragarh subdivisional judicial magistrate who granted him bail. |
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Naik releases book on
petroleum pricing NEW DELHI, Oct 25 — The Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Ram Naik, today said for the first time in the country, the government has tried to balance the impact of petroleum price hike through adjustments in duties and prices in a manner that the impact on the consumer was minimal. He said this while releasing a book titled “Petroleum Pricing in India” written by Dr G.Prasanna Kumar, Director, Haryana Institute of Public Administration, Gurgaon. Mr Naik said only about one-thirds of the total deficit in the oil pool account of about Rs 24,000 crore which would have resulted as on March 31, 2001 on account of global price increase, have been passed on to the consumers and the rest was to be adjusted by duty reductions and through other instruments. Commending the initiative of Dr Kumar, the minister said that the publication was very timely as it had come at a time when the international oil prices have been extremely volatile. The book, which has dealt with the evolution of pricing prevailing through the 20th century — pre and post independence — would prove useful to both policy makers, students, scholars and others as a reference material with appropriate background information, Mr Naik said. The author has lucidly brought out the various principles which were adopted in different periods of time by the government in relation to the pricing of crude oil and petroleum products. The author in his book has discussed alternative approaches to pricing and government’s options in fixing the prices based on market driven mechanism and concluded by describing the present pricing policy. Dr Kumar is a former Executive Director (Vigilance) of the Kochi Refinery Limited. |
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Govt ‘lacks’ long-term
petroleum policy NEW DELHI, Oct 25 — Successive governments in the country have failed to formulate a long-term policy on petroleum and the recoverable oil in the country would last only for the next two decades, a senior government official said. “There is an urgent need for formulating such a long-term policy taking into account the international politics of oil, India’s own
production potential, socio-economic considerations involved in the pricing of various products and the need for oil conservation,” said the Director of the Haryana Institute of Public Administration, Mr G. Prasanna Kumar. He said at the “present rate of production and consumption our recoverable oil will last only two decades.” In his book, “Petroleum Pricing in India”, which was released here last night, he said there was need for conservation on the one hand and on the other investment of levels far higher than the present. “It calls for tough decisions, which are economically correct and which should be made politically correct also. Transparency and mass education can achieve this. A strong political will is the only panacea,” he said. Of all the policy instruments available to the government to conserve oil and reap maximum economic returns from available oil, pricing is perhaps the most efficacious. Unfortunately, the pricing policy had not yet been used as an effective conservation measure, he said. Mr Kumar said he had attempted in the book to analyse this and several other policy issues related to petroleum pricing. It explains the genesis of various issues related to oil pricing in a historical perspective and the economics of pricing of a non-renewable commodity in simple terms. The book also attempts to explain issues like administered pricing, market-driven pricing mechanism, cross subsidies, oil pool deficit, oil sector reforms, he added. |
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Badal thanks
Vajpayee NEW DELHI, Oct 25 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, today made a thanksgiving visit to the Capital following an end to the paddy crisis in the state. Mr Badal met the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for the first time after his return from Mumbai after a knee surgery and thanked him for his personal intervention in solving the paddy crisis. Mr Badal also met the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K.Advani and the Vice-President Mr Krishan Kant Sharma. |
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