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India should play a bigger role in UN, says China
20 states switch over to
VAT
MEA hails Koirala’s release
PM to take stock of rural programmes |
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Tighten security for Muzaffarabad bus:
Patil
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto inside the Ajmer Sharif dargah in Ajmer on Friday.
— PTI photo
People-to-people contact must, says ex-Pak PM
SC comes to aid of kidney
patient
Naval aviation set for major
boost
More Harike water for Rajasthan
soon
Civil aviation body yet to learn from mishaps
Illegal guest houses in
Gurgaon
SC notice on plea to legalise
homosexuality
SC reprimands J&K Chief Secy on contempt
issue
Give control of Bodh Gaya to Buddhists:
NCM
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India should play a bigger role in UN, says China
New Delhi, April 1 The special representatives of the visiting and host Prime Ministers will meet here prior to and during Mr Wen’s sojourn to hammer out the guidelines, which will set the pace for finding a solution to the vexed border issue. The necessity to evolve the political parameters and guiding principles was underlined by Mr Wen after his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Vietiane, Laos, during the Asean plus four summit in November last year. Beijing’s new Ambassador to India Sun Yuxi observed that even as political relations between the world’s two largest developing countries are on the brink of achieving a “new high”, the prospects of a free trade agreement (FTA) are also being actively considered. Though the study group in this regard is yet to submit its report, the idea of an FTA is mind-boggling which is bound to impact on Asia and the world . Whenever it becomes a reality, it will be the largest FTA in terms of area covering a staggering population of 2.4 billion, Mr Sun said in an interface with mediapersons here today. While acknowledging that Sikkim is an integral part of India and that “this problem is over”, Mr Sun held firm that 75000 sq km of Arunachal Pradesh is disputed territory. “All disputed areas are open to further negotiations based on how the political framework and guiding principles are evolved.” He said one of the important aspects of Mr Wen’s visit will involve discussions on how to coordinate measures with India from a strategic viewpoint in international and regional affairs. “Sino-Indian ties are to be upgraded to a new high,” he noted. More than a dozen agreements are to be initialled encompassing concerted action against terrorism, promoting tourism and civil aviation, culture along with giving a massive push to multi-pronged economic cooperation. Mr Sun side-stepped China extending support to India’s claim for a seat in the United Nations Security Council with full veto rights. An enlarged UNSC should accord priority to developing countries. China understands India’s argument that as a big developing country, New Delhi has a bigger role to play in the United Nations and globally. He did not rule out China, the Russian Federation and India working in tandem on global and regional issues. The foreign ministers of the three countries have already had three rounds of discussions. The coordination among the three countries did not amount to targeting any third country but focussing on what he described as “strategic economic development” without any defence element. The Ambassador, who had earlier served in Pakistan, said he had no information about Russia, China and India collaborating in building a fifth-generation aircraft despite cooperation in the defence arena. Asked if the growing Indo-US relations were being viewed as a counterfoil to China, Mr Sun said Beijing firmly believed that every country should build friendly and cooperative relations with others based on the principles of Panchsheel. The Sino-US relations have developed a lot with the USA emerging as China’s second largest trade partner. With China and India having the same nuclear doctrine of no first use (NFU), the ambassador discounted the possibility of the two neighbours entering into a bilateral agreement on this score. On Tibet, Mr Sun stressed that it is not an issue between China and India. “It is an internal affair of China and that Tibet is an integral part of China was settled three years ago.” China is keen that India and Pakistan develop good relations. “If we have any chance, we will do our best in a positive sense to better Indo-Pak ties. Both India and Pakistan have every reason to develop friendly relations. If China can play a constructive role in promoting Indo-Pak relations, we will be happy to do so,” the Ambassador added. On the US supply of F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan, he said every sovereign government has the right to build its defence without having military presence in other countries barring UN peacekeeping operations. Further, Mr Sun was categoric that China had no military nuclear cooperation with Pakistan. China-Pakistan nuclear cooperation was for peaceful purposes under the direct supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency. “China has signed the NPT and we strictly adhere by it and wants that all nuclear arsenals in the world should be destroyed.” He rejected suggestions that Pakistan is a terrorist state. The Pakistan government and people are also fighting terrorism. Terrorist elements are everywhere and it is the common task of all countries to fight terrorism. As Mr Wen flies into this country during the weekend, he will first visit Bangalore before arriving in the capital on April 11 at the start of the Monday week. |
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20 states switch over to
VAT
New Delhi, April 1 Sources said while 20 states transited to the new system today, Meghalaya was expected to switch over to it in the coming week. The system, which will have taxes imposed at every level of value addition throughout the supply chain of a particular product, is expected to check evasion and improve compliance as it replaces the existing sales tax, where taxes were imposed at the final consumption stage. Sources said the Central Sales Tax (CST) would be eventually phased out in the next three years. The new system has two-tier structure (4 and 12.5 per cent) covering about 550 goods, plus a specific category of tax-exempted goods. There would be also a list of 46 commodities under the exempted category comprising natural and unprocessed products in the unorganised sector, items, which were legally barred from taxation, and items that have social implications. Included in this exempted category is a set of maximum of 10 commodities flexibly chosen by individual states from a list of goods, which were of local and social importance for the respective states and do not have any inter-state implications. The rest of the commodities in the list would be common for all states. Around 270 items, including drugs and medicines, all agricultural and industrial inputs, capital goods and declared goods would attract 4 per cent VAT. The schedule of the commodities is being attached to the VAT Bill of every state where the legislation has been passed. The remaining commodities, common for all states, would fall under the general VAT rate of 12.5 per cent. States would get 100 per cent compensation for revenue loss, if any, in the first year, while 75 per cent of the loss would be compensated in the second year and 50 per cent in the third year. The Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers, headed by West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta, will review the rates after a period of three months. The success of the VAT regime would determine the introduction of the Single Goods and Services Tax (GST) as recommended by the Kelkar Task Force. The five BJP-ruled states, which are ready with the legislation and sufficiently prepared administratively, are also expected to transit to the new system. The concern expressed by these states is that since some of them, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, were contiguous with Uttar Pradesh, it was important that UP also implements VAT to ensure that no state gains unfair advantage by distancing itself from the new taxation system. Sources said the Empowered Committee was willing to review VAT rates of a number of items in June, three months after the new system came into force. They said the VAT panel had agreed to increase the exemption limit of traders from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. This was expected to keep a large number of small and marginal traders from the VAT net. |
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MEA hails Koirala’s release
New Delhi, April 1 Just a couple of hours after the release of Mr Koirala, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement welcoming the development. Diplomatic sources here hailed the move as a positive development, though they were quick to caution that a lot still remained to be done by King Gyanendra. Indian Ambassador in Nepal, Mr Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, called on Mr Koirala immediately after his release and inquired about his health. The veteran Nepali politician told Mr Mukherjee that during his detention he had to grapple with an atack of bronchitis but now he was all right. Mr Koirala profusely thanked India for its stand on the royal coup and expressed his gratitude for Indian help to the cause of democracy in Nepal. The MEA statement virtually identified signposts for the Government of Nepal down the road to resumption of multi-party democracy in Nepal. It said: “We hope that this step (of Mr Koirala’s release) and the earlier release of Mr S.B. Deuba, president, NC(D) will be followed by the immediate release of UML general secretary Mr Madhav Kumar Nepal and other political leaders and workers, human rights activists, student leaders, mediapersons and civil society representatives presently detained under emergency provisions. “Government of India calls for the removal of all curbs on civil liberties and fundamental rights and the lifting of media censorship and restrictions on movement to enable the people of Nepal to enjoy their legitimate constitutional and democratic rights. We believe that this would pave the way for the beginning of a process of reconciliation between the constitutional forces leading to a restoration of multi-party democracy. It has always been our conviction that a broad national consensus is necessary to address the serious challenges confronting Nepal. India will continue to support all efforts in this direction.” Significantly, the orders for Mr Koirala’s release were issued when Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing was still in Nepal. This is being viewed in the South Block here as an important diplomatic symbolism, which conveys that China is sensitive about Indian concerns vis-a-vis Nepal. This was Mr Li’s first overseas visit as the Foreign Minister. Equally important is the fact that Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran had a substantive meeting with Mr Li during his March 30-31 visit to China. South Block mandarins are keeping a close watch on the situation in Nepal and are hoping that more political detenues would be released in the coming days by Kathmandu and media censorship, already somewhat eased, would be completely lifted. |
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PM to take stock of rural programmes
New Delhi, April 1 Clearly, Dr Manmohan Singh is worried about the recurring problem that schemes have failed to percolate to the target groups for whom they are meant-the poor and the underprivileged. Significantly, the Prime Minister has himself earmarked the thrust areas for all the ministries and department. The Ministry of Personnel in listing the thrust areas of every ministry has indicated that a meeting of all the District Collectors is on the cards. The Congress-led UPA government’s 24-page Common Minimum Programme (CMP) pledges to enhance the welfare and well being of farmers, farm labour and workers, especially in the unorganised sector as well as empowering women politically, educationally, economically and legally. Now that legal guarantees are in place for providing at least 100 days’ employment on asset creating public works programmes annually at minimum wages for at least one able-bodied person in every rural, urban poor and lower middle class household, stumbling blocks in its implementation have to be ironed out. While public investment in agricultural research and extension, rural infrastructure and irrigation is being stepped up, irrigation is being accorded highest investment priority. Simultaneously efforts are on to significantly widen rural credit by bringing in its ambit small and marginal farmers along with gearing up the delivery systems. The Manmohan Singh government has assured that all funds for poverty alleviation and rural development programmes will be credited directly to panchayat bodies in keeping with the recommendations of the Finance Commission. The gram sabha is being empowered to emerge as the foundation of the Panchayati Raj. Authoritative sources said there would be a critical appraisal of several schemes like the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the Integrated Rural Housing Scheme as well as the food for work programme for which the gross budgetary support had been fixed at about Rs 25,000 crore for the current financial year. It may be recalled that during Rajiv Gandhi’s regime he had written letters to 5,000 heads of Panchayats all over the country. In a publicity blitzkrieg, the carefully worded letters in Hindi and various regional languages drew pointed attention to power being taken to the grassroots level so that area specific needs could be met through the three-tier system of governance. |
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Tighten security for Muzaffarabad bus:
Patil
New Delhi, April 1 Mr Patil’s direction came at a meeting of the chiefs of Military Intelligence, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Intelligence Bureau, called by him at the North Block this evening to review the security arrangements lined up for the bus service, sources said. Noting that a large number of local people and mediapersons from across the world are expected to converge in Srinagar for one of the major confidence building measures between India and Pakistan, the Home Minister is understood to have asked for increasing the deployment of forces at all vital points all along the route of the bus unto the point where passengers will alight on the Line of Control (LoC) to cross over the other side. Home Secretary V.K. Duggal and Centre’s interlocutor to Jammu and Kashmir N.N. Vohra attended the meeting. It may be recalled that four militant groups-Al Nasireen, Save Kashmir Movement, Farzand-e-Milat and Al Arifeen-had on March 29 leaked out names and addresses of passengers on the first bus due on April 7 and warned them not to travel in it as they would be “turning it into a coffin”. While the Home Ministry did not issue any official statement, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal told The Tribune that, “We will take all precautions and the bus service will go through.” Mr Jaiswal recalled that before the Lok Sabha poll and Assembly poll in Jammu and Kashmir militant groups had threatened people from casting their votes, but the people braved themselves and participated in the democratic process. “Thus, I am sure this time too people will not be cowed down by the threats,” he said. However, emerging out of the meeting, Mr Vohra termed the meeting as a “normal routine meeting” about all matters relating to Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service. “The Home Minister was just briefed about the arrangements being and to be made for the flag off,” he said, adding that “the meeting also took note of the possibility of a large number of people gathering at the point of flag off, including 150-odd journalists from across the world and the necessary security and other arrangements needed there.” The Centre is keen that the flag off takes place smoothly without any problem as it would open a new chapter in the India-Pakistan bilateral relations. The bus link has been widely welcomed on both sides of Kashmir and hundreds of applications have already been received so far to board the bus and cross over to the other side. |
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Benazir hails bus diplomacy
Jaipur, April 1 Ms Benazir Bhutto hailed the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus link between the two countries. “The bus diplomacy is a good confidence-building measure. Building democracy is an important step in the peace process so that the whole process can get legitimacy. Cricket match and the bus diplomacy are good steps and we want that like the bus service which will begin to connect Srinagar and Muzzafarbad, a bus service for the divided Punjab should also be started,” said Ms Bhutto. —
ANI |
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People-to-people contact must, says ex-Pak PM
New Delhi, April 1 Speaking to reporters at the lunch hosted by Railway Minister and RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav, Mr Hussain said the two countries should move forward in the direction of peace. He said Mr Yadav came to Pakistan and talked about peace which was welcomed by the people in his country. Mr Hussain said there was a desire for peace and tranquility in the region and the process needed further push. He said people of India and Pakistan, irrespective of their religion, should live in peace and tranquility. Asked if Pakistan would grant Most Favoured Nation Status to India,
he said "it will take
some time". |
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SC comes to aid of kidney
patient
New Delhi, April 1 Plugging the loopholes in the Transplantation of Human Organ Act, 1994, and laying down a series of guidelines to be followed by the authorities and hospitals in this regard, a Bench of Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice S. H. Kapadia said the AC of the state to which the donor and the recipient belonged "are in a better position to ascertain the true intent and purpose for the authorisation to remove the organ and see whether any commercial element is involved or not." It is mandatory under the Act to obtain sanction from the AC of the state in human organ transplantation, especially when the donor is not a close relative of the patient requiring transplantation. Kuldeep Singh (28) had moved a petition in the apex court through his lawyer Rajiv Katari only last week for urgent hearing after he was placed in a piquant situation with the Tamil Nadu Government AC refusing permission to the donor to donate his kidney to Kuldeep when he went for transplantation at Devaki Hospital in Chennai. Stating that in Kuldeep Singh's case the AC of Punjab was only competent to grant sanction, the court directed it to examine the matter urgently. The patient and donor were also directed to furnish the details of their financial position and vocations to the committee within 10 days. If the permission is granted by the AC, the same should be communicated to the Tamil Nadu Government immediately to enable the committee of that state to deal with the "therapeutic" angles of the matter. The court also directed those states, which had failed to formulate the rules to implement the provision of the Act and set up ACs, to take appropriate steps to achieve the "laudable object" of the legislation. Kuldeep Singh's counsel told the court that his client was put to a lot of harassment due to the ACs of two states trying to put the ball in each others court, while the patient needed immediate treatment. Taking a passionate view of the ordeal faced by Kuldeep Singh and his family, the Supreme Court said urgent intervention in his case was required because the patient's grievance was a result of a "ticklish" situation arising out of the certain gray areas left in the Act by the Legislature which undoubtedly was passed to prevent the trading of the human organs. The court said it would be "desirable" for the donor and the recipient of the organ to give details of their financial position and vacations, which had not been properly dealt with by the statute. "It would be appropriate for the Legislature to accordingly amend the rules and Form-I so that requirement for disclosing income and vocations for some pervious financial years (say 3 years) get statutorily incorporated in the Act," the court explained. |
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Naval aviation set for major
boost
Goa, April 1 The most notable project to be taken up shortly is the upgradation of the Sea Harrier carrier-borne aircraft, which forms the cutting edge of the naval aviation’s combat potential. Officers at INS Hansa here, the Navy’s largest air station said that the most important aspect of the Sea Harrier upgradation would be arming them with beyond visual range air-to-air missiles. Israel’s Rafael arms firm would be supplying an initial batch of 20 Derby missiles. At presently, the Harriers are armed with Matra Magic heat seeking missiles, which are close combat missiles and limit the aircraft’s air-to-air combat capability. The Harrier’s Blue Fox radar is being replaced with the Israeli Elta 2032 multimode fire control radar, to give it a longer tracking range and engage a greater number of targets simultaneously. The present radar, officers said, has problems in the “look-down” mode, which adversely affects engaging targets flying lower than the aircraft. The mission control computer and certain avionics are also to be upgraded. The first batch of Sea Harriers were inducted into the Navy in 1982 and another batch was inducted in 1990. These aircraft were long due for a mid-life upgrade. Upgradation plans were announced in the late 90s but then shelved. These have now been revived again. “Upgradation would keep them going strong for at least another 12 years,” Capt D.S. Sudan, Commanding Officer of INS Hansa said. This also means that Harriers would continue to be in service well after the carrier INS Viraat, from which the aircraft operate when at sea, is de-commissioned. INS Hansa is home to the Navy’s only Harrier squadron, INAS 300 and a flight of 2-seater Harriers, INAS 551-B for conversion training. Besides, seven other Naval squadrons, operating a variety of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, and a Coast Guard squadron are based here. The Navy is also awaiting the arrival of at least three upgraded IL-38 long range maritime patrol aircraft, which now are expected “anytime” from Russia. INAS 315 operates these aircraft from Goa, but after the squadron lost two aircraft in a mis-air collision in 2002, the Navy’s surveillance capability received a severe setback. According to reports, the Navy will be getting five upgraded IL-38s, out of which two are those given by Russia free of cost to replaced the lost aircraft. These aircraft are being upgraded with the fully digital Sea Dragon suite to increase their capability to track surface vessels, submarines, mines and also significantly, airborne targets. The upgrade, which also includes advance avionics, mission computer, sensors and detectors and certain airframe modifications, would increase the life span of these aircraft by about 15 years. Upgradation of the Tu-142 long range maritime patrol aircraft is another issue with the Navy. Stated to be the fastest turbo-prop aircraft in the world, these huge aircraft can fly to the tip of Africa and back without refuelling. The Navy has about 10 of these aircraft based at INS Rajali. Given their endurance and capability, these are very important platforms for surveillance and anti-submarine warfare and, according to officers, the Navy is looking at ways and means to keep them flying for a long time. “We are looking at a host of options and mid-life upgrade is one of them,” Flag Officer-in-Charge Goa Area, Cmde B.R. Sen said. “One option is going in for a limited upgrade, where you go in for changing components what are troubling you the most. These aircraft are close to a point where life extension is required, but there are financial implications,” he added. Exorbitant prices quoted by Russians for a comprehensive upgrade resulted in the project being put on the back burner since the late 90s. A Naval Aero-Medical Centre has been set up at Goa to cater to the medical requirements of naval aviators. This is the first such centre in South Asia. The need for this centre was felt due to the unique aero-medical problems and stress associated with flying over water like spatial disorientation, fatigue, underwater escape and survival at sea. The centre would play a key role in aero-medical indoctrination, training, evaluation and research into specific problems faced by naval aircrew. The centre became operational about a month ago and would evolve into a full fledged medical institute. |
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More Harike water for Rajasthan
soon
Jaipur, April 1 The repairs will prevent the hitherto daily overflow of about 800 cusecs of water from Ravi-Beas rivers to Pakistan. This would now result into more water for the desert state. As soon as Punjab suspended the release of water from Harike for repairs from March 22, Rajasthan also took up the task of desilting the canal systems in its area along with other repair works. Rectification of the sizes of out-lets which were tampered with by influential agriculturists to draw more water than the prescribed quantum was also taken up during this period. Sources said out of a little over 7,400 outlets, 1770 were found oversized. The reshaping of these outlets according to the prescribed limits would be completed by the end of this week. |
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Civil aviation body yet to learn from mishaps
New Delhi, April 1 Although the Army Aviation Corps saw its worst accident in 1963 when the force lost its two top -ranked Generals and the Indian Air Force the chief of its Western Air Command (WAC) in the same chopper crash. In another crash in 1994 in Tawang in the North-East that forced the Army to bring out rules which ensured that only one VIP would travel on an helicopter at any given time. The ruling was also brought out to ensure that senior Generals of the force do not travel together at any time which could severely affect the working of the force. But this is still to reach the corridors of the DGCA and the officials there admit that there are no rules which restrict the travel of more than one VIP on the same helicopter. Besides their is also no restriction on operating the single engine choppers, similar to the one which had the two Haryana ministers on board when it crashed on Thursday, in the country. The Civil Aviation Ministry officials also admitted that there was no classification for the VIP's when they traveled on such single engine helicopters. The classification and the restriction was only for the Head of the State and the Head of the Government while other politicians didn't fall in the category of VIPs as far as civilian travel was concerned. The officials said even people with Z category security or the SPG cover are not considered VIPs when they travel in the civil sector. But same is not the case in the armed forces. Although the Army has single engine choppers it ensures that only the twin engine helicopters are used while ferrying VIPs, which also include Member's of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers or even a Minister's of State. Incidentally chopper flying the country is still governed by archiac rules which were framed way back in 1934 when there was not much of flying in these rotor propelled aircrafts. Although the fixed winged aircraft rules have been amended periodicially along with the advancement in the sector but there has been no change in the rules for the helicopters. The argument in favour of the immediate overhauling of the rules governing the helicopter flying in the country came today from Air Marshal P.S. Ahluwalia, the Director-General of inspection and safety of the IAF. While talking about the improvement in the accident rate in the IAF the Air Marshal said the rules govering the chopper flying in the country need to be made "more stringent". Air Marshal Ahluwalia said there was a need to clearly define civil aviation rules for helicopter flights as well as the capabilities of helicopters and pilots. The rules needed to be "reviewed and made more stringent", he said. These included specifications for VVIP flights as well as flights over water and inhabited areas. Air Marshal Ahluwalia noted that all IAF flights over water were made by helicopters with two engines, to reduce the risk of engine failure. Experts have noted that the Aircraft Act was framed at a time when there were no helicopters operating anywhere in Asia. Besides, there had been numerous advances in fixed-wing aircraft in the past five decades that had not been adequately incorporated in the act. He also noted there was a need for amending the process for certifying civilian helicopter pilots. He said assessment of civilian pilots had to be made more periodically and stringent rules framed for carrying VVIP passengers on board these choppers. Besides this, he said, the IAF helicopters were mandatorily required to carry rescue and emergency kits, while flying over sea or carrying VVIPs. Air Marshal Ahluwalia said under the present rules, civilian helicopters were defying safety rules by flying over heavily populated areas and flying VVIPs in violation of conventions of carrying a single person of that stature. The death of Haryana Power Minister and Steel magnate O.P. Jindal and Agriculture Minister Surender Singh yesterday was only the latest chapter in the book of similar accidents involving prominent political personalities. Sanjay Gandhi, younger son of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi died in 1980 when his plane crashed in New Delhi. He was only 33. High profile Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia too died in at 56 when his private aircraft crashed in Uttar Pradesh in 2001. And then in 2002, the Telugu Desam Party's G.M.C. Balayogi, then Speaker of the Lok Sabha, was killed in a helicopter crash in Andhra Pradesh. |
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Illegal guest houses in
Gurgaon
Gurgaon More than 100 illegal guest houses are functioning in the city alone. According to an official of the Enforcement wing of the District Town and Country Planning, notices are being served on owners. Residents of private colonies, like the DLF and Sushant Lok, are of the view that how can authorities stop immoral activities when they are unable to check the mushrooming of illegal “guest houses”. Recently, the City Resident Welfare Association of a posh DLF colony complained to HUDA authorities about rising commercial activities in residential areas. |
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SC notice on plea to legalise
homosexuality
New Delhi, April 1 The notice was issued on an appeal by an NGO against the Delhi High Court order, rejecting its public interest litigation (PIL) on the issue. The NGO, Naz Foundation, claiming to be working among the people suffering from AIDS, contended that the Section 377 of IPC, was a major impediment in their work as once the involvement of a person in homosexuality comes to light, police could book him for the offence and initiate prosecution. With the fear of police filing cases against them for prosecution under Section 377 thousands of people indulging in homosexual relations were not coming forward to discuss their problems even when infected by deadly HIV virus, the petitioner said. Taking cognizance of the appeal, a Bench of Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice P.P. Naolekar disapproved the order of the high court dismissing the petition at primary state without examining it on merits, saying it needed to be examined as “there is worldwide debate on the issue”. |
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SC reprimands J&K Chief Secy on contempt
issue
New Delhi, April 1 The High Court had issued contempt notices for April 7 to him and some other officials of the state for their alleged failure to implement its order even after several opportunities were given to them. They were asked to appear in person or through their lawyers. If the high executive officers of the government showed such an attitude towards the implementation of the judicial orders, it would amount to the “failure of the rule of law,” an anguished Bench of Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti and Mr Justice G.P. Mathur said when Bloeria’s counsel P.P. Roa cited the flagging of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service as his reason for not in a position to appear before the High Court on April 7 when his personal appearance was sought in a contempt matter. The Bench told Rao and Jammu and Kashmir Advocate General Altaf H Naik that when the High Court had not specifically asked the Chief Secretary to appear in person as an option was given to him to appear through his counsel, then where was the occasion for him to rush to the apex court? “We allow the petitioner to make appearance either personally or through advocate, as the High Court order itself says. There is no cause for intervention,” the Chief Justice explained. Recording the assurance of his counsel that the Chief Secretary would appear personally on some other appointed date and furnish “written explanation” to the High Court, the Bench disposed of his petition. “We make it clear that we have not expressed any opinion on merit of the contempt petition,” the Bench said. But prior to this, in stinging observations, the Chief Justice said “it is not an isolated case… we have time and again observed that this had become a normal practice among the government officials to ignore the judicial orders.” “It seems that the Chief Secretary wants to absolve himself from appearance personally. The only message he wants to give to the court is that if he wants to appear, he will appear and if did not want, he will not,” the court observed. It said that his purpose to move the Supreme Court seemed to be “to obtain an order from it and throw it on the face of the High Court,” the Chief Justice said, describing the attitude of the Executive Officers as “unfortunate”. The court said it did not want to take “cudgel against anyone, but when such things happen, courts are constrained to take such action. “By encouraging these things (entertaining petitions against high courts in such cases) we would be encouraging the Executive not to obey the orders of the court,” the Chief Justice said. |
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Give control of Bodh Gaya to Buddhists:
NCM
New Delhi, April 1 The commission observed that the Buddhists were always in a minority in the committee entrusted with the management and control of the Bodh Gaya temple, including the Mahabodi Mahavira. In a resolution adopted at the end of the meeting, the NCM stated: “The provisions of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, are not in harmony with the Fundamental Right enshrined in Article 26 of the Constitution, guaranteeing the right of freedom to every religious denomination to manage their respective religious affairs. Appropriate legal measures should be taken to ensure that all members of the committee entrusted with the management and control of the Bodh Gaya Temple,
including the Mahabodi Mahavira in Bihar are Buddhists.” The resolution has suggested in
amendment or repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, and enactment instead of a suitable legislation either by the Union Government or the Bihar government to ensure that the management of the Bodh Gaya Temple is vested exclusively with the Buddhists in keeping with the letter and spirit of Article 26 of the Constitution. |
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In video (
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Shujaat Hussain has said greater people-to-people contact between India and Pakistan would play a key role in improving bilateral ties.
Speaking to reporters at the lunch hosted by Railway Minister and RJD chief
Laloo Prasad Yadav, Mr Hussain said the two countries should move forward in the
direction of peace. He said Mr Yadav came to Pakistan and talked about peace
which was welcomed by the people in his country.
