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SC notice to Centre on phone tapping
Gowda meets Sonia
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News analysis
SC against political appointees in
Raj Bhavans
Lucknow docs in dock for doing a “Munna Bhai”
PM exhorts children to be brave, creative
Lyngdoh panel to streamline student union poll
Cong sweeps Maharashtra bypoll
IISc shootout, 2 more held
Encounter cop moves court for bail
Bush visit from Feb 28
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SC notice to Centre on phone tapping
New Delhi, January 24 A Bench, comprising Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, Mr Justice C.K. Thakker and Mr Justice P.K. Balasubramanian, issued notice to the Ministry of Telecommunication, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Delhi Police Commissioner on Amar Singh’s plea for judicial inquiry into the whole incident of phone tapping. The SP leader has sought framing of new guidelines for intercepting the calls so that it should not be abused for achieving the political ends. When his petition was mentioned before the Bench, the Solicitor-General, Mr G.E. Vahanvati, said the government was concerned with the issue and was working to do away with the pitfalls. He said the departments concerned were studying the whole issue as new scenario had emerged with the technological development and government was willing to give all assistance to the court for making the guidelines to prevent in any misuse of the provision which allow tapping. Mr Vahanvati said he would file a comprehensive affidavit on the issue. Satisfied with the submission of the Solicitor-General, the Bench gave two week to file reply. During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Amar Singh said political issues should be kept out and serious consideration should be given that a proper guidelines be laid down in view of private telecom operators coming in a big way. The Bench observed that “there was a need to plug the loopholes”.
— PTI |
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Gowda meets Sonia
New Delhi, January 24 JD(S) spokesman K Danish Ali told reporters after the meeting that Mr Gowda apprised Mrs Gandhi of the developments in Karnataka in the past few days. He said the meeting was inconclusive and Mr Gowda may meet her again. He said JD(S) was trying not to allow “communal forces” to capture power in the state. Sources said Mr Gowda put certain conditions before the Congress president. While the post of Chief Minister for Mr Kumaraswamy is stated to be one of the conditions, the sources said the JD(S) was apparently keen on better portfolios and assurance from the Congress that it would not have any truck with the expelled JD(S) leader Siddaramaiah. Among the options said to be under consideration by the Congress are offering two Deputy Chief Ministerships to JD(S). Another proposal was to accommodate Mr Kumaraswamy in the Central Cabinet. Under the pact with the BJP, Mr Kumaraswamy has been offered Chief Ministership. In his public statements in the past few days he has been ruling out any patch up with Congress. Mr Gowda, who came here this morning, also had a discussion with CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat. |
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Nitish, Lalu quiet on judgement
by Ambarish Dutta
Patna, January 24 The message was loud and clear from Mr Buta Singh who categorically stated that he would hoist the National Flag at the historic Gandhi maidan in Patna on Republic Day. Sources close to Raj Bhavan said despite his indictment for misleading the Centre on post-February poll related development, leading to the unconstitutional dissolution of the Assembly, Mr Buta Singh was apparently trying to take refuge to the related contents of the verdict which indirectly held the Centre culpable too by observing that it could have carefully studied the Governor’s report before acting on it. On his part, Mr Buta Singh also said he tried to discharge the implementing part of the interim judgement of the court before the October-November poll by ensuring to hold the elections in a free and fair manner, which was unprecedented in the history of Bihar. The UPA government, despite its attempt to make Mr Buta Singh a scapegoat now, could not ignore the court’s observation that it should have carefully studied the report before recommending imposition of President’s rule for approval by the President. Against the backdrop of these legal arguments, there are visible discomfort on the part of the Chief Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, as well as the RJD supremo, Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav, to react on the issue. The reason is broadly linked to the “Dalit image” of Mr Buta Singh, a social segment which constituted over 10 per cent votes in Bihar. Soon after the judgement, Mr Nitish Kumar said he could not react on the judgement in the capacity of the Chief Minister. Mr Nitish Kumar only stated that the people of the state already vindicated their stand by voting the NDA to power. Even otherwise, soon after the NDA captured power, Mr Nitish Kumar distanced himself from the demand of the BJP seeking dismissal of the Governor on the plea that he did not opt for confrontationist politics and instead believed on consensus politics. Mr Lalu Prasad too avoided a direct reply on the judgement by leaving the matter to Mr Buta Singh. Even though Mr Ramvilas Paswan was silent till the filing of the report, in the wake of the interim judgement he had objected to any move to make a “Dalit scapegoat” on the issue.
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SC against political appointees in
Raj Bhavans
New Delhi, January 24 While the majority judgement of Chief Justice Y.K Sabharwal, Mr Justice B.N Agrawal and Mr Justice Ashok Bhan emphasised more on the Sarkaria Commission recommendations, Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat in his dissenting verdict also concurred on this aspect apart from asking the government to consider the report of the CRC as well. Stating that the role of Governor under the Constitution, has been considered “extensively”, the majority verdict said the government should take note of the fact that it was totally against the appointment of “political leaders” in Raj Bhawans. It reminded that the Commission had emphasised on the appointment of only “eminent” persons from all walks of life except leaders who were in active politics till they were given Raj Bhawan assignments. “But we leave it to political parties to debate the issue and hope that they will arrive at some minimum agreement on this important aspect,” the majority judges said. Agreeing with them, Mr Justice Pasayat said “time has come to take some action on Sarkaria Commission report and the CRC recommendations. It is disturbing that political leaders are appointed as Governors by every party that comes to power and those who criticise others for this remain silent on this issue when they assume power,” he observed. |
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Lucknow docs in dock for doing a “Munna Bhai”
Lucknow, January 24 KGMU Vice-Chancellor Mahendra Bhandari told IANS: ‘‘We have reason to believe that both managed to gain entry into the MBBS course the ‘Munna Bhai’ way.’’ The box office hit is about a mischief-maker played by Sanjay Dutt who enters a medical college after arm-twisting the teachers and college staff. K.K Singh and Gupta have been arrested but for other reasons, this month’s violence and arson on the campus. Mr Ashutosh Pandey, the Senior Superintendent of Police here, told IANS: ‘‘During investigations we discovered that these doctors got imposters to appear for them in examinations. ‘‘They allegedly intimidated their teachers into getting clearance for this.’’ University records, officials say, show that K.K. Singh’s appointment violated all rules of the university, allegedly aided by his father K.M Singh, who then headed KGMU. ‘‘K.K Singh was initially appointed as a casualty medical officer and was subsequently named an Assistant Professor in the surgical department,’’ said one senior faculty member. Vice-Chancellor Bhandari added: ‘‘Records show that he has rarely taught students and hardly entered the operation theatre.’’ Pandey claims to have gathered sufficient evidence to establish the involvement of K.K Singh and Gupta in the arson that led to the death of a medical student during KGMU’s centenary celebrations. Gupta, who reportedly belonged to a humble rural family, made it to the MBBS course in 1992, allegedly with a fake certificate that showed him as a Dalit/ Scheduled Caste candidate. ‘‘He dropped his surname, Gupta, to project himself as a candidate belonging to the Scheduled Castes. But he started using the surname after clearing the undergraduate course,’’ Mr Bhandari said.
— IANS |
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PM exhorts children to be brave, creative New Delhi, January 24 The awardees include five girls and 12 boys.
While pointing out that Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders of the freedom struggle showed that India has the courage and conviction to stand on its feet, the Prime Minister said that their courage decided the future of the country then. “And now, your courage will decide the future of the country. So, you become fearless, courageous, creative, hardworking and brave.”
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Lyngdoh panel to streamline student union poll
New Delhi, January 24 The committee has been set up by the Human Resource Development Ministry, acting on the directive of the Supreme Court. The six-member committee will examine among other things financial transparency and limits of expenditure for students’ bodies poll and eligibility criteria for candidates, an official release said yesterday. The committee will also look into institution of a forum to address disputes arising out of student unions’ elections as regards procedural fairness, eligibility of candidates and non-observance of norms during the poll. The committee will also examine and consider all aspects relating to the conduct of student elections such as aspects affecting the academic atmosphere in colleges and universities. Besides Lyngdoh, other members of the committee are Dayanand Dongaonkar, secretary general of the Association of Indian Universities, Zoya Hasan, JNU, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Centre for Policy Research, Ved Prakash, Director of National Institute of Education, Planning and Management and I.P. Singh, a retired Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General. |
Cong sweeps Maharashtra bypoll
Mumbai, January 24 With today’s victory, the Congress has 72 legislators in the 288-member Assembly one ahead of the Nationalist Congress Party, its coalition partner in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena now has 57 MLAs and its ally the BJP 54 members in the Assembly. |
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IISc shootout, 2 more held
Bangalore, January 24 The police said Nizamuddin and Noorulla Khan of Chintamani in Kolar district were arrested in the early hours of January 22 at Hessargatta on the outskirts of the city. They had been active members of the conspiracy gang, the police said in a release here.
While Nizamuddin was an electrician by profession, Noorulla Khan was an autorickshaw driver. — UNI |
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Encounter cop moves court for bail
Mumbai, January 24 Nayak’s counsel filed the petition urging for anticipatory bail for Nayak and his wife Komal who has also been booked in the case. Nayak and his wife moved the Sessions Court after the Bombay High Court turned down their plea for anticipatory bail and asked them to move the Sessions Court for anticipatory bail. |
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Bush visit from Feb 28
New Delhi, January 24 The US President, accompanied by wife Laura Bush, is coming to India on a state visit around March 1. Officially, the dates of the visit are yet to be announced. However a report from Islamabad said Mr Bush’s visit to India will begin from February 28.
— IANS |
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