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Keep airport modernisation in abeyance: Karat
Courts in state capitals to be computerised: Law Ministry
In engaging USA, we are not surrendering autonomy: PM
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Second outbreak of bird flu in Maharashtra
DMK accuses TN Govt of poll code violation
Fissures in RJD over RS poll
BJP MPs back Advani’s yatra
Lookout notices for key witnesses in Jessica case
Decide issue of leadership soon, says Rawat
Sushma, 3 others file papers
CRIID staff pay homage to Prof Zuberi
CBI official nabbed
Fish species disappear in Haryana
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Keep airport modernisation in abeyance: Karat
New Delhi, March 14 The CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, “keeping in view the strong opposition of the employees, as the major stakeholder of the AAI, the government should not take a unilateral decision on change of management which can adversly affect industrial relations.” Reminding that the agitation of the AAI employees led by the joint forum against the privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports was withdrawn on February 4, 2005, in response to Manmohan Singh’s appeal and an “explicit” assurance from the Civil Aviation Minister to form a tripartite committee, Karat said that no meeting of the committee has been held till now. The Aviation Minister in a letter on February 4, had assured that the committee, comprising representatives of the ministry, AAI and Joint Employees Forum, would “look into the issues and proposals of modernising airports... and employee related issues”, the Left leader said. “The above issues should be clinched in the tripartite forum to assuage the feelings of the employees,” Karat said, adding that this was also in line with the CMP mandate of “no confrontation in labour management relations, but consultation, cooperation and consensus”. “Unfortunately, no meeting of the tripartite committee has been held so far, though the committee has been asked to give its report in three months,” he said, while seeking the Prime Minister’s intervention. GMR-Fraport and GVK-South African Airports have been awarded the contract to modernise Delhi and Mumbai airports, respectively. However, Reliance Airport Developers have challenged the award of modernisation contracts to rival companies in the Delhi High Court.
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Courts in state capitals to be computerised:
New Delhi, March 14 Computerisation of 900 courts situated in the Capitals of the states and union territories “will help the judicial administration in streamlining its routine activities, reduce the pendency of cases by implementing appropriate automated process and provide easy and transparent information access to ligigants,” a 41-page document of Law and Justice Ministry, placed before Chief Ministers and High Court Chief Justices conference said. The central-funded courts’ computerisation project, launched in October 2005 in coordination with National Informatics Centre (NIC), was aimed at helping the judiciary to streamline its day-to-day work and do away with the cumbersome process, especially in the subordinate courts. The entire project would be completed in five years in three phases, the ministry said. It would also help in reducing the pendency of cases by introducing a fast-track and transparent disposal system and enhance the access of judges to legal and judicial database, which could help them in firming up their orders and judgements faster. With the implementation of the computerisation programme, criminal cases would be filed at the court concerned and their number would be generated by a centralised system for allocation of the cases to a particular judge. The issuance of summons and notices generated from each court, would be automated and simplified. The system provided for monitoring of entire summon issuing process, keep track whether a summon has actually been served, the date of serving, how many times it has been tried to be served. Since non-service caused a lot of delay in initiating the trial proceedings, the statistical details about it would fix responsibilities on process server and record reasons for the rejection of the summons and would make judicial process much faster. The centrally collected database of judgements and court orders would be uploaded on to the court’s web site everyday for providing wide user access to the litigants, who would be able to access them the same day they were passed. The litigants could access the delivery of judgements and orders the same day without actually visiting the court to obtain a copy of the same. The Soft copies of the orders would be “digitally signed” and the same could be used as certified copies for further remedial actions and implementation of the court orders. The High Courts would be directly accessible on computer system of city courts for the purpose of monitoring and generating on the spot statistical statements and the information of pending cases would be available on internet on web site address of the city courts. |
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In engaging USA, we are not surrendering autonomy: PM
New Delhi, March 14 "In engaging with the USA, we are not surrendering our autonomy in decision-making," he said replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the working of the External Affairs Ministry. The Prime Minister said India's ties with Russia and China had grown overwhelmingly in the last two years of the UPA government even as New Delhi was developing relations with the USA. Referring to relations with Britain, Dr Manmohan Singh said during the visit of his British counterpart Tony Blair last year, the two countries had given a vision and concrete shape to their strategic partnership. On relations with Pakistan, Dr Manmohan Singh said he expected President Pervez Musharraf to adhere to the January 6, 2004, agreement to fight terror. There should be cessation of hostilities and dismantling of terrorist camps operating from Pakistan controlled territories to allow the dialogue to succeed. Both countries, he said, were committed to fighting terrorism and building confidence and trust. The Prime Minister said the inflow of foreign capital was central to pushing the economy, which is now growing at 7 to 8 per cent. Dr Manmohan Singh said "we have a saving rate of about 29 per cent and with another 2 or 3 per cent of the GDP from abroad through foreign capital, we can step up the growth by 1 or 2 per cent per annum". Earlier, initiating the discussion on the working of the Ministry of External Affairs, senior BJP leader and former Foreign Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh felt that it was the George Bush administration which desperately wanted a foreign policy success after strings of unsuccessful policies pursued in Iraq and Iran and the rise of the Hamas in Palestine. It was necessary for the members and political parties in the country to understand why the USA wanted the nuclear deal with the presidential elections around the corner there. He said the state of affairs in Iraq and unsettled atmosphere in Iran and the health of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon were the factors that made USA project its deal with India as a roadmap for peace. Stating that India having been outside the yard of the nuclear club, he asked whether the country needed the nuclear deal. "I don't think so being a person having travelled on this road," he stated. "All our pre-1998 arguments of working for elimination of weapons of mass destruction have fallen flat," he regretted, pointing out to the operational deployment of warheads by the USA and Russia which staggered around 1,800 to 2,700. "We (India) are relatively outside the shadow of dishonesty, but by signing the deal, we have begun to knock on the doors of the privileged," he said. He, however, welcomed the Indo-US deal as it aimed at bringing about energy security which was vital for economic security of the country. Mr P. J. Kurien (Cong) disputed the contention that the UPA government was tilting towards the USA and diluting its time-tested Non-Aligned stance. Mr Sitaram Yechury (CPM) sought to demolish allegations that the Left Front was trying to be an obstacle in the country following a foreign policy based on realism. "We want India not to succumb to the single power domination. The government should advance multi- polarity,"he said. Mr Yechury said New Delhi should enter the UN Security Council not under tutelage of the USA, but as a leader of the developing world. |
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Second outbreak of bird flu in Maharashtra Jalgaon, (Maharashtra), March 14 Culling of birds in 25 villages located in three to five km periphery of the four affected villages will begin tomorrow morning, Jalgaon Collector Vijay Singhal said after attending an emergency meeting of officials of Animal Husbandry, Health and Police Departments here. “When birds started falling dead a week ago in Salva, Savdha, Marul and Hated villages in the neighbourhood of the first flu-hit Navapur town, officials collected and sent 26 samples of the dead birds for analysis at Bhopal’s National Animal Disease lab,” he said. “Four samples tested positive for H5N1 virus, while two tested negative,” he added. He said 60 teams have been assembled to start the culling operation from tomorrow, adding that 30 more teams would join them from outside Jalgaon so that the task was accomplished as early as possible. Animal Husbandy Minister Anees Ahmed, accompanied by the state Chief Secretary, is scheduled to visit the affected area tomorrow. Earlier, state government spokesman Bhushan Gagrani said, “The dormant strain of virus H5N1 has been detected in samples sent a week ago.” The first outbreak of the disease has already caused extensive loss to poultry industry in the country, particularly in Maharashtra. — UNI
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DMK accuses TN Govt of poll code violation
Chennai, March 14 DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi alleged that a large number of projects were sanctioned by the government in a hurry after the schedule for the state Assembly elections were announced on March 1 by “pre-dating” the orders. He alleged that the allotment of land and other sanctions were granted to many computer companies. He pointed out that the Tamil Nadu Government issued another order on the setting up of a knowledge-based technological park in the suburban area of the state capital. He said according to this government order 20 acres were allotted to Cognizant Technology, 25 acres to Megasoft, 50 acres to Advanced Software, 25 acres to Benchmark Technologies and three acres to Protonet. He alleged that the land prices allotted to these were far less compared to the prevailing market rates. He said the plots were allotted at the rate of Rs 48 lakh per acre, though the prevailing market rate was Rs 4 crore thus causing a loss of Rs 375 crore to the state exchequer. Mr Karunanidhi cited the Election Commission order of staying the sanction given by the Kerala Government to the proposed ‘Smart City’ project in Kochi and urged the Election Commission to depute a team immediately to look into the matter. |
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Fissures in RJD over RS poll
Patna, March 14 The biennial elections to six Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar are slated for March 29. Talking to the The Tribune, Mr Tiwari justified his decision to withdraw from the race on the ostensible plea to ease the difficulties of Mr Yadav in finalising party‘s nominees for the Rajya Sabha elections. At a late night meeting yesterday, Mr Yadav chose the Bihar Legislative Council Chairman Jabir Hussain as party‘s first candidate pushing Mr Tiwari to the second slot. Mr Hussain’s term in the Bihar Legislative Council is ending shortly. Going by the present strength of 54 RJD MLAs in the Bihar Assembly, which can stretch up to 66 by combining the votes of other UPA partners, including the Congress, the NCP and the CPM the victory of the first candidate is certain, while the fate of the second one hangs in balance. “Mr Tiwari was reportedly upset over the way Mr Yadav finally pushed his name as the second candidate, primarily on the consideration not to send a wrong signal to his minority vote bank. Any short shift on Jabir Hussain’s name can get Mr Yadav blame of ignoring the minority”, remarked a senior party leader. This apparently enraged Mr Tiwari, who decided to opt out of the race. “As a good friend of Lalu ji, I am withdrawing from the race. I have already communicated my decision to him”, Mr Tiwari told the Tribune. Mr Yadav too is also reportedly not happy with this development. Sources in the RJD disclosed that Congress President Sonia Gandhi had already disapproved of his plan to nominate Mr Ram Jethmalani as the second candidate. The decision by his bete noire and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan to put up Mr Ranjan Yadav as a candidate for Rajya Sabha poll has further added to his woes. |
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BJP MPs back Advani’s yatra
New Delhi, March 14 BJP President Rajnath Singh would undertake the yatra simultaneously, most probably from Lucknow. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who chaired the 45-minute BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, did not make any comment on the yatra. In a virtual endorsement, party MPs thumped desks after Mr Advani explained the objectives of the yatra. The MPs were later asked to create awareness about it in the constituencies on the routes of the yatras. Mr Advani said the programme would reach out to the masses and not cause tension. Mr Advani alleged that the U.C. Banerjee Committee report on the Godhra train fire was aimed at saving the guilty for the sake of vote-bank politics. He claimed that the government had sought to communalise the armed forces through the headcount proposed by the Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee. |
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Lookout notices for key witnesses in Jessica case
New Delhi, March 14 “Yes, we have issued it,” Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence) U.K. Katna said when asked whether the police had issued lookout notices in connection with the Jessica Lall murder case. He declined to give details. Police sources said notices had been issued against all nine accused, who were acquitted by a trial court, and key witnesses, whose presence in the country was vital for the investigation. Ms Bina Ramani, her fashion designer daughter Malini and actor Shayan Munshi were among the key witnesses whose presence was required, they said. Ms Ramani and her daughter were key witnesses in the case as it was at their Tamarind Court restaurant where the ramp model was killed on the night of April 29, 1999. Munshi was one of the witnesses when Manu Sharma, son of Haryana minister Venod Sharma, allegedly shot Lall. The Ramanis had allegedly washed the premises after the incident, thereby destroying evidence in the case. Under lookout notices, all airports and ports are alerted about the persons against whom they are issued to prevent them from leaving the country without prior permission.
— PTI |
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Decide issue of leadership soon, says Rawat
New Delhi, March 14 Talking to The Tribune here, Mr Rawat said the impression of uncertainty in Uttaranchal about the top political leadership should end, as the state would face elections in about a year. The PCC chief said he had no information if Mr Tiwari had sent resignation to the Congress President following his desire to relinquish office. Answering a query, Mr Rawat said the issue was not of the need of younger leadership in the state. “But a Chief Minister has to lead from the front...he (Mr Tiwari) has to make up his mind.” Mr Rawat, who is seen to be the front-runner in the choice for Chief Minister if change of leadership takes place in the state, said he had not made a claim to the top position. The PCC chief said he was a “soldier” of the party. |
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Sushma, 3 others file papers
Bhopal, March 14 The other BJP members to file their papers today were Mr Vikram Verma, Mr Narayan Singh Kesri and Ms Anusuya Uike. Mr Verma and Mr Kesri were sitting members while Ms Uike would be a new entrant. The four candidates assembled at the BJP headquarters, garlanded the statue of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and proceeded in a procession to the Vidhan Sabha building. The Congress was yet to announce its candidate. Five members could be elected from the state. |
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CRIID staff pay homage to Prof Zuberi
Chandigarh, March 14 Professor Zuberi, who was associated with CRRID for many years in different capacities, first came in contact with Mr Rashpal Malhotra, CRRID Director, at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study(IIAS), Shimla, where on the advice of Dr Mulk Raj Anand and Prof Raja Ramana, he took up the challenge of working on issues of international politics and disarmament, which were both relevant and important during the cold war. He later joined Jawaharlal Nehru University from, where he retired as Professor. Professor Zuberi was a Member of the National Security Advisory Board and had participated in the preparation of the Draft Indian Nuclear Doctrine. He leaves behind a young son Irfaan and wife Nasreen. His family and friends will organise a condolence meeting at 2 p.m. on March 22 at the India International Centre, New Delhi. |
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CBI official nabbed
New Delhi, March 14 The CBI’s Economic Offences Wing had been pursuing information about the alleged corrupt practices by the law officer identified as R P Dwivedi, they nabbed him this morning. Dwivedi is attached to the anti-corruption branch of the CBI’s Mumbai office, CBI DIG Sundari Nanda told newspersons here. The CBI also carried out raids at his official and residential premises, which led to seizure of Kisan Vikas Patras worth Rs 18.76 lakh, investments in IDBI and elsewhere worth Rs 12.58 lakh and bank balances worth about Rs 3 lakh, she said. The CBI has also arrested a constable V.S. Prabhu and a financial consultant Bharat Bhai Shah. |
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Fish species disappear in Haryana
New Delhi, March 14 Minister of State for Agriculture Kanti Lal Bhuria in a written reply said as per a study conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the 112 species found in Haryana in 1966-67 had now been reduced to 55. High siltation in the Yamuna and Ghaggar rivers and increased pollution due to release of sewage and industrial effluents in them have been attributed for the disappearance of the fish. Indiscriminate use of river waters for various purposes by people and industries was another reason, he said. The Haryana government has declared the upper reaches of the Yamuna river as fish sanctuaries to prevent commercial fishing. There is no proposal to set up a fish safari under a Centrally sponsored scheme, Mr Bhuria added. |
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Sanjay Dutt appears in court
Mumbai, March 14 Appearing along with them were the 86 persons accused in the case. Counsel for the CBI then submitted the draft of the proposed charges against Salem to the designated Judge P.D. Kode. |
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Mumbai stations under CCTV surveillance
Mumbai, March 14 Sources said cameras would be installed at all major railways stations in the Central and Western Railway lines in the next couple of months. |
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