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No damages for natural death at workplace: SC
Kalam: Media need to chart nation’s growth
Cong wants LS adjourned to mourn Kanshi’s death
Byelection: Leaders woo swamis
Customs’ clean chit to Ash
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NCW seeks action against DGP
No-trust move against LF govt
Ex-Dawood aide found guilty
BJP plans rally over security issues tomorrow
River waters: TN locks horns with Kerala, Karnataka
No creamy layer criterion for
SCs, STs
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No damages for natural death at workplace: SC
New Delhi, November 20 The court laid down three important parameters for determining the award of compensation in such an eventuality. These parameters are: the stress and strain arising during the course of employment, nature of the employment and the injury aggravation due to such stress and strains. “Only because a person dies of a heart attack (at workplace), it does not give rise to automatic presumption that the same was by way of accident. A person may be suffering from a heart disease although he may not be aware of it. Medical opinion will be of relevance in providing guidance to court in this behalf,” a Bench of Mr Justice S.B. Sinha and Mr Justice Markandey Katju ruled. The court said circumstances must exist to establish that the heart attack was the result of stress and strains of the work. But the stress and strains could not merely be presumed, these have to be established through medical reports. The death due to a heart attack at the workplace would not make it a straight-jacket case to arrive at the conclusion that it fell in the category of an accident for grant of compensation to the victim’s kin. They would have to bring on record “elaborate evidence” to prove that the cardiac arrest was due to the pressure of work and the nature of his job. No stray statement to this effect would be accepted, the court said. The ruling came on an appeal by the wife of a cleaner of a lorry in Maharashtra, who died after complaining of chest pain while on the move in September, 2002. The Bombay High Court had rejected the claim for compensation after it was granted by the Workmen’s Compensation Commissioner. The apex court upheld the high court order while laying down the guidelines and rejected her appeal. The court, however, said if any amount had been paid, it would not be recovered.
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Kalam: Media need to chart nation’s growth
New Delhi, November 20 The summit has been organized by Tehelka and is a major attempt to “create a forum of empathy dialogue and understanding between key constituents of society.” The attempt has been made to give faceless and voiceless India a hearing out: whether it is issues like farmer suicides with urban India pitted against rural India or reservations: inclusive progress or the death of merit, the Indian state: protector or alienator, Naxals: backlash of the fourth world or Kashmir: External hand or internal haemorrhage etc. The theme of the summit this year is, ‘Two India’s one future.’ The President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, commented that, “When I think about the powerless people of the nation I am reminded of a vast majority and these are people who we don’t normally think about like the mechanics, ‘aayas’ etc. Connectivity is by far the most important thing which will help empower the nation. The media has the responsibility to take stock of the various developmental processes taking place in the country. The media can become a partner in these national developments.” Kalam also stressed that the media’s focus has largely been on “political politics” and not on “developmental politics.” The media needs to closely follow trends in the nation in the developmental arena and at the grassroots level. Tarun Tejpal, Editor-in-chief of Tehelka, says that, “the idea for the summit of the powerless came from the absence of certitude. As the battles for the future of India multiply, as different stake-holders demand different ways of doing things, the way forward is becoming increasingly unclear and thorny. For every swank mall that springs up in a booming Indian city, a neglected village explodes in Naxalite rage; for every child who takes wing to study in a foreign university there are ten who fall of the map without even the raft of a basic alphabet to keep them afloat; for every Italian eatery serving up fettuccine there is a debt ridden farmer hanging himself and his hopes by a rope.” “The growing hiatus of inequality needs to be checked. Unless material conditions change one cannot change the state of our nation. Human resources are our most important asset and the youth should not be treated as a liability but as an asset,” said Mr Sitaram Yechury, Member CPI-M politburo. Yet another commentator, Arjun Singh, Minister Human resource development declared candidly that, “this is not a summit of the powerless but a democratic gathering. There are two India’s - one ensconced in security and safety and the other is struggling for a living with every passing day. We need to attempt at reconciling the realities of these two India’s.” Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev stressed rather emotionally that, “seventy five percent of our country is struggling to exist. The rural population of India is being affected by another silent tsunami - the hungry don’t make much noise. Its time that India Inq realizes that the time for charity is gone and we are entering a stage where we need to achieve success through partnership.”
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Cong wants LS adjourned to mourn Kanshi’s death New Delhi, November 20 According to norms, Parliament is adjourned to mourn the death of a sitting member. However, Suresh Pachouri, minister of state for Parliamentary affairs, has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee that an exception be made in Kanshi Ram’s case who was a former member of the Lower House. Describing the late BSP leader as one of the tallest leaders of this country, Mr Pachouri said since Kanshi Ram’s contribution to the cause of the Dalits and downtrodden was immense, it would be in the fitness of things that the House paid homage to him by adjourning for the day. He, however, clarified that the instance should not be used as a precedent. The Rajya Sabha is scheduled to adjourn shortly after meeting on the opening day of winter session to condole the death of sitting member Lalit Suri during the inter- session period. Mr Chatterjee will seek a consensus on this suggestion from all politcal parties tomorrow at the customary session-eve meeting. The ruling coalition believes its proposal will find all-round acceptance as no politcal party can be seen to oppose such a move. On its part, the UPA government, especially the Congress, appears to have two clear motives in putting forth this suggestion. It hopes to defuse the BJP offensive on the twin issues of internal security and the hanging of Afzal Guru. These issues are on top of the NDA agenda and they are planning to stall proceedings of the House on the opening day to protest the clemency plea for Afzal. The Congress also has an eye on next year’s Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and would like to send out a message to the SCs, who were once the Congress’ supporters, but have now shifted loyalties to the BSP. In addition, the Congress strategists believe this step will prove to be an adequate response to BSP president Mayawati’s attack against the government for not declaring a national holiday on the day of Kanshi Ram’s death.
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Byelection: Leaders woo swamis
Bangalore, November 20 The election battle is being billed as a do-or-die one between the Gowda clan, led by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and his Chief Minister son H.D. Kumaraswamy and their friend-turned-foe Siddaramaiah. Such are the stakes that the election seems to have even made Congress candidate and former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaih, a self-proclaimed atheist, a believer in divine intervention. The Chief Minister has always been a firm believer in astrology and religious practices to ward off “evil”. Repeated jolts to the coalition government, led by him, have seen him intensifying his devotional activities. The Chamundeshwari byelection, necessitated after Mr Siddaramaiah resigned from the Janata Dal (Secular) of the Gowda clan and joined the Congress, has only resulted in a fresh surge of astrological consultations and “yajnas”. The Chief Minister recently took time out from his schedule to consult vaastu expert and astrologer K.N. Somayaji who has earlier predicted that the coalition government will have a short life. After the meeting with the Chief Minister, the astrologer announced that Mr Kumaraswamy had an excellent future ahead. Earlier, the astrologer had asked Mr Kumaraswamy to construct a stone wall at his official residence to make it vaastu compliant. The Chief Minister got the wall raised. Few days ago, Mr Kumaraswamy also travelled to the residence of astrologer Burudeghatta Nagaraj in Tumkur district by helicopter. The astrologer is said to have predicted Mr Kumaraswamy’s accession to the Chief Minister’s chair four years ago. Mr Siddaramaiah, who had kept off swamis and religion till now, also called on a number of religious leaders and astrologers before filing his nomination on November 17. He is facing a triangular contest against two nominees of the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Janata Da(United). He visited the Siddaganga mutt in Tumkur and also called on Swami Balagangadharanath in Bangalore.
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Mumbai, November 20 After grilling her for two and a half hours at the international airport here this afternoon, the Customs officials cleared her. “We have given her a clean chit as of now,” Commissioner, Customs (Imports), A.K. Prasad told mediapersons this evening. She was “mentally very disturbed but cooperative (during questioning) and our officers had to pacify her,” he added. Aishwarya’s secretary Harii Singh confirmed her presence in the city early today but said she had left for Jodhpur to continue her shooting for “Jodha Akbar”. Aishwarya Rai was questioned at the Sahar international airport instead of New Customs House in South Mumbai to avoid mediapersons, who had gathered in strength since morning. The suspect parcel, sent from the Netherlands, allegedly by one Avineshwar and marked to the actress, arrived at the Foreign Post Office here in September. Besides the currency, it also contained a top-brand shirt, a pair of binoculars, a DVD player and other electronic items. — UNI
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NCW seeks action against DGP New Delhi, November 20 NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas told TNS that she will take up the matter with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. ``There are so many women in the Central para-military forces and several such cases are registered with us. Something ought to be done to ensure the safety of women in Central para-military forces.''
The NCW has also written to the Ministry of Home Affairs asking them to apprise it of the action taken against
former IG, CRPF, Srivastava who was found guilty of charges of sexual harassment.
Taking serious cognisance of the complaint by Sub Inspector Savita Dutt (under suspension for the last six months) of the 88 Battalion, the commission has asked the DG, CRPF, to comment on her allegations of victimisation by the lady Commandant of her battalion in Srinagar. In her complaint to the commission, Savita has alleged that the lady Commandant is looking for ways and means to victimise her. Savita told the commission that she risked the wrath of the lady Commandant by giving corroborative evidence in favour of Assistant Commandant, CRPF, Swarnlata, who had also levelled similar allegations against Srivastava. She has petitioned the NCW to probe the role of the Commandant in her victimisation and intervene in her reinstatement. Savita told the commission that when the NCW monitored the inquiry and recorded statements on the complaint of Assistant Commandant Swarnlata, her present Commandant was a member of the Complaints Committee set up by the CRPF to look into complaints of sexual harassment. Savita alleged that she had told the NCW at that time that a member of the Complaints Committee (now her Commndant) was biased and that the complainants could not expect any justice. Thirty-eight-year-old Savita Dutt who knocked the door of the NCW on Wednesday to narrate her woeful tale to Deputy Secretary Gurpreet Deo could barely speak. She broke down several times while giving an account of how she has been harassed by IGP Srivasatava and then by her own Commandant.
Asked by the Deputy Secretary to calm down, Savita said, ``Ma'am, I cannot tell you what all I have suffered.'' In a written complaint to the NCW, Savita has recounted four instances of how the IGP tried to make advances towards her. After posting her from the battalion to his own office in Delhi, he began making indecent and unsolicited remarks on the way she should wear her uniform. He even suggested that she report to work in civil clothes. Savita has alleged that Srivastava once complimented her on her work and said, ``Come close, I want to pat you on your back.'' When she did not comply, he clasped her hands, pulled her cheeks and patted her on the back. Savita has said in her complaint that she freed herself from his hold and expressed her disapproval of his actions. ``I told him that I did not like this and that he should not be doing this as he was also a government servant.'' The aggrieved Sub Inspector has alleged that Srivastava threatened to transfer her to remote places if she did not befriend him. It was on her complaint to the then DG, CRPF, Mr S.C. Chaube, that he was transferred. Savita told TNS that her Commandant had got her suspended by levelling frivolous and false allegations against her. Savita who is unmarried told TNS that she has been denied subsistence allowance. This despite the fact that she is the only earning member of her family which is already living in difficult circumstances
in Madhya Pradesh. Savita is fighting her battle alone and her parents back home have
no inkling of her condition.
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No-trust move against LF govt
Kolkata, November 20 The motion was on the issue of transferring of land at Singhur to Tata Motors and the government’s decision of forcible eviction of the farmers elsewhere from their crop-lands for transferring then to industries. The motion will come up for discussion on November 28. But when the Assembly began today, the SUCI MLA, Mr Debaprasad Sarker, tried to move a separate resolution demanding discussions on the issue of transferring of agricultural lands at Singhur to Tata Motor. But it was not allowed. However, despite the Speaker’s objection, Mr Sarkar suddenly started reading out from the resolution amidst protests and objections from the treasury bench. The MLA, however, completed the reading of the resolution and afterwards, staged a walk out from the house protesting against the speaker’s ruling. Meanwhile, Ms Mamata Banerjee today announced at Singhur that they would organise a round the clock sit-in from tomorrow morning for resisting the transferring of agricultural lands to Tata Motors. The TMC and other partners of the newly formed democratic fronts including Congress(l), the BJP, the RJD, the SP and the CPI(M-L) would take part in the demonstration.
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Ex-Dawood aide found guilty
Mumbai, November 20 Judge P D Kode also convicted Pathan under section 5 of TADA for possessing three AK 56 rifles and nine magazines, which were part of weapons smuggled by Dawood and Memon in pursuance of the blasts conspiracy. Pathan was also convicted under section 6 of TADA (enhanced punishment for violating other acts) and section 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy). But the court did not find Pathan guilty of sending his men to Pakistan via Dubai for arms training, as the evidence provided by CBI was not sufficient on this count. Pathan’s associate Khan was found guilty under section 5 of TADA and under the Arms Act for possessing three AK 56 rifles and nine magazines. But Khan was not found guilty under section 6 of TADA as he was not aware for what purpose the weapons were being kept with him. Khan was also absolved of charges of conspiracy as prosecution could not prove its case.
— PTI
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BJP plans rally over security issues tomorrow
New Delhi, November 20 In a statement, BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said party president Rajnath Singh and senior leader L.K. Advani would address twin meetings of party activists from several states at Birla Mandir and Samata Sthal on that day before party workers moved towards Parliament Street to attend the rally. BJP workers and leaders from Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir and North-Eastern states would attend the rally. He said former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and senior leaders would address the public rally on Parliament Street and the workers would march towards Parliament after the meeting. He said the march was a symbol of the “national anguish on the soft and submissive policies” of the Centre which was “leaning towards” granting clemency to Parliament attack mastermind and death row convict Mohammad Afzal.
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River waters: TN locks horns with Kerala, Karnataka
Chennai, November 20 To resolve the issue, the Union Minister for Water Resources, Mr Saifuddin Soz, has convened a meeting in New Delhi on November 29 which will be attended by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and his Kerala counterpart V. Achuanandan. According to state government sources, Mr Soz and Mr Karunanidhi have already discussed the issue over the telephone. The Supreme Court, during its last hearing of the case, had stated that the two Chief Ministers should meet and discuss the issue. An all-party meeting, convened by Mr Karunanidhi here last month, had given the go-ahead to him to discuss the issue with the Kerala Chief Minister in the presence of the Central Government representative. However, former Chief Minister and All-India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) supremo Jayaram Jayalalithaa has come down heavily on Mr Karunanidhi. She demanded that the Central and Tamil Nadu Governments should take steps to raise the water storage level in the Mullaperiyar dam to 142 feet immediately.
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No creamy layer criterion for SCs, STs New Delhi, November 20 Minister for Personnel Suresh Pachauri said here that this was the opinion of Attorney-General Milon Banerjee, who was consulted by the Government to know the mandate of the Supreme Court in its recent judgement on reservation in promotion to the SCs and STs. The UPA government had sought the opinion of the AG after its allies and the Left parties had raised hue and cry over the application of “creamy layer” formula to the SCs and STs.
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Cow’s urine comes handy Indore singer creates record |
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