 |
|
|
Declaration Of Assets
Dinakaran snubs HC lawyers, attends court
PM to attend India-ASEAN summit
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Andhra Pradesh seeks Rs 6,000-cr flood relief
No second term for VCs in same varsity
Indira award for Balraj Puri
BD Kalla ahead in race for new R’sthan Cong chief
Kerala boat tragedy: Steersman arrested
Law to give teeth to Wakf council soon
Airhostess knocks NCW door against pilots
Was the flight left unattended?
Anti-ragging portal of UGC
Now, a potral for lost goods of air travellers
Govt to phase out CFC inhalers
Interlinking of rivers a larger issue, says Singhvi
|
|
Declaration
Of Assets
New Delhi, October 5 According to the appeal, prepared by Attorney General GE Vahanvati and filed in the HC, the single judge of the HC in his September 2 order had failed to appreciate that the “information” regarding the declaration of assets by the SC judges was not covered under the RTI Act. The appeal has been filed despite the decision of the Supreme Court judges to put up details of the judges’ assets on the apex court’s website. Holding that the Right to Information (RTI) Act “is premised on disclosure being the norm and refusal of the exception,” the HC had ruled that the Act mandated providing details of the Supreme Court judges’ assets to the RTI applicants. The Chief Justice of India “is a public authority” covered under the provisions of the RTI Act and the “CJI holds the information pertaining to asset declarations in his capacity as Chief Justice” (not personal capacity), Justice S Ravindra Bhat had clarified in a 72-page verdict. In the appeal, the apex court has contended that the HC had “travelled far beyond” the issues raised in the petition, arguments and written submissions. The single judge had “proceeded on a completely new basis in his own analysis of the provisions of the Constitution and the alleged resultant obligations cast on the judges.” The “analysis” of the judge “is essentially wrong and the conclusions reahced by him are unjustified in law and constitutional theory,” the SC maintained in the appeal. The HC failed to appreciate the central argument that the RTI applicant (Subhash Chandra Agrawal) had no right to seek the information about assets of judges, it said. The HC had merely noted the contention regarding Section 2(j) of the Act, but did not deal with it. The HC had “completely skirted this crux of the matter and has in fact delved into realms of abstract principles of ‘essential ethical behaviour of judges’ and norms of judicial behaviour. This was “completely irrelevant to decide the basic issue.” “Information can be sought under Section 2(j) of the Act, only if it is held by or is under the control of any public authority under the provisions of any statute or any provision having the force of law. If there is no statute that entails holding or controlling of such information, there is no right to information under the Act,” the SC contended. Further, the declaration of assets “is purely voluntary and is not required to be given under any legal provision and there is no sanction for non-furnishing of such information.” If the reasoning of the HC were taken to its logical conclusion, it would mean that the application of the Act could also be made to ‘notes and draft judgments’ and health records of judges. There was no denying the fact that the 1997 SC resolution on declaration of assets had to be accorded the highest value. But this “cannot form the legal basis for clothing an applicant with a right to information.” The appeal, which seeks stay of the HC judgment as interim relief, is likely to be mentioned before a division Bench of the HC tomorrow for an urgent hearing.
|
|
Dinakaran snubs HC lawyers, attends court
Bangalore, October 5 The court resumed work today after Dussehra holidays. Dinakaran came under cloud after eminent SC lawyers opposed his proposed elevation to the apex court. The SC lawyers cited charges, including amassing huge property, levelled against Dinakaran by the Chennai-based Forum for Judicial Accountability. Lawyers from Chennai subsequently embellished their case against Dinakaran by providing fresh details of “assets disproportionate to his known sources of income” to the collegium - the committee of five top judges responsible for appointments and promotions of judges. However, in Karnataka Dinakaran seemed to have won the first round of battle against his detractors. The lawyers’ body, which had earlier threatened to boycott the Karnataka CJ’s court if he did not heed their demand of sitting out till his name was cleared by the Supreme Court, was today clearly in a disarray on what should be its next course of action. R Rajanna, general secretary of the association, was seen surrounded by a group of agitated lawyers in a passage close to the court hall no. 1 where the Dinakaran was conducting the proceedings. “We requested the Chief Justice to keep away from work till his name was cleared by Supreme Court. However, he has turned up today. We shall call a meeting in the afternoon and take a decision on the issue”, Rajanna told the TNS. However, KN Putte Gowda, president of the body, later told the TNS that a special general body meeting of the association had been convened on Wednesday to decide further course of action. It is learnt that fissures have appeared in the association with a section of lawyers seeking a review of a resolution that asked Dinakaran not to take part in judicial proceedings till his name was cleared of the charge of amassing wealth. Karnataka Advocate-General (AG) Ashok Harnahalli earlier threw his weight behind the beleaguered CJ and urged him to sit on the bench and conduct the proceedings. Karnataka State Bar Council also decided against taking a confrontationist stance against Dinakaran and said the best thing to do would be to wait for a verdict by the Supreme Court on the allegations levelled against him.
|
|
PM to attend India-ASEAN summit
New Delhi, October 5 The summit was earlier scheduled to be held in April but the authorities were forced to cancel it amid chaotic anti-government protests at the summit venue. It was rescheduled for mid-June but was again deferred because the proposed dates did not fit with the schedule of some of the leaders, including the Indian PM. Official sources said Manmohan Singh, who will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, would strongly pitch for a quantum jump in trade between India and the ASEAN countries, now that the two sides have concluded a free trade agreement (FTA). ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. The six dialogue partners are China, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.
|
|
Andhra Pradesh seeks Rs 6,000-cr flood relief
Hyderabad, October 5 The UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi undertook an aerial survey of flood-ravaged areas in Mahaboobnagar, Kurnool and Krishna districts and assured all possible help to the state government in tackling the crisis. The Chief Minister K Rosaiah submitted a preliminary report to her on the extent of damage caused by the flood fury and requested the Centre to treat the floods as national disaster. Soon after her arrival at Shamshabad international airport by a special aircraft from Delhi, Sonia took an Army helicopter for aerial survey of the affected areas. She was accompanied by Union Ministers P Chidambaram and Veerappa Moily, besides Rosaiah and APCC President D Srinivas. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister addressed a letter to Prime Minister Monmohan Singh urging him to consider the floods as "national calamity of rare severity" and release money under the National Calamity and Contingency Fund (NCCF). According to Rosaiah, the loss incurred by infrastructure sector, including roads, communication, power and irrigation, is to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore. Besides, Rs 1050 crore worth of agricultural and horticultural crops have been destroyed while damages to houses is put at Rs 300 crore. An amount of Rs 500 crore was being spent on rescue and relief operations, including food supplies, and payment of Rs two lakh ex-gratia each to the kin of the flood victims. Highlighting the severity of the calamity, the Chief Minister said the floods, which left a trail of destruction in five districts, have damaged more than one lakh acres of standing crops. About 574 minor irrigation tanks have been breached while Srisalam Right Bank Power house was completely inundated. The Srisailam Project, which was designed for a maximum inflow of 10.36 lakh cusecs, received more than 25 lakh cusecs continuously for 12 hours. "This is the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) predicted once in 10,000 years," Rosaiah said. Several villages along the river course in the two districts and also parts of Nalgonda are currently inundated. In Krishna district alone, over 1.50 lakh people have been evacuated.
|
|
Mamata not in favour of Gorkhaland
Kolkata, October 5 She, however, admitted that during the past three decades of the CPI(M) rule, the state government as well as the Centre had done little for developing the hills areas. Talking to mediapersons at Siliguri town after flagging off a new express train from New Jalpaiguri to Digha today, the Railway Minister criticised both the CPI(M) and the Congress for ignoring the genuine needs of the Darjeeling people, which had now forced them to launch a prolonged movement, demanding a separate Gorkhaland. Saying that their demand for a separate Gorkhaland was not feasible, Mamata recommended larger autonomy and larger financial power to the Hill Council and also a direct flow of Central funds to the hill council. The TMC leader strongly criticised the Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for mishandling of the Lalgarh movement as he did in the past while dealing with the farmers’ agitation at Singur and Nandigram. She said the tribal people’s agitation at Lalgarh was not the Maoists’ agitation. The deprived tribal people had genuine grievances and they had every right to launch movement which all the sensible people could support. She warned that if the government tried to malign or harass writer Mahasetwa Devi, social activist Medha Patkar, actors Aparna Sen, Shaoli Mitra and others for supporting the Lalgarh movement, the people would strongly oppose that. Mamata said the state government had not banned the Maoists organisation. Hence, the Maoists people had every right to participate in any democratic movement. If the government had concrete evidence against the Lalgarh agitation leader Chhatradhar Mahato, he could be dealt with as par law. Though the Chief Minister did not make any comment, the state chief secretary AM Chakraborty said since the Maoist organisations had been banned by the Centre, the people supporting the Maoists irrespective of their position, political leanings or ideologies would be indulging in illegal activity which was punishable under law.
|
|
|
No second term for VCs in same varsity
New Delhi, October 5 The announcement was made while unveiling a draft regulation listing a host of norms regarding services of the VCs and faculty members. While elaborating the announcement, the UGC secretary RK Chauhan said there should not be a reappointment of the VC for the second term in the same university. However, appointment for another term as VC is admissible in other central or state university, which should be subject to the performance evaluation of the candidate. The regulation is intended to bring uniformity and excellence into the system. If accepted, each university would have uniform system of selection of VCs and faculty members added Chouhan. The UGC has sought views of stakeholders like universities and colleges for implementing such regulations. As per the draft regulations, a search committee that would be headed by the nominee of the visitor or chancellor would carry out the selection of VC.
|
|
Indira award for Balraj Puri
New Delhi, October 5 “The 24th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the year 2008 has been awarded to Balraj Puri, an eminent journalist of Jammu and Kashmir for his yeoman work in promoting and preserving the spirit of national integration in the country,” a statement by the Congress today said. The award was instituted by the Congress in its centenary year to give recognition to outstanding contribution to the cause of national integration and understanding by individuals or institutions. Congress president Sonia Gandhi would give the award, comprising a citation and cash of Rs 5 lakh, to Puri on the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi on October 31.
|
|
BD Kalla ahead in race for new R’sthan Cong chief
Jaipur, October 5 Gehlot met the political advisor to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel, apparently to discuss the issue besides various political appointments in the state. The rumour mills are running overtime, particularly after Joshi made his intention clear to quit the post of PCC chief. Leading the race for the top job is former PCC chief BD Kalla, which has sent jitters among other contenders. The other aspirants for the key post include Jaipur MP Mahesh Joshi, senior Congress leader Prabha Thakur, and PCC vice-president Chandra Bhan. Though these three were lobbying hard for the post, what brought Kalla back into the reckoning is his visit to Delhi along with Gehlot this weekend. However, there is a section within the party that feels appointment to the top post should be made by following proper the procedure of election. When contacted, Kalla dubbed the speculation as baseless but confirmed he had accompanied the CM to Delhi. He said the visit to Delhi was “personal” and the issue of the PCC chief was not discussed with him. Though Kalla may have dismissed the rumours of his replacing Joshi, he is a strong contender for the post for reasons more than one. Firstly, the central leadership would not like to disturb the ‘caste equation’ and would find it easy to replace a Brahmin leader with another. Also, Kalla’s past experience as PCC chief and his involvement in preparing the party manifesto for the state assembly elections makes him a hot favourite for the post. All these factors make him a strong candidate at a time when the ruling party will face crucial local body and panchayat elections in the near future. Meanwhile, other Congress leaders are hopeful various political appointments, which are due since formation of the party’s government in the state last December, will be made ahead of the local body polls in the state. Their expectations have increased particularly after the appointment of former deputy chief minister Kamla Beniwal as governor of Tripura on the day Gehlot met the party’s central leadership in Delhi.
|
|
Kerala boat tragedy: Steersman arrested
Thekkady, October 5 After the boat tragedy last Wednesday, concern was expressed over lack of adequate life jackets which may have minimised the death toll.The steersman Victor Samuel and sub-crew Anish were arrested on the basis of findings by a police team that carelessness on the part of the steersman and allowing overcrowding on the upper deck of the vessel were the prime factors that led to the state’s worst ever tourist mishap.Both were charged with sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 34 (act done by several persons in common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. The culpable homicide offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Victor and Anish were produced before a court at Peermade in Idukki district which remanded them to judicial custody. — PTI
|
|
Law to give teeth to Wakf council soon
New Delhi, October 5 Also on the anvil is a proposal to give Rs 5 crore annual grant to the council, which is expected now to monitor the land in question. Meeting in the capital today, the Central Wakf Council also said it was in the process of computerising the entire Wakf records across India, besides of course collaborating with the Archeological Survey of India to survey all properties towards the goal of their proper management. There has been a long-standing dispute between the ASI and the Wakf Council on the number of buildings being managed by the two. “The ASI has long been understating the records,” said council members, who especially want mosques to be surveyed. The council also discussed the manner in which three Wakf based universities can be funded by the centre, which has no constitutional mandate to do so in case of minority institutions. The tentative proposal is to set up the three proposed universities at Mysore, Kishanganj in Bihar and Ajmer in Rajasthan. “As per the Constitution, the states can’t create minority institutions and fund them. Only the minorities themselves, under Article 30 of the Constitution, can set up and manage their institutions which don’t receive central funding. But in case of the above three universities, the centre is looking at ways whereby funding can be ensured. The Minority Affairs Ministry, however, decided today to offer central grant to states for better upkeep and improvement of Wakf properties. The grants will come subject to certain conditions.
|
|
Airhostess knocks NCW door against pilots
New Delhi, October 5 Visibly shaken, air hostess Komal, who earlier lodged an FIR at the Palam police station against Capt Ranbir Arora and co-pilot Aditya Chopra, met NCW chairperson Girija Vyas today and sought justice in the case. The commission recorded her statement and sought a report from Air India which today said no safety was compromised in the said flight at any point of time. Vyas, meanwhile, ordered a parallel enquiry into the incident by the commission, whose committee would be finalised tomorrow. Bearing injury marks, Komal submitted a detailed complaint to the NCW against the two pilots. She alleged they first called her into the cockpit on the fateful day and harassed her. “When I did not respond to their advances, they recalled me and Flight Purser Amit Khanna, on whose work station, I was posted that day. That was when, we were abused and manhandled. I kept on trying to calm down the pilots as anxiety could have led to tragedy. They were, however, in no mood to relent,” Komal told The Tribune today. She said she was in no position to recall the disparaging remarks Aditya Chopra made at her. “At one point Capt Ranbir said he would divert the flight to Karachi and kill me there,” Komal alleged, adding that Capt Ranbir eventually pushed her out of the cockpit, forcing her to fall on the face. Komal submitted the medical report along with the FIR details of her injuries. Today, she was accompanied to the commission by Amit Khanna and some colleagues from Air India. She claimed it had taken her a lot of courage to come out openly and fight for her dignity. “This only shows how rampant such behaviour on the part of pilots is. This is unacceptable and I will not yield till I get justice,” she said, adding that the said scuffle had lasted at least 10 minutes.
|
|
|
Was the flight left unattended?
New Delhi, October 5 There are allegations that that IC 884 was put on auto mode for nearly 10 minutes as the crew sorted out their differences 30,000 feet above the ground. According to some reports, Captain of IC 884 Ranbir Arora said, “In the process of asking them (the airhostess and her friend) to go out of the cockpit, I had to actually push them outside the cockpit, as my first officer was hurt and bleeding. The entire conversation of Amit Khanna was for at least 10 minutes. From the time he came, he started abusive language. We were insecure, however, looking at the situation in the interest of life safety and the airlines, we did not inform APC of this kind of unlawful interference of flight operation,” he added. This statement had given rise to speculations that the aircraft was on auto mode for nearly 10 minutes. Air India has, however, denied reports that the cockpit was unmanned during mid-air scuffle. A committee constituted by the management to enquire into the IC 884 incident has concluded decisively that the cockpit was not left unmanned at any point of time during the flight phase. The airline has grounded two of its pilots and two crew members pending an investigation into an in-flight brawl that took place at cruising altitude in front of a planeload of the passengers. The aircraft was en route from Sharjah to Delhi when the fighting started after a stewardess accused a co-pilot of sexual harassment. On Saturday, an air hostess on board flight IC 884 accused the co-pilot of molesting her. Sources claimed that one of the flight stewards Amit Khanna allegedly hit the co-pilot. However, Khanna himself has denied attacking the co-pilot. Reports suggest the cockpit of the Airbus A320 was unattended at one point as the scuffle continued.
|
|
|
Anti-ragging portal of UGC
New Delhi, October 5 “This will be an independent portal where the victims of ragging can register their complaints,” UGC secretary RK Chouhan said.
— PTI
|
|
|
Now, a potral for lost goods of air travellers
New Delhi, October 5 Each year, goods worth crores of rupees are misplaced at airports across the country. In most cases, the passengers forget to pick up their items before boarding flights. Now, the CISF would upload details on its website www.cisf.gov.in to inform about lost and found goods at the airports manned by it and deposited with the airport operators. The ownership would be established only on proof about the goods. The details of the relevant contact persons whom a passenger could approach to claim the belongings would also be
uploaded. — TNS
|
|
Govt to phase out CFC inhalers
New Delhi, October 5 The advice came from drug controller of India Surinder Singh, who was addressing a meet at AIIMS on phasing out of CFCs (Chloroflurocarbons) in Metered-Dose Inhalers (MDIs), Transition Strategy Implementation and Adoption of CFC free Alternatives in India. Singh said environmental friendly asthma and COPD inhalers were being introduced across the country as chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) phase-out gains momentum. The withdrawal of CFC-containing inhalers follows the Montreal Protocol, where India is a signatory. The protocol requires countries to replace CFCs with environmental friendly alternatives. Singh also said soon all asthma and COPD inhalers in India would be either dry powder or they would use a new hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant. India is one of 195 signatories to the Montreal Protocol and it is working towards phasing out CFCs completely by January 2010. CFCs destroy the ozone layer that protects life on earth from harmful UV radiation. Talking about the CFC free alternatives, Prof RC Deka, director of the AIIMS explained, “These CFC-free inhalers provide the same medicine and the same health benefits as the old CFC-containing inhalers without damaging the ozone layer.” Some patients would be worried that the medicine in the new inhalers is not the same as the medicine they are used to, because the new inhalers could make it feel, sound, smell or taste different. The medicine is exactly the same medicine and it is just as effective, the experts assured. The spray from the new inhaler may in fact feel softer than from the old one, but it is just as good, or even better, at delivering the drug to where it is needed.
|
|
Interlinking of rivers a larger issue, says Singhvi
New Delhi, October 5 “This was not the time to indulge in allegations and counter allegations,” party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said. “The Congress expresses deep sympathy for those affected by and suffering from the floods...Every effort is underway at the state and the Central levels to provide a healing touch. Our heart goes out to those who suffered bereavement and have been rendered homeless,” he said. Regarding the demand for floods to be declared a national calamity, he said the decision was part of legal system and procedures. He, however, came down heavily on observations that political instability in Andhra had multipled flood-related problems in the state. “It is most unfortunate that in such a terrible calamity some people are trying to indulge in cheap political gimmickry,” he said. Downplaying the issue of interlinking of rivers as a permanent solution to the flood problem, he said: “I don’t think anybody is accepting or rejecting it”. “Interlinking of rivers is a larger issue. It is not a magic wand. It is a super long-term solution, not a medium-term or a short-term solution. Let the experts decide...Jury is still out,” he said, adding that interlinking of rivers was a project with many facets.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
