Chandigarh, December 19
The investigations into the much-talked about “cash-at-judge’s-door scam” that came to light last year have hit a road block, with the CBI reportedly expressing its helplessness while seeking the closure of the case.

According to available information, the CBI in its chargesheet submitted to the court of District and Sessions Judge KK Garg yesterday, had asserted that in the absence of sanction by Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan for prosecution it was not in a position to go ahead in the matter.

The Chief Justice of India has already refused the permission to the CBI to prosecute Justice Nirmal Yadav, who was the alleged intended recipient of Rs 15 lakh that was mis-delivered at the residence of another judge Justice Nirmaljit Kaur.

Justice Nirmal Yadav is currently not holding the court and is expected to be transferred to the Uttarakhand High Court at Nainital.

Soon after the FIR was registered in the case, the police had arrested Sanjeev Bansal, a Haryana law officer, his clerk Prakash and a Delhi-based businessman Ravinder for thier alleged involvement in the scam. However, they were released on bail later.

The strong-worded nearly 20-page report, which was today submitted to the CBI court of special judge Darshan Singh, also contains a letter by the Government of India in consultation with Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan to the CBI refusing the permission for prosecution.

Highly placed sources claim that the CBI report states that the Chief Justice and the Central government, which are the competent authority in the case, have not given them the permission to prosecute the alleged accused. The report further states that it had evidence to prosecute Justice Yadav, but the Centre turned down the permission.

The “scam” had come to light after Rs 15 lakh was mis-delivered at the house of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by the clerk of a Haryana law officer on August 13, 2008.

A case was registered at the instance of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur after she called in the police and handed over the clerk. Initially, the Chandigarh police investigated the case, but the matter was later handed over to the CBI for carrying out the probe.

SC Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan also appointed a three-judge committee for looking into the matter. A show-cause notice was, subsequently, issued to Justice Yadav.

New Delhi, December 19
According to a report of the Standing Committee of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that was recently tabled in Parliament, the MEA does not have interpreters who know Hindi, thus, Indian dignitaries speak in English instead of Hindi while interacting with foreign visitors.

The committee took a serious note of the situation arising from non-availability of interpreters. Describing it as a ‘ludicrous situation’, the panel headed by BJP leader Sushma Swaraj asked the government to take steps to developing a cadre of interpreters without delay.

The Foreign Secretary had informed the panel that there was only one Chinese interpreter with the Ministry, who is equally proficient in Hindi. While responding to queries raised by the committee, the Foreign Secretary said: “The propagation of Hindi and the level of its usage in the Ministry are being constantly stressed. But, interpreting in Hindi requires skill and we need to develop that, we will pay special attention to it by putting it on the agenda.’’

The committee was of the view that the funds allocated to the MEA were inadequate since in today’s era, it has to deal with political, cultural, economic and environment affairs as well. The funds provided to the MEA should be in tune with its multi-dimensional engagement with the world. However, it wanted the government to utilise the funds, already allocated to the MEA.

Appreciating the endeavours of the MEA, the panel stated that in view of the current global scenario, it was essential to incorporate new ideas in the conduct of India’s foreign policy. “It is only possible when there is a change in the mindset of those manning the Ministry, missions and posts abroad. A sense of dynamism, welfare and openness will have to be inculcated while dealing with the outside world,’’ it stated.

Chandigarh, December 19
With jointness being the buzzword in military operations, top officers of the armed forces may soon be required to undergo advanced training courses to enhancing professional acumen.

The Chiefs of the Staff Committee comprising the heads of the three services have directed to progress the matter once the Cabinet Committee for Security’s approval for the National Defence University is received. Land has been identified for the university and the case is with the Cabinet for approval.

In a report tabled this week, the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence stated that there is no structured training for officers above the rank of Brigadier except for the Combined Operational Review and Evaluation (CORE) programme.

Sources said CORE is more of an operation-room exercise, which does not necessarily train officers in conceptualising, planning and executing joint operations involving human and material resources from services.

“The Committee recommends that the Ministry of Defence should review its present policy of imparting joint training to the senior level officers in the defence services with a view to introducing modern day performance management processes aimed at fostering the spirit of jointness among them. It also aimed at preparing them to assuming greater responsibilities in the current and envisaged environment of jointness within the services,” the report said.

Hence, it is recommended that officers posted to joint staff appointments undergo a short capsule, the report added.

At present, the highest level of formal joint training is at National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi, at the level of Brigadier and equivalent. Officers say this is academic-oriented dealing with the broader concepts of geo-politics rather than operations. NDC graduates are poised to ahead of the level of Major General and Lieutenant General commanding divisions or corps, they add.

Several countries have training capsules for Generals and equivalents to prepare prospective Commanders to lead joint and combined forces. Such courses are conducted for serving or retired three and four star equivalent officers. These are mandatory for all senior Commanders.

According to a US Army manual, the objective of such courses is to give prospective Joint Force Commanders an understanding of national policy and objectives with international implications and the ability to operationalise these into integrated campaign plans. 

New Delhi, December 19
The country’s largest paramilitary force, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has joined the ‘Nanhi Chhaan’ project initiative to save the girl child.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram launched the programme in Delhi and CRPF Director-General AS Gill was also present on the occasion.

Chidambaram said he was pleased with the initiatives that were being taken up to promote girl education. As part of the scheme, the CRPF would be planting about two lakh saplings over the next one year within its campuses.

Also, the Home Minister urged the Punjab National Bank authorities to give a better interest rate on the funds to be used by the Nanhi Chhaan Foundation and the CRPF for the girl education programme.

Today’s function was also attended by the families of the CRPF personnel.

Harpal Singh, founder chairman of the Nanhi Chhaan Foundation, congratulated DG’s wife Manjit Gill for taking the initiative to plant two lakh saplings within the CRPF campuses over the next one year.

Notably, the Nanhi Chhaan programme was launched on August 27 last year from Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar. Apart from schools and colleges, the Sacred Heart Cathedral (Delhi), Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, Nizammuddin Auliya Dargah and Govind Devji Temple (Jaipur) have been associated with the programme.

Similar launches are soon proposed from several places of religious worship, including from Ajmer Sharif and from temples in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.

Later, the Home Minister told mediapersons that CRPF would induct about 38 battalions (about 40,000 personnel) in the coming years. 

New Delhi, December 19
Expressing concern over the government turning down the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendations for the elevation of two Judges in quick succession, the Committee on Judicial Accountability spearheaded by Fali Nariman, Ram Jethmalani, Shanti Bhushan and other eminent jurists has demanded that the names should be finalisd after a public debate and through an open, accountable and participatory procedure.

“We note that for the second time in quick succession, the recommendations of the Collegium for the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court have been returned by the government. In Justice PD Dinakaran’s case, some of the allegations against him have subsequently been confirmed by the District Magistrate, leading to an impeachment motion against him which has been admitted by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha,” the committee said in a statement today.

It was disturbing that recommendations had been made without any transparency and without proper verification of the antecedents and reputation of those recommended. “The committee strongly feels that responsible members of the bar of the concerned High Courts should be consulted before the Collegium makes any recommendation to the government.”

Pending the constitution of a full time National Judicial Appointments Commission, the committee urged the SC Collegium to “fashin after public debate an open, accountable and participatory procedure for making recommendations for judicial appointments.”

The Collegium should not recommend persons for appointment until the names were made public and members of the bar and public were enabled to share the relevant information they might have about the proposed appointees with the Collegium, it said.

Besides Nariman, Jethmalani and Bhushan, the statement has been signed by senior SC lawyers Anil Divan, Kamini Jaiswal and Prashant Bhushan.

The statement, however, did not name the second Judge whose proposed elevation has been declined by the government. The Collegium had recommended the elevation of Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad to the apex court along with Bombay HC CJ Swatanter Kumar. Justice Swatanter Kumar was sworn in as a SC judge yesterday.

Besides Justice Dinakaran, impeachment proceedings are also pending against Calcutta HC Judge Soumitra Sen for judicial misconduct. Justice Dinakaran is facing allegations of land grabbing and other irregularities.

Lucknow, December 19
Pre-empting a Congress move to mobilise Dalit MPs in support of the beleaguered Chief Justice of Karnataka P D Dinakaran, Chief Minister Mayawati today came to his defence by declaring that he had a right to be heard.

In a letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Mayawati referred to the principle of natural justice under which Justice Dinakaran had every right to present his point of view. “Any proposed action against him should be taken only after giving him a fair chance to be heard”, she said in her letter to the PM.

Describing the matter as “of utmost importance,” the BSP chief has requested the PM to “personally intervene in the case, hear out all sides and them decide in a fair and impartial manner.”

Mayawati’s demand comes in the wake of a group of Congress MPs opposing the Opposition MPs campaign to impeach Justice P D Dinakaran, as they suspect that he is being targeted because he is a Dalit.

As many as 76 Rajya Sabha members of Opposition parties last week submitted a petition to Upper House Chairman Hamid Ansari to impeach Dinakaran, who is accused of land-grabbing and amassing wealth beyond his known sources of income.

A section of the Congress MPs though believe an anti-Dalit mindset to be behind the move not to let Dinakaran be promoted to the Supreme Court or have a chance to become the second Dalit Chief Justice of India after Justice K G Balakrishnan.

These Congress MPs are planning to mobilise Dalit MPs against the impeachment process. Incidentally, no Congress MP has supported the petition to impeach Dinakaran.

New Delhi, December 19
Mercury dipped further in several parts of north India today, with Leh in Jammu and Kashmir freezing at a low of minus 18.2°C while Capital Delhi recorded the season’s lowest at 7.7°C.

In J & K, Pahalgam shivered at minus 6.4°C followed by Kupwara (minus 3.7°C) and Srinagar (2.6°C).

Delhi recorded the season’s lowest temperature at 7.7°C as the Met office predicted a further dip in mercury in coming days. “Snowfall in the hills of Northern states will lead to further fall in temperature,” it said.

People in Himachal Pradesh had no respite from cold conditions as icy breeze kept the weather cool despite the absence of rain or snow.

Cold conditions also intensified in Punjab and Haryana as the minimum fell by two to four notches below normal. Rohtak in Haryana remained the coldest in the region, recording a night temperature of 2.20°C, four notches below normal.

In Punjab, Ludhiana recorded a night temperature of 5.6°C, one degree below normal while that of Patiala and Amritsar was 6.3°C and 4.4°C, respectively. — PTI

New Delhi, December 19
The government will engage the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) in a major way to give relief to the common man from the rising prices of essential commodities, Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution KV Thomas said here today.

Inaugurating an exclusive shop-in-shop of the NAFED for sale of Kerala agri-products here today, he asked the federation to make available essential items to the common man at reasonable rates, adding that the federation should explore the possibility of launching easy markets for sale of essential commodities at reasonable rates to the salaried and middle-class people. He also stressed on consumers having the option of buying items first and paying later.

The Centre and states could work jointly to find a solution to the problem of price rise, he said, pointing out that the government was giving a huge subsidy on food items but it was not reaching the target due to a large number of intermediaries in the system. The price rise could be curbed only by strengthening the public distribution system in the country, Thomas asserted.

New Delhi, December 19
Despite wider immunisation reported under the National Rural Heath Mission (NRHM), the incidence of infant diseases has been increasing in India. The first CAG audit of the UPA flagship programme shows a massive rise in the number of child diseases in nine states despite them having reported higher vaccinations.

Auditors found 29,321 cases of life-threatening measles and 957 cases of neo-natal tetanus in 104 districts of 23 states and UTs. These sites also reported cases of whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus to the extent of 1,980, 544 and 462, respectively, putting question marks on the claims of increased immunisation.

Despite two national immunisation days, six special immunisation days and several rounds of pulse polio immunisation in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, 1,640 new polio cases surfaced in 17 states between 2005 and 2008 (the audit period). The maximum surfaced in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar: 948 and 594, respectively.

Among states, Punjab accounted for a whopping 507 cases of neo-natal tetanus out of 957 total cases in lagging states. Chandigarh, Andaman and Nicobar and Manipur did not maintain data on the incidence of infant diseases, says CAG.

But Punjab’s performance on child health appears to be particularly poor. The state is bracketed with Jammu and Kashmir and Meghalaya, which reported the highest shortfall in India in terms of administration of the first, second and subsequent doses of vitamin-A to infants under three.

“In the audited accounts of 22 states/UTs, there was a general shortfall in vitamin-A administration to under-three infants. The shortfall in the first, second and subsequent doses of the vitamin was maximum in Punjab (86.29 per cent), Jammu and Kashmir (91.37 per cent) and Meghayala (80.58 per cent),” CAG states.

Short supply of vitamin-A at health centres was found to be the main reason behind the said shortfall, with Delhi and Uttarakhand having no stock for two years and Chandigarh having near-zero supply up to January 2007. In Haryana and Punjab, the shortage lasted 36 months, hence jeopardising children’s health.

Maternal health targets under NRHM (seeks to reduce MMR to 100 per lakh by 2010) also remain far from sight, with less than 50 per cent pregnant women being registered within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in five states, including Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Only 21 to 57 per cent of pregnant women under NRHM received all four antenatal checkups in Assam, J&K, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and UP.

In the administration of iron folic acid (IFA) tablets to pregnant women, Punjab, Assam and Andhra fared the worst, with none of the 5.2 lakh pregnant women who registered under NRHM between 2005 and 2008 getting IFA. In Bathinda, IFA was given to just 1,534 women of the 88,625 who registered. In Hoshiarpur, not a single woman was administered IFA between 2005 and 2007.

Even in the field of Janani Suraksha Yojana, under which a pregnant woman gets cash incentive within seven days of delivery, Punjab fared poorly. “A primary objective of the scheme was to achieve 100 per cent institutional delivery rate by 2010. However, shortfall in target was noticed in 11 states, the highest in Punjab (81 per cent), Uttarakhand (78 per cent) and Jharkhand (60 per cent).

New Delhi, December 19
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, is still stuck for lack of funds, with the Finance Ministry yet to come up with a suitable formula.

At the consultative committee meet of Parliament held here, MPs raised serious concerns about the financial implications of the law for the states, with most members seeking a fair sharing formula with the Centre.

“Most of us were concerned about how the money would be funded for this ambitious law. So far as we were told, the HRD Ministry is still waiting for the Finance Ministry to take a final call on the monetary aspect. Till that happens, the law will remain a non-starter,” an MP told The Tribune today.

The MPs also discussed with HRD Minister Kapil Sibal about teachers’ recruitment, considering the fact that the Indian government school system is currently short of almost seven lakh teachers.

“We are keen to know how qualified teachers would be appointed,” the members said, adding that the issue of the poor existing quality of government schools was also under question.

Sibal, meanwhile, is learnt to have told the members that the cost sharing formula would soon be finalised and the government would make a reference to the 13th Finance Commission for more funds for the states to implement the law.

He said there was proposal about the HRD Ministry tying up with the UID authority to put all schoolchildren and teachers on rolls to ensure proper monitoring.

D Raja (CPI) asked the ministry to build a uniform school system, while Mohammed Shafi spoke of categorisation of states as per the requirements under the RTE Act, while Jay Panda of the BJD wanted to know when the government was planning to notify the law, which got the presidential assent six months ago.