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RTE Act: HRD ministry, child
rights panel at loggerheads
Azad ‘Encounter’
SC: God’s own country has turned into hell
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A vote-winning combo: cricket and tradition
Pro-talks ULFA men abstain from voting in Assam
Retired IAS officer gives Buddha a fright
No voters in 25 polling stations
Here, parties heavily bank on star power
Hazare’s fast plan ‘disappoints’ PMO
Satya Saibaba’s condition critical
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RTE Act: HRD ministry, child
rights panel at loggerheads
New Delhi, April 4 While the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the independent monitoring authority named under the Act, is pushing for a foolproof and well-defined grievance-redressal mechanism within the purview of the law, the Government feels there is no such requirement. The two bodies are pulling in different directions though the urge of the NCPCR stems from the problems being faced on the ground. After holding six public hearings across the country on the status of the implementation of the RTE Act in the first year, the NCPCR found parents and stakeholders confused about where to go with their problems.
“The Government needs to come up with a proper grievance-redressal mechanism which allows people to solve their problems within the perimeter of the law. We have submitted to the HRD Ministry a draft of what such a mechanism should look like. We hear it is pending with the Law Ministry,” Chairperson of the NCPCR Shanta Sinha today told The Tribune. However, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal dismissed the said draft. Asked about the grievance redressal system, he said, “The RTE Act has sufficient mechanisms to ensure people’s problems are addressed. It provides for local authorities which will do the needful. There is no need for any other provision.” Significant to state here is that the duties and responsibilities of the local authorities, as mentioned in the RTE Act, are confusing, and offer no clarity to the complainants. Kiran Bhati, Head, RTE Division, NCPCR, explains: “Just naming the local authority does not suffice. The process for redressal has to be laid down so also the system whereby a complaint would be recorded and investigated. We need to know whether a verbal complaint would be admissible; if not, who would take down the complaint and who would follow it up. Unless these things are defined, it could take forever to resolve issues. Our draft looked at these issues.” In the very first year of the law’s implementation, the courts of law have been flooded with complaints regarding denial of admissions to students, expulsions and screening - all prohibited by the Act. The NCPCR itself has disposed of over 400 complaints while the Delhi Child Rights Commission alone has received 11,000 complaints. “We need grievance redressal on the ground to spare the parents and children undue harassment. Otherwise courts would continue to be flooded with petitions and every complaint would come to Child Rights Commissions. Let us strengthen the local systems,” says Bhati.
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Azad ‘Encounter’
New Delhi, April 4 A Bench comprising Justices Aftab Alam and RM Lodha asked senior counsel Altaf Ahmed, who appeared for the state, to file the status report by April 15, the next date of hearing. The Bench was hearing two writ petitions filed by Bineeta, wife of Pande, and social activist Swami Agnivesh seeking a judicial probe into the killings. Counsel Prashant Bhushan, arguing for the petitioners, contended that the magisterial inquiry had not made any headway with just one hearing held so far. Postmortem and forensic reports had confirmed that Pandey had been shot from a close range, belying the encounter theory. Earlier, while issuing notice to the state government, the Bench had remarked that it would not tolerate the “Republic killing its own children.” Bhushan said the investigations should be monitored by a retired Supreme Court Judge. The Bench, however, advised him to find a mechanism “within the existing structure” and suggested it could be left to the state human rights commission. The counsel was not amenable to this, contending that the state HRC would have swung into action if it had been serious. The state government said nothing should be done to demoralise the existing instrument that was fighting Naxalites and other extremist elements. The Bench somewhat agreed with this view, observing that there was no point in losing faith in the Indian structure, part
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SC: God’s own country has turned into hell
“It will be, therefore, for the administrators and the government to take positive steps, firstly, to overhaul the system by weeding out the corrupt elements by punishing those who are responsible for the whole system looking sideways. “We do not know as to whether such an exercise is taken up, but if it has not been taken up, the government is directed to take such steps. We do not think that the things would come under control unless such exercise is taken, so as to save the poor man from such ghastly disaster.” A Bench comprising Justices VS Sirpurkar and Cyriac Joseph issued the directive while disposing of an appeal in a case relating to the death of 31 people in 2000 after consuming spurious liquor. As many as 266 people had suffered grievous injuries, while five persons had lost their eyesight. The Bench further noted that alcohol had proved to be one of the major enemies of the mankind. Its grip had not loosened in spite of the realisation of the evil effects of alcohol. On the other hand, the unholy grip was being tightened day by day. Therefore, when liquor was not available or was too costly, the poor section of society “goes for illicitly distilled liquor which is sold by the bootleggers,” the apex court pointed out.
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A vote-winning combo: cricket and tradition
Mumbai, April 4 Every major political party in Mumbai led huge processions to the Bandra home of master batsman Sachin Tendulkar. Despite tight security, the celebrants attempted to enter the building complex with sweets to congratulate the star sportsman. Most of them were turned away but police said a few leaders managed to enter the building to wish Tendulkar and his family. Traditionally, Gudi Padwa is observed by Maharashtrian families by hanging out an earthern pot and a multi-coloured silk cloth balanced on a tilted pole to mark a successful harvest. Processions known as Shoba Yatras are taken out to the accompaniment of music and dancing. Unlike the Ganesh festival which showcases contemporary issues, Gudi Padwa remained a traditional festival. That is until today. Political parties like the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena which used the occasion to showcase Marathi culture and tradition were bowled over by cricket this year. "This year we decided at the last minute to congratulate the winners of the cricket world cup," said Sudhakar Ahir who heads the Andheri unit of the Shiv Sena in suburban Mumbai. He added that party workers rushed out at the last minute to buy the Indian team's jerseys and organised a replica of the World Cup in its float. The party also strung up huge posters of Tendulkar congratulating the Maharashtrian son-of-the-soil. For the moment though Tendulkar's criticism of the Marathi chauvinist agenda of the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtrian Navnirman Sena more than a year ago was conveniently forgotten. Traditionally, Gudi Padwa is ushered in at Maharashtrian homes with people eating a paste made of neem leaves, gur and tamarind after their morning bath and prayers.
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Pro-talks ULFA men abstain from voting in Assam
Guwahati, April 4 Hundreds of pro-talks cadres of the ULFA today remained firm on their decision not to participate in the Assembly election unless a solution is found to the conflict though the Election Commission has provided them with the facility to vote through postal ballots from their truce time designated camps. About 150 cadres of pro-talks ULFA group are now lodged in designated camps at Kakopathar, Moran in Upper Assam and Nalbari in lower Assam. None of the ULFA cadres from Kakopathar and Moran cast their votes in the first phase polling held un Upper Assam districts. A leader of the pro-talks group, Jiten Dutta said, “ULFA cadres in truce are not supposed to vote in the election till a solution is arrived at to the conflict through negotiation. The cadres will remain neutral all through out the election process.” Meanwhile, over 67 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the first phase of polls held in 62 Assembly constituencies Assam today till the last report came in. Election officials informed that poling was peaceful in all the constituencies under tight security. A total of 485 candidates, including 38 females, were in the fray in the first phase. Notable among the candidates were chief minister Tarun Gogoi (Congress), state BJP president Ranjit Dutta, former AGP president Brindabon Goswami, Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai (Congress), deputy Speaker Ms Pranati Phukon (Congress). The polling was mostly peaceful. A few instances of malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were reported. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi cast his vote along with his wife Dolly Gogoi at his hometown Jorhat in Upper Assam. “We are confident of securing absolute majority and forming the government on our own,” Gogoi said, after casting his vote. Polling was held in 11,264 polling stations in 7743 locations. Of these, 1350 were covered by video or still photo surveillance.
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Retired IAS officer gives Buddha a fright
Kolkata, April 4 It is ironical because it was when Manish Gupta was the state’s home secretary, when the police had physically dragged Mamata Banerjee away from her dharna at the secretariat. Bhattacharjee was the home minister. Later when Bhattacharjee became the Chief Minister, Gupta served as the Chief Secretary when Mamata Banerjee incessantly complained of harassment of her supporters by the police. The former ‘babu’, who, after retirement served in the boards of several companies, has adroitly denied any responsibility though. Faced with inconvenient and even sarcastic queries, Gupta has maintained that police firings on Trinamool supporters and other alleged atrocities, when he was in office, were resorted to by local policemen and he played no role. He has also been cautious in not criticising the CM publicly. Gupta claims to be fighting a proxy war on behalf of Mamata Banerjee. He is convinced , he says, that the state needs a change of government and also that Mamata Banerjee alone can usher in the change. So the electoral battle, he says, is between Buddhadev Bhattacharjee and Mamata Banerjee. He is just the chosen soldier. He is also at pains to explain that his administrative experience would help him in promoting ‘development’. While his alibi is often greeted with scepticism, he has managed to bog down the CM in his constituency. Unlike in past elections, when Bhattacharjee did not have to exert to win, the CM this time is leaving nothing to chance. Acknowledging tacitly that he has a tough fight in hand, the CM has gone out on both door-to-door campaign as well as meeting his constituents in small groups. He fielded questions , several of them uncomfortable, from young students, many of them first-time voters. The former Presidency College old boy, who graduated with Bengali as his principal subject and who has dabbled in poetry and playwriting, is hard put to explain his government’s performance. He has been the Chief Minister for over 10 years but he has neither been able to change the administrative culture of the state nor has he succeeded in indutrialising the state. The state government’s finances are in a bad shape but the Left Front government claims it is because of the subsidies given to the poor, the insurance scheme for the unorganised sectors and the liberal pay and pension given to state government employees and teachers. Bhattacharjee, facing the most serious challenge of his political life, is no longer the much sought-after campaigner of Left Front candidates. On the contrary, there are few requests for the CM to visit constituencies. That is another reason why he is able to devote a lot more time to his own constituency. While he will depend on the party cadres and the well-oiled CPI(M) party organisation to carry him through, the erstwhile Chief Secretary is banking on public sentiment to upset his former boss. The first of the six-phase polling in the state is slated for April 18.
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No voters in 25 polling stations
Guwahati, April 4 According to an official source voters of 16 polling stations in Ratabari LAC decided not to vote as they had boycotted polls in protest against lack of development in their areas. About 10,000 voters supposed to cast their votes in those polling stations. Voters did not turn out in nine polling stations in Haflong LAC in insurgency-hit North Cachar Hill district of the state.
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Here, parties heavily bank on star power
Chennai, April 4 Thousands of people are waiting for hours to have a glimpse of their favourite film stars, who are in great demand. Roping in film actors for canvassing is such a priority for parties that they begin talks with actors even before finalising seat-sharing arrangements. AIADMK cadres are jubilant as popular star and DMDK leader Vijaykanth has joined their alliance. Actors Sarathkumar, Radha Ravi and comedians Senthil and Singamuthu are also campaigning for party candidates. Vijaykanth, who began his film career in ‘Thoorathu Idi Muzhakkam’ (Distant thunder) as a villain, soon turned himself into an action hero and now has become a political leader. His role as an angry young man, fighting against corruption, has given him a distinct image. Now, he is seen campaigning in a filmi style. Last week, Vijaykanth, who was standing on his campaign vehicle, was seen beating his party candidate for not announcing his name properly. This visual was shown repeatedly by the electronic media belonging to the ruling DMK and questions were raised about the actor’s conduct. The media supporting the AIADMK too swung into action, denying that the actor had beaten his candidate. However, the actor admitted that he had beaten his party candidate. “I am used to punishing people, on the spot, when they commit a mistake. I cannot tolerate mistakes”, he said. This remark has now become a talking point. Another actor Sarathkumar has become an untiring campaigner for the AIADMK after Jayalalithaa has allocated two seats to his party. Sarath is the grandson of Tamil media baron Adiyanar, whose family runs the leading Tamil newspaper ‘Daily thanthi’, besides several eveningers and weeklies. The DMK campaign too looks colourful with the presence of yesteryear’s dreamgirl Kushboo, actors Backyaraj, Chandrasekar and Napoleon and the most popular comedian Vadivelu. The arrival of Kushboo is heralded by the DMK cadres with the words ‘akkaa, kushboo akkaa varaanga’ (sister Kushboo is coming). At a time, when the poll commission has tightened restrictions on the number of flags, festoons, tubelights, serial sets, banners, cut-outs and even cultural events for political purposes, it is the film stars, who ensure a huge turnout for the meetings. Politics in Tamil Nadu is indeed like a cinema, with never ending twists & turns, punches and lot of family drama.
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Hazare’s fast plan ‘disappoints’ PMO
New Delhi, April 4 Hours after Anna Hazare told a press conference about his plans to go ahead with his indefinite fast, the PMO put out a statement mentioning that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had “enormous respect” for the 72-year-old social worker. Hazare had earlier stated,” My fast unto death begins tomorrow. I was saddened when the Prime Minister rejected the demand by leading civil society members to include them and senior ministers in the joint committee to draft the Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's Ombudsman Bill).” The PMO said that Hazare and his colleagues had met the Prime Minister, the Law Minister and other senior officials on March 7 and during the hour-long discussions the PM had told the group that he appreciated and shared their concern on corruption. Hazare and his group had presented a draft of their proposal on a Lokpal Bill after which the PM offered and the group accepted a suggestion that a sub-committee of the GoM could interact and discuss the draft with the civil society activists. The sub-committee, headed by Defence Minister AK Antony, met Hazare’s colleagues but the interaction proved fruitless. Hazare told the media that a GoM headed by Sharad Pawar is looking into the contents of the proposed anti-corruption Bill. The views of eminent persons like Justice Santosh Hegde, advocate Prashant Bhushan and Swami Agnivesh were not considered important by the government, he added
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Satya Saibaba’s condition critical Anantapur (AP), April 4 “The vital systems are not adequately responding. The condition of Baba is critical," it said. A media release issued earlier in the day said Saibaba was showing improvement though he continued to be on ventilator support. — PTI
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Tiwari case: HC notice to lab CMO murder Hazare’s fast Netai killings Award for T3 Fake pilot held
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New Delhi, April 4
