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SC: PM could’ve averted 2G scam
Advani’s AC ‘rath’ hits another snag
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Andhra to have new land allotment policy
Manipur blockade: Human rights biggest casualty
K’taka deputy Lokayukta quits
Cabinet nod to digitisation of cable TV services
Procuring disability certificate a hard task
Anna Hazare hits back at Digvijay
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SC: PM could’ve averted 2G scam
New Delhi, October 13 A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and HL Dattu first clarified, “All through, we had resisted the temptation of asking the question as to why the government did not prevent the allocation of Spectrum even after Raja had gone ahead with issuing 122 letters of intent (LOIs) to various companies.” The Bench put the query to Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Harin Rawal when he was opposing the bail pleas of
five corporate honchos, including that of Anil Ambani’s ADAG, on the ground that they would influence the witnesses. “You are expressing the apprehension that they (company executives) might tamper with the evidence and affect the CBI case, but the chargesheet had mentioned the crucial date of November 2, 2007, when the head of the government wrote a letter to the then telecom minister, suggesting that the Spectrum should be auctioned,” the Bench stated. Further, the Finance Ministry “had been objecting all through” to Raja’s move, it was maintained. “It was not that the government was not aware of”
the developments such as the postponing of the full Telecom Commission meeting from January 9, 2008 to January 15 and the issuance of letters of intent on January 10, it was further stated. “Now, everything has become a post-event exercise. You could have avoided the entire exercise in and outside the court by taking a decision. The letters of intent never created a right to demand licence embedded with Spectrum,” the Bench added. Further, “It was felt by
the government, at least from the revenue point of view, that it was not in public interest. “What prevented the government from stalling the issuance of licence?” the Bench asked. Doing so would have saved the time of the SC, other courts and various other institutions, it pointed out. At this, the ASG contended even if the allocations had been stopped, the corporate executives would still have been facing the same charge of conspiring with Raja to get the LoIs issued. At this, the Bench said the charges in that case “would have been substantially different”. Rawal also argued that the “crucial date” was the day when the LoIs were issued and not when the PM wrote to Raja.
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Advani’s AC ‘rath’ hits another snag
New Delhi/Varanasi, Oct 13 That’s because the carbon monoxide being emitted from the exhaust of the twin engine, fitted to operate the lift and the airconditioner was finding its way into the reclining chamber of the chariot. While Sushma and Jaitley recovered next day and dashed off to Delhi, the chariot, despite night-long service, was not good enough to run the lift and its AC. So, all through today’s journey, the lift was not used. The Poirwal bridge close to Arrah proved to be too low and small for allowing such a big bus to pass. And Advani’s ‘rath’ tried defying the laws of engineering, bruising its roof in the process. The organisers indicated that a similar chariot was on its way from Karnataka. But these snags had little effect on Advani’s excitement and elation, thanks to an overwhelming crowd cheering and welcoming him every kilometre from Patna to Ramgarh, almost on the Bihar border, adjoining UP. Often, the ‘rath’ would be stopped and Advani was garlanded amidst slogans of “Advani amar rahen, Desh ka neta kaisa ho, Advani tum sangharsh karo…” Even if for want of time, he could not disembark from the bus, he was lustily waving back at the people lined up on either side of the road, resulting in very slow movement of the cavalcade, comprising about 50-60 cars and jeeps. The entire stretch from Patna to Varanasi, a distance of about 270 kilometres, was covered in about 12 hours. In Varanasi, Advani slightly modified his “secular” avatar today, now that he has left behind Bihar and its Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and entered the land of Kashi Vishwanath. A beaming Advani was welcomed here by the UP BJP with his once cherished, full-throated slogans like ‘Jai Shri Ram’, reminiscent of his Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya in 1990. The BJP, which has lost much of its sheen and pre-eminence since the heady days of coming to power on the slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Kasam Ram ki khate hain, mandir waheen banayenge’, is making a desperate bid to revive the vintage spirit. As for Advani, he achieved the dual purpose of lending his weight to BJP efforts to defeat BSP government of Mayawati in the assembly elections due early next year and secure a readily responsive audience for his yatra. In what reminded one of the times when Advani was a Hindutva icon, girls from Panini Kanya Vidyalaya recited the shlokas of Tulsidas’ Ram Charit Manas as he climbed up the stairs of the podium, greeted by a large contingent of his party leaders, mostly there to simultaneously kick off Kalraj Mishra’s 21-day Jan Swabhiman Yatra to
Ayodhya.
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Uma roots for Advani as PM
Lucknow, October 13 Speaking at a function at the Bharat Mata Mandir to welcome Advani’s yatra in Varanasi today, Bharti recalled the past when former PM VP Singh had launched a similar campaign against corruption that took him straight to the prime minister’s chair. Bharti said at 84 years of age, Advani had the enthusiasm of a 12-year-old. Advani, who has judiciously maintained that the yatra was not intended to project him as his party’s prime ministerial candidate, stressed that it was above him and his party.
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Andhra to have new land allotment policy
Hyderabad, October 13 As per the draft AP Land Allotment Policy 2011, to be introduced in the coming winter session of the Assembly, the land rates will be fixed according to the open market prices. Besides, the state government would levy service and user charges for acquisition of land by private industries. The draft policy would be placed before an all-party meeting to elicit the views of all political parties, the officials said. For the first time, a Unified Land Management Authority
(ULMA) will be set up to serve as a single-window facility for allotment of land for industrial and other purposes. To be headed by the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration
(CCLA) and having senior bureaucrats as its members, the new body will have powers to resume the land if the beneficiary fails to utilise it within the prescribed time limit. “At present, there is no effective mechanism to monitor utilisation of the allotted land. We want to plug the gaps in this area,” a senior official said, adding that each department would have project monitoring units. “We intend to follow a scientific and transparent method in the allotment of land to industries and other purposes through the new policy,” state Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy said. The main objective is to avoid unrest among the farmers, who have been taking up agitations at several places against acquisition of their lands in the name of development. As per the new policy, the state government will create a land bank and all categories of land allotments would be done through the ULMA in future. “There is a need to revisit the existing policy and guidelines in regard to allotment of land to various departments,
organisations, institutions, industries and individuals by adopting the fundamental principle of judicious and need-based allotment," the minister said. The new policy would focus on scientific and judicious allotment of land; rational norms on fixing cost of the land; strict compliance with environmental and zonal regulations; and regular and effective monitoring of the land use. “We have decided that only non-agricultural and unproductive land should be allotted to the private sector,” Reddy said, adding that rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced persons would receive top priority in the new policy.
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As Beijing watches, India hosts Myanmar President
New Delhi, October 13 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hold wide-ranging talks with the Myanmar leader, who is accompanied by as many as 13 of his ministers. Sein began his visit to India from Bodh Gaya yesterday and visited neighbouring Buddhist pilgrimage destinations, including Kushinagar, before touching down in Delhi in the evening. Several pacts in areas related to economy and infrastructure development are expected to be signed after the talks between the two sides. Ways to expand security cooperation, especially in the context of insurgents of northeastern states suspected to be sheltering in the Myanmarese territory, will figure in the discussions. “We have received assurances that the Myanmarese territory will not be allowed for insurgent activities directed against India,” Vishnu Prakash, the spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, told reporters here. Ahead of the talks, New Delhi rejected competition with Beijing amid Yangon's fraying ties with Beijing over a mammoth dam. “Relations between nations is not a zero sum game. There is room for everyone,” Prakash said here when asked whether India was seeking to counter China’s growing influence in the Southeast Asian country. “We have an important relationship with Myanmar. And we have an important relationship with China. There is no competition.” The spokesman also underlined New Delhi’s opposition to sanctions that have been slapped by some Western countries against Myanmar on account of its perceived human rights violations. “We have a distaste for sanctions. They do not serve the desired purpose and affect the people who are vulnerable,” said Prakash when asked whether New Delhi will use its leverage with Western countries to lift sanctions in the wake of reforms undertaken by the civilian government. Taking note of significant economic and political reforms, including launching dialogue with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, initiated by the civilian regime, New Delhi also underlined the need for broad-based and inclusive political process in that country. India has also offered to share parliamentary practices with Myanmar. Besides oil and gas, the two sides are also expected to explore greater cooperation in agriculture as Myanmar possesses vast tracts of arable land. Seeking to give impetus to economic ties, India said it was confident of making $120 million Sittwe deep water port functional by June 2013 and described Myanmar as “an important partner in India’s quest for energy security.”
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Manipur blockade: Human rights biggest casualty
Guwahati, October 13 With the plight of the common populace, who have been reeling under scorching blockade-triggered prices and scare essentials, fuels and medicines, reaching unbearable levels, Manipur-based Human Rights Defender has got in touch with the international human rights bodies to mount pressure on the government as well the perpetrators of the blockade along arterial NH 39 and 53 to come to the rescue of people of Manipur. These highways connect the state to the rest of the country. “Such inhuman blockade is in gross violation of international humanitarian law and does not even occur during a war. It is appalling that the state government and the Centre failed to resolve the crisis,” said prominent human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam. His organisation, Human Rights Defenders, is now mulling to knock at the doors of the National Human Rights Commission. Meanwhile, sources in Manipur said a section of Kuki militant groups, which are in cease fire agreement with the security forces, are backing the highway blockades called by the SADAR Hills District Demand Committee since July 31. Subsequently, United Naga Committee, a banner organisation of the Naga tribe, also called for a counter highway blockade from August 21 opposing the demand for a separate district for the Kuki tribe. Involvement of the Naga rebels behind the counter-blockade called by the UNC is also suspected.
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K’taka deputy Lokayukta quits
Bangalore, October 13 Though Gururajan resigned citing personal reasons, speculation is rife that he put in his papers to avoid a possible row over owning more than two houses in Bangalore. Gururajan's resignation came around three weeks after Lokayukta Shivaraj Patil resigned following a row over acquiring two residential sites in Bangalore from two housing societies in violation of rules. Gururajan apparently resigned to avoid landing in a controversy like Patil. Gururajan’s assets, as declared by him after taking over as Upa-lokayukta, show that he bought a residential plot in Karnataka Judicial Employees Housing Society in 2001 despite owning two houses in Bangalore. Gururajan valued the land at the Judicial Employees Housing Society and the building he has constructed on it at Rs 23 lakh. Patil had quit because he bought a residential plot in his wife’s name from a private housing society in Bangalore though he owned a house and also a plot from the Judicial Employees Housing Society. Housing society rules
do not allow any person to get a site or flat if they own a house or plot in the same city. The Judicial Employees Housing Society is mired in controversies over allotment of plots. The issue had gone up to the Supreme Court which had ruled that there was no violation of rules in the allotments made. Patil had cited this while quitting last month and blamed media for carrying on a malicious campaign against him. Both Patil and Gururajan took office in August. Patil, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, resigned on September 19. With the resignation of Gururajan, the state now has only one Upa-lokayukta, SB Majage, a retired judge of the Karnataka High Court. The Bharatiya Janata Party government of Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda will now have to look for two retired judges to fill the vacant posts. Only a retired Supreme Court judge or a retired high court Chief Justice can be appointed as Lokayukta in Karnataka. Upa-lokayukta will have to be a retired high court judge. Resignations in quick succession by two senior members of the judiciary from the Lokayukta’s office in Karnataka (Upa-lokayukta’s post also falls under the same office) have also raised serious issues related to the sense of propriety of higher members of the judiciary. Justice Santosh Hegde (retd), former Karnataka Lokayukta, who had a exemplary stint as the Lokayukta of Karnataka, refused to comment on the circumstances leading to the exit of Patil and
Gururajan.
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Cabinet nod to digitisation of cable TV services
New Delhi, October 13 The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by PM Manmohan Singh, approved the proposal to promulgate the Digitalisation of Analogue Cable Systems Ordinance. The measure will empower consumer to high quality viewing and also more number of TV channels. There will be no prime band after introduction of digitisation. Consumers will be able to access the Internet as well as telephone through the digital cable, officials said. The Cabinet approved more devolution of powers to panchayats in the management of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and carving out of a special fund to monitor quality of drinking water. Government hopes earmarking of 10 per cent of the Centre’s share of Rs 9350 crore under the NRDWP will work as an incentive to states to help promote substantive devolution of “functions, funds and functionaries” to panchayats. — TNS
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Ram Sene activists assault Anna supporters in Delhi
New Delhi, October 13 Tejinder Pal Singh Bagga and Vishnu Gupta, who claimed to be Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena activists, were apprehended from Baba Kharak Singh Marg near the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, police said. On social networking site Facebook, the account holder of 'Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena' had claimed they "hit Prashant Bhushan hard in his chamber in Supreme Court. If you will try to break my nation, I will break your head", which was repeated on Bagga's Twitter account. One of the assailants, Inder Verma, who claims to be Delhi president of the Sri Ram Sene, was arrested yesterday. The trio was later taken to the Patiala House Court and remanded to one-day judicial custody. Following the order, a clash took place between Team Anna supporters and cohorts of the three assailants outside Gate No. 2 of the court at around 5.15 pm. Bhushan’s supporters were outnumbered and suffered multiple injuries. Three of them were admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.
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Procuring disability certificate a hard task
Gurgaon, October 13 While those having ailments relating to the ENT had to return home due to unavailability of a specialist, the process of registration of the names of the applicants was delayed. Dr Rekha Yadav, chairperson of the District Handicapped Board, said the ENT specialist was relieved yesterday following his transfer. The registration of the names, done by the clerical staff, is the first step in the process to appear before the board. The disability certificate is an important document to avail benefits of several welfare schemes of the government, including scholarships, reservations in jobs, concessions in the fares of buses and the railways and pension against unemployment to physically disabled persons. A three-member board having specialists and headed by a senior doctor clears the case of the applicants for the certificates. Geeta Chaturvedi of “Vishwas”, a non-government organisation that works for the welfare of physically disabled persons in the area, alleged that the Health Department personnel were slack in providing the certificates. The board does not stick to its prior schedule of meeting which was to be held every quarterly at each block headquarters. Chaturvedi said the health authorities concerned also did not provide proper guidelines about the documents required for the certificate. Cases of some applicants in the past were rejected by the clerical staff on flimsy grounds. Moreover, the hospital did not have the equipment to test the cases of the applicants.
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Anna Hazare hits back at Digvijay
New Delhi, October 13 “I know very well that people throw stones only at those trees which bear fruits. People see the world in the colour of the glasses they wear. I think that the colour of your spectacle is wrong and you should change it,” he said in his eight-page letter. The Gandhian has sought to puncture the points raised by Singh in his two letters in which the Congress general secretary had claimed that the RSS was backing Hazare's Lokpal campaign and that he was surrounded by associates who were anti-Congress. Hazare said if the government brought the Jan Lokpal Bill in the winter session of Parliament and worked to bring Lokayukta Act in each state, there would be no need to agitate or to tell people not vote for the Congress. He also said, “I neither have the capacity nor the desire to become the President of India and wonder why the Congress and the BJP were talking in the air.”
— PTI
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The Supreme Court today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram as Finance Minister could have prevented the allocation of 2G Spectrum in 2008 by the then Telecom Minister A Raja at 2001 prices.
A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and HL Dattu first clarified, “All through, we had resisted the temptation of asking the question as to why the government did not prevent the allocation of Spectrum even after Raja had gone ahead.”
ew Delhi/Varanasi, Oct 13
