The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Khaps stick to demand of lowering girls’ marriage age
Tribune News Service

Rohtak, October 9
The Sarva Khap Mahapanchayat has reiterated its demand of lowering the legal age of marriage in the country to counter the problem of rapes in the region.

It described the visit of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s visit to a victim’s house today as a political stunt aimed at the Dalit vote bank and diverting the attention from the real issues facing the country.

“We have every right to raise the demand of lowering the age of marriage in the country which we think could help put things right as the ruling governments at the Centre and in the state have failed to come out with a strategy to curb such a crime,” said Sube Singh Samain, spokesperson of the khap mahapanchayat.

Reacting to the reported observation made by the UPA chairperson after her visit to Sachakhera village this morning, Samain said the mahapanchayat stuck to its view about the ages of marriage of boys and girls. “The matter is required to be debated and discussed at various levels, including Parliament, and if the majority thinks that it is unjustified, it could be dropped,” he said, adding that none could prevent anyone for making such a demand.

Kuldeep Dhanda, another senior leader of the mahapanchayat claimed that the demand was justified and all those who had been criticising this view had no knowledge of the culture and traditions of the rural people, who dominate the population of the country. He said the lowering of age would not force anyone to marry at the minimum age but this would help the families that do not follow the western culture and its lifestyle. Ramphal Kandela, head of the Kandela Khap, said the issue was serious and the government ought to take all concerned into confidence to check the menace. He said while the khaps would make all efforts to create awareness and to step up its role in the prevention of such incidents, the government or the ruling party could not escape their responsibility of maintaining law and order by just condemning the khaps which, he said, were the real representatives of the rural people and had always worked for their welfare.

To improve rape statistics, police drags its feet on registering FIRs
Bhanu P Lohumi/TNS

Panipat, October 9
Notorious for its skewed gender ratio and honour killings, Haryana is now earning the sobriquet of “rape state” with a spurt in rape cases during the past one month.

Under fire from all quarters for the deteriorating law and order situation, the police are avoiding registration of fresh cases to “improve crime statistics”. FIRs are reportedly being registered in most rape cases either under pressure from the media or following agitation by the aggrieved. Parents of the 12-year-old girl of New Desh Raj Colony, who was lured by a relative and taken to Himachal on October 3, alleged that they filed a complaint with the police on October 5 apprehending that something wrong had been done to their minor daughter. However, the police chose to register a case of kidnapping and compelling the girl to marry against her will under sections 363 and 366 of the IPC. Despite allegations of a minor being abducted and kept in custody for a day, the police took two days to get the girl medically examined. Finally, the police buckled under public pressure and said it had added Section 376 of the IPC (rape) to the FIR after the medical examination. The police says the girl’s parents did not complain about rape.

The girl, a student of Class VIII, comes from a family of migrant labourers from Uttar Pradesh. She was enticed and taken to Himachal by her uncle, Narender (25).

Contrary to the general perception of high incidence of rape in Haryana, data compiled by the State Crime Record Bureau shows otherwise. As per data, 507 rape cases were reported during the current calendar year from January 1 to September 29, 2012 as against 567 registered during the corresponding period last year, a decline of 12 per cent. A rape or gang-rape is reported almost every day in some part of the state. Maximum number of cases have been reported from the National Capital Region and Panipat/Karnal, but the department maintains that there has been a decline in the number of reported rape cases. So, are a large number of cases notbeing reported or registered due to the attitude of the police?

State Crime Record Bureau director Liak Ram Dabas attributes the decline in rape cases to the recruitment of women police in the past two years. A special cell has been opened to deal with crimes against women at all district headquarters.

Hall of shame

A whopping 2,524 cases of rape reported in the past 45 months

This translates to an average of two cases a day during the past 1,367 days

Of the 507 cases of rape reported till September 29, Karnal is at top with 43 followed by Gurgaon at a close second with 40 cases

36 cases were reported in Hisar, 35 in Mewat, 33 in Faridabad, 31 in Rohtak and 30 each in Palwal and Panipat

The lowest number of cases, 25, were reported from Sonepat and Kurukshetra

India, Pak clash over Kashmir again at UN
Ashok Tuteja/TNS

New Delhi, October 9
India and Pakistan were engaged in a fresh round of clash over the Kashmir issue at the United Nations.

Pakistan chose to raise the Kashmir issue at the general debate of the special political and decolonisation committee, much to the surprise of the Indian delegation.

Participants at the meeting also did not appreciate the fact that Pakistan raised an issue which was completely irrelevant to the work of the committee. Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative cited Security Council resolutions on Kashmir to justify his country’s position. In his right to reply, Prakash Gupta, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, regretted that Pakistan raised the issue at the forum, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India.

“We reject in their entirety the untenable comments from the distinguished delegate of Pakistan, the references to J & K in them, being completely irrelevant to the work of the committee,” he said.

Gupta also underlined that the people of J&K have repeatedly expressed their free will and peacefully chosen their destiny in accordance with democratic practices and they continue to do so. This was the second time in the past fortnight that India and Pakistan clashed at the UN on Kashmir. It all started with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari raising the issue in his address to the UNGA, describing Kashmir as a symbol of the failure of the UN system. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, in
his address last week, asserted that Kashmir was an integral part of India, which was questioned by a Pakistani delegate subsequently.

India is surprised why Pakistan has chosen to raise the pitch on Kashmir at a time when the dialogue process to resolve all outstanding issue is progressing satisfactorily. Officials here are quite apprehensive that Pakistan will use its membership of the UN Security Council for the next two years to keep highlighting the Kashmir issue at the world body.

Advani lists steps taken by govt to combat terror at UN
Ashok Tuteja/TNS

New Delhi, October 9
Even as his party was sharpening its campaign against the UPA regime, senior BJP Leader LK Advani was at the United Nations, explaining the steps taken by the Manmohan Singh government to combat terrorism.

Advani is among 15 MPs deputed by the government to represent India at different sessions of the UN General Assembly. Two more groups of MPs, which too would include the BJP representatives, are scheduled to go to New York to attend the UN General Assembly. However, what has surprised many in political circles is why Advani chose to go in a government-sponsored delegation to New York at a time when his party is on a warpath with the UPA over the issue of corruption and various economic measures initiated by the ruling coalition. Also, the assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal, where the BJP is pitted against the Congress, are round the corner.

There are many in the BJP who are defending him on the ground that domestic politics can’t be mixed with the country’s foreign policy. Another argument being advanced by them is that the trip was finalised much in advance.

Usually, the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry seeks the names of their MPs from various parties to represent India at international conferences and then forwards the list to the External Affairs Ministry. Each group of MPs attends the UNGA for about two weeks and speaks on different issues. The MPs also learn about the functioning of the UN and how diplomacy is conducted at the world body. Making a statement on ‘Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism’ at the sixth committee of the UN General Assembly yesterday, the former Deputy Prime Minister described terrorism as a ‘Frankenstein Monster’ and said the fight against the menace must be unrelenting and fought across all fronts. In an obvious reference to Pakistan, he underlined that resorting to the use of terrorism as an instrument of ‘state policy’ was short-sighted.

Kejriwal’s fresh salvo against Vadra
Cong leaves it to Haryana, DLF to respond
Anita Katyal/TNS

New Delhi, October 9
After vigorously defending Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra over charges levelled against him by activist-politician Arvind Kejriwal, the party today left it to the Haryana Government and realty major DLF to respond to them.

Following up on his earlier allegations about the business dealings between Vadra and DLF, Kejriwal maintained he had proof to show there was a “nexus” between the Haryana Government and the realty firm that benefited because of its proximity to the Congress president’s son-in-law.

In a brief reaction, Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi rejected the charges and questioned the veracity of the documents distributed by Kejriwal. Stating that Kejriwal was making such wild allegations only for “cheap publicity”, Alvi said the anti-corruption crusader should approach the courts in case he had evidence. Dismissing his demand for a White Paper, Alvi counselled Kejriwal to approach the state government.

Rattled by the initial allegations, the Congress had gone into an overdrive to defend Vadra as party president Sonia Gandhi was also being dragged into the controversy. Party spokespersons and Union ministers were fielded to reject the charges and insulate Sonia Gandhi from this onslaught. “Congress came into the picture only because the Congress president’s name was also being mentioned,” remarked a senior party functionary.

Explaining the nuanced shift in the party’s strategy, the senior leader said there was nothing more to be add after the Finance and Law Ministers had spoken on the issue. Corporate Affairs Minister Veerappa Moily also gave a clean chit to the Vadra-DLF transactions.

As the party oscillates from one extreme to another, the Congress rank and file is clearly nervous about how these charges are going to pan out. “Whatever may be the facts of the cases... we have lost the perception battle,” remarked a Congress leader, adding that even if the allegations were not proved in the court, these would become one more talking point against the party.

Party cadres are particularly perturbed as it for the first time that the Congress president has become the target of attack. “It is imperative to protect Sonia and Priyanka Gandhi from this vilification campaign,” remarked another party leader.

While the Congress rank and file bemoans lack of a proper strategy to counter the campaign, the BJP has jumped onto the bandwagon, breaking the unwritten code among political parties of not targeting family members of their opponents.

Reacting to the fresh allegations against Robert Vadra, the BJP today demanded that Congress and UPA ministers should stop defending him and a fair, free and comprehensive inquiry be ordered into his business dealings. “Till today, no tangible steps have been taken by the government to control corruption even though Congress president Sonia Gandhi had given a five-point sutra to her chief ministers at Burari,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Final decision to fix wheat MSP lies with govt: Pawar
Vibha Sharma/TNS

New Delhi, October 9
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said the final decision to fix the support price for wheat for the 2013-14 season, rests with the government. This leaves the door open for both the options-hiking the MSP or accepting the Commission of Agriculture Costs and Price (CACP) recommendation to freeze the wheat support price at the current level.

All that a non-committal Pawar offered to repeated questions on the issue was that in 95 per cent of cases the government accepts CACP’s proposals to fix prices of farm produce.

In view of higher wheat stocks and promoting production of non-grain crops, the CACP recently suggested the wheat MSP to be fixed at Rs 1,285 per quintal for 2013-14, a proposal that had farmers crying foul.

For 2012-13, the Centre had announced a support price of Rs 1,285 per quintal-a factor that helped achieve record 93.9 million tonne wheat output.

However, this time it is not just the CACP but key ministries like agriculture, finance and food which are opposed to any increase in wheat MSP to keep the food bill in check.

Sources say to appease the farming community the government may offer a bonus at the time the MSP is announced.

The CACP, which advises the government on the pricing policy for major farm produce, has recommended that the MSP be kept unchanged at Rs 1,285 per quintal, citing huge stocks and increasing food subsidy burden as the reasons. It also argued upon the need to shift to non-grain crops and help states wean out of the rice-wheat cycle by encouraging production of other crops with better incentives.

TN to file contempt plea against K’taka

Chennai/Bangalore, Oct 9
The Cauvery row hotted up today with Tamil Nadu deciding to knock at Supreme Court's door with a contempt petition against Karnataka for "unilaterally" stopping release of water to it.

A day after Karnataka's action, the Jayalalithaa government accused the upper riparian state of "unilaterally" stopping water release, saying it amounted to dishonouring the apex court order and impeding the country's federal structure.

Tamil Nadu's decision intensifying the legal battle came at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa even as protests showed signs of easing in Karnataka after water discharge was stopped citing depleted storage. Karnataka last night stopped water release from the Krishna Raja Sagar dam, hours after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made it clear that only the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) can review its order directing the state to release 9,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu. On a petition from Tamil Nadu, the SC had earlier endorsed the CRA ruling asking Karnataka to release 9,000 cusecs from September 20-October 15, a decision contested by both the states, locked in the vexed Cauvery dispute. — PTI

5 children drown as boats capsize in Assam
Bijay Sankar Bora/TNS

Guwahati, October 9
Five school children, including two girls, drowned when two country boats capsized today in the flood-affected Mayong area in Morigaon district of Assam.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Morigaon, RK Handique said the children were going to their school on boats because the road link leading to their school had been snapped.

The official said the two boats capsized around the same time at two different locations. While one incident occurred at Pabhakhati in which two boys and one girl got drowned, the second one took place at Bhalukijhar in which a boy and a girl were killed.

Swiss bank accounts of Mumbai businessman frozen

Mumbai, October 9
In the first instance of an Indian agency getting access to Swiss bank accounts in its black money probe, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has frozen about Rs 6 crore of stashed funds of a Mumbai-based businessman in an alleged money laundering case.

The agency, which approached the Swiss authorities some time back in connection with the probe, received a shot in the arm when the banking and enforcement authorities there agreed that the money stashed in the accounts was prima facie "proceeds of crime" and it was important for India to get access and control of these accounts.

The case pertains to an alleged contravention of money laundering laws by Sayed Mohammed Masood, chairman of 'City Limousine', whom the agency is probing for floating illegal ponzi schemes (fraud investment plans) by promising extraordinary returns which were not honoured.

"Two Swiss accounts in the name of Masood and his business firms, holding $1.25 million, have been attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)," investigators of the case said.

The ED attachment ensures that these properties cannot be used by the accused and he cannot take any benefits from these assets, and such an order can be challenged by the accused at the adjudicating authority of the PMLA.

The Mumbai unit of the agency has said in its request to the Swiss authorities that it is probing "the City group and its chairman Sayed Mohammed Masood for money laundering". — PTI

LPG subsidy burden weighs heavy on Maharashtra
Shiv Kumar/TNS

Mumbai, October 9
The Maharashtra Government is still grappling with the intricacies of providing subsidised LPG cylinders to residents of the state because of the huge subsidy burden such a move will entail, sources said.

"The proposal mooted by the Central government under which all state governments will subsidise three additional gas cylinders per household will result in a burden of Rs 2,400 crore per year," says a Finance Department official.

In all, the state government may have to provide funds for at least five crore gas cylinders, according to estimates.

The Centre is providing six cylinders per household under the new programme to reduce subsidies on cooking gas.

While the state Congress is keen on providing three cylinders per household, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which shares power in the state, has warned that such a move would badly stretch the budget. NCP leader and Finance Minister Jayant Patil wants the government to work out a proposal whereby free gas cylinders would be given to only those below the poverty line, sources said.

Among the measures suggested include removal of tax payers and those with high monthly incomes from the list of eligible persons for free gas cylinders, sources said.

Scarlett case: CBI to examine key witness via video link

Mumbai/Panaji, October 9
Four years after the death of British teenager Scarlett Eden Keeling, a special Goa court in a first, has permitted the Central Bureau of Investigation to record evidence of a key prosecution witness in the case, through video conferencing.

The investigation agency had earlier filed an application before the Goa Children's Court, which is conducting trial in the case, seeking permission to examine the witness via video conference from the United Kingdom (UK).

The application was filed by Michael Mannion, a British national, and one of the eye witnesses who saw the 15-year-old girl with the two accused on the night she was allegedly murdered. Mannion said he was ready to come down to Goa to testify as a witness only if the prosecution reimbursed him for loss of his salary there and expenses incurred. Mannion had also said he apprehended threat to his life.

“Mannion feared threat from the accused and hence had requested the CBI to record his deposition via video link. He is keen to depose in the matter,” his lawyer Vikram Verma told PTI. The case was handed over to the CBI after allegations of a shoddy probe were levelled against Goa police by Scarlett's mother Fiona Mackeown.— PTI

Goa’s Shame

Feb 18, 2008: The semi-nude corpse of 15-year-old British tourist Scarlett Keeling (pic) found at Goa’s Anjuna beach

Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho arrested soon after on charges of rape and murder and are facing trial

Key witness Michael Mannion, also a British national, saw Scarlett with the two accused on the night she was allegedly murdered

He said he feared threat from the accused and hence had requested the CBI to record his deposition via video link

Amjad Ali, Shivkumar Sharma among 11 get Sangeet Natak Akademy fellowship

New Delhi, October 9
Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and Santoor exponent Shivkumar Sharma were among the recipients of Sangeet Natak Akademy fellowship and awards given to 47 eminent persons by President Pranab Mukherjee here today.

Eleven eminent persons in the field of music, dance and theatre were nominated for the Akademy fellowship for 2011, which included, along with Khan and Sharma, flute legend Hariprasad Chaurasia, who could not make it to the function due to his prior engagements.

Besides this, 36 eminent personalities and artists, including well-known film and television actor Vikram Gokhle, were conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademy Awards. Those conferred with the highest honour of Akademi fellowship received Rs 3 lakh, an "angavastram" and a "tamrapatra".

Those getting the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for music, dance and theatre received Rs 1 lakh, an "angavastram" and a "tamrapatra".

Two of the Akademi Awardees Sundari Krishnalal Shridharani, an eminent threatre personality, who set up Triveni Kala Sangam in Delhi and director and playwright Alakhnandan were given the award posthumously. Their family members received the awards on their behalf after the ceremony was over. Both of them passed away earlier this year after they were named for the awards.

The oldest living artist to receive the award was Kerala musician Thrippekulam Achuta Marar (91), who came in a wheelchair. Mukherjee got down from the stage to offer him the award. The youngest to get the award was 48-year-old Bharatnatyam dancer Narthaki Nataraj.

Khan, who received the Sangeet Natak Akademy fellowship this time had earlier got the Akademy Award in 1989. He is a recipient of many prestigious awards, including Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and the UNESCO award. Gurmeet Bawa of Punjab got Akademy award for folk music).— PTI

No more His Excellency, its Hon’ble President
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9
President Pranab Mukherjee today did away with decades old protocol practice of addressing the country's first citizen as "His Excellency" during functions organised in the country or during interaction between dignitaries at home and the President.

Instead the word "Hon'ble" will be used before the title of President or Governor with traditional Indian greeting of "Shri or Smt" preceding the name with the Hindi equivalent being "Rashtrapati Mahoday" instead of "Mahamahim."

"Excellency" will be used only for interaction of leaders with foreign dignitaries and as is customary international practice. It has also been decided that the word Rashtrapatiji will replace "Mahamahim" in official notings in the President's Secretariat.

Taking into account inconvenience caused to public during his movement within the city and in order to reduce the burden on police and other agencies, The President has instructed that, to the best extent possible, all functions be organised within Rashtrapati Bhawan premises itself.

Manipur student alleges sexual harassment by prof at Visva Bharati

Santiniketan (WB), October 9
A PhD aspirant from Manipur was allegedly sexually harassed by a professor at the Visva Bharati following which the varisty has launched a probe into her complaint.

The student, who completed her post-graduation from Sriniketan campus of the central university last year, in her complaint to Vice-Chancellor Sushanta Dutta Gupta said the professor of agriculture department had allegedly outraged her modesty when she went to his chamber on October 4 to submit some research-related papers, university authorities said.

"We (the university) have received the complaint on October 5 and it was forwarded to the committee for protection from sexual harassment," Visva Bharati spokesman Amrit Sen said.

The committee is expected to submit its report on October 13, he said. The girl had left Santiniketan immediately after submitting the complaint, the authorities said. Neither the girl nor the teacher could be contacted. — PTI

Antony plays down tussle between Army, IAF over attack choppers
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9
Defence Minister AK Antony today termed the turf-war between the Army and the Indian Air Force over the control of attack helicopters, a “family problem”. He said the government was is in the final stages of resolving the issue.

The Army has been demanding control over attack and medium-lift helicopters, saying they are mainly used for its operations and that is why they should be under it. The IAF has strongly opposed the demand and has cited the operational procedures of the other forces. A major stumbling block will be the resources. The Army will need an estimated Rs 58,000 crore to setup facilities to train manpower and spares for the maintenance.

“There is no tussle and there is no war. These are all family problems and we will find a solution. We are in the final stages of finding the solution amicably. Don't go beyond that,” Antony told reporters on the sidelines of the Territorial Army Day parade here today. He was asked if the Defence Ministry has rejected the Army's demand to have its own fleet of attack and medium-lift helicopters over which the two services are fighting over. Sources said, the Ministry of Defence has opted to raise the financial question and duplication of effort.

The IAF had recently rejected the Army's demand to have their own attack and medium-lift helicopters contending that the country can’t afford to have these “little air forces” growing up to do their “own thing”.

Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh said the Defence Ministry holds a very “sympathetic view” about the demand of the Army to have its own attack helicopters.

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne had said “little air forces” cannot be allowed to grow up saying if the Coast Guard asks for submarines, will it be given the assets by the Navy.

It’s curtains on direct flights to London, Toronto from Amritsar
Vibha Sharma/TNS

Ajit Singh, Civil Aviation Minister

New Delhi, October 9
Punjab air passengers, who have been clamouring for the restart of direct international flights by Air India to London and Toronto from Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport, will have to learn to do without the facility.

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh today made it clear that the national carrier’s decision to withdraw direct flights to London and Toronto was due to lack of financial viability and no airline could afford to operate flights without the required passenger load factor.

“The flight could not even meet the fuel charges,” he said in response to a Tribune query at the Economic Editors’ Conference on the oft-repeated demand by Punjab politicians for resuming the direct connectivity by the national carrier from Amritsar to the favourite international Punjabi jaunts- the UK and Canada.

“A massive amount of fuel is needed for direct flights and not just Air India even Jet Airways stopped its direct international flight from Amritsar because of financial unviability,” he said.

Currently the only international flights operating out of Amritsar are by foreign carriers and, that too, to destinations in the Middle East. Around July, the British Midland International, the second largest airline flying out of Heathrow, also declared to withdraw its Amritsar-London flight after operating the sector for only about a year. The flight covers the distance between Amritsar and London in about 14 hours with over an hour long stopover in Almaty, Kazhakastan.

While the decision came as a set back to the Amritsar Airport, already reeling under severe financial losses, officials say the flight was flying with just about 100 passengers-a severe under capacity for a wide-bodied A330-200 aircraft with 36 business class and 196 economy class seats.

Experts explain that a carrier recovers its costs from front seats (the business class) but from places like Amritsar, the demand is largely for the economy section. Moreover, in the changing times, the hub and spoke system is the way to fly all over the world. With increasing operational costs due to ATF and airport charges the system was a norm with most major airlines and Air India was no exception.

“Politicians can make noises about flights being withdrawn from Amritsar but the fact is that Air India is a business venture that can no longer be misconstrued as an airline meant for social service,” they add.

No electric shocks for mentally ill
Union Health Ministry approves new draft law
Aditi Tandon/TNS

New Delhi, October 9
For the first time, the Ministry of Health has approved a draft law which allows everyone, with or without mental illness, to write an advanced will stating the manner in which they would want to be treated if they contract the illness in future.

Called “Advanced Directive”, the provision allows every person to list “the way he wishes to be cared for if he becomes ill” and also mention his nominee who would make choices on his behalf in case of a future illness. In a first, the law bars direct electroconvulsive therapy without anaesthesia and muscle relaxants. Minors cannot be given electric shocks at all and medical insurance cover has been mandated for mental illness.

While Advanced Directive seems like the hallmark of the new law which seeks to replace the Mental Health Act of 1987, a penal act in which the judiciary had a role in each admission and discharge of a mentally ill person, disability activists describe the Bill as anti-people.

They say, “The law gives the right in one sentence and takes it away in the other”. A perusal of the section dealing with Advanced Directives shows that while allowing people to write wills listing treatment choices, the draft bill also gives mental healthcare professionals, psychiatrists and relatives the right to seek review and cancellation of such advanced directives before the newly-proposed Mental Health Review Commission, which replaces the judiciary.

“The law reads well. Only it is furiously anti patient,” says Javed Abidi of Disability Rights Group, which will protest against the Bill outside Health Ministry tomorrow.

On the positive side, the new draft bill bans prohibits sterilisation as a means to treat ill women, chaining and tonsuring of heads of patients. It, however, still allows physical restraint under listed conditions and involuntary admissions for patients not in a position to choose. Also, it does not acknowledge full legal capacity for mentally ill and lists conditions in which nominated representatives of the ill will make choices on their behalf such as coma and loss of memory. This is against the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, including mental illnesses, which India ratified in October 2007. The Convention asks signatories to allow full legal capacity and repeal laws on involuntary confinement. “Involuntary admissions are bound to be misused,” says Bhargavi Davar, who runs a community care centre for the mentally ill in Pune.

The Ministry argues, “Only in exceptional cases when the ill are temporarily incapacitated will their representatives make their choices.”

CBI registers case in RTI activist Amit Jethwa’s murder

New Delhi, October 9
The CBI today registered a case in connection with the 2010 killing of Gujarat-based RTI activist Amit Jethwa in which a state BJP MP is a suspect. The agency started probe on the instructions of the high court which had handed over the case to the CBI and criticised the state police for their shoddy investigations into the murder case.

BJP MP from Junagadh Dinu Bogha Solanki's nephew Shiva Solanki was arrested for allegedly carrying out the killing, but the MP was given a clean chit. The agency has registered the FIR against unknown persons under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC, CBI sources said.

The team of special crime unit would be reaching Ahmedabad soon to initiate its probe into the case, they said.

A Right to Information (RTI) and environment activist, Jethwa, who had filed numerous RTI applications and a PIL against illegal mining in the Gir forest region, was shot dead outside the Gujarat High Court on July 20, 2010.

The killing had sparked an uproar among the RTI activists across the country who raised concerns over the safety of such whistleblowers. Amit’s father Bhikabhai Jethwa had sought a CBI probe alleging that Dinu Bogha Solanki was behind the murder.

In his plea before the high court, Bhikabhai has alleged that the state police had not properly probed the case and the state government was shielding the BJP MP. The Division Bench of Justices DH Vaghela and JC Upadhyay, on September 25, while handing over the case to the CBI had observed that investigation in the Jethwa murder case was “far from fair, independent, bona fide or prompt”.

The HC had also rapped the state police for its shoddy probe. The police had arrested six persons, including Shiva and sharp shooter Sailesh Pandya, who had shot at Jethwa, but it ruled out any involvement of Dinu Bogha Solanki in the murder. The court later directed the police to specifically probe the role of the BJP MP, but Solanki got a clean chit again. — PTI

The case

Amit Jethwa, who filed many RTI applications and a PIL against illegal mining in the Gir forest region, was shot dead outside the Gujarat High Court on July 20, 2010

BJP MP from Junagadh Dinu Bogha Solanki's nephew Shiva Solanki was arrested for allegedly carrying out the killing, but the MP was given a clean chit

Amit’s father Bhikabhai Jethwa had sought a CBI probe alleging that Dinu Bogha Solanki was behind the murder

Delimitation might stump political parties

Ahmedabad, October 9
With boundaries of 60 out of the total 182 constituencies being re-drawn in Gujarat, the fortunes of two main parties -- the Congress and the BJP -- in the 2012 Assembly elections, is likely to be hugely influenced by the delimitation process, which will alter several equations, including caste and political following.

These Assembly elections will be the first after the Delimitation Commission submitted its report to the President, forcing legislators to reach out to voters in newer segments after the change in composition.

Many seats which fall under the reserved categories for scheduled castes (SCs) and scheduled tribes (STs) have been changed to general categories and those which were in general categories have come under the reserved bracket.

“They (political parties) may fight the elections on various issues, but the main hurdle they will be facing in this election, which might take them off-guard, is delimitation of seats," a senior Election Commission (EC) official said.

The statement of the EC assumes significance as in the last (2007) election, more than 25 seats were won and lost in the margin of 3,000 votes and another 40 seats were won and lost in the margin of 10,000 votes.

The delimitation exercise is carried out on the basis of the latest census with a view that the population per Assembly seat is in the same range and is done to identify reserved seats of SCs and STs.

The recommendations of the 2002 Delimitation Commission were approved by the President in 2008.

Both the Congress and the BJP are unsure of what will be the outcome of the elections in the seats where boundaries have been altered due to demographic and voter profile changes with respect to caste following and religion. “In the Assembly elections where the difference of votes between the winning and losing candidates is marginal, delimitation will play a major role in the coming elections. Earlier, we used to know the voting pattern of each and every constituency till the booth level, but this time things will be different,” a BJP leader said. — PTI

Rejig impact

The 2012 Gujarat Assembly elections will be the first after the Delimitation Commission submitted its report to the President

Boundaries of 60 out of the total 182 constituencies are being re-drawn in the state

Many seats which fall under the reserved categories for SCs and STs have been changed to general categories and vice-versa

The delimitation process will alter several voting equations, including caste and political following