The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	SC clean chit to Jaffer Sharief Legal Correspondent New Delhi, November 9 The Supreme Court today gave a clean chit to former Railway Minister Jaffer Sharief in a corruption case, holding that taking four employees of two public sector railway companies along with him on an official trip to London in early 1990s only amounted to improper conduct contrary to departmental norms. “But to say that the same was actuated by a dishonest intention to obtain an undue pecuniary advantage will not be correct,” a Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi ruled. Sharief was Railway Minister from June 21, 1991 to October 13, 1995 in the Congress government headed by PV Narasimha Rao. The CBI had charged Sharief with misusing the PSU employees’ services for his medical treatment in London as the railway companies - Rail India Technical & Economics Services Ltd (RITES) and Indian Railway Construction Co Ltd (IRCON) - had no business in the UK. Arguing for the CBI, Additional Solicitor General Mohan Jain had pleaded for allowing the trial to go on and taking the case to its logical conclusion. The Bench pointed out that the witnesses had corroborated the contention that the four PSU employees had performed certain tasks to assist the minister in the discharge of his public duties. “However insignificant such tasks may have been, the question of trying him under the Prevention of Corruption Act did not arise,” the SC ruled. Case History Jaffer Sharief (pic) was Railway Minister in Narasimha’s Cabinet from 1991 to 1995 Had taken along four employees of two PSUs on official trip to London in early 1990s CBI had charged him with misusing PSU employees’ services for medical treatment in London
	Rural women won’t gain from quota Bill: Mulayam Barabanki/Lucknow, Nov 9 Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav kicked up a row with his remark that rural women will not benefit from the Women Reservation Bill because they are not as attractive as those from the affluent class. “Only girls and women from affluent class can go forward...remember this. You (rural women) will not get a chance. Our rural women don’t have that much attraction,” he said at a rally in Barabanki yesterday. On Friday, Mulayam seemed to have softened his stand. He said that if the Bill served the “interests and welfare of the Dalits, Muslims and other backward classes”, he would have no problems with it. — Agencies
	Tight purse strings may choke key defence projects Ajay Banerjee/TNS New Delhi, November 9 India’s plans to ramp up its spending on defence to match China’s rising prowess will take a hit amid budgetary constraints. It could delay several key projects, including setting up a specialised mountain strike corps. The Defence Ministry is not very hopeful of getting an additional Rs 45,617 crore that is had sought over and above the allocated budget of Rs 1,93,407 crore (approx $38 billion) for this fiscal. The additional money was for modernisation of the armed forces and, among other things, for setting up a new mountain strike corps replete with choppers and the ability to launch itself at short notice. China has a defence budget of $106 billion, while the figure for the US is $740 billion, including its war effort. A confirmation has came from none less than the Defence Minister AK Antony, who said he was struggling to get even the Rs 1,93 crore allotted by the government in the Budget. “I am struggling to get the budgetary amount," he told reporters here when asked if he was hopeful of getting the additional funding sought by his ministry for modernising the three Services. Antony was interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an Army seminar on defence communication networks. The Defence Minister, however, ruled out any cut in the allocated defence budget of 2012-2013, saying, “These are all rumours. Our Ministry is trying to speed up (the modernisation process) without compromising procedures. From our ministry's side, there is no question of slowing down." Sources said a general 10 per cent cut has been imposed on expenses on the administrative side but not a single rupee has been reduced from the allocated Rs 79,579 crore meant for capital expenses of the Defence Ministry. This capital expenses are for buying equipment, ammunition, military hardware, war planes and warships. In May this year, during the budget session, Antony had pitched for an increase in allocation saying as per the estimated requirement of the armed forces, the need was Rs 2,39,123 crore. “We want Rs 45,716 crore more. I have asked the government to provide us more money. The existing budget is good but is still short,” he had said. Replying to a discussion on the performance of his ministry in the Rajya Sabha, he had said, “We need to have a second look at the defence budget…. I feel India’s defence budget will have to be enhanced… I will ask for more money. If there is a need to change the yardstick of the Finance Commission on defence spending, it will have to be changed”. The commission favours lowering of the share of defence spending in percentage terms of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is at present 1.90 per cent of the GDP. “As per review of threats, the demand is that the defence budget should be 2.35 per cent of the GDP”, Antony had told Parliament. Yesterday, at a review meeting, Antony directed officials that projects with direct links to operational preparedness should be speeded up. The review had come up in the backdrop of reports that the government will borrow an additional Rs 20,000 crore to meet its needs. Fiscal crisis The Defence Ministry is not very hopeful of getting an additional `45,617 crore that is had sought over and above the allocated budget of `1,93,407 crore (approx $38 bn) for this fiscal The additional money was for modernisation of the armed forces and, among other things, for setting up a new mountain strike corps replete with choppers China has a defence budget of $106 bn, while the figure for the US is $740 bn, including its war effort
	HC orders removal of 2 IAS officers from Noida postings Tribune News Service Lucknow, November 9 In a major setback to the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government, the Allahabad High Court has ordered the immediate removal of two senior IAS officers - the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Noida. The court has also directed the state government to ask the Central government to order a CBI probe into alleged irregularities committed by both officers. A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Amitabh Lala and PKS Baghel in their judgment has directed the state government to transfer Noida CEO Sanjeev Saran and Chairman Rakesh Bahadur. The court also said the two should not be posted anywhere in western Uttar Pradesh as they might influence the probe against them. The order was passed on a petition filed by Madha Samaj Nirvan Samiti challenging the appointment of the two officials at Noida. The court observed that there was explicit evidence about the irregularities committed in allotment of land to the hotel industry in Noida during Mulayam Singh Yadav’s previous tenure. Both officers were posted in the same position from 2005 to 2007 when the scam reportedly took place. Mayawati had removed both officials from Noida and placed them under suspension. Her government had also cancelled the allotment of plots to the hospitality companies. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav not only reinstated both officers but also gave them the same profitable postings at Noida. The High Court has also directed the state government to recommend a CBI probe with retrospective effect from 2001. In its directions to the UP Government, the court said the CBI probe into the irregularities of these officials should be completed within six months and the report be submitted in the court. The background Sanjeev Saran and Rakesh Bahadur were posted as Noida CEO and Chairman, respectively, during Mulayam’s tenure when irregularities were committed in allotment of land Mayawati later removed both officials and placed them under suspension Also cancelled the allotment of plots to the hotel industry CM Akhilesh Yadav reinstated both officers by giving them same postings
	Delhi HC restrained from hearing 2G cases Legal Correspondent New Delhi, November 9 The Supreme Court today stayed the Delhi High Court proceedings in about 20 cases relating to the 2G scam, observing that the HC could not have entertained the pleas overlooking an SC order. A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and KS Radhakrishnan passed the order on a CBI plea, citing the April 11, 2011 order of the SC restraining all the courts across the country, barring the special CBI court in Delhi which is holding trial in the 2G scam, from entertaining any petition relating to the issue. The Bench also issued notice to all the accused who had approached the HC seeking their response within six weeks to the CBI plea. The SC had passed the April 2011 order in order to ensure expeditious trial of the 2G cases by preventing the accused from obtaining stay orders from one HC or the other on some pretext. Some of the telecom companies had contended that under the existing laws they had the right to approach the HC and they could not be denied of this provision. Meanwhile, the SC also asked the government to explain as to why it was not implementing its February 2, 2012 judgment directing auction of all the spectrum covered under the 122 cancelled telecom licenses. In the auction slated for November 12, only part of the available 2G spectrum would be on offer. The government has contended that there was no taker for the spectrum (800 Mhz) covered under the CDMA technology. What the court said A Supreme Court Bench passed the order on a CBI plea, citing the April 2011 order of the SC restraining all courts across the country, barring the special CBI court holding the 2G trial , from entertaining any petition relating to the issue It observed that the Delhi HC could not have entertained pleas in about 20 cases relating to the 2G scam overlooking its order The Bench also issued notice to all the accused who had approached the HC seeking their response within six weeks to the CBI plea
	PM invites Obama to visit India Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 9 Eager to continue with the upswing in bilateral relations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh extended an invitation to US President Barack Obama to revisit India during his second term at the White House. The Prime Minister’s invitation was delivered during a telephonic conversation he had with the US President, who had called up numerous other world leaders on Thursday night. President Obama had come to India in November 2010. In November 2009, Obama had accorded the honour of being the first state guest to be received by the White House to Manmohan Singh after taking office in January that year. Manmohan Singh told Obama that his second term has given an opportunity to both India and the United States to carry forward and build on the “enormous success” achieved in bilateral partnership over the past few years. “The Prime Minister also expressed his appreciation for the personal interest and commitment that President Obama had brought to the relationship and said that he looked forward to continuing their close cooperation to pursue their shared vision for the India-US strategic partnership,” an official release said here. President Obama thanked the Indian PM for his wishes and said, "You have been a wonderful partner.” He noted that India and the US had an excellent relationship that had deepened over the past few years. He also expressed appreciation for the PM’s leadership on the world stage and said he looked forward to working with the Indian PM. Both leaders expressed their intention of meeting each other soon, the Prime Minister's Office said. Manmohan Singh and Obama, who have met several times over the past four years at various places in the world, will have an opportunity to meet in Phnom Penh on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit on November 19. Meanwhile, a White House release in Washington listed Manmohan Singh among the 13 leaders that the US President spoke to in response to the congratulatory messages that he received after his re-election on Tuesday. “This morning, the President was able to return some of these messages personally by phone. In each call, he thanked his counterpart for their friendship and partnership thus far and expressed his desire to continue close cooperation moving ahead,” the release said. Besides the Indian Prime Minister, Obama spoke with Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia, President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada, President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt, President Francois Hollande of France, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, King Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz of Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom, the White House said.
	Aadhaar-based direct cash transfer from Jan 2013 New Delhi, November 9 The government announced today that the Aadhaar number based direct cash transfer of benefits, including subsidies, will be rolled out in 51 districts from January 1, 2013. Under the rollout plan announced, 18 states will be covered from April 1 next year and another 16 states from April 2014 or earlier. The plan was announced after a meeting of the executive committee on direct cash transfers today. The Prime Minister had recently constituted a national committee on direct cash transfers to give a thrust to roll out a cash transfer programme across the country, leveraging the Aadhaar platform. — TNS
	PIL in SC: Probe funds received by Kejriwal Legal Correspondent New Delhi, November 9 A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a probe into the funds being received by anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal for carrying out the activities of his NGO India Against Corruption. The petition has also pleaded for censorship of Kejriwal’s statements before being allowed to be carried on television channels in order to prevent him from provoking and instigating the “innocent people”. “The foul language and baseless accusations being made by Kejriwal for his vested interests against the duly elected government, democratic values and constitution amounts to sedition and creating a feeling of chaos amongst the citizens of this country,” petitioner J Chittaraanjan Dass from Andhra Pradesh said.
	Ashram deaths: Asaram Bapu, son summoned Ahmedabad, November 9 While the Supreme Court today refused to order a CBI probe into the death of two children at Asaram Bapu’s ashram, a commission probing the 2008 case ordered the religious guru and his son to appear before it. The Justice (retd) DK Trivedi Commission asked Asaram Bapu to remain present before it on December 1, while his son Narayan Sai, has been asked to appear on November 11. — PTI
	Yeddyurappa loyalist is KJP interim chief Tribune News Service Bangalore, November 9 In a bid to give momentum to the regional party floated by him, disgruntled BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, today appointed his loyalist V Dhananjaya Kumar as president of Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP). Kumar, who served as minister of state for finance and textiles in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was expelled from the BJP recently after he launched a scathing attack on Jagadish Shettar, who is heading the BJP government in Karnataka as Chief Minister. Kumar, it is learnt, will serve as interim president. Yeddyurappa will take over the party’s leadership after the KJP is formally launched at a rally at Haveri, located around 350 km from Bangalore, on December 9. The KJP came into being last year but has not contested any election so far. Its incumbent president Prasanna Kumar resigned from the post today, paving the way for Kumar to take over. “As Yeddyurappa has announced that he will snap ties with the BJP, we are requesting him to join the KJP and lead it”, Kumar told reporters. “We are confident that Yeddyurappa will soon join us and lead us”, he added.
	Handlooms precious national legacy: Prez Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 9 President Pranab Mukherjee today called for constant endeavours to get handlooms and handicrafts access to markets within India and abroad to fully harness the inherent potential of our artisans and weavers. Describing handlooms as a precious part of national legacy, he said this rich heritage has been kept alive by those professionally skilled weaver households that are linked with the age-old tradition of weaving. Every part of India, every province, district and almost every single village has a cherished craft tradition of its own, he said on the occasion of the presentation of national awards, Shilp Guru Awards and Sant Kabir Awards for master craftspersons and weavers here at Vigyan Bhawan. The President congratulated the awardees for their contribution in preserving, promoting and enriching the traditional and cultural heritage of the country. Union Minister for Textiles and Commerce Anand Sharma was also present. 20 from north awarded National awardees: Surinder Kumar (Haryana) for 2009; BA Ganie, FA Ganie, MA Mir, AH Mir (J&K) for 2010 Shilpa Guru Award: Lalita Vakil (HP) and Budhi Ram Prajapati (Haryana) for 2009; Rasool Khan and Tsering Wangdus (J&K) for 2010 Sant Kabir Award: KR Sundriyal (Haryana) for 2009 National Merit Certificate: Baldev Krishan and Kamaljit (Punjab). Ali Mohhad Malik, Ghulam Hassan Parray, Nazir Ahmad Bhat, Mohammed Ahmad Makaya, Arif Ahmad Ganie and Khurshid Ahmad Khan (J&K) for 2009, Lovely and Ravinder Kumar (Punjab) for 2010