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Delhi HC to monitor
police probe
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Ministers, MPs rush to score points
Sushma Swaraj, BJP
Lokpal Bill set to be delayed further
India passes WHO’s strictest vaccine safety test
HC dismisses PIL against Sachin’s nomination to RS
Sachin
ASEAN-India set to cement partnership
ITBP, BSF, NSG get new chiefs
Bill to expand definition of terror act introduced in Rajya Sabha
Bhanwari murder: Charges framed against Bishnoi
Telangana issue rocks AP Cong
HC judgment in Italian marines' case today
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New Delhi, December 19 Speaking exclusively to The Tribune on a day when the nation continued to express its outrage over the poor state of women’s protection in Delhi, Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said the government was in the process of creating 1,800 new posts in the lower judiciary to fill vacancies and ensure speedy trial and justice. Admitting that the Delhi gang rape of a 23-year-old girl had shaken the conscience of the country, he called for social boycott of those guilty of such heinous acts. “The government is going to consider on a comprehensive basis a slew of initiatives, including setting up of fast-track courts and streamlining procedures, to ensure expeditious justice and to inflict the severest of punishments on the guilty. But this matter needs to be viewed in the totality of our social stricture. Such criminal acts bordering on depravity cannot be addressed through legal mechanisms alone. Those guilty of such crimes need to be socially ostracised as well,” Ashwani Kumar said. As regards fast-tracking of such cases, Law Minister said the Cabinet last week accorded approval to the creation of 1,800 new posts in the subordinate judiciary and the Law Ministry had started working towards it. The creation of 1,800 posts is in follow up to a judgment of the Supreme Court that recently asked the Centre and states to create 10 per cent of the total regular cadre as additional posts and take up the process for filling such additional vacancies. “Since the present regular cadre strength of judicial officers in the lower judiciary is around 18,000, the government has decided to create 1,800 posts (10 per cent),” said Kumar. He would soon take a view on mechanisms to fast-track cases by engaging with members of the superior judiciary, he added. “I will again meet the superior judiciary to decide how best to take measures which will enable us to establish the requisite number of courts where ever necessary to fast-track cases. I have already had informal discussions with them,” Kumar said. On the need to revisit the law governing rape cases and the demands for capital punishment, he said, “The offence of rape is punishable with life imprisonment as the law currently stands. The challenge is to ensure conviction of the guilty and expeditious trial. We are moving very fast on that front. We understand that justice in such cases should not only be done, it should also be seen to be done,” he said.
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Delhi HC to monitor
police probe
New Delhi, December 19 Taking suo motu notice of the brutal attack by six persons -- the bus driver and five of his associates -- a Bench comprising Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw sought a status report within two days from the city Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar on the investigations. The HC also directed the Delhi government to provide the best possible medical facilities to the girl, who was fighting for her life in the Safdarjung Hospital, and her male friend who had also been assaulted by the rapists as he tried to protect her. The
police should provide all the details about the security arrangements
that had been made in the vicinity of the attack, including the names of
the policemen who had been deployed at the check posts, the Bench
clarified. Expressing concern over people’s waning faith in the
judiciary and police, the HC also cleared the setting up five fast track
courts for expeditious trial of such cases by holding day-to-day
hearings. The HC’s intervention comes in the wake of a nation-wide
public outcry, calling for quick and adequate punishment to the
assailants.
Public outrage continues
Public outrage against the gang rape of a 23-year-old physiotherapists continued on the third day of the brutal incident in Delhi today. Demonstrations were held near the CM's residence, the police headquarters, Jantar Mantar and at the ITO crossing. The police had to use water cannons to disperse protesters at Janpath when they tried to march towards the official residence of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. — TNS
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Ministers, MPs rush to score points
New Delhi, December 19 The past two days have seen several SMS alerts from political leaders and MPs, going out of their way to show how much they care about the 23-year-old victim of gang rape, still struggling for her life at Safdarjung Hospital here. In more ways than one, therefore, politics is being played on the ground of a terrible crime. Picture this-the girl was raped on the night of December 16 and has since been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital in a critical condition. But it took three days for the Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath to visit the victim. Coincidentally, Tirath woke up only a day after her party chief Sonia Gandhi had gone to see the victim. Earlier, other MPs including Congress’ Girija Vyas and BJP’s Sushma Swaraj had visited the hospital to meet with the girl and her parents. Tirath, however, remembered to report the time of her hospital visit to the media today as did BJP leader from Delhi Vijay Jolly, who was supposed to be on some TV show debating the matter. Even Congress president’s letter written to Home Minister and Delhi CM was reported to the media close to midnight yesterday. Part of the politics over the gang rape was played outside Parliament this morning where women members from the BJP were gathered in protest near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. “We were surprised to read that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has written to the Home Minister and Delhi Chief Minister demanding action. She is the head of the government. She should not be demanding action; she should be promising action. The right thing to say would be - Sushma demands action; Sonia promises action,” BJP’s Sushma Swaraj declared while leading the protest in Parliament. Responsibility notwithstanding, medical experts today said the politicians would do well to leave the patient alone for the time being. “The victim is battling acute infection. Doctors fear gangrene and septicemia. The time is of essence for the victim and she needs complete isolation. Anyone who cares for her and her life should leave her alone at this moment,” said a top retired government doctor.
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Lokpal Bill set to be delayed further
New Delhi, December 19 After the Opposition protested over the non-tabling of the report of the select committee, Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy told the Upper House that the Bill would be brought in the next session. “The government has to take Cabinet into confidence. The government will bring it (Lokpal Bill) in the budget session with required amendments as given by the committee. Then the House can consider it,” the minister said. The statement came after Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley supported the protest by KN Balagopal and P Rajeeve of the CPM for not placing the report of the select committee before the House for discussion. Jaitley contended that the report was the property of the House since the Lokpal Bill was referred to the select committee of the House and not the Standing Committee. “It is the property of the House. Fixing a time for the select committee report to be taken up for debate and consideration of the House is prerogative of the Chair,” Jaitley said. Explaining the government’s point of view, Narayanasamy said the select committee had submitted its report after the session started. “It was sent to the Law Ministry for consideration and it has given its approval. We are taking the report to the Cabinet for getting the amendments approved,” he added. The controversial legislation, which was passed by Lok Sabha last year, faced Opposition hurdle in the Rajya Sabha on various provisions, including the one making it mandatory for states to set up Lokayuktas. In view of the sharp divide, the Bill was referred to the select committee.
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India passes WHO’s strictest vaccine safety test
New Delhi, December 19 An 18-member team of drug inspectors from the WHO, US-FDA, Sweden, China, Switzerland and Thailand reviewed the Central Drug Laboratory at Kasauli and CDSCO’s other facilities in Haryana and Kerala today and found Indian vaccine regulatory agencies had a fully functional vaccine regulatory system. India has become the first country in the world to have passed this stringent WHO test in one go. WHO’s assessment of the Indian national regulatory authority as functional paves the way for global acceptance of Indian vaccines and presents a significant potential for exports which can drive India’s pharmaceutical sector further. At present, India has 12 major vaccine manufacturing facilities and the domestic size of the vaccine industry is estimated at Rs 19,000 crore. The total export from the country at present is around $25 billion a year to 150 countries and this is set for a major increase post the WHO certification on vaccine safety aspects. In plain terms, the WHO certification means Indian vaccine makers can now apply for WHO pre-qualification which is mandatory to apply for most of the global vaccine tenders because countries want to be assured of the vaccine regulatory mechanism’s safety in the country of origin of the vaccine being imported. At present, India has only 58 WHO pre-qualified vaccines which it can now increase. One of the requirements to be eligible for WHO pre-qualification and its retention is to have the country’s national vaccine regulatory authority assessed as functional by the WHO. “All the UN procurement agencies like the WHO, UNICEF and even the World Bank import vaccines only from countries whose regulatory authorities for vaccines have been rated as functional by the WHO and who are eligible for WHO pre-qualification on both vaccines and the vaccine manufacturers,” Health Ministry sources said. In 2007, India had failed to clear the WHO testing procedure for vaccine safety and all exports from the country had to be suspended until 2009. In 2009, India managed to pass the certification and resumed exports. “What is significant in the 2011 review by the WHO which we just passed is that the safety parameters are much more stringent and tough than they were in 2009 during the last review,” ministry officials said.
Export boost
Becomes first nation to meet strict safety parameters on vaccines in one go Indian manufactures can now export to nations that seek WHO pre-qualification for vaccines India has 12 major vaccine manufacturing facilities The domestic size of the vaccine industry is estimated at Rs 19,000 crore
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HC dismisses PIL against Sachin’s nomination to RS
New Delhi, December 19 Dismissing a PIL challenging Tendulkar’s nomination, a Bench comprising Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw also observed that the framers of the Constitution had adopted the principle of nomination to the RS to ensure that the “nation receives the services of the most distinguished persons of the country who have earned distinction in their field of activity.” “Tendulkar’s contribution to cricket is worth the mention” whenever people spoke of the discipline in India, the Bench noted. The petitioner, Ram Gopal Singh Sisodia, a former MLA of Delhi, had sought quashing of the government notification nominating Tendulkar to the RS, contending through advocate RK Kapoor that Article 80(3) of the Constitution which specified the categories of persons eligible for nomination to the RS did not talk of cricket or sports. The Article stipulated that the nominated members “shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely: literature, science, art and social service.” The HC pointed out that the use of the words “such matters as the following” had made it clear the categories were only “illustrative and not exhaustive.” Citing Russian author Leo Tolstoy’s article “What is Art,” the Bench said art “is a means of union among men, joining them together in the same feelings and indispensable for the life and progress toward wellbeing of individuals and of humanity.”
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ASEAN-India set to cement partnership
New Delhi, December 19 Sources said the strategic partnership would be announced as part of a vision statement, to be released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders of the 10 ASEAN nations. The commemorative summit, being organised amid much fanfare, would mark 20 years since India associated itself with this grouping as its sectoral dialogue partner. India has been trying to give an impetus to its “Look East” policy, with intensive interaction with countries in the region by cooperating in sectors from defence to textiles. So far, ASEAN has concluded strategic partnerships with three East Asian countries-China, Japan and South Korea. For India, a strategic partnership would mean giving a bigger political and security dimension to its relationship with the region, which has so far been confined to the economic sphere. As many as nine heads of state or government and the Vice-President of the Philippines will attend the summit. Manmohan Singh will also have bilateral meetings with some of the visiting leaders on the margins of the summit. Over the years, ASEAN nations have become strong economic partners of India. The leaders are likely to announce a new target of $100 billion for India-ASEAN trade by 2015. India has been pushing for completion of negotiations over the ASEAN-India free trade agreement (FTA) on services and investment, so that it could be the “big ticket” item to be showcased at the summit. The sources said negotiations were still on between the two sides on the proposed
FTA. The vision document is also expected to touch upon the issue of Chinese aggressive postures on the South China Sea. The document is likely to articulate the view of both India and ASEAN that there should be freedom of navigation in the disputed sea. Combating sea piracy is another key concern that will be highlighted in the declaration.
STRENGTHENING TIES
The summit will mark 20 years since India associated itself with this grouping as its sectoral dialogue partner Nine heads of state or government and the Vice-President of the Philippines will attend the summit Leaders are likely to announce a new target of $100 billion for India-ASEAN trade by 2015 India has been pushing for completion of negotiations over the ASEAN-India free trade agreement (FTA) on services and investment
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ITBP, BSF, NSG get new chiefs
New Delhi, December 19 Ajay Chadha, Special Secretary (Internal Security) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been appointed the Director General of the ITBP. He took charge of the force today. Arvind Ranjan, Special Director General of the BSF, has been appointed Director General of the NSG. Subhash Joshi, Director General of the NSG, was appointed the Director General of the the BSF. He also took charge today. Joshi is a 1976-batch officer of the Indian Police Service of the Uttar Pradesh Cadre. He was allotted the Uttarakhand Cadre in 2000.
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Bill to expand definition of terror act introduced in Rajya Sabha
New Delhi, December 19 Moving the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill for consideration, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said: "The proposed amendments are carried to bring more clarity to the existing legal regime and remove deficiencies identified in its implementation by central and state intelligence and investigating agencies." The amendments are necessary as India has made commitment as a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a 34-member global body, which chalks out policies to counter financial frauds, he said. Shinde said the Bill, already passed in the Lok Sabha, has taken into account suggestions of the Parliamentary Standing Committee and the observation of state governments. "Out of 14 recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, 10 have been adopted without any changes," he said. Highlighting the salient features of the Bill, the minister said the proposed amendments aim to enhance from two years to five years the period for which an association involved in terrorist acts, including terror financing, will be declared unlawful. Section 15 of the Bill has been amended to expand the definition of terrorist act to include acts that that involve detention, abduction, threats to kill or injure, or other actions so as to compel an international or inter-governmental organisation to comply with some demand. — PTI
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Bhanwari murder: Charges framed against Bishnoi
Jodhpur, December 19 Bishnoi, who has not been appearing in the ACJM (SC/ST Cases) court on health grounds, was brought from Ajmer Central Jail this morning in an ambulance to the court. "He has been charged with murder (302), criminal conspiracy (120- B), abduction with an intent of murder (364) and causing disappearance of evidence of offence (201) of IPC besides sections of SC/ST Act," Senior Special Counsel for CBI Ashok Joshi said. It may be recalled that the ACJM (SC/ST Cases) Court had framed the charges against all the accused on October 4. — PTI
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Telangana issue rocks AP Cong
Hyderabad, December 19 The embarrassing drama was played out in the presence of the party’s top leaders, including AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh and Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. Though the high-profile meeting was ostensibly aimed at formulating a road map for strengthening the party ahead of the 2014 Assembly elections, the event started off on a stormy note. The party MPs from the Telangana region, who have been unsuccessfully demanding a favourable decision on the statehood issue, raised slogans in support of their demand. They refused to relent despite repeated pleas for calm by the state Congress president B Satyanarayana. “Jai Telangana” slogans rent the air at the LB Stadium, the venue of the party’s extended executive meeting, causing embarrassment to the leaders sitting on the dais. There were counter-slogans by those opposed to the division of the state. Then came the demand from Karimnagar MP P Prabhakar that the meeting should observe two-minute silence to pay homage to the people from the Telangana region who had committed suicide for the statehood cause. This was turned down by the state party chief who suggested that homage could be paid to people who died during agitations across all the three regions and also to the victims of recent cyclone. Persisting with their demand, the slogan-shouting Telangana MPs tried to rush towards the podium. At this stage, Azad intervened and pacified the agitated members. Earlier, while admitting that Telangana was a sensitive issue, Satyanarayana said that it had become a major hurdle in the state’s development and urged the Centre to take a decision at the earliest.
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HC judgment in Italian marines' case today
Kochi, December 19 After hearing arguments from state government, which strongly opposed the plea for the second day, and the petitioners counsel, Justice P Bhavadasan posted the case to tomorrow for orders. Earlier, state Director General of Prosecutions T Asif Ali said the state government cannot accept the undertakings given by the Italian Ambassador in India Giacomo Stanfelice in connection with the return of the two marines after celebrating Christmas in their country. — PTI
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judiciary with a view to fill the existing vacancies and fast track rare criminal cases, such as the Delhi gang rape case, that demand immediate deliverance of justice.
New Delhi, December 19
India’s vaccine manufacturing sector is set for massive export boost with the country’s national regulatory authority, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), passing the WHO’s toughest efficacy and safety tests.
An 18-member team of drug inspectors from the WHO, US-FDA, Sweden, China, Switzerland and Thailand reviewed the Central Drug Laboratory at Kasauli and CDSCO’s other facilities in Haryana and Kerala today and found Indian vaccine regulatory agencies had a fully functional vaccine regulatory system.
New Delhi, December 19
New Delhi, December 19
