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Centre notifies Cauvery award, TN celebrates
VICTORY: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa shows the copy of the gazette on Cauvery Water Disputes in Chennai on Wednesday. — PTI
Amendments to SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities Act |
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Govt plans new aviation regulator
Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh (R) with secretary KN Shrivastava at a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday. — PTI
BJP’s Samriti Irani holds Garo warrior sword during her visit to East Garo Hills. — PTI
Govt all set to fix minimum wages
Anti-graft Bills languishing
in Parliament
Gujarat presents surplus budget
Govt firmly backs Kurien; Left frets
India sends official team to Male as crisis persists
Rights abuse: Jaya wants India to vote against Lanka at UNHRC
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Centre notifies Cauvery award, TN celebrates
New Delhi, February 20 The notification, prompted by a recent Supreme Court order, triggered jubilation in Tamil Nadu, where Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa described it as a “great victory” for her and her government as the state got “justice after 22 long years”. On the other hand, there were instant protests in Karnataka with Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar urging the Centre not to constitute the Cauvery Management Board for implementing the award pending disposal of the state’s appeal in the SC. Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) chief HD Deve Gowda announced a peaceful struggle on the issue and threatened to go on a fast as a last resort. Set up in 1990, the tribunal conducted its proceedings for more than 16 years before announcing the award in February 2007. Comprising Chairman Justice NP Singh and members NS Rao and Sudhir Narain, the tribunal assessed the total availability of water in the Cauvery basin at 740 TMC feet. Its recommendations were unanimous. Tamil Nadu had demanded 562 TMC feet of water, while Karnataka had sought 465 TMC feet. The tribunal awarded 30 TMC feet to Kerala and 7 TMC feet to Puducherry and reserved 10 TMC feet for environmental protection. Karnataka had all along maintained that the award should be notified only after the disposal of cases filed in the SC by it and Tamil Nadu. In the notification, the Centre cited the February 20 deadline set by the SC for notifying the award. On February 4, the SC had directed the Centre to publish the award given over five years ago “as early as possible and in no case later than February 20”.
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Amendments to SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities Act Aditi Tandon/TNS
New Delhi, February 20 The draft law introduces the following new offences for the first time-obstructing SCs/STs from using common property resources; causing physical harm or death on the allegation of practising witchcraft or being a witch; imposing social and economic boycott and preventing SCs/STs from entering public places of worship. Strangely, Congress-ruled Haryana wasn’t represented at the meet today though it has witnessed 35% rise in Dalit atrocities since 2009. All state ministers for social justice today cleared the draft law with one rider. They all wanted it expanded to punish dereliction of duty by Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe officers saying the law must not resume Dalit officers are always sympathetic to Dalit victims. Currently, the legislation provides for six months to five years imprisonment plus penalty for only non-SC/ST public servants found willfully neglecting their duties such as registering an FIR, recording statements of witnesses, giving copy of FIR to the victim etc. Speaking to The Tribune, Social Justice Minister Kumari Selja lamented the absence of several states and said: “Those who came have approved the new draft which addresses the lacuna detected in the 24 years of operation of the Act. The suggestion to include erring SC officers in the law will be considered. We will finalise the law and introduce it in the second half of the budget session.” The redrafted law seeks to enhance compensation for various crimes against SCs and STs and includes emerging offences like tonsuring of head, garlanding with footwear and dedicating girls as Devdasis. It defines, for the first time, “willful negligence” by public servants so courts can easily fix their responsibility. The old law lacked this definition. The new law also requires designated special courts to order punitive and administrative proceedings against defaulting officers besides doing away with the current requirement of the victim having to prove that a crime was committed by the accused on the basis of his SC/ST identity. New compensation
Draft law
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Govt plans new aviation regulator
New Delhi, February 20
Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh today said that his ministry was preparing a Cabinet note on creating the CAA. “We have sent a draft of the proposal to the Law Ministry. We hope we will be able to table the Bill in the second half of the session,” he said. While passenger and freight traffic and aircraft movement has grown manifold in the past six years, the strength of their regulator - the DGCA - has just gone up marginally due to the cumbersome recruitment process under the UPSC, Ajit Singh said. With full functional and financial autonomy, the proposed CAA will be able to recruit its own staff, decide on their pay structure and the powers to fix and collect fees for rendering services like safety oversight and surveillance of air navigation services. Ajit Singh said that the CAA would be self-financing with a separate fund to finance its entire expenses. In addition, this fund will also get budgetary support. The estimated cost of the authority would be around Rs 112 crore. The passengers may also have to pay some amount but according to Singh, it would “not be a noticeable amount” - just about Rs 5 per ticket. The CAA will have financial and operational autonomy to take expeditious decisions on matters relating to a range of activities. It will have power and authority to call for information including financial information and conduct investigations, power to issue directions, power of seizure, power to punish any person, operator, company or a government department if they fail to comply with its orders or directions. The punishment will be in the form of fine as prescribed under the rules. To be headed by a chairperson who will be supported by the Director-General and seven to nine members, the CAA will take over the responsibilities of the DGCA in areas like air safety, airspace regulation, setting aviation standards, licencing of airlines, pilots, air-traffic controllers and consumer protection. Its main function will be to regulate civil aviation safety and provide for the better management of civil aviation through safety oversight of air transport operators, airport operators, air navigation service operators and providers of civil aviation services. It will also issue licences, certificates, permits, approvals etc required to be issued under the Aircraft Act 1934 and Aircraft Rules. Besides, it will also provide environment regulations for airports, airlines and other civil aviation activities and protect interest of consumers.
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Meghalaya poll: Field Marshal, Hitler in fray!
Guwahati, February
20 There are poll candidates with names like Hilarious
Dkhar, Frankestein Momin, Adlof Hitler Marak, Field Marshal Mawphniang, Moonlight
Pariat, Kismat Sangma, Adamkid, Ardent Basawimoit, Winnerson D Sangma etc. among the total 345 candidates in the fray. These names may sound strange to the ear of any outsider but not to local voters who are accustomed to such names in society there. A veteran politician with the name Adlof Hitler Marak is contesting from Bajengdoba LAC in Garo Hills of Meghalaya on a Congress ticket while another senior Congress leader Frankestein Momin is contesting from Mendipathar LAC. One of the regional United Democratic Party
(UDP)’s first time candidates is called Wonderlyne Lapang who is contesting from Jirang LAC while another newcomer and an Independent candidate Adamkid Sangma is contesting from North Tura in Garo Hills area. Billikid Sangma of the Congress is contesting from South Tura LAC. Independent candidate from North Tura LAC, Kismet Sangma banks on his ‘kismat’ (luck) to win the polls. BJP candidate from East Shillong LAC, Romeo Phira Rani’s first name sounds interesting to voters especially younger ones. Independent candidates Hilarious Dkhar from Nartiang and Hilarious Pohchen
(Nongkrem) are not siblings unlike the brothers Founder Cajee ( Independent) and Sounder Cajee (Congress), contesting from Mawlai and Shillong South constituencies,
respectively. HSPDP candidate Ardent Basawimoit (Nongkrem) has shown ardent desire to defeat his opponent Fairly Bert Kharrngi
(BJP). While the UDP has fielded Field Marshal Mawphniang to contest from Umsning LAC where there are many heavy weights, Highlander
Kharmalki, also from the UDP, chose to contest from Mawryngkneng. Moonlight Pariat from Jowai and Finelynes Bareh from Khliehriat are independent candidates, while Hopingstone Lyngdoh
(HSPDP) takes on Adviser Pariong (Congress) at Nongstoin.
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Govt all set to fix minimum wages
New Delhi, February 20 The Union Cabinet is set to approve an amendment to the Minimum Wages Act tomorrow at its weekly meeting which will make it mandatory for state governments to implement the provisions of this legislation. The provisions of the legislation are presently legally non-binding and advisory in nature as both the Centre and state governments have jurisdiction in fixing wages. If the amendment to the Bill is approved, it will make it mandatory for the state governments to pay the minimum wages as prescribed in the law. Under the present law, wage rates differ across states, sectors, skills, regions and occupations owing to difference in costs of living and the paying capacity of regional industries. Consequently, there is no single uniform minimum wage rate across the country which ranges from Rs 322 per day in Andaman and Nicobars to Rs 38 per day day in
Tripura. However, the Centre's decision may not meet with the approval of the trade unions which are demanding that the minimum wage be fixed at Rs 10,000 per month. State governments could also raise objections to this move as it could be seen as an infringement to their rights. UPA sources pointed out that the amendment was meant to put pressure on the state government into paying the minimum wages as many of them have been found lagging in doing so. UPA sources said though the government was concerned about the strike called by the trade unions, it was finding it difficult to meet their demands immediately.
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Anti-graft Bills languishing
in Parliament
New Delhi, February 20 The government had gone into an overdrive on a slew of anti-corruption laws in the wake of the overwhelming public response to social activist Anna Hazare’s campaign for a strong Lokpal Bill nearly three years ago. While the ruling combine redrafted its pending Lokpal Bill, it also introduced several other Bills to tackle corruption and inject greater transparency in public dealings and improve services for citizens. None of these legislations have been passed by Parliament yet and are pending in either House of Parliament for one reason or the other. As the UPA government heads into a budget session of Parliament tomorrow, it appears highly unlikely that the ruling combine will succeed in getting any of these Bills passed this time either. While the bulk of the time will be taken up by financial business, the Opposition is not expected to cooperate in the passage of any legislation which will allow the UPA government to claim credit for having taken effective anti-graft steps. Besides the high-profile Lokpal Bill, the other legislations awaiting Parliamentary nod are: the Whistleblowers Protection Bill, the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, the Citizen’s Charter Bill, the Public Procurement Bill and the Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organisations Bill.
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Gujarat presents surplus budget
Gandhinagar, February 20 Presenting the Rs 1.14 lakh crore budget for the next financial year in the state Assembly, Patel in the first budget of the Narendra Modi government after the December Assembly elections proposed a 15 paise per unit hike in the electricity duty for the high tension and some sections of the low tension consumers, besides raising the VAT on cigarettes from 25 to 30 per cent and 1 per cent tax on second and subsequent sale of vehicles. He also proposed a lump sum increase in entertainment tax on the video houses. Providing a major relief to the poor professionals, Patel announced total exemption from profession tax on salaries up to Rs 6,000 per month and exempted VAT on some school stationary items besides granting total exemption in VAT on micro-irrigation system equipment and incense stick dust. One of the major schemes announced by the Finance Minister in his budget address was the “Chief Minister’s affordable housing scheme” to fulfill the BJP’s election promise to provide affordable houses to the poor. Patel allocated Rs 4,400 crore for construction of houses for the poor and said in addition under various schemes another Rs 9,391 crore would be available for urban development and housing besides Rs 6,600 crore allocated for making the urban areas slum-free by upgrading the “kutcha” houses into “pucca” houses. He also sought to convert into reality Modi’s dream to install a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Narmada dam site at Kevadiya Colony, the tallest of all the statues in the world, and allocated Rs 100 crore for the project.
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Govt firmly backs Kurien; Left frets
New Delhi, Feb 20 After the Congress Core Committee meeting this morning, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath made the stand of the government to support Kurien clear. “Mr PJ Kurien has been exonerated by the Supreme Court and this matter has been closed. We cannot discuss this issue in the Parliament anymore. It is a closed issue,” said Nath, indicating that Kurien will continue to chair proceedings as in the past. The Left, however, termed the government’s insistence as unfortunate and said they will continue to press for the resignation of the senior Congress leader from Kerala who has been named as one of the politicians who allegedly exploited the girl child in the Surya Nelli rape case of 1996. “It is very unfortunate that the Congress leadership has taken such a position. This issue transcends party politics. It involves gross injustice to a rape survivor. To have a person accused in such a case as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha amounts to demeaning the Indian Constitution and its position in the eyes of the world. This stance bares the hypocrisy of the Government which talks of ensuring safety of women,” Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of the CPM today told The Tribune. She said the Left Parties will raise the issue firmly in the Parliament and keep demanding the exit of PJ Kurien notwithstanding what the government says.
— TNS
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India sends official team to Male as crisis persists
New Delhi, February 20 The team, headed by Harsh Vardhan
Shringla, Joint Secretary in-charge of the Maldives in the External Affairs Ministry, also includes a legal expert. “The aim is to talk to the Maldivian authorities as well as to assist the Indian High Commission in examining various legal issues,” officials said. Shortly after its arrival, the Indian officials met Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdulla and discussed various aspects of the issue. They are scheduled to hold a series of meetings before returning to India. Reports from Male suggested that the Maldivian Court, which had issued the arrest warrant against
Nasheed, cancelled today's hearing after the police informed it that they would not be able to produce him at 1600 hrs. The police has increased security around Male and other Atolls in order to main peace and order. Security has also been intensified outside the Indian mission, where Nasheed is holed
up. Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), meanwhile, wants the caretaker government to conduct upcoming elections and end political tension in the islands. However, political parties supporting the current Mohamed Waheed regime blamed both the Indian mission as well as Nasheed for the ongoing crisis.
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Rights abuse: Jaya wants India to vote against Lanka at UNHRC
New Delhi, February 20 Official sources said New Delhi has not taken a view either way so far even as reports suggested that the US plans to introduce its own resolution on the issue at the UNHRC meet next month after a new report by UK’s Channel 4 showed how Prabhakaran’s 12-year-old son was killed, allegedly by the Lankan Army in 2009. Sources said a final decision on India’s vote could only be taken at the highest level. Shortly after its arrival, the Indian officials met Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdulla and discussed various aspects of the issue. They are scheduled to hold a series of meetings before returning to India
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New Delhi, February 20
New Delhi, February 20
