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HC allows media coverage of trial
CM unveils ‘sop opera’ for UP legislators
Assault on cop |
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Marines’ issue:
Govt, Oppn spar over credit
Intel flip-flop over Hizb militant’s arrest?
Govt drops English paper in UPSC exam
Manning Indo-Bangladesh Border
Aslam is IGNOU Vice-Chancellor
Trouble for 9 AP Cong MLAs
Plan to set up Met stations at toll plazas
Rape a common event in modern cities: Mamata
House panel slams MoD over procurements
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HC allows media coverage of trial
New Delhi, March 22 Justice Rajiv
Shakdher, however, advised the media not to identify in its reports the victim and her family members, besides the complainant and witnesses. The HC also clarified that the trial court was free to exclude any part of the proceedings from the purview of media coverage. Setting aside the fast track court’s January 22 order for in-camera proceedings, the HC expressed the hope that the media would confine itself to reporting news and avoid transgressing into the areas which fell under the judiciary’s domain. “here is a thin but a clear and distinct line dividing the two which if respected will augur well for institutional integrity,”Justice Shakdher remarked. The HC passed the order on a plea by a section of accredited journalists covering the court proceedings. The journalists had contended that under the democratic set up,the media had a duty to report all court proceedings and a blanket ban on the coverage of the gang rape-murder case was against this spirit. Meanwhile, a Supreme Court bench headed by the Chief Justice today stayed a March 7 HC order allowing two of the accused to use as evidence a CD containing the interview of the victim’s male friend to a news channel. Solicitor General Mohan
Parasaran, appearing for Delhi Police, contended that the HC order had serious consequences for the trial. The HC had permitted Ram Singh (who has since committed suicide in Tihar jail here) and his brother Mukesh to produce the CD in the trial court as evidence in support of their contention that they were not guilty of committing the crime. Ram Singh was the driver of the bus in which the gang rape was committed on the night of December 16 while the vehicle was on the move. The 23-year-old girl succumbed to the injuries sustained in the assault on December 29.
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CM unveils ‘sop opera’ for UP legislators
Lucknow, March 22 He also announced additional Rs 50,000 worth of free railway/air coupons, taking the annual free-travel coupons per MLA from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. The monthly petrol expenses have been enhanced from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. From now onwards, the elected representatives have been exempted from paying even the subsidised rent for their official accommodation. Akhilesh also announced to raise the pension of ex-MLAs from Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 per month. Till now, only MLAs post-2010 were entitled to family pension, but today the CM announced the facility for the family of all former MLAs. The travel allowance of ex-MLAs has also been increased from Rs 50,000 per year to Rs 60,000 per year.
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Judicial custody for M’rashtra MLAs
Shiv Kumar/TNS
Mumbai, March 22 The two were produced before a magistrate's court where the police said their custody was no longer required. Magistrate U M Padwad then remanded the two to judicial custody till April 5. Counsel for the MLAs then pleaded for bail. However the court reserved its order till Monday. The two MLAs will now be lodged at the Arthur Road Jail. Meanwhile, elected representatives in the Maharashtra Assembly said the suspension of five MLAs till December 31 following the assault on sub-inspector Sachin Suryavanshi was excessive. Proceedings in the state legislative council was disrupted after several members raised a din demanding the revocation of the MLAs' suspension. The lawmakers also demanded action against two officers of the Crime Branch who entered the Assembly building premises to arrest the MLAs on Wednesday. NCP legislator Hemant Takle raised the issue on the floor of the house by questioning why the two MLAs were produced in court instead of being heard through video conferencing. He further demanded that Suryavanshi, the policeman who was assaulted by the MLAs, be suspended. With the members refusing the house to function the house was adjourned thrice before winding up proceedings for the day. The legislative Assembly was also adjourned after the matter was raised in the lower house by the MLAs.
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Left parties decry House disruption
New Delhi, March 22 The parties, he said, also planned to raise, through a call attention, the issue of appointment of the next Comptroller and Auditor General claiming that the government plans to appoint a bureaucrat who tried to run down a CAG report on 2G Spectrum allocation. “If this happens, then it is an attempt by the government to clip the wings of an independent body like the CAG after the term of the incumbent ends in May”, the CPI leader said expressing regret that due to disruptions such an important matter could not be taken up. CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said it was unprecedented for the Chairman to allow the members to table their speeches on Budget since the House rules permit members only to speak. He said the Left members have recorded strong objections to the move as it prevented MPs from seeking clarification from the Finance Minister.
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Marines’ issue:
Govt, Oppn spar over credit New Delhi, March 22 So as a beaming External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid shared the developments between Italy and India with Parliament and the media, the BJP slammed the government for claiming all the credit, insisting that the Supreme Court pressure and collective efforts by Opposition parties had forced the Indian Government to take a tough stance and the Italians to relent. Accusing the UPA of extending its “politics of appeasement” to international forums, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain asserted that it was due to the strictness shown by the Supreme Court that the two marines, who had gone home to celebrate Christmas and then voting in the elections, had returned. Rajiv Pratap Rudy called the development a combined effort of all Opposition parties. “The Opposition persuaded the government which was forced to take a tough stand,” he said. The party also hit out at Khurshid for claiming that diplomacy had ensured the return of the two marines charged with killing of two fishermen off Kerala coast, questioning why he had then failed to bring back terror masterminds Dawood Ibrahim and Hafiz Saeed from Pakistan. “The government should also bring him back,” Hussain said. The BJP was joined by the CPM, which too disputed claims that it was the victory of the “tough stance” taken by the Central and state governments. CPM leader from Kerala KN Balagopal called it a victory of “the collective effort of the Indian people, Parliament and judiciary". The Congress said it did not mind the Opposition seeking credit. Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, “If the government’s diplomacy succeeds and the BJP takes credit, I have no problem. But ultimately, it is the government's diplomacy which has succeeded.”
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Intel flip-flop over Hizb militant’s arrest?
New Delhi/Srinagar, March 22 Syed Liyaqat Shah, a resident of Kupwara in J&K, was apprehended from Gorakhpur two days ago, soon after he entered India through Nepal where he flew to from Karachi, said SN Srivastava, Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell). The arrest, however, has raised questions over coordination among various security agencies. Sources said Liyaqat was returning to India from Pakistan
via Nepal as per the ongoing surrender policy for renegade J&K militants.
He was being "helped" to enter India. The Government has given an open offer to reformed Pakistan-based Kashmiri militants that they can surrender and return. Liyaqat used the Sanuali check post between India and Nepal to enter, sources said, adding two of Liyaqat's relatives had also reached Sanouli to get him back to J&K. A separate source said the Sashastra Seem Bal (SSB) stationed at the check
post was duly informed by Liyaqat's family members before he was taken into custody. In Delhi, Srivastava said: "Fake Pakistani passports were arranged by Liyaqat's handlers. He was instructed to destroy all the passports at Kathmandu So that when he and his family enter India, there would be no evidence of any Pakistani connection." Delhi Police claimed that Liyaqat had started living in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 1997 where he had gone after he was involved in terrorism in 1993. He had earlier joined a terror group called Al-Bakh and then later became a member of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). "He was trained there," added Srivastava. "Liyaqat was positioned high in the HM hierarchy. He was codenamed Tipu Sultan," said a police source. In Srinagar, the family members of Liquat Ali have expressed surprise over his arrest, saying he was on his way to "surrender before the J&K police". "We are surprised. We had already informed the local authorities about Ali's arrival to Valley. We had also completed all the formalities necessary under the rehabilitation policy of the state government," said Ali's brother Anayat. Anayat said that Ali
was on way to Kashmir along with his second wife and daughter.
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Govt drops English paper in UPSC exam
New Delhi, March 22 The compulsory English exam — an addition to this year’s examination — had drawn flak with all political parties opposing the move in the Lok Sabha. “The English component (of 100 marks) from the Essay Paper of the Civil Services Mains examination will be dropped and the status quo of two qualifying papers of 300 marks each in any modern Indian language and in English shall be restored,” Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy said in a statement in Parliament today. The Essay paper in Civil Services Mains will now be of 250 marks and will be allowed to be written in the medium or language of the candidate’s choice. The UPSC had added an extra mandatory English précis paper to Section I of Civil Services Mains and said it would carry 100 marks while the Essay paper would carry 200. The government had, however, kept the March 3 notification in abeyance after political parties opposed the move in the Lok Sabha on March 15. With the government’s announcement, the candidates will now be allowed to use any one language from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution or English as the medium of writing the examination as before. The minister said another condition that the UPSC imposed allowing candidates to write in a regional language only if 25 candidates make such a request has been dropped. Further, the condition allowing candidates to write only in those regional languages in which they have graduated has been removed. “A candidate will be allowed to take up literature as an optional subject now without the conditionality of having to do his or her graduation in that language’s literature,” Narayanasamy said.
Back to old system
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Manning Indo-Bangladesh Border Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 22 The use of such a technology is a solution to the problem of not being able to set up fences at riverine terrain of the border. The technology will be used to keep a close watch on smuggling of fake Indian currency notes (FICN), cattle and contraband. It will also help the BSF in tracking illegal migration across the border. Director General (DG) BSF, Subhash Joshi, at a joint press conference of the BSF and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) held here today also said more non-lethal weapons will be used by the BSF at the Indo-Bangladesh border. "The use of such weapons has been an unqualified success. We will be using more such weapons like pump action guns and teargas shells," he said. The press conference was conducted after the completion of the 37th Director-General (DG) level talks between the two forces that was held in the national capital from March 19. Joshi said 26 per cent of the Indo-Bangladesh border was riverine. Since fencing is not possible in such terrain, we are looking at technological solutions such as aerial surveillance. Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed, the DG of the BGB, said his force would also be using similar technology. The two security forces will also look at the possibility of sharing the inputs of the new devices, as part of a coordinated border management plan.
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Aslam is IGNOU Vice-Chancellor
New Delhi, March 22 Aslam is a Fellow of the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank, Washington DC. He was, however, embroiled in controversies following allegations of irregularities in grant of approval to colleges for running distance education courses. — TNS
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Trouble for 9 AP Cong MLAs
Hyderabad, March 22 All nine rebels are sailing with the YSR Congress Party headed by jailed MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The ruling camp is unnerved by reports that many more MLAs were on the verge of crossing the floor and joining the fledgling party. After securing a nod from the high command, the state Congress unit is all set to approach Assembly Speaker N Manohar tomorrow and seek disqualification of the rebels. “The central leadership has taken the matter very seriously. There is no question of sparing the turncoats” the Congress president B Satyanarayana said. The decision came in the backdrop of an open defiance by rebels who voted in favour of a no-trust motion moved by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), YSR Congress and other Opposition parties on March 16.
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Plan to set up Met stations at toll plazas
Chandigarh, March 22 Adviser to the Union Ministry of Earth Science Dr KJ Ramesh said they had asked the Ministry of Surface Transport to authorise the weatherman to set up met stations at toll plazas for weather forecast. The cost of setting up met stations at the toll plazas was very nominal as the GRPS system had already been installed at their offices. On an average for every met station at a toll plaza, the cost will vary between Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000. Dr Ramesh said these met stations would be helpful during fog and heavy rainy season as the department could send alerts to the commuters and warn them about bad weather, especially in hilly areas. After getting the consent of these projects, the stations will be set up across the country in one go rather than in phases, he added. The Railway Ministry is also communicating with the IMD to install the sensor and alter system on tracks to get the warnings about the bad weather. He said the priority would be given to install these equipments in the northern region where the fog disrupts train schedules. Revealing about the research of the IMD, he said the department was focusing on the heterogeneous information from the states all over the country so as to form their own data for studying the variation of weather. Snow and Avalanche study director Ashwagosha Ganju said the IMD was conducting research on improving the grid of monitoring of the weather from 3 km to 1 km for more accurate weather reports.
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Rape a common event in modern cities: Mamata
Kolkata, March 22 Of late, with the setting up of malls and multiplexes and adoption of new culture and lifestyle by the younger generation in Kolkata, some rape incidents had taken place. However, these incidents were overplayed by critics and opposition parties, she alleged. The CM was making these statements while participating in the Governor’s address in the Assembly. The CPM’s adjournment motion on law and order situation in the state was rejected today. Congress, CPM and other MLAs protested against the CM’s remarks on the rape incidents. Mamata, however, shouted back and asked them to shut their mouths. She asked them not to talk much or give her any advice since she was quite aware of her strength and capabilities. She claimed the law and order situation in Bengal was much better than that in any other states. Of course, some incidents of rape had taken place, but these were much less in number than in Delhi or Mumbai, she said. She alleged some vested interests had been trying to malign her government.
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House panel slams MoD over procurements
New Delhi, March 22 The PAC, headed by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, while referring to the ordnance factory project Nalanda, said the systems were beset with glaring loopholes and lacunae to the detriment of national interest. It reiterated the recommendation asking the MoD to completely overhaul their procurement systems and procedures and incorporate a suitable clause
for utilising the services of diplomatic channels before entering into defence deals. It took to task the MoD for brushing aside the report of the Expert Committee on streamlining the systems and the whole exercise depicts lack of proper assessment of domestic ability. “The unexplained eagerness to go in for a foreign supplier renders the very motive suspicious”, it said.
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The Delhi High Court today allowed the media to cover the trial of the four accused in the case relating to the gang rape and murder of a physiotherapy student.
On the final day of the budget session of the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha today, the state legislators got in gift enhanced allowances, rent-free accommodation and an additional perk of getting installed 100 hand pumps each in their respective constituencies.
Chandigarh, March 22
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced to increase the daily allowance of MLAs for attending Vidhan Sabha session from Rs 500 to Rs 750. Similarly, the daily travel allowance in the constituency has been raised from Rs 250 to Rs 400 per day.
“It is an unusual way in which the proceedings have been disrupted, especially by parties supporting the government either overtly or covertly” CPI parliamentary party leader Gurudas Dasgupta said at a joint press conference addressed by Sitaram Yechury and Basudeb Acharia (both CPM) and D Raja (CPI) after both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned for recess. Dasgupta said the Left parties wanted to raise several issues, including those that directly affect the like food security, land acquisition, Lokpal, women's reservation or the one to link Aadhaar cards to various schemes.