N A T I O N

India, US differ over N-accord
New Delhi, March 11
Differences between India and the US over the implementation of the historic civil nuclear energy accord came to the fore at the energy dialogue held between the two countries here today.

Rising realty cost shrinks government offices’ space
Chandigarh, March 11
The spiralling cost of real estate is shrinking the office space of government departments. Under an austerity drive, the central government has ordered a cut in the scales for office accommodation.

At Kerala temple, devotees offer chocolate
Alapppuzha, March 11 Ever heard of a temple where mouth-watering chocolate bars are offered by devotees to the presiding deity? While devotees offer flowers, sandal paste and fruits to invoke divine blessing, the 'Thekkan Palani' Balasubramania temple differs as chocolate bars are offered in the sanctum sanctorum.

Delhi LG seeks nod for case against Bharti
New Delhi, March 11
Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has sought the President’s assent to register a criminal case against former Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti in connection with the midnight raid against African women following Home Department’s observation that such a case was made out against the controversial minister.

Caste-based recruitments in Army challenged in SC
New Delhi, March 11
Another petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the recruitment of personnel in the Army on the basis of caste, religion and region.

SpiceJet, IndiGo launch another fare war
Mumbai, March 11
Low-cost carriers SpiceJet and IndiGo today kicked off yet another around of price war in the aviation sector — the fourth in two-and-a-half months — offering massive discounts on advance booking under 'Super Holi Sales' scheme. 

UPSC declares results of civil services mains
New Delhi, March 11
The results of the Civil Services (Mains) examinations were declared today by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The written exams were held in December last year.

 India, US differ over N-accord
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 11
Differences between India and the US over the implementation of the historic civil nuclear energy accord came to the fore at the energy dialogue held between the two countries here today.

The US insisted that India bring its civil nuclear liability law in line with international conventions while New Delhi hoped a way could be found to address Washington’s concerns within the ambit of the existing act.

The Indian side at the dialogue was led by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia while the US team was headed by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. This was the first high-level contact between the two countries after the unsavoury incident in December in which Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested in New York in a visa fraud case, leading to tension between them.

Briefing reporters on the outcome of the meeting, Ahluwalia expressed confidence that the two countries could resolve differences over the liability clause through mutual consultations. However, the US official maintained that one of the key areas that required resolution was the liability convention to see that India was aligned with the International Convention on Supplementary Compensation, which was expected to come into force this year. ‘’Resolving this convention is important for everyone, including India companies for progress in civil nuclear energy cooperation,’’ he added. The US wants India to sign the convention that will allow American nuclear companies significant legal protection in terms of liability. Moniz said Washington had been told by Indian officials that through dialogue the two sides could find a way out. ‘’We are looking forward to that.’’ The US team will tomorrow hold talks in Mumbai with officials of the Department of Atomic Energy and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).

Ahulwalia acknowledged that there were differences over the nuclear liability law not only with the US but with India’s nuclear partners as well. ‘’Whenever you do something new and complex, differences do arise. We don’t want to use the term ‘dilute’ but within the framework of the law, it should be possible to resolve the problem.’’

Liability law tangle

* The energy dialogue was held between the two countries on Tuesday

* The US insisted that India bring its civil nuclear liability law in line with international conventions while New Delhi hoped a way could be found to address Washington’s concerns within the ambit of the existing act

* The Indian side at the dialogue was led by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia while the US team was headed by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz

 Rising realty cost shrinks government offices’ space
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 11
The spiralling cost of real estate is shrinking the office space of government departments. Under an austerity drive, the central government has ordered a cut in the scales for office accommodation.

A memo circulated to government establishments by the Ministry of Urban Development a few days ago calls for a 10 per cent cut in space where the entitlement for space is up to 30,000 sq ft and a 15 per cent cut where the entitlement is above 30,000 sq ft.

As far as the provision for future expansion of an office is concerned, the government departments have been told that the provision for additional space should be limited to 10 per cent of the total requirement of the office. Expansion beyond 10 per cent by any ministry or department would require special sanction from integrated financial advisers.

The authorised space for personal offices for officers and the prescribed work space for staff have also been restructured. Officers drawing a grade pay of Rs 10,000 per month and above are now entitled to 360 sq ft, while ministerial staff, clerks, etc., have to make do with 40 sq ft. Guidelines for space have also been issued for special requirements like conference rooms, waiting rooms, women’s room, canteen, library and record rooms.

Govt on austerity drive

A memo circulated to government establishments by the Ministry of Urban Development a few days ago calls for a 10 per cent cut in space where the entitlement for space is up to 30,000 sq ft and a 15 per cent cut where the entitlement is above 30,000 sq ft

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  At Kerala temple, devotees offer chocolate

Alapppuzha, March 11
Ever heard of a temple where mouth-watering chocolate bars are offered by devotees to the presiding deity? While devotees offer flowers, sandal paste and fruits to invoke divine blessing, the 'Thekkan Palani' Balasubramania temple differs as chocolate bars are offered in the sanctum sanctorum.

Chocolate bars of a leading brand are made as offering by devotees and they get them back as 'prasdam' after puja. No wonder, the presiding deity of the shrine located at Subrahmanyapuram on the outskirts of the the town is known locally as Munch Murugan.

According to temple authorities, people, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, come to the shrine with cartons of chocolates to seek the blessings of Lord Muruga. Naturally, children flock to the temple in large numbers, especially during the examination season.

No one knows for certain how or when the ritual of offering chocolate began. "The principal deity in the temple is 'Balamurugan', Lord Muruga as a child. Somebody who thought the child Muruga likes chocolate might have begun the practice first," temple manager D Radhakrishnan said.

He said chocolates were given back to devotees as 'prasadam' like flowers and sandal paste. Chocolate is also used for rituals like 'thulabhara' along with other traditional articles. — PTI

Munch Murugan!

* Devotees offer chocolate bars to seek the blessings of Lord Muruga and get them back as 'prasdam' after puja

* The presiding deity of the shrine located at Subrahmanyapuram on the outskirts of the town is known locally as Munch Murugan

* Murugan or Kartikeya (also called Subramanya) is the son of Lord Shiva

Delhi LG seeks nod for case against Bharti

New Delhi, March 11
Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has sought the President’s assent to register a criminal case against former Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti in connection with the midnight raid against African women following Home Department’s observation that such a case was made out against the controversial minister.

The judicial probe report by retired Additional District Judge BL Garg had virtually given a clean chit to the Malviya Nagar police in the incident in Khirki Extension. The report was submitted to Jung in February.

According to sources in the Delhi Secretariat, the Lt Governor had forwarded the report to the state government’s home and law and justice departments seeking their views on it.

The Home Department, which stated that a criminal case was made out against the former minister, had sought the law department’s views on whether Bharti’s name should be involved in the already registered case against unknown persons or a separate case needed to be registered.

After the Home Department’s report in this matter, the Lt Governor has sought President Pranab Mukherjee's permission to register a case against Bharti.

The report by Additional District Judge BL Garg indicated that the police acted as per the law and that the minister's supporters interfered in police's duty. — PTI

President’s assent sought

n The judicial probe report indicated that the police acted as per the law and that the minister's supporters interfered in police’s duty

n After the Home Department’s report in this matter, the Lt Governor has sought the President’s permission to register a case against Bharti

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 Caste-based recruitments in Army challenged in SC
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, March 11
Another petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the recruitment of personnel in the Army on the basis of caste, religion and region.

IS Yadav, a physician from Haryana who unsuccessfully challenged the practice through a PIL earlier, has approached the SC again seeking a review of the court’s February 11 order dismissing his earlier plea.

The February order “is not legally sustainable as it was contrary to the provisions of the Constitution and the Indian Army Act 1949,” he contended in the review petition. He said he had come back with his plea as the general populace, stricken by poverty and ignorance, was not in a position to seek redress.

The Army’s recruitment policy “debars 70 per cent of the population” from seeking enrolment in the force which was in violation of Articles 14, 15 and 16, the petition said.

A Bench comprising Justices TS Thakur and C Nagappan had rejected the PIL, observing that the petitioner had no locus standi to raise the issue as he was not an affected person on account of the recruitment policy.

Such a policy had created a feeling of pride among some communities, but at the same time made people from other sections and regions feel inferior. “This is unhealthy and against the interest of the Army itself and the larger interests of the nation,” the petitioner contended.

 SpiceJet, IndiGo launch another fare war

Mumbai, March 11
Low-cost carriers SpiceJet and IndiGo today kicked off yet another around of price war in the aviation sector — the fourth in two-and-a-half months — offering massive discounts on advance booking under 'Super Holi Sales' scheme. 

While SpiceJet confirmed the offer, wherein it is selling tickets as low as Rs 1,999, the same from IndiGo could not be verified. But travel portals confirmed up to 30 per cent discount from IndiGo's flash sale for the next five days. — PTI

UPSC declares results of civil services mains

New Delhi, March 11
The results of the Civil Services (Mains) examinations were declared today by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The written exams were held in December last year.

The successful candidates will be called for a personality test for selection to Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and other Group A and B central services, said a release by the Ministry of Personnel.

Personality tests are likely to commence from April. These will be held at the UPSC office here.

"The date and timing for the personality test are being intimated to the qualified candidates individually," it said.

Candidates would be required to produce original certificates in support of their claims pertaining to age, educational qualifications, community, physical handicap (if any) along with other documents such as questionnaire, attestation form and TA form, etc. at the time of their personality test, the release added.

The formats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and physical-handicap certificates and questionnaire, attestation form and TA form, etc. can be downloaded from the UPSC website, it said.

No request for a change in the date and time of the interview will be entertained, the release said. —PTI