The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

PC’s reply to BJP: Economy stable
Finance Minister says 2007-08 was most outstanding year in India’s history
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 31
Just over a week to go for Lok Sabha elections, the Congress today fielded senior leader P Chidambaram to defend UPA’s economic record and take BJP’s prime ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi head on for seeking Congress-free India.

On his part, Finance Minister Chidambaram cited statistics to show how the “economy was stable and growing” and pointed out “deep flaws in Narendra Modi’s character.”

Among the several digs he took at Modi and Co, the strongest was: “Narendra Modi can’t resist making derogatory remarks…there are deep character flaws in him. I am ashamed that such a person aspires to be the PM of the country,” Chidambaram said when asked what he thought of Modi’s remarks linking poor progress in the Italian marines’ (who shot Tamil fishermen) case to the country of origin of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

“What has this to do with the country of birth of Congress president? I want all of those who are listening to me today to note that there are deep character flaws in Narendra Modi,” the FM said recalling three past instances where Modi made religiously coloured remarks - the first when Modi took the full name of former CEC James Michaeal Lyngdoh to stress his Christian origins; the second when he said “Hum do hamare pachees” in reference to Muslims; and the third when he made his infamous “Dus numbari” remark in respect of Sonia’s speech.

Chidambaram rejected the talk that big business is warming up to Modi as the UPA had discouraged investment climate. “Only a section of business is chummy with Modi. His brand of liberalism is crony capitalism. Business, otherwise, is very comfortable with the PM and UPA ministers,” he pointed out.

Armed with data sheets, the FM patted himself for achieving major economic targets (fiscal deficit at 4.6 pc of the GDP; current account deficit reduction from the originally estimated $ 60 billion to $ 35 billion as planned.

“The economy is far more stable than it was 20 months ago and one can only see growth ahead…I will keep a firm hand on the wheel till the last day of my tenure and hope I can hand over the wheel to other firm hands,” said a confident Chidambaram termed his former NDA counterpart Yaswant Sinha’s recent 18 economic posers as “puerile”. “The questions were puerile. No newspaper has published them. I am glad the editors agree with me…As for Sinha, he is a distant memory for the people of India and I hope he remains a distant memory…”, said Chidambaram.

The FM presented a comparison of several years (including NDA’s) to conclude that 2007-2008, on economy front, under UPA 1 was “the most outstanding year in India’s history”.

On the all-pervasive assertion that the UPA delivered jobless growth, the FM replied: “Since a large number of people are now either enrolled in schools or colleges, they are now presenting themselves for jobs.

So although the absolute number of jobs created during our time as against NDA’s is lesser, the fact is unemployment rate actually declined from 8.2 pc to 5.6 pc.”

SC rules one-rank, one-pension for ex-HC judges
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, March 31
The Supreme Court today ordered payment of pension to retired High Court judges on the basis of “one-rank, one-pension” without drawing a distinction between those appointed from among advocates and those promoted from the subordinate judiciary.

“The fixation of higher pension to the Judges drawn from the subordinate judiciary who have served for shorter period in contradistinction to less pension for judges drawn from the Bar who have served for longer period is highly discriminatory and breach of Article 14 (right to equality) of the Constitution.

“The classification itself is unreasonable without any legally acceptable nexus with the object sought to be achieved,” a three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam ruled. Justices Ranjan Gogoi and NV Ramana were the other members of the Bench.

Further, the meagre pension for judges drawn from the Bar and served for less than 12 years on the Bench adversely affected the image of the judiciary. “When pensions are meagre because of the shorter service, lawyers who attain distinction in the profession may not, because of this anomaly, accept the office of judgeship. When capable lawyers do not show inclination towards judgment, the quality of justice declines,” the apex court reasoned.

At present, one-third of HC judges are appointed by promoting judges from the lower judiciary, while two-third of them are appointed from among lawyers with a minimum practice of 10 years.

The SC noted that in most of the states, the HC judgeship was offered to advocates in the 50-55 age group since pre-eminence at the Bar was achieved normally at that age. After remaining at the top for a few years, a successful lawyer might show inclination to accept judgeship since that was the culmination of the desire and objective of most of the lawyers.

“When persons holding constitutional office retire from service, making discrimination in the fixation of their pensions depending upon the source from which they were appointed is in breach of Articles 14 and 16(1) of the Constitution. One rank, one pension must be the norm in respect of a Constitutional office,” the apex court ruled.

Court’s observation

The Supreme Court has given the order in favour of retired High Court judges without drawing a distinction between those appointed from among advocates and those promoted from the subordinate judiciary

The court held that the classification of judges was unreasonable. Discrimination in the fixation of their pensions depending upon the source from which they were appointed was a breach of the Constitutional norms, it said

	SC notice to Centre on Lokpal’s selection Legal Correspondent New Delhi, March 31 The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre, seeking its response to a PIL challenging the process for selecting the chairperson and members of the proposed Lokpal, an ombudsman that would have powers to look into allegations of corruption against all Members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister and ministers, and central government employees. The rules for the selection were notified on January 17, 2014 without complying with a mandatory provision (Section 61) of the Lokpal Act, 2014, for placing them in Parliament 30 days in advance, the PIL petitioner, NGO Common Cause, pleaded through advocate Prashant Bhushan. Further, at least four sitting judges of the SC were reported to have expressed their willingness for being considered for the post of judicial members of the Lokpal. Though keeping sitting judges in the zone of selection was permitted under the Act, it would seriously compromise judicial independence, a basic feature of the Constitution, particularly because of the fact that the government was the biggest litigant in the apex court, the PIL contended. Retired SC judge KT Thomas and eminent jurist Fali Nariman had refused to be part of the Lokpal Search Committee as its chairman and member respectively, expressing the opinion that the selection process would result in overlooking the most competent, independent and courageous persons, Bhushan pleaded. The Bench asked the government to file its reply within four weeks.. The petition The petitioner, NGO Common Cause, had pleaded that the rules for the selection were notified without complying with a mandatory provision of the Lokpal Act, 2014, for placing them in Parliament 30 days in advance It also said keeping sitting judges in the zone of selection would seriously compromise judicial independence
	Court fixes Italian marines’ case hearing for July 31 New Delhi, March 31 A special court today fixed July 31 for hearing the case of two Italian marines, accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012, after it was informed that the Supreme Court has ordered that the proceedings be deferred. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the counsel appearing for the marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, informed the court that the apex court on March 28 had said the proceedings before the special court be kept in abeyance. The apex court has sought response from the Centre on the petition filed by the two marines challenging the jurisdiction of NIA to prosecute and probe the case. The Italian marines had moved the apex court more than a month after the Indian Government had decided to withdraw their prosecution under the stringent anti-piracy SUA law that attracts death penalty as maximum punishment. During the hearing, counsel Viplav Sharma, appearing for the marines, told the court that the apex court had not fixed any next date for hearing the matter pending before it and the trial court may adjourn the matter "sine die". He said the trial court should proceed with the matter after the apex court passed an order in this regard. NIA prosecutor Ahmed Khan, however, told the court that instead of adjourning the matter "sine die", the case should be listed after three months. Additional Sessions Judge Bharat Parashar fixed the matter for July 31. The special court was scheduled to hear arguments on NIA's plea to take "appropriate steps" to secure custody of two Italian marines. The NIA had earlier told the court that they were "ready" with the charge-sheet in the case pertaining to the killing of two Indian fishermen allegedly by Latorre and Girone on board 'Enrica Lexie'. In their fresh plea filed before the Supreme Court, the marines had contended that the probe into the alleged killing of fishermen by the NIA was illegal. — PTI
	AFT commutes Lt Col’s cashiering in land acquisition case Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 31 The Chandigarh Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal, while upholding the findings of a general court martial that had cashiered a lieutenant colonel for allegedly misrepresenting facts during acquisition of land, has commuted his sentence. The Bench comprising Justice Prakash Krishna and Air Marshal SC Mukul today ordered that the sentence of cashiering from service awarded to Lt Col Jaswant Singh be commuted to dismissal from service. The Bench also ruled that the officer was at liberty to apply for sanction of his pension and retirement benefits under relevant provisions. The petitioner was the Station Commander at Nahan in Himachal Pradesh when the process to acquire land adjoining the cantonment was underway. He had recommended that certain portion of the land that had been surveyed by a board of officers earlier was unsuitable for Army use due to various administrative and logistical reasons and certain non-existent paths and public tracts were falsely shown to be on it. The land was then purchased by his wife and the recommendations weer changed to show the entire land as suitable. Central Government’s counsel Capt Sandeep Bansal said a court of inquiry was ordered into the matter that revealed that the officer had hidden these facts from visiting officers and also omitted them in official correspondence.
	Congress, BJP trade charges over ‘crony capitalism’ Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 31 The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party today traded sharp exchanges accusing the other of patronising "crony capitalism" indicating that state of the economy and its interpretation took the centre-stage in the discourse between the two principal political opponents. With a week to go before the first vote is cast in the five-week-long schedule to elect members to the 16th Lok Sabha, Finance Minister P Chidamabram sought to convey that while corporate India was comfortable with the Congress and the UPA Government, a section of the big corporate back the BJP's prime ministerial candidate accusing him of promoting "crony capitalism''. While refraining from identifying any from the corporate who are backing Modi, Chidabaram's barb bought immediate retort with the BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad citing 2G Spectrum allocation, Aircel-Maxis deal and coal blocks allocation as cases of "crony capitalism" that occurred under Congress patronage. The sparring continued with the BJP attacking the Finance Minister for terming the country now has distant memory of Yashwant Sinha, as the Finance Minister in the NDA government with Prasad charging Chidambaram of having "selective memory". The upswing in the stock market indices which the political opponents of the government seeking to interpret as early celebration of the arrival of a new government, the Finance Minister could not resist at taking a jibe suggesting that the buoyancy in the bourses came after Yashwant Sinha made it known he was not contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. These were but three of the point-counter-point slugfest between these parties that stood out as the battle for the ballots came close in this high octane the BJP launched and bound to grow over the next two months.
	Delhi Assembly: BJP keeps options open in SC Legal Correspondent New Delhi, March 31 The Congress and the BJP were on the same page in the Supreme Court today on the issue of keeping the Delhi Assembly in suspended animation, pleading with the court to allow Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to wait till the Lok Sabha elections were over in May. "The LG may be alive to the situation. He himself may take a view after the elections," senior counsel PS Patwalia, who appeared for the BJP, argued. Congress senior counsel K Parasaran also advanced similar arguments. The BJP, however, indicated that it was keeping the option of forming its government in Delhi as Patwalia said the party's Parliamentary Board was yet to take the call on the issue. "These are political issues that cannot be decided by the court," he said. A Bench headed by Justice RM Lodha was hearing Aam Admi Party's plea for immediate dissolution of the Delhi Assembly and holding of fresh elections to avoid horse trading. Appearing for AAP, senior advocate Fali Nariman pointed out that three of the 32 BJP MLAs, including the Chief Ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan, in the 70-member House were contesting the LS poll. This showed that the BJP was not interested in forming the city government and as such no purpose would be served in delaying the assembly election. Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General KV Viswanathan said AAP should first approach the LG, instead of the SC. The Bench expressed itself against keeping the issue in a limbo. Since the gap between two assembly sessions should be less than six months, there should not be a problem in deciding the issue, it said. As both the Congress and the BJP sought time to file their response to AAP's plea, the SC granted two weeks and posted the next hearing for April 17. Kejriwal meets Delhi LG, seeks fresh polls New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party's national convener and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and urged him to dissolve the Delhi Assembly and consider holding fresh elections."I met the Lt Governor and requested him to consider conducting elections in Delhi immediately. LG said he would consider," Kejriwal said. PTI
	President confers Padma awards New Delhi, March 31 Eminent scientist RA Mashelkar was today conferred the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, while acclaimed artiste Kamal Haasan and ace shuttler P Gopichand were among the 12 personalities conferred the Padma Bhushan by President Pranab Mukherjee here. Award-winning actor Vidya Balan, coach of Indian women kabaddi team Sunil Dabas, sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik and activist Jawahar Lal Kaul were among the 53 personalities conferred the Padma Shri award at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan's Durbar Hall. The award ceremony was attended, among others, by Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his wife Gursharan Kaur, Union ministers Sushuilkumar Shinde, P Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar and Sriprakash Jaiswal, and Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and leaders from opposition and other political parties were not present. Mashelkar (71) is well known globally for his path breaking research in polymer science and engineering. He has chaired 12 high-powered national-level committees to look into diverse issues of higher education, national auto fuel policy and measures to deal with the menace of spurious drugs. Anumolu Ramakrishna, who pioneered the use of precast concrete technology, was conferred the Padma Bhushan posthumously. He passed away last year at the age of 73. Kaul (69), known for his voluntary services for the blind, had lost his eyesight due to smallpox at the age of five. The President climbed down from the podium to confer the Padma Shri on him. — PTI
	EC notice to U’khand CM Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 31 The Election Commission has said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat was prima facie responsible for violating the Model Code of Conduct and asked him to reply why he promised a financial grant. Rawat has been given time till April 1 to respond after which the EC will announce its verdict. The commission, in its letter to Rawat, said it had taken cognizance of media reports at a “Holi Milan” programme held at Kurmanchal Bhawan, Dehradun, on March 9, 2014.
	Sabir Ali's wife detained after protest New Delhi, March 31 Expelled JD(U) leader Sabir Ali's wife Yasmin today staged a protest outside BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's residence demanding an apology over his controversial remarks that her husband was close to terrorists. "I will sit here till I get justice. He (Naqvi) should prove the allegation or give an apology letter," Yasmin told reporters outside Naqvi's residence. The police initially requested Yasmin to move away from Naqvi's Pandara Park house but when she refused to budge, women police officers detained her and took her away. Ali was inducted into BJP on Friday but the party annulled his membership within 24 hours of his induction following intense opposition from within and the RSS. Naqvi had attacked Ali as "a friend of terrorist Yasin Bhatkal" and strongly opposed his entry into the party, terming it a "mistake" that needed to be rectified. Ali, in a press conference yesterday, had demanded apology from Naqwi. Yasmin, who was also present, had threatened to sit on a dharna in front of Naqvi's house if the BJP leader did not apologise. — PTI
	Sahara staff’s March salary may be delayed New Delhi, March 31 Under pressure from a long-running investor refund battle with Sebi, the Sahara group has informed its staff that their salaries may get delayed due to prevailing adverse situation, including attachment of its bank accounts. The group is working hard to normalise things despite adverse conditions, it said, adding that staff salaries for March, 2014, scheduled to be released tomorrow, may get delayed because of "unforeseen reasons". In a circular, Sahara India Pariwar's Chief General Manager (HR) Gaurav Sharma has told all business divisions and department heads to inform workers in their respective divisions and departments about the delay and urge them "to stay united in this challenging phase". The Sahara group has been fighting a long-running battle with markets regulator Sebi over refund to investors from which two group entities had raised over Rs 24,000 crore through issuance of certain bonds. Sahara had deposited Rs 5,120 crore with Sebi in December 2012, but claimed that it had already refunded over Rs 20,000 crore directly to investors. Rejecting these claims, Sebi in February, 2013 had ordered attachment of all bank accounts and frozen all its assets last year. Interestingly, the staff circular has been issued within days of an entity related to the group floating the idea for collection of at least Rs 1 lakh each from Sahara employees and 'well-wishers' to garner necessary funds to secure group chief Subrata Roy's release from Tihar Jail. Roy (65) has been in Tihar jail since March 4.The Supreme Court had earlier this month proposed a conditional interim bail for him asking the group to deposit Rs 10,000 crore, including Rs 5,000 crore as bank guarantee. "As you all are aware, Sahara India Pariwar an emotionally integrated family, since inception has always ensured that salaries are paid on the first day of every month without any compromise whatsoever," Sharma said in the circular. — PTI
	Fake chinese parts in C-130Js IAF yet to get full report from US Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 31 The Indian Air Force is still to get complete verification from the United States that none of the parts in its fleet of C-130Js, special operations planes, was Chinese counterfeit. A special report of the US senate had said counterfeits, which were not factory originals, were used in C-130Js. The IAF today said there were some suspected parts in the IAF fleet of C-130Js that have been sent to the US for verification. “Most of them have been verified as not counterfeits and non-Chinese,” IAF spokesperson Group Captain Gerard Galway said. The rest is being done in phases as the components were sent in batches. The suspected parts are in non-critical areas and prima facie could not have contributed to the crash, officials said. The parts were used in the computer display screen of the pilots and could not have been the cause of the crash on the C-130J on March 28 when five IAF personnel died 72 miles west of Gwalior. After the US Senate, in report in May 2012, lambasted the supply of counterfeit parts in C-130Js, the IAF had written a letter to the US government and also to the plane producer, Lockheed Martin. The US had sent in the serial numbers and the parts which were tested. A few serial numbers have not yet come back, sources said. Meanwhile, the IAF is hopeful that the US will cull out the data from the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) in the next three days. The CVR will hold recordings of all words spoken in the cockpit during the last 30 minutes of the flight. The FDR will reveal data on engine health, altitude or error if any. Sources said the pilots did not even get time to make an emergency call over the radio sets which are worn as headsets through flight. Sources said the IAF unit that operates the C-130J from its home base at Hindon near New Delhi has the facility to read FDR’s and CVR’s. Since the connectors were damaged the decision was taken to send the equipment to the US, lest an attempt to read the stored data here at Hindon ends in failure. There is no contract to send these to the US in case of a crash, said the source. The IAF in 2008 ordered six C-130-J’s for $962 million which at then prevailing rupee-dollar exchange rate cost India Rs 730 crore a piece. Black box data in 3 days The IAF is hopeful that the US will cull out the data from the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) in the next three days The CVR will hold recordings of all words spoken in the cockpit during the last 30 minutes of the flight The FDR will reveal data on engine health, altitude or error if any.
	IIT comes up with smart cane for visually impaired New Delhi, March 31 The IIT Delhi has developed a "smart cane" that helps the visually impaired detect above-the-knee obstructions from a distance of 3 metres. Using sensor technology, the "SmartCane" enables users to detect objects in the path from three metres away. It costs Rs 3,000 - a fraction of the price for similar products available in global markets. "This has huge implications not only for their safety but also for their dignity. The feeling of dependence often makes people feel vulnerable about unknown surroundings," IIT's Assistech co-founder Rohan Paul told PTI. He said the trials found that SmartCane checks the visually impaired from banging into protrusions and has helped them walk with security and confidence. "Field test reports show that users moved independently and safely with self-confidence using SmartCane," he added. More than 300 people affected by blindness were involved in the development over the last eight years. Currently there are 150 users of SmartCane across country. Assistech is IIT Delhi's Lab which works on developing affordable assistive technology solutions for the visually impaired. It developed the technology for the cane. Joint development was undertaken along with Phoenix Medical Systems, Chennai and Saksham Charitable Trust, Delhi to make this product a reality. "We saw the difficulty of walking with the white cane, particularly when there are over hanging branches and raised signboards that cause injuries to the chest and face. Our objective was to develop a solution at an affordable cost that could increase the range of the white cane," Paul said. Though similar products are available globally, they are expensive making it difficult for people to buy them. "The average price point of navigation devices for the visually impaired is in the range of Rs 60,000-70,000. Our product however will cost only Rs 3,000 to ensure that people from all parts of the society can buy the product," Paul said, adding that it includes training and distribution charges. According to the World Health Organisation, there are 37 million persons with blindness worldwide, of which about 90 per cent live in developing countries, including India. India has 12 million people affected by blindness, the largest for any country in the world (2011 census data). — PTI Economical too! The ‘SmartCane’ developed by IIT Delhi can detect objects in the path from three metres away using modern sensor technology It costs Rs 3,000, a fraction of the price - between Rs 60,000 and Rs 70,000 - for similar products available in global markets More than 300 people affected by blindness were involved in the development over the past eight years; currently 150 persons use the Cane across the country
	Japan gives Rs 15,000 cr aid to India for 5 projects Ashok Tuteja Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 31 Japan today extended to India an Official Development Assistance (ODA) of Rs 15,000 crore for five projects, including one for the up-gradation of distribution system in Haryana. An agreement in this regard was signed between Rajesh Khullar, Joint Secretary in the Finance Ministry, and Japanese Ambassador to India Takesh Yagi here. This is the largest ODA extended at a single ceremony by Japan to any nation in the world. Three of the projects are in the energy sector-new and renewable energy micro, small and medium enterprises energy saving and Haryana distribution system upgrade, which is of critical importance to promote economic and social development in the state. The two other projects - Delhi Metro and Agra water supply - aim to directly benefit the people at the grass roots. The agreement reaffirms the two nations’ commitment to bring the strategic global partnership to a higher degree of cooperation, a press release issued by the Japanese Embassy said. Power boost for Haryana The loan includes aid for development of infrastructure in Haryana for which Japan will provide Rs 1,608 cr It will help establish 150 power sub-stations and provide a new distribution line of 4,359 km, automatic electroscopic of 63,000 units, and meter equipment for 17.05 lakh places in 21 district of Haryana It will increase the capacity of sub-stations in the region by 1,905 MVA and will bring down power distribution loss rate to 30%
	Aisle curtains to go in 3-tier AC coaches New Delhi, March 31 The Railways has decided to remove curtains put along the aisle of all air-conditioned three-tier (3 AC) coaches of trains following safety concerns. The curtains on windows of 3 AC coaches will continue, officials said. The decision to remove curtains was taken on the recommendation of Commissioner of Railways Safety (CoRS) following its inquiry into causes of last year's fire in the Bangalore-Nanded Express that left at least 26 persons dead in Andhra Pradesh. "The Railway Board had on March 12 decided to remove all curtains put on pathways of 3 AC coaches. All zonal railways have been instructed to remove them," a senior Railway Ministry official said. The zonal railways will remove the curtains as and when a train undergoes general maintenance works, he said. Though the curtains were made of fire-retardant material, the board has decided to remove them considering CoRS recommendation, the official said. A major fire had ripped through a third AC coach of the Bangalore-Nanded Express, killing 26 people, including two children, in sleep and injuring 13 others in the wee hours of December 28 in Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh. In order to further improve fire safety mechanism in rolling stocks, the railways has convened a two-day international conference from April 24-25 on fire safety technologies here. — PTI Safety concerns The decision comes on the recommendation of Commissioner of Railways Safety following its inquiry into causes of last year's fire in the Bangalore-Nanded Express While the curtains are made of fire-retardant material, the board has decided to remove them considering the recommendation In 2009, the railways had decided to put curtains in aisles of all air-conditioned three-tier coaches to give more privacy to passengers
	Suniel Shetty to pay Rs 20K for non-appearance New Delhi, March 31 A Delhi court today slapped Rs 20,000 as costs on Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty for his failure to appear before it in a defamation suit filed against him by a stuntman. It also warned the actor that it would issue a warrant against him if he did not mark his presence next week. CMM Savitri allowed the plea of Shetty for exemption from personal appearance and gave him a last opportunity to appear before her. — PTI
	Court denies bail to Masood Tribune News Service Lucknow, March 31 A Saharanpur court today denied interim bail to Congress candidate Imran Masood who was arrested on Saturday for an alleged six-month-old hate speech against BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. While the case for interim bail for Masood was turned down today, his regular bail application would come up before the court on April 2.