The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Graft case: SC vacates stay on Jaya’s trial R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent New Delhi, June 17 The Supreme Court today gave the green light for the resumption of her trial in a criminal case of corruption against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. A summer vacation Bench comprising Justices Vikramajit Sen and Shiva Kirti Singh vacated the stay on her trial, holding that there was no merit in her plea for suspending the trial court proceedings till the disposal of a civil case over her alleged ‘benami’ properties worth Rs 66 crore. The disproportionate assets (DA) case was filed against her in 1996 by the then DMK government headed by her political rival M Karunanidhi, alleging that she had amassed the unaccounted wealth when she was CM during 1991-96. The SC had shifted the trial to Bangaluru in 2003 on a plea by Jayalalithaa that she would not get justice in Chennai when Karunanidhi was CM. Subsequently, a Chennai-based company, Lex Property, filed a civil suit claiming that the alleged ‘benami’ properties belonged to it, not Jayalalithaa. This trial is also going on in Bangaluru. The SC had stayed the trial in the criminal case in May on Jayalalithaa’s plea that the two cases were inter-linked and as such there was no point in going ahead with her trial without first deciding on the ownership of the properties. The criminal case against her would become irrelevant if the company managed to prove its claim, she contended. At today’s hearing, the vigilance department said it had dropped the move to attach the ‘benami’ properties and hence the trial against Jayalalithaa, who returned to power in TN in 2011, could resume. In a move to cleanse Parliament and assemblies of criminals, the Supreme Court had ruled in July 2013 that MPs and MLAs would automatically lose their membership immediately upon their conviction in any corruption case. In March this year, the SC passed another order setting a one-year deadline for completing the trial of MPs and MLAs involved in corruption cases. The case The disproportionate assets case was filed against J Jayalalithaa in 1996 by the then DMK government headed by her political rival M Karunanidhi It was alleging that she had amassed the unaccounted wealth as Chief Minister during 1991-96 The SC had stayed the trial in May on Jayalalithaa's plea seeking suspension of the proceedings till the disposal of a civil case over her alleged 'benami' properties worth Rs 66 crore
	Nashik onion traders call off strike amid concerns over price surge Govt imposes minimum export price to check rising rates Nashik/New Delhi, June 17 Onion traders in Maharashtra’s Nashik district have called off their strike and onion auctions will resume tomorrow after a gap of two days. This comes amid worries of surge in onion prices around the country. Differences over how much wages should be paid to porters led to a strike yesterday and today. “The two-day strike by onion traders over differences with load porters on the levy issue has been called off this evening till July 10, following a meeting of State Marketing Federation officials, traders and loaders here,” said Nitin Jain, a trader present at the meeting. “A committee has been formed to review the wages issue and it will submit its report to the state government by July 10,” he said. He said both traders and loaders had agreed to hold onion auctions till July 10, but warned of resuming the agitation from July 11 if the issue was not resolved. Prices of the onion were not affected due to the strike in Nashik district today, as auctions continued at Navi Mumbai and elsewhere, said Jain. However, over 30 wholesale markets in Nashik district remained closed for the second day due to the agitation. Meanwhile, the Central government today imposed a minimum export price of USD 300 per tonne on onion to curb their exports and help check spiralling domestic prices. Onion prices have risen to about Rs 25-30 per kg in the national capital from Rs 15-20 per kg a fortnight ago. The Minimum Export Price (MEP), the rate below which no exports are allowed, has been re-introduced barely three months after the previous government in March had abolished it. “Export of all onion varieties will be subject to MEP of USD 300 per tonne,” said the Commerce Ministry in a notification. “The Commerce Ministry has imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of USD 300 per tonne on onions to curb exports,” Consumer Affairs Secretary Keshav Desiraju said after a meeting on ‘measures taken to tackle food inflation’ at the Prime Minister’s Office. Rising prices of essential food items like vegetables, fruits and cereals, pushed up wholesale price index based inflation to five-month high of 6.01 per cent in May. He said: “The MEP is expected to have some impact on increasing domestic supply and check rising prices”. — PTI
	Gujarat Guv Beniwal likely to quit Manas Dasgupta Gandhinagar, June 17 Gujarat Governor Kamala Beniwal is expected to submit her resignation in a day or two, the Raj-Bhavan sources said here today. Beniwal was believed to be among the half-a-dozen former UPA government-appointed Governors advised by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre to vacate their offices apparently to accommodate some senior leaders of the BJP in the Raj Bhavans. Beniwal's resignation was expected after Modi's massive victory in the Lok Sabha elections as the relations between the two was never been very cordial. Modi as the Chief Minister was having almost a running battle with the Governor on various issues, particularly over the appointment of a Lokayukta in the state.
	Change of Governors, if and when, raises political din Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 A political storm brewed all day as signals surfaced about the Centre's intention to remove Governors appointed by the previous Congress-led UPA regime. Though Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi was reported to have put in his papers, other UPA-appointed Governors, including Kerala's Sheila Dikshit, Assam's JB Patnaik, Karnataka's Hans Raj Bhardwaj and Rajasthan's Margaret Alva, dismissed speculation of resignation or even of having received any feelers yet from the Centre to go. Dikshit said she would not react to "rumours", while Bhardwaj and Patnaik said their meeting with the President was a “routine”. The political statements coming from the ruling BJP camp gave away the Government's intent with Saran MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy saying: "It is perfectly within the democratic traditions that Governors appointed by one government pave the way for others." While BJP leaders were seen defending more such resignations as a routine, the Congress and the SP took a firm stand against what they called would be an "arbitrary" step given the Supreme Court's 2010 judgment which made it clear that Governors could not be removed on grounds that they were out of sync with the policies of the government or the party in power. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad went to the extent of terming the BJP's intent "draconian". He said it was sheer political vendetta and the move would have serious repercussions. Azad also pointed to the SC order to drive home his point that Governors could not be removed in an "arbitrary or capricious manner just because the guard has changed". "The move to remove the Governors of various states is dictatorial," Azad said, slamming the move as undemocratic. Officially, too, the Congress cited the SC judgment saying the BJP should respect it in "letter and spirit" as Governors were constitutional authorities and did not belong to any party. Congress general secretary in charge of media Ajay Makan said the issue should not be debated in public. "We want the government to follow constitutional appropriateness in this matter." The relevant Supreme Court judgment passed in 2010 (against the then Congress government's act of removing NDA-appointed Governors) says: "A Governor cannot be removed on the ground that he is out of sync with the policies and ideologies of the government or the party in power at the Centre or on the ground that the government has lost confidence in him…Change in government is not a ground for removal of Governors holding office to make way for those favoured by the new government…" The judgment of the five-judge bench adds: "If the aggrieved person is able to demonstrate prima facie that his removal was either arbitrary or malafide, capricious or whimsical, the court will call upon the government to disclose to it material upon which the President has relied to withdraw his pleasure…If the government does not disclose any reason or if the reasons disclosed are found malafide…the court will interfere…"
	Yashwant right man to be CM of J’khand: Advani Hazaribagh (Jharkhand), June 17 BJP leader LK Advani today met party colleague Yashwant Sinha in jail here and asked him to secure bail and lead the party in the Jharkhand Assembly elections later this year, describing him as the “right person” for the chief minister’s post. Advani (86) drove to the Hazaribagh Central Jail to meet Sinha, who was arrested two weeks back for ordering BJP workers to tie up an Electricity Board official in Hazaribagh. Both Advani as also Sinha, who has held important portfolios as Finance and External Affairs Minister in the previous NDA regime, are seen as part of the “sidelined” old guard that also includes veterans like Murli Manohar Joshi and erstwhile senior leader Jaswant Singh. Sinha did not run for election this time. His son, Jayant, contested and won this parliamentary seat. Emerging after his meeting with Sinha, Advani said the Jharkhand leader “is the right person to be chief minister after the Assembly elections later this year”. “What I feel is that when he is getting support and respect from all BJP stalwarts, time has come Sinha should respect the feeling of BJP leaders, not only from Jharkhand, but also in the country and come out of jail,” Advani told reporters after his two-hour visit to the prison. Advani said Sinha should thereafter lead the ongoing agitation against power crisis and ‘corruption’ in the GM’s office in the Hazaribagh area of the electricity board. “Yashwant Sinha has launched a historic agitation in support of small villages ... I appreciate the stand taken by him for fulfilling the cause of poor villagers and he deserves all praise and support. — PTI
	Govt to form panel to revive polluted Yamuna New Delhi, June 17 Close to the heels of a secretaries-level group to rejuvenate Ganga river, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti today announced a separate committee for cleansing the polluted Yamuna river in Delhi. “We have already formed a group comprising secretaries from the ministries of environment, transport, tourism and water resources to clean up Ganga. Similarly, we would be constituting a committee of officials from the ministries of Urban Development, Rural Development and Central Water Commission to cleanse Yamuna,” Bharti told reporters here. She was briefing reporters after planting saplings on the banks of Yamuna to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy in Uttarakhand last year, in which thousands of people were killed in the devastating deluge. Pointing out that the officials from the three ministries would focus on developing Yamuna river, she said, people of Delhi would also be part of the programme to make it a people’s movement. “Yesterday, I spoke to the Rural Development and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu. I have conveyed to them that the development of Delhi’s river banks must be river friendly,” she added. Bharti also reiterated the measures taken by her ministry in the aftermath of unprecedented floods in Uttarakhand in 2013. “Directions have been given to water resources authorities to issue immediate warnings, if there is a rise in water levels in lakes with an area of over 50 hectare. The information would be passed onto the concerned state governments,” she stated. — PTI
	Desert threat looms over 32% land, says Javadekar Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today said India will become desertification neutral by 2030, adding that 32 per cent of India’s total land was facing the threat of desertification. “In India, 69 per cent of the land is dry land, and 32 per cent of the land is undergoing desertification,” Javadekar said, addressing a conference here today. The land area facing desertification threat is 81 million hectares, while 105 million hectares are dry land. “It is a serious threat and has to be stopped and reversed,” he said. The minister said integrated plan would be launched with agriculture, land resource and water ministries to address the issue, and the process of desertification of the land would be reversed by 2030. “Land degradation is directly linked to poverty, and its reversal will provide livelihood options for thousands of people. India will be made desertification neutral by 2030,” said Javadekar. June 17 is observed as the World Day to Combat Desertification. It is a type of land degradation in which a relatively dryland region becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife. As a signatory to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which focuses upon Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD), India celebrates World Day to Combat Desertification every year since 1995 to promote public awareness of the issue, mobilize international cooperation for the implementation of the UNCCD. The theme of this year`s WDCD is ecosystem-based adaptation with the slogan ‘Land Belongs to the Future, Let’s Climate Proof It’. The 2014 WDCD highlights the benefits of mainstreaming sustainable land management policies and practices into our collective response to climate change.
	Martial art must for UP girl students: CM Tribune News Service Lucknow, June 17 Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today issued instructions to provide mandatory martial art training to all girls attending government schools and colleges in a bid to curb violence against women. While reviewing the special women’s cell set up in the DGP office to monitor the cases of crime against women, Yadav said martial art training would help women protect themselves. He also issued instructions for further strengthening of the women helpline 1090 as well as making the cell and helpline work in tandem. The Chief Minister also transferred another 61 PPS officers in an attempt to arrest the deteriorating law and order situation. This comes a day after 41 IPS officers were transferred. This included DIG Range of four divisions, nine district chiefs, DIG and senior superintendent of police of ATS and SSP Special Task Force.
	Jessica Lall murder case Manu Sharma gets parole for examination New Delhi, June 17 Siddharth Vashisht, alias Manu Sharma, undergoing life term for killing model Jessica Lall in 1999, has been granted parole for 15 days by the Delhi High Court so that he can appear for his post-graduation examination. A vacation Bench of Justice Sunita Gupta granted parole to 36-year-old Sharma on the condition that he shall furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety, for the like amount, who shall be a family member. The court also directed that Sharma will not leave the National Capital Territory of Delhi for the duration of the parole, which shall be effective from the date of his release. The other terms and conditions of the parole includes keeping away from the area around the residence of the deceased and her family members, the court said in its order which was made available today after it was reserved yesterday. Sharma’s exams are scheduled to commence from June 19 and will end on June 24. He is pursuing the course from Indian Institute of Human Rights here which is recognised by the United Nations. Senior advocate S Nandrajog and advocate Arpit Batra, appearing on behalf of Sharma, had submitted before the court that their client’s conduct has always been good while in prison and the same has been appreciated by the jail superintendents concerned. They had also claimed that Sharma through his NGO, Siddharth Vashisht Charitable Trust, has done work towards the education of the children of jailed inmates and his efforts have been appreciated by the Lt Governor. After hearing Sharma’s counsel as well as the fact that the sole opposition by Delhi Police to his parole was his unsatisfactory conduct back in 2009 when he was granted a similar relief, the court granted him parole for 15 days. — PTI
	CBI registers FIR to probe Munde’s death Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today registered an FIR to probe the death of BJP leader and former Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Gopinath Munde who died in a road accident on June 3 in New Delhi. The case has been registered under Sections 279 (rash driving) and 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC against unknown persons, a statement issued by the CBI said. The statement said the CBI took over the investigation on the orders of Union Government and inspected the crime scene. The Delhi Police had also registered an FIR in the case. When asked why the FIR had been registered against unknown persons when the Delhi Police had arrested the driver of the car, CBI spokesperson Binita Thakur said: “We have re-registered the FIR of the Delhi Police.”
	SC Bar panel rejects CJI’s proposal for 365-day courts Legal Correspondent New Delhi, June 17 The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has joined the Bar Council of India (BCI) in opposing a proposal to keep the courts open all the 365 days for speedy disposal of pending cases, whose number has gone beyond three crores. Chief Justice of India (CJI) RM Lodha had mooted the idea of round-the-year courts. In a letter to the CJI, SCBA President Pravin H Parekh said no lawyer “can or should work 365 days” as they required holidays to remain healthy and meet domestic and social obligations. Instead of keeping the courts open on all days, other options should be explored to reduce the number of pending cases, SCBA suggested and sought a meeting with the CJI to discuss the issue. Among the alternative solutions mooted by the Association are increasing the courts’ daily working time by one hour, filling up the vacancies of judges (5 in the SC, over 250 in high courts and 3,300 in sub-ordinate courts), avoiding strikes by lawyers and unnecessary adjournment of hearings and pruning the cases filed by the government, the biggest litigant. SCBA also suggested that judges should be made to work “full time” during court hours. “It is well known that some judges come late, take tea breaks, break for signing orders etc during working hours and there is no control on this,” it said. Further, the higher judiciary should lay down uniform parameters for disposal of cases. Earlier, BCI had rejected the CJI’s proposal, contending that it was neither practical nor feasible for lawyers to work throughout the year. Nevertheless, it had also acknowledged the need for liquidating the mounting arrears, including 60,000 in the SC and 42 lakh in HCs, through other means. Alternatives suggested Increase the courts’ daily working time by an hour Fill vacancies of judges (five in the SC, over 250 in high courts and 3,300 in sub-ordinate courts) Avoid strikes by lawyers and unnecessary adjournment of hearings and pruning the cases filed by the government, the biggest litigant
	BMC to film Campa Cola demolition Tribune News Service Mumbai, June 17 The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will videograph the demolition of the illegal flats in the Campa Cola compound which will begin on June 20, municipal officials said here today. The demolition which was to begin today has been postponed following the death of a resident recently. Additional Municipal Commissioner Mohan Adtani said here today that the demolition would be recorded on video in order to obtain proof against anyone attempting to obstruct the demolition process. The video footage would be used as evidence in the Supreme Court if required, Adtani said. The BMC has stated that its officials will move on June 20 to cut off electricity, water and gas supplies to the illegal flats.
	Woman who accused Union Minister Meghwal of rape demands CBI probe Raj Sadosh Abohar, June 17 The woman, who accused Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Nihal Chand Meghwal of allegedly raping her, today demanded a CBI inquiry into the case. Talking to mediapersons in Sriganganagar, she reiterated that her husband Om Prakash Godara, a property dealer, allowed his friends, including Nihal Chand Meghwal, to rape her. Escorted by Municipal Councillor Kamla Bishnoi, former CPM MLA Het Ram Beniwal, former local Bar Association president Inderjit Bishnoi and former Rajasthan Bar Council president Navrang Chaudhary, the victim said, “I was denied justice by the previous Congress government in Rajasthan. Now, I hope I will get justice as Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje and Prime Minister Narendra Modi won’t be influenced by their party men.” Het Ram Beniwal said the Rajasthan Police had closed the case in 2012, saying that the charges were false and fabricated. The victim then approached the court which, too, dismissed the charges. On her appeal, Additional District Judge, Jaipur, Prem Prakash Gupta issued notices to Meghwal and 17 others in the case and asked them to respond by August 20. The victim said though an FIR was registered after the court’s intervention, the police probe was shoddy. She said neither her statement was recorded before a magistrate nor an identification parade of the accused was organised. “Surprisingly, a TV channel telecast a sting operation claiming that I denied involvement of Nihal Chand, ” she said and added that she was not the woman shown in the sting operation. “It was fake, concocted and malicious move to protect the culprits. I am going to challenge it in the court,” she said.
	Assam decries govt policy on Bhutan power projects Bijay Sankar Bora Tribune News Service Guwahati, June 17 In the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the foundation stone of the 600-MW Kholongchu hydro-electric project in neighbouring Bhutan on Monday, anti-dam organisations in Assam have showed concern, apprehending catastrophic downstream effect of Bhutanese dams in the valley. The All Assam Students’ Union has demanded a white paper from the NDA government on the Bhutanese hydel project. It said though it favoured good relations with Bhutan, it needed a white paper on the project considering devastations caused in the valley by water released from Bhutan’s 60-MW Kurichu Hydel Project in 2004 and 2007. Five districts of the state — Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon — were devastated, leaving 37 dead in Baksa and Barpeta districts on July 10, 2004. Sedimentation caused due to flashfloods had destroyed agricultural land. “Though power availability is a pre-requisite for development, Assam’s crops, land and human habitat should not be put at stake for hydro-power projects in Bhutan,” the AASU said. “The white paper should make it clear whether any study has been done on the cumulative downstream impacts of Bhutanese dams on Assam and what measures are being taken to protect the interests of Assam from the adverse effects of these projects,” the union said.
	Time to cement ties: Pak to India Ashok Tuteja Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 Pakistan today said it was committed to exploring all possible avenues for enhancing mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation with India, emphasising that the time had come to move beyond rhetoric and transform the bilateral relationship into one of peace, cooperation and prosperity. “I have no reason to doubt for a moment that ‘acche din aa rahe hain’ (good days are coming for India-Pakistan relations),” Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit told mediapersons, borrowing a phrase Prime Minister Narendra Modi used frequently used during his election campaign ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The Pakistani envoy was speaking at the curtain-raiser of “Aalishan Pakistan: 2nd Pakistan Life-Style Exhibition’’ to be organised by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in New Delhi from September 10-14. Referring to the recent meeting between Prime Minister Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New Delhi, Basit said the two leaders had articulated their mutual desire for peace and development. It was now important to move forward towards realising realising their vision. Asked when Pakistan would grant the Non-Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA) to India, he hoped that process would begin as soon as the two countries formally resume their stalled dialogue. His comments came days after Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh made it clear to Pakistan that peace and tranquility along the LoC was a pre-condition for normal relations between the two countries. On the upcoming exhibition, Basit said such event would complement the diplomatic efforts in enhancing understanding and creating more opportunities for interaction between the two countries. SM Muneer, Chief Executive of the TDAP, said more than 250 top companies from Pakistan would showcase their high-end products during the five-day exhibition. Earlier in the day, the Pakistani envoy and the TDAP Chief Executive called on Minister for Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss trade and economic relations between the two countries. The two sides reaffirmed the commitment of their respective governments to establish normal trading relations. They also noted with satisfaction that there has been an enhanced interaction between the business communities of both the countries and several trade delegations have been exchanged. ‘Acche din aa rahe hain’ I have no reason to doubt for a moment that acche din aa rahe hain (good days are coming for India-Pakistan relations). Abdul Basit, Pakistan high commissioner
	Govt monitors Iraq crisis as concern mounts for Indians Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 The Central Government today called the Iraqi envoy to India to discuss ways of helping the Indian community, including 46 nurses, stranded in the Islamic nation. "The situation in Iraq is receiving attention as a high priority. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is monitoring and reviewing the situation of Indian nationals," Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, said. Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East) in the ministry, met Iraqi Ambassador Ahmed Derwari at the South Block. Wadhwa also chaired a crisis management meeting on the Iraq situation to discuss possible ways to provide help to the Indians there. New Delhi is keeping its options open for possible evacuation of the stranded Indians if the situation demands. Indian Ambassador in Baghdad Ajay Kumar has been in constant touch with the Indians. The government has also issued an advisory to Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Iraq. There are 46 Indian nurses stranded in Tikrit - most of them from Kerala - and 41 construction workers are in Mosul. India has requested the International Red Crescent to go across to Tikrit and ensure their (nurses) safety, Akbaruddin said, adding: "India is in touch with the UN, International Red Cross, Red Crescent and with the Iraqi Government and would advise them on modalities once the situation improves." The government today set up a round-the-clock control room to provide information to families of Indians stranded in violence-hit areas of Iraq. "In view of the prevailing security situation in Iraq and to provide information to all concerned, a 24-hour Control Room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs," the Ministry said. The phone numbers of the control room are +91 11 2301 2113 +91 11 2301 7905, +91 11 2301 4104 and its email address is controlroom@mea.gov.in. The Indian Embassy in Baghdad has already set up a a 24- hour helpline to assist Indian nationals there. ‘Nurses are safe’ Thiruvananthapuram: Amid anxieties of families of Keralite nurses and students stranded in violence-hit cities in Iraq, the Kerala Government today said it has been doing all that it could for their safe return. As the issue figured in the state Assembly, Minister for Non-Resident Keralalites Affairs KC Joseph said the government had information that 44 nurses stranded in trouble-torn Tikrit in Iraq were safe. — PTI
	LTC scam CBI grills BSP MP Pathak Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 17 The CBI today questioned Brajesh Pathak, Rajya Sabha MP of the BSP, and Renu Bala Pradhan, a former Rajya Sabha MP of the BJD, in the LTC scam case. They allegedly claimed travel re-imbursement through purportedly forged bills, sources said. The CBI yesterday questioned Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP D Bandopadhyaya in the same case. Sources said they were questioned for more than an hour. The CBI had registered a case in the LTC scam against six Rajya Sabha MPs — three sitting and three former members. Of them, two sitting and a former member have been questioned. Sources said within a few days, questioning of all MPs would be completed. On the basis of their statements, the CBI might question some other persons, sources said. The LTC scam came to light in November last year when Rajya Sabha MP Anil Kumar Sahni had submitted travel documents to get reimbursement of travel companion tickets of Air India flights. An alleged fraud was detected during scrutiny of his documents. Thereafter, a case for alleged siphoning of amount was registered against him. After questioning the MP, the CBI collected files of other MPs from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat and registered cases against six other MPs who repeatedly claimed reimbursement of the companion tickets, sources said.
	U’khand to have Central University New Delhi, June 17 The government today announced that the proposed new Central University for Himalayan Technology would come up in Uttarakhand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited the participation of all Himalayan nations in the endeavour. Modi said the country needed to develop its independent ranking system to judge domestic higher educational institutions and gradually involve SAARC nations in the effort. TNS