The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

coal scam
Enough evidence to book Birla, Parakh, says CBI

New Delhi, November 10
In an apparent U-turn, the CBI, which had filed a closure report in a coal blocks case involving industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, former coal secretary PC Parakh and others, today told a special court there was enough evidence against the accused to take cognisance of offences.

The Supreme court-appointed special public prosecutor (SPP) RS Cheema submitted before Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar that the court can take cognisance on the closure report filed by it on October 21 as there was prima facie “evidence against the accused to show their involvement”.

The court after hearing the submissions advanced by Cheema and CBI prosecutors VK Sharma and AP Singh fixed the matter for November 25 for consideration of the agency’s closure report.

“The SPP states that under the facts and circumstances of the case, prima facie there is enough material to take cognisance of the offences against private parties and some of the government officials involved in the process of coal blocks allocation. Put up for consideration on the closure report on November 25,” the judge said.

The CBI also placed on record a compilation of relevant documents relating to the case. During the hearing, Cheema said, “We are asking for cognisance on the closure report as there was evidence against the accused to show their involvement.”

The judge asked the prosecutor that if the court decides to take cognisance of the offences, will the agency be ready with its documents.

To this, Cheema said some further investigation was required in the matter.

Earlier, on October 21, CBI had filed a “detailed and comprehensive” revised final closure report before the court in the case.

The FIR against Birla, Parakh and others was registered in October last year by the CBI which had alleged that Parakh had reversed his decision to reject coal block allocation to Hindalco within months “without any valid basis or change in circumstances” and shown “undue favours”. The FIR relates to allocation of Talabira II and III coal blocks in 2005. On September 12, the court had asked CBI what was the hurry in closing the case in which FIR was registered against Birla, Parakh and others after it first filed the closure report on August 28. — PTI

Navy test-fires long range missile in Israel
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 10
The long range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) that will be the main stay on Indian Naval warships and land-based Strike Corps, was today successfully tested against a flying target in a range in Israel.

The Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel has carried out the test in the presence of DRDO scientists and officials of the Indian Armed Forces. The LRSAM system is jointly developed by DRDO and IAI Israel.

“All the systems including the radar, communication launch systems and the missile system have performed as expected and hit the target directly and damaged. The system is developed for both Israel Defence Forces and Indian Armed Forces”, a Ministry of statement said tonight.

The test is classified as ‘hot-test’ that denotes the missile will be given a target or multiple targets to aim at, a dummy plane or UAV. The targets will be moving at high speeds and the test will verify the ability of the LRSAM to identify and kill the target mid-air while even changing course mid-flight.

The missile is Rs 2606 crore – approximately US $ 450 Billion – project and is expected to be completed in December 2015 instead of its original deadline of May 2011.

The LR-SAM will be the main stay on Navy warship, its mobile version will be forming an important layer of in the ground based air defence architecture handled by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and by the Indian Army around its Strike Corps. It has range of 70 kms and height ceiling of 16 kms. It will have the ability to simultaneously engage 12 targets with 24 missiles.

The DRDO is tasked with producing the propulsion rocket system, thrust vector system and certain other components. Israel Aerospace Industry (IA) will builds the seeker and the last stage avionics.

Once the LR-SAM is okayed frontline Indian warships will carry it, that includes 15 warships including the Vikramaditya and the under construction aircraft carrier, the Vikrant will have these. It’s easier to fit the LRSAM in under-construction ships, fitting it onto the existing platforms like the Vikramaditya will be a complex procedure and it will entail some cutting through the deck, a period of eight-nine months will be needed to do this.

Mainstay on warship
The LR-SAM will be the mainstay on Navy warship, its mobile version will be forming an important layer of in the ground based air defence architecture handled by the Indian Air Force and by the Indian Army around its Strike Corps.

Passengers’ safety top priority of Rly Minister
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 10
On Day 1, new Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu, after taking over the hot seat in Rail Bhawan early this morning, held a series of meetings.

With Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, he launched a portal that will help the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) get speedy clearances for the construction of bridges.

The portal has been launched as part of the efforts to speed up the process of road construction and bridges on the national highways.

In a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few months ago, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry had raised the issue of delayed clearances, which not only led to the formation of an inter-ministerial committee, headed by Gadkari, to sort out the issue, but also the creation of the portal that would help get faster clearances.

Addressing a joint press conference, Prabhu and Gadkari said, “The NHAI has a target of constructing 200 overbridges and underbridges this year and the portal will help clear the bottlenecks.”

While there are over 2,500 bridges on the national highways at present, the road ministry plans to construct another 1,000 over the next three years. The entire cost of the bridges would be borne by the road transport ministry.

As a result of the new portal, the road ministry is now likely to get all clearances from the Railways in just 60 days rather than six months to two-and-a-half years, which it took earlier.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Railways said a web-based programme had been launched for online submission of application to get expeditious approval of various drawings related to ROBs/RUBs within 60 days. The programme includes all standard span drawing developed by the Railways, checklist to be followed for preparation of general arrangement drawing and standard MoU.

Earlier in the morning while taking charge of the ministry, Prabhu promised to bring about all-round development of the national transporter with a special focus on safety and customer satisfaction.

“We have faced many challenges in running the Railways in the past. We do have potential, which has not been properly utilised,” he said.

Prabhu took oath as a Cabinet minister on Sunday replacing Sadananda Gowda, who was shifted to the Law Ministry.

Prabhu said the PM wanted the condition of the Railways to change. “Our focus areas will be customer service and railway safety as passenger safety is becoming an area of concern,” he said.

1,000 bridges in 3 yrs
A portal has been launched to speed up the process of road construction and bridges on the national highways
While there are over 2,500 bridges on NHs at present, the road ministry plans to construct another 1,000 in 3 years. The cost would be borne by the road transport ministry
The road ministry is now likely to get all clearances from the Railways in just 60 days rather than six months to two-and-a-half years

With 5 BJP office-bearers now in govt, Shah may rejig party
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 10
With five senior BJP office-bearers being inducted in the Narendra Modi government, a rejig also appears to be on the cards in the party organisation.

The Sunday’s expansion has resulted in five vacancies in party president Amit Shah’s team of national office-bearers and if he strictly follows the one-man-one-post principal — as has been the norm in the BJP — he will soon have to find their replacement.

The office-bearers who moved to the government include general secretaries JP Nadda (Health and Family Minister), Rajiv Pratap Rudy (Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Parliamentary Affairs Minister) and Ramshankar Katheria (MoS Human Resource Development).

Vice-presidents Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (MoS Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs) and Bandaru Dattatrey (Labour and Employment Minister) have been inducted as ministers of state in the Modi government.

With the induction of Nadda in the government, sources say the composition of the Parliamentary Board — the party’s top decision-making body — may also undergo some changes. As a general secretary, Nadda also officiates as the secretary of the Parliamentary Board.

There are many contenders for these key posts, including Yuva Morcha chief Anurag Thakur, who lost the race to a ministerial berth to Nadda.

Considering that Shah’s focus, like Modi had in the Cabinet expansion, would be Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, UP leader Varun Gandhi, who was dropped from the organisation, may get the general secretary’s post along with senior spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, a Bihar leader.

Vacancies to be filled
The Sunday's expansion has created five vacancies in party chief Amit Shah's team of national office-bearers
If Shah follows the one-man-one-post principal - as has been the norm in the BJP - he will soon have to find their replacement
Those moved to the government are: JP Nadda, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Ramshankar Katheria, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Bandaru Dattatrey
Among contenders for the key posts are Yuva Morcha chief Anurag Thakur UP leader Varun Gandhi and Bihar leader and senior spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain

Replacing collegium with judicial panel on Gowda’s to-do list
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, November 10
Law Minister Sadananda Gowda today said putting in place the proposed National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) to replace the two-decade-old collegium system would be one of his priorities.

“I am going to write to the states tomorrow, urging them to have the NJAC legislation, enacted by Parliament, endorsed by their assemblies without delay,” Gowda told mediapersons immediately after assuming the office. Gowda has practiced as an advocate in Karnataka.

He said the Assemblies of the three states – Rajasthan, Goa and Tripura – had already ratified the Constitutional amendment that would enable the setting up of the six-member NJAC which would be headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The other members of the commission would be two SC judges, the Union Law Minister and two eminent persons.

The NJAC law can be sent to Rashtrapati Bhawan for the President’s assent and subsequent notification only after its ratification by at least half of the state Assemblies.

Asked about his removal as Railway Minister and being given the law portfolio, he said choosing the council of ministers was the prerogative of the Prime Minister. The ministers were there to implement the vision and mandate given by the PM.

Another priority on his list was removal of all obsolete laws from the statute book. People had a wrong notion that disputes could be resolved only through laws. Inter-state and Centre-states problems should be resolved through other mechanisms and this would be explored, he said without going into the specifics.

He said he would pursue all initiatives taken by his predecessor Ravi Shankar Prasad. Prasad, who was holding two ministries until yesterday’s expansion and reshuffle of the Modi government, would now be in charge of only the Telecom Ministry.

Gowda said the issue of electoral reforms would have to wait, pending a consensus among political parties. The government wanted to have a debate on the issue and any other major law before taking it to Parliament, he said.

To remove obsolete laws
Sadananda Gowda said the Assemblies of the three states - Rajasthan, Goa and Tripura - had already ratified the Constitutional amendment that would enable the setting up of the six-member NJAC
Says he will urge the states to have the NJAC legislation endorsed by their assemblies without delay
Another priority on his list was removal of all obsolete laws from statute book

With Delhi polls on mind, AAP targets Health Minister Nadda
Ananya Panda
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 10
With a hope to reclaim its “fading sheen”, the Aam Aadmi Party is sure to make the elevation of senior BJP leader JP Nadda as the new Union Health Minister an embarrassing issue for the BJP ahead of the next year’s Delhi Assembly elections.

Nadda’s inclusion in the Narendra Modi-led Central Cabinet has raised doubts on Modi’s anti-corruption stance. With the AAP already taking charge of the issue, the matter threatens to put the BJP on the back foot damaging its Delhi Assembly prospects.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal today questioned Modi government’s decision, which has raised many eyebrows, in view of Nadda’s alleged role in corruption in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

“JP Nadda, the man who got Sanjeev Chaturvedi transferred from AIIMS, made health min? So, now Modi ji will remove corruption in AIIMS through Nadda?” Kejriwal tweeted. The AAP chief said instead of seeking an explanation from Nadda, who is behind an honest officer’s removal, the BJP government had rewarded him.

Nadda had been in controversy for his alleged involvement in the removal of AIIMS’ former chief vigilance officer Sanjeev Chaturvedi from the premier institute in August to favour Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS officer Vineet Choudhry.

The removal is seen as fallout of action taken by Chaturvedi to flag alleged irregularities in AIIMS, including cases involving Choudhry who is close to the BJP leader and instances related to medical ethics violations by several senior doctors.

AAP chief spokesperson Yogendra Yadav said the Cabinet expansion had raised several questions that should be answered by Modi and his government.

“Whether or not our PM is serious on corruption issue....Does our PM intend to act against criminalisation of politics?” said Yadav, adding that people had got to realise that much of what was being claimed by the BJP of being different when it came to corruption and black money had no substance.

“The latest appointments (referring to Nadda and Bihar MP Giri Raj) have systematically diluted the BJP’s campaign claims and people are beginning to see the pattern,” Yadav told The Tribune.

The AAP has accused Nadda of influencing the then Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan in dismissing Chaturvedi on technical grounds.

“The BJP leadership has not once come clean on Nadda’s unjustified interference in the functioning of AIIMS,” the party said.

Questions controversial leader’s elevation
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal questioned Modi government's decision of inducting JP Nadda into the Cabinet despite the latter being in controversy for his alleged role in the removal of AIIMS' former CVO Sanjeev Chaturvedi to favour HP cadre IAS officer Vineet Choudhry
He said instead of seeking an explanation from Nadda, the BJP government had rewarded him
AAP chief spokesperson Yogendra Yadav said the Cabinet expansion had raised several questions that should be answered by Modi and his government

Sohrabuddin case: Shah gets exemption

Mumbai, November 10
A special CBI court here today granted exemption from appearance to BJP President Amit Shah, an accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, till the framing of charges.

Shah had sought permanent exemption but the court granted him exemption only till the charges are framed, a stage which is followed by commencement of trial.

Special judge BS Loya today also allowed the plea of Sohrabuddin’s brother Rubabuddin, the complainant, to provide an English translation of the chargesheet. Adjourning the hearing to November 21, the court asked CBI to supply him an English copy. According to CBI, Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser Bi were abducted by the Gujarat police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad in November 2005 and killed in a staged encounter near Gandhinagar. Sohrabuddin is alleged to have demanded protection money from a businessman prior to his death.

Further, the CBI says, Tulsiram Prajapati, an eyewitness to the fake encounter, was also killed by the police in another fake encounter at Chapri village in Banaskantha district of Gujarat in December 2006. — PTI

BJP readying plan to oust Sena from BMC
Shiv Kumar
Tribune New Service

Mumbai, November 10
Following deterioration in their relations, the BJP is preparing a plan to oust the Shiv Sena from the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

At present, the Shiv Sena and the BJP share power in the Mumbai civic body with 75 and 31 corporators, respectively, in the 227-member House.

Fifteen Independents and those from smaller parties are supporting the saffron alliance in the Mumbai civic body.

Should the BJP pull out, the Shiv Sena is expected to rely on the support from the 27-member Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

However, sources in the BJP say, the Maharashtra government may use its special powers to dissolve the Mumbai Municipal Corporation if there is a hung House after the collapse of the saffron alliance.

Another option being explored by the BJP is to abolish octroi in Mumbai, a long-pending demand of the trading community in the city.

This would render the BMC completely dependent on the state government since octroi forms bulk of the civic body’s revenues.

BJP leaders in Mumbai feel confident of sweeping the Mumbai civic elections due to be held in 2017 in the wake of the good showing in last month’s Assembly polls.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was first off the mark and suggested appointment of a CEO for Mumbai which came in for strong criticism from the Shiv Sena.

Should the Sena not join a BJP government in Maharashtra efforts to displace the regional party from Mumbai will gather steam, say sources. With a budget of Rs 31,000 crores, Mumbai’s civic body is the richest in the country and accounts for the Shiv Sena’s clout in Maharashtra.

In a first, Gujarat makes voting must in local body elections
Bill also raises reservation for women from 33% to 50% in local bodies
Manas Dasgupta

Gandhinagar, November 10
Gujarat has become the first state in the country where voting has been made compulsory in the local body polls with new Governor OP Kohli giving his consent to the Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill-2009. The Bill also provides for 50 per cent reservation for women in the local bodies, which was earlier 33 per cent.

An official spokesman for the state government said the Governor had approved the Bill and the state government had accordingly issued a necessary notification for the implementation of the Bill.

This means, if anyone does not have a strong reason for not voting, they may be declared a defaulter and penalised. The Bill also allows a voter to reject all candidates by using the “None of the above” or NOTA option.

Elections to the local bodies, including the municipal corporations, are due in October next year.

However, the Congress has described the move as “anti-poor”, claiming that poor people, who miss voting while they are away for earning their livelihood, may face punitive action from the government.

“The rich people working or settled in foreign countries will not be penalised, but the poor earning their livelihood away from their home will face the government’s wrath for not voting. This is no democracy,” the former leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Shaktisinh Gohil, said.

The Bill, however, did not specify the type of punitive action that might be taken against the persons who fail to cast their votes, but the government will now have to frame rules to specify measures to be taken against the defaulters.

The ruling BJP has strongly supported the measure claiming that compulsory voting was a must for strengthening the democracy.

“It is observed that due to low turnout of voters to discharge their duty by exercising their right to vote, the true spirit of the will of the people is not reflected in the electoral mandate,” said BJP spokesman Vijay Rupani. He disagreed that the poor would become easy target for punishment.

Despite the Congress party’s opposition, the Bill was originally passed in December 2009, when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister.

The then Governor, Kamala Beniwal, refused to give her consent stating it to be against Article 21 of the Constitution granting freedom to every citizen.

“People must enjoy the freedom to not vote if they so desire. The government cannot compel voters to cast their votes against their conscience by making voting compulsory,” she wrote to the government asking it to reconsider the Bill in April 2010.

The Modi government, however, refused to make any change and passed the Bill second time in March 2011, but the Governor continued to withhold her assent and the Bill remained pending in the Raj Bhawan till Beniwal was removed after the Modi government took office at the Centre and her successor clearing the measure now.

Vasava elected Speaker

Meanwhile, Forest Minister Ganpat Vasava was today unanimously elected Speaker of the state Assembly replacing Vajubhai Vala who resigned on his appointment as the Governor of Karnataka.

The young tribal leader, Vasava, was also the Speaker before he was appointed a minister by Modi after the December 2012 state Assembly elections.

Want to contest? First install toilet at home
Aspirants for elections to local bodies, including municipal corporations in Gujarat, will now have to prove that they have toilet facility at their homes
The Legislative Assembly on Monday made it mandatory for every aspirant who wants to contest elections
“Candidates who don't have toilet facility at their residences can’t contest elections to local bodies, including corporations, municipalities, and panchayats. Those elected already have to submit a certificate within six months to declare that they have the facility," state Road and Building Minister Nitin Patel said
Cong terms move ‘anti-poor’
The rich working or settled in foreign countries will not be penalised, but the poor earning their livelihood away from their home will face the govt’s wrath for not voting. This is no democracy.
Shaktisinh Gohil, congress leader

NCP embarrasses BJP by reiterating full support

Mumbai, November 10
In a further embarrassment to the BJP, NCP president Sharad Pawar reiterated his party’s suo moto “unconditional external support” to the minority government headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, here on Monday.

“We do not want to destabilise the government. We want a stable government in the state. The NCP legislators will take a decision at the relevant time (of voting) for whom to vote or not,” Pawar asserted, implying that NCP was the key to the government’s survival.

Addressing media persons here this afternoon, the NCP chief ticked off the Shiv Sena by saying that they did not require anybody’s advice on whom to support or not.

“Nobody can tell us who we should vote for or not... we are supporting this government to ensure political stability in Maharashtra. That does not mean we will support them on all issues,” he said.

Pawar added that nobody from BJP had sought the NCP’s support. “Running a minority government is an art… Anybody who has mastered it can run such a government,” he said amidst laughter.

Pawar’s statements on support came as a further embarrassment to the BJP which has been under fire from the Shiv Sena which has warned it against seeking NCP support to win the vote of confidence in the Assembly on November 12.

Sena president Uddhav Thackeray threatened to sit in the opposition if the BJP took the support of NCP to save its minority government in the floor test.

The threat was followed up with all 63 Sena legislators occupying the opposition benches on the opening day of the special Assembly session for the swearing-in of all 287 legislators. — IANS

With Delhi polls on mind, BJP gives lighter portfolio to Vardhan
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 10
BJP’s senior-most general secretary JP Nadda today assumed charge of the Health Ministry from Harsh Vardhan, who was moved to a lighter portfolio of science, technology and earth sciences.

The replacement of Vardhan ahead of Delhi elections in February created a suspicion that the BJP is trying to rework its poll strategy for the capital where it would like to use Vardhan’s services.

Though certain sources in the Ministry of Health felt Vardhan would not have been moved to a lesser ministry had the BJP planned to elevate him later, party sources indicated that the assignment of a lighter task to Vardan was an indication enough of his future role in Delhi.

Vardhan, it may be recalled, had defeated Kapil Sibal from Chandni Chowk in the May Lok Sabha elections with the remarkable victory margin. With the BJP still figuring out its plan and strategy in Delhi, some sources in the party indicated that moving Vardan to a lighter portfolio would signal the opposition of his important role in Delhi elections. “That is a calculated move,” said a source in the BJP.

Back in health ministry, Nadda, earlier health minister in Himachal Pradesh, took charge in a simple event where few officers were present. He did not make any statement on policy or priority saying “I require more time to get a hang of things in the Ministry.”

Later in the day, Nadda met joint secretaries of the Ministry as courtesy. He would from tomorrow take technical meetings to know of the pending projects and plans of the department. “Today I only have courtesy to offer,” said Nadda, whose proximity to PM Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah is evident from his recent induction into the BJP Parliamentary Board and also the BJP’s Central election Committee.

Nadda’s installation as health minister is natural, said a BJP leader, recalling that Nadda had been chairman of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health. It was here that he first objected to additional charge of AIIMS CVO being given to Haryana cadre officer Sanjeev Chaturvedi. Nadda wrote to the then Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, to revoke the appointment which he described as “illegal” citing rules of the Central Vigilance Commission.

Cong alleges Left-TMC pact, stages walkout
Subhrangshu Gupta
Tribune News Service

Kolkata, November 10
Alleging that there was a “tacit understanding” between the Left and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on the floor of the Assembly, the Congress staged a walkout from the state Assembly today as Speaker Biman Banerjee disallowed their no-confidence motion against the ruling TMC government.

The Speaker, however, allowed another no-confidence motion moved by CPM leader Surya Kanto Mishra against the government.

Accordingly, a date will be fixed for discussion on the motion after consulting the business advisory committee.

Congress parliamentary party leader Md Shorab alleged that though they submitted the motion prior to the submission of the left front’s motion, the Speaker with an ulterior motive disallowed their motion.

“What happened in the Assembly is unprecedented. We had moved the no-confidence as per the rule. But the Left’s no-confidence motion was allowed and ours was sent as pending. This is nothing but a brewing love affair between the TMC and the Left,” senior Congress leader Manas Bhunia said.

The Speaker, however, said he had to reject the Congress’s motion on technical grounds.

Delegate work to junior colleagues, PM to ministers
KV Prasad
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 10
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a meeting of the newly expanded Council of Ministers suggesting that they get down to work with a mission and devote time to understand issues associated with it.

Aware of the oft-repeated grouse in previous governments that junior ministers get little to do as the seniors prefer not to allocate work, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley suggested that the Ministers of State be made part of the decision-making process. As part of it, files could be marked to them for their comments/consideration.

Underscoring that the task of allocating work to junior ministers continues to be the prerogative of the senior minister, the Finance Minister's suggestion is aimed at addressing issues revolving around the problem that dogged successive governments, be it the Vajpayee-led NDA or the Manmohan Singh-led UPA.

In the past, barring a few ministers most of the Ministers of State were not associated with decision-making with files moving directly from the table of officials to the senior minister. As a result, many junior ministers lost interest in the ministry work and were only expected to handle questions in Parliament.

Sources said while Jaitley's gentle nudge was more in the form of a suggestion, the importance of it would not be lost considering that the PM stressed on the need for all ministers to work with full steam.

SC grants gender parity to female make-up artists
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, November 10
The Supreme Court today ruled that none of the employees’ associations of the film industry could refuse to enrol female make-up artists as members and thereby deny them their right to pursue their profession

A Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra directed the associations to immediately delete all the provisions in their rules that prevented female artists from becoming their members.

The Bench passed the order after hearing a case filed by nine women make-up artists, contending that they were not being allowed to join any of the regional associations.

Being a member of associations was a pre-requisite for seeking work. They said they had been denied membership by the Cine Costume and Make-up Artist Association of Mumbai, the Film Employees Federation of Southern India and their affiliated make-up artist unions.

Explaining the discrimination, senior advocate Meenakshi Arora said male hair-dressers were allowed to work for both male and female actors, but women were restricted to female actors.

In their writ petition, Charu Khurana and other make-up artists pleaded that women’s representation in these associations was miniscule.

Even those who were allowed to work were not getting equal treatment.

11 crude bombs found

Chennai, November 10
The Tamil Nadu Police on Monday recovered 11 country-made bombs from a garbage bin in the temple town of Madurai, 510 km from here.

“Around 4 pm the police got information about the bombs in the garbage bin. They were country-made bombs containing chemicals used in making fire crackers,” a police official said.

He said these were not improvised explosive devices (IED). — IANS

Ex-TMC MP threatens to end life

Kolkata, November 10
Suspended TMC MP Kunal Ghosh today threatened suicide in front of a judge within the next three days if he was not allowed to make his statement in the Saradha chit fund scam in which he has been implicated.

He said, “The CBI probe seems to be biased and investigation process influenced. The real culprits are moving freely outside, while I have been arrested on false charges and for speaking out against TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.” — TNS

2g spectrum case
Court cancels warrant against Kanimozhi for non-appearance

New Delhi, November 10
A special court today issued non-bailable warrant against DMK MP Kanimozhi, facing trial in the 2G spectrum case, for non-appearance only to cancel it in less than an hour after her counsel appeared before it and apologised.

Special CBI Judge OP Saini had issued the NBW against her for December 19, noting that neither she nor her counsel had appeared before the court.

“It is 11.30 am, neither any advocate for Kanimozhi is present nor any application for her exemption from personal appearance has been filed,” the judge said.

The matter was fixed for commencement of final arguments in the case and Kanimozhi failed to appear before it.

However, the court later cancelled the NBW while allowing the application of Kanimozhi’s counsel who appeared before it at 12.25 pm. “The NBW is hereby cancelled. He (counsel for Kanimozhi) is advised to be careful in the future.”

The court fixed December 19 for hearing final arguments as the counsel for the CBI and the accused sought time to advance the arguments.

Besides A Raja and his erstwhile private secretary RK Chandolia, who were present in the court, other accused including former Telecom Secretary Sidharth Behura, Swan telecom promoters Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka moved exemption plea through their lawyers which was allowed by the judge.

Others facing trial in the case include Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra, three top executives of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (RADAG) — Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair .

Directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, Kalaignar TV Director Sharad Kumar and Bollywood producer Karim Morani are also accused in the case.

Besides these 14 accused persons, three telecom firms — Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL), Reliance Telecom Ltd and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd — are facing trial in the case.

The court had on October 22, 2011 framed charges against them under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act dealing with offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, faking documents, abusing official position, criminal misconduct by public servant and taking bribe.

The offences entail punishment ranging from six months in jail to life imprisonment. — PTI

No need for physical presence for pension continuity: Govt

New Delhi, November 10
In a big relief to over a crore retired employees of government and PSUs, a pensioner can now digitally provide proof of his existence to authorities for continuity of pension every year instead of requiring to present himself physically or through a Life Certificate issued by specified authorities.

The “Jeevan Pramaan” scheme, an Aadhar-based Digital Life Certificate for pensioners, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, is one more enabling mechanism for the benefit of the common man after the push towards self-certification.

“The proposed digital certification will do away with the requirement of a pensioner having to submit a physical life certificate in November each year, in order to ensure continuity of pension being credited into his account,” a PMO statement said.

The Department of Electronics and IT has developed a software application which will enable the recording of the pensioner’s Aadhar number and biometric details from his mobile device or computer, by plugging in a biometric reading device.

Key details of the pensioner, including date, time, and biometric information, will be uploaded to a central database on real-time basis, ultimately enabling the pension disbursing agency to access a Digital Life Certificate.

This will conclusively establish that the pensioner was alive at the time of authentication, the statement said.

The earlier requirement entailed that a pensioner either personally present himself before the pension disbursing agency, or submits a Life Certificate issued by authorities specified by the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO).

At present, 50 lakh individuals draw pension from the central government alone. A similar number draw pension from State and Union Territory governments. Several PSUs also provide pension benefits besides which over 25 lakh retired personnel draw pension from the Armed Forces. — PTI

Akhilesh attacks Prime Minister’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ campaign
Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service

Lucknow, November 10
Censuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Swachh Bharat” campaign, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said it was to distract attention from poll promises such as bringing down inflation, unemployment and return of black money.

Speaking at a public function after laying the foundation stone of the academic block of the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Yadav did not mince words to attack the Modi government for diverting people’s attention from critical issues.

“Kewal safai se kaam nahi chalega. Global warming jaise muddon ko bhi jodna hoga (Only cleaning would not help. Issues like global warming should also be addressed),” said Yadav.

Incidentally, PM Modi describing CM Yadav as “energetic” had nominated him as one of the nine public figures from UP to take the cleanliness campaign forward in the state.

Declaring a “safai abhiyaan” against communal forces, CM Yadav said in the coming days that was to be the greatest challenge before the state. Clearly, referring to the tenure of former prime minister and Lucknow MP Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Yadav said a similarly much-hyped power plant producing power out of garbage had been set up in Lucknow.

Poet Kedarnath Singh gets Jnanpith Award

New Delhi, November 10
President Pranab Mukherjee today conferred Jnanpith Award on eminent Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh for his outstanding contribution towards Indian literature.

“Kedarnath Singh, through his poetry, has offered us a rare assimilation of rhymes and lyrical prose, exploring both the realms of reality and fantasy with equal felicity,” Mukherjee said. — PTI

Woman stripped on panchayat orders

Jaipur, November 10
A 40-year-old woman was allegedly paraded half -naked on a donkey by panchayat members on the suspicion of being involved in a murder case at Rajsamand district here, the police said today.

“The panchayat members stripped down the victim, blackened her face and paraded her naked on a donkey in Thurabad village here on Saturday evening, on the suspicion of being involved in the murder of her nephew Vardi Singh,” said Yogesh Chauhan, SHO, Charbhuja police station.

A case was registered against 39 persons under various sections of the IPC following the complaint filed by Uday Singh, the victim’s husband yesterday, he said.

Singh’s family had approached the panchayat suspecting the role of the victim in the death of her nephew, police said. District Collector KC Verma, SP Sweta Dhankar and other officials visited the village after the incident yesterday. — PTI

Gold smuggling racket busted in Guwahati

Guwahati, November 10
The Government Railway Police (GRP) on Monday arrested three youths at the Guwahati Railway Station and recovered about 9.5 kg of gold from their possession.

“The gold, in the form of ten biscuits, was recovered during a routine checking of luggage at the Guwahati Railway Station. The youths were bound for Kolkata and had come from Manipur,” GRP officials said.

“The three youths had boarded the Kamrup Express bound for Kolkata,” police said. — IANS