Wednesday, April 14, 1999
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Jaya to give letter today India, Kyrgyzstan sign 3 pacts |
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Centre defends special
judges’ appointment NEW DELHI, April 13 — The Centre today defended the constitutional validity of Section three of the Prevention of Corruption Act under which Tamil Nadu government, two years back, appointed three special judges to try exclusively corruption cases against AIADMK chief Jayalalitha.
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Defence officials visit
forward areas
MCD schools to have permanent
structures Nishant flight test successful H.P. Nanda of Escorts dead |
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Jaya to give letter today NEW DELHI, April 13 — It was a lull before the storm. Ms Jayalalitha Jayaram had comparatively a lean day, politically, today. She is expected to become active tomorrow when the much-awaited withdrawal of support to the BJP-led coalition by its single largest ally may be formalised. Ms Jayalalitha will retain her role of controlling the "remote" — the actual act of delivering the letter of withdrawal to the President of India will be carried out by a delegation led by the AIADMK president, Mr V.R. Nedunchezhian. Tomorrow 4 p.m. is slated to be the cut off point. Astrological reasons were cited by AIADMK insiders for their chief’s lack of activity today — till 9 a.m. tomorrow, her horoscope is affected by the movement of the moon "Chandrasthamam" which is not considered auspicious. Besides arthritis is also bothering her. Therefore, a day of rest before the action begins. The divorce between the BJP and the AIADMK was also discernible when the Supreme Court today took up her appeal against the Tamil Nadu government’s two-year old decision to appoint three Special Judges to exclusively try corruption cases against Ms Jayalalitha. Defending the constitutional validity of Section 3 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) under which the DMK government of Mr M. Karunanidhi had appointed the Special Judges, the Attorney-General, Mr Soli Sorabjee, told a division bench comprising Mr Justice G.T. Nanavati and Mr Justice S.P. Kurdukar that the impugned Section was "neither drastic, prejudicial nor onerous to the accused". The controversy regarding the concurrence of the High Court in appointment of the Special Judges under the PCA saw a new turn with the Centre’s Attorney-General’s line of argument being backed by the counsel for the Tamil Nadu government. Though the arguments remained inconclusive and would resume on Thursday, a turn of events was discernible. Significantly, in a statement from Chennai, General Secretary of the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), Mr Peter Alphons, said that there was no chance of Ms Jayalalitha "becoming the Prime Minister" as the PCA clearly states that unless discharged or acquitted in a corruption case, "a person chargesheeted remains an accused" till he or she was discharged from these charges or acquitted. The schedule for Ms Jayalalitha’s meeting with Mrs Sonia Gandhi has not been fixed. The Congress has made it clear that her act of withdrawing support to the BJP has to precede any further move. AIADMK president, V.R. Nedunchezhian, disclosed that though no appointment has been fixed so far, Ms Jayalalitha’s important political engagements will begin tomorrow. Today the AIADMK chief met her principal ally, Janata Party president, Dr Subramanian Swamy, and the leader of the Republican Party of India (RPI), Mr R.S. Gavai. She met a group of Muslim MPs led by Mr G.M. Banatwala of the Muslim League. The RPI has four MPs. Mr Gavai told reporters after meeting that a modus operandi for toppling the Vajpayee government and forming an alternative government was being worked out through discussions. On his part, the "prompter" of the present drama, Dr Subramanian Swamy (whose tea party in honour of Ms Jayalalitha on March 29 kicked off the row), said that the President should ask the Vajpayee government to seek a vote of confidence if "any of its supporting parties" withdrew support before April 15. In a memorandum submitted to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Dr Swamy asserted that a trust vote is a "constitutional imperative" since a doubt about the majority support of the government in the House had arisen. "If at any time before April 15 (the day Parliament reconvenes for the Budget session), one of the supporting parties withdraws support to the Vajpayee government, then it is my view that you as President must send a message under Article 86(2) to the Lok Sabha to first consider and vote on a confidence motion before any other business of the House is transacted", Dr Swamy’s memorandum said. Referring to the
statement to a private television channel by
Parliamentary Affairs Minister, P.R. Kumaramangalam, that
the government would not be obliged to bring a confidence
motion in the event of one of the supporting parties
withdrawing support, Dr Swamy said that in the absence of
a trust vote the very legitimacy of the government and
the validity of its action, Bills and decisions, would be
under a shadow of doubt. |
India, Kyrgyzstan sign 3 pacts NEW DELHI, April 13 (PTI) — India and Kyrgyzstan today signed three key agreements, including avoidance of double taxation aimed at providing fresh impetus to mutual flow of investment, technology, trade and services between the two countries. The agreements were signed in the presence of visiting Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. The accord on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion, signed by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Krygyz Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of External Trade and Industry Omuraliev Esengul Kasymovich, provides for lower rates of taxation vis-a-vis the prevalent rates in the two countries. An agreement on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters was signed by Home Minister L.K. Advani and Prosecutor General of Kyrgyzstan, Asanbek Sharshenaliev. Mr Jaswant Singh and Kyrgyz Foreign Affairs Minister Muratbek Imanaliev firmed up a protocol on extension of cultural exchange programme between the two countries. The two sides also finalised a memorandum of understanding on civil aviation matters which was signed by P.V. Jaikrishnan, Secretary, Civil Aviation and Alik Askarov, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications. Mr Akaev, on a three-day state visit, was earlier welcomed by President K.R. Narayanan and the Prime Minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Kyrgyz leader, was
accorded a 21-gun salute. |
National award for UT boy NEW DELHI, April 13 — Harshwardhan Baid, a student of Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan’s Vidyashram in Jaipur has been selected for the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement for 1997. Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Ms Uma Bharti will present the said award and the Rajiv Gandhi Manav Sewa Award for services to children here on Thursday. Mr Anantrai K. Shah who set up Ankur a school for mentally retarded children, the Society for Relief and Rehabilitation of the Handicapped, K.K. School and a home for the blind has been selected for the Manav Sewa Award. The National Child Award instituted in 1996 gives recognition to children in the 4-15 age-group for outstanding achievement in academics, arts, culture and sports. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 10,000, a certificate and a gold medal. The medal is given to only one child in the country. Apart from the lone
recipient of the gold medal, 17 children will receive
silver medals, a cash prize of Rs 5000, a citation and a
certificate. Sources said that the recipients in this
category include Shaleen Chauhan from Chandigarh, Rohit
Bhaker from Haryana, Tataghat Avtar Tulsi from Delhi,
Aditi Sharma from Rajasthan, Taruna Nishad from Uttar
Pradesh, Nupur Gadkari from Madhya Pradesh, Sanket
Ramanlal Patel from Gujarat, Abhijit Ratnakar from
Maharashtra, N. Karthik from Andhra Pradesh, V. Karuna
Jain from Karnataka, Nitin K. David from Kerala, T. Prabu
Shanker from Tamil Nadu, Lalhming Sanga from Mizoram,
David Walling from Nagaland, Saugata Bhattacharya from
Tripura, Tachyon Ray (Neha) from Orissa and H. Shajahan
from Pondicherry. |
Corruption cases against Jaya NEW DELHI, April 13 (PTI) — The Centre today defended the constitutional validity of Section three of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act under which Tamil Nadu government, two years back, appointed three special judges to try exclusively corruption cases against AIADMK chief Jayalalitha. Countering the contentions of Jayalalitha’s counsel that the provision gave arbitrary powers to governments to pick and choose cases against political rivals, Attorney-General Soli J. Sorabjee argued that the section was “neither drastic, prejudicial nor onerous to the accused”. However, the Centre said before a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice G.T. Nanavati and Mr Justice S.P. Kurdukar, it had informed the court of steps being taken to consult the high court before issuing the notification transferring cases against Jayalalitha from three special judges to other judges under Section 4(2) of the act. “It appears we have received no communication from the Chief Justice of Madras High Court on the matter,” Mr Sorabjee said. He said “I do not wish to add or subtract a jot from what I had submitted previously (in defence of the Centre’s notification). (However) if the court holds that concurrence is necessary before power under Section 3(1) and 4(2) of the PC Act is exercised, then on the material on record there has been no concurrence of the Chief Justice.” Towing Attorney-General’s line of argument, counsel for Tamil Nadu government, senior advocate V.R. Reddy contended that concurrence of the high court regarding the appointment of special judges should be mandatory and that formed the basis of state government notification of April 30, 1997, when special judges were appointed for cases against Jayalalitha. The state government
appointed special judges for the 46 cases against
Jayalalitha, some of her erstwhile cabinet colleagues and
certain bureaucrats. |
Defence officials visit forward
areas NEW DELHI, April 13 — Keeping in line with the trend set last year when two senior officials of the Ministry of Defence had visited the forward areas of Siachen, as many as 52 other officials of the ministry have visited various other forward locations in the country over the past year with the basic idea of understanding the problems faced by the troops. The trips undertaken by the ministry officials were in pursuance of the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes’ directions that the officials must undertake such familiarisation trips at least once during their tenure in the ministry. The officials included at least eight Joint Secretaries and 12 officers of the Director and Deputy Secretary rank. The officials covered field formations and troops locations in Jammu and Kashmir like at Siachen and the Line of Control and places in the North-East like Nathula, Nagaland and Manipur. The officials also visited the Air Force and Naval establishments, Ordnance Factories and the laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, an official release from the ministry said. Mr Fernandes had felt that keeping in view the vital interest of national security officials of the Defence Ministry needed to have the necessary orientation and understanding of the requirements of the forces. Such visits, the Minister felt, would go a long way in taking decisions more effectively and promptly by providing an exposure to the situation at the ground level. According to the
release, more such trips were on the cards and the
earlier ones had also been undertaken in consultation
with the three services. |
60-year-old businessman
murdered NEW DELHI, April 13 — A 60-year old businessman was reportedly murdered by two youths in his house in New Friends Colony in South Delhi early this morning. The incident occurred at 3.30 a.m. in the presence of all family members. Two sons of the deceased, Bharat Bhusah, owner of Hitkaro potteries, and their servants were asleep in different rooms. The wife of the deceased was asleep on the same bed, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Mr Vivek Gogia, said. There was no mark of forced entry and ransacking in the house. The wife of the deceased resisted the assailants, but in vain. However, she sustained no injury. When the assailants struck Mr Sood, his wife reportedly got up. She told the police that the assailants were in the age group of 20 to 25. They had a rope in their hands. First they strangled the businessman and then stabbed him. The weapons of offence were recovered from the house, he said. The wife raised a hue and cry after the assailants had left the house. The other family members took Mr Sood to Friends Medical Centre in the same colony. He reportedly succumbed to his injuries at the centre. The deceased was not in a position to give any statement, the Additional DCP said, ruling out any foul play. The police is yet not sure about the motive of the assailants. The police reportedly interrogated the servants of the deceased, but no information could be gathered. The police said strangely the family members did not contact the police, but took him to a private hospital. Senior officers of the district did not disclose how many stab injuries were visible on the body of the deceased. Sources in the police said multiple injury marks were visible on the body. The deceased had his
factory in Noida. He was helped by his son, Vikas who
allegedly lived separate from his wife, Vinita. |
MCD schools to have
permanent structures NEW DELHI, April 13 — The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has decided to build permanent structures at several sites for primary schools, currently housed in tents. The MCD at present is running 1,184 schools from tents. According to MCD education committee chairman, Mahesh Chand Sharma, some sites would be provided with tin-roofed structures as the sites were disputed and cases pending in courts. The corporation has also decided to open one sports and one music school apart from regular education till the primary level. English will also be
made compulsory in MCD’s 100 model schools from
standard III. The Chandla committee formed in 1992-93 to
suggest educational reforms had recommended it. |
Nishant flight test successful CHANDIPUR-ON-SEA (Orissa), April 13 (PTI) — India’s unmanned air vehicle (UAV) ‘Nishant’, developed for conducting military surveillance, was today successfully test flown from the interim test range here. Nishant, also known as pilotless training aircraft, made a flawless flight just two days after India test-fired nuclear capable Agni-II ballistic missile with a strike range of over 2000 km, according to test range sources. Nishant is designed to perform discrete aerial reconnaissance, including target acquisition. The Defence Research and
Development Organisation, which has developed Nishant,
has designed comprehensive capabilities in all aspects of
flight control design and engineering for UAVs. |
H.P. Nanda of Escorts dead NEW DELHI, April 13 (PTI) — Mr H.P. Nanda, Chairman emeritus of the Escorts group, passed away here today after a prolonged illness. He was 82. Mr Nanda, who set up the company in 1948, was Escorts Chairman till 1994, a company release said. He is the father of
leading industrialist Rajan Nanda, who heads the company
that manufactures tractor-trailers, motor cycles and
automotive components. |
SC, Delhi courts closed today NEW DELHI, April 13 (UNI) — The Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court will observe a holiday tomorrow on account of the birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar. The cases listed for
tomorrow at the high court and courts subordinate to it
would be taken up on April 15 along with the cases for
the day. |
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| CPM leader shot AGARTALA: Armed miscreants shot dead a local CPM leader at Sidhai in West Tripura on Monday, the police said. CPM sources, however, said the murder of their leader Gauranga Saha was “political”. Details of the incident were not available immediately. In another incident, underground tribal guerrillas shot dead a trader at Kalyuanpur in West Tripura and a villager at Gandachara in Dhalai District during the past 24 hours. — UNI Nagaswaram maestro dead Prehistoric site
discovered Congress workers
hacked TV producer
arrested 6 killed as
transformer explodes Indo-Bangla bus
service Ambassadors give
credentials |
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