Saturday, April 17, 1999
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HC order causes bedlam in House MUMBAI, April 16 — Both Houses of the Maharashtra Assembly were adjourned for the day today after members repeatedly stalled proceedings to protest a stay by the Bombay High Court on the civil punishment ordered by the lower House to a sub-divisional engineer. Judge’s
integrity ‘under cloud’ |
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 PATNA: Hindu devotees, with iron rods planted in their bodies, perform a traditional rite on the campus of Sati Savitri temple. The legend has it that Sati Savitri threatened to sacrifice her life unless her husband Satyavan was brought back to life, which forced Yamraj to restore life to Satyavan. — PTI photo
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POTA to be sent to House panel Work on MRTS in full swing
JMM threatens to launch stir HDW case: Germans seek
clarification
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HC order causes bedlam in House MUMBAI, April 16 (UNI) — Both Houses of the Maharashtra Assembly were adjourned for the day today after members repeatedly stalled proceedings to protest a stay by the Bombay High Court on the civil punishment ordered by the lower House to a sub-divisional engineer. The bedlam began when a notice was made after question hour for an adjournment motion on the issue. Members, cutting across party line, demanded a discussion on it suspending all other items on the day’s agenda. They also wanted a ruling from the Chair on the high court order. Assembly Speaker Datta Nalawade adjourned the House four times but the agitated members continued to press for a discussion on the matter. When repeated pleas for order went in vain, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day. Also he reserved his ruling on the issue to a later date. Later, the Speaker convened a meeting of senior members of the House in his chamber. The upper House also was adjourned for the day after members said the matter raised questions about the legislature’s sovereignty. In the assembly, a
Janata Dal member said the court ruling yesterday was yet
another instance of the interference of the judiciary
into executive and legislative matters. He cited as
example the recent, Madras High Court order on the Tamil
Nadu assembly Speaker’s ruling against AIADMK
member. |
Judge’s integrity ‘under cloud’ CHENNAI, April 16 (PTI) — The AIADMK today moved the Madras High Court for a direction to the court Registrar not to allocate any case to Mr Justice S. Sambandam, one of the three special judges appointed to try cases of corruption against AIADMK chief Jayalalitha and others, alleging the integrity of the judge itself had come under a cloud over the issue of his age. In a writ petition, the party’s Deputy General Secretary and former AIADMK minister, Mr K.A. Sengottaiyan, alleged that Mr Sambandam had sought to change his date of birth from March 10, 1940 to June 21, 1942, and this was rejected by the high court on the ground that it violated Section 30(c) of Tamil Nadu Judicial Rules. The rule states that any
application for a change in date of birth five years
after entering the judicial service should be summarily
rejected, the petitioner submitted. |
POTA to be sent to House panel CHENNAI, April 16 (PTI) — The controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) 1998, passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly last year, but yet to get the presidential assent, will be sent to a House select committee for reconsideration. The bill had not been returned by the President, but the Union Home Ministry had sought certain clarifications about the proposed legislation, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said in the state assembly today during a debate on demands for grants for law, justice and jails. Mr Karunanidhi was responding to an observation by Mr M.A. Latheef (INL) who claimed POTA Bill had been returned by the President as its provisions resembled the now defunct Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). He cautioned the government against trying to "revive a dead Act by other means". The Bill was aimed at dealing with the extraordinary circumstances in the aftermath of the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts on February 14 last year, Mr Karunanidhi said. "As the Centre sought some clarifications, the state government utilised the opportunity for a calm appraisal of the Bill and constituted a committee headed by the state law minister to go into its provisions," he said. Mr Karunanidhi said since the matter had again been raised, he was in favour of sending it to the select committee, as demanded by critics of the Bill. "I assure you that
POTA will not come into effect for the time being,"
he added. |
Army suspends operation during Bihu GUWAHATI, April 16 (UNI) — The Army has suspended its operations against ULFA during the Bihu festival in return for the organisation’s willingness for talks. The GOC-in-C of 4 Corps, Lt-Gen D.B. Shekatkar, said today that a top-level ULFA functionary contacted him on Wednesday night even as the Army suspended its operations against the insurgent group for the past three days. "In the interest of peace, I should not name the person, but I must assure you personally that if they take one step for peace the Army will take four steps for the same," he said. He informed that the Army unilaterally suspended its operations against ULFA. "We know that the boys are in the villages. They have come to meet the family members during the Bihu. We have suspended (the operation) because of that. We are not really after the young cadre who had actually strayed. Furthermore, we felt that the elders of the family would surely take the opportunity to convince their wards not to return to the camps.’’ Asked whether the Army
was in a position to carry on with the suspension, he
said if ULFA came up with a specific offer he could
suspend the operation in particular areas. |
Report says China great
neighbour NEW DELHI, April 16 — The 1998-99 annual report of the Ministry of Defence points out that India does not regard China as an “adversary” but as a “great neighbour” with which it would like to develop mutually beneficial and friendly relations. Despite the aggressive stance adopted recently by China the annual report describes that country as the “largest neighbour”, to which New Delhi had expressed time and again its interest in resolving the boundary dispute. The report says that India wants to solve its border dispute with China “peacefully and through bilateral negotiations as quickly as possible”. The report has reviewed the developments over the past 10 months, especially after the nuclear tests of May 11 and 13 last year and says that these tests “have helped forge a relatively stable national security environment for India”. “There is already a greater international acceptance of the compelling logic for India to develop a credible minimum deterrent against the use or the threat of use of weapons of mass destruction”, the report said, adding that New Delhi’s approach was aimed at greater regional and international stability. The paper, which officially outlines India’s overall security perspectives, stated that global disarmament process “has to be based on universal and non-discriminatory treaties and on the principles of equal security for all”. Without referring to any country, the report, while delving on India’s disarmament policy, said “the clandestine and illegal transfer or receipt of sensitive materials, equipment and technology by some countries should not be overlooked or condoned for the sake of political expediency”. On relations with
neighbours, it said Beijing’s “assistance to
Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme and the
transfer of missiles and missile technology to Pakistan
affect the security situation in South Asia”. |
Work on MRTS in full swing NEW DELHI, April 16 (UNI) — Eighteen task forces and a special committee headed by Chief Secretary Umesh Sehgal are working with representatives of various government departments to ensure that the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation’s (DMRC) ambitious project — the mass rapid transit system (MRTS) — rolls into service by the target year 2005. During a tour of the construction sites of the first section — Seelampur, Shastri Park, Yamuna Banks, the ISBT and Tis Hazari — engineer V.K. Singh said “work in every area is in full swing and through our two quality control laboratories we ensure process-control as per the Indian Standard Institute provisions”. Mr V.K. Singh said “prior to the utilisation of any structure and the application of a methodology in construction, we do a study on every functional aspect to avoid discrepancies”. Dispelling fears about the impact on historic monuments from the vibration caused by the metro rail, a DMRC official said the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) had given them a clean chit after a vibration analysis. The NPL report certified that the vibration level of the metro rail was low and the operations were safe. Thus, it would cause no harm to any monument, he said. Besides, with about 525
labourers and five engineers, work on the first section
was picking up at a swift pace. |
300 AIDS patients in Capital
NEW DELHI, April 16 — There are 300 registered AIDS cases in the Capital and so far 121 patients have succumbed to the disease, the Delhi Health Minister, Dr A.K. Walia, said today. “The number of AIDS patients in the city, though compared to Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, were low, yet, the figure was alarming,” he said while addressing a “conference of NGOs on AIDS control programme” organised by the Delhi State AIDS Control Society, Delhi Government. States like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu account for a majority of the more than 7,000 cases registered in the country. Delhi nevertheless has more cases than those recorded in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar, Dr Walia observed. He said the second phase of the HIV/AIDS control programme in Delhi will start from April 26 with special focus on containing its spread among the poor, marginalised and vulnerable groups, promoting safe sexual behaviour through condom use and strengthening safe blood initiatives. Film actress and member of the advisory committee of the AIDS Control Society, Ms Sharmila Tagore, said HIV/AIDS was no longer limited to high-risk groups but was spreading to the rest of the population. A large number of women
had started visiting clinics and were testing positive,
she remarked while calling for awareness programmes to
counter patriarchal structures and gender inequalities
which were adding to the AIDS crisis. |
JMM threatens to launch stir RANCHI, April 16 (UNI) — The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (Soren) today threatened to launch an indefinite economic blockade if the Bihar State Reorganisation Bill, 1998, seeking creation of a separate state comprising 18 districts of Bihar, was not adopted in the ongoing budget session of Parliament. During a rally at Pakur in the Santhalparagana area, party Vice-President said the people of Jharkhand were concerned about the early creation of Jharkhand which the BJP-led coalition government had promised to realise in the current session of Parliament. The party was opposed to
the “communal” BJP but at the same time it
would like the present government to continue in the
larger interest of Jharkhand, he said. |
HDW case: Germans seek clarification NEW DELHI, April 16 (PTI) — German authorities have sought certain clarifications in response to the letters rogatory sent by the CBI in the case relating to purchase of HDW submarines, Defence Minister George Fernandes told Lok Sabha. The clarifications sought are being examined by the CBI and a suitable reply would be sent to the German authorities shortly, he said in a written answer. It would not be correct to say that spares had been procured at exorbitant prices from front companies of the HDW dealings with which were suspended by the government following allegations of kick-backs in 1987, he said. Pak-submarines: It is understood that Pakistan is acquiring three submarines from France to be delivered over a period ranging from 1999 to 2004, he said, adding it was further understood that only the third submarine was likely to be fitted with air independent propulsion system. Adequate remedial measures have been taken to acquire and indigenously construct submarines, the minister said. Terrorism: The government has consistently demanded that Pakistan should cease support to and instigation of terrorism against India and take steps to dismantle the infrastructure existing in that country for training terrorists, he said. Probe: The CBI investigation into tri-services ‘Operation Leech’ launched in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in February 1998 to apprehend foreigners along with arms, ammunition and equipment has not yet been completed, he said. Contract: The contract with M/s MFL of Austria for supply of spares for 155 MM FH 77b gun system has not been cancelled so far, he said, adding alternatives were under consideration for meeting the spares requirement. LCA: The government has taken up the matter relating to light combat aircraft (LCA) with the collaborating US Company through Indian embassy for re-export of two laboratory models of digital flight control computer (DFCC) which were taken there for system integration and validation tests, he said. After the Pokhran nuclear tests and subsequent US sanctions, the collaborating company expressed its inability to continue the joint work under the contract, he said. Y2K: A Y2K cell
consisting of Defence Research Development Organisation
and Central Research Lab of Bharat Electricals Ltd are
providing necessary guidance for rectification of Y2K
problems in defence systems, he said. |
4 held for murder NEW DELHI, April 16 — With the arrest of four allegedly hired criminals, the Delhi Police has solved two murder cases in the North-West district. The arrested persons are Farooque, Sahadul, Yusuf and Vinod, husband of one of the deceased. According to the police, Poornima (35) and her friend, Premwati, went to see a night show of a film in the Jehangirpuri area of north-west district on March 28 where she was stabbed. She was taken to hospital by her husband where she was declared brought dead. The police also claimed
to have arrested Sunil alias Sandeep, Rakesh Gupta, alias
Jhumroo and Vikas, alias Rahul, alias Tulla, who were
allegedly involved in murder-cum-robbery reported in
Shakti Nagar on April 6. |
HC directive to Uma Bharti LUCKNOW, April 16 (UNI) — Mr Justice Jagdish Bhalla of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court today directed Ms Uma Bharti, Ms Vijay Raje Scindia and Mahant Avaidya Nath and others to appear before the court on May 18, either in person or through a counsel, in connection with four criminal revisions filed earlier by them in Ayodhya demolition cases. Mr Justice Bhalla, who
had earlier directed these 30 petitioners to appear
before the court today, posted the hearing for May 18
since Mr K.M. Rakesh, counsel for the petitioners had
stated before the court that due to certain reasons he
had given back the briefs of the 30 petitioners and was
no more their counsel. |
‘If Benazir gets jail, why not Jaya?’ CHENNAI, April 16 (UNI) — The Lahore High Court verdict, sentencing former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to five years’ rigorous imprisonment, had its echo in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today when Mr C Gnanasekaran (TMC) demanded that the AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister Ms J Jayalalitha, mired in corruption cases, be punished likewise. Participating in the debate on the demand for grants for administration of justice and prison, the member was aghast that nothing could be done though the state government had appointed three special judges for the purpose of trying the corruption cases against Ms Jayalalitha and her associates three years ago. Suggesting that the judiciary speed up disposal of cases, he said only in our judicial system was it possible for one to get adjournments for three years. If a former Prime
Minister could be convicted in Pakistan, why not in our
country, he asked. |
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| Dalits, Sena men
lathi-charged AURANGABAD: At least 25 persons, including seven policemen, were injured when the police lathi-charged clashing groups of Shiv Sena activists and Dalits at the Subhaschandra Sports Ground at Vithalwadi on Thursday, according to Commissioner of Police Shirpad Kulkarni. Mr Kulkarni said on Friday seven, of the seriously injured, were admitted to the Aurangabad Government Medical Hospital. He said some Dalits in the locality had erected a blue flag in the vicinity of the sports ground on Tuesday to which the Shiv Sena activists objected and forcibly removed the flag. However, officials of CIDCO intervened and allowed the flag to be re-erected at the same spot. But Shiv Sena activists condemned the action of the CIDCO officials and soon a clash erupted between the two groups who pelted stones at each other leading to police intervention. — UNI Army
efforts to earn goodwill 5 killed in
bus-jeep collision Finance panel
team in Tripura |
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