Geetha Johri, P C Pandey summoned by CBI in Sohrab case
Ahmedabad, July 29 : Senior IPS officer Geetha Johri and former Gujarat DGP P C Pandey have
been summoned by the CBI for questioning in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, amid
allegations some police officers tried to influence investigations.
The summons were issued to the two officers even as the CBI grilled former Gujarat Minister of
State for Home Amit Shah inside the Sabarmati Central Jail for the second straight day today in
connection with the case.
Sources said Shah, who is a key accused in the sensational case, was not cooperating in
investigation despite an assurance of this effect given by his lawyers before the court.
Johri, who was the investigating officer and headed the probe while she was with state CID in the
fake encounter involving Sohrabuddin Sheikh and killing of his wife Kausarbi in 2005, was directed
today to appear before the agency by August 10.
Johri is currently posted as Rajkot Police Commissioner. She is in the UK at present and is
expected to return on August 6.
The CBI has already questioned Johri twice before, after it began investigation into the encounter
case following the Supreme court order in January early this year.
The probe agency had yesterday summoned Pandey and asked him to appear before it on August
11. It is for the first time that Pandey has been called for questioning by CBI.
Pandey was the DGP when the state CID was probing the fake encounter case. The apex court,
while transferring the case to CBI, had minced no words in expressing displeasure at the failure of
the state police's Special Investigation Team, headed by Inspector General of Police Johri, to
identify the seven Andhra Pradesh police personnel who assisted the local police in the fake
encounter.
The Supreme Court had also come down heavily on the Gujarat police for failing to conduct
impartial investigations and attempting to "mislead" the apex court by filing conflicting Action Taken
Reports (ATRs)in the case.
It had further said that while one of the investigating officers V L Solanki was proceeding in the
right direction, Johri had not been carrying out the investigation in the right manner.
The court has said in its January 12 order that Johri had not made any reference to the second
report of Solanki, and was not forwarded to this Court.
K T S Tulsi to represent CBI in Sohrabuddin case
New Delhi, July 29 : Senior advocate K T S Tulsi will appear for the CBI in the Sohrabuddin
Sheikh fake encounter case, in which former Gujarat Minister Amit Shah is an accused and is being
represented by eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani.
An additional solicitor general would also appear on behalf of the Central investigating agency for
which a notification will be issued shortly, official sources said.
Jethmalani recently became a member of the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan on a ticket given by BJP.
His candidature was reportedly backed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
BJP has accused the Central government of 'misusing' the CBI in the Sohrabuddin case, a charge
denied by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Shah, former Gujarat Minister of State for Home, was arrested Sunday by the CBI on charges of
murder and under other sections of the IPC in connection with the 2005 fake encounter case. He is
currently lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad.
CBI grills Shah for second day
Ahmedabad, July 29 : The CBI today grilled former Gujarat minister Amit Shah inside the
Sabarmati Central Jail for the second day in connection with the fake encounter of Sohrabuddin
Sheikh.
A four-member team of the Central agency is questioning Shah, CBI sources said here. The
sources said Shah was "not cooperating" with the investigation despite an assurance to this effect
given by his lawyers before the court.
The BJP leader, facing murder, kidnapping and extortion charges, among others, has been lodged
in the jail after his arrest on Sunday last.
The entire proceeding is being recorded on audio and video tape. The court has allowed the
investigating agency to quiz Shah inside the jail between July 28 and 30.
Shah is lodged in Tilak barrack of the prison after being arrested in the 2005 fake encounter of
Sheikh and killing of his wife Kausarbi by Gujarat Police.
According to the CBI chargesheet, police officials of Gujarat ATS and Rajasthan Special Task
Force (STF) had allegedly stage managed the encounter of Sheikh, a suspected gangster, near
Ahmedabad on November 26, 2005.
The high-profile case was transferred to CBI by the Supreme Court in January this year and the
probe agency was asked to submit its report by July 31.
Both houses of parliament adjourned for the day
New Delhi, July 29 : Skyrocketing food prices disrupted proceedings in parliament for the third
successive day Thursday, forcing two adjournments of both houses, the second one for the day.
Vociferous protests by the opposition erupted as the two houses assembled at 11 a.m. Failing to
restore order, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari
adjourned the proceedings till 12 noon. However, with the pandemonium continuing when they
reassembled, both houses were adjourned for the day after government papers were tabled.
In the Lok Sabha, angry opposition members led by Sushma Swaraj of the Bharatiya Janata Party
and Mulayam Singh of the Samajwadi Party were on their feet as the house assembled at 11 a.m.,
demanding a discussion on the price rise issue as an adjournment motion that entails voting.
Sushma Swaraj reminded Speaker Meira Kumar of the assurance given by her Wednesday that
she would consider discussion under any other rule, except an adjournment motion, on the issues of
price rise and fuel price hike.
The speaker had rejected the opposition's demand for a discussion under an adjournment motion
Wednesday.
However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal objected to the opposition's
demand for a discussion under an adjournment motion and stated that the government was ready
for a discussion under rule 193, which does not entail voting.
Will overcome Maoist problem in three years: Chidambaram
New Delhi, July 29 : The government today said it was confident of overcoming the Maoist
problem in the next three years and had prepared a two-pronged strategy of initiating development
and police action in the affected areas.
Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Home
Affairs, Home Minister P Chidambaram expressed confidence that the challenge of left wing
extremism would be met jointly by the central and state governments.
"The government was confident that the problem of left wing extremism would be overcome in the
next three years," he said.
Chidambaram said after consultations with the Naxal-affected states, it was agreed to have a two-
pronged strategy to handle the Maoist issue -- development and police action.
While the Central government acknowledged that the primary role and responsibility was that of
state governments in enforcing law and order in confronting the challenge of left wing extremists, it
also recognised its responsibility in assisting the states in every way, he said.
The Home Minister said the Centre was assisting the states by providing para-military forces,
sharing intelligence and funding both development schemes and security needs.
Chidambaram informed the Parliamentarians that in a meeting of Chief Ministers of seven Naxal-
affected states on July 14, it was agreed that a Unified Command would be set up in four states --
West Bengal, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand -- for anti-Naxal operations.
Besides, the Centre would provide these states additional helicopters for logistical support, funds
for establishment and strengthening of 400 police stations recruiting additional Special Police
Officers.
It was also agreed to set up an Empowered Group chaired by Member Secretary, Planning
Commission, to review existing norms and guidelines in implementation of various development
schemes, having regard to local needs like road connectivity, primary education, primary health
care and drinking water.
Left, BJP 'unholy alliance' wasting time of Parliament: Cong
New Delhi, July 29 : Congress today accused the Left and BJP of forging an "unholy and
opportunistic alliance" and "wasting" time of Parliament by insisting on a discussion on price rise
under a rule which entails voting even after the Speaker disallowed the motion.
The party also made it clear that it will "not succumb to such pressure tactics" and accused BJP of
doing it to "divert attention" from issues like the arrest of former Gujarat minister Amit Shah in the
Sohrabuddin case and illegal mining in Karnataka.
"This unity of Left and NDA is self-opportunistic and based on political expediency," party
spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said, adding that both are "political bedfellows in this game plan of
diversion."
To a question on whether CPI-M under Prakash Karat's leadership is coming closer to BJP, the
spokesperson said their occasional sparring be-fool none and this "direct, total, unqualified and
concerted action (disruption of Parliament) by both has brought to fore the truth of their friendly
fights."
Singhvi said BJP is engaging in such "unfortunate unfair and unjustified tactics to divert attention
from the Reddys and Shahs. It is an attempt to cover the skeletons tumbling out from the
cupboards of Karnataka and Gujarat."
He added while the government is ready for a discussion on the entire gamut of the price rise issue
and it wanted to eliminate only the part of political sensationalism, the opposition is resorting to
diversionary tactics though it has "no reason to disrupt Parliament even for a moment."
He said the decision of the Speaker in this matter was final, which cannot be challenged even in the
Supreme Court, and by opposing it the opposition was trying to send a message that it won't allow
Parliament to function unless the rulings are not as per its wish.
India, UK to explore avenues for cooperation in space sector
New Delhi, July 29 : India and the UK today decided to enhance cooperation in scientific research
and explore possibilities for collaboration in the space sector.
British Minister for Universities and Science David Willets held discussions with Science and
Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan on further strengthening cooperation in science and research
here.
Emerging from the meeting, Willets told reporters that he also held discussions with Chavan on
cooperation in the space and nuclear research sectors.
During the parleys, Willets highlighted the work done by British scientists in the Pressurised Water
Reactors.
On cooperation in the space sector, he pointed out that India has developed expertise in launching
small satellites and Britain was in the process of developing satellites.
"India has a robust space programme and offers satellite launches at cheaper costs compared to
those offered by western countries," Chavan noted..
Asked whether discussions were held on any specific areas, he said "it was too premature to talk
about it at this moment."
The two countries also agreed to launch joint research programmes to bridge the rural/urban divide
and provide technological solutions to improve the quality of life of rural inhabitants in both the
countries.
The two leaders decided to work together on a new initiative to encourage multi-disciplinary
research partnerships to develop the next generation of environmentally friendly fuel cell
technologies.
Willets is here as part of the delegation accompanying British Prime Minister David Cameron on a
two-day visit to India.
Speaker more "affectionate" towards Pranab: Sharad Yadav
New Delhi, July 29 : NDA Convenor Sharad Yadav today took a swipe at Lok Sabha Speaker
Meira Kumar claiming she was more "affectionate" towards the Treasury Benches but showed little
mercy towards the Opposition.
"Ek varsh ho gaya hai, aapka prem Pranab babu ki taraf toh khub jhalakta hai, lekin hum logon ki
taraf aapki daya kabhi nahi hoti (It has been a year now, your affection is more towards Pranab
(treasury benches) and you have been less kind to us," Yadav said in the Lok Sabha.
At this point, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also the Leader of the House, was seen
with folded hands, smiling.
Yadav's left-handed compliment to the Speaker came a day after she rejected Opposition-
sponsored Adjournment Motion on price rise contending that it involved no failure on the part of
the government.
The JD(U) chief said in his inimitable style that her decision had forced the Opposition to spend a
sleepless night mulling how to confront the Speaker.
"We in the Opposition spent a sleepless night thinking how to confront the Speaker. The Speaker is
the highest authority and it is difficult to confront the Chair and how should we do it," he said.
Yadav said that after a lot of confabulations, the Opposition decided to demand a discussion under
Rule 184 that entails voting.
He contended that people of the country have been pained by the Speaker's decision to disallow
the Adjournment Motion moved by the Opposition.
Govt unsure of majority in LS shy of voting: CPI-M
New Delhi, July 29 : The CPI(M) today said the government was not sure of mustering majority in
the Lok Sabha and hence was shy of having a debate on price rise under rules which entail voting.
"Under popular pressure, the government is afraid that some of its allies may not support it
steadfastly," CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said here.
Observing that the government continued to argue that it favoured a debate without voting, he said
if the UPA claims it has a numerical majority in Lok Sabha, "then why is it shying away from
discussing this issue under rules that require voting?"
"Obviously, the government is not confident of mustering a majority on such a vital issue that is
affecting the vast majority of our people very adversely," Yechury said in an editorial in the
forthcoming issue of party organ 'People's Democracy'.
In any case, the UPA does not command majority in Rajya Sabha and hence cannot afford a
discussion in the Lok Sabha under Rule 184 that calls for a vote after the debate. "It cannot,
therefore, allow any discussion in the Lok Sabha as well under a rule that entails voting", he said.
Maintaining that three debates on price rise last year had not produced any response from the
government, he said it has "brazenly not only refused to take any measures to curtail price rise but,
on the contrary, announced further hikes in petroleum products" which fuelled higher inflation and
imposed greater burden on the people.
The Left and other opposition parties have been insisting on a discussion under rules that require
voting because "we hope to put the pressure on the government to take certain concrete measures
to contain this price rise."
EC to roll out guidelines to control money in politics
New Delhi, July 29 : The Election Commission will soon come out with a set of guidelines to tighten
procedures over role of money in polls as part of electoral reforms that will also include
deregistration of political parties.
Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, who would assume charge as the new Chief Election
Commissioner tomorrow, said the Government has indicated expediting some of the electoral
reforms pending with it.
"The draft of the guidelines is ready. By end of August they will be in place," Quraishi told PTI in an
interview.
Expressing concern over black money playing a big role in elections, he said "We need to tighten it.
Now we have developed detailed guidelines in consultation with the best and most experienced
officials."
Referring to mushrooming of political parties, he said currently there are 1100 odd parties out of
which seven are national parties and 40 are regional parties. Among the rest many appear to have
doubtful credentials, Quraishi said.
"We have 1100 parties at the moment. Every half an hour a new party gets registered except for
seven national parties and 40 regional parties. 900 to 1000 parties are just in name only," he said,
adding the Election Commission should have power to deregister non-serious parties.
Urgent acquistion of lands only in exceptional cases : SC
New Delhi, July 29 : The Supreme Court has ruled that government cannot acquire lands of the
people by invoking the "urgency clause" as a matter of rule for developing housing colonies and the
power can be exercised only in exceptional cases.
"Use of the power by the government under Section 17 for planned development of the city or the
development of residential area or for housing must not be as a rule but by way of an exception.
"Such exceptional situation may be for public purpose viz., rehabilitation of natural calamity-
affected persons, rehabilitation of persons uprooted due to commissioning of dam or housing for
lower strata of society urgently, rehabilitation of persons affected by time-bound projects, etc," a
Bench of Jutices R V Raveendra and R M Lodha said in a judgement.
The apex court passed the judgement while dealing with a bunch of appeals filed by aggrieved land
owners challenging the acquisition of over 400 private lands by Gorakhpur Land Development
Authority, Uttar Pradesh, for constructing a housing colony.
Under the Land Acquistion Act, the government can acquire any land but section 5A mandates the
authority to give due opportunity to the owners to raise objections.
Section 17, however, gives the government the need to dispense with Section 5A if the land was
required for some very urgent reasons.
Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case: SC reserves judgement
New Delhi, July 29 : The Supreme Court today reserved its judgement on the plea of Santosh
Kumar Singh challenging the verdict of the Delhi High Court convicting and awarding death
sentence to him for rape and murder of Delhi University student Priyadarshini Mattoo over 14
years ago.
A Bench comprising Justices H S Bedi and C K Prasad, after hearing the arguments advanced by
advocates appearing for Singh and CBI, reserved its verdict.
Singh, son of former senior IPS officer, was acquitted by the trial court on December 3, 1999 but
the Delhi High Court had on October 27, 2006, reversed that decision by holding him guilty for the
offence of rape and murder.
CBI has sought upholding of the death sentence by saying that the High Court had correctly
appreciated the evidence leading to his conviction.
Singh, currently lodged in Tihar Jail, has contended the "acquittal by the trial court was correct and
proper".
Senior advocate Sushil Kumar, appearing for 40-year-old Singh, contended that the High Court
conviction was not based on the proper appreciation of the evidence on record.
Mattoo, the 23-year-old law student, was found murdered at her south Delhi residence on January
23, 1996.
Two rescued from flash floods, houses damaged in Kashmir
Srinagar, July 29 : Two persons were rescued after a truck fell down into a canal while several
houses and bridges damaged in flash floods in Bandipora and Baramulla districts of north Kashmir,
police said.
Flood water entered in Pehlipora, Malangam, Banilpora, Shaikhmuqam, Keema, Quilmuqam,
Turkpora and Panzigam in Bandipora district due to which six houses, two saw mills and a shop
were damaged, he said.
Around ten houses, six mud houses, two shops, one vehicle, one Army bridge was damaged at
Qazi Naag Bijhama Nallah in Baramulla district.
Water supply and electricity has been totally affected, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, two
persons were rescued after a truck fell fell down into a canal after a pillar of Goshi Bridge was
washed away due to flood water in Baramulla district.
A Sumo was washed away at Khah Nallah Baderkoot Tangmarg in the same district, the official
said, adding no loss of life or injury was reported in this incident.
Centre, states to share funds at 65:35 ratio for RTE
New Delhi, July 29 : Ending the controversy over sharing of funds and paving the way for
implementing the historic Right To Education (RTE) law, the government has fixed the funds sharing
pattern at 65 to 35 between the Centre and the states for the next five years.
There will be a requirement of Rs 2.31 lakh crore in the next five years for implementing the new
act which makes education a fundamental right of every child.
The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) under Finance Ministry has agreed to the fund sharing
formula keeping in view demands of states for higher assistance from the Centre to implement the
Act which has come into force from April one this year.
The EFC gave its clearance yesterday, a HRD Ministry official said. The clearance came after
HRD Minister Kapil Sibal met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and explained the concerns of
the states on the issue.
The Finance Commission has already given Rs 24,000 crore to the states for implementing the Act.
If this money is included under the Central assistance, the Central share could go up to 68 per cent,
the official said.
States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had even demanded full funding from the Centre for
implementation of the law. Most of the states had demanded 90 per cent funding by the Centre for
this Act.
Sena workers waste milk to protest import of dairy products
Satara, July 29 : To protest Government's decision to import milk powder and other dairy
products, Shiv Sena activists spilled thousands of litres of milk on the Satara-Pune highway.
The activists stopped a milk tanker on the highway yesterday and spilled the milk all over the road.
The import of dairy products will hurt the interests of the local dairy farmers, they claimed.
In a similar protest last week, Sena activists had stopped five tankers and wasted over 50,000
litres of milk in Satara.
Woman can't book in-laws under DVA if she, hubby stayed abroad
New Delhi, July 29 : A woman cannot book her in-laws under the Domestic Violence Act if she,
along with her husband, had stayed abroad at the time of matrimonial dispute, the Delhi High Court
held today.
"There can be no domestic relationship of the wife of the son with the parents when the parents are
not living along with the son and there can be no domestic relationship of a wife with the parents of
her husband when the son, along with the wife, is living abroad, maintaining a family there and
children are born abroad...," said Justice Shiv Narayan Dhingra.
"In order to constitute a family and domestic relationship, it is necessary that the persons who
constitute domestic relationship must be living together in the same house under one head. If they
are living separately, then they are not a family but they are relatives related by blood or
consanguinity to each other...," said Justice Dhingra in a judgement.
"Once a son grows up and he starts earning, marries, makes his separate home and sires (fathers)
children, the burden of his wife cannot be put on to the shoulders of his father or brother on an
estrangement between husband and wife...." the court said.
The Court also pulled up a family court judge for directing the in-laws, who stay in India, to pay
jointly Rs 50,000 towards the monthly maintenance to their daughter-in -law, Payal Malik.
Court rejects plea to shift Gulberg case to other judge
Gandhinagar, July 29 : The Gujarat High Court Thursday rejected the petition of witnesses of
Gulberg Society attack during the 2002 communal riots, seeking transfer of cases from the
designated judge for his "biased behaviour".
Rejecting the petition, a division bench of Justices Jayant Patel and Abhilasha Kumari said: "The
alleged apprehension of bias for seeking transfer of the cases cannot be termed as 'a reasonable
apprehension' to attract the power of transfer of the cases."
Petitioner Imtiyazkhan Pathan and other witnesses and victims of the 2002 riots, had moved the
court seeking transfer of the cases, alleging that the designated judge B.U. Joshi was biased and
adopted an unsympathetic behaviour towards the witnesses.
Though the court rejected the petition, it however directed the judge to be "sober" to the parties in
the case.
"We hope that the learned sessions judge will have a sober approach to the witnesses in the
conduct of the trial. While exercising judicial powers, he would also, as far as possible, avoid
making any uncalled for comments or remarks, unless he finds that the same are directly relevant
for exercising his judicial functions," it said.
Joshi was selected by the High Court to conduct the Gulberg society massacre trial, in which 69
people including former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffri were killed, on directions of the Supreme Court
in the case of National Human Rights Commission vs State of Gujarat and others.
Two new swine flu cases in Delhi
New Delhi, July 29 : Two more people tested positive for swine flu in the capital, taking the number
of infected people to 63, an official said Thursday.
"Two people have tested positive for the influenza A (H1N1) in Delhi. No deaths were reported
Thursday," nodal officer for swine flu Debashish Bhattacharya told IANS. Delhi has so far reported
seven swine flu deaths.
Ahmedabad, July 29 : Senior IPS officer Geetha Johri and former Gujarat DGP P C Pandey have
been summoned by the CBI for questioning in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, amid
allegations some police officers tried to influence investigations.
The summons were issued to the two officers even as the CBI grilled former Gujarat Minister of
State for Home Amit Shah inside the Sabarmati Central Jail for the second straight day today in
connection with the case.
Sources said Shah, who is a key accused in the sensational case, was not cooperating in
investigation despite an assurance of this effect given by his lawyers before the court.
Johri, who was the investigating officer and headed the probe while she was with state CID in the
fake encounter involving Sohrabuddin Sheikh and killing of his wife Kausarbi in 2005, was directed
today to appear before the agency by August 10.
Johri is currently posted as Rajkot Police Commissioner. She is in the UK at present and is
expected to return on August 6.
The CBI has already questioned Johri twice before, after it began investigation into the encounter
case following the Supreme court order in January early this year.
The probe agency had yesterday summoned Pandey and asked him to appear before it on August
11. It is for the first time that Pandey has been called for questioning by CBI.
Pandey was the DGP when the state CID was probing the fake encounter case. The apex court,
while transferring the case to CBI, had minced no words in expressing displeasure at the failure of
the state police's Special Investigation Team, headed by Inspector General of Police Johri, to
identify the seven Andhra Pradesh police personnel who assisted the local police in the fake
encounter.
The Supreme Court had also come down heavily on the Gujarat police for failing to conduct
impartial investigations and attempting to "mislead" the apex court by filing conflicting Action Taken
Reports (ATRs)in the case.
It had further said that while one of the investigating officers V L Solanki was proceeding in the
right direction, Johri had not been carrying out the investigation in the right manner.
The court has said in its January 12 order that Johri had not made any reference to the second
report of Solanki, and was not forwarded to this Court.
K T S Tulsi to represent CBI in Sohrabuddin case
New Delhi, July 29 : Senior advocate K T S Tulsi will appear for the CBI in the Sohrabuddin
Sheikh fake encounter case, in which former Gujarat Minister Amit Shah is an accused and is being
represented by eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani.
An additional solicitor general would also appear on behalf of the Central investigating agency for
which a notification will be issued shortly, official sources said.
Jethmalani recently became a member of the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan on a ticket given by BJP.
His candidature was reportedly backed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
BJP has accused the Central government of 'misusing' the CBI in the Sohrabuddin case, a charge
denied by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Shah, former Gujarat Minister of State for Home, was arrested Sunday by the CBI on charges of
murder and under other sections of the IPC in connection with the 2005 fake encounter case. He is
currently lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad.
CBI grills Shah for second day
Ahmedabad, July 29 : The CBI today grilled former Gujarat minister Amit Shah inside the
Sabarmati Central Jail for the second day in connection with the fake encounter of Sohrabuddin
Sheikh.
A four-member team of the Central agency is questioning Shah, CBI sources said here. The
sources said Shah was "not cooperating" with the investigation despite an assurance to this effect
given by his lawyers before the court.
The BJP leader, facing murder, kidnapping and extortion charges, among others, has been lodged
in the jail after his arrest on Sunday last.
The entire proceeding is being recorded on audio and video tape. The court has allowed the
investigating agency to quiz Shah inside the jail between July 28 and 30.
Shah is lodged in Tilak barrack of the prison after being arrested in the 2005 fake encounter of
Sheikh and killing of his wife Kausarbi by Gujarat Police.
According to the CBI chargesheet, police officials of Gujarat ATS and Rajasthan Special Task
Force (STF) had allegedly stage managed the encounter of Sheikh, a suspected gangster, near
Ahmedabad on November 26, 2005.
The high-profile case was transferred to CBI by the Supreme Court in January this year and the
probe agency was asked to submit its report by July 31.
Both houses of parliament adjourned for the day
New Delhi, July 29 : Skyrocketing food prices disrupted proceedings in parliament for the third
successive day Thursday, forcing two adjournments of both houses, the second one for the day.
Vociferous protests by the opposition erupted as the two houses assembled at 11 a.m. Failing to
restore order, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari
adjourned the proceedings till 12 noon. However, with the pandemonium continuing when they
reassembled, both houses were adjourned for the day after government papers were tabled.
In the Lok Sabha, angry opposition members led by Sushma Swaraj of the Bharatiya Janata Party
and Mulayam Singh of the Samajwadi Party were on their feet as the house assembled at 11 a.m.,
demanding a discussion on the price rise issue as an adjournment motion that entails voting.
Sushma Swaraj reminded Speaker Meira Kumar of the assurance given by her Wednesday that
she would consider discussion under any other rule, except an adjournment motion, on the issues of
price rise and fuel price hike.
The speaker had rejected the opposition's demand for a discussion under an adjournment motion
Wednesday.
However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal objected to the opposition's
demand for a discussion under an adjournment motion and stated that the government was ready
for a discussion under rule 193, which does not entail voting.
Will overcome Maoist problem in three years: Chidambaram
New Delhi, July 29 : The government today said it was confident of overcoming the Maoist
problem in the next three years and had prepared a two-pronged strategy of initiating development
and police action in the affected areas.
Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Home
Affairs, Home Minister P Chidambaram expressed confidence that the challenge of left wing
extremism would be met jointly by the central and state governments.
"The government was confident that the problem of left wing extremism would be overcome in the
next three years," he said.
Chidambaram said after consultations with the Naxal-affected states, it was agreed to have a two-
pronged strategy to handle the Maoist issue -- development and police action.
While the Central government acknowledged that the primary role and responsibility was that of
state governments in enforcing law and order in confronting the challenge of left wing extremists, it
also recognised its responsibility in assisting the states in every way, he said.
The Home Minister said the Centre was assisting the states by providing para-military forces,
sharing intelligence and funding both development schemes and security needs.
Chidambaram informed the Parliamentarians that in a meeting of Chief Ministers of seven Naxal-
affected states on July 14, it was agreed that a Unified Command would be set up in four states --
West Bengal, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand -- for anti-Naxal operations.
Besides, the Centre would provide these states additional helicopters for logistical support, funds
for establishment and strengthening of 400 police stations recruiting additional Special Police
Officers.
It was also agreed to set up an Empowered Group chaired by Member Secretary, Planning
Commission, to review existing norms and guidelines in implementation of various development
schemes, having regard to local needs like road connectivity, primary education, primary health
care and drinking water.
Left, BJP 'unholy alliance' wasting time of Parliament: Cong
New Delhi, July 29 : Congress today accused the Left and BJP of forging an "unholy and
opportunistic alliance" and "wasting" time of Parliament by insisting on a discussion on price rise
under a rule which entails voting even after the Speaker disallowed the motion.
The party also made it clear that it will "not succumb to such pressure tactics" and accused BJP of
doing it to "divert attention" from issues like the arrest of former Gujarat minister Amit Shah in the
Sohrabuddin case and illegal mining in Karnataka.
"This unity of Left and NDA is self-opportunistic and based on political expediency," party
spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said, adding that both are "political bedfellows in this game plan of
diversion."
To a question on whether CPI-M under Prakash Karat's leadership is coming closer to BJP, the
spokesperson said their occasional sparring be-fool none and this "direct, total, unqualified and
concerted action (disruption of Parliament) by both has brought to fore the truth of their friendly
fights."
Singhvi said BJP is engaging in such "unfortunate unfair and unjustified tactics to divert attention
from the Reddys and Shahs. It is an attempt to cover the skeletons tumbling out from the
cupboards of Karnataka and Gujarat."
He added while the government is ready for a discussion on the entire gamut of the price rise issue
and it wanted to eliminate only the part of political sensationalism, the opposition is resorting to
diversionary tactics though it has "no reason to disrupt Parliament even for a moment."
He said the decision of the Speaker in this matter was final, which cannot be challenged even in the
Supreme Court, and by opposing it the opposition was trying to send a message that it won't allow
Parliament to function unless the rulings are not as per its wish.
India, UK to explore avenues for cooperation in space sector
New Delhi, July 29 : India and the UK today decided to enhance cooperation in scientific research
and explore possibilities for collaboration in the space sector.
British Minister for Universities and Science David Willets held discussions with Science and
Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan on further strengthening cooperation in science and research
here.
Emerging from the meeting, Willets told reporters that he also held discussions with Chavan on
cooperation in the space and nuclear research sectors.
During the parleys, Willets highlighted the work done by British scientists in the Pressurised Water
Reactors.
On cooperation in the space sector, he pointed out that India has developed expertise in launching
small satellites and Britain was in the process of developing satellites.
"India has a robust space programme and offers satellite launches at cheaper costs compared to
those offered by western countries," Chavan noted..
Asked whether discussions were held on any specific areas, he said "it was too premature to talk
about it at this moment."
The two countries also agreed to launch joint research programmes to bridge the rural/urban divide
and provide technological solutions to improve the quality of life of rural inhabitants in both the
countries.
The two leaders decided to work together on a new initiative to encourage multi-disciplinary
research partnerships to develop the next generation of environmentally friendly fuel cell
technologies.
Willets is here as part of the delegation accompanying British Prime Minister David Cameron on a
two-day visit to India.
Speaker more "affectionate" towards Pranab: Sharad Yadav
New Delhi, July 29 : NDA Convenor Sharad Yadav today took a swipe at Lok Sabha Speaker
Meira Kumar claiming she was more "affectionate" towards the Treasury Benches but showed little
mercy towards the Opposition.
"Ek varsh ho gaya hai, aapka prem Pranab babu ki taraf toh khub jhalakta hai, lekin hum logon ki
taraf aapki daya kabhi nahi hoti (It has been a year now, your affection is more towards Pranab
(treasury benches) and you have been less kind to us," Yadav said in the Lok Sabha.
At this point, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also the Leader of the House, was seen
with folded hands, smiling.
Yadav's left-handed compliment to the Speaker came a day after she rejected Opposition-
sponsored Adjournment Motion on price rise contending that it involved no failure on the part of
the government.
The JD(U) chief said in his inimitable style that her decision had forced the Opposition to spend a
sleepless night mulling how to confront the Speaker.
"We in the Opposition spent a sleepless night thinking how to confront the Speaker. The Speaker is
the highest authority and it is difficult to confront the Chair and how should we do it," he said.
Yadav said that after a lot of confabulations, the Opposition decided to demand a discussion under
Rule 184 that entails voting.
He contended that people of the country have been pained by the Speaker's decision to disallow
the Adjournment Motion moved by the Opposition.
Govt unsure of majority in LS shy of voting: CPI-M
New Delhi, July 29 : The CPI(M) today said the government was not sure of mustering majority in
the Lok Sabha and hence was shy of having a debate on price rise under rules which entail voting.
"Under popular pressure, the government is afraid that some of its allies may not support it
steadfastly," CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said here.
Observing that the government continued to argue that it favoured a debate without voting, he said
if the UPA claims it has a numerical majority in Lok Sabha, "then why is it shying away from
discussing this issue under rules that require voting?"
"Obviously, the government is not confident of mustering a majority on such a vital issue that is
affecting the vast majority of our people very adversely," Yechury said in an editorial in the
forthcoming issue of party organ 'People's Democracy'.
In any case, the UPA does not command majority in Rajya Sabha and hence cannot afford a
discussion in the Lok Sabha under Rule 184 that calls for a vote after the debate. "It cannot,
therefore, allow any discussion in the Lok Sabha as well under a rule that entails voting", he said.
Maintaining that three debates on price rise last year had not produced any response from the
government, he said it has "brazenly not only refused to take any measures to curtail price rise but,
on the contrary, announced further hikes in petroleum products" which fuelled higher inflation and
imposed greater burden on the people.
The Left and other opposition parties have been insisting on a discussion under rules that require
voting because "we hope to put the pressure on the government to take certain concrete measures
to contain this price rise."
EC to roll out guidelines to control money in politics
New Delhi, July 29 : The Election Commission will soon come out with a set of guidelines to tighten
procedures over role of money in polls as part of electoral reforms that will also include
deregistration of political parties.
Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, who would assume charge as the new Chief Election
Commissioner tomorrow, said the Government has indicated expediting some of the electoral
reforms pending with it.
"The draft of the guidelines is ready. By end of August they will be in place," Quraishi told PTI in an
interview.
Expressing concern over black money playing a big role in elections, he said "We need to tighten it.
Now we have developed detailed guidelines in consultation with the best and most experienced
officials."
Referring to mushrooming of political parties, he said currently there are 1100 odd parties out of
which seven are national parties and 40 are regional parties. Among the rest many appear to have
doubtful credentials, Quraishi said.
"We have 1100 parties at the moment. Every half an hour a new party gets registered except for
seven national parties and 40 regional parties. 900 to 1000 parties are just in name only," he said,
adding the Election Commission should have power to deregister non-serious parties.
Urgent acquistion of lands only in exceptional cases : SC
New Delhi, July 29 : The Supreme Court has ruled that government cannot acquire lands of the
people by invoking the "urgency clause" as a matter of rule for developing housing colonies and the
power can be exercised only in exceptional cases.
"Use of the power by the government under Section 17 for planned development of the city or the
development of residential area or for housing must not be as a rule but by way of an exception.
"Such exceptional situation may be for public purpose viz., rehabilitation of natural calamity-
affected persons, rehabilitation of persons uprooted due to commissioning of dam or housing for
lower strata of society urgently, rehabilitation of persons affected by time-bound projects, etc," a
Bench of Jutices R V Raveendra and R M Lodha said in a judgement.
The apex court passed the judgement while dealing with a bunch of appeals filed by aggrieved land
owners challenging the acquisition of over 400 private lands by Gorakhpur Land Development
Authority, Uttar Pradesh, for constructing a housing colony.
Under the Land Acquistion Act, the government can acquire any land but section 5A mandates the
authority to give due opportunity to the owners to raise objections.
Section 17, however, gives the government the need to dispense with Section 5A if the land was
required for some very urgent reasons.
Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case: SC reserves judgement
New Delhi, July 29 : The Supreme Court today reserved its judgement on the plea of Santosh
Kumar Singh challenging the verdict of the Delhi High Court convicting and awarding death
sentence to him for rape and murder of Delhi University student Priyadarshini Mattoo over 14
years ago.
A Bench comprising Justices H S Bedi and C K Prasad, after hearing the arguments advanced by
advocates appearing for Singh and CBI, reserved its verdict.
Singh, son of former senior IPS officer, was acquitted by the trial court on December 3, 1999 but
the Delhi High Court had on October 27, 2006, reversed that decision by holding him guilty for the
offence of rape and murder.
CBI has sought upholding of the death sentence by saying that the High Court had correctly
appreciated the evidence leading to his conviction.
Singh, currently lodged in Tihar Jail, has contended the "acquittal by the trial court was correct and
proper".
Senior advocate Sushil Kumar, appearing for 40-year-old Singh, contended that the High Court
conviction was not based on the proper appreciation of the evidence on record.
Mattoo, the 23-year-old law student, was found murdered at her south Delhi residence on January
23, 1996.
Two rescued from flash floods, houses damaged in Kashmir
Srinagar, July 29 : Two persons were rescued after a truck fell down into a canal while several
houses and bridges damaged in flash floods in Bandipora and Baramulla districts of north Kashmir,
police said.
Flood water entered in Pehlipora, Malangam, Banilpora, Shaikhmuqam, Keema, Quilmuqam,
Turkpora and Panzigam in Bandipora district due to which six houses, two saw mills and a shop
were damaged, he said.
Around ten houses, six mud houses, two shops, one vehicle, one Army bridge was damaged at
Qazi Naag Bijhama Nallah in Baramulla district.
Water supply and electricity has been totally affected, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, two
persons were rescued after a truck fell fell down into a canal after a pillar of Goshi Bridge was
washed away due to flood water in Baramulla district.
A Sumo was washed away at Khah Nallah Baderkoot Tangmarg in the same district, the official
said, adding no loss of life or injury was reported in this incident.
Centre, states to share funds at 65:35 ratio for RTE
New Delhi, July 29 : Ending the controversy over sharing of funds and paving the way for
implementing the historic Right To Education (RTE) law, the government has fixed the funds sharing
pattern at 65 to 35 between the Centre and the states for the next five years.
There will be a requirement of Rs 2.31 lakh crore in the next five years for implementing the new
act which makes education a fundamental right of every child.
The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) under Finance Ministry has agreed to the fund sharing
formula keeping in view demands of states for higher assistance from the Centre to implement the
Act which has come into force from April one this year.
The EFC gave its clearance yesterday, a HRD Ministry official said. The clearance came after
HRD Minister Kapil Sibal met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and explained the concerns of
the states on the issue.
The Finance Commission has already given Rs 24,000 crore to the states for implementing the Act.
If this money is included under the Central assistance, the Central share could go up to 68 per cent,
the official said.
States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had even demanded full funding from the Centre for
implementation of the law. Most of the states had demanded 90 per cent funding by the Centre for
this Act.
Sena workers waste milk to protest import of dairy products
Satara, July 29 : To protest Government's decision to import milk powder and other dairy
products, Shiv Sena activists spilled thousands of litres of milk on the Satara-Pune highway.
The activists stopped a milk tanker on the highway yesterday and spilled the milk all over the road.
The import of dairy products will hurt the interests of the local dairy farmers, they claimed.
In a similar protest last week, Sena activists had stopped five tankers and wasted over 50,000
litres of milk in Satara.
Woman can't book in-laws under DVA if she, hubby stayed abroad
New Delhi, July 29 : A woman cannot book her in-laws under the Domestic Violence Act if she,
along with her husband, had stayed abroad at the time of matrimonial dispute, the Delhi High Court
held today.
"There can be no domestic relationship of the wife of the son with the parents when the parents are
not living along with the son and there can be no domestic relationship of a wife with the parents of
her husband when the son, along with the wife, is living abroad, maintaining a family there and
children are born abroad...," said Justice Shiv Narayan Dhingra.
"In order to constitute a family and domestic relationship, it is necessary that the persons who
constitute domestic relationship must be living together in the same house under one head. If they
are living separately, then they are not a family but they are relatives related by blood or
consanguinity to each other...," said Justice Dhingra in a judgement.
"Once a son grows up and he starts earning, marries, makes his separate home and sires (fathers)
children, the burden of his wife cannot be put on to the shoulders of his father or brother on an
estrangement between husband and wife...." the court said.
The Court also pulled up a family court judge for directing the in-laws, who stay in India, to pay
jointly Rs 50,000 towards the monthly maintenance to their daughter-in -law, Payal Malik.
Court rejects plea to shift Gulberg case to other judge
Gandhinagar, July 29 : The Gujarat High Court Thursday rejected the petition of witnesses of
Gulberg Society attack during the 2002 communal riots, seeking transfer of cases from the
designated judge for his "biased behaviour".
Rejecting the petition, a division bench of Justices Jayant Patel and Abhilasha Kumari said: "The
alleged apprehension of bias for seeking transfer of the cases cannot be termed as 'a reasonable
apprehension' to attract the power of transfer of the cases."
Petitioner Imtiyazkhan Pathan and other witnesses and victims of the 2002 riots, had moved the
court seeking transfer of the cases, alleging that the designated judge B.U. Joshi was biased and
adopted an unsympathetic behaviour towards the witnesses.
Though the court rejected the petition, it however directed the judge to be "sober" to the parties in
the case.
"We hope that the learned sessions judge will have a sober approach to the witnesses in the
conduct of the trial. While exercising judicial powers, he would also, as far as possible, avoid
making any uncalled for comments or remarks, unless he finds that the same are directly relevant
for exercising his judicial functions," it said.
Joshi was selected by the High Court to conduct the Gulberg society massacre trial, in which 69
people including former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffri were killed, on directions of the Supreme Court
in the case of National Human Rights Commission vs State of Gujarat and others.
Two new swine flu cases in Delhi
New Delhi, July 29 : Two more people tested positive for swine flu in the capital, taking the number
of infected people to 63, an official said Thursday.
"Two people have tested positive for the influenza A (H1N1) in Delhi. No deaths were reported
Thursday," nodal officer for swine flu Debashish Bhattacharya told IANS. Delhi has so far reported
seven swine flu deaths.
