New Delhi, The Supreme Court Thursday asked the government to take a decision on a representation by the Committee on Judicial Accountability (CJA) seeking a presidential reference on the allegation of misconduct against NHRC chairman K.G. Balakrishnan when he was chief justice of India. The apex court bench headed by Justices B.S. Chauhan and J.S. Khehar issued directions to the government citing the "peculiar sets and circumstances" of the case. Pronouncing the judgement, Justice Khehar said if the government found that the allegation against the former chief justice of India was unworthy of being proceeded against then it would inform the petitioner, NGO Common Cause, accordingly. However, the court said if the government decides in favour of the representation by the CJA, then it would proceed into the matter as mandated Under Section 5 (2) of the National Human Rights Commission Act. The Supreme Court had Monday reserved its order on the petition. Besides allegations of misconduct against Justice Balakrishnan, it has also been alleged in the public suit that his two sons-in-law and brother amassed wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income when he ...
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New Delhi, HRD, Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal has expressed his deep concern on the recent incidents of alleged discrimination and profiling of students from the north-eastern region pursuing their studies in educational institutions. Sibal had last month requested UGC to formulate regulations to prevent discrimination in higher educational institutions. The UGC in its meeting on Apr 2 has deliberated on these Regulations and has finalized them. Every institution is required to establish an Ombudsman who would have the power to hear complaints of discrimination in institutions. Sibal felt that educational institutions should rise to the occasion to provide an inclusive and harmonious platform for students from across the country to come together and pursue ...
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Kanpur, Congress leader and Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal on Sunday took a dig at Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray over his statements on Tendulkar, saying other political parties could not digest the fact that Tendulkar had been nominated by the Congress-led central government. "I feel some people are jealous of the fact that we have nominated Sachin Tendulkar for the Rajya Sabha. They are having some stomachache. Some political parties are also suffering from this, which is natural also. If some political party or government plays such a master stroke then such reactions are totally expected," said Jaiswal. Earlier, Thackeray had questioned the Congress party's intention over nominating Tendulkar as a member of the upper house of the parliament describing it as Congress' ‘dirtiest play'. Tendulkar was recently nominated for the Rajya Sabha along with veteran actress Rekha and industrialist turned social activist Anu Aga. Tendulkar is the leading run-scorer and century maker in test and one-day international cricket. He is the first player to score a double century in ODI cricket. In 2002, just 12 years into his career, Wisden ranked Tendulkar the second greatest ...
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After Winning the Global Awards for Best Reality Show in its first season, BIG Marathi Music Awards for Best Anchor-- Pallavi Joshi and Best Marathi Reality Show Awards in its second season, and being nominated for Best Director – Gajendra Singh in Season 3, the fourth season for Gaurav Maharashtra is on. With Anand Shinde and Vaishali Samant have two teams with 12 kids aged 8-13 years and Pallavi Joshi as the anchor, and Suresh Wadkar as the Mahaguru Swaradhish, the show promises to make the small screen large. Says Gajendra Singh, “Gaurav Maharashtracha has been a prestigious project for Saaibaba Telefilms. Every season, we have tried to do something new and novel, and touch newer heights. This current season, the tagline is ‘murti lahan pan kirti mahan’ and we have taken on such kids who never even had a radio or a television set at home and have never seen such shows. Maharashtra is very rich in culture and tradition-- there is music in each home and we have tried to bring that culture onto television. There are kids who not only touch your hearts but are also the future of our country. We are thankful to our audience in Maharashtra, Suresh Wadkar, Vaishali ...
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Allahabad, The Allahabad high court today issued notice to dentist Rajesh Talwar, facing trial in the murder of his daughter Aarushi, on an application filed by the CBI challenging the trial court's decision to extend the bail granted to the accused. Justice Bala Krishna Narayana passed the order on an appeal filed by the CBI challenging the order of a special CBI court at Ghaziabad dated March 14, 2012, whereby the bail of Talwar, who along with his wife Nupur is facing trial in the case, had been extended. The probe agency's contention was that the trial court had erred in "extending the bail granted to Talwar, treating it as a regular one though he had been granted only an interim bail and was now required to obtain regular bail", according to the CBI's counsel Anurag Khanna. Issuing notice to Talwar, the court fixed May 7 as the next date of hearing in the matter. In its closure report submitted before the Ghaziabad court last year, the CBI had not named the Talwars as an accused in the case. However, the court had decided to go ahead with the trial observing that there was "enough evidence" against the dentist couple. Aarushi (14), was found dead inside her ...
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Patiala, Punjab government may have heaved a sigh of relief following the stay on hanging Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Balwant Singh Rajoana - convicted for the murder of former CM Punjab Beant Singh - but Rajoana said on Thursday that he was neither happy, nor sad and his mission ''to awaken Khalsa Panth (way of the pure) would continue''. ''I have dedicated my life to the Panth and have no regrets. So the stay doesn't make any difference to me,'' said Rajoana in his letter released on Thursday by his foster sister Kamaldeep Kaur. Not giving any credit to Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal and other leaders, Rajoana termed the stay as a victory of Khalsa panth. ''It's a victory of the Panth, of all youngsters, my mothers and other persons who wore saffron to show their anger against Delhi,'' said Rajoana. Meanwhile, Kamaldeep along with other relatives met Rajoana for more than 45 minutes and came out of the jail at around 1.15 pm. Rajoana also returned the clothes given to him by Akal Takht jathedar Gurbachan Singh, to be worn, if he was hanged. ''My brother has handed over these clothes and said that I should keep these with me. My brother did not ...
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New Delhi, The centre on Monday submitted to the Supreme Court the status report of the probe into allegations that close relatives of former chief justice KG Balakrishnan had amassed huge wealth during his tenure. An apex court bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia was given the report in a sealed cover by Attorney General G Vahanvati, who sought three more weeks for further investigations. He told the court that there was evidence of some payments being made and it had to be investigated why they were made. The court is hearing a public suit seeking a probe into the wealth acquired by Balakrishnan's son-in-law and brother during his tenure. ...
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Luckmow, A day after Kanpur administration lodged an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for violating the model code of conduct, Union telecom minister Kapil Sibal accused CM Mayawati of patronizing politicians with criminal antecedents. "Mayawati came to power promising to put criminals behind bars. However , since she became CM, her government has quietly been withdrawing criminal cases against her party MLAs and MPs with of kidnapping, rape and murder. It started in May 2007 when she was sworn in as CM and is still on," Sibal told reporters. The Bahujan Samaj Party rubbished Sibal's allegations and said it was the only party that acted against legislators found guilty of wrongdoing. To prove his point, Sibal presented a list of nine cases that included BSP state president Swami Prasad Maurya. "The state government wants to withdraw a case against Maurya where he is charged with attempt to murder," said Sibal. He added that when a Rae Bareli lower court rejected the application , the state government moved to the district judge's court that directed the court to re-consider the case. The case was filed by head constable Ram Surat Upadhayay in 1987 posted in the ...
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Islamabad, A US resolution on Balochistan could worsen ties between Washington and Islamabad, said Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar. Khar Monday said in London that Balochistan was Pakistan's internal matter and the province's elected representatives would resolve its issues and not US Congressmen, Geo News reported. Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Oversight and Investigations of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, Dana Rohrabacher, Friday introduced a House Concurrent Resolution, in support of the "right of self-determination of the Balochi people, for being victims of human rights violations and oppression despite being the largest province", reported Xinhua. Speaking at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), Khar condemned the US resolution on Balochistan, and said such acts of "foolhardy-global-vigilanteism" could aggravate Pakistan's already estranged ties with US. "It would distance the two allies even further," Khar was qouted as saying. On ties with India, the foreign minister stressed on keeping the dialogue alive. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Saturday have condemned the bill submitted to the US House of Representatives ...
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Islamabad, Religious parties in Pakistan have strongly condemned the resolution tabled in the US Congress calling for the right to self determination to the people of Balochistan, terming it a blatant conspiracy to disintegrate Pakistan. Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Syed Munawar Hasan said the US enmity against Pakistan's unity and integrity was no more a secret, and warned that Washington might use UN platform to separate Baluchistan in the manner it had done in the cases of East Taimor and South Sudan, The News reports. Munawwar demanded the government review ties with Washington, sever its relations relation with America and expel its ambassador, pull back its support to the US terror war and devise an independent foreign policy and efforts for the formation of a Muslim bloc with the support of China, Iran, Afghanistan and Turkey. JI ameer said the US drones were violating Pakistan's airspace, adding that both the US and India were behind Balochistan insurgency and patronizing the separatist movement by distributing arms and funds among them. Munawar Hasan said it was surprising that the US had never taken notice of state terrorism by Israel and India against Muslim ...
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New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to brief it on whether it has conducted any inquiry on allegation against ex-Chief Justice of India and NHRC chief K G Balakrishnan of amassing assets disproportionate to his income. A bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia directed the government to respond within a month on action taken by it or intended to be taken on the allegation that the former CJI amassed properties worth of Rs 40 crore in his relatives names between 2004 to 2009. "We want to know what was done on the representation (before the government against ex-CJI and what government intends to do," the bench said when it was pointed out that representation to the government was made ten months back but no action had been taken on it so far. The bench asked attorney general G E Vahanvati to appraise it on the issue within a month. Vahanvati assured the court that he will go through the petition and will write to all government authorities concerned. The court was hearing a PIL filed by NGO Common Cause seeking directions to the government to conduct probe against the former CJI for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets. Justice ...
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Washington, Accusing Pakistan of using brutal force in Baluchistan, eminent US lawmakers have expressed serious concern over the human rights violations in the restive province. "Baluchistan deserves our attention because it is a turbulent land marked by human rights violations committed by regimes that are hostile to America's interests and values," Congressman Dana Rohrabacher said at a Congressional hearing. Rohrabacher is the Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which organised the Congressional hearing on Baluchistan. Stating that Islamabad has refused to concede any legitimacy to Baluch nationalism or to engage the Baluch leadership in serious negotiations, Rohrabacher said: "Its response has been based on brute force, including extra-judicial killings." In an apparent reference to the concerns being expressed in Pakistan over the hearing, he said its purpose is to start a national dialogue in the US on the current status in Baluchistan. "This is not to plot out some sort of conspiracy," he said. Congressman Ted Poe from Texas said that the current situation in Baluchistan fits into the ...
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New Delhi, Norway's Information Technology Minister Rigmor Aasrud on Tuesday said that she had had a "constructive meeting with Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal". Terming the discussions "fruitful", Aasrud confirmed that she had raised the issue of protection for Telenor's three billion dollar investment in the Indian telecom sector. Concerned over the impact of a recent Supreme Court verdict that led to the cancellation of 122 2G licences, Aasrud had sought an appointment with Sibal to discuss the issue. Telenor, a Norwegian company, holds the majority stake in Uninor, one of the affected parties of the Supreme Court verdict. Telenor holds 67.25 per cent ownership share in Uninor, a joint venture with real estate major ...
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New Delhi, Communications and Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal today said in view of the IT revolution, India Post has to embrace the changes and to be prepared for challenges of tomorrow. He was inaugurating a roundtable on National Postal Policy here. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot said Department of Posts has to revisit and reinvent itself in the light of rapidly changing scenario. Though Department of Posts is already engaged in plethora of activities, it may explore other revenue streams, he said. Earlier Ms Manjula Prashar, Secretary, Department of Posts introduced the theme. The draft agenda for the roundtable includes its vision, mission and policy, use of the postal sector, the organization and market research, environmental concerns and social responsibilities in the postal sector, expansion and modernisation of postal network in India, the issues relating to standardisation of mail and national address system, issues relating to development of institutional framework with right and responsibility of government regulator, operator and customer, the contours of competition policy in the postal ...
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New Delhi, To achieve better monitoring of the implementation of its flagship Mid Day Meal scheme for school children, the Ministry of Human Resource Development today put online crucial information regarding the world's largest noon meal programme. HRD Minister Kapil Sibal launched a website 'www.mdm.nic.in' which carries all necessary information that could be sought by parents, students and government officials and monitors to find how and whether the children were benefiting from the scheme, in which massive irregularities have been reported in the past. The mid-day meal programme address classroom hunger and encourages poor children, belonging to disadvantaged sections, to attend school regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities. It is aimed at improving the nutritional status of the children in classes 1-VIII and provide nutritional support to children in drought-affected areas during summer vacations. Mr Sibal said the website had been designed for creating greater awareness about the scheme to ensure transparency in its implementation. The site provides detailed guidelines about the scheme--its physical and financial progress.The site ...
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Ingredients 6 cups Maida 1 teaspoon Soda (bicarbonate) 8 cups Sugar 3 cups Water 1/2 cup Pistachios 2/3 cup Ghee (for adding in maida to make dough) Ghee for frying How to make Balushahi Mix maida, soda, and 2/3 cup ghee to make stiff dough. Roll out small balls from this dough. Heat ghee and fry these balls till it turns brown. Prepare sugar syrup of two thread consistency. Dip fried balls in sugar syrup. Drain the excess syrup. Adorn with pistachios. Balushahi is ...
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New Delhi, Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal on Tuesday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Lokpal Bill and said that the key opposition party of the country is against the passing of a strong bill. The Lok Sabha reconvened in an extended Winter Session of the Parliament on Tuesday to debate and vote on the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, the government’s draft of which has been widely criticised as weak. Sibal attacked BJP and said that they demand for a strong Lokpal to control the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government but they would not form a strong Lokayukta in the states to hold themselves accountable to the ombudsman body. "They want Lokpal to cover UPA at the centre but they donot have a strong Lokayukta to hold them (BJP) accountable in states. If one look at the condition of the states you will find that there is no big step that has been taken to fight corruption problems," Sibal said. He said that BJP has ignored corruption troubles in the states where they are in power. "BJP is ignoring corruption in their own states," Sibal said. Commenting on objections raised by BJP over the issue of reservation in the ...
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New Delhi, Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal held a press conference here today to make a statement on 2G issues on behalf of the Government. Following is the text of his press statement: “Since the submission by the CAG of the Performance Audit Report on “Issue of Licences and Allocation of 2G spectrum”, there have been intense debate and criticism on the issue. The debate has taken a perverse turn and the NDA, besides some individuals, is making an attempt to malign and defame Shri P Chidambaram, Home Minister. “We, in Government, categorically reject all such allegations. Shri P Chidambaram is a valued colleague and has discharged his responsibilities without fear or favour and with absolute integrity and devotion. “Government is concerned that the public arena is being converted into a forum for a public trial of allegations and counter-allegations, many of which have no relation to facts. Government is, therefore, of the view that the matter must be put in perspective and the incontrovertible facts brought on record. “The Telecom Sector was opened for private participation in 1994. Two licences were granted in ...
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NEW DELHI : The Indian government on Tuesday vowed to stop what it calls 'offensive and defamatory' content on internet websites, local media reported. However, several major websites have already rejected the plan. Telecommunications minister Kapil Sibal said the government does not want to interfere with the freedom of the press. However, he said, if the social networking websites are not willing to cooperate, then it is "the duty of the government" to ensure "blasphemous material" does not appear on the internet. "This government does not believe in censorship and does not believe either directly or indirectly interfering in the freedom of the press. We have demonstrated that time and again," he said, as quoted by the Press Trust of India (PTI). Sibal met with officials from Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Yahoo during the past few weeks after offensive material, particularly against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was published online. He said his request for cooperation from them fell on "deaf ears." Social networking site Facebook, which has more than 25 million users in the country, said it will remove any content that is hateful, ...
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Roseau (Dominica), Former president of the Dominica Football Association (DFA), Patrick John, has indicated that he is in the process of appealing against the FIFA decision to ban him for a period of two years from all football- related activities at national, regional and international level. John, also a former Dominica Prime Minister, who has been at the helm of local football for almost two decades, was charged with violating several of FIFA's Statutes and Articles. The charges against John and other Caribbean football officials are related to a meeting held in Port of Spain, Trinidad, in May, which led to the downfall of former CONCACAF chief Austin "Jack" Warner and his Asian Football Confederation (AFC) counterpart, Mohamed Bin Hammam. There were accusations of attempts to bribe CFU officials to vote for Bin Hammam in June's presidential election against Sepp Blatter. They denied the allegations. John and DFA treasurer Phillip White were charged with not acting with complete credibility and integrity, not fully or trustfully cooperating with ongoing FIFA investigations and not appropriately discharging his fiduciary responsibility amongst others. White was ...
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