‘Karnataka State has offered to suggest another name for Lokayukta'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Governor H.R. Bhardwaj said that he expected the row over the appointment of Lokayukta to be resolved soon as Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda was cooperating with him on the issue. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>He indicated to presspersons, after administering the oath of office to the former Karnataka High Court judge Chandrashekaraiah as Upalokayukta at the Raj Bhavan, that the Government had offered to suggest another name for the post. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Mr. Bhardwaj, who had openly rejected the recommendation of the Government to appoint the former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S.R. Bannurmath as Lokayukta, said there were other reasons for rejecting his name and he could not disclose the details, as he wanted to protect his dignity. The post fell vacant following the resignation of Shivaraj V. Patil. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>On the controversy surrounding the Vice-Chancellor of VTU, the Governor said he had ordered an investigation into it. “I will act after receiving the report,” he added. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Expressing unhappiness over the police-advocates rift, the Governor criticised the attack on presspersons. He said that the Advocates Association Bangalore president K.N. Subba Reddy had assured him that such things would not recur.</li> </ul></div>

‘Karnataka State has offered to suggest another name for Lokayukta'

Governor H.R. Bhardwaj said that he expected the row over the appointment of Lokayukta to be resolved soon as Chief Minister D.V. Sadanand...

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Demands of Anna Hazare

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Claiming that this Bill is weak, and that in its present form it would not do much to tackle corruption, Anna Hazare wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister listing 4 provisions, which at a minimum any Bill passed by the Parliament should contain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> These four provisions were as follows.</div><ol style="text-align: justify;"><li> The Lokpal and Lokayuktas must be able to suo moto initiate their own investigations, without a complaint or reference from anyone. It should also not be required to alert the accused through preliminary enquiry or hearing before filing an FIR (this is as recommended by the Standing Committee).<br /> </li> <li>The Lokpal and Lokayuktas must be able to carry out independent investigations, through any one of the following mechanisms. <ul><li> The anti-corruption branch of CBI should be merged into Lokpal, anti-corruption bureaus and state vigilance departments in state governments should be similarly merged into Lokayuktas,<br /> OR<br /> </li> <li> Lokpal and Lokayuktas should have their own investigative wings which should have exclusive jurisdiction over cases under Prevention of Corruption Act, (the Government's own previous draft of the Bill included this provision)<br /> OR<br /> </li> <li> The administrative and financial control over CBI should be with Lokpal and the appointment of CBI Director should be independent of any political control. The anti-corruption bureaus and state vigilance departments in state governments should be merged into Lokayuktas.<br /> </li> </ul></li> <li> The selection of the Lokpal should be through the consensus of the selection panel. Selection committee should consist of Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, two judges to be nominated by collegium of Supreme Court judges, CAG, CVC and CEC. Search committee to suggest nominees should consist of former Chief Justices, Former CAG, former, CVC and former CEC. A detailed selection procedure should be prescribed in the law itself.<br /> </li> <li> The Lokpal/Lokayukta's jurisdiction should include Class C and D officers directly.<br /> </li> </ol></div>

Demands of Anna Hazare

Claiming that this Bill is weak, and that in its present form it would not do much to tackle corruption, Anna Hazare wrote an open letter ...

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Lokpal bill amendments

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="contents2">The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 22, 2011. Some amendments were made to the Bill. The following table compares the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011, as introduced, with the version of the Bill passed on December 27, 2011 by the Lok Sabha.</span><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" class="contents"><tbody> <tr bgcolor="ffffd9" valign="top"> <td width="140"><strong class="hp1">Clauses</strong></td> <td width="175"><strong class="hp1">Bill as introduced in Lok Sabha</strong></td> <td width="175"><strong class="hp1">Bill as passed by the Lok Sabha</strong></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="f5f5f5" valign="top"> <td>Clause 1: Extent, application and commencement</td> <td>Bill will be applicable to states.  It may be notified on different dates for different states.</td> <td>The Bill, once passed, shall be applicable to states if they give consent to its application.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Clause 2(o): Definition of public servants</td> <td>Public servants includes PM, Ministers, MPs, group A, B, C and D officers, and certain private entities.</td> <td>The Bill excludes public servants who are covered under the Army Act, 1950; the Air Force Act, 1950; the Navy Act, 1957 and the Coast Guard, 1978.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="f5f5f5" valign="top"> <td>Clause 14(1)(a)(ii): Jurisdiction over PM</td> <td>The Bill requires that an inquiry against the PM has to be approved by a three-fourths majority of the full bench of the Lokpal</td> <td>The Bill requires that an inquiry against the PM has to be approved by a two-thirds majority of the full bench of the Lokpal.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Clause 20(5): Procedure for investigation (Lokpal)</td> <td>Investigations have to be completed within a period of 6 months.   This period may be extended by another 6 months for reasons to be recorded in writing.   The Bill does not provide for further extensions.</td> <td>The Bill allows an extension of 6 months at a time for reasons to be recorded in writing.   It does not limit the number of occasions on which such extension may be allowed.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="f5f5f5" valign="top"> <td>Clause 24: Action on investigation against PM, Minister, MPs.</td> <td>The Lokpal shall send a copy of the investigation report to the Competent Authority (Lok Sabha, PM, Speaker or Chairman as the case may be).   The Competent Authority shall table the report in the House and communicate the action taken to the Lokpal within 90 days.</td> <td>Requirement of reporting to the Lokpal on action taken has been removed.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Clause 75: Jurisdiction of Lokayuktas</td> <td>Religious trusts were excluded from the jurisdiction of Lokayuktas.</td> <td>Religious institutions are included within the ambit of Lokayuktas.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="f5f5f5" valign="top"> <td>Clause 81(5): procedure for investigation (Lokayuktas)</td> <td>Investigations have to be completed within a period of 6 months.   This period may be extended by another 6 months for reasons to be recorded in writing.   The Bill does not provide for further extensions.</td> <td>The Bill allows an extension of 6 months at a time for reasons to be recorded in writing.   It does not limit the number of occasions on which such extension may be allowed.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td>Clause 85: Action on investigation against CM, Ministers, MLAs</td> <td>The Lokayuktas shall send a copy of the investigation report to the Competent Authority (Legislative Assembly, CM, Speaker or Chairman as the case may be).  The Competent Authority shall table the report in the House and communicate the action taken to the Lokayukats within 90 days.</td> <td>Requirement of reporting to the Lokayuktas on action taken has been removed.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="ffffd9" valign="top"> <td colspan="3"><em>Sources: Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 as introduced and as passed by Lok Sabha; PRS Legislative Research.</em></td></tr> </tbody></table></div>

Lokpal bill amendments

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 22, 2011. Some amendments were made to the Bill. The followin...

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Sunil Verma, key accused in NRHM scam commits suicides

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5748" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Sunil Verma, a key accused in the multi-crore NRHM scam of Uttar Pradesh, committed suicide at his Lucknow residence today. Verma, was who named in the first FIR with former minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, shot himself around 8.30 this morning and was rushed to hospital, where he died. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>According to family sources, Sunil had been under depression after the CBI carried out searches at his residence on January 4th. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Sunil Verma was the project Manager for the National Health Rural Mission scheme. His death is the fourth mysterious death related to the scam. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Earlier, after the murders of two Chief Medical Officers and a Deputy Chief Medical Officer, the Allahabad High Court had directed the CBI to inquire into the misuse of NRHM funds. </li> </ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">CBI, probing the scam, has been carrying out searches at the houses of various officials, including bureaucrats and businessmen associated with the family welfare department.</li> </ul></div></div>

Sunil Verma, key accused in NRHM scam commits suicides

Sunil Verma, a key accused in the multi-crore NRHM scam of Uttar Pradesh, committed suicide at hi...

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Aus Open: Indians enter quarter finals of Women’s Doubles & Mixed Doubles

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5749" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">In the Australian Open Tennis tournament at Melbourne, the Indian challenge today stormed into the quarterfinals of the Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles categories.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In Women's Doubles, the sixth seeded Indo-Russian duo of Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina defeated the Aussie-American combine of Jarmila Gajdosova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands, 7-5, 6-3. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In the Mixed Doubles, the sixth seeded Indian duo of Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza and the Indo-US pair of Rohan Bopanna and Lisa Raymond also waltzed into the quarterfinals of the event.  </li> </ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Bhupathi and Sania edged past the Austrian-Czech combine of Jurgen Melzer and Iveta Benesova, 3-6, 6-4, 12-10, while the fourth seeded Indo-US pair of Bopanna and Raymond swept aside the Aussie duo of Matthew Ebden and Casey Dellcqua, 6-4, 6-2.</li> </ul></div></div>

Aus Open: Indians enter quarter finals of Women’s Doubles & Mixed Doubles

In the Australian Open Tennis tournament at Melbourne, the Indian challenge today stormed into th...

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13/7 Mumbai blasts case cracked, 2 from Bihar arrested: ATS

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Maharashtra ATS claimed to have made a major breakthrough in the July 13 triple blasts in the city last year that claimed 27 lives, with the arrest of two of the accused hailing from Bihar. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><strong>Naqi Ahmed Wasi Ahmed Sheikh (22) and Nadeem Akhtar Ashfaq Sheikh (23) </strong>were arrested on January 12 but the <strong>mastermind of the crime Yasin Bhatkal, </strong>a top Indian Mujahideen operative, and the planters of the IEDs used in the blasts are still evading arrest, Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Rakesh Maria told reporters. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Terror had struck Mumbai on July 13, 2011 when three near simultaneous blasts ripped through crowded areas in the city in a grim reminder of the deadly 2008 Mumbai attack.</li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>All the explosions were triggered by <strong>Improvised Explosive Devices(IED).</strong> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The first explosion rocked Zaveri Bazar, a bustling jewellery market, at 6.50 pm and a minute later another blast shook the busy business area Opera House. A third blast ripped through crowded Dadar area in Central Mumbai at 7.04 pm. The blasts at Opera House and Zaveri Bazaar were of a higher intensity than the one at Dadar.<br /> </li> </ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Though no group claimed responsibility for the blasts, Mumbai police all along suspected the hand of home-grown terror outfit Indian Mujahideen.</li> </ul></div>

13/7 Mumbai blasts case cracked, 2 from Bihar arrested: ATS

Maharashtra ATS claimed to have made a major breakthrough in the July 13 triple blasts in the city last year that claimed 27 lives, with t...

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Iran Urged to Negotiate as Europe Agrees on New Sanctions

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The 27 nations of the European Union on Monday increased pressure on Iran over its nuclear program by agreeing to ban oil imports. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Under the deal, the members agreed not to sign new oil contracts with Iran and to end existing ones by July 1, said diplomats who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to comment. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The accord allows for a review of the economic impact of the sanctions that will assess the effect on countries, including Greece, which are heavily reliant on Iranian oil. Greece has sought more time to find new sources of oil to soften the impact on its debt-crippled economy. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Iran insists that its nuclear program is for civilian uses only and has threatened to retaliate against the intensifying pressure of sanctions by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic corridor for western energy supplies. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Diplomats say there is a risk that governments in Asia will step in to fill the gap left by European buyers and are expected to increase diplomatic efforts to persuade them not to do so.</li> </ul></div>

Iran Urged to Negotiate as Europe Agrees on New Sanctions

The 27 nations of the European Union on Monday increased pressure on Iran over its nuclear program by agreeing to ban oil imports. Under ...

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Egypt parliament opens first session

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Islamist MPs took centre stage on Monday as Egypt's parliament met for the first time since a popular uprising ousted Hosni Mubarak, while their supporters massed outside to cheer the historic event. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>A year after the uprising, many Egyptians see the new parliament as the first sign of democratic rule, in sharp contrast to the toothless legislature that existed under president Mubarak. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The 508-member assembly was dissolved in February by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces that took power when Mubarak was forced to step down. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Egypt's first democratic parliamentary elections, held in phases between November and earlier this month, saw Islamists clinch nearly three-quarters of the seats. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The long-banned Muslim Brotherhood won a crushing victory with 47.18 percent through its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP). </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The ultra-conservative Salafist Al-Nur party came second with 24.29 percent, with the liberal Wafd party finishing a distant third. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The liberal Egyptian Bloc - which includes the Free Egyptians party of telecoms magnate Naguib Sawiris who faces trial on allegations of insulting Islam - came fourth with around seven percent. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The packed first session was chaired by parliament's most senior member, Mahmud al-Saqqa of the liberal Wafd party, ahead of a vote for parliament's speaker. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The FJP has nominated its secretary general Saad al-Katatni who is likely to be elected. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Outside parliament, hundreds of Islamist supporters greeted deputies on their way in, in scenes unimaginable just a year ago when most Islamist movements were banned. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The exact role of parliament remains unclear, with power remaining in the hands of the generals who took power from Mubarak. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Elections for parliament's upper house, the Shura Council, are to begin later this month and end in February. Then the two chambers will choose a 100-member panel to draft a new constitution. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The SCAF has vowed to cede power to civilian rule by June when a new president is elected.</li> </ul></div>

Egypt parliament opens first session

Islamist MPs took centre stage on Monday as Egypt's parliament met for the first time since a popular uprising ousted Hosni Mubarak, w...

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Controversy over who kept Salman Rushdie out of the Jaipur Literature Festival

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span>The heated debate over several authors reading from 'The Satanic Verses', a book banned in India, is still raging and so is the one on what kept Mr Rushdie away from the festival.</span><br /> <span> </span> <br /> <em>What is the book about?</em><br /> <span><em><strong>The Satanic Verses</strong></em><span> is </span>Salman Rushdie<span>'s fourth novel, first published in 1988 and inspired in part by the life of </span>Muhammad</span><br /> <span><span><span>In the </span>Muslim<span> community, however, the novel caused great </span>controversy<span> for what many Muslims believed were </span>blasphemous<span> references. As the controversy spread, the book was banned in </span>India<span> and burned in demonstrations in the United Kingdom.</span></span></span><br /> <br /> <em>What is the issue now?</em><br /> Salman Rushdie has recieved threats from Rajasthan sources that his life will be in danger if he comes to Jaipur. But the Rajasthan Police has denied any reports about such threats.<br /> It is said that Congress who wants to support Muslims inorder to secure votes has kept mum on this issue.</div>

Controversy over who kept Salman Rushdie out of the Jaipur Literature Festival

The heated debate over several authors reading from 'The Satanic Verses', a book banned in India, is still raging and so is the on...

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Kerala HC asks to re-open Vilappilsala waste treatment plant

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Kerala High Court on Monday ordered the opening of the Waste Treatment plant at Vilappilsala on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram city and to provide police protection for its operations.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In an interim order, a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice P R Ramachandra Menon directed that all waste, except non-biodegradable ones, be allowed to be treated at the plant. The Court said, the plant should be operated as per the directive of the State Pollution Control Board. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Garbage removal in Thiruvananthapuram city was completely thrown out of gear for almost a month, when irate local residents prevented garbage carrying vehicles from reaching the site, in protest against waste dumping. The court directed that the plant which was locked up by the local panchayat, be opened with the help of the police. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The interim order was based on a petition filed by the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation seeking police protection to remove the garbage.</li> </ul></div>

Kerala HC asks to re-open Vilappilsala waste treatment plant

The Kerala High Court on Monday ordered the opening of the Waste Treatment plant at Vilappilsala on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram ci...

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