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Indian Hockey Federation open to merger with ‘Hockey India’

June 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 6 (ANI): Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), the apex body of hockey in India is open to the idea of merging with a rival body for the revival of the sport in the country, IHF chief Kanwar Pal Singh Gill said on Sunday.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had dissolved the IHF after allegations of bribery and in view of the poor on-field form of the Indian team. It had then erected a new body, viz ‘Hockey India’ (HI), to replace the IHF.

HI officials maintain that theirs is the sole hockey body in the country, which is recognized by the International Hockey Federation and Indian Olympic Association.

But Kanwar Pal Singh feels that a merger should take place, as the interest of the game was paramount.

Yes, why not. Basically the interest of hockey is paramount and we should make any compromise needed for that and we will do that,” said Kanwar Pal Singh Gill in national capital after annual general meeting of the IHF.

He also said that he would not contest forthcoming election of the body if the guidelines of the Sports ministry came into being.

According to new guidelines by the ministry a person can head a sports body only for three terms of four years each and a person over 70 years can”t contest election.

“We will follow the guidelines of the Sports ministry. I will not contest (the election),” Gill said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: allegations, annual general meeting, apex, apex body, bribery, compromise, Contest Election, delhi high court, Forthcoming Election, Hockey Olympic, Ihf, India, Indian Hockey Federation, indian olympic association, international hockey federation, International Olympic, merger, New Delhi, revival, sports ministry

Apex court denies relief to BPCL

May 29, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Supreme Court has refused to give any interim relief to state-owned BPCL which has disputed the tax demand raised by the Kerala government under the newly introduced Section 17-D of the Kerala Value Added Tax Act.

Terming the section as ‘unfair’, the oil firm alleged that the state government by enacting Section 17-D had taken away its rights existing prior to the introduction of the impugned provision which obliged an aggrieved party to deposit the entire assessed tax amount, even if it is disputed, as a precondition for filing an appeal before the appellate forum .

While refusing to stay the high court judgment that directed fresh assessment, an apex court Bench has issued limited notice to the Kerala government on “the question of validity of Section 17-D of the Kerala Value Added Tax Act”. The matter will come up for hearing on July 22.

BPCL said the rider in Section 17-D introduced by the Finance Act, 2007 was confiscatory in nature as it disentitled a party from pursuing the right of appeal against a wrong assessment order.” “The high court erred in not appreciating that there was no justification in proceeding to complete the assessment under Section 17D of the KGST Act,” the petition filed through advocate Parijat Sinha stated. Senior counsel CA Sundaram, appearing for BPCL, said that the oil firm had filed Form II before the state commercial authorities conceding total inter-state sales turnover of Rs 267.8 crore for 2001-02.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: apex, apex court, bpcl, court bench, court judgment, crore, finance act, inter state, Interim Relief, justification, Kerala Government, Oil Firm, precondition, Sales Turnover, Section 17, senior counsel, state government, Sundaram, validity, Value Added Tax Act

Mud for meals: UP cracks whip on district officials

May 29, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Allahabad, May 28 — Following a damning report by a Supreme Court fact-finding team over the widespread malnutrition and total collapse of food security-related schemes in Uttar Pradesh’s Ganne village, the district administration finally cracked the whip on the erring officials. The apex court had sent the team after Hindustan Times highlighted the villagers’ plight in a report on April 5.

District Magistrate Sanjay Prasad ordered that the power of the Ganne’s gram pradhan be immediately seized and also terminated the services of anganwadi workers on charges of dereliction of duty. The district administration also decided to probe the allegations of intimidation of villagers by the kotedar (owner of the fair price shop), following their admission to the Supreme Court’s team.

On Friday, Prasad met the reporter of HT and asked for information about the situation in Ganne. “A criminal case will be registered against the kotedar, and sent to jail, if found guilty,” said Prasad.

“We have also decided to form a three-member committee comprising villagers for monitoring the implementation of welfare schemes in the village in absence of the Gram Pradhan.”.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: allegations, apex, apex court, collapse, criminal case, dereliction of duty, district administration, district magistrate, District Officials, food security, Ganne, hindustan times, intimidation, malnutrition, member committee, plight, sanjay, Uttar Pradesh, Welfare Schemes, whip

Indian officials should respect Pakistan’s courts: Malik

May 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Pakistan government honours the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the release from house arrest of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and Indian authorities should accord “similar respect to the verdicts of Pakistani courts,” Interior Minister Rehman Malik said today.

Malik made the remarks while talking to reporters a day after the apex court upheld the Lahore High Court’s decision to free Saeed from house arrest and dismissed appeals filed by the federal and Punjab governments challenging his release.

The Interior Minister said Indian authorities should show the same respect for verdicts of Pakistani courts as that shown by the Pakistan government.

“We had also honoured the Indian court’s decision against Ajmal Kasab,” Malik said, referring to the death sentence recently awarded by an Indian court to the Pakistani national for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

India yesterday expressed disappointment over Pakistan Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the release of Saeed, whom New Delhi has blamed for masterminding the Mumbai attacks.

Indian officials have said they have provided sufficient evidence against Saeed to Pakistani authorities.

Malik also called for a joint struggle against terrorism by Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.

He said Faisal Shahzad, the Pakistani-American arrested by the US for a botched car bomb attack in New York, had links in the restive South Waziristan tribal region.

An investigation into these links is underway though no one has so far been arrested, he said.

“Faisal Shahzad had links in South Waziristan and his accounts are the focus of our investigation,” Malik said.

Media reports, however, said Pakistani authorities had detained 11 suspects, including an army major, for alleged links with Shahzad.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: apex, apex court, Car Bomb Attack, death sentence, disappointment, Hafiz, indian authorities, indian officials, interior minister, lahore high court, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pakistan government, pakistan india, pakistan supreme court, pakistani authorities, rehman malik, Release From House Arrest, Saeed, South Waziristan

All issues with SC to be resolved amicably: Pak PM

May 21, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 21 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilaniis hopeful that all issues with the Supreme Court will be settled soon.

Gilani denied any rift between his government and the judiciary on the issue of upholding the sentence of Interior Minister Rehman Malik by the Lahore High Court and awarding of the presidential remission soon after.

He said the government would accede to and act upon the Supreme Court verdict whatever it was in the original case, adding that all issues with the apex court would be resolved amicably.

Replying to o a question, he said there was no confrontation among the two state institutions.

Gilani said his government would look into the matter of extension in the service of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani, as and when the time comes, the Daily Times reported.

During the meeting with senior journalists, Gilani shared his opinion on a number of national and international issues and also discussed policies of the coalition government. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: act, apex, apex court, army staff, ashfaq, chief of army, coalition government, confrontation, hopeful, interior minister, journalists, judiciary, lahore high court, Pakistan, Prime Minister, rehman malik, remission, state institutions, supreme court verdict, yousaf

Govt. would lend all support to SC over summoning Musharraf : Pak law minister

May 20, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 20 (ANI): Pakistan Law Minister Babar Awan has made it clear that the government would not obstruct the judiciary’s way in summoning former President General Pervez Musharraf.

Addressing the Senate during the conclusion of the debate on Presidential address to the joint sitting of the Parliament, Awan said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led government would lend all support to the Supreme Court if it decides to summon Musharraf in cases concerning the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

“The government will not create any hurdles in the way of the apex court if it summons Musharraf in connection with the NRO,” The Daily Times quoted Awan, as saying.

“The Pakistan People’s party (PPP) believes in accountability, but it should be across the board and must not result in political victimisation. It should not be for a specific person or party,” he added.

During his speech, Awan also defended President Asif Ali Zardari over the issue of holding two offices.

“There is nothing in the Constitution that suggests that more than one office cannot be held by a President,” he said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: accountability, apex, apex court, Asif Ali Zardari, awan, babar, former president, hurdles, Islamabad, judiciary, law minister, national reconciliation, nro, Pakistan Law, parliament, Pervez Musharraf, president general pervez musharraf, presidential address, summons, victimisation

Khushboo likely to join DMK

May 14, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Chennai, May 14 (ANI): Popular south Indian actress Khushboo is all set to enter into politics by joining Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (DMK).

Khushboo who was given the all clear by the Supreme Court on her controversial statement on pre-marital sex, is expected to meet DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Friday evening.

After meeting Karunanidhi, Khushboo is likely to make her announcement.

Khushboo reportedly held two rounds of discussions with some DMK leaders and would have another round in a couple of days.

The DMK is likely to consider her name for the State Legislative Council.

After the apex court verdict, she had hinted her intention to test her luck in politics.

“I am silently involved in lot of social work including in the areas of HIV/AIDS, transgenders and cancer. But being in politics gives a larger platform and to work better,” Khushboo had said.

Khushboo”s entry into the DMK is likely to be a shot in the arm for the party ahead of the Assembly polls.

Tamil Nadu likely to go polls sometime in mid-2011.

Khushboo, who has acted in all four South Indian languages, enjoys a large fan following in the state.

Her fans had even built a temple for her in Permabalur District at the height of her career a few years ago. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: apex, apex court, Assembly polls, Chennai, Chief Minister, controversial statement, couple of days, Court Verdict, friday evening, HIV, hiv aids, Indian Actress Khushboo, intention, legislative council, Pre Marital Sex, Shot In The Arm, social work, South Indian Actress, South Indian Languages, transgenders

Pakistani woman allowed to marry prisoner on death row

May 13, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 13 (IANS) The High Court in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore has allowed a woman to marry a prisoner, who has been awarded death sentence but challenged his conviction in the Supreme Court.

Laiba Sehar had moved the court seeking permission to marry her fiance Atiq-ur-Rahman, who was sentenced to death in a case of kidnapping for ransom in 2002.

The High Court Wednesday asked the jail authorities to make arrangements for the wedding and said that the ceremony must be held in the office of the prison chief, Xinhua reported.

Laiba Sehar in her application had complained that her request for the marriage with her 28-year-old fiance was turned down by the prison officials.

Jail authorities told the court that there is no section in prison regulations to allow a prisoner to get married.

Syed Mazhar Hussain, the applicant’s lawyer, argued that marriage is a fundamental right of everyone and no citizen could be deprived of the right.

He informed the court that the convict has moved the Supreme Court against his conviction and his application was pending in the apex court.

Earlier this week, government of southern Sindh province allowed wives of prisoners to stay overnight with their spouses in jails once in a month.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: apex, apex court, citizen, convict, conviction, death row, death sentence, fiance, fundamental right, jail authorities, jails, Laiba, mazhar, prison officials, Prison Regulations, prisoners, ransom, Sehar, Sindh Province, xinhua

Illegal construction continues to haunt Mussoorie”s beauty

May 12, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Mussoorie (Uttarakhand), May 12 (ANI): Despite the Supreme Court”s ruling in 1994 banning illegal constructions, the illicit constructions in Uttarakhand”s Mussoorie city is reportedly affecting the beauty of the hills.

The illegal construction here had stopped after the apex court”s verdict, but the rich and prosperous businessmen and hoteliers coming from other states continue to indulge in illegal construction.

“Common man is not involved in the illegal construction going on in Mussoorie. They cannot act against the Supreme Court ruling. The illegal construction going on the in the valley is mostly done by the hoteliers and businessmen,” said Anuj Tayal, a resident of Mussoorie.

“They have settled here from other states and it is affecting the beauty of Mussoorie. Environment is also affected by it,” he added.

The residents here claimed the illegal constructions are going on because of the collusion between the government officials and violators of law.

“After the supreme court ban on construction in Mussoorie, illegal construction has increased. Only the locals follow the ruling and for those coming from outside for business and are rich enough it has no meaning,” said Rajat Aggarwal, another resident of Mussoorie.

“Even the government is unable to stop these constructions especially in cases where rich businessmen belonging to other states are involved,” he added.

Mussoorie is a hill station, situated in the foothills of the Himalaya ranges, about thirty-four kilometers from Dehradun. It is also known as the ”Queen of the Hills”. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: act, apex, apex court, beauty, collusion, common man, Court Ban, dehradun, environment, government officials, hoteliers, illegal construction, Illegal Constructions, kilometers, locals, queen, rich businessmen, Supreme Court, Uttarakhand, Violators

Kasab’s confessional statement presented before Pak Supreme Court

May 12, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 12 (ANI): The confessional statement of Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks was presented before the Pakistan Supreme Court.

Khawaja Sultan Ahmed, lawyer for Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, a suspect in the Mumbai terrorist attacks case, presented the statement on Tuesday before a three-member SC bench – comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

The apex court bench adjourned the hearing for two weeks after receiving Kasab’s statement, which is in English and Hindi.

The court observed that it required time to go through the long confessional statement, the Daily Times reports.

The bench was hearing an appeal filed by Lakhvi, one of the seven suspects being tried by an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi.

In his confessional statement, Kasab named Lakhvi as the ringleader in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks.

Ahmed however argued that Kasab’s confessional statement had no legal value in Pakistan.

“The statement was not given in a Pakistani court, so Lakhvi cannot be named as a co-accused in the case or be tried,” he said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: ajmal, apex, apex court, chief justice of pakistan, confessional statement, court bench, gunman, Islamabad, kasab, Khawaja, muhammad, Mumbai, pakistan supreme court, rawalpindi, rehman, ringleader, Seven Suspects, Sultan Ahmed, terror attacks, terrorist attacks

Jayalalithaa looses plea to quash disproportionate assets case

May 11, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa urging it to quash the proceedings initiated by the Special Court against her in disproportionate assets case.

A bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar dismissed her plea that the Karnataka High Court had erred, while holding that the trial court order taking congnisance of the complaint on June 5, 1997, did not suffer from any illegality or irregularity.

Earlier on March 19, the apex court had ordered the resumption of Jayalalithaa”s trial in the fourteen-year-old corruption case.

She had approached the apex court challenging the March 10 verdict of the Karnataka High Court.

In her lawsuit, Jayalalithaa contended the March 10 High Court order had glossed over the fact that the charge sheet against her was not able to make out any case against her.

The High Court had rejected Jayalalithaa”s plea for quashing a 1997 order of a Chennai trial court, which took cognisance of Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption”s complaint that she amassed wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income during that period.

The High Court had said Jayalalithaa was ”ably represented by eminent lawyers” and had participated in the trial of the case during which 200 witnesses were examined and cross-examined over a 13-year period.

“It is not open for her now to seek quashing of the proceedings on the premise that the order taking cognisance of the offence passed on 5th June, 1997, is a nullity and is not in accordance with law,” it had said in the order.

Jayalalithaa is accused of amassing Rs.66.65 crore between 1991 and 1996 when she was the chief minister. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: apex, apex court, Chief Minister, cognisance, corruption case, crore, Eminent Lawyers, Illegality, irregularity, j jayalalithaa, Karnataka High Court, march 19, Nijjar, Nullity, offence, plea, resumption, Tamil Nadu, trial court, vigilance

Supreme Court allows Reddy brothers to mine in undisputed areas

May 10, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday gave permission to the Reddy brothers to mine in undisputed areas, but said it should not be within 150 metres of the Karnataka border.

Janardhan Reddy and his brother Karunakara Reddy, both ministers in Karnataka Government, are facing allegations of illegal mining of iron ores by encroaching upon a large chunk of forest land in the area causing huge damage to the environment.

Earlier, the apex court had appointed a Survey of India (SoI) panel to conduct a detailed mapping of the three mines of the Reddy brothers. The SoI submitted its report, saying mining should not be allowed till a fresh demarcation of the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border is complete.

The SoI panel had given its nod to Reddy”s 68.5-hectare iron ore mine, asserting that there was no major encroachment. The panel said that of the 68.5 hectares, only 66 hectares could be mined.

The remaining 2.5 hectares were set aside for road construction. The panel found the Reddys mining all 68.5 hectares.

The apex court had on March 22 suspended the Reddy brothers”” mining operations in Andhra Pradesh and ordered a survey team to examine the allegations and submit an interim report within two weeks.

The apex court had asked the survey team to monitor the six mines on the Andhra-Karnataka border – three of which belong to the Reddys – to check whether or not they encroached on forestland.

Tumti Iron Ore owner Tapal Ganesh had filed a police complaint in 2006 alleging that the Reddy brothers were encroaching on his mine and later filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2009. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: allegations, apex, apex court, chunk, demarcation, encroachment, forest land, ganesh, India, interim report, Iron Ores, iron-ore, New Delhi, nod, petition, police complaint, Road Construction, Supreme Court, survey team, Tapal

Pak law secretary resigns over Zardari Swiss cases controversy

May 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 8 (ANI): In an apparent bid to avoid confrontation with the Supreme Court, Pakistan Law Secretary Justice (retired) Muhammad Aqil Mirza has resigned from his post.

Mirza cited health reasons for his resignation, however sources said the main reason behind him stepping down was that he didnot want to appear before the apex court in the sou motu hearing of a case concerning the Swiss graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The hearing is scheduled to take place on May 13, The Daily Times reports.

Earlier this week, Attorney General Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq had told the Supreme Court that Mirza had made it clear that the Swiss cases had been closed and that there was no need for any communication with the Swiss government to reopen the multi-million dollar money laundering cases.

Cases against Zardari and 157 others were reopened after the Supreme Court declared the controversial amnesty law, the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) as ‘unconstitutional’ last December.

Zardari and and her assassinated wife Benazir Benazir , were convicted by a Geneva court in 2003 of laundering 13 million dollars linked to kickbacks, but that verdict was overturned on appeal. In 2008, Swiss judicial authorities said they had closed the file related to the case. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Amnesty Law, anwar, apex, apex court, aqil, asif ali, benazir, confrontation, Dollar Money, health reasons, Judicial Authorities, Kickbacks, law secretary, money laundering, national reconciliation, nro, Pakistan Law, Supreme Court Pakistan, Swiss Government, ul haq

Murli Deora welcomes Supreme Court”s verdict on Krishna Godavari Basin Gas dispute

May 7, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 7 (ANI): Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora on Friday welcomed the verdict of the Supreme Court in favour of Mukesh Ambani”s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in the Krishna Godavari Basin Gas row, and called it a vindication of the Government”s stand.

“I am given to understand that entire gas belongs to nation and is upheld by the honourable Supreme Court. And the government has power and authority to allocate the price,” said Deora.

Oil Secretary S Sundareshan also welcomed the decision of the apex court saying the government would continue to decide the allocation and price of gas in future also.

“We are given to understand that this viewpoint of the government has been upheld. We are allocating the gas, we are deciding the price of the gas and we would continue to do so in the future,” said Sundaresan.

Emphatically stating that the government is the owner of natural resources, including gas available in the country, the apex court on Friday said that no individual or commercial entity could claim right to such resources.

Delivering a judgement on the Krishna Godavari Basin Gas row between Anil Ambani”s Reliance Natural Resources Limited (RNRL) and Mukesh Ambani”s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), a three judge bench of the apex court, consisting Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices P Sathasivam and B Sudershan Reddy said only the government can decide rates of these resources.

Quashing the family formula evolved by Kokilaben Ambani to solve the long drawn out dispute between her two sons, Anil and Mukesh, over sharing of gas, the court asked both to solve the matter through renegotiations within six weeks.

In June 2009, the Bombay High Court had upheld the RNRL”s claim of family agreement.

At the heart of the war is the gas produced by Mukesh Ambani”s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in the Krishna Godavari (KG) Basin.

On December 18, 2009, the apex court bench had reserved its judgement in the case.
The apex court heard the case for 26 days spread over nine weeks, beginning October 20, 2009.

The gas is sold to Anil Ambani”s Reliance Natural Resources Limited (RNRL) for its power plants.

The RIL had wanted to raise the price that was agreed upon by a family agreement in 2005 after the brothers decided to split the empire built by their father, Dhirubhai Ambani.

In 2007, the government said that the agreed-upon rate of 2.34 dollars per unit was far too low.

The RIL said it had to raise his rates accordingly to 4.2 dollars per unit and follow Government orders because it owns the gas, and that the RIL is just a contractor.

The RNRL accused the RIL of artificially inflating its costs and decreasing its output to make super-normal profits.

The government said it doesn”t recognize the family contract between Anil and Mukesh because the Krishna Godavari Gas is a government property.

Government said that two private parties cannot strike a deal without its clearance.

The government also said it has set the new price based on a fair formula. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Anil Ambani, apex, apex court, Bombay High Court, Chief Justice, Commercial Entity, Godavari, Honourable, judgement, k g balakrishnan, Krishna Godavari Basin, Mukesh Ambani, murli deora, Reliance Industries, reliance industries limited ril, Resources Limited, Rnrl, six weeks, viewpoint, vindication

KG Basin row: SC says government is owner of gas

May 7, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 7 (ANI): Emphatically stating that the government is the owner of natural resources, including gas available in the country, the Supreme Court said on Friday that no individual or commercial entity could claim right to such resources.

Delivering a judgement on the Krishna Godavari Basin Gas row between Anil Ambani’s Reliance Natural Resources Limited (RNRL) and Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), a three judge bench of the apex court, consisting Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices P Sathasivam and B Sudershan Reddy said only the government can decide rates of these resources.

The decision is a major set back to the Reliance Natural Resources Limited (RNRL) headed by Anil Ambani and its impact was felt immediately on the share market.

In June 2009, the Bombay High Court had upheld the RNRL’s claim of family agreement.

At the heart of the war is the gas produced by Mukesh Ambani”s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in the Krishna Godavari (KG) Basin.

On December 18, 2009, the apex court bench had reserved its judgement in the case.

The apex court heard the case for 26 days spread over nine weeks, beginning October 20, 2009.

The gas is sold to Anil Ambani”s Reliance Natural Resources Limited (RNRL) for its power plants.

The RIL had wanted to raise the price that was agreed upon by a family agreement in 2005 after the brothers decided to split the empire built by their father, Dhirubhai Ambani.

In 2007, the government said that the agreed-upon rate of 2.34 dollars per unit was far too low.

The RIL said it had to raise his rates accordingly to 4.2 dollars per unit and follow Government orders because it owns the gas, and that the RIL is just a contractor.

The RNRL accused the RIL of artificially inflating its costs and decreasing its output to make super-normal profits.

The government said it doesn”t recognize the family contract between Anil and Mukesh because the Krishna Godavari Gas is a government property.

Government said that two private parties cannot strike a deal without its clearance.

The government also says it has set the new price based on a fair formula. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Anil Ambani, apex, apex court, Bombay High Court, Chief Justice, Commercial Entity, court bench, Godavari, government orders, judgement, k g balakrishnan, Krishna Godavari Basin, Mukesh Ambani, nine weeks, power plants, Reliance Industries, reliance industries limited ril, Resources Limited, Rnrl, Share Market

SC gives green signal for private universities admissions

May 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 6 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed 44 private deemed universities, which the Centre is trying to shut down, to go ahead with the admission process for the upcoming academic year.

Rejecting the Government”s request to put a pause on the admission process of these universities for the coming academic session, the apex court said, as the Government has not yet taken any decision on the future of these universities, and therefore, it could not stop admissions.

In a report submitted to the apex court in January, the Union Government said that these 44 private deemed universities were found to be below standard, and were functioning as “family fiefdoms.”

The universities, whose future is at stake, have challenged the Government”s decision of their academic standards, pointing out that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has given many of them positive reviews.

Deemed universities are allowed to function with complete autonomy on their syllabus, and fees.

The government believes that many of these universities charge exorbitant rates, accept too many students, and ignore reservation policies.

Over two lakh students are in a state of panic about their future should the universities be derecognised.

The Court, however, has reassured them that it will not allow such action without due consideration.

The Government also said that students at affected colleges would get certificates and degrees from state universities of their particular region. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: academic session, Academic Standards, academic year, admission, apex, apex court, autonomy, due consideration, Exorbitant Rates, fiefdoms, New Delhi, Private Universities, reservation policies, stake, state of panic, State Universities, Syllabus, UGC, Union Government, university grants commission

Table Kasab’s confessional statement: Pak SC to Lakhvi’s counsel

May 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 6 (ANI): A three-member Pakistan Supreme Court bench, consisting Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, has asked for the confessional statement of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving Mumbai terror attack gunman.

Hearing a petition filed by Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, who has been named as one of the chief conspirator of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, the apex court told Lakhvi’s lawyer, Sultan Khwaja to table Kasab’s confessional statement, which he made in a special anti-terror court in Mumbai.

Khwaja argued before the court that Lakhvi cannot be named a co-accused in the Mumbai attack case or be tried on the basis of Kasab’s statement.

“The statement was not given in a Pakistani court, so Lakhvi could not be named as a co-accused in the case or be tried,” Khwaja pleaded during the hearing over Lakhvi’s petition seeking quashing of criminal proceedings against him.

Following the argument, the court directed Khwaja to table Kasab’s statement in the court on the next hearing, and the hearing was adjourned till May 11, The Daily Times reports.

Talking to reporters after the hearing, Khwaja , who is defending the seven men being tried by an anti-terrorism court for abetting and planning the ghastly Mumbai attacks, said his clients would actually be benefited from the verdict of the special Mumbai court, which has convicted Kasab and acquitted the other two Indian’s accused of providing logistical support to the masterminds.

The special anti-terror court, which has been set up inside the Arthur road Jail in Mumbai, would announce the quantum of punishment for Kasab today (Thursday, May 6). (ANI)

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Supreme Court declares narco-analysis, brain-mapping illegal

May 5, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that brain mapping, narco-analysis or lie detector tests is unconstitutional because it is an unwarranted intrusion on the individual”s rights.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said: ” “We are of the considered opinion that no individual can be forced and subjected to such techniques involuntarily.”

The apex court said these tests are violative of Article 23, which protects a person from being forced to give evidence against himself.

The apex court also said that certain safeguards must be there for consented narco test.

These intrusive tests violate a suspect”s ”right to privacy” that forms part of right to life and liberty, a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21, they contend.

Investigative agencies have been defending the use of these tests saying it is necessary to deal with organised crime and terrorism and to crack complicated cases.

This move can come as a setback to several high profile cases, like the Arushi murder case, Ruchika Girhotra case etc. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: apex, apex court, Article 21, article 23, bench, brain mapping, Chief Justice, Detector Tests, fundamental right, investigative agencies, k g balakrishnan, murder case, New Delhi, profile cases, right to life, right to privacy, safeguards, setback, Supreme Court, Unwarranted Intrusion

Supreme Court quashes bail granted to Pappu Yadav

May 3, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 3 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday quashed the bail granted to former MP and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav in connection with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MLA Ajit Sarkar murder case

A bench of Justices Markandey Katju and A K Patnaik pronounced the verdict and said the High Court”s decision amounted to contempt of the apex court, which had clearly restrained any court in the country from granting bail to Yadav.

“It is a matter of regret that despite clear order passed by this court in 2007 that no bail should be granted by any court, the High Court has gone ahead and granted bail,” the bench observed while allowing an appeal filed by the CBI seeking cancellation of the bail.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had on March 26 approached the apex court challenging the order of the Patna High Court that had granted bail to Yadav.

The Patna High Court had earlier on February 18, 2009 granted bail to the 43-year-old RJD leader undergoing life imprisonment in the murder case.

The Supreme Court said that it is general rule that when the apex court rejects the bail, the High Courts or the subordinate courts cannot in any manner grant bail to the accused or the convicts.

Similarly, when the High Court rejects a bail, the Sessions courts or the magistrates do not have any power to grant bail, it said.

But in the present case, the bench regretted that the High Court granted bail to Yadav despite an injunction by the apex court.

Additional Solicitor General Haren Raval complained that the High Court granted bail to the RJD leader without passing any reasoned order after initially rejecting his two bail applications.

A special CBI court in Patna had earlier on February 14, 2008, awarded life imprisonment to Pappu Yadav.

The court also awarded life imprisonment to Rajan Tiwari and Anil Yadav in connection with the case.

Sarkar, who had a feud with Yadav over issues related to farm labourers, was shot dead in Bihar”s Purnea District on June 14, 1998. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: ajit, apex, apex court, cbi court, central bureau of investigation, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, convicts, high courts, injunction, Janata, life imprisonment, magistrates, Matter Of Regret, murder case, patna high court, Rajan, Sarkar, solicitor general, Subordinate Courts

Justice Mishra sworn-in as Supreme Court judge

April 30, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr 30 (ANI): Former Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice, Gyan Sudha Mishra, took oath as a Supreme Court Justice on Friday.

Two other judges, who were sworn-in today are Justice H L Gokhale, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court and Justice Anil R Dave of the Bombay High Court.

The three judges were sworn-in by the Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan, taking the totals strength of the apex court judges to 30.

She became the fourth woman judge in the Supreme Court.

Mishra (61) was initially appointed as judge of the Patna High Court in March 1994, but was transferred to the Rajasthan High Court.

After 14 years there, she was elevated to the post of Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court in Ranchi in July 2008.

Mishra enrolled as an advocate in the Bihar State Bar Council in November 1972 at a time, when a woman entering the legal profession was a rarity.

She was appointed a government advocate for Bihar in 1982. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: anil, apex, apex court, Bihar State, Bombay High Court, chief justice of india, court judges, Gyan, Jharkhand High Court, legal profession, madras high court, New Delhi, patna high court, Rajasthan High Court, Ranchi, rarity, Sudha, supreme court judge, supreme court justice, Woman Judge