NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY
02 May 2018:15 Shaban 1439: Vol:10, No:12
INDIA
Judiciary has become completely soulless, cold-spirited, Justice Shah questions SC verdict in Loya case
https://theprint.in/governance/judiciary-completely-soulless-cold-spirited-former-delhi-chief-justice-shah/54570/
New Delhi: Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice A.P. Shah has become the latest judicial luminary to express concern over the current state of affairs in the Indian judiciary.“Our judiciary is going through an extremely volatile phase, and one that I haven’t seen in some years,” Justice Shah said, speaking at the launch Tuesday of former union minister and journalist Arun Shourie’s book Anita Gets Bail, which seeks to show “how frail and vulnerable” the judiciary had become.Shah said Shourie had done what most people couldn’t: “Calling out” the judiciary, adding that it couldn’t have come at “a more appropriate time”.“I can only hope that the powers that be read these essays with care and indulge in some self-reflection,” he said.The judiciary has been at the centre of a deep credibility crisis of late, with some of the Supreme Court’s most senior judges questioning the CJI’s functioning.Shah said the judiciary had evolved into a body that was “completely soulless and cold-spirited.”“On the one hand, you have the courts subjecting regular people to the distressing mores of criminal procedure, on the other hand, the rich and powerful have taken the judicial system for a ride,” he added.Shah was particularly critical of the handling of the investigation into judge Loya’s death. A special CBI judge hearing Sohrabuddin Sheikh ‘fake encounter’ case, Loya died in 2014 while in Nagpur with other judges for the wedding of a colleague’s daughter. There have been allegations of foul play in his death, since one of the accused in the encounter case at the time was BJP chief Amit Shah. He was subsequently discharged.The SC recently dismissed petitions seeking an independent investigation into Loya’s death.“Judgment — in my opinion — is utterly wrong, and jurisprudentially, incorrect on so very many counts,” he said.“Another thing which is remarkable about this case is that the court called it a ‘veiled attempt to launch a frontal attack’ on the judiciary. But how did they come to this conclusion — all that the… petitioners asked for was that the death of a judge should be inquired into. How does this become an attack on the judiciary?“More problematically, the Supreme Court has evolved a whole new jurisprudence regarding the statement of a judge. It says that the statements of judicial officers should be accepted on the face of it, as their statements have a ‘ring of truth’ about them.“Note that these statements made by the four judges who accompanied judge Loya to Nagpur were not made in their capacity as judges, but about their personal knowledge of what happened in Nagpur. Nobody has seen their statements. However, the ring of truth still exists, and therefore the court has decided that these statements should be accepted.“It is as if judges are to be treated as superhuman, as beings who are not capable of telling untruths.“This is an entirely new principle that has been evolved that a testimony is accepted, not because the person is telling a truth, but because that person is of a certain status,” he noted.theprint
Justice Shah questions SC verdict in Loya case
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/justice-shah-questions-sc-verdict-in-loya-case/article23741156.ece?homepage=true
Ex- CJI Lodha: ‘Disastrous phase in SC’, CJI Misra should show statesmanship
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/cji-dipak-misra-should-show-statesmanship-ex-cji-rm-lodha-5159240/
New Delhi:Expressing his anguish over what he called the current “disastrous” phase in the Supreme Court,ex CJI Justice R M Lodha warned that if the High Courts treat the SC crisis as a precedent, “the judicial system in the country will turn chaotic”.“The phase we are seeing in the SC today, is to say the least, disastrous. It is high time the collegiality is restored. The judges with the different approaches and viewpoints must find a common ground — that takes the SC forward and that maintains the independence of the judiciary. I find that the independence of judiciary is non-negotiable and it is for CJI, who is the leader of the court, to show statesmanship. He has to take all the brothers and sisters together,”Justice Lodha said.He was speaking here Tuesday evening at the launch of author, journalist and former Minister Arun Shourie’s latest book “Anita Gets Bail: What are our courts doing? What should we do about them?”“When judges don’t ensure independence of judiciary, it is very bad for democracy. For a democracy to thrive, independence of judiciary is a must. And that must come from the top. And that must come from the SC…It is true that in SC there are no junior judges and senior judges. But then senior judges also must get their due. SC is no place for personal grudges. One may have a difference of opinion. You don’t impugn the person. You may challenge his viewpoint. Collegiality is sine qua non for an institution like SC. Because collegiality mitigates personal choices and preferences and lets you find a common ground for the betterment of the institution and in the interest of justice,” Justice Lodha said.Eminent jurist and senior advocate Fali S Nariman, referring to the book, underlined the long road ahead in reforming the judicial system. “…Too much law, too little justice, too much rhetoric, too little reform. This sums up, in a few words as possible, our Indian experience. We need more courts. We need more judges. But judges who are collegial. And are conscious of their shared responsibility and are able to accommodate one another,” he said.Calling upon institutions and professionals — media and civil servants and lawyers — to stand up and be counted when they are under assault by what he called a Govt that wanted “total control,” Shourie urged “eminent” people on stage and in the audience to speak to the Chief Justice and to convince him of the need to correct the course.Among those who were present at the launch were BJP veteran LK Advani, ex Finance Ministers P Chidambaram and Yashwant Sinha; ex NSA Shivshankar Menon; members of Shourie’s family; advocates Prashant Bhushan and Dushyant Dave and former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan.indianexpress
Loya Case: SC will one day “eat its words”, says ex ASG Indira Jaising
http://caravandaily.com/portal/?p=78405
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India will one day “eat its words” in the CBI judge Loya case as it had to do in the Union Carbide case, said senior advocate and former Additional Solicitor General, Indira Jaising. She was commenting on the recent judgment of the apex court rejecting all petitions for probe into the Dec. 2014 death of Special CBI Judge BH Loya. Speaking in Kochi, Indira Jaising said the SC was not in a position to conclude that the death of judge Loya happened due to natural causes. The documents and statements could not have been treated as evidence without being put to cross-examination, she said.The court did not act fairly by foreclosing all questions relating to the death of judge Loya, she further said.The senior lawyer hoped that the apex court will one day “eat its words” in the Judge Loya case as it had to do with respect to the settlement of criminal cases made in the Union Carbide case, reported LiveLaw.in.caravandaily
Live: SC Collegium likely to meet on KM Joseph elevation after 4pm
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/live-updates-supreme-court-collegium-meet-km-joseph-elevation-1224640-2018-05-02
The Supreme Court Collegium is expected to meet today to discuss whether to reassert the name of Justice KM Joseph for elevation to the Supreme Court. Centre last week cleared the name of Justice Indu Malhotra but returned the name of Justice KM Jospeh back for reconsideration to Collegium. The SC Collegium which consists of top 5 judges including CJI will meet to discuss on the course ahead. Sources say that the SC Collegium is likely to meet today evening and though Justice Chelameswar is on leave, he will join the meeting. The meeting will be held after 4.15 pm in all likelihood.indiatoday
Justice KM Joseph elevation to apex court: All eyes on SC Collegium meeting today
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/justice-km-joseph-elevation-to-apex-court-all-eyes-are-on-supreme-court-collegium-meeting-today-5159305/
Govt to move Ordinance for new law on triple talaq, 3-year jail term for guilty
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/Govt -to-move-ordinance-for-new-law-that-on-triple-talaq/articleshow/63997913.cms
Govt has decided to take the Ordinance route to implement the new legislation on triple talaq. Top Govt sources told ET that the Govt will move an Ordinance to introduce the new law made by the Modi Govt to punish those who indulge in the archaic and draconian instant talaq. As per the new legislation, a sentence of 3 years can be awarded to those who indulge in instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat). While the new legislation was cleared in the Lok Sabha, it is currently stuck in the upper house (Rajya Sabha). Now, the Govt will move an Ordinance to make the new legislation a reality. economictimes
Babri Masjid case: SC refuses urgent hearing of Subramanian Swamy's plea for puja at Ayodhya site
http://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/ram-janambhoomi-babri-masjid-dispute-sc-refuses-urgent-hearing-of-subramanian-swamys-plea/223499
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to give an urgent hearing to a mentioning by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, seeking a direction to perform puja at the disputed site at Ayodhya in UP.Swamy mentioned the matter before a bench of the apex court, headed by CJI Dipak Misra, who told the former, "Come to the apex court in July, we will see what can we do." It was not the first time that Swamy had pleaded the SC for a direction to allow him to do puja at the disputed site. Last week, BJP leader sought an urgent listing of his plea for the enforcement of fundamental right to worship at the site, which was rejected by the apex court.The top court is hearing a total of 14 appeals filed against the 2010 judgment of the Allahabad HC in four civil suits. timesnownews
Fresh petition in SC against special J&K law; hearing on May 14
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/fresh-petition-in-sc-against-special-j-k-law-hearing-on-may-14/582501.html
New Delhi:A fresh petition has reached the Supreme Court against Article 35A of the Constitution that gives special rights and privileges to permanent residents of J&K .Added to the Constitution through a Presidential Order in 1954, Article 35A gives special rights and privileges to permanent residents of J&K and debars rest of Indians from acquiring immovable property, obtaining state Govt jobs and settling in the state. Petitioners Radhika Gill, Eklavya and Vijay Kumar -- residents of Valmiki Colony, Gandhi Nagar, in Jammu -- challenged the validity of the Constitution (Application to J&K ) Order 1954 on the ground that it violated their right to life, right to equality, right to non-discrimination, right to equality of opportunity in public employment and right to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India.The petition came up for hearing before a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra which said the matter involved interpretation of Constitutional provisions and should be clubbed with other petitions on the issue. However, it posted the matter for hearing on May 14 after senior counsel Ranjit Kumar pointed out that the petitioners needed some interim relief.The petitioners submitted that the plea had been filed on behalf of more than 4,000 persons belonging to the second, third and fourth generation of 272 'safai karmcharis' (sweepers), who moved from Gurdaspur and Amritsar and settled in Jammu way back in 1957 at instance of J&K Govt to replace the sweepers of Municipal Corporation of Jammu who had gone on an indefinite strike.tribuneindia
SC notice to Centre on fresh pleas seeking to decriminalise homosexuality
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/may/01/supreme-court-notice-to-centre-on-fresh-pleas-seeking-to-decriminalise-homosexuality-1808844.html
The Supreme Court has issued notice to Centre on 2 separate pleas challenging section 377 of IPC which criminalises unnatural sex, including the intercourse between consenting adults of the same gender.A bench of CJI Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud sought responses from the centre on 2 pleas filed by LGBT activists Arif Jafar, Ashok Row Kavi and others including Mumbai-based NGO Humsafar Trust which fights for LGBT rights. PTI
SC/ST Act original petitioner says FIR translation wrong; files recall petition
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/scst-act-original-petitioner-bhaskar-gaikwad-says-fir-translation-wrong-files-recall-petition
In an interesting turn of events, Bhaskar Gaikwad, on whose FIR the case against SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act was heard in the Supreme Court, stated that he would be filing a review petition against the Supreme Court ruling because his original FIR in Marathi was not translated accurately due to which the Supreme Court pronounced a wrong ruling. The Supreme Court will hear the matter again on May 3.Bhaskar Gaikwad said he was extremely unhappy that a huge controversy has been created on the basis of his simple FIR. According to him, three paragraphs of his FIR were not even translated and many words were changed in the translation. As a result, the meaning of FIR had changed.Bhaskar Gaikwad, who works as a store manager in an engineering college in Pune, emphasised that when the State Director of Technical Education, Maharashtra, Subhash Mahajan, forwarded his FIR to the Supreme Court, he had added one more sentence, which gave an impression that Dalits were misusing the SC/ST POA Act in FIR and it had created confusion.nationalheraldindia
Months before Dalmia deal, govt had rejected Red Fort’s upkeep by another corporate
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/months-before-dalmia-deal-panel-had-rejected-red-fort-s-upkeep-by-another-corporate/story-bAVP5Ri1nY0D5Wyyn4T9QL.html
New Delhi: 5 months before the Dalmia Bharat signed a MoU with the ministry of culture for the upkeep of Red Fort, a similar proposal from another corporate firm was rejected. Parliamentary panel on transport, tourism and culture was informed that the earlier proposal in Oct.2017 was rejected due to “sensitivity of the monument”, a senior member of the House panel said. According to the terms of MoU signed between Dalmia Bharat and ministry of tourism, the former will spend Rs 5 crore annually for 5 years for certain basic amenities. Opposition parties have protested against what they called as the handover of Red Fort to private players.The panel, led by Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien, had “welcomed” the scheme to rope in corporates for the upkeep of monuments, but at least 2 MPs said the panel was also given to understand that the ministry will first roll out a pilot project before implementing the scheme for bigger monuments.“The issue came up during a meeting on Feb.Ministry officials were categorically told that all stakeholders be consulted before the scheme is rolled out across India,” a member added.Another member said ministry has submitted a list of 93 monuments, which have been shortlisted under the scheme but they never indicated that Red Fort will be chosen.HT
Taj Mahal turning brown and green, says worried SC
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/taj-mahal-turning-brown-and-green-says-worried-supreme-court/article23739204.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi: Taj Mahal was yellow and now turning brown and green, a Supreme Court Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta found from photographs handed over to them by noted environmental lawyer M.C. Mehta in open court on Tuesday.Mehta said the upkeep of the UNESCO World Heritage site was in a shambles. River Yamuna, which used to flow nearby, has dried up. Encroachments and industries have cropped up in the neighbourhood of the white marble mausoleum. CCTVs hardly work. Govt merely views the Taj as a money-making venture. “Perhaps you do not care,” Justice Lokur addressed Additional Solicitor General A.N.S. Nadkarni. Looking at the photographs repeatedly, Justice Lokur wondered whether Taj Mahal in its present discoloured form would end being the “eighth wonder of the world.” Justice Lokur asked Govt whether it has or not the expertise to conserve the monument.“Even if you have the expertise, you are not utilising it,” the court observed. It urged Govt to get help from international conservation experts, if required, to restore the monument to its pristine glory. Court observed that foreign dignitaries are still given a tour of Taj Mahal. This would surely mean that Govt is interested in its preservation.thehindu
Racket supplying dead animal mean to Kolkata restaurants thrived with municipal staff help
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/west-bengal-dead-meat-racket-thrived-with-municipal-staff-help-5159326/
Kolkata:A section of municipal staff allegedly colluded with racketeers involved in supplying dead animal meat to restaurants in Kolkata, investigators have found. Staff would allegedly tip the racketeers off about dead animals in dump yards around Kolkata. meat was processed with chemicals like formalin and aluminium sulphate to preserve it. It was then packaged and kept in cold storage before it was supplied.“We have arrested the kingpin who operated the organised crime. The network picked up dead animals from dump yards and, after processing them with certain chemicals, sent the meat to markets and restaurants,’ said SP Koteshwar Rao. “Arrests have been made in Kolkata and other districts. We have also made an arrest from Nawada in Bihar.”Rao said they have sent the meat samples to laboratories and were awaiting the results. “We are probing all angles… where the meat was supplied in the state and whether it was supplied out of the state and in what quantity.”The racket was busted when two people were arrested after residents of Budge Budge, about 30 km from Kolkata, stopped a taxi carrying dead animals from a dump yard. They told the investigators about the racket, leading to seizure of 1000 packets of processed dead animal meat, each weighing 20 kg, from a cold storage in Rajabazar. 10 more men, including excouncillor Manik Mukhopadhyay, were arrested in connection with the racket. Sunny Mullick, the alleged kingpin, was arrested from Bihar on April 25.indianexpress
Aadhaar not must for mobile SIM, says govt
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/aadhaar-not-must-for-mobile-sim-says-govt/articleshow/63992984.cms
New Delhi: Here’s some good news for consumers struggling to get a mobile phone SIM without an Aadhaar card. The Govt has issued instructions to operators to accept alternative identification documents such as driving licence, passport and voter ID card. Mobile companies have been asked to follow the instructions “immediately” so that consumers are not inconvenienced, said telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan. The move follows a TOI report , which highlighted instances of people being denied a SIM card if they did not have Aadhaar. The Supreme Court has already clarified that Aadhaar is not mandatory for getting SIM cards until it takes a final view. “The ministry has issued instructions to all telecom companies, asking them not to deny a SIM card to any individual who does not have an Aadhaar number. We have asked them to accept other forms of KYC (know your customer) documents, and continue to issue SIM cards,” Sundararajan told TOI.TOI
Cracked Aadhaar Enrolment Software Being Sold for Rs 500 to Rs 2,000: Report
https://thewire.in/Govt /cracked-aadhaar-enrolment-software-being-sold
New Delhi: Modified or ‘jailbroken’ versions of Aadhaar enrolment software – which can theoretically be used by anybody to add new entries to the UID database or modify their own existing entries – are being sold by rogue operators for Rs 500 to Rs 2,000, according to a report published on Tuesday by Asia Times.If correct, this cracked software could allow anyone to create new Aadhaar numbers without accompanying identity proof or documentation, leading to major national security implications.The official enrolment software, known as ECMP, was developed to allow authorised operators to register people so that they could get an Aadhaar number.Given the sensitive nature of the data that flows through the software, ECMP came with two safeguards.One, it asks for the biometrics of the authorised operator and 2, it uses geolocation data to ensure that the data being collected is being done by someone with authorisation and that the process is being carried out a secure and mandated location.It appears that these safeguards have now been compromised.thewire
Over 100 journalists write to IB ministry against proposal to regulate digital media
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/13693/Over-100-Journalists-Write-To-IB-Ministry-Against-Proposal-To-Regulate-Digital-Media
New Delhi: A group of over 100 journalists and other professionals related to online media today wrote to the Information & Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani to express their concerns over the ministry’s proposal to extend traditional broadcasting rules and restrictions to Internet.The journalists include both veterans of the industry like Raghav Bahl, MK Venu, Madhu Trehan, Nalini Singh, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Sanjay Pugalia, Aniruddha Bahal, Seema Mustafa and Raman Kirpal, as well as younger generation media entrepreneurs like Dhanya Rajendran (The News Minute), Ritu Kapur (The Quint), Tanmay Bhat (All India Bakchod) and Bharat Nayak (The Logical Indian).In their letter, journalists and media professionals expressed concerns that bringing legacy media structures -- such as licensing and content regulation -- could have a drastic impact on a medium that is widely credited with making the media and information landscape more open and democratic across the world.thecitizen
Air India disinvestment: Govt extends deadline to May 31; to retain 24% stake as minority investor
https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/air-india-disinvestment-Govt -to-retain-24-stake-as-minority-investor-key-takeaways/1151935/
The Govt has extended the deadline to receive initial bids for its stake in state-run carrier Air India to May 31 from May 14, and also said that it will retain 24% stake in the carrier as a minority investor. The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday put out its responses to queries received on Air India disinvestment relating to the govt holding a 24% stake in the debt-laden carrier. Govt has received 160 queries on Air India divestment. “GOI is divesting 76% along with management control. GOI will have rights similar to that of a minority investor as per Companies Act and as per Shareholders’ Agreement.A draft Shareholders’ Agreement will be provided at RFP stage,” the Govt said in response to a query relating to the key veto and minority rights of the Govt .financialexpress
U’khand first to start games period in madrassas
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/ukhand-first-to-start-games-period-in-madrassas/articleshow/63990829.cms
Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to start games period in registered madrassas from the next academic year starting July. The move to add games period in the daily timetable is aimed at bringing the madrassa students on par with mainstream schools. Additional period will help students to look into different career avenues apart from academics and will also help groom their overall personality.A slew of changes have been carried out in the 297 registered madrassas of Uttarakhand in the past one year as part of the state’s modernization initiatives. The new session that is going to start from July will also include Sanskrit in Uttarakhand madrassa education board (UMEB) course.The changes are not limited to the books or curriculum as the state Govt wants to make an overall change in registered madrassas for the larger benefit of students.A change in uniform of madrassa students is also in offing in Uttarakhand, according to top UMEB officials. TOI
Cleric's initiative helps 137 students clear JEE Main:TOI
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/clerics-initiative-helps-137-students-clear-jee-main/articleshow/63993305.cms
Mumbai:Continuing its performance, 'Rahmani 30' has once again tasted success with 137 of its students clearing this year's JEE(Main) and qualifying for JEE(Advanced), for admissions to IITs.Rahmani 30, an initiative of senior cleric Maulana Wali Rahmani, began providing free coaching to Muslim aspirants for studying at prestigious IITs. "We began in 2008 and till 2017 we have sent 213 students to the IITs. This year's JEE (Main) results are very encouraging as our overall success rate, including Patna, Hyderabad and Aurangabad centres, is 75% while Patna centre's result is 100% (23 out of 23 students),"said Fahad Rahmani, CEO of Rahmani Programme of Excellence, umbrella initiative which runs free residential-cum-coachings for JEE (Main),JEE (Advanced), NEET,chartered accountancy and law entrance exams.
Row over Jinna’s portrait: AMU authorities, student leaders call it historical preservation
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/may/01/row-over-jinnas-portrait-aligarh-muslim-university-authorities-student-leaders-call-it-historical-1808767.html
New Delhi: Ministry of HRD has sought a report from AMU after local BJP MP Satish Gautam objected to the presence of a portrait of Mohammad Ali Jinnah at its students’ council hall. HRD secretary R Subramanyam said that AMU V-C Tariq Mansoor clarified to the Centre that “portrait has been in the students’ hall since 1938 and it was not a recent development”. “The issue will be discussed in the V-C’s national conference on Wednesday and the university has informed it will talk to the students’ union,” Subramanyam said.Sources said Gautam wrote to Mansoor demanding an explanation on Jinnah portrait. Coming nearly a week after some RSS members sought the university’s permission to hold ‘sakha’, the episode is likely to raise tension at the campus.Responding to the letter, the AMU authorities and the student union president called the portrait “just a historical preservation of the university’s legacy”. AMU spokesperson Shafey Kidwai asserted Jinnah was a founder member of the university and he was conferred with life membership of the students’ union. “His portrait has been there on the walls of the student union hall since 1938. It was a pre-Independence era(portrait) much before Partition.”Kidwai said the students’ union is autonomous and the university did not interfere in its affairs as much as possible.AMUSU president Maksoor Ahmad Usmani contended the row was created as a “diversion tactic”. “The Govt is a failure and they (BJP leaders) have been unable to do anything, so they are trying to make an issue,” he said. newindianexpress
Jinnah was ‘mahapurush’:UP minister Maurya
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/jinnah-was-mahapurush-says-up-mantri/articleshow/63994842.cms
UP cabinet minister Swami Prasad Maurya has slammed party MP from Aligarh Satish Gautam for questioning AMU for displaying a photograph of Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah in the institute.Calling Jinnah a ‘mahapurush’ who contributed for India before Pakistan was formed, Maurya said, “It is shameful for anyone to point a finger on great leaders who contributed towards formation of the country.”TOI
Karnataka polls: 85 Muslim families to shun polls in Arkalgud taluk for not granting land for graveyard
http://www.thehindu.com/elections/karnataka-2018/85-muslim-families-to-shun-polls-in-arkalgud-taluk/article23741510.ece
Hassan:As many as 85 Muslim families residing in Ramanathapura in Arkalgud taluk have resolved to boycott the Assembly elections over not being granted Govt land to bury their dead.The families, with 340 voters, have been fighting for a burial ground for 10 years. Whenever one of their kin dies, they have to bury body in neighbouring villages. Ramanthapura Jameya Masjid Committee, which met on April 6, took a unanimous decision to boycott the elections. The meeting also took serious exception to Minister for Sericulture and Animal Husbandry A. Manju, MLA for Arkalgud, who had made a promise to grant land for burial ground but failed to keep it. With no land to bury the dead as per the customs of the religion, the senior members of the community wish to stay put with their children settled in other places, where burial grounds are available. the hindu
Kathua and Unnao: Indian Americans protest against horrific rapes and govt’s handling of the cases
http://twocircles.net/2018may01/422940.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Hundreds of Indian Americans came together in cities across US for candlelight vigils and demonstrations demanding fair and speedy trials of the accused in the now infamous Kathua and Unnao rape cases. Vigils were held over the weekend in San Jose (CA), San Diego (CA), and Ft. Lauderdale (FL), with hundreds of Indian Americans showing an outpouring of support for the rape victims.The vigils railed the Indian Govt ’s failure to properly investigate the cases for several months after the crimes. In the previous weeks, similar vigils were held in several other cities including Washington D.C., New York (NY), New Jersey, Baltimore (MD), Boston (MA), Seattle (WA), Raleigh (NC) and Minneapolis (MN).TCN
Chhota Rajan convicted of journalist J Dey’s murder
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chhota-rajan-convicted-of-journalist-j-dey-s-murder/story-6co0aSbMHDN5Ou5s1QkqaO.html
Mumbai:Gangster Chhota Rajan was on Wednesday convicted in the murder of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey in 2011 by a special MCOCA court. According to investigators, Chhota Rajan ordered killing of Dey, a veteran crime reporter of Mumbai.The mafia don was deported from Indonesia’s Bali in November 2015 and subsequently made an accused in the case.Dey, 56, was Editor (Investigations) of Mid-day evening, and was shot dead on June 11, 2011, near his Powai residence in Mumbai, sending shockwaves in the media circles across country.HT
14 out of world’s 20 most polluted cities in India: WHO
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/14-out-of-worlds-20-most-polluted-cities-in-india-who/article23745178.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:Delhi and Varanasi are among the 14 Indian cities that figured in a list of 20 most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM2.5 levels in 2016, data released by the WHO showed. WHO data also said that nine out of 10 people in the world breathe air containing high levels of pollutants.Other Indian cities that registered very high levels of PM2.5 pollutants were Kanpur, Faridabad, Gaya, Patna, Agra, Muzaffarpur, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and Jodhpur followed by Ali Subah Al-Salem in Kuwait and a few cities in China and Mongolia.In terms of PM10 levels, 13 cities in India figured among the 20 most-polluted cities of the world in 2016.PTI
Congress spokesman hit by News18 anchor after he dares him to debate on Rafale, Judge Loya & Amit Shah’s son
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/congress-spokesperson-hit-by-news18-anchor-after-he-dares-him-to-debate-on-rafale-amit-shahs-son/183490/
Congress spokesperson Rajeev Tyagi has alleged that he was hit by News18 India anchor during a debate that he took part on Monday.Tyagi was taking part in the debate titled ‘Rahul’s hand with ailing Lalu’ when he reached out to the show’s anchor Sumit Awasthi to ask him to also ‘show courage’ and conduct TV debates on Rafale defence deal, Judge Loya’s death and Amit Shah’s son.It was at this time, Awasthi appeared to have lost his cool and asked his team to remove Tyagi from the TV frame. He was seen instructing his team, “Inko screen se hatao (Remove him from the screen).” Awasthi then slapped Tyagi on his arm ordering him to return to his chair. “I don’t want this drama. Go and sit there. Sit quietly, Sit quietly.“Awasthi kept repeating the lines ‘sit quietly’ in a menacing tone. This despite Tyagi pleading to anchor that he had hit him. “You’ve hit me. Just because I’ve held up a mirror to you, you are hitting me Sumit Awasthi.” jantakareporter
Over 23000 bank fraud cases involving Rs 1 lakh crore in 5 yrs: RBI
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/over-23000-bank-fraud-cases-involving-1-lakh-crore-in-5-years-rbi/article23747175.ece?homepage=true
Over 23,000 cases of fraud involving ₹1 lakh crore have been reported in the past 5 years in various banks, according to RBI.A total of 5,152 cases of fraud, up from over 5,000 cases in 2016-17, were reported in banks from April, 2017, to March 1, 2018, it said in reply to an RTI query filed by this correspondent.The highest ever amount of ₹28,459 crore is said to have been involved in these cases of fraud reported from April, 2017, to March 1, 2018, Central Bank said. PTI
Over-invoicing by power firms: CBI closes inquiry against Adani Enterprises, public sector banks:scroll.in
https://scroll.in/latest/877619/over-invoicing-by-power-firms-cbi-closes-inquiry-against-adani-enterprises-public-sector-banks
CBI on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that it had closed its preliminary inquiry against Adani Enterprises Ltd for allegedly inflating the value of raw materials and equipment imported for power projects in India, Indian Express reported. The agency said that it closed the investigation on July 15, 2015, since the project being investigated came under the Maharashtra Govt ’s jurisdiction. Maharashtra Eastern Grid Power Transmission Company Limited and public sector banks such as SBI, PNB and Vijaya Bank were also accused in the case. Adani was accused of availing the banks’ credit facilities for purchasing power generation and transmission equipment from South Korea and China. The price of these machines were over-valued and the banks’ funds were siphoned off. Another allegation was that the company exaggerated project costs to fix tariff and access excess finance from banks.
Bihar: JDU leader Uday Narayan Chaudhary quits party over ‘anti-Dalit’ policies
https://scroll.in/latest/877629/bihar-janata-dal-united-leader-uday-narayan-chaudhary-quits-party-over-anti-dalit-policies
JDU leader Uday Narayan Chaudhary quit Bihar’s ruling party. Chaudhary said he was resigning over Nitish-led Govt’s failure to curb atrocities against Dalit community. Chaudhary claimed that the state Govt was being manipulated by BJP at the Centre, which he alleged was anti-Dalit. “I am hurt over Nitish Kumar and NDA Govt ’s anti-Dalit approach,” Chaudhary told News18.The senior leader said he had discussed his concerns about atrocities against Dalits in the state with the CM but that his suggestions were not taken seriously. Chaudhary cited the molestation of a minor girl in Jehanabad and reports of rapes in the state as an example of the Govt ’s failure.scroll
UP: Juvenile Justice Board orders Sahibabad madrassa rape accused to be tried as an adult
https://scroll.in/latest/877656/uttar-pradesh-juvenile-justice-board-orders-sahibabad-madrassa-rape-accused-to-be-tried-as-an-adult
Juvenile Justice Board has said a 17-year-old accused of allegedly raping a minor inside a madrassa in Sahibabad in UP’s Ghaziabad district would be tried as an adult. Accused was made to undergo an ossification test to determine his age since he could not produce documents to prove that he was a minor, DNA reported.The police had arrested the accused for allegedly abducting and raping a 10-year-old, and a Muslim cleric for his role in the alleged crime. “We have submitted the report to the Juvenile Justice Board and they have asked the doctor who had made the report to appear in person on Wednesday,” said Ram Gopal Naik, DCP (crime). “Further course of action would be taken based on that.”scroll
WORLD
Japan won’t move embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180502-japan-wont-move-embassy-from-tel-aviv-to-jerusalem/
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe ha said his country has no plans to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, according to Palestine’s official news agency.The statement came during Abe’s official meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, WAFA reported. Abe affirmed his country’s support for a political process based on the principle of a two-state solution and its readiness to contribute to any effort to achieve peace, WAFA said.He stressed the continued support of Japan for projects that contribute toward building of Palestinian state institutions and infrastructure.MEMO
Knesset advances bill making Israel a ‘Jewish state’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180502-knesset-advances-bill-making-israel-a-jewish-state/
Israel’s Knesset, or parliament, on Tuesday approved a preliminary reading of a controversial bill that considers Israel “the nation-state of the Jewish people”.Proposed by the right-wing Likud party, the “Jewish nation” bill was passed in the first reading by 64-50 votes.The bill must be approved in the second and third readings before it becomes law.The draft considers Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and Hebrew as the official language.It also states that the justice system would prefer Israel’s Jewish character to its democratic one in cases where the two are at odds.Knesset member Avi Dichter, one of the sponsors of the bill, said the draft would, for the first time, enshrine Israel as “national home of the Jewish people”.MEMO
UK envoy demands 'proper probe into Rohingya case
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/uk-ambassador-demands-proper-investigation-rohingya-crisis-180501133106045.html
Myanmar must carry out a "proper investigation" into alleged crimes against the country's minority Rohingya population, Britain's ambassador to the UN said.Karen Pierce called on Tuesday for the "root causes" of the crisis - which has seen hundreds of thousands of Rohingya flee Myanmar for neighbouring Bangladesh as a result of what the UN has described as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" by Govt security forces - to be addressed. "In order to have accountability there must be a proper investigation," said Pierce, part of a four-day UN Security Council (UNSC) envoy visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh."It doesn't matter whether it is international or domestic, as long as it's credible."The probe could be carried out either by the International Criminal Court or Myanmar's own Govt , Pierce added.Govt officials have denied the military's complicity in instigating violence against the Rohingya, though pledged on Tuesday to take "harsh" action against any perpetrators of sexual violence.aljazeera
Displaced Syrians at risk of losing homes under new property law
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/displaced-syrians-risk-losing-homes-property-law-180502064408676.html
Millions of privately-owned homes could be seized by the Govt in Syria under a new property law.Syrians have until the middle of next month to present their deeds of ownership or risk losing their properties.That includes the hundreds of thousands of people who have been displaced, and fear returning to govt-controlled territory.They say the new law aims to legitimise the permanent exile of opposition supporters.aljazeera
US-backed Syrian forces resume battle against IS
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-sdf/u-s-backed-syrian-forces-resume-battle-against-islamic-state-idUSKBN1I2390
Blast kills at least 24 in northeast Nigeria: police
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/blast-kills-24-northeast-nigeria-police-180501144949165.html
At least 24 people have been killed in a double suicide attack on a mosque and a market in northeast Nigeria, police say. More than a dozen were hurt in the explosions in the town of Mubi.Abdullahi Yerima, police commissioner in Adamawa state, said a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the mosque at about 1pm and a 2nd bomber exploded a device 200 metres away as worshippers fled.aljazeera
Gunmen kill at least 8 civilians north of Baghdad
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180502-gunmen-kill-at-least-eight-civilians-north-of-baghdad/
Militants opened fire on unarmed Iraqi civilians on Tuesday, killing at least 8 and wounding three in a town 25 km north of Baghdad, a security source said.Security forces were searching the area in Tarmiya where the shooting took place, the military said in a statement which did not specify a death toll.“Security forces stopped this terrorist gang,” military later said in a second statement.MEMO
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Recent debate on Atrocities Act should factor in milieu that marginalises Dalits at every step:Abdul Khaliq
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/dalit-protests-sc-st-prevention-of-atrocities-act-caste-discrimination-5159094/
Is Srinagar Back On the Militancy Map?Gowhar Geelani
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/3/13690/Is-Srinagar-Back-On-the-Militancy-Map
The Supreme Court's Loya Judgment is Utterly Wrong, Jurisprudentially Incorrect:Justice A.P. Shah
https://thewire.in/law/the-supreme-courts-loya-judgment-is-utterly-wrong-jurisprudentially-incorrect
'Assadism' Is Destroying Syria – Here's Where It Came From:Juliette Harkin
https://thewire.in/world/assadism-is-destroying-syria
CBI’s ‘clean chit’ to Reddy brothers in mining scam blows holes in BJP’s corruption plank:Rohini Swamy
https://theprint.in/politics/cbis-clean-chit-to-reddy-brothers-in-mining-scam-blows-holes-in-bjps-corruption-plank/54237/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 4:13 PM)
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