. |
. |
Indian doctor to CHANDIGARH, Nov 5: The American Society of Nephrology, (ASN) has invited a local internationally renowned nephrologist,.....more Jama
Masjid Nyas AYODHYA, Nov 5: The solution to the Ayodhya issue put forward recently by the Jama Masjid Nyas has been rejected by ....more Bru
issue turns AIZAWL, Nov 5: The Bru issue has snowballed into a major crisis in Mizoram with the threat of boycott in the November 20 assembly polls...more KPCC
chief against THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Nov 5: Kerala PCC president K Muraleedharan today ......more |
|
Ordinance for setting up tax tribunal challenged in HC NEW DELHI, Nov 5: The Delhi High Court today began hearing on a petition ....more Tandoor
murder NEW DELHI, Nov 5: The policeman whose evidence proved vital in the conviction of former Delhi youth Congress .....more Charles
impressed MUMBAI, Mov 5: Heir to the British throne Prince Charles, presently on a three-day visit today took stock of the problems ......more Bifurcation
plummets BHOPAL, Nov 5: Bifurcation of Madhya Pradesh has plummeted, the dominance ......more |
Indian doctor to participate in ASN debate on paid kidney CHANDIGARH, Nov 5: The American Society of Nephrology, (ASN) has invited a local internationally renowned nephrologist, Dr K S Chugh for a debate on "payments to potential donors should be used to increase the transplant pool: yes or no". Dr Chugh, Emeritus Professor of Nephrology in the PGI here will be opposing the payment system in transplant of kidneys, while Dr Eli Friedman, Professor of Nephrology at the State University, New York Health Science Centre in Brooklyn, New York will be speaking in support of paid transplants, Dr Chugh said here today. About 10,000 to 12,000 nephrologists and investigators will be participating in the five day annual conference of the ASN being held at San Diego from November 13. The debate will be held as part of the conference and the participants after listening to the two opposing participants will arrive at a consensus. Dr Chugh said that about 3,500 transplants of kidney are being done in India every year and of these more than 80 per cent are paid transplants. Not only localsm but also Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are also a party to the paid transplants being undertaken in India despite a ban on transplants imposed in 1994, which restricted the donor-donee relationship to parents and immediate family, including the spouse and those who wanted to donate because of affection. Despite the ban enacted in 1994 trading activity continues because of legislative loopholes, he said adding that virtually all donations are shown on paper to be on grounds of affection, altruism or compassion approved by an authorisation committee with the donor getting only a small fraction of the monetary consideration reportedly settled through brokers or middle man. Dr Chugh said the arguments opposing paid transplants to be put forward by him would include that the relationship between the alleged buyer and seller would be exploitative and constitute commodification of the body besides being disadvantageous to the recipients who are unable to pay the market rate. Further the paid transplants would undermine voluntary donations and would discourage those wanting to donate out of altruism, Dr Chugh said adding that when the sale of blood was allowed, voluntary donations dropped. He said that another reason for opposing was that consent for donation would be coercive. Dr Chugh said that paid unrelated transplants are not only done in India but in various other countries as well including Pakistan, Iran, Brazil, China, Phillipines and some of the east European countries like Moldova besides the US where 200 to 300 patients are alleged to buy kidneys from poor countries every year.(PTI) |
 |
Jama Masjid Nyas proposal rejected AYODHYA, Nov 5: The solution to the Ayodhya issue put forward recently by the Jama Masjid Nyas has been rejected by most organisations including the Sri Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas and the Sunni Central Waqf Board, saying. Masjid Nyas Managing Trustee Syed Asgar Abbas Rizvi had suggested the construction of a Temple at the disputed site and the building of a Mosque on the undisputed land in front of the house of one of the contesting parties in the Ayodhya case Mohammed Hashim Ansari. While Sri Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas Chairman Nritya Gopal Das rejected the construction of any Mosque in Ayodhya, another contesting party, the Sunni Central Waqf Board called Mr Rizvi "an agent of the Central Government" and termed the proposal "baseless." Mr Das said Mr Rizvi had met him and had stressed the need for resolving the issue through dialogue and had referred to no other proposal. He said he had come to know of Mr Rizvi’s proposal through the media. The Nyas Chairman said before heading any further, it was also important to analyse the "acceptance of Mr Rizvi among the Muslim community" adding however that if the Ayodhya Jama Masjid Nyas was serious about resolving the dispute through dialogue, it would be welcomed. One of the other main contesting parties in the Ayodhya title suit case in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, the Nirmohi Akhara, complained that it had not been included in any of the talks for resolving the issue. Akhara counsel Ranjit Lal Verma said since the Akhara was a main party in the case, a decision without taking it into confidence was like "befooling the masses." he added that there had been ten unsuccessful attempts so far to resolve the issue through talks. Mr Verma said in view of the complications in the matter, if anyone claimed to resolve the issue through dialogue, it was mere a ‘’publicity stunt.’’ Meanwhile, Muslim Personal Law Board member and Sunni Central Waqf Board counsel Zafaryab Jilani called Mr Rizvi "an agent of the Central Government" and alleged the BJP had got yet another medium to heat up the issue until the next elections. Mr Jilani said Mr Rizvi had met him about six months ago but had not discussed anything regarding the Ayodhya issue. He also alleged that Sri Ramjanmabhoomi Mandir Nirman Committee Chairman and Gorakspeeth Chief Mahant Avaidynath was helping Mr Rizvi. Mr Jilani said none of the Muslim representatives would attend the proposed meeting by Mr Rizvi here on November 30 adding that he too had a suggestion that if the BJP and the VHP decide to withdraw their claim over the disputed land and the nearby graveyard and agree upon constructing the Temple eleswhere, the Muslims would support them. He clarified that no new proposal had been given to any of the Muslim contesting parties by Kanchi Kamkoti Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati. (UNI) |
|
Bru issue turns sensitive in Mizoram AIZAWL, Nov 5: The Bru issue has snowballed into a major crisis in Mizoram with the threat of boycott in the November 20 assembly polls looming large after authorities arrested eight persons for ransacking the State Election office last Friday. Eight members of the save Mizoram Committee (SMC) who allegedly ransacked the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Friday was arrested by the police. With the arrest of SMC activists, tension was high over the issue of the inclusion of Bru’s in the electoral roll of Mizoram. The SMC was against the recent inclusion of the Bru voters in the electoral rolls of Mizoram by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The SMC held that Mizoram CEO did not procure the signatures and authentication of the Brus, which the committee said was a must if the ECI was to extend them voting rights. The SMC, a forum comprising all political parties and NGOs of the state, yesterday convened an emergency meeting to review last week’s incident. Efforts were on to resolve the ongoing deadlock in a peaceful way, C Lalrokhuma, Chairman of the Committee told newspersons. Those arrested in connection with Friday’s incident were charged with trespassing and causing mischief, but were later released on bail. Mr Lalrokhuma, Chairman of the Committee and president of Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Mr Ngurthansanga, Treasurer, MZP, Sainghinga Sailo, general secretary of Mizoram Upa Pawl (Mizoram elders’ association) and Mr Lalruatkima, Assistant General Secretary of Yma, the largest NGO of the state were among those who were arrested. "Those arrested were top leaders of Mizoram’s prominent NGOs and if they were not released the situation would have turned worse," Mr Lalrokhuma said. Meanwhile, in a press conference held yesterday, CEO Lalmalsawma told newspersons that all requirements and guidelines of the ECI were followed while revising the poll list. The CEO said no faulty method was applied while including the eligible Bru voters in the list. All procedures and guidelines solicited by the ECI were followed, Mr Lalmalsawma told UNI. An emergency meeting to review the ongoing standoff was held yesterday at Yma’s general headquarters. The SMC was monitoring the situation cautiously and affirmed that one wrong move on its part could change the political equations in the state. Yma president Lianzuala told UNI that no organisation would take up the issue single handedly and affirmed that the SMC would work as a unit to tackle the problem. Mr Lalrokhuma said if the issue was not resolved in the near future, the committee would a give a call for boycotting assembly elections. (UNI) |
|
|
|
|
Charles impressed with charity by Cheshire, Helpage MUMBAI, Mov 5: Heir to the British throne Prince Charles, presently on a three-day visit today took stock of the problems and works of the Cheshire home here. Lauding its efforts along with the charity work being undertaken by NGOs in the country, the Prince of Wales said he was impressed by the work done by them. Mathew Cherian, the Assistant Director General of Helpage India said many of the mobile vans have been donated by NRIs based in the United Kingdom. "The Prince of Wales was very concerned about the well being of the aged and senior citizens. He expressed keenness to know about our programmes," he said. Prince Charles is also the chief patron of the help the aged of England. Deputy Director of Helpage in the region, Latika Ghokage said that it was interesting that their project started today coinciding with the visit of the Prince. She said helpage was actually involved in the well being of senior citizens, but with Government declaring that the mentally and physically challenged should be considered senior citizens above the age of 45, and hoped that they would be able to undertake more projects. The Prince also asked the Helpage about their number of branches and appreciated the efforts of the field workers and people involved in the charity. "We are delighted that the Prince was here," John D’Souza, one of the inmates said. "It is a rare opportunity and the Prince of Wales was so considerate that he asked each of us about our problems," he said. Sister Wilhelmine Fereira of Cheshire home informed that it was great that Prince Charles took time out from his busy schedule to visit the home. "He took keen interest in our projects and inquired about the activities of the Cheshires in India," she said. She also said that she informed Prince Charles that the Cheshire home Mumbai would like to extend community based programmes for the disabled who are residing in the vicinity of the home here. "When Cheshire home started in Mumbai there were forests around, but today slums have come up," she said. He also spoke to one of the inmates Ramesh who had visted Cheshire home in London as part of a funded project. The Prince of Wales also took time out to visit the workshop at the Cheshire home and saw the art works. One of them Mazar Shaikh presented a sketch of Cheshire to the Prince. Mukhtar Ahmed and Mohammad Hassan said that what they were impressed by the way the Prince was talking to them. "He actually wanted to know our problems," he said. (UNI) |
|
||
Bifurcation plummets dominance of royal families in poll BHOPAL, Nov 5: Bifurcation of Madhya Pradesh has plummeted, the dominance of royal families in the poll arena. The slide in the "royal" numbers, notwithstanding, the Scindia Household and some others would continue to throw their weight in the upcoming assembly elections. In the last elections held in an "undivided" Madhya Pradesh, there were more than a dozen candidates from royal families in the fray. But the upcoming election will have around half a dozen such candidates testing their fortunes. This includes Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, senior Congress leader Arjun sinSh’s son Ajay Singh, besides Scindia family members and some other scions of erstwhile royal families. The Scindia family of Gwalior has held "political weight" in the state for more than four decades in the past. Jyotiraditya Scindia, a Congress MP, has donned the political mantle of his father Madhavrao Scindia who died in an air crash. Interestingly, the family had its roots in both the Congress and the BJP. While Ms Vijayaraje Scindia steered herself to political heights in the BJP, her son rose to the post of deputy leader of the Congress. Ms Scindia’s daughters Vasundhra Raje Scindia and Yashodhra Raje Scindia and brother Dhyanendra Singh have political affiliations with the BJP. While Vasundhra is looking after her party’s prospects in Rajasthan, Yashodhra Raje is contesting from the Shivpuri assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh. In the last elections, Mr Dhyanendra Singh was in the fray as a BJP nominee from Murar seat and is likely to be re-nominated from this seat. Erstwhile Maharaj of Raghogarh Balbhadra Singh’s son and Chief Minister Digvijay Singh is in the field from Raghogarh. His relative and the Public Relation Minister Manvendra Singh will test his electoral fortunes from Bijavar seat. Mr Arjun Singh, son of the then Jagirdar Shivbahadur Singh, climbed the political ladder and now his son Ajay Singh, who is also the State Tourism Minister, will contest from Churhat. Mr Singh’s relative Shivpratap Singh’s son has got the ticket from Amarpatan seat. Like the Scindia household, the erstwhile Rewa household also has parallel affiliations with both the Congress and the BJP. Pushpraj Singh, a member of this household, is a Congress candidate from Rewa seat. State Tribal Welfare and Scheduled Caste Development Minister and Congress nominee from Gansaur seat hails from the Sariappali estate of Chhattisgarh. In the BJP camp, Tukohirao Pawar and Kunwar Vijay Shah are linked with erstwhile Dewas estate. They are contesting from Dewas and Harsood respectively. (UNI) Agency conducting exams empowered to devise method: SC NEW DELHI, Nov 5: In a major judgement empowering bodies conducting competitive examinations, the Supreme Court today ruled that agencies conducting tests were entitled to devise their methods for screening of candidates and courts should not interfere in the selection process. The ruling was given by a bench comprising Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice B N Srikrishna while setting aside an Allahabad High Court order quashing the list of selected candidates for civil Judge (junior division) exams 2000, Provincial Civil Services (Executive Branch) Main Exams 2001 and Preliminary Exams 2002 prepared by UPPSC. The High Court had quashed the select list of candidates on the ground that the system of scaling of marks applied by the State Public Service Commission was arbitrary and illegal and had asked the body to prepare fresh list of selected candidates. The UPPSC in appeal before the Apex Court had said that it had applied the system of scaling of marks to remove the disparity in the evaluation of 14 examiners who participated in the evaluation of answer sheets and furnished the details as to how the scaling formula was adopted and applied. Appreciating the advantages of the system, the Apex Court bench said "we do not think that application of scaling formula to the examinations in question was either arbitrary or illegal. The selection of candidates was done in a better way." The bench said that the formula was adopted by the UPPSC after an expert study and in such matters, "the Court cannot sit in judgment and interfere in the same unless it is proved that it was an arbitrary and unreasonable exercise of power and the selection itself was done contrary to the rules". Writing the judgment for the bench, Justice Balakrishnan said that it should be left to the agency conducting the examination to devise the method for scrutiny of the candidates based on a rational formula. "Ultimately, the agency conducting the examination has to consider as to which method should be preferred and adopted having regard to the myriad situations that may arise before it," he said. Keeping the above justifications of scaling formula adopted by the UPPSC, the Apex Court said that the High Court was not justified in interfering with the list prepared by the Public Service Commission and set aside the High Court order. It said that the list of successful candidates prepared by the Commission for the three examinations in question would hold good. (PTI) Police files chargesheets against Shilpa Shetty’s parents SURAT, Nov 5: Police today filed chargesheets against Surendra and Sunanda Shetty — parents of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, in an alleged extortion case. The three-page chargesheet filed with Chief Judicial Magistrate R P Mehta, named five persons, including prime accused Sunanda Shetty, Surendra Shetty, a hotelier K Padmanabhan, driver of Shettys’ Dilip Palsekar and one Dinesh Rai. Police alleged that the accused had links with the underworld and demanded Rs two crore from Praful sarees owner Pankaj Agrawal. Both Sunanda and Surendra have been granted conditional bail in the case. Police had registered a case against Surendra and Sunanda for allegedly "hiring" an underworld gangster Fazlur Rehman for extorting a sum from Agrawal, which was payable to the actress for an advertising film that she did for Praful sarees in 1998. (PTI) Traditional Thiruvananthapuram flower show to go national THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Nov 5: The over 60-year-old flower, fruit and vegetable show, an annual attraction for the city residents, is slated to become more exciting with the participation of national-level agencies this time. The next edition of the festival, popularly called the ‘Flower Show’, is slated to be held from January 23 to February 1. At the first meeting of the organising committee held recently, a budget of Rs 75 lakh was approved for the coming festival, official sources told UNI here today. An added attraction at the show this time would be the participation of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Union Commerce Ministry. "Besides increasing the relevance of the show to the national level, the participation of apeda will also facilitate the convergence of the latest technological advancements and modern varieties of agricultural products at the fair," the sources added. The flower show has the distinction of being the only one of its kind exhibition in Kerala. Six serene sites in the capital, including the famous Kanakakkunnu Palace and Suryakanthi exhibition grounds, have been identified as the venues for the show. The ten-day fiesta is organised by the State Tourism Department in cooperation with the department of agriculture, national horticulture board, Kerala Agri-Horticulture society, Kerala rose society and the city corporation. An estimated 1.2 million visitors are expected at the fair, the organisers said. According to State Tourism Secretary T Balakrishnan, an agriculture fair, which was being organised separately since 1997, will be part of the flower show. While the department of agriculture has been entrusted with the fruits and vegetable show, an ‘Aqua Show’, an exhibition of ornamental fish, will be organised by public sector undertaking matsyafed. As part of the festival, flower-beds, which can accommodate 36,000 plants, are being put in place in a 12,000 Sq Ft area on the Kanakakkunu Palace premises and a 3,000 to 4,000 Sq Ft area in the observatory hills. A temporary nursery has already been set up in the observatory hills to grow eight varieties of flowering plants such as Salvia, Zenia and Marigold. The plants, which would be in full bloom by the festival time, would be transplanted to the show venues. A large collection of orchids and anthuriums would also be exhibited on the palace grounds. More than 1,500 different varieties of roses will be exhibited in the observatory hills venue by the Kerala rose society. A competition section, display and sale of plants by commercial growers and residents associations will also be held on the slopes of the hill. An amusement park, food stalls and a green house being built by the Kerala agri-horticulture society will be the other attractions of the annual extravaganza. (UNI) Mumbai Police cancels licence of Telgi’s lodge MUMBAI, Nov 5: In a twist to the ongoing probe into the multi-crore fake stamps scam, city police has cancelled the licence of prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi’s ‘Alankar lodge’. The police action came after the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted to probe the scam, wrote to Mumbai police requesting cancellation of lodge’s licence, police sources said here today. The SIT, in turn, has sealed the lodge and urged the special Mcoca Court in Pune to attach this property along with nearly half a dozen other properties of Telgi. "The Alankar lodge, situated on the Dadabhai Navroji road, was issued licence under the PPL category and it was cancelled in September this year following the SIT’s request," a senior Mumbai Police official told PTI. The Alankar lodge, which the SIT suspects was purchased by Telgi from the scam money, was also a money earner for him, sources said. Telgi used to regularly receive the collections of the lodge even while in the custody of the Mumbai Police, sources alleged. The SIT, sources said, had got suspicious about the role of some Mumbai Crime Branch men in assisting Telgi when he was in their custody late last year. The SIT had received very concrete evidence that Telgi had visited Alankar lodge to collect money when he was in the custody of Mumbai Police and that time he was allegedly accompanied by some Crime Branch men, the sources added. The SIT, therefore, brought this bungling to the notice of a senior official of the Crime Branch and urged him to take action against the erring officers. But surprisingly, the SIT note was ingored, sources said. Interestingly, the Crime Branch officers who are alleged to have accompanied Telgi to Alankar lodge, had also taken Telgi to his 7, Cuffe Parade apartment on January 10, 2003, when SIT chief, Subodh Jaiswal and Karnataka Additional DGP, Sree Kumar, allegedly exposed him there. Later, SIT urged Mumbai Police to cancel the lodge’s licence, while moving the special Mcoca Court in Pune for attachment of the lodge with other Telgi properties. These properties were namely, 7, Cuffe Parade apartment, a flat at Shirin Manzil, Sunny house apartment and a Duplex at Mathurdas estate. All the above properties have already been sealed by the SIT, sources said. Another property, which has been sealed but not attached, in which the SIT suspects Telgi to have a stake, is the industrial unit, Thane polyorganics. The multi-crore fake stamps scam has already nailed five police officers, including three of the Mumbai Crime Branch. Sources said the decision of Mumbai Police to cancel the lodge licence indicated that the role of some more Crime Branch officers had come under the SIT scanner. Meanwhile, the SIT, sources said, has recently recorded the statement of one more Crime Branch official. (PTI) |
||
|
||
|
| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports | |
