Excelsior... Nation

A year after, Tsunami homeless still waiting for shelter

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: Almost a year after the Tsunami swept away homes of about 40,000 people in the worst-hit Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the waves of indecision have made it sure that the roofs don'treturn over their heads for a long time to come.

A row between the Government and NGOs has stalled the project for construction of about 8,500 houses in the Islands.

While the NGOs working in the reconstruction blame the Government for not invloving them in the housing project, the former says the construction work could not begin because the voluntary bodies wanted the design and technology of their own liking, claiming to understand the life style of the islanders better.

These bodies want the houses to be built, should be in tune with the original habitat of the people living in the Islands while the CPWD maintains that the tribal people too have a right to benefit from new technology and get stronger and more comfortable houses.

Armed with a Rs 500-crore budget, Caritas India wanted to build 18,000 homes in the tsunami-hit states, but it now says except in Kerala these homes may not be ready even in the second anniversary.

"We have not been invloved in the planning for building houses in Andaman and Nicobar, though we have sufficient funds," said a senior functionary of the NGO.

According to sources in the CPWD, which has been assigned the work of giving technical support to the construction work, the project could have been finalised much earlier but for the resistance shown by some voluntary organisations.

The tussle has left the project in limbo for the last one year. Finally the Government has now decided that the design and technical aspect will be taken care of by the Government agencies while NGOs will be allowed to only fund the construction.

However, even after this decision, the process of consultations is not over yet.

"Moreover, in February-March there is going to be monsoon, which is to further delay the project," said the official.

Under the project, about 8,500 houses of 450 sq feet area are to be constructed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In Tamil Nadu, bigger NGOs like Caritas rue the "inordinate delay" in inking a Memorandum of Understanding for constructing homes for the victims.

"Not only the delay, but in many cases the Government did not have land to construct the houses and in some cases the land was not usable," says the Caritas official.

The NGO, which plans to build about 10,000 houses in the state alone, is yet to get allotment of land for 3,000 homes, he says.

The NGOs have almost completed construction of homes in Kerala. Caritas has so far built 900 houses and plans to add 300 more in two months.

Rehabilitation experts say it would take more time to rebuild the homes of the tsunami victims unlike in Gujarat where the reconstruction after the earthquake was completed in two years.

A senior CPWD official said they want to construct such houses in Andaman and Nicobar Islands which would be strong, quake resistant and lasting.

A steel structure is being proposed for these houses, which is being vehemently opposed by NGOs on the ground that it was in discord with the tribal lifestyle, he said. (UNI)

Hospital's "casual manner" costs patient her baby

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: A District Consumer court has ordered a compensation of Rs one lakh against a charitable hospital whose negligence cost a patient her baby just 12 hours after its birth.

"The loss of the baby cannot be compensated in terms of money. Doctors performed their duties in a casual manner so that the complainant had to suffer their son," the court headed by K K Chopra observed.

The complainant, Kamini Yadav, a resident of Ghantaghar here, was on April 3, 2002 referred to Tirathram Shah Charitable Hospital for consultations on her pregnancy.

Doctors at the hospital, after examinations, assured her of a normal pregnancy.

However, on September 14, 2002 she was admitted to the same hospital after complaining of severe pain.

The next afternoon, doctors informed her husband Mukesh Kumar that a minor surgical operation was necessary due to some medical complications and made him sign on a blank paper, after which they did not check on Kamini even though her condition was visibly deteriorating.

Three hours later, she was taken away for surgery and a healthy baby was born.

Much to the shock of the mother, twelve hours later, she came to know through the hospital staff that her baby had suddenly died due to "breathing difficulty".

Countering the complainant's claim, the hospital said the baby was found to be in distress even while in uterus and was born with the umblical cord found tightly wound over its neck.

Moreover, the hospital contended that the patient had had an abortion and that would have contributed to the complications in the delivery.

Dismissing the hospital's arguments, the court observed that the patient was in its pre-natal care for over three months, during which it had promised a normal delivery.

Secondly, the patient had undergone treatment with CGHS doctors after her abortion and it was on their advice that she had gone for the second baby.

Lastly, the court held that the patient had "suffered the loss of a son" and was herself in a critical condition after delivery because of inordinate delay and a "casual manner" in performing their duties on part of the hospital staff.

The court also ordered Rs 5,000 as litigation costs. (PTI)

Veteran actor Bhanumathi died

CHENNAI, Dec 25: One of the most talented actors in Telugu and Tamil cinema of yesteryears Bhanumathi died of renal failure at her residence here late last night.

She had been a chronic diabetic and had been suffering from related ailments for the last couple of years.

Family sources said that the funeral would take place at 1500 hrs at the Besant Nagar crematorium.

She had last acted in a Tamil and Telugu film in 2000, since her debut in Telugu cinema in 1939 in "Varavikrayam" directed by the celebrated directed P Pulliah, known for his films reflecting social issues.

Bhanumathi, hailed as the 'one woman industry', long before Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan came to be known as 'one man industry', was 81. She is survived by her son Bharani.

Bhanuumathi was a multifaceted personality in South Indian cinema. For besides being a talented actress, She was a director- writer, singer and music director,all rolled into one.

Bhanumathi was one of the earliest heroines of the matinee idols of Tamil and Telugu cinema like MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, late N T Rama Rao (NTR) and A Nageswara Rao, with whom she had starred in memorable hits including socials, historicals and folklore.

As a Producer-Director under her banner Bharani pictures, which she set up in 1943 after making her bow in the tinsel world in 1939, Bhanumathi made several classic commercials like "Baatasari" with Nageswara Rao and "Vivaha Bhandam" (issue of marital discord) with NTR cinema.

Two other classic commercials of Bhanumathi with Nageswara Rao and NTR were "Vipranarayana", which she herself directed and "Malleswari" directed by late B N Reddy for the well known Vijaya-Vauhini studios production company.

In addition to her acknowledged diction and grammar of acting, Bhanumathi, who had won the national award three times for best acting for 'Annai' (Tamil) and "Anthasthulu" and "Palnati Yuddham", another classic with NTR in the 60s, was also a classical singer.

Many of the melodious songs she had rendered for characters she herself had played, still remain evergreen hits, especially in the Telugu film 'Malleswari', which had as many as 18 songs.

"Antha Mana Manchike" in 1992 was also among her best known films.

Among the 16 films Bhanumathi had directed under her Bharani films banner, 'Chandirani' in 1953 was made in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. She had also played her first double role in that film.

Bhanumathi had also directed one film in Hindi in 1950--"Nishan".

She also made a memorable children's film "Bhaktha Dhruva Markandeya" in the early 90s in which she cast boys and girls in the age group of 16.

Bhanumati was a recepient of Padma Sri and Padmabhushan awards from the Union Government in recognition of her qualitative contribution to cinema.

Her collection of short stories about mother in laws, "Attagari Kathalu" won her the Sahitya Academy award in 1966. In 1994, the London doctors Association honoured her as a 'Great Artiste.'

Born on September 7, 1925 at Ongole town in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh, Bhanumati was encouraged to take up training in carnatic music by her father B Venkatasubbiah, himself a well known musician in those days.

She was initiated into carnatic music by her father. Later, she also had training under two other 'vidwans'. After her baptism into the tinsel world, Bhanumati, who had also given some memorable performances in films like 'Swargaseema' in the 50s, 'Tatamma Kala' and 'Thodu Needa', a remake of a Tamil hit 'Karpagam'', also proved herself as a talented story, dialogue writer and music director. She had scored music for 16 films.

Her talents blossomed with the encouragement of her husband well known film producer Ramakrishna in 1939 soon after entering the film world.

Political party leaders including Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, herself an actress of yesteryear, and various film personalities condoled the death of Bhanumathi and said the void caused by her death can not be fulfilled.

Several actors from the Tamil Film Industry paid homage to Bhanumathi, who was also a recepient of the 'Kalaimamani award'.

Tamil Nadu Minister D Jayakumar paid respects by placing a wreath on the body of Bhanumathi on behalf of the Chief Minister and on behalf of the State Government.

Those who paid their homage included actors Prabhu, Napolean, Y G Mahendra and yesteryear actresses Sarada and Manorama.

Actors Vijayakanth, who is the President of the South Indian Film Artistes Association, sent a condolence message to her family members and Secretary Sarath Kumar, MP, also paid their last respects to Bhanumathi.(UNI)

A year of great political churning for Bihar

PATNA, Dec 25: It was a year of great political churning in Bihar that saw the myth of RJD chief Lalu Prasad's non-vulnerability explode and a new order emerge under NDA leader Nitish Kumar, rekindling hopes in a state mired in abject poverty and lawlessness.

More than anything else, 2005 will be best remembered for the two epoch-making assembly polls held within a span of eight months which changed the course of history.

The year the saw the light of Lalu's green lantern (election symbol) fade after shining bright for 15 years, had its share of controversy and scandal.

The state saw the new regime only after two gruelling assembly elections in less than a year including the one for the still-born 13th assembly which got dissolved without being summoned even once.

The first polls saw the dislodging of Lalu raj, run by proxy through his Chief Minister wife Rabri Devi, and the second the decimation of the most enduring mascot of post-Mandal politics in an election he was fighting while out of power in the state for the first time in 15 years.

In the polls in February, though Lalu's RJD was ousted from power, it still emerged as the single largest party in the 243-member assembly with 75 MLAs as the electorate gave a badly fractured verdict.

Ramvilas Paswan's LJP, a partner in the Centre's ruling coalition, had 29 MLAs and spoiled Lalu's party as the dalit leader refused to play ball with either RJD or NDA, which had emerged as the largest pre-poll combination with 92 seats, paving the way for imposition of President's rule on March 7, eighth time in the state's history.

Still, NDA's Chief Ministerial choice Nitish Kumar did not not give up hope as he jockeyed for the top.

Paswan, having rejected Congress president Sonia Gandhi's advice for a rapprochement with Lalu, began making noises about JD(U) 'poaching' on his MLAs on April 10.

Joining the chorus, on April 26, Governor Buta Singh too said political parties were indulging in horsetrading to form government. After remaining in suspended animation for two months and a half, the 13th Assembly was dissolved on the midnight of May 22 after an emergency meeting of the union cabinet.

As NDA cried foul, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Governor Buta Singh and the whole of UPA claimed the house was dissolved in the face of "horsetrading of the worst kind" by the NDA. Though the NDA claimed 20 odd LJP MLAs had congregated at a resort in Jharkhand of their own accord to plan Government formation, the UPA alleged they were held in forcible confinement.

Lalu, once again, appeared a larger than life figure as NDA charged him with having "manipulated" the Governor and the union cabinet to "murder" democracy.

Allegations and counter-allegations notwithstanding, Lalu had managed to stall NDA's possible march to power.

Though cracks in his caste matrix did not not go unnoticed, Lalu had refused to accept defeat and so had his rival Nitish Kumar.

The elections for the 14th Vidhan Sabha were a long-drawn exercise spanning a month and the Election Commission ensured one of the most peaceful and fair polls in Bihar in years.

The high and mighty of Bihar politics, including Lalu, Rabri Devi, former speaker and Bihar PCC chief Sadanand Singh, Union Ministers Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Akhilesh Singh and even Maratha strongman and NCP leader Sharad Pawar were pulled up by Election Commission for violation of the model code of conduct.

Hundreds of civil and police officials were shifted and among them were Arun Chibber and Alok Raj, IG and DIG of CRPF who paid a midnight visit to Lalu on October 16, a couple of days before the first phase of poll.

Under administrative control of the Election Commission, the police arrested Vijay Prakash, RJD nominee and brother of union minister Jaiprakash Narain Yadav who was found moving around in his Jamui constitutency with firearms, cash and liquor bottles.

Jaiprakash ultimately had to resign from Government following issue of arrest warrant for his complicity in the "escape" of his brother and continues to be on the run.

On November 23 as poll results came in NDA headed for a thumping majority, Lalu conceded defeat and union minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh admitted "in hindsight, it appears we committed a grave mistake (by getting the house dissolved).

Nitish Kumar, the face of opposition's struggle against Lalu raj, and a former comrade in arms of the RJD strongman, came to power riding the crest of a massive wave for change.(PTI)

Bomb blasts preparedness training for
two lakh Delhi students

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: The October 29 serial bomb blasts in the national capital has sounded a wake-up call for the Delhi Government, which is all set to train over two lakh school students to face such threats.

As part of the YUVA School Adolescence Programme, about 900 Government school students will be trained in ways to detect bombs and how to take immediate steps thereafter.

The Government has also prepared two handbooks for imparting adolescence education, covering preparedness to handling bomb threats. The second volume, among other things has a chapter, "If there is a bomb threat."

The Government has formed a technical group comprising experts from different fields, which has started a training programme for the teachers this week on these subjects. The trained teachers will impart their skills to students in their respective schools.

"The course aims at equipping students to handle any problem they come across in their day to day life. They should know about preparedness to face a bomb incident, as terrorist activities seem to be on rise," Patanjali Dev Nayar, the Chairperson of the group told PTI.

The chapter has cited the October 29 bomb incidents in Delhi and highlighted how to handle such situations without panicking. The students will also learn ways of smooth evacuation from the school, Nayar said.

The chapter throws light on sensitive and vulnerable places that could be used by terrorists.

The chapter advises teachers on how to conduct a mock drill on bomb threats.

"The students constitute a major segment. They can do a lot in averting any untoward incident. The students will learn this topic under the adolecence education programme, which will be incorporated into their textbooks later," said a senior official of the Education Department.

The programme also increases awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention, steps for relief from stress.

About 4000 teachers from the Government schools will be trained during three - four months. (PTI)

Handbook of Human Rights and criminal justice in India

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: India where average literacy is 57 per cent and particularly in some regions like Bihar the official figure indicates only 47 per cent, to think about legal literacy will be irrelevant. Situation becomes pathetic when a common man has to face warrants, police-custody, detention, court-summons, and long lasting trails.

The South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC) has come forward and tried to help the citizen by compiling 'Handbook of Human Rights and Criminal Justice in India', keeping in mind their requirements at the time of distress.

"This is designed to assist in the protection of the civil and political rights of those people who are confronted with the criminal justice system. Civil and political rights are fundamental rights that provide for fair and equal treatment under the law, and protection against harm by the state," says the compiling team introducing the book.

This book provides an up to date review of the criminal procedure code, which is often considered lenghty and complex and has tried to set out the hierchial structure of the police and judiciary and their functions in the criminal justice system. It lucidly explains the provisions and rules that the police and courts must follow while dealing with criminal complaints.

This is a complete guide giving a clear account of the rights of citizens and non citizens, both in all relevant situations- including arrest, police investigation of an offence, detention before trial, seeking bail, search, interrogation and trial, the handbook is an important tool for negotiating the criminal justice system.

"Human rights are rights to which all human beings are entitled, simply because we are human. Our human rights are inalienable and they belong to all of us, whatever our caste, class, race, gender, religion, belief and should not be taken away from us under any circumstances," says the book introducing a common citizen's basic fundamental rights.

With 10 chapters, the compiling team, has introduced the book with definition of human rights and basic information on international law, civil and political rights of a common citizen and off course, how to use this hand book during tough times. It has tried to provide a human rights prospective on the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and also drawn attention on the implication of the errors and ommission that often occurs during the investigation and trial process.

Hand book's first chapter 'Criminal procedure and human rights in India' is really a good work. It contains an overview of the Indian criminal justice system and provides information on organisational setup of police and courts with a diagram.

The second chapter, which deals about FIR (First Information Report) outlines about what to do if a false FIR is lodged, or if the police refuses to register the FIR. It also provides a proper format of FIR, in which it should be lodged.

"A woman of any age and men under the age of fifty years should be questioned only at their home, unless they choose to be questioned at the police station," the book says in the chapter investigation, providing vital infornation on IO (investigating officers), summons during investigation, search warrants, reasons behind its issuance.

It also informs the manners in which search should be conducted and on what ground a citizen can refuse a search. It also deals with right of legal representation during search and seizures.

"Custodial violence by police is widespread in India. Both domestic and international human rights law impose strict parameters for the police's handling of detenus," says the book dealing with torture in the custody under chapter 'Dealing with the accused'.

It provides information on rights of people during arrest. It has guidelines on handcuffings during arrest and procedural safeguards during handcuffing. It also gives remedies for a person whose right has been violated during arrest.

"The purpose of criminal compensation is to compensate a victim of police brutality, or of a crime, for their suffering. It may be also awarded to the family and dependents of a victim in a case of murder," suggests the book on the entitlement of compensation if he is victimised of police torture.

This handbook also classifies the offences under Indian Penal Code (IPC) with all amendments made by the state with their nature, that is, whether it is bailable or non-bailable and before whom they will be produced if a case is registered against them under these sections.

Under 'glossary'section compilers have tried to convert the legal jargons used during trails, in simple words and a list of abbreviations used is also provided. (PTI)

CPI turns 80 today; will strive for Communist unity

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: The CPI, which turns 80 tomorrow, will strive for unity of the Communist parties, fight fascist forces and intensify mass movements to put pressure on the UPA Government to enact legislations to promote and defend the rights of women, minorities, dalits and tribals as part of a broadbased agenda for the coming days.

Buoyed by rapid socio-economic progress being made in China, Vietnam, Cuba and other Socialist countries, the Left party, which was founded in Kanpur on December 26, 1925, will also work relentlessly for achieving its goal of making India a world power in the 21st Century along with China and Russia for ensuring global peace and stability.

CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan told UNI on the eve of the Party's 80th Foundation Anniversary that "the two Communist parties-the CPI and the CPI(M) are the core as well as the base of the Left Front... Therefore, we cannot stop at the Left unity alone, as it is not the substitute for Communist unity and the need to strengthen the Indian Communist movement.''

Party National Secretary D Raja said, "In the given situation, we will have to strive hard for providing Left- Democratic alternative for which the Communist unity is imperative."

The Left party, which has got as many as 10 MPs in the Lok Sabha, has already started celebrating the party's 80 years in various parts of the country by holding meetings and related activities. It will also hold the 80th Foundation Anniversary in the national capital tomorrow evening wherein eminent political personalities, academicians, social activists and mass leaders will participate.

On the new political situation on the national scene, which makes a case for Communist unity, Mr Bardhan, argued that as long as there were two major parties, and a few others with existing rival mass organisations in every sphere and in every class and section of the people (a consequence of the Party split in 1964) some conflicts and differences would continue to appear from time to time.

"Though joint actions and coordinated bodies are there involving the mass organisations, they cannot unite unless the political leadership come together," the CPI veteran said.

It is to be noted that despite Mr Bardhan's passionate appeal for Communist unity, the 'big brother' the CPI(M), which has as many as 43 MPs in the Lok Sabha, has been cold to the proposal.

The CPI General Secretary, however admitted that some differences on certain ideological and policy issues between the CPI and the CPI(M), remains.

"But the differences are not static, they change with the movement and our joint actions. They can also be discussed and narrowed down. In the process the ideological level of the Communist ranks has to be raised," he said.

"An uncoordinated Left, or a divided communist movement cannot adequately perform the gigantic and historic tasks that are ahead," Mr Bardhan said adding that the need of the hour is to establish a secular, democratic combination an the urgent basis.

"It is the Left that has to be the backbone of such a combination or movement and act as a decisive and unifying force... It is a political issue, one of developing movement and struggles and not just an issue of coming together for winning a few seats. Nor is it an issue raised due to anybody's weakness." the CPI leader said, while stressing that "the split in the CPI in 1964 had adversely affected Indian Communist and Left movement."

On the immediate challenges before the Left parties, Mr Raja enlisted the political challenges as those of communalism, fascism, casteism, which he said, could be resisted by empowering women, dalits and tribals, youth and the unemployed.

"We also need to step up our work among the minorities," he said adding that these, in particular, the Muslims, looked upon the Left as the most steadfast champion of secularism and rights of minorities.

Mr Raja said, besides, the threat from the "fascist" forces the weakening of the national political parties in the Hindi heartland also played its part in pushing them in the "web of caste based parties," which has strengthened the trend of "vote bank politics."

He rejected media reports that the CPI was "withering" as incorrect. "We are gaining strength.. We are winning elections... we are one of the national parties, with nationwide presence... Young people are joining us," he asserted.

He pointed out that the CPI with the strength of 10 MP's in the Lok Sabha was also partner in the West Bengal, Manipur and Tripura Governments.

The CPI was not only in the forefront of country's independence movement but also a forerunner in unionising workers, Central and state governments' employees, women, students and youth, Mr Raja added.

(UNI)

Barring reservation row, a relatively peaceful year in HRD

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: It was an issue in the educational field that nearly brought the Supreme Court and Parliament on a collision course in 2005 which was also marked by controversy following a court verdict ending the minority character of Aligarh Muslim University.

The outgoing year 2005 was relatively peaceful in the high profile Human Resource Development Ministry after hectic actions witnessed in 2004 aimed at detoxifying the system following the exit of previous BJP-led NDA Government.

The year also saw suggestions for reservations for minorities in high educational institutions like IIT/IIMs which drew reactions for and against from political circles and academics.

Perturbed over the increasing incidents of suicides by students following stress in examination system, HRD Minister Arjun Singh had convened a series of meetings with academics which led to sweeping reforms to relieve the students from the problems of examination-related stress.

In a far reaching judgment on August 12 that saw all political parties coming together, the Apex Court had ruled that in unaided private institutions, including engineering and medical colleges, the States can neither impose reservation policy nor carve out its quota from the total number of seats.

The scrapping of reservation in unaided educational institutions by the Supreme Court came as a big blow to the Government which was often accused by the opposition as going all out to appease a section of the society.

Backed by a near consensus in the political class, the Union Cabinet had approved a proposal to amend the Constitution to restore reservation for Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in unaided private professional educational institutions.

The Constitution Amendment Bill, 2005, would enable the states to make reservation of seats for socially and educationally backward classes or for SCs and STs in educational institutions including the unaided private professional educational bodies, other than minority institutions, and to regulate their admission and fees.

Exemption of minority institutions kicked up a fresh controversy with main opposition BJP questioning the move. However, the bill was passed in the Parliament with BJP support while its amendment to drop the provision of exclusion of minority institutions was defeated by a majority vote.

The Arjun Singh-led HRD ministry, which trumpeted its work for the welfare of minority community, was put in a piquant situation when the Allahabad High Court quashed the minority character of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

The judgement also invalidated the notification of the Union Government allowing 50 per cent reservation for Muslim students in post-graduate professional courses, setting off a debate and putting Arjun Singh in a spot.

The Ministry also filed a review plea before the Division Bench of the High Court.

Another measure on which the UPA Government laid more focus was on the proposed Right to Education Bill which seeks to ensure free and compulsory education to children in the age group of 6-14.

In tune with Singh's effort to improve the education for minorities, a Standing Committee of the National Monitoring Committee for Minority Education (NMCME) has suggested proper reservation be made for admission of minority students in prestigious institutions like IIMs and IITs.

In a major relief to students seeking admission to prestigious IITs, the selection process was relaxed making 60 per cent marks in Class 12 as the new criteria for IIT selection, a move that was welcomed by various School Boards.

The Ministry argued the previous system was unduly advantageous to urban students at the cost of rural students, particularly girls, and the new eligibility criteria would broadbase the talent hunt for IITs.

The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) has approved the National Curriculum Framework for 2005 paving the way for preparation of a new school syllabus and textbooks from next academic session.

The year saw several measures proposed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) from next Board Examinations to make them "stress-free".

The measures include allowing students an extra 15 minutes time before the commencement of the examination to study the question papers which would have three hours duration and internal assessment in Mathematics, Sciences and Social Sciences based on project work and assignment.

The year 2005 also witnessed a spree of incentives and scholarships for girl child.

In a major initiative for girl education, the government has decided that every single girl child would be eligible for free education from standard six to 12 from the current financial year. All schools seeking affiliation to CBSE would have to give total fee waiver. (PTI)

Rape cases, sex scam made crime headlines in Guj

AHMEDABAD, Dec 25: Several rape incidents, the role of certain sadhus in a sex scandal and resurgence of the erstwhile woman don of Porbandar who was arrested after her two sons allegedly shot dead a political rival were the highlights of the crime scene in 2005.

Two policemen were arrested for allegedly raping a girl in Bhuj town of Kutch district and two seperate hospital attendants in Ahmedabad and Bhuj were arrested for molesting women who had come with patients earlier this year.

In February, a sex-on-CD scandal involving some sadhus of the Vadtal group of the Swaminarayan sect came to light and the accused priests were removed.

Police arrested those caught on camera and unearthed a deep rooted conspiracy in which some high priests were involved in the matter to shame others of a rival group.

After many years, the name of erstwhile don of coastal city of Porbandar, Santokhben Jadeja, known as 'Godmother' as a feature film was made on her life, also hit headlines in March when her two sons allegedly shot dead a BJP corporator to settle an old score.

Santokben Jadeja, who had fled from her hometown after the murder was arrested in this connection.

The year also got a major breakthrough for Gujarat police in the 1993 RDX landing case at the Gujarat border that was later used for the Mumbai serial blasts.

Police first got hold of Umarmiyan Bukhari, a smuggler and an aide of Dawood Ibrahim, after he was deported from Dubai and then arrested a similar wanted men Ijju Sheikh from Mumbai.

The law also caught up with a tainted Guajrat BJP minister Prabhatsinh Chauhan against whom police filed a chargesheet in connection with a Kherwood smugglng case of 2001.

Cricket betting and bookies also made news in May with the arrest of a top notch bookie from Mumbai and then one from Ahmedabad during the Indo-Lanka one-day series. Crime branch police here arrested one Arjun Nihalchandani alias Sindhi, an associate of Mumbai based bookie Shobhan Mehta.

After being pulled up by the Supreme Court for failing to arrest the main accused in the Naroda-Patiya massacre of post-Godhra riots the Gujarat police swung into action and nabbed Tinu Marathi, who has been on the run since the incident, from Mumbai.

Several others are yet to be arrested in this case and the trial has been stayed at present by the apex court.

Gujarat police gunned down Sohrabuddin Sheikh a sharpshooter allegedly sent by Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba to eliminate 'some' leader.

However, Sheikh, who was wanted in murder cases in Rajasthan and some other districts, was shot dead in a gun battle with police.

Police arrested an aide of Chota Shakeel from the city Mohammed Hanif alias Butter allegedly extorted money from two Bollywood personalities in 2001 apart from many other persons on behalf of Shakeel and was in Gujarat to eliminate someone.

The phrase 'love is blind' was true in the case of a girl in Bhuj town when her fiance tried to kill her by driving a car over. The girl lay in front of his car as her fiance said he wanted to test the love she had for him. The girl miraculously survived the ordeal and lodged a case against him after which the accused was arrested. (PTI)

Legal outsourcing - bubble or reality?

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: Outsourcing is gradually becoming the backbone of Indian service sectors. In the last fiscal India earned 6.7 billion USD by providing services in software, technology and manufacturing outsourcing.

Legal services are the next destination for a "cool" BPO. According to a study by the US based Forester Research, the current annual value of legal outsourcing which is worth 80 million USD can rise up to four billion USD and can fetch 79,000 jobs in India by 2015.

"The benefit of the outsourcing companies in the US would translate into a cost saving of about 10-12 per cent. The potential of the Indian resources to absorb the increasing demand in legal outsourcing is because India enjoys the economic advantages of the wage difference and less perks and overheads," the report says.

National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) also projected that Legal Processing Outsourcing providers (LPOs) in India will soon rise up to three-four billion USD.

But this glossy figure has many challenges ahead. The most important challenge to the newly-born sector is the need for Indian lawyers to pass US Bar exams, conflict of interest rules and data security.

"Legal outsourcing is different from any other knowledge process outsourcing in a fundamental sense. In most jurisdictions lawyers have to be qualified and enrolled in order to advise their clients. Lawyers have to be licensed to practice law (within a certain jurisdiction). Hence legally, one cannot advise, as a lawyer, on laws one is not licensed to practice.

"Similarly, one cannot wholly sub-contract one's legal work to non-lawyers in other jurisdictions," says Sumeet Kachwaha of Kachwaha and Partners.

Still the work is of a secretarial nature and includes patent drafting, legal research, contract review and monitoring. However, experts are hoping to receive high-end sophisticated contracts, which require a strong legal base of international standards.

On the flip-side, the Indian Advocates Act, which deals with the professional conduct of lawyers, does not support work for other countries.

On the bright side, certain branches of law, which are of a global nature, like Intellectual Property laws (patents and trademarks) can give LPOs a filip in their endeavour.

Even, in specific laws governing companies and trade in securities, which hugely differ from one country to another, may limit LPOs to paralegal and secretarial work.

"As per Bar Council Rules, a lawyer cannot take another job while he is on the roll. He would have to get his licence suspended as a pre-condition. Lawyers would not be able to take employment in legal outsourcing outfits without having to give up their right to be called 'lawyers'," says Sumeet, indicating that it will be difficult for LPOs to retain the interest of its employees in such a case.

Meanwhile, Khaitan & Co, a leading law firm from Kolkata has already started an LPO by floating a new company 'Neoworth' and engaged 10 US-enrolled lawyers.

"Although the legal system in India and US are different, the analysis part of the work is the same. We are ready to receive high-end jobs," says Pinto Khaitan, partner of the Khaitan & Co.

Many lawyers are thinking on the lines of Khaitan. According to them, an Indian lawyer can be as good as his American counterpart in US Federal laws if properly trained in US law. What is required of an attorney, either Indian or American, is not that he should be aware of all laws and regulations but that he should be ready to acquire that knowledge.

"Documentation, standard agreements, plaints, etc, can be drawn up in India, quickly processed and implemented through a BPO," says Asha Nayar Basu of S Jalan & company.

But not all of Basu's friends agree with her.

"Such businesses will be operated mostly by existing BPOs, junior advocates with an entrepreneurial bent of mind and probably smaller law firms. The larger law ones will not be interested in taking such work as they may not find it intellectually stimulating and rewarding," says Diljeet Titus of Titus & Co.

Another group reject this idea for a reason more impersonal - technical problems. (PTI)

NDA hails one month in power, but RJD, Congress differ

PATNA, Dec 25: The completion of one month in power of the NDA in Bihar has been described by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as a good beginning during which the Government has reached a stage of take off, but the opposition RJD and Congress disagreed and hoped little from them.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said though one month is little time for the new Government to do much, it's a good beginning. The new Government has reached a stage of take off to take Bihar to the path of development and growth.

Best part of the story is that in the past 30 days of the NDA coming to power the people are feeling relieved in the new enviornment and craving for development work, CM's Public Relations Officer Anil Chaudhary said quoting him.

After reviewing work of their departments all the ministers are working over-time to deliver goods, the CM said reassuring the people to bring Bihar back on the path of development.

Road Construction and Tourism Minister Nand Kishore Yadav, who is also state NDA Convenor, said the good point of the new Government was that unlike in the past when the power was confined to 1 Anne Marg, from where RJD supremo Lalu Prasad ran the gvernment by proxy, Nitish Kumar has given free hand to his ministers. +As a result all the ministers are working over-time to live to the expectation of the CM, he added.

But, the opposition RJD and Congress differed.

RJD National Spokesman and a former minister Shivanand Tiwari told PTI today lathicharge on the agitating teachers yesterday summed up the achievments of the Government in one month.

Congress legislature party leader in the assembly Ashok Kumar said notwithstanding drum beating by the CM about development works, nothing is visible on the ground.

Nitish Kumar cited foundation laying of extension centre of Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) in Patna and his fruitful talks with Union Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh for setting up an IIT type institute in Bihar as start of development work.

Talking about his PWD department, Nand Kishore Yadav said he has directed to fill all the potholes and craters of the national highways in the state by January end to make them motorable. Likewise, many proposals in the field of power, health, scienc and technology have been approved and work set to start.

RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari said though 30 days is a short time to assess performance of a new government. But, the way hapless teachers were beaten by police yesterday here while they were agitating in support of their demands for increasing their honorariums, on the day the government completed its one month augured ill for the state, he said.

Tiwari referred to kiling of five persons of a minority community in east Champaran and spate of kidnapping and other crimes in the state capital and elsewhere to puncture Nitish Kumar's promise to make Bihar crime-free in three months.

It seems the feudal forces who were forced by the previous RJD regime to live in hiding have come overground and with the patronage of the new Government oppressing the poor and downtrodden, he said fearing return of pre-1990 era in Bihar. (PTI)

Who will issue next Tsunami warning?

HYDERABAD, Dec 25: As the first anniversary of Tsunami falls tomorrow, a question that is being asked is who will issue the warning if another Tsunami strikes the Indian Ocean.

After the disaster on December 26 last year, the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) in Hawaii are keeping watch under an interim arrangement with UNESCO.

Now both agencies want to withdraw.

UNESCO's Inter-Governmental Coordination Group (ICG) for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation that met in Hyderabad two weeks ago acknowledged the desire of both JMA and PTWC to withdraw.

But the ICG has asked them to continue their watch until enough countries in the Indian Ocean region built up their capacity to take on the role.

But how long will this take? According to Patricio Bernal, UNESCO Assistant Director-General, nations in the Indian Ocean will attain the capability to confirm a tsunami by as early as September 2006 though a full-fledged system will be in place by 2008.

Indonesia, India, Australia, Thailand and Malaysia are all rushing to build Tsunami detection systems between 2007 and 2009.

The Hyderabad meeting, however, made it clear that they should pass an accreditation test before being designated by UNESCO as countries capable of detecting tsunamis.

Even if they develop the capability, these accredited countries can act only as watch providers and cannot issue warning or advisory across the region. In other words, there will be no common alarm as in the case of the Pacific Ocean.

The ICG said it did not want any country or countries to take on the role of issuing alerts or advisories for the rest of Indian Ocean as it thought the proposal had "overly controlling connotations."

According to recommendations adopted at the meeting, the responsibility of issuing a Tsunami warning is that of an individual country.

It can do so on the basis of its own seismic and tide gauge data or on the basis of details of events obtained from watch providers under bilateral agreements.

A country can have bilateral arrangements with as many watch providers as it pleased which means it has to choose from several advisories before alerting its own people about an impending tsunami.

Some say the proposal might lead to chaos. (PTI)