No specific guidelines for examining clemency pleas: MHA

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Amidst a raging debate on the issue of mercy petition of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru, the Union Home Ministry has said there can be no specific guidelines for examining such pleas.

No specific guidelines can be framed for examining the mercy petitions as the power under Article 72 of the Constitution is of the widest amplitude and can contemplate myriad kinds and categories of cases with facts and situations varying from case to case, the Home Ministry has explained.

The MHA’s view assumes significance as it comes in the wake of the BJP-led opposition targetting the Government accusing it of dragging its feet on the mercy plea of Afzal, who has been given death penalty by the Supreme Court in the Parliament attack case.

At present, 23 mercy petitions are pending — two for less than a year, eight for one to three years and 13 for over three years.

According to the MHA, the broad guidelines generally considered while examining mercy petitions are personality of the accused such as age, sex or mental deficiency, or circumstances of the case, conduct of the offender and medical abnormality falling short of legal insanity.

Figures available with the Home Ministry show that during the last decade, the President has rejected seven mercy petitions and commuted the sentences of two, while in the previous decade out of 45 petitions 41 were rejected and four commuted.

During 1975-84, 173 petitions were received out of which 121 were rejected and 52 communted. The highest number of 1,034 cases were received between 1965 and 1974. While 491 cases were rejected, 543 were commuted.

Among the 23 death-row prisoners whose clemency petitions are pending with the President, five are from Uttar Pradesh, four from Tamil Nadu, two each from Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Delhi, including that of Afzal.

A petition each has been recieved from Punjab, Assam, Bihar, Uttaranchal, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan and Jharkhand. (PTI)

Dera Baba Nanak Brigade remembers 1971 heroes

BATALA, Dec 5: Commemorating the anniversary of capturing of the Dera Baba Nanak Bridage by the Indian Army on Decemdber 05, 1971, the Dera Baba Nanak (DBN) brigade today organised a nymber of events, including a wreath laying ceremony, here and at DBN War Memorials and a Barakhana in the Tibri cantonment.

Several senior retired offcers of the units who had participated in the 1971 war, senior military and civil officers including General Officer Commanding, Panther Division; Commander DBN Brigade, Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur, and officials from the police and paramilltary forces attended the functions, a defence relse said.

Named after the first Sikh Guru, Dera Baba Nanak is a strategically important town near the international border with Pakistan. At the time of out break of hostilities in 1971, a double-decker rail and road bridge over river ravi connected Dera Baba Nanak to the Pakistani town of Narowal. The bridge was of strategic importance and was strongly held by Pakistan.

Displaying undaunted courage, initiative and leadership, the gallant men of the brigade launched an offensive into ememy territory on the night of 05-06 December 1971 and in spite of heavy enemy resistance captured the bridge by early morning of December 6, 1971, thus thwarting enemy’s plan of any offensive in the area.

On December 6, 1971, the brigade had the proud privilge of being the first formation to hoist the tricolour in the captured territory of western Pakistan. During the battle, enemy suffered killing of 34 personnel and 26 enemy soldiers were captured. Our forces suffered a loss of 10 killings, 32 wounded and 3 missing.

The brigade was awarded the ‘battle honour of Dera Baba Nanak’ for suceessful accomplishment of "operation Akal’ and the gallant officers and men of the brigade were awarded 3 Mahavir Chakras, 7 Veer Chakras, 15 Sena Medals and 14 memtion in Despatches.

DBN brigade also saluted the local poputation, which exhibited unflinching determination and extended tacit support to the DBN brigade in infilicting a devastating defeat on the adversary, the release said. (PTI)

No compromise with aviation security : Govt assures RS

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: The Government today assured that there would be no compromise with safety of airline passengers or the security of aviation infrastructure and said it had decided to induct new aircraft.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said in Rajya Sabha during question hour that strict safety norms were being applied by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the ITBP was responsible for the overall security of airports in the country.

He, however, parried a question on whether the Government had entrusted the security of an airport to a foreign (Greek) national but said many foreign pilots flew Indian aircraft and no foreign national was employed in aviation with the Home Ministry’s clearance.

Asserting that the Indian Airlines was on "high growth trajectory" the minister said the airlines was doing its best to cope with the shortage of pilots and aircraft as a result of ageing of the fleet. (UNI)

Shortage of Judges most acute in UP

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Uttar Pradesh ranks highest in terms of shortage of Judges with 748 posts still to be filled against a sanctioned strength of 2,172 for District Courts in the state.

This accounts for more than 28 per cent of nationwide shortage of 2,655 Judges against the total sanctioned strength of 14,305 across the country, according to official figures.

In terms of Judges shortage, Uttar Pradesh was followed by Bihar with a figure of 472 against the sanctioned strength 1163 for the state.

Yet further down are Maharashtra with (216), Karnataka (138), West Bengal (110), Rajasthan (106), Madhya Pradesh (106). The remaining states have two-figure shortage.

In states like Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland and Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli Judges worked in full strength.

The Judges to population ratio still stood at 13 per ten lakh people against the required 50 Judges per ten lakh people in the country.

The onus of filling posts of Judges at district level courts lies with State Governments and respective High Courts and the Centre has written to them that all vacant positions should be filled.

As for the High Court, the shortage figure stood at 71 against the sanctioned strength of 686 Judges and a review of shortage, which is carried out every three years, is pending this year.

In the Supreme Court, there is a shortage of four Judges against the total sanctioned strength of 26 Judges.

Apart from shortage of Judges, the pendency of cases can be ascribed to factors such as increase in number of cases, new laws, rise in population, heightened awareness among citizens of their legal rights, adjournments, lawyers strikes, increase in socio-economic matters, legal and administrative aspects touching the lives of the citizens. (PTI)

LS begins on humourous note

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Proceedings in Lok Sabha today started on a lighter note when an innocuous comment from Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and a repartee by Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi led to peals of laughter in the House.

As soon as the House assembled at 11 am, Shiromani Akali Dal members, led by S S Dhindsa, tried to raise a matter and sought the Speaker’s permission.

Chatterjee replied "I will allow you to raise it at 12 noon".

A smiling Dasmunsi immediately stood up to tell the Speaker "Sir, you should say that you will allow them only after the question hour instead of 12 noon", drawing laughter from the members.

To this, Chatterjee said "I don’t know what problem `12 noon’ has. But in case I have committed a mistake, I withdraw".

Amid bouts of laughter, Dhindsa acceded to the Speaker’s request prompting Chatterjee to say "this reflects the spirit of cooperation with the chair". (PTI)

SAD, BJP stage walkout in LS on Punjab land scam issue

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), led by Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, and the BJP today staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha in protest against the Government’s refusal to order a CBI inquiry into what they called a Rs 2,000 crore land scam in Punjab.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Mr Dhindsa said the Amrinder Singh-led Congress Government in Punjab had in 2002 sold 120 acres of land in mohali to a private party for setting up a shopping mall in violation of the laws governing forest land.

Mr Dhindsa and BJP deputy leader in the House, Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra, demanded a CBI inquiry into the scam as was done in the case of the Taj Corridor Project.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi objected to the opposition members raising the subject as it related entirely to the State Government. The House had the tradition of discussing only issues relating to communal riots, atrocities on SC and ST and threat to national unity even if these related to the states.

Earlier, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee allowed Mr Dhindsa as a special case to air his views on the issue before a calling attention motion listed for the day was taken up.

While the BJP members walked out of the House immediately after Mr Dasmunsi’s remarks, the SAD members trooped into the well and had a heated argument with the Speaker before following the Principal opposition party. (UNI)

Exam system simplified to prevent suicide
by school students

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: In a bid to reduce exam-related stress and prevent suicide by school students, helplines have been launched and changes brought about in pattern of question papers and curriculum, the Government told the Lok Sabha today.

These steps, including counselling and simplification of syllabus, have been taken by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to bring down stress among students at the time of exams, Minister of State for HRD M A A Fatmi said during the question hour.

Noting that number of suicides was not alarming, he said such cases involved mainly students from 10th and 12th classes. He, however, said information on trend of suicide cases due to exam-related reasons was not maintained by the government.

Replying to questions, fatmi listed out eight major steps taken by CBSE to reduce stress among student including helpline before exams and results, 15 minutes additional time for reading question papers and restructuring of papers so that they can be answered "comfortably" in 2 hours and 30 minutes even though three hours are allotted.

Other measures were simplification of question papers, proper weightage to internal school assessment on project work and assignments in subjects like maths, social science and science and technology, publication of sample question papers and providing three chances of compartment examination for 10th and 12th classes.

Fatmi also told the House that a new curriculum framework has been introduced to reduce load of schoolbag on younger students besides laying emphasis on training of teacher to bring down this burden. (PTI)

Govt denies reports of design missing from Balco

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: The Government today denied media reports that designs, drawings and research papers relating to the manufacture of special plates body covers of fighter aircraft missiles and space shuttle accessories are missing from BALCO, Kobra.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha Mines Minister Sis Ram Ola said Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) which was privatised durng the NDA regime has informed that it is in the business of manufacture of primary aluminium in the form of ingots, sheets, plates, slabs and billets. For manufacture of these, the company has not been provided any designs, drawings and research papers relating to the manufacture of special plates, body covers of fighter aircraft missiles and space shuttle accessories. (UNI)

Karna Govt to limit use of BPL cards for
procuring foodgrains

BANGALORE, Dec 5: Karnataka Government was contemplating to limit the use of Below Poverty Line ration cards for procuring subsidised foodgrains only, as it is largely being used as an authenticated document to gain benefits under various schemes the government.

Even after distributing cards to 63 lakh BPL families, the government has received 64 lakh applications from aspirants of the card, which is used to derive welfare schemes, including sanction of loans, free text books and school uniforms, Karnataka Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Govind M Karjol told reporters here today.

"I have written to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to declare that BPL card holders can get foodgrains at subsidised prices and need not produce it for gaining other welfare benefits", he said.

There was not much demand for APL (Above Poverty Line) ration cards which served only for identification purpose, Karjol said.

In the wake of complaints regarding non-distribution of BPL cards to eligible poor, the Government has decided to dispose of 64 lakh grievance petitions it has received in this regard by this month end.

He said several persons have been making efforts to secure BPL cards furnishing false data and steps would be taken to ensure that only eligble get the facility, he said. (PTI)

SP, AIADMK MPs make attempt to raise issue on FM

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: The AIADMK and Samajwadi Party MPs today made an attempt to raise an issue in the Rajya Sabha concering Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

Soon after Question Hour the MPs belonging to the Samajwadi Party and AIADMK made separate attempts to raise the issue but were firmly put down by Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan saying their notices which were in the form of allegation and the Minister’s reply were under consideration of Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

The Chairman has to fix the date and time for taking up the issue and it was not proper for him to allow a discussion in the House, the Deputy Chairman said.

AIADMK MP N Jyoti’s attempt to make a brief reference was put down by the Chair. (UNI)

George Fernandes turns up at Mamata’s hunger strike

KOLKATA, Dec 5: After BJP President Rajnath Singh, it was the turn of NDA Convenor, George Fernandes to join ally Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee today at the site of her indefinite fast here against acquisition of farmland for the Tata Motors small car plant at Singur.

"The fight against farmland acquisition is not a fight of a province or community or society. We have to take this struggle to the national level," said Fernandes speaking on the same lines as Rajnath Singh who yesterday promised to fight both in and outside Parliament on the issue of Singur and asked the Tatas to reconsider putting up their plant there.

Pilloring the Left Front government’s handling of the situation and police ‘atrocities’ at Singur on Saturday, Fernandes said "the CPI(M) had once taken up cudgels for farmers, but now they are shooting farmers."

Stating that the CPI(M) also supported the ‘anti-people’ Congress-led UPA government at the Centre," he said "what is happening here is a reflection of the American economic and political policies."

Alleging that the Prime Minister was a ‘pensioner’ of the World Bank, Fernandes said "he is upholding these policies."

Banerjee, who had recently distanced herself from the BJP in the state and moved closer to the Congress, went on hunger-strike at busy Dharamtolla area yesterday after Left Front Government did not heed her 24-hour deadline to stop fencing work and remove the huge police deployment at Singur for the fencing work which is nearing completion.

No Congress leader turned either yesterday or today at the TC chief’s side.

Fernandes alleged that the UPA Government was "trying to sell the country". "The Marxists are taking a leading role and the Congress at the Centre are with them."

Asking the Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee to come clean on the land deal, he said "the industries which are buying the land are not give anything in writing on what they propose to do with the land."

He claimed that after taking possession they might take up projects to serve only the interests of multi-nationals.

"The same thing is happening in the area of retail trade. In Delhi small shop owner are are being evicted and the police fire when there are protests," he said.

"The Government is serving the big capitalists, Tatas, Birlas and Ambanis," he claimed.

He said that the fight against agricultural land acquisition for industrial use was part of a larger movement. "We can win only if we fight all over the country," the NDA leader said. (PTI)

Govt plans to conduct linguistic survey of India

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: The Government proposes to conduct a linguistic survey of the country over the next ten years.

The total budgetary requirement for the exercise has been estimated at Rs 280 crore during the 11^{th Plan period and at Rs 308 crore during the 12th Plan, Minister for State for HRD D Purandeswari told Lok Sabha in a written reply today.}

^{She said the ‘Linguistic Survey of India’ report is likely to be available after ten years of its commissioning.}

^{The Minister informed that there are about 350 languages in the country that have fewer than 10,000 speakers and some of them are on the verge of extinction.}

^{There is a proposal before the Government for a scheme for protection and development of endangered and smaller languages on the lines of the existing schemes for languages included in the Eighth Schedule.}

^{The Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, has worked on documentation of at least 45 minor languages, the Minister said.}

^{Polytechnics: The Government is setting up polytechnics in backward districts for expansion of technical education.}

^{In a written reply to the House, Purandeswari said the Government has identified certain districts on the basis of criteria like educationally backward minority concentration areas, Schedule V and VI areas, female literacy less than 10 per cent and Integrated Tribal Development Project Area districts, where polytechnics will be set up.}

^{Commission: The Government proposes to set up a National Translation Mission to create employment opportunities for translators and interpreters, Purandeswari said.}

^{The National Knowledge Commisison has recommended setting up of the mission to the Planning Commission, she said.}

^{The estimated budgetary requirement for setting up the mission is Rs 250 crore. (PTI)}