Rs 24 lakh spent on anniversaries of
Gandhi, Bose in 2007-08

NEW DELHI, Apr 24: As the 63-year-old debate on whether Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose "died" in a plane crash continues, the Centre has said it has spent a huge amount on observing the "death" anniversary of the revolutionary leader.

This was revealed in a reply to an RTI application by activist Debashish Bhattacharya seeking information on how much money the Government had spent on spreading the message of 38 national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Bose.

In reply to the RTI application, Mattu J P Singh, Chief Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the DAVP, said the Government spent Rs 24 lakh on the advertisements and publicity for the "birthdays and death anniversaries" of Gandhi and Bose during 2007-08.

The reply gave the amounts spent on the "birthdays and death anniversaries" of the two leaders since 2003-04 and a total amount of Rs 95.5 lakh was spent for the purpose in the last five years.

The theory that Bose died in a plane crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945 has been a matter of controversy as his admirers are yet to believe that he was killed in the accident.

The Mukherjee Commission, set up by Government to probe into the matter, also said in its 2006 report that DNA tests showed that the ashes at Japan’s Renkoji temple did not belong to Bose.

The Commission also said Taiwan had informed it that no plane had crashed in the country in 1945.

When contacted, the CPIO, asked to specify when the advertisements for the death anniversary of Bose were put out, said: "We have not bifurcated the amount and we will need time to do that."

However, Bhattacharya said that in reply to one of his previous RTI applications, the DAVP had stated that "no advertisement has been released by it on January 23, 2007 on the occasion of birth anniversary of Bose. However, telecast of a video spot of six seconds was done free of cost by DD News."

But in the subsequent reply, the DAVP stated that it spent Rs 19.5 lakh during 2006-07 on advertisements for Gandhi and Bose.

"There is no evidence till date which can establish Bose’s death and the figures mentioned regarding the expenditure are therefore a farce," Bhattacharya said.

Moreover, the names of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and freedom fighters Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Rabindranath Tagore, Lala Lajpat Rai and Chandrashekar Azad do not find mention in the list of the departed leaders whose birth/death anniversary are observed in the country. (PTI)

Foot and Mouth disease cause USD
5 bn revenue loss in India

BANGALORE, Apr 24: India annually suffers a staggering revenue loss of about Rs 20,000 crore due to Foot and Mouth Disease that afflicts the bovine population, according to an expert.

The disease, which is yet to be controlled, has been claiming the lives of livestock, besides impacting on milk production, Chairman of BIOVET, a Hyderabad based integrated biotechnology company, Dr Krishna Ella said here.

Biovet has launched Asia’s first bio safety level 4 (bsl-4) facility that enables product development and manufacturing of FMD vaccine.

Ella said that unless FMD was eradicated, it would spell doom for the rural economy in India, as livestock contributed USD 6.71 billion per annum, accounting for 25 per cent of the country’s agricultural output.

Milk production of 84 million tonnes a year contributed Rs 1.02 lakh crore to the economy and India was set to become the world’s largest food factory, valued at USD 140 billion by 2009, he said.

Commenting on the vaccine production scenario for livestock, Ella said that a majority of the biological units are now owned either by states, the Centre or cooperatives.

"Due to lack of vision, finance and containment facility they are unable to cope up with emerging diseases and market requirements," he pointed out.

Production of vaccines like FMD required BSL-3 or BSL-4 containment facility, he added.

Such a bio-containment facility is required to protect the personnel from bio-hazard, to prevent contamination of air and environment, contamination of waste water with soil, avoid underground water pollution with biohazard, Ella said.

It is also required to avoid economic loss to the nation and eradicate diseases and above all, to help national security (bio-terrorism), he said.

The facility aims to protect the sub-sustenance income of rural farmers. "It is important to note here that farmers, who in addition to agriculture, are into animal husbandry, do not commit suicide as it provides hard cash even during adversity", he said.

"This the main reason why less number of farmers in Karnataka commit suicide, since they distribute their risk on agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry", Ella said.

On the export scenario, he said FMD prevents India from exporting sheep and goat meet. In fact, many countries have banned milk products from India due to FMD.

Except in North America, Australia and New Zealand, where FMD has been totally eradicated, it is largely prevalent in UK, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Middle East, Irag, Iran and Russia. (PTI)

Patil for quicker compiling of census data

NEW DELHI, Apr 24: With release of census data taking four to eight years from the date of completion of the exercise, Home Minister Shivraj Patil today said efforts should be made to complete the task in two to three years.

"It should be our endeavour to squeeze the time further and complete the release of 2011 data in maximum two to three years from the date of completion of census," he said opening the two-day Data Users’ Conference for Census 2011.

He said this could be possible with use of technology not only at the stage of data capture and data processing, but even for pre-census planning and actual census taking.

Patil pointed out that after the 1991 census, it took eight years to release the data while after the 2001 census, it took four to five years.

With the population of the country expected to be nearly 1.20 billion by 2011, he described as phenomenal the task of taking count of such a large population across the length and breadth of the country.

He said that looking to the wide ranging utility of the data, it was essential that census count was both complete and accurate. "There is no retake in the census and it has to be right the first time," he said.

The Home Minister said a committee headed by the Registrar General of India has been set up for strictly enforcing accountability of those involved in census taking. "This is vital to make the census data authentic and unquestionable," he said.

Referring to the delimitation exercise which has been completed for most of the states, Patil said doubts have been raised about the population count in 2001 census in certain states.

"I am told that this is partly due to the fact that the census in the country is conducted on a de-facto method and not de-jure method," he said.

As a result, Patil said, the population is counted wherever they are found to be living during the three weeks’ census taking.

But, with the increasing mobility and consequent inter-state migration of people, this approach of de-facto method had a limitation of giving lower count of state, district and area from which the population might have migrated in search of work during the lean period, he said.

"Therefore, a method must be found to allocate such temporary migrants to the respective state, district or area to which they belong. Otherwise the count in that area will remain lower," the Home Minister said.

He said the 2011 census was also poised to become a challenge because the Government was contemplating to use the opportunity to dovetail the preparation of National Population Register (NPR) with it.

The data in the NPR will have specified characteristics of each individual along with the photograph and finger biometrics which will be added subsequent to the census, he said adding that the Governemnt was planning to set up an authority for handling and management of the database. (PTI)

Nine doctors suspended for
refusing to admit pregnant woman

KANPUR, Apr 24: Nine doctors, including the chief medical officer, of a maternity hospital here have been suspended following their refusal to admit a pregnant woman, whose new born child died after she delivered at the hospital’s door.

Chief Minister Mayawati, who took serious view of the alleged carelessness on the part of the doctors by refusing to admit pregnant Maya Devi, yesterday ordered suspension of the chief medical officer of Indian Sugar Exchange Maternity Hospital.

Maya Devi, a resident of Tilharh village of Banda district, delivered the baby just outside the hospital, her family said, adding though she was later admitted to the hospital, the new born child died.

Anand Swaroop, principal of the medical college attached to the hospital, said that eight other doctors, including some junior doctors, besides the chief medical officer, have been suspended for not admitting the patient.

A team of three senior doctors has been constituted to probe the matter and it will submit the report shortly, he said.

Mayawati also announced financial assistance of Rs one lakh to Maya Devi’s family.

She directed all Government hospitals of the state to take measures to stop recurrence of such incidents and warned of stern action in case of lapses.

District Magistrate Anil Sagar has also ordered a separate inquiry and provided financial assistance of Rs 25,000 to the victim. (PTI)

UP Govt initiates legal action against 24 retd bureaucrats

ALLAHABAD, Apr 24: The Uttar Pradesh Government has initiated legal action against 24 retired bureaucrats for their alleged involvement in fraudulent acquisition of Government land.

"Cases have been registered in the civil court here against 24 retired bureaucrats for having allegedly using their influence in purchase of Government land in the city", Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Sadar), Allahabad, Ashutosh Dwivedi said.

The SDM said the "irregularities mainly consisted of gross undervaluation of the Government plots, while these were purchased by the officers, compared to the then prevailing market rate".

He said the retired officers, who belonged to IAS, IPS and provincial civil and police services, had been posted in Allahabad at some point of time and had allegedly purchased government land in their own name or in the names of their family members during their tenure in the district.

"Most of these land plots are situated in posh localities of the city and their total worth in terms of the current prices could be more than Rs 100 crore. In most cases, the officers have erected massive constructions after their superannuation on the land wrongfully purchased by them while they were still in service", Dwivedi alleged.

In order to ensure that the trial in each case is completed expeditiously, the State Government has made a special budgetary allocation of Rs eight lakh to the district administration, the SDM added.

In addition to the 24 retired bureaucrats already facing trial, names of six "deceased" civil servants also figure among those found to be allegedly involved in similar illegal purchase of land and legal opinion was being sought to decide as to under which penal section their cases could be tried, Dwivedi said.

He said the irregularities had come to light way back in 2006 though concrete action was taken only recently.

Action against the retired officials will send a clear message that corrupt officials will not be spared even if they manage to escape from the clutches of law during their service period, he added. (PTI)

Deadlock in RS over Baalu issue; Row
over AIADMK MP’s removal

NEW DELHI, Apr 24: Business in Rajya Sabha was today deadlocked with the opposition objecting to the removal of AIADMK leader V Maitreyan from the House after he sought the Prime Minister’s response to charges against his cabinet colleague T R Baalu for favouring his sons’ firms.

As soon as the House assembled for the post-lunch sitting, BJP and Third Front members were on their feet protesting against the removal of Maitreyan by Chairman Hamid Ansari in the morning by invoking a rarely used rule against the member.

They wanted the issue to be resolved before any other business was taken up and stalled the proceeding for 80 minutes.

After the prolonged logjam, marked by slogan shouting and clashes between the ruling and opposition benches, P J Kurien, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House for the day leaving the issue to be sorted out by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) headed by the Chairman.

Baalu had yesterday admitted that he had "put in a word" with Petroleum Minister to get natural gas allocation to two companies owned by his sons.

Earlier, when the House met in the morning, Maitreyan demanded a response from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was present in the Upper House.

When the Chairman disallowed his plea and asked him not to disrupt the proceedings, Maitreyan, supported by his party colleagues, refused to relent and continued to press for a "clarification from the Prime Minister."

Ansari then warned him that he would invoke Rule 255 saying "this is disorderly behaviour.... Unbecoming of a Parliamentarian."(PTI)

Patel proves to be saviour of Question Hour in LS

NEW DELHI, Apr 24: Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel saved the Question Hour for the Lok Sabha today.

The House faced a problem as NDA members, who were slated to ask questions, stayed away from the Question Hour to protest against rising inflation.

However, Patel utilised the opportunity to answer supplementaries on diverse issues which were not even related to the main question with the backing of Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

The absence of BJP-led NDA saw TDP’s K Yerrannaidu as the lone member on the opposition benches who posed the main question on double taxation on airline tickets.

With members, against whose names the first 12 questions were listed, remaining absent, Yerrannaidu’s query helped the House to continue the Question Hour.

Patel, who fielded questions for almost 20 minutes, was his suave best as he replied to supplementaries on a range of issues from lack of airport facilities in north-east from irrepressible S K Bwiswmuthiary (Ind) to Rupchand Pal’s (CPM) query on the observation of the Karnataka High Court on airports in Bangalore.

"How does it relate? You are taking liberty," the Speaker remarked on some supplementaries but relented saying he would not have allowed such questions on a "normal day."

Incidentally, the Speaker took up the first question at the fag end of the Question Hour after the BJP-led NDA members returned to the House. (PTI)

HC notice to Delhi Govt over Shivani murder convict’s plea

NEW DELHI, Apr 24:The Delhi High Court today sought a response from the Delhi Government on an appeal filed by a convict in the Shivani Bhatnagar murder case challenging a trial court’s order sentencing him to life imprisonment.

Admitting the appeal of Pradeep Sharma, Justices Vikaramjit Sen and R S Endlaw directed the city government to file its response by May 28.

Advocate D B Goswami, appearing for Sharma, contended the sessions court had wrongly convicted him in the Shivani Bhatnagar’s murder case.

"There was no conspiracy on his part and he had no animosity with the slain journalist. He was also not associated with co-convict IPS officer R K Sharma," Goswami contended.

"The calls attributed to me were not made from my cellphone and the sessions court did not go through all the documents placed before it," he said adding that the phone number which was allegedly used for plotting the crime belonged to one Rampal Sharma and the court wrongly held him guilty.

Sharma, an alleged hired killer engaged by IPS officer R K Sharma to kill Shivani, was sentenced to life imprisonment on March 24 for her gruesome murder in her east Delhi apartment on January 23, 1999.

A Delhi court has convicted Sharma, Sri Bhagwan and Satya Prakash besides the 1976-Batch IPS officer R K Sharma.

Apart from a jail sentence in the nine-year-old murder case, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on the three accused and Rs 20,000 on the senior police officer. (PTI)

Shoppers Stop to invest Rs 1500 cr to
double stores in 3 yrs

MUMBAI, Apr 24: Leading fashion and lifestyle retail department store Shoppers Stop will be investing around Rs 1,500 crore over the next three years to double its outlets to 48, a top company official said.

"We are planning to invest Rs 1,500 crore in the next three years. Of this, Rs 500 crore will be raised through equity and warrants, Rs 500 crore through internal accruals and the rest through debt," Shoppers Stop Managing Director B S Nagesh said here.

The company, which has filed a letter of offer with stock market regulator Sebi for its rights issue, expects to receive final observations by June, Shoppers Stop CEO Govind Shrikhande said.

At present, there are 24 Shoppers Stop stores in the country which will be doubled in the next three years, Nagesh said.

"We are planning to have at least 48 stores by 2011-12 and the present 1.5 million sq ft area of operation of Shoppers Stop will touch 3.5 million sq ft," Shrikhande said.

The per store area, currently about 40,000-45,000 sq ft, will be increased to around 75,000-85,000 sq feet, he added.

"We are looking at having bigger formats of Shoppers Stop," he said.

The company will get into a number of new Tier-II cities like Ahmedabad, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Vijayawada and Mangalore, Nagesh said.

On challenges before the retail industry, Nagesh said the high cost of operation still remains a concern while there was a hype surrounding the business.

Its time the retailers focused on performance, he said.

"We will continue to focus on premium category and also on luxury and have high-end brands like Espirit, Mac, Tommy Hilfiger and Lancome," Shrikhande said.

Shoppers Stop unveiled its new logo, which has an international look along with their own anthem, at a press conference here yesterday.

The company has also launched its own in-store radio format and tied-up with music content company Blue Frog, which would update customers on new fashion, homeware and others, he said.

The company has launched environment-friendly recyclable bags and distributed 1.5 lakh neem seed sachets. (PTI)

200 special courts may be needed
for corruption cases : CJI

NEW DELHI, Apr 24: India’s Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan says he hopes some 200 special courts will be set up to try corruption cases pending in trial courts.

"I hope they will," Justice Balakrishnan said when asked last night whether steps were being taken to set up special courts Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke of last week.

Replying as he emerged after a lecture by former Chief Justice of India M N Venkatachaliah commemorating India’s third Home Minister Kailash Nath Katju, Justice Balakrishnan said about 200 such courts were needed to try the pending corruption cases.

A count at the end of 2007 showed at least 24,130 cases under Prevention of Corruption Act pending in trial courts across India.

Opening a joint conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices on Saturday, Dr Singh mentioned a suggestion made by the CJI, "that we create special courts to deal with corruption cases."

"I agree that there is urgent need to do so," Prime Minister Singh said, adding it "will instill greater confidence in our justice delivery system, at home and abroad."

The Chief Justices from around the country came to the Joint Conference after having passed a resolution for appointment of Special Judges under Prevention of Corruption Act to deal "Primarily" with corruption cases.

The resolution stressed conducting such trials ‘’as far as possible... On a day-to-day basis.’’

One law expert, Prof S C Raina of Delhi University, estimated that 200 special courts could dispose of a 24,130 case pendency in three to four years.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Justice Balakrishnan said Judges should be a model to the society.

The Chief Justice of India, who once held Judges ought not have to declare assets compulsorily, told audience that Judges have declared their assets to him voluntarily.

The lecture was attended by several former CJIs, Judges and lawyers, including Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, and former Law Ministers Shanti Bhushan and Ram Jethmalani.

Presumably alluding to oft-repeated notion about judiciary second-guessing Government, Justice Balakrishnan gave an example of dismal delivery mechanisms helpless citizens have to contend with.

He cited the case of mid-day meals a many states once opposed, causing high rates of drop-outs at schools— until the Supreme Court ordered that all children be served cooked meals.

Justice Venkatachaliah spoke drawing on his prepared lecture on constitutional underpinnings of a concordial society. Organisers said the text would be released later. (UNI)

Principal, 4 teachers accused of rape attempt on colleague

LUNAVADA, GUJARAT, Apr 24: A school teacher has accused the Principal and four other colleagues of attempting to outrage her modesty at Navajivan school of Thana Savali village, here.

According to a complaint lodged today by the victim — Daksha Amin-Vanakar (39) — Principal Amrut Patel had sought sexual favours, which she had turned down. Subsequntly, the Principal started harassing her.

She also accused four other colleagues — Vijay Patel, Dahyabhai Vanakar, Ambalal Patel and Ravaji Patel — of attempting to assault her.

The victim lodged the complaint with Kothamba Police Station. (UNI)

RTI Act helps Himachal woman get into BPL list

SHIMLA, Apr 24: The Right to Information (RTI) Act has helped a woman from a village in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh to get into the state’s Below Poverty Line (BPL) list!

Meera Devi, separated from her husband and now residing with her father in Asaan Pat village, was included in the BPL list after she approached the State’s Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) recently when her application had been rejected by the DRDA’s project officer.

The DRDA’s officer said not only her, but names of two others people have also been included in the list after the Drati Panchayat passed a resolution to this effect in his appearance before the CIC recently.

Meera had approached the CIC following the dismissal of her application by Kangra Additional Deputy Commissioner to whom it had been referred by the Kangra Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Public Information Officer (PIO), last year on the grounds that her Panchayat’s Gram Sabha had rejected her claim on the ground that she had come to the village an year ago.

Besides, his order said, from the persual from the appeal, it transpired that the appealant works on enquiry to be conducted against the selection of BPL families in her Panchayat.

Since redressal greivance was not within the purview of RTI Act, the appealant should address their grievance before the competent authority following which the appeal was accordingly being dismissed, the order added.

Meera than approached the state’s CIC against the PIO’s order after which the DRDA’s project officer in his submission before the CIC said her name alongwith two other people had been included in the BPL list. (UNI)