Jodhaa-Akbar banned

AMBALA, Feb 21: The district administration imposed a ban on the screening of Jodhaa-Akbar here, following protests by members of the Rajput community who alleged that historical facts had been distorted in the film.

Members of the community led by Congress leader Chetan Chauhan went on a protest march here today demanding a ban on the screening of the film.

They submitted a memorandum to DC Ambala in which they said the film had hurt the sentiments of their community stating that Jodha Bai was Akbar’s daughter-in-law and not his wife, as is portrayed in the film.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shyin imposed the ban with immediate effect on the film which had released on February 15.

The film is being screened in two cinema halls here.

The protestors had also alleged that cinema halls had removed the posters of the film but were still screening it. (PTI)

HC terms blueline buses as "major killers"

NEW DELHI, Feb 21: Terming blueline buses plying in the capital as "major killers", the Delhi High Court has said they have played "havoc" on the city roads and were responsible for most of the accidental deaths in the capital.

"The blueline buses are the major killers as far as Delhi is concerned. These killer blueline buses have played havoc on Delhi roads and every year precious lives get sacrificed by these buses," Justice Kailash Gambhir, in a recent verdict, said.

"These buses have unleashed a kind of death drive putting in danger the lives of Delhiites on the roads of the capital," he said.

The court made the observations while enhacing from Rs two lakh awarded by Motor Accident Claim Tribunal to Rs 4.6 lakh compensation to the parents of a 21-year-old man who was killed in a road accident in 1999.

The Bench, which also pulled up the insurance companies for creating "bottlenecks" in award of compensation, cited Delhi Police data on fatal accidents in support of its observations.

"As per the recent data released by Delhi Police, a total of 8,270 accidents had occurred in the capital in the year 2006, in which 2,050 people were killed," the Bench said, adding the blueline buses were "major killers".

The court said no compensation could fill the void created by the loss of a person or bring solace to the victim’s family.

"Death of any person in a family torments and shatters the entire family, more particularly, when it is the death of a sole bread earner," it said. (PTI)

Somnath emphasises importance
of training in legislative drafting

NEW DELHI, Feb 21: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today emphasised the importance of legislative drafting and having a regular legislature secretariat for the smooth and orderly conduct of the proceedings of the House.

Interacting with parliamentary officials from 22 countries attending the six-week-long ‘International Training Programme in Legislative Drafting’, organised by the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training, he stressed the importance of good drafting of legislation and said that laws have "not only to be clear and precise but they should also deal with the people’s problems."

"Unless the spirit behind the legislation is understood in proper perspective, they cannot be drafted properly. Since legislations are subject to judicial scrutiny in a democracy, those who draft them should have sufficient knowledge of the Constitution and judicial precedents," he said, stressing the role of training for making legislations and laws people-friendly and capable of withstanding judicial scrutiny.

Emphasising the imperative of consolidation of democracy around the world, Mr Chatterjee said that there should be enhanced cooperation among those who value democratic principles and the worth of inclusive governance. Referring to the role of democracy and people’s representatives in fulfilling the aspirations of the people, he urged all stakeholders in democracy to be sensitive to the problems of the people and use the forum of Parliament and its Committees in a purposive manner.

Making a mention of various initiatives taken by the Indian Parliament, he referred to the Lok Sabha Television, Parliamentary Forums and Parliament Museum as some endeavours aimed at bringing the institution of Parliament closer to the people. (UNI)

SC expunges Justice Katju’s remarks on anticipatory bail

NEW DELHI, Feb 21: The Supreme Court today made it clear that judges cannot make observations or remarks which have no relation to the controversy involved in a case.

A three-Judge bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan expunged the remarks by Justice Markandey Katju which he had made while deciding the petition of NASSCOM chief and an MD of a BPO Som Mittal challenging his prosecution for not providing adequate security to a woman employee of his company who was raped and murdered while returning home at night in Bangalore in 2005.

Justice Katju while deciding the case had made out of context observation and had recommended to the government to restore the provision of anticipatory bail in Uttar Pradesh where regular bail can be sought only after surrendering either before the court or the police.

The three-Judge bench comprising the Chief Justice and Justices R V Raveendran and J M Panchal in their judgement noted, "Remarks made by Justice Katju are expunged as the remarks and the observations made by the Judge are not related to the subject matter of the case which was before the court."

Another judge (Justice H K Sema) had not agreed with Justice Katju on the part of the judgement.

Justice Katju has not done it for the first time.

He earlier made some observations in regard to the applicability of TADA in 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case forgetting that TADA was in force when the bomb explosions rocked Mumbai on March 12, 1993 and was repealed in 1995.

Justice Katju also hit headlines when he delivered a judgement telling the judiciary including the Supreme Court judges not to over-step their limits and not to try to run the Government.

Justice Katju sitting with Justice A K Mathur had also observed that judges should not act as emperors and should not encroach upon the jurisdiction of the legislature and the executive and had also warned the judiciary of retaliation by the parliamentarians who may curtail the powers of judiciary in order to clip its wings.

His judgement on the issue of sounding warning to the judiciary is also pending before a three-Judge bench and the Supreme Court is going to lay down fresh guidelines and parameters for entertaining PILs. (UNI)

Insurance cover for MP Board examiners

BHOPAL, Feb 21: About 50,000 people directly or indirectly involved in the secondary and high school examinations in Madhya Pradesh this year will be provided insurance cover of Rs one lakh.

The group insurance policy will remain in force from February 15 to April 15, when the insured will be given compensation of Rs one lakh for accidental death or permanent disability and Rs 50,000 for partial disability, the Board said today.

Over a million students are slated to appear in the Higher Secondary (12th) and High School (10th) certificate examinations in March this year.

As many as 4,02,132 students will appear in the Higher Secondary and 4343 in the Higher Secondary (Vocational) course examinations beginning on March 1, while 6,85,938 students will appear in the High School examination scheduled between March 3 and March 27. The higher secondary examination will conclude on March 29 and the HS vocational course examination on March 17, the Board announced.

The examination will be held in a single shift from 0830 hours to 1130 hours and there will be at least a day’s gap in between. The practical examinations will conclude on February 25, the board said.

In order to check copying, no student will be allowed to leave the examination centre before two hours and 45 minutes after the start of examination.

Answer sheets will be distributed five minutes before the start of examination. Students will be given 15 minutes time between 0815 hours and 0830 hours to go through the question paper.

For Mathematics, answer sheet of 40 pages will be given to higher secondary students and of 32 pages to high school students. For other subjects, 24-page answer sheets will be provided.

Mobile phone and calculators will not be allowed inside examination centre and any violation of it will be treated as use of unfair means, Board Secretary D D Agrawal said. (UNI)

Alleged rape near Guv’s residence, two
Haryana cops arrested

CHANDIGARH, Feb 21: In a shocking incident, a 40-year-old woman was allegedly raped by two Haryana Armed Police personnel and a civilian near Governor A R Kidwai’s official residence here in the wee hours today.

Commando Vijendra, attached to Governor’s security, and constable Dinesh were arrested on charges of raping the woman, SHO Ram Gopal, in whose jurisdiction the alleged crime took place, said.

He said police were on the look out for the third person, a relative of Dinesh, who also allegedly criminally assaulted the woman working as a cook with a catering firm.

The woman was returning home in an auto-rickshaw when the alleged rape took place close to the residence of the Haryana Governor in high-security sector three.

In her complaint to police, the woman alleged the two policemen stopped the auto, thrashed its driver and dragged her to their quarter nearby, the SHO said.

There she was criminally assaulted by the three, the complaint alleged.

The woman was medically examined and the report in this regard was awaited, the SHO said. (PTI)

Cops want to question Salem on Pallavi’s suicide bid

MUMBAI, Feb 21: The Ghatkopar police proposes to question underworld don Abu Salem in connection with the suicide attempt by his lawyer Pallavi Ashar who allegedly had an affair with him.

The police will approach the TADA court with a request that they be allowed to record the statement of Salem, an investigating officer told UNI.

The Ghatkopar police has registered a case against Pallavi for attempting to commit suicide. Police have also registered cases against senior advocate Ashok Sarogi and three others on defamation and criminal conspiracy charges.

Sarogi had allegedly leaked Salem and Pallavi’s love letters to the press, and suspectedly, it is for this reason that Pallavi had tried to end her life.

Police have recorded Pallavi’s statement. Her husband, Khalid Ansari, while talking to mediapersons yesterday, had alleged that Sarogi had circulated fake love letters through the media. Pallavi, who has changed her name to Almas Ansari, had tried to end her life because of Sarogi’s attempts to tarnish her image, he alleged.

Pallavi is at present in stable condition and is recuperating at a private hospital at Ghatkopar.

Meanwhile, Salem, who is an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case but whose trial is being held separately, was today produced before the TADA court for the routine remand requirements. (UNI)