Quota for OBCs in IIMs: Centre seeks
vacation of Cal HC order

NEW DELHI, May 15: The Centre today approached the Supreme Court seeking vacation of the Calcutta High Court order staying the implementation of a Government memorandum realating to 27 per cent quota for OBCs in post graduate courses in IIMs.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan allowed the plea of Solicitor General G E Vahanvati to include the matter for hearing in the mentioning list tomorrow.

The Calcutta High Court yesterday stayed quota for OBCs in post-graduate courses in Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, and stopped interview of OBC candidates for the same.

Justice Maharaj Sinha, in an ex-parte interim order, granted the stay on a petition by Sayan Guha, a B-Tech student challenging the HRD ministry’s memorandum and also the IIM-C interview scheduled for tomorrow.

The interim order stayed till June nine the operation of the reservation clause of IIM prospectus and also the resolution of office memorandum dated April 20, 2008 passed by the HRD ministry.

The matter would come up for hearing again on June nine.

IIM-C had scheduled the special interview of OBC students following the HRD memorandum.

Guha’s counsels Kishore Dutta and Nilava Bandopadhyay told the court that the office memo and the subsequent reservation clause were in violation of the April 10 Supreme Court order on reservation of OBCs that had set a yardstick for such quotas and defined the creamy layer that would be out of the purview of reservation. (PTI)

Propagating efficacy of ‘Varmam’ system

COIMBATORE, May 15: Wonder how Kamal Hassan donning the role of a 70-year old crusader immobilised corrupt officials in the multi-lingual film "Indian" at the flick of his fingers?

For an onlooker his feat may have looked like one of those film stunts, but he was effectively replicating the age old technique of ancient South Indian martial art-cum medicine system "varmam".

And now an institute near here is making efforts to propagate the science and efficay of varmam through all systems of medicines such as Siddha, ayurveda, alloparty, homeopathy physiotherapy and naturopathy.

Varmam practioners believe the art form, well backed by ancient techniques of medicine, can cure ailments through applying pressure on the nerve centres calls ‘varmam points’.

"Varmam involves stimulation of vital points to set right the ‘life force’ in the patient’s body. It is being practiced deep in Southern Tamil Nadu," according to Dr N Shunmugom, Honorary Advisor of the nearby Arts Research Institute (ARI).

Shunmugom, a reader in Tamil in the private Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and science at Periyanaicken Palayam near here, told PTI that ARI as part of its efforts to revivie the system had organised a one-day conference here recently for provinding an insight into varmam.

"Those who practice varmam presented proof of their successful cures across 11 different types of ailments at the conference. It is propagating practical knowledge by textual evidence," he claimed.

Most people came to know about this system through films, particularly the Kamal Hassan starrer ‘Indian,’ (both Tamil and Hindi), he said.

Shunmugo said said hardly 10 of the 40 methods of varmam were being applied to treat patients for various ailments.

The basic principle behind the system was that of equal distribution of energy throughout the body, he said, adding that if practiced accurately, it would have no side effect and can provide cures at minimal costs.

"Any type of disease occurs only when the flow of energy is blocked. By working on the pressure points, energy is distributed evenly," Dr S Yoganathan, a senior orthopaedician and a varmam practitioner, said.

The objective of the conference was to highlight the results of the varmam system of treatment and initiate a scientific approach to prove its efficacy, he said.

Explaining a simple technique to cure headache, Shunmugom said women can place a mustard or a single piece of tur dal on the lower portion of the ring finger and thumb and press it with another thumb. The headache would disappear within a few seconds, he claimed.

Similarly, back pain usually affecting two-wheeler riders could be cured by using varmam. But these had to be done under proper guidance from a varmam practitioner, he cautioned.

According to Yoganathan, different steps in classical form of Bharathanatyam work on pressure or energy points in the body, which is based on the principles of varmam. (PTI)

Typical Bollywood heroes are boring: Emran Hashmi

NEW DELHI, May 15: Characters with strong shades of gray is what interests Bollywood actor Emran Erfan Anwar Hashmi, who plays a street smart bookie caught up in a betting racket in his latest film ‘Jannat.’

Emran, whose appearances in ‘Kalyug’, ‘Gangster’ and ‘Aawarapan’ portrayed him in characters who are gray, reckless and negative in appearance, says he enjoys such roles compared to conventional ‘goody-goody’ heroes.

"Typical Bollywood heroes are very boring. There is no growth or realism in the characters. It is just difficult for me to connect to the typical hero thing," says the actor who began his career in the film industry with ‘Footpath’ in 2003.

"For me, it is very important to have someone who has flaws, who has gray shades. We all make mistakes and then redeem ourselves, That’s what I saw in my character in ‘Jannat’ and I jumped to it." he says.

After ‘Footpath’ he did three films, ‘Murder,’ ‘Zeher’ and ‘Tumsa Nahin Dekha,’ all in the same year, 2004. His next films ‘Kalyug’, ‘Aashiq Banaya Aapne’ and ‘Jawani Diwani’ in 2005 stamped him as a ‘serial kisser,’ a tag that the 28-year-old actor is not comfortable with and terms as "unfortunate."

"Just having one or two scenes does not really make you a serial kisser but unfortunately that’s how it is," says Emran adding that as long as his audience is fine with it.

"I fail to imagine how this can create so much hype, curiosity or media attention but I am fine with it as long as my film does well. Media always hypes these things but that’s okay as long as my fans like it," he said on his recent trip to the capital to promote ‘Jannat,’ that releases on May 16.

So does Emran get angry for being tagged as ‘serial kisser’? ‘No, no, it just makes me laugh," he says after facing repeated questions on the subject.

Emran, however does not believe that he has created and therefore confined himself to the image of a chocolate hero or of a kisser boy and dismisses the need to break away. "I do not see it as an image thing, so there is no question of breaking away from it," he says.

His latest film is based on the match fixing controversy where he plays a street smart gambler who takes to betting to earn easy money. During the filming Emran says he had the opportunity to meet some real bookies to prepare for the character.

"I met some real bookies to know how the business is done, how the bets are placed and how odds are taken. Unfortunately we could not bring in any cricketers," he says.

The actor is also happy that the exchange through films between India and Pakistan and says it will bring positive changes in the relationship of the two countries.

"It is a new beginning. We saw the release of ‘Khuda Ke Liye’ here and Indian films are releasing there. I think we can bridge gap through creativity. It is good for both countries," he says.

With the IPL fever high and stars coming out to support different teams, which is Hashmi’s favourite team in the IPL?

"I support Mumbai Indians because I am a Mumbaikar," says the actor hoping that the love of cricket will work in favour of his film. (PTI)

SC issues notice to Centre on Mayawati’s petition

NEW DELHI, May 15: The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre on a petition filed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati seeking quashing of CBI investigations against her in a disproportionate asset case.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan declined to pass any interim order and posted the matter for further hearing on July 14.

The court also sough CBI’s response on Mayawati’s petition.

CBI had registered the FIR against Mayawati on October 5, 2003 after the apex court had ordered the agency to investigate the Taj Heritage Corridor Scam.

The Bahujan Samaj Party chief contended that the FIR lodged against her was illegal as no sanction was taken from the state and the agency had misinterpreted the apex court order which only directed investigation into the Taj corridor case. (PTI)

SC stays criminal proceedings against Khushboo

NEW DELHI, May 15: The Supreme Court today stayed till further orders criminal proceedings against South Indian film actress S Khusboo, pending in a Tamil Nadu district court in connection with her interview to news magazine India Today, expressing her views on pre-marital sex.

A bench comprising Chief Justices KG Blakrishnan and Justice MK Sharma also issued notices to the complainant Kanniammal.

Ms Khushboo in her petition had alleged that 23 false cases have been filed against her by vested interests with the soul aim of getting political mileage and publicity by harassing her.

The actress during a survey by India Today in September 2005 had said that Indian girls in metropolitan cities were gradually coming out of their shells to express openly and boldly there sexual desires.

The petitioner has also said that sexology should be taught either in schools or by the parents. The interview was also published in Dhina Thanthi, Tamil publication of India Today group.

Ms Khushboo had appealed to the Supreme Court against the order of Madras High Court dated April 30, 2008 dismissing her petition for quashing of the criminal proceedings pending in the court of Chief Juducial Magistrate, Chennai.

According to the petitioner the complainant has no locus standi to file the complaint as he is not an aggrieved party and her right to freedom of speech cannot be restricted by filing such complaints. (UNI)

Chargesheet against Maneka Gandhi

PILIBHIT, UP, May 15: Police today filed a chargesheet against four BJP leaders, including former union minister and Pilibhit MP Maneka Gandhi, after holding them responsible for their involvement in animal loot incident.

On March 28 last, Maneka with the help of her associates had distributed 18 buffaloes and four sheep, loaded in a motorade, to the locals of Sainthal town in Bareilly, when she was returning from Pilibhit.

Later, Shabeer, an animal seller from Sainthal, registered a case against Maneka, BJP city unit president Anoop Gupta, district panchayat member Naresh Chandra Sharma and MP representative Manoj Gupta.

As per the allegations, the quartet manhandled with him after stopping his mini-truck loaded with animals. Later, the quartet loot the animals and distributed them among the locals.

After finding the four leaders guilty, the Beesalpur police yesterday filed a chargesheet against them in a local court here. (UNI)

Music eases blood pressure, say researchers

HOUSTON, May 15: If your blood pressure is high, do not fret. Just breathe slowly, turn on some quiet, slow rhythmic music and watch your blood pressure tumble drastically. According to researchers at the American Society of Hypertension’s 23^{rd Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition (ASH 2008), patients with mild hypertension who listened to just half an hour of classical, Celtic or raga music a day for four weeks experienced significant reductions in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP).}

^{Hypertension, a common disorder in which blood pressure remains abnormally high, is responsible for causing at least five million premature deaths each year worldwide.}

^{"Listening to music is soothing and has often been associated with controlling patient-reported pain or anxiety and acutely reducing blood pressure," said study investigator, Prof Pietro A Modesti, Professor of Internal Medicine in the University of Florence in Italy.}

^{"But for the first time, today’s results clearly illustrate the impact daily music listening has on ABP. We are excited about the positive implications for both patients and physicians, who can now confidently explore music listening as a safe, effective, non-pharmacological treatment option or a complement to therapy."}

^{At First, the patients wore a device that tracked their blood pressure for 24 hours. Next, they were given a CD of classical, Celtic, or Indian music.}

^{All of the tunes on the CD had similar slow rhythms, Modesti said.}

^{The patients were assigned to listen to the CD for 30 minutes per day for a month and to breathe slowly while listening to the music, taking twice as long to exhale as to inhale. At the end of the month, the patients wore the blood pressure monitor again.}

^{The patients’ blood pressure improved during the study. When the experiment ended, their average systolic blood pressure (the first number in a blood pressure reading) had dropped three points, and their average diastolic blood pressure (the second number in a blood pressure reading) had dropped four points.}

^{For comparison, 20 other patients didn’t listen to music or practice slow breathing. Their blood pressure didn’t change during the study.}

^{It’s not clear what mattered more, the music or the slow breathing. "The antihypertensive effects [have] to be considered as the result of the combination of music and breathing exercises," Modesti noted.}

^{The findings were presented in New Orleans at the American Society of Hypertension’s annual scientific meeting. Modesti called for further studies to see if the results hold up in the long term.}

^{"Sadly, despite the global focus on prevention, it predicted that 56 billion people worldwide will be hypertensive by 2025," said Modesti.}

^{"In light of these devastating statistics, it is reassuring to consider that something as simple, easy and enjoyable as daily music listening combined with slow abdominal breathing, may help people naturally lower their blood pressure." (PTI)}

Pooja Bhatt case: Order deferred till July 7

MUMBAI, May 15: A local court today reserved its order till July 7 on the discharge application filed by actress-turned-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt who has been accused of exhibiting obscene posters of her film "Rog".

On the last occasion, Metropolitan Magistrate G R Wankhade had fixed May 15 for passing an order on the petition. But, as the respondent did not turn up in the court today, the judge deferred the order till July 7.

Advocate Sanjog Parab, representing Ms Bhatt, had argued before the court that the poster, which was displayed in the city, was not an "obscene" one. Besides, there is no specific definition of "obscenity" in the course of law, he had argued.

Mr Parab told the court that a similar case is pending in the Bombay High Court. He cited several rulings of the court in support of his argument that his client should be discharged from the case.

Advocate Shitla Pande, appearing for complainant Vinod Jain, told the court that opinion of people about obscenity would be different. "My client felt that obscene posters were being displayed at public places, which is against Hindu culture."

The poster in question portrays a South African model, Ilene Hamman. (UNI)

India steps up vigil along TN coast

RAMESWARAM, TN, May 15: In the wake of escalation of hostilities between Sri Lankan security forces and the LTTE, the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and intelligence agencies have stepped up vigil along the Tamil Nadu coast as well as the 21 islands in the Palk Straits.

Security agencies have strengthened monitoring of the 21 small and uninhabited islands located between the Tamil Nadu coast and Sri Lanka as they have become a base for smugglers, militants as well as boat operators ferrying Tamil refugees, a senior intelligence officer here said on the condition of anonymity.

A round-the-clock monitoring of the islands has been ordered after a complete survey, he said.

Surveillance would be further tightened in the identified islands when Indian fishermen resume fishing after the 45-day fishing ban ends later this month. The annual ban has been imposed by the State Government to promote breeding of different species of fish in the Palk Straits.

Fishing activity in the area has already been restricted as the Sri Lankan Navy has declared certain sections as "no fishing zones" following escalation of fighting with the LTTE. Following this, the Indian Coast Guard has been persuading the Indian fishermen not to cross into Sri Lankan waters to avoid arrests and firing from the Island’s Navy.

Security officials were forced to change the pattern of patrolling and strategic monitoring points following the recent seizure of large quantity of explosives and dropping of a big carton box containing a generator near ‘Musal Theevu’ (Hare island), the official said.

He said "Pisasu Munai" (a Point) would be an ideal location for monitoring the Palk Straits and effectively preventing smuggling activities. It would also help prevent smuggling from one island to the other, before the contraband reached ‘Iranatheevu’ controlled by the LTTE.

Referring to the reports about increasing smuggling activities and Sri Lankan ferry boats coming upto ‘Agni Theertham’ to drop the refugees, the official said the monitoring point at Dhanushkodi needed to strengthened.

As many as 262 refugees had arrived from May 12 till today, reflecting that the situation in Sri Lanka had worsened, he said.

The refugees were sent to the Mandapam camp or special camps only after interrogation. But after they reached the camps, there was no mechanism to follow their movements when they went out for work, he said.

According to unconfirmed reports, 500 refugees were missing. The Q branch police had been informed about the missing refugees.

However, there has been a reduction in the number of people fleeing the camp as the conditions had improved, Special Deputy Collector of the camp Arunachalam said.

Rethiavalli, an official at a refugee camp, said they had given a list of 200 refugees who were missing from Mandapam to the police. (PTI)

Science and Engineering Board to promote research

NEW DELHI, May 15: In an effort to boost basic scientific research, the Government today decided to set up a Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).

The Board will seek to enhance the level of basic research and also impart necessary autonomy, flexibility and speed in shaping research and delivery of funds to researchers.

This was decided at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Briefing reporters, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the Board will be a high-level empowered body with necessary administrative and financial autonomy chaired by Secretary of Department of Science and Technology.

The Board can sanction individual projects up to Rs. 75 crore with the approval of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

He said that on policy matters, the Board will receive necessary guidance from an Oversight Committee chaired by a scientist of international repute.

The need for having such a body was felt in view of rapid changes in the basic scientific research at the global level with increasing competition every day, he said.

A Science and Engineering Research Bill will be introduced in Parliament and the Board will be constituted under the Act, he said.

The Cabinet also approved a Planning Commission proposal to set up a Coodinated Mechanism for skill development encompassing different public and private initiatives, Chidambaram said.

He said while the Ministries and various departments would continue to be responsible for the skill development programmes under them, the National Skill Development Corporation will take care of the skill development in the private sector.

The Finance Minister said coordinated action would aim at creating a pool of skilled personnel in appropriate numbers with adequate skills in line with the employment requirements across the country.

Special emphasis would be laid on nearly two dozen high-growth high-employment sectors including automobile, banking, insurance, construction, pharmaceuticals, food processing, textile and tourism.

The Finance Minister said that Rs.1,000 crore has been provided for the initiative and the amount would subsequently go up to Rs.15,000 crore.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) decided to relax the guidelines under the Backward Regions Grant Funds (BRGF) for Jharkhand which will enable the state to implement certain programmes, Chidambaram said.

He said since no panchayat elections had been held in the state, it was not getting assistance under BRGF. The relaxation would apply till the time the state constituted the panchayats. (PTI)

PETA warns of link between factory farm filth and bird flu

KOLKATA, May 15: In the wake of Avian flu outbreak in Darjeeling, an NGO for animals has released graphic undercover video footage of the filthy conditions of chicken and egg factory farms, stating them the reason for the spread of the deadly H5N1 strain.

The report released by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA) documents the scalding, starvation and mutilation of birds as well as the potential for the spread of disease from chickens to humans.

The disturbing findings were sent to the West Bengal Government last year and it was warned about how unsanitary conditions on factory farms could lead to an outbreak of the deadly H5N1 virus, a PETA release said here.

PETA’s report reveals how unhygienic conditions are responsible for the repeated outbreak of bird flu in India.

In 2005, approximately 2 billion chickens were slaughtered in India. Chickens are crammed by the tens of thousands into dark, filthy sheds, where the ammonia from the accumulated waste actually burns their eyes.

PETA said chickens used for meat are pushed to reach their slaughter weights in just 40-42 days.

Typically, the bird’s legs, hearts and lungs fail to keep pace with their rapidly growing bodies, which leads to serious problems. The legs are so severely crippled that the birds are unable to reach food and water, PETA said.

During transportation to slaughter - which involves long, gruelling rides in all weather extremes - bones are frequently broken. After the long trip, the chickens are rapidly shackled and hung by their legs on conveyors in mechanised slaughterhouses, it said.

Many are scalded to death in defeathering tanks while still conscious. At small butcher shops, their throats are cut on floors or blocks in unhygienic conditions while other birds watch, the PETA release said.

Life for hens used for egg production is equally miserable. Millions of hens spend their entire lives confined to tiny cages in huge factory warehouses, which contain as many as 1,500 to 2,000 cages.

Nine-day-old chicks’ sensitive beaks are cut off with a searing blade in a process called ‘debeaking’.

Because of the filthy and cramped conditions that chickens raised for meat and eggs are forced to endure, disease is rampant.

On its website, the environmental defense fund explains that "antibiotics are routinely fed to healthy livestock and poultry to make them gain weight faster and to compensate for unsanitary living conditions."

According to researcher Malati Puranik, who conducted a study of chickens sold in Mumbai, "we realised that poultry sold under such unhygienic conditions is a serious health hazard."

According to the World Health Organisation, out of the 342 registered cases of the H5N1 strain of bird flu, 211 people have died in 13 countries.

"Factory farms provide the perfect environment for the virus to strike. Becaue of the intense confinement, the deadly virus could spreads like wildlife," it said.

"Bird flu can be caught by humans who handle infected birds, and experts fear that the virus will eventually mutate into a form that is transmissible from human to human, setting off a catastrophic worldwide pandemic," it said.

Quoting Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, PETA said the Indian Government paid more than USD 19,47,619 as compensation for poultry and feed in 2006, and more than USD 23,810 for birds culled in the 2007 outbreak.

In its report, PETA suggests that the welfare standards recommended by the UK’s Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty (RSPCA) should be used as the basic guidelines for the treatment of chickens in the poultry industry.

"The Government cannot wash their hands of this by not taking the responsibility for the outbreak of bird flu when conditions in their own poultry farms are conducive to the outbreak of the same deadly virus," it said.

"Had the Government been proactive in taking appropriate measures, the pandemic could have been averted," said PETA Campaigns Coordinator Nikunj Sharma.

"Chickens are social, feeling birds who deserve respect. The poultry industry must ensure the immediate implementation of at least these simple welfare standards to improve the lives of the birds", he said. (PTI)

SC dismisses PIL demanding that Judges divulge assets

NEW DELHI, May 15: The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition which contended that Judges, including the Chief Justice of India, were under an obligation to divulge their assets if sought under the right to Information Act.

A bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and P Sathasivam termed the Public Interest Litigation as thoroughly misconceived.

The petition filed by K G Kannabiran, president of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), maintained that the Chief Justice of India can’t deny the information on the mere ground that the Judges were constitutional authorities.

According to the petition, divulging such information would only ensure probity in public life and enhance the image of the judiciary.

The petitioner submitted that judicial independence does not give the Judges the power to withhold information which may be required to be disclosed in public interest. (PTI)