Dubai, July 19:
Criticised by all quarters, the trent bridge pitch, on which India and England played out a dull draw in their opening Test, was today declared “poor” by ICC match referee David Boon and ECB could be penalised for it pending an investigation.
In accordance with Clause 3 of the ICC Pitch Monitoring Process, Boon submitted his report to the ICC expressing his concerns over the quality of the pitch. (PTI)
Trent Bridge pitch rated ‘poor’ by ICC
DB sets aside 12 yrs RI awarded to narco smuggler
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal has set-aside 12 years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 2 lakh awarded a narcotics smuggler namely Mohd Naseer by the 3rd Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu on May 12, 2009.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi for the appellant, the DB observed, “search has been conducted in violation of Section 50 of the NDPS Act even though the officer concerned had felt necessity of invoking the provisions of the Section”.
“The evidence led by the prosecution fails to provide reliable link evidence to establish beyond doubt that the substance recovered from the bag of the accused was in fact a contraband”, the DB said and set aside the impugned judgment and order of sentence.
Govt sets up expert panel on Cost Audit rules
NEW DELHI, July 19: Amid concerns raised by cost accountants over some provisions in the new Cost Records and Audit Rules, the Government today set up an expert committee to look into this matter.
State-run energy giant giant ONGC’s former Chairman and Managing Director R S Sharma will head the committee, which will study the recently notified rules and issues relevant to cost auditing.
The other members of the committee will be R K Jain, Additional Secretary in Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, former ICWAI (Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India) President Chandra Wadhwa, and Aruna Sethi, Adviser (Cost), Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
The committee can also co-opt up to two members, the Corporate Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
Following notification of the Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules 2014, the Council of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India had expressed concerns over certain provisions of the rules, particularly coverage of sectors of economy under the rules.
“Government having taken into account these views and the need to have a comprehensive policy towards the role of the cost professions in the corporate and other sectors of economy have decided to constitute an Expert Committee to look into the matter,” the ministry said.
The terms of reference relate to “a study of the recently notified rules and issues relevant to Cost Audit and the manner of utilizing the knowledge and skills of Cost Accountants for the growth of economy and the profession”.
The Ministry further said that “it is hoped that the recommendations of the Committee will help create a competitive and efficient business environment”. (PTI)
Six-day orientation programme held
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: The language wing of State Institute of Education organized a six-day orientation programme for the teachers of Jammu province, teaching English at the Secondary level, which concluded here today.
The participants in the programme were familiarized with the latest techniques of teaching English.
The programme was coordinated by Archna Bakshi, Research Officer under the supervision of Shadi Lal Tengloo, Field Advisor of the language wing.
At the concluding session H R Pakhroo Principal SIE, Jammu exhorted the participants to make use of these newly learnt pedagogical skills in their actual class room.
The participants in the programme also shared their views with the faculty of SIE, Jammu for addressing the quality component at grass root level.
Program to give free IIT coaching to talented youth begins
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: Centre for Social Responsibility and Leadership (CSRL) in association with Indian Army’s Delta Force has launched “Chenab Super 30 program” to provide 11-month free residential coaching for clearing the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) to the talented youth of three districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban.
On June 1, 2014, 1173 students had appeared for three hours long gruelling Entrance Exam organised by the Army at 14 Centres in the three districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban to select the potential IITians out of which 90 selected students appeared for interviews before a Panel from CSRL, New Delhi on June 15 and 16, 2014.
Finally 30 students were selected by the Panel for imparting free residential coaching at Jammu, which today interacted with Lt Gen KH Singh, General Officer Commanding (GOC), White Knight Corps.
Speaking on the occasion, the GOC exhorted all students to make the best of this opportunity by dedicating themselves in preparing for cracking the tough IIT Entrance Exam.
The DGP of Bihar and mentor of Super 30 program, Abhyananad, and Director, CSRL, SK Shahi, were also present during the ceremony.
Akshara is in good hands: Kamal on daughter’s Bollywood debut
MUMBAI, July 19:
Veteran actor Kamal Haasan feels his daughter Akshara, who is making her debut in Bollywood with R Balki’s ‘Shamitabh’, is in good hands and does not need his advice.
“I think she should not take any advice from old time actors. I think she knows her way. And she will ask me when she is in doubt but she hasn’t asked me yet which means she is confident. I think she is in good hands,” Haasan said at an event here last evening.
The film also stars Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush.
Haasan is all praise for Dhanush. “He is good actor and he is also a filmmaker.”
Apart from Haasan and South megastar Rajinikanth no one has been able to make it big in Bollywood.
On this, Haasan says, “There has never been a vacuum …It is about opportunity. I don’t think like south of India actors or an actor from Bihar or any other place I think the actor has to be good in his craft.”
On work front, Haasan is excited about his two projects –’Vishwaroopam 2′, a spy thriller film written and directed by Haasan. The film, which is a sequel to Vishwaroopam (2013) is in its post-production stages.
Another is ‘Uttama Villain’ a Tamil comedy directed by Ramesh Aravind which is likely to released in Diwali. (PTI)
Vijay hits a gutsy fifty as India lead by 145 after day 3
London, July 19:
India lost three wickets in quick succession but fought back through Murali Vijay’s gutsy half-century to take their overall lead to 145, leaving the second cricket Test against England interestingly poised, here today
At stumps on third day, India were 169 for four despite a solid 78-run second wicket stand between Vijay (59 batting) and Cheteshwar Pujara (43).
Vijay is in company of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who survived a hostile spell from Stuart Broad to remain undefeated on 12 off 51 balls having added crucial 46 runs with Vijay for the fifth wicket.
The Tamil Nadu opener has shown tremendous patience during his 190-ball knock today which had seven fours but more impressive was his decisiveness while leaving deliveries outside the off-stump.
With England batting deep, it will be interesting to see what kind of target is set by the Indian batsmen. India will be aiming for a lead of 250 plus in order to make a match of it on a Lord’s track which will then help Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Co to exploit the conditions.
It was 6/82 was the main reason for India getting England out for 319 in their first innings thereby restricting the first innings lead to 24.
For England, it was Liam Plunkett, who started the collapse by first inducing a nick from Pujara, who again looked good for a big knock. Virat Kohli (0)’s error in judgement cost him dearly as the delivery he left jagged back enough to clip the bails.
From a relatively comfortable 118 for one, India were reduced to 123 for four in a space of three overs.
First innings centurion Ajinkya Rahane then got a howler from umpire Bruce Oxenford as a rising delivery from Stuart Broad hit his arm-guard before lobbing up as Matt Prior ran from his position to dive forward and complete a catch.
Shikhar Dhawan (31) again got a start but failed to convert it into a big score leaving his place in the playing XI for the third Test under scanner.
Vijay and Dhawan batted on an eased out pitch as they wiped out the deficit by the seventh over.
Dhawan hit four boundaries but a flashy shot off Ben Stokes brought about his downfall with Joe Root taking the catch at point.
Vijay in company of Pujara, however denied the bowlers any openings, looking to bat patiently for long in this third innings of the game, and brought up the 50-run mark in the 18th over. Plunkett and Moeen Ali were the other bowlers used in the session.
Earlier, Bhuvneshwar’s second successive five-for figures helped him get his name on the prestigious Lord’s ‘Honours Board’ after his teammate Ajinkya Rahane got his name up there on the first day.
The UP seamer’s figures were second best by an Indian after Amar Singh’s 6/35 at the hallowed ground back in 1936.
Ravindra Jadeja (2-46), Moahmmad Shami (1-58) and Murali Vijay (1-12) were the other wicket-takers for India in this innings.
On a pitch where Bhuvneshwar troubled the batsmen with his moving deliveries, his senior partner Ishant Sharma went wicketless after bowling 24 overs. While a few deliveries did beat the bat, the lanky seamer was guilty of not making the batsmen play on a quite a few occasions.
The morning began with England still adrift by 76 runs and only 4 wickets remaining. (PTI)
‘Bacche Mann Ke Sacche’ to hit theatres next month
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: Hindi Feature Film “Bacche Mann Ke Sacche”, written, edited and directed by son of the soil, Jayesh Gupta, who belongs to Trikuta Nagar (Jammu) is ready to hit theatres next month.
The film under the banner of Karismatic Productions is completed in all respects and is slated to be released next month.
As the title of the film suggests, the film is about children and has a message for them as well as for the adults. Apart from this, the film has a lot of comedy, seriousness, drama and entertainment.
DB grants last opportunity to State in PIL of trans-genders
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: In a PIL filed by Mian Haji Saria seeking direction against denial of admission to the children of trans-gender in the private educational institutions, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan has granted last opportunity to the State for filing comprehensive action plan.
On June 3, 2014, the DB had directed the State to submit a comprehensive action plan with regard to the steps to be taken in terms of Apex Court directions on safeguarding the rights of trans-genders.
Today, when the PIL came up for hearing, Senior AAG Gagan Basotra stated that some more time would be required to comply with the order and requested for granting four weeks time.
Upon this, Division Bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan granted one last opportunity of four weeks to file comprehensive action plan.
5 bovines rescued, smuggler held
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: Police rescued five bovine animals and arrested a smuggler from Bagga Nallah area, falling under the jurisdiction of Batote police station.
As per police sources, police team from police station Batote laid a naka at Bagga Nallah and intercepted a Tata mobile bearing temporary registration number JMU-AU-5687.
During checking, police rescued five bovine animals, which the smuggler was carrying towards Srinagar from Jammu without permission.
The driver of the vehicle identified as Abdul Hamid, son of Babu Khan of Delwas, Chanderkote has been arrested.
A case under FIR number 71/14 under Section 188 RPC and 3 PCA Act has been registered at police station Batote and investigation started.
Police team headed by Inspector Mohammad Iqbal made the arrest under the supervision of SSP Ramban Javed Iqbal Mattoo.