Former Bombay HC Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari dies

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January 3, 2019

Former Justice of the Bombay High Court Chandrashekhar Shankar Dharmadhikari died at a private hospital here in Maharashtra in the wee hours of Thursday.

He was 91.

Justice Dharmadhikari was not keeping well and two days back he was admitted to the private hospital where he suffered a cardiac arrest on Wednesday night, a source said.

He breathed his last around 1 am on Thursday, he said.

He is survived by two sons, senior Bombay HC judge Satyaranjan Dharmadhikari and senior lawyer Ashutosh Dharmadhikari, and daughter Dr Aruna Patil.

Justice Dharmadhikari was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2003.

He retired on November 20, 1989.

Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao expressed grief over his demise and said the state has lost a staunch Gandhian and humanist.

“Coming from the family of freedom fighters, Justice Dharmadhikari had imbibed Gandhian values right from his childhood. He distinguished himself as one of the finest judges of the Bombay High Court who was associated with some of the most important judgements,” he said.

Rao said Justice Dharmadhikari was an outstanding orator and writer, and championed the cause of rural development, dignity of labour and promotion of khadi.

“He had spoken on the theme ‘Gandhian Values’ at the Raj Bhawan in Mumbai barely three months ago on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2). I pay my respects to the abiding memory of late Justice Dharmadhikari and convey my deepest condolences to his family,” the governor said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also condoled Justice Dharmadhikari’s demise, saying he was a stickler for principles and an inspiration for the new generation.

“Justice Dharamadhikari carried forward the legacy of social responsibility of his father late Dada Dharmadhikari. He worked for the spread of Gandhian values till his last. He had also guided the state government from time to time,” he said.

Congress awarding CM post to culprits of anti-Sikh riots: PM Modi

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January 3, 2019

In a sharp attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday raked up the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and asked the people of the country, especially Punjab, to remain “cautious” about the party over the killings of the Sikhs and for making Kamal Nath, an alleged accused, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.

Addressing a public meeting at Gurdaspur, days after convicted former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar surrendered in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in a Delhi court, Prime Minister Modi also said that it was due to the efforts of the BJP that the victims’ kin were getting justice after all these years.

“The whole country, including Punjab, should remain cautious of those who have a history of killing thousands of innocent Sikhs and award the Chief Minister’s post to culprits of the riots till today,” Prime Minister Modi said, attacking the choice of Kamal Nath as CM, as he was allegedly involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The Delhi High Court convicted and awarded life imprisonment to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar for his involvement in the 1984 Sikh riots, which occurred in the national capital after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He surrendered to the court on December 31.

The choice of Kamal Nath as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh has been widely criticised by BJP and Sikh leaders.

Praising the efforts of BJP in delivering justice to the victims’ kin of 1984 Sikh riots, Prime Minister said; “It was BJP who formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the case and opened files, which were hidden on the signal of one family (Congress) by declaring the culprits as “Sajjan” (good people).”

The Prime Minister further stressed on the Kartarpur Corridor and said that the BJP and Akali Dal were together making continued efforts towards the development of Punjab, including the recent success of building the Kartarpur corridor — a road linking Dera Baba Nanak with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur.

He announced that the Centre has decided to organise worldwide celebrations on the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak.

Slamming Punjab cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu for his recent two visits to Pakistan that triggered a controversy and Punjab Chief Minister himself wasn’t happy with Sidhu’s visit, the Prime Minister said: “The whole nation has witnessed how Congress leaders gave a chance to Pakistan to speak against India as these leaders did not even pay heed to their own Punjab Chief Minister’s direction.”

He also launched a scathing attack on the Congress’ first family for “playing with nation’s security and spreading lies’ to weaken the strength of the army, and for scrapping the previous BJP Madhya Pradesh government’s decision of reciting the national song Vande Mataram”.

The Prime Minister said, “The family who has been playing with nation’s security and spreading lies to weaken the army’s strength is protesting against Bharat Mata and national song Vande Mataram.”

The newly-elected Congress government in Madhya Pradesh had decided to do away with the 14-year-old norm of reciting ‘Vande Matram’ on the first day of every month in the state secretariat, which was started by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, the Congress government on Thursday in a U-turn announced that the national song will be back, but with the added feature of a police band.

Praising the land of Gurdaspur for inspiring the whole nation, Prime Minister stated: “The land of Gurdaspur has set an example for the country, society and humanity,” and added that Gurdaspur will produce new energy to fulfil the resolution made for developing a New India by 2022.

Talking about the initiative of the NDA government towards people of the state, Prime Minister asserted: “We’re working for children’s education, employment for youth and to provide proper irrigation facilities to farmers. We’ve also facilitated irrigation and soil health cards and right product prices to farmers. It was assured under the Kisan Sampada Yoja that the crop of farmers doesn’t go waste.”

“Our government is building AIIMS in Bathinda, it has provided free gas cylinders to 11 lakh women in Punjab and youths were given a total loan of Rs 28 lakh,” he added.

Highlighting schemes meant for youths and girls, the Prime Minister said: “1.5 lakh youngsters were given training under Skill India Mission and various districts of Punjab have witnessed increasing numbers of our daughters in schools.”

The Prime Minister concluded his speech by appealing to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to complete the projects on time, which were meant for the progress of the state’s citizen.

4,189 complaints of abandoned Indian wives addressed in last 3 yrs: MEA

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January 3, 2019

The External Affairs Ministry has addressed 4,189 complaints in the last three years of distressed Indian women deserted by their NRI husbands, the Rajya Sabha was told on Thursday.

In 2016, a total of 1,510 such complaints were addressed, while in 2017 as many as 1,498 complaints were addressed and last year, till November 30, 1,181 complaints were addressed, Minister of State for the External Affairs Ministry V K Singh said in reply to a question.

Singh said the government has adopted a “multi-pronged approach to give respite to the wives deserted by their NRI husbands”.

“The Ministry of External Affairs provides counselling, guidance and information about legal procedures, mechanisms for serving judicial summons on the overseas Indian husband; filing a judicial case in India, issuing Look out circulars; impounding and revocation of Indian passport of husband to such aggrieved women,” he said.

The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) Guidelines were revised in September, 2017 with an aim to provide financial and legal assistance to distressed women married to NRI spouses by all Indian Missions and Posts abroad, he added.

The amount of legal and financial assistance to distressed Indian women has also been increased to $4,000 per case, he said in a written response.

“The assistance is released to the empanelled legal counsel of the applicant or Indian Community Association or Women’s Organisation or an NGO concerned to enable them to take necessary and appropriate steps to assist the woman in documentation and preparatory work for filing the case,” he said.

Three militants killed in encounter with security forces in J&K’s Pulwama

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January 3, 2019

Three militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday, the Army said.

The security forces launched an anti-insurgency operation in the higher reaches of Tral area in the morning following information about the presence of at least two militants in the forests. The search operation turned into an encounter when the militants, who were hiding, opened fire, an Army officer said.

“Three militants have been killed, while one soldier was injured in the operation,” the officer said. The deceased have been identified as Zubair Ahmad Bhat alias Abu Huraira, Shakoor Ahmad Parray alias Jaffar and Tawseef Ahmad Thoker alias Abu Talha, a police spokesperson said.

As per the police records, Zubair was affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), while Shakoor and Tawseef belong to the Hizbul Mujahideen, the spokesperson said. The three were wanted in connection with attacks on security establishments and civilians. It was a combined group of JeM and Hizb outfits, he said.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. A case has been registered and an investigation is on, he added.

SC decision should be final, says BJP ally Paswan opposing Ram Temple ordinance

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January 3, 2019

BJP ally and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday opposed an ordinance on the Ram temple issue and asserted that the Supreme Court’s decision on the matter should be final.

“Whatever judgement the Supreme Court gives on the Ram temple issue should be accepted by everyone, be it Hindu, Muslim or any other community. Our stand has been consistent. When the PM said that we will wait for the SC judgement, and then all ifs and buts should end,” the Lok Janshakti Party president told reporters.

Asked if he would support an ordinance on the issue, Paswan said his stand has been consistent and that he would not support it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said on Tuesday that the government would not take any decision on the issue till the judicial process is over. Hindutva groups such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have been demanding an ordinance to pave way for the temple’s construction in Ayodhya.

The LJP is the second major ally of the BJP to oppose an ordinance. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had recently said that the contentious issue should be resolved either through a court judgement or mutual agreement among different groups. The Ram temple title case is in the apex court.

Paswan also supported the Supreme Court judgement allowing women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple. The LJP is against any gender discrimination, he said. The Dalit leader said the BJP may have protested against the implementation of the court’s order but the Union government has not interfered in the matter.

“The SC has given its judgement and now two women have even entered the temple. Is the government stopping them from entering the temple? “There should be no discrimination in the name of gender. Women are going to space, then why can’t they enter a temple,” he said.

Paswan added that political parties have different views on issues. He also asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi to make his stand clear on these issues, saying that the Congress chief seems to be confused.

West Bengal Rath Yatra: SC to hear BJP’s plea on Jan 8

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January 3, 2019

The Supreme Court will on January 8 hear the BJP’s plea against the Calcutta High Court’s order on party’s yatra in West Bengal.

Last month, the BJP moved

The Supreme Court will on January 8 hear the BJP’s plea against the Calcutta High Court’s order on party’s yatra in West Bengal.

Last month, the BJP moved the vacation bench of the Apex Court against the order of the high court’s division bench which restricted the party from holding yatra in West Bengal.

The division bench had earlier quashed the order of a single bench allowing the BJP to hold yatra in the state.

The Mamata Banerjee-led state government has been protesting against the proposed yatra citing intelligence reports of possible communal violence in areas where the BJP has planned the rallies.

“The areas proposed to be covered by the yatra are, because of publicity and propaganda gradually turning into communally sensitive pockets. Intelligence reports indicate that public perception is that the religious overtones of the Yatra will be turned into propaganda,” a letter from the state government reads.

The government also claimed that the yatra may trigger communal violence in several districts due to the participation of the RSS, Bajrang Dal and the VHP.

RBI scales down printing of Rs 2000 note to minimum: Govt source

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January 3, 2019

The printing of Rs 2000 banknote, introduced post-demonetisation in November 2016, has been reduced to the “minimum” by the Reserve Bank, a top finance ministry official said on Thursday.

Soon after the sudden decision to ban old Rs 500/1000 currency notes by the government, the Reserve Bank had come out with the Rs 2000 currency note along with a new look Rs 500 note as part of its massive remonetisation exercise.

The senior official said the RBI and the government from time to time decides on the quantum of currency to be printed on the basis of money in circulation.

When the Rs 2000 note was launched, it was decided that the printing would be “scaled down” going forward, since the new high currency value note was meant for meeting the remonetisation need.

“The printing of 2000 rupee notes has been substantially reduced. It has been decided to limit the printing of 2000 currency notes to minimum. This is nothing new,” the official said.

According to the RBI data, there were 3,285 million pieces of Rs 2000 notes in circulation at end-March 2017. A year after (on March 31, 2018), there was only a marginal increase in the number at 3,363 million pieces.

Of the total currency in circulation amounting to Rs 18,037 billion at end-March 2018, Rs 2000 notes accounted for 37.3 per cent, down from 50.2 per cent at end-March 2017.

The old 500/1000 bank notes that were scrapped in November 2016 accounted for around 86 per cent of the total currency in circulation at that time.

Entry of trucks into Delhi may be banned if pollution continues to be severe on Friday: CPCB

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January 3, 2019

Entry of trucks in the national capital may be banned if the pollution level does not reduce by Friday morning, the Central Pollution Control Board-led task force recommended on Thursday.

Noting that “combustion sources require priority attention”, the CPCB-led taskforce called for intensification of measures already in force.

“The task force opines that measures already in force must continue with intensified action by implementing agencies particularly with regard to traffic congestion, open burning of waste, industrial emissions,” the taskforce said.

“In case the situation does not improve by tomorrow morning (Friday), entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except essential commodities) may be stopped,” it said.

The taskforce also urged people to minimise use of personal vehicles and avoid prolonged exposure to the outdoor air.

“The severe condition has continued for 31 hrs consecutively exceeding 300 g/m3 for PM2.5. It is observed that while PM10 levels are marginally exceeding 500 g/m3, PM2.5 levels are much higher reaching up to 350 g/m3,” the taskforce said.

Delhi’s air quality remained severe for the second day on Thursday due to adverse meteorological conditions as authorities warned that the condition would continue to deteriorate unless sufficient rainfall brings respite by cleansing the air.

Torrent Power bags distribution rights for 3 Maha sub-divisions

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January 3, 2019

Torrent Power on Thursday said that it has been appointed as electricity distribution franchisee for three sub-divisions under Thane urban circle of Maharashtra.

“The company has emerged as winner of competitive bidding process conducted by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) for appointment of input based distribution franchisee for distribution of electricity in Shil, Mumbra and Kalwa sub-divisions under Thane urban circle, for 20 years,” Torrent Power said in a BSE filing.

Shil, Mumbra and Kalwa sub-divisions have a customer base of 2.15 lakh, the filing said.

Torrent Power is expected to upgrade the infrastructure, improve quality of supply and lower AT&C losses, whereas MSEDCL is obliged to supply input power at annual input rates as agreed under the agreement.

32 missions, including Chandrayaan-2, planned for 2019: ISRO

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January 3, 2019

India has planned 32 missions, including the “most complex” Chandrayaan-2 during 2019, the Indian Space Research Organisation has said.

India’s maiden human spaceflight programme ‘Gaganyaan’ activities would go full steam to accomplish the various development and qualification milestones during the year, the space agency said.

“The year 2019 promises to be much more challenging to the ISRO community with 32 planned missions (14 launch vehicles, 17 satellites and 1 Tech demo missions),” ISRO Chairman K Sivan said in a New Year message.

“This includes the most complex Chandrayaan-2, which will be the 25th mission from SLP (second launch pad), and the development flights of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV),” he said.

ISRO had earlier said that Chandrayaan-2 will be launched in a window from January-February 16, 2019.

Sources said that it is expected by the middle of next month but no date has been finalised.

“We are all trying hard. Definitely, it should be possible to launch the mission in February,” a senior ISRO official told agencies.

“There is no impediment. It’s on track,” the official said.

Chandrayaan-2 mission, costing nearly Rs 800 crore, is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission about 10 years ago.

This spacecraft to be launched on board GSLV-Mk III is a totally indigenous mission, comprising an Orbiter, Lander and Rover.

Sivan said during the year, Gaganyaan activities would go “full steam” to accomplish the various development and qualification milestones.

The Union Cabinet gave its nod for the Rs 9,023-crore programme last Friday.

The objective of the mission is to carry a three-member crew to low earth orbit and return them safely to a predefined destination on earth.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Independence Day announced that the mission would be undertaken by 2022.

ISRO is aiming to reinstate its microwave remote-sensing capability through the RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellite) series and attain operational Geo-imaging capability through the GISAT (GEO Imaging Satellite) series, according to Sivan.

It is also planned to progressively improve the payload capability of GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) and its variants.

The country would meet the high throughput bandwidth requirement of Digital India and also in-flight connectivity with the launch of GSAT-20.

On the application side, crop production estimation would be enhanced to cover 10 additional crops and also provide vital inputs for water and energy security, Sivan said.

He said that 2019 is the birth centenary of the founding father of Indian Space Programme, Vikram A Sarabhai, and year-long celebrations, consisting of a host of national and international events, would commence August 12, 2019.

Terming 2018 as a year of many ‘firsts’ and ‘beginnings’ with profound growth in all directions, he said during the year ISRO completed 16 missions, signing off with seven successful missions within 35 days.

This included two successful GSLV missions in a single year.

Among other things, the period also witnessed active discussions and partnerships with other space agencies in advanced technology areas of human spaceflight and other areas like LOX/Methane propulsion, joint satellite missions, among others, he said.

A major initiative has been the UNNATI programme, which is an international programme to train participants on nano satellite assembly, and has evoked major respoISRO-LD CHANDRAYAANnse from 34 countries.