REFUGEE

New Delhi: In a bid to contain the spreading disquiet over the elevation of PD Dinakaran, the controversial chief justice of the Karnataka high court, to the apex court, the supreme court collegium may transfer himThe collegium is likely to take a final call on the issue at its meeting on Tuesday. Earlier, the government had rejected its proposal to elevate Dinakaran, who is in the eye of a storm over alleged land grabbing in Tamil Nadu.

A senior lawyer said a commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act should be set up to look into the Dinakaran issue. It should submit its findings within three months.
"The collegium must take a call on this aspect. The procedural impeachment move has too much politics involved and it takes a long time,'' he adds.

On Friday night, justice Dinakaran is believed to have met justice Balakrishnan and some other members of the collegium. He is understood to have termed as "incorrect'' the report of the collector of Thiruvallur in Tamil Nadu relating to alleged land grabbing by him.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Bar Association president MN Krishnamani has welcomed the Centre's rejection of Dinakaran's elevation to the apex court."I am very happy that the concern expressed by senior lawyers all over the country has evoked the right response from the government,'' he said in a statement.

New Delhi: India will on Monday sign a nuclear agreement with Russia on far greater favourable terms than the one it has with the US. The Russian deal will implicitly grant India the right to process spent fuel and facilitate the transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technologiesThe agreement will be signed by prime minister Manmohan Singh, who reached Moscow on Sunday for a three-day state visit. A senior official called the proposed Indo-Russian agreement a "path-finder and path-breaker". Contrasting it with the 123 agreement between India and the US, he said even if the Russian agreement is called off, there will not be any interruption of ongoing projects and fuel supply. According to the American agreement, India will have to return both fuel and equipment if it is called off.

The Indo-Russian 'Inter-Government Agreement on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy' will replace the agreement of 1988 under which the Kodankulam nuclear plant was set up in Tamil Nadu.

Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said Singh's visit will also witness agreements for extending Indo-Russian military-technical cooperation to 2020, after-sales support of Russian military systems in India, and extending a credit line of $100 million by the Export-Import Bank of India to a Russian bank for the purchase of some equipment.

The countries will also sign a protocol on the joint development of a multirole transport aircraft (MTA) and issue a joint declaration on strengthening strategic partnership.

The visit will also aim to boost the traditionally dull private sector interactions between the countries. A powerful group of industrialists is meeting under the recently-formed Indo-Russian CEOs' Council, co-chaired by Reliance Group chairman Mukesh Ambani and Sistema Corporation chief Vladimir Evtushenkov.

A senior government official said: "Russia is perhaps our most important partner on many areas like defence, nuclear and oil."

A better deal
India and the then Soviet Union signed an agreement for the supply of two 1,000-MW light-water reactors to India in November 1988. The reactors were to be build at Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu.

But before a final contract for the reactors could be signed, the Soviet Union collapse in December 1991. The agreement in its final form was signed in 1998. It stated mutual obligations with precision and left no room for ambiguity over issues like the consequences of India conducting nuclear tests.

The nuclear agreement to be signed by the prime minister on Monday would be a lot less restrictive than the US 123 agreement.

Russia does not have restrictive internal laws like the American Atomic Energy Act and Hyde Act and all India needs to do in exchange for guaranteed fuel supply is to accept facility-specific international safeguards.

PUNE: A small-time Tamil and Telgu actor C. Manoharan alias Snakemanu and his accomplice N.T. Srinivasulu were arrested on Tuesday with a

consignment of crocodiles and snakes at the Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi.

Acting on a tip off, the National Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and the New Delhi Crime Branch arrested the suspects. They were to deliver two alligators, one cobra and three vine snakes to international buyers.

The crocodiles were being sold at $ 2,000 each and the snakes for $ 500 each.

It was as a joint operation by the People for Animals (PFA) Delhi and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).

Manoj Oswal, Pune-based animal welfare officer of the AWBI told TOI that a week ago he got the information that a buyer had come to Asia to buy wild animals. One of the rivals of the buyer gave the details of the consignment.

Later, it was confirmed that a consignment of four snakes and two alligators will be delivered to a buyer in Delhi. The actor and his accomplice would deliver this consignment from Chennai to Delhi, Oswal said.

"Immediately after getting the information, I contacted Maneka Gandhi MP. Accordingly, a trap was laid at the Nizamuddin railway station by the crime branch and the wildlife crime control bureau,'' Oswal said.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today rejected the plea by Tamil Nadu government seeking a stay on the go-ahead given by the Centre to Kerala for conducting survey and an investigation in Periyar Tiger Reserve area to build a new dam in place of existing Mullaperiyar dam.
"At this stage, no order is called for," a Bench comprising Justices D K Jain, M K Sharma and R M Lodha said while declining the plea by senior advocate K Parasaran for Tamil Nadu government.
The Bench said the apprehension of Tamil Nadu government on the issue was "misplaced" and it is "premature" for it to pass any order.
It said that at present the survey has not been done and it will take years for the purpose.
However, Tamil Nadu government said it has some apprehension as one minister of Kerala has reportedly made a statement that the survey was conducted to set up a new dam.
Allaying such apprehension, the Bench said "do they have a readymade dam with which they will replace"?
"You know why the statements are made. You don't go by statement. We can only say it is irresponsible and unfortunate," the Bench said.
It said Tamil Nadu can always approach the court at a later stage after the examining the proposal, if any is put forward.
Kerala has conceived the construction of a new dam towards the western side of the existing dam on Periyar river.
The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife had on October 6 given the green signal for surveying the area witout affecting any other legal and administrative clearances required.
A lawsuit on the issue of Mullaperiyar dam is already pending in the apex court.
Kerala had filed its written statement stating that the chief minister had made a proposal for the construction of the dam and during the period when the new dam is being constructed, the flow of water would be maintained upto its current level.
Tamil Nadu government has also questioned the legislation passed by Kerala restricting the raising of the water level beyond 136 feet saying it will adversely affect its interest.

New Delhi: One person succumbed to swine flu in the country today even as 140 fresh cases of the disease were reported.

Delhi reported the maximum 30 fresh swine flu cases, while Karnataka and Tamil Nadu registered 22 each, Maharashtra reported 23, Kerala 13, and Haryana 8.

The lone death today was reported from Maharashtra which has seen the maximum number of people succumb to the disease.

The total number of deaths due to swine flu in the country rose to 396 today and the number of infected people touched 12,185.

Meanwhile, a new study revealed that adolescents and relatively healthy adults are especially at risk from swine flu.

The study, conducted during the first phase of infection between March 18 and June 1 in Mexico and April 16 through August 12 in Canada, also shows how emergency services were sometimes submerged by the number of serious cases that needed to be treated simultaneously.

At least 4,525 people have died from swine flu infections since April worldwide and there have been over 378,223 laboratory confirmed cases, the World Health Organisation said on last Friday, with most deaths occurring in the Americas.

"Our analysis of critically ill patients with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) reveals that this disease affected a young patient group," wrote the authors of the study led by Guillermo Dommnguez-Cherit of the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Midicas Nutricisn in Mexico City.

New Delhi: Iran Cultural House in New Delhi in collaboration with Hajj Committee of India organized an international seminar on “Hajj: A Model of Global Unity.” Speakers from India and abroad highlighted the aspects of Hajj that strengthen the unity of Muslim Ummah.

In his presidential speech at the seminar, Iran ambassador in India Syed Nabizadeh expressed the hope, “Hajj is a model of global unity. The program shall prove fruitful for evolving unity among Muslims, ending their material and intangible problems and delivering Muslims suffering from imperialism.” Iranian Cultural Councilor, Dr. Karim Najafi told that the seminar was organized in India considering the large number of Hajj pilgrims from this country.

The seminar was part of the two-day World Hajj Conference (October 11-12) held at the Iran Embassy in New Delhi. Iranian ambassador Syed Nabizadeh chaired the 2–day conference. The Imam of Friday prayers in Tehran, Ayatullah Immi Kashani, was special invitee and guest of honour in the conference.

Addressing the opening session of the conference on October 11, Shia religious scholar and vice president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Kalbe Sadiq said, “Should we become Allah’s soldiers, no power in the world can defeat us.” He elaborated on sectarian fissures and lack of unity among Muslims across the globe.

“There are only two entities: Islam and infidelity. Next come sacrifice and exploitation”, Maulana Kalbe Sadiq continued, “Today, exploitation is rampant all over the world, on pretext of religion at places and on pretext of politics or business elsewhere. In a way, infidelity has engrossed all exploitation whereas Islam is an epitome of sacrifice.” He emphasized that various practices of Hajj indicate that we should rally around Allah only.

Informing that there are 56 Islamic countries in the world today, Maulana Sadiq questioned, “Is USA afraid of any of them other than a small country like Iran?” “This is the same fear that Pharaoh experienced in presence of Moses”, he said.

Endorsing that Hajj symbolizes unity, Maulana Rafiq Qasimi, secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said, “A single Imam leads all Muslims there and sectarian differences get dissolved.”

Mohtamim of Darul Uloom Deoband (Wakf) Maulana Mohammad Salim Qasimi said, “Hajj is an emblem of equality. This is the grand show of unity unparalleled in the history of the world. There is king of a country as well as the common folk and all seeking pardon from their Lord. All of them have the same identity there.” Imam of Shahi Fatehpuri Masjid Maulana Mufti Mukarram Ahmad also dwelt on the theme of unity and complained about problems faced by pilgrims.

Stressing that unity is a boon, Principal of Jamia Ahl-e-Bait Maulana Mohammad ‘Askari said, “We cannot realize human virtues without substantiating unity. The philosophy of Hajj and all its practices invite us to abolish discrimination.” He appealed to people to forebear difficulties faced during Hajj, saying, “Hajj is another name for sacrifice.”

Congratulating the Iranian Cultural House and Hajj Committee of India for organizing the World Hajj Conference, union minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah said in the concluding session on October 12, “Create unity. Allah will not only ease out your problems but open the doors of paradise.” He opined that creating unity is greatest responsibility of Ulema in present times. Translation of a book authored by historian Amir Ahmad Alvi by Prof. Mushirul Hasan under title of ‘Journey to the Holy Land’ was also released in this session.

Earlier, in the first session of the last day of conference, Maulana Shamimul Hasan said, “Hajj does not belong to any particular Shari’ah. It started with Hazrat Adam and continued till the last Apostle of Allah, Muhammad (S.A.W.) Allah’s Friend Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S.) populated the place of Hajj for sacrifice, so this is the place from where Muslim’s unity and concord can usher. ”

Other dignities who took part in the 2-day conference include union state minister for minorities’ affairs Salman Khursheed, ICCR vice chairman Syed Shahid Mehdi, Hujjatul Islam Mehmoodul Hasan, Khwaja Hasan Nizami, Mufti of Jamia Nizamia Hyderabad Syed Sadiq Muhyiddin and other prominent leaders, intellectuals and scholars besides those from Thailand, Bangladesh and other countries.

Acting chairman of Hajj Committee of India and member of legislative assembly, Hasan Ahmad read Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit’s message to the conference. Other important messages read in the conference included one from Saudi ambassador in New Delhi, Faisal Hasan Turad.

New Delhi, Oct 12 No deaths due to swine flu occurred today but 169 new cases of the disease was reported from across the country with the maximum number being from Kerala.

The new cases were reported from Delhi (42), Tamil Nadu (20), Kerala (47), Maharashtra (35) and Uttar Pradesh (7).

Of the 169 cases reported today, two have a foreign travel history and the rest are indigenous.

Till date, 12,043 people have been afflicted with swine flu and 389 patients have succumbed to the H1N1 virus nationwide.

Maharashtra, which is one of the worst affected states in the country, has cured and discharged 3,586 patients.

Till date, 10,19,886 people were examined for swine flu and 50,193 suspected patients were put on Tamiflu treatment in the state.

After examining, 3,822 persons were found positive. Of these, 3,586 persons are cured and discharged.

New Delhi, Oct 12 : The Union Government on Monday decided to continue with the deployment of 17 companies of Central Police Forces in West Bengal for the operation in Lalgarh.

The decision came after a meeting between West Bengal Chief Minster Budhadeb Bhattacharjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here today.

In the meeting, Bhattacharjee urged the Centre to continue with the central forces deputation of in the state for some more time to aid the state police in anti-Naxal operations.

Addressing a press conference after meeting Singh, Bhattachrjee said he had asked for the continuance of Central Police Forces, especially in the Lalgarh region to provide stability to the operation.

On Sunday, Bhattacharjee met Home Minster P Chidambaram and Finance Minster Pranab Mukherjee separately.

In these meetings, Bhattacharjee, favored continuance of joint operations by West Bengal Police along with the Jharkhand Police.

“Without simultaneous operations in Jharkhand, it will be difficult for the (Bengal) police to hold on to the gains made against Maoists in areas like West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura Districts,” Bhattacharjee said.

“Through the joint operations we have achieved some gains in the last few months…We are now dominating the areas of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura. By dominating, we mean that the police is functioning normally, the administration is functioning almost as usual. But there are sporadic incidents,” he added.

He said the security forces would start operations in other parts of the state, especially those bordering Jharkhand, where most of the Maoist infrastructure, training camps and strongholds are located.

Commenting on Singh’s statement that talks could be held with Left extremists if they lay down arms, Bhattacharjee said: “This has been my consistent position too from the beginning.”

Bhattacharjee said extremists were attacking and killing innocent people, police personnel and government servants “creating serious problems”.

Replying to a question that the CPM had earlier come to power after a long battle with Naxalites, Bhattacharjee said: “At that time it was different. We fought them politically and ideologically. Now, it is a new phenomenon. We can’t be blamed for the havoc created by Maoists in Chhattisgarh.”

Bhattachrjee claimed that the Maoists are now a group of misguided people trying to use poverty to expand their base and there is no ideology and no programme remained with them.

Rakhi Sawant with Elesh Parujanwala at Launch of New Show " Pati Patni aur Woh". NEW DELHI: NDTV Imagine's reality show "Pati Patni Aur Woh" will continue to air, the Delhi High Court ruled Tuesday seeking an explanation from the national child rights panel as to why the show should be banned.

Justice Sanjeev Khanna allowed the screening of the show and issued a notice to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) as to why they want to ban the show.

On Sep 30, NCPCR had in its order said that the show violates child rights and should be stopped with immediate effect.

The court also directed the commission to complete its investigation expeditiously and prepare the final report.

Senior advocate Rajiv Nayyar appearing for NDTV Imagine contended before the court that NCPCR had no authority to pass any order.

"The commission can only hold an inquiry into the matter and can send their recommendations to the courts but cannot issue any order," Nayyar said.

The court will further hear the matter Dec 18.

Modelled on international reality show "Baby Borrowers", "Pati Patni Aur Woh" is about parenting - from living the life of an eight-month pregnant woman to taking care of an infant, a toddler, and a teenager for four days each.

The show went on air Sep 28 and the channel immediately faced the ire of the NCPCR, an autonomous body, that alleged that the show was "exploiting children". It also sent a notice to the channel Oct 1 to stop the show.