• National News

Kerala MLA election set aside by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court stayed the Kerala High Court order holding the election of Jacob as null and void. The High Court has found him guilty of corrupt practices under the Representation of People Act (RPA). The apex court, in an interim order, allowed Jacob to participate in the proceedings of the Kerala Assembly but on the condition that he will not have the power to vote and draw emoluments as an MLA.

ILO impressed with India's efforts in providing social security to poor

The director-general of International Labour Organisation (ILO) said that India was making a determined effort by providing social security to poor and applauded the country for the effort.

More of revenue share lowers STD rates

The telecom operators are saving a huge amount going to the Government by loading higher revenue component to their long distance licence. The companies have increased its long distance carriage charge almost upto 45 per cent of the revenues on to its long distance arm compared to just 10 per cent earlier. Telecom Operators also don't have to pay spectrum charges on the long distance revenue compared to about 2 per cent of the revenues from cellular services. Officials in the Department of Telecom said that the operators were within the rules in following the new routing scheme.

SC notice to centre and state for corruption in rural job schemes

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the centre and all states following a petition alleging large-scale corruption in Centre's ambitious rural employment scheme - National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). The petition filed by Delhi-based Centre for Environment and Food Security (CEFS) highlighted that most of the funds issued under the scheme were not reaching intended beneficiaries.

Information denied to Parliament by Government given under RTI

An RTI request for the private properties of ex-rulers was rejected by the ministry of home affairs on the grounds that the information were part of unpublished official records relating to affairs of the state and could not be provided as Section 8(1) (j) of the RTI Act empowers it to withhold personal information and also that such information has been denied to the Parliament in 1967. The Central Information Commission said it did not have the jurisdiction and would not choose to pass a verdict as to whether it would actually amount to either breach of privilege or contempt of the Parliament by providing that information because it was for the Parliament to determine that.

Supreme Court showed no leniency towards those involved in brutal murders

The Supreme Court rejecting an appeal by a convict sentenced for death penalty said that no leniency could be shown to brutal murders. Justice Arijit Pasayat also said that showing leniency towards a convict of brutal murders may undermine public confidence in the efficacy of law and society. The convict had raped and murdered two minor girls.

HIV victims submit memorandum to the health ministry

A memorandum was submitted to the health ministry in a march to Jantar mantar by HIV positive patients, activists, legal experts and NGO activists. They urged the government to act on the HIV/AIDS Bill, which was drafted after a lengthy consultation with civil society and reflects the needs and aspirations of those living with HIV/AIDS in the country. A fax campaign targeting the Prime Minister, Congress president and the leader of opposition has also been launched to push for the bill.

Karkardooma Court Lawyers resist meter-changing process

The Karkardooma Court Bar Association members resisted the meter changing process by the BSES officials in the lawyer's chambers in the court premises. The lawyers took the officials to the nearby police station alleging that no notice was sent to them regarding the changing of old meters to electronic ones.

Child Custody to HIV+ mother

The Delhi High Court in a judgment ordered for the custody of a child to his mother, who is a HIV+. The court ordered the in laws of the mother hand over the child in the court and also appointed an activists who will look after the child on a regular basis. She also ordered that the child undergo a medical test at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Supreme Court gives orders on probation of cops

A bench of Judges of Supreme Court quashed a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that ordered dismissal of a constable, who was on probation as illegal. The Apex Court said that a policeman could be dismissed from service for misconduct during the probation period if there is a provision for it in the recruitment rules.

High Court Appointments

New Judges for Rajasthan High Court

The additional judges of Rajasthan of High Court Justice Shri Chatra Ram Jat, Justice Shri Gauri Shankar Sarraf and Justice Shri Mohammad Rafiq has been appointed to be the Judges of the Rajasthan High Court, in that order of seniority, with effect from the dates they assume charge of their respective offices.

Punjab & Haryana High Court gets new judges

Shri Justice Laxmi Narain Mittal, Shri Justice Nawab Singh, Shri Justice Mohinder Pal, Shri Justice Harbans Lal, Shri Justice Sham Sunder, and Shri Justice Karam Chand Puri, Additional Judges of the Punjab & Haryana High Court has been appointed to be the Judges of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, with effect from the dates they assume charge of their respective offices.

Judges for Allahabad High Court

The additional judges of Allahabad High Court namely Shri Justice Pankaj Mithal, Shri Justice Shiv Charan (Sharma), Shri Justice Satendra Kumar Jain, Shri Justice Vijay Kumar Verma and Shri Justice Subhash Chandra Nigam, have been appointed as the judges of the Allahabad High Court with effect from the dates they assume charge of their respective offices.

• International News

High-rise of Food prices blamed on American habits

Americans realize and react to the President Bush's suggestion that its middle class in India who are pushing food prices by demanding better food by saying that not only the Americans' have a huge intake, but they also waste a enormous amounts of food that they have. The recent news in Dallas also mentioned that the two-third of Americans are overweight. US Department of Agriculture figures show that the average American eats 57 times more corn annually than the average Indian does and about seven times more corn than the average Chinese.

18th Constitutional amendment in Pak

To preempt the lawyers from June 10th long march for reinstatement of sacked judges and also clip presidential powers, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is introducing the 18th constitutional amendment before the budget session. It will be first introduced before the central leadership and parliamentary party of the Pakistan People's Party on May 24th before initiating consultations with coalition partners.

Trade off offer to PPP by Sharif's Party on judge's issue

The PML (N), party of Nawaz Sharif's has offered a trade off to ruling party PPP, to back a controversial law that scrapped graft cases against leaders of its coalition partner if its demand for reinstating judges sacked during the emergency is met. Though the PML (N) party remained no-committal on supporting a constitutional amendment package drafted by the PPP to restore the judges.

Pak asks for Indian help for Bhutto Assassination

To create a monument in history Pakistan People Party (PPP) has sought India's support for its move to demand a UN-led probe into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and create a history by coming together on a resolution in the world body. The request was made to the external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee during a meeting was in Islamabad to review the Composite Dialogue process with his Pakistani counterpart.

BIPA signed between India and Brunei

A Bilateral Investment promotion and protection Agreement (BIPA) has been signed between India and Brunei Darussalam. Brunei is the 70th country with India has signed BIPA. Indian Finance Minister hoped that the agreement would help the boosting of investment flows between the two countries after observing that Brunei is the third largest producer of oil in South East Asia and fourth largest producer of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

New York Court decides on Victoria Secret case

Victoria secret filed an appeal over a trademark issue against the order of a trademark board that had ruled that the trademark "So sexy" hair products create confusion with a rival company's family of trademarks. The board concluded in April 2007 that consumers were likely to confuse the lingerie giant's "So Sexy" trademark for hair-care items with Sexy Hair Concepts' various trademarks using the word "sexy" for its own coiffure line since 1998.

Britain's first Asian woman to be Lord Mayor

A first Indian woman has become Lord Mayor in Leicester on May 15th. Manjula Sood's term in office at the Leicester City Council will be for one year. As Leicester's first citizen, the Lord Mayor has a high profile role in maintaining and promoting the interests of the city and its people. This year will mark the 800th anniversary of the Lord Mayor's office in Leicester.

Changes from India in latest WTO proposal

In the on going Doha round in Geneva, India will press changes in the latest WTO proposals on agriculture and industrial goods. Finding the draft proposal on opening global market for agriculture and industrial goods unfair to the millions of small and marginal farmers of the developing, India has rejected the proposal and plans to suggest changes in it.