• NATIONAL

Justice S.H. Kapadia withdraws from matter involving ITC

Justice S.H. Kapadia recused himself from a matter involving Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) on ground that he held shares in the firm. The Justice who had heard the matter for almost a year decided to recuse him as soon as it came up for hearing even though the Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of ITC did not have any objections to the same.

'Scrabble' classified by SC as a game not an educational toy or a puzzle.

The Supreme Court held that "scrabble" is a game and not an educational toy or puzzle and therefore, was not exempted from excise duty. The court dismissing the appeals against the decision of the Commissioner of Central Excise ruled "Going by the dictionary meaning of the word `educational toy', one finds that `educational toys' remain even today tools of amusement. They remain an object for a child to play with. The elements of chance and skill are absent in a toy. Hence even a `Junior Scrabble' is not an educational toy.

National Food Security Bill not to be tabled this winter session of Parliament

The government will not table the much-publicized National Food Security Bill, which aims to provide low-cost food to the poor, in the winter session of Parliament. This is due to the disputes relating to below poverty line (BPL) population, doubts over the sustainability of food stocks for the programme and lack of adequate storage facilities.

Govt to push forward Women's Reservation Bill in this session of Parliament

The government is likely to push forward the long-pending and controversial Women's Reservation Bill, 2008 in the winter session of Parliament. The bill seeks to set apart 33% of legislative seats for women. The Women's Reservation Bill, which requires a constitutional amendment, will ensure one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha as well as state assemblies.

Brokers to collect money upfront as Margin-SEBI

The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is likely to make it mandatory for brokers to collect money upfront as margin from all investors before initiating trades in cash segment. At present, this is left to the discretion of brokers. The move is aimed to tighten the rules governing brokers' ability to act on behalf of investors.

'Photo Proximity Cards' for entry in Supreme Court

The Supreme Court stepped up its security measures in view of intelligence reports of militant threats to the Supreme Court. A Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) for 24-hour surveillance has been installed in the court premises. Further, entry into the Supreme Court is restricted and allowed only to those producing 'Photo Proximity Cards', which are issued to lawyers, their assistants, journalists and clients.

• INTERNATIONAL

Google to be dragged to court by Swiss Data Protection Commissioner

Switzerland's data protection commissioner stated that he was taking Google to court in a dispute over privacy concerns on the US Internet giant's "Street View" facility. The case will be filed before the Federal Administrative Tribunal as Google had refused to apply the majority of measures he had recommended. The Swiss data protection commissioner had repeatedly complained since the service was introduced in Switzerland this year that many images of faces and vehicle number plates were still easily identifiable and insufficiently blurred whereby privacy in enclosed areas (gardens, yards) is no longer guaranteed.

Facebook and Myspace under fire for failing to introduce help button for children

Popular social networking websites Facebook and MySpace have been slammed for failing to introduce a help button for children being bullied online. Apparently, rival networking site Bebo had adopted the button that allows users to contact trained child protection officers and also provides details of local police and links to 10 other sources of help.

Deportation of Indians nullified by Nigerian Court

A Nigerian court has quashed the deportation order of three India-born British businessmen brothers, who were deported by the government after the country's anti-graft agency sealed one of their companies over a fraud petition. The court held that failure of the relevant authorities to seek and obtain representation of affected parties before prejudicial action is a breach of their fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution.

German court upholds ban on public support of Nazi regime

The German Federal Constitutional Court upheld legislation prohibiting public support and justification of the Nazi regime. The ruling means that neo-Nazis are forbidden from assembling for the purposes of approving, glorifying or justifying the Nazi regime. Violations are punishable by up to three years in prison.