Governors are immune, SC concedes; Recalls notice to Rajkhowa

New Delhi, Feb 1, 2016 (PTI)

The Supreme Court today conceded its "mistake" and recalled its notice issued to Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa in cases arising out of imposition of President's Rule in the political crisis-hit hill state.

After considering its earlier verdict and the legal position that the Governor enjoys "complete immunity" in court proceedings, a five-judge Constitutional bench headed by Justice J S Khehar said "that (issuing notice) is our mistake."

The bench made the remark at the outset when Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi pointed out the legal position and referred to a 2006 judgement which had held that Governors cannot be asked to join legal proceedings.

Referring to Rohatgi's contention that Governors have "complete immunity" under Article 361 of the Constitution, it said, "We consider is just and appropriate to recall the notice issued to Respondent 2 (the Governor)."

The bench, also comprising Justices Dipak Misra, M B Lokur, P C Ghose and N V Ramana, however, clarified that its order recalling the notice would not "preclude" the Arunachal Governor from filing or putting forth his views before it.

It also said that earlier senior advocate Satpal Jain, appearing for the Governor, had undertaken, in pursuance of court's direction, to file materials leading to recommendation of President's Rule.

The Attorney General, during the hearing, said either the leaders including Rajesh Tacho and Nabam Rebia agree to delete the name of the Governor from their respective pleas or he would cite the legal position and the case law on the issue.

"We can recall the notice, if we have committed the mistake," the bench said.
"Having given a thoughtful consideration to the issue in hand, we are inclined to recall the notice. That, however, would not preclude the Governor from filing or putting forth his views before it," the bench said.

It, meanwhile, issued notice to the Centre on fresh pleas of former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and Congress leader Bamang Felix against imposition of President's Rule.

Rahul targets Centre over 'shocking attack' on protesters

New Delhi, Feb 1, 2016 (PTI)

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today targeted the Modi government over the "shocking attack" by police on students protesting against Hyderabad research scholar Rohith Vemula's suicide outside RSS office in Delhi.

He insisted the demonstrators were "brutally" beaten as they were "protesting against the RSS".

"Shocking attack on students. Instead of listening to them, now the Modi govt is brutally beating them up for protesting against the RSS!", the Congress leader tweeted.

Rahul's tweet came as the Delhi Police faced criticism following emergence of a video in which its personnel were seen thrashing protesters and dragging female activists by their hair outside the RSS office here during a demonstration against dalit student Vemula's suicide.

The video of Saturday's incident went viral on social media, triggering sharp reactions, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleging the police force was being used as RSS and BJP's "private army" under a political dispensation that is at "war" with students across the country.

Ramasundram is new SSB DG; first woman to head paramilitary

New Delhi, Feb 1, 2016 (PTI)

Senior IPS officer Archana Ramasundram was today appointed Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the first woman to head a paramilitary force.

Ramasundram is currently Director, National Crime Records Bureau. She has been appointed to the post till the date of her superannuation September 30, next year, an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.

58-year-old Ramasundram is the first woman police officer to have been appointed as the chief of a paramilitary force. The SSB is entrusted with guarding the country's frontiers with Nepal and Bhutan.

There are five paramilitary forces-- SSB, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force and Indo Tibetan Border Police-- and none has ever had a woman chief.

The Tamil Nadu cadre officer was in news in 2014 over her appointment as Additional Director in the CBI. Her appointment was also challenged in the Supreme Court after which she was moved to the NCRB as its chief.

Besides her, IPS officers--K Durga Prasad and K K Sharma--have been appointed Director Generals of CRPF and BSF, respectively. They will take over after the incumbent chiefs of these forces retire at the end of this month.

Prasad, a 1981 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, was in 2014 unceremoniously removed as chief of the Special Protection Group, which provides security to the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers and their family members, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to Nepal to attend the Saarc summit.

He was in January last year appointed Special Director General of the CRPF, the force entrusted with multiple duties in the internal security domain including, anti-naxal operations.

'Security gaps' led to terror attack in Punjab: Rijiju

Amritsar, Feb 1, 2016 (PTI)

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju today said "some gaps in security" led to Dina Nagar and Pathankot terror attacks in Punjab.

"There were some gaps in security that led to terror attacks in Punjab," Rijiju told the media here.

He, however, said Punjab government and the Centre were working jointly on security aspects following the twin terror attacks.

On infiltration of terrorists, Rijiju, who was on a two-day trip to Punjab, said that there were many gaps as somewhere barbed fencing was broken and at some places fencing was missing. "Similarly there were some problems with the riverine area that also need immediate attention," he said.

Union Government will give special attention to all security measures in Punjab to maintain peace and harmony, Rijiju said.

He said some elements are attempting to create disturbance in Punjab like 1980 period but peace will be maintained at any cost and there would be no compromise with the security even at international borders and BSF will also equipped with more infrastructure as per requirement.

Talking about Indo-Pak talks, he said if the dialogue with Pakistan is scheduled, the terror issue will be part of it. The Centre will provide all possible help to Punjab as far as security issues are concerned, he said. 

Zero Zika virus cases in India: Nadda

New Delhi, Feb 1, 2016 (PTI)

Stating that there is not a single case of Zika virus, suspected of causing serious birth defects, in India, the Centre today said it will come out with guidelines to prevent the disease within the next 48 hours.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda, who chaired a high-level meeting today on the issue, said that detailed discussions were held on the proposed guidelines for the Zika virus and based on the outcome of the emergency meet called by the World Health Organisation (WHO), India will issue the guidelines.

"Discussed guidelines for Zika virus, assessed preparedness, no case reported in India yet. Based on outcome of WHO meet on Zika virus, we will issue detailed guidelines in next 48 hrs," Nadda said in a series of tweets.

"The guidelines will be for managing situation arising out of the Zika virus, tackling it and preventive measures. Travel advisory will also be issued for the affected countries," a senior official told PTI.

Senior officials of the Health Ministry, including the Union Health secretary B P Sharma, Director General Health Services Jagdish Prasad, officials from Indian Council of Medical Research and National Centre for Disease Control were present during the meeting.

WHO committee called an emergency meeting in Geneva today on the response to the Zika virus and will decide whether to designate the mosquito-borne virus – which has been linked to serious birth defects – a global emergency.

The Zika virus is "spreading explosively" in the Americas and can infect upto four million people, WHO has warned and also issued a warning to all countries, including India. Aedes Aegypti mosquito carries Zika virus which is suspected to cause brain damage in babies.

This mosquito also carries the viruses that cause dengue and chikungunya which are of great public health concern in tropical countries like India. The outbreak began in Brazil last year and has now spread to 24 countries in the Americas. Nadda had convened a meeting on the issue last week where he had directed his ministry to constitute a technical group to monitor the situation arising out of the Zika virus.

"Community awareness plays an instrumental role in this regard. There is a need for greater awareness amongst community," he had said.

Senior Health officials had said that the ministry is also in the process of issuing a travel advisory which will among other issues will advise pregnant women against travelling to affected countries. Zika virus is believed to cause neurological problems like microcephaly, a condition of abnormally small head in babies.

Such is the level of alarm that many central and Latin American countries like El Salvador, Colombia and Ecuador have urged women to postpone pregnancy till 2018. 

Rahul using students as political tools: Irani

Dharamshala, Feb 1, 2016 (PTI)

Lashing out at Rahul Gandhi over his protests at Hyderabad Central University, HRD Minister Smriti Irani today accused the Congress vice president of using education as "battle-ground" and students as "political fodder" to take revenge on her for posing a challenge in his Amethi constituency.

"Rahul Gandhi would have to take the revenge of Amethi somewhere. I was waiting for it... He wants to make education the battle-ground and use students as political fodder," she told reporters.

Rahul is "hell-bent" on extracting revenge for the tough challenge she had posed while contesting against him in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the Congress bastion of Amethi, she said.

"I have no objections if he wants to take the Amethi fight to other parts of the country. I went to Amethi when Congress was ruling at the Centre. I wasn't scared that time. So why should I be now?" she said.

Irani said Rahul should play politics in Amethi or Parliament, not on campuses. "Politics should not be at educational institutes. It should be at the place (Amethi) where I fought the election and in Parliament where I am answerable. For that I am competent and capable," she said.

Several Union ministers and BJP leaders have accused Rahul Gandhi of using students as a "political tool" over a Dalit scholar's suicide in the Hyderabad Central University campus and mocked his day-long fast.

Want to enjoy winning run, we will lose at some point: Sania

Hyderabad, Jan 31, 2016 (PTI)

Following her Australian Open triumph, Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza today said it was an unreal feeling to win three Grand Slam titles in a row and she would try to maintain the winning streak with her swiss partner Martina Hingis.

"It’s an unreal feeling. We haven’t lost a match in a long time but also to win three grand slams in a row…it’s what really dreams are made of and I am really excited. It was a perfect way to start the year. We feel really happy. Three slams in a row who would have thought. I am taking a couple of days off before going to Fed Cup in Thailand," said Sania after her arrival here.

Reacting to another query, she said “Nothing is certain. We still have to go out there and give our best and try and play the best that we can. Fortunately we have been able to do this for so many months and the whole year has been incredible. But the last six months especially. So we are going to keep trying to do that. I think we all know, in sports everyone loses and at some point we are going to lose and until we lose we are going to try and enjoy this streak.

"I will leave for Delhi and then for Thailand for Fed Cup and then go to St Petersburg," she said. Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis were on Friday last crowned the Australian Open women’s doubles champions after they tamed the spirited Czech duo of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka in straight sets for their 36th win in a row. It was their third consecutive Grand Slam title for Sania and Martina, having won the Wimbledon and US Open in 2015.

In an incredible feat, Sania and Martina have now extended their unbeaten run to 36 matches, winning eight titles in a row. They won five straight titles in 2015, starting from the US Open and before the Australian Open now.

Asked on her Padma Bhushan recognition, Sania said "I am very honoured and I hope I can be here in the country (to receive the award) and it would be amazing. I was here for the Khel Ratna and hopefully I can be here. It’s a great honour for me and I feel privileged."