A video of a caretaker burning hands of children with hot spoon at 'Shishu Greh' in Karimnagar district in Telangana, is doing rounds in social media. The hidden camera installed in the kitchen has captured the mischievous act of the two women caretakers.
The 'Shishu Greh' is run by the Telangana Government.
Prez decision is subject to judicial review: U'khand HC
Nainital, Apr 20, 2016, (PTI):
Legitimacy of the President's decision to suspend Uttarakhand assembly is subject to judicial review as even he can go wrong, the Uttarakhand High Court observed today. Referring to the NDA government's argument that the President took the decision to impose Article 356 of the Constitution in his "political wisdom", a bench of Chief Justice K M Joseph and Justice V K Bist said, "People can go wrong, be it the President or the judges."
The court also went on to say that "Legitimacy of inference drawn by President from the material placed before him is open to judicial review."
This observation was made after the Centre contended that the President's understanding of the material before him would be different from that of the court.
The Government's contention came after the bench said that from the reports sent by the Governor to the President, regarding the situation in the state, "what we have understood is that everything was processing towards a floor test on March 28."
The high court, during the hearing, also noted that the Governor in his reports to the President never mentioned that 35 MLAs sought division of votes.
"Governor has to be personally satisfied. He has not recorded his personal satisfaction that 35 MLAs had sought division on the floor of the house," the court said and added that his reports do not say that the nine rebel Congress MLAs had also sought a division. It also said that there was "absolute absence of material that would create an apprehension in the mind of the Governor" that President's rule needs to be imposed.
"So how did Government of India arrive at the satisfaction that 35 stood up? From Governor's reports?" the court asked.
"Governor's letter of March 19 to the President does not mention that 35 MLAs had sought division of votes. That is conspicuous by its absence. It is absolutely crucial," the bench said.
To this the Centre said that on March 19 the Governor did not have all the details.
The bench was hearing arguments on the petition filed by the ousted Chief Minister Harish Rawat and related pleas challenging imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand. The high court also questioned whether the allegation that former Chief Minister Harish Rawat was "hitting out" at the nine Congress rebel MLAs would constitute material for imposing Article 356.
The court said the "concern" regarding the rebel MLAs was "absolutely irrelevant and unacceptable".
It also asked "why the secrecy" regarding the Cabinet notes on imposing President's rule in the state and why it was not to be discussed in the court or even be given to the petitioner (Rawat).
Yesterday also during the hearing, the division bench repeatedly maintained that irrespective of allegations of horse-trading and corruption, the only Constitutional way to test majority was to hold a floor test, which "you still have to go for".
The Centre had also faced searching questions from the court which observed that if the reasons for imposition of Article 356 in the instant case, where ruling parties are different at the Centre and in the state, are accepted then it may lead to the central government "watching with a magnifying glass where there is an opportunity for President's rule".
VCK fields educationist Vasanthy Devi against Jayalalithaa
Chennai, Apr 20, 2016, (PTI)
People's Welfare Front constituent VCK today fielded well-known educationist and intellectual Vasanthy Devi from RK Nagar constituency against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for the May 16 Assembly polls. Jayalalithaa is seeking a successive term from the RK Nagar constituency. Party founder Thol.Thirumavalavan will contest from Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore district.
Announcing Devi's candidature at a press conference here, Thirumavalavan said the former Vice-Chancellor of Manonamaniam Sundaranar University was a "common candidate" of the People's Welfare Front (PWF), whose other constituents are Vaiko-led MDMK, CPI (M) and CPI.
The combine had tied up with DMDK and Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) to contest the polls.
"She is a well-known educationist who has fought for women issues among other things. Highly respected, she has been working in various fora for people's issues," Thirumavalavan said.
Thirumavalavan, who was speculated to fight from the city-based constituency after it was allocated to his party, said "our intention is not to defeat anyone, but take the politics of change," to people.
Devi will fight on a VCK ticket on the party's Ring symbol, he said.
Making a comeback in the assembly elections after a gap of 15 years, Thirumavalavan said he will contest from Kattumannarkoil as it had been a favourable constituency, with him polling more votes even when he lost the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
He had contested from Chidambaram then under which Kattumannarkoil came. He had earlier won from the same Parliamentary constituency in 2009.
RK Nagar was allotted to the party only because he wanted eight general seats of the 25 seats allotted to VCK, the party founder said.
Both DMK and VCK have fielded women candidates to take on Jayalalithaa in the RK Nagar constituency.
DMK had nominated political greenhorn Shimla Muthuchozhan even as BJP has fielded MN Raja, son-in-law of a former AIADMK Minister from the Assembly segment.
NIT agrees to many demands, mum on tricolour hoisting by PM
New Delhi, Apr 20, 2016 (PTI)
NIT-Srinagar management will consider formation of students' council and all national festivals will be celebrated in the institute, it has said a day after outstation students put forth their demands at a meeting here in the wake clashes with local students.
The minutes of the meeting, attended by NIT Sringar Director Rajat Gupta, officials of HRD ministry and students representatives, and decisions by the Board of Governors were put on the institute's website but it did not refer to another major demand of students that HRD minister Smriti Irani or the Prime Minister should hoist the tricolour at the campus.
It has been decided to allow optional external evaluation for recent exams. Also, a committee constituted for students grievance redressal having two external members will go for further fact finding into incidents that led to tension at NIT Srinagar and is expected to submit its report around May 15, according to NIT-Srinagar website.
An official said that earlier an interim report had been given by a panel and this committee would further take up the matter.
As per the the Institute's website, among the main decisions taken is that "a new Committee for students Grievance Redressal which has been constituted with two external members will do the fact finding now and its Report is likely to be submitted by 15th May, 2016."
It has been decided that the Board of Governors will consider the report and formation of students council and its modalities. Optional external evaluation "for the minor one exam, on written request and irrevocable basis," has also been approved.
Enhancement of medical facilities within 3-4 months, prefab two hostels having 80 rooms and prefab 15 class rooms likely to be completed within six months, reimbursement of medical bill claims and food and fruit corner in the campus are the other demands of students that NIT administration has agreed to.
The issue of encroachment of NIT land has already been taken up and it will be vigorously pursued with state government by the administration and all national festivals will be celebrated, it has been decided.
Demands relating to improved facilities in the hostels will be expeditiously looked into.
NIT Srinagar has been at the centre of a controversy since April 1 when clashes broke out between outstation and local students following India's defeat to West Indies in the World Cup T20 semi-final.
The situation worsened on April 5 when outstation students tried to take out a march but were stopped by the police, leading to incidents of violence including vandalism by students and lathicharge by police in the campus.
Many of the outstation students then left the campus for their homes. At the meeting yesterday, students had handed over a letter for Irani to the officials.
"We request either the Hon'ble minister of HRD or the Prime Minister of India to come with students to NIT Srinagar and hoist full size Tiranga in the campus at its highest mast. This will end the leave taken by students and also give them a sense of security.
"This will reiterate the message that Kashmir is an integral part of India and students will have a psychological win over the anti-national elements in the campus as well as outside," the students wrote in the letter.
Video of Vijayakant gesturing at scribes goes viral
Chennai, Apr 20, 2016 (PTI)
DMDK founder and chief ministerial candidate of the People's Welfare Front-DMDK combine, Vijayakant today landed in controversy when a video footage of him purportedly making gestures at journalists and nudging a man went viral.
The incident reportedly took place at Salem during the actor-politician's visit to participate in a consultative meeting there for the May 16 Tamil Nadu assembly polls.
In the video that was shown in some TV channels, 'Captain' (as he is addressed by supporters), is seen making some gestures when TV cameramen and reporters besides some party functionaries surround him while he is on his way.
The leader, who has earlier courted controversy for allegedly manhandling and spitting at journalists in different instances, is seen raising his hand as if to assault somebody, while partymen and two security persons are seen making way for him.
Later while taking the stairs accompanied by two men walking alongside him like security personnel, the DMDK founder is seen nudging a man walking on his right, which was repeatedly aired on TV channels.
Earlier, Vijayakant was involved in an argument with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the state Assembly, and had then too made some gestures, only to be rebuked by the AIADMK supremo who regretted having aligned with him for the 2011 Assembly polls which the combine won.
The PWF, comprising Vaiko-led MDMK, the left parties and VCK, has tied up with the DMDK to fight the assembly polls. G K Vasan's TMC joined the combine recently.
Video of Vijayakant gesturing at scribes goes viral
Chennai, Apr 20, 2016 (PTI)
DMDK founder and chief ministerial candidate of the People's Welfare Front-DMDK combine, Vijayakant today landed in controversy when a video footage of him purportedly making gestures at journalists and nudging a man went viral.
The incident reportedly took place at Salem during the actor-politician's visit to participate in a consultative meeting there for the May 16 Tamil Nadu assembly polls.
In the video that was shown in some TV channels, 'Captain' (as he is addressed by supporters), is seen making some gestures when TV cameramen and reporters besides some party functionaries surround him while he is on his way.
The leader, who has earlier courted controversy for allegedly manhandling and spitting at journalists in different instances, is seen raising his hand as if to assault somebody, while partymen and two security persons are seen making way for him.
Later while taking the stairs accompanied by two men walking alongside him like security personnel, the DMDK founder is seen nudging a man walking on his right, which was repeatedly aired on TV channels.
Earlier, Vijayakant was involved in an argument with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the state Assembly, and had then too made some gestures, only to be rebuked by the AIADMK supremo who regretted having aligned with him for the 2011 Assembly polls which the combine won.
The PWF, comprising Vaiko-led MDMK, the left parties and VCK, has tied up with the DMDK to fight the assembly polls. G K Vasan's TMC joined the combine recently.
Ola Shuttle to offer free rides in Delhi-NCR
New Delhi, Apr 20, 2016 (PTI)
Facing severe criticism from Delhi government, taxi aggregator Ola today said it will offer free rides for its 'Shuttle' bus service on April 22 and 29, under the second phase of odd-even scheme.
This comes days after the company temporarily suspended surge pricing after the state government threatened to cancel permits for charging higher than prescribed fares.
"While tens of thousands of people are using Ola Shuttle on a daily basis, we would like to extend this service free of cost on select days for citizens, in our support of vehicle rationing scheme and contribute to the shared vision of a greener and cleaner Delhi," Ola Vice President New Initiatives Sundeep Sahni said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that diesel cars, drivers without licenses or badges and blackmailing by taxi aggregators won't be allowed.
Moreover, to a suggestion on Twitter that suspension of surge pricing should continue even after odd-even system Kejriwal said: "Yes. We will do it." Ola runs over 500 shuttles in Delhi-NCR covering 120 routes and ferries over 20,000 people on a daily basis.
Ola Shuttle customers need to use the coupon code ODDEVEN to get 100 per cent cash-back on their rides on April 22 and 29, Sahni added.
Delhi government is running the second phase of odd-even scheme from April 15. Under the 15-day scheme, odd and even number cars are allowed to ply on the roads on alternative days. There are no restrictions on Sundays.
Ola has also rolled out an on-ground campaign to encourage citizens across Delhi to adopt ride-sharing. Ola volunteers are stationed at key traffic junctions, around metro stations and other high footfall areas across the city to engage and guide users towards the most suitable ride-sharing option.
Earlier this week, taxi aggregators Ola and Uber suspended surge pricing after Delhi government threatened to cancel permits for charging higher than prescribed fares.
The companies had already contended that surge pricing kicks in when demand outstrips supply and that higher prices are required to get cars on the road during the busiest times.
Following the suspension, many passengers complained of difficulties in booking cabs as lesser number of cars were available on the road.
