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CBI director Alok Verma case: Acted to save CBI’s reputation, Centre tells Supreme Court

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cbi director alok verma case

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Claiming that the Centre had not violated any law in divesting CBI Director Alok Verma of his powers and sending him on leave, the Centre told the Supreme Court today (Wednesday, Dec 5) that it stepped in to save the agency’s reputation in view of extraordinary situation where the two top officers were “fighting like cats”.

Attorney General (AG) KK Venugopal was arguing on behalf of the Central government before the Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph which resumed hearing on Verma’s plea challenging Centre’s decision of Oct 24 to divest him of duties and sending him on leave.

The bench had, on Nov 29, heard submissions from lawyers of parties who have challenged the Centre’s decision, including senior advocate Fali Nariman (for Alok Verma), and posted the case for further submissions on Wednesday (December 5).

Presenting the Centre’s case, the AG said that the spat between the CBI director and his deputy, special director Rakesh Asthana was tarnishing the reputation of the country’s premier investigation agency.

It became essential for the government to step in when the two top officers of the CBI were “fighting like cats”, he said. “Government of India was watching with amazement as to what the top officers were doing, they were fighting like cats,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.

“Dispute between CBI Director and Special Director was pulling down integrity and respect of the premier institution..Our main aim is to see that confidence of the public in this premiere institution (CBI) is restored,” he told the bench.

The apex court on Nov 29 had said it would first consider whether the government has the power to divest the CBI director of his duties under whatever circumstances or whether the selection committee headed by the Prime Minister should have been approached before moving against Verma on corruption allegations against him.

The court had made it clear that for now it was not going into the allegations and counter-allegations involving Verma and CBI’s No.2 officer Asthana, both of whom have been stripped of their powers and sent on leave following their bitter feud.

Today, KK Venugopal reiterated his assertions made during the last hearing in the case, that the Centre had not violated any law while sending Verma on leave.

During the last date of hearing, Venugopal had proceeded on the premise that the selection committee for appointing the CBI director was mandated to recommend names for the post of the agency’s chief or transferring him but it was the Centre that was the final appointing authority.

Venugopal argued that the central government had taken the decision to send Verma on leave after “due application of mind” and concluding that “a situation had arisen wherein the CBI director had to be divested of his responsibilities.”

The AG, however, insisted that by not referring the matter to the CBI director’s selection committee before acting against Verma, the Centre had not erred because the selection panel must be asked to carry out an inquiry only if the government wishes to transfer the CBI chief. He said, in Verma’s case, there was no transfer and that the petitioner continued to enjoy the perks of office.

Submitting that the Centre’s powers of superintendence, in its role as the appointing authority of the CBI director, Venugopal concluded his arguments.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), picked up from where his senior law officer left off. Mehta emphasized on the CVC’s power of superintendence over the CBI director and said that the vigilance panel is mandated to oversee CBI cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He added that the Centre too was free to ask the CVC to initiate investigations against CBI officials if needed.

The bench posted the matter for next hearing on Thursday, December 6. Verma’s two-year tenure ends on January 31.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India News

Former CJI Justice MN Venkatachaliah to launch India Legal App tomorrow

The India Legal App will be launched by former Chief Justice of India Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah, who is also the Chief Patron of India Legal magazine,  in Bengaluru. Several legal luminaries of the country will attend the event online in a webinar.

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4 hours ago

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June 9, 2023

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India Legal app launch

The India Legal Research Foundation will on Saturday, June 10, launch the much-awaited multilingual India Legal App, a path-breaking legal helpline that allows every citizen of India to access high calibre legal help from the safety of her/his home at the touch of a button.

The India Legal App will be launched by former Chief Justice of India Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah, who is also the Chief Patron of India Legal magazine,  in Bengaluru. Several legal luminaries of the country will attend the event online in a webinar.

Former Chief Justice of India Justice U.U. Lalit, Attorney General R. Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Senior Advocate and Balaji Foundation Chairperson Pradeep Rai, National Law University Delhi Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr) GS Bajpai, Former IIM Bangalore Dean Prof Trilochan Sastry, Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association President Manoj K. Mishra and India Legal Editor-in-Chief Inderjit Badhwar will take part in the webinar. The event will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube on the India Legal and APN News accounts.

The India Legal App intends to change the way legal aid is made available to the people. The app gives ease of access, as a person can have a jargon-free discussion on complex matters with lawyers.

The complete assurance of privacy and easy payment methods is certain to make the legal experience of people very different from interminable hassles they may have heard about.

The app can be used in 6 Indian languages,  including English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali and Punjabi.  

The app is also useful in times of distress as a person sensing trouble or threat can contact a legal ‘friend’ till the time the police arrives.

Lawyers associated with the India Legal App assure to help people 24×7, ready to guide them through extremely tough situations, wherever they are in the country.

The India Legal App is an embodiment of trust and faith. Any individual can install this app on their mobile and directly communicate with a lawyer.

Slowly, this facility will extend to even those without mobile phones. They can avail of this service through their nearest common service centres, or Jan Suvidha Kendra/Setu/e-Seva Kendra/Pragya Kendra.

The service will be available at a reasonable cost, which can then also be paid at that service centre.

The India Legal App services include:

  • 1. Free legal advice over the phone.
  • 2. Payment of a specified amount for legal advice through audio and video calls.
  • 3. Payment of a specified amount for document preparation.
  • 4. Payment of annual membership fees to receive legal services.

Additionally, the India Legal App provides legal information and related videos to ensure users of the India Legal App are well-informed about legal matters.

India Legal is a respected politico-legal weekly magazine (both print and online) in the country, with complete professional journalistic and expert inputs. Its readers include lawyers, law firms and those related to the judiciary and justice system.

The India Legal Research Foundation (ILRF) is a non-profit organisation equipped with senior lawyers and devoted to bring justice to those who deserve it, but cannot afford it. ILRF provides free legal aid to the deserving and people in need.

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Karnataka News

Karnataka removes chapters on RSS founder Hedgewar from school books, BJP leaders protest

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar said the alleged removal of the chapters on the RSS founder was a crime against Youth.

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5 hours ago

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June 9, 2023

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Karnataka removes chapters on RSS founder Hedgewar from school books,BJP leaders protest

The BJP and the Congress are divided over the inclusion of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in chapters of school textbooks in Karnataka.

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar said the alleged removal of the chapters on the RSS founder was a crime against Youth. The BJP has hit out at the Karnataka government demanding an apology that it is distorting history.

BJP Leader CN Ashwath Narayan said the Congress should take its time and should not take decisions in a hurry. He further added, as a government it should take into account the concerns of all sections of the society.

While the Congress MLC BK Hari Prasad said the Karnataka government will not include chapters on the RSS founder because he considered him as a coward and a fake freedom fighter.

Karnataka Education minister Madhu Bangarappa said the school syllabus will be changed from this year itself. He said old textbooks would not be recalled but supplementary textbooks will be sent to the teachers explaining what topics to be taught and what topics to be left out.

He said the changes in the syllabus was being made keeping in mind the future of the children. He added, the Congress had already made the announcement in the pre election manifesto itself.

He did not go into the details and said a special technical team is going to handle the process of revision of the textbooks.

The Congress had promised in thier election manifesto that they would remove the National Education Policy. He also added, the changes in the syllabus would be minimum so that no inconvenience is caused to the students in their studies.

The technical team will give their suggestions and recommendations which will be sent to the Education Minister.The Minister will discuss the changes in the syllabus with the cabinet members. This process will take 10-15 days.

After winning the recent held state election, the Congress said they are going to change the syllabus of the textbooks. They said they are not going to allow texts and lessons to poison the minds of their children.   

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India News

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann says Punjab government will buy Goindwal thermal plant

Mann said the remaining coal will be used in Goindwal thermal plant which will lead to cheaper source of electricity.

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5 hours ago

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June 9, 2023

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Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann says Punjab government will buy Goindwal thermal plant

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has announced the Punjab government will buy Goindwal thermal plant. He said the government has coal stored only for 45 more days.

Mann said the remaining coal will be used in Goindwal thermal plant which will lead to cheaper source of electricity. Makind a veiled attack on the BJP, Mann said some governments sell state assets but the AAP government buys private assets.

Earlier Mann had said there was a requirement of 1000 mega-watt electricity for cultivation of paddy. The Indian Meteorogical Department (IMD) has stated there will be less rainfall this year in Punjab, hence, there will be greater dependency on electricity for agriculture.

Mann had even written a letter to Union Power Minister R K Singh stating about the shortage of electricity in the state. If there is less rainfall then the cultivation of paddy will get affected.   Although, the Union government has not responded to the problem of Punjab yet.

Mann said Goindwal Power plant is being bought on a private basis hence tender will be floated among the bidders for the plant. The Goindwal Power plant is on the verge of bankruptcy. He said the plant will be bought and will be made operational again. The power plant has a capacity of 540 mega-watt. Reports said, this will not have any impact on the present electricity production in the state.

An agreement will be made between the Punjab State Power Corporation and the bidder who wins the tender.

A cabinet panel will be called for the bidding to take place. According to reports, about 12 parties have come forward to buy the Thermal Power Plant. PSPCL is one of the twelve parties bidding for the Goindwal thermal power plant.

Punjab Power Minister Harbajan Singh ETO, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian will part of the Cabinet to carry out the bidding process.

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