{"id":179569,"date":"2021-12-18T02:02:27","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T20:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/?p=179569"},"modified":"2021-12-18T02:02:53","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T20:32:53","slug":"sc-peeved-over-wb-panel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/2021\/12\/18\/sc-peeved-over-wb-panel\/","title":{"rendered":"SC peeved over wb panel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pegasus Scandal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By Insaf<\/strong><\/p>\n

West Bengal stretches it too far or is it an oversight? Going by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee\u2019s style of functioning in all likelihood it would appear to be the former, but the Supreme Court chose to give benefit of the doubt. On Friday last, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ramana was displeased over the inquiry into Pegasus scandal being conducted by West Bengal commission. This, when in an order of October 27, it had constituted a three-member committee to probe the Pegasus surveillance of journalists, politicians and social activists among others. \u201cWhat is this? Last time you (West Bengal government) had given an undertaking, which we wanted to record, that the commission will not proceed. You had said that it was not necessary to record in the order. Again you started inquiring,\u201d the bench noted. The State counsel explained it had conveyed the message of restraint to the Lokur Commission, which did not proceed till delivery of October 27 order. However, he added \u201cI had said that I don\u2019t control the Commission but would convey the restraint. I conveyed the restraint and it was up to the time till the court decides the matter\u2026Simply call the counsel of the commission and pass the orders and I cannot as the state government give instructions\u2026\u201d The apex court understood the \u201cState\u2019s predicament\u201d and ordered it would issue notice to all concerned respondents and \u201cfor the time being we stay all the proceedings.\u201d Didi should thank her stars for getting away lightly and must oblige.<\/p>\n

Jharkhand Initiatives
\n\u2018Labour consulates\u2019 and sports harnessing the youth, are initiatives Jharkhand government has taken up to improve the State\u2019s image. It has launched two schemes \u2014 \u2018Safe and Responsible Migration Initiative\u2019to enable systemic registration of migrant workers for monitoring\/analysis in the source and destination districts and \u2018Sports Action toward Harnessing Aspiration of Youth\u2019to curb LWE and reach out to youngsters, nurture sporting talents in districts, 19 of 24 affected.Youth in 14-19 age group from villages to ward level will be registered and given opportunities to display their skills in basketball, volleyball, hockey and athletics; incentives of cash prize and money for kits will be offered; a Sports Nursery will be set up. For migrants two help desks, \u2018labour consulates\u2019are for starters set up in Ladakh and Keralaand while administration says it\u2019s not against migrations, the pandemic gave a different side, which needs correction. Ending exploitative means, predicting distress migration, increase social security and welfare coverage will be the focus, as between March 27, 2020-October 31, 2021, 9.66 lakh workers returned to Jharkhand.Hemant Soren seeks to create an environment where his \u2018people can prosper\u2019. Time will tell.<\/p>\n

Bihar Rumblings
\nRumblings within the ruling combine in Bihar, JD(U)-BJP seem to be growing louder. Will there be a parting of ways, is a question doing the rounds. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar\u2019s reiteration of the demand for special category status for the State evoked anger in the saffron camp. His deputy, BJP Renu Devi described it as \u201cmeaningless\u201d, which drew Nitish to say she had \u201cno detailed information\u201d on the claimas none other than NITI Aayog had placed Bihar among those at the bottom of development indices in its latest report. No full stop. A BJP minister claimed the State was getting more Central assistance than others, which again got a rebuttal. Another JD(U) minister hit back saying it was so only as Finance Commission formula and that BJP must back its claim with data! The bickering also resonated in Lok Sabha with a BJP MP and Union Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh slamming Nitish government over the slow pace of rural road projects under PMGSY: Rs 949-odd crore funds were \u201cunutilised\u201d. Are these signs of BJP no longer wanting to be the B-team? In 2020 elections though it got 74 seats, it chose to let Nitish retain the hot seat, despite JD(U) winning only 43. While both sides claim there is no rift, guess both realise that it\u2019s the formidable RJD-led alliance which is actually keeping the marriage going. Signs of its weakening may see the cracks leading to a crumble.
\nKerala\u2019s Big Tussle
\nKerala\u2019s tussle between Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and CPM-led government is getting murkier. Political interference in appointments in universities has become a hot potato with the UDF Opposition demanding resignation of Higher Education Minister Bindu. Letters written by her to Khan over re-appointment of Prof Gopinath Ravindran as V-C of Kannur University for a second term have become public, and worse the latter has threatened to resign as Chancellor of universities, which is being seen as put \u2018under pressure\u2019 to violate laid down procedures\u00a0in appointments. The scandal refuses to ebb, given that Khan has alleged that as Chancellor, he was forced to act against his conscience on the re-appointment of Ravindran. The Minister clearly refuses to budge. In one letter she informs Khan that steps have been taken to withdraw the notification inviting applications for a new V-C and she has \u2018privilege to propose\u2019 Ravindran\u2019s name. In another, she wrote that Ravindran may be allowed to continue for another term and asked Khan to cancel notification issued for appointment of a search-cum-selection committee to identify the next V-C! The Opposition sees the minister\u2019s moves as \u201ccrossing the boundaries of power and violating the oath of office.\u201d It proposes to launch a state-wide stir plus approach the Lokayukta seeking Bindu\u2019s resignation. Will it change anything?
\nKarnataka\u2019s Distasteful Banter
\nDistasteful repartee in Karnataka Assembly caught the Congress on the wrong foot. Surprisingly, it was quick to get into damage control and \u2018disapproved\u2019the \u201cexchange of highly objectionable and insensitive banter\u201d between its senior\u00a0leader Ramesh Kumar and Speaker Hegde Kageri. Kumar had told Kageri, \u201cThere\u2019s a saying\u2026 when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it. That\u2019s exactly the position into which you are.\u201d Kageri merely laughed in response!A red faced Congress tweeted: \u201cSpeaker as custodian and senior legislators are expected to be role models & should desist from such unacceptable behaviour.\u201d Chairperson of National Commission for Women has too reacted: \u201cIt\u2019s extremely sad and unfortunate that we still have public representatives who are misogynists and have horrible mindset towards women\u2026.It\u2019s really disgusting. If they sit in assemblies and speak like this how they must be behaving with women in their lives? (sic).\u201d In Lok Sabha Union Minister Smriti Irani said: \u201cIf you (not naming the party) truly believe in women\u2019s cause, stand here and denounce that legislator\u2026Those men who stand in this Well today, go back to your political organisation and first bring to justice such a man, then we will see who speaks for women and children in this country.\u201dBack home, Congress MLAs demanded an apology to \u2018entire womanhood\u2019 as \u2018this is just NOT ok\u2019. Kumar yielded in the House: \u201cI will not defend myself. I tender my sincere apology\u2026\u201d The Speaker accepted it but \u201cappealed to members, especially women MLAs, not to drag the matter further and make it (a) big (issue).\u201dNo Sir, it\u2019s a big issue\u2014 mindsets must change!<\/p>\n

Maha Bullock Cart Racing
\nMaharashtra is relieved rather happy as the Supreme Court has waved the green flag to hold the traditional bullock cart racing. On Thursday last, a two-judge bench noted: \u201cOne country, one race, we need to have uniformity and there has to be one rule. If the races are going on in other states, why should it not be allowed by Maharashtra,\u201d while dealing with the state government\u2019s plea seeking permission to conduct the race, as Bombay High Court had put a hold on it. The court added: \u2018It\u2019s a traditional sport going on for several years. Judgment came and it was stopped. Then amendment came and allowed in a regulated manner. If it is a traditional sport and going on all across the country except Maharashtra, it does not appeal to common sense.\u2019 Recall in 2014, the apex court had given a verdict wherein it banned Jallikattu, stating it amounted to cruelty to bulls under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. However, it noted that Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had amended the Act since 2014 to enable Jallikattu and bullock cart races, and though these were challenged no order was passed, instead referred to a Constitution bench. So the same yardstick must apply to Maharashtra, which too amended the Act in 2017. Guess, the race shall go on till the apex court shows the red flag, if and when. \u2014 INFA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pegasus Scandal By Insaf West Bengal stretches it too far or is it an oversight? Going by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee\u2019s style of functioning in all likelihood it would appear to be the former, but the Supreme Court chose to give benefit of the doubt. On Friday last, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ramana […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-179569","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-features"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=179569"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179569\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}