‘Autonomy of edu institutions at risk’
New Delhi: A number of MPs on Monday expressed “grave concern” over what they alleged was a “systematic erosion” of the autonomy of the institutions of higher education and urged President Pranab Mukherjee to take measures to prevent them from “lasting damage”. In an apparent attack on the HRD Ministry, headed by BJP’s Smriti Irani, RS members — Rajeev Shukla of Congress, DP Tripathi of NCP, D Raja of CPI and KC Tyagi of JD(U) — said recent incidents concerning IITs and other higher education institutions had left them “greatly disturbed”. The MPs were apparently referring to incidents involving distinguished scientist Anil Kakodkar, IIT-Delhi Director Raghunath K Shevgaonkar, whose resignation is yet to be accepted, and DU V-C Dinesh Singh.
Rss’ ‘tsunami’ of social services soon
New Delhi: Resolving to unleash a “tsunami” of services, RSS on Monday said lakhs of people will be brought within the ambit of its various social service organisations over the next five years without exercising “untouchability”. “It is one thing to serve in the tsunami but India needs a tsunami of services, we have to work like that,” RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said on the concluding day of a three-day conclave organised by Rashtriya Sewa Bharati, an umbrella organisation that supports nearly 700 organisations involved in social work. The meet, which was attended by spiritual leaders and corporate heavyweights, including Wipro chairman Azim Premji and Zee boss Subhash Chandra, emphasised on the need for these entities to expand their reach and activities.
Stay on construction of wall in rajaji park
New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has extended its stay on construction of a wall inside the Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, noting that the structure would obstruct the movement of elephants along the Song River in the State. A Bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also ordered the Director, Wildlife Institute, Dehradun to be personally present before the Tribunal on April 30, the next date of hearing.
Cabinet meeting to reconvene rs today
New Delhi: The Government has called a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs on Tuesday to take a call on reconvening of Rajya Sabha from April 20. The Budget Session of RS was cut short on March 28 as the House was prorogued to pave the way for re-promulgation of the land Acquisition Ordinance.