SC no to contempt action on UP Govt
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to initiate contempt proceedings against the Uttar Pradesh Government for suspending IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal. The officer against whom it was alleged that she demolished a religious structure on public land, found support from a lawyer who argued that the officer was acting in compliance of a SC order which directed all unauthorised religious structures to be removed. The bench found no contempt of its order if the demolition was actually carried out and held the view that suspension of the officer was a different matter altogether. “It is for her to state in defence that she acted on the order of the court. If the State confirms her suspension on this ground only then a cause of action will arise,” the bench said.
Rs Bill negates two apex court verdicts
New Delhi: Moving to negate two Supreme Court verdicts, the Government on Monday introduced in Rajya Sabha a Bill to allow people in jail to contest polls and convicted MPs and MlAs to retain their membership till pendency of appeal while being barred from voting and drawing salary. The Representation of the People (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2013, introduced by law Minister Kapil Sibal, provides for two changes in the Act of 1951 which were approved by the Union Cabinet last week.
Two TDP RS members suspended for a day
New Delhi: Two TDP members agitating against division of Andhra were on Monday suspended for a day from the Rajya Sabha for indulging in unruly behaviour and disrupting the House. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien suspended CM Ramesh and YR Chowdhary under Rule 255 for “grossly disorderly” conduct. The action was taken against the TDP MPs as despite the Chair repeatedly pleading with them and even threatening to take action against them, they refused to hear and continued with their protests thereby disrupting the Upper House proceedings.
COI nails ai for loss of exam answers
New Delhi: A Court of Inquiry has attributed the loss of answer books of an internal Army exam to the “negligent handling of mail bags” by national carrier Air India, lok Sabha was informed on Monday. Answering written queries in lok Sabha, Defence Minister AK Antony said three Navy officers have been dismissed from service in May this year for sharing information through emails.