Copy paste
Chief Justice of India TS Thakur recently got a firsthand experience of how things work at the Research Wing of the Supreme Court, a key department assisting research on judgments. The CJI was to deliver a Memorial lecture last week. A judicial officer at the Wing was told to prepare a draft. But when it arrived, the CJI’s law intern alerted that the piece was a plagiarised version of a previous article by a law teacher at Delhi University. The CJI was thus left with no written speech. However, the experience enlightened him on one aspect. “That gives me an idea of how judges at Supreme Court get their research done, getting something from here and there for their judgments,” he told the audience.
Prabhu’s lingo
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu’s desire to have a Marathi/Konkani-speaking Private Secretray (PS) seems to be not working as within a year three of them have been replaced. The latest one, 2005-batch IAS Ashish Madhaorao More of AGMUT cadre who was appointed a few months ago, has been given marching orders by Prabhu. Before More, Dr Sanjeev Kumar, a 2003-batch IAS officer served around six months as PS to Prabhu but was repatriated to his parent cadre Maharashtra. Before him, a 2004-batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre Maruti Pingale Vijay Maruti was chosen as his PS but he refused the offer. Grapevine in the Rail Bhawan corridors has it that though More was the preferred choice due to his skills in Konkani language which Prabhu also speaks, he failed to speak the “language of railways”.
No Nagrota, only Nyota
Defence journalists went into a tizzy last week when IAF Chief Arup Raha came to Parliament to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting, coming days after the terrorist attack on Nagrota, led to speculations that Raha was there to discuss some operational matters with the political leadership. But it was clarified later that the IAF chief had come to invite Modi for his daughter’s wedding reception.
Speaker power
The Opposition’s insistence to have a debate on demonetisation on the rule mandating voting and Government wanting it without it has blocked business in the lok Sabha since its beginning on November 16. This led BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab to say that the Speaker could break the impasse as she has vast authority “from Shunya to Brahmand” (from zero to eternity) to conduct this discussion under any rule or no rule.
Emirati surprise
The guests at the United Arab Emirates National Day on December 2 were pleasantly surprised with some brilliant Emirati music and dance. The entire UAE Embassy’s diplomatic staff was in its national dress and Emirati handicrafts were at display for all to appreciate. Besides the dance and music, there was a lucky draw as a surprise element for the guests who were given a coupon at the time of entry.
Swamy calling
On Friday, when Rakesh Asthana took charge as the acting Director of CBI, he had a visitor with a bundle of petitions. The visitor was none other than BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. CBI officers say Swamy’s petitions include speeding up the probe against his arch rival former Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis scam and complaints of money laundering in Tata Group’s deals with Air Asia. Officers say Swamy has also alleged that the retired CBI Director Anil Sinha protected Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis scam.
Cashless(ons)
At a time, when the Government is trying hard for a cashless India lessons seem to have begun at “home” in earnest. Taking the lead, the Environment Ministry came forward to impart lessons on digital payment — first to its own staff and officers. Nearly 700 employees attended the special lessons on new age transactions as My Mobile, My Bank, My Wallet and others.