India

In a bid to end the increasing number of fake mobile phone subscribers in India, the Supreme Court on Monday told the Centre to implement an effective and stringent mechanism within a year to ensure 100% verification of mobile users with regard to their identities and ensure that no fake or unverified identities be accepted while issuing SIM cards.

Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi informed the bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar that the Centre has prepared an application form which has to be filled up by new mobile subscribers through e-KYC process. The Attorney General assured the bench that the entire process will be completed within a year.

The bench suggested that the entire process should be done in a phased manner or such subscribers be given six months for verification, failing which they should not be allowed any recharge facility.

“It is submitted that an effective system will be put in place and the process of scrutiny will be completed in one year... We are satisfied that the prayers made in the writ petition have been substantially dealt with," the bench said and hoped that the process would be completed soon, and hopefully before the completion of one year.

The court was hearing a PIL by Lokniti foundation in 2016 which said that terrorists, criminals and anti-social elements routinely use SIM cards obtained on the basis of forged/stolen documents to commit heinous crimes like kidnappings, extortion and other organised crimes in all parts of the country.

Expressing serious concern over the possibility of misuse of unverified cell numbers, the bench said subscribers should be given an opportunity to get them verified at the time of recharge.

AG Rohatgi also informed the bench that the matter is complicated as 90 percent of the mobile subscribers have prepaid SIM cards which they can recharge at infinite kiosks spread across the country.

The Supreme Court had on January 23 given two weeks to the Centre to put in place a mechanism to ensure proper verification of all mobile phone subscribers while issuing SIM cards.

The Supreme Court on Monday imposed a cost of Rs 30,000 on the Centre for not filing its reply to a PIL alleging that minority benefits are being enjoyed by majority Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice N V Ramana allowed the counsel for the Centre to file the response after depositing the cost within two weeks and noted that a fine of Rs 15,000 was also imposed last time for the same reason.

The bench said that as the matter is very important and it was according to last opportunity to the Centre to file the reply.

Earlier, the court had issued a notice to the Centre, the state government and the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on the plea filed by Jammu-based advocate Ankur Sharma, alleging that benefits accruing to minorities were being taken away by Muslims, who were in a majority in Jammu and Kashmir.

AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala has been elected as the legislative party leader of  AIADMK. Sasikala is set to become chief minister of the state after O Panneerselvam tendered his resignation.

It was Pannerselvam who proposed the name of Chinnamma (Sasikala Natarajan) as the leader of AIADMK Legislature Party Leader.

Speculations were rife in Tamil Nadu that Sasikala could take over the command soon. The speculations were fuelled by the untimely shunting out of several bureaucrats considered close to O Panneerselvam. Earlier, in an exclusive interview to India Today, Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Madhavan slammed Sasikala comparing her maneuver to a military takeover.

When asked about the possibility of Sasikala taking over as the chief minister, Deepa said that although there has been a lot of talk about it but could only wait till a final decision. Moreover, Deepa went on to dismiss the possibility of the people approving this sudden change in power.

AIADMK General Secretary and recently chosen Legislative leader of the party VK Sasikala's husband Natrajan has been hospitalised.

O Panneerselvam has sent his resignation to Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao. In his letter, Panneerselvam requests the council of ministers appointed by him be relieved.

Calling it a black day for Tamil Nadu, DMK said it 'can't accept Sasikala as chief minister' and that she is not whom the people of Tamil Nadu had voted in. Opposition party DMK expresses 'shock', says she is inexperienced to serve as chief minister.

Sources say Sasikala's swearing-in will likely happen by February 9. AIADMK's official Twitter handle releases new poster featuring both the late Jayalalitha and Sasikala. The poster says that Sasikala has now been appointed as the leader of AIADMK.

AIADMK tweet quotes Sasikala as saying that the Tamil Nadu government will follow the principles of Amma. After chairing AIADMK MLAs' meet Sasikala Natarajan greets supporters outside party headquarters in Chennai.

It was O Panneerselvam who insisted first, that I become the Chief Minister of the State: Sasikala

Following demise of honourable Amma, it was O Panneerselvam who urged me first to take charge as the General Secretary of AIADMK: Sasikala

Sasikala Natarajan chairs MLAs meet at AIADMK headquarters in Chennai where is elected as the legislative leader of the party. Chinnamma all set to become the Next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Sasikala Natarajan reaches AIADMK HQ in Chennai, she is all set to be Tamil Nadu CM says AIADMK.

Around 2,000 volunteers including students have been pressed into the cleanup operations after the disastrous Chennai oil spill. The hard work and commitment of the volunteers have finally brought some good news as the Central government has said that 90% of the work has been completed by Saturday.

An official release said the workers have removed 65 tons of sludge from the coasts. The centre assured that the clean-up will be completed in the next two days.

“The total quantity of sludge which was removed till February 2 was 65 tons. It is observed that there is a vast difference between the quantity of oil spill and sludge recovered due to the fact that the oil gets coagulated and becomes puffy when it is recovered with water and sand,” an official release said.

“More than 90% of the work has been completed and most of the residual work is expected to be completed in a couple of days,” it added.

On January 28, two shipping vessels had collided outside the Kamarajar port at Ennore. One of the two ships was carrying oil. The rupture in the ship caused the spill-over, considered devastating for the ecology in the area. On Friday, the Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan informed that the vessel had 32,000 ton of oil, which has been emptied. He said that the tank didn’t leak after the collision, but the oil oozed out of the engine.

A massive clean-up operation was launched in Tiruvallur, Chennai and Kancheepuram districts. Around 2000 people have engaged in the cleanup operation at various sites. This includes Ernavur, Chennai Fishing Harbour, Marina Beach, Besant Nagar, Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai and Injambakkam beaches.

The oil spill is massive and it will have repercussions on the ecological balance in the area. The government will have to fix up the responsibility of the disaster and also check whether the authorities are capable of dealing with such disasters.

Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari has already constituted a high-level probe into the matter. The probe will be headed by Director General Shipping and a report will be submitted to the ministry in a month. Shipping Secretary

Shipping Secretary Rajive Kumar said on Friday that all the evidence will be collected and the liability will be fixed. He said the clean-up will be paid by the ship that erred in the accident. The accident has also sent the ministry into introspection mode. The ministry has sought a report on whether Indian ports are properly equipped to handle such disasters.

The accident has also sent the ministry into introspection mode. The ministry has sought a report on whether Indian ports are properly equipped to handle such disasters.

50 per cent subsidy is given to ports to buy the equipment. The Ennore Port had the equipment at the time of the accident.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MLAs are expected to meet on Sunday following which new political developments are expected in Tamil Nadu, one of them may also include party MLAs choosing Sasikala as their legislative party leader effectively proposing to make her the chief minister. Speculations are also rife that Sasikala may take over as Chief Minister soon. While February 9 or 8 was speculated as the date for her to take over initially, sources suggest that it may happen as early as Februay 6 to counter any opposition that may arise.

The systematic removal of Jayalalithaa loyalists from top posts in Tamil Nadu was intended at sending a strong message out to everyone: 'Sasikala is the new boss and she will call the shots'. The unceremonious ouster of top bureaucrats in Tamil Nadu including Jayalalithaa aide Sheela Balakrishnan is a 'cleaning up process', say political observers.

The ousting Jayalalithaa's aides is only the first step towards clearing any hurdle that may come in the way of Sasikala or threaten her elevation, say sources. "Not becoming the chief minister undermines her authority within the party and in the state. Sasikala has to become CM to stay relevant. The resistance against her is huge and assuming power is the only way to contain it," said political observer Ramasubramanian.

Sources suggested that the ouster of the IAS officers had more to do with the central government than them being Jayalalithaa loyalists. "Most of these IAS officers, including Sheela Balakrishnan had become loyalists of the central government soon after Jayalalithaa's death. It is quite natural that Sasikala doesn't want anyone around her to function as the eyes and ears of the Modi government. It was imperative to get rid of anyone who could pose even a remote threat to Sasikala's leadership," sources said.

"The shots are being called by Sasikala's husband Natarajan and they will stop at nothing. Their fight is with the central government directly that is trying to gain a grip on the current scenario in Tamil Nadu. Sasikala doesn't trust people like Sheela Balakrishnan to stand by her as they had stood by Jayalalithaa. This is going to be a fight to the finish," said the policial analyst.

Meanwhile, reports on possible transfers of more IAS officers are doing the rounds. Sources suggest that IAS officer Sabitha is likely to join Ramalingam and Venkatraman, who were shifted out of the chief minister's office.

Voting ended in Punjab and Goa on Saturday for the 2017 Assembly elections, with Goa witnessing a high turnout of 83 percent. This year’s turnout in Goa broke last election record of 81.7 per cent.

The two states are the first of the five to go to polling ahead of Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Uttarakhand which are being held simultaneously in the months of February and March.

The counting of votes for all five states will begin on March 11.

Voting for 40 seats in Goa began at 7.00 am and Punjab, which has 117 assembly seats, an hour later. The percentage in Goa stands at 83 and that in Punjab at 78.62 per cent.

Goa voting ended at 5 pm with voter turnout standing at 83 per cent, breaking last election record of 81.7%. However, all those present at booth at 5 pm got a token as those in the queue at 5 pm are still allowed to vote.

The voting will continue untill the queue ends, as the voters were in the queue before polling officially ended.

Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is contesting for the first time in both the states.

28 people who were accused of arson, rioting and damaging property of minority muslim community during the post-Godhra riots have been acquitted by a Gandhinagar court.

They were also accused of damaging some portion of a dargah in Paliyad during an attack by a mob of around 250 locals of that village, on February 28, 2002, a day after the train burning incident at Godhra railway station.

The court cited lack of evidence against all the accused as the reason for their acquittal.

This was after all the witnessed in the case turned hostile and refused to identify the accused.

During the trial, these witnesses also told the court that they are not having any grudge against anyone at present as they have already struck a compromise with the accused.  

About 58 persons lost their lives when the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express was torched at Godhra Railway Station on February 27, 2002.

The incident had triggered large scale riots in Gujarat in which around 1,000 people, mostly of the minority muslim community, were killed.

Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang has rejected the demand for his government's resignation following the death of two persons in anti-ULB poll agitation. Five columns of army deployed to bring the situation under control.

Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang has rejected the demand for his government's resignation following the death of two persons in anti-ULB poll agitation in Dimapur and appealed to the people to stop violence and not fall prey to rumour mongers.

"Making unreasonable and unconstitutional demands such as asking the entire Cabinet to tender resignation when the Ministry has undisputed, unquestionable majority and support of the entire Assembly, is simply unacceptable and non-negotiable," the Chief Minister's Office said in a statement.

Violent mobs on Thursday went on the rampage in the Nagaland capital to vent their anger against ongoing elections to urban local bodies, vandalising and setting on fire government offices and vehicles, prompting deployment of five columns of army to bring the situation under control.

Activists of several tribal groups vandalised the State Election Commission and Deputy Commissioner's office and set ablaze the Kohima Municipal Council building. The Regional Transport office and that of the Excise Department were also set ablaze by violent mobs demanding the resignation of Chief Minister T R Zeliang and his entire cabinet for going ahead with the ULB polls despite opposition from powerful tribal groups that are against 33 per cent reservation for women in the municipal bodies, sources said.

In view of the violence, the Kohima District administration has promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in certain areas including Raj Bhavan, Ministers' Hill, and Jail Colony.

The curfew came into effect from 9:30 tonight and would continue till further order, a notification said.

"The Government is of the considered opinion that it has been lenient enough to give in to the demands of the agitators (withholding ULB polls) even though it was steadfastly abiding by the Constitution to which it had sworn its solemn allegiance," the CMO statement said.

Zeliang appealed to all not to indulge in vandalism and arson destroying public properties and spreading fear and panic in the minds of the peace-loving citizens of the state.

Resorting to violent activities to convey one's point of view is irrational and has no place in a civilised modern society, he said.

The Chief Minister also urged users of social media to desist from spreading rumours as untruths were being fed to innocent people by people with vested political interests.

The statement said MLA of Northern Angami Constituency Neiphrezo Keditsu was forced to tender his resignation as the Chairman of Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation on moral ground as one of the two persons killed in Dimapur happens to be from his own village.

Apart from him, no other legislator has resigned and Chief Minister enjoys full support of not only the NPF and Independent MLAs but also of BJP legislators, it said.

Over a thousand Naga tribals have set fire to the Kohima Municipal Council office and the office of the Directorate of Transport to protest against Chief Minister TR Zeliang's refusal to meet their ultimatum: resign by 4 pm.

As night fell on Nagaland's capital city, tension was high as mobs went on a rampage, burning and vandalising government property and cars. The Central paramilitary forces have been deployed at the New Secretariat building.

Since 10 am, thousands of protesters gathered at the old MLA Hostel road at the heart of the town carrying the bodies of the two people who were killed in police firing on Tuesday night in Dimapur. The police had allegedly opened fire to stop a mob from throwing stones at the house of the Chief Minister.

The protesters want 33% reservation for women in civic polls to be rolled back. They believe it is a violation of the right granted to Naga tribals as per the Constitution's article 371(A).

The protestors, all members of Naga tribal groups, want the Chief Minister and his cabinet to resign.

They want the Governor to come and talk to them, but PB Acharya was in Itanagar this afternoon. The protesters also want the suspension of all policemen involved in the firing at Dimapur on Tuesday.

Days before voting in the Punjab assembly elections, at least three persons were killed in a powerful blast in a car close to a rally of a Congress candidate near Bathinda on Tuesday evening, police said.

Nearly 15 people were injured in the blast in Maur Mandi town, which took place close to where Congress candidate Harminder Jassi was addressing a gathering. Maur Mandi is about 200 kilometres from state capital Chandigarh.

The injured, 10 of them in serious condition, were rushed to hospitals in Maur Mandi and Bathinda.

Mr Jassi, who is a relative of Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was whisked away by his security personnel following the blast.

Eyewitnesses said that the white Maruti 800 car, in which the blast took place, was parked at the spot for some time and no one removed it despite police making announcements to get it removed.

Some alleged that a few shots were also fired towards Mr Jassi's car.

The eyewitnesses said that a pressure cooker, filled with iron nails and other metallic things, was found lying near the car.

The car, in which the blast took place, was completely destroyed in the incident.

Police officials rushed to the spot and were investigating the incident. They did not rule out conspiracy behind the incident.

Punjab will vote for a new government on Friday.

The Economic Survey 2016-17 tabled in Parliament on Tuesday by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley projected a decline in industrial sector output in India during 2016-17.

According to the survey, the first advance estimates from the CSO (Central Statistics Office) showed that the growth rate of industrial sector is projected at a slower 5.2 per cent in 2016-17 than the 7.4 per cent reported in 2015-16.

''During April-November 2016-17, a modest growth of 0.4 per cent has been observed in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), which is a volume index with base year of 2004-05,'' the survey said.

''This was the composite effect of a strong growth in electricity generation and moderation in mining and manufacturing.''

The survey pointed out that in terms of use-based classification, basic goods, intermediate goods and consumer durable goods attained moderate growth.

Conversely, the production of capital goods declined steeply and consumer nondurable goods sectors suffered a modest contraction during April-November 2016-17.

''The eight core infrastructure supportive industries, viz. coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity, registered a cumulative growth of 4.9 per cent during April-November 2016-17, as compared to 2.5 per cent during April-November 2015-16,'' the survey showed.

The survey elaborated that production of refinery products, fertilisers, steel, electricity and cement increased substantially, whereas the production of crude oil and natural gas fell during April-November 2016-17.

''Coal production attained lower growth during the same period,'' the survey added.