The Tribune – DSGMC Elections; Poll must be held by December 31, rules Supreme Court

R Sedhuraman, Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, December 13. The Supreme Court today rejected a plea for extending by six months the December 31, 2012, deadline for holding elections to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Managing Committee (DSGMC).

A Bench comprising Justices RM Lodha and Anil Dave said it had granted more than three months in its September 17, 2012, order for holding the elections and there “is no justification now for granting extension of time.”

Arguing for the DSGMC, senior advocate Soli Sorabjee sought time till June 30 for completing the poll process as the Delhi Government had decided to amend the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act 1971 to increase the tenure of the committee’s president to four years, which would be equivalent to the tenure of the general house.

The amendment would also ensure that the president was elected directly and not by a committee, as was done at present, it was contended.

The proposed move would end the possibility of corruption and horse-trading in gurdwara affairs and also give enough time to the president to act on the agenda. Further, the president would be accountable directly to the electorate as well as the committee. Appearing for the Dashmesh Sewa Society, counsel Abinash Mishra and Gurbaksh Singh opposed the plea, contending that this was nothing but a ploy by the present president to retain his control over gurdwara affairs in his capacity as a caretaker.

The Bench made it clear that it did not want to come in the way of any amendment, but the “elections must be held” within the deadline which was still more than 15 days away.

The apex court also explained that the move to amend the Gurdwara Act “cannot be a ground” for seeking more time.

The applicants pleaded that since the election procedure would take six weeks, the Bench should consider their plea.

As the Bench was not convinced, they sought to withdraw their application, upon which the court said the plea was being “dismissed as withdrawn.”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121214/punjab.htm#5

The Tribune – Murder of a policeman; One accused still at large

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 13. Even after a week of Assistant Sub-Inspector Ravinderpal Singh’s death, the police has failed to nab one of the accused, Sandeep Rampal alias Sunny.

Sunny had accompanied key accused Ranjit Singh Rana to Chheharta where the ASI was shot dead. Three of the accused – Rana, Dharampal and Prabhjit- were arrested from Tarn Taran. The fourth accomplice, Gurbir Singh Bira, was arrested from Amritsar. But Sunny is still at large. Police Commissioner Ram Singh said that Sunny remained elusive despite several raids in and around Amritsar. “We are on the job. Sunny will be arrested soon,” said Police Commissioner Ram Singh.

The police has suspended Head Constable Jasbir Singh. He was accompanying the slain ASI. He fled after the first shootout. Also, ASI Varinder Singh has been shifted to the Police Lines. A departmental probe is on against him.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121214/punjab.htm#3

The Asian Age – Cabinet nod to bill on land acquisition

Asian Age Correspondent

Delhi, 14 December 2012. The Union Cabinet, to fast-track the passage of the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill of 2011 in Parliament, on Thursday cleared the legislative proposal to replace the archaic Land Acquisition Act of 1894.

The government, in an attempt to buy peace with industries, has lowered the mandatory consent requirement to 70 per cent from the stakeholders in case of PPP projects, while it would be 80 per cent for private land acquisition.

The government is set to go to Parliament with the amended bill as Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh had earlier stated that a new law for land acquisition was a political commitment of the Congress.

While the amended bill would not be applicable with retrospective effect, it would apply in cases where an award has not been declared for those losing their land or where possession has not been taken. Thus, the recent violent protests in western UP and Greater Noida, too, could come within the ambit of the new law if it is passed.

The bill makes a provision for the first time for reversal of acquired land to the state government’s land bank if it is not utilised for the expressed purpose in 10 years’ time.

http://www.asianage.com/india/cabinet-nod-bill-land-acquisition-451

17 till 27 August 2012 – Visit to London UK & Luik / Liège Kirtan Darbar 22 September 2012

Afghan Ambassador to UK visits Guru Nanak Darbar Southall
Pritpal Singh – The Dutch Sikh
26 August 2012

Young sevadar who has helped Pritpal Singh was also given a siropa

The Afghan ambassador with community elders

Guru Nanak Darbar
Afghan Ekta Cultural and Religious Community Centre
65-75 King Street
Southall UB2 4DQ

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luik / Liège Kirtan Darbar
22 September 2012

Langar

Langar

Langar

Sikhs from other areas of Belgium and from the UK were also present

Guru Nanak Prakash Gurdwara
625 Rue Saint Leonard
B-4000 Liège

To see more World and UK Gurdwara pictures :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/4304661200/in/set-72157611278213681

To see more Belgium and Netherlands gurdwara pictures :
  
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157622147381380/

More Luik – Liège pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – ‘Unwell’ Sharif cancels Punjab visit

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 13. Pakistan Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif’s much-awaited visit to Punjab was cancelled today owing to dignitary’s ill-health. Sharif’s Principal Secretary rang up Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s Principal Secretary this morning informing him that Sharif was unable to travel due to backache and that he had been advised rest.

The sudden cancellation of Sharif’s visit has come as a setback for the state government and those organising the event. Observers, including the organisers, feel politics is behind the cancellation of visit.

Sharif’s minute-to-minute programme, including his crossing over at the Wagah border, parade inspection and even what he was to eat, had been finalised after due consultation with the Pakistan Punjab government.

The cancellation caught the state organisers off guard both at Amritsar, where arrangements had been made at the Wagah border, and Chandigarh, from where Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia was to fly to Amritsar for Sharif’s welcome.

Sources said Sharif had first insisted on returning back to Pakistan by December 16. But after getting an appointment with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, he extended his stay till December 17 and even planned on visiting Nizamuddin Auliya’s ‘dargah’.

Sources said political rivalry between the Pakistan government and the provincial government in Punjab could be one of the reasons behind the cancellation of Sharif’s visit.

They pointed out that Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s visit to India to operationalise the liberalised visa agreement between the two countries had been finalised from December 14 to 16 and would have coincided with Sharif’s visit to India.

The fact that Sharif was able to procure an appointment with the Prime Minister and that Malik’s appointment was yet to be finalised could have also led to friction in Pakistan, where both Rehman and Sharif belong to opposing parties, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N), respectively. The Pakistan government was wary of Sharif scoring brownie points during his visit to Punjab and Delhi, sources added.

Sources in the Punjab Government said the government would not lose money on account of cancellation of visit.

The three main meals to be hosted in Sharif’s honour were being organised by the PHD Chamber and Rajinder Gupta of Abhishek Industries.

The government had booked helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft but since the aircraft were scheduled to reach Chandigarh this evening, their charter was cancelled immediately.

Sharif was scheduled to lead a 50-member delegation, including 34 business delegates. He was to meet policy-makers and industrialists here tomorrow, besides attending the World Cup Kabaddi final as the chief guest and meeting agricultural scientists and progressive farmers in Ludhiana on December 15. He was scheduled to visit Delhi on December 16 and Amritsar on December 17.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121214/main4.htm

Dawn – Nearly three-quarters of Pakistani girls not in school: report

Islamabad, 14 December 2012. Nearly three quarters of young Pakistani girls are not enrolled in primary school and the number finishing five years in education has declined, a new UN and government report showed Wednesday.

The findings expose the miserable state of education for millions in Pakistan, where the Pakistani Taliban shot 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai in the head in October to silence her campaign for the right to an education.

“Nearly half of primary school age children are not enrolled in school and among eligible girls the out of school proportion is closer to three-quarters. In absolute numbers, out-of-school girls outnumber their male counterparts,” it said.

“Completion rates to the fifth year of schooling have actually declined in the past five years,” it said. Fifty-five per cent of all Pakistani adults are illiterate and among women the rate is closer to 75 per cent, it added.

The report said women are denied their basic right to education and to a decent life.

“Females in Pakistan face discrimination, exploitation and abuse at many levels, starting with girls who are prevented from exercising their basic rights to education either because of traditional family practices, economic necessity or as a consequence of the destruction of schools by militants.”

On Monday, President Asif Ali Zardari pledged $10 million to help educate all girls by 2015 as part of a global fund set up in Malala’s name.

Ziauddin Yousufzai, Malala’s father, a former teacher and headmaster, has been appointed to help meet the global target.

His daughter, who is being treated in a British hospital after the attack on her school bus on October 9, will herself join the campaign when she is better.

Saba Gul Khattak, a member of Pakistan’s planning commission, confirmed that the country was lagging behind on its Millennium Development Goals, including on education.

http://dawn.com/2012/12/12/nearly-three-quarters-of-pakistani-girls-not-in-school-report/