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IN BRIEF Terror modules busted A massive crackdown on sleeper cells of LeT was being carried out nationwide and along the friendly neighbouring countries and three such modules were busted which included the terror group’s nefarious design to target Hyderabad’s HITEC city. – (PTI)
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Goa wins power rebate case Likely to fetch Rs 100 cr to treasury HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 4
In a significant development, the Goa government has won a power rebate case in the Supreme Court which is likely to fetch nearly Rs 100 crores to the State treasury. A bunch of special leave petitions (SLPs) was pending for around a decade challenging the Electricity Department’s decision to recover rebate benefits given to the power guzzlers in 1996. It’s also a victory for opposition leader Manohar Parrikar who had won a case in the Goa
bench of Bombay Court and the court’s ruling was challenged by power companies in the apex court. In some of the petitions, Parrikar was made a respondent. The power rebate issue is nearly two decades old as the notification providing rebate of 25 per cent for a period of five years from the date on which supply of electricity is made, was issued on September 30, 1991 In 1995 it was rescinded but amended to bring in extra high tension consumers a year later. As a circular was issued on March 31,1998 by the office of
chief electrical engineer suspending release of 25 per cent rebate, several petitions were filed in the High Court. They challenged the impugned notification dated July 24,1998. By judgment dated January 21, 1991 the High Court held that the circular did not have any legal efficacy but further held that validity of the rescinding notification dated July 24, 1998 couldn’t be faulted as it was held to be valid and legal. Challenging the order that the companies were not entitled for rebate beyond July 271998, the aggrieved persons went to
the Supreme Court where the SLPs were dismissed. When Parrikar filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the notifications of 1996, the court quashed the two notifications rejecting inter alia the plea of res judicata on the grounds that the validity of the two notifications was not in issue or considered in the judgement dated January 21 1999. Against the April 2001 judgement, special leave petitions were filed in the Supreme Court and in the following year, the (Continued on page 10)
Kasab sentence on Thursday PTI MUMBAI, MAY 4
Pakistani gunman Ajmal Amir Kasab, convicted for the 26/11 terror attacks, will be sentenced on Thursday by a special court with the prosecution demanding death penalty, branding him a killing machine manufactured in Pakistan. Asserting that Kasab’s case came under the rarest of rare category for giving death sentence, Public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said Kasab was a heartless monster who laughed seeing innocent people dying in pain. Making out a strong case for capital punishment, Nikam said if he was given lesser penalty “India will become a soft target for every self-styled terror group.” “There has been a high degree of cruelty and Kasab had total disregard for life. Kasab is
a killing machine manufactured in Pakistan,” he said. In his arguments today on the quantum of sentence to the 22year-old terrorist, Nikam told the jampacked anti-terror court in the Arthur Road jail that the crime committed by Kasab has shaken the collective consciousness of the society. “He has lost the right to live,”
Nikam said describing Kasab as “heartless monster..he not only enjoyed killing innocent people but also expressed anger while confessing before a Magistrate that he could not execute more,” Nikam argued before special judge M L Tahaliyani. “Such a monster should be given death penalty.... He is an agent of the devil himself ”. During its arguments for over two hours, the prosecution contended that Kasab ruthlessly carried out the executions. “It was pre-meditated.”. Defence counsel K P Pawar cited Kasab’s young age and pleaded for leniency. He contended that Kasab was “blinded by religion and should be given a chance to reform.” Dressed in a white kurta-pyjama and unshaven, Kasab kept his head bowed throughout Nikam’s arguments, showing no emotions.
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Mumbai motormen back on tracks PTI MUMBAI, MAY 4
Motormen of the suburban rail network —Mumbai’s lifeline used by seven million commuters daily— called off their indefinite strike today bringing relief after they held the city to ransom for nearly two days. With the threat of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) being invoked looming large, the Motormen Union decided to call off their agitation after urgent talks with Home Minister R R Patil.
Normalcy was restored towards evening with suburban trains of Central and Western railways on tracks, a couple of hours after the agitation was withdrawn. The strike by the suburban train drivers that affected normal life resonated even in parliament where the opposition targeted Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee for not doing anything to tackle the situation and also disrupted proceedings. Congress members also joined in raising the issue.
Can't waste more time here, I want to prepare for CET