VOL: 2 ISSUE 42
18, 2009
Gold prices hit new high, Middle class a worried lot
Chennai, Feb. 18 :
Continuing its
upward journey, gold
futures hit yet another high
of Rs 15,582 per 10 gram in
early deals today, largely in
tandem with the firm trend
in other Asian markets as
investors parked their
funds in the metal as an
alternative to weakening
equity markets.
Market analysts
said, investors have shifted
their focus towards gold as
a safer haven after global
equities tumbled on rising
concerns of recession and
deepening financial crisis.
They said firming
trends in spot markets on
account of marriage
season also supported the
persistent rise in the
precious metal prices at
futures market.
Gold, for April
month contract gained 0.39
IT sleuths raid popular
textile showrooms in chennai
Chennai, Feb 18
I n c o m e - Ta x
officials today raided two
Photo S. Mohan
popular textile showroom
Pothys in the city and its
shops in southern
Tirunelveli and
Srivilluputtur.and also
RMKV and Sons in
Chennai and Thirunelveli.
IT sources told
per cent to Rs 15,551 per and deepening financial Record high
10 gram in a turnover of crisis. gold prices in India have
6,591 lots, while June With the gold triggered a surge in
month contract rose 0.41 prices sky rocketing the recycling of the precious
m e t a l a s
consumers rush to
Bullion in Chennai
cash in on their
holdings, Why
22ct Gold (per gm)
invest in Gold now?
Rs 1,420.
while imports
22ct Gold (per 8 gm)
have almost ground
Rs 11,360
to a halt, traders
Gold (per10 gms)
and dealers said on
Rs 15,330
Wednesday.
Silver (per kg) Bar
Gold on the
Rs 24,085 Silver
Multi Commodity
(10 gms)
Exchange of India
Rs 257.50 24ct
Ltd (MCX) hit a
fresh high at Rs
per cent to Rs 15,564 per 15,617 per 10
10 gram with a turnover of grams, extending
302 lots. the previous day's
middle class people are
Meanwhile, in gains on firm overseas
worried about the
Asian trading, gold shot markets and a weaker
forthcoming wedding
up by 9.50 US dollars to rupee against the dollar.
season where in huge
969 US dollars an ounce "There are lots
buy out gold would not be
in Hong Kong, on rising of sellers... This time big
concerns of recession
possible as the prices
soar day by day. lots are coming of 200-
media that the during the raids Sources
15 places including the
simultaneous raids which said that the records are
owners residence were
began in the morning, being inspected to raided by over 500
sleuths of the It
department.
The shops
were closed following
the raids. The
shoppers were turned
away by the posse of
policemen gaurding
o u t s i d e t h e
showrooms.
It may be noted
designer silk sarees
each priced over Rs.
2. 00 lacs are sold at
these shops and in turn
the details of sales
have been undevalued
for IT purposes
sources said.
An official of the
raiding team on
condition of anonymity
said that even the ad
models have been paid
were still continuing. account the transactions
fat sum and the details
Sources said that the The raids have
have been undervalued.
raids would continue till been conducted
The other
all details are verified. simultaneously in all
textile shops in the city
The sources places hwereever the
are feeling jittery over the
said unaccounted money textile retail giants have
raids conducted on
to the tune of several their showrooms and
Pothys and RMKV .
lakhs were unearthed production units. In all
Feb.
300 grams per person," jewellery seems to have
said Jitendra Kantilal since fallen.
Jain, partner at Mumbai's "Statistics
Jugraj Kantilal & Co, confirm investors around
which buys scrap gold for the world recognise the
refining and repackaging benefits of holding gold
as bars. during the time of
Gold's rally has unprecedented global
hurt imports in a big way financial crisis, recession
this year as most of the and the spectre of future
demand for weddings is inflation," said Aram
being met through Shishmanian, chief
cheaper recycled stocks. executive of WGC.
"The trend for gold prices "Gold has again
is bullish in India proven its core investment
considering the qualities as a store of
economic meltdown in value, safe haven and
the US and also the portfolio diversifier and this
financial sector problems has struck a chord with
that have hit equity nervous investors."
markets hard," said K. Trade estimates
Shivram, vice president suggest ordinary Indians
of the World Gold Council hold about 15,000 tonnes
(WGC). of gold at any time.
But demand for
MK expresses
anguish over
assault on Swamy
Chennai, Feb 18
Ta m i l N a d u
place in the state.
D e s p i t e
Chief Minister M undergoing severe pain,
K a r u n a n i d h i , the Chief Minister had
recuperating in hospital helped him a lot in
after a spine surgery, preparing the budget for
today expressed anguish the year 2009-10, which he
and regret over presented in the State
yesterday's assault on Assembly yesterday.
Janata Party President T h e C h i e f
Subramaniam Swamy in Minsiter was happy that the
a court hall and some budget proposals were well
people speaking against received by farmers,
India's sovereignty in t r a d e r s , p o o r, t h e
public meetings. downtrodden and all
DMK General sections of the people, he
Secretary and Finance said.
Minsiter K Anbazhagan, Mr Anbazhagan
in a statement here said exhorted people,
the Chief Minister, who irrespective of their party
was suffering from pain affiliation, to wish the Chief
and agony after Minister speedy recovery
undergoing a spine by extending their love and
surgery, desired a cordial affection. The people
atmosphere in the state. should ensure that the
However, Chief Minister faced no
incidents like assault on crisis and did not suffer
Dr Swamy and some from any mental agony.
leaders speaking against ''All sections of
India's sovereignty while the people should realise
espousing the cause of and extend cooperation to
Lankan Tamils worried help the ailing Chief
Mr Karunanidhi a lot, Mr Minister. Only our love and
Anbazhagan said. affection, and best wishes
The Chief will save the life of Mr
Minister was in tears that Karunanidhi,'' Mr
he had to be in intensive Anbazhagan said in his
treatment when such passionate appeal.
incidents were taking - Agencies
Page 2
Court constituted committee inspect
encroachements in T Nagar
Chennai, Feb. 18
The two-member
committee, comprising an
official each of the Chennai
Metropolitan Development
Authority and Chennai
Corporation, constituted
on the direction of the
Madras High Court, on
Tuesday inspected
Ranganathan Street,
Natesan Street and
Madley Road in T.Nagar in
connection with the
removal of encroachments
there.
The committee
members, S. Gurusamy,
Chief Urban Planner
(Enforcement Cell) of
Power shutdown
Chennai, Feb. 18
Power supply will
be suspended in the
following areas on
Thursday Feb. 19,
between 9.00 A.M. to 5.00
P.M. for maintenance work.
Supply will be resumed
before 5.00 P.M. if the
works are completed
earlier says a TNEB
release.
Kottivakkam Area
: J o u r n a l i s t C o l o n y.
Lakshmana Perumal
N a g a r, K a r p a g a m p a l
Nagar, Raja Garden,
Janganatham St, Kaveri
Nagar,
Beach.
Kottivakkam
Shenoy Nagar
Water Today to organise 3-day
Expo from February 26
Chennai, Feb. 18
Water Today, a
knowledge disseminating
and marketing platform on
water and wastewater
industry, would organise an
Expo from February 26 to
28 here.
Ta l k i n g t o
newspersons here on
Tuesday, its CEO Ms Naina
Shah said the "Water Expo
2009" would see 135
exhibitors displaying their
products.
C M D A a n d
M . R a g u p a t h y, C h i e f
Engineer (General) of
Chennai Corporation,
spent around two hours
inspecting and
measuring the width of
the three busy streets.
This followed
the direction of the court
on February 3 on a
petition filed by K. R.
Ramaswamy, who also
accompanied the officials
during the inspection on
Tuesday.
Members of the
Ranganathan Street
Merchants Association
told The Hindu that they
Area : D Block 1 To 7th
St.
Saidapet West
Area: R.R.Colony 1,2nd
St, 1st Link 3rd St, 1,2nd
Area.
J J Nagar South
Area : Thai Moogambigai
College, Golden Forture
A p a r t m e n t s ,
Amirthavarshini
Apartments, Daniya
Housing Board, SBOA
Model School, DABC
Thivyam Apartments,
Flats In Eri Scheme,
D r. A m b e d k a r F l a t s ,
Sudsum Apartments,
KGS Apporva Flats,
Zodiac Apartments,
Gangaiamman Nagar,
Water experts
and professionals from
all over the world would
participate in the event,
which was expected to
attract more than 10,000
visitors.
The expo would
provide a platform to
forge new business ties
and open up new vistas
for brand visibility.
An International
Conference "Watman-
2009", dedicated to
Times Chennai E-Paper
were ready to abide by
the directions of the
Madras High Court and
also follow the rules
which were laid down by
the Corporation and the
CMDA.
A member of the
association, Shahul
Hameed, said “We
have no intention to
disobey the law or the
court. We only want
licensed surveyors to
assess the streets.”
M r .
Ramaswamy said that
on Madley Road there
were encroachments to
the extent of 12-15 feet.
He also said that
50 percent of the
encroachments on
Ranganathan Street had
been removed by the
Corporation.
C h e n n a i
C o r p o r a t i o n
Commissioner Rajesh
Lakhoni said the civic
body had already
measured the streets and
a detailed report would be
submitted to the court at
the next hearing.
-Agencies
A K R N a g a r, V G N
Avenue
Egmore Area :
M . S . N a g a r ,
Sathyamoorthy Road,
Ashplant.
Shanthi Colony
Area : A,B,C,D,G-Blocks.
7,8th Cross Road.
Cresent Road, Part Of
1,2,3rd Main Road,
Jayalakshmi Colony.
Anna Nagar
North Area: Pumping
Station, I, G, Z Block, 6th
Avenue, Belly, P & T
Quarters, Kambar Cirele,
Gandhi Cirele, Tagore
Circle.
- Staff Reporter
Water Management and
a Technical workshop
relating to wastewater
management would be
held concurrently during
the Expo.
Water Today
was a bi-monthly
publication, reflecting the
c h a n g e s a n d
developments in the
water and waste-water
industry.
- Bureau Report
Rajan Eye care teams up with UK eye hospital
for mutual training and education
Chennai, Feb. 18
The Chennai
based Rajan Eye Care
Hospital has signed an
mou with University
Hospitals Leicester in the
presence of Mike Connor,
British Deputy High
C o m m i s s i o n e r, o n
Tuesday.
Addressing the
gathering Dr. Mohan
Rajan said that this tie up
would enhance the
scope of teaching training
t h e o p t h a l m i c
professionals of both the
countries and share
latest techniqies in health
and eye care.
Mike Connor,
British Deputy High
Commissioner in
Chennai said there had
been a series of visits to
India by various UK
missions on fronts such
as trade, water and
science and innovation
and research in recent
months.
Noting that
“sometimes, MoUs
become an “end in
themselves” he
Native of Tirunelveli held for
drug trafficking in Mumbai
Chennai , Feb. 18
An alleged
kingpin of an international
drug trafficking nexus
hailing from Tamil Nadu
has been apprehended
by the south zonal unit of
the Narcotics Control
Bureau (NCB) from
Mumbai.
Acting on a tip-
off, Gaffar Khan Ibrahim
Khan (44) was held by
officials at Mumbai, NCB
Zonal Director S
Davidson Devasirvatham
said in an official release
here on Wednesday.
A " m a j o r
kingpin" of heroin
smuggling on the Indo-Sri
expressed the faith that
the MoU between the two
eye care hospitals would
“clearly be a means to an
end.”
Last year, a
record was set in the
number of Indian
students enrolling in
British universities. While
the number of Indian
students seeking
education in the U.K.
increased by 30 per cent,
the proportion of
candidates from south
India shot up by 60 per
cent, he said.
“I am keen on
getting more British post-
graduate students to
learn in Indian
universities,” he said.
Remarking on
the importance of the
south within the
f r a m e w o r k o f
partnerships with India,
Mr. Connor pointed out
that the four major south
Indian cities contributed
to 20 per cent of the
population, 30 per cent of
doctors and 40 per cent of
nurses.
L a n k a n s e c t o r, t h e
accused had threecases
registered against him
under the Narcotic Drugs
and Psychotropic
Substances Act (NDPS).
Sixty kg of heroin was
seized from him on two
different occasions in
2001 and 2006, the
release said, adding that
he had absconded to
Dubai a few years ago.
Three non-bailable
warrants were also
pending against him, it
said.
A native of
Tirunelveli in the State,
he had visited Mumbai
yesterday to "revive" his
Feb. 18, 2009
Dr. Raghavan
Sampath, UK-based
ophthalmic plastic
surgeon, who was a
signatory to the MoU on
Photo S. Mohan
behalf of University
Hospitals, said broadening
the scope of the
collaboration to include
teaching and training would
be mutually beneficial.
Dr. Sampath, added that
in contrast to the UK, where
citizens took access to
healthcare for granted,
India presented a trying
environment in reaching
quality care to all strata of
society.
Dr. Mohan Rajan,
said it was proposed to
enter into another MoU with
the Moorfields Eye
Hospital.
The firming up of that MoU
would create a unique
linkage between London,
home to the world’s oldest
eye hospital, and Chennai,
which houses the second
oldest institution in the
Government Ophthalmic
Hospital, he said.
- Staff Reporter
drug trafficking activities in
the region even as some
of his associates were
lodged in jail, the release
said.
"With his arrest
yesterday, the zonal unit
has now neutralised a
major drug trafficking
kingpin having
i n t e r n a t i o n a l
ramifications," the release
claimed.
Khan is currently
being questioned by
officials. He would be later
produced before a court,
the releaseadded.
- Agencies
Feb. 18, 2009
TN CM flays Opposition for criticising budget
Chennai, Feb 18 :
Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister M Karunanidhi
today described the State
Budget for the year 2009-
10 as a ''wedding saree''
and flayed the Opposition
parties for finding fault with
the budget proposals.
In an epistle to his
partymen, the DMK leader,
who is recuperating in
hospital after a spine
surgery, said the budget
showed that he and his
Government ''continued to
care for the welfare of the
poor and the downtrodden''
in the State.
Detailing various
Prince of Arcot takes objection
to BSP putting up posters
Chennai, Feb 18
Prince of Arcot
Mohammed Abdul Ali has
taken objection to Bahujan
Samaj Party (BSP) putting
up cutouts and posters in
the city describing party
leaders as ''Prince of
Arcot.'' In a letter to Tamil
Nadu Chief Electoral
Officer (CEO) Naresh
Gupta, the Prince of Arcot
stated that in many places
DGP met HC Chief Justice on
action against lawyers
Chennai, Feb 18
Ta m i l N a d u
Director General of Police
(DGP) K P Jain today met
acting Madras High Court
Chief Justice S K
Mukhopadhaya and
discussed the action to be
taken against a group of
lawyers, who had
assaulted Janata Party
president Subramanian
Swamy inside the court hall
yesterday.
Accompanied by
Additional DGP (Law and
Order) Rajendrean and
City Police Commissioner
K Radhakrishnan, the DGP
held a discussion with the
welfare measures in the
budget proposals, the
Chief Minister said, while
in hospital, he would not
be able to list out all the
aspects in the budget
and urged his partymen
to explain them to the
people.
He said his
partymen should
organise public meetings
throughout the State and
explain to the people the
various budget
proposals, unmindful of
the criticisms of the
Opposition parties. ''As
usual, the people will
give their marks for the
budget,'' he added.
He flayed
AIADMK supremo J
Jayalalithaa for her
remarks that the DMK
Government had failed to
take any step to ensure
ceasefire in Sri Lanka.
Having aired
views in support of the
L a n k a n a r m y, M s
Jayalalithaa, fearing that
the Tamils would let her
down, had suddenly
raised her voice for
ceasefire, the Chief
Minister said and
detailed the steps taken
in the city, the BSP men
has put up posters and
cutouts ''mentioning the
name of Prince of Arcot in
some context, along with
some pictures of
artymen.'' The Prince has
strongly objected to this
since he was a non-
political person and the
above exercise would
give a wrong message to
the people at the time of
acting Chief Justice for
about 30 minutes in the
afternoon.
Official sources
s a i d J u s t i c e
Mukhopadhaya handed
over a copy of the order
passed by a division
bench, comprising
Justices P K Misra and K
Chandru, before whom
the lawyers indulged in
violence to the police
officials and suggested
that they could ''take
appropriate action
against the lawyers who
had assaulted Dr Swamy
according to law and
legally''.
Times Chennai E-Paper Page 3
by the DMK Government
for ensuring ceasefire in
Lanka.
He said leaders
of the Left parties and
the MDMK, by stating
that the budget has been
prepared with an eye on
the coming Lok Sabha
elections, have admitted
that it was a ''good
budget''.
These leaders
would agree that there
was nothing wrong in
wearing the ''wedding
saree'' for a festival, he
said, adding whether the
budget was prepared
keeping in mind the Lok
Sabha elections or not,
he was thankful to them
for giving a ''good chit'' to
the budget.
Giving details
of the number of benefits
extended to the farmers,
including interest-free
farm loans, abolition of
local cess and local cess
surcharge on land
revenue and allocation
of Rs 2000 crore for farm
loans, Mr Karunanidhi
asked the Left party
leaders whether these
measures would not be
beneficial to the farmers.
- Agencies
forthcoming Lok Sabha
elections.
The Prince, in a
statement here said Mr
Gupta, on receipt of his
letter, asked the City
Police Commissioner
and Commissioner of
Chennai Corporation to
take immediate action in
this context.
- Agencies
The senior
police officials met Mr
Mukhopadhaya
following instruction
from Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi, who is
recuperating after
undergoing a spine
surgery in a private
hospital.
The Chief
Minister gave the
instruction, when
Inspector General of
Police (Intelligence)
Jafer Sait called on him
this morning at the
hospital, the sources
added.
- Agencies
Page 4
New Delhi, Feb 18 :
The Election
C o m m i s s i o n Tu e s d a y
banned the publication or
telecast of opinion or exit
polls 48 hours before the
last hour of polling in single-
phase balloting.
In cases of multi-
phase elections or
elections announced
simultaneously for different
states, the poll panel
banned the publication of
exit and opinion polls in the
period starting 48 hours
before the close of first day
of voting till the end of last
day of balloting.
The commission
o r d e r e d t h e
implementation of its
guidelines close on the
heels of the Supreme Curt
clarifying last month that it
never prevented the poll
panel from implementing
its guideline on publication
or telecast of exit and
opinion polls.
"The Election
Commission is free to
frame its guidelines to
regulate publication of exit
polls," a bench of Chief
Justice K.G. Balakrishnan
and Justice P. Sathasivam
held Jan 19.
In its order
banning the telecast or
publication of exit or
Election Commission
bans exit, opinion polls
opinion polls, the
commission said that
they will not be
disseminated or
propagated in any form
including through "any
p a m p h l e t , p o s t e r,
placard, handbill or any
other document".
The poll panel
had first banned
publication or telecast of
exit polls during the 1998
elections. But it withdrew
its guidelines regulating
the publication of exit
polls in 1999 following an
adverse remark from the
apex court.
A lawsuit
pending since 2004 has
sought a ban on exit polls
on the ground that they
impair free and fair
conduct of elections by
swaying the voting
patterns.
The apex court
had made critical
observations against the
poll panel's power to ban
publication of exit polls
saying it involved
citizens' right to speech
and expression
guaranteed by the
constitution.
Last month, the
Election Commission
sought clarification on the
apex court's observation
Times Chennai E-Paper
saying it was wrong to
assume that regulation
of opinion and exit polls
would amount to
interference with the
right to information
guaranteed by the
constitution.
The Election
Commission counsel
said that banning
publication of exit polls
for a limited period after
the announcement of
election schedule and till
the day of voting for the
last phase of the poll will
"only be a reasonable
restriction in the larger
interest of the
democracy".
Following this
submission, the apex
court clarified that it had
never prevented the poll
panel from implementing
its guidelines to regulate
the publication or
telecast of exit and
opinion polls.
The Rajya
Sabha has already
amended the existing
electoral laws to provide
for banning publication of
exit polls but the bill is yet
to be ratified by the Lok
Sabha.
-Agencies
Ground realities a hurdle for bullet
trains in India: Experts
Hyderabad, Feb 18:
Will India get hi-
speed trains in the near
future?
According to
experts, due to ground
realities such as level
crossings in the country
hi-speed trains may not
be possible in the near
future though the Union
Railways Minister Lalu
Prasad has sought a
feasibility report to study
the possibilities of
introducing bullet trains in
India.
Bullet trains will
have a minimum speed of
3 3 0 k m s p e r h o u r.
Technologically it is
feasible, says signalling
engineers and officials of
Indian Railways Institute
of Signal Engineering
and Telecommunications
(IRISET). But ground
conditions may not make
it possible immediately,
they say.
K K Bajpeyee,
Chairman, IRSE Indian
Chapter and Ex
Managing Director, Rail
Telecommunication and
Director IRISET V
Balaram said that the
Railway Ministry has a
vision of introducing
high-speed trains
or bullet trains in
various routes like
M u m b a i -
Ahmedabad,
Hyderabad-
Chennai via
Vijaywada and
several other
routes but the
p r o j e c t i s
expensive.
According to
the experts, the high-
speed trains run 330 kms
per hour and the
maximum speed, so far,
of a bullet train is 585
kms/hour abroad.
The present
Indian trains have the
maximum speed limits of
160 kms/per hour. They
are highest speed trains
in the country but in
reality they can not be
termed as high-speed
trains when compared to
bullet trains, they say.
These bullet trains
require special and
separate track lines.
Moreover, the trains
Feb. 18, 2009
cannot use side signals but
will have to have automatic
systems. Signals that will
wirelessly go to the
locomotive need to be
introduced. The train
movement has to be
automatic and there cannot
be level crossings.
But in India, every
few kilometres there is a
level crossing. Moreover it
requires fencing of tracks
which have to be done in a
special manner. Presently
there are fences in some
places in the country but
people cut them open
manage to go through
them.
Therefore, they
experts say, in such
circumstances bullet trains
may not be possible unless
such ground realities are
addressed. Maybe on an
elevated track it may be
possible but the cost factor
is too high.
T h e r e f o r e
fencing, level crossings
and issues such as these
should be looked into, then
only bullet trains will be
possible, the experts point
out. It is also necessary to
identify the corridors to
know where the demand is
high. Railways will also
have to build special tracks
for the purpose.
-Agencies

Helpline for people living with Centre challenges Delhi HC ruling

HIV/AIDS launched in Chennai
Chennai, Feb. 18
routes was literally non-
A toll-free helpline existent.
for people living with Mr. Subburaj,
HIV/AIDS (PLHA), Hello +, speaking later, said the
was formally inaugurated in counsellor had provided
the city on Tuesday. satisfact
o r y
respons
es and
he was
sure that
t h e
helpline
would
benefit
P L H A
a n d
others
with co-
infection
s such
a s
Health Secretary tuberculosis and sexually
V.K. Subburaj launched the
transmitted diseases.
helpline and made the first Hello+ would
call on 1800-419-1800
address a long-felt need
posing a question from a in the state’s HIV/AIDS
real incident of
control programme that
discrimination to the had otherwise done very
counsellor.
well in the areas of
Speaking as a prevention and care and
representative of a
support, he said.
Chennai college, he said a I t w a s
couple of staff at the
absolutely crucial for
engineering college had positive people to be able
been found to be HIV +.
to talk to others about
Students of the college their problems and seek
were exercised by this and
help from professionals.
demanded that the cooks Being able to voice their
be dismissed from service.
problems would bring
The counsellor advised him down the burden
not to sack the staff and
s u b s t a n t i a l l y. H e
instead to provide suggested that some
counselling to the college
psychiatrists be roped
management and the into the project.
students, assuring them
H e l l o + ,
that transmission of the
virus through non-sexual conceived and
implemented as a public
private partnership
between the USAID
funded Aids Prevention
and Control Project at
VHS and Tata Business
Support Services and
Tata Teleservices, will
also see the involvement
of the Tamil Nadu State
AIDS Control Society and
networks of PLHA and
NGOs.
Hello+ facility
would be available in all
languages. Even today,
people from all over the
country could contact the
number for information,
but would receive
information only in Tamil,
Telugu, English and
Hindi. Tata group has
provided free software
and subsidising fifty per
cent of the STD call
charges.
S.Vijay Kumar,
project director,
TA N S A C S , s a i d
networks of positive
people should encourage
their members to register
for anti-retro virals.
A total of 50 link
ART centres were
coming up in the State to
help more PLHA to get
treatment. Next year, 40
more such link centres
would come up. He
commended APAC and
its partners for setting up
a service that would be of
help to all PLHA and
those hesitating to test
themselves for HIV.
- Bureau Report
quashing ban on smoking in films
New Delhi, Feb 18:
The Centre on
Tuesday approached the
Supreme Court
challenging the Delhi
High Court ruling
quashing a ban on on-
screen smoking in films
and television
programmes, saying
scenes depicting actors
p u ff i n g a w a y w o u l d
"glamorise" the social
evil.
T h e b a n
imposed in 2006 was the
brainchild of Health
minister Ambumani
Ramadoss who had
contended that on-screen
depiction of smoking was
against public interest as
people try to imitate their
stars' actions and get
tempted to take up
smoking which is
injurious to health.
The petition filed
by Ministry of Health has
taken 63 grounds to
assail the verdict of the
High Court which had
struck down the rules
imposing ban on smoking
on screen, a lawyer
closely associated with
the matter said. The
lawyer said in the petition
it has been argued that
since the High Court has
upheld validity of the
Cigarettes and other
To b a c c o p r o d u c t s
(Prohibition of
Advertisement and
Regulation of Trade and
Commerce, Production,
Supply and Distribution)
Act 2003, the verdict
quashing the rules to
regulate the law was
erroneous.
The main thrust
of the petition is on the
fact that the High Court
was not justified in
quashing the rules
prohibiting on-screen
smoking on the ground
that it was violative of the
fundamental rights to
freedom of speech and
expression guaranteed
under Article 19 (1)(a) of
the Constitution.
The Health
Ministry contended that
the rights under Article 19
(1)(a) were subject to
reasonable restriction
and the issue in question
comes under the ambit of
Article 19 (1)(g) dealing
with the freedom to
practice any profession.
It said even if
the matter falls under
Article 19(1)(a), the rights
under it were subject to
Part IV and IVA of the
Constitution under which
Article 47 makes it
incumbent upon the
State to take steps to
improve public health.
The Centre has
contended that any rights
which encroach upon
others' rights has to be
restricted and such
glamorising of the
smoking scene in a way
affects public health.
The High Court on
January 23 had quashed
the Centre's ban on on-
screen smoking in films
and television
programmes, saying it is a
reality of life and any
censorship on its depiction
would violate creative
artistes' fundamental right
to freedom of speech and
expression.
Justice Sanjay Kishan
Kaul, who passed the order
as an umpire judge after a
division bench had given a
split verdict on the issue,
struck down rules framed
by the Centre in October
2006 banning smoking
scenes in films.
"A cinematographic film
must reflect the realities of
life. Smoking is a reality of
life. It may be undesirable
but it exists. It is not banned
by any law," Justice Kaul
had said in his 50-page
judgement passed on the
petition of film director
Mahesh Bhatt challenging
the Centre's notification.
The High Court had said
that such restrictions
imposed by the
government would hamper
artistes who indulge in
creative acts such as film-
making. Justice Kaul had
passed the order after a
division bench gave a split
verdict on the issue on
February 7 last year.
Justice Mukul Mudgal and
Justice Sanjiv Khanna of
the High Court had
different opinions on the
constitutional validity of the
Act which bans on-screen
smoking. While Justice
Mudgal had held that the
rules should be quashed,
Justice Khanna had upheld
its validity.
Feb. 18, 2009
Nukes might be smuggled in
via sea: Navy Chief
New Delhi, Feb 18:
Navy Chief
Admiral Sureesh Mehta on
Wednesday warned that
there was a possibility of
anti-India elements
smuggling nuclear
weapons into the country
via sea route, and called
for augmented safety
measures at ports.
Speaking to
reporters, the Navy Chief
talked about low-end or
low-intensity maritime
threat under which nuclear
weapons could be
smuggled into India in
cargo containers.
Admiral Mehta further said
that security system was
missing at ports for
containers, and stressed
on the need to screen all
containers that enter the
country.
"Container is the
most likely means for the
terrorist organisations for
illegal transporting of
nuclear weapons. Hence,
the serious concerns about
container security," he told
reporters at a seminar on
" P o r t S e c t o r -
Developments and
Security".
He said the
country from where a
container leaves should
issue safety certificates.
"Countries
should certify that
whichever container
leaves the port is safe,"
Lawyers on nationwide strike
against CrPC amendments
New Delhi, Feb. 18
Lawyers across
the country went on a day-
long strike on Wednesday
to protest amendments to
the Criminal Procedure
Code (CrPC) that abolish
the provision of arrest in
offences punishable with
up to seven years in jail.
"Lawyers across
the country are striking
work in protest against the
amendment. The lawyers
of Delhi High Court will go
on a hunger strike and over
Admiral Mehta added.
Talking about
greater synergy amongst
the Navy, Coast Guard
and port authorities, the
Navy Chief disclosed that
control rooms would be
set up in the Eastern and
Western Naval
Command.
"Thes
e (control
rooms) are
t h e neighbouring Islamic
measures
we propose
for greater
coordinatio
n that a joint
operation
c e n t r e
functions
f r o m
Eastern and
Western
Command... We will
have a composite control
over maritime assets,"
Admiral Mehta said.
The control
rooms will coordinate
among Eastern
Command Chief,
Western Command
Chief and Director
General Coast Guard.
"It should be the
integral part of country's
security system," said
Mehta.
The Navy
Chief’s warning comes in
the wake of November 26
Mumbai terror attacks,
which were carried out by
terrorists who entered
the country’s financial
capital from Karachi in
Pakistan via sea route.
The 10 terrorists, nine of
whom were killed by
Indian security forces
and one was captured
alive, sailed from Karachi
in a Pakistani vessel and
hijacked Kuber, an Indian
boat en route Mumbai.
The route taken
by the Mumbai attackers
exposed loopholes in
20,000 lawyers from all
over the nation are likely
to join them," said Rajesh
Kumar Wadhwa, leader
of the lawyers'
coordination committee.
The lawyers are likely to
take out a protest march
from Patiala House court
to parliament.
T h e should be sound and
amendment proposes
that in offences that carry
jail terms of seven years
a police officer may,
instead of arresting the
Times Chennai E-Paper
India’s coastal security
and the Central
government has since
then prioritised it. It has
even announced plans to
set up a coastal
command.
The Navy
Chief’s warning also
comes at a time when al
Qaeda has warned India
against attacking
Pakistan, and the
country’s move to
impose Shariat law in
large parts of its restive
northwest, including the
Swat Valley, in a bid to
buy peace with the
Taliban extremists. The
‘peace deal’ has brought
Taliban, who came into
being in Afghanistan and
are now present in “huge
amounts” in Pakistan – in
the words of President
Asif Ali Zardari – more
closer to India than ever
before.
Following the
P a k - Ta l i b a n d e a l ,
intelligence sources
have revealed that the
Ta l i b a n m a y t a r g e t
western cultural centres
in India.
The possibility
of Pakistan’s nuclear
weapons falling into the
hands of extremists –
belonging either to the
Taliban or al Qaeda –
also cannot be ruled out
considering the volatile
political and security
situation in the
neighbouring country.
Meanwhile, in a
related development, the
Cabinet on Wednesday
okayed integrating
maritime security, under
which there will be
enhanced information
sharing between the
Navy and the Coast
Guard.
- Agencies
offender, issue him/her a
notice requiring him/her
to cooperate in the
investigation.
No arrest will be
made in a non-
cognisable offence
except under a warrant or
order of a magistrate.
The reasons for arrest
recorded in writing by the
p o l i c e o f f i c e r, t h e
amendment proposes.
- Agencies
Tamil MPs stall Parliament
over Sri Lanka conflict
New Delhi, Feb 18:
Angry MPs of
the MDMK and PMK
created uproar in the Lok
Sabha on Wednesday in
support of Sri Lankan
Tamils, forcing Speaker
Somnath Chatterjee to
adjourn the House twice
within minutes.
The MPs,
wearing black shirts,
shouted slogans and
walked up to the well of
the house expressing
their protest against
External Affairs Minister
Pranab Mukherjee's suo
motu statement in the
house over the Sri
Lankan situation.
"Stop the war in
Sri Lanka" and "we are
not satisfied with the
statement" (of the
minister) were among the
s l o g a n s . T h e
sloganeering started
midway through the
external affairs minister's
statement.
India can't force Sri Lanka to
take a particular line: Pranab
New Delhi, Feb. 18:
Government on
Wednesday virtually
turned down demands of
t w o Ta m i l p a r t i e s ,
including UPA
constituent PMK, for
India's intervention to
stop military offensive in
Sri Lanka, saying it
cannot force a sovereign
government of another
country to take a
particular line.
The assertion
b y E x t e r n a l A ff a i r s
Minister Pranab
Mukherjee came after
PMK and MDMK
members expressed
unhappiness over his
statement in Lok Sabha
on the situation in Sri
No intent to control news content
on television: Government
New Delhi, Feb 18:
Government on
Wednesday said it had at
no point intended to
control content of news
on television channels
and favoured self-
regulation by media
houses in live coverage of
sensitive incidents.
"There is no
intention to control
content of news. At no
point government
contemplated such a
move," Minister of State
for Information and
Broadcasting Anand
Sharma told the Lok
Sabha during the
Question Hour.
Sharma said
Union Health
Minister Anbumani
Ramadoss pitched
heavily for government
intervention in the Island
nation and expressed
disappointment over
Mukherjee’s statement
and urged the
government to intervene
in the war torn nation for
unconditional truce.
After his efforts
to discipline the agitated
members failed, the
Speaker first adjourned
the house at 12.20 p.m.
for 25 minutes.
When the Lok
Sabha re-assembled, the
MPs were in the same
mood and stormed into
the well of the house,
forcing another
adjournment of 75
minutes.
The two parties'
MPs were also backed by
representatives of some
other regional Tamil
parties.
Lanka and demanded its
withdrawal.
Mukherjee
expressed readiness to
make "corrections" in his
statement if there were
any"discrepancies". "
Government of India has
no instrumentality under
which it can force a
sovereign government to
take a particular action.
This is not simply
possible," Mukherjee
said.
His remark
came after members of
UPA partner PMK and
MDMK stormed the well
of the House demanding
stoppage of the war in Sri
Lanka and also objected
to Mukherjee's statement
there was no question on
a blanket ban on the live
coverage of sensitive
incidents and self-
regulation was the best
option the telecast of
such events.
He said in the
aftermath of the Mumbai
terror attacks,
government has held
several rounds of
meetings with
representatives of the
News Broadcasters
Association (NBA), the
Indian Broadcasters
Federation (IBF),
security agencies and
defence forces.
Sharma said
the NBA has drafted self-
Page 5
The MPs shouted
that the Indian government
should interfere for a
"permanent ceasefire" in
Sri Lanka to save Tamil
civilians.
Mukherjee had
said that the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) would "best serve
the interest of the Tamils by
immediately releasing all
civilians (under its control)
and laying down arms".
Pointing out that
the LTTE was an outlawed
group in India, the minister
added that it "has done
much damage to the Tamil
community".
The Indian
government, he added, "is
ready to facilitate the
evacuation of civilians
trapped in the area of
conflict, working with the
government of Sri Lanka
a n d t h e I C R C
(International Committee
of the Red Cross)".
- Agencies
on the issue and wanted
its withdrawal.
He said there
was no two opinion in the
House and the
government on
condemning the killing of
innocentTamils in crossfire
in the ongoing security
operations in Sri Lanka.
"Government is
committed to provide all
help to ensure the safety
and security to innocent
Tamils. We want this
conflict to come to an end,"
he said.
His remarks,
however, did not satisfy
the agitating members
who staged a walkout.
- Agencies
regulatory code of ethics
and put in place
emergency protocol to be
followed during coverage
of sensitive incidents.
A grievance
redressal mechanism has
also been put in place for
redressing complaints
relating to broadcast of
such incidents, he said.
“The government
has given a commitment
that any initiative involving
guidelines for electronic
media would be taken only
after the widest possible
consultations with all
concerned stakeholders,"
Sharma said.
-Agencies
Page 6
Business
Start services or face action:
DoT to new telecom operators
Barcelona, Feb. 18
The Indian
g o v e r n m e n t o n
Wednesday warned eight
new players like Unitech,
Swan, Loop, among
others, of action if they do
not roll out services even
though the delay on the
part of some of them could
be put down to working out
tie-ups with foreign firms.
T h e spectrum at Rs 1,651
Government's stance may
be a dampener because
new players offer an
opportunity to overseas
entities to come to India,
one of the fastest-growing
markets in the world.
"One year is
coming to an end. It is time
to ask the new players. We
cannot allow them to hoard
precious spectrum.
It is required for
use elsewhere," Telecom
Secretary Siddartha
Behura told PTI in an
exclusive interview.
Behura is here to
attend the GSM Mobile
World Congress and has
met a number of foreign
operators, vendors and
other telecom players.
The DoT is
planning to convene a
Shareholder opposes merger
of Subhiksha
Chennai: Feb. 18
Discount chain-
Subhishka Trading
Services is facing more
trouble. One of its
shareholder, Premji Invest,
which has a 10% stake in
the company has moved
the Madras High Court,
opposing the proposed
merger between
Subhiksha and Chennai-
based Blue Green
Construction and
Investments Ltd.
The grounds for
Premji Invests' opposition
is not known. Prakash
Parthasarathy, CEO of
Premji Invest, said, "We
confirm the filing of the
petition against the chain,
however we do not want to
comment further on the
issue."
The matter has
been listed for hearing for
March 3, 2009.
Meanwhile, R
Subramanian, MD of
Subhiksha, said the
merger process was
pending for approval
before the high court to
meeting of all new
operators who were
given licence in January
2008 and were also
alloted spectrum within a
few months in a number
of circles.
Communication
and IT Minister A Raja
has been facing charges
of favouring new
operators by giving them
crore for the entire
country as against the
market price, which is
several times greater.
Behura said
that spectrum is a
national resource and
should not be kept
unused. Many operators
are facing a shortage of
spectrum and this was
affecting their quality of
services.
"We would see
what the licence terms
and conditions say.
If there is any
gap we would introduce
new conditions to ensure
that no one hoards
spectrum," he said,
adding efficient use of
spectrum is very very
essential.
As per the
enable all interested
parties to file objections,
if any, to the merger.
"The reverse
merger which has to be
ratified by the Madras
High Court, was
approved with written
consent from Premji
Invest and ICICI Venture
at the shareholder
meeting on October 31,
2008," he said.
"There has
been some debate with
some of the banks on
whether the merger
needs to be held in
abeyance till the
corporate debt re-
structuring (CDR) is
closed. We have been
advised by the financial
investors that the merger
should be held in
abeyance till the CDR is
finalised in view of this
request of the banks," he
said, adding, "many
banks had taken a view
that stopping the merger
may not be in the best
interest of the company."
"As we are
Times Chennai E-Paper
existing terms and
conditions of the licence,
the DoT can take back
spectrum if the operators
fail to roll out services
within three years of
getting radio frequency,
he said.
Among the new
operators, Unitech has
joined hands with
Norway's Telenor and the
foreign partner is in the
process of getting
regulatory and
governmental approval
before embarking on
rolling out its network.
Similarly Swan
Telecom has sold a 45 per
cent stake to Etisalat
while others are yet to
start announce their
plans.
S h y a m
Telecom, which has sold
a 74 per cent stake to
Sistema of Russia, has
started operations from
Rajasthan.
The Shyam-
Sistema combine is
offering CDMA-based
services while all other
new players have opted
for GSM.
- Agencies
presently not targeting
any equity raising the
merger process is not in
the critical path for
revival/restart of the
company.
The merger
was more relevant for
funding in the context of
the pre-September 2008
markets when equity was
still a option," he said.
Subhiksha had
announced that it was
merging its business with
Blue Green late last year.
The merger, if
successful, would help
Subhiksha gain entry into
public space, as Blue
Green is a closely held
company listed only at
Madras Stock Exchange.
- TNN
For
Advertisement
Call
9940024556
Bata ignores slowdown, to add
40 stores by March-end
New Delhi, Feb. 18 :
Even as the
retail trade industry in
India faces one of its
worst crises in recent
years, Bata India, one of
the country's largest
footwear chains, plans to
open 40 new stores
across the country by
March 31.
"These new
stores will be based on
the international format
of Bata stores and will
have an average size of
3,000 square feet," the
company said in a
statement, making it
clear that the outlets will
not be small.
It said the
investment for the
expansion would be
raised through internal
accruals but declined to
Mgt control to rest with Indians despite
FDI norms’ liberalisation: Govt
New Delhi, Feb 18:
T h e Sabha here.
government on
Wednesday categorically
stated that the recent
liberalisation of FDI
norms will not result in
backdoor dilution of
sectoral foreign
investment caps as
management control will
continue to be with
Indians.
"There is no
question of backdoor
dilution of sectoral cap,"
Minister of State for
Industry Ashwani Kumar
said replying to
supplementaries during
Sensex ends almost unchanged
Mumbai, Feb 18:
In choppy
trade, the Bombay Stock
Exchange benchmark
Sensex on Wednesday
closed down by
moderate 20 points
though heavyweight
Reliance Industries
snapped two days of
losses and ended in
green.
After swinging between
positive and negative
terrain during the day,
the BSE barometer
closed at 9015.18 points,
lower by 19.82 points
from its last close.
For a second day in a
row, the Sensex fell
b e l o w t h e
quantify the amount.
Bata is the
among the largest
footwear retailers in India
with a market share of
over 20 percent in the
organised sector.
The chain has
currently over 1,200
stores located in more
than 400 towns and
cities.
“Bata India has
opened over 150 new
large format stores since
2006 and will continue to
open 60 new stores
every year. Our retail
expansion plans are
aimed at meeting the
shoe requirements of our
customers across India,”
said Bata India
managing director
Marcelo Villagran.
The new stores
Question Hour in Rajya
Investment
made by a domestic
company in which foreign
firms might hold a small
stake but the majority 51
per cent shareholding
and managing control is
with Indians, will not be
treated as foreign direct
investment (FDI) for the
purpose to calculating
the sectoral cap.
T h i s
liberalisation would
ensure that "domestic
companies were not
unreasonably fore-
closed for participating"
psychologically
important 9,000 level as
it plunged to day's low of
8,922.31 points. With
today's loss of 20 points,
the Sensex extended
losses to 620 points in
three straight days.
The 30-share BSE index
is down 6.7 per cent so
far this year after
slumping more than half
in 2008.
However, the broad-
based National Stock
Exchange index Nifty
managed to close higher
by 5.65 points at
2 , 7 7 6 . 1 5 a s
heavyweight Reliance
Industries and housing
developer DLF recorded
Feb. 18, 2009
will primarily be located in
tier-I and tier-II cities like
Sonepat, Kota, Jodhpur,
Ludhiana, Berhampur,
Mandya, Gangtok, Hubli
and Nasik, apart from the
metros.
A company official
said the footwear major
was witnessing double digit
growth inspite of the
financial slowdown that has
hit corporate India across
sectors.
According to a
recent joint study by
Associated Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
and consultancy KPMG,
between $25-30 billion
investment is anticipated
for setting up of over 1,000
hypermarkets and over
5,000 supermarkets in the
next four to five years.
- Agencies
in various sectors, he said.
Caps on foreign
investment in certain
sectors, he said, had been
put to ensure that majority
51 per cent stake and
management control in the
company is with Indians.
"We have ensured that
control of the company will
remain in Indian hands," he
added.
Management
control, majority of board of
directors and majority of
stake in the company will
continue to be with Indians,
he said.
- Agencies
handsome gains.
Reliance Industries, which
has the highest weight in
the main index, rose by Rs
27.15, or 2.14 per cent at
Rs 1,294.75 on BSE, after
falling 8.9 per cent in the
last two sessions.
Banking stocks, which had
been falling this week on
concerns about profit
margins and a rise in bond
yields dropped further on
renewed fears about the
health of the global
financial sector. Bank
sector index suffered the
most by losing 103.88
points at 4,479.49.
- Agencies
Feb. 18, 2009 Times Chennai E-Paper Page 7
Page 8
Cheeseburgers cause global warming?
London, Feb 18:
If cheeseburgers
is what you love to gorge
on, then you’re probably
not an eco-friendly person,
as they are among
the most climate-
unfriendly foods
imaginable, as is
determined in an
article in New
Scientist.
P e t e r
Aldhous, San
Francisco bureau
chief, New
S c i e n t i s t
magazine, says in
his article that
agriculture makes
a b i g g e r
contribution to
global warming
than the entire
transportation sector, and
people can help manage
the problem by choosing
low-carbon foods.
At a recent
meeting of the American
Association for the
Advancement of Science
(AAAS) that Aldhous
attended, Helene York of
the Bon Appetit
Management Company
described her efforts to
Office: F 5 and 6 1st Floor, Leo Complex, New No: 41, Madley Road, T.Nagar, Chennai 600 017. Ph: 42867771, 42697393
bring low-carbon menus
to its network of some
400 cafes on college
campuses and in
corporations across 29
US states.
In April 2007,
Bon Appetit adopted a
two-year target to reduce
the use of high-carbon
beef and cheese by 25
percent.
For beef, this
target has easily been
achieved.
But York admits
that the cheese target will
be missed, because
chefs have struggled to
Owned Edited and Published by S. Raghunathan Editorial and Advertisement
Times Chennai E-Paper Feb. 18, 2009
Gandhi's glasses, pocket watch
find acceptable up for sale in NY auction
alternatives. “It will take London, Feb 18: expected to be the Coretta Scott King, and
more time to educate the A pair of the highlight of the lot. A bowl Lawrence Reddick, then
palates of our distinctive circular metal- and plate that were given chairman of the history
customers,” she rimmed glasses of by the great leader to his department at Alabama
said. Mahatma Gandhi, along grand-niece are also for State College. King visited
The complexity with his sandals and sale. various places associated
of calculating total pocket watch will be on The items have with Gandhi.
greenhouse gas sale at an auction in New letters of provenance and He met then
emissions for foods York. were collected by an Indian Prime Minister
was revealed by The items are of unnamed vendor who is Jawaharlal Nehru, land
other speakers at huge interest and now selling them. reform leader Vinoba
the meeting as expected to well exceed M i c h e l l e Bhave and other influential
well. the estimate of 30,000 H a l p e r n , f r o m leaders to discuss issues
Even for the same pounds at the March 4-5 Antiquorum Auctioneers of poverty, economic
end product, total auction, the Daily in New York, which is policy and race relations.
emissions can vary Te l e g r a p h r e p o r t e d staging the auction, said: All this deepened
widely depending recently. "This is a truly historic King's commitment to
on how the food The sandals sale of Gandhi's nonviolence, and revealed
was farmed or were given to a British possessions. Of course to him the power that
c a u g h t , army officer in 1931 prior he didn't have much, so nonviolent resistance
transported and to the Round Table talks anything of his that holds in political and social
processed. in London that were held comes up for sale is battles, the resolution
For proving his to discuss Indian self- worth that much more." says.
point, Aldhous take the rule, the report said. A U S “The trip to India
help of an example. Gandhi gave delegation, including impacted Dr King in a
“For instance, if the spectacles to an army several lawmakers are profound way, and inspired
I order salmon at a colonel with the words: scheduled to visit India him to use nonviolence as
Chicago restaurant this "These gave me the later this month to an instrument of social
evening, I’ll do nearly five vision to free India." commemorate the 50th change to end segregation
times more damage to His Zenith anniversary of visit of and racial discrimination in
the climate if it was pocket watch was given Martin Luther King to America throughout the
farmed in Chile and flown to his grand-niece, Abha India from February 10, rest of his work during the
in fresh, compared to fish Gandhi. Gandhi was 1959 to March 10, 1959. Civil Rights Movement,"
frozen at sea by a seine- pictured wearing the During his month-long the Congressional
net vessel from Alaska,” pocket watch, made in stay, King was resolution says.
he said. about 1910, and it is accompanied by his wife - Agencies
- Agencies