1400 HRS.    

31th October, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Supreme Court suggests sweeping reforms in the functioning of bureaucracy; Says Parliament must enact law to regulate their postings, transfers and disciplinary actions.

• Jharkhand High Court rejects bail petition of RJD leader Lalu Prasad in a fodder scam case.

• Heavy security arrangements made in trouble hit areas of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.

• Nation pays homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 29th death anniversary; Tributes also paid to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary.

• Sensex gains over 40 points in afternoon trade; Rupee down by 9 paise to 61 rupees 32 paise against dollar.

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The Supreme Court today directed the Centre and the State governments to pass an order within three months, on giving fixed tenure to civil servants. A bench headed by Justice K S Radhakrishnan said that fixed tenure of bureaucrats will promote professionalism, efficiency and good governance.

Suggesting sweeping reforms in the functioning of the bureaucracy, the bench said, Parliament must enact a law to regulate postings, transfers and disciplinary action against bureaucrats. The apex court held that much of the deterioration in bureaucracy is due to political interference. It said that civil servants should not act on verbal orders given by political executives, and all actions must be taken by them on the basis of written communication.

The bench also said, a Civil Services Board be constituted at the Centre and State-levels.The apex court passed the verdict on a PIL filed by 83 retired bureaucrats, including former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian, seeking its directions for insulating bureaucracy from political interference.

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Jharkhand High Court has rejected the bail petition of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam case. Lalu Yadav, who was convicted by the special CBI court in the case, is in Birsa Munda central jail since October the 3rd. The CBI court on September the 30th, had held Lalu along with 44 others guilty in the case. Lalu was sentenced to five-years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of 25 lakh rupees. Lalu and others had moved the High Court against the verdict.

Hearing the bail plea moved by Lalu, the Jharkhand High court had yesterday reserved its order for today. The court had, on Friday last, granted provisional bail to another former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra.

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In Uttar Pradesh, heavy security arrangements have been made and paramilitary forces are patrolling the trouble hit areas of Muzaffarnagar. Four persons including a woman were killed last night as group clashes took place  in two villages of Bhorakalan area of the district .

Our Lucknow correspondent quoting officials, reports that eight persons were arrested in connection with fresh violence and security was enhanced in the entire district besides putting all the adjoining districts on high alert.

"District police chief Hari Narayan Singh said that eight persons have been arrested and cases were registered against 15 people in connection with fresh group violence in Muzaffarnagar. The administration is making all the effort to maintain law and order with utmost vigil in the troubled areas. There is no report of any fresh violence since late last night. Senior administrative officers including ADG law and order, IG, Commissioner and others are present at the venue keeping a close watch on the situation. Merajuddin, AIR News, Lucknow."

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Two Naxalites were killed in a fierce gun battle with security personnel in Maoist-hit Sukma district of south Chhattisgarh today. Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police said that the face-off between the ultras and security personnel took place in the forests under Maraigudi Police Station  this morning. The encounter took place this morning during anti- Naxal operations in Maraiguda jungle.  Senior police officers said that the Naxals on seeing the police-team near Bade Telma village forests, opened indiscriminate fire on the team which was returned by police, leaving two Naxals dead. Later two SLR rifles were also recovered from the encounter spot.

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In Assam  one person was killed and some others injured in Police firing at Krishnai in Goalpara district today. Law and Order IGP, S N Singh said that security forces resorted to lathi charge and firing to disperse protesters who blocked National Highway without prior permission. Singh said that protestors, who were demanding exclusion of non-Rabha areas from Rabha Hasong Council poll, damaged vehicles and pelted stones. Police detained several protesters. Council polls will be held from the 13th of November in 3 phases.

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Still in Assam, day curfew has been relaxed in Mushalpur and Simla police station areas in Baksa district. But night curfew from 9 pm to 6am will remain in force till further orders. IGP, L R Bishnoi said vigil is being maintained by security forces and 1 additional company of CRPF is being deployed in Baksa.

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In Manipur, eight militants have been arrested and some arms and ammunition were also recovered  during search operations by security forces in different parts of the State. Police said that seven militants including four women cadres belonging to Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup were arrested from Kakching and Thoubal market areas, another of Kangleipak Communist Party was caught from Thoubal police station area in Thoubal district yesterday.

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The Supreme Court today agreed to hear Sahara Group's plea seeking modification in its order restraining Subrata Roy from going abroad, till the Group hands over title deeds of its properties worth 20,000 crore rupees to SEBI. A bench headed by Justice KS Radhakrishnan said that it will consider the Group's plea tomorrow in-chamber.

Sahara had moved the apex court on Tuesday claiming that there was a mistake in its order. The bench had yesterday refused to pass any interim order for allowing Roy to go abroad before his Group files a review petition seeking to modify the earlier order.

The court was hearing three contempt petitions filed by Securities and Exchange Board of India, SEBI against Roy, the two firms -- Sahara India Real Estate Corp. Ltd. and Sahara India Housing Investment Corp. Ltd. and their directors.        

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The nation pays homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 29th death anniversary. President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other dignitaries paid floral tribute at her memorial - Shakti Sthal in the national capital. A series of functions have been organised to highlight the contribution of Indira Gandhi in nation building.

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The nation also pays tribute to the first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary today. He played a crucial role during the freedom struggle and was instrumental in the integration of 500 princely states into the Indian Union. Several functions were held in Gujarat topay tribute to the iron man of India.

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Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone of Statue of Unity- a 182-metre tall statue of "iron man" Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 138th birth anniversary at Sardar Sarovar Dam site in Bharuch district . Our Ahmedabad Correspondent reports the proposed statue will be raised on a small rocky island in the middle of the Narmada riverbed facing Sardar Sarovar Dam at Kevadia. Statue of Unity will be double the height of the Statue of Liberty in the USA. Former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani also spoke on this occasion. He lauded the great efforts of Sardar Patel to unite independent India by merging more than five hundred princely states.

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Recovering from initial losses, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange rose 46 points, or 0.2 percent to 21,080 in afternoon trade, a short while ago. Earlier, in the morning, the Sensex had fallen 37 points, or 0.2 per cent, to trade at 20,997 on profit-booking by funds, amid the monthly expiry in the derivatives segment, and weak regional markets. The 30-share Sensex had gained 464 points in the previous two trading sessions.

Stock markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia had lost between 0.2 percent and 1.7 percent, today, on concerns that the US Federal Reserve may start winding up its monetary stimulus sooner than previously expected. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.4 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.

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The rupee trimmed its initial losses, but was still quoted down by 9 paise to 61 rupees 32 paise against the dollar in late morning trade today, on month-end demand from importers coupled with higher dollar overseas. The domestic currency had resumed 22 paise lower at 61 rupees 45 paise, as against the last closing level of 61 rupees 23 paise per dollar.

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India has given Bhutan one hundred crore  rupees as  assistance for the new government's stimulus plan . India’s Ambassador to Bhutan V. P Haran handed over the cheque to Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay in Thimhpu . This is part of the commitment of the union government to provide five hundred crore  rupees , apart from the 11th plan assistance. According to a press release from the gross national happiness commission through the Economic Stimulus plan and injection of funds, the Bhutanese government seeks to ease the current financial crunch in the banking sector, as well as expand the financial sectors’ capacity to extend credit for productive economic activities, and priority sectors that can create jobs and provide revenue to the exchequer.

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In Bahrain, the participating groups at the National Dialogue have set a deadline of five weeks before December the 4th for the opposition to join the process or withdraw from the talks. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the representatives from the Bahrain Government, National Coalition of the Sunni groups and independents from the Shura Council and MPs last night in the capital Manama. The decision means if the opposition fails to attend the next meeting scheduled for December the 4th they would be out of the negotiations. The Opposition groups have said that they will continue to boycott the dialogue process despite the release of one of their top leaders from jail. Five opposition groups had announced their indefinite suspension from the process last month following the detention of former MP Khalil Al Marzooq. The spokesman for the National Coalition, Khalid Al Qattan has criticized the opposition move to boycott the talks saying it is the national duty of the citizens.

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In Pakistan, three persons have been killed in a suspected US drone attack at a house near Miranshah bazar last night in North Waziristan Agency. The identity of those killed is not yet known

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An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter Scale jolted Songyuan city in northeast China's Jilin Province this morning. According to China Earthquake Networks Center, the quake struck  this morning at a depth of eight kilometers. There are no immediate reports of any damage or casualties.      

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South Africa have defeated Pakistan by one run in a nail biting finish in the first ODI at Sharjah. Protean bowlers claimed six wickets for 17 runs in a dramatic finish to snatch a one-run victory from Pakistan. Chasing a target of 183 Pakistan collapsed to 182 all out in 46.3 overs.  Batting first, South Africa made 182 and Wayne Parnell was the top scorer with 56. In reply, Pakistan seemed to be sailing through the match when South African bowlers ripped through the middle order and the tail to score a sensational win.

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India's Saurav Ghoshal will play his quarterfinal match of the Men's World Squash Championships in Manchester, England today. It is a tough draw for Saurav, as he is up against top seed Ramy Ashour of Egypt for a place in the semi-finals. In the 66-minute pre-quarterfinal yesterday, Saurav had defeated Henrik Mustonen of Finland, 5-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2. On the other hand, Ramy beat Aussie Cameron Pilley, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 12-10 in the other last-16 fixture yesterday.

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Indian in-form openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have been given a place in the Indian Test squad, which will play against the West Indies, in the 2-match Test series beginning on the 6th of next month. Suresh Raina has been dropped, while All rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been rested due to shoulder strain. Amit Mishra has been included in place of Jadeja. Bowlers Shami Ahmed and Umesh Yadav have also been included. Fast bowler Ashok Dinda and spinner Harbhajan Singh have been dropped.

The first cricket test will take place in Kolkata and the second test, which will be Sachin's Tendulkar's last international match, will be played in Mumbai from 14th November.