200 years of Shimla: CM launches website, postal stamps
Shimla: A website highlighting history and heritage of Shimla along with buildings and institutions of the hill town has been launched here to commemorate 200 years of the city of Shimla . The website — ‘Shepherd Semla to Sahib Shimla’ — an initiative of Shimla Bicentennial Group, was launched by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh yesterday, who also released postal stamps under ‘My Stamp’ scheme to mark the occasion. A delegation of the group led by its Chief Advisor Dinesh Kumar met Singh and requested him to declare May 15 as ‘Shimla Day’ on completion of 200 years of the city’s existence. First permanent structure ‘Kennedy House’ was raised in Shimla in 1815 after the British discovered Simla hills as an appropriate place for summer sojourn and later made it the summer capital of India. The discovery of Simla hills was consequence of war against Gorkhas in the beginning of 19th century. Later, Shimla got a Deputy Commissioner’s office, which completed 150 years this year, and also the Municipal Committee, which has been upgraded to Municipal Corporation. (PTI
Cabinet okays increasing penalty for corruption to max 7 yrs
New Delhi: Bringing corruption into the heinous crime category, the Union Cabinet today approved official amendments to an anti-graft legislation enhancing the penalty under it to a maximum of seven years imprisonment from the present five years. The proposed amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 provides for more stringent punishment for the offences of bribery–both for the bribe giver and the bribe taker. “Penal provisions being enhanced from minimum six months to three years and from maximum five years to seven years (the seven year imprisonment brings corruption to the heinous crime category),” a press release said. To ensure speedy conclusion of corruption cases, a time limit of two years has been proposed. “The average trial period of cases under PC Act in the last four years has been above eight years. It is proposed to ensure speedy trial by providing a trial completion (period) within two years,” it said. It is also proposed to extend the protection of prior sanction for prosecution to public servants who cease to hold office due to retirement, resignation etc. “Further, as per the prior sanction for inquiry and investigation shall be required from the Lokpal or Lokayukta, as the case may be, for investigation of offences relatable to recommendations made or decision taken by a public servant in discharge of official functions or duties,” the release said. The official amendments, approved today by the Cabinet will be the part of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 pending in Rajya Sabha, also provides guidelines for commercial organisations to prevent persons associated with them from bribing a public servant. (PTI)
Cooperative Inspector caught accepting bribe
Raisen, MP: A cooperative inspector has been caught red-handed by Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta Special Police Establishment while accepting a bribe of Rs 51,000, Lokayukta sources said. Lokayukta Inspector Manoj Mishra said Lokayukta police had booked cooperative committee manager Ramkishan Vishwakarma in a disproportionate assets case on April 11. Deputy Registrar Vinod Singh had demanded a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from him for not removing him from the post. The deal was settled at Rs 51,000. On the basis of Vishwakarma’s complaint, Cooperative Inspector Suresh Shrivastava was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount last night. Shrivastava was receiving Rs 50,000 for Vinod Singh and Rs 1,000 for himself. Vinod Singh is absconding. (UNI)
Rs.1,000 minimum pension to continue
New Delhi: The union cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of Rs.1,000 minimum monthly pension for pensioners under the Employees’ Pension Scheme beyond the financial year 2014-15. Currently, it is effective only up to March 2015. The decision to continue with the pension on perpetual basis was taken at a meeting of the union cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, an official release said. The cabinet also approved the corresponding grant of continuous annual budgetary support for implementing the minimum pension, which will be to the tune of Rs.850 crore per year on a tapering basis. The present proposal is likely to benefit approximately 20 lakh pensioners. (IANS)
India sends Gorkha soldiers to Nepal
New Delhi: India has sent the Indian Army’s Gorkha soldiers to quake-hit Nepal to help in relief and rescue work, an official tweet said on Wednesday. “India enlarges its rescue operations in Nepal; sends Gorkha soldiers of Indian Army to Himalayan nation,” the press information bureau retweeted an All India Radio tweet. Nepal was hit by a devastating earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale on April 25. The quake sent tremors across India as well. (IANS)
FIR against AAP MLA for thrashing MCD engineer
New Delhi: An FIR was registered against Aam Aadmi Party Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh, who was accused of beating a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (South) engineer on Tuesday night. Police also confirmed that the registration of the First hand Information Report and said junior engineer Azhar Mustafa alleged that he had gone to Krishna Park to demolish an “illegal construction” but its residents resisted it and called the MLA to the spot of the site. Mustafa later alleged that the MLA along with others thrashed him and prevented him from doing what he was suppossed to do at the site. According to Mustafa, he had all the documents and clearances which allowed him to carry out the demolishing work but Mr Singh tore the papers and threw it on the road. However, Mr Singh denied this allegation, saying no notice was received by the property owners. He has also filed a counter complaint against the engineer. (UNI)