Coal scam: Court refuses to summon Manmohan

October 17, 2015

New Delhi, Oct 17: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Friday got a huge relief after a special court refused to summon him as an accused in a coal block allocation case, saying the plea was “devoid of any merits” as there was no sufficient evidence to support it.

manmohanThe court's decision came in a petition filed by former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who wanted Singh to be made an additional accused in the case pertaining to “irregularities” in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to Jindal Group firms– Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) and Gagan Sponge Iron Pvt Ltd (GSIPL).

Noting that the averments made in the application were “self contradictory in nature”, the court said seeking summoning of Singh should be seen from a completely different yardstick.

“Though one may argue that summoning of Dr Mammohan Singh as Minister of Coal should be considered but, as already mentioned by me, at this stage of the matter, I do not find sufficient evidence warranting his summoning as an accused in the present case. Accordingly, the present application being devoid of any merits is hereby dismissed,” Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar said in a 23-page order.

The court, however, noted that if sufficient evidence warranting summoning of any other public servant or private person emerges, “then the law will certainly take its own course”.

The court said it was not entering into a detailed analysis of the case as it might prejudice other accused summoned earlier. “Any discussion of the facts and circumstances of the present case is bound to have some effect on the role played by the other accused persons,” it said.

The court had, on September 28, reserved the order on Koda’s plea after the CBI opposed it saying that there was no evidence.

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Agencies
August 9,2020

New Delhi, Aug 9: Indian on Sunday achieved a grim milestone after recording the highest single-day spike of 64,399 coronavirus cases, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

As many as 861 deaths were reported in the country in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative toll to 43,379.

With the new cases, the country's coronavirus count has reached 21,53,011 including 6,28,747 active cases and 14,80,885 cured/discharged/migrated.

Maharashtra has 1,47,355 active coronavirus cases, the highest in the country.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 7,19,364 samples were tested on August 8 while over 2.41 crores samples so far have been tested in the country.

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Agencies
July 11,2020

New Delhi, Jul 11: A notice which claims that a COVID-19 Monitoring Committee has been formed is fake, and no such committee has been set up by the Union Home Ministry, as per Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The "Fake" MHA order stated, "Pursuant to the official orders received dated: Monday, May 18, 2020, of the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, passed in the approval of Special Status Advisory Committee for COVID-19, a COVID-19 Monitoring Committee has been constituted in the MHA vide order dated: Friday, June 12, 2020."

MHA Spokesperson also cautioned people to beware of fake news and rumours.

India's COVID-19 case count crossed the eight lakh-mark on Saturday with yet another highest single-day spike of 27,114 new cases in the last 24 hours.

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News Network
May 19,2020

New Delhi, May 19: Spitting at workplace will be punishable with fine, the Personnel Ministry has said, citing the national directives for COVID-19 management.

In an order issued to all central government departments, it has asked their heads to ensure strict compliance of this and other directives in this regard.

This order is likely to bring about changes in and around government and private work places, where one can easily spot stains of 'pan' and 'gutka' spitted at some of the corners of walls or areas not frequented by many employees/public.

"Spitting in public and work places shall be punishable with fine, as may be prescribed in accordance with its laws, rules and regulations by the state/union territory local authority," said the national directives issued by the Home Ministry and shared by the Personnel Ministry with all central government departments.

It said wearing 'face cover' is compulsory in all public and work places.

In additional directives for the work places, the ministry said as far as possible, the practice from work from home should be followed.

"Staggering of work/business hours shall be followed in offices, work places, shops, markets and industrial and commercial establishments. Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash and sanitiser will be made at all entry and exit points and common areas," the directives said.

Frequent sanitization of the entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact e.g. door handles etc., shall be ensured, including between shifts, it said.

"All persons in charge of work places shall ensure social distancing through adequate distance between workers, adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff, etc," the directive said.

The Centre on Monday asked 50 per cent of its junior employees, below the level of deputy secretary, to join work in office.

Till now, only 33 per cent of such employees were asked to attend office due to the novel coronavirus lockdown.

Central government employees were asked to work from home due to the lockdown that came into force from March 25.

All officers of the level of deputy secretary and above have already been asked to attend office on all working days.

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