Main Page                                                 Archives

SC allows night viewing of Taj to continue

     New Delhi: The viewing of Taj during moonlit nights would go on as per schedule as the Supreme Court on Thursday brushed aside the "grave concern" expressed over "security lapses" by its commissioner. A bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal, Justice SB Sinha and Justice SH Kapadia said no orders were required to be passed on an application filed by court commissioner and advocate Krishan Mahajan detailing his apprehensions after an on-the-spot inspection. He stated that there was no system put in place by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to check the identity of a person entering the premises to view Taj in moonlit nights and that the sophisticated equipment purchased for frisking visitors were lying idle. Appearing for ASI, advocate A D N Rao termed the report as a "red herring" and said that all security measures were put in place and that the directions of the apex court were followed in letter and spirit. He said in the name of establishing the identity of the visitors, the ASI should not get into a roving inquiry about their background. "Even when one buys a ticket to board a train or a aeroplane, such inquiries are not done," he said. The bench agreed with Rao and said as long as proper physical frisking of the visitors were taking place and they were kept at a safe distance from the monument, there was no danger to the Taj Mahal.

India, Nepal ink revised extradition treaty (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: India and Nepal have inked a revised extradition treaty and a Treaty for Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters to check the growing nexus between Left wing extremists in both countries. The treaties were initialled here late on Wednesday night after extensive discussions between the Home Secretaries of the two countries. Home Secretary Dhirendra Singh led the 14-member Indian delegation at the talks. The 11-member Nepalese side was headed by Chandi Prasad Shreshtha. Dhirendra Singh said the treaties would now be signed and ratified at a higher level later. Shrestha said the revised treaty was in tune with modern day requirements of the two countries as times had changed since the signing of the treaty way back in 1953.

BJP releases 27-point manifesto for Jharkhand (Go To Top)

     Ranchi: Announcing its manifesto for next month's assembly polls in Jharkhand, the ruling BJP on Thursday said that it would continue with its efforts to bring extremists into the social mainstream under the new Ratnakar Yojana. Releasing the 27-point manifesto at a press conference, BJP National General Secretary Rajnath Singh reiterated that the BJP would retain power in the four-year-old state which was going for its first assembly election this February. He said that he was confident about the party speeding up developmental activities in the naxal dominated areas for the greater interest of the state.