Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from February 28, 2013

Furore over Guru issue in Jammu & Kashmir Assembly

GNS Jammu, Feb 28: With most politicians in the state still in a mood to protest the hanging of Afzal Guru, it is perhaps not surprising that the first day of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly's budget session witnessed much uproar over the issue. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) boycotted the governor's address on Thursday, slamming the Omar Abdullah government for failing to "protect rights of the citizen of Jammu and Kashmir - Mohammad Afzal Guru, who was hanged by depriving him of his proper legal rights". A sit-in was staged by MLAs of the party outside the assembly. The legislators shouted slogans and carried placards which read "Tamil Nadu Nay Inkar Kiya, Punjab Nay Inkar Kiya. Par Jammu and Kashmir Sarkar Nay Ikrar Kiya". They were citing Punjab and Tamil Nadu's strong opposition to the death penalty awarded by the courts to the assassins of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi respectively. The PDP is

Mubarak Gul takes over as new Speaker

GNS Jammu FEB 28: National Conference MLA Mubarak Gul on Thursday took over as the new Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. Gul, who represents the Eidgah constituency in Srinagar, assumed charge on the first day of Budget session, replacing Mohammad Akbar Lone who was recently inducted into the state cabinet.  Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to whom Gul had served as the Advisor, congratulated the Speaker for his new assignment and expressed hope that he will conduct the House proceedings impartially and to the best of his ability.  See more at: http://zeenews.india.com/news/jammu-and-kashmir/mubarak-gul-takes-over-as-new-speaker-of-jandk-assem_832209.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#sthash.sTBjJqv6.dpuf Later speaking to reporters, Gul said members of all parties will be given adequate time to highlight issues of their constituencies in the Assembly.  He appealed to the MLAs to cooperate in conducting the proceedings of the house in a c

Peoples Democratic Party moves adjournment motion to discuss Afzal Guru hanging

GNS JAMMU FEB 28: Jammu and Kashmir's opposition  Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP) on Thursday moved an  adjournment motion  in the  legislative assembly  to discuss  the situation  in the state after execution of Mohammad  Afzal Guru  and the delay in returning his body to his family. According to PDP spokesman Naeem Akhtar, the resolution  in this regard has already been given to the assembly speaker for discussion on these two issues Friday.  Earlier, the PDP boycotted the governor's address on the first day of the budget session to lodge its "protest against failure and inability of the state government to protect rights of the citizen of  Jammu and Kashmir  - Mohammad Afzal Guru, who was hanged by depriving him of his proper legal rights".  PDP legislators, led by party chief  Mehbooba Mufti , staged a sit-in outside the assembly and shouted slogans against the  Omar Abdullah  government.  They were carrying placards reading "Tamil Nadu Nay Inkar Kiya, Punja

Even the Chairman has the Freedom of Speech

“Bol ki lab azaad hain terey  Bol zubaan ab tak teri hai” (Speak out for your lips are free  Speak out for your tongue is still yours”)  Faiz Ahmed Faiz By Justice Katju I have been criticised by some politicians, lawyers and others for being outspoken on some issues unrelated to the press while being the Chairman of The Press Council of India (PCI). As a result, it is time now for my response. The main attack on me is that since the PCI discharges quasi-judicial functions, its Chairman should not speak on non-media issues. First of all, let me say that if a matter comes up before the PCI when it is exercising quasi-judicial functions involving an issue or a person about which or whom I have expressed my view, I will immediately recuse myself from the deliberations and decision on it. In quasi-judicial matters I do not make decisions on my own. Rather, it is the PCI which, by majority vote, makes decisions. There are 28 members of the PCI apart from the Chairman. If I recus