RS clears changes to Hindu marriage law

Women Set To Get A Better Deal

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi: In a major step toward making marriage laws more women-friendly, the Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the bill to amend the Hindu Marriage Act (1955) and the Special Marriage Act (1954) that provides for “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” as grounds for divorce and also grants women the right to a share in the property of their husbands. 
    The Marriage laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010, will also have to be passed by Lok Sabha before it can become law. Most Rajya Sabha MPs cut across party lines to welcome the “progressive” bill, though some held that it should have been made more “genderneutral”, while a few others expressed reservations about its probable misuse against husbands. 
    Replying to the debate, law minister Kapil Sibal said there was an urgent need to “protect women rights more” because the Indian society was still quite patriarchal. 
    “So let’s be clear. This historic piece of legislation is a message that MPs are on the side of women in our patriarchal society. Even across the world, women constitute 50% (of the population) but own only 2% of the assets,” he said. 
    The minister assured MPs that the “irretrievable breakdown on marriage” clause was “gender-neutral” since even men could move the court for it. 
    Both parties have to live apart for at least three years before filing such a divorce petition. “Don’t worry, we are taking care of both men and women,” he said. 
    Dwelling on the amendments, the minister said courts would decide the “extent” of the wife’s share in her husband’s self-acquired property, both moveable and immoveable, in case of a divorce. While the wife will have no share in inherited property, its value will be taken into account by court while fixing the amount of compensation or alimony to her. “The judge will decide as per the facts and circumstances of each case,” he said. 
    Earlier, participating in the debate, BJP’s Najma Heptulla criticized the UPA government for not bringing in “one law for all women”. Holding that the country’s “100 million Muslim women” were being ignored by the government, she asked, “Have they thought of any reforms for Muslim women?” 

A KNOT IN TIME 
New bill amends Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and Special Marriage Act, 1954 Introduces option of divorce on grounds of  ‘irretrievable breakdown of marriage’, 

Gives women right to share in husband’s moveable, immoveable property, 

Gives women right to sufficient compensation from husband’s inherited, inheritable property in case of divorce. 

Courts to decide compensation quantum 

Gives adopted children rights equal to natural born children 
Courts can exercise discretion in granting divorce after 3 years if one partner does not move a second joint application for divorce with mutual consent

Source:::: The Times of India, 27-08-2013, p.09, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW

A BOOK TO PUT YOU IN TOON WITH THE TIMES

Some of India’s top cartoonists come together at the launch of ‘Jest in Time’, a book that looks at humour through several decades in the pages of the TOI

Saira Kurup | TNN 

New Delhi: It’s a rare event that brings together some of India’s funniest cartoonists. So it was a special Monday when seven of the best gathered to mark the release of “Jest in Time”, a collector’s item of TOI cartoons spanning several decades. The booklaunchwas partof TOI’s 175th year celebrations. 
    Put together by satirist Jug Suraiya, and cartoonists Ajit Ninan and Neelabh Banerjee, the book features priceless selections from the archives. It kicks off with the classics by India’s most celebrated cartoonist R K Laxman, and showcases the best of Ninan and Banerjee. 
    Releasing the book at the event,information andbroadcasting minister Manish Tewarisaid,“Laxman’scartoons haveentrancedthe nation and educated us how you can say a lot in a few words.” 
    He recalled how when he travelled across the then USSR and eastern Europe as a student, he realised the power of humour and its potency to fight totalitarianism. Tewari admitted to being an avid reader of comics like Dennis the Menace, Asterix and Tintin. He laughed that when he goes home Cartoon Network,Pogo andDisney are the channels he first switches on.“IlikethePowerpuff Girls the best, but some of the ‘powerpuff girls’on primetimeTV can give them a run for their money,” he joked. 
    The force of humour is just what “Jest in Time” celebrates. But selecting the best of cartoons was a real challenge, admits Banerjee. “We hadto gothroughthe archives with a fine comb to bring out the most iconic ones. The second challenge was to decide whether we should take it chronologically or make it more relevant to readers of today,” he says. The contemporary reader won, and the book has been divided into chapters with quirky names like ‘Netas and Nataks’, ‘Global Golmaal’, ‘Ghoos Phoos’ and ‘Out of Order’, each of which have cartoons by all three cartoonists. 
    One of the high points of the book launch was an onthe-spotcollaborative artwork by well-known cartoonists Sudhir Tailang from Deccan Chronicle, Manjul from Daily News and Analysis, Keshav from TheHindu,Jayanta from Hindustan Times and Prasad from Mail Today. They were, of course, accompaniedin the jugal bandi of sorts by Ninan and Banerjee. Keshav set the tone by drawing the new common man forced to tighten his belt in difficult times. 
    Tailang followed with an illustration showing Narasimha Rao give his ‘student’ PM Manmohan Singh a poor report card. He said, “Rao has always been my favourite ‘hero’. He was ‘designed’ for cartoonists. But now Singh has beaten him hollow!” On a more serious note, he added, “TOI and R K Laxman have contributed a lot to the art of cartooning. We have had many great cartoonists but Laxman not only established the art of cartooning in India, he made the role of the cartoonist a respected one in the media.” Manjul’s version of the common man was one who doesn’t speak but tweets instead! Jayanta then drew the laughs by drawing a neta with a loudspeaker as his head “because netas are not doing what they are supposed to; they just keep shouting!” 
    To audience applause, Ninan put the artwork in context by sketching Parliament, and Banerjee gave the final touch by showing the common man holding up the House on his shoulders. 
    Tewari took the lighthearted lampooning of politicians sportingly. “It’s an appropriate portrayal of what is happening at this point of time,” he said, probably referring to the ongoing, tumultuous session of Parliament. He added with a smile, “It’s a rare Monday morning that you can start the week with a laugh.”

Source:::: The Times of India, 27-08-2013, p.10, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW

Your bank charges you for SMS alerts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi: Did you know that your bank just debited money from your account for providing SMS alerts? Well, if you haven’t, it’s time you checked your last bank statement. 
    Banks, led by SBI, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank, charge Rs 60 annually to send messages informing you about cash withdrawals and other facilities. Others such as Canara Bank charge over Rs 100, while HDFC Bank said they levy Rs 60 only for “special alerts” such as bounced cheques, salary credits or when the balance going below a specified level — all optional. IDBI Bank and Vijaya Bank have excluded savings accounts from the paid SMS alert service. 
    Finance minister P Chidambaram told Parliament on Friday that there were five public sector banks charging for SMS alerts. However, enquiries by TOI showed it isn’t just state-run players, but even private banks such as ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank who charge for the service. 
    An private bank executive said they charge for SMS alerts as mobile operators raised the fee for bulk message from 2 paise per SMS to 20 paise, making the service “unviable”. Banks said they had sent out a message saying the service will be charged. Most customers either ignored the SMS or didn’t respond. 
    While most banks have shifted to a paid SMS alert system only this year, there were a few, which passed on the cost as far back as 2010-11. 


PAY TO KNOW SBI, ICICI and Axis charge 60 a year to send alerts. Canara Bank charging 100 
HDFC says it charges 60 
only for “special alerts” such as salary credit, bounced cheques and account balance falling below a level 
IDBI, Vijaya have excluded savings accounts from charge.


Source:::: The Times of India, 24-08-2013, p.13,  http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW

Can’t tell graft accused who whistleblower is: SC

Dhananjay Mahapatra TNN 

New Delhi: In what is sure to encourage whistleblowers, the Supreme Court has ruled that identity of persons who tip off anti-corruption agencies about corrupt deals of bureaucrats can never be revealed to the accused facing prosecution under Prevention of Corruption Act. Anti-Corruption Bureau of Maharashtra had investigated a case of disproportionate assets against a public servant on the basis of a complaint filed by “unknown person” and chargesheeted the accused. The accused wanted a copy of the original complaint on the ground that it was essential for a fair trial. 
    Rejecting his plea, an apex court bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and A K Sikri said it failed to see how the accused was prejudiced by non-disclosure of the name of the person who sent the complaint and the original copy of the complaint received by the ACB. 
    “Situations are many where certain persons do not want to disclose the identity as well as the information/complaint passed on by them to the ACB. If the names of the persons, as well as the copy of the complaint sent by them are disclosed, that may cause embarrassment to them and sometimes threat to their lives,” said Justice Radhakrishnan, who authored the judgment for the bench. 
    The bench said what is to be borne in mind is that it was a complaint given by some person to the ACB which triggered the investigation. “Thus, this complaint simply provided information to the ACB and is not the foundation of the case or even the FIR,” it said. 


Name-lending lawyers turned noble profession into cheating, says SC New Delhi: The SC on Thursday found that the advocate-onrecord system it had devised nearly 50 years ago to ensure efficient legal assistance to litigants and judges was getting “converted into a profession of cheating”. A bench of Justices B S Chauhan and S A Bobde found an advocate-on-record filing a large number of cases yet not being in court when the case was called for hearing. The apex court was told that a section of advocates-on-record has made it a habit to lend their name to the petition for filing purposes. TNN


Source:::: The Times of India, 23-08-2013, p.18, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW

Bill to change system of judicial appointments cleared

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, which proposes to change the current collegium system of judges appointing judges by a commission with representation from the executive and non-judicial members. 
    Despite the fact that the higher judiciary, led by the Chief Justice of India, has opposed any changes in the collegium system, the government is serious about bringing in the constitutional amendment and has mobilized support from other parties, including the main opposition BJP. 
    The proposed JAC will be headed by the CJI and will comprise the two senior-most judges of the apex court, the law minister and two eminent personalities to be selected by a committee consisting of the PM, the opposition leader and the CJI. The government has also introduced a clause in the JAC Bill that will empower the law ministry to initiate a list of names of judges for the commission to consider after inviting suggestions from other forums besides the Supreme Court and the high courts. 
    However, there was an important change from the earlier draft of the JAC Bill. In the new draft, the opposition leader has been dropped as member of the proposed JAC. Instead, the leader of opposition of either House of Parliament has now been included as part of the committee to be set up to nominate two eminent persons to JAC. The panel will have the CJI and the PM as members.

Source:::: The Times of India, 23-08-2013, p.18, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW

Convicted netas: Cabinet blunts SC order

Lawmakers To Retain Seat But Will Lose Vote

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared the proposal to allow convicted lawmakers to retain their membership till their appeal is pending before a court while suspending their voting rights. 
    According to the law ministry’s proposal to amend the Representation of People Act, a member of Parliament or legislature can retain membership even after conviction if his or her appeal is pending before a higher court and the sentence is stayed. He or she, however, shall neither be entitled to vote nor draw salary and allowances. 
    The move was necessitated after the Supreme Court ruling disqualifying a legislator in the event of a conviction for an offence attracting a sentence of over two years. 
    The proposal also suggests adding a new clause to the Constitution to say that a person can contest elections even if he can’t vote. It states that a person cannot cease to be a voter while in detention as his or her right is only temporarily suspended. 
    It was argued that as the name of the person in jail continues to be on the electoral role, he or she also continues to be an elector and can file nomination for election. 
    The amendment to the RP Act shall come into effect from July 10, 2013, the day the SC gave the landmark judgment. Political parties across the board opposed the order, arguing it could be misused to settle scores. They voiced concerns about “judicial overreach” and argued that the supremacy of Parliament must be maintained and if required, amendments must be brought in the Constitution.

A STEP BACKWARD? The SC ordered disqualification of MPs/MLAs if convicted for an offence attracting a sentence of more than two years.

Source:::: The Times of India, 23-08-2013, p.18, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW

Students can now pursue two degree courses at same time

The University Grants Commission has finally given the go-ahead to students to pursue two degree programmes simultaneously. 

Giving in to long-standing demands from universities and students, the apex higher education regulator, at a meeting on July 31, decided to accept its expert panel’s recommendations on permitting pursuit of an additional degree programme. 

This will allow students enrolled in a regular full-time degree programme to pursue one more additional degree programme simultaneously on open/distance learning mode from the same university or another institution. A student pursuing a regular degree will also be allowed to pursue an additional certificate/diploma/advanced diploma/PG diploma programme simultaneously either in regular or open/distance mode from the same university or another institution. 

The UGC expert panel headed by Dr Furqan Qamar, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Hyderabad, had made these recommendations “in view of the changing scenario and flexible guidelines”. Saying that “more choices to the students need to be given”, the panel was of the view that joint degree programmes need to be encouraged by the UGC. 

UGC Chairman Prof Ved Prakash said the idea was to allow new opportunities to students who wish to expand their skill set and have the will to stretch themselves beyond their comfort zones. Universities have been asked to modify their ordinances to facilitate the joint degree programmes. 

Currently, no student in India can legally pursue more than one degree simultaneously either from the same institution or from any other institution. The restriction is applicable irrespective of the mode of pursuing degrees — open/distance learning/part-time/private or full time. To ensure compliance, students are required to submit in the original the migration certificate issued by the previous institute. 

While there has been a lot of interest to pursue two or more degree programmes simultaneously to help students improve their knowledge, skill and employability, the present UGC guidelines are silent about the pursuit of a certificate/diploma course alongside a degree programme.

Source:::: Financial Express, 14-08-2013.

Creating a website can entail cyber crime: HC

Swati Deshpande TNN 

Mumbai: Creating a website and storing on it information accessible to others can land one in trouble for cyber crime, the Bombay high court (HC) has held. 
    The high court recently dismissed a petition by a Pune resident to quash an FIR lodged in 2011 against him for defamation caused by sending offensive messages through computer resources. The FIR was filed under the Indian Penal Code and Section 66A of the Information Technology Act. 
    A media house had filed a complaint against Manoj Oswal, the petitioner, for distribution of allegedly defamatory pamphlets with references to two websites that had information about the family of the media house owner. 
    Oswal’s contention was that the IT Act could not be invoked since the term ‘website’ was not covered in Section 66A, which punishes a person for ‘sending’ offensive information. 
    He said information merely stored on a website was no offence under the section. “Incorporating some matter about any person in a website does not mean sending it. It remains in the website. A person is not sending anything by merely creating a website,” his lawyer Kushal Mor argued. 
    The high court dismissed these submissions as untenable and fallacious. 
    The legislative intent behind the IT Act was not to exclude ‘website’ as a medium of sending, a high court bench of Justices C S Dharmadhikari and S BShukre held. 
    “It is abundantly clear that the offence under scrutiny was a computer-related offence,” the court said. 

CYBER OFFENCE 
As per section 66 A, IT Act, it is an offence for a person to send by a computer resource or a communication device: Any information that is grossly offensive or has menacing character Any information which he knows to be false, but yet sends it ‘persistently’ through such computer resources to cause annoyance, ‘inconvenience’, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, or ill will Any electronic mail or electronic mail message for the purpose of causing annoyance or inconvenience or to deceive or to mislead the addressee or recipient about the origin of such messages 


PUNISHMENT | Imprisonment for up to three years and fine 


HIGH COURT ORDER 
Creating a website that may contain false or offensive information and facilitating its access to others would fall under the definition of ‘sending messages’ under section 66A of the IT Act 
‘Inconvenience’ cannot be read in isolation and must be read as a whole under the definition of an offence under the section 
It is only false information that causes inconvenience


Source:::: The Times of India, 19-08-2013, 04, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW

RTO gives learner’s licence in 10 minutes after computer test

Somit Sen TNN 

    You can now get a laminated learner’s licence at the Andheri RTO in just ten minutes after appearing for a computerized test. Nearly 700 applicants received ‘jhatpat licences’ in just two days. 
    TOI recently wrote that the new system, started at the Andheri RTO, can deliver a learner’s licence in just half an hour after a test. “But we have broken this record during the weekend, and now citizens are happy that they received their learner’s licences in ten minutes,” said deputy RTO Bharat Kalaskar. 
    Applicants are happy, but hope that the feeling lasts. It is not only the speed of delivery that has impressed them, but also the new system brings with it advantages like zero corruption, no interference by touts, no waiting in bad weather, no hassles of being shunted from counter to counter, and no long waiting period. 
    “I got my learner’s licence very quickly after giving the computerized test. It’s a great feeling. In the past, my friends received this licence after four days of pursuing the driving school agent,” said Narendra Davande, a 27-year-old employee of a real estate firm. “The procedure at the new RTO building has been streamlined. We were given a token. Once we entered the licence section, it felt like we were in a corporate office. The flow was smooth—the process of registration, submitting documents, biometrics and test was neat. Also, there were no agents or driving school staff accompanying us. It made me feel empowered.” 
    Said software professional Supratik Moitra, who had come with his wife to get a licence, “It feels nice being in an AC ambience while going through the process of applying and getting a learner’s licence.” In the past, the RTO had non-AC chambers and different departments and counters for every procedure. “Now, it’s like an airport. Once you enter, you cannot check out easily. You will have to move ahead after completing each procedure—be it data entry, taking a photograph, thumbprint or digital signature, or sitting for a 15-minute computerized test,” said Manoj Sharma, a Goregaon resident who appeared for the test with his friends. 
    Kalaskar said the new process was streamlined to ensure faster movement and quick disposal of learner's licences. “We are very strict and don’t allow anyone to jump queue or enter any department within the licence section. Every department is guarded and locked once a set of candidates are in,” he said. 
    Said Kajal Tolani, who had brought her daughter Sonali for the licence, “Hats off to the RTO for the new system. We never imagined that this makeover would happen. Citizens will now be encouraged to come personally and apply for a learner’s licence. There is no need of any agent.” 
    A few applicants TOI spoke to complained of a lack of toilet facilities, but RTO officials said that a few toilets were being set up near the token counter, and benches too would be installed for candidates.

Source:::: The Times of India, 19-08-2013, 02, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW

MU first in India to get Harvard-style virtual classroom, 420 colleges have signed up

dna correspondent @dna

Mumbai: The Mumbai University (MU) on Saturday inaugurated a virtual classroom at its Kalina campus and became the first public university in the country to introduce this facility. Based on the virtual classroom model at Harvard University, the facility will be used to deliver and live-stream lectures, workshops and seminars through A-VIEW, a virtual learning tool developed by Amrita University. The fully automated classroom, that can seat 58, will also be connected to an auditorium that can seat up to 300 students. Also, through the virtual classrooms, students sitting in any of the affiliated colleges across the country can participate in sessions held at the university. So far, 420 colleges have registered with the university to access sessions held in the facility, set up at a cost of over Rs1 crore. “Any college that has the A-VIEW software, computers, cameras and a high bandwidth can enrol,” said Dr Rajan Welukar, MU vice-chancellor. The classroom was inaugurated by Maharshtra governor K Sankaranarayanan and the ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and minister of state for higher and technical education DP Sawant. While asserting that the facility was indeed a step ahead, Chavan said that its real value addition would depend on how well it is utilised. “While we have tried to expand our reach to many, we seem to have not paid enough attention to the quality of the faculty. We must ensure that faculty is well-trained in the new techniques,” he said, adding that the classroom should be open for 12-16 hours daily so students in night schools and colleges can avail the facility. inbox@dnaindia.net. Source::::: DNA, 18-08-2013, p.02, http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?pgNo=3&edcode=820009&eddate=2013-8-18

INAUGURATION TOMORROW

Varsity to reach out to pupils via virtual classroom

Yogita Rao TNN 

Mumbai: Mumbai University will start an automated virtual classroom this weekend, probably the first traditional public university in the country to have the facility. 
    On Saturday, when the chief guest inaugurates the classroom at the university’s Kalina campus, the event will be live-streamed across affiliated colleges through the facility. Supposed to be modelled on the virtual classroom at Harvard University, the room with 58 seats will also be connected to an auditorium with a capacity of over 300. 
    While initially the classroom will be used to live-stream special lectures by eminent resource persons, workshops and conferences, it can also bring a sea change in academic activities at the university and its affiliated colleges. The facility will solve the problem of shortage of qualified teachers and make interactive learning possible with limited resources. Participation in events with restricted entry can now be thrown open to all university students. Students and teachers of colleges in remote places such as Raigad and Sindhudurg can now attend important conferences/meetings that will be conducted at the university and transmitted in their classrooms. 
    “Once the facility is ready, we can use it for multiple academic activities. It will also help us connect to universities world over. We also plan to offer online courses in future,” said pro-vice-chancellor Naresh Chandra. The inauguration will be held in the presence of the governor, chief minister and the minister for higher and technical education minister. 
    A university official claimed that the virtual classroom was designed on the lines of a similar facility at Harvard University. “Everything in the classroom is automated and can be controlled using a touch panel. Even the sliding of writing boards and adjustment of lightings in the classroom can be done at the click of a button,” said the official. The facility has been developed by the university’s in-house computing team under the leadership of vicechancellor Rajan Welukar. 
    Of the 700 colleges affiliated to Mumbai University, 420 have already enrolled for the digital system, A-VIEW. While academic sessions/conferences can be live-streamed across colleges, videos will also be available on the university’s site for students who wish to view it later. 
    All the facilities on the internet will be made available under the NME-ICT (National Mission Education through Information and Communication Technology) of the ministry of human resources development, and the A-VIEW virtual learning tool designed by Amrita University. IIT-Bombay already has a virtual classroom. 

College Requirements A PC with Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB RAM, 512MB graphics card and Windows XP or above 
TVs/projector that support 1,024x768 resolution 
A camera with connectivity to computer with live video streaming 
A composite to USB converter/video capture card 
Mic, loudspeakers, an audio-mixer Digital writing pad (optional) for writing on A-VIEW’s whiteboard A 2Mbps internet connection 
Only to access lectures, only a normal projection system will be enough. For interactive sessions, a multimedia projector will be required 
    A-VIEW will deliver ‘live’ and ‘recorded’ lectures to students 
    It allows teachers to interact with multiple students through video and chat 
    Students can ‘raise their hands’ virtually through the software if they have a query 
    The software, when run on individual PCs, allows for easy sharing of files and can be run on multiple platforms such as Windows, Macs, Linux, & mobile devices like tablets

GOING E-CLASS 
To conduct its virtual classes, Mumbai University will use A-VIEW, an indigenously built software tool that facilitates an e-learning experience which is as good as a regular classroom. A-VIEW is a real-time collaborative multimedia platform which allows an instructor to teach ‘live’ students afar. With its help, the university hopes to address the pressing issue of higher education in India: shortage of qualified teachers. Online courses will be added soon

Source::: The Times of India, 16-08-2013, p.02. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW

49% spurt in PhD degrees in four years: Tharoor

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi: Poor research output of students is considered one of the biggest drawbacks of Indian higher education. The government, however, claims there has been a 49.27% growth in the number of research degrees (PhDs) awarded by the Indian universities between 2008-09 and 2011-12. 
    In a reply in the Rajya Sabha, minister of state for human resource development Shashi Tharoor said that in 2008-09, 10,781 PhDs were awarded and the number increased to 16,093 in 2011-12. 
    There has also been a massive jump in India’s contribution to international research publications. Citing a report by the Unesco Institute of Statistics, Tharoor said Indian contributions increased from 26,000 in 2002 to 44,000 in 2007. Despite the rapid strides in research, India is still way behind other nations. In the same period, the number of PhDs in China increased from 14,706 to 48,112. Increase in PhDs in the US was, however, marginal — from 40,024 to 41,464. 
    As for contribution to the world publications, Unesco data shows that between 2002 and 2007, Brazil’s contribution increased from 16,000 to 29,000, Russia’s from 31,000 to 32,000, China’s from 62,000 to 1.94 lakh, the UK’s from 93,000 to 1.25 lakh, Japan’s from 92,000 to 98,000 and that of the US from 3.15 lakh to 3.58 lakh. 
    Tharoor said the government has taken various steps for promotion and growth of post-graduate level studies and research. New institutions for science education and research have been set up. Universities are getting centres of excellence, new and attractive fellowships are on offer and there is emphasis on strengthening the research & development infrastructure in universities. 
    Tharoor said the HRD ministry had also set up a task force under M M Sharma for rejuvenation of basic scientific research. The task force has been converted into an empowered committee to implement its own recommendations. 
    In social sciences, he said, various research councils — Indian Council of Historical Research, Indian Council of Social Science Research and Indian Council of Philosophical Research — have been asked to fund more research initiatives.

Shashi Tharoor, minister of state for HRD, said there has also been a massive jump in India’s contribution to international research publications.

Source::: The Times of India, 16-08-2013, p.09. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW

MBA, MCA courses: SC rejects AICTE appeal

The Supreme Court has found no merit in an appeal by the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) against a verdict that colleges affiliated to a university were not obliged to take separate permission from it for conducting MBA and MCA courses.

"We have considered the averments in the review petitions. Having regard to the facts and issues involved, in our opinion, no case for review is made out. There is no error in the impugned order. Hence, the review petitions are dismissed," said a Bench of Justices B S Chauhan and V Gopala Gowda as it dismissed the AICTE's review petition. 

In its April order, the Bench had ruled that MBA was not a technical course. Although MCA was a technical course, the court said, role of AICTE for its regulation could be advisory only. 

"The AICTE Act does not intend (the council) to be an authority either superior or to supervise or control universities and thereby superimpose itself upon them merely for the reason that it is laying down certain teaching standards in technical education or programmes formulated in any of the department of units," the court had noted. 

Writing the judgment, Justice Gowda had said: "The role of AICTE vis-à-vis universities is only advisory, recommendatory and one of providing guidance and (it) has no authority to issue or enforce any sanction by itself." 

The Bench said it was the University Grants Commission which had been given the power to regulate universities in relation to granting sanction/approval, maintaining educational standards and overseeing the fee structure including admissions to various courses offered by them, their institutions, constituent colleges, units and affiliated colleges. 

The AICTE however had decided to file a review petition against this order, claiming it had been trying to bring in transparency in matters of recognition of technical programmes, run by various colleges and institutes, over several years now and so they would not want this exercise to go in vain.

Source:::: The Indian Express, 26-07-2013

STROKES OF GENIUS

Maharashtra gets its first encyclopaedia of artists

Charts State’s Art Tradition Across 200 Years

Mithila Phadke TNN 

    Artist Suhas Bahulkar recalls the time he came across a painting by the late GH Nagarkar in the godown of a museum. It had been tossed aside and a few of the museum’s authorities believed the 5 ft x 3 ft work to be a print. “There wasn’t even a plastic sheet covering it,” says Bahulkar. “I had to explain that the painting had won a gold medal from the Bombay Art Society in 1927.” It depicted Draupadi’s sw aya m va r, rendered using the wash technique, which was remarkable for a painting of its proportions, Bahulkar says. 
    The artwork, accompanied by an essay on Nagarkar — one of the Bombay revivalist school’s prominent members —is part of Drishyakala, the first-ever biographical encyclopaedia of over 300 painters, sculptors and cartoonists from Maharashtra. 
    Spearheaded by Bahulkar and his colleague Deepak Ghare, the six-year-long project weaves narratives on the artists’, with photographs of their work. Aside from renowned names like MF Husain and KH Ara, the Marathi compilation has information on the lesser-known artists. 
    “India has two art traditions – the Bombay school and the Bengal school,” says Bahulkar. “Because the latter was nurtured by artists, organisations and Bengal government, it became famous, unlike the Bombay school.” The result 
was that artists across Maharashtra languished in anonymity. “So researchers tend to only write about the same people,” says the former professor of JJ School of Art. “Some believe that Maharashtra’s art history started with the progressive artists’ group, when it was the result of many previous movements.” The lack of awareness prompted Bahulkar to create acomprehensive database. 
    The process required coordination, time and money, and trips to track down families of artists. To be included in the list, artists needed to have careers spanning 25 years. “They could have been born and worked here, moved out of Maharashtra later, or been born outside but worked here,” says Bahulkar. 
    Discussions with artist communities in Satara, Sangli and Aurangabad helped with the final selection. 
    There were a few roadblocks when some of the biographers dropped out, throwing the schedule out of gear. There were also instances when artists refused to furnish details about their birth-date, family, and in some cases, secret second marriages. 
    “But now, we are getting reactions from artists who are glad that their family members have been included,” says Sadhna Bahulkar, a team member. Along with Suparna Kulkarni, who helped organise the data, she made sure that most artists’ bios mentioned their mothers and wives. “Their role in artists’ lives cannot be left out,” adds Sadhna. “We had only five days to do it, and made over a hundred phone calls. It was something we really wished to do.”

Source::::::: Times of India, p.02, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&AW=1376223281712

At midnight hearing, SC stays hanging of man who killed 5 daughters

dna correspondent @dna

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has stayed the execution of a Madhya Pradesh man who was scheduled to be hanged on Thursday morning for beheading his five minor daughters in 2010. Magan Lal Barela had beheaded his five daughters, who were among eight children from two wives, in Sehora district of Madhya Pradesh on June 11, 2010. He told the police he committed the dastardly act as he was furious over property dispute between his two wives. Hearing a petition at his residence on Wednesday midnight, Chief Justice P Sathasivam stayed the execution for a day. The order was immediately conveyed to authorities in Jabalpur central jail, where he is lodged. When the plea came up for hearing on Thursday, the bench of Chief Justice Sathasivam and Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai stayed Barela’s execution till further orders and tagged his petition along with pleas of other condemned prisoners who had also sought quashing of capital punishment on various grounds. The People’s Union for Democratic Rights, whose activists had gone to the residence of the Chief Justice with a petition against Barela’s hanging, alleged it was “an illegal, unconstitutional and arbitrary procedure that has been followed in processing the mercy petition and scheduling the execution date of Magan Lal....” The civil rights body sought appropriate remedies that would protect the fundamental rights of Magan Lal. According to the police, Barela murdered his five daughters — Arti (4), Savita (5), Leela, (6), Jamuna, (1), and Phool Kanwar (2) — and attempted suicide. Later, he pleaded that he was under the influence of liquor when he murdered his daughters, but the trial court found his crime as rarest of rare and sentenced him to death. He moved the MP High Court which upheld the lower court’s verdict. The Supreme Court too showed no leniency and upheld the death sentence. His subsequent clemency petition before President Pranab Mukherjee was rejected. On July 22, the President of India formally communicated rejection of his mercy plea, paving way for his execution.

Source:::: DNA, 09/08/2013, p.07, http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?pgNo=5&edcode=820009&eddate=2013-8-09

Now, new state watchdog to hold soc polls

dna correspondent @dna

The elections to the managing committees of cooperative housing societies in Maharashtra whose tenures have expired by March 31, 2013, will be conducted by the newly-established state cooperative election authority by December 31, 2013. They will not be able to elect their new office bearers themselves. Till the new committees come into existence, the previous committees will temporarily handle the day-to-day functioning of the societies but will not be able to take important or policy decisions. The authority will handle elections to all cooperative bodies in Maharashtra. These bodies in turn will have to compulsorily notify the registrar’s office about their tenures at least six months before their term comes to an end. The provisions have come into effect after the state legislature approved the amendments to the state cooperatives law. Source:::: DNA, 09/08/2013, p.05, http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?pgNo=5&edcode=820009&eddate=2013-8-09

Aid the legal eagles

Being good at proving your point or having a good convincing power is not the only quality required to become a lawyer. Experts tell Gauri Rane about the skill gap in the profession

Gauri Rane

Most of us would remember Anil Kapoor as defense lawyer Arun Verma who consumes evidence to prove his client not guilty in the movie Meri Jung. This scene may not ring a bell, but the confidence and hunger to win, which Verma displays will forever be etched in memory.  A doctor’s son becomes a doctor; a lawyer’s a lawyer, this old saying continues to hold true even today. However there are many who do not have a lineage in the profession but nevertheless a desire to don the black cloak. The legal profession has seen a tremendous increase in the number of aspirants over the years. Senior Advocate at Bombay High Court, Shirish Gupte says that there is almost 75 per cent increase in the number of fresh graduates stepping into the legal arena every year. “We didn’t have much of a choice during our time. One could either become a doctor or a lawyer. Today, students make informed decisions to enter the profession,” he reminisces. However, this increase in numbers is not necessarily a shine on the profession. Experts in the industry are unanimous when they say that graduates coming from various law schools in the country do not have the required skill set. There is a huge skill gap they say. “There is a huge disconnect between what students learn in a law school and the real world,” says Somasekhar Sundaresan, head Securities Law, J Sagar Associates. He lists the various gaps in the teaching methodology. “The course curriculum is not fact oriented. Students do not have practical knowledge, the application of facts which only practice can teach is missing.”  Sundaresan adds another reason for lack of quality in fresh graduates. “Students do not have access to lawyers who practice and hence do not understand the application of theory to real time,” he explains. Cyber expert Vijay Mukhi agrees with Sundaresan. “Our best lawyers do not spend enough time with law students, leaving the aspirants raw and with little knowledge about how to deal with litigation/ non litigation matters.” The reasons are not far to seek.  Law as career is lucrative only if one stands in the courtroom but, the remunerations are very low when it comes to academics. “If our teachers were compensated well, then this would not be the case. While our bright minds earn big bucks for a day’s appearance in the court, they get close to nothing for giving a lecture at a law school,” says Mukhi. Sundaresan has another point to make. He says, “Corporate firms offer a good pay package attracting quality lawyers. There are few who love the profession and want to mentor newcomers.”  While industry experts continue to debate on the visible skill gap, Sundaresan offers advice. “There needs to be a continuous industry academia exchange. Law schools need to stress on practical orientation of the course,” he says. Aspirants need to take up intensive internships in order to understand if he/ she is made for litigation/ non litigation career. Gupte explains, “For a career in litigation one needs to be a good orator, have command over language and most importantly be able to put his/ her point of view convincingly. Whereas for those pursuing non-litigation, a research oriented approach is important.” Law is not an easy profession; one must be up to date with not just the laws, amendments and various acts, but also keep a close eye on judgments that are passed. This means prospective lawyers need to be able to do continuous research and should have a good grasping power. Success solely depends on how many cases one has won. With a proper balance of theory, practical experience and continuous industry academia interactions the law aspirants might as well have a strong case. gaurirane.zee@gmail.com

Source:::: DNA, 07/08/2013, p.07. http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?pgNo=7&edcode=820009&eddate=2013-08-07

For the love of Law

Gauri Rane

Industry and academia may someday come at consensus on the curriculum and teaching methodology, but is one going to wait for that day? Considering students have an easy access to online medium of learning, it is obvious to cater to their needs through an online medium. As the programs offered address the learning and skills void, students and faculty alike are extremely receptive about taking a law course online. Such courses are gaining popularity as they can be taken anywhere, anytime and by anybody. The online module does not provide a law degree but provides students with knowledge and skills with respect to a particular subject.  Our students range from media professionals to CEOs, COOs, CFOs of large corporations and serving and retired IAS officers. They don’t have the time or inclination to go for a full time law degree and instead find the online programs a convenient and cost effective way of continuing their learning. A large percentage of our ‘students’ are non-lawyers who simply want to acquire expertise on a particular subject.  For e.g.: investment bankers are keen on taking our program on Mergers & Acquisition laws that can provide them with a strong foundation of the legal framework governing M&A transactions. Having said this, I do not believe that online learning will replace classroom learning. On the contrary, online learning will supplement and enhance the classroom learning experience. — As told to Gauri Rane Source:::: DNA, 07/08/2013, p.07. http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?pgNo=7&edcode=820009&eddate=2013-08-07