Delhi: Kejriwal asked Jung to choose between candidates
The Central government on Friday submitted a report to Delhi High Court saying that the Aam Aadmi Party government was inaccurate in claiming that state Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung had not consulted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal when appointing officiating Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin. The Union Home Ministry has further added that Jung had on May 13 taken a reasoned decision on Kejriwal's proposal to choose from between Gamlin and Parimal Rai for the position. The Home Ministry said that while Kejriwal had indicated his preference for Rai, the Lieutenant-Governor after due consideration approved Gamlin for the post.
Jammu and Kashmir: Forces capable of dealing with ISIS flags, expert says
Reacting to reports that flags of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militant group were being displayed in Srinagar, security expert Qamar Agha on Friday said that Indian security forces were capable of dealing with the situation. Agha claimed that Pakistan was behind the raising of the flags, saying that it was part of its strategy to "spread terror" in India. Islamic State and Lashkar-e-Taiba flags were reported to have been displayed in the Jama Masjid area of Srinagar a day after a Pakistani militant was caught alive in Udhampur.
Maharashtra: 30 FTII students asked to vacate hostels
The Film and Television Institute of India on Friday reportedly asked 30 students to vacate its campus, as the agitation seeking the removal of FTII Chairperson Gajendra Chauhan entered its 58th day.The Institute's management said that it had asked the students who had already completed their course to leave their hostel rooms. FTII Director Prashant Pathrabe said that he has also taken an administrative decision to discontinue the services of 82 contract employees.
Uttar Pradesh: Governor returns Lokayukta file
Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Friday returned the file on the appointment of a new state Lokayukta to the Akhilesh Yadav government for the second time. In a release, the Raj Bhawan said that Naik believed that proper procedure had not been followed in appointing the ombudsman. The Governor's office said that the government had failed to follow the Uttar Pradesh Lokayukt and Up-Lokayukt Act of 1975, which requires a panel comprising of the Chief Justice of the High Court, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Minister to decide on names for the post.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Friday returned the file on the appointment of a new state Lokayukta to the Akhilesh Yadav government for the second time. In a release, the Raj Bhawan said that Naik believed that proper procedure had not been followed in appointing the ombudsman. The Governor's office said that the government had failed to follow the Uttar Pradesh Lokayukt and Up-Lokayukt Act of 1975, which requires a panel comprising of the Chief Justice of the High Court, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Minister to decide on names for the post.
West Bengal: Supreme Court issues notice on state's plea
The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice on the West Bengal government's plea challenging the state High Court's verdict striking down the appointment of 24 parliamentary secretaries in the state. A bench of Chief Justice HL Dattu, Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Amitava Roy gave respondents Vishak Bhattacharya and others three weeks to respond to the state government's petition, following which the court said that it would hear the West Bengal government's plea in the matter. The petitioners had contended in the High Court that the total strength of the West Bengal council of ministers could not exceed 44 ministers. The petition further said that creating 24 parliamentary secretaries enjoying the rank of ministers took the number to 68, thus violating relevant constitutional provisions.
