Tag: asks

Parliamentary panel asks govt to define fake news, seeks response on fact checking

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New Delhi: A high-level Parliamentary panel has asked the government to broadly define the term “fake news” and has also sought its response on the need for various fact-checking units (FCUs) in the country.
Noting that “fake news” is becoming a disturbing trend in the country, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communication and Information Technology has disapproved of the government’s silence on the matter.
The comments from the panel have come just days after the government decided to extend the timeline for consultations of its plan to take down information which is marked as “fake” by the FCUs of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The extension came amid protests from all quarters against the move.
The Parliamentary panel’s observations have been made in its action taken report on “Ethical Standards in Media Coverage”, submitted in Parliament by the panel last week during the Budget session.
In the light of false or fake news becoming a disturbing trend in India, the committee has also sought to know from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, whether it intends to have such FCUs for countering misinformation in general.
The panel has also expressed its disappointment over the ministry’s silence on its earlier recommendation of using latest technologies like Artificial Intelligence, considering existing expertise in non-government agencies and to study the anti-fake news laws of countries like Australia, Malaysia and other democracies for developing some legal provisions.
It noted that “the ministry’s reply is silent on all these aspects and they submitted merely the statutory and institutional mechanisms for preventing spread of fake news existing for print media, TV channels and digital news publishers”.

However in the light of rapid spread of fake news due to latest technologies and its impact on the citizens, the committee has recommended that “there is always a scope for learning from the expertise of non-government organisations in the field and for studying anti-fake news laws of other countries so as to have some legal provisions for curbing fake news in the country”.
It has thus asked the Ministry to provide action taken in this direction along with the initiatives taken for utilising latest technologies such as Artificial Intelligence for intervening and checking fake news in near real time.
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#Parliamentary #panel #asks #govt #define #fake #news #seeks #response #fact #checking
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 16, 2023
Raj: SC asks govt to consider jailed couple’s request for IVF treatment to conceive child

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked Rajasthan authorities to “sympathetically” consider a couple’s parole request for undergoing medical treatment to conceive a child.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and J.K. Maheshwari said: “As regard to parole, liberty is granted to the petitioners to apply for the same. The concerned authorities are directed to consider such a request made by the petitioners sympathetically and as per their policy and grant parole to them if there is no legal impediment. Needful shall be done within two weeks from the date of submission of such an application.”
The couple is serving life term in an open jail in Rajasthan.
The bench noted that the issue that arises for consideration is whether the petitioners are entitled to be released on parole as the first petitioner is required to take medical treatment to conceive a child. She is stated to be 45 years old and her present husband – petitioner No.2 is around 40 years old, noted the bench.
“It is an open jail. Since petitioner No.1 is getting treatment from Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, the authorities are ready and willing to shift the petitioners to open jail at Udaipur. It goes without saying that if the petitioners pray for such transfer, appropriate orders shall be passed within two weeks,” noted the bench, in its order passed on February 10.
The couple had moved the apex court challenging the order passed in May last year by Rajasthan High Court, which dismissed their plea. The couple approached the high court seeking parole for having IVF (in virto fertilisation) treatment.
The high court, in its order, had noted that the woman already has two children from the previous marriage and petitioners entered into a wedlock while on parole.
Citing that the woman already has two children, the high court had observed that having a child through IVF cannot be considered as an emergent case for release on parole.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 14, 2023
Raj: SC asks govt to consider jailed couple’s request for IVF treatment to conceive child

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked Rajasthan authorities to “sympathetically” consider a couple’s parole request for undergoing medical treatment to conceive a child.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and J.K. Maheshwari said: “As regard to parole, liberty is granted to the petitioners to apply for the same. The concerned authorities are directed to consider such a request made by the petitioners sympathetically and as per their policy and grant parole to them if there is no legal impediment. Needful shall be done within two weeks from the date of submission of such an application.”
The couple is serving life term in an open jail in Rajasthan.
The bench noted that the issue that arises for consideration is whether the petitioners are entitled to be released on parole as the first petitioner is required to take medical treatment to conceive a child. She is stated to be 45 years old and her present husband – petitioner No.2 is around 40 years old, noted the bench.
“It is an open jail. Since petitioner No.1 is getting treatment from Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, the authorities are ready and willing to shift the petitioners to open jail at Udaipur. It goes without saying that if the petitioners pray for such transfer, appropriate orders shall be passed within two weeks,” noted the bench, in its order passed on February 10.
The couple had moved the apex court challenging the order passed in May last year by Rajasthan High Court, which dismissed their plea. The couple approached the high court seeking parole for having IVF (in virto fertilisation) treatment.
The high court, in its order, had noted that the woman already has two children from the previous marriage and petitioners entered into a wedlock while on parole.
Citing that the woman already has two children, the high court had observed that having a child through IVF cannot be considered as an emergent case for release on parole.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 14, 2023
Mahua Moitra asks if IT action on BBC will be followed by one on ‘Mr A’

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New Delhi: TMC MP Mahua Moitra on Tuesday asked if the “raids” on the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) offices would be followed by one on “Mr A” in an apparent dig at Adani Group chief Gautam Adani.
The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion, officials said.
“Since agencies doing these Valentine Day ‘Surveys’ how about @IncomeTaxIndia, @SEBI_India & @dir_ed conduct one on govt’s most valued sweetheart Mr. A?,” she said in a tweet tagging SEBI and the Enforcement Directorate.
The surprise action comes weeks after the broadcaster aired a two-part documentary, “India: The Modi Question”.
The action, it is learnt, was initiated by the director general of the Income Tax Department in Mumbai across three premises.
“Reports of Income Tax raid at BBC’s Delhi office. Wow, really? How unexpected. Meanwhile farsaan seva for Adani when he drops in for a chat with Chairman @SEBI_India office,” the TMC MP said in another tweet.
Reports of Income Tax raid at BBC’s Delhi office
Wow, really? How unexpected.
Meanwhile farsaan seva for Adani when he drops in for a chat with Chairman @SEBI_India office.
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) February 14, 2023
US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research, in a report, has alleged financial irregularities and stock manipulation in shares of Adani Group companies and the opposition has been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the issue. The Adani Group has dismissed the allegations as baseless.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 14, 2023
Why not JPC in Hindenburg Adani row, asks Congress after Centre response in SC

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New Delhi: In wake of the Centre telling the Supreme Court that the government has no objections on committee to probe the matter in wake of the Adani-Hindenburg Group episode, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday questioned the government on why it was not agreeing to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC).
“Today in Supreme Court Solicitor General said Govt has no objection to a commitee to examine the Hindenburg report on Adani. Then why the stubborn refusal to a JPC which will anyway be dominated by BJP & its allies? But will the proposed committee investigate Hindenburg or Adani?” he said.
Various opposition parties have been demanding a JPC to examine the whole issue as they alleged that many PSBs and LIC have lost money.
The Central government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that the existing structure, which includes the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and others agencies, are fully equipped to handle the situation which occurred after Hindenburg report on Adani group, and it would not oppose the court’s suggestion to constitute a committee to strengthen the existing regime.
It stressed that the court could permit it to suggest the remit of that committee with possible suggestions of names of the committee.
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#JPC #Hindenburg #Adani #row #asks #Congress #Centre #response

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 13, 2023
Sitharaman asks states to expedite formalities to seek GST compensation

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New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday came down heavily in Parliament on states complaining about delay in getting GST compensation, saying that rather than blaming the Centre for delay in facilitating the payment, they should ensure that the accountant general’s (AG) statements, which is the prerequisite for seeking the amount, are sent on time.
Replying to a series of questions on GST compensation raised by DMK’s A Raja and RSP’s N.K. Premachandran in Lok Sabha during Question Hour, Sitharaman said that the Kerala government has not sent the AG statements for five years, i.e. from 2017-18 to 2021-22.
“I am looking at my records and saying Kerala has not sent the AG’s certified statements for the GST compensation for the years 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22. I am sorry to be so precisely going by year after year and thereby taking the valuable time of the House. So, you have sent it not even for one year.
“Have you sent me the AG’s certified account even for one year for getting your compensation dues? Then, it is accused that the Centre is not releasing the funds in time. The certified authorised statement has reached not even for one year,” she said.
The Finance Minister told Premachandran to convey to Kerala government that it should send all the statements together at one go.
“On the receipt of that, we will clear it. You have not sent it for one year, and you keep blaming us that we are not giving you the money in time,” she said.
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#Sitharaman #asks #states #expedite #formalities #seek #GST #compensation

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 13, 2023
I&FC Deptt Asks Ganderbal Residents To Remove ‘Illegal’ Encroachment Along Waterbodies Within 7 Days

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SRINAGAR: Irrigation and Flood Control division in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district has asked residents to remove illegal encroachments along river banks and other water bodies within 7 days, failing which strict action would be taken against the encroachers.
According to a notice, a copy of which lies with the news agency KNO people who have encroached over the Irrigation and Flood control (I&FC) land in the district have been asked to remove encroachments within seven days.
“If any person fails to remove the encroachment, the department would swung into action and people have to pay the charges of the same,” it reads.
It reads strict action under the law would be taken against the people who fail to remove illegal encroachments.

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#IFC #Deptt #Asks #Ganderbal #Residents #Remove #Illegal #Encroachment #Waterbodies #Days
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 13, 2023
LS Secretariat asks Rahul to respond by Feb 15 to notices on remarks on PM Modi

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New Delhi: The Lok Sabha Secretariat has asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to respond by February 15 to notices given by BJP members regarding his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the House.
In a letter to Gandhi, dated February 10, the secretariat has asked him to furnish his reply on breach of privilege notices against him by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Pralhad Joshi — also the parliamentary affairs minister — by February 15 for the Lok Sabha speaker’s consideration.
Following Gandhi’s speech in Lok Sabha on the ‘Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address’ on Tuesday, in which he commented on the Hindenburg-Adani issue, Dubey and Joshi had moved the notices against him.
Both the BJP leaders in their notices to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla have alleged that Gandhi’s comments were baseless and that he made “contemptuous, unparliamentary and dishonourable” allegations.
Several remarks made by Gandhi were expunged by the speaker.
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#Secretariat #asks #Rahul #respond #Feb #notices #remarks #Modi

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 12, 2023
Telangana: Revanth asks SCCL employees to elect Congress

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Hyderabad: Telangana Congress chief A Revanth Reddy has urged employees of the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) to vote for Congress in regaining power so that their problems can be resolved.
He asked SCCL personnel and the general public to beg individuals who have been shouting from the rooftops that they have battled for and obtained a separate state for Telangana to stand down for a moment.
The Congress leader stated that once Congress takes power in the state, all of the problems that the SCCL employees were experiencing would be resolved. While on his Haath Se Haath Jodo Padayatra, he told SCCL employees in Yellendu Mandal in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district that the Congress was opposed to the privatisation of the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd.
Revanth stated that the state government was exploiting employees by outsourcing them rather than hiring them full-time. He recalled SCCL employees playing an important part in the foundation of Telangana state. “However, the BRS government had sacked 30,000 employees over a period of time,” he said.
The TPCC leader stated that Congress battled against SCCL privatisation in Parliament. He said that SCCL owed GENCO Rs 12,000 crore but was unable to pay even employee salaries.
Revanth argued that the primary issue with the SSCL was its current chairman and managing director, N Sridhar. He questioned how the government could keep a managing director who had a criminal record in that position.
He claimed that when Congress took office in 10 months, one of the first documents it would sign was a request for an investigation into SCCL’s irregularities and the imprisonment of those responsible. He insisted that the SCCL start underground mining in order to create jobs.

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#Telangana #Revanth #asks #SCCL #employees #elect #Congress
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 12, 2023
Delhi Assembly panel asks govt departments to fill vacant posts reserved for SCs/STs

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New Delhi: The Delhi Legislative Assembly Committee on Welfare of SCs/STs has asked all central and state government departments to fill vacant posts reserved for the communities on priority, a statement said on Saturday.
The committee chaired by AAP MLA Vishesh Ravi had earlier written to all the departments in Delhi to share the backlog of vacant SC/ST positions.
A probe into the matter revealed several ‘Group A’ posts could not be filled due to a delay by the Union Public Service Commission and many ‘Group B’ and ‘Group C’ posts were vacant due to delay on the part of the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board and state government departments.
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#Delhi #Assembly #panel #asks #govt #departments #fill #vacant #posts #reserved #SCsSTs
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 11, 2023