SC suspends implementation of agri laws, sets up panel

SC suspends implementation of agri laws, sets up panel

Protesting Farmers Boycott Hearing; Some Others Support Laws

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:13.01.2021

Undeterred by the boycott of proceedings by protesting farmers’ unions, the Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended implementation of three contentious farm laws and set up a fourmember expert committee to examine the laws threadbare for determining which all provisions passed muster on the count of farmers’ welfare and give a report to the court in two months.

A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said, “We are suspending the implementation of the three farm laws - Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.”

It announced setting up of a four-member expert committee to hear all stakeholders including the government and determine “which provisions of the three farm laws required deletion” in the interest of farmers.

The committee comprises agricultural economist Pramod Kumar Joshi (Director of South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute), Anil Ghanwat (head of farmers’ outfit Shetkari Sangathan), another agricultural economist Ashok Gulati (who served as Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices) and Bhupinder Singh Mann, who heads Bhartiya Kisan Union and is chairman of an umbrella body, All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC).

The bench also ordered that “the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system in existence before the enactment of the farm laws shall be maintained until further orders. In addition, the farmers’ land holdings shall be protected, i.e., no farmer shall be dispossessed or deprived of his title as a result of any action taken under the farm laws”.

“This committee shall be provided a place as well as secretarial assistance at Delhi by the government. All expenses for the committee to hold sittings at Delhi or anywhere else shall be borne by the central government. The representatives of all the farmers’ bodies, whether they are holding a protest or not and whether they support or oppose the laws shall participate in the deliberations of the committee and put forth their view points. The committee shall, upon hearing the government as well as the representatives of the farmers’ bodies, and other stakeholders, submit a report before this court containing its recommendations. This shall be done within two months from the date of its first sitting,” the bench said.

The SC asked the committee to hold its first sitting before January 22 and expressed the hope that the agitating farmers would end their protests and go back to attend to their livelihood while awaiting the outcome of the committee report and the court’s decision.

“While we may not stifle a peaceful protest, we think that this extraordinary order of stay of implementation of the farm laws will be perceived as an achievement of the purpose of such protest at least for the present and will encourage the farmers’ bodies to convince their members to get back to their livelihood, both in order to protect their own lives and health and in order to protect the lives and properties of others,” the CJI-led bench said.

When some counsel said the composition of the committee should be acceptable to all, the CJI said, “We are not catering to everyone’s idea of what is a good committee. We will decide the composition of the committee to help us decide the issue.” “Before the committee, do not present arguments on legislative competence of Parliament to enact the laws. The committee will tell us about the ground reality and what the farmers want. We will decide the validity of the laws,” the bench said.

The protesting farmer unions counsel Dushyant Dave, Prashant Bhushan, Colin Gonsalves and H S Phoolka had on Monday welcomed the court’s proposal to stay implementation of the farm laws but sought time till Tuesday to report back to the court with their client’s instructions on two issues - their willingness to appear before the court-appointed committee and on their plan to hold a tractor rally on the Republic Day.

On Tuesday, however, all four did a vanishing act much to the chagrin of the SC. In their absence, it was chronic PIL litigant-cum-advocate M L Sharma who informed the bench that the farmers have refused to appear before the committee.

While appearing to be riled by the discourtesy shown by the senior advocates who did not think it fit even to convey the farmers’ decision to the court, the CJI-led bench said the absence of the quartet would not deter the court from setting up the panel it had proposed on Monday. “No power can stop us from forming the committee. All farmers who want to solve the problem arising from the farm laws would appear before the committee and express their grievances.” “When we suspend the implementation of a legislation, it cannot be an empty suspension,” the bench said.

No symptoms, no Covid test for college students: Guidelines

No symptoms, no Covid test for college students: Guidelines

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:13.01.2021

With colleges preparing to throw open campuses for all students regardless of year or semester, the government has said Covid-19 tests are no longer compulsory for pupils or staff who show no symptoms. This is a shift from the previous protocol where tests were mandatory.

The relaxation was among the new standard operating procedures (SOPs) announced by the government on Tuesday.

“There should be no more than 50% of students in each class. Those attending offline classes must compulsorily wear masks, carry sanitisers and bring water and food from home. These directions apply even to teaching and non-teaching staff,” the guidelines state.

Those with symptoms must compulsorily get a test done. Institutions have been asked to tie up with primary health centres for tests. Students who wish to attend regular classes must get parental permission. While students have the choice of attending online or regular classes, attendance is compulsory. Social distancing norms must be followed in classrooms. Colleges can conduct teaching, practical and project classes in shifts.

Libraries and canteens have also been allowed to reopen on the condition that all safety guidelines are followed.

Airline told to pay ₹18k to flyer for delaying check-in bag

CONSUMER IS KING

Airline told to pay ₹18k to flyer for delaying check-in bag

B’lurean Had To Wait For 6 Hours, Ended Up Missing Bus, Paying Taxi Fare To Reach Destination

Petlee.Peter@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:13.01.2021

A consumer court recently ordered commercial airline SpiceJet to pay over Rs 18,000 to a Bengalurean after it failed to load his check-in bag on his flight to  Delhi in 2019, upsetting his work plans. The verdict came after the passenger complained of deficiency in service and dereliction of duty.

Naveen BM, 37, from Hanumanthanagar, a skill trainer who travels extensively on work, landed at Delhi airport on the evening of May 2, 2019, in a SpiceJet flight from Bengaluru. But he realised his bag containing his clothes, medicines, food and work presentation papers hadn’t arrived.

Baggage not loaded on plane

He approached SpiceJet authorities at the airport, who informed him that his bag was not loaded on to the plane as it was oversized and would be transported in the next flight within an hour. However, Naveen had to wait for the next six hours, which resulted in him missing a bus to Solan, Himachal Pradesh, where he was scheduled to attend a meeting the following day.

The Bengalurean questioned the airline staff on the delay, but they simply had no reply. With the bag finally arriving around 1.30am, Naveen was forced to take a taxi to Solan in the early hours after shelling out Rs 2,101.

With SpiceJet not bothering to pay heed to his grievance, Naveen finally approached the Bangalore 1st additional district consumer disputes redressal commission in Shantinagar on February 12, 2020 with a complaint against the airline.

Naveen presented his case through his attorney, while SpiceJet remained ex parte despite notices. After a litigation of over 10 months, judges of the forum held SpiceJet responsible for the inconvenience and monetary loss caused to the customer by delaying his baggage, which forced him to miss his bus and pay taxi fare.

In its verdict pronounced on December 31, 2020, the forum ruled that SpiceJet must pay Naveen Rs 3,200 towards his taxi fare and bus ticket, Rs 5,000 towards his court expenses and an additional Rs 10,000 towards damages caused due to the ordeal, all within 30 days of the order.

Not given proper chance to be heard: SpiceJet

Responding to the case, a spokesperson from SpiceJet said the complainant’s notice was received during the Covid-19 lockdown and the forum pronounced its order ex parte without giving the airline a proper opportunity of being heard. The company has not received certified copy of the order from the forum till date. “We will examine the order upon its receipt and shall take necessary steps as per law,” the spokesperson said.

Vaccination countdown begins: Karnataka receives 6.5L doses

Vaccination countdown begins: Karnataka receives 6.5L doses

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:13.01.2021

Karnataka, which is waiting for 13.9 lakh doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, received 6.5 lakh doses on Tuesday when the first consignment arrived in Bengaluru. The second consignment, expected to arrive from Pune to Belagavi, is likely to have 50,000 to 1.5 lakh doses.

By January 16, when the vaccination drive kicks off, the state is likely to have 8 lakh doses and they can be administered to 4 lakh healthcare professionals. Two doses need to be administered 28 days apart.

The priority list will now be redrawn. Also, the drive may not begin on January 16 at all 235 vaccination session sites across the state.

“Now that the quantity of vaccines we received has been reduced by half, compared to what was earlier communicated, we have to redraw the plan. There may not be 235 vaccination sites as planned earlier and we’ll have to redraw the quantity to be distributed to districts and the beneficiary list too,” said Dr Arundhati Chandrashekar, mission director, National Health Mission, Karnataka.

1.2cr may get vax after frontline staff

Estimates by government agencies suggest 20% (about 1.2 crore) of Karnataka’s population is expected to be vaccinated against Covid-19, after early phases covering healthcare workers are completed, reports Chethan Kumar. P 4

Schools for others from January 15?

The education department in the state is holding talks with various experts on reopening schools for other classes starting on Jan 15. Primary and secondary education minister S Suresh Kumar said parents are requesting for early classes. P 6

‘More people will be vaccinated after May’

M ore people will be vaccinated after May as additional vaccines will be manufactured by then, health minister K Sudhakar said.

While chief minister BS Yediyurappa had said 5 lakh people would be vaccinated under the first two priority categories — healthcare workers and frontline workers together, 6.6 lakh health workers had registered till Monday. Tuesday was the last day for them to register.

Dr Chandrashekar said the consignment received is to be used for both first and second doses given to beneficiaries. With each healthcare worker getting two doses, the current stock is enough for not more than 4 lakh healthcare workers in the first phase. Over 6 lakh health workers have been identified.

Besides, it’s an accepted norm in immunisation drives that 10% of vaccines would be considered as wastage, say authorities. “When 0.5 ml is drawn from a vial to a syringe, it’s measured through eyes and it is possible that we miss out on 10 % of the drug as wastage this way. But that happens with all vaccines and it is an accepted phenomenon. During the transportation too, there could be chances of damage,” said Dr Rajani Nagesh Rao, deputy director, immunisation, health and family welfare department.

The distribution of vaccines to all 30 districts is yet to begin. The beneficiary list, doses to be sent to districts and number of vaccination sites in districts will be decided by the Centre and the authorities are waiting for its decision. Each dose contains 0.5ml and each vial contains 10doses. The first dose is to be administered within 10 days from January 16.

No CCTV surveillance

Though there is police security at the vaccine storage unit inside the health department premises at Ananda Rao Circle, there are no CCTV cameras. “They are likely to be set up in 2-3 days,” authorities said.

India’s biggest vaccine rollout begins as SII ships 55L doses

India’s biggest vaccine rollout begins as SII ships 55L doses

Covaxin Shots To Be Flown Today Morning

Joy Sengupta, Umesh Isalkar & Saurabh Sinha TNN

13.01.2021

May all be free from disease” — with this slogan printed on each box, the shipment of Serum Institute of India’s Covishield set out from Pune to other parts of India on Tuesday morning, kickstarting the biggest rollout of a vaccine in the country’s history.

Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, the four major regional depots for vaccines, received their quantum of Covishield doses within 10 hours since their dispatch began from the SII premises at 4.30am on Tuesday. Overall, 55 lakh of the total 1.1 crore doses were dispatched from the SII premises till 5pm on Tuesday, officials confirmed. “The transport exercise for the remaining doses will continue till Wednesday evening,” a senior SII official said.

Covaxin doses will reach Hyderabad airport early Wednesday morning after which they will be shipped to around11destinations across the country, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Patna, Lucknow and Jaipur, sources in Bharat Biotech and the aviation industry said.

SII CEO Adar Poonawala with the first of the shipments; landing at Ananda Rao circle in B’luru

Recipients won’t get to pick vax, govt hints

Recipients may not have the option to choose which vaccine they want to be inoculated with — Oxford-Astra-Zeneca’s Covishield or Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin — the government has indicated. P 12

On day 1, Pune airport flies 456 boxes of vaccine vials

Among the states that received the vaccine on Tuesday, Bengal topped the list with 10 lakh doses, followed by Karnataka (6.68 lakh doses), Bihar (5.49 lakh doses) and Tamil Nadu (5.36 lakh doses). As many as 9.63 lakh doses of Covishield will be shipped out from Pune to other parts of Maharashtra on Wednesday.

The Centre has placed orders to procure 1.1crore doses of Covishield and 55 lakh doses of Covaxin, which is being produced by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech. While Covishield is priced at Rs 200 per dose, the arrangement with Bharat Biotech is such that it is charging Rs 295 per dose for 38.5 lakh doses and providing the rest 16.5 lakh doses free of cost. “Hence, the cost of Covaxin is Rs 206 per dose,” Union health seceratry Rajesh Bhushan said.

Covaxin doses will reach Hyderabad airport early Wednesday morning after which they will be shipped to around 11 destinations across the country, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Patna, Lucknow and Jaipur, sources in Bharat Biotech and the aviation industry confirmed to TOI.

The first vaccine consignment of the country, comprising 2.64 lakh Covishield doses loaded in three trucks, arrived at Pune airport’s cargo handling and processing facility at 5.30am on Tuesday and was shipped out at 8.05 am on SpiceXpress flight SG8937.

Currently, SII is manufacturing 7 crore to 8 crore vaccine doses per month. Private players have been roped in for providing refrigerated trucks, vans and cold storage.

Sources at Pune airport said 456 boxes containing the vaccine vials and weighing 15,000kg were transported to different states in nine aircraft of different airlines. “GoAir was the second in line and flew to Chennai with 59 boxes of the vaccine. The flight left Pune airport at 8.45am and reached Chennai at 10.20am,” an airport official said.

Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted: “Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo and GoAir will operate nine flights from Pune with 56.5 lakh doses to Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Chandigarh.”

Rahul Gandhi to watch jallikattu on Jan 14 in Madurai

Rahul Gandhi to watch jallikattu on Jan 14 in Madurai

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.01.2021

Former Congress president and Lok Sabha member Rahul Gandhi will visit Tamil Nadu on January 14 when the state celebrates Pongal, the harvest festival. He will watch jallikattu (a traditional bull taming sport) at Avaniyapuram near Madurai.

“Rahul Gandhi is coming to Madurai on a one-day visit. Themed as “Rahul's Thamizh Vanakkam,” he will celebrate Pongal and watch jallikattu at Avaniyapuram,” Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K S Alagiri said in Chennai on Tuesday.

The party is planning several more visits of Rahul in the run up to the assembly election. “Rahul visited Tamil Nadu six timesduring thelastLok Sabha election. Later, for the assembly election, he will be visiting the state several more times. Starting with the western region, Rahul will visit south, north and the Delta districts,” Alagiri said.

He said the DMK-led alliance was a settled one with M K Stalin (DMK president) being the CM candidate. “Confusion still exists in the AIADMK alliance including about their CM candidate. Also, there are differences among leaders within the ruling party. We have already won the first round,” Alagiri said.

The TNCC president, however, sought to brush aside reports that the DMK wanted to contest maximum number of seats and spare only a limited number of seats to the allies.

“Leaders of every party, while addressing their cadre, will say such things to encourage them. When the seat sharing talks begin, each party will seek and get its share of seats based on its strength,” Alagiri said, while adding pressure could not be used in a stable alliance.

“Problems actually exist in the AIADMK alliance. It is not so in our alliance,” Alagiri said.

Starting with the western region, Rahul will visit south, north and the delta districts in the run-up to the assembly election, said TNCC president K S Alagiri

DVAC searches at Pudukottai home of tainted govt official

DVAC searches at Pudukottai home of tainted govt official

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.01.2021

A month after seizing property in Chennai worth₹2 crore from a TN environment department official, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) officials conducted searches at his residence in his native town in Pudukottai district over the past two days.

A senior DVAC official told TOI that “nothing incriminating” has been found so far during the searches of office superintendent S Pandian’s house in Thirumayam. However, sources said anti-corruption officials seized a few documents.

In December 2020, officials recovered ₹88,500 in unaccounted money from his office at Saidapet’s Panagal Maligai, where all senior environment department officials sit.

According to the DVAC, subsequent searches at Pandian’s Saligramam residence yielded ₹1.37 crore in cash and gold and diamond articles worth more than ₹1 crore. The agency also found 18 property documents worth several crores and fixed deposits. A disproportionate assets case was booked against Pandian, following which officials moved a special court for a warrant to search his Thirumayam house.

“The investigation will now focus on how he amassed this wealth and if he was a conduit for other officials,” a DVAC source said.

Sources said Pandian had held his post for many years and was influential as he put up all important files pertaining to grant of environmental clearances for all kinds of projects, including real estate and industrial ones. After the news broke, a group of activists, including former Madras HC judge Justice (retd) D Hariparanthaman, wrote to the DVAC congratulating it on its crackdown on Pandian and charged that he was responsible for disappearance of 15,000 acres of Ennore wetlands from the official coastal zone regulation maps.