YK MYK BIDEN IMMIGRATION BILL SHOWS PROMISE ON SEVERAL FRONTS ‘YOU CAN'T BE CAUTIOUS AND STILL MOVE AHEAD IN CAREER’ OPINION SCREEN & CINEMA Morning India Rs. 5 RANCHI FRIDAY, 26 FEB, 2021 PG-12, YEAR—10, ISSUE—292 (RNI NO: JHAENG / 2012 / 44137) WEATHER TODAY MAX 31 C MIN 16 C Ignoring merit in Govt to hike pension of J'khand statehood agitators public job selection No hookah bar in public places, cigarettes to be sold only in packets SANJAY SAHAY Sky will be clear. AT A GLANCE UP LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL ON RELIGIOUS CONVERSION LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh legislature on Thursday passed a bill aimed at curbing religious conversions by fraudulent or any other undue means, including through marriage. The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2021, was passed in the Legislative Council by voice vote a day after it got the nod in the state Assembly. RANCHI: The State Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday approved 28 proposals covering varied subjects, including cigarette and tobacco act, MNREGA wage increment, and facilities to revolutionaries for separate Jharkhand state. A proposal for the reorganisation of Jharkhand Revolutionary Commission was passed in the meeting. It envisages an increase in the pension of the people who fought for a separate state. Under the provisions, those who spent less than three months in jail will get Rs 3500 per month instead of Rs 3000. The revolutionaries spending between three to six months will be given Rs 5000 per month and those who were imprisoned for more than six months will be provided Rs 7000 per month. The government would also provide jobs in III and IV grade posts to dependent of persons who died or passed away in jails. It would also give five percent reservation. The CM said that it is a matter of pride for our government to honour the revolutionaries who fought for the state. The MNREGA wages have also been increased, he added. Notably, the state government also gave consent to a scheme for increasing the minimum wages of MNREGA workers to Rs 225 per day. The Government of India was providing Rs 194 per day to the workers but the state government decided to increase the amount by making an additional contribution of Rs 32 from its fund. The state government would bear an additional expenditure of Rs 341 crore by the decision. It may be stated here that Jharkhand is the first state to enhance the wages to Rs 225. A proposal for Jharkhand Green Energy Cess was also passed in the meeting under which a cess of 15 paisa per unit would be charged on those using 33 KVA power and on captive power plants. The government also passed a proposal for providing free bicycles to the ST, SC, and minority students of class VIII. A proposal related to cigarette tobacco product advertisement act was also passed. It envisages no use of tobacco at public places. Smoking in public places would entail a CORONA METER INDIA TOTAL CASES: 1,10,47,440 TOTAL DEATH: 156,746 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 113,209,076 TOTAL DEATH: 2,510,969 A step for making the deputy development commissioner as the nodal officer for implementing the women and child development schemes in the districts was also passed. The cabinet also gave a nod to the proposal for payment of the non-practising allowance to Rajendra Institute of Medical Science doctors for the period between December 2012 and September 2014 in the wake of a court order. A scheme for segregating the civil aviation ministry from the road transport department and attaching it with the cabinet secretariat was also passed. Another proposal for transferring power of the Lokpal in municipality to the Lokayukta was also approved. Proposals regarding regularisation of daily wagers in jails and taking Rs 230.45 crore loan from NABARD for implementing 72 rural development schemes were also approved. Decks cleared for Nirav Modi’s extradition MALAYALI POET VISHNUNARAYANAN NAMBOOTHIRI PASSES AWAY T’PURAM: Renowned Malayali poet Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri passed away here on Thursday due to old-age ailments. He was 81. Namboothiri breathed his last at his residence in Thycaud. He was one of the most widely acclaimed poets and had won many awards. In 2014, he was honoured with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honours from the Government of India. PG 7 fine of Rs 1000 instead of Rs 200. Under the provision, there will be no permission to open hookah bar in area involving public places. Violation of the norms will lead to imprisonment ranging from one year to three years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The sale of cigarettes and tobacco will be banned within 100 metres radius of the schools, hospitals and courts. The cigarette would now be sold only in packets. A proposal to send a recommendation to the centre for the inclusion of chayn, kewat, mallah and nishad in the SC category was passed. The move to appoint an expert committee to study the impact of renovation works carried out by JUDCO on the Harmu river was approved. A scheme for the creation of five posts namely vicechancellor, registrar, examination controller finance officer and head of library for Jamshedpur Women's University was approved. INDIA BEAT ENGLAND IN 3RD TEST, TAKE 2-1 LEAD IN SERIES Washington Sundar and Virat Kohli celebrate the dismissal of England's James Anderson during the 2nd day of the 3rd Test Match at Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera in Ahmedabad on Thursday. PG 12 ANI NEW DELHI: In a major setback to fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, a UK court on Thursday ordered his extradition in connection with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case. The District Judge at the Westminster Magistrates' Court, Samuel Goozee, accepted the prima facie evidence against Modi for money laundering, saying: "Many of these are a matter for trial in India. I am satisfied again that there is evidence he could be convicted," according to reports. The development came after almost a two-year long legal battle. Expressing satisfaction over the detention condition and medical arrangements in India, the court said, "Conditions in Barack 12 (at the Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai) look far better than his current cell in London." The observations came after Nirav Modi's side had argued that he can't be extradited to India due to his worsening mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic and the poor conditions in the Indian prisons. violation of Constitution: SC NEW DELHI: Selections to public employment should be on the basis of merit and appointing people with lesser merit ignoring those who have secured more marks would be in violation of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has said. A Bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Indira Banerjee made the observation while upholding an order of Jharkhand High Court which allowed appointment of 43 persons for post of Police Sub-Inspectors on the basis of their merit after authorities prepared a revised select list correcting the irregularities. An advertisement was issued for the appointment to the posts of Police SubInspectors, Attendants (Sergeant) and Company Commanders by the Home Department of the Government of Jharkhand in 2008. The final result was published and 382 candidates were selected but later a High Level Committee was constituted by the state government to examine the irregularities in the selection process. Unsuccessful candidates filed petitions in the High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi. During the pendency of the petitions in the high court, the appointments of 42 candidates made on the basis of the original select list were cancelled. As many as 43 people were appointed on the basis of the revised select list that was prepared in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee headed by the Director General of Police, Jharkhand. The High Court had observed that 43 petitioners cannot be held responsible for the irregularities committed by the authorities in the matter of their selection and there is no allegation of fraud or misrepresentation on their A Bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Indira Banerjee made the observation while upholding an order of Jharkhand High Court which allowed appointment of 43 persons for post of Police SubInspectors on the basis of their merit after authorities prepared a revised select list correcting the irregularities. part. The top court rejected the plea filed by some intervenors saying that they have no right for appointment to posts beyond those advertised. “There is no doubt that selections to public employment should be on the basis of merit. Appointment of persons with lesser merit ignoring those who have secured more marks would be in violation of the Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India,” the Bench said in last week’s judgment. It said that relief granted to 43 petitioners is mainly on the ground that they have already been appointed and have served the State for some time and they cannot be punished for no fault of theirs. “The intervenors are not similarly situated to them and they cannot seek the same relief. The other ground taken by the intervenors in the petitions before us is that relief was denied to them only on the basis of a wrong statement made on behalf of the State Government that there were no vacancies. “No doubt, the intervenors have placed on record material to show that there was no shortage of vacancies for their appointment. One of the reasons given by the High Court for not granting relief to the intervenors is lack of vacancies. However, we are not inclined to direct appointment of the intervenors as selections pertain to an advertisement issued in 2008,” the Bench said. LOC AGREEMENTS India, Pak agree for strict observance NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan reviewed the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, and agreed for strict observance of all agreements, and understandings, Indian Army said on Thursday. A joint statement was issued in New Delhi and Islamabad. It stated that the Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan held discussions over the established mechanism of hotline contact. "The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere," the statement said. It further pointed out that in the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGMOs agreed to address each other's core issues and concerns which have the propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence. Both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the LoC and all other sectors with effect from midnight February 24 and February 25, 2021. "Both sides reiterated that existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings will be utilised to resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding," the statement said. On Wednesday, Indian Army Chief General M.M. Naravane, while speaking at a webinar organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation, said that there is definitely a great improvement in the internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He, however, stated that Pakistan-promoted terror still remains a threat. Indian Army Chief said that Pakistan is committed to the strategy of supporting terrorism in all its forms as terrorist launchpads continue to be operated and terrorists continue to be there on the other side of the LoC looking for an opportunity to cross over. General Naravane expressed confidence that with continued engagement with Pakistan, there could be some sort of an understand- ing because unsettled borders and violence on the borders help no one. "We always want peace and tranquility in our border areas, whether it be the western front or the northern front and the Line of Actual Control. Or whether it is on the Indo-Myanmar border, we are always looking for peace and tranquility and our role is to ensure that so as the rest of the nation can develop," he said. Talking about terrorism, General Naravane said the winter months are always a little bit of a lull period when the passes are closed and snowfall is heavy. Govt tightens rules for social media, OTT platforms NEW DELHI: Weeks after a spat with Twitter, the government on Thursday announced the tightening of rules governing social media and streaming companies, requiring them to take down contentious content quicker, appoint grievance redressal officers and assist investigations. The 'Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code', that IT and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said are designed to curb misuse of social media platforms, requires WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and other social media firms as well as streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video to appoint executives to coordinate with law enforcement, disclose the first originator of the mischievous information and remove, within 24 hours, content depicting nudity or morphed pictures of women. Any contentious content flagged by the government or legal order has to be taken down quickly. The guidelines require social media intermediaries to appoint a resident grievance officer, who shall register complaints in 24 hours, and file monthly compliance reports. User grievances have to be resolved within 15 days. Also, social media platforms on being asked by court or government will be required to disclose the first originator of the mischievous information that undermines the sovereignty of India, security of the state, or public order. The intermediary, however, will not be required to disclose the contents of any message. Beyond streaming and messaging, the code will also set guidelines for digital publishers of news and current affairs content, requiring them to disclose their ownership and other information. Releasing the guidelines, Prasad said the code was needed to make social media and OTT companies accountable for "misuse and abuse". Social media firms should be "more responsible and accountable," he said. The new guidelines follow the government's spat with Twitter over allegedly inflammatory tweets and hashtags supporting farmer protests, with the microblogging service initially refusing to comply with orders to take down about 1,500 such posts and accounts. Twitter complied after it was threatened with the penal action. Separately, an Amazon Prime Video original series 'Tandav' was ordered by authorities to be reedited following protests over its depiction of Hindu gods and goddesses. Freedom-of-speech activists and technology trade groups had previously criticised the draft version of the new rules, which replace a previous code from 2011, saying they would result in increased censorship and reduced user privacy. The new rules take effect immediately, though significant social-media providers (based on number of users) will get three months before they need to start complying. Prasad said concerns have been raised over the rampant abuse of social media platforms and the spread of fake news. "Social media companies are welcome to do business in India and empower Indians. We welcome criticism and dissent but it is important that users of social media are given a proper forum for the resolution of their grievances in a time-bound manner," he said. India is a large market for digital and social media companies and is witnessing strong growth on the back of booming smartphone sales and the availability of dirtcheap data. PM MODI TO INAUGURATE INDIA TOY FAIR TOMORROW NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate The India Toy Fair 2021 via videoconferencing on February 27, his office said in a statement on Thursday. The fair, which will conclude on March 2, aims to bring together all stakeholders including buyers, sellers, students, teachers, designers on a virtual platform to create sustainable linkages and encourage dialogue for the overall development of the toy industry, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in the statement. "Through this platform, the government and the industry shall come together to discuss how India can be made the next global hub for manufacturing and sourcing of toys by way of attracting investments in the sector and promoting exports," it stated. ALSO SEE PG 7