Ms. Mayawati said that for the crushing season 2009-10, the
Government of India had fixed FRP at Rs. 129.86 paise per quintal on
the basis of 9.5 per cent of recovery. Till the crushing season 2008-09
the SMP was based on 9 per cent recovery. Thus, on the basis of 9 per
cent recovery, the FRP for 2009-10 was estimated at Rs. 123 per
quintal only, while the state government had announced SAP for
general category sugar cane at Rs. 165 per quintal and for sugar cane
of agaiti prajati it was fixed at Rs. 170 per quintal.

The Chief Minister also informed the Prime Minister that the state
government had been fixing SAP since the crushing season 1973-74
for ensuring remunerative prices to the cane growers of the state. She
said that the SMP of the sugar cane was fixed by the Government of
India keeping in view the prices of levy sugar and its quota from this
year had been fixed at 20 per cent. The Government of India got sugar
on the levy prices from the sugar mills for distributing sugar through
the PDS so that the weaker sections of the society got sugar at
cheaper rates. She said that denial of remunerative prices to the cane
growers for getting sugar from limited levy quota was not correct.
*******
Arrange land for Central Detective Training School at earliest
—Chief Minister

Arrange buildings for training of police
personnel appointed through new recruitments
—Mayawati

Review progress of naxal affected areas separately
—Chief Minister

Lucknow : October 29, 2009

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has directed the officers to
arrange land for Central Detective Training School, to be set up in Lucknow, at the
earliest. She directed the officers to provide land on the Lucknow-Kanpur road. The
school would impart training to the candidates so that the quality of the investigation
agencies could be improved further. Regarding the newly recruited police personnel,
she directed that the infrastructure and equipment necessary for the training of the new
candidates should be arranged beforehand. She said that those buildings which were
closed for certain reasons such as spinning mill, CDF premises of Aligarh and other
buildings available at the district level should be used for training purposes of these
candidates.

The Chief Secretary, on the directives of the Chief Minister, reviewed the law and
order with the heads of various departments of the police department at the Yojna
Bhawan today and informed her about the outcome of the meeting. The C.M. gave
these directives after that.

Ms. Mayawati directed the officers that the pace of the development works being
carried out in the naxal affected districts of the State should be accelerated and the
same should be reviewed continuously. Nominating Planning Department as the Nodal
Department, she directed that the officers of the Varanasi Division should be
summoned every two months and the development of the division should be reviewed
separately with them. She said that a large number of people got employment through
stone industry in the Sonebhadra district during the last one year and the State
Government had allocated separate funds for the development of naxal affected
districts. She directed the officers to post such sensitive and honest officers in the naxal
affected districts, who could ensure all round and uniform development of these areas.
She said that stringent action should be taken against erring officers.

Emphasising the need of the computerisation of the Police Department, the Chief
Minister nominated ADGP (Technical Services) as the Nodal Officer for the purchase,
repair of equipment and training. She said that it would be the responsibility of the
nominated ADGP to speed up this work, so that most of the works of the Police
Department could be computerised and its functioning could become transparent. She
directed the officers to ensure that the service rules of various units of police did not
affect the provision of the original service rules of police when they were finalised.
The Chief Minister directed that the appointing authority should himself monitor
the cases of the police personnel pending in the courts and their decisions as well. They
should also ensure that legal action was taken in various cases and the matter was also
disposed of. She further directed that the scheme prepared by the Police Headquarter
Allahabad for the current and future requirements of the police was implemented in a
phased manner.
*******
Directorate of Enforcement, Government of India seeks details
of economic fraud of crores of rupees involving Amar Singh

Amar Singh gave government contracts worth crores of
rupees to his industrialist friends, misused his post of
Chairman U.P.D.C. during previous Government

Lucknow : 29 October 2009

The Directorate of Enforcement, Government of India, after getting
the information of economic fraud of crores of rupees involving Samajwadi
Party Rajya Sabha M.P. Mr. Amar Singh, through its letter No.-PMLA/MISC/
LZO/2009/760, dated 27 October 2009 has sought the details from the
Economic Offence Wing (E.O.W.) in this regard. The details have been
forwarded to the Enforcement Directorate.

It may be recalled that Sri Shivakant Tripathi had lodged an F.I.R. on
15 October 2009 against Mr. Amar Singh and his associates under the
Crime No.-458/09, under section-420/467/471/120/BIPC and 7/8/9/10/13
(1)(C)-PC Act and 3/4 PML Act at the Babupurwa Police Station in Kanpur
Nagar. The F.I.R. mentions that Mr. Amar Singh and his associates
prepared coded documents, amassed money wrongfully while they were
public servant and forged income tax details. The Government directed the
E.O.W. to investigate the matter. The F.I.R. has following allegations prima
facie.

Mr. Amar Singh, during the regime of the previous government,
misused his post of Chairman U.P.D.C. and awarded Government contracts
worth crores of rupees to select industrialists and in lieu of his services Mr.
Singh got the commission delivered to such companies, which were either
directly or indirectly held by him. Such companies were also given
contracts.

Between the years 2004-07, Mr. Amar Singh ensured that these
companies got the contracts, even though they neither had any experience
nor had resources to complete these contracts. Mr. Amar Singh opened
several such companies with the assistance of economic experts, which had
mutual share holding. He also posted his associates/friends in the board of
directors of these companies.

After a huge cash inflow in these companies, they were merged with
two companies, viz.— Messrs. Sarvottam Caps Ltd. and Messrs. Pankaja
Arts and Credit Private Ltd.

It is worth mentioning that the share prices of those small companies
where money was deposited from outside and which were merged with the
two large companies, was artificially hiked for hundreds of times before the
merger. For example, it is also alleged that the total income of Messrs.
Shyam Dada Merchants Pvt. Ltd. for the year 2004-05 was Rs. 5.78 lakh
and its profits stood at Rs. 1250 only before its merger with Messrs.
Pankaja Arts and Credit Private Ltd. Still, the value of its shares, which was
Rs. 81.77 lakh, was evaluated at Rs. 12.46 crore at the time of merger.
Thus, while all small companies ceased to exist after merger, the
entire money deposited in them was transferred to the two companies held
by Mr. Amar Singh, his wife, friends and associates in a legal manner.
Considering the serious allegations mentioned in the F.I.R., several
new dimensions of the investigation have come to fore, which would be
investigated by EOW and other special agencies.

The EOW of the State Government has forwarded all the documents
of this case to the Directorate of Enforcement. Besides, the E.O.W. has also
referred the related points to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)
of the Ministry of Company Affairs and it has also requested to the
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to provide its report in this
regard to investigate whether the regulatory provisions were violated or
not and the share prices were also tampered or not. Moreover, the State
Government had also forwarded all the documents of this case to the
Revenue Department, which also includes Directorate of Enforcement,
Government of India and the Ministry of Company Affairs of the
Government of India as well.
******
C.M. expresses profound grief over railway accident at Mathura

Chief Secretary rushed to accident site on directives of C.M.
— Mayawati

Lucknow : 21 October 2009

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has expressed profound
grief over the railway accident in Mathura. She has also expressed deep
sympathies and condolences to the family members of deceased in the
accident. On getting the information of this accident, she directed the officers
of district administration to start relief and rescue works immediately. She
said that every medical facility should be made available in the hospitals to
the injured persons and arrangements should be made, so that family
members of the deceased could carry the bodies. She also directed the Chief
Secretary Mr. Atul Kumar Gupta to immediately rush to the site of railway
accident.

On the directives of the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary visited
accident site and became aware of relief and rescue works. He also visited the
District Hospital, Maheshwari Hospital and Methodist Hospital and directed the
doctors for the treatment of injured persons at war-footing. He said that 22
persons died so far besides, 13 injured who had been admitted to different
hospitals for the treatment. He said that three critically injured persons had
been admitted to the Agra Medical College and one person to Apollo Hospital
at Delhi. Arrangements for Ambulance had been made to carry injured
persons to Delhi.

The Chief Secretary said that the local district administration
immediately arrived at the site of accident and began rescue works. The local
administration, after determining the severity of the accident, called army for
assistance. He said that the family members of the deceased were being
provided all possible help to carry the bodies of their dear ones.

Mr. Gupta said that the travellers, local people and officers of the
railway appreciated the quick help extended by the local administration. He
said that the family members of those injured in the accident had been
informed. The railway was providing Rs. 5 lakh economic assistance each to
the family members of the deceased, while the seriously injured person were
being provided Rs. one lakh aid and those who received minor injuries were
being provided Rs. 10,000.

It may be recalled that the accident occurred this morning when Goa
Sampark Kranti express rammed into Mewar Express from rear near Mathura
Railway Station.
******
Police Smriti Diwas : C.M. pays homage to martyrs

Full care of families of martyrs will be taken
— Mayawati

Lucknow : 21 October 2009

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati paid warm tributes to police
personnel who laid down their lives while performing duties. She paid floral
tributes to the martyrs at a function organised at the police lines to mark the
‘Police Smriti Diwas’ here today. She called upon all the police officers and jawans
to work with new enthusiasm to achieve the target of ‘Sarvajan Hitai Sarvajan
Sukhai’ to set up example for others. She said that her government had taken full
care of the family members of the martyrs and it had also ensured welfare of
retired police personnel.

Addressing the function, the Chief Minister said that the police personnel,
who laid down their lives, had brought laurels to U.P. Government and police
department through their supreme sacrifice. Assuring the family members of the
martyrs, she said that the State Government had taken several steps for the
welfare of the dependents of the martyrs and it would continue to do so in future
as well.

Ms. Mayawati said that the U.P. Police had a different image all over the
country because of its efficacy. The achievements of the police jawans were
noteworthy in the drives launched against dacoit gangs, notorious criminals and
criminal elements during the past two and a half years. Few months ago, our
police team succeeded in gunning down notorious dacoit Ghanshyam Kewat in an
encounter in Chhitrakoot district, she reminded. He was carrying a cash award of
Rs. 50,000 on his head. The company commander late Beni Madhav Singh and
constable late Shamim Ali, who sacrificed their lives in this encounter, were given
Mukhya Mantri Utkrisht Sewa Police Padak this year posthumously by the U.P.
government on the occasion of Independence Day.

The Chief Minister said that the police personnel, who had performed their
duties with courage, were also given out of turn promotions and owing to it three
SIs were promoted as inspectors and three constables were elevated to the post of
head constables. She said that the dependents of the martyrs were provided
economic assistance through various funds and insurance schemes and their
pension cases were also being disposed of on priority basis. Besides, the
dependents of the police personnel who had laid down their lives while performing
duties, were also provided employment. Out of it, 29 dependents were appointed
as SIs in civil police, 219 dependents were given appointment as constables and
68 dependents were appointed as fourth class employees.

Ms. Mayawati said that as many as 49 police personnel were given ‘Utkrisht
Sewa Samman Chinh’ and 192 police personnel were given ‘Sarahniya Sewa
Samman Chinh’ so that such police personnel could be encouraged and their
morale got a boost. Besides, Rs. 72.40 lakh were distributed among the
dependents of 15 police personnel who had laid down their lives while performing
duties, while Rs. 18.25 lakh were provided to police personnel receiving injuries
while performing their duties.

The Chief Minister said that the present government was committed to
provide development oriented atmosphere free from injustice, crime, terror and
corruption for which priority had been given to establish the “rule of law by law”.
She directed the policemen to maintain such law and order situation, in which
criminals could fear and the poor, especially the people of weaker sections could
be ensured justice, only then we would fulfil the commitment to provide better law
and order to the people of the state.

Ms. Mayawati said that police had been directed to face criminals without
any fear and partiality adhering to law, owing to which it had become successful in
encountering and arresting criminals belonging to other states also. Besides,
directives had been issued to police to maintain law and order and take stringent
action against the criminals, however powerful they may be.
The Chief Minister said that with a view to strengthening the law and order
of the state, the norms had been re-fixed and sanction had been given to fill
2,04,021 posts of different categories. An impartial and transparent system had
been implemented for the promotion and recruitment on vacant posts in police
force for which Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board had been
constituted. This board had started the proceedings to recruit 35,000 police
constables.

Ms. Mayawati said that budgetary provision had been made to solve the
administrative problems, residential and non-residential needs of policemen.
Financial sanctions had been issued for the construction of residential and nonresidential
buildings costing 30 crore 83 lakh rupees and 26 crore 79 lakh rupees
respectively under modernisation scheme. An amount of Rs. 245 crore had been
sanctioned by the state government for modern equipments, weapons,
communication and anti-riot equipments, security and training equipments,
purchase of vehicles, computerisation of police stations for the modernisation of
police, she added.

On this occasion, DGP Mr. Karamveer Singh while paying his tributes to
martyrs said that 833 policemen had sacrificed their lives on duty, out of which
107 policemen belonged to Uttar Pradesh between the period of September 01,
2008 and August 31, 2009. During this period, among the martyrs of the U.P.
police were-group leader 01, sub inspector 17, S.I.(M.)01, ASI(M)03, head
constable 16, constables 65, fireman 2, constable(driver) 2.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister honoured the widows of martyr
policemen. The Cabinet Secretary Mr. Shashank Shekhar Singh, Chief Secretary
Mr. Atul Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary Home Kunwar Fateh Bahadur, Principal
Secretary to C.M. Mr. Netram, Media advisor Mr. Jameel Akhtar were present
besides, senior police and administrative officers.
******
C.M. writes letter to Mr. Kapil Sibal to withdraw condition
of scoring 80 per cent marks in intermediate to
qualify for IIT entrance examination
Central Government instead of removing
flaws in IIT entrance examination, playing
with future of students by imposing new conditions
— Mayawati

Central Government trying to keep poor students
out of IIT entrance examination under a well thought strategy
— Chief Minister

Policies should be formulated in interests of students
— Mayawati

Lucknow: October 20, 2009

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Ms. Mayawati has given
sharp reaction over the news item that appeared in a section of
press, which suggests that the Central Government was
considering imposing the condition that at least 80 per cent marks
would be required for appearing in the IIT entrance examination.
She wrote a letter to the Union Human Resource Development
Minister Mr. Kapil Sibal in this regard protesting the decision
sharply. Terming this decision of the Central Government as antistudent,
she said that this condition would put the future lakhs of
students in jeopardy. She said that such decisions could be taken
by a government, which is not concerned about the problems of
the common man and it was just watching the interests of people
of higher sections of the society.

Ms. Mayawati has requested Mr. Kapil Sibal to withdraw such
a decision immediately, besides suggesting that the interests of
the students should be paramount before formulating any policy
on education. She said that it was necessary because it was the
responsibility of the Education Department to watch the interests
of the students on one hand, while on the other it was also its
responsibility to produce such human resource, which could take
country forward. She said that the policies, which were antistudents,
should be resisted vehemently, because such policies
damaged country and students equally.

The Chief Minister, in her letter, raised the issue that it was
not the main question that the number of students obtaining 80
per cent marks was lesser in intermediate examination of U.P.
Board, instead the main question was that to whom the Central
Government was trying to benefit. She said that the pretence of a
large number of students appearing in the entrance examination of
IIT would not be acceptable for the implementation of this illogical
decision. She said that the examination system should be
improved in such away that the general student did not face any
difficulty in appearing in the entrance examination of IIT without
attending any coaching. Thereafter, the students could be selected
on the basis of their merit and in this way the problem of coaching
classes could be solved.

Ms. Mayawati said that it would be taken as myopic on the
part of the Central Government that instead of removing various
shortcomings existing in the examination system, it was
implementing such policies to break the tentacles of the coaching
classes, which were going to harm the students and the country.
Suggesting the Central Government not to take such a step, she
advised that it should also consult the students appearing in these
examinations and effect changes for improving IIT entrance
examination.

The Chief Minister said that this decision of the Central
Government would benefit to the students belonging to the
affluent class to a great extent, while the poor students would
suffer.
********
Supreme Court judges disclose assets

J. Venkatesan

New Delhi: Twenty-one judges of the Supreme Court, including Chief
Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan, have declared their assets, giving
details of movable and immovable property owned by them and their
spouses in the Supreme Court website. Justice B.N. Agrawal, who retired
last month, has also declared his assets on special request, while
Justice H.S. Bedi is yet to do so.

Monday’s declaration says it is in terms of the May 7, 1997
resolution and it is purely voluntary. At present, there is no law
governing the declaration of assets by judges.

The May 7, 1997 resolution says: “Resolved that every Judge should
make a declaration of all his/her assets in the form of real estate or
investment [held by him/her in his/her own name or in the name of
his/her spouse or any person dependent on him/her] within a reasonable
time of assuming office and in the case of sitting judges within a
reasonable time of adoption of this Resolution and thereafter whenever
any acquisition of a substantial nature is made, it shall be disclosed
within a reasonable time. The declaration so made should be to the
Chief Justice of the Court. The Chief Justice [should] make a similar
declaration for the purpose of the record. The declaration made by the
Judges or the Chief Justice, as the case may be, shall be
confidential.” What is confidential till now with the CJI has been made
public.

As per the details furnished by the CJI, he has a house at
Thrikkakara South village in Kanayanur taluk in Kerala; a two-bed room
residential flat costing Rs. 5.75 lakh and 15.840 cents of land in
Ernakulam, costing Rs. 4.33 lakh; a family property at Najeezhoor
Kaduthurty village, Vaikom taluk, costing Rs. 3.5 lakh; a residential
plot in Faridabad, costing Rs. 4.50 lakh; 20 sovereigns gold jewellery
and a Santro car; his wife Nirmala Balakrishnan has 68 cents of land at
Epakadu village in Mennachil taluk, Kottayam.

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: Among the 21 judges of the Supreme Court who have put
details of their assets on the court website, Justice Agrawal has no
house or flat in his name. His spouse Manjula Agrawal has a flat at
Indirapuram, on the outskirts of Delhi. It is valued at Rs. 43.54 lakh,
of which she contributed Rs. 21.77 lakh. He has investments in mutual
funds and securities to the tune of Rs. 2.40 lakh, Rs. 20.12 lakh in
PPF, and Rs. 8.71 lakh in GPF; a second-hand Maruti 800 purchased for
Rs. 1.58 lakh and Rs. 9.32 lakh in a savings bank account.

Justice R.V. Raveendran is a co-owner of a house at Basavangudi in
Bangalore. It measures 3,500 sqft. and is valued at Rs. 10.48 lakh; an
office unit, totally valued at Rs. 12.56 lakh including land, at Trade
Centre, Dickenson Road, Bangalore; a residential flat valued at Rs.
5.57 lakh in Bangalore; and vacant plots valued at Rs. 75,000 and Rs.
2,09,600. Besides fixed deposits in banks, he has shares in 57
companies including 772 shares in Reliance Industries Ltd; 783 shares
in Reliance Communication Ventures Ltd; 821 in Reliance Capital; 840 in
Reliance Energy and 783 in Reliance Natural Resources Ltd.

Justice Raveendran’s wife Vasanthi Raveendran has shares in 43
companies, including 5 Reliance companies. Though he has mentioned
about investment in fixed deposits, he has not given the amount of
investment. The note says “the fixed deposits amounts are savings from
rental income, dividends and interest accrued during the last two
decades.”

During the commencement of the hearing of the ‘Reliance gas dispute
case,’ he offered to recuse himself on the ground that he was holding
shares in Reliance companies. But he was persuaded to remain on the
Bench.

Justice Dalveer Bhandari seems to be the richest judge with assets
and income worth over Rs. 1 crore. Besides an ancestral house in
Jodhpur, Rajasthan (value not given), he has agricultural land valued
at Rs. 23,000; a flat in Delhi valued at Rs. 9.02 lakh and land in
Delhi valued at Rs. 2 lakh; a residential plot in Delhi valued at Rs.
7.67 lakh and investments including fixed deposits of Rs. 39,34,598,
PPF Rs. 27,70,780 and GPF Rs. 60,73,871, and shares in various
companies.

Justice S.H. Kapadia, who is likely to become the next Chief Justice
of India in May 2010, is a tenant-member in the Judges Housing Society
in Mumbai and has given the cost of construction as Rs. 20 lakh. He has
Rs. 20-lakh investment in shares; fixed deposits of Rs. 3.85 lakh; PPF
Rs. 12.50 lakh and jewellery, worth Rs. 1 lakh, received at the time of
marriage. Under the column ‘vehicles,’ he says ‘none.’

New Delhi: Eminent jurists on Monday welcomed the declaration of
assets by Chief Justice of India K. G. Balakrishnan and 20 Supreme
Court judges, saying it was a “good step, long-pending and overdue.”

“It is a good step. I welcome it,” said the former Attorney General Soli J. Sorabjee.

The former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan and noted Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan also welcomed the move.

Mr. Shanti Bhushan said he would give detailed reactions only after
going through the information provided by the judges on the website .

However, Mr. Prashant Bhushan, who has been at the forefront in
court battles regarding the declaration of assets by judges, was
forthcoming in his view and said “this is not enough” and that he would
still advocate for a law which makes the declaration mandatory and not
voluntary.

“Since it [declaration of assets] is voluntary, it is open for
judges to refuse. We still need a law to make this disclosure
compulsory that too on an affidavit, so that false disclosures become
punishable as in the case of an election candidate… The law should
encompass all public servants and not merely the judges. Even the
details regarding I-T returns and wealth tax returns should be given,”
Mr. Prashant Bhushan said. He summed up saying, “it is a good thing
which was long overdue. It is a welcome development.”

He said “more details of the assets needed to be given such as date,
place and price at the time of purchase of the properties.”

He also wanted the exact address of the purchased properties to be
provided as this would help in ascertaining the veracity of the
information. — PTI

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