22092022-TTC-01.qxd 9/22/2022 12:48 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 6 NO. 262 | 20 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 /thetribunechd ADB CUTS INDIA’S GDP GROWTH FORECAST TO 7% BUSINESS PRODUCE YASIN IN COURT IN RUBAIYA CASE, CBI TOLD J&K RUSSIA ‘SHAMELESSLY VIOLATED’ UN CHARTER, SAYS BIDEN WORLD thursday | 22 september 2022 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Why govt silent on hate speech, asks SC; questions role of TV news anchors Satya Prakash Tribune News Service NewDelhi, September 21 Amid growing incidents of hate speech, the Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the absence of an effective institutional mechanism to regulate the media and questioned the role of TV anchors in giving airtime to hatemongers. Wondering why the government stood as a “mute spectator” to hate speech, a Bench led by Justice KM Joseph asked it to spell out its stand on the recommendations made in the Law Commission’s 267th report (2017) to deal with the menace. “The role of the anchor is very important. Hate speech either takes place in mainstream television or it takes place in social media which is largely unregulated…. As far as mainstream television channels are concerned, they still hold sway,” it said. NEED A LEGAL FRAMEWORK Hate speech completely poisons the very fabric, it can’t be permitted. We should have a proper legal framework. If it is hate speech that we are feeding on, where is our nation headed to? Justice Joseph ❝ CONSTITUTION BENCH PROCEEDINGS TO BE LIVE-STREAMED ■ The Supreme Court has decided to live-stream all Constitution Bench proceedings from September 27 WHY ALLOW AIRTIME TO HATEMONGERS ■ Taken in a full court meeting The role of anchor is very critical because the chaired by the CJI, the decimoment you see somebody going into hate speech, it’s sion came almost four years after the top court decided in the duty of the anchor to immediately see that he favour of live-streaming, doesn’t allow that person to say anything further. SC Bench terming it “need of the hour” ■ There has to be “promptness” in such things, it had said, ceding to demands of live-streaming of important cases, particularly Constitution Bench matters ❝ “The role of anchor is very critical because the moment you see somebody going into hate speech, it’s the duty of the anchor to immediately see that he doesn’t allow that person to say anything further. Unfortunately, many a time when somebody wants to say something, he is muted. The person is not given proper time, he is not even treated courteously,” the Bench said. “Hate speech completely poisons the very fabric…. It PUTIN MOBILISES 3 LAKH RESERVISTS FOR UKRAINE WAR BACK PAGE can’t be permitted…. We should have a proper legal framework… unless we have a framework, people will continue (with hate speech) and the most important point is where is our nation headed if it is hate speech that we are feeding on, where is our nation headed to…,” Justice Joseph said. The Bench, which also included Justice Hrishikesh Roy, allowed states to file replies after it was told that only 14 of them had responded to the petitions. It asked senior counsel Sanjay Hegde to collate the responses and posted the matter for further hearing on November 23. While the print media is regulated by the Press Council of India constituted under a law enacted by Parliament, the TV news industry is largely self-regulated by the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) set up by the National Broadcasting and Digital Association (NBDA) and Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) set up by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF). The only government regulation for the TV industry is continued on page 11 No criminality found in Radia tapes: CBI to SC Tribune News Service PLEADS FOR CLOSURE NewDelhi, September 21 The Supreme Court was today informed by the CBI that no criminality has been found following a long-drawn investigation into the intercepted conversations of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia with some politicians, businessmen, mediapersons and others. The court on its part, however, directed the probe agency to file a status report on the matter. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the CBI, also told a three-judge Bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud that the petition filed by industrialist Ratan Tata seeking protection of the right to privacy in view of the emergence of the Radia tapes might be disposed of in the light of the right to privacy judgment of the apex court. “I must inform you that the CBI was directed by your lordship to investigate all these conversations. Four- Nov 16, 2009: Probe agency approaches DG of Income Tax for information on Niira Radia Nov 20, 2009: Information by IT Department hints at role of corporate players in DoT policies Nov 18, 2010: Telephonic conversation between Raja and Radia made public by media Nov 29, 2010:Ratan Tata files petition in SC on Niira Radia tapes Jan 24, 2011: SC issues notice to Centre on Niira Radia tapes Oct 19, 2013: Top court asks CBI to investigate 14 issues May 22, 2015: Niira Radia let off by CBI for ‘lack of evidence’ Sept 21, 2022: CBI informs SC that no criminality has been found, pleads for closure teen preliminary inquiries were registered and the report was placed before your lordships in a sealed cover. No criminality was found in those. Also, now there are phone-tapping guidelines in place,” Bhati said, adding that nothing remains in the continued on page 11 Wipro fires 300 employees for moonlighting Bengaluru, September 21 Wipro has sacked 300 employees for moonlighting as the IT services company toughened its stand against staffers taking a second job after work hours. Wipro chairman Rishad Premji, who has been a vocal critic of moonlighting, said the company had no place for any employee who chose to work directly with rivals while being on Wipro payrolls. Moonlighting is a “complete violation of integrity in its deepest form”, he said at an AIMA event. — PTI After Leicester, tension ‘Why rule me out,’ asks Digvijay as Gehlot meets Sonia Gandhi in UK’s Birmingham Rajasthan CM reluctant to resign | Says ‘one person, one post’ rule doesn’t apply to internal party poll Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service Tribune News Service NewDelhi, September 21 Even as the UK police continued its crackdown on violent protests in Leicester city, a “minor disorder” at a Hindu temple in Birmingham was reported during a protest against the scheduled visit of Sadhvi Rithambara, founder of Param Shakti Peeth, as a speaker. Though Rithambara’s programme was cancelled, the protesters still went ahead with fireworks and angry sloganeering. One man was arrested with the police assuming stop-andsearch powers. “We understand this (protest) is in relation to concerns around a speaker at the temple in Spon Lane, but we’re informed the event has been cancelled and this person is not staying in the UK,” tweeted the local Sandwell Police. Videos of Tuesday’s protest outside Durga Bhawan temple in the Smeth- Protest outside temple against visit of Sadhvi Rithambara; 1 held wick area of Birmingham showed the police trying to hold back a mob of about 100 masked men who were shouting and hurling items. “Following a protest gathering, there was some minor disorder and one person was arrested,” the West Midlands police said in a statement. The 18-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife remained in custody for questioning on Wednesday. “We had a pre-planned police presence near the temple in Spon Lane where fireworks and missiles were thrown towards some of our officers. Thankfully no one was injured,” the police said. Rithambara had tried to head for the UK after her continued on page 11 EDit: Leicester violence IN BRIEF Comedian Raju Srivastava passes away at 58 NEW DELHI: Popular comedian Raju Srivastava (58), who dabbled in movies, made a mark in stand-up comedy and later entered politics, died on Wednesday after more than 40 days in hospital. BACK PAGE ABG Shipyard founder held in bank fraud case NEW DELHI: The CBI on Wednesday arrested Rishi Kamlesh Agarwal, the founder of ABG Shipyard Limited, in connection with an alleged bank fraud of more than ~22,842 crore, officials said. INSIDE NIA announces ~10 lakh reward on Multani CHANDIGARH: The National Investigation Agency has announced a reward of ~10 lakh for leads on Germany-based terrorist Jaswinder Singh Multani, who is wanted in a Burail jail escape bid case. TNS Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot with Congress leader Pawan Bansal in New Delhi. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MR BHUI NewDelhi, September 21 The stage appears set for an election to the post of Congress chief with Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot today saying “he would do whatever the party asked him to do” even as senior leader Digvijay Singh hinted at joining the race. As Gehlot (71) arrived in Delhi and met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for over an hour at her residence, for- NEHRU, INDIRA, RAO HELD TWIN POSITIONS ■ Nothing in the Cong constitution bars a winner to continue as CM, says Madhusudan Mistry ■ Nehru, Indira Gandhi and PV Narasimha Rao have been PM & Congress chief mer minister Shashi Tharoor visited the AICC headquarters to check the voters’ list in another signal that he was finalising his nomina- tion papers for the election. While Gehlot versus Tharoor looks certain, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh today queered the pitch by asking “why rule him out of the race”, signalling a possible three-cornered contest. Gehlot, meanwhile, dug in his heels on the issue of staying the CM despite the party’s Udaipur ‘Nav Sankalp Declaration’ pledging ‘one continued on page 11 Guv withdraws assent for To plug leaks on VB raids, Haryana special Assembly session forms panels of 5 ‘witness’ officers Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 21 Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit today withdrew his assent to the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government to summon a special Assembly session on Thursday to bring a confidence motion. The Governor had last night given his approval for the one-day session, called by the ruling AAP to prove its majority in the House amid allegations that the BJP was trying to topple its government. A letter from the Governor’s office stated that the permission was withdrawn after legal opinion was sought following a representation from Opposition parties. The letter mentioned that Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and BJP state president and MLA Ashwani Sharma had Geetanjali Gayatri Bajwa, Khaira & Ashwani had moved Raj Bhavan BANWARILAL PUROHIT DEMOCRACY IN DANGER The Governor not allowing the Assembly to run raises a question mark on the democratic setup. Bhagwant Mann, PUNJAB CM approached the Raj Bhavan arguing that the House rules did not allow the convening of a special session “only to move a trust vote in favour of the state government”. continued on page 11 Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 21 With two or three Vigilance raids failing every month due to “leakage” of information, the Haryana Government has decided to plug it by making a panel of five gazetted officers available to the state Vigilance Bureau in every district to be a witness in the trap cases. A letter to this effect has been issued by the office of the Chief Secretary and Deputy Commissioners have been asked to submit their panels by Thursday. The letter states that “for the purpose of appointing independent witness for vigilance raids, every DC will create a panel of five suitable gazetted officers from different departments from which the SP Vigilance, may select , anyone as an independent witness for the raid”. TACKLING PROBLEMS ■ Earlier, the VB needed to approach the DC to appoint a gazetted officer for a raid ■ At times, the DC was busy holding meetings which delayed the raid ■ Sometimes, the DC would ask subordinates to depute a gazetted officer, hitting the operation’s secrecy ■ Some insisted on knowing whom VB was raiding without having that authority, compromising the raid The letter adds that this panel will be revised every three months by the DC. This will allow the SP Vigi, lance, to contact a gazetted officer directly rather than routing his requirement through the Deputy Commissioner, ensuring that the information of a raid is not leaked prior to it being carried out. Sources said that earlier, the Vigilance Bureau was required to approach the Deputy Commissioner to appoint a gazetted officer for a raid. “We faced several issues in doing so. At times, the DC was busy holding meetings which delayed the raids. On other occasions, they would even ask their subordinate officers to depute a gazetted officer to be a witness which hit the secrecy of the operation. Some of them would insist on knowing whom the Vigilance was raiding without having that authority. This, too, would compromise the raid,” an officer explained. However, with each district being directed to hand over a panel of five officers to the Vigilance Bureau, the SPs can proceed independently. Sources said that CM Manohar Lal Khattar was apprised of the difficulties continued on page 12 A hill being levelled in HP. FILE Hills cut illegally in Kangra, HP Chief Secy seeks report Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service Dharamsala, September 21 Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary RD Dhiman has sought a report from the national highways department and various state government offices over the illegal and unscientific cutting and levelling of hills by peo- CAUSE OF LANDSLIPS ■ Hills cut or levelled to build commercial establishments ■ No construction allowed within 24 m from national highway ■ For levelling a hill up to 25 feet high, Forest & PWD nod must Protest in LPU over student’s death In Patiala, norms batted out during T20I Phagwara, September 21 Days after a controversy rocked Chandigarh University, Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara turned into a fortress today following a massive protest by students last night after a 21-year-old pupil from Kerala allegedly died by suicide. Ajin S Dilip, a student of Continued on page 12 Aman Sood Tribune News Service People watch India vs Australia T20I match on a large TV screen put up in front of a liquor shop in Patiala on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Patiala, September 21 Throwing all rules to the wind, a liquor shop put up a huge TV screen in its open parking area late on Tuesday. It allegedly served liquor and snacks in the open to the tipplers who had parked their vehicles in the parking lot. Over 100 people were seen Liquor served to underaged; SSP marks probe SOME WERE SEEN CARRYING PISTOLS A few armed men, sitting near the screen, had placed their pistols on the table and were having liquor. So, we left the venue. A student ❝ openly consuming liquor, a majority of them being youngsters with many being Today’s issue is of 20 pages, including four-page Jalandhar Tribune. underage. As many underage youngsters were served liquor and the shop was open beyond the permissible time limit of midnight, the Excise and Police Departments have assured a probe. Some people were also seen carrying weapons. “A few armed men, sitting near the screen, had placed their pistols on the table and were having liquor. So, we left the venue,” said a student Continued on page 12 ple owning land along roads in Kangra. The action follows complaints by several residents, who have blamed the illegal cutting for massive landslides, particularly during the rainy season, along the national highways. The landslips have caused extensive damage to private and public properties in Dharamsala and its surrounding areas. One of the complainants, Gopal Puri, in a letter continued on page 11