News- SC upholds EC criteria on symbol allotment

SC upholds EC criteria on symbol issue

Permanent symbol would be granted only to political parties which have garnered at least 5% votes in assembly elections or have managed to win two assembly seats or one seat in the parliamentary elections from the state

New Delhi: In a majority verdict, the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the criteria of the Election Commission (EC) for granting symbols to unrecognised registered political parties, reports PTI

A three-judge bench comprising Justice Altamas Kabir, S S Nijjar and Jasti Chelameswar upheld the panel's symbol order by a two to one majority. Justice Chelameswar wrote the dissenting order against EC's symbol criteria.

The court passed the order on a batch of petitions filed by state political parties, challenging the symbol order of the EC.

According to the EC's order, permanent symbol is granted to those political parties which have garnered atleast five per cent votes inassembly elections or have managed to win two assembly seats or one seat in the parliamentary elections from the state.

Several parties including, the then Praja Rajyam Party, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam had approached the apex court in 2008 against the EC's decision to change their symbol from what was allotted to them previously.Bottom of from what was allotted to them previously.     

Online voting is not possible in the near future 

 - Chief Election Commissioner Dr.SY Quraishi 

Chief Election Commissioner Dr.SY Quraishi on Tuesday said he doesn't see online voting becoming a reality in near future while state funding of elections in the country will first require certain key reforms in the electoral process. "Voting online, technologically is child's play for us. We are an IT superpower. Let's accept that. But we do not see that happening in the near future," Quraishi said at a session on "Governance: The Key to a developed India" a function held at New Delhi

Politica Career for Indian Youth- Can’t accept all demands on Lokpal: Salman Khurshid

Can’t accept all demands on Lokpal: Salman Khurshid

Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid has said all demands of Anna Hazare on the Lokpal Bill could not be accepted as a lot of other people think differently. He told reporters on the sidelines of a conference, Electoral Reforms in India - The Role of Intellectuals in Bangalore on Friday.He said Anna Hazare had a role to perform and it was legitimate, but he had to decide the limit of his exercise. Asked whether the Lokpal Bill undermined the autonomy of the CBI, Khurshid said the Government and other investigation agencies, including the Lokpal, would not interfere in the probes conducted by the CBI.

Poll dates for FIVE States announced

Poll dates for FIVE States announced

The Election Commission has announced poll dates for five states- Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur. Briefing the reporters, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Qureshi said

Assembly polls in Punjab and Uttarakhand will be single phased on January 30.

Qureshi said Uttar Pradesh elections will be seven-phased from February 4th to February 28th.

Second phase polling in the state will be on February 8th, third phase on February 11th, fourth phase on February 15th, fifth phase on February 19th, sixth phase on February 23rd and seventh phase on February 28th.

He said that elections in Goa will take place on March 3rd and Manipur on January 28th.

Mr. Qureshi said counting of votes in all five states will take place on March 4th.

New Lokpal Bill to be introduced in Lok sabha tomorrow

New Lokpal Bill to be introduced in Lok sabha tomorrow

A new Lokpal Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday and the existing one will be withdrawn.

This was conveyed by government to main opposition BJP today along with the intention to have a three-day additional sitting of Parliament from December 27 to take up this crucial Bill. BJP gave its nod to this proposal.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee held a meeting on Wednesday with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, her counterpart in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and BJP leader L K Advani to discuss the issue.
According to sources, Mukherjee conveyed to the BJP that the Lokpal Bill passed by the Cabinet last night can be circulated to MPs only Wednesday evening.
He also said that the existing Lokpal Bill- introduced in the Monsoon Session of Parliament will be withdrawn in Lok Sabha on Thursday and the new Bill introduced.
Mukherjee said that in this scenario, there is little option but to extend the Winter Session by three more days and discuss the Lokpal Bill from 27th to 29th of this month.
The Business Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday evening to decide on the extension.
Reports say, Government is keen to ensure passage of Lokpal along with two crucial legislations- Judicial Accountability Bill and Whistleblower Protection Bill -- during the current session. But since only two days are left, it wants additional sitting after the Christmas break.

Group of Ministers Finalise the Draft Lokpal Bill

Group of Ministers Finalise the Draft Lokpal Bill

The Ministers group have finalised the draft of the Lok Pal bill. Union law Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters after a two and a half hour long meeting that the officials will prepare the final draft tonight. He added that the cabinet meeting scheduled later tonight may not take place. Mr. Khurshid said the government is clear on each point of the Lok Pal Bill and it is not working under any pressure.

He said that after the cabinet approval, the final call on the bill has to be taken by Parliament. He also said that it is also not necessary that the Parliament session will be extended.

The Meeting was attended by Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy apart from the Law Minister.

It is reported that the meeting also discussed the autonomy of the Central Bureau of Investigation. 

Our reporter quoting sources in Parliamentary Affairs Ministry said, that the government is open to bring group 'C' employees under the ambit of Lokpal.

The Cabinet had on Sunday held preliminary discussions on the bill expected to be tabled in the current session of Parliament.

The Government has already made it clear that it is open to other ideas that emanated at the all-party meeting convened by the Prime Minister, along with the incorporation of recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said that the cabinet will take up the Lokpal bill for discussion and approval Tuesday morning.

He expressed the hope that there is by and large a political consensus on the bill and the anti-graft bill will be passed by Parliament in the current session.

The Minister elaborated that he is hopeful that all parties will accept the draft prepared by the government after thorough discussions and recommendations by the Parliamentary Standing Committee.

News- Black Money in Polls: CEC seeks Public Help

Black Money in Polls: CEC seeks Public Help

Chief Election Commissioner S. Y. Quraishi sought people's participation in checking use of black money in elections. In his convocation address at the Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla on Monday, he said the Election Commission’s aim was to hold free and fair elections in a crime-free environment with full participation of voters.

Dr Quairshi said people should act as the watchdogs in checking use of black money in the polls. He said the Election Commission would soon come up with a Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation wing that rolls out comprehensive community outreach and multi-media campaigns to bring all citizens in to electoral participation.