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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 6 April 2015

:: National ::

Kejriwal launches helpline to tackle graft

Taking on the Narendra Modi government, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the people of Delhi to register complaints against corrupt officials in three agencies reporting to the Union government — the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Delhi Development Authority and the Delhi Police — which have been removed from the jurisdiction of the Delhi government’s anti-corruption branch (ACB).
Mr. Kejriwal was addressing a gathering after launching his government’s anti-corruption helpline.
Soon after coming to power, the Modi government issued a notification on July 23, amending a 1993 notification, which fixed the jurisdiction of the ACB only “to the officers and employees of the Government of the National Capital of Delhi.”
The three agencies face allegations of corruption.
In a reference to the BJP, Mr. Kejriwal said the “party that spends Rs. 10,000 crore in its election campaign cannot punish the corrupt.”

CJI downplays Justice Kurian’s objection

Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu downplayed Justice Kurian Joseph’s objection to the holding of the Chief Justices conference on a Good Friday, saying it was an internal family issue to be settled within the four walls of the judiciary.
“I am the head of the family... if one member questions me, we will settle it ourselves,” the Chief Justice told the media on the sidelines of the Joint Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices here on Sunday. The Chief Justice expressed his misgivings about the controversy, calling it “unfortunate.”
Justice Kurian Joseph, in a phone interview, explained that his written objection to the Chief Justice was an expression of his anguish over the way “secularism is being tinkered with.”

Trial in criminal cases will be completed in 5 years: CJI

Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu said that the joint conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices had decided to complete criminal trials in five years.
“We have taken a decision to try our best that five year should be the maximum time to finish a case [at the district level]. My priority is that it should not go beyond two years. But please keep in mind the judge-population ratio and lack of infrastructure also,” he said during an interaction with the media.
There are 2.64 crore undecided cases in the subordinate courts and 42 lakh pending in the High Courts. Earlier in the inaugural session of the conference, the CJI said the current judge0population ratio of 1:61,865 was “unacceptable.”
On the delay in deciding the December 16 Delhi gang rape case, the CJI said the appeal filed by the four condemned men came to the apex court only last year. “There are already 23 death reference cases pending in the SC. It [Delhi case] would certainly be decided on priority, if the matter is mentioned before the court,” he said.
Chief Justice Dattu said the highest judiciary worked 24x7 during 190 working days, and spent court holidays writing judgments.
“It is not an easy-go life. Having 20 years experience as judge, I can say, we work 24x7,” he said.
Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said that almost 96 per cent of the subordinate courts had been computerised.

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:: International :

Kenyans unite to mourn the dead

Kenyans prayed for unity at the start of three days of national mourning for the 148 people murdered in a university massacre by Somali Islamists.
Flags flew at half mast after President Uhuru Kenyatta warned that people’s “justified anger” should not lead to “the victimisation of anyone, [as] this would only play into the hands of the terrorists”.
In Nairobi’s Anglican cathedral, every seat was packed for the Easter Sunday service.
They came in their hundreds, fearful of attacks but determined to honour the victims of one of Kenya’s worst ever massacres.
“On this Easter Sunday, we gather in our churches across Kenya in the shadow of great and terrible evil,” Kenyan Anglican Archbishop Eliud Wabukala said in an Easter message.
Top Muslim leader Hassan Ole Naado also offered his condolences. “Kenya is at war, and we must all stand together,” Mr. Naado, deputy head of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims said. He added that the organisation was helping to raise money for the funerals of those killed and medical costs of the scores wounded.
The attack on a university in the northeastern town of Garissa was Kenya’s deadliest since the 1998 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi.
As well as prayers for those who died, Church leaders looked to the future, saying that on a day celebrating Jesus Christ’s resurrection, Kenya can also hope to stand again. In defiance to threats issued by Shabab, people came out to remember the dead.
But some 200 family members of those who were killed could not attend the Easter service. Instead, they continued their long, grim wait outside Nairobi’s main mortuary, hoping to receive the remains of their loved ones or news of those unaccounted for.
Outside Chiromo mortuary in Nairobi, people were seated on plastic chairs, some reading newspapers and a few gently weeping. Others queued to access a room to look at pictures of the corpses.

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:: Business and Economy ::

Toulouse model planned for smart city project

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France later this week, Indian and French governments have spent some time identifying the possible city France could help develop as a smart city in India.
Part of Mr Modi’s 100 smart cities project, Puducherry, formerly a French colony is the obvious choice for the project, given that French is still an official language there, while Chandigarh, India’s newest city was built by French architect Le Corbusier, and is the other strong contender.
The plan for smart cities that was announced within weeks of his government being sworn in last May, is awaiting the Ministry of Urban Development’s “blueprint”.
Mr. Modi will begin his state visit in Paris, and after the ceremonial welcome, will meet with two sets of business groups from the infrastructure and defence sectors. He will be hosted at the National Assembly and meet political leaders before his bilateral meeting with President Hollande.
A plan for the two leaders to see the sights of Paris by a boat down the river Seine is still not confirmed, due to the possibility of rain, officials told.
After his visit to Toulouse, Mr Modi will fly to the town of Lille where he will pay respects to 9,000 Indian soldiers who died in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in the World War I.
Mr Modi will return to Paris and meet with the Indian community, before he heads to the Hannover Industrial fair to promote the government’s other pet project, “Make in India.

:: Sports ::

World TT Day

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has launched a promotional video on YouTube to mark the first-ever World Table Tennis Day to be observed on Monday( 6th April).
The video has already registered over than 22,000 viewers. The 88-second video highlights the growth of the sport in several parts of the world. The ITTF, has also posted the video on its website ( www.ittf.com ), along with the message “table tennis for everyone and every where”.
The ITTF (development programme) director Leandro Olvech has mailed all national federations highlighting the event.