Wednesday, April 25, 2012

ALLAHABAD BANK CELEBRATES 148th FOUNDATION DAY




Allahabad Bank, country’s oldest Joint Stock Bank, entered into its 148th year of existence when on 24th April, 2012 the Bank celebrated its Foundation Day through various befitting functions throughout the country.

In a spectacular celebration on the 148th Foundation Day held at Lalit Hotel in New Delhi, the 2525th Branch of Allahabad Bank and 100th Branch of New Delhi Zone was launched by Hon’ble Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee. Launching of 148 Ultra Small Branches  was announced by Hon’ble Minister of State, Government of India, Shri Namo Narayan Meena and Hon’ble Secretary, Dept. of Financial Services, Shri D K Mittal, IAS, launched IMPS (Inter Bank Mobile Payment Service), Rupay Card and Prepaid Card, new e-products of Allahabad Bank. In the function, ceremonial lamp was lit by Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon’ble Union Finance Minister, who in his address said that Allahabad Bank has a glorious tradition of being country’s oldest Bank with modern Technology and performing well in fulfilling the expectations of the Union Government, particularly in the field of implementation of poverty alleviation programmes including Financial Inclusion.  Shri Namo Narayan Meena, Hon’ble Minister of State, Union Government, said in his address that Allahabad Bank has shown marked improvement in all parameters and with the launching of Ultra Small Branches, Bank can now have access to the un-reached people for their upliftment. Shri D K Mittal, IAS, Hon’ble Secretary, Dept. of Financial Services expressed that with the introduction of IMPS (Inter Bank Mobile Payment Services) and other e-Products, Bank’s services will cover more people.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri J P Dua, the Chairman of Allahabad Bank recounted the glorious past of the Bank and described that with the progress of time the Bank adapted itself to the call of changing time to be transformed into one of the leading Public Sector Banks of the country. He said that the Bank is doing extremely well in all segments and crossed Rs. 272000 crores business mark in the last Financial Year. With 2525 branches already on the card and more to come up, Bank will perform better in future.

Shri M R Nayak, Executive Director of the Bank proposed the Vote of Thanks.

In its Head Office in Kolkata, 148th foundation day of the Bank was celebrated in a befitting manner with lighting of the Ceremonial Lamp at Head Office. The General Managers/ Officers / Staff members of the bank participated in the function.

SonaPapers unveils the new “Natural Evolution”


The finest paper from the stable of Cordenons, now available with enhanced features
New Delhi, April 25th, 2012: Sona Commercial Pvt. Ltd. (SCPL) today, unveiled the new “Natural Evolution”, swatch book by H.E. GiacomoSanfelice di Monteforte, Ambassador of Italy to India, and eminent photographer & photo journalist, Padamshri Mr. Raghu Rai, at an event organized in New Delhi.
Natural Evolution is a premium superfine paper produced from one of the most respected mills in the world, GruppoCordenons, SpA, Italy. In India, this paper is solely distributed and marketed by Sona Commercial Pvt Ltd., India’s first multisite FSC Certified Paper Company.
On this occasion Mr. Sanjay Suneja, Managing Director, SCPL, said:“It is a matter of great pride for us to bring this quality paper to India. We are proud of our association with Cordenons, a brand of great repute and synonymous with quality and luxury in paper all across the globe.” Further he shares “Natural Evolution is one of the flagship brand and most sold items from the house of sona.”
Also present on the occasion, Mr. Philippe Virey ofGruppoCordenonsSpA, Italy, commented “At Cordenons, we believe in innovation and quality, and that is what distinguishes us from the others. Today world over, we are proud to list some of the most prestigious luxury brands as regular users of this paper for their brochures, packaging or corporate communications, such as DOLCE & GABBANA, CARTIER, LOUIS VUITTON, HERMES, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, L’OCCITANE en Provence, BURBERRY’S, ROLEX” He continues “Gruppo Cordenons is proud of the collaboration with Sona for Indian sub-continent market.”
In India, NaturalEvolution is behind several prestigious jobs done on paper, like, Kingfisher’s Annual Calendar, Mercedes Corporate Brochure, Save the Tigers Campaign Calendar, ICC Word Cup Brochure, M F Hussain Coffee Table book, World famous Nobel prize winner RabindraNath Tagore’sChitravali,and many other prominent jobs of Designer JJ Valaya, Citi Bank, Cairn India, DLF, Unitech to name a few.
Since the introduction of this paper in the Indian market, it has made its own niche and is synonymous with fine paper. Natural Evolution is today the first preference by designers, printers and corporates because of its unique feel, texture quality and high printability. Natural Evolution is ideal for Greeting cards, Invitations, Catalogues, Calendars, Covers, Editions, Trade collaterals, Packaging, Annual reports, Monographs, Display boxes and others.
The new Natural Evolution is now available in India in wider variety and with enhanced coating, which is a result of years of innovation and R & D by Cordenons. Natural Evolution has been geared up for the next generation, reinforcing its top values, such as tremendous bulk, best printability, outcasting texture, top creasing perfomance.
About SCPL :Sona Commercial Pvt Ltd is the market leader deals into fine paper, recycled paper and dry grey boards, with an annual turnover of 150 cr. Established in 1966, Sona has been the name of high repute for introducing new and innovative range of specialty papers to its customer. Sona is sole distributor and has exclusive marketing rights of world’s finest paper in India & overseas market, in association with world’s leading paper mills likeGruppoCordenonssuper premium fine papers from Italy, Lenzing100% recycled paper from Austria, Montblanc bulk fine paper from Hansol, Korea & Won Wong grey dry board from Korea.
About Cordenons: GruppoCordenons, owned and managedby the Gilberti family for four generations, is the  Italian excellence in the manufacture of fine and technical paper, offering over 2,500 specialized products, for target and for application, to the international market, through a commercial presence in more than 80 countries in the world.
Gruppo Cordenons core business is only the highest quality of Fine Papers, and always devoting substantial resources to research and development of innovative and original paper in order to give an immediate response to client requirements, while keeping up with present trends, the company maintains an excellent quality of technological content and creativity. Besides the most advanced technologies, the company vocation for creating precious paper evoking the handmade paper elegance and charm remains intact for more than 400 years. The company has an annual capacity of producing 40,000 tons, with a consolidated turnover of more than 80 million Euros.
Gruppo Cordenons is also one of the most ancient and loyal supplier to the Godrej Industries for more than 20 years.


Dedicates New Age Cure For Malaria to the Nation, on World Malaria Day
Gurgaon, India, April 25, 2012: Opening a new chapter in the history of Research & Development in India,Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (Ranbaxy) today launched India’s first new drug, SynriamTM, for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, in adults.
At a function held in New Delhi, Mr. GhulamNabi Azad, Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India and Mr. VilasraoDeshmukh, Hon’ble Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, unveiled India’s first new drug SynriamTMwith Ranbaxy dedicating the New Age Cure for Malaria to the Nation, on World Malaria Day.
The new drug, has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for marketing in India and conforms to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) for using combination therapy in malaria. SynriamTM provides quick relief from most malaria-related symptoms, including fever, and has a high cure rate of over 95 per cent.
Phase III clinical trials for the drug conducted in India, Bangladesh and Thailand successfully demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of SynriamTM as comparable to the combination of artemether and lumefantrine.
The dosage regimen is simple as the patient is required to take just one tablet per day, for three days, compared to other medicines where two to four tablets are required to be taken, twice daily, for three or more days. This makes SynriamTM a convenient option, leading to better compliance. The drug is also independent of dietary restrictions for fatty foods or milk, as is the case with older anti-malarial therapies. Since SynriamTM has a synthetic source, unlike artemisinin-based drugs, production can be scaled up whenever required and a consistent supply can be maintained at a low cost.
Felicitating the scientific team from Ranbaxy, Dr. Tsutomu Une, Chairman, Ranbaxy, said, “I applaud all our scientists who have worked incessantly over 8 years and with great diligence to successfully develop a new drug. This is a tribute to the indomitable spirit of the Indian scientific community. The drug fills a vital therapy gap not only in India but also worldwide. We will make all possible efforts to make SynriamTM accessible to the world.”
Arun Sawhney, CEO and Managing Director, Ranbaxy said, “It is indeed gratifying to see that Ranbaxy’s scientists have been able to gift our great nation its first new drug, to treat malaria, a disease endemic to our part of the world. SynriamTM will certainly become the preferred option in the hands of doctors to fight malaria, which every year claims more than half a million lives globally.”
“This is a historic day for science and technology in India as well as for the pharmaceutical industry in the country. Today, India joins the elite and exclusive club of nations of the world that have demonstrated the capability of developing a new drug.” added Mr. Sawhney.
Heralding the arrival of the new drug,Dr. Sudershan Arora, President-R&D, Ranbaxy, said. "The new drug, which will be marketed first in India, is developed as a fixed dose combination consisting of arterolane maleate 150 mg and piperaquine phosphate 750 mg drug, in line with WHO recommendations. It is among the best options available today. I applaud the success of R&D at Ranbaxy in the creation of this New Age Cure for Malaria and am sure that innovative drug products will continue to be developed at Ranbaxy-R&D labs, even in the future."
Ranbaxy is also working to make this new treatment available in African, Asian and South American markets where Malaria is rampant. SynriamTM trials are ongoing for Plasmodium vivax malaria and a paediatric formulation.
Traditional drugs are proving ineffective against the deadly malarial parasite because it has progressively acquired marked resistance to available drugs. Availability of plant based Artemesinin, a primary ingredient in established anti-malarial therapies is finite and unreliable. This leads to price fluctuations and supply constraints. Most of the existing therapies have a high pill burden that increases the possibility of missing a dose. There was a critical need for a new anti-malaria drug that would address these challenges. Ranbaxy embarked upon this development project with the aim of coming up with a new anti-malarial drug that would be highly effective as well as address the issues associated with the most commonly used therapies.  
Malaria Disease Burden
Malaria remains one of the deadliest diseases affecting humanity and a major global public health challenge. India accounts for over 75 per cent of the 2.5 million reported cases of malaria in South East Asia. More than two-thirds of the Indian population lives in the malaria-affected parts of the country. According to WHO*, 15,000 people die annually due to malaria in India whereas Lancet#, one of the world’s leading medical Journals, points out that 205,000 people die of malaria annually in India. In India around 117 districts are Chloroquine resistant. SynriamTM  has been shown to be effective in these geographical regions also.
What causes Malaria
Malaria spreads through the bite of the infected female anopheles mosquito. There are four types of malarial parasites, of which Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivaxare the most common. Plasmodium falciparum accounts for about 90 per cent of the deaths caused due to malaria.
About Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited
Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, India's largest pharmaceutical company, is an integrated, research based, international pharmaceutical company producing a wide range of quality, affordable generic medicines, trusted by healthcare professionals and patients across geographies. Ranbaxy’s continued focus on R&D has resulted in several approvals, in developed and emerging markets many of which incorporate proprietary Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) and technologies, developed at its own labs. The company has further strengthened its focus on generics research and is increasingly working on more complex and specialty areas. Ranbaxy serves its customers in over 125 countries and has an expanding international portfolio of affiliates, joint ventures and alliances, ground operations in 43 countries and manufacturing operations in 8 countries. Ranbaxy is a member of the Daiichi Sankyo Group. Through strategic in-licensing opportunities and its hybrid business model with Daiichi Sankyo, a leading global pharma innovator headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Ranbaxy is introducing many innovator products in markets around the world, where it has a strong presence. This is in line with the company’s commitment to increase penetration and improve access to medicines, across the globe. For more information, please visit www.ranbaxy.com
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Dear N K Sagar,

Vol. 8 Week 17 | 25 April 2012    
HIGHLIGHT



Upcoming briefing in Hong Kong: The Business Perspective: Serving Our Elderly in 2 May 2012

In this CSR briefing, we will provide an overview of the ageing population in Hong Kong. There will be examples of how serving the elderly has become part of business’ strategic community investment. We will discuss how and why the community investment programme was developed, its impact for the community and business, and highlight the challenges that a business faces when developing their community investment programme.

Check out more details here.


Business Strategy and Social Responsibility

Still open for last minute registration: The next module of the Professional Master’s in CSR, which can also be taken as a ‘stand-alone’ course, will be delivered in Bangkok from Friday 27th to Monday 30th April, 2012. The module will examine strategies to demonstrate how CSR can be an agent for change and discuss available frameworks, standards and guidelines. It will provide participants with professional competencies to develop meaningful CSR strategies and enhance business reputation, brand and trust through a strategic approach to sustainability and CSR. Participants will also gain skills to manage a sustainability reporting process and develop comprehensive stakeholder communications as a valuable tool in responding to increasingly sophisticated stakeholder scrutiny.

Interested applicants can visit www.csrcenter.ait.asia or email csrcenter@ait.asia for further details.



ARTICLES


Responsible and inclusive investment in Myanmar?

This week saw the European Union suspend most sanctions against Myanmar for a year in recognition of historic changes. The EU had imposed measures against individuals and companies from Myanmar and also withheld some aid money ... Read more


World development indicators and your CSR agenda

The World Bank recently released its free-of-charge 2012 edition of World Development Indicators (WDI). This includes updated data on global development, the quality of people’s lives, the environment, the economy, and the functioning of ... Read more


Fewer awards – stronger sustainability disclosure?

Winning sustainability awards is part of many companies’ KPIs. As always at this time of year, we are therefore receiving many enquiries from companies on submission deadlines for the various corporate sustainability awards in 2012 ... Read more


Toxic medicine, supply chains and product responsibility

When taking a drug actually makes you sicker that you otherwise might be, then pharmaceutical companies have a problem on their hands. Last week, a report on “The Secrets in Medicine Capsules” was broadcasted through China Central ... Read more



NEWS

A series of anti-shark's fin campaigns by various groups are taking place island wide over the next few months with a common goal ...

Read more

On February 2, 2012, Mitsubishi Estate Co., a major Japanese real estate company, announced the completion of its Marunouchi ...

Read more


Briefing - "The Business Perspective: Serving Our Elderly" May 2, 2012
Hong Kong

Training - "Investing for Impact: Tools and Approaches for Community Investment"
May 29, 2012
Hong Kong

Training - "Reporting and Communications "
June 5, 2012
Singapore

CSR Asia Summit 2012
September 18-19, 2012
Beijing











Published by:

Disclaimer:
Opinions reflected in the articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of CSR Asia.

Copyright © 2011, CSR Asia. All rights reserved

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“WASH in All Schools:

 

South Asia Regional Conference on “WASH in All Schools:

on April 25, 2012 “Wash in all Schools: Making it a Reality”
A four -day workshop is being organized from April 24 – 27, 2012, in Delhi. The conference inaugurated by Shri. Jairam Ramesh, Rural Development Minister  on April 25. The conference will bring together WASH-in-Schools practitioners from all the SARCC countries in South Asia, to discuss issues on WASH, create awareness and understanding of key approaches and lessons learnt. Using case studies from the field and ongoing research, participants will discuss how to most efficiently and effectively improve the use of safe and sustainable drinking water, clean sanitation facilities and hygiene in schools, while addressing the specific needs of children from all social and economic groups.School water supply, sanitation and hygiene education have a profound impact on the learning and health of children, especially for girls. It is directly related not only to physical, mental and social health, but ultimately to economic and political development.

 Despite progress in recent years resulting from the efforts of many stakeholders, including governments, development agencies and communities, too many schools still remain without safe drinking water, appropriate sanitation facilities and the hygiene education. Girls remain particularly vulnerable to dropping out of school partly because many are reluctant to continue their schooling when toilet and washing facilities are either not safe or not available at all.
 Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister for Rural Development created a collaborative attempt to provide a roadmap for creating a new culture of consciousness and promoting WASH in Schools as a critical component of institutional framework of schools. It provides an ideal platform for exchange of global and national perspectives of WASH in Schools and a stock-taking of the South Asia region, highlighting the growth, gains and gaps in these countries.
David McLoughlin UNICEF India Representative a.i., said this workshop comes at a crucial moment with the recent ruling of the Supreme Court of India to all State governments to provide water and toilet facilities in all schools. Also the Right to Education Act, 2010 demonstrates the strong commitment towards WASH in Schools to enable a clean and healthy learning environment for the children.
With the passing of the Right to Education Act (RTE) Act in 2009 and the recent Supreme Court Orderto all states to provide safe drinking water and separate toilet facilities for girls in all schools, India provides a very relevant context to understand the importance of WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) in Schools. The RTE provides the legal framework for quality education in India, and mandates minimum norms and standards of school WASH infrastructure.

Dr. Swamy's arguments in SC (April 24, 2012)

PC as accused in 2G, Question of Law: Dr. Swamy's arguments in SC (April 24, 2012)

I. QUESTION OF LAW
    
1. I may begin by reading two paragraphs of the impugned Order [at SLP Vol. I p. 63 at para 66 r/w paras 69-70 at p. 65 ].
2. Thus, the Learned Special Judge accepted my allegations as prima facie valid. These two allegations I made u/s 311 Cr. PC.
 
3. I submit that these two allegations find support in the judgment of this Hon’ble Court [(2012) 1 SCC 1] wherein it was held that spectrum “was “virtually gifted away” [para 91. P.58] since the spectrum licence price determined was at a “throw away price”. 
4. TRAI’s calculations and recent reserve price for public auction of 2G spectrum also support the first allegation of under pricing of spectrum. The total revenue estimated by TRAI as a consequence of proposed auctioning is now estimated at Rs. 70 lakh crores, and for much less spectrum against Rs. 15,000 crores earlier for 6.2 Mhz spectrum. 
5. Mr. Chidambaram as Finance Minister was bound by oath of office especially to safeguard government finances and he could have easily prevented Mr. Raja from going ahead with his plan, by invoking the Transaction of Business Rules No. 7(L) framed under Article 77 of the Constitution [Vol III, p.5-7 at 7]. But he did not. CAG disappointed
6. The prima facie conclusion therefore, based on the memos of three meetings of Mr. Chidambaram with Mr. Raja and twice together with the PM, two written communications of Mr. Chidambaram with the PM and with Raja,  and five memos prepared by MoF officials, is that Mr. Chidambaram deliberately chose not to safeguard the nation’s financial resources or defend the public interest, thereby caused a huge loss of revenue foregone.
7. Mr. Chidambaram by coming to an agreement with A. Raja to permit the acquisition, enabled Swan and Unitech to enrich themselves by selling equity even before roll out to two black-listed foreign companies, who thereby became beneficiary of defacto spectrum transfer [Vol III p.4]. 
8. By Competition Act Section 2 it was an acquisition and by Etisalat website it was a formation of a joint venture [Vol III p. 31] in which Swan now sold to Etisalat DB which became a junior partner.
9. This was violative of its Aug 28, 2007 Recommendation [No. 6.31(iv), which states: “ Any proposal for merger and acquisition shall not be entertained till roll out obligations are met”] and hence this violation is ultra vires the TRAI Act (1997) [Section 11(1) Fifth Proviso]. 
10. It be recalled that on October 17, 2007, the DoT had accepted the TRAI Report in toto. The dilution amendment on April 22, 2008 is a reckless disregard of the TRAI Act. 
11. The share dilution proposal was later cleared by the FIPB of which Mr. Chidambaram as FM was the ex-officio Chairman.
12. It was therefore neither legal, nor in the public interest or even I allege in the interest of national security.[Vol III p. 13-17 at p.15. and p. 28]. The main document is at p. 21-27 with IB Note 19-21]. 
13. That this meant pecuniary gain especially for Swan and Unitech is implied in this Hon’ble Court’s judgment [para 91, p. 58, op.cit.,] that “ some of the beneficiaries” of this licence allotment soon after and even before roll out of services, “offloaded their stakes to others in the name of transfer of equity or infusion of fresh capital by foreign companies, and thereby made huge profits” 
14. Had auction been done, this Hon’ble Court therefore observed, “the nation would have been enriched by many thousand crores”[Ibid].
15. According to yesterday’s TRAI’s calculation, Rs. 7 lakh crores, not just some thousand of crores.
16. On this possibility of windfall gains because of the under-pricing of spectrum, Mr. Chidambaram had been apprised of in the 30.1.08 meeting.
17. This Hon’ble Court thus decided that all 122 licences be cancelled as illegal and holding the offloading of shares as against public interest, and also  imposed a fine on Swan and Unitech [para102 (i)& (v), p. 63]. 
18. Therefore, as Counsel conducting my own Complaint Case, I after my Section 311 Cr. PC statement on oath before the Learned Special Judge, I submitted that it was prima facie proved that the offence u/s Section 13(1)(d)(iii) of the PC Act, was committed by Mr. Chidambaram, since the two required ingredients of the offence were present, i.e., as a public servant, he “obtained pecuniary benefits” for Swan, Unitech and others, which was “without any public interest”. 
19. And hence my plea for issue of process u/s 204, or postpone issue of process and order u/s 202 an inquiry. 
20. The Learned Special Judge thereafter ought to have proceeded according to the guidelines succinctly laid down by this Hon’ble Court [in (2010) 7 SCC 578 at 585-6 paras 16-21] for issue of process u/s 204 or for an inquiry u/s 202 Cr.PC. HOON
21. With Your Lordships’ permission, I shall now read from the relevant parts of impugned Order [Vol. I, starting at p. 36, paras. 47-49; p. 60, para 59; p.61, paras 60-61; p. 62, para 63  which is irrelevant for Section 13(1)(d)(iii) of the  PC Act; p. 63, para 66; p. 64-65, paras 67-69; p. 65, para 69].  
22. Instead, the Learned Special Judge dismissed my plea u/s 203, because I produced no evidence  to prima facie establish mens rea as an ingredient  or prove that Mr. Chidambaram had a criminal intent [paras 67-70]. 
23. The Learned Judge, furthermore, did not at all consider the question of postponement of process for further investigation u/s 202 of the Cr.PC.
24. The question of law thus is as follows: Is mens rea an essential ingredient for an offence to have been committed u/s 13(1)(d)(iii) of PC Act?
25. A bare reading of Section 13 is as follows…….         
26. Section 13(1)(d)(iii) was introduced as a new Section in the 1988 Act after repeal of the 1947 Act, and is significant in the difference in its wording from  the other sub-sections of Section 13 of the PC Act. viz.,  (i) & (ii), in terms of the stated ingredients of the offence of criminal misconduct. 
27. Comparing the two sub sections (i) and (ii) with sub-section (iii), brings out that in the former two sub sections, the adverb qualifies the verb “obtains” by “ by corrupt and illegal means” and “by abusing his position”  respectively, and in (iii) the adverb is “without any public interest” as the ingredient of criminal misconduct.
28. That is, the offence u/s 13(1)(d)(iii) of the PC Act has two ingredients: a public servant is said to commit the offence if he obtains for any person [i] any pecuniary advantage [ii] without any public interest. 
29. A bare reading thus of Section 13(1)(d)(iii) shows that mens rea or criminal intent is not an essential ingredient in Section. It was thus a clear intention of Parliament to exclude mens rea or criminal intent.
30. Essentiality of mens rea ingredient in any criminal offence, whether under IPC or under other enacted statutes, was gone into in a number of judgments of this Hon’ble Court. 
31. On this subject, of whether an enacted statute which provides for criminal punishment for special offences such as corruption, requires mens rea, I cite: (1964) 6 SCR 594 at 610; (1965) 1 SCR 123 at 145; (1978) 1 SCR 338 at 351-52.
32. The ratio of these judgments thus is that the statute enumerating certain criminal offences imposing punishment of incarceration need not require mens rea if instead strict liability is enumerated in the statute itself.
33. This question of mens rea u/s 13(1)(d)(iii) also arose before a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, squarely in Runu Ghosh vs. CBI , wherein the CBI had argued what I am arguing here today.
34. The Honourable Bench decided on 21.12.11 in CRL. A. 482 of 2002, viz., six weeks before the impugned Order of the Special Court. This is pending now in this Hon’ble Court in SLP 24&25 of 2012. Final hearing listed on 7/8/12 for CBI counter arguments].
35. It was held therein [para. 73. P. 53 ] that: “the conclusion this Court draws is that mens rea is inessential to convict an accused for the offence under Section 13 (1) (d)(iii). It would be sufficient… ” 
36. All the judgments cited by Learned Judge in his Order are of murder/ assassination cases at the stage of conviction and not at the prima facie threshold. 
37. In other words, citing Section 13(1) (d) (iii), I have shown prima facie that the two ingredients of the offence, “obtains” and “public interest”, are in the said decisions. 
II. CONCLUSION
38. It may thus be inferred that the Learned Trial Court Special Judge failed to appreciate Parliament’s intention, and thus wrongly dismissed my plea under Section 203 of the Cr.PC, erroneously holding that my complaint lacked prima facie evidence of criminality or mens rea. 
39. The Learned Special Judge ought to have summoned Mr. Chidambaram as an accused u/s 204 of the Cr.PC, or at the very least, postponed the issue of process and ordered a CBI investigation u/s 202 of the Cr. PC.
40. I submit that if the Learned Special Judge’s impugned Order stands, it could vitiate the trial. This Hon’ble Court has propounded the Doctrine of Parity [in (2007 5 SCC 403 at 411 para 23]. 
41. Invoking that Doctrine, if Raja is charged, so too prima facie must be similarly placed Mr. Chidambaram. 
42. My prayer is in para 21, page 85 of the SLP. 
43. My plea in the Trial Court is at p. 38-39,  . 
44. Your Lordships may please direct the Learned Special Judge to issue process and summon Mr. Chidambaram as an accused.

Environmental groups demand Asbestos Free Himachal


Ban use and manufacture of asbestos products
Shimla/New Delhi: Himalaya Niti Abhiyan and ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) have demanded immediate stoppage of Delhi based Vardhman Roofings Private LtdⳠproposed lung cancer causing Asbestos Cement Sheet Plant at Trilokpur Road, Village: Kheri, Tehsil: Nahan, District: Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh. Environmental groups also demand that the state government should take step to make the state asbestos free because asbestos is banned in over 55 countries. TWA has sent a letter to the Chief Secretary in this regard.࠼br>
State government should take note of the notice sent by National Human Rights Commission in the matter of incurable asbestos related diseases on July 6, 2011 to the Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh. (Reference: http://nhrc.nic.in/dispArchive.asp?fno=2334)
It is a fact that central government does not favour new asbestos plants in the country. "The Government of India is considering the ban on use of chrysotile asbestos in India to protect the workers and the general population against primary and secondary exposure to Chrysotile form of Asbestos." It has noted that "Asbestosis is yet another occupational disease of the Lungs which is on an increase under similar circumstances warranting concerted efforts of all stake holders to evolve strategies to curb this menace". A concept paper by Union Ministry of Labour revealed this at the two-day 5th India-EU Joint Seminar on ㏣cupational Safety and Health䠯n 19th and 20th September, 2011.
It is strange that on the one hand Union Environment MinistryⳠVision Statement on Environment and Human Health (Para 4.3.1) reads: ぬternatives to asbestos may be used to the extent possible and use of asbestos may be phased out䬠on the other hand the asbestos project was given environmental clearance on May 10, 2011. 
It is noteworthy that Union Ministry of Chemicals has rightly disassociated itself from asbestos producing countries like Russia and Canada on June 22, 2011 at a UN meeting. Government of India has taken a position that it considers chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous substance.
State government should pay heed to World Health Assembly Resolution on cancer prevention that urges countries to pay special attention to cancers for which avoidable exposure is a factor, including exposure to chemicals at the workplace. In 2005, the World Health Assembly requested WHO to carry out a global campaign for the elimination of asbestos-related diseases.
The resolution of the 95th Session of the International Labour Conference of ILO in June 2006 stated, "Considering that all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, are classified as known human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a classification restated by the International Programme on Chemical Safety (a joint Programme of the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme), it resolves that: (a) the elimination of the future use of asbestos and the identification and proper management of asbestos currently in place are the most effective means to protect workers from asbestos exposure and to prevent future asbestos-related diseases and deaths; and (b) the Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162), should not be used to provide a justification for, or endorsement of, the continued use of asbestos."
There are grave concerns about asbestos exposures resulting in public health crisis world over. This has compelled 55 countries to ban use of asbestos. In the absence of environmental and occupational health infrastructure, the passivity of the state governments cannot be deemed acceptable.
In view of the above, state government should take immediate and urgent steps to prevent environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos' besides non-occupational exposures to asbestos. Asbestos related material like asbestos cement sheets, asbestos cement pressure pipes and joints, asbestos cement flat sheets, asbestos cement building boards, asbestos cement cable conduits and troughs etc must be phased out.
Himachal Government ought to stop such hazardous plants to save residents of the state from incurable lung diseases. There should be a moratorium on asbestos based hazardous industries and steps should be taken to phase out asbestos use and take immediate steps to ban this killer fiber to save the present and future citizens of the state and the country.
For Details: Guman Singh, Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, Shimla Mb:09418277220 E-mail: gumanhna@gmail.com 
Gopal Krishna, ToxicsWatch Alliance, New Delhi, Mb: 09818089660, E-mail: krishna1715@gmail.com, Web:toxicswatch.blogspot.com ࠼/span>

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