Daily Current Affairs Updates: 15th February 2014

Daily Current Affairs Updates: 15th February 2014

1. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal resigns as introduction of Jan Lokpal Bill defeated in Delhi Assembly

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal resigned from his post on 14 February 2014 after his government’s bid to table the Janlokpal Bill in the Assembly failed. Opposition parties BJP and Congress termed the bill as unconstitutional and voted against its tabling. Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government remained at Delhi’s helm for how many days? – 48 days (Arvind Kejriwal took charge as Delhi CM on 28 December 2013)

2. Gas pricing: RIL 'favoured' by UPA, BJP keeping mum, says FIR

The FIR of the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) placed before a Delhi court naming Petroleum Minister M. Veerappa Moily, Mukesh Ambani and others on gas pricing issue alleged that the Congress-led UPA government 'favoured' Reliance Industries Ltd with an eye on 2014 general elections and BJP is maintaining 'silence' hoping to gain corporate funding for the polls.

"The fact that this decision (to raise gas price) was taken in advance by the present government shows that it wanted to favour RIL for corrupt considerations which would then help with the expenditure for the upcoming national elections.

"This is also the reason why the main opposition party, the BJP, is silent on the issue as during election time, when huge slush of funds is required by the major parties, no one is willing to speak against this decision even though price rise is normally an important political issue," the FIR said.

The five-page FIR with which annexures have been attached was lodged by the ACB of Delhi Government on a complaint sent to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian, former Secretary E.A.S. Sarma, former Navy Chief Admiral R.H. Tahiliani and advocate Kamini Jaiswal.

Besides Moily and RIL chairperson Ambani, former Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, ex-Director General of Hydrocarbons V.K. Sibal and other unknown persons have been named as accused in the case.

The FIR was lodged under sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The complaint, on the basis of which the FIR was lodged, alleged that impact of gas price rise would cost the country a minimum of Rs 54,500 crore per year at current dollar price.

However, Moily on Friday said the government will not go back on its decision to hike rates from April 1 and came down heavily against Kejriwal for ordering an "unconstitutional" FIR against him and others for raising gas prices.

3. SC asks Karnataka Chief Secy to take steps to stop 'devadasi' system

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Karnataka Chief Secretary to take all steps to prevent women from being forced to become 'devadasis' at a temple function scheduled to be held on Thursday, 13th February in Devnagar district of Karnataka.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam passed the direction on a PIL filed by an NGO, S L Foundation, alleging that 'devadasis' dedication is going to take place at Uttarang Mala Durga temple at Harappanahalli Taluk of Devnagar district.

The bench also issued notice to the Karnataka government and asked it to file a response on the PIL seeking framing of guidelines to stop the tradition of 'devadasis', saying it is
a national shame.

The petitioner alleged that the process of 'devadasi' dedication is still prevalent in different parts of the country despite the law against it and pleaded for the apex court's intervention in the matter.

A 'devadasi' is a woman "dedicated" to worship and service of a deity or a temple for the rest of her life.

4. No water in Hyderabad on February 17, 18

Three-fourth of the city will go without water supply on February 17 and 18 as the Water Board will not be able to pump raw water from Krishna Phase-I and Phase-II, leaving a deficit of 180 million gallons.

Normally, 328 MGD of water is daily supplied to the city. However, on Monday and Tuesday, there will be a 180 MGD shortfall. The irrigation department is taking up works at Kodandapur and as such pumping of water will be stopped from Krishna Phase-I and Phase-II.

Consequently, the Water Board is shutting operations to take up repair in Krishna Phase-I and Phase-II lines.

Right from the IT corridor covering Hitec city, Madhapur, Gachibowli and Lingampally reservoir areas to upmarket Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, MLAs Colony at Prashasannagar to Secunderabad, Marredpally will go without water supply.

5. IPS officer Tejdeep Kaur Menon in dock for assaulting woman

The state Crime Inve­sti­gation Department filed a chargesheet against senior IPS officer Tejdeep Kaur Menon and seven others, for their involvement in a 2002 case. They have been accu­sed of torturing and threatening a housewife in Begumpet.

No chargesheet was filed for 11 years in this case by the state police. However, in the first week of December 2013, based on a petition filed by G. Haritha, the victim, the High Court pulled up the state police for not acting on the case.

The CID, which took over the case from the Begum­pet police, charged Kaur Menon and others with threatening, abusing, criminal intimidation, extortion and wrongful confinement, CID officials said.

However, Kaur Menon had already approached the court and got an anticipatory bail in the case, even before the chargesheet was filed on December 28, CID sources added.

The victim had alleged that in 2002, Kaur Menon, to help a friend, had barged into Haritha’s house accompanied by the others, and had insulted, abused and beaten her. The alleged assault took place in Haritha’s flat at Mayur Marg in Begumpet on November 2002.

A criminal case was registered against the IPS officer at Begumpet police station under Sections 323, 448, 506 of the Indian Penal Code in April 2003 only after the HC’s intervention.

6. All India Football Federation (AIFF) awards 2013 :
Player of the Year: Sunil Chhetri (winner in 2007 and 2011 also)
Woman Player of the Year : Oinam Bembem Devi
Emerging Player of the Year: Jeje Lalpekhlua.
Other Awards :
Best grassroots development programme: Mizoram FA
Award for long-time contribution to Indian football: Tata Football Academy.

7, Delhi Police launched a Helpline number 1093 for North-Eastern People

The Delhi Police launched a new helpline number 1093 exclusively for North-Eastern people living in New Delhi.

The number 1093 will allow the north-eastern people to register all sorts of complaints including racism and harassment directly to the police. The number will have 5 direct lines and all calls will be received at the central police control room (CPCR) situated at Delhi Police headquarters.

The Delhi police is also planning to launch a Facebook page and a Twitter account for people from the northeast where they can post complaints and suggestions.

In a series of step taken by the Union and Delhi Government after the Nido Tania incident, this step of Delhi Police will go a long way in addressing the grievances of the people from north-eastern States.

8. World’s largest Solar-Thermal power plant (**not Solar Photovoltaic), Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, opens in Mojave Desert, Nevada, USA.

It is owned by NRG Energy Inc., Google Inc. and BrightSource Energy and can produce nearly 400 MW of energy.

**It uses "solar-thermal" technology where computer-controlled mirrors reflect sun’s rays on to water containing boilers atop towers therefore producing steam which then moves turbines to generate electricity.

These are different from rooftop solar, or photovoltaic panels (the kind we have in India