SC pulls up J&K chief secretary

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday upbraided the chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir for trying to avoid appearing in a contempt case hearing in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, scheduled for April 7, reports our legal correspondent.

The chief secretary had approached the apex court seeking exemption from personal appearance on that day in view of his ?official commitment? to be present for the flagging-off of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.

The officer faces a charge of contempt before the high court for allegedly not complying with its orders on a power project.

An apex court bench of Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti and Justice G.P. Mathur said ,under the contempt notice, the officer was to appear in person and asked why he was ?shying away? from personal appearance.

?Does he (the chief secretary) want to create an impression that courts cannot issue any direction to the officers?? the bench asked.

The apex court observed that this was not an ?isolated? case . Non-compliance of court orders and directions by various government officers ?has become a normal practice?, the apex court said.

Andhra MLAs take a break

Hyderabad: Legislators of Andhra Pradesh enjoyed a night out on the penultimate day of the budget session of the state Assembly, reports our special correspondent.

They danced, play-acted and cracked jokes on each other. The cultural event on Wednesday continued through the night after a late start because the legislators were busy with the business of the state, with the Assembly passing the appropriation bill after a nine-hour debate.

While the Telugu Desam Party stayed away from the show but for participation by a few of its legislators, the Left and BJP legislators were present in full strength.

The highlight of the evening was a ballet on the girl child choreographed by legislator Padmaja Reddy. The transport minister, Santosh Reddy of the Telengana Rashtra Samiti, had penned the script.

There was a magic show as well, during which Legislators Narasyan Swam and Christine Lazarus produced a portrait of chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy from an apparently empty basket.

A legislator came dressed at the event as Mother Teresa while another had donned the form of Ravana.

Gutka baron in India

Mumbai: Manikchand Dhariwal, owner of the Manikchand brand of gutka, arrived in India on Friday, keeping his assurance given to the CBI that he would present himself for questioning on April 4, reports our special correspondent.

India had issued a red corner notice for Dhariwal and his partner-turned rival J.M. Joshi, owner of Goa gutka, in connection with the investigations into the alleged nexus between the gutka industry and the underworld. Joshi and Dhariwal had left India for Dubai before Mumbai police began investigations into the case based on the arrest of two associates of Karachi-based don Chhota Shakeel.

Burglars held

Jammu (PTI): Seven burglars of an inter-state gang were arrested on Thursday. The gang stole government goods and sold them in the market, the police said.

Notice to Gawli

Mumbai (PTI): Bombay High Court has issued a notice to gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli following a petition filed by an association of cine artistes, alleging forcible eviction by Gawli from their office premises and seeking police protection.

Mill land order

Mumbai: Bombay High Court on Friday stayed any fresh development of textile mill land in the city and directed the state and municipal authorities, as well as the National Textile Corporation, to submit details regarding the sale of mill land undertaken in the last 15 years. The high court bench of Justices F.I. Rebello and S. Kukday issued the directive during the hearing of a PIL filed by the Bombay Environmental Action Group, reports our special correspondent. The three agencies were asked to submit the ward-wise details by April 20.

Dalmiya plea

Chennai (PTI): Former BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya and the cricket board on Friday appealed against a Madras High Court order, which described the board?s termination of issuing tenders for match telecast as ?improper?.

The department of posts will organise a theme-based stamp exhibition in Chennai in April. The exhibition will be open to the public for free from 10.00 am to 6.30pm on all Saturdays.