Mediation can transform legal landscape: Balakrishnan

27 June : Saying that alternative methods of dispute resolution such as mediation can transform legal landscape, Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on Saturday asked the judges to play an active role in suggesting solutions to the parties.

Justice Balakrishnan was addressing the first batch of fifty judicial officers who would be doing a refresher course at Maharashtra Judicial Academy and Indian Mediation Centre, which was inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil at Uttan.

Observing that judges must go beyond a mere dispute resolution, he said, judges are now required to take a pro-active approach in suggesting solutions than waiting for parties and counsels to come up with it.

"Such a proactive approach would be far more effective," he said.The philosophy of resolving dispute in the spirit of compromise needs to be promoted, the CJI said.Methods of alternative dispute resolution such as mediation and commercial arbitration have the potential of transferring the legal landscape, he added.

In many cases, judges must be willing to go beyond legalistic approach and understand the social realities surrounding the case, he said.Judicial academies are important from the point of view of improving quality of justice, he said.

Apart from receiving training in advanced technologies of court management, judges get to meet their colleagues and discuss at such academies, he noted.For the purpose of making justice more accessible to the weaker sections of society, setting up wide network of mediation centres would be useful, he said.
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By :  News Team

Present decade might see dramatic changes in warfare: Kapoor

27 June :Chief of Army Staff Deepak Kapoor on Saturday said that the present decade is likely to see more dramatic changes in weapons technology that may fundamentally alter the very nature of warfare.

"You will be a part of these fast-paced changes. It will, therefore, be essential for you to acquire a full understanding and knowledge of application of new technologies so that you may be able to exploit the true potential of Air Power," Kapoor told newly commissioned flight cadets of IAF who completed their training at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal in Hyderabad.

He was speaking after reviewing the ceremony of Combined Graduation Parade.Air power has undergone profound changes with ever accelerating advances in technology and flying officers need to keep themselves abreast of latest developments to exploit its the true potential, he said.

Air power has revolutionised warfare and has undergone profound changes with ever accelerating advances in technology, he added.The Army Chief awarded the President's Commission to the flight cadets on behalf of the President.
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By :  News Team

Security forces capture Maoist stronghold of Ramgarh

27 June :Security forces on Saturday captured key Maoist stronghold of Ramgarh as they launched a two-pronged attack to reclaim areas in West Midnapore district under control of Left-wing ultras who offered stiff resistance by detonating landmines and opening gunfire.

Maoists also torched an office of the Leftist trade union AITUC when they were refused sanctuary in the building shortly before the security forces entered Ramgarh.Security forces headed from Lalgarh in the south and Kadasole, which was secured yesterday, in the north towards Ramgarh this morning, a senior CRPF officer said."We have secured Ramgarh. We will establish a police outpost and a camp.

 

The police will retore normalcy. The operations will continue," IG CID (Special Operations Group) Siddhinath Gupta said.Three landmines exploded as 10 companies comprising 1000 men of the CRPF, the India Reserve Battalion and Rapid Action force set out from Kadasole, braving heavy rains and reached Mohultol, with the Maoists also firing at them.The security forces retaliated with AK-47s, mortars and rocket propelled grenade launchers overcoming the resistance swiftly, the officer said.

In the south, 11 CRPF companies comprising 1100 men reached Boropelia village, the home of the agitating People's Committee Against Police Atrocities leader Chhatradhar Mahato.They were attacked by Maoists at Pathardanga where two landmines were detected. 

But the naxals retreated after retaliatory action.People came out in droves to greet security forces as they arrived. The locals offered drinking water to the fatigued troops."We are smiling after many months. We were waiting for the security forces to arrive. They must have faced great difficulty in reaching our village," a resident said.A woman said that at around noon a group of 25 to 30 armed Maoists knocked on her door seeking shelter."When I refused, they threatened to open fire but soon retreated," she said.

The Maoists while fleeing set ablaze an office of the AITUC, she said.Agitating tribals of West Midnapore, under the banner of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, backed by Maoists had launched a violent agitation since November against alleged police "atrocities" on them following a landmine blast at Salboni in which Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and two Union ministers had a narrow escape.

The Maoists went on the rampage targeting ruling CPI(M) cadres and offices and virtually took control of a large area after driving away the police and paramilitary forces.The security forces began a crackdown on 18th June and secured Lalgarh two days later. 

The troops on Friday took control of Kadasole, where the Maoists fled after a 45-minute gunbattle.
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By :  News Team