Follow SC order on national anthem: Centre
New Delhi, December 19 (IANS): The central government has asked the Chief Secretaries of all the states and Union Territories to comply with the Supreme Court's order with regard to the national anthem, it was announced on Monday. "The government has written to the Chief Secretaries of all state governments and Chief Secretaries/Administrators of all Union Territories to comply with the Supreme Court's order... relating to the National Anthem of India and take necessary action in this regard," an official release here said. The apex court in its order on November 30 had issued several directions on national anthem, including:1. There shall be no commercial exploitation of the national anthem to give financial advantage or any kind of benefit; 2. There shall not be dramatisation of the national anthem and it should not be included as a part of any variety show, as when it is sung or played, it is imperative on the part of every one present to show due respect and honour; 3. To think of a dramatised exhibition of the national anthem is absolutely inconceivable; and 4.The national anthem or a part of it shall not be printed on any object and also never be displayed in such a manner at such places which may be disgraceful to its status and tantamount to disrespect.
5 IM operatives sentence to death Hyderabad, December 19 (IANS): A special NIA court here sentenced to death five convicts, including the banned Indian Mujahideens' (IM) co-founder Yaseen Bhatkal and a Pakistani national, in the 2013 Hyderabad bomb blasts. Apart from Bhatkal alias Ahmed Siddibappa Zaraar, and Pakistani national Zia ur Rehman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahseen Akhtar alias Monu, and Aizaz Saeed Shaik alias Aijaz Shaikh were convicted by the court on December 13 for offences including waging war against the nation, criminal conspiracy and murder. Prosecutor told reporters that the judge concluded that the case fell in the category of "rarest of rare" case and the convicts deserve capital punishment. The convicts said they will challenge the NIA court's order in the High Court and sought a copy of the judgement, the prosecutor said. The twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar area on February 21, 2013, killed 18 persons, including one unborn child in mother's womb, and injured 131 others.
Cyrus Mistry resigns from all Tata group companies
Mumbai, December 19 (Reuters): Former Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry said on Monday he was resigning from the boards of all Tata group listed firms but vowed to continue the fight to improve governance within the $100 billion conglomerate. Mistry said in a letter to Tata group company shareholders that he was, "moving away from the forum of the extraordinary general meetings". His decision comes just ahead of slew of EGMs called by Tata Sons to oust him from Tata group boards.
