Mumbai VC Rajan Welukar spent without sanction: Rajan Welukar has used over Rs. 12 lakh of Mumbai University’s funds to pay lawyers defending his appointment as the varsity’s vice-chancellor in the Bombay High Court, a Right to Information (RTI) request has revealed. Activist Anil Galgali, who obtained the details, alleged that Welukar has roped in lawyers who were not part of the university-approved panel of legal experts, and used varsity funds to pay their fees without official sanction.
“The university’s funds are meant to be used for the benefit of students. In fact, there are so many issues that require financial consideration,” Senate member Sudhakar Tamboli said. “The case against Rajan Welukar questions his appointment as the vice-chancellor, and not the decisions he has taken. Why is the university then bearing his legal expenses?”
Registrar Khan, however, said that the varsity was also a party to the legal challenge. “The case is also against the University of Mumbai. We have taken the management council’s approval for legal expenses,” he said.
An RTI enquiry revealed 165 pilots were found to have high blood alcohol levels between Jan 2009 and Feb 2014:
According to a Right to Information (RTI) enquiry filed by a serving Jet Airways pilot, between January 2009 and February 2014, 165 pilots in the country were found to have high blood alcohol levels.
“It is important to take post-flight breath analyser test because a pilot will be considered as having tested positive on skipping the test. It will not be possible to explain that the test was missed inadvertently,” the Jet Airways pilot said. He added that the airlines was currently hiring additional doctors to carryout the checks.
Twelve crew members of an Air India flight from London to Mumbai have been sent on compulsory leave for 15 days as punishment for not undergoing post-flight alcohol check implemented by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently.
As required under tougher rules for alcohol tests with effect from July 2014, the 12 crew members, including six air hostesses, fails to report for the post-flight breath analyser checks on their return to Mumbai from London last month. Not reporting for tests as per the modified rules is considered as being alcohol-positive.
Centre spent Rs. 320 cr on R-Day last year:
Ever wondered how much the Republic Day ceremony at Rajpath, with all its smart marches, colorful tableaus and performing artists, costs to put together? A query under the RTI Act has elicited a response from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) that says the Centre spent Rs. 320 crore in the four-hour parade in 2014.
Over the years, the expenses on Republic Day celebrations have risen quite substantially. In 2001, the expenditure was Rs. 145 crore.
The Rs. 145 crore that was incurred by the Centre in the financial year 2000-01 rose to Rs. 226 crore in 2003-04. For the next three years, though, expenditure decreased somewhat, in step with a not-so-healthy economy. In 2006- 07, the government spent Rs. 149 crore on the celebrations.
The budget for the R-day function was then increased by 34.16% in 2007-08, and the Centre spent Rs. 227 crore that year. In 2009-10, it went up to Rs 285 crore.
There were slight decrease in the budget in 2011 and 2013, but the Centre ended up spending robust Rs. 320 crore in 2014. In comparison to the amount spent in 2001, the budget for the parade last year shot up by 54.51%.
Man refuses to stay standing, arrested:
The Tamil Nadu State Information Commission (TNSIC) had an RTI applicant arrested for taking a chair in front of a two-member bench hearing his appeal. There is no rule preventing an RTI applicant from sitting during an appeal.
Chief information commissioner K. S. Sripathi and commissioner S. F. Akbar had NGO Legal Panchayat Movement president Siva Elango arrested as he sat even as they refused to accede to his request for a chair during the hearing of his appeal against rejection of an RTI application.
Elango was booked under IPC Section 353 (preventing a government servant from discharging his duty), 294 (b) (obscenity) and 506 (1) (criminal intimidation).
Police presented Elango before a magistrate, which remanded him in judicial custody for 15 days.
