-EPW   The Anna Hazare group’s foray into electoral politics exposes its shaky foundations. The script of this drama was already written. A single issue campaign, focused narrowly on corruption in public life without a wider world view on the root causes of corruption or on the myriad other problems afflicting Indian society, had to come apart at the seams at some point. That moment arrived when “Team Anna”, as the people behind...

Three of Pune’s practices under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 will act as role models for the country. This was decided in the recently concluded chief information commissioner’s (CIC) conference in New Delhi. Special appeal disposal programme, open days at government offices and the unique RTI library at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) are the three practices, which will be exemplified as role models for the country along...

-PTI   The Allahabad High Court's verdict on Greater Noida land acquisition evoked mixed reactions from the farmers today with some of them contemplating to move the Supreme Court on the matter. The High Court today ordered the Mayawati government to return to farmers land acquired in three villages of Gautam Buddh Nagar district and pay higher compensation to similarly affected farmers of other villages. While Patwari farmers distributed sweets and welcomed the court...

Environmentalists may be against the state government’s proposal to set up new ports along the coast, but experts feel that the state needs these facilities badly to make the most of the cargo boom expected in the next 10 years. They have also extended support to chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s campaign against the Centre’s bid to restrict the powers of coastal states and union territories with regard to determining the jurisdiction...

-The Hindu   The Election Commission of India's disqualification of Umlesh Yadav, sitting MLA from BISauli in Uttar Pradesh, is a landmark order that notches some firsts for India's electoral democracy. Ms Yadav was disqualified on Thursday under Section 10-A of the Representation of the People Act 1951 for a period of three years for failing to provide a “true and correct account” of her election expenses. She had failed to include...