Every passing day makes it clear that the proposed food security law may not come by for a while. One report quoting the Planning Commission even suggested that it can be expected only in 2012. This Twelfth Plan (2012-17) launch has support from the concerned dual Ministry of Agriculture as well as Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution. In that eventuality it does mean a surge in food insecurity.A dispassionate...

Why the UPA Government is afraid of a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the 2G Spectrum scam? The different arguments being advanced are removed from the real reason behind the government’s refusal to accept the Opposition demand to constitute a JPC.The report of the JPC is not mandatory- it is not binding on the government to take action on the basis of the report. Earlier JPC reports on Bofors or...

The Supreme Court today asked central vigilance commissioner P.J. Thomas to explain why his appointment as head of the country’s top anti-corruption watchdog shouldn’t be scrapped even as the embattled bureaucrat hung on to his post. The notices to Thomas and the central government were a first from the court, which had so far only questioned Thomas’s appointment as CVC for his alleged involvement in a palm oil import case. The vigilance...

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today made all deputy commissioners accountable for implementation of governance reforms in a time-bound manner within their respective districts. They would also be expected to speed up NREGA-related projects. Sukhbir said their performance on these fronts would reflect in their annual appraisal reports. Reviewing the progress of administrative reforms in a meeting of all deputy commissioners, Sukhbir said that DCs of each district would be designated...

The Centre today ordered a probe into the leak of lobbyist Niira Radia’s purported phone conversations allegedly tapped by the income tax department. The home ministry announced the probe on the same day Tata group chairman Ratan Tata moved the Supreme Court demanding action against people responsible for leaking the contents of tapes. The Radia tapes feature purported conversations she had with journalists, politicians and industrialists, including Tata. A home ministry spokesperson...