-The Times of India Government cited the Constitution to deny information on the Mumbai terror attack convict Ajmal Kasab's mercy petition. The ministry of home affairs rejected an RTI application filed by activist Venkatesh Nayak saying it was "privileged information" under article 74(2) of the Constitution. The Rashtrapati Bhawan went a step further to say that the information is not held in a "subject-wise manner." Nayak had in January sought information for...

-Outlook The Social Justice Ministry has asked some of the key Central ministries to take necessary steps to safeguard the interests of senior citizens and ensure their financial, health and personal securities. The move comes following recommendations of the ministry's first 'National Conference on Ageing' in this regard. The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has forwarded its recommendations to Union ministries such as Home Affairs, Finance, Health and Rural Development to take steps...

-The Indian Express Twenty-two Naxal-affected districts will now be able to build critical public infrastructure even in forestland, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has decided. Following demands raised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Planning Commission, the MoEF has decided to relax forest conservation rules to allow diversion of forestland for creation of essential infrastructure in 22 districts affected by Left Wing Extremism. Departments will be able to build...

-The Hindu Many State governments favour bringing down the age bar for juvenile offenders from 18 years to 16 to deal with growing cases of sexual assault. A meeting of State Directors-General of Police and Chief Secretaries held on Friday here, however, could not come to a consensus on awarding the death penalty to rape convicts. In the rape case of the 23-year-old physiotherapy student, one of the six people allegedly involved...

-The Hindu Relentless counter-insurgency operations taken up in all left-wing extremism-affected States seemed to have had the desired impact, as Maoist violence registered a record low in 2012. The downward trend in violence in the last six-year period, could indicate the success of the security forces in pushing the Maoist revolution into a strategic equilibrium stage. Another possibility could be an unannounced tactical retreat from some areas by Maoists themselves to protect...