Despite criticism of the appointment process, and pendency , the Supreme Court appears to enjoy public confidence like no other institution As the Supreme Court of India approaches its final week of hearings for the year, a look back shows it has dominated the national consciousness by ruling on myriad issues. The court was conceived by the framers of the constitution to deal mainly with fundamental questions of law. But India’s top...

U.P.'s GDP grew at 7.28 per cent in the past five years, but the State ranks low in virtually every area of socio-economic development. IF statistics on gross domestic product (GDP) are the only criteria to evaluate the performance of a government, the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government in Uttar Pradesh will have to be rated as one with highly impressive credentials. For, India's most populous State has recorded a...

—PTI National Democratic Alliance convener and Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav alleged on Sunday that a “Bellary-like mining scam” was going on in the Jabalpur-Satna region and demanded that Madhya Pradesh Government take action against those involved. “In the mineral-rich region of Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Sidhi and Singrauli, a Bellary-like mining scam is taking place as no environmental clearances were taken for carrying out mining there,” Mr. Yadav alleged at a...

Yerra Srilakshmi was an IAS topper but has added another feather to her cap, although a dubious one. She is the first woman IAS officer to be arrested for alleged corruption. The 1988-batch officer, held yesterday in connection with the mining case involving the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), owned by arrested former Karnataka minister and mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy, was today remanded in CBI custody for three days by a local...

Two months ago, Cabinet approved a draft law that seeks to create a better legislative environment to attract investments in mining and ease land acquisition through higher compensation to people displaced by projects. This show of goodwill could help the government win some hearts in troubled landscapes of Orissa and Karnataka.  But mining companies are not entirely convinced as they have to pay higher royalties and want changes to be made...