-The Hindu   "The court has recognised the right of patients to access affordable medicines over profits for big pharma companies" It was celebration time for health activists and civil society groups after the Supreme Court delivered its judgment dismissing Swiss multinational company Novartis' appeal for patent for its anti-cancer medicine imatinib mesylate or Gleevec. "We are happy that the apex court has recognised the right of patients to access affordable medicines over profits...

-The Economic Times Foreign pharma companies could be forced to overhaul their strategy for the Indian market by striking more local deals and cutting sky-high drug prices after the Supreme Court slammed the door on Swiss giant Novartis' attempts to gain a patent for its blood cancer-busting drug Glivec. But the ruling, welcomed by activists campaigning for affordable drugs and local generic companies, threatened to reinforce a narrative that India...

-Live Mint MoEF notification on 5 February says linear projects such as roads, canals wouldn't require gram sabha consent A move by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to exempt promoters of so-called linear projects such as roads, pipelines and canals from seeking the consent of village councils in forest areas will likely be a non-starter unless the government moves to amend the forest rights Act (FRA). MoEF issued a notification on...

-Down to Earth They turn a blind eye to laws overriding tribal rights, complains national commission GOVERNORS of states with sizeable tribal population have come in for indictment over not performing their special administrative roles. To ensure partial autonomy in tribal areas, the Constitution entrusts governors with immense powers to supervise the administration and governance in such areas. They can allow or disallow any law or development programme in tribal areas to...

-The Business Standard Demands CBI inquiry into Rs 2.4 crore road construction scam Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has scolded the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh over an alleged Rs 2.4 crore fund embezzlement under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the state. He has asked for an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The issue pertains to construction of five roads in Sultanpur district,...