Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 3

Following in the footsteps of Haryana, the state today substantially increased prize money for sportspersons bringing laurels to the state in the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and other sports tournaments.

Approving the enhanced cash awards under the new Sports Policy-2018 in the Cabinet meeting, the government also decided to extend the cash awards of Rs 13 crore to the Punjab players who have brought laurels in this year’s Asian and Commonwealth Games. The new policy would replace the 2010 policy.

Under the new Sports Policy, the cash award in case of Olympics/Paralympics Games has been increased from existing Rs 1.01 crore to Rs 1.5 crore for silver medallists and Rs 51 lakh to Rs 1 crore for bronze medallists, whereas the cash award of Rs 2.25 crore for gold medallists remains unchanged.

In the Asian/Para Asian Games, the existing cash award of Rs 26 lakh has been enhanced to Rs 1 crore for gold medal, Rs 16 lakh to Rs 75 lakh for silver and Rs 11 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for bronze medal.

In Official World Cup/Championship, the existing cash prize has been increased from Rs 21 lakh to Rs 80 lakh for gold medal, Rs 11 lakh to Rs 55 lakh for silver and Rs 7 lakh to Rs 45 lakh for bronze medal.

In Commonwealth Games/Para Commonwealth Games, the sportsperson who clinches gold medal would now get enhanced cash award of Rs 75 lakh from the earlier Rs 16 lakh, Rs 50 lakh for silver from existing Rs 11 lakh and Rs 40 lakh for bronze from Rs 6 lakh.

However, the amount remains much less than Rs 6 crore for gold medal, Rs 4 crore for silver and Rs 2.50 crore for bronze given by Haryana to sportsperson bringing laurels in the Olympics. On the similar lines, Haryana offers two to three times more cash award for Asian Games, World Cup championships and Common Wealth Games.

Dues to be cleared

The government has decided to clear the dues of 815 sportsperson who brought laurels in the international and national events in the last six years. This would be an addition to clearing dues of near Rs 3 crore of 100 sportspersons, whose dues under the Maharaja Ranjit Singh award scheme have been pending since 2010.

Pension for veterans

To honour veteran sportspersons attaining the age of 40, the state government would also give pension of Rs 15,000 per month to a medal winner in Olympics, Rs 7,500 per month to a medal winner in Asian/Commonwealth games and World Games, Rs 5,000 per month for the National Games medal winners, who have won at least two medals in the last five National Games.

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਨੌਕਰੀ ’ਚ 3 ਫ਼ੀਸਦੀ ਰਾਖਵਾਂਕਰਨ

ਟ੍ਰਿਬਿਊਨ ਨਿਊਜ਼ ਸਰਵਿਸ
ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, 3 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ

ਸੂਬੇ ਵਿਚ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੁਲਾਰਾ ਦੇਣ ਲਈ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਮੰਡਲ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਨਵੀਂ ਖੇਡ ਨੀਤੀ-2018 ਨੂੰ ਸਿਧਾਂਤਕ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਨਗੀ ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੈ। ਖੇਡ ਕੋਟੇ ਤਹਿਤ ਭਰਤੀ ਕਰਨ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਵੱਖਰੇ ਦਿਸ਼ਾ-ਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ ਜਾਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਮਾਮਲੇ ’ਤੇ ਫ਼ੈਸਲਾ ਲੈਣ ਲਈ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਇਨਾਮੀ ਰਾਸ਼ੀ ਵਿਚ ਵੀ ਵਾਧਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ।
ਕੌਮੀ ਅਤੇ ਕੌਮਾਂਤਰੀ ਪੱਧਰ ’ਤੇ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਸੂਬੇ ਦੀ ਨੁਮਾਇੰਦੀ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਨੌਕਰੀਆਂ ਵਿਚ ਤਿੰਨ ਫੀਸਦੀ ਰਾਖਵਾਂਕਰਨ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਜ਼ਾਰਤ ਨੇ ਓਲੰਪਿਕ/ਪੈਰਾ ਓਲੰਪਿਕ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਚਾਂਦੀ ਦੇ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜੇਤੂਆਂ ਲਈ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਨਗਦ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਇੱਕ ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਤੋਂ ਵਧਾ ਕੇ ਡਢ ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ, ਕਾਂਸੀ ਲਈ 51 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਤੋਂ ਇੱਕ ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਫ਼ੈਸਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ ਸੋਨ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜੇਤੂਆਂ ਲਈ ਨਗਦ ਰਾਸ਼ੀ 2.25 ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਹੀ ਰੱਖੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਏਸ਼ੀਆਈ/ਪੈਰਾ ਏਸ਼ੀਆਈ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੋਨ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਇਨਾਮੀ ਰਾਸ਼ੀ 26 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਤੋਂ ਵਧਾ ਕੇ ਇੱਕ ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ, ਚਾਂਦੀ ਲਈ 16 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਤੋਂ ਵਧਾ ਕੇ 75 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਂਸੀ ਲਈ 11 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਤੋਂ ਵਧਾ ਕੇ 50 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ।
ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਕੱਪ ਜਾਂ ਚੈਂਪੀਅਨਸ਼ਿਪ ਦੇ ਸੋਨ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜੇਤੂਆਂ ਲਈ ਨਗਦ ਰਾਸ਼ੀ 21 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਤੋਂ ਵਧਾ ਕੇ 80 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ, ਚਾਂਦੀ ਲਈ 11 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਤੋਂ ਵਧਾ ਕੇ 55 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ, ਕਾਂਸੀ ਲਈ ਸੱਤ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਤੋਂ ਵਧਾ ਕੇ 45 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਮੰਡਲ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੋਨ ਤਗ਼ਮੇ ਲਈ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ 16 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ 75 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ, ਚਾਂਦੀ ਲਈ 11 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ 50 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ, ਕਾਂਸੀ ਲਈ ਛੇ ਲੱਖ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ ਚਾਲੀ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਜਾਂ ਚੈਂਪੀਅਨਸ਼ਿਪਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੋਨਾ, ਚਾਂਦੀ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਂਸੀ ਦਾ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜੇਤੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕ੍ਰਮਵਾਰ ਸੱਤ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ, ਪੰਜ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਅਤੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਦਾ ਨਗ਼ਦ ਇਨਾਮ ਮਿਲੇਗਾ। ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸੈਫ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਜਾਂ ਐਫਰੋ ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਗੇਮਜ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੋਨ ਤਗ਼ਮੇ ਲਈ ਪੰਜ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ, ਚਾਂਦੀ ਲਈ ਤਿੰਨ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਂਸੀ ਲਈ ਦੋ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਨਗਦ ਇਨਾਮ ਰੱਖੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਆਲ ਇੰਡੀਆ ਇੰਟਰ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ/ਚੈਂਪੀਅਨਸ਼ਿਪ, ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਸਕੂਲ ਖੇਡਾਂ/ਖੇਲੋ ਇੰਡੀਆ ਸਕੂਲ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਖੇਡ ਮੇਲੇ/ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਪੱਧਰ ਦੇ ਖੇਲੋ ਇੰਡੀਆ ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੋਨਾ, ਚਾਂਦੀ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਂਸੀ ਦਾ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜੇਤੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕ੍ਰਮਵਾਰ 50 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਰੁਪਏ, 30 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਰੁਪਏ ਅਤੇ 20 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਰੁਪਏ ਮਿਲਣਗੇ। ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਹੀ ਕੌਮੀ ਖੇਡ ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕਰਵਾਈਆਂ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਚੈਂਪੀਅਨਸ਼ਿਪਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੋਨਾ, ਚਾਂਦੀ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਂਸੀ ਲਈ ਕ੍ਰਮਵਾਰ 40 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ, 20 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਅਤੇ 15 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਰੁਪਏ ਰੱਖੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ।
ਖੇਡਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਰੀਅਰ ਲਈ ਇਹ ਨੀਤੀ ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਤੇ ਵਜ਼ੀਫ਼ਾ ਅਤੇ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਸਕੀਮ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜੇਤੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਿੱਤੀ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਜ਼ਗਾਰ ਸਹੂਲਤ ਮੁਹੱਈਆ ਕਰਵਾਏਗੀ। ਇਸ ਤਹਿਤ 20 ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਇਕ ਅੰਗਹੀਣ ਖਿਡਾਰੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜਿੱਤਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਕੌਮਾਂਤਰੀ ਪੱਧਰ ’ਤੇ ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਦਿਸ਼ਾ-ਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ 100 ਅੰਕ ਦਾ ਗ੍ਰੇਡ ਹੈ, ਦੀ ਚੋਣ ਹਰੇਕ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ।
ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ‘ਪਦਮ’, ‘ਅਰਜਨ’ ਅਤੇ ‘ਰਾਜੀਵ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਖੇਲ ਰਤਨ’ ਹਾਸਲ ਸਾਰੇ ਐਵਾਰਡੀ ਜੋ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਖਿਡਾਰੀ ਹਨ, ਚੁਣੇ ਗਏ 20 ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਖੁਦ-ਬ-ਖੁਦ ਇਸ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਲਈ ਯੋਗ ਹੋ ਜਾਣਗੇ। ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਐਵਾਰਡ ’ਚ ਇਕ ਟਰਾਫੀ, ਬਲੇਜ਼ਰ ਨਾਲ ਪੰਜ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਦਾ ਨਗਦ ਇਨਾਮ ਮਿਲੇਗਾ। ਇਹ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਪੰਜ ਸਾਲਾਂ ਲਈ ਇਨਡੋਰ ਇਲਾਜ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਇਕ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਸਾਲ ਦੇ ਸਿਹਤ ਬੀਮਾ ਕਵਰ ਦਾ ਹੱਕਦਾਰ ਵੀ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ।

ਓਲੰਪਿਕ ਜੇਤੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲੇਗੀ 15000 ਰੁਪਏ ਮਹੀਨਾ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ

ਸੂਬਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜਿੱਤਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਵੈਟਰਨ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਵਜੋਂ ਵਿੱਤੀ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਦੇਵੇਗੀ। ਓਲੰਪਿਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜੇਤੂ ਖਿਡਾਰੀ ਨੂੰ 15 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਰੁਪਏ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਮਹੀਨਾ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਮਿਲੇਗੀ, ਜਦਕਿ ਏਸ਼ੀਆਈ/ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਮੰਡਲ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ 7500 ਰੁਪਏ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਮਹੀਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜੇਤੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ 5000 ਰੁਪਏ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਮਿਲੇਗੀ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਪਿਛਲੀਆਂ ਪੰਜ ਕੌਮੀ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਘੱਟੋ-ਘੱਟ ਦੋ ਤਗ਼ਮੇ ਜਿੱਤੇ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ 40 ਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਉਮਰ ਪੂਰੀ ਕਰ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲੇਗੀ, ਜੋ ਮੁਲਾਜ਼ਮ ਨਹੀ ਹੋਣਗੇ ਜਾਂ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਸਾਲਾਨਾ ਆਮਦਨ ਛੇ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ। ਕੋਚਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਓਲੰਪਿਕ, ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਚੈਂਪੀਅਨਸ਼ਿਪਾਂ, ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨ ਅਤੇ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਮੰਡਲ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜੇਤੂ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਿਖਲਾਈ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਨਗ਼ਦ ਇਨਾਮ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਜਿਹੜੇ ਕੋਚ ਘੱਟੋ-ਘੱਟ ਇਕ ਸਾਲ ਖਿਡਾਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਿਖਲਾਈ ਦੇਣਗੇ ਅਤੇ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕੋਚਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਿਖਲਾਈ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਖਿਡਾਰੀ ਮੈਡਲ ਜਿੱਤਣਗੇ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਉਸ ਨਗਦ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਦੇ 40 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਦੇ ਬਰਾਬਰ ਨਗਦ ਇਨਾਮ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ, ਜਿਸ ਦੇ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਇਸ ਨੀਤੀ ਦੇ ਹੇਠ ਖਿਡਾਰੀ ਹੱਕਦਾਰ ਹੋਣਗੇ।

ਨਵੀਂ ਖੇਡ ਨੀਤੀ ਦੇ ਕੁੱਝ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਨੁਕਤੇ

* ਓਲੰਪਿਕ ’ਚ ਚਾਂਦੀ ਦਾ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜੇਤੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਡੇਢ ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਮਿਲਣਗੇ
* ਏਸ਼ਿਆਈ ਸੋਨ ਤਗ਼ਮਾ ਜੇਤੂਆਂ ਲਈ ਰਕਮ 26 ਲੱਖ ਤੋਂ ਇੱਕ ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਕੀਤੀ
* ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਤਹਿਤ ਪੰਜ ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਦਾ ਇਨਾਮ ਮਿਲੇਗਾ

The Supreme Court has upheld most of the provisions of the Aadhaar Act thus avoiding the fate of telecom and coal licences where its wholesale cancellation approach had sent both sectors into the NPA shoebox. In Aadhaar at stake was the taxpayer’s money in the project as well as his right to adequate privacy. Both seem to have been preserved. Aadhaar’s designers walk away with bouquets after the court ruled out profiling because of inbuilt safeguards. The 4-1 majority judgment also ruled out the possibility of obtaining a duplicate Aadhaar card, was satisfied with the adequacy of defence mechanisms for authentication and felt the data obtained was minimal while benefits, especially to the marginalised, large.

But for the political executive that was muscular, proactive and overbearing in trying to make it mandatory in all services, the order should serve as timely catnip. Aadhaar as a project will survive but only in matters of state-government welfare schemes and PAN but not for school admissions, banking and mobile services. The striking down of Sections 33 and 57 and the reading down of Sections 33 (1) and 33 (2) was very nearly an endorsement of the Rajya Sabha’s concerns that were pointedly overlooked while packaging the Aadhaar legislation as a money bill.

Now that Aadhaar survives in a watered down, truncated version, the executive needs to follow up appropriately. As a first step, Aadhaar cards should be delinked from mobile connections and bank accounts, which the court has said was unconstitutional. Hopefully, the government’s narrow escape with regard to the money bill approach will dissuade it from taking this route again to avoid going through the test in Rajya Sabha. Court adjudications at the end of the day are a matter of judgment and the executive needs to heed the dissenting opinion, especially the warning that the absence of an independent regulatory framework compromises data protection. As for the ‘right to privacy’ zealots, some of their assumptions and apprehensions were, in hindsight, overblown. But thanks to their perseverance, a balance was struck.

Ironing the wrinkles in Aadhaar

Abhijit Bhattacharyya
Supreme Court Advocate 

People of India created, and gave to themselves the Constitution. Constitution created Parliament. Parliament created Aadhaar. Judges of the Supreme Court interpret the legal validity or invalidity of the law created by Parliament. Hence the Constitution of India is supreme, unlike the British system in which Parliament is the creator of the constitution, though unwritten.

Therefore, when Parliament, being the creation of the Constitution, makes law, it has to pass legal scrutiny to ensure that it doesn’t override the basic features of the Constitution. The importance of today’s court verdict emanates therefrom. Nevertheless, prima facie does exist a real danger of writing on a 1,448-page verdict without fully going through it (it would have taken a minimum of two days to read and digest). Prudence, therefore, demands to refer to salient features which are in public domain.

The most striking feature of the Aadhaar verdict today, undoubtedly, is the sole dissenting voice from the Bench, which stood 4-1. If true, that ‘Aadhaar as a money bill’ is a wrong perpetrated on the Constitution, being ‘politically expedient but constitutionally impermissible’ and that ‘Section 139AA of Income Tax is unconstitutional’, Aadhaar is likely to re-emerge as live issue for future, and further Supreme Court litigations. It’s a situation in which minority logic makes majority language a future cause of legal action. 

The stamp of constitutional validity on Aadhaar, however, is the biggest news, striking down of a few sections thereof notwithstanding. In overall perspective, the judiciary has reiterated the supremacy of the State’s role, rather Parliament’s role, in making law, through the government, in certain basic welfare schemes reaching the comparatively marginalised section of society.

In contrast, the striking down of Section 33(2) pertaining to national security exemption for disclosure of Aadhaar information is unlikely to go down well with a section of departments and officials dealing with the issue of State. Prima facie, though it runs in tune with the spirit of democracy of the Indian Union, nevertheless, there also could be situations challenging enough, cropping up before the Supreme Court.

The best part of the verdict emanates from delinking it with the education system. That is a welcome relief for both parents and children as it was creating an incurable headache of sorts all around the countryside. The court certainly deserves a big ‘thank you’ from millions.

The two most important points around which the entire Aadhaar came up for lengthy litigation now need to be looked into. First, right to individual privacy, which could also be thought of as an extension and continuation of right to individual liberty, falling under fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Constitution vide Articles 12 to 35; and second, the PAN-Aadhaar interfacing which has been raised by the dissenting judge of the 4-1 verdict.

No doubt ‘right to privacy’ does not have an exclusive and explicit existence in the Constitution, yet the first, third, fourth and fifth Amendment, along with several Supreme Court verdicts, recognise its existence and importance. Articles 19, 21 and 22 constitute a robust enough bulwark against State encroachment into an individual’s fundamental rights.

Yet when Aadhaar was introduced, there emerged legitimate concerns pertaining to the intrusion of the State into a citizen’s right to privacy, linked to fundamental rights. The counter argument here too could be considered, being the points of ‘devil’s advocate’! Which fundamental right be considered eternally sacrosanct and unlimited in a diverse society of historically fissiparous forces? Secondly, did not the fundamental right to property undergo transformation in the past? Between property and privacy, which supersedes whom? Are they contradictory? Or complementary?

Having said that, one is constrained to point out that the very linking or interfacing of PAN and Aadhaar has its own dynamics, which in a way amounts to the indirect entry of Aadhaar in places even when and where it is not required to be present vide the verdict of the Supreme Court.

The question is, how is it possible? It is not only possible, it will be reality, especially for the 5 crore income tax payees, though not necessarily for the rest of the 120 crore heads who fall below the income tax net. Section 139AA of the Income tax Act makes the PAN-Aadhaar link mandatory for annual tax returns for all — company and individual. However, though Aadhaar is not mandatory for opening a bank account, the production of PAN before bank officials would automatically reveal the Aadhaar number and identification of the potential tax-paying client of the bank. That by itself would amount to the entry of the client, with automatic exposure of his Aadhaar to the bank.

To be fair to the law and the verdict thereon, however, the majority of Indians have been exempted from undergoing the process of production of Aadhaar to the banks, which more often than not did not inspire the desired level of confidence, especially among those using small and common banks.

All in all, the verdict cannot be said to be an exercise in futility; all the more because the judiciary has asked the government to ensure that the security of privacy is not breached. The entire issue began with it. Law of the land in India is usually made with the best of intentions, excellent ideas and high hopes. However, the traditionally weak implementation thereof along with a system of non-diminishing corruption (in the past) has ruined many a plan, thereby making law more a liability than an asset. Hope the verdict brings brighter days for the country.

A few media reports have indicated that as a part of its reorganisation effort, there is a proposal by the Army Headquarters (HQ) to shift the Directorate General of Rashtriya Rifles (DGRR) from New Delhi to Kashmir or Udhampur, ostensibly to take charge of the counter-terror (CT) operations in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).

Additionally, the suggestion could also have come to relieve HQ 15 Corps from the counter-terrorism responsibility.What exactly is the Rashtriya Rifles (RR)? Is it similar to the Assam Rifles (AR) which fights the insurgency in the North East and has its HQ (DGAR) in Shillong, in closer proximity to the areas of the deployment of the AR? Is a similar model as the HQ DGAR being contemplated to set up HQ DGRR in the counter-insurgency zone in J&K?

Tribune News Service

Ambala, September 9

An Army Major lodged a complaint at the Topkhana police post here this evening, alleging that two unidentified bike-borne youths snatched her chain.

According to information, Major Nozia Hansraj, in her complaint, said that she was on her way to her house on foot after completing some work at the Engine chowk when the two youths on the bike reached there and snatched her chain and fled from the spot.

8 Army jawans hurt in accident

https://youtu.be/RdIDipAMDmE

http://

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 9

On the eve of Parkash Utsav of the Guru Granth Sahib, the sanctum sanctorum, Darshani Deorhi and Akal Takht at the Golden temple have been decked up with flowers.

Illuminated with colourful lights and flowers, the holiest Sikh shrine has tastefully been decorated.

SGPC chief secretary Roop Singh said 100 quintals of flowers were brought from different countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Australia. A majority of these flowers has longer shelf life.A ‘nagar kirtan’ will be taken out from historic Gurdwara Ramsar, where the Guru Granth Sahib was edited, to the Golden Temple.

A fireworks display will be carried out and ‘Jalau’ (show of splendour) will be displayed at the Golden Temple.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has already declared a gazetted public holiday on September 10.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29

The Supreme Court has refrained the Centre from making any appointment to the post of the Director General Medical Services (Air Force) after it fell vacant earlier this month on the incumbent being posted as the DGMS(Army).

In its orders passed on August 1, 2018, the SC had quashed the appointment of the DGMS(Army). In doing so, it upheld the AFT judgment that allowed a petition filed by Maj Gen (now Lt Gen) Manomoy Ganguly, who challenged the appointment on grounds of seniority and merit.

The AFT, while quashing the government’s choice for the post of DGMS (Army), had also ruled that Ganguly be given the post. On August 10, the government posted Air Marshal Rajvir Singh, then DGMS (IAF), as DGMS (Army) in the rank of Lt Gen. Medical officers are rotated amongst three services and don the uniform and ranks of the service they are posted to.

Ganguly, whose promotion to Lt Gen had been notified by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet in January, is still heading the medical branch at Southern Command, a post tenable by a Maj Gen. Following Rajvir’s posting, he again moved the SC, staking his claim for the Army’s top medical post.

In its August 1 order, the SC disagreed with AFT’s conclusion that the appointment to the post of DGMS (Army) is not based on seniority alone and ruled the AFT’s direction that Ganguly be straightaway appointed as DGMS (Army) may not be proper.

New Delhi, August 20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent a letter to his newly elected Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan, conveying that India was looking for constructive and meaningful engagement with his country.

Modi noted that India was committed to peaceful neighbourly ties with Pakistan, official sources said, quoting from the letter.

The prime minister also stressed the need to work for a terror-free South Asia, they said.

The prime minister conveyed to Khan that India was looking for constructive and meaningful engagement with Pakistan, the sources said.

Khan was sworn in as Pakistan’s 22nd prime minister on Friday. PTI