NEW DELHI: The following are the salient features of the proposed anti-graft Lokpal bill introduced by the government in the Lok Sabha on Thursday:

LOKPAL AND ITS ROLE

The bill proposes to establish autonomous and independent institutions called Lokpal at the central level and and Lokayukta for states. These shall have powers of superintendence and direction for holding a preliminary inquiry, causing an investigation to be made and prosecution of offences in respect of complaints under any law for the prevention of corruption.

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A Statement from the International Dalit Solidarity Network forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission

We, over hundred Dalit activists and social movement leaders from the caste affected countries of Bangladesh, India, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Senegal and Yemen, solidarity networks from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, members of International Organizations, International Non Governmental Organizations, and researchers, united for the International Consultation on Good Practices and Strategies to Eliminate Caste Based Discrimination, and launched this Declaration and Global Call for Action.

Building upon the Kathmandu Dalit Declaration (2004), the Ambedkar Principles (2005), The Hague Declaration on the Human Rights and Dignity of Dalit Women (2006), and the Geneva Declaration for the Decisive Decade against Discrimination Based on Work and Descent (2011);

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To,

Hon'ble Shri Kapil Sibal

Human Resource Development Minister

Government of India

Subject: Regarding OBC quota implementation in Delhi University.

Sir,

We wish to draw your attention to the news item that appeared in different newspapers on October 7, 2011. The headline in The Hindustan Times says - HC asks DU to convert 50 vacant OBC seats into General. The news item says that - The Delhi high court has directed Delhi University (DU) to convert the 50 vacant OBC seats in the LLB course in to General category in the current academic year and give admission to students in the waiting list.

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by Abusaleh Shariff

There is nothing in the Constitution which bars identification of beneficiaries of public programmes based on religion. 

Of late, there has been a debate on whether public programmes such as school education, scholarships, health-care delivery and access to microcredit can be targeted at beneficiaries based on religion; some consider this ‘unconstitutional' and argue that it amounts to discrimination. I highlight the constitutional provisions and argue that there is nothing in the Constitution which bars identification of beneficiaries based on religion. Religious identity is listed on a par with race, caste, sex and place of origin, all in the same line, and these other traits are used to identify beneficiaries.

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by L Lalit Singh 

(Calling for CBI probe or enquiry by a Judicial Commission) 

The news of rampant mark-tampering by way of destroying the answer scripts of all aspirant candidates of the Primary Teachers written test examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education through bureaucratic bungling and corruption have been haunting and letting loose “the reign of Terror”, disturbing the minds of the people of Manipur for the last 5 years or so since 2006 onwards. Thus Manipur has become perils of a republic of scandals. Decategorisation and reservation norms are flouted in violation of all existing statutory recruitment rules and regulations of recruitment procedures. This is not only a very disgraceful and unjudicious crime, committed by the appointing corrupt-maniac authorities of the Govt., but also an unpardonable sin which is sinner than sin. Corruption is eating into the vitals of the state enfeebling and crimping law and orders of the state.

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TO BE INTRODUCED BEFORE THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENT.

By

Dr.Udit Raj,

(Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations).

Other leaders included in the delegation are P. S Krishnan- Former IAS, Shabnam Hashmi- Anhed, Vinod Diwakar-Advocate, Joseph Dsouza, John Dayal-All India Christian Council, Prof. Ravi Varma Kumar- Former, Chairman, Karnataka, Backward Commission, Yusuf Ansari- Gen. Secy, Peace Party, Chandrapal Singh - Gen.Secy., Indian Justice Party, Vinod Kumar- National Treasurer, SC/ST Confederation, Aziz Burney-Editor, Urdu Sahara, Ivan Kostaka-Editor, Forward Press, Ibrahim Qureshi-Ex Minister, Abraham Mathai-Vice Chairman, MS. Minorities Commission, Sunil Sardar- President, Satyasodhak Samaj, Imam Umar IlayasiAI Imam Organization, M R Ghyasi- Convener, Sir Syed Foundation, , Dilip Mandal-Journalist, Mast Ram Kapoor-Thinker, Catholic Bishop M S Scaria, Dr. Mahendra Rana- Gautam Buddha Rural Development Institute, Subba Rao-Advocate, Hany Babu, Educationalist.

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A Central Sector Scheme of “Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students” is being funded by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for providing qualitative coaching to students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes.

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