How to protect your land from illegal possession suggests B.S.Ghuman, NRI Lawyer

Invest in farm land the legal way & profit from it

Investment on a piece of land is a safe bet as it assures huge return on investment. But how safe is your property deal? With land grabbers on the prowl and often multiple individuals claiming ownership of a single plot, buyers have to be extremely careful before investing in land, and also take steps to prevent encroachments.

NRI Law Group suggests some do`s and don`ts to lock a legal and smooth land deal.

Legal Issues

Don't Forget To Ask A Good Law Firm To Do Due Paper Work!

Once you have zeroed in on the land, you have to turn your attention to the most important hurdle you may have to surmount: the legal issues. Tell yourself again and again that this is the most crucial step involved in buying a piece of agricultural land. Mr. Ghuman suggests an easy way out: "Ask a sound law firm to do due diligence. Ensure that the title of the land is clear. If you do not have the wherewithal to check the legal issues, then engage a proper realtor or local broker to check them." "The most common mistake is that people don't see if the land has been properly acquired or not, whether the farmers have been rehabilitated or not. There can be numerous problems. You buy land and then realise there are many issues," says Ghuman. He gives some useful tips on how to avoid such mistakes: "Study the state bylaws before buying agricultural land. Land should not have any encumbrance or litigation on it. Also, have a thorough title due-diligence done on the land with at least 30 years historical title check done. There should be no minor, etc, as owner of the land. Make sure that there are no village roads/lanes, well, etc, on the land and there are no LT/HT electrical wires running thought the land." Get your land demarcated clearly, and ensure that the seller gets the boundary wall or fencing done before the title is transferred, he says.Before signing the cheque for the purchase, you need to carefully plan how you are going to take care of the land. Living in a city and taking care of a land far away won't be an easy task. Ghuman suggests a viable solution: "You can hire contract farming firms that will man age the land for you. These contract farming firms may be on a profit-sharing basis. Prior to the acquisition of the land, a contract farming firm could do the testing of the soil to determine what crop can be grown."

Security Issues

Security issues related to such land are usually more complex, feel experts. "If you buy land in a community society then at least there is somebody to look after the land. But if you buy an independent plot, then there is the problem of guarding it as well, which can become very costly," says Ghuman. "Get the fencing and security right, it is very important," says Narayan. "Prima facie, one needs to make sure that there is no land grabbing or the neighbour doesn't extend the boundaries to your land. Hence, basic costs are for creating a boundary wall and a guard," says Ghuman.

A Home Away From Home

But don't start building holiday home in the air, though. Laws prohibit building of holiday homes on agricultural land. Ghuman says, "A farm land is ideally a piece of land where you can do farming. It should not be confused with a holiday home. Different states have different laws for conversion of farm land into a holiday home, motel, hotel. There is a process laid down by each state which governs the change of land use." So, before you build a holiday home, study the laws of the state where you plan to buy the land. Ghuman warns that holiday homes are not great investment options. "A holiday home is mainly a lifestyle option. There's not much scope for investment in such a home because the liquidity is not great." But make no mistake, land is always a valuable investment. "Holding land may be sensible, given the increasing demand for food grains," says Ghuman. "If you have already bought land, it is better to hold on to it as the purchase cost is not likely to be very high," says Ghuman.

We get redressed NRI property encroachment cases faster: Advocate J.P.S. Ghuman

Edmonton (TNP) -  Staying outside India and having to deal with Property issues in the country, can be really a troublesome and a tuff job. Living overseas with limited ability to supervise their property,Non Resident Indians (NRIs) are often victims of property encroachment in India. "Typically people buy land for investment purposes and may seldom visit the plot of land. Such land becomes an easy target for encroachment because the wrong-doers know that the person is not supervising/ checking on the land and they also know that on encroachment it is difficult for the owner to fight a legal battle in absentia. Similarly, houses of NRIs are soft targets where tenants who have lived long enough may refuse to vacate a rented place. In most situations, the legal way of eviction could be time consuming because the tenancy laws in most states are skewed in favor of the tenants," explains Advocate J.P.S.Ghuman, Managing Director of NRI Legal Matters while talking with The NRI Post. 

A possessor enjoys certain judicial protection against third parties even if he is not the owner. This is in order to obviate unlawful acts of violence against the person in possession. However, illegal occupants take advantage of the prevalent laws with respect to possession and many owners face a lot of problem and harassment to get back their properties. The problem is worse in cases of NRIs who are not physically present to look after the properties and forced to depend on locals to look after the properties and litigation if any.

Prevention, then, is obviously better than cure and we have seen in an earlier article the various steps NRIs can take to prevent property encroachment. However, if your property has already been encroached upon, don't lose heart. "There are remedies provided under the law to get back the properties or protect any third party trespassing or interfering in the peaceful possession," Singh points out. But, as Sunder says, "be mentally prepared for a long haul." 
"Remedies are available under section 5 and 6 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963. A person who is dispossessed from his property can get possession on the basis of title and may recover possession merely by proving previous possession and subsequent wrongful dispossession," says Singh. 

Steps to get it back:-

Step 1: Get all the related documents 

In order to be able to prove that, it is important to have your documents in order. "To establish right on the property the owner or a person claiming possession must have documents such as the title deeds, jamabandis, mutation/ intkal, copy of the Will (if any) where the property has been inherited by way of a Will, original purchase agreement/sale deed, electricity bills, water bills and telephone bills etc.," Singh advices. "In addition, keep all payment receipts, cheques, bank drafts (if any) paid to the sellers and annual property tax receipts," advises Bangalore based Advocate Lokesh Anjanappa. 

Step 2: Seek legal help 

Find yourself a lawyer who can help you to quickly draft suitable notices of eviction and have them sent to the illegal occupants. "Discuss at length with the lawyer every minute detail pertaining to the disputed property and file a civil suit seeking 'restraint order' or 'injunctive relief' (Stay) against any continuing threat. Try and obtain copies of the encroacher's documents on which basis an illegitimate claim has suddenly cropped-up in air," says Anjanappa. 

Step 3: File a complaint with police 

"In addition to the Specific Relief Act, proceedings can also take place under section 145 of the Criminal Procedure Code. In states like Punjab, the Government has taken steps such as setting up of NRI police stations where a person who apprehends trespassing or wrongful dispossession can lodge a written complaint. In fact, a written complaint can be sent to the Superintendent of Police (SP) by way of registered post. Even if the SP fails to respond, a private complaint in the court can be filed through an advocate and the case can then be pursued through a special power of attorney (a relative or a close friend) where it is difficult for the owner to be present in India," says Singh. "You can even file a complaint in any police station if there are any threats of bodily harm from the party," says Sunder. 

Step 4: Be open to negotiation 

"Knowing that there are people backing you up could make the encroacher change mind. Also, keep the window of negotiation open so that the futility of it can be impressed upon the encroacher. Considering the financial impact on the property, legal fees, professional charges, lengthy trial period, related expenses, etc., the encroacher may think it more wise to invite the litigating party for some favorable out of court negotiations/settlement," Sunder says. 

Step 5: Be patient 

"Timelines in litigation in India are difficult to speculate. On an average a case takes a minimum of 2-3 years. The cost of litigation varies from case to case. It depends on the city where the case is filed (litigation cost is steep in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmadabad), the complexity of the case and type of lawyer engaged (for instance a designated Senior counsel who might charge on per hearing basis or lawyer with an experience of 10-15 years)," Singh says. Getting back encroached property is often a long winding legal process. The above steps provide a broad guide on what to do if you are in a similar situation. Do consult a professional for your individual circumstance.

Our Non Resident Indian clients can trust us to solve all the legal hassles pertaining to their Property matters in India. We have a team of Property consultants & Legal Advisors,  who is well-versed with all such issues and facilitates and quickly resolve  such iessues.

Any problem, in any Govt. Department relating to your Property in India, you can depute us to handle such matters and forget your worries &. rest is our job and you may relax. Your all the problems will be settled on a very nominal expense, we have the experience of handling such issues of our various clients, successfully who are residing in UK, USA, Canada and Middle East, etc. Mr. Singh added.

40k Indians may be allowed to work in Europe

London, March 2
At least 40,000 Indians may be allowed to work in Europe, including 12,000 in Britain alone, under a secret trade plan between the European Union and New Delhi, a media report said, citing leaked documents.
The EU has proposed that 40,000 Indian workers will be admitted to Europe without any labour market test as part of the plan to boost export trade with New Delhi, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported, quoting a leaked copy of the EU/India Free Trade Agreement, which is due to be signed later this year.
Central to the agreement is the EU’s offer on what is known as “Mode 4”, which will allow Indian companies to bring temporary workers into the EU, the newspaper said.
According to the leaked papers, out of 40,000 Indians who would be allowed to work in Europe, Britain has been asked to take 12,000, which is 30 per cent of the total allocation, despite the UK making up 12 per cent of the EU’s population.
The 12,000 Indian migrants, who would be able to live and work in Britain for six months, will be in addition to people given visas under Britain’s supposedly strict immigration cap, the newspaper said.
A large number of beneficiaries will be IT workers who already arrive in Britain from India in large numbers, the report added. According to EU officials, in return for opening up the jobs market, countries such as Britain will be helped to land lucrative export deals.
The negotiations on the India deal, first initiated by Former EU Trade Commissioner Lord Mandelson in 2007 and subsequently led by the Business Department, was going on in the shadows for years, the daily said.

Lawyer of tortured Indian maid in US to target diplomat's assets

NEW YORK: A day after a US judge recommended nearly USD 1.5 million to an Indian maid for the "barbaric treatment" by an Indian diplomat and her husband, the woman's lawyer today said he plans to go after the couple's assets as he asked New Delhi to take appropriate action in the case. 

US judge Frank Maas has recommended thatShanti Gurung be awarded USD 1.5 million in compensation by Neena Malhotra, an Indian diplomat who had worked at the Indian Consulate General in Manhattan, and her husband Jogesh Malhotra. 

Gurung has alleged that the Malhotras treated her unfairly, giving her a meagre salary for long hours of work. 

"The Indian government has consistently ignored this matter and refused to take responsibility for it, which we think is very irresponsible of them and we are hoping that they will now behave appropriately," Mitchell Karlan, the lawyer for maid Shanti Gurung, told reporters here. 

In New Delhi, sources said that it was "premature" to comment on the issue as the compensation is recommendatory in nature. 

"It is premature for us to react. It is only a recommendation to the judge. We will have to wait till the process is over," sources said. 

Karlan said it is "regrettable" that the Malhotras have "refused" for over a year to participate in the case and defend themselves. 

"Now we have a judgement and we intend to execute on their assets. We intend to begin the process of tracking down Malhotras assets," to ensure compensation is paid to Gurung, he said. 

The Malhotras had brought Gurung, who is in her early twenties, to work as their domestic help in New York in 2006.

ਪਿਛਲੇ ਸਾਲ ਯੂਰਪੀ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ 'ਚ ਗ਼ੈਰ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ 1500 ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਮਰੇ

ਰੋਮ (ਇਟਲੀ) 5 ਫਰਵਰੀ - ਜਿਥੇ ਯੂਰਪੀ ਮੁਲਕ ਆਰਥਿਕ ਮੰਦਵਾੜੇ ਦੇ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਝੰਬੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ, ਉਥੇ ਹੁਣ ਅਰਬ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਤੇ ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨ ਮੂਲ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਕਾਮੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਰੋਜ਼ੀ-ਰੋਟੀ ਦੀ ਭਾਲ ਵਿਚ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵੱਲ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਸੋਚੇ-ਸਮਝੇ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਗਰੀਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਹੁਣ ਯੂਰਪੀ ਮੁਲਕ ਇਟਲੀ ਦੀ ਹਾਲਤ ਬਦ ਤੋਂ ਬਦਤਰ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਆ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਬੇਰੁਜ਼ਗਾਰੀ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਸਰਦਾਰੀ ਇਟਲੀ 'ਤੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਕਾਇਮ ਕਰ ਲਈ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਫਿਰ ਵੀ ਅਰਬ ਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਏਸ਼ੀਆ ਮੁਲਕਾਂ ਦਾ ਗ਼ੈਰ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਇਟਲੀ ਵੱਲ ਜਾਰੀ ਹੈ। ਯੂ. ਐਨ. ਓ. ਦੀ ਰਫ਼ਿਊਜ਼ੀ ਏਜੰਸੀ (ਯੂ. ਐਨ. ਐਚ. ਸੀ. ਆਰ.) ਦੀ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਮੁਤਾਬਿਕ ਸਾਲ 2011 ਵਿਚ ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਰਸਤੇ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਯੂਰਪੀ ਮੁਲਕਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਦਾਖਲ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਅਰਬ ਅਤੇ ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨਾਂ ਮੂਲ ਦੇ ਗ਼ੈਰ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ 1500 ਦੇ ਕਰੀਬ ਮੌਤ ਦੇ ਮੂੰਹ ਵਿਚ ਜਾ ਪਏ ਦੱਸੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਗੱਲ ਦਾ ਖੁਲਾਸਾ ਟੈਲੀਫੋਨਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਈਮੇਲਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਇਲੈਕਟ੍ਰਿਕ ਸਾਧਨਾਂ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕੀਤੇ ਅੰਕੜਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਆਧਾਰ 'ਤੇ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਯੂ. ਐਨ. ਓ. ਨੇ ਯੂਰਪੀ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਦਾਖਲ ਹੋ ਰਹੇ ਗ਼ੈਰ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਗ਼ੈਰ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਕਣ ਲਈ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਦੀ ਰੋਕਥਾਮ ਲਈ ਬਣਾਈ ਗਈ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਏਜੰਸੀ ਦੀ ਸੰਨ 2007 ਵਿਚ ਸਥਾਪਨਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੀ। ਜਿਸ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਇਕੱਤਰ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਅੰਕੜੇ ਮੁਤਾਬਿਕ ਸੰਨ 2007 ਵਿਚ ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਰਸਤੇ ਰਾਹੀਂ 650 ਬੰਦੇ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ ਸਨ। ਏਜੰਸੀ ਦੇ ਤਾਜ਼ੇ ਇਕੱਤਰ ਕੀਤੇ ਅੰਕੜਿਆਂ ਮੁਤਾਬਿਕ ਸੰਨ 2008 ਵਿਚ ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਰਸਤੇ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਯੂਰਪੀ ਮੁਲਕਾਂ ਵਿਚ 54 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਗ਼ੈਰ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਦਾਖਲ ਹੋਏ ਸਨ। 2007 ਤੋਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਸੰਨ 2011 ਤੱਕ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਦਾਖਲੇ ਦੀ ਦਰ ਆਰਥਿਕ ਮੰਦੀ ਦੇ ਬੁਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਝੰਬੇ ਪਏ ਯੂਰਪੀ ਦੇਸ਼ ਗਰੀਸ ਅਤੇ ਇਟਲੀ ਵਿਚ ਹੋਈ ਦੱਸੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ। ਏਜੰਸੀ ਦੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਨੇ ਇਕ ਹੋਰ ਸਨਸਨੀਖੇਜ਼ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਵਾ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਸੰਨ 2011 ਵਿਚ ਯੂਰਪੀ ਦੇਸ਼ ਇਟਲੀ ਵਿਚ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਗੈਰ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸ ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਰਸਤੇ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਹੋਇਆ, ਜਿਸ ਤਹਿਤ 56 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਲੋਕ ਇਟਲੀ ਵਿਚ ਦਾਖਲ ਹੋਏ, ਜੋ ਕਿ ਇਕ ਆਪਣੇ-ਆਪ ਵਿਚ ਇਕ ਰਿਕਾਰਡ ਹੈ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿਚੋਂ 28 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਗ਼ੈਰ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਅਰਬ ਦੇਸ਼ ਤੂਨੇਸ਼ਨੀਆ ਦੇ ਸੀ। ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਇਸ ਗੱਲੋਂ ਵੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੈਰਾਨ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਐਨੇ ਭਿਆਨਕ ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਤੂਫਾਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਬਾਵਜੂਦ ਲੋਕ ਆਪਣੀ ਜਾਨ ਖਤਰੇ ਵਿਚ ਪਾ ਕੇ ਯੂਰਪੀ ਮੁਲਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਰਨ ਲੈ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ।

ਪੰਜਾਬਣ ਵਕੀਲ ਗੁਰਜੀਤ ਚਾਹਲ ਦੀ ਫਰਮ ''ਬਰਮਿੰਘਮ ਲਾਅ ਸੁਸਾਇਟੀ" ਦੇ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਲਈ ਨਾਮਜ਼ਦ

ਬਰਮਿੰਘਮ, 27 ਜਨਵਰੀ-ਵੈਸਟ ਮਿਡਲੈਂਡ 'ਚ ਅਧਾਰਿਤ ਉੱਘੀ ਪੰਜਾਬਣ ਵਕੀਲ ਗੁਰਜੀਤ ਚਾਹਲ ਦੀ ਫਰਮ ਨੂੰ ਬਰਮਿੰਘਮ ਲਾਅ ਸੁਸਾਇਟੀ ਵਲੋਂ 2012 ਦੇ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਲਈ ''ਲਾਅ ਆਫ ਦਾ ਯੀਅਰ" ਕੈਟਾਗਰੀ ਲਈ ਨਾਮਜ਼ਦ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ । ਬੀਬੀ ਗੁਰਜੀਤ ਚਾਹਲ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਸੂਚਨਾ ਦਿੰਦਿਆਂ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਲਾਅ ਫਰਮ ਦੀ ਨਾਮਜ਼ਦਗੀ ਨਾਲ ਨਾਲ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਫਰਮ ਦੇ ਇਕ ਟਰੇਨੀ ਵਕੀਲ ਮਾਰਕਹੈਂਡਜ਼ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਵੀ ''ਟਰੇਨੀ ਆਫ ਦਾ ਯੀਅਰ" ਕੈਟਾਗਰੀ ਲਈ ਨਾਮਜ਼ਦ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ। ਦੱਸਣਯੋਗ ਕਿ ਬਰਮਿੰਘਮ ਲਾਅ ਸੁਸਾਇਟੀ ਦਾ 2012 ਦਾ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਵੀਰਵਾਰ 22 ਮਾਰਚ, 2012 ਨੂੰ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਜਿਸ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਜੇਤੂਆਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਐਲਾਨੇ ਜਾਣਗੇ।

Garry Sandhu gets Deported to India

"We will not tolerate abuse of the immigration rules.."

Garry Sandhu has now been deported back to India by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) further to losing appeals to be allowed to stay in the country since his arrest in October 2011. DESIblitz officially confirmed the arrest of Garry Sandhu after receiving an email statement from the UK Border Agency revealing the shocking news at the time.

The UKBA confirmed the deportation of Garry Sandhu and informed DESIblitz of the conclusion of the case of the Bhangra Singer who became very popular for his songs in 2011. The statement from the UKBA said the following.

A rising star of the Asian music scene in the UK has been sent back to India because he was illegally in the country.

Garry Sandhu, aged 29, first came to the UK in 2002 but, under a different identity, claimed asylum which was refused by the UK Border Agency.

He was then placed on immigration bail where he should have reported regularly to the agency. But, instead, he absconded and the UK Border Agency did not know his whereabouts until he received a criminal conviction for obstructing a police officer in January 2008 when he was caught driving without insurance.

He was then placed back on immigration bail while the UK Border Agency worked to obtain emergency travel documents to remove him because he did not have a passport.

After an emergency travel document had been obtained, officers visited his address in Hanover Road, Rowley Regis in October 2009 but discovered he had absconded again.

The elusive Bhangra star was finally arrested on 27 October 2011 and detained.

He was temporarily released in November while the UK Border Agency considered further representations. These were rejected and Mr Sandhu was re-detained on 16 December before being removed to India last night (12 January).

Gail Adams, UK Border Agency regional director, said:

“We will not tolerate abuse of the immigration rules. This man tried to evade our officers by adopting an alias and absconding. But his arrest and removal should send a message to all immigration offenders that they can run but they can’t hide. We will track them down and we will remove them.”

Over the years Garry Sandhu has had a number of Bhangra chart topping songs including ‘Dil De De,’ ‘Fresh,’ ‘Sahan To Pyariya’ and ‘Tohar’ and his fan base has grown immensely both in the UK and abroad. His popularity earned Garry the ‘Best Male Act’ award at the 2011 Brit Asia Awards.

The media attention drawn to the case of Garry’s arrest resulted in fans getting behind Garry to be allowed to stay. In a DESIblitz poll when asked if Garry Sandhu should be deported, 78% of voters said ‘No’ and 22% said ‘Yes’ in the poll. Comments on our coverage of the case demonstrated the interest in the singer on our article: UK Immigration arrests Garry Sandhu.

Many reports on Asian and Desi websites incorrectly stated the singer was staying in the UK giving his fans false hopes. Whilst the reality of the case was that his legal appeals were not going to be enough to make it viable for him to be allowed to stay, despite his bail in November 2011.

While in detention Garry Sandhu updated his fan page on Facebook with the following message:

Big hello to everyone..sorry I havent spoken to all of u for a while. I’m still in the detention centre & theres no internet access here. I wanted to let all my fans know that I’m going back to India tomorrow. Never gonna forget all the love you have all shown me. I hope to see u lot soon, but if not, please keep supporting my music. Wherever I go in the world I will still appreciate the love and support u all give me. Will never forget u. To my haters, u will never stop me making music wherever I am in the world. Rab rakha mitro

DJ Dips is a music producer that Garry Sandhu worked with on the hit songs such as ‘Tohar,’ ‘Addidas’ and ‘Janta Di Pasand’ and he has stated that Garry’s music will continue despite him no longer being in the UK. He said that there is already activity of new videos being shot in India and new songs being produced with Garry. New songs include a duet with Sudesh Kumari which is a cover of a Chamkila song and also Garry’s new album.

On January 12th 2012, Garry Sandhu returned to India with his parents who came on a visit since he was arrested in October 2011. Many fans would still argue that Garry should have been allowed to stay but it gradually became evident as his case progressed that the chances of him staying were less likely. Communicating an important message from the UKBA that immigrants shall not be allowed to stay in the country if their case confirms their illegal status.

ਹਾਲੈਂਡ 'ਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਬੱਚੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਨਾਂਅ ਨਾਲ 'ਸਿੰਘ' ਤੇ 'ਕੌਰ' ਦਰਜ ਕਰਵਾ ਸਕਣਗੇ

ਮਾਨਹਾਈਮ 20 ਜਨਵਰੀ - ਯੂਰਪ ਦੇ ਕਈ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ 'ਚ ਵਸਦੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਪਰਿਵਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਉਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਵੱਡੀ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਿਲ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਦ ਨਵ-ਜਨਮੀਆਂ ਲੜਕੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਂਅ ਨਾਲ ਸਥਾਨਕ ਸ਼ਹਿਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਕੌਰ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ 'ਸਿੰਘ' ਦਰਜ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਕਈ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ 'ਚ ਲੜਕਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਂਅ ਦੇ ਪਿਛੇ 'ਕੌਰ' ਵੀ ਲਿਖ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਤਰਕ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜੇ ਲੜਕੀ ਦੇ ਬਾਪ ਦਾ ਪਰਿਵਾਰਕ ਨਾਂਅ 'ਸਿੰਘ' ਹੈ, ਫਿਰ ਲੜਕੀ ਨੂੰ ਮਨਜੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਮਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਹੀ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਅਜਿਹੇ ਵਰਤਾਰੇ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਹਾਲੈਂਡ 'ਚ ਵਸਦੇ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਨੂੰ 2002 ਤੋਂ ਕਰਨਾ ਪੈ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਸੰਗਠਨ ਦੇ ਆਗੂ ਸ: ਭੁਪਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਹਾਲੈਂਡ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਪੱਧਰ ਤੱਕ ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਉਣ ਦੇ ਯਤਨ ਉਦੋਂ ਸਫਲ ਹੋਏ ਜਦ ਹਾਲੈਂਡ ਦੇ ਇਮੀਗ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ, ਇੰਟਗ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਤੇ ਅਸਾਈਲਮ ਵਿਭਾਗਾਂ ਦੇ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਜੀ. ਬੀ ਐਮ. ਲੀਅਰਸ ਨੇ ਸ: ਭੁਪਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਲਿਖੀ ਚਿੱਠੀ 'ਚ ਇੰਕਸ਼ਾਫ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿ ਭਵਿੱਖ 'ਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਂਅ ਸਿੱਖ ਧਰਮ ਦੀਆਂ ਪ੍ਰੰਪਰਾਵਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਹੀ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਦਰਜ ਕਰੇਗਾ। ਲੀਅਰਸ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਂਅ ਸਹੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਰਜ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਏ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਸੋਧ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੇ ਪੱਤਰ 'ਚ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸਿੱਖ ਸਿੱਖੀ ਸਰੂਪ 'ਚ ਪੁਲਿਸ, ਫੌਜ ਤੇ ਨਿਆਂਪਾਲਿਕਾ ਖੇਤਰਾਂ 'ਚ ਦਫਤਰੀ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ। 'ਅਜੀਤ' ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਸ: ਭੁਪਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਹਾਲੈਂਡ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਸਿੱਧੇ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਜਨਤਕ ਸਬੰਧਾਂ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਅਦਾਰਿਆਂ 'ਚ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਦੇਣ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਝਿੱਜਕ ਅਜੇ ਦੂਰ ਹੋਣੀ ਬਾਕੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਵੀ ਮੁਹਿੰਮ ਜਾਰੀ ਰੱਖੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਹਾਲੈਂਡ ਦੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਂਅ ਵਾਲਾ ਲਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਯੂਰਪ ਦੇ ਦੂਜੇ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ 'ਚ ਵੀ ਸਹਾਈ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ।

ਸਿੱਖ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਜਰਮਨੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੇ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਦਾ ਸਵਾਗਤ

ਹਾਲੈਂਡ 'ਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਵਾਂ ਵਾਲੀ ਸਮੱਸਿਆ ਹੱਲ ਹੋਣ 'ਤੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਜਰਮਨੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਮੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਖਨਿਆਣ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਸਵਾਗਤ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਸ: ਭੁਪਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਹਾਲੈਂਡ ਦੇ ਅਣਥੱਕ ਯਤਨਾਂ ਸਦਕਾ ਮਿਲੀ ਕਾਮਯਾਬੀ 'ਤੇ ਸ: ਭੁਪਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਵਧਾਈ ਦਿੰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੋਰ ਮਸਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਜਿੱਠਣ ਲਈ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਹਿਯੋਗ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਵਾ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ।

ਯੂ. ਐਨ. ਓ. ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਲਏ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਸਾ

 

ਲੰਡਨ, 19 ਜਨਵਰੀ (ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੱਧਨੀ ਕਲਾਂ)-ਯੂ. ਐਨ. ਓ. ਦੇ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸ: ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਫਰਾਂਸ ਦੇ ਕੇਸ 'ਤੇ ਨਜ਼ਰਸਾਨੀ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਬਿਲਕੁੱਲ ਦਰੁਸਤ ਹੈ, ਮੈਂ ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਵਿਚ ਇਕ ਬਹਿਸ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਵੀ ਕਿਹਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦਾ ਅਨਿੱਖੜਵਾਂ ਅੰਗ ਹੈ, ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਉਤਾਰਨਾ ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਮ ਕਦੇ ਬਰਦਾਸ਼ਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੀ। ਦਸਤਾਰ ਹਿੰਦੋਸਤਾਨੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਸਿਰ ਦਾ ਤਾਜ਼ ਵੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਈਲਿੰਗ ਸਾਊਥਾਲ ਦੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਵਰਿੰਦਰ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ ਨੇ ਕਹੇ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਹੁਣ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਭਰ ਦੇ ਮੁਲਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਇਕ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਬਣਾ ਲੈਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਕਿ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਕਿਸੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਾਨੀ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਨਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਪਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਫਰਾਂਸ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਰਵਈਆ ਬਦਲ ਕੇ ਯੂ. ਐਨ. ਓ. ਦੇ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਮੁਤਾਬਿਕ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਤਬਦੀਲੀ ਜਲਦੀ ਕਰਨੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ।

ਇਟਾਲੀਅਨ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਤੋਂ ਇਕ ਸਾਲ ਦੇ ਵਰਕ ਪ੍ਰਮਿਟ ਜਾਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਐਲਾਨ

ਰੋਮ (ਇਟਲੀ), 18 ਜਨਵਰੀ -ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਆਰਥਿਕ ਮੰਦੀ ਦੇ ਥਪੇੜਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਬੁਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਝੰਬੇ ਪਏ ਯੂਰਪੀ ਮੁਲਕ ਇਟਲੀ ਨੇ ਕੰਮਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਆਈ ਮੰਦੀ ਨੂੰ ਧਿਆਨ ਵਿਚ ਰੱਖਦਿਆਂ ਹੋਇਆਂ ਇਟਲੀ ਵਿਚ ਰੁਜ਼ਗਾਰ ਦੀ ਭਾਲ ਵਿਚ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸ ਭੋਗ ਰਹੇ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ੀ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਨਵੇਂ ਸਾਲ ਦਾ ਤੋਹਫ਼ਾ ਦਿੰਦਿਆਂ ਹੋਇਆ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ੀ ਮੂਲ ਦੇ ਬੇਰੁਜ਼ਗਾਰ ਕਾਮਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਕੰਮ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਰਤ ਤੋਂ ਛੇ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਤੋਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਇਕ ਸਾਲ ਤੱਕ ਦੇ ਵਰਕ ਪ੍ਰਮਿਟ ਜਾਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਮਹੱਤਵ ਪੂਰਨ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ। ਜਿੱਥੇ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੇ ਇਸ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਦੀ ਇਟਲੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਸਿਆਸੀ ਪਾਰਟੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਜਨਤਕ ਲੋਕ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਰਪਿਤ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਲਾਘਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਉਥੇ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ੀ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਵਿਚ ਵੀ ਅਥਾਹ ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਪਾਈ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਉਪਰੋਕਤ ਐਲਾਨ ਇਟਲੀ ਦੇ ਇੰਮੀਗ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਆਂਦਰੇ ਰਿਕਾਰਦੀ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਰੋਮ ਵਿਖੇ ਇਕ ਪ੍ਰੈੱਸ ਕਾਨਫ਼ਰੰਸ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਸ੍ਰੀ ਆਂਦਰ ਰਿਕਾਰਦੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਕੰਮਾਂ ਕਾਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਕਾਮਿਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਮੱਸਿਆਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਧਿਆਨ ਵਿਚ ਰੱਖਦਿਆਂ ਹੋਇਆਂ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ੀ ਕਾਮਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਨੀਤੀ ਵਿਚ ਕੁਝ ਨਵੀਆਂ ਮੱਦਾਂ ਦਰਜ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਜਿਸ ਤਹਿਤ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਰਾਹਤ ਮਿਲੇਗੀ ਕੋ ਕਿ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਨੌਕਰੀਆਂ ਗੁਆ ਕੇ ਗ਼ੈਰ ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਬਣਨ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਸਨ। ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਿਕਾਦਰੀ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਇਟਲੀ 'ਚ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਮਾਪਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਇਥੋਂ ਦੀ ਨਾਗਰਿਕਤਾ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਵਿਚ ਵੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਜਲਦੀ ਸੁਧਾਰ ਕਰਨ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਉਪਰੋਕਤ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਦੀ ਇਟਲੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਮਿਊਂਸਪਲ ਕੌਂਸਲਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਐਸੋਸੀਏਸ਼ਨ ਨੇ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਲੱਭਣ ਲਈ ਸਮਾਂ-ਬੱਧ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੀ ਸੀਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਮੇਅਰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਲੀਸਾਂਦਰੇ ਲਮਬਾਰਦੇ ਜੋ ਕਿ ਮਿਊਂਸਪਲ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਐਸੋਸੀਏਸ਼ਨ, ਇਟਲੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਦੇ ਮੁਖੀ ਵੀ ਹਨ, ਨੇ ਇਸ ਕਦਮ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਏਕੀਕਰਣ ਲਈ ਅਗਾਂਹ ਵਧੂ ਕਰਾਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਉਪਰੰਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਆਂਦਰੇ ਰਿਕਾਰਦੀ ਅਤੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਲਾਉਰਾ ਬੁਲਦਰਾਨੀ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਹੇਠ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਡੈਲੀਗੇਟ ਨਾਲ ਬਾਰੀ ਵਿਖੇ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ੀ ਮੂਲ ਦੇ ਗ਼ੈਰ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਸਰਨਾਰਥੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਕੈਂਪ ਦੀ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸ੍ਰੀਮਾਨ ਵੇਂਦੋਲਾ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਮੰਗ ਕੀਤੀ ਕਿ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸ਼ਰਨਾਰਥੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਤਰਸ ਦੇ ਅਧਾਰ 'ਤੇ ਪੱਕਿਆਂ ਕਰੇ। ਪੁਲਗੀਆ ਖੇਤਰ ਦੇ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਨਿਚੀ ਵੈਨਦੋਲਾ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਬੋਸੀ-ਫੀਨੀ ਇਮੀਗ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਵਿਚ ਤਬਦੀਲੀ ਹੋਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ।

Portugal SC rejects plea on Salem’s extradition

New Delhi/Mumbai, Jan 17

Rejecting the CBI's plea, Portugal's Supreme Court upheld its lower court's decision that the extradition treaty with India was violated in Abu Salem's case when new charges attracting death penalty were slapped against the underworld don.

Reacting to the order, the CBI today clarified that the Supreme Court has not cancelled Salem’s extradition and that only a technical point had been raised. It also said the order is not expected to have any repercussions on the status of Salem and on the ongoing trial against him in India.

The Supreme Court gave its order on Saturday while dismissing a CBI appeal against the lower court decision that had held that rules had been breached in the extradition of 43-year-old Salem in 2005.

A CBI spokesperson said in New Delhi that the option of filing an appeal before the Constitutional Court in Portugal was available to the investigating agency and was likely to be exercised.

Following the pronouncement of the SC order, Salem, who is behind bars, moved a TADA court in Mumbai seeking closure of the trial against him in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, saying continuing it will be illegal. His plea is expected to come up tomorrow.

Salem, the prime accused along with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, and his girlfriend Monica Bedi were extradited to India on November 11, 2005, after a marathon legal process in Portugal lasting three years.

The extradition of Salem, who was also wanted in various cases including the murder of noted film producer Gulshan Kumar, came after an assurance by Indian government to Portugal that he would not be given death penalty, a key requirement in extradition proceedings in Europe.

New Delhi had assured Portugal courts fresh charges against Salem attracted less jail term than the offences for which he had been extradited, sources said. 

Federation Council to ask Constitutional Court if senators can be directly elected

MOSCOW, December 27 - RAPSI. The Federation Council is contemplating inquiring at the Constitutional Court to clarify if the Constitution allows direct elections of senators.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said during his call-in that he considers it possible for Federation Council members to be directly elected from the candidates nominated by the parties holding parliamentary seats.

"We have already held the first meeting of a working group for developing a proposal to make the Federation Council elective and we want the Constitutional Court to clarify the Constitutional provision which states that the State Duma shall be elected and the Federation Council shall be formed from representatives of each regions legislative and executive authorities", Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko told journalists on Tuesday.

Their elucidation will help clarify how the elections should be held and whether they infringe on the rights of regional legislative and executive authorities, she said.

Matviyenko believes that one possible option is for a candidate for the governors position to run together with a candidate for the Federation Council. So far there are no options ready, but the council "will definitely find a solution", she added.

Washington says open to Russian report on human rights in U.S.

Washington considers reports from other countries on the situation with human rights in the United States as useful and is always open for them, a U.S. Department of State spokesman said commenting on a report from Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry published on Wednesday a report on the situation with human rights in foreign countries, including in the United States. The report in particular expresses concern over the Guantanamo prison, the freedom of speech and touches upon some mistakes made by the U.S. justice system.

“These kinds of human rights reports can be a useful mechanism. But we certainly don’t regard it as interference in our internal affairs when foreign governments, individuals, or organizations comment on or criticize U.S. human rights practices,” Mark Toner, the acting spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, told a daily press briefing.

The diplomat did not make any specific comments on provisions pointed out by Russia in its report, although he was particularly asked about the Guantanamo prison. He said the document is being assessed and that would take some time.

“I think we can say that we will or we may examine the report to see if there’s any importance to it… We don’t put any restrictions on access to our human rights records, and, indeed, we have an extremely unfettered press and media that hold us to that,” Toner added.

U.S. President Barack Obama suspended new military commissions for Guantanamo detainees in early 2009 and pledged to close the prison within a year. In March this year, however, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates revoked the suspension.

There are still over 170 detainees, including a Russian citizen, at Guantanamo.

Compulsory medical treatment for drug addicts unpopular worldwide, expert says

MOSCOW, December 28 - RAPSI. Drug addict compulsory treatment is not applied in the developed countries, Yevgeny Krupitsky, head of narcology department at the St. Petersburg Psychoneurological Research Institute said during a video-conference link between Moscow and St. Petersburg arranged by RIA Novosti.

The Health Ministry proposes to pass a law on compulsory medical treatment for drug addicts, regardless of whether they have previous criminal record or not. Chief narcologist of Russia Yevgeny Bryun, who supports the idea, said the law could save many drug addicts who are unable to control themselves in an addictive state.

Federal Drug Control Service head Viktor Ivanov earlier said the parliament may adopt a law on criminal responsibility for drug taking in public places by spring 2012.

There are no successful examples of addict compulsory treatment up to date, Krupitsky said.

Krupitsky said drug addicts should undergo drug tests every week so that the special monitoring group can monitor their health state and remission progress.

Ivanov shared Krupitsky's idea, saying that only 2 percent out of a million of addicts who asked for medical treatment can truly recover from drug addiction. He also alleged that the existing addict treatment model is ineffective.

Penalties for drug-related crimes in Russia

For more info visit: http://www.rapsinews.com/legislation_mm/20111212/258831678.html

Court drops extremism charges against "Bhagavad Gita as It is"

16:04 28/12/2011

TOMSK, December 28 - RAPSI, Sergei Levanenkov. A Tomsk district court has held against a local prosecutor's office in its petition to declare the Russian version of "the Bhagavad Gita as It is" Hindu poem with commentary an extremist text, RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday.

In June the Tomsk prosecutor's office appealed to the court to place the Bhagavad Gita's Russian-language version on the federal extremist materials list. The prosecutor's office initiated the case following an inspection of the Tomsk Society for Krishna Consciousness. The court was expected to pass its judgment on December 19, but the case was postponed until December 28.

The Tomsk prosecutors offices petition to declare "Bhagavad Gita as It is" an extremist text has sparked an explosion of public indignation in India and has been called a violation of Hindu rights. Several law makers have called on the Russian government to stand up for the rights of followers of Hinduism in Russia.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich commented on the Tomsk prosecutor's office's claim on Thursday. He said the prosecutor's office is challenging not the Bhagavad Gita itself, but the comments made by the book's author Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Bhagavad Gita is a Hindu scripture that is a part of the ancient Mahabharata epic.

"Bhagavad Gita as It is" is a translation of the Bhagavad Gita Hindu scripture with commentary, made by A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, in the 1960s. The book was translated into more than 60 languages.

Russian notaries to become part of e-government in 2012

MOSCOW, December 20 - RAPSI. Notaries will enjoy the single Interdepartmental Electronic Interaction System from 2012. However, people will be able to contact a notary using their computer only after legislation is adopted on notarial practice and on electronic documents, the Justice Ministry and the Federal Notarial Chamber told RIA Novosti at a Tuesday press conference.

The system is a primary component of e-government. Notaries with an electronic signature and the relevant powers will receive access to government databases.

Presently, 94 percent of the 7,560 notaries in Russia use the Single Information System, which contains 18 million entries on standard forms that may be used to verify the authenticity of a notarial document and a notarial act, 12 million searches of will notices, 4.8 million entries on probate cases, 544,000 entries on arrests and restrictions and 151,000 entries on revoked powers of attorney.

The current system enables to retrieve information on the peoples wills kept in the archives since 1980.

Taxation rules for NRIs

Here are some exemptions and tax-saving tips that non-resident Indians can avail of 
Juggling finances in one country is bad enough; having to do it in two can be baffling . When it comes to filing taxes, NRIs find themselves in this unenviable position as the Income tax rules for NRIs are different from those that are valid for residents. Here's a quick guide to NRI taxation. 

Taxes applicable: 
Income which is earned outside India by an NRI is not taxed here. An NRI doesn't have to pay tax on the interest income in a non-resident external (NRE) account or foreign currency nonresident (FCNR) account. But you must be careful about taxes you pay in your new home country as some income that is exempt in India is taxed abroad. 

Filing returns: 
There is no need to file income tax return if you don't have any income here. However, if the income accruing in India through capital gains, rent, dividend or interest is beyond the threshold limit, you will have to file tax returns. Here, too, you can claim certain deductions. So, for 2011-12 , an NRI (male, below 60 years) whose income exceeds 1.8 lakh and a person above 60 years who earns more than 2.5 lakh should file returns in India. 

Investments 
If, as a resident, you made some investments and redeemed them after becoming an NRI, these will be treated differently . For instance, NRIs cannot extend the tenure of their PPF account. Capital gainslong-term or short-term-will be applicable when you redeem/sell your past investments. If you sell shares that are listed on a recognised stock exchange in India after holding them for more than a year, you will not have to pay tax on the capital gain provided the securities transaction tax has been paid. 

Tax-saving tips 
NRIs can save on these taxes by investing in pension plans, life insurance policies and tax-saving mutual funds. The repayment by an NRI towards principal amount of home loan is eligible for deduction up to 1 lakh, while the interest payment is also allowed as a deduction. NRIs can also buy a health insurance policy here for themselves, their family and dependent parents , and claim deduction up to 35,000 for the annual premium paid. If you have been repaying an education loan, the interest paid can be claimed for deduction . NRIs can put their money in tax-saving bonds too. Capital gains up to 50 lakh earned from selling a capital asset can be invested in bonds of NHAI or REC. Investment income foreign currency bonds, are subject to tax at 20% as against the maximum rate of 30%. NRIs can invest in such assets and benefit from the lower rate. Also, an NRI can avail of lower tax rates on interest income through beneficial treaty provisions.

US call centre Bill has slim chance of becoming a law

A Bill that seeks to bar US firms that outsource call centre jobs from receiving federal grants and loans has created uproar in India, but is nowhere close to becoming a law.

The Bill, introduced by Congressman Tim Bishop, a New York Democrat, has been referred to four committees in the House of Representatives: Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services, and Education and the Workforce. Bishop introduced the legislation earlier this month.
The US Call Centre and Consumer Protection Act is cosponsored by two Republicans, Congressmen Dave McKinley of West Virginia and Michael Grimm of New York, and two other Democrats, Congressmen Mike Michaud of Maine and Gene Green of Texas.
“We are hopeful that the hearings may be forthcoming next year due to the legislation's bipartisan support,” Bishop’s spokesman Oliver Longwell told The Tribune.
Congressional sources said the Bill stands little chance of becoming a law. The Bill requires overseas call centre employees to disclose their location to consumers in America and gives customers the right to be transferred to a US-based call centre on request. The Bill has the support of the 700,000-member Communications Workers of America.
“It is common sense that we should not be rewarding companies that ship jobs overseas, while millions of qualified Americans are looking for work,” Bishop said. “Taxpayer dollars should only be used to give incentives to good corporate citizens who create American jobs,” he added. The Bill would also require the US Department of Labour to monitor firms that send call centre jobs overseas.
These firms would be ineligible for any direct or indirect federal loans or loan guarantees for five years. Customer service/call centre employment in the US has dropped from 5.2 million in 2006 to 4.7 million in 2010 as the US firms have relocated operations overseas in a bid to cut their own costs, according to the Communications Workers of America.
India has been one of the main beneficiaries of outsourced jobs. Outsourcing has become a contentious practice as the US economy has stalled.
“If you are frustrated by dealing with call centres that are located overseas and having to worry about the security of your personal information, this Bill will give you a choice to deal with American workers who must comply with American laws,” said Michael Gendron of Communications Workers of America.

THE FINE PRINT

• No direct or indirect federal loans or loan guarantees for five years for American firms that outsource call centre jobs
• Bill designed to limit identity theft threat at foreign call centres
• It requires overseas call centre employees to disclose their location to consumers in the US and gives customers the right to be transferred to a US-based call centre on request

Expert advice on obtaining the best credit card deal

Moving your debt to a cheaper credit card

Money Talk by David BlackBanking specialist, Defaqto

During the course of the last four or five years, credit card providers have progressively tightened up their acceptance criteria for customers.

"Quality lending" is very much their mantra and this has effectively developed a three-tier market for consumers looking for a credit card.

• If you have a good credit rating you can largely take your pick from the best deals available.
• If you are still deemed to be acceptable in terms of credit risk, but your credit rating is not top notch, then you will still be able to get a credit card. However you may find the interest rate charged is higher than the keenest rates advertised.
• As a credit status deteriorates an increasing number of consumers are unable to get credit cards.

New rules

Changes are afoot in the world of credit cards, courtesy of an agreement between the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) and the credit card companies.

The key changes are that:

• Your monthly repayment has to pay off the highest interest rate borrowing first. Previously most cards allocated repayments to the lowest rate borrowing first.
• You can reject a rate increase or a credit limit increase and you can reduce your credit limit. You will have 60 days to reject an interest rate increase, and, if you do so, you close the account but pay down the balance at the existing rate.
• There is a ban on increasing your interest rate or your credit limit if you are in financial difficulty.
• For new credit cards, the minimum repayment must at least cover interest, fees, charges and 1% of the debt.

Other changes include improved automated payment options, 30 days notice of interest or credit limit increases, a new minimum payments warning and, later this year, a new annual statement to aid easier comparison.

These changes are good news for consumers.

But there is a nagging concern that, along with a number of other changes that have affected providers' income, we may be about to enter an era where future credit card offerings become less attractive than they are now.

In short, the changes come at a cost to providers and they may seek to regain it elsewhere.

Special deals

For now, there remain some very attractive offers.

For instance, you can get a 0% introductory rate on balance transfers for as long as 17 months or a 0% introductory rate on purchases for 13 months.

Because introductory offers are often the most attractive deals, there is still a significant incentive for those with good credit ratings to change their credit card on a regular basis.

The new "positive repayment hierarchy" has lessened that incentive somewhat.

For example, it paid to use your 0% balance transfer card only for that purpose and not use it for making any purchases.

But there are still reasons to have more than one card.

This is because the longest 0% introductory purchase deal will almost certainly be from a different card than that offering the longest 0% balance transfer.

Rewards

If you can get a credit card then your circumstances will dictate the sort of credit card to select.

If you are confident that you can repay your entire balance in full every month then the interest rate charged is irrelevant and it makes sense to get a reward based credit card.

There are various types of rewards available and you can generally choose from one of four categories: air miles, cash back, points schemes or shopping rewards.

Some of these reward based cards have enhanced introductory offers.

You may find it worthwhile to review the rewards available on your existing card to see whether anything better is available elsewhere.

Charges

If you cannot repay your balance in full every month then the interest rate is of paramount importance.

If you have a balance to transfer from another card, then try and get the card offering the longest 0% introductory rate on balance transfers.

But do take account of the balance transfer fee that will be charged for the privilege of this facility.

The longest 0% balance transfer rate is for 17 months from BarclayCard's Platinum credit card with balance transfer. It charges a 2.9% fee.

Similarly, if you want to use a card for purchases then get the card with the longest 0% introductory purchase rate.

Tesco's ClubCard credit card offers the longest introductory 0% purchase rate for 13 months.

If you are going to use a credit card overseas then choose one that does not levy a foreign exchange fee on overseas purchases.

The vast majority of credit cards charge foreign exchange commission of between 2.75% and 2.99% but a number of cards do not levy such a fee.

They are Halifax Clarity, Metro Bank, Post Office Classic or Platinum, Saga Platinum, Sainsbury's Gold and Santander Zero.

Making a choice

For those with a very limited credit history the choice is considerably narrower and the so-called "credit repair" cards are the probably port of call.

Cards in this category include BarclayCard Initial credit card and Capital One Classic credit card.

It is also worth noting that at the premium end of the market a number of credit cards charge a fee in return for various incentives such as travel insurance, motor breakdown assistance and concierge services.

Some of these are very similar to the sort of incentives offered by a number of packaged current accounts.

Periodically it is worth checking your credit file with one of the credit reference agencies - Equifax, Experian or CallCredit.

You can see whether they contain any errors and to ensure that they are not financially linking you with anyone to whom you no longer have any connection.

There is a great deal of variation in the features, costs and benefits available from credit cards.

It makes sense to choose the card that best suits your requirements and circumstances.

The opinions expressed are those of the author and are not held by the NRI Law Group Canada unless specifically stated. The material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal or other form of advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Links to external sites are for information only and do not constitute endorsement. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.