In a reminiscent of the horrific gang rape in Delhi on December 16, 2012, a 19-year-old girl was raped in a moving mini-bus by the driver near Bengaluru. The shocking incident took place near Sulibele Hoskote in a mini-bus near Lakondanahalli cross. The victim is reportedly a nursing student. The driver had asked the cleaner to drive the vehicle while he allegedly raped the girl in the moving bus. Both the accused, identified as 26-year-old driver Ravi and 23-year-old cleaner Manjunath, were nabbed. After the crime, the accused dumped the victim near Nagagondanahalli. She was rushed to a government hospital.

Mobile call drop fines to stay, says Trai
Sector regulator Trai has rejected demand of telecom operators to withdraw the order mandating compensation to customers for up to three call drops in a day. Telecom operators, through their respective associations namely COAI and AUSPI, had written to Trai on October 27 to withdraw the regulations and asserted that it was not possible to make a network free from call drops. The operators, which had flagged various issues regarding implementation of the regulations, warned that mobile tariffs would go up if they were forced to pay for dropped calls. The Authority, however, has rejected the argument given by operators.

No relief from SC to Hardik Patel in sedition case
Hardik Patel today did not get any immediate relief from the Supreme Court which said his plea challenging invocation of sedition charge for allegedly inciting a mob during the quota stir for Patel community will be heard after Gujarat police completes probe in the case. A bench, comprising justices J S Khehar and R Banumathi, directed Gujarat police to complete the investigation within one-and-a-half month in the sedition case and file a report before it in a sealed cover and posted hearing for January 5. The bench also directed the police not to file the charge sheet in the sedition case without the apex court's permission. The apex court also declined to interfere with the proceedings of the Gujarat high court which is proceeding with another case in which Hardik has been accused of stage- managing his own abduction by the police.

Rs 2,500 airfare cap not must for all regional routes, clarifies govt
The proposed cap of Rs 2,500 per air ticket on regional routes will be applicable only for carriers availing viability gap funding from the Civil Aviation Ministry, which expects to put up the final aviation policy for Cabinet approval in December.

Providing more clarity on the contours of regional connectivity scheme under the revised draft aviation policy, Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey today said there would be no compulsion on airlines to cap fares on regional routes.

As part of efforts to boost regional connectivity, the government has proposed a 2 per cent cess on all air tickets and the proceeds would be utilised towards Viability Gap Funding (VGF). "Capping (of air fares in regional routes) comes, which is justified, only when a carrier avails VGF from the government," he told reporters in Delhi.

Govt invites public response on collegium system
The government today issued a public notice inviting suggestions from the common man on ways to improve the collegium system to appoint judges to the Supreme Court and the high courts. The apex court had yesterday asked Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi to issue a public notice inviting representations and suggestions from all quarters of the public and web-host on the website of the Law Ministry by 1700 hours of November 13. The notice issued by the Department of Justice in the Law Ministry said the suggestions can be made in four categories -- transparency, collegium secretariat, eligibility criteria and complaints. The Department of Justice has given a link on its website doj.gov.in on how to make suggestions

Govt told to appoint information commissioners in six weeks
The Delhi high court today directed the centre to finalise the selection of three central information commissioners within six weeks. The court order came on a public suit filed by Right to Information activists RK Jain, Lokesh Batra and Subhash Chandra Agarwal. "The tenure of Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Vijai Sharma will be completed on December 1, 2015, and in case one of the serving information commissioners is appointed as the CIC in the vacancy that would arise from December 2, one more vacancy of the IC is likely to arise," said the court.

Greenpeace India's registration cancelled
The Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies has cancelled the registration of Greenpeace India, the environmental NGO that has been campaigning against air pollution and the unsustainable use of natural resources in India. Greenpeace India, registered as an NGO in India under the Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies (RoS), got the order of cancellation of its registration on Friday.

CBI, Uphaar tragedy victims' kin file review petition in SC
The Central Bureau of Investigation and the kin of victims of the Uphaar cinema fire tragedy case filed a review petition in the Supreme Court on Friday. According to reports, through its petition, the central probe agency had asked the Supreme Court to review its earlier verdict which ordered no jail term for Ansals - Gopal and Sunil. On August 20, the Supreme Court had dismissed the CBI's appeal to argue the Uphaar cinema fire tragedy case further and directed it to file a review petition. "It will not be proper. We have already passed the order," a three-judge bench headed by Justice AR Dave said when senior advocate Harish Salve, who has been representing CBI in this case, sought 15 more minutes to argue some of the points in the matter.

SC rejects ex-minister Matang Sinh's bail plea
The Supreme Court has refused to entertain bail plea of ex-Union Minister Matang Sinh who was arrested in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam case. The CBI had arrested Sinh on February 1 on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and misappropriation of funds related to Saradha Realty, one of the companies of the Saradha group which is being probed by the agency.The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had seized a flat belonging to Sinh in Versova, Mumbai, and a building in Guwahati. Earlier, the then union home secretary Anil Goswami had to resign for allegedly trying to stall Sinh's arrest by CBI.

Railways plan to cut its energy bill by Rs 5,000 crore
Railways will formulate a comprehensive energy efficiency plan to reduce energy bill by Rs 5,000 cr in the next five years. "Energy bill is the second largest in railways after salary and pension. So we have to use the energy in a such a way so as to optimise the cost," Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said in Delhi today.

He said railways have undertaken energy audits to know the ground situation.  Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha said the target of reducing energy bill in the five-year time frame should be adhered to strictly.