Testing for Special Cause

Test Test

Jammu and Kashmir tries to stop judges pay hike

The Jammu and Kashmir government recently invoked Article 370 against its own judges. The state government cited special status under Article 370 of the Constitution to unsuccessfully resist a Supreme Court order directing implementation of the recommendations in the Justice Padmanabhan Committee report on salary hike for judges.

It argued that the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution governs judicial services in the state. Though Article 370 makes most central laws inapplicable to the state, when it comes to deciding the rights of individuals vis- a- vis the state, the provisions of law have more often than not been interpreted in favour of the rights of individuals.

Rejecting a claim for immunity, the National Human Rights Commission recently held that it had the jurisdiction to look into human rights violations committed by state officials or police if their acts fell outside the ambit of the law.

Abhay Deol girlfriend Preeti Desai creates 'Shor in the City' !

Colonial cousin, ‘Miss Great Britain’ and Kingfisher Swimsuit model Preeti Desai is a British Indian, born in a Gujarati family and the newest entrant to B-Town. Yet, no one is as glamour struck by her as she is herself ! She asks “ So, you seem to be awe struck, isn’t it?” and answers it herself; “ I know what you are thinking! That I have modeled as a ‘Nangi punki’ gal on KFC?” Well, why did she do it we oblige by asking. “ I was invited by Vijay Mallya as ambassador and I was indeed happy about it. I see no reason not to take this opportunity, hence, I just agreed to do it,” she says, candidly.

But don’t blame her if her words get mixed up - her Hindi is not so good, she says. Preeti is gearing up to make a noise with Ekta’s home production ‘Shor in the Citya’. “ I am working in Balaji’s film ‘ Shor In the City’ opposite Hollywood actor Sendhil Ramamurthy. I would not hesitate to tell you that I got this film through my secretary or that I do not have that many scenes in the film; just a few. It was like a screen test! I am not very fluent with Hindi, as I am just learning to speak, so I decided to venture into films with ‘Shor…’, in which I can speak the way I speak in my real life. I am happy to be working opposite Sendhil,” Preeti says. It’s not that she is new to Hindi entirely, she hastens to add. “ I can speak Hindi, just not very fluently, so I speak to new faces in English.

I do not want to use anything which might offend them. I believe I will hone my Hindi language skills very soon. On a lighter note, she adds, “ None of my friends ever tried to teach me ‘ gaalis’ in Hindi.’ What? Not even Abhay? “ No personal queries please,” she snaps.

How did a pretty girl like her, a complete newbie, skip the casting couch entirely? “ My secretary accompanies me everywhere so the question of CC does not arise,” she says.

So, does her secretary shadow her? “ I feel every girl in any profession if she comes across a casting couch problem needs to use her brains and skip it without creating a show. Girls should be smart enough to avoid being victims,” she says, though she admits, “ I’ve been lucky not to be approached in this respect. Moreover I am not the desperate kind. I am here to get work, but I am taking my strides smartly enough! Also people come to know from my attitude that I will not accept their invitation. I am not running after money. Working with a good production house helps one avail an opportunity totally on the basis of talent.” Preeti shares a live- in- relationship with the talented actor Abhay Deol, but it looks like she’s been well trained by the reclusive Abhay. She cuts us short, “ No personal questions please.”

DD vs DC : Resurgent Delhi Daredevils have Deccan Chargers in sight

Delhi Daredevils got a new lease of life in the Indian Premier league (IPL) with a morale- boosting win over Pune Warriors on Sunday and are now charged up against Deccan Chargers who have the monkey off their back, finally, with their first victory at home this season. The Daredevils got their campaign on track with a superb run- chase against Pune that will surely keep their detractors at bay, at least for some time.

On Tuesday, at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground, they face Deccan Chargers, who finally won a match at home after three seasons but apart from their sole win against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Hyderabad outfit hasn’t looked very convincing.

But as the tournament has shown so far, none of the teams can be underestimated and every side now has a win against its name. Delhi’s floundering batting finally came good against Pune when they chased down an imposing score of 187 on Sunday. Openers Virender Sehwag and David Warner will again shoulder a majority of home expectations while Venugopal Rao’s form has come as another major boost for the side.

But the worrying aspect for the Daredevils would be the lack of consistent performance and bowling would be another area where the team needs to pull up its socks. Irfan Pathan is yet to fire and so far, he has failed to justify the millions of dollars that were spent on him by the franchise owner.

Apart from South African Morne Morkel none of the Delhi bowlers have looked penetrative and the domestic players haven’t been too impressive. Umesh Yadav and Ashoke Dinda haven’t been able to hit the top gear and with pacemen Ajit Agarkar and Varun Aaron waiting in the wings for their first matches, Delhi have the option to try the untested combo.

Morkel, who missed the last match on Sunday, looks to have recovered from the injury he sustained and did bowl at the nets during the team’s training session on Monday evening. But a final call on his availability will be taken only before the match.

All- rounder James Hopes, in all probability, is likely to retain his place ahead of Matthew Wade. For most of the teams, relatively unknown players from India’s domestic circuit have come good but for Delhi there hasn’t been any such player.

For Deccan Chargers, the going has been tough as well and they have won just one of their four matches. The team has some big names with captain Kumar Sangakkara being the most prominent of them all.

JP Duminy, Shikhar Dhawan and Bharat Chipli have had a decent run while the Deccan have a good bowling line- up with Dale Steyn leading their pace attack.

Besides, the Chargers also have the spinners like Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha who can exploit the Kotla wicket that is known for its slow and low nature. Despite the presence of good players, the 2009 champions haven’t been found a footing in the tournament. A major reason for their not- so- impressive start in the event is that the players haven’t fired in unison.

All- rounder Cameron White hasn’t had a game yet for the Chargers and it remains to be seen if the Australian finds a place in the playing XI against the Daredevils.

Surely going by their track record, Daredevils start as favourites against a struggling Deccan Chargers. But as the tournament has seen so far shown, no team can be taken lightly and a lot of team have paid heavy price for being complacent.

Daredevils are one of the prime examples of that when their under- fire batting went on to bring the high- flying Pune Warriors down to earth. But Deccan would certainly not be pushovers, especially against the Delhi side that has just Warner and Sehwag from their previous teams.