Indian statistical system among the world's best, responsible companies should provide data: HC
Bengaluru (PTI): Underscoring the ramifications that data gaps have a cascading effect on the economy, the Karnataka High Court has dismissed a petition filed by a company that did not provide statistics of its operations for the year 2011.
Action had been initiated against M/s Masturlal Pvt Ltd, which manufactures technical units of textiles used in industries, under the Collection of Statistics Act in 2015. The company approached the HC in 2022 against it.
In a recent judgement, Justice M Nagaprasanna said any negligence on the part of any company will undoubtedly have a spiralling effect on the economic policies of the nation, which is the driving force of any nation among others.
On the significance of the data collection, the HC said: "It is in public domain that Indian statistical system is one of the best systems in the world. The country participates in all the international and regional organisations of the United National Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific on statistical compliances and international practices."
It, therefore, becomes imperative for every stakeholder under the Act, to furnish its statistics annually, diligently as is required under the law or to face the wrath of Section 15 of the legislation, the court maintained.
The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) had initiated action against the company. The firm claimed that it was diligent in furnishing statistical date to the government annually.
But in 2011, its accounts officer was seriously ill and subsequently succumbed to her illness. The chairperson of the company also passed away the same year.
Therefore, a criminal proceeding was initiated against the company for not furnishing annual statistical data. The company pleaded guilty and paid a fine of Rs 5,000, and Rs 1,000 in the case.
The company did not file the data within the stipulated time after the case. Again a complaint was filed under Section 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code for offences punishable under Sections 15(2), 19, 22 and 23 of the Collection of Statistics Act in 2015. This was challenged before the HC by the company in 2022.
Noting how data gaps affect the country, the HC said: "India is a subscriber to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Special Data Dissemination Standards imposed by the IMF. The Government of India has been currently fulfilling the standards, for which the maintenance of an advance release calendar for its data programme covered under the mandate of the IMF is absolutely imperative. The data gap like the one that is the issue in the case at hand will have a cascading effect on the nodal ministry to facilitate its implementation even for SAARC Social Charter in India."
Warning of the responsibility of companies, the HC dismissed the petition and said, "It is, therefore, the necessity of statistical data to be given by every company, as a responsible business houses, who have their company on the soil of the nation."
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
