Rape and murder: HC quashes death penalty
Bengaluru, August 05: Considering the prosecution’s objection that the accused was not given the chance for the cross examination by the sessions court, the Karnataka High Court has quashed the death penalty awarded to an accused in rape and murder of a six-year-old girl.
The Divisional Bench comprising Justice RB Budihal and Justice BA Patil ordered the lower court to retrial the case. During the hearing, state prosecutor HS Chandramouli said that the accused did not get suitable legal aid was not given the chance for cross-examination. So, it was not fair to regularize the death penalty awarded to the accused, he said.
Considering his objection, the Bench said that it was the rarest among rare cases. The work of the prosecution was not just ensuring the punishment to the accused, but it should bring to the notice of the court when the accused was denied fair trial and appreciated the stand of the prosecution.
Local police had registered a case against Anil Balagar of Banashankari Layout Second Stage on charges of raping and murdering a six-year-old girl.
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TN seeks duty-free cotton imports to support textile sector: CM Vijay writes to PM
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove the import duty on cotton.
In his first letter to Modi after taking over as chief minister of the state, he said Tamil Nadu is the country’s largest textile and apparel exporting state.
Lakhs of people are dependent on this sector for both direct and indirect employment, especially women from rural and semi-urban backgrounds, Vijay pointed out.
Stating that the industry is facing a severe crisis due to an increase in cotton prices and consequently yarn prices, he said, “I understand this is caused primarily due to a shortage in cotton production and increased trading activity in the country.”
Pointing out that the price of cotton has increased from Rs 54,700 to Rs 67,700 per candy—an increase of 25 per cent over the last two months—while yarn prices have increased from Rs 301 to Rs 330 per kg, he said, “In this situation, the continued supply of raw material can be ensured only through imports.”
However, there is an import duty of 11 per cent on cotton, he said, adding that in such a situation, permitting duty-free cotton imports will help the industry meet increasing export commitments and remain globally competitive.
Vijay said that after agriculture, the textile and apparel sector is one of the largest employment-generating sectors.
“There is a significant responsibility on the government to safeguard the employment of lakhs of people and ensure the sustainability of the textile value chain," he said.
“Hence, I request your intervention to remove the import duty on cotton from the existing 11 per cent to 0 per cent to ensure the availability of raw material. This measure will enable the textile and apparel industry to remain globally competitive, enhance exports, and protect jobs,” he added.
