Track diplomacy

HOUSE FIGHT

Former rural development minister Jairam Ramesh and present minister Chaudhary Birender Singh sparred in Rajya Sabha during a debate on MGNREGA Thursday. Singh, who had switched over to BJP before the Lok Sabha elections after a long association with Congress, has been telling everyone that he was like a tragedy king till he was in the Congress. Jairam referred to that description and said Chaudhary had finally got the chance to be a hero. Singh shot back saying Jairam and his party should introspect why he (Singh) was made a tragedy king in the first place when he had the potential to be a hero.

HEALTH MATTERS

A mention of a forthcoming pollution-related case turned the attention of the Supreme Court to the dusty carpets in courtrooms with the Chief Justice of India H L Dattu suggesting that these rooms should have wooden flooring. Senior advocate Harish Salve, while arguing an unrelated case, got distracted by the dusty carpets and happened to mention that he was scheduled to argue a pollution-related case Friday. The CJI, while acknowledging Salve’s concerns, said wooden flooring can be a solution but expressed apprehension that lawyers might object to money being spent on such things. Salve, and other lawyers present in the court, assured the CJI that they would appreciate this change on account of health concerns.

DELAYING TACTIC

In the midst of the controversy over the government’s decision to scrap German as a third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas, the Academic Advisory Committee of KVS met Thursday. While the committee was widely expected to deliberate upon the contentious issue and take decisions on the future course of action, it instead chose to defer any discussion on it citing that the matter was sub judice.