Birthday Boy

It was Rajiv Pratap Rudys birthday and there was a pleasant surprise in store for the BJP spokesman.

It was Rajiv Pratap Rudys birthday Wednesday and there was a pleasant surprise in store for the BJP spokesman. A big television screen had been put up at L K Advanis residence where some BJP leaders and friends and family members of the BJP patriarch had gathered to watch the Mohali match. Rudy was also among the invitees and he reached Advanis Prithviraj Road residence towards the end of Indias innings. Soon after India wrapped up its batting,Advani got up and announced that it was Rudys birthday. A cake was wheeled in within minutes. A surprised Rudy cut it offering the first bite to Advani.

Taxing times

These are taxing times for the Central Board for Direct Taxes. Its chairman,Sudhir Chandra,was recently given an extension of two months by the Cabinet after he came under pressure following the Radia tapes scandal. The Income Tax department was in the eye of the storm following the controversy and an inquiry is already on to fix the responsibility for the leak. Chandra,however,seems to have been given a breather. The Cabinet had initially turned down a proposal for extension of his tenure which was to end on March 31,but now it seems the extension has come through. The news has upset several candidates who were jockeying for the job from within his department. A wait of another two months will only add to the suspense.

Neutral ground

On the day of the India-Pakistan semi-final match in Mohali,Bahrain Minister Khalid Bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa was in Delhi for an official visit. However,he diplomatically avoided taking sides. When asked which team he was rooting for,he said none at all,but he did back the fresh impetus to the dialogue process from both sides. Khalid,who was in Islamabad the day before and met Foreign Minister S M Krishna yesterday,said he was positive about the talks between the two sides. Cricket diplomacy is not restricted to the prime ministers of India and Pakistan.

Mayawatis clout

The CBI may have told the Supreme Court that the disproportionate assets case against UP Chief Minister Mayawati could not be closed on the basis of the clearance given by the Income Tax Department,but not many know that the CBI decided on its stand in the case after much dilly-dallying,with senior BSP leader and Mayawatis confidante S C Mishra making all efforts to make the government choose the right path. That the Centre was not too sure what its response in the matter should be was best exemplified by the fact that it sought legal opinion from a senior law officer,but within two days,called back the file without waiting for the opinion.

Laying down the law

Justice G S Singhvi,annoyed with a senior lawyer who was absent for a case hearing,came down hard on the legal profession. Lawyers,he said,especially seniors,should understand that the SC did not run at their convenience. He said that for many years that has been so,but not anymore. We cannot be dictated by the convenience of the senior advocates. Its time to stop it. He went on to relate his own experience 10 years ago when he attended a seminar titled Belated India. As he said then,the reason behind the theme was that courts are run by lawyers rather than judges. The Bench then insisted the lawyer be present to start arguments.