Opinion February 15, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Defection Law

The anti-defection bill, passed by the two Houses of Parliament a fortnight ago, need not be sent to state legislatures for ratification, Law Ministry sources clarified. However, it will take time for the bill to become law because after it receives the President’s assent, the presiding officers of the two Houses of Parliament and state legislatures will have to make rules.

Meningitis Deaths

Meningitis has claimed 52 lives, mostly of children between 5 and 14 years of age, in Delhi since January, according to statistics compiled by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases from the major hospitals in the city. The death rate is so high, explain doctors, because the patients are usually brought to them at an advanced stage of the disease by which time it is too late to save them. The alarming increase in meningitis this year has baffled most doctors.

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Relocation Plan

Restriction of Delhi’s rapid population growth, conservation and revitalisation of traditional areas like the Walled City, immediate provision of water, sewer, and electricity for resettlement dwellers, a rapid transport system, and a dry port are some of the major suggestions contained in the revised Master Plan for Delhi. With a perspective of planning up to 2001, the plan was laid on the table of the Delhi Metropolitan Council. .

New CBI Director

Mohan Katre, special DGP, Maharashtra, has been appointed director of the CBI, New Delhi. He is the third senior officer from Maharashtra to be appointed in the Home Department after S B  Chavan assumed charge as Home Minister. Ram Pradhan, who was chief secretary to the state government, has taken over as a Union home secretary.