SATURDAY www.thestatesman.com 28 APRIL 2018 FIND US ONLINE Scan this with your smartphone twitter.com/TheStatesmanLtd facebook.com/thestatesman1875 Pages 16+4 |`3|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR P5 SENSEX 34,969.70 +256.10 Partly cloudy sky with possibility of thundery development. The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 39 and 26 degrees Celsius respectively. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Min. 36% Max: 39.2°C (+1) SUN RISES 05:43 hrs MOON RISES 17.22 hrs Min: 26.4°C (+2) SUN SETS 18:54 hrs MOON SETS 05:25 hrs THUMBNAILS A Palestinian drives a horse-drawn cart during clashes with Israeli security forces near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip on Friday. At least three Palestinians were reportedly killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli fire in clashes on the Gaza border in the latest day of demonstrations dubbed the Great March of Return. The deaths brought the number of Palestinians killed since protests began on 30 March to 44. AFP Telangana's Anudeep tops civil services exam: Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Durishetty Anudeep has topped the civil services 2017 examination whose results were announced on Friday, breaking a three-year streak of female candidates bagging the top spot. Anu Kumari and Sachin Gupta stood second and third respectively, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) declared. A total of 990 candidates ~ 750 men and 240 women ~ have been recommended by the UPSC for appointment to various central government services. Indigo chief steps down: In a surprise development, IndiGo announced on Friday that Aditya Ghosh will step down as president and is likely to be replaced by one of its former executives Gregory Taylor. It said Rahul Bhatia, a promoter of the company, has been appointed as the interim CEO. The development comes amid the airline embarking on ambitious expansion plans and its aircraft facing technical issues with engines. Ghosh’s resignation was accepted during the board meeting P11 on Friday. NEW DELHI, 27 APRIL The Chief Justice of India is the "master of roster" and he has full power to allocate cases as well as to maintain discipline, the Supreme Court was told on Friday. Attorney General K KVenugopal told a bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan that vesting case allocation with a multi-member Collegium instead of the Chief Justice would create multiple authority and result in "conflict and chaos". Venugopal said if all the judges of the apex court or Collegium decide the allocation, then "each judge would express preference" and the judicial system would "collapse". Venugopal referred to many judgments to underline that the Chief Justice was the master of roster. The court had earlier sought Venugopal's assistance on a plea by former Law Minister and senior counsel Shanti Bhushan, seeking that the allocation of "important and sensitive cases" be done by the Collegium of five senior-most judges and not by the Chief Justicealone.Thecourtreserved its verdict on the plea.Earlier, GOLD 30,055.00 -95.00 P16 SILVER 39,500.00 00.00 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 74.63 -0.11 Kim, Moon vow to end Korean war Modi, Xi hold informal summit to ‘solidify’ India-China ties THE KOREA HERALD/ANN PRESS TRUST OF INDIA WUHAN, 27 APRIL PANMUNJEOM, 27 APRIL T he two Koreas will cease hostilities and seek increased cooperation and denuclearization as part of the declaration announced following an interKorean summit at Panmunjeom. The Panmunjeom Declaration, revealed after a daylong summit and related events, outlines measures for improving interKorean relations including executing previously agreed measures and holding high-level talks regarding diverse areas. The two Koreas also said they would seek a peace treaty and hold three-way negotiations with the US, or four-way negotiations with the US and China if necessary. “(North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and I) declared that there will not be war on the Korean Peninsula and that a new era of peace is beginning,” President Moon Jae-in said.Moon and Kim also agreed to meet again in Pyongyang in autumn, and to hold a reunion of families separated by the Korean War on 15 August. Saying that he and Kim confirmed that “realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula is our shared goal,” Moon praised Kim’s earlier move to freeze nuclear and missile tests. On 21 April, North Korea announced its decision to halt missile and nuclear tests, and to shut down the Punggye-ri nuclear weapons test site. Moon went on to say that he and Kim agreed to cooperate in establishing “permanent peace,” which will “fundamentally change the international order surrounding the Korean Peninsula.” “We agreed to take the lead in deciding CJI is the master of roster, can allocate cases, govt tells SC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE ` vs $ 66.66 +0.9 PAISE JUGGLING DIFFERENT ROLES CAN BE DIFFICULT: YUVRAJ P12 Korean leaders pledge peace, denuclearisation in historic summit Max.57% TEMPERATURE P7 NIFTY 10,692.30 +74.50 WEATHER MATTIS WANTS USA TO FIND COMMON GROUND WITH INDIA BOOST TO EFFORTS FOR MALLYA’S EXTRADITION TRIPURA CM REGRETS DIANA HAYDEN REMARKS senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for Shanti Bhushan, told the bench that "sensitive cases" like those which directly touch upon the very "survival of democracy" should not be left to the discretion of the Chief Justice. In his plea, Bhushan said the authority of the Chief Justice as a master of roster was not an "absolute, arbitrary, singular power" which may be exercised in his "sole discretion" and the Chief Justice must exercise his authority in consultation with other senior judges who are also part of the Collegium. The collective opinion of a Collegium was much safer than the opinion of the Chief Justice alone, it said. Indu Malhotra sworn in Senior advocate Indu Malhotra was today administered the oath of office as a Supreme Court judge by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, making her the first woman lawyer to enter the top judiciary directly. With Malhotra joining the bench, the strength of the Supreme Court is now 25, against the sanctioned strength of 31, including the CJI. Malhotra, 61, was administered the oath of office and secrecy in a ceremony held at court number 1 in the apex court. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (L) steps with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in across the Military Demarcation Line that divides their countries ahead of their meeting AFP at the official summit Peace House building at Panmunjom on Friday. the fate of our people, but cooperate to win the support and cooperation of the international community,” Moon said. “Above all, (we) share a firm will to open a new era in which the entire race lives in a peaceful land without war, and agreed on practical measures,” Kim said, adding that putting past agreements into action will be the first step. Friday’s declaration, however, goes light on denuclearization, which CheongWa Dae had repeatedly stressed as being the main focus of the summit talks.A high-level South Korean official said that Kim’s intent for denu- clearization was “confirmed through several channels.” “The will to realize a Korean Peninsula without nuclear (weapons) was confirmed,” the official said on the condition of anonymity, adding that the expression “complete denuclearization” should be highlighted. The official declined to comment on South Korea’s role in denuclearization, and whether the expression includes the US’ nuclear umbrella. Friday’s inter-Korean summit events began at 9:29 a.m. with Kim crossing the Military Demarcation Line, guided by Moon.Kim, the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South, was escorted by a traditional ceremonial guard and inspected a South Korean military honour guard. In an unscheduled event, the two sides took a group photograph before heading to the Peace House for a pre-summit conversation, and later the summit meeting. Along with Moon, his chief of staff Im Jong-seok and National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon attended the meeting in the morning that lasted from 10:15 to 11:55. Kim was flanked by his sister Kim Yo-jong, and Kim Yongchol. Apex court stays Kathua case trial till 7 May STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27 APRIL The Supreme Court on Friday stayed till May 7 the trial in the sensational Kathua gangrape and murder case of an eight-yearold girl, saying it was seized of the pleas seeking transfer of trial to Chandigarh and handing over the probe to the CBI. The court said it will hear in detail and deal with the issues of shifting of the trial outside Kathua and the demand of CBI probe. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices DY Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra said since the matter in the Kathua district court is listed for tomorrow, there shall be a stay on trial till May 7. It asked the parties to file their affidavits and counter-affidavits on the petitions filed by the victim's father and the three accused in the case. The child from a minority nomadic community had disappeared from near her home in a village near Kathua in Jammu region on January 10. Her body was found in the same area a week later. During the hearing, the apex court witnessed heated exchanges between senior advocate Indira Jaising, who appeared for the victim's family, and advocate Harvinder Chaudhary, representing two of the accused charge sheeted by the crime branch of Jammu and Kashmir police. Chaudhary said “the accused who are father and son have been falsely implicated in the case. The real culprit has not been caught. We are ready for narco-analysis. A tainted police official is involved in the probe. We are questioning the validity of the probe. There will be great injustice to us. Everything should be highlighted”. Jaising said the accused have no locus to be heard in the matter and Chaudhary has been saying all this for the media persons present in the court room. “Your lordships must note this. Wild charges are being levelled. They are asking for a CBI probe as they know that the police have done an excellent job in the case,” Jaising said. She said it must be noted that after yesterday's hearing Bar at Jammu have celebrated on social media calling it as a moral victory because court has not rep- rimanded them. “The court must know what is happening in this country. They have celebrated on the social media. Called the lawyers representing the victim's family, names. Court should check the social media,” she said. Chaudhary said his clients do not have faith in police investigation and the probe should go to the CBI. She alleged that the police were hand-in-glove with vested interests to falsely implicate the accused while the real culprits were someone else. Jaising said attempts were made to intimidate the presiding judge of the court and the crime branch officials were heckled by the lawyers, as is evident in the affidavit of Jammu and Kashmir government. Jammu and Kashmir Advocate General Jahangir Iqbal Ganai, along with state's standing counsel Shoeb Alam, also opposed the prayer for a CBI probe and said the SIT of the crime branch was investigating the case. Ganai said the trial could be shifted from Kathua and Jammu to some other district in the state as there were 221 witnesses and most of the statements recorded so far were in Urdu. Alam said that Jammu and Kashmir has its own penal law and if the trial is shifted to Chandigarh, then it may create several problems. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday held multiple meetings here on the first day of an unprecedented two-day informal summit to “solidify” the India-China relationship and exchanged views on how the two countries can work together for the benefit of their people and the world. The 'heart-to-heart' summit in Wuhan - the favourite holiday spot of revolutionary Chinese leader Mao Zedong - is being seen as an effort by India and China to rebuild trust and improve ties that were hit by the 73-daylong Dokalam standoff last year. Modi who arrived in the central Chinese city early on Friday for the summit began talks soon after Xi received him with a warm shake hand and hosted a grand welcoming ceremony for him at the Hubei Provincial Museum here. He was welcomed with a classical Chinese dance opera performance after which Xi took him around some of the most historic art collections and cultural relics of China's ancient civilisation. The museum walk scheduled for 20 minutes lasted over 40 minutes after which they began one-on-one talks. “They exchanged views on solidifying our bilateral relationship,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. Their one-on-one talks were followed by delegation-level interaction with six top officials each from both sides took part, giving an impression that some of the critical issues were on the table for discussion. The talks lasted for over two hours overshooting scheduled half an Prime Minister Narendra Modi shaking hands with ChiAFP/PIB nese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan. hour time, hinting the seriousness of the discussions, officials said. The elaborate round of talks between the two leaders on the first day ended with dinner diplomacy. Xi hosted a banquet in honour of Modi at the famous East lake. Xi in a gesture of warmth and friendship walked with Modi to the car to see him off. The summit was stated to be unique as the two leaders have no pressure and obligation to strike any agreements nor make big announcements but focus mainly on candid discussions on solutions to some of the vexed problems like the boundary question and other issues. During the talks, Modi offered to host the next informal summit with Xi in India next year. “I'll be happy, if in 2019, we can have such informal summit in India,” Modi told Xi. The Chinese president said he believes in future and they can meet in a format like this from time to time.Modi hailed the centuries old Sino-India ties and said India and China have the responsibility to work for 40 per cent of the world population and the DGCA to probe Rahul aircraft snag, PM calls up Cong chief PRESS TRUST OF INDIA NEW DELHI/BENGALURU, 27 APRIL The DGCA has set up a twomember panel to probe the technical snag in a chartered plane carrying Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to Karnataka even as the Civil Aviation minister said appropriate action would be taken if anyone is found wanting after the opposition party alleged foul play. As the Congress described the incident as “horrific” and “serious” and demanded a probe to find out if there was any “foul play”, party sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Rahul Gandhi just before leaving for China on Thursday to enquire about his safety. A Civil Aviation ministry official said it would be premature to conclude any “intentional tampering” as alleged by the Congress. The incident happened as the flight from New Delhi to Hubbali in north Karnataka was landing on Thursday. Gandhi was travelling to Karnataka as part of his poll campaign. Alleging “intentional tampering” with the aircraft, the Congress on Thursday demanded a probe into the “suspicious and faulty performance” of the 10-seater Falcon 2000. Police probing the technical snag are awaiting the arrival of technical experts to examine the problem and submit a report while a senior airport official maintained there was nothing “unusual” in the manner it landed in Hubbali. “The Directorate General of Civi Aviation (DGCA) has set up a two-member panel to investigate the incident.While one member is from the Directorate of Air Safety, the other member is from the Directorate of Airworthiness,” a senior DGCA official said, adding that the panel has been asked to submit its report in the next 2-3 weeks. A senior DGCA official yesterday said that the aircraft had suffered a “technical snag”. “According to the operator's report, it was a snag of auto pilot mode and the pilot shifted to the manual (mode) and landed (the aircraft) safely,” he had said, adding that shutdown of auto pilot (mode) incidents are not uncommon. two sides have a big opportunity to work together for the benefit of their people and the world. He recalled that during the 2000 years of history, India and China together provided momentum and strength to the world economy and dominated it for around 1600 years. “The two countries together constituted for about 50 per cent of the world economy and another 50 per cent was shared by rest of the world for 1600 years,” the prime minister said. Modi also said the people of India felt proud that President Xi has twice received him out of the capital. Xi told Modi that their meeting opens a new chapter for bilateral ties. He emphasised the two sides should look at the big picture of China-India relationship from a strategic angle and ensure their relationship continue to move forward in a positive direction. “The friendship between the two countries should continue to grow like the Yangtze and Ganges flowing forward forever,” China's staterun CCTV quoted Xi as saying. Left out due to periods, Guj girl kills self AHMEDABAD, 27 APRIL At a time political leaders are boasting of ancient India having high technologies like internet, airplanes and organ transplantation, a 19-yearold girl here committed suicide due to her family’s adherence to primitive beliefs surrounding menstruation. The girl of the well-to-do family in Odhav area in the city jumped to her death from the fifth floor of their building because her parents did not take her along to a relative’s place as she was menstruating. On Wednesday, when the 19-year-old and her siblings were getting ready for the outing to their maternal aunt’s house, the parents told her not to come as she was menstruating. The couple also left behind the other children. The humilated young woman climbed to the fifth floor terrace of the building and jumped off. She was rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries. The details about menstruation being the cause of her suicide came to light during police questioning of the parents. Police have registered a case of accidental SNS death.