Latest news with #Ramchandani
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Business Standard
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Supreme Court seeks Centre's reply on special courts for swift trials
Saying it was imperative on the Centre and states to establish courts for the speedy trial of cases under special laws, the Supreme Court has sought their stand in two weeks. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was acting on the bail plea of a Naxal sympathiser from Gadchiroli in Maharashtra. He was booked after 15 policemen of a quick response team were killed in a blast in the state. "Additional solicitor general of India has referred to the affidavit filed by respondent 2 - National Investigation Agency. We are, however, of the view that when trials are to take place under special laws, it is imperative on the Union or States to establish specialised courts with adequate infrastructure for ensuring speedy trial, for achieving the legislative object of the statute," the bench said in its order of May 9. ASG Rajkumar Bhaskar Thakre was, therefore, granted two weeks to obtain instructions on the matter as the bench posted the hearing on May 23. The top court asked the Centre and Maharashtra government why couldn't they conduct a judicial impact assessment of the special statutes after enactment of the laws and said adequate judicial infrastructure was required for the speedy disposal of cases. "We have been saying time and again that where are the judges and courts? How can you conduct an expeditious trial in serious cases if you burden the existing judges with additional cases under special statutes? I am very clear in my mind that if you want to prosecute under special laws, then first create adequate judicial infrastructure and appoint judges," Justice Kant said. Thakre said a proposal on establishing special courts was sent to the government and was pending consideration but Justice Kant asked why was the state not providing a special court to decide sensitive cases--such as the one at hand--with significant ramifications. Thakre then sought time to get back with instructions prompting the court to adjourn the matter. The top court had previously noted due to delay in completion of trial, those accused in heinous offences took advantage of bail as trials couldn't go on indefinitely. The top court was hearing a plea of one Kailash Ramchandani after the Bombay High Court rejected his bail plea on March 5, 2024. He contended he had been in jail since 2019 and while charges hadn't been framed in the case so far, the co-accused had been granted bail. The high court in its order recorded Ramchandani was booked under various sections of IPC, Arms Act, Maharashtra Police Act, MCOCA and UAPA in 2019 after 15 police personnel of the quick response team were killed in a blast at Kurkheda-Purada Road, Gadchiroli, while travelling in a vehicle on May 1, 2019. The case was subsequently transferred to the National Investigation Agency which booked Ramchandani and others. Ramchandani allegedly informed one of the co-accused about the police vehicle from one spot for the blast to be executed. "It is evident that mere delay in the trial pertaining to grave offences, by itself cannot be a ground to enlarge an accused on bail, dehors the facts. We cannot be oblivious of the fact that 15 police personnel were killed in a mine blast, which took place on May 1, 2019," the high court ruled. The order said the material placed by the prosecution on record prima facie indicated the complicity of the appellant in the conspiracy. "The statements on record show that the appellant was in touch with the naxals. That he would visit the jungle and had informed the co-accused of the passing of the police vehicle on the fateful day. Thus, we find that the appellant had knowingly facilitated the commission of a terrorist act," it added.
Hindustan Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC asks for Centre's response, says states need designated courts to try special offences
New Delhi, Saying it was imperative on the Centre and states to establish courts for the speedy trial of cases under special laws, the Supreme Court has sought their stand in two weeks. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was acting on the bail plea of a Naxal sympathiser from Gadchiroli in Maharashtra. He was booked after 15 policemen of a quick response team were killed in a blast in the state. "Additional solicitor general of India has referred to the affidavit filed by respondent 2 - National Investigation Agency. We are, however, of the view that when trials are to take place under special laws, it is imperative on the Union or States to establish specialised courts with adequate infrastructure for ensuring speedy trial, for achieving the legislative object of the statute," the bench said in its order of May 9. ASG Rajkumar Bhaskar Thakre was, therefore, granted two weeks to obtain instructions on the matter as the bench posted the hearing on May 23. The top court asked the Centre and Maharashtra government why couldn't they conduct a judicial impact assessment of the special statutes after enactment of the laws and said adequate judicial infrastructure was required for the speedy disposal of cases. "We have been saying time and again that where are the judges and courts? How can you conduct an expeditious trial in serious cases if you burden the existing judges with additional cases under special statutes? I am very clear in my mind that if you want to prosecute under special laws, then first create adequate judicial infrastructure and appoint judges," Justice Kant said. Thakre said a proposal on establishing special courts was sent to the government and was pending consideration but Justice Kant asked why was the state not providing a special court to decide sensitive cases such as the one at hand with significant ramifications. Thakre then sought time to get back with instructions prompting the court to adjourn the matter. The top court had previously noted due to delay in completion of trial, those accused in heinous offences took advantage of bail as trials couldn't go on indefinitely. The top court was hearing a plea of one Kailash Ramchandani after the Bombay High Court rejected his bail plea on March 5, 2024. He contended he had been in jail since 2019 and while charges hadn't been framed in the case so far, the co-accused had been granted bail. The high court in its order recorded Ramchandani was booked under various sections of IPC, Arms Act, Maharashtra Police Act, MCOCA and UA in 2019 after 15 police personnel of the quick response team were killed in a blast at Kurkheda-Purada Road, Gadchiroli, while travelling in a vehicle on May 1, 2019. The case was subsequently transferred to the National Investigation Agency which booked Ramchandani and others. Ramchandani allegedly informed one of the co-accused about the police vehicle from one spot for the blast to be executed. "It is evident that mere delay in the trial pertaining to grave offences, by itself cannot be a ground to enlarge an accused on bail, dehors the facts. We cannot be oblivious of the fact that 15 police personnel were killed in a mine blast, which took place on May 1, 2019," the high court ruled. The order said the material placed by the prosecution on record prima facie indicated the complicity of the appellant in the conspiracy. "The statements on record show that the appellant was in touch with the naxals. That he would visit the jungle and had informed the co-accused of the passing of the police vehicle on the fateful day. Thus, we find that the appellant had knowingly facilitated the commission of a terrorist act," it added.
Business Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Bloomberg launches initiative to help charities capture data for greater social impact
[SINGAPORE] Bloomberg on Tuesday (Apr 22) launched the Data for Good Exchange (D4GX) programme to help Singapore-registered charities best apply their datasets to drive greater social impact. Selected charities will receive funding and mentorship to enhance their data capabilities through this programme. From Tuesday, interested charities can apply for the programme. Up to 60 of them will be selected for the D4GX 2025 cohort, which will participate in an inaugural summit in June. At the summit, these charities can gain insights from industry players and government agencies, as well as participate in workshops to build data skills. Vandna Ramchandani, regional head of corporate philanthropy Asia-Pacific at Bloomberg, emphasised that the programme is not looking for charities already proficient in data strategy. 'We're looking for organisations that are motivated to learn and improve.' She said charities can learn a 'wide variety' of skills so that they can more effectively use data in operations and strategy. 'The workshops will be about basic understanding of data; how to collect data, finding meaningful insights, data visualisation, and using data to tell a compelling story,' she added, citing some examples. Following the summit, the cohort can apply for the D4GX grant and accelerator programme. Ramchandani said charities will be asked about the data challenges they are facing, as well as how they have implemented change in their organisation. 'We see their ability and desire to adapt and grow, and we want them to focus on a particular problem.' A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up At the beginning of August, six charities from the cohort will be chosen to join the three-month grant and accelerator programme, which is supported by philanthropic organisation The Majurity Trust and non-profit talenTtrust. Each charity will receive S$60,000 in funding to implement data-driven solutions, and receive mentoring from data and technology experts from Bloomberg's network. She said Bloomberg will provide 'tailored' mentorship and meet charities at their level of data utilisation – whether it is in its early stages or more established. 'We feel that we can bring the data expertise that Bloomberg has, and continue to support the ever-growing charity support structure.' Filling a data gap The D4GX programme started in New York in 2014, and has also expanded to India. Its introduction in Singapore is 'timely' and on a 'larger scale', said Ramchandani, not just because of SG60 this year, but also because the social sector is growing and the city-state is positioning itself as a 'philanthropic hub'. Lisa Gainer, chief executive of talenTtrust, added: 'This initiative is much needed in the sector as most non-profits have limited resources and are unable to hire a dedicated headcount for data.' Data can be used to maximise social impact, as charities can better communicate with their donors. It can also help them identify gaps in their operations, and track and monitor their progress in meeting the needs of communities on the ground. Martin Tan, chief executive of The Majurity Trust, said: 'Ultimately, data is needed for us to make better and more informed decisions. As Singapore grows as a society, we are getting more sophisticated in the way we think about impact, largely because more donors are coming in.'
Zawya
05-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
L&T bets on space exploration as India expands private rocket and satellite industry
The Indian industrial conglomerate Larsen & Toubro said it is betting on aerospace as a potential growth engine, including launch vehicle and satellite manufacturing, as the country cuts reliance on imports and boosts private participation. L&T, considered a bellwether for India's infrastructure spending because of how many industries its work touches, is the country's largest private-sector defense manufacturer by revenue; its Precision Engineering and Systems unit posted revenue of 46.10 billion rupees ($548.3 million) in the 2024 fiscal year, up 41% from the previous year. At its factory in Coimbatore, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, L&T is assembling the country's first privately built Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), a mainstay of ISRO's launch programme, through a consortium with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It is also building equipment for ISRO's other deep space exploration programs. The company hopes to scale up its space business amid India's privatization push, which has eased foreign investment limits and allocated a larger share of procurement budgets away from state-run enterprises. "We have decades of experience in high-tech manufacturing, critical systems, and scaling up production. The same expertise applies to aerospace," AT Ramchandani, senior vice president and head of L&T's Precision Engineering and Systems, told Reuters in an interview at the factory. Walking through the facility, amid workers building heat shields and other rocket components, he said the global launch vehicle market was expected to hit about $160 billion over the next decade. The Indian government has set a target of reaching $44 billion for the country's commercial space sector in that time. India's space sector is valued at $13 billion, according to a February report by research firm DAM Capital. L&T's plans intersect with India's strategy to position the country as a leading space power, with Prime Minister Modi's government pushing for the industry to become a force for further economic growth. The country hopes liberalized regulations allowing private firms to design, build and operate launch services will attract global players, mirroring the commercial space boom seen in the United States and Europe. The first launch of a privately built PSLV booster, delayed from early 2025, is expected to occur by mid-year, though an exact date had not yet been decided, Ramchandani said. Each booster, several of which were in various stages of assembly in the factory, costs about $30 million. "Clearly when we are getting into a business like this, it is with an eye to the global market," Ramchandani said. "There's demand for timely and cost-effective launches, especially as satellite constellations grow. If we can provide availability, reliability, and cost advantages, India can be competitive."
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
L&T bets on space exploration as India expands private rocket and satellite industry
By Nivedita Bhattacharjee BENGALURU (Reuters) - The Indian industrial conglomerate Larsen & Toubro said it is betting on aerospace as a potential growth engine, including launch vehicle and satellite manufacturing, as the country cuts reliance on imports and boosts private participation. L&T, considered a bellwether for India's infrastructure spending because of how many industries its work touches, is the country's largest private-sector defense manufacturer by revenue; its Precision Engineering and Systems unit posted revenue of 46.10 billion rupees ($548.3 million) in the 2024 fiscal year, up 41% from the previous year. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. At its factory in Coimbatore, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, L&T is assembling the country's first privately built Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), a mainstay of ISRO's launch programme, through a consortium with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It is also building equipment for ISRO's other deep space exploration programs. The company hopes to scale up its space business amid India's privatization push, which has eased foreign investment limits and allocated a larger share of procurement budgets away from state-run enterprises. "We have decades of experience in high-tech manufacturing, critical systems, and scaling up production. The same expertise applies to aerospace," AT Ramchandani, senior vice president and head of L&T's Precision Engineering and Systems, told Reuters in an interview at the factory. Walking through the facility, amid workers building heat shields and other rocket components, he said the global launch vehicle market was expected to hit about $160 billion over the next decade. The Indian government has set a target of reaching $44 billion for the country's commercial space sector in that time. India's space sector is valued at $13 billion, according to a February report by research firm DAM Capital. L&T's plans intersect with India's strategy to position the country as a leading space power, with Prime Minister Modi's government pushing for the industry to become a force for further economic growth. The country hopes liberalized regulations allowing private firms to design, build and operate launch services will attract global players, mirroring the commercial space boom seen in the United States and Europe. The first launch of a privately built PSLV booster, delayed from early 2025, is expected to occur by mid-year, though an exact date had not yet been decided, Ramchandani said. Each booster, several of which were in various stages of assembly in the factory, costs about $30 million. "Clearly when we are getting into a business like this, it is with an eye to the global market," Ramchandani said. "There's demand for timely and cost-effective launches, especially as satellite constellations grow. If we can provide availability, reliability, and cost advantages, India can be competitive."
