Madras HC asks EC to take steps to curb money distribution

Updated on Friday, April 01, 2011, 20:29


The Madras High Court on Friday ordered Election Commission to take "all steps" to curb malpractices and money distribution to public and maintain law and order to ensure free and fair polls to the Tamil Nadu Assembly. 

Disposing a batch of petitions, both challenging and supporting EC's conduct of search and seizures to prevent money flow to voters, the first bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justice TS Sivagnanam said, "It is a well settled law that duty of the Election Commission, inter alia, is to prevent distribution of money to the public and the Commission should take all steps to curb those activities.

"Since election being a very important event for the state, the EC has to maintain law and order to ensure and free fair election and also curb malpractices.

"The Supreme Court in a number of decisions held that the powers of the EC under Article 324 includes all other incidental powers, which are not specifically provided in additional to superintendence, direction and control in conducting the elections."

The judges also directed the EC to follow instructions contained in "Expenditure Monitoring in Elections" and other guidelines issued time to time to ensure free and fair polls.

The court asked them to follow the standard procedure for dealing in unaccounted cash and other valuables and in case some criminal linkage was found, seizure should be effected.

However, the bench said if cash or other valuables were being carried with proper documents, then no seizure should be made.

"The whole operation should be video graphed and the flying squad should ensure all politeness, decency and courtesy," the court said.

The bench also directed the EC to enforce 'extra ordinary' security measures till the election results were announced.

PTI 

Facebook sued for $1 billion over Intifada page

 2011-04-02 10:02
koreaherald.com

WASHINGTON (AFP) – 

Facebook and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg have been hit with a lawsuit seeking more than $1 billion in damages over a page on the social network which called for a "Third Intifada" against Israel.

Facebook this week shut down the "Third Intifada" page, which had almost 500,000 fans, but the lawsuit filed in a court here claims that the social network showed "negligence" by not quickly responding to appeals to remove the page.

Besides awarding damages, the complaint calls on the court to bar Facebook "from allowing the Facebook page titled 'Third Palestinian Intifada,' and other related and similar sites, which advocate violence and death to Jews."

The suit, a copy of which was obtained by technology blog TechCrunch, was filed in DC Superior Court by Larry Klayman, who describes himself in the complaint as "an American citizen of Jewish origin" who is "active in matters concerning the security of Israel and all people."

Klayman also identifies himself as the founder of Freedom Watch, whose website describes it as a political advocacy group dedicated to protecting privacy, free speech and other rights and "our national sovereignty against the incompetent, terrorist state-controlled United Nations." 

Facebook dismissed the case as "without merit" and said it would fight.

"While we haven't been served with a complaint, we believe the case is without merit and we will fight it vigorously," a Facebook spokesman said.

Facebook shut down the page on Tuesday, several days after Israeli Public Diplomacy Minister Yuli Edelstein sent a letter to Zuckerberg urging him to remove it.

Facebook said the page was initially tolerated because it "began as a call for peaceful protest" but direct calls for violence began appearing and the page was removed for violating Facebook's policies.

Libya air raid 'killed civilians

1 April 2011 Last updated at 21:20 GMT

Seven civilians died and 25 were hurt in a coalition air strike on a pro-Gaddafi convoy in eastern Libya, a doctor there has told the BBC.

Dr Suleiman Refardi said Wednesday's raid happened in the village of Zawia el Argobe, 15km (9 miles) from Brega.

The strike hit a truck carrying ammunition, and the resulting explosion destroyed two nearby homes.

All the dead were between the ages of 12 and 20, Dr Refardi said. Nato says it is investigating the claim.

The news comes as the chairman of the rebel Transitional National Council, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, said it would agree to a ceasefire if Col Muammar Gaddafi's troops withdrew from cities.

"We agree on a ceasefire on the condition that our brothers in the western cities have freedom of expression and also that the forces that are besieging the cities withdraw," he told a news conference in the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

But he said the rebels would not back down on their demand that Col Gaddafi must go.

Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim dismissed the offer by its former justice minister, telling reporters: "The rebels never offered peace. They don't offer peace. They are making impossible demands."

"We will not leave our cities. We are the government, not them."

'NO anger'

Dr Refardi told the BBC that the Libyan government convoy had included tanks, artillery and trucks carrying ammunition.

A direct hit on an ammunition truck and trailer in a street in Zawia el Argobe sent a hail of shrapnel into nearby houses, he said.

Four of the dead were female, including three children from the same family, aged between 12 and 16, the BBC's Ben Brown reports from Brega.

The Nato-led air strikes are targeting Libyan government tanks and ammunition supply convoys

Three boys, aged between 14 and 20, were also killed.

Dr Refardi said he had spoken to the family of the girls who had been killed and "there was no anger" at the coalition forces.

"If these tanks had entered Ajdabiya it would have been a massacre," he said.

"They [the Libyan people] are expecting more than this, because they know the Gaddafi forces are using civilians as a shield."

Nato officials told the BBC they were making inquiries "down our operations chain to find out if indeed there is any information on the operation side that would support this claim".

Later, Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said six civilians had been killed by the "immoral" air strike, and described it as a "crime against humanity".

"Some mad and criminal prime ministers and presidents of Europe are leading a crusade against an Arab Muslim nation," he told a news conference in Tripoli. "Sounds familiar? It's a crime against humanity."

Meanwhile, the BBC's Wyre Davies in Ajdabiya says rebel forces there are pressing on to the front line around the oil town of Brega.

Plenty of enthusiastic, if disorganised, insurgents are driving through in pick-up trucks with heavy-duty machine-guns mounted on the back, he reports.

The BBC's Nick Springate in Brega says the flagging morale of rebel fighters - in general poorly equipped and untrained - has been boosted by a number of well-armed, apparently well-trained soldiers in full military uniform. It is not clear where they have come from, our correspondent adds.

Gen Abdel-Fatah Younis, the former Libyan interior minister who defected to the rebels, has also addressed rebels outside Brega.

Earlier, the BBC learned that a Libyan government envoy, Mohammed Ismail, had been in London in the past few days for talks with UK authorities.

The UK Foreign Office says that in all its contacts with Libyan officials, it had made it clear that "Gaddafi has to go".

News of the visit emerged after former Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa flew to Britain and was said to have resigned his post.

There have since been other unconfirmed reports that more senior Libyans are defecting.

Al-Jazeera TV said the intelligence minister, deputy foreign minister and General People's Congress speaker were awaiting flights in Tunisia.

Oil minister Shukri Ghanim has denied reports he is to leave Libya.

He told the BBC's Today radio programme: "I am in Tripoli working in my office. I am trying my best to keep this oil industry as one industry, trying to minimise the damage that is happening to the installation, trying to secure the safety of the staff and the personnel [and] trying to prevent the looting of the industry."

Courtesy:BBC NEWS

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Just your size: Volunteers distribute relief supplies at JR Watanoha Station in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, on Thursday. SATOKO KAWASAKI PHOTO

Volunteer sensitivity to locals' needs called for

By JUN HONGO

Staff writer

Tohoku communities hit by the earthquake and tsunami last month are gradually embarking on the road to recovery, with some finally able to call on volunteers outside the region for help thanks to restored infrastructure.

But while these areas will need all the aid they can get to rebuild, some say inexperienced helpers should take extra care to avoid becoming a hindrance to local residents.

"One should be aware of what the locals need and what they don't need," Kiyotaka Akazawa, a representative of NPO Youth Vision, told The Japan Times. The not-for-profit group, set up in 1996, has consulted nearly 120 volunteer centers in universities across Japan.

The number of young volunteers heading to the Tohoku region is likely to grow amid reports that the government is preparing to help students join the relief effort. The education ministry is soon expected to ask universities to support students who wish to take part in volunteer activities, such as by granting them academic credit.

"Communicating well with locals is key when it comes to a situation like this," Akazawa said, stressing that people should avoid acting first without thinking. One example of this, he said, was sending random relief goods to disaster-stricken areas on a whim.

The concept of student participation arose in the wake of the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, which encouraged universities and the education ministry to draft measures that would allow students to lend a helping hand.

Although intensive reports and photographic documentation are required to authenticate volunteer experience, many universities have already approved volunteer work as a learning experience worthy of merit.

But aside from the dangers posed by aftershocks and radioactive leaks, many question whether volunteers with no experience can be of help.

Following the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, many cities were in need of help but asked out-of-prefecture volunteers to stay away. This was because many roads had been destroyed and there wasn't any food, facilities or organization to direct the flow of human help.

Some volunteer centers in the region, including the one in tsunami-struck Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, still haven't recovered to the point where they can accept outside help.

Meanwhile, Youth Vision's Akazawa said that in addition to giving academic credit to the students, universities should work to provide a better environment for them.

Courtesy:Japantimes.

How to prevent a heart attack.

How to prevent a heart attack.

The best thing you can do for your heart is to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

That is, to get plenty of exercise.

 If you exercise, you're strengthening your heart.

This is going to help your heart to be able to one, never to get a heart attack, and two, to recover better if you do ever suffer one.

Two, you need to maintain a good nutritional diet; to eat low fat, high fiber, and get plenty of water is going to be the best thing to serve your heart.

Also, do not smoke. If you smoke, you're going to increase the stress that your heart suffers.

This is going to cause many other problems, including possibly suffering a heart attack. Also, if you have medical problems, like high blood pressure or diabetes, you need to keep these under check.

If you suffer from coronary artery disease and high cholesterol, you need to adjust your diet and eat healthier.

Follow simple things, and improve your health.

"It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness"

"

By Malik Rashid Faisal

Successful Muslim students, who came from the length and breadth of India to participate in the recent international convention of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI), held in Ahmadabad, Gujarat, stood as witnesses to the educational progress and advancement that is being seen among those in the 10th through 12th grades. AFMI, an organization of Indian American Muslims, has a mission to make every Muslim literate. Their efforts since 1989 have been increasingly rewarded by the achievements of young Indian Muslims who are taking advantage of scholarships, tutoring and other help to improve their academic scores.

“My father went to great pains in affording my educational expenses. He was living from hand to mouth at the time of my admission to an engineering course. Anyhow, at my mother’s insistence, he borrowed money to pay the fee. We are still repaying that amount. My father is a driver while my mother is a housewife,” Sheikh Muhammad Ismaeel told SPAN during the recent gathering in Ahmedabad, A second-year student of computer science, Ismaeel hails from Orissa. He secured 89.2 percent marks in 10+2 and was awarded a gold medal by AFMI. He says the American federation has encouraged him and extended monetary and moral support.

A few Indian American Muslims, who had a burning desire to help their Indian counterparts, established the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin in 1989 in Detroit, Michigan.

Founder of AFMI, Dr. Nakadar speaking at the 19th AFMI International Convention at Ahmedabad in Dec 2010.

“When we observed that literacy rate among the Indian Muslims was miserably low, we thought how to extend our help and cooperation in their uplift and development. First of all, we thought of scholarships to Muslim students, but it required a substantial amount of money. Construction of new schools, too, would have been a Herculean task. Then we thought to do something for the encouragement of students,” Dr. A. Raheman S. Nakadar, founder of AFMI, told SPAN. The medal program that recognizes academic achievements of Indian Muslim students was the result.

The Award Program of medals for distinguished students started in 1993. Zafar U. Khan, a professor at Eastern Michigan University, presented an analytical report on the success of the AFMI medal program. He compared students’ success and distribution of medals among them in different years, with the help of charts and tables. On the basis of this study, he concluded that the medal program has created a competitive spirit among Indian Muslim students. He writes, “Often, the competition becomes so tough that a mere difference of 0.1 percent draws a line of demarcation between the would-be gold winner and that of silver. Sometimes, in some states, a 96 percent achiever does not qualify even for a bronze medal.”

Students who were awarded medals by AFMI at Ahmedabad

AFMI has been holding two conventions every year for the last 20 years. Its annual convention is held in the United States. Political and academic figures from India are invited. The second annual international convention is organized in India. It always revolves around educational topics. Not only are medals and certificates awarded to deserving students, but morale boosting awards are presented to people who help the students. The 20th AFMI convention, held in Michigan on October 16, 2010, focused on “Pluralism: The Way to Peace and Prosperity.” The follow-up convention and award program in Ahmedabad on December 25 and 26, 2010 had the theme of “Peace, Unity and Progress.”

In Ahmadabad, medals and certificates were awarded to more than 100 students who passed their 10 or 10+2 exams in flying colors. They represented more than 20 states of India. Amber Afshaan of Karnataka secured 96.83 percent marks in 10+2 and won the gold medal. Talking about her educational plans and future dreams, she told SPAN, “I want to conduct research in aerospace science. I would like to join ISRO to see my dreams come true.” She further said, “The Muslim community lags far behind in paying proper attention to female education, although it is very important. An educated mother educates the whole family.”

Urooj Fatima, a student from New Delhi, secured 95 percent marks in 10th class and received the gold medal. She wants to make her career in economics. Hailing from Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, Aisha Siddiqui wants to serve the nation as a doctor. Her parents are also physicians. She gives credit to AFMI for her success. Similarly, Tanveer Ali Khan from Bangalore, Karnataka secured 94.56 percent marks in 10th class and received the gold medal by the hands of Indian Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily. Khan’s father is a driver, but shortage of funds could not stop him because of his strong willpower. He wants to be an IAS officer. He says, “I will work harder and harder for the upliftment of backward and exploited people. I will also extend my cooperation to AFMI because they are doing too much for us. It should carry on its valuable endeavors for the progress and development of the Muslim community.”

Farooqui Mohammad Abu Saad, from Maharashtra, secured 95.60 percent in 10+2 from Andhra Pradesh and received the gold medal from Kamla Beniwal, governor of Gujarat. Saad took admission in Tapassya Institute, Hyderabad and wants to work for the financial improvement of the community. His father has taken voluntary retirement from government service and keeps on encouraging Saad. He says, “Indian Americans are helping us. It is a boon for us. However, AFMI should also focus on moral values besides the educational advancement.”

Maulana Asrarul Haq Qasmi, who represents Kishan Ganj district of Bihar in the Lok Sabha, was awarded AFMI’s Sir Syed Award for his services in education. Addressing the audience, he said, “Sir Syed used to say, time and again, that we simply do not want to make our community literate only, we, instead, want to make them humans. We should not, therefore, brush aside the raison d’être of education itself. Today knowledge is regarded as power. It is nothing but education, which makes the solid foundation of any nation’s edifice. However, it is a pitiable state that we have political cadres in abundance, while educational cadres are rare.” He further said, “There is appalling illiteracy amongst the rural womenfolk. It is a matter of our serious concern.”

Justice Rajendra Sachchar participated in the convention as chief guest. He lauded the praiseworthy performance of Muslim students. He commented that the drop-out rate among Muslim students is, no doubt, high due to certain factors but efforts to remedy this should continue.

A section of the audience in the 19th AFMI International Convention at Ahmedabad.

Law Minister Moily commented that a man is not born wise; it is the education and training that makes him wise and intelligent. He further said, “Our Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has declared the decade of 2010–2020 as a ‘Decade of Innovation.’ Therefore, we should focus on it sincerely.”

Almost every speaker dwelt upon the paramount importance of education. Convention coordinator A.M. Sethwala said, “Education is not … acquiring degrees only. In fact, education aims at character-building by the dint of which the raison d’être of life itself should be achieved, keeping all moral values intact. Education inculcates wisdom. It makes life elegant in the same way as burnishing makes a diamond glitter.”

During an interview with SPAN, Dr. Nakadar, founder trustee of AFMI, said, “Education is the best means to make people self-reliant. You can remove the illiteracy of generations altogether by educating an individual of your family. You may inherit…fatal diseases, but you cannot inherit poverty because you can eradicate it by means of education.”

On the second day of the program, the former student awardees, who are now successfully associated with different professions, also narrated their experiences. One of them was Dr. Moinuddin Sheikh, who stood first in order of merit in 10th class examination of the Gujarat Board. He said, “Earlier I wanted to be an engineer but changed my mind when I was awarded the gold medal. I observed that most of AFMI executives are doctors by profession. Moreover, it is a noble profession too. Since our success is indebted to AFMI, we should extend our whole- hearted cooperation to it.”

AFMI administrators such as Dr. Nakadar feel pride and joy over their role in alleviating illiteracy among Indian Muslims.

AFMI has established, so far, more than 100 primary and secondary schools besides three colleges in India including Ameena Aabideen School in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, Lady Zubaida School in Pune and Kasa High School in Mumbai, says Dr. Nakadar.

The spirit to serve selflessly, will, enhance the rate of Muslim literacy which, in turn, alleviates poverty. Under the “Education for All” initiative, UNESCO aims at the admission of all school–age-children by 2015. AFMI too has received the initiative with open arms with a burning desire to bring the community and the nation at par with the advancing world.

Courtesy SPAN magazine

CRICKET: ILLUSTRATED

Census 2011 cost Rs 2,200 crore

New Delhi, Apr 1

India's Census 2011 cost the exchequer Rs 2,200 crore, official data said.

The head count of 121.02 crore population cost Rs 18.19 per person, the provisional data released yesterday showed.

The Census Commissioner said 27 lakh functionaries were involved in the mammoth exercise.

The data showed that 8,000 metric tonnes of paper was used in conducting the gigantic exercise of house listing and housing census from April to September 2010 and in the 20-day population enumeration from February 9 to 28.

The paper was used in printing 34 crore schedules in 16 languages and 54 lakh training manuals in 18 languages.

--UNI

Tight security blanket for Mumbai Cup final

New Delhi, 01 April

Media source Rons Bantwal

(Asian Tribune.com) 

Against the backdrop of terror threat, a thick security blanket has been thrown around the metropolis, turning it into a fortress, ahead of Saturday’s World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.

The stadium, has a capacity of 32,000. Apart from Mumbai police, teams of National Security Guards (NSG), Maharashtra’s elite Force One, Rapid Action Force, State Reserve Police Force and Quick Response Team are maintaining strict vigil at the stadium, the venue of the grand finale of cricket’s biggest extravaganza. Airspace over and around stadium has been declared `no flying zone’.

Over 180 CCTVs have been installed by the stadium authorities inside and outside the stadium, and a special police control room has been set up to keep a watch on the spectators, said deputy police commissioner (Operations) Rajkumar Vhatkar.

CISF will frisk spectators entering stadium and SRPF will guard the periphery. Neighbouring Thane and Navi Mumbai police personnel will back up city police.

Helicopters for surveillance, Marine commandos and Indian Naval Base in South Mumbai will be on standby. All entry points from the sea will be sealed on the day.

A multi-layer security will be in place around two-km radius area of the stadium during the match. Outside food items will not be allowed in the stadium. Police are also worried that a ’chemical bomb’ could be used by the terrorists, so the water bottles from outside would not be allowed at the match, a police official said on the condition of anonymity.

When asked, DCP Vhatkar said, "Water bottles from outside will not be allowed due to security reasons and drinking water arrangement has been made inside." Also, with inputs that terror outfits may strike during World Cup matches using explosive-laden vehicles, the city police have decided not to allow parking within a radius of one kilometre of the Wankhede Stadium.

Spectators will have to park their vehicles either near Inox mall in Nariman Point area or near Azad Maidan. The police have appealed to spectators to opt for public transport instead of private vehicles.

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), the civic transport body, is likely to run special buses to ferry spectators from parking areas to the ground.

Though the previous two matches at the stadium - New Zealand vs Canada (March 13) and New Zealand vs Sri Lanka (March 18) - went off without a hitch, police are much more worried about the final, following inputs about possible terror strikes, said an official.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police on Thursday banned bulk SMSes until the World Cup final to be held at the Wankhede stadium on Saturday. The decision was taken after the city police requested the government to declare a holiday on Saturday to reduce crowd movement in the metropolis, particularly south Mumbai, where the stadium is located.

As if the hype over the ’mahayudh’ and ’eilan-e-jung’ between India and Pakistan at Mohali wasn’t enough, there is more coming, with the April 2 clash with Sri Lanka being dubbed as ’Ram-Ravan war’. A flurry of SMSes is doing the rounds about how Ram (India) takes on Ravan (Sri Lanka) in final.

Congress MLC C. Sapra organised a function in Mumbai today where, according to him, people sought blessings of "Bhagwan Shri Ram and Hanuman for a win against Sri Lanka in finals!" "After all it was Shri Ram who trounced Lanka," he said.

 

 

Mumbai additional commissioner (traffic) Brijesh Singh said, ’’Vehicles will not be allowed beyond the Princess Street flyover to the west of the stadium. Only vehicles of VVIPs and police cars will be exempted.

’’

For the first time, the traffic police have marked out separate lanes for spectators’ vehicles to ease traffic flow. ’’Diversions will start from Worli and further away at Haji Ali. There will be heavy police deployment at diversion points,’’ said Singh.

Spectators have been advised to keep their tickets in hand and keep to the right lane. Cautionary boards will be placed at important points along the route. ’’There will be several security checks. So, spectators should arrive at least three hours before the match,’’ deputy commissioner Nandkumar Chaugule said.

The cops appealed to spectators to use public transport to reach the match venue. ’’Churchgate station is close to the stadium. So, using trains is the best option. If spectators choose to come in cars, they should opt for carpooling,’’ said Chaugule.

 

 

 

 

---

Sri Lanka president looks for Murali tribute

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has urged the national team to win the World Cup final as a fitting finale to the brilliant career of spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan.

Rajapakse, who will fly to Mumbai to watch Saturday's match against India, congratulated the side on making it through to the last game and said he hoped the trophy that Sri Lanka won in 1996 would soon return to Colombo.

"The president wants us to win the World Cup as a tribute to Murali who retires from international cricket after this tournament," his spokesman Bandula Jayasekera told AFP.

Muralitharan, who played in the 1996 team, took his 534th one-day international wicket off his last ball on home soil as New Zealand were defeated in the semi-final in Colombo on Tuesday.

India beat Pakistan by 29 runs on Wednesday to set up a mouth-watering final clash against Sri Lanka in Mumbai.

© AFP

Cup final reprieve from S.Lanka tensions

Sri Lanka's appearance in Saturday's cricket World Cup final offers a rare if fleeting moment of unity for a nation that remains deeply fractured despite the end of its decades-old ethnic conflict.

President Mahinda Rajapakse, who will attend the final against India in Mumbai, has promoted the game as a symbol of reconciliation following his government's final victory over Tamil Tiger rebels nearly two years ago.

"Sports has been a uniting factor and cricket has been in the forefront of bringing communities together," the president told foreign correspondents in Colombo just before Sri Lanka's semi-final victory over New Zealand on Tuesday.

Rajapakse has spent lavishly to build new cricket venues, and local newspaper editors said they had been warned against publishing anything that would demoralise players ahead of the final.

He has also taken pains to highlight the role of world record wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan, the only ethnic Tamil member of the Sri Lankan squad, who will retire from international cricket after the competition.

"The president wants us to win the World Cup as a tribute to Murali," Rajapakse's spokesman Bandula Jayasekera told AFP.

 Courtesy : AFP

Cheque payments to get costlier from tomorrow.

PTI, 31-03-2011

 16:10:53 

Making payments through cheques may become a costlier affair from tomorrow, as RBI has allowed banks to levy higher service charges for their clearing, especially of high-value and outstation cheques. 

As per a RBI circular coming into effect from April 1, 2011, banks would be free to fix service charges on speed clearing of cheques of value above Rs 1 lakh.

At present, RBI does not allow banks to charge more than Rs 150 per cheque for speed clearing of cheques worth over Rs 1 lakh, while there are no charges for value up to Rs 1 lakh.

However, speed clearing of cheques with value up to Rs 1 lakh would continue to remain exempt of any service charges.

Speed clearing refers to processing of outstation cheques electronically and without movement of cheques from the presentation centre (city where the cheque is presented) to drawee centre (city where the cheque is payable).

For normal local clearing also, drawee bank can charge up to Rs 1.50 per cheque from tomorrow, as against Re 1 at present. For local clearing through cheque truncation system, which works electronically by processing the scanned image of the cheque, drawee bank can levy a service charge of Re 1 from tomorrow, up from 50 paise at present.

Besides, RBI has also given a free hand to the banks to decide on the service charge on outstation cheques of over Rs one lakh, as against a maximum limit of Rs 150 per cheque allowed currently.

However, RBI has decided to lower the service charge for outstation cheques up to Rs 5,000, by allowing a levy of Rs 25, as against Rs 50 currently.

The outstation cheques between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 would continue to attract a fee of Rs 50, while those between Rs 10,000 and Rs 1 lakh would also continue to be levied a charge of Rs 100.

While fixing service charges not mandated herein, banks have been told to get approval from their boards for service charge structure.

"Charges fixed should be reasonable and computed on a cost-plus-basis and not as an arbitrary percentage of the value of the instrument. The service charges-structure should not be open ended and should clearly specify the maximum charges that would be levied on customers including charges if any, payable to other banks," RBI has told the banks.

The service charges by banks should be inclusive of all charges (postal, courier, handling, etc.) other than service tax, RBI said.

Making payments through cheques may become a costlier affair from tomorrow, as RBI has allowed banks to levy higher service charges for their clearing, especially of high-value and outstation cheques. 

As per a RBI circular coming into effect from April 1, 2011, banks would be free to fix service charges on speed clearing of cheques of value above Rs 1 lakh.

At present, RBI does not allow banks to charge more than Rs 150 per cheque for speed clearing of cheques worth over Rs 1 lakh, while there are no charges for value up to Rs 1 lakh.

However, speed clearing of cheques with value up to Rs 1 lakh would continue to remain exempt of any service charges.

Speed clearing refers to processing of outstation cheques electronically and without movement of cheques from the presentation centre (city where the cheque is presented) to drawee centre (city where the cheque is payable).

For normal local clearing also, drawee bank can charge up to Rs 1.50 per cheque from tomorrow, as against Re 1 at present. For local clearing through cheque truncation system, which works electronically by processing the scanned image of the cheque, drawee bank can levy a service charge of Re 1 from tomorrow, up from 50 paise at present.

Besides, RBI has also given a free hand to the banks to decide on the service charge on outstation cheques of over Rs one lakh, as against a maximum limit of Rs 150 per cheque allowed currently.

However, RBI has decided to lower the service charge for outstation cheques up to Rs 5,000, by allowing a levy of Rs 25, as against Rs 50 currently.

The outstation cheques between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 would continue to attract a fee of Rs 50, while those between Rs 10,000 and Rs 1 lakh would also continue to be levied a charge of Rs 100.

While fixing service charges not mandated herein, banks have been told to get approval from their boards for service charge structure.

"Charges fixed should be reasonable and computed on a cost-plus-basis and not as an arbitrary percentage of the value of the instrument. The service charges-structure should not be open ended and should clearly specify the maximum charges that would be levied on customers including charges if any, payable to other banks," RBI has told the banks.

The service charges by banks should be inclusive of all charges (postal, courier, handling, etc.) other than service tax, RBI said. 

Making payments through cheques may become a costlier affair from tomorrow, as RBI has allowed banks to levy higher service charges for their clearing, especially of high-value and outstation cheques. 

As per a RBI circular coming into effect from April 1, 2011, banks would be free to fix service charges on speed clearing of cheques of value above Rs 1 lakh.

At present, RBI does not allow banks to charge more than Rs 150 per cheque for speed clearing of cheques worth over Rs 1 lakh, while there are no charges for value up to Rs 1 lakh.

However, speed clearing of cheques with value up to Rs 1 lakh would continue to remain exempt of any service charges.

Speed clearing refers to processing of outstation cheques electronically and without movement of cheques from the presentation centre (city where the cheque is presented) to drawee centre (city where the cheque is payable).

For normal local clearing also, drawee bank can charge up to Rs 1.50 per cheque from tomorrow, as against Re 1 at present. For local clearing through cheque truncation system, which works electronically by processing the scanned image of the cheque, drawee bank can levy a service charge of Re 1 from tomorrow, up from 50 paise at present.

Besides, RBI has also given a free hand to the banks to decide on the service charge on outstation cheques of over Rs one lakh, as against a maximum limit of Rs 150 per cheque allowed currently.

However, RBI has decided to lower the service charge for outstation cheques up to Rs 5,000, by allowing a levy of Rs 25, as against Rs 50 currently.

The outstation cheques between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 would continue to attract a fee of Rs 50, while those between Rs 10,000 and Rs 1 lakh would also continue to be levied a charge of Rs 100.

While fixing service charges not mandated herein, banks have been told to get approval from their boards for service charge structure.

"Charges fixed should be reasonable and computed on a cost-plus-basis and not as an arbitrary percentage of the value of the instrument. The service charges-structure should not be open ended and should clearly specify the maximum charges that would be levied on customers including charges if any, payable to other banks," RBI has told the banks.

The service charges by banks should be inclusive of all charges (postal, courier, handling, etc.) other than service tax, RBI said.