Delhi Assembly Speaker Yoganand Shastri on Thursday justified expulsion of Opposition BJP MLAs during the Winter session by stating that he had to take such a move to ensure smooth functioning of the House.

Principal from various Delhi schools have told the Delhi government that they want to continue with the points system and not the proposed draw of lots, which similar to the lottery system.

The Delhi police commissioner B.K. Gupta on Thursday said that a duly notified order will be issued to all the BPO companies for ensuring that their staff is dropped at home and not on the main roads to prevent a repeat of incidents like the Dhaula Kuan gangrape case.

A parliamentary committee has held that noted film-maker Shyam Benegal could attract disqualification from the Rajya Sabha if he became a member of the Prasar Bharati Board, which is an “office of profit”.

The Supreme Court on Thursday took serious view of the NGO, Citizen for Justice and Peace seeking intervention of the UN Human Rights Commission in the Godhra train burning case, particularly for protection of witnesses, saying how can a body outside India be allowed to interfere in country’s judicial system.

After bringing two Houses of Parliament to virtually a standstill since November 10, MPs are currently busy in the preparation of a car rally to be held on December 5 being organised by the Constitution Club of India. They might be fighting inside Parliament, but outside their roles change.

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday questioned R.K. Chandolia, personal secretary to former telecom minister A. Raja, in connection with its probe into the 2G spectrum scam. The ED is also likely to issue summons to Mr. Raja in connection with its probe into the scam very soon. The ED officials questioned Mr Chandolia for nearly six hours.

The impasse between the government and the Opposition over Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into alleged 2G spectrum scam continued in Parliament for 15th consecutive day, as both the Houses were adjourned on Thursday. But like on Wednesday the two Houses could transact some essential financial business amidst din.

Alleging that the UPA government was “indifferent” to the corruption problem, the NDA on Thursday demanded that government should allow the Parliament to function by conceding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into corruption cases including 2G spectrum allocation scam. The NDA claimed the entire Opposition was unanimous in demanding a JPC probe and there was no other solution than the JPC probe.

Hinting that his aim and efforts were to rebuild party organisations at grass roots in the state, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said, he was not upset with the Bihar Assembly elections results.