Current Affairs For SSC CGL Exam - 16 December, 2013

Current Affairs For SSC CGL Exam

A US federal court has given Congress president Sonia Gandhi till January 2 to respond to a Sikh body’s charges of protecting and shielding party leaders allegedly involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh violence.
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) had filed an amended class action complaint against Ms. Gandhi on December 4 citing what it called “specific instances of impunity, promotions and party tickets” to Congress leaders and police officials involved in 1984 violence.
The SFJ complaint against Ms. Gandhi invokes the federal court jurisdiction over the case based on Alien Tort Statute and the Torture Victim Protection Act of 1992 giving the survivors of human rights abuses the right to sue the perpetrators in the US.
While SFJ claims that the court summons were served on Ms. Gandhi through hospital and security staff at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York on September 9, Ms. Gandhi’s attorneys had challenged the service of summons.

The Supreme Court has refused to modify its verdict so as to hold that all the sitting MPs and MLAs, who stood convicted as on its judgement dated July 10, will also be disqualified.
The court had earlier ruled that disqualification would be incurred only if members are convicted post its July 10 judgement.
A plea for modification in its judgement was filed, pleading for extending the disqualification also to members who stood convicted in criminal cases as on July 10.
A bench led by Justice A K Patnaik dismissed the application, saying the appropriate remedy for the petitioner was to file a review petition.
The court also noted it had given due reasons why only those convicted after July 10 should incur disqualification under the Representation of People Act.

Indian-Americans paid tribute to veteran leader and freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 63rd death anniversary by organizing " Run for Unity" , recalling the legacy of India's 'Iron Man'.
Underlining the need for people from different parts of India to unite in the effort to memorialise the contribution of Sardar Patel, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is preparing for an ambitious project to build a gigantic iron statue of the leader.

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has been voted the BBC’s 60th Sports Personality of the Year, winning the accolade after becoming the first British man to lift the trophy at the All England Club in 77 years.
The 26-year-old Scot ended one of the longest droughts in British sport by beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets in July.

Ethiopian Atsedu Tsegay demolished the course record to emerge triumphant in the elite men's category, while Florence Kiplagat led a Kenyan clean sweep in the women's event of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon.
Tsegay stopped the clock at 59.12 minutes to lower the course record by three seconds set by countryman Deriba Merga in 2008.
The Indian category was won by G Lakshmanan and Preeja Sreedharan among the men and women respectively.
Lakshmanan, representing the Army, finished in 64.44, followed home by Kheta Ram in 64.49 and Ratti Ram Saini in 64.51. Lakshmanan, finished 15th overall, with Kheta Ram (16th) and Ratti Ram (17th). Preeja clocked 80.04, followed home by Kavita Raut (80.06) and Lalita Babbar (80.09). The winners took home Rs 2.5 lakh each.