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Singapore SC judge sits in Constitution bench

The occasion coincides with the second edition of the Delhi Arbitration Weekend, taking place from March 6 to 10, an event hosted by the Delhi International Arbitration Centre…reports Asian Lite News

Judge Judith Prakash of the Singapore Supreme Court on Wednesday joined the Constitution bench tasked with examining whether the Centre’s collection of royalties on mineral rights should be classified as a tax, aligning with a previous ruling by a seven-judge bench in 1989.

Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, leading the nine-judge bench, announced Judge Prakash’s participation as a guest member, noting her presence coinciding with her attendance at the Delhi Arbitration Weekend, where she is slated to deliver the keynote address.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta extended his greetings and formally welcomed Judge Prakash, while senior advocate Harish Salve, representing the bar in the royalty case, expressed his warm regards to her, acknowledging the honor of engaging with her on matters of Indian constitutional law.

The occasion coincides with the second edition of the Delhi Arbitration Weekend, taking place from March 6 to 10, an event hosted by the Delhi International Arbitration Centre.

SC quashes criminal proceedings against govt official

Meanwhile in a separate development, the Supreme Court has quashed criminal proceedings initiated against a UP government official accused of torturing and abetting a senior clerk in the District Child Welfare Board to commit suicide.An FIR was registered at Fatehgarh’s Kotwali police station for the offences punishable under Section 306 of the IPC and the SC/ST Act on the basis of the suicide note left behind by the deceased who ended his life by consuming a poisonous substance in his own house on October 3, 2002.The appellant official contended in the apex court that allegations do not constitute the necessary ingredients of the offences alleged as the deceased was bothered by the pressure of working in two districts and took the extreme step of ending his life being unable to withstand the pressure.In its verdict, a bench, headed by Justice B.R. Gavai said: “On a minute perusal of the suicide note, we do not find that the contents thereof indicate any act or omission on the part of the accused-appellant which could make him responsible for abetment as defined under Section 107 IPC.”After minutely perusing the suicide note, the bench, also comprising Justice Sandeep Mehta, agreed that the deceased was frustrated on account of work pressure and was apprehensive of various random factors unconnected to his official duties.

However, such apprehensions expressed in the suicide note, by no stretch of the imagination, can be considered sufficient to attribute to the appellant, an act or omission constituting the elements of abetment to commit suicide, it added.The apex court held that the necessary ingredients of the offence of abetment to commit suicide are not made out from the charge sheet and appellant’s prosecution under Section 306 IPC and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act tantamounts to gross abuse of process to law.It also said: “The prosecution of the appellant herein for the offence under Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act is ex facie illegal and unwarranted because it is nowhere the case of the prosecution in the entire charge sheet that the offence under IPC was committed by the appellant upon the deceased on the basis of his caste.”It noted that the investigating agency, in the first instance, proposed a closure report in the matter after conducting a thorough investigation. Later, the investigation was reopened and a charge sheet came to be filed.”In this background, we are of the opinion that there does not exist any justifiable ground so as to permit the prosecution of the appellant for the offences under Section 306 IPC and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act,” the Supreme Court said.Earlier, the Allahabad High Court had rejected the application filed under Section 482 of Court of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) seeking quashing of proceedings pending before the Farrukhabad’s Chief Judicial Magistrate.

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Ex-SIA Steward Sues for In-Flight Fall: S$1.78M Claim

SIA denied Santiran’s claims saying that SIA pays all valid and legitimate claims made by employees, but responds “firmly” to invalid, illegitimate, and false claims…reports Asian Lite News

A Malaysian-Indian former flight steward is suing Singapore Airlines (SIA) for S$1.78 million after he slipped and fell onboard a plane in 2019 resulting in spinal injuries.

Durairaj Santiran, who was employed by SIA from April 2016 to April 2021, alleged that his former employer was negligent in allowing the workplace to be unsafe, The Straits Times newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old was in the economy-class galley of a flight from San Francisco which was scheduled to land in Singapore on the evening of September 6, 2019.

He said about two hours before landing he slipped on a patch of grease on the floor and fell on his back, hitting his head on the floor.

Santiran, who wore a neck brace when he attended court on February 13, claimed that as a result of his spinal injuries, he is medically unfit to continue working as a flight steward.

He is seeking S$1.29 million for loss of future earnings, S$30,000 for loss of earning capacity, and S$150,000 for future medical and transport expenses.

According to the lawsuit, the international carrier failed to ensure that the floor of the aircraft was free of any substance that might cause Santiran to slip, and failed to ensure that there was a system of cleaning to keep the floors safe.

His lawyers, Ramasamy Chettiar and Kasturibai Manickam said that the fact that SIA did not take any preventive measures showed that the work system was inadequate, and the workplace was allowed to be unsafe.

SIA denied Santiran’s claims saying that SIA pays all valid and legitimate claims made by employees, but responds “firmly” to invalid, illegitimate, and false claims.

SIA lawyers highlighted that Santiran made two previous work injury claims, in 2017 and 2018, which the airline did not contest.

In these claims, he was awarded compensation for back and neck injuries through the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) process.

However, his present WICA claim has been objected to as his injuries appeared to be pre-existing, they argued.

Going further, the lawyers contended that there was no grease patch “on the floor of the economy-class galley near the ovens beside the galley island” as alleged and that this was not the location where Santiran fell.

He also claimed that after he fell, his colleagues helped him into a “crew seat”. But SIA said he was “assisted into the business-class section”, where he remained until the plane landed.

The SIA lawyer told the court that the entire claim about there being a patch of grease that caused him to fall was bogus, to which Santiran disagreed.

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Singapore Transport Minister Iswaran Resigns Amid Corruption Charges

Iswaran, who was on a leave of absence since the probe began in July 2023, will repay his salary as a minister and allowances as an MP from that month…reports Asian Lite News

Singapore’s Indian-origin Transport Minister, S. Iswaran has stepped down from his post after facing 27 charges of offences in a corruption probe, which also included receiving tickets from a top property tycoon.

The 61-year-old minister, who was arrested on July 11 last year and released on SG$800,000 bail, also resigned as an MP from the ruling People’s Action Party, The Straits Times reported on Thursday.

In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, dated January 16, Iswaran said the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) charged him with various offences.

“I reject the allegations in the charges and will now focus on clearing my name. Given the circumstances, I feel it is right for me to resign from Cabinet, as a Member of Parliament and as a member of the PAP,” he wrote.

Iswaran, who was on a leave of absence since the probe began in July 2023, will repay his salary as a minister and allowances as an MP from that month.

“My family and I have decided to return the monies because we cannot in all good conscience benefit from them when I was unable, on account of the investigations, to discharge my duties as a minister and Member of Parliament,” he said in the letter.

He added that he will not be seeking the return of the amount if he is acquitted.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that effective from Thursday, Chee Hong Tat will replace Iswaran as Transport Minister.

Earlier in the day, Iswaran appeared before a district judge and was charged with two counts of corruption over bribes.

He is accused of accepting more than SG$160,000 from billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng to advance the latter’s business interests in a Singapore Grand Prix contract with the city-state’s Tourism Board in September and December 2022.

Iswaran also faces 24 charges of accepting valuable items worth more than SG$218,000, including Singapore Grand Prix tickets, between November 2015 and December 2021 from Ong — credited with bringing F1 racing to Singapore — while being a public servant, and one charge of obstructing justice in May 2023.

His political career spans more than 26 years, and he was first elected in 1997 as an MP for West Coast Group Representation Constituency.

In May 2021, he was appointed Minister for Transport and was concurrently minister-in-charge of trade relations at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) since May 2018.

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Singapore Explores Hiring APOs from India

The minister also pointed to a growing demand for APOs due to heightened security threats and new infrastructure, such as Changi Airport Terminal 4…reports Asian Lite News

An Indian-origin minister in Singapore has said that the city state is considering hiring auxiliary police officers (APOs) from Asian nations like India, China, the Philippines and Myanmar.

Home and Law Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam told Parliament on Wednesday that his Ministry hopes to expand the jurisdictions where officers can be recruited from for their Auxiliary Police Force, Channel News Asia reported.

In a written parliamentary response to MP Sylvia Lim, Shanmugam said the move is being considered as the number of APOs, currently being hired from Taiwan, dropping significantly since the practice began in 2017.

The minister also pointed to a growing demand for APOs due to heightened security threats and new infrastructure, such as Changi Airport Terminal 4.

“We need to allow the auxiliary police forces to recruit foreign APOs to meet the increasing demand for security services,” Shanmugam said.

“They (Auxiliary Police Force) face challenges in sustaining an adequate pool of APOs, given the shrinking local workforce, requirements such as physical fitness, and the job options Singaporeans have.”

Singaporeans made up about 68 per cent of the total population of APOs, with the remaining 32 per cent being Malaysian and Taiwanese as of November last year.

The Minister further noted that it has been a “challenge to recruit and keep” the Taiwanese APOs with their numbers decreasing by more than 60 per cent since 2017, to about 70 today.

Citing reasons, he said this was due to the demanding nature of public-facing security work, improved job opportunities and prospects in Taiwan, a desire to settle down with a family, and homesickness.

APOs are trained in areas such as handling firearms and counter-terrorism, and they are deployed in a range of functions, including protecting key installations and non-governmental premises such as commercial banks.

In addition, they are also given police powers to search and arrest offenders when on duty, and can escort people in custody.

As for the risk of letting non-Singaporeans carry firearms, the minister told the parliament that the authorities address this through security screening, training and supervision.

“So far, misuse of firearms by APOs is extremely rare and is not more prevalent among non-Singaporeans,” Shanmugam said.

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Novelist Meira Chand Receives Singapore’s Cultural Medallion

The award, which comes with a SG$80,000 grant for each recipient, is an initiative by late president and then Minister of Culture, Ong Teng Cheong…reports Asian Lite News

Indian-origin novelist Meira Chand has been honoured with the Cultural Medallion, Singapore’s most prestigious arts accolade, in support of her artistic pursuits.

Born to Swiss-Indian parents, Chand, 81, is the first English-language female writer to be awarded the Medallion since Ho Minfong in 1997, The Straits Times reported.

She received the award from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, along with fellow novelist Suchen Christine Lim and Malay dance veteran Osman Abdul Hamid, at a ceremony held at the Istana on December 5.

The award, which comes with a SG$80,000 grant for each recipient, is an initiative by late president and then Minister of Culture, Ong Teng Cheong.

“Each of our three new Cultural Medallion recipients is being recognised for their explorations through life, and for inspiring many others, not least the next generation of artists,” Shanmugaratnam said in a statement.

As an award-winning novelist, Chand is known for their depiction of multicultural societies, and her book, ‘The Painted Cage’, was longlisted for the Booker Prize.

Born in London to a Swiss mother and Indian father, Meira grew up and was educated in the UK.

Her writing career began in India where she lived for five years and described it as “a life changing experience”.

Speaking further of her India experience, Chand writes on her website: “For the first time in my life, I met a half of myself I had never known. There was simply no way I could understand that experience, but through writing”.

Her novels, ‘House of the Sun’, ‘A Far Horizon’, and ‘The Pink White and Blue Universe’, are a reflection of her time in India, and the indelible effect of the country upon her, according to her website.

The Cultural Medallion award has been given to 135 artists since its inception in 1979.

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Inderpal Singh Triumphs as Winner of ‘MasterChef Singapore’ Season 4

Throughout the competition, Singh consistently wowed the judges with his culinary creations, earning praise for the extraordinary flavor profiles in his dishes…reports Asian Lite News

In an electrifying culinary showdown that had audiences on the edge of their seats, Inderpal Singh, a 33-year-old Indian-origin Singaporean, emerged victorious as the winner of ‘MasterChef Singapore’ Season 4. Following weeks of intense competition and mouthwatering creations, Singh’s culinary prowess and unwavering passion for cooking secured him the coveted title, propelling him to culinary stardom in Singapore and beyond.

The climactic finale, which aired on Sunday, witnessed Singh pitted against two other immensely talented chefs, Tina Amin and Mandy Kee. In a heart-pounding finish, Singh clinched victory with an impressive score of 76.6 out of 90, surpassing the runner-up, Tina Amin, by 3.6 points and the second runner-up, Mandy Kee, by 8.1 points. Singh’s win was not just about the title; it was a testament to his dedication and exceptional skills in the kitchen.

Throughout the competition, Singh consistently wowed the judges with his culinary creations, earning praise for the extraordinary flavor profiles in his dishes. His dishes offered delightful surprises, harmonizing flavors and textures that showcased Singh’s innovation and culinary finesse, setting him apart from the competition, reports Khalsa Vox.

In the wake of his triumphant win, Inderpal Singh shared his emotions with the press, stating, “Proud doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel at this moment.” He expressed his gratitude and excitement, saying, “I have dreamt of this moment so many times – and have given myself a reality check that many times, too – but having the trophy in my hands shows that dreams do come true and gives me the validation that I can become a culinary personality.”

Singh’s journey to culinary stardom was not without its challenges. As the owner of a home-based Food and Beverage (F&B) business, he has tirelessly honed his craft and explored the depths of culinary artistry. His unwavering dedication, coupled with the love and support of his family, friends, and newfound culinary connections, fueled his path to success.

For Singh, winning ‘MasterChef Singapore’ Season 4 represents just the beginning of an exciting culinary adventure. Armed with the title, a cash prize of SGD 10,000 (approximately Rs 6.7 lakh), and newfound confidence, he is poised to leave his mark on the world of gastronomy. With dreams as his guiding star and a trophy in hand, Inderpal Singh is set to inspire and tantalize the taste buds of food enthusiasts everywhere, proving that passion and perseverance can indeed transform dreams into reality. Singapore’s culinary landscape has undeniably gained a shining new star in Inderpal Singh, the ‘MasterChef Singapore’ Season 4 champion.

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Singapore, Bangladesh Strengthen Relations with High Commission Upgrade

singapore flag.

Momen had earlier requested the Singaporean Foreign Minister to set up a full-fledged mission in Dhaka that would benefit both countries…reports Asian Lite News

Singapore will elevate its consulate in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka to a high commission from October 1, reflecting the enhanced economic and people-to-people relations between the two countries, a media report said.

The upgrade was shared by Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen on September 20 during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Xinhua news agency reported, citing United News of Bangladesh.

Momen had earlier requested the Singaporean Foreign Minister to set up a full-fledged mission in Dhaka that would benefit both countries while calling for more investment from Singapore in Bangladesh’s special economic zones.

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India, Singapore Review Progress in Trade and Defence

According to the MEA, both sides also discussed regional, global and multilateral issues of common interest…reports Asian Lite News

Following up on the intense political exchanges which have taken place this year, India and Singapore discussed areas of ongoing collaboration such as trade & investment as well as defence & security at the 17th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in New Delhi on Monday (September 18, 2023).

Coming close on the heels of the visit of Prime Minister of Singapore to India for the G20 Summit, the FOC provided an opportunity to follow up on the Leaders’ discussions and review the robust bilateral relationship, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

During the FOC, the two sides discussed areas of ongoing collaboration such as trade & investment, defence & security, fintech, digitalisation, green energy, skill development and people-to-people ties.

They also exchanged views on the progress achieved on specific growth engines identified under the inaugural meeting of the India-Singapore Ministerial Round-table (ISMR) in September 2022 and looked forward to its next edition, the MEA said.

According to the MEA, both sides also discussed regional, global and multilateral issues of common interest.
Additionally, the Indian side appreciated Singapore for joining the International Solar Alliance earlier in June this year and thanked Singapore for joining the ‘Global Biofuels Alliance’ which was launched at the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

The FOC was co-chaired by Secretary (East), MEA Saurabh Kumar and  Permanent Secretary at Singapore’s Ministry of Law Luke Goh, who is concurrently Second Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both sides agreed to hold the next round of FOC in Singapore on a mutually convenient date. While in New Delhi, Goh also met the Indian Law Secretary.

STRONG INDIA-SINGAPORE BILATERAL RELATIONS 

India and Singapore enjoy a very warm bilateral relationship which has manifested itself in recent developments across diverse sectors.

Less than a month ago, India had exempted Singapore from the rice export ban which was imposed recently, citing a “very close strategic partnership” and “food security requirements”. 
 
Providing this information on August 28, 2023, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “India and Singapore enjoy a very close strategic partnership, characterized by shared interests, close economic ties and strong people to people connect”.

In February this year, India and Singapore had linked their respective online payments systems for seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong participated in the virtual launch of real time payment linkage between the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and PayNow of Singapore on February 21, 2023.

With this, Singapore became the first country with which cross border Person to Person (P2P) payment facility was  launched by India.

Im addition to strong trade and economic ties, India and Singapore also have a close defence and security relationship at the bilateral level as well as through the ASEAN. (India News Network)

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Tharman Shanmugaratnam Sworn In as Singapore’s Ninth President

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated Tharman on winning the presidential election and pledged the full support of the government to the President…reports Asian Lite News

Tharman Shanmugaratnam took the oath as Singapore’s ninth president at Istana, the country’s presidential palace.

In the inauguration speech, Tharman said on Thursday evening that he was honoured and humbled to have been elected and will discharge his duties diligently and faithfully.

The President also stressed building a more inclusive society and deepening Singapore’s partnerships with the international community, Xinhua news agency reported.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated Tharman on winning the presidential election and pledged the full support of the government to the President.

Tharman was elected the President after garnering 70.4 per cent of the total votes. He used to be the senior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the city-state.

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Tharman Pledges To Build ‘Future Of Optimism’

Tharman Shanmugaratnam received a resounding mandate with a whopping 70.4 per cent votes in a three-way contest to elect Singapore’s ninth President.

Registering a landslide victory in Singapore’s presidential election, Tamil-origin economist Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that his win was a vote of confidence in the city-state’s future and vowed to build a ‘future of optimism’.

Tharman received a resounding mandate with a whopping 70.4 per cent votes in a three-way contest to elect the city-state’s ninth President on Friday.

“I pledge and it will be my duty to use the roles and responsibilities of the president to advance this future of optimism and solidarity among Singaporeans. That is my pledge,” Tharman said in his first remarks to the media after his win.

“Once again, let me just say that I am truly humbled, and I will honour the trust that Singaporeans have placed in me and respect all Singaporeans for the views they have expressed, including those who did not vote for me,” Tharman said, as reported by The Straits Times.

Thrman’s rivals, Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian, received 15.72 and 13.88 per cent of the vote, respectively.

Congratulating Tharman for winning by a ‘decisive margin’, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the former senior minister will carry out his duties as president with distinction, having had a long and distinguished record of public service.

“He must exercise his custodial powers under the Constitution wisely, bringing to bear his experience and independent judgment,” Lee said in a statement, adding that internationally, the president must fly the country’s flag high as Singapore’s representative.

It was for the third time that Singaporeans voted for their President since the elected presidency was introduced in 1991. The first such contested election was in 1993, followed by the second one in 2011.

Before Tharman, Singapore has had two Tamil-origin presidents — Sellapan Ramanathan who became the city-state’s longest-serving president in 2009, and Chengara Veetil Devan Nair, who served from 1981 to 1985.

Tharman joined politics in 2001 and has served in the public sector and ministerial positions with Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) for over two decades.

He formally launched his presidential campaign in July with a pledge to evolve the country’s culture to keep it a “shining spot” in the world.

Incumbent President Halimah Yacob’s term will end on September 13. She is the country’s eighth and first female president.

Modi sends congratulations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Tharman Shanmugaratnam on being elected as Singapore’s President.

PM Modi said he looks forward to working with Shanmugaratnam to further strengthen the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership.

“Hearty congratulations @Tharman_s on your election as the President of Singapore. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership,” PM Modi wrote on ‘X’ formerly Twitter on Saturday.

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