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Ex-cop B L Joshi to be Delhi
L-G
Frame policy to decongest Capital in 4 months: HC
Day one: Chaos reigns as DU sells 50,000
forms
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Committee clears air on farmhouse tax
assessment
Kids in 54,000 homes go without polio
drops
Co to cough up Rs 21,000 for aluminium strip in
biscuit
Zoo gears up to beat the searing
heat
Kalyanpuri SHO caught
red-handed
BPCL to host highway safety car
rally
BJP joins chorus of protest on power tariff
hike
Big heroin catch
Delhi Police Narcotics Branch arrested a Nigerian national and one Balraj Singh of Amritsar just as they were exchanging a consignment of white heroin.
Sand contractor murdered by
employees
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Ex-cop B L Joshi to be Delhi
L-G
New Delhi, June 3 A Rashtrapati Bhawan press communiqué said today the appointment would take effect from the date Mr Joshi assumes charge of his office. It also mentioned that the President has accepted the resignation of Mr Kapoor. The new L-G is understood to have been close to the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He was also in the personal security of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He is the second IPS officer to be appointed as the L-G of NCT of Delhi, the first being Mr Markande Singh. Mr Markande Singh was appointed briefly during the tenure of a former Prime Minister, Mr Chandrashekhar, several years ago. The tenure of Mr Kapoor was marked by the turf war with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. His intervention in the affairs of the Government of NCT of Delhi was seen as ‘meddling’ in the affairs of the duly elected Council of Ministers. The ‘cold war’ took a turn for the worse after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, in August 2002, dispatched a missive to the Chief Minister defining the roles of the Lieutenant Governor vis-à-vis the Council of Ministers. The Chief Minister treated the contents of the letter as a curtailment of powers and saw it as an attempt by the BJP-led NDA Government to govern the Capital by proxy. The appointment of Mr Joshi, who is a member of the Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission, as the L-G comes as a surprise despite speculation that a retired police officer would get the nod. The 70-year-old Mr Joshi, who began his career in the Rajasthan Police Service, also worked with the Intelligence Bureau and Indian missions in Pakistan, the United States and Great Britain. He was the chief security officer of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964. Mr Joshi took voluntary retirement in 1991 before joining the Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission. Born on April 1, 1934, in Village Choti Khatu in Nagore, Rajasthan, he went to Kolkata for post-graduation and LLB. In 1956, he was selected for the Rajasthan Police Service and in 1962 he joined the Intelligence Bureau in Delhi. In 1970, he was appointed as First Secretary in the Indian High Commission in Pakistan. Mr Joshi served in the same capacity in the Indian Embassy in the United States. He came back to India in 1974 and returned to his home state, serving as Superintendent of Police in Dungarpur, Sikar, Railway Police Headquarters, Ajmer, and the Rajasthan branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation. He came to the Centre on deputation in 1982 and was posted at London as First Secretary in the Indian High Commission.
Exuding happiness over his new assignment, Mr BL Joshi, in a telephonic conversation with The Tribune from his Jaipur residence, said: “I am humble and grateful to God. I will try to meet the aspirations of the people of Delhi. I am excited at the prospect of taking up the assignment and happy that I can be of service to the people of Delhi.”
Mr Joshi, who has spent several years of his career in Delhi, said: ‘‘I love Delhi and I have spent a major part of my service and career here. So, I know Delhi.” Mr Joshi, who was in the Capital till afternoon, left for Jaipur this evening. He is undecided as to when he would assume office. –
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Frame policy to decongest Capital in 4 months: HC
New Delhi, June 3 Noting that the Capital was set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2010, a Division Bench comprising Justices Vijender Jain and R. S. Sodhi directed the Delhi Government and the Delhi Development Authority to formulate a policy to ensure congestion-free roads and clean air for its residents. “We are aware that even after construction of flyovers the authorities have not been able to achieve the desired objectives. The flyovers can at best shift a congestion point, but until and unless steps are taken to build a multi-level road system or create road separators or evolve some other methods, the problem will persist and congestion in Delhi will also continue,” the judges said. The court ordered the state government to device a comprehensive scheme within four months by which all
non-CNG buses coming from adjoining states could terminate at terminals on the Outer Ring Road circling the Capital. These terminals are to have all infrastructural facilities and a proper city bus or metro rail link for the convenience of passengers. Terming faulty distribution network as another reason for congestion inside Delhi, the bench sought the entire system of wholesale distribution to be shifted outside the periphery of the Outer Ring Road. It emphasised that goods trains and their loading and unloading activity should not be permitted inside the Outer Ring Road. “Such work must be undertaken at stations in North, South, East and West outside the Outer Ring Road.” The judges issued notice to the Northern Railways General Manager and directed that a copy of the order be sent to him. Similarly, it was ordered that no commercial vehicle having more than four wheels should be permitted to ply inside the Outer Ring Road at any time during day or night, except government vehicles, public utilities and those of police, defence, fire tenders, Delhi Jal Board, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council, Public Works and Central Public Works Department. “If sites for big warehouses are provided, distributive activities will decongest, and such activity will automatically cease inside the residential areas,” the judges said and directed the DDA and the Delhi government to prepare a comprehensive plan on the issue within four months. On the matter of unauthorised use of roads and footpaths by shopkeepers, the court said, “This could not be permitted in any part of Delhi”. “Roads have been constructed with public money and are meant for use of vehicular traffic and pedestrians and the same must be made available for their use,” the court added. The bench also gave directions on some other issues like road cuts, roundabouts (rotaries), multi-level
parkings, bollards and computer records of traffic violations. The court gave the directions while broadening the scope of a petition seeking decongestion of four different congested hubs in the city. |
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Day one: Chaos reigns as DU sells 50,000
forms
New Delhi, June 3 The students were excited, as today was their first day in the university. “College life is amazing and I am really enjoying the first day in university,” said Chhaya Gupta, an applicant for B.Com. (Hons). She secured 90 per cent marks in commerce stream and wants to be a chartered accountant. Amidst the enthusiasm, there was utter confusion about the Centralised Common Admission Form (CCAF) and the individual college admission forms. More than 50 per cent students applying for admission in different courses submitted both the application forms. “Natasha Khanna, a student standing in the queue for the common admission form, said: “I want to do English (Hons.) and want to be an IAS officer. I am here to submit my central admission form, but I have also applied in different colleges individually.” According to some students, DU colleges are either unaware about the CCAF system or do not follow the guidelines of the university. According to the Dean, Students’ Welfare, Dr Hema V. Raghavan : “We have opened 12 centres to distribute common admission forms to the students. These forms would be applicable for admission in all the colleges of Delhi University. The students need not apply in colleges individually. The university officials said that the common admission forms were available at Gargi, Shivaji, Vivekanand and Ambedkar College among others. Besides, the university had opened two centres on the North Campus and two centres on the South Campus, Dhaula Kuan. According to Nidhi Mathur, a student of Gargi College, “We are helping the students fill up forms and choosing the right course.’’ |
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Committee clears air on farmhouse tax
assessment
New Delhi, June 3 The committee has presented a report before the standing committee in this regard. Earlier, the position of categorisation of farmhouses was not clear. The committee has categorised farmhouses on the basis of their proximity to the neighbouring residential colonies, which would determine the different rates of property tax applicable to farmhouses. Reportedly, in several representations, farmhouse owners had complained that categorisation on the basis of proximity to neighbouring residential colonies would result in disputes in courts. However, the committee went ahead with the categorisation process. Sources said that the farmhouse owners had also reminded the authorities about Section 109 (2) of the DMC Act, under which no taxes can be levied after February 15. The decision had to be made public before the budget proposal was presented to the corporation. A senior official in the tax department said that this decision had been taken after consultation with the Hardship and Anomaly Committee, which had advised grouping of farmhouses in three categories- C, D and E, depending on the municipal zones in which they were geographically located. The MVC further recommended that the vacant land in the farmhouses be taxed as per the
categorisation, that is, ‘F’ in South and Central Zones, ‘G’ in West and Najafgarh Zones and ‘H’ in Civil Lines, Shahdara (South and North), Narela and Rohini Zones. |
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Kids in 54,000 homes go without polio
drops
Ghaziabad, June 3 It is estimated that the total number of children, who could not be included in the programme, exceeds two lakh. One reason for the aforesaid is that during school holidays kids were not found at home. Now, the Health Department is trying to launch a fresh drive to include kids who could not be given the drops. According to the Chief Medical Officer, Dr M. P. Singh, a total of 10.14 lakh children had been administered pulse polio drops in Ghaziabad district, including Noida. Out of the 54,000 homes, where polio drops could not be given to the kids, 52,000 houses were such which the pulse polio teams had found to be locked. Besides, over 1,040 families did not allow the polio teams to give drops to their children owing to their inherent opposition to the campaign. A large number of Muslim families do not allow their children to be given polio drops out ignorance. The Chief Medical Officer disclosed that this time the help of Delhi’s Hamdard Medical College staff was taken to prevail over those families, which had been inherently opposed to the drops. The Hardard team had helped persuade the Kala Bhalla and Islam Nagar area families, so that they were more amenable to the idea of administering polio drops to the kids. |
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Co to cough up Rs 21,000 for aluminium strip in
biscuit
New Delhi, June 3 ‘’It goes without saying that if the child had eaten the whole biscuit, the aluminium strip would have caused damage to her intestines,’’ North District Consumer Forum said in an order, holding the NOIDA-based manufacturer, Surya Food and Agro Ltd, liable for providing defective goods to a consumer. Taking serious note of the issue, forum president K K Chopra observed that the facts proved that the manufacturing process of the biscuit was not flawless and there was recklessness on part of the company in leaving the strip in the biscuit. Gulrej Ali, a resident of New Seelampur, in his complaint alleged that he had found the strip after his daughter returned the partly eaten biscuit because she felt uneasy. Ali added that the dealer from whom the packet was purchased refused to refund Rs 10 the price of the 250-gram packet despite being shown the packet and the strip. Taking cognisance of the complaint, the forum had issued notices to the dealer and the company but had to proceed ex parte as neither of them responded. Holding them liable in absentia, the forum noted that from the evidence and averments, the complainant had proved on record that he had purchased a sealed packet of Coconut Crunch biscuits of Priya Gold brand for a sum of Rs 10 from the dealer, Ramesh Namkeen Bhandar, who later refused to refund the price of the biscuit packet. The forum further directed the company to refund Rs 10 with interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from the date of purchase in May 2003. |
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Zoo gears up to beat the searing
heat
New Delhi, June 3 Since most animals are susceptible to heat stroke, the authorities have made arrangements to keep the zoo denizens in good health. Coolers, ample supply of water and special food are among the precautions being taken. The zoo authorities point out that special water spraying pumps, baths, grass thatches and nets made from heat resistant cloth are being used to keep the animals cool. A few caged animals, including the feline family, have been provided coolers to beat the heat. The agro net, which is made from heat resistant material, has been used to keep the cages cool. These nets are also covered with leaves and shrubs to further cool the environs. While the meat intake of the carnivores has been reduced, water mixed with glucose is being served generously. Fruits, including mangoes and water melons, have also been included in the menu. Animals are checked regularly for signs of water borne diseases and dehydration caused by the increase in temperature. Water pumps and pools have been arranged for the animals, so that they can immerse themselves. Elephants and tigers are allowed frequent baths. To simulate the conditions of a natural habitat, artificial hillocks and a green cover have also been provided. A huge King Cobra, which has become the latest attraction at the zoo, is also being given special treatment to enable it to escape the grueling heat. A pond filled with water is kept ready for the reptile, in case it decides to take a plunge. |
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Kalyanpuri SHO caught
red-handed
New Delhi, June 3 A CBI team laid the trap today at the Kalyanpuri police station and arrested the police official red-handed. During the search operation, Rs 50,000, NSCs worth Rs 85,000 and a country-made pistol were recovered from his possession. The police official was later produced before the designated court. |
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BPCL to host highway safety car
rally
New Delhi, June 3 The rally will be flagged off by National Car Rally Champion Hari Singh and National Go-Karting Champion Gaurav Gill in two segments, at 10 am and at 11 am. The cars will be classified into three categories - 800cc to 1200cc, 1200cc to 1600cc, and 1600cc and above. The panel of judges will include noted car auto experts, Murad Ali Baig and Tutu Dhawan, and they will judge the rally on the basis of responsible driving on the highway, in addition to parameters such as time, speed, distance and mileage. |
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BJP joins chorus of protest on power tariff
hike
New Delhi, June 3 Joining the chorus of protest is the BJP. The party says the need for an upward revision of the power tariff will not arise if theft of electricity is plugged. “Tariff was raised last year, so why this year again? The increase in tariff will be punishment for a law-abiding and honest consumer and an allurement for an electricity thief”, says Jagdish Mukhi. The Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly also criticises the Chief Minister for thinking aloud and creating avoidable confusion. Referring to the interview the chief minister gave to a newspaper recently, Mukhi says, “The statement puts a question mark on the autonomy of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission”. He says the Government of NCT of Delhi and non-government organisations (NGOs) have already given their memoranda regarding the tariff to DERC and the last date for calling objections from public is over. “The chief minister does not have any right to give such instruction to an autonomous body”, he adds. Mukhi asserts that by suggesting a new tariff regime, the chief minister has “accepted that the electricity distribution companies remained an utter failure in supplying electricity to Delhiites in spite of sufficient electricity available with them … there is an undeclared electricity cut for hours together in almost all parts of Delhi”. |
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Big heroin catch
New Delhi, June 3 The sleuths claim to have recovered a packet containing a kg of heroin and 300 fake US dollars from the Nigerian national Frank; the other accused, Balraj Singh, was found to be carrying $ 2,100, which was part of the payment to be made to the Nigerian national for the contraband. The accused, who have been identified as Ubani Leo Chidozie Mark, alias Chidozie Mark Anthony, alias Frank (29), of Nigeria and Balraj Singh, alias Raja Ram (47), of Amritsar, were nabbed while they were exchanging the consignment at Beriwala Bagh in Hari Nagar area of West Delhi. This is the second major drug haul in the national Capital involving a Nigerian national. During interrogation, Frank disclosed that Balraj had been procuring white heroin for him for the past several years and had been receiving payment in US dollars. Balraj, in turn, disclosed that he had a contact on the Rajasthan border, who delivered heroin consignments in Amritsar. The heroin cost him Rs 6-7 lakh per kg while he sold it for Rs 8 lakh. Frank has also made disclosures about his buyers. He also used a girl carrier to dispatch heroin to various places in India and abroad. The narcotics sleuths said they had evidence against the girl and efforts were being made to trace her. Frank stays in India most of the time and indulges in drug trafficking on a large scale. |
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Sand contractor murdered by
employees
Greater Noida, June 3 Subodh, son of Mahipal, a resident of Tughalakpur, had gone on his tractor-trailer to bring sand from the Hindon on Monday evening along with his servants, Satish of Badayun and Nidosh of Chhatisgarh. When he did not return home till late in the evening his family members started looking for him. They even went up to the Hindon river but did not find Subodh or the servants there. They were unable to locate the tractor-trailer also. On Tuesday evening, Mahipal filed a missing person report with the Kasna police. A body was spotted in the river by certain people who informed the police. The police informed Mahipal, asking him to identify the body that had been found. On seeing the body Subodh’s father became unconscious. The police, on examining the head injuries, said the victim had been hit on the head with spades and murdered. The police suspect the two employees had attacked Subodh and after killing him had absconded with the tractor-trailer. The SO, Kasna police station, feels if the servants had fled in the tractor-trailer, they would be hiding in some nearby village and would be nabbed soon.
Fatal magic trick A man shot dead his wife when he was trying to show her a magic trick. Rayees, a resident of Rabupura town, started fiddling with a loaded revolver last night to show his wife, Shabana, ‘a magic trick’. As he was playing with the loaded revolver, he happened to press the trigger and a fired at his wife, Shabana, killing her instantly. The family members had reportedly raised an alarm, suspecting that some criminals had intruded into the house. The neighbours overpowered Rayees, seeing that he had shot his wife dead. Later, the police arrived and arrested Rayees; the revolver was recovered from his possession. According to the neighbours, husband- wife tiffs were a daily affair. Perhaps Rayees suspected his wife of infidelity and had thought of eliminating her. Rayees had taken a few drinks before coming home. |
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Cylinder blast toll rises to nine Noida: The death toll in the gas cylinder explosion in Philaunda village has gone up to nine with four more succumbing to their injuries. –OC |
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New Delhi, June 3
In video (
New Delhi, June 3
