Metro fined for not giving security receipts
Consumer court awards compensation to litigant
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2
A City Consumer court has pulled up the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for not issuing receipts for the security money deposited by commuters when they purchase smart cards.

A fine has been imposed on the metro.

The practice followed by Delhi Metro in taking Rs 100 and not issuing the receipt for refundable security cannot be appreciated, Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (North) said while awarding a compensation of Rs 4,000 to a lawyer for the ‘mental agony’ he suffered on this account.

The Metro Rail will issue receipt to all passengers who purchase smart card in respect of refundable security, or in future, specify the security amount on the smart card, its president K. K. Chopra and Members Neeru Mittal and S C Jain said.

Vivek Bharti Sharma, an advocate practising at the Tis Hazari courts purchased a card for the value of Rs 250 from the consumer care counter at Tis Hazari Metro station out of which Rs 100 is refundable security.

When he asked for the receipt for the security amount, the cashier told him that there was no such provision in the company’s rules and got into an argument with the complainant.

Subsequently, he approached the Station Controller who also refused to meet his demand, but later issued the receipt in writing.

The DMRC pleaded before the court that nowhere in the world the receipts are issued by a mass transit system as this may cause inconvenience to the customers in terms of longer queue.

Rejecting the argument, the court said that it was common of natural justice when a person deposited the security, he had right to the security receipt.

The complainant had to enter into an argument with many employees at the time of purchase of smart card... it was only after when he insisted the station controller was compelled to issue the receipt that too in writing which caused mental agony and harassment to the complainant,” the Forum said.

Apart from Rs 3,000 as compensation, Sharma was awarded Rs 1,000 as the cost of litigation. The court asked the respondents to comply with all orders within two months.

Boarding Metro trains to become easy
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2
The Delhi Metro Rail Corp is planning to streamline the boarding and de-boarding operations in its trains in view of the problems faced by commuters.

Despite repeated announcements to allow persons to alight first, they had to struggle against a surge of people waiting to board it. Hence, DMRC was mulling over segregating the entry and exit passages, sources said.

It plans to introduce extendable tape divider that would keep people coming in and going out, apart.

Officials said that people do not realise that the trains have 16 double doors—four in each of the four coaches—and they stop for about 20 seconds at every station, and slightly more on those that are crowded. .

Besides, where is the need to rush for a five to ten minutes of journey when there is a train every five minutes.

“People do not pay heed to instructions and rush in, afraid that the door may close, not realising that in case of obstruction, the door does not close and the train will not move. The train driver who monitors the passenger movement through a mirror, can intervene if required,” the officials added.

Dutch national discharged in drug trafficking case
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2
A city court has discharged a foreigner who was arrested here for possessing drugs and whose extradition was sought by the US Drug Enforcement Administration for investigations into a drug trafficking case.

Olive Marco Louis, a Dutch national, was held by the immigration authorities from the Indira Gandhi International Airport on May 22, 2003 while he was carrying banned narcotic substance MDMA, commonly known as ‘Ecstasy’.

After hearing the arguments of both the prosecution and the defence, Patiala House court Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravinder Dudeja, in his 27-page judgement, said there wasn’t sufficient prima facie evidence against Louis to extradite him and he was being discharged.

The prosecution said the US authorities consider Louis to be the principal supplier of drugs to the traffickers who transport the substances from Canada into the United States. The authorities said they got evidence of his involvement in the trade after interrogating his associate, a man called Radesits, who said he worked with Louis to import the pills.

Meanwhile, Louis’ counsel said the 37-year-old was a car mechanic with a business in second-hand cars and also a gymnasium owner. He had first come to India from Amsterdam for treatment of a cardiac problem and he got himself admitted to Escorts Hospital in New Delhi.

After being examined by a team of doctors, he was advised to come back for review. On May 22, 2003, when he came to India again for medical check-up, he was arrested at the airport by the immigration authorities, Louis said. He further deposed that he did not know Radesits.

His counsel said Louis was innocent and the extradition request did not contain any document, statement or other information which described the identity and probable involvement of Louis in this case.

Heroin worth Rs 1 cr seized
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2
With the arrest of one person, the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police today claimed to have recovered one kilogram of fine quality heroin worth Rs 1 crore on the international market.

The accused has been identified as one Inderjit Singh (32), resident of Vishnu Garden.

Acting on a tip-off that a drug peddler would come to GH Block, Vikaspuri, to meet his contact, the sleuths reached the spot and overpowered the suspect.

During interrogation, the accused told the sleuths that he is an expert in manufacturing heroin indigenously.

Inderjit also said that he and his associate identified as one Rishi used to fetch raw poppy from Rajasthan and process it with some chemicals, to manufacture heroin. His associates in Rajasthan have been identified as Kake and Prahlad.

Concern over lax attitude in adopting new
surgical procedures
Role of technology for cardiovascular diseases under scanner
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2
Delivering the keynote address at a cardiology conference in the city on “The role of technology and its implications on cardiovascular diseases”, Dr Atul Mathur, senior interventional cardiologist, Escorts Heart Institute, expressed concern about the lax attitude among healthcare providers in the country to adopt new procedures beyond conventional surgery in the rapidly changing heart care scenario, especially in the era of stem cell research and newer non- surgical techniques.

The two-day cardiology conference was organised by Escorts Heart Institute and attended by top legal USFDA critics, representatives of government and top international cardiologists of the country.

In the absence of adequate policy guidelines, experts from the government and leading cardiologists across the country reiterated on the importance of focusing on ways and means to introduce and regulate new medical device implantation based on their safety and efficacy.

Addressing the critical importance of proper heart care and functioning, Dr Mathur stated, “Today the scope of research and interest in cardiology surpassed other areas of healthcare. Viable low-cost procedures exist today that patients can easily afford without undergoing significant pain and delay in recuperation.”

Similarly, stitch can be applied through catheters passed into the heart from the groin and blood leakage can be prevented through the valve. Such procedures are being evaluated successfully in centers in Europe and USA.

Also present were Dr Andrew Wang, chief of interventional cardiology, Duke University, USA, and pioneer on non- surgical repair of heart valves, Dr Benard Meier, chairman, cardiology, Swiss Heart Institute, Berne Switzerland and Dr William O`Neil, chairman, cardiology, William Beaumont Hospital, University of Michigan, USA, and a leading researcher in the field of stem cell therapy.

Sacked mechanics to get compensation after 26 years
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2
Twenty-six years after two mechanics were thrown out of their jobs by Autocentre Workshop here, the Delhi High Court has ordered the employer to compensate them for the mala fide closure of the establishment.

Justice Mukul Mudgal held the termination of services of Head Motor Mechanic Abdul Hamid and Motor Mechanic Hayat Singh to be motivated and bad in law and ordered Autocentre Workshop to pay a compensation of Rs 1.75 lakh and Rs 2.50 lakh respectively.

Justice Mudgal directed that the compensation be paid to the duo within six weeks from the date of order, failing which the company shall have to pay an interest of nine per cent on the amount from the date of labour court award (July 5, 1999) till the date of High Court order and an interest of six per cent from the date of judgment till the actual payment was made to them.

The court awarded a cost of Rs 5,000 each to Hamid and Singh and also directed the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee to pay Rs 7,500 to advocate R K Saini who argued the case for the two employees as Amicus Curiae.

Autocentre Workshop, which terminated the services of the two workmen in 1979, had challenged the July 1999 Labour Court award, directing their reinstatement with continuity of services and full back wages.

The closure of Autocentre Workshop on the pretext of BPCL acquiring the rear portion of the establishment was mala fide and not unavoidable.

The High Court did not order their reinstatement as they had attained superannuation during the pendency of the case.

Don’t allow frequent undertrial-kin meets, judicial officers told
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2
A District Judge has directed judicial officers in the Capital’s trial courts not to allow frequent meetings between undertrials, who are in judicial custody, and their relatives inside the court premises.

Taking note of such incidents, District Judge S. N. Dhingra, in a circular said, “Frequent meetings with their relatives should not be allowed and the meeting, if allowed, shall not be of more than five minutes at lock-up only.”

“It is impressed upon all the Additional Sessions Judges and Metropolitan Magistrates not to give permission to the accused persons for making telephone calls, taking meals and eatables from their relatives,” Judge Dhingra added.

In a circular forwarded to all the Sessions Judges and Metropolitan Magistrates in the Capital, Mr Dhingra took a serious view of such incidents and impressed upon his fellow judicial officers to curb the practice.

IPGA wants modification in qualification for pharmacists
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2
The Indian Pharmacy Graduates Association (IPGA) has demanded that their long-standing demands on giving pharmacy its due recognition should be implemented without delay so that they can play a larger role in India’s emerging transformation as a hub for global clinical trials.

IPGA has demanded that the eligibility qualification for various functionaries like manufacturing chemists, drug inspectors, licensing authority and controlling authorities should only include graduation in pharmacy. They maintain that the qualification should not include options like graduation in science or medicine.

Affiliated to its federal body, Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association (IPCA), the IPGA, with a membership of over 3000 pharmacy graduates, post-graduates and doctorates in the field of pharmaceutical education, industry, regulatory, hospital etc., is the only professional body in India looking after the interests of pharmacy graduates. Ever since its establishment in 1973, the association has aimed to improve the professional status of pharmacy graduates in the country and to secure their rightful positions in the pharmacy and other allied professions.

The IPGA held its 22nd Annual Conference at FICCI Auditorium on October 1, in which as many as 500 delegates participated.

According to the President, Pharmacy Council of India, Mr. B. Suresh, “India has been identified as a country for contract research because of its massive human resource, technical skill, and diverse human races. Further, the cost of research in India is about one-tenth of the international cost. Pharmacists are making significant contributions to the profession through specialised pharmaceutical care. The very nature of drugs imparts a special responsibility for their appropriate and safe use. Knowledge of appropriate doses, pharmacokinetics, incompatibilities, special administration procedures, acute and cumulative toxic manifestations, unique databases, counselling and avoidance of personal exposure are all attributes that are brought to the interdisciplinary team by a pharmacist.”

Commenting on its demands, IPGA president and Deputy Drug Controller of Delhi, Mr. P. P. Sharma, said, “The drugs and cosmetics rules were framed in 1945, when pharmaceutical educational institutions could be counted on our tips. With a dearth of pharmacy graduates in those times, qualifications other than pharmaceutical qualifications were also included for different functionaries under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, viz. manufacturing chemists, drug inspector, licensing authority and controlling authority.

Dr R.K. Khar, HoD, Pharmaceutical Sciences at Jamia Hamdard, says, “The drugs and pharma industry is a multi-billion dollar business. According to estimates, India’s revenues through clinical research will even surpass those from software and IT by the year 2010. In the rapidly changing global scenario and the implementation of GATT and TRIPS in India, now a matter of only a couple of years, the pharmaceutical industry and professionals will play a vital role in shaping up our national economy. Thus, this new decade is bound to have an ever growing demand of pharmacy professionals not only in the country but even worldwide.”

Noida Telecom completes five years
Parmindar Singh

Noida, October 2
Noida Telecom completed five years of providing the fastest and the cheapest services to the people of Gautam Budh Nagar district yesterday. Enumerating the achievements of the five years, the General Manager, Noida Telecom, Mr A. K. Garg, said, “Our Internet services, Internet leased lines and broad band are the best, fastest and the cheapest.

There was a waiting list of only 150 for all exchanges in Noida and Greater Noida. The availability of broad band had been extended at Rs 250 per month for another two months, he said.

The GM, Telecom, said BSNL had launched mobile services in 2002, which were the best so far. The BSNL was now launching a new scheme: a mobile pre-paid PCO connection at Rs 100 per month for groups, PSUs, government employees without any security. It would have STD facility too. For ISD, a security fee of Rs 6,000 would be taken.

Eight cheque collection boxes had been installed in Noida with 1000 to 1500 cheques being collected in a month. Ten more such boxes were being launched in different localities for people’s convenience, taking the total cheque collection centres to q18.

Mr Garg said the revenue of Noida Telecom had increased to Rs 149 crore from Rs 125 crore in 2002, while the outstanding amount had come down to Rs 34 crore from Rs 46 crore three years ago.

The total telephone connections were at 107440 now from 90,000 in 2002. The private telecom companies, Mr Garg agreed, had helped bring out the best in BSNL.

Top international companies at Greater Noida trade fairs
Our Correspondent

Greater Noida, October 2
A large number of companies including 11 from Germany, 2 from USA and one each from Russia, Belgium, Switzerland and France are participating in the three-day exhibition put up at the India Exposition Centre in Greater Noida from October 1 to 3. The exhibition is being organised by Cidex trade fairs, a joint venture of Dusseldor and Koetnmesse International.

It has brought together the best of the companies covering automation instrumentation, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology from all over the globe.

The exhibition was formally inaugurated by Mr Heimrichter, Ambassador in India of the Federal Republic of Germany on Saturday.

The impressive line up of companies includes Toshvin Analytical, DuPont, Thermolab, Atlas Copco, Rexam, Genekam, Walbutrade (Belgium) etc.

This forum has brought together the formidable top Indian and international companies— manufacturers, suppliers, end-user professionals, research personnel and a host of experts from a wide cross-section of industries.

Mr. C. S. Limaye said instrumentation, communication and IT had together changed the face of India in recent years and the next revolution in India would be of instrumentation.

Although the infrastructure provided has been praised, the participant companies’ main grouse was that sufficient awareness had not been created by the organisers for the specialised exhibition. Moreover, the lack of connectivity has been an obstacle for the participants and the visitors. The organisers have arranged a bus service from Nehru Place, New Delhi, via Ashram Chowk to Greater Noida for the convenience of the people who might like to visit the exhibition in Greater Noida for three days.

596 cases disposed of at Lok Adalat
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, October 2
As many as 596 cases were disposed of in a Lok Adalat held here yesterday. According to the official version, in all 1490 cases were put up for consideration of the adalat, which was presided over by the District and Sessions Judge, Mr S. D. Anand.

The cases disposed of included 99 cases relating to motor accidents in which a sum of about Rs 1.5 crore was awarded as compensation to the victims. The adalat also disposed of 440 traffic cases in which about Rs 4 lakh was awarded as compensation. In all, five Lok Adalats have been held this year. As many as 8016 cases were put up out of which 3755 cases were disposed of.

Sweets given to inmates of blind school
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2
On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and birth centenary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ram Babu Sharma today distributed walking sticks, fruit, sweet packets and towels to the inmates of Andh Vidyalaya, a blind school at Pachkuian Road.

Mr Babu along with thousands of Congress workers also visited various leprosy camps and distributed sweets to the inmates after the function at Andh Vidyalaya.

Besides, DPCC vice-president Raj Kumar Kohli, secretary Jagjivan Sharma, Om Prakash Chopra and Babu Lal Sankhla attended the function.

‘Make police aware of human rights importance’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2
The youngest human rights activist, Natasha, who is a student of class X, today stressed the importance of human rights awareness by the police personnel and the need to implement them.

She was speaking at a seminar, “Human Rights and Police Forces”, organised by the CRPF at the precincts of its 73 Battalion.

Natash had earlier represented India at ‘Youth for Human Rights International’ in the USA. She is the first Indian to become member of any such organisation.

While addressing participants of the seminar, she quoted certain case studies to understand the subject and the spirit of human rights in its entirety.

Police forces are the main agency at the hands of state to maintain and enforce the law and order in the country. While discharging their duties to maintain peace and harmony in society, they are put on a great strain, hence it is important for each one of the member of the forces to be aware of the sanctity of human rights and the need to implement them at the grassroot level, she said.

The seminar is an attempt in this direction. Human rights are integral part of the democratic way of life and must be honored by every member of society, she advised. 

Faridabad DAV school to have new principal
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, October 2
Mr S.S. Chaudhary is slated to take over as new principal of the DAV Public School in Sector-14 here.

He is likely to assume charge on October 3, from the outgoing Principal Mr A.V. Bhalla, who retired from the post on September 30 after several years of service.

Mr Chaudhary had been the Principal of DAV Public School at Ballabhgarh for past many years.

It may be recalled that DAV school in Sector-14 here had been one of the largest schools in the region in matter of student strength.

The school had been awarded ISO-9001-2000 certification a couple of years ago.

Several social organisations and individuals have hailed the appointment of Mr Chaudhary as the new Principal.

Artscape
A concert in tribute to the apostle of peace
Ravi Bhatia
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2
There could not have been a better or more appropriate tribute to the apostle of peace than the ‘Peace Concert’ organised by the Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre here on Saturday evening to commemorate the 136th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The musical tribute rendered beautifully by the Capital City Minstrels, one of the best known choir groups of the city, left the audience visibly moved as they rendered some of the songs close to the heart of the Father of Nation like ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’ and ‘Vaishnava Jana Tho’, ‘Abide With Me’, ‘Mind is Without Fear’ and finally, the famous ‘I Dream a World’, adapted from the haunting poem of Martin Luther King.

Famous for its vast and varied repertoire, the Capital City Minstrels had planned the concert as a tribute to all those people who sent out a call for peace through their music and who “are truly the messengers of peace”. The concert was conducted by the famous Diane Princhett, who teaches music at the American School here. She has been involved with choruses across the world ever since she was 15 years old as a singer, accompanist and director.

‘The Icon’ at Lalit Kala Akademi

Art Pilgrim is showcasing the works of Suhas and Suman Roy at an exhibition entitled, “The Icon” at the Lalit Kala Akademi Galleries here from October 1 to October 5. The exhibition will then shift to the Art Pilgrim gallery in DLF Phase III, Gurgaon, and will remain open for public till October 20.

The Anant Art Gallery here is presenting “Immersions”, a unique exhibition of creations of artist Atul Bhalla from October 1 to October 5.

Commitment to conservation

The coffee-table book “Sahyadris: India’s Western Ghats - A Vanishing Heritage”, was dedicated to the public last week by presenting the first copy of the book to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, at his residence by its creators, Sandesh Kadur and Kamal Bawa.

While congratulating the authors for their beautiful production, Dr Manmohan Singh immediately asked, “so how can we prevent the loss of this beautiful natural heritage?” His questions and remarks reflected his personal interest in resolving conservation issues, adding, “any effort in conservation needs to be taken up in a holistic manner.”

In a unique endeavour, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in association with Sandesh Kadur and Kamal Bawa, has produced a coffee-table book that combines not only beautiful images but also includes informational text. This book highlights ATREE’s commitment to conservation through education. Manoj Dabbas, Director of ATREE, New Delhi, commented, “it is a landmark in the sense that it captures the many facets of the cultural, ecological and human heritage of the Western

Ghats in a way that has never been done before. It is also designed to appeal to all sorts of people - lay people to serious enthusiasts and professionals.”

An exhibition of twenty breath-taking images by Sandesh Kadur, and formal launch ceremony was held at the India International Center. Speaking on the occasion, chief guest of the evening and Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh commended the co-creators of the book for the superb effort and recalled his own personal connection with this enchanting ecosystem.

Celebrating excellence

Continuing in its efforts to provide opportunities to upcoming artists, the Society for Child Development exhibited the works of Phool Singh Bairwa of Jaipur, Rajasthan, at the Open Palm Court Gallery of the India Habitat Centre here from September 30 to October 1.

According to critics, the young artist, a postgraduate from the Faculty of Visual Arts at the Benaras Hindu University, has a unique style, which reminds the viewer of the gaiety and joy.

The show titled, “Celebration -1” showcased about 40 selected works of the artist in various sizes.

Journalist’s house burgled in Noida
Our Correspondent

Noida, October 2
After breaking open the lock of a journalist’s house No 83 in O block of Sector-12, Noida, thieves decamped with gold jewellery and valuables besides Rs 5,000 in cash.

Abhishek Srivastava, a journalist, lives on the first floor with his wife and mother. The bandits struck when Abhishek and his wife had gone out of town and his mother Ms Manjula, a teacher, had gone to her college.

When his mother returned at 4 pm, she was shocked to see the lock of the door broken and the house ransacked. The steel almirah lock was also broken open. Cash and jewellery were missing. She rang up the police control room. The police have received a written compliant.

Abhishek said bandits had taken away jewellery worth Rs 50,000, Rs 5,000 in cash and other valuables.

Two brothers held for selling govt land
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, October 2
Three bigha government and farmers’ land in Bhikenpur village has been palmed off by two brothers. On the complaint of the actual owners of the land, the SDM, Sadar, has filed an FIR and got the accused arrested. An FIR against the buyers of this land has also been filed.

Jagdish, Kalveer, Dharamveer and Jaganveer of Bhikenpur village had filed a complaint with the SDM that two brothers Manveer and Harveer had sold off their land along with some government land.

The SDM, Sadar, through a probe found that under Khata No 205 three bigha land was registered in the names of the complainants and the seller’s brothers. The duo had sold their part of the land a few years ago. But as per an administration order, agricultural land could not be sold in parts. The land of whoever violated this order was converted into government land by the then SDM on March 11, 1997, under Section 166-A.

The brothers had challenged in the Revenue Board Court and the high court but had lost in both the places. Later, on the complainants’ request this land was divided by the SDM among them and in the process 10 biswa land had gone as government land.

SDM D.P Singh said the government land was registered under Khata no 303, 388 and 633. The land registered under these three Khata no was sold by Harveer to Ravinder Singh on December 28 last year, Mr D. P. Singh added.