New Delhi, September 29
While questioning the government's actions overreaching judicial orders on enforcing the rule of law, the Supreme Court today formally exempted 22 types of commercial activities from the MCD's sealing drive by segregating them from 'big' business activities.

The Court's order, however, was a mixed bag for big business houses as those covered under the Centre's notifications on mixed land use plan got temporary relief, while others outside it faced immediate sealing.

"There cannot be any doubt that the legislature would lack competence to extend the time granted by this court in their purported exercise of law making power," a Bench, headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, observed while pronouncing an interim order on sealing issue.

It pointed out that any attempt to overreach the Court order would amount to "exercising judicial functions" by the government and added that it would not be in the best interest of enforcing the rule of law. The 22 activities clubbed with related group of trades allowed to function on the ground floor continue in the ground floor covered area of 20 sq meters and above in residential areas notified as mixed land use include vendors of vegetables, fruits, flowers, bakery, confectionary, grocery, stationary, books, book-binding, photostat, phone booths, cyber cafe, LPG booking houses, flour grinders, meat shops, pan and tea stalls, barbar shops and hair dressing saloons, beauty parlour, laundry and sweet shops.

Besides, the exemption is application to chemists, optical shops, tailoring shops, electrical and electronic repair shops, photo studios, cable operators offices, hosiery, readymade garments, cloth shops and ATMs, a Bench of Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Mr Justice C K Thakker and Mr Justice R V Raveendran said in its interim order.

The 'big businesses' identified by Monitoring Committee as major violators on 185 roads like automobile show rooms and workshops, branded showrooms, call centres, coaching institutions, business offices, shops selling building materials, godowns, tent houses, guest houses, jewellery shops, restaurants and iron and steel shops and banquet halls got temporary relief from sealing only in those areas notified as mixed land use by the July 21 and September 7 notifications.

All such traders having their shops on the 2,200 roads and streets identified for mixed land use, have to approach the Court appointed Monitoring Committee (MC) to give an undertaking that they would close their ventures if the government action permitting mixed land use was found to be illegal by it in the final judgement.

With no relief to big traders not covered under government notifications, the Court said, "Sealing process will continue in terms of its orders of February 16 and August 10. The direction of sealing premises will also apply to specific properties mentioned in the judgement of February 16 and in the report of the Monitoring Committee of September 14."

Those businessmen whose premises had already been sealed under the order of the Court, also permitted to approach the Monitoring Committee, which would consider each case on merit and make appropriate report to the apex court for any further direction.

New Delhi, September 29
The Chief Minister of Delhi, Ms Sheila Dikshit, today said the Supreme Court order on the sealing issue was a "welcome relief", even as she stressed on the need to strike a balance between stopping unauthorised constructions and fulfilling needs of the Capital.

"It is a welcome relief," she told reporters on the sidelines of the foundation stone laying ceremony of National Horticultural Board's HRD complex here.

"Relief has been given on all fronts. Those who have submitted affidavits have been given time till October 31," Ms Dikshit observed.

She said her government's priority was to provide relief, adding that no one should face problems.

"We have to stop unauthorised development. Otherwise, Delhi will become a slum. At the same time, we must fulfil needs of the Capital," Ms Dikshit said.

New Delhi, September 29
It couldn't get better for the 'Deemed Universities'. First the University Grants Commission, in an attempt to 'empower them', allowed the introduction of new courses and increasing student intake without seeking approval from it, and now it has allowed them to call themselves universities with their names.

The 'Deemed Universities' were hitherto not permitted to use the word 'university' in their names due to a prohibition contained in Section 23 of the UGC Act.

The Commission's decision, sources said, comes in the wake of persistent demands from the 'Deemed Universities' to be allowed more autonomy. They also pointed out that the Ministry of Human Resource Development has given its assent to the move following the recommendation of a three-member committee appointed by it to study the issue.

Sources said the Ministry’s decision was based on the committee’s report and in view of a Supreme Court observation that it was for the Centre to consider whether an institution covered by Section 3 of the Act would not satisfy the provisions of Section 23 of the Act.

The concerned universities have been informed that the prohibition under Section 23 would no longer apply to the 'Deemed Universities', sources said, adding that all central and state universities under Section 3 of the UGC Act would, however, have to state the provisions under which they have been established.

It was mentioned that Section 23 of the UGC Act prohibited the use of the word 'university' by any institution, whether a corporate body or not, other than a university established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act. Earlier, in July, the UGC had made a significant concession to these institutions by permitting them to start certain courses without its prior permission.

New Delhi, September 29
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) has decided to withdraw their agitation following the assurances by the administration to meet their demands.

Following a late night negotiation, the administration has agreed to increase the merit-cum-means scholarship to Rs 1,500 for M.Phil and Ph.D students from the current academic year, raise the amount of earn-as-you-learn scheme to Rs 50 per hour and constitute a cell to facilitate students availing various scholarships.

The administration has agreed to issue a notification of students' representation in the academic council and the board of studies within 24 hours, withdraw grace conversion formula, constitute a committee to empower the Equal Opportunities Office, recognise Aleemiyat and Fazeelat certificates and implement e-governance.

New Delhi, September 29
A city consumer court has asked the Railways to pay Rs 30,000 each as compensation to two of its passengers, who were harassed and assaulted by a mob during their journey from Delhi to Haridwar.

Terming it as a deficiency, the State Consumer Disputes' Redressal Commission said, "...the liability of Railway commences the moment consumer enters into the platform. Railways cannot absolve or run away from their responsibility for providing perfect, faultless service much less protecting the life and property of the consumer."

Earlier, the Railways had contended that it cannot be held liable for deficient services as the situation at Ghaziabad station had become uncontrollable because of inadequate police force to control some political activists who barged into reserved bogies and created ruckus.

Allowing the appeal of one S L Bhargava, the Commission Bench said, "No authority can take shelter under the plea of a situation having gone beyond its control."

A District Consumer Forum, earlier, had dismissed Bhargava's complaint stating he was not a consumer.

Faridabad, September 29
A group of armed persons reportedly decamped with over Rs 80,000 from the head office of the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) located in the heart of the city last night.

The office that provides the basic amenities to the residents itself became victim of the criminals who spent three hours in the premises before escaping with the booty. Two guards and some employees of a contractor were found lying with their limbs tied in two rooms of the office.

According to a complaint lodged by the MCF with the police, the unidentified group of persons armed with a country-made revolver, iron rods and sharp-edged weapons intruded into the office from the back side entrance gate at about 12.45 pm last night when there was a power cut. They overpowered a night watchman, Dharam Pal, and beat him up before they took him to the computer room set up by a private company looking after the maintenance of water tube-wells in the city.

The assailants allegedly threatened the watchmen and other employees present there if they raised an alarm and sought information about the rooms and offices where the cash had been kept. The staff was then tied up with ropes. While one of the robbers kept a watch outside these rooms, the other members of the gang started breaking locks and latches of several rooms.

After breaking open the locks of at least sixteen rooms, the thieves were able to get a cash amount of Rs 80,575 from the cash box kept in the office of the cashier.

It is reported that the criminals also entered the cash room of the Cooperative Bank located in the premises, but could not break open the main cash box.

According to witnesses, the criminals apparently had a thorough knowledge about the office and even tasted juice kept in the refrigerator of the office of the Commissioner.

The police suspect the involvement of some office staff, as there had been a time gap between the time of incident and when the help was called by the employees. It is stated that while the criminals left the premises around 4 am, the police was called around 5 am.

The police have registered a case and have started investigations into the incident.

New Delhi, September 29
The BSES Enforcement Teams are on a high alert during the festive season, with random checks being conducted all over the department's licensed area to curb power theft.

In the past 72 hours, the department's special teams have allegedly caught 15 Ramlila and Navratra functions stealing cumulative power of over 1100 KW. Some of these in areas like Dilshad Gardens, Mayur Vihar II, Geeta Colony, Rani Garden, Kashmiri Gate, Karol Bagh, Shastri Nagar and Welcome Colony were caught stealing power ranging between 50 and 160 KW.

Total cumulative penalties running into lakhs of rupees are being slapped on the organisers of these functions, and civil and criminal proceedings, as per the provisions of the Indian Electricity Act, 2003 and the Indian Penal Code, are being initiated against them.

"Residents and organisers of such functions should avoid illegal tappings from overhead power lines. This directly affects the power supply in the area and unnecessarily overburdens the system causing unscheduled outages in the area," said a BSES official.

The official added, "BSES officials had informed RWAs and organisers of such functions to take legal temporary connections. Even the BSES' bi-lingual or bi-monthly newsletter - Synergy - which is sent along with the bill to all our 23 lakh customers informed the public about the need to take temporary connections."

"BSES appeals to its customers not to steal power and take temporary connections for all such functions. BRPL and BYPL have made hassle-free arrangements to organise these connections quickly," a BSES spokesperson said.

Gurgaon, September 29
The NGO, People For Animals (PFA), has sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act about the basis the Gurgaon administration granted an arm licence to Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan, daughter of M A Khan Pataudi, an accused in a black buck hunting case.

Mr Naresh Kadyan, the chairman of the NGO's Haryana chapter, alleged that Mr Pataudi had used the same weapon that was purchased and kept by her daughter for killing the black buck in June 2005 in Jhajjar district. He claimed that Soha Ali was neither a resident of Gurgaon nor did her name figure in the voting list of the district. — OC

New Delhi, September 29
The Former Prime Minister, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, has said the greatest contribution of Sri Guru Arjan Dev, the 5th Guru, was compilation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture, "which is the beacon light of spiritual knowledge.

Presiding over the Valedictory Session of the two-day International Seminar on 'Guru Arjan Dev, Life, Martyrdom and Legacy' organised by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee at India Habitat Centre, here late last evening, he said that when there was no facility of train, bus etc. for travelling, the Guru visited every nook and corner of the country to collect the 'Bani' of saints and bhagats, which was incorporated in the holy scripture alongwith the 'Bani' of Sikh Gurus. "Guru Granth Sahib provides us light for leading a truthful life," he added.

New Delhi, September 29
Mr Deepender Singh Hooda, MP, was today elected to the national managing committee of the Red Cross Society.

He is a nominated member of Haryana State Indian Red Cross Society.

Mr Hooda, who secured second highest votes in the election, said later that medical camps would be held under the banner of Red Cross Society in the next two months in seven 'needy' districts of Haryana.—TNS