New Delhi, November 15
The Delhi High Court today upheld the semester system at Delhi University, advising teachers to return to classes and teach in the semester mode.

The bench of Justice Deepak Mishra and Justice Manmohan brought an end to a tussle between the university administration and the Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) who had locked horns over the implementation of semester system in 13 undergraduate courses.

Hence from tomorrow, all the colleges involved in the matter will follow semester timetables.

The court further asked the DU administration to work on a new exam schedule by postponing the exams and release the salaries of teachers that had been cut due to their absence during the repeated strikes.

In a hearing that lasted more than two hours, the DUTA members presented their case on the alleged 'anomalies' by the former vice-chancellor Deepak Pental in introducing the semester system.

However, the court decided that the best for the students at present would be to study in the semester mode as a majority of colleges with science courses were following semester system.

Of the 30 colleges in DU which run these 13 science courses at the undergraduate level, nearly 19 colleges were following semester though 11 were still following the annual mode of teaching.

"We respect the court's order and we have asked all our member teachers to return to classes and teach in semester mode now. Other concerns will be taken up in the next hearing," said DUTA president Aditya Narayan Mishra.

The court has further advised the university to set up a committee that would help in discussions between both the sides involved and get some positive results on the table.

The committee will also look into any wrongdoing in the implementation of semester system.

The next date for the hearing in the case has been set on December 13.

The Delhi University Students' Union also staged a protest today, demanding appropriate measures to end the semester row. The union has been demanding that till the time proper classes are conducted, students should not be asked to take exams.

The next few days will now unfold major decisions from the vice-chancellor as the court has asked for the postponement of both the practical and theory exams.

The students, as of now, are relieved as the practical exams that were supposed to begin on November 23 would soon be postponed. Most colleges had neither completed the course module and nor taken any assignments for the semester.

However, the major problem that the administration and teachers will have to deal with is the delay in exams that will further squeeze out time from the next semester and disrupt the declaration of results.

New Delhi, November 15
The special cell of Delhi police has arrested a Pakistani militant suspected to be a member of the banned terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, after a gunbattle in South Delhi, the police said today.

Mohammed Abdullah Chechi, alias Abdullah Inqualabi, a divisional commander of the outfit at Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, had come to the Capital only last week to activate some cells here, a senior police official said.

He was apprehended last night from Deer Park near Indian Institute of Technology.

"As soon as he alighted from the bus, we tried to catch him. Noticing the police team, he tried to escape and went inside the park to hide. But the police chased him. Meanwhile, he also opened fire. Three-four rounds were fired," said the police official.

Wanted in several cases in J&K, Inqualabi has been staying in the country for the past 10 years.

The arrest was made after the Jammu and Kashmir police and the Intelligence Bureau informed the Delhi police about his presence in the Capital, the official said.

"After an encounter on October 25, he was under pressure and shifted his base to Delhi. We developed sources and got specific information which was conveyed to the officials in Delhi. On a tip-off he was apprehended," added the official.

The police has recovered a pistol and three live cartridges from his possession.

Sources said he is suspected to be involved in several Hizbul operations in the country.

The 30-year-old militant hails from Muzafarabad. He was active in Doda, Rajouri, Kurgam and Shopian localities.

Inqualabi crossed over from PoK to Rajouri in the Jammu region in 2000 and married a local girl to hide his identity, said the official.

The militant told the investigators that he had come to the Capital to find a hideout as the Jammu and Kashmir police was searching for him. About ten cases in J and K has been registered against him.

He was produced before a local court which remanded him in 14-day police custody.

Initially chief of Hizb's Pir Panjal Regiment (HMPPR), Inqualabi took over as Hizb divisional commander for Jammu province. He is suspected to be involved in several Hizbul operations in the country besides collecting funds for the terror outfit.

He is alleged to be involved in the killing of four Hindus in the Dharshal area of Rajouri district in 2005, killing of three SPOs in the Draman Bhudal area of Rajouri district in 2009 and several other murders.

New Delhi, November 15
Bar-coded machines installed at the entrances of Pragati Maidan to check the passes of visitors to the India International Trade Fair (IITF) are reportedly non-functional. The machines are installed for the security reasons.

Sources in the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) said that the entry gate opens automatically after a visitor shows his pass or ticket to the machine. One cannot enter the IITF premises without showing one's card.

Visitors were allowed to the IITF premises today, after frisking by security personnel as the machines were non-functioning.

Besides, some ITPO officials, employees and even its security men were not allowed to enter the ITPO complex at Pragati Maidan without the passes. They were allowed to enter only after the intervention of ITPO's senior general manager Safdar H. Khan and CMD Subhash Pani.

A senior official said that ITPO staff used to enter office just by showing their office identity cards. Now, keeping in view the international event, the Delhi police has deployed its men at the entrance gate of the ITPO. These officials do not recognise the staff members. They do not even allow ITPO security personnel to enter the IITF premises. He added that security men of the ITPO should also be deployed at the entrance gate of the ITPO and other gates of Pragati Maidan.

An ITPO security personnel, on condition of anonymity, said that the same had happened the last year when security personnel were issued entry passes four or five days after the even started. It happens due to callous attitude of the general manager (security) Vikram Sehgal who is on deputation from Central Reserve Police Force.

Later, the security men held a protest against the general manager outside his office.

They were assured that passes would be issued to them by evening. But it was not done, the sources said.

Denying the allegation, Vikram Sehgal said that when any new system was implemented, problems arise as people are not habituated to it. When they become used to it, there is no problem. Now, they have been issued passes, he said.

OSD (administration) B.K. Gaba was not available for comment in connection with the faulty bar-coded machines.

New Delhi, November 15
The developmental works done by the civic agencies across the city during the hustle-bustle of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) have already started falling apart.

The tourist information café at the Red Fort, which was specially launched for the Games tourists, is in a dilapidated condition. The info-café stands closed and the touchscreen machine used for getting information on sight-seeing in Delhi lies uprooted.

The info-café was opened by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) with much fanfare just a few days ahead of the Games. The project was promoted with an aim of branding Delhi as the most sought-after tourist destination.

The café had huge touchscreens to give information about tourist attractions in the city, culture, shopping, food, accommodation and nightlife. Along with the description of the spots, people also got to know how to reach there using various modes of transport available in the city.

Though, even the MCD leaders, who had inaugurated the café with much hype, are unaware of the abandoned information center, sources said the café was working till last month.

"The contractor might have run away," said one of the sources.

The café proved to be a big hit during the Games because of its location (inside the most famous heritage site in Delhi, Red Fort) and the vital and immediate information it provided about the city.

"The café was never attended to by the civic body after inauguration as it was built on public-private partnership," said a source.

It was also the only place in the city that sold souvenirs carrying the tag name, 'Delhi Memories'.

These limited editions of souvenirs included T-shirts, caps, bags, crockery, chocolates, stationery, personality bust, key chains and coffee-table books on Delhi.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi had announced to open 40 such info-cafés at prime market locations of the Capital before the Commonwealth Games, but not a single café came up after this one.

New Delhi, November 15
The Delhi cabinet has decided to lay a bill of the Delhi Prevention of Touting and Malpractices against Tourists Ordinance 2010 before the Legislative Assembly in the winter session to be started soon.

If the Bill is passed, it will replace an ordinance promulgated by the Lieutenant-Governor on October 1. The decision was taken today in a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

While briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, Dikshit stated that the draft bill prepared by the city government was sent to the Union ministry of home affairs after the approval of the Lt-Governor.

The ministry of home affairs sent it back to the city government, conveying the instructions of the President of India to the Lt-Governor so as to promulgate it as an ordinance.

Dikshit stated that as there was no specific Act to tackle the malpractices in tourism, it was decided to prepare a draft bill. It was also necessary to have a separate bill on tourism as the term 'tout' in the Act was nowhere mentioned in the IPC 1860. The new Act will have provisions for the prevention of touting. It will prevent misguiding or coercing for shopping, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, etc.

The provisions of the bill will be enforced by the Delhi police.

As per the definition given in the draft bill, malpractices include dishonesty, cheating, impersonation and obstruction in allowing free choice for shopping or stay or travel arrangements.

Dikshit stated that offences will be cognizable and bailable.

Any person who touts or commits malpractice shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to Rs 10,000 or with both.

Further any attempt to commit an offence punishable under the Act shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to Rs 2,000 or both.

The draft bill also envisages powers of police officers and procedure for speedy investigation and trial of offences.

The commissioner of police or any police officer not below the rank of DCP will have power to declare any person who is repeatedly involved in activities punishable under the

new Act, out of bounds from Delhi for a period not less than six months.

New Delhi, November 15
In a major relief for the Capital's autorickshaw drivers, the Delhi government on Monday extended by 45 days the deadline for them to apply for smart card-based permits, an official said.

"There are around 7,000 auto drivers who have to get smart cards. We will be issuing notice to all of them by tomorrow (Tuesday) and they can start applying the day after," Delhi transport commissioner R.K. Verma said.

The government in November last year had asked the autorickshaw drivers to apply for smart card-based permits in order to keep a record of the number of three-wheelers in the city.

However, problems arose when many auto drivers claimed they had bought their vehicles from people who no longer resided in the city. In such cases, the government refused to issue them smart cards as the vehicle was registered in some one else's name.

"The autorickshaw drivers can bring their purchase letter and apply for the smart cards," Verma added.

Meanwhile, the auto drivers union has expressed relief at the development.

"If we went on strike it would have caused trouble to people as well as us. It is satisfying that the government has acknowledged our demand and we are very happy with this decision. We will start applying for the permit soon," said Suresh Sharma, president of the Rashtravadi Janta Tipahiya Chalak Mahasangh.

The auto unions had threatened a strike if the government removed the autorickshaws from the city roads. At about 55,000, the autorickshaws make for a major chunk of public transport system in the Capital. — IANS

New Delhi, November 15
A Delhi court today allowed the bail plea of R.K. Jain, director of the ministry of commerce and industry, in two separate cases of corruption wherein he has been accused of demanding gratification to dole out favours to private firms.

Allowing the bail applications, special judge O.P. Saini asked Jain, director (anti-dumping), to furnish a personal and surety bond of Rs 1 lakh each in both the cases and not to leave the country without the court's permission.

"Considering the nature of allegations, stage of investigation, custody period of the accused and the nature of evidence available on record, I am inclined to give bail to him," Saini said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had opposed Jain's bail plea on the ground that he may tamper with the evidence.

According to the CBI prosecutor, Jain, who was to conduct a preliminary investigation for an anti-dumping probe of the Centre against a Chinese firm, Demaco Polymers Limited, passed on some confidential information to Chander Wadhwa, an employee of the firm.

For this favour, Jain allegedly received cheques from the firm in the name of his daughter, the agency said.

In another case, the CBI has alleged that Jain demanded Rs 10 lakh from a Delhi-based businessman Kishore Jain in a matter related to transfer of a deal.

Apart from these two cases, Jain has also been charged by CBI in another case of corruption.

Faridabad, November 15
The employees of the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) have got unequivocal support to their demands, including regularisation of services, from the All India State Government Employees Federation and its affiliate, Sarva Karamchaari Sangh, Haryana.

Buoyed up by the support, the Nagar Palika Karamchaari Sangh, Haryana, has decided to join about 30 worker associations functional in this district which would take part in the proposed nationwide call for agitation on November 19.

The call was given by the All India State Government Employees Federation.

The deputy general secretary of the Nagar Palika Karamchaari Sangh, Haryana, Rattanlal Rohilla said that there are about 1,200 employees in the MCF awaiting regularisation of their jobs.

These employees have completed several years of job, but successive governments in the state have been finding one excuse or the other so as not to regularise their services.

The employees are also upset by the growing culture of 'contractual system' of employment and outsourcing of jobs.

They cite the case of hiring of safai workers. They allege that this approach costs the civic body heavily, already pressed for funds.

The employees are of the view that in the name of policy of public-private participation, it is the contractors and middle men who are ruling the roost.

According to them, the workers are deprived of their rights by the contractors.

New Delhi, November 15
The Delhi police has arrested two persons for allegedly withdrawing Rs 3.84 lakh from the bank account of an officer of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) through a stolen ATM card, cops said today.

The accused have been identified as Sanjeev Kumar Verma (30) and Kishore Verma (48).

Their arrests were made after a complaint was filed by Jagbir Singh, a security officer with NDMA, that almost Rs 4 lakh were fraudulently withdrawn from his account.

On November 12, Singh, who joined NDMA after retiring from CISF, had approached the police regarding fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3,84,371 from his account with State Bank of India's Loni Branch through stolen ATM card.

Intelligence was developed and it was found that maximum cash was withdrawn from a Punjab National Bank ATM located at Safdarjung Enclave. Video footages of the ATM booth were obtained and the accused were identified.

Sanjeev works as a peon in NDMA while Kishore is his brother-in-law.

Sanjeev was arrested from Shahdara Metro station. Later, Kishore was arrested and

Rs 89,000 and several goods purchased with Singh's money were seized from his residence.

Vehicle thieves arrested

The Delhi police has arrested two persons and claimed to have busted a notorious group of vehicle thieves from south India, Thak-Thak gang, cops said today.

The accused have been identified as Prem and Arun, both residents of JJ Colony, Inderpuri. The gang leader, Kanhya, however, managed to escape.

The accused were arrested on November 13. The police has recovered four laptops and three iron balls from their possession.

The gang was allegedly involved in several incidents of theft in Delhi and NCR. They targeted the cars parked on the roadside or in parking areas, a police official said.

Noida, November 15
Four persons, including a head constable of Delhi police, were killed in different accidents since Sunday evening in the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida.

The first incident took place near Sector 37 crossing. An unknown autorickshaw hit the five-year-old boy. He was going with his mother to do shopping. He got critically injured and was rushed to Delhi hospital where he died on Sunday night.

Another accident was reported from the Noida Extension area under Greater Noida. A speeding truck hit the biker. The injured biker was identified as Hukum Singh who was head constable in Delhi police and resident of Greater Noida. He died on the way to hospital. Irate mob blocked the traffic on the Noida Extension road for three hours on Monday.

At Dadri, two women crossing the railway line were hit by the Rajdhani Express. A police team sent the bodies for postmortem. Till late Monday evening, the bodies could not be identified.