New Delhi, July 23
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today issued a notice to the Delhi Government over two super speciality hospitals which have not been fully functional so far though started 16 years ago in the national Capital.

According to an official statement, a notice has been issued in this regard to the Chief Secretary, Delhi Government, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks.

The notice was issued after the commission took suo motu cognizance of media reports that two super speciality hospitals, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in East Delhi (600-bedded) and Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital (300-bedded) in West Delhi, constructed at a cost of over Rs 150 crore, were still not ready to take in patients 16 years after the projects were started.

"Both have the unique distinction of being mentioned in the State Budget by successive governments for 15 straight years till 2013, while claiming success in augmenting specialized healthcare facilities. But not a single patient was admitted to the hospitals till date," the statement said.

The commission has observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights and also wastage of public money due to indecisiveness of the public servants.

In Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, except for one corner of the building where dialysis services are being run on Public-Private Partnership mode, medical gas pipeline is reportedly yet to be installed. Most of the hospital does not have even an air-conditioning or proper electricity connection. The OPD services are being run from the Doctors' Hostel.

At Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital, the OPD services are being run from a few rooms while most others remain locked. There is no Super Specialist except the Director of the hospital, according to the statement.

Allegedly, crores of rupees were allocated in the Budget to these hospitals during the year 2011-2012, but the amount spent on patient care is meagre.

"Irregularities were found in the quantity of medicines shown in the distribution register as well as in purchase of equipment. The auditors pointed out that delay in commissioning hospitals had resulted in blockage of government funds as well as undue wastage of government property for an indefinite period," the statement said.

New Delhi, July 23
A first year student of Delhi University, Puneet Kumar, was badly thrashed by a bunch of anti-social elements in Satyawati College (Evening) yesterday evening apparently after he raised objections to the behaviour meted out to the first year students.

It is understood that while classes were on at Satyawati Colege's around 5 pm on Wednesday, the assaulters led by a former student Robin Dheda started questioning a group of first year programme students, including Puneet, in the name of "intro".

A resident of Sonepat, Puneet, as confirmed by him, allegedly picked a brawl while others fled from the spot.

Later, he was said to have been dragged by the raggers to the bathroom on the first floor where classes for programme are held.

The victim's head was banged against the basin and witnesses to this sight were Raj Singh, a student of second year honours and Indermani who were passing through the area. Raj along with his friend has given statement to the Bharat Nagar police.

Downplaying the incident happened in the name of introduction, the Bharat Nagar SHO said, "It started with an argument between two groups of students and one questioned the other which resisted. We had no complaints, so no FIR has been registered."

On the other hand, the college principal Dr SC Joshi has constituted an inquiry committee after pressure was mounted by the first year students during the day today.

New Delhi, July 23
A 14-year-old boy, Sanjay Kumar, a student of Senior Secondary School in the Rohini area of outer Delhi, died under mysterious circumstances here this afternoon. The victim's family alleged that the boy died after he was given corporal punishment by a teacher.

They also alleged negligence on part of the school management and accused it of hiding the exact cause of their son's death. His uncle claimed that he was fit when he went to school.

A student of Class VIII of the government school in Sector 15, Rohini, was said to have become unconscious around noon on the school premises and was later rushed to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

"Post-lunch, the school called to say that he had suffered some kind of fit and had been taken to hospital. By the time we reached the hospital, he had died. There is slight scratch on his head," the deceased's kin said.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that there was no foul play and the victim had a sudden fit of epilepsy which led to his death.

"Investigation under section 174 of CrPC has been initiated in this case. We have spoken to the friends of the victim, who told us that he had a fit following which he fell unconscious. The children have also denied that he was beaten by anybody or had a fight," said cops investigating the matter.

"We will now wait for the postmortem report to ascertain the cause of death and inquest proceedings have been initiated," said the police.

New Delhi, July 23
The fare of Airport Express Line will be reduced by up to 40 per cent from tomorrow by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

As per the revised fare structure, the minimum single journey fare on the corridor will be Rs 20 replacing the earlier minimum fare of Rs 30 and the maximum fare will be Rs 100 against the earlier maximum fare of Rs 180.

Therefore, a one-way journey from the New Delhi Railway Station to Dwarka Sector 21 using single journey token will now cost only Rs 100. Detailed revised fare chart is available on DMRC's website and at all stations of the Airport Express Line.

There will not be any sale of return journey token on Sundays. The sale of single journey token on Sunday will be through manned counters and not through ticket vending machines. The fare of Sunday single journey token has been reduced further to attract more commuters.

"The Fare Store Value Card offered to the commuters will have a discount of 10 per cent. The DMRC will also offer further discounts on the purchase of multiple journey trip cards. The 30 trips, 45 trips and 60 trips cards will be available for customers. In case of 60 trip cards, the minimum and maximum one way fares will further come down to less than Rs 9 and Rs 40, respectively," said a DMRC spokesperson.

He informed that the revised fares for 30, 45, 60 trip products will be available only after exhausting the existing loaded products or after current validity. However, rate of all the existing cards and discount schemes will be discontinued.

New Delhi, July 23
In order to benefit around 1.35 lakh residents, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) today commissioned the 7.8-million litre capacity Qutubgarh Underground Reservoir (UGR) and Pumping Station.

This is an important step in providing piped water supply to the residents living in unplanned areas.

The commissioning of the project is aimed at catering to the needs of the 1.35 lakh residents of Qutubgarh, Jatkhore Village, Punjab Khore, Katewada, Mungeshpur, Achandi, Harevali, Dariyapur, Nagal Thakran, Bajit Pur, Bawana and adjoining areas.

"Through the expansion of water infrastructure, the DJB has come a step closer to its commitment to provide potable water to the entire city. The coverage of this area with a piped water supply network has been made possible through rationalization of DJB's existing water resources," said a DJB spokesperson.

"In respect of waste water services, all the 44 resettlement colonies have sewers. Out of 135 urban villages, sewers have been laid in 129 villages while work is in progress in the remaining urban villages in a phased manner," said the official.

A total of 541 colonies out of 567 unauthorized colonies have been provided with sewerage. Out of 189 rural villages, sewerage has been laid in 34 villages. The DJB has also completed the replacement of 860 km old/damaged/undersized sewer lines.

Presently, the DJB has a water supply network comprising seven water treatment plants (WTPs), 105 primary UGRs and a large number of secondary or local UGRs connected through a web of more than 12,000 km pipelines.

In addition to the supply from surface water sources, the DJB uses groundwater through 4,400 tubewells and 10 ranney wells to meet the residents' needs.

New Delhi, July 23
A couple were grievously injured after they jumped in front of a moving train at the Chhatarpur Metro station this morning.

According to the police, the couple may have allegedly attempted to commit suicide because their families were objecting to their relationship.

The couple have been identified as Amit Chauhan (28) and Mohini (25). Chauhan belongs to Kalka in Haryana and has done a Master of Engineering degree from Kurukshetra University while Mohini hails from Ambala, Haryana, and has been pursuing B.Tech. fourth year course from the same university.

The incident took place at about 10.27 am today. The couple jumped on the tracks in front of a train which was arriving at platform number one of the Chhatarpur station. The train was headed to Huda City Centre in Gurgaon. Eyewitnesses told the police that when the couple jumped on the tracks, they were holding each other's hands.

An investigating officer said, "As the train was arriving at the platform, its speed was comparatively slow. That is why the driver managed to apply emergency brakes and the couple escaped from being crushed. They received some injuries on their bodies and were immediately rushed to AIIMS where they were stated to be out of danger."

New Delhi, July 23
In view of the upcoming Independence Day celebrations and Eid-ul-Fitr, an interstate coordination meeting to share terror-related intelligence and strengthen the cooperation between the Delhi Police and their counterparts in the neighbouring states was held at the police headquarters today.

According to the Delhi Police, the meeting was aimed at strengthening cooperation and coordination in order to address various issues related to policing in the National Capital Region in view of the Independence Day celebrations "Kanwar Yatra" and Eid-ul-Fitr. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Delhi Police Commissioner, B S Bassi.

"The main objective of the meeting was to share terror-related intelligence and inputs about various extremist outfits and their designs in view of the Independence Day celebrations," read an official statement of the police.

Senior Delhi Police officers and their counterparts from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir attended the meeting.