COURTS

HC issues show cause notice on Disabilities Act
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 25
The Delhi High Court has issued show cause notices to the Centre, the Delhi Government and Delhi University on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the early implementation of the Disabilities Act. The PIL sought the intervention of the court in directing the authorities to identify three per cent posts in various departments for disables people and the allotment of such posts within two years.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Usha Mehra and Pradeep Nandrajog issued notices for February 26 on the plea, which also sought early implementation of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995.

The petition, which was filed by one Vikas Jain through counsels Sugriva Dubey and Namita, prayed for more hostel accommodation for the disabled and an inquiry by the Welfare Secretary into the alleged ‘irregularities and misappropriations’ by institutes getting grants for the purpose from the Centre.

The inquiry was especially sought into the working of various institutions in the Capital, including the Panchkuian Road Andh Vidhyalaya and the Shahdara Andh Vidhyalaya. The petitioner also asked for initiation of a special inquiry into the police lathi-charge on a group of demonstrating blind students in Delhi University in December last year, and withdrawal of FIR registered against the students 

Mahant sentenced to RI for rape 
Our Correspondent

Rewari, January 25
Mr V.P.Gupta, Sessions Judge, Rewari has sentenced Harnam Das, the mahant of Ravi Das Temple of Karoli village of the district, to rigorous imprisonment for a period of seven years and a fine of Rs 500 for raping a married woman of the village.

Reportedly, the woman, whose husband was ailing, was a frequent visitor to the temple.

During one of these visits to the temple, Mahant Harnam Das enticed the woman and took her to an undisclosed place where she was kept in confinement and raped. Later, the mahant threatened to harm her if she disclosed the matter to anyone.

However, when she got out of the clutches of the mahant, she registered a case with the Kosli police.

Subsequently, the police arrested the accused, Mahant Harnam Das, who was then put on trial.