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Court declares CAW Cell illegal
Fire chief urged not to stop water, power supply to high-rises
Schoolkid missing in Ballabhgarh
Exporter’s son ‘kidnapped’
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NDMC to frame fresh rules for maintenance of parks
Rainwater harvesting project launched
Gurgaon Inc for changes in industrial practices
Thai team visits Sulabh International
Cultural extravaganza to mark International Women’s Day
Bureaucratic hurdles hit MLA area welfare scheme
Artscape
4 snatchers held
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Court declares CAW Cell illegal
New Delhi, March 6 “The entire working of the CAW Cell is entirely illegal and is against the settled principles of the law. A statutory agency (CAW Cell) cannot justify its action on other grounds if it is violative of the statute itself,” Metropolitan Magistrate Pratap S. Malik said. Agreeing that the Commissioner of Police does have the power to set up such cells, the court, however, said any statutory creation by the Commissioner of Police has to be within the amplitudes permissible under the Delhi Police Act. “They cannot go beyond the ‘policing’ i.e. they cannot, for any reason, whatsoever, be anything more than being responsible for maintaining public order,” Malik noted. The order implies that CAW cell cannot take up work like conciliation. The order has created a strange situation for the Police Department as the CAW Cell, set up in 1983 under Section 19 of Delhi Police Act, handles about 8,000 to 10,000 complaints received from women every year. Asked whether the Police Department would challenge the order, Delhi Police Commissioner K. K. Paul said: “We are examining it. There are other judgments also...,” he said Under the Delhi Police Act, the Commissioner of Police cannot constitute a cell and ask it to provide better civic amenities in place of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Nor any cell constituted by the Commissioner of Police can facilitate ‘better team management’ in place of BCCI with an object to improve the performance of Indian Cricket Team. The good objective does not justify the transgression of the parent state (Delhi Police Act), the court observed. Instead of straightaway registering FIRs on complaints lodged by women as required under CrPC, CAW Cell conducts an “inquiry” to examine the details of alleged offences against women, provide assistance in case the complainant wants reconciliation, pin-point the guilty, collect evidence for prosecution and prevent miscarriage of justice. During the inquiry it follows its own procedure (and not the Criminal Procedure Code) to identify the nature of offence, collection of evidence and examination of witnesses. According to the Delhi Police, this is because the Cell is not an SHO in the eyes of the law and a case is registered in a cognizable matter only after conciliatory efforts fail. “The complaints are usually much exaggerated and the CAW Cell first sifts the chaff from the grain and only the real facts are brought on record...If complaints are registered straightaway then the immediate arrest of the accused would cause irreparable damage to the relations between the parties,” the Police had submitted before the court. Terming it untenable under the law, the court said it can easily be done during investigation after lodging an FIR. The court said law enforcing agencies cannot on their own substitute a more just and equitable code of procedure and pointed out that the apex court has said in several cases that FIR must be registered immediately after the incident. Meanwhile, sources said the order has sent shock waves through the Department and the Police Commissioner’s Legal Advisor R. S. Ghumman has sought Delhi Government’s “legal opinion” as the Cell was involved in “reconciliatory” efforts, which the court felt was beyond the purview of “policing”.
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Fire chief urged not to stop water, power supply to high-rises
New Delhi, March 6 The DFS has appealed to the
BSES, NDPL (power companies) and the Delhi Jal Board to disconnect the power and water supply from the high-rises, which do not adhere to the fire safety norms. Following this, Public Interest Litigation Watch Group
(PILWG), an NGO, met the Chief Fire Officer and appealed that this action could threaten the life of citizens. The NGO also reminded that the
DFS, Delhi Jal Board and power supply companies have no right to take such action. According to the Delhi Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Act 1986, the Chief Fire Officer will, in the event of non-compliance of any notice issued under section 4 and 6, take such steps as may be necessary for the compliance of such notice. If any building does not have fire safety norms, the DFS can install the equipment concerned and should take payment from the owner of the building. Instead of doing its duty, the DFS has appealed to the department concerned to disconnect the power and water supply in the buildings, spokesman of the
PILWG, Dr Paramjeet Singh said. When Dr Paramjeet Singh and other activists of the group met Delhi Fire Chief R. C. Sharma, he demanded an affidavit if wrong action had been taken against any building owner. Dr Singh said that 156 building owners had received order for disconnection of power. These buildings do not have a single owner, rather three or four owners. The EMCA House in Daryaganj has 80 owners. Its power has been disconnected and in such a situation building owners cannot install the fire safety equipment. The fire service should install the equipment and take charge from the owners. Aggarwal House on Asif Ali Road has been taken on rent by Income Tax department and a bank. The owners’ family consists of a cancer and two asthma patients. If power and water supply is disconnected, life of these patients may be in danger. Secondly, height of the building is less than 15 metres. And according to law, it is not a high-rises. It has also received order for disconnection of power and water supply. Dr Singh said that a few buildings are in such a dilapidated condition that they can neither have overhead nor underground tank for storage of water for use in emergency. The Fire Service Department has issued a notice to Kasturba Hospital, too. However, its power was not disconnected but Medical Superintendent, Dr Madhu Jain said that in absence of power and water, patients might die. The Chief Fire Officer, Mr R. C. Sharma, said that this action was taken following the order of the Delhi High Court that fire safety norms should be installed in all high-rises. Notices have been issued even to the government buildings.
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Schoolkid missing in Ballabhgarh
Faridabad, March 6 According to information, the boy identified as Sandeep, son of one Devender of Atali village, went missing while he was going somewhere with his aunt and one of his classmates on March 3. The boy’s aunt looked for him in all the nearby places, but failed to find him. The child was living with his aunt in Trikha Colony of Ballabhgarh and was in class II in a school nearby. The family has not received any call for ransom so far. This is the second such incident in the district during the past one month. The police have yet to trace the nine-year-old student of DAV School at Hodal town in the district. He was allegedly kidnapped on February 7 while returning from the school. The family has not received any ransom call. The boy’s father, an
armyman, posted at Nasik in Maharastra, has even joined back on duty after spending several anxious days in his house, waiting for the safe recovery of his son. The police had formed several teams and raided many places, but in vain. Meanwhile, the police have booked a case of rape against a youth of Kureshipur village of the Ballabhgarh subdivision. The victim, 13, alleged that the accused, identified as Raju, took her to an isolated spot and raped her at knife-point. The girl had gone to her field at the time of the incident. No arrest has been made so far. |
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Exporter’s son ‘kidnapped’
Noida, March 6 A class VIII student of Summerville School, Akash, alias Yogesh, had gone out for a stroll, but did not return till late on Friday evening. The parents had informed the Sector-20 police about the missing boy. His father, Satish Kumar lives in C Block of Sector-31, Noida. His parents had checked at four of his friends. He was wearing the school dress. The parents had looked for him yesterday in his school also. Police circle officer Sewak Ram, however, feels that the boy has not been kidnapped. “There would have been a big commotion in his family otherwise,” he said. The police, he said, are investigating the circumstances of his leaving the house In yet another case under Sector-39 police station area, a young girl is reportedly missing. Daughter of Veerpal Singh has been missing for the last four
days. — OC
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NDMC to frame fresh rules for maintenance of parks
New Delhi, March 6 According to the Chairman of the NDMC, Ms Sindhushre Khullar, for more than 15 years, the rules and regulations regarding the maintenance of these parks were being governed by the Punjab Act. According to the Act, there is an ordinary provision of a fine of Rs 50 in case anyone is found guilty of plucking flowers, throwing garbage, riding a cycle, playing cricket or drinking etc in these parks. “For a long time, we are considering that the existing punishment is not enough and it could be replaced by some stringent one. We are in favour of more stern action and punishment due to increasing cases of violation of existing rules and regulations set up for these parks in recent time. We have recently submitted a proposal related to the amendment to the Delhi Government. As a first step, we have suggested raising the fine from Rs 50 to Rs 500 and this would act as a deterrent.” “Apart from this, we are also considering the appointment of round-the-clock attendants in major parks or gardens. Though, we have security guards, malis (gardeners) and park magistrates at almost all major parks like Nehru Park, Talkatora Gardens and Sanjay Park, their nine to five duty hours are not enough. Normally, visitors come to these parks in morning and evening hours. So, deployment of park attendants has become essential,” she said.
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Rainwater harvesting project launched
Noida, March 6 The rainwater project scheme has been made applicable on all plots of 300 sq mt and above, including the parks, water works compounds below overhead water tanks, green belts, community centres, residential and non -residential compounds in Noida. The quality and volume of potable water in Noida will be improved, the authority officials said. For the time being, a pilot project of rainwater harvesting has been launched in the water works in Sector-62 Noida. The state government had sent a communication to the authority in October 2004 for starting the project of rainwater harvesting. The authority had got a proposal for launching this project passed in the Noida Board meeting in November 2004. Noida Chairman Dev Dutt had taken personal interest and ensured a systematic and timebound implementation of the project. In February this year, orders for implementing the project at top speed were issued. The contractors for this project are to be registered till March 15, 2005. After this within next one month, a panel of water management experts will be constituted.
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Gurgaon Inc for changes in industrial practices
Gurgaon, March 6 The stress on need for the change was made at a two-day national seminar, commencing here today, on the theme “Changing paradigm in management for a better tomorrow”. The event was organised by the Amity Business School, Manesar, in conjunction with the Gurgaon Industrial Association (GIA). In his welcoming address, Prof (Dr) R.C. Sharma, Director, Amity Business School, Manesar, said that the only constant thing in a society was change. With changes taking place in all sectors of society, the practices in industrial places will also have to go in for a paradigm shift to keep abreast of the time. The change entails change in business tool and technology, especially on account of the stir in technological front and information revolution. The president of the GIA, Mr J.N.Mangla, said that in the changed scenario, the thrust has to be on the quality of products and cost-effectiveness in their production. The Chairman-Cum-Managing Director, Tourism Finance Corporation, Mr M.Narayanan, who was also the Chief Guest on the occasion, stressed the need of perseverance and banking on one’s inherent strength on the part of managers in industrial places. Mr S.K.Jain, Deputy Director of National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, stressed managing oneself for a better morrow on the part of all concerned to cope with the changing times. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Travel Tracks (Apollo International), Mrs Pushpa Bector saw great merit in the mantra of “cope, adapt and spirit of teamwork” to come to grips with the all-round changes taking places. The Secretary-General, Gurgaon Management Association, Dr B.L. Malhotra said that changing negative into positive, setbacks into successes and judicious management of time and energy were basic for the success in today’s changing paradigm in management.
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Thai team visits Sulabh International
New Delhi, March 6 The princess also visited Sulabh Toilet Museum. The Ambassador of Thailand to India, Mr Chirasak Thanesnant, the first secretary, Ms Anurung Phathong, and the founder chairman of the organisation, Dr Bindeswar Pathak, were also present on
the occasion.
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Cultural extravaganza to mark International Women’s Day
New Delhi, March 6 Says Prof Kiran Walia, Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women, “Since September 2004, our commission has set up a strong network of 39 Mahila Panchayats with the help of 15 participating NGOs. This pilot project has yielded some fascinating results in enhancing awareness among women. Currently, Mahila Panchayats serve as pre-litigation bodies to help resolve women’s issues amicably and faster. However, till date, their focus has primarily been on providing legal counselling and justice to women. One of the main themes on this year’s agenda is to explore how Mahila Panchayats can further be effectively used to address social women issues and to reach women at grassroots level.” We believe that this infrastructure may also be used equally effectively to sensitise on social issues like female foeticide, violence against women and women-related health issues, to prevent their recurrence. Mahila Panchayats may provide us a cost-effective and readily-usable platform to deliver focused message to a large active target audience, he added. Elaborating on various activities at the event, Prof Kiran Walia said: “This cultural event will interactively educate participating women – mostly from slums or rural areas – on women’s issues afflicting the society through lively plays, nukkad nataks (street plays), songs, folk dance, a photo exhibition by women, and song parodies. Since many of these women are illiterate, we’ve specifically tailor-made plays and folk songs that carry our message effectively to such audiences.” Delhi Commission of Women works closely with Delhi Police and NGOs. Besides initiating Mahila Panchayats, the commission has also played a pivotal role in launching some very unique and effective projects in recent times. Sahyogini - its family counselling units - comprising members and legal advisers, provide counselling for issues related to matrimonial dispute, divorce, child custody, rape, dowry related issues, maintenance, property, sexual harassment at workplace, harassment by neighbours and extra-marital relationships. The commission also runs telephonic Helpline at numbers 23379181 and 23370597 to provide emotional and legal counselling to women in distress. Some cases are settled on the telephone itself but other that need to be worked upon are called to the Commission to the counseling units, adds Prof Walia. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who will be the chief guest for the function, will also inaugurate a unique website to educate and counsel women, and for online registration of complaints by women in distress.
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Bureaucratic hurdles hit MLA area welfare scheme
New Delhi, March 6 “Several hurdles and bureaucratic complications do hamper uniform spending,” Ms Dikshit has said in response to queries about the reasons why certain Congress MLAs have failed to spend even 50 per cent of the Rs two-crore-worth of MLA LADS in the 2004-05 financial year, which ends on March 31. “Secondly,” she said, “this was a particularly difficult year with two elections resulting in stoppage of government developmental funding due to the restrictions imposed by the Election Commission.” The party’s legislators have reportedly not spent even 50 per cent of the funds allocated to them. There is less than a month remaining for the financial year to end.
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Colourful ‘Special Krishna Leela’ on March 9
Ravi Bhatia Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 6 What is unique and, perhaps heartening, is the fact that all the performers in the proposed production are either physically or mentally challenged, but eager to display their skills, given the right atmosphere, guidance and encouragement. The NGO, after having worked relentlessly with the children of six Delhi schools for special children, Action For Ability Development and Inclusion (AADI), Balwant Rai Mehta Vidya Bhawan, Muskan, Sanskriti School, Vasant Valley School and the one run by it, is ready to stage the ‘Special Krishna Leela’ at the Kamani Auditorium here on March 9. In its efforts to involve the differently abled children in the festivities, the NGO specially engaged the services of Syed Salladudin Pasha, a renowned director for the production. Over the last six months, the organisers conducted a series of workshops in the schools involving more than 150 children. What is perhaps remarkable with the venture is the fact that the physically challenged children have been working closely with those with mental disabilities and with astonishing success. No wonder that all of them are now keenly awaiting the D-Day. This is the second time that the NGO is staging such an immense production. Its staging of the epic Ramayana last year was a resounding success with the artistes, all of them challenged, earning accolades from the audience and critics alike. The NGO is also planning to organise an Art Camp on its campus in Vasant Kunj and has persuaded eminent painter Mrs Bulbul Sharma to oversee the event. Eleven special children will learn the finer nuances of painting and drawing. An artist’s wail over degeneration of nature
Anita Dinesh, a Ghaziabad-based artist has expressed concern over the degeneration of nature by human beings through a collection of her paintings and murals which are now on display at the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) here. Entitled, “From Indus Valley to Silicon Valley”, the exhibition was inaugurated on March 3 and will continue till March 9. Anita, a postgraduate from Benares Hindu University, has been a free lance artist for the last eight years and has taken up the cudgels for nature which she considers sacrosanct. She is obviously pained at the damage caused to it by insensitive human hands and this is the theme of her current exhibition. In her own words, Anita says that she has “tried to evince through her works that efforts should be made to minimise the gap between man and nature. We must learn to give more importance to nature than to our petty whims of advancement”. Her paintings, mostly oil and acrylic on canvas, are bound to leave a lasting impression on the psyche of the viewers.
In aid of cancer hospital
The Lalit Kala Akademi here is showcasing the works of Mumbai-based young artist, Uttam Chapte from March 3 to 9. The exhibition has been organised in aid of a cancer hospital run by the late Dr Venkatrao Dawle Medical Foundation in Maharashtra. Born in Latur, Chapte studied art at the Kala Mahavidyalaya in Pune. Though based in Mumbai, Chapte is no stranger to the Capital’s art circle. He has exhibited his works here earlier as well and has been lauded for his efforts by critics.
Bond of nature
and art
An exhibition of water colours by artist Suruchi Gupta showcasing the bond of nature and art in myriad range of colours was inaugurated at the Habiart Gallery, India Habitat Centre here on March 1. Called “Shrishti: A Nature’s Expression”, the exhibition attracted a large number of people, including eminent artists and art enthusiasts.
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4 snatchers held
New Delhi, March 6 The accused have been identified as Vikas, alias Vicky (24), Suresh Kapoor (35), residents of Budh Vihar, Surjan Singh (34), a resident of Mahavir Nagar, and Tanaji Mane (48), a resident of Tilak Nagar. The police during routine check spotted some motorcycle-borne persons under suspicious circumstances and were
nabbed. — TNS
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