 |
|
|
Lawyers move HC over sealing of
Yamuna Pushta slums may be relocated
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agreement to extend Metro to Noida inked
HC asks Escorts Hospital to seek arbitration
Social Jurist rejects schools’ response on mode of admission
DIG to probe harassment charges against SSP
Katara case: Order on charges against co-accused reserved
Abolish multiplicity of civic bodies: Maken
Deprived sections yearn for land allotted by DDA
Next round of pulse polio drive on April 9
Govt employees to hold protest on June 14
Lid off three cases of power theft
No respite from rising temperatures
6,000 take entrance test for ophthalmology course
HUDA to provide more facilities in new sectors
Gang of dacoits busted
|
|
Lawyers move HC over sealing of their offices
New Delhi, April 4 A Division Bench headed by Justice Vijender Jain has asked the MCD Commissioner to clarify as to under what instructions and orders the civic authorities were sealing the commercial premises of lawyers and posted the matter for further hearing to
Wednesday. Interestingly, the properties sealed include reportedly those of Tasneem Ahmed, daughter of a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at Safdarjung Enclave and a promiment lawyer Ajay Behl, who owns a posh office premises at South Extension. With the MCD stepping up the sealing drive against the commercial office structures owned by lawyers in residential areas, scores of lawyers on Tuesday made a “special mention” in the court after the lunch hour seeking a stay against the MCD move. The lawyers contended that the MCD move to seal their properties was illegal as the High Court had on February 14 specifically ruled that
commercial office premises owned by professionals like lawyers and doctors should not be demolished or sealed. Some of the lawyers complained to the court that the MCD officials were sealing their properties by citing the Supreme Court’s recent order to seal all commercial properties in the Capital. However, neither the MCD nor the aggrieved lawyers were in a position to clearly interpret the Apex court order on sealing of commercial properties. Following this, Justice Jain asked the MCD counsel Ashok Bhasin to obtain a clarification from the civic chief on the matter and listed the hearing for tomorrow. Meanwhile, Delhi Mayor Satbir Singh on Tuesday moved an “intervention” petition in the High Court with a slew of pleas for providing relief to people being affected by the demolitions and sealing drive launched by the MCD against unauthorised constructions. The Mayor has urged the court to direct the Government to “relax the building bylaws according to the suitability of the needs of the citizens of the city”. In his petition, Singh wanted the government to keep a close surveillance over unauthorised conversion of agricultural land for commercial and residential use, which according to him was the bane of problems in the Capital. The Mayor urged the court to direct the government to constitute a separate ‘Planning Department’ for Delhi to suggest relocation of commercial establishments and formulate polices for the planned development of the city. A Division Bench headed by Justice Vijender Jain would take up the Mayor’s petition along with other related issues on Wednesday. Meanwhile, anti-sealing and demolition agitation launched by the Delhi Unit of the BJP and traders associations of Delhi has become more intensified as they mobilized thousands of people in Rohini and Jail Road and courted arrest. Scores of people who resisted sealing were arrested in Jail Road and Rohini areas. Three BJP leaders, Dr Jagdish Mukhi, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Leader and Deputy Leader of Opposition in MCD, Mr Subhash Arya and Mr Onkar Singh Thapar respectively and BJP councillors Mr Vijender Gupta, Ms Meena Thakur and former Chairman, Standing Committee of the MCD, Mr Prithvi Raj Sahni were arrested. A riot like situation was witnessed in Jail Road and Rohini area where police arrested around 20 people. A number of MCD officials and policemen sustained injuries when an unruly mob pelted stones. The mob has also damaged two DTC buses. Seeing the situation going out of control the Delhi police has deployed a large number of policemen making the area like military cantonment. Rapid Action Force personnel were also seen there. Onkar Singh Thapra who represent the area led the agitation. He was arrested and lodged in Moti Nagar Police station. When the Opposition leaders of the Delhi Assembly and the MCD received this information, they went to lead the agitating of shop owners in Jail Road area. However, they were also arrested. Vijneder Gupta was taken to police custody in Rohini. Mr K.J. Rao and General Jhingan, members of monitoring committee today assured opposition leaders in the Delhi Assembly as well as the MCD to help them out if any injustice was done with the shop owners by the sealing team. They will seal the shops notified by the department concerned of the civic body. BJP MP from south Delhi Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that sealing of shops was not solution of the problem. Sealing will be resulted in a large number of unemployment. The parliament should bring an ordinance first to give relief to the shop owners. Later Bill should be passed to legalise the trading in residential areas. Taking the benefit of deadline extended by the Supreme Court, a total of 2,461 shop owners filed affidavits to get the relief from sealing even as the MCD’s drive to seal shops continued. Today, 726 shops have been sealed. Spokesman of the MCD said that 51 shops had been sealed in City area, 105 in Civil Lines, 15 in Central district, 145 in Karol Bagh, 48 in Najafgarh, 177 in Rohini, seven in Sadar Paharganj, 15 in Shahadra (North), 53 in Shahadra (South), 74 in South district and 36 in West Delhi. The agitated traders had broken the seal of 17 shops but they had been resealed.
|
|
Yamuna Pushta slums may be relocated
New Delhi, April 4 Fire breaks out almost every year at Yamuna Pushta claiming lives and damaging properties. Visiting the Yamuna Pushta area to assess the extent of the damage, Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit said a permanent solution would be that the people are relocated and provided with alternative dwellings. “A permanent solution would be that the people are shifted to a place where they can be land-owners. As soon as an alternative land is found, they will be relocated,” Ms Dikshit said. She announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 1 lakh to those killed in the fire, Rs 50, 000 for the seriously injured and Rs 1,000 for damage of ‘jhuggis’. Delhi Urban Development Minister Dr A. K. Walia said a survey would be carried out of the slums along with the different land-owning agencies to ascertain how much land would be required for relocating the dwellers. “Different land-owning agencies are involved in the area, such as DDA, UP Irrigation Department and PWD, and we need to work out a plan in consultation with all of them,” he said. Dr Walia, in whose constituency the slum cluster is located, said he had asked the DDA, which has served notices to several ‘jhuggi’-dwellers in the area to shift by April 18, to adopt a “humane approach” in view of yesterday’s blaze in which six persons were killed and over a thousand ‘jhuggis’ were destroyed. The Yamuna Pushta area, where around 5,000 ‘jhuggis’ have been built, has been hit by fires and floods on a regular basis. The Supreme Court has also chided the civic agencies for failing to relocate the ‘jhuggis’. Members of the Delhi State Committee of CPI(M), who visited the ‘jhuggi’ cluster alleged that government’s relief efforts were woefully inadequate. Only 500 tents have been provided as temporary shelters and no food arrangements have been made for the victims of the fire tragedy. They demanded Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia amount for the deceased, temporary kitchen to the fire victims and to take adequate measures to rehabilitate all those who have lost their homes and belongings.
|
|
Agreement to extend Metro to Noida inked
Noida, April 4 Calling it an historic day, Noida Authority Chief Executive Officer Sanjiv Saran said Noida will be connected with Delhi by DMRC through its line in Ashok Nagar, which borders Noida Sectors-14 and 2. There would be six stations at Noida Gole Chakkar in Sector-15, at Sector-16, Sector-18, and Sector-28, all on DSC Road and Noida Golf Course and City Centre in Sector-32. The DMRC will be responsible for running and managing the Metro rail services. An agreement was signed by the Noida Chief Executive Officer and Director, Project, DMRCs, Mr C. B. K. Rao today at Indira Gandhi Auditorium. Mr Rao described it as a historic step and said there was possibility of further extension of the DMRC link, possibly to Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. Officials and experts of Noida Authority, Planning Commission, UP Government, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and RITES have been discussing and negotiating this link for the last two years. A study was undertaken by RITES way back in 1996. The total cost of the 7-km long Noida section of DMRC is pegged at Rs 736 crore, out of this Rs 611 crore will be spent on DMRC network and Noida Authority will provide land costing Rs 32 crore. The cost of rolling stock will be Rs 93 crore. The Union Urban Development Ministry will provide 15 per cent of the cost while the Noida Authority is committed to contribute Rs 500 crore. Efforts are being made, Mr Saran said, to increase Centre’s contribution to 20 per cent. The Noida Authority presented a cheque of Rs 5 crore and a cheque for Rs 150 crore will be presented to DMRC tomorrow, which will signal the start of the project. Mr Rao said the DMRC will improve Noida’s connectivity to Delhi, as this line goes straight to West Delhi and Dwarka.
|
|
HC asks Escorts Hospital to seek arbitration
New Delhi, April 4 Mr Justice Pradeep Nandrajog said “As per the petitioners, the lease(s) contain an arbitration clause which is wide enough and includes within its ambit adjudication of a dispute before the Arbitrator pertaining to adherence with the terms of lease”. The court also said that the issue was wide open as the Escorts Hospital authorities had filed another petition in the High Court before another bench seeking interim protection from being dispossessed from the land by the DDA. On October 6, 2005, the DDA ordered the EHIRC to evict from the 6.9 acres land as the hospital authorities allegedly did not provide free beds to 25 per cent poor patients and transferred the hospital to the Ranbaxy-owned Fortis Group for Rs 650 crore. The land was allotted at a concessional rate to the Escorts Group led by late H P Nanda for establishing a charitable hospital and the hospital authorities were not supposed to transfer the ownership of the land to a third party. The EHIRC was established as a society in 1981 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Between April 8, 1982 and June 14, 1996, the DDA under the Urban Development Ministry allotted the land to the EHIRC for setting up the multi-speciality high-tech hospital. However, Escorts owner Mr Rajan Nanda established another stock company at Chandigarh and amalgamated the EHIRC with it on April 1, 2000. The amalgamated society was registered as a limited company on June 30, 2000 before being sold to the Fortis Group. The matter is also pending before Justice Anil Kumar, another Judge of the Delhi High Court. The Court had directed Mr Nanda to maintain status quo and should not transfer its ownership till the matter was decided. “There is prima facie evidence that some alleged violation has been perpetuated in the deal,” the judge had said. Mr Nanda’s estranged brother Anil Nanda, in a petition, alleged that the hospital was being sold violating all rules and regulations as it was established as a charitable institute. “Late H P Nanda, the founder of Escorts Group of Companies, had conceived the idea of setting up a charitable institute of world fame, to help the weaker sections of society and to create a medical infrastructure for the citizens of India. It is with this vision that EHIRC-Delhi was formed as a charitable society,” said the petition.
|
|
Social Jurist rejects schools’ response on mode of admission
New Delhi, April 4 Reacting to the ACUPS Committee’s list of schools managed and supported by the Central and Delhi State Governments, fully or partly, which are engaged in selecting students for admissions, the Social Jurist has said, “It is submitted that this does not make a case for the interview and selection of kids at the nursery or primary levels – be it private unaided, aided or fully-funded government schools. It is submitted that interview by any name, whether ‘interaction’, ‘selection’, ‘viewing’, ‘screening’, ‘testing’ or otherwise, is nevertheless ‘interview’, which mode has been strongly deprecated by this court.” It has further said that the statement in the report of the ACUPS Committee that ‘a large number of people prefer to have their children admitted in the unaided private institutions’ is factually wrong and does not justify any test or interview for either parents or kids. It was mentioned in the affidavit that the court in the order dated December 9, 2005, had asked schools to evolve a methodology where the admissions at the entry level to 3+ or 4+ are not based on the interview of the child or of parents. The affidavit mentions, “Private schools have created a myth of ‘quality’. It is submitted that a myth has been created about ‘quality’ in private schools. Private schools can’t claim to give ‘quality’ education just on the basis of examination results. The reality would be visible if one were to do an ethnographic and qualitative research of private schools that would involve classroom observations and prolonged engagement with children and teachers of these schools. At times, the values inculcated in these schools aimed at showing ‘excellent’ results is something the society needs to be concerned about”. The committee’s example of admission in private schools in the UK has also been termed as irrelevant in the Indian context by the Social Jurist. In the affidavit, they have mentioned that in the UK, parents send their children to comprehensive schools in the neighbourhood. Making a case for draw of lots, they have argued that the practice is, “scientific and humane”. The ACUPS Committee had suggested that the lottery system is a mere ‘chance’ and will tend to reinforce a fatalist view of life. The child who is not selected will always curse his/her fate. Contradicting this claim, the Social Jurist has pointed out, “This is an absurd and pernicious argument to confuse the provision of equal chance to all children with gambling or fate. If a child is not selected in a school because his/her name did not come up when providing equal chance, it is not about fate; on the contrary, it re-establishes that all children are equal in the eyes of the public.” Stating that the distance between the school and the residence should be the first criterion for inviting application, the application states that this provision alone would solve a lot of problems associated with the large number of applications and frustration of parents arising from it.
|
|
DIG to probe harassment charges against SSP
Ghaziabad, April 4 “I have not yet started the inquiry. I will take the statements of all the parties concerned in the next 4-5 days and file the report by the end of this week,” DIG Raj Kumar Vishwakarma said. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ghaziabad, Uday Shankar Singh had last week alleged that SSP J N Singh had been harassing his wife and had lodged a complaint in this regard. He claimed that the senior officer had tried to behave “immorally” with his wife on the occasion of Holi and again spoke to her on telephone and made lewd remarks. Vishwakarma, who was given the charge of the probe by the Uttar Pradesh government, said he will “look into all aspects of the case” and will file a report within a week. J N Singh had rubbished the charges and said he was ready to face any investigation in this matter. “I am innocent and I will prove it,” he said and termed the charges as baseless. Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said the Uday Shankar Singh has withdrawn his complaint.
|
|
Katara case: Order on charges against co-accused reserved
New Delhi, April 4 Additional Sessions Judge Ravinder Kaur today heard arguments on charge against Sukhdev by both the prosecution and defence and reserved her order for April 13. The prosecution relied primarily on two statements in its case for framing of charges against Sukhdev. The first was that of Bharti Yadav, daughter of Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav, who said Sukhdev had come to the wedding ceremony at Ghaziabad after which the murder allegedly took place in the company of her brother and accused Vikas, and cousin and co-accused Vishal. The second statement the prosecution relied upon was that of witness Ajay Kumar, who claimed to have last seen Katara alive in the company of the three accused in a Tata Safari at 12.30 am on the intervening night of February 16 and 17, 2002, when the abduction and murder is alleged to have occurred. Besides the statements, the state also laid emphasis upon the questionable conduct of Sukhdev, who was absconding for nearly three years after the offence took place, until he was arrested in February last year. The defence, however, contended that the ‘last seen’ testimony was not that of Ajay Kumar, but of another witness Kewal Kishore Sharma, who stated he saw the deceased in the company of Vikas and his driver at 1:30 a.m. that night near D P Yadav’s official residence in the New Delhi area. On the basis of this statement, the defence argued, there would be no case for framing of charges against Sukhdev. Accused Vikas and Vishal are already facing trial in the case, which comes up for hearing on April 12.
|
|
Abolish multiplicity of civic bodies: Maken
New Delhi, April 4 The minister stressed that the vacant land which is at present in the possession Land and Development Office and is currently encroached on by unsocial elements, should be identified and plans should be accordingly readied for its utilization. Mr Maken added that he would then follow up by allotting these reclaimed pieces of land to NDMC. Ms Sindhushree Khullar, chairperson NDMC said that the Central government had recently transferred 27 markets to NDMC. For the upgradation of these markets, the NDMC has earmarked Rs 5 crore in its budget. She promised to provide better civic amenities to residents and traders of these localities. Further, she requested the minister to nominate a nodal officer of his Ministry to look after the day to day grievances of the civic body and to establish cordial relations between NDMC and the government. Meanwhile, Ms Tajdar Babbar, MLA and vice chair-person, NDMC, said that the multi-activity center will meet the long awaited demand of the residents of the area. She also said that the Barat Ghar would get up-graded shortly.
|
|
Deprived sections yearn for land allotted by DDA
New Delhi, April 4 According to sources, most of the plots are either encroached upon or are being used as dumping ground by the local residents. This problem is even posing a serious health hazard to the residents of nearby DDA-developed colonies. “In the early 80s, the DDA had earmarked these plots. At that time, some influential people managed to get some plots allotted to them. They even constructed buildings and other structure over them. Despite that, more than 350 such plots with the size of 22 and 26 sq. mts. are yet to be allotted to its owners,” said a local resident. According to a local social activist, Mr Asish Chaudhary, during emergency in 1975, about 100 families from Mandawali Fazalpur village had been given assurance that they would be rehabilitated at the above-said area. The DDA had constructed LIG and Janata flats at Mayur Vihar Phase 3 at that time. The affected families had to be rehabilitated there, but unfortunately their fate still hangs in the balance due to the apathetic attitude adopted by the authority concerned,” he added. He informed that the DDA recently had earmarked about 703 plots with the size of 12 and 18 sq mts. in the same area for the resettlement of nearby cluster population. “The authority seems reluctant to move on even that project. We have brought these issues many times to the notice of the officials concerned and public representatives but of no avail,” he said. A senior officer of the DDA clarified that they were working out on implementing those proposals. “We are planning to construct Janata flats over those chunks of land. The Janata flats will be given to the rightful allottees of cluster area on nominal charges,” he asserted.
|
|
|
Next round of pulse polio drive on April 9
New Delhi, April 4 Delhi Health Minister Mr Yoganand Shastri chaired a meeting of the state
coordination committee on ‘Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme
2005-06’ in which he gave directions that the next Capital-wide anti-polio
campaign should focus on JJ clusters and unreached children. The April 9 round of immunisation would be launched by Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit by administering polio drops to children. After the meeting, Mr Shastri informed that in February phase of the vaccination drive, more than 26 lakh children under five were successfully immunised in the Capital. He said Delhi would soon be free of polio as only one case of the disease was reported in 2005 and no case has been reported this year so far. “There is a need for concerted efforts by all the sections of the community, the service providers, district administrations, MCD, NDMC and the Cantonment Board to ensure a very high quality round,” Mr Shastri said. He said polio can be eradicated only through intensive surveillance and targeted immunisation activities to interrupt the transmission.
|
|
Govt employees to hold protest on June 14
Faridabad, April 4 This was decided at the two-day meeting of the working committee of the Federation here. More than 100 delegates from all over the country took part in the meeting. The leaders of the Federation and the organisations affiliated to it flayed the Congress-led government, alleging that “it was no different from the previous NDA government”. Mr Sukomal Sen, a former M.P and the general secretary of the Federation, said that “there had been blatant violation of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) adopted by the UPA government”. He alleged that the Congress-led coalition was following the same track despite the large-scale opposition and negative fallouts of such policies in the past. Even as thousands of posts had been scrapped, the government was not making fresh recruitment. As apart of the ongoing stir, the Federation would observe a ‘Protest Day’ on June 14, 2006. The Federation has assailed the delay in the formation of the new wage board.
|
|
Lid off three cases of power theft
New Delhi, April 4 In the first case, BSES vs Shayam Sharma, the Special Court dismissed the bail application of the accused and sent him to Tihar Jail in judicial custody for 14 days. The accused, Shayam Sharma, was caught stealing electricity of over 42 KW, by directly hooking from the BSES LV
mains. BSES approached the Special Court when Shayam Sharma failed to pay the penalty of Rs 16 lakh. In another case of power theft, the court sent Kshitij Aggarwal in judicial custody. The accused was found stealing electricity of over 61 KW by directly hooking to the BSES LV mains. In this case also, BSES moved the Special Court as the accused failed to pay the penalty of over Rs 23 lakh. The point to be noted is that the accused was present at the time of enforcement raid and accepted the inspection report. In the third case, the court dismissed the anticipatory bail application of Manohar Lal, a resident of AB -105, Gali
Kumaharan, Prem Nagar, Pahar Ganj, who had been earlier caught by the BSES Enforcement Team stealing electricity of over 16 KW and fined Rs 6.30 lakh.
|
|
|
No respite from rising temperatures
New Delhi, April 4 The maximum temperature in the Capital today rose to 36.2 Degree C, from 36.1 Degree C yesterday while the minimum temperature increased to 18.2 Degree C today. The scorching heat left Delhiites perspiring, keeping many of them confined to the comfort of their homes or
offices. — TNS
|
|
6,000 take entrance test for ophthalmology course
Noida, April 4 About 10 centres had been set up for ophthalmology and dental surgeon’s pre-medical examination. The students are eagerly awaiting their results which will be out on April 14. In a three-hour-long test, more than 200 questions were asked. According to students, questions about life sciences were easier than last
year. — OC
|
|
HUDA to provide more facilities in new sectors
Gurgaon, April 4 According to HUDA authorities here, the roads will be expanded wherever possible in the existing sectors. The proposed additional facilities will include provisions such as saloons and vegetable markets for the convenience of the residents. Sectors still to be fully developed such as 48,49 and 50 are likely to be these additional
facilities. — TNS
|
|
Gang of dacoits busted
New Delhi, April 4 The police also claimed to have recovered one loaded countrymade pistol, one dagger, two cameras, wristwatches, jewellery, etc. from their
possession. — TNS
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
In
video (
