The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

	Jessica case: Police plea to probe Ramani Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 19 A court today reserved its order for allowing police to investigate a complaint against socialite Bina Ramani, a witness in the Jessica Lall murder case, for making false affirmations in an affidavit seven years ago. Appearing before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kamini Lau, investigating officer M K Sharma said there were possibilities of a wider conspiracy being involved, and that the role of various officers attached to the DC (South) and the Mehrauli police station had to be examined. Sharma also pointed out that Ramani’s restaurant in south Delhi’s Qutub Colonnade, the scene of the sensational murder of ramp model Jessica Lal in 1999, was built on government land and did not have a valid liquor license at the time. On April 26, 1999, Ramani, in an affidavit before the Sub Divisional Magistrate, had stated she was an unmarried Indian national and had married George Mailhot, on the basis of which the SDM issued a marriage certificate, which was withdrawn in May 1999 when the false declaration came to light. The complaint alleges that Ramani was a British national at that time, and continued to remain so at present, thereby making the affidavit false. The application was filed under section 155 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which requires Magisterial consent to initiate investigation proceedings in non-cognisable offences. It is alleged that Ramani, by preparing and submitting the false declaration, committed offences under sections 181 (false statement made on oath or affirmation) and 199 (false statement made as declaration), IPC, both of which are non-cognisable in nature. Meanwhile, Ramani’s daughter Ramani, another key witness in the Jessica Lall murder case, today moved a fresh application before the Delhi High Court seeking permission for visiting South Africa in connection with a fashion show. Vacation Judge Justice Gita Mittal, while issuing notice to the Delhi Police for its reply, posted the matter for further hearing to June 21. Malini, in her latest application, sought permission to visit South Africa between June 20-27 to enable her to participate in the ‘MTN Durban Fashion’ week. In her petition, Malini complained that she had sought permission from the Delhi Police to undertake the trip but the latter rejected the same in view of the appeal proceedings in the Jessica Lall case being heard by the High Court. She submitted that she had participated in the same fashion show last year too, and is only one of the two Indian designers who have been invited to showcase their collections at this year’s show. However, counsel for the Delhi Police sought time to verify the claim of the fashion show following which Justice Gita Mittal posted the matter to June 21. A Division Bench of the High Court had earlier on May 19 granted permission to Malini to visit London and New York in connection with similar fashion shows. It had asked her to furnish a bond of Rs 5 lakh besides the passports of her mother and father. Malini, along with her mother Bina, were the two key witnesses in the murder of the ramp model-turned bartender in the trial proceedings in which all the nine accused have been acquitted. However, the police in the appeal proceedings have charged both Malini and Bina with destroying crucial piece of evidence that facilitated acquittal of the accused. After initiating the appeal proceedings, the police had issued ‘lookout’ notices against all the accused and witnesses in the case in order to prevent them from “fleeing” the country.
	DDA to impose penalty for misuse of flats Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 19 The Delhi Development Authority has decided to impose hefty penalties on people misusing DDA flats allotted in different categories under various schemes across the national Capital. It would levy misuse charges if an establishment is used for purposes other than residence or what it was allotted for. The misuse charge would be applicable to Janata and Low Income Group/Middle Income Group/High Income Group/Self Financing Scheme flats, car garages and scooter garages, and servant quarters, a statement said today. Charges would vary according to area, with the maximum in South and Central Delhi and Dwarka; followed by North, East, West and Rohini, while Narela fell in the last category. If the flat had been cancelled due to misuse, the restoration charges would be recovered in addition to misuse charges. In case the flat has been cancelled for unauthorised construction for residential use, then higher restoration charges (double than that for misuse) would be recovered. If the flat has not been cancelled but there has been encroachment on public land, damages would be recovered equivalent to the amount of restoration charges as in the case of unauthorised construction. In South, Central Delhi and Dwarka, the penalty rate for Janata category is Rs 80,000, for LIG/SFS-I Rs 1,25,000, for MIG/SFS-II Rs 1,90,000 and for HIG/SFS-III Rs 2,40,000. For a car garage, it is a high Rs 1,10,000 and for a scooter garage it is Rs 60,000. In the case of North, East, West Delhi and Rohini, the rate is Rs 50,000 for Janata category, Rs 90,000 for an LIG, Rs 1,20,000 for an MIG, Rs 1,60,000 for an HIG, Rs 70,000 for a car garage and Rs 40,000 for a scooter garage. In Narela, the rate is Rs 20,000 for Janata category, Rs 30,000 for an LIG, Rs 40,000 for an MIG, Rs 50,000 for an HIG, Rs 20,000 for a car garage and Rs 10,000 for a scooter garage. The DDA further informed that in cases where the flat has been cancelled due to misuse, restoration charges would be recovered in addition to the misuse charges. The restoration charges for the HIG category are Rs 25,000, MIG category Rs 20,000, LIG Rs 10,000 and for Janata Rs 5,000. Further, in cases where the flat have been cancelled due to unauthorised construction for residential use, different restoration charges would be levied. For HIG, the restoration charge would be Rs 50,000, for an MIG Rs 40,000, for an LIG Rs 20,000 and for Janata Rs 10,000.
	‘EC complaint on office of profit wrong’ Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 19 The Congress party has decided to contest an Election Commission notice to 19 party MLAs who are allegedly holding offices of profit. “We shall send our reply (to the EC) tomorrow saying these are not offices of profit. The BJP MLA’s complaint to the EC itself was wrong,” state unit party chief Ram Babu Sharma said, referring to Mr Vijay Jolly, who represents Saket. “These offices do not even have peons. How can one call them offices of profit,” he argued. The DPCC chief had discussed the issue with legal experts last week. Party sources said that the dominant view among them as well as the MLAs was that the “political complaint” should be challenged while not foreclosing other options. This, they felt, was necessary more so because a central Bill on which the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill, 2006 was patterned had been returned by the President to Parliament. The Bill was passed last month. The Delhi BJP has sought the Chief Minister’s resignation and fresh polls to the Assembly, saying that the Sheila Dikshit government would be reduced to a minority if the 19 MLAs were disqualified for holding offices of profit. Taking up another issue, the DPCC chief today sought the re-construction of all structures that were razed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi during its demolition drive. Criticising the statement of MCD Commissioner Mr A. K. Nigam that the unauthorised properties razed by the corporation would not be allowed to be re-built, Mr Sharma said the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006, provides for maintaining status quo with regard to the unauthorised structures that came up in Delhi up to January 1, 2006. “This means that the structures which were brought down during the demolition drive by the MCD should also be allowed to be re-built,” he said. Refuting the BJP’s allegations that the Congress was continuing to keep the owners of demolished properties in a state of confusion, Mr Sharma said it was the Congress that took the initiative to ensure the passage of the Bill in Parliament to bring relief to the people of Delhi on the issue of demolition of unauthorised structures and commercial units in residential areas.
	Six DTC buses impounded in Noida Our Correspondent Noida, June 19 Six DTC buses were impounded by the Noida police for plying without having paid the taxes. According to a spokesmen, this action was taken against the DTC for plying its buses in UP without permission. Transport Officer Vinay Kumar Singh said strict action would be taken against DTC buses plying without permission or without having paid taxes. The Regional Transport Officer said the DTC management had started a new Mudrika bus service via Kalindi Kunj to Noida Sectors 37, 12, Chaura Mod and Anand Vihar without taking the UP Road Transport Corporation authorities into confidence. The buses under this service ply on at least 10 km of Noida roads. Apart from impounding six DTC buses, another five were challanned, he said. The action against DTC buses was taken with the consent of senior officials, he added. But Noida residents have opposed such an attitude. They said the politicians and officials did not realise that a large number of commuters from Delhi and Noida were put to hardship, especially those who had to go and come from interstate bus terminuses and railway stations in Delhi and New Delhi.
	Bills must be paid in full, says BSES Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 19 The BSES has again cautioned its consumers against a campaign advocating payment of 50 per cent of their electricity bills. “BSES has no mandate to receive any payment if a consumer unilaterally deducts 50 per cent of the billed amount. Each and every consumer has to pay for the electricity consumed and as per tariff fixed by the DERC,” a statement issued by the discom said. At the same time, it claimed that the campaign has failed. “All except a handful of residents, who had earlier sent 50 per cent cheques, have now paid their bills in full,” it said. It cited the case of 22 residents of Vishwas Nagar and a majority of the protesting Mayur Vihar II (Pocket F) residents, who had earlier submitted cheques of 50 per cent payment but have since paid in full. “The company has returned all the cheques of 50 per cent payment that were deposited in its various drop boxes and, as per the norms, disconnection notices have been sent to the defaulting customers,” the discom said.
	On Ibsen and his passion: His influence on Indian theatre Charu Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 19 ... And what does it mean, then to be a poet? It was a long time before I realized that to be a poet means essentially to see, but mark well, to see in such a way that whatever is seen is perceived by the audience just as the poet saw it. But only what has been lived through can be seen in that way and accepted in that way. And the secret of modern literature lies precisely in this matter of experiences that are lived through. All that I have written these last ten years, I have lived through spiritually.” These are powerful words by the progressive Norwegian dramatist and visionary writer, Henrik Ibsen. The influence of Ibsen’s writings spilled out of Norway into many countries across the world and interestingly Indian drama for successive decades has been heavily influenced by Ibsen. Ibsen largely wrote for the middle classes in urban areas and small towns. His focus has been on characters and building up psychological conflict rather then on dramatic situations. His chief concern and stress has been on an anarchistic individualism which made a massive impact on the younger generation outside Norway. Utpal Bannerjee, a prominent theatre and art critic, says, “Last month was the 100th death anniversary of Henrik Ibsen and it has been well marked by theatre enthusiasts all over the nation.” Banerjee further stresses that, “Ibsen’s influence on Indian theatre is very noticeable and almost every week there is an Ibsen play somewhere or the other in the nation. Further, his popularity in Bangladesh is no less and his plays are produced on stage almost every month. This is quite remarkable, given the fact that he is a period European playwright.” Utpal adds, “Many of the NSD’s alumni have cut their teeth on Ibsen and this is largely thanks to former NSD director and scholar Ebrahim Alkazi (1962-79) pushing Ibsen and his plays forward.” Some major Ibsen plays performed in Delhi have been ‘Doll’s House’ and ‘Wild Duck’ directed by Anuradha Kapur.
	CM flags off mobile hospital vans Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 19 The Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, today flagged off mobile vans that would be part of the first mobile hospital in the Capital to cater to the underprivileged. Ms Dikshit also handed over the keys of the mobile vans to various partner organisations that would work with Smile Foundation, a national development agency that has launched this mobile hospital. Named ‘Smile-on-Wheels’, the mobile hospital is expected to cover 7.5 lakh beneficiaries annually under the first phase of the programme through five medical vans. Ms Dikshit said, “This is a very ambitious and wonderful project which is going to benefit children and women in the outreach areas.” She added, “Consistent follow-up and concentration in particular are necessary in health programmes, which would hopefully make this programme a success.” Smile Foundation launched the programme as part of its endeavour to introduce healthcare awareness and contemporary health care services seeking behavior among the rural masses and the underprivileged. Ms Anupama Puri, Chief Programme Officer, Smile Foundation, said, “Under this programme, our aim is to run a fleet of 30 fully equipped mobile medical vans in collaboration with NGOs and the local administration in the next two years, reaching out to over 35-40 lakh beneficiaries. Initially, we are contributing five well-equipped mobile medical vans to select partners (NGOs) from across the five Indian states of Orissa, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttaranchal. These NGOs will serve over 7.5 lakh beneficiaries living in 249 identified villages.” Smile-on-Wheels aims to take comprehensive health care services, preventive, promotive and curative to rural remote villages and would reach out to the most underprivileged but needy people across the country, it was pointed out. The project intends to bring medical expertise from nearby urban centres/ cities to the rural areas and urban slums. The services provided through the mobile hospital are OPD, ante-natal/ post-natal services, identification of difficult pregnancy and referral for institutional care, immunisation for mother and children, minor surgery, BP examination, X-ray, ECG, first aid and treatment of mal-nutrient cases among others.
	‘Choose Your Career Campaign’ inaugurated Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 19 The Minister of Employment and Labour, Government of NCT of Delhi, Mr Mangat Ram Singhal, inaugurated the ‘Choose Your Career Campaign – 2006’ at the Delhi Secretariat here today. The campaign is being organised by the Directorate of Employment with an aim to provide educational and vocational guidance to school and college students and job seekers. The campaign that began on June 9 will continue up to June 29 at nine employment exchanges, three university employment information and guidance bureaux, three employment exchanges for disabled and ex-servicemen on all working days between 9.30 am to 3 pm. Inaugurating the campaign, Mr Singhal said the campaign would disseminate information about academic and professional courses, apprenticeship training, skill training in different universities, apprenticeship training centre, poly-techniques, vocational guidance through display of career literatures, employment market profile and motivate candidates to take up self-employment as an alternative to wage paid employment. The minister also released a publication on ‘Career in Fashion Technology’, a booklet prepared by the Vocational Guidance Unit, with the purpose to provide all necessary information to job seekers and students regarding different aspects of career in fashion technology. Mr S. N. Mazumdar, Secretary and Director (Employment), said the Directorate had undertaken a comprehensive plan of computerisation and modernisation by networking of all employment exchanges. On-line registration has already been started from January 2005 and renewal of registration cards from March 2005 onwards.