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Delhi Police seeks Abu Salem’s custody
Legal notice to AAI on diesel vehicles at airport
125 girls share classroom meant for
50 in this school
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PIL on AIIMS row withdrawn on court advice
Faridabad administration hard-pressed for space for meetings
DERC seeks SC’s nod to release tariff rates
Monsoon to reach on July 5, says weatherman
Delhi’s slum dwellers moving to Ghaziabad
‘Dead’ woman found living with brother-in-law
48 transformers stolen in 3 months
Tantrik suspected of murdering woman
Gutted transformer hits output in 125 units
Farmer robbed of Rs 20 lakh
Life term for underworld don
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Delhi Police seeks Abu Salem’s custody
New Delhi, July 3 Delhi Police sought custody of extradited gangster Abu Salem in an extortion case registered against him in the national Capital but the TADA court here asked it to come back on July 14. The Delhi Police team asked designated Judge P D Kode to give the custody of Salem as he was wanted in an extortion case being tried in Tis Hazari court in Delhi. It produced warrant from the court seeking Salem’s custody. The TADA court, however, deferred the matter to July 14 as Salem’s lawyer sought time to file a reply. Abu Salem is wanted by Delhi Police for his involvement in three cases of extortion. He is currently in the custody of the Anti-Terrorist Squad of Mumbai Police for playing a key role in 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts in which at least 257 people were killed. Police said Salem is wanted in connection with an extortion case of July 2002. He had allegedly demanded Rs 1 crore from Rajat Nagrath, owner of Allied Communications in south Delhi. The Special Cell had earlier arrested three people in connection with the case. Police said Ishtaq, Sadiq and Chandu Prakash had disclosed that the threats given to the businessman were carried out at the instance of Salem. Salem is also wanted in another extortion threat case. The threat was given to a businessman Ashok Gupta and Salem had demanded Rs 5 crore. In yet another case, Vinay Singh of Lucky Exports had paid Rs 50 lakh after being threatened by Salem. Salem was extradited to India on November 11, twelve years after he allegedly masterminded the terror blasts. He was brought to India with former Bollywood actress Monica Bedi. Apart from the Mumbai blast case, the 36-year-old mob boss is also wanted in 54 other cases ranging from murder to extortion. Abu Salem and Monica were arrested at a Lisbon shopping mall on September 18, 2002 following an Interpol red corner notice issued at CBI’s behest. |
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Legal notice to AAI on diesel vehicles at airport
New Delhi, July 3 The legal notice, served by the Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training (IFTRT), points out that the apex court had ordered diesel-run commercial vehicle would not ply beyond March 31, 2002. “However, the AAI continues to operate diesel-run tarmac coaches, buses and other vehicles at IGI Airport,” said the IFTRT, which has been monitoring the implication and impact of the court order to run passenger coaches and buses in Delhi on single fuel mode of compressed natural gas (CNG). The Supreme Court had ordered that all the commercial vehicles operators and agencies would not ply diesel run commercial vehicles beyond March 31, 2002. The court had pronounced the order on a petition that vehicular emission level was a serious reason for degrading the air quality in Delhi. The IFTRT said it was shocked to find that majority of tarmac coaches and buses operating at the IGI airport were running on diesel fuel. “The regulatory and controlling government agency at the airport — Airport Authority of India — had remained oblivious of its duty since March 2002 to direct all airlines and bus operators to convert or replace their tarmac coaches to the CNG fuel mode”. In a belated move, the AAI, on November 24, 2005, informed various airlines that the airport entry of non-CNG coaches would be totally stopped from February 15 this year. The letter states: “Airports Authority has taken the view of Additional Solicitor General of India, and he opined that being a government agency, Airport Authority of India must abide by the decisions of the Supreme Court in letter and spirit.” To avoid operational problem that could be created because of immediate cancellation of issued passes and stoppage of issuing of passes to the coaches which are plying in the operational area at IGI airport, it was decided to allow a timeframe of three months — up to February 15 — for switching over to the CNG mode. “The Airport Entry Passes on non-CNG coaches shall not be renewed by AAI after February 15 for diesel coaches,” the order said. The IFTRT said the AAI authorities had not been able to provide any cogent reason why various airlines were not forced to obey the court order to introduce CNG-run buses and coaches within the stipulated timeframe. Alleging that the AAI, airlines and private operators had all along been blatantly violating the court order, it said that instead of removing 8-10 year old diesel coaches from the operational area of Delhi Airport, new diesel-run buses were being drafted into service. “The most glaring has been initiative of GMR company (engaged in modernisation of the IGI airport) encouraging diesel-run buses even at this juncture,” it said, adding that at present almost 70-80 per cent of the bus fleet at IGI airport remains to be diesel-run in total contravention of the court order. The IFTRT said the apex court judgement had left no ambiguity in the strict enforcement of its order on operating buses and coaches on clean fuel. While issuing the notice, the IFTRT also sought a categorical response from all the concerned parties on the need to seek the opinion of Solicitor General on the meaning and impact of the apex court order and why his opinion was avoided
for almost four years after the court pronounced its verdict. |
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125 girls share classroom meant for
50 in this school
New Delhi, July 3 At the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, K-Block, Jahangirpuri, a classroom meant for 50 students is used to accommodate as many as 125. This school, like scores of other government-run schools, fails to provide the minimum basic infrastructure to provide quality education to nearly 3,000 girl students on rolls. Today, when the school reopened after the summer vacations, each section of class 6 witnessed the usual rigmarole. Girls elbowed their way in to secure themselves whatever little space there was to claim their own. Lack of space is not the only worry for students here; the school has 14 vacant posts of teaching staffs, which include PGTs and TGTs. In a senior secondary school, the absence of qualified teachers has a direct impact on the pass percentage. While the Directorate of Education gave itself a pat on the back and organised a celebration for its officers in view of the improved pass percentage some time back, in this school the percentage of those who passed class 10 in the year 2005-06 stood at 25 percent. Advocate Ashok Agarwal of the NGO Social Jurist, who has written to the Delhi Education Secretary to take remedial action, blames the overcrowded classrooms and absence of adequate and qualified teaching staff for the poor performance. “The 197 students who failed in their class 10 examinations could have done better had there been proper arrangements in the school. It is surprising that despite the officials of the department being aware of these serious shortcomings at the school; no one is interested in rectifying the same.” Pointing out that the condition of the school violates the directives of the High Court, Agarwal said, “It is needless to remind that the Delhi High Court in a recent order on Public Interest Litigation directed the Government of Delhi and Municipal Corporation of Delhi to ensure that the classrooms should not have students more than the specified number of 40. Even at the Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas run by Delhi Government, the strength of a classroom is not permitted to exceed 35.” |
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PIL on AIIMS row withdrawn on court advice
New Delhi, July 3 A Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain ruled that only the affected parties, doctors of the institute or other staff members alone have a right to move the court but no third party can come on a PIL on the matter. The court took the stern view while dealing with a PIL filed by one Vikas Jain, seeking a direction to the government to constitute a committee headed by a sitting judge of the High Court to streamline the functioning of the AIIMS in the wake of the recent public spat involving the Minister and the Director and certain issues relating the alleged mismanagement of the premier institution. Jain, who claimed to be a social activist in his PIL, also wanted the court to stay any possible termination of the Director by the government. A Vacaction Bench of the High Court had earlier issued notices to the Union Government and the AIIMS to file their replies on the matter and posted it for hearing to July 3. However, today when the matter came up for hearing, Justice Jain pointed out that the petitioner was in no way associated even remotely with the institute and hence he cannot move a petition on behalf of the “aggrieved persons”. The court noted that it was for the Director, staff members of the AIIMS or any association representing them to approach the court on the matter if they felt aggrieved by the said “ongoing controversies” in the institute. Justice Jain warned that the court would be compelled to dismiss the petition if the counsel failed to withdraw it on his own. Following this, the counsel withdrew the petition. |
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Faridabad administration hard-pressed for space for meetings
Faridabad, July 3 Though the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) is constructing a large convention hall-cum-complex in Sector-12 here, the new mini-secretariat here is yet to have a convention hall. The secretariat building, which cost several crores of rupees, does not have the required facilities despite the fact that it houses all the important offices of the district and police administration. This building has six floors and claimed to be one of most modern and high-tech official complexes. However, it does not even have a generator or alternative power supply to operate the lifts. Those using lifts often get stuck in them and then cry for help, claimed a local employee. He said the building has several floors, but they have not been developed properly so that the offices could be run from there. However, a major cause of concern for officials is the lack of a proper hall for holding meetings. Though the offices of senior officials could adjust 30 chairs at a time, there is no hall for holding a meeting in which 50-plus people could sit together. It is reported that a meeting of police officials was held at the hall of an industrial association here as the police department has no place to hold a meeting in the official complex or the police lines. The district or police officials have to depend on the tourist complexes or the MCF auditorium on several occasions to hold a press conference or meeting, said an official. In may be recalled that the recent state-level convention of the Panchayati Raj bodies and youth clubs of Haryana was also held at the MCF auditorium, which was chaired by the Union Minister of Panchayati Raj and Youth Welfare, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyer. The mini-secretariat building ought to be developed and self-sufficient as the state government had spent several crores, said an official. |
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DERC seeks SC’s nod to release tariff rates
New Delhi, July 3 “Today the Commission filed an application before the Supreme Court to release the tariff order for the financial year 2006-07,” DERC sources told reporters here. The sources further said once the Supreme Court gives its nod, the order will be finalised within two to three days and released to the distribution and transmission companies. The tariff proposals were being prepared by the regulatory commission after compiling, analysing and examining the annual revenue reports submitted to it by Transco and the discoms. |
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Monsoon to reach on July 5, says weatherman
New Delhi, July 3 Temperatures in the national Capital surged to 39.5 degrees C and with humidity levels reaching 77 per cent, people were seen sweating it out. The weatherman has forecast similar weather conditions tomorrow with the possibility of pre-monsoon thunder showers thereafter. “Delhi is likely to get monsoon rains on July 5 or 6,” Deputy Director General (Meteorology) R D Singh said, adding that the Capital is expected to receive pre-monsoon showers tomorrow. |
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Delhi’s slum dwellers moving to Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad, July 3 This trend is being seen as a direct offshoot of the Delhi High Court’s orders to remove the slums from Delhi. The jhuggis dwellers of Delhi have found Ghaziabad a good place to shift to. Ghaziabad’s 1 to 5 km proximity to Delhi is proving Ghaziabad’s undoing in this connection. Of all the four colonies, Vasundhra is in a pitiable condition. Residents
of Sector 14 and 12 are feeling the pinch all the more. Vaishali Sectors 2, 3, 4 and 5 are full of jhuggis. Residents of colony find the activities
of some slum dwellers suspicious. The administration has been reminded to remove these slums from their sectors by the Residents Welfare Associations. Vaishali cultural association’s organizer Jai Kant Singh said the District Magistrate and the City Municipal Commissioner have once again
been requested in writing to take some remedial action. Chain-snatching, thefts and other crimes have lately increased. Some of the jhuggi dwellers could be drug peddlers too, fear the residents. |
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‘Dead’ woman found living with brother-in-law
Greater Noida, July 3 Based on the latest information, police have arrested the woman from her brother-in-law’s house. But the question remains: What action will be taken against her parents and the police who had sent the innocent husband to jail. Five years ago, 23-year-old Anita of Aurangabad was married to Rakesh of Chachula village here. Things had reportedly been normal till December 24, when Anita had suddenly gone missing. Rakesh reported to the police that his wife had been missing since December 24. On January 1, the decomposed body of a woman was found at Surajpur canal in Kakode. Police and Anita’s parents insisted it was her body while Rakesh and his family had stoutly denied it. However, Rakesh was sent to jail on charges of dowry death. But Rakesh’s relatives had all along kept up their search for Anita. On Sunday, Rakesh’s relatives descended on Sirsa at the house of Anita’s brother-in-law and found Anita present there, hale and hearty. They informed the Greater Noida police who have arrested Anita. Now the police are wondering what to do with Anita’s brother-in-law who had kept her in his house, knowing everything. |
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48 transformers stolen in 3 months
Greater Noida, July 3 In terms of financial loss, it amounts to Rs 30 lakh. These transformers were installed by Noida Power Company Ltd. (NPCL) for supplying power to the villages. The irony is that villagers are making rounds of Power Corporation for installing new transformers at sites from where they have been stolen. While the NPCL officials have no clue to the thefts, police have not nabbed any thief either. The villagers have to make major financial contribution for installing these transformers while the NPCL contributes the balance amount. NPCL officials maintain that every time a transformer is stolen, an FIR is lodged, but not a single thief has been caught yet. |
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Tantrik suspected of murdering woman
Noida, July 3 Bala Devi, 36, wife of Harishchander Yadav of Sarfabad, had eloped on June 6 with 52-year-old Ram Singh, a cousin of her husband. Harishchander had not informed the police fearing that it would bring a bad name to the family. He informed the 49 sector police finally. On Sunday morning, Dharampal, village pradhan found the body of a woman who was unconscious at Hindon Pushta. Harishchander, his elder brother and a nephew, rushed her to district hospital, where she was declared brought dead. Here victim Bala Devi’s husband, Harishchander said Ram Singh along with two accomplices had poisoned his wife. Bala Devi had herself given this information to her husband on way to hospital. The police have registered a murder case against Ram Singh and his friends on a written complaint of Harishchander. Ram Singh was engaged in all sorts of ‘tantar mantar’. Bala Devi possibly eloped with the tantrik, police said. In view of tension in the village, cops have set up a police post at accused Ram Singh’s house. |
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Gutted transformer hits output in 125 units
Noida, July 3 Suddenly there was sparking in the transformer on Saturday. Dry grass immediately caught fire and the entire transformer was gutted. It has affected production in 125 industrial units in Sector-10. The UP Power Corporation authorities said that it would take them a day or two to restore power supply in the area. |
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Farmer robbed of Rs 20 lakh
Gurgaon, July 3 As he along with his other colleague was returning on their motorcycle with the money kept in a bag, three youths came from the opposite direction on a motorcycle and forced them to stop. They terrorized them and snatched the bag containing cash and sped away towards
Pataudi. The police have started investigating the case. |
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Life term for underworld don
New Delhi, July 3 Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track) Rajinder Kumar also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 each on them while holding them guilty under sections 120(b), 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code in the Lalit Suneja murder case. Another accused, Manjit Mange, was acquitted for lack of evidence. Babloo, Shah and Mange were present in court when the judgement was delivered. According to the prosecution, Suneja was murdered at Shah’s behest because he did not want to return money he had taken from him. The case was transferred to the fast track court last April on High Court orders.—TNS |
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