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CGHS scam: Fresh FIR registered against six
Six Gurgaon malls get show cause notice
HUDA draw of plots mired in controversy
CM, DPCC chief asked to work together for municipal polls
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‘Employer can’t be faulted for terminating temporary worker’
Traders announce Delhi Bandh on Sept 20
CBI seeks closure of 14-year-old graft case
HC rejects bail plea of man accused of biting off wife’s nose
30 IAS officers under Lok Ayukt’s probe
Warm, humid weather persists in Capital
Two held for operating betting racket
Manifold rise in prices of ration items
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CGHS scam: Fresh FIR registered against six
New Delhi, September 17 The case has been registered against Srichand, Abhay Singh, Mahender Singh, Dharmender Singh, Syed Frautulah and Devi Ram Hathiwalia in connection with the scam involving the Parvati, Jaiveer and Lucky Friends CGHS. According to the FIR, “These societies were declared defunct by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies under Section 63(2) of the RCS Act. But these persons in connivance with some other unknown persons on the basis of forged documents with a fraudulent intention allegedly revived these defunct societies.” The FIR was registered under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (using forged documents as genuine) of the IPC and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Apart from these six persons, other persons who were arrested and are already in custody in another CGHS scam are Vinod Kumar Verma, Srichand, Ashwani Sharma, Ashutosh Pant (all builders) and suspended DDA employee Anna Wankhede, it said. All the accused allegedly conspired with the RCS officials to recommend these fake societies to the DDA for allotment of the land. There were a total of 135 fake societies, the FIR said. |
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Six Gurgaon malls get show cause notice
Gurgaon, September 17 The administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) informed that the owners of these malls had converted a lot of public utility space like green belt, open space, corridor, etc into commercial use which put human lives at risk in case of an untoward incident. A high-powered team consisting of District Town Planner (Enforcement), Ms Gurmeet Kaur studied six malls; MGF Plaza, MGF Metropolitan, DLF DT Centre, Sahara Mall, DLF Grand Mall and DLF Mega Mall. The team found that these mall owners had converted the green belt and front setback space into parking areas. They had also put up big electronic and other hoarding in these places contrary to the rules, added the administrator, HUDA. The DTP (E) teams also found that open corridor inside these malls have been blocked by installing stalls of different eatable items, coffees shops, big toys for children, etc. These unauthorized structures not only minimize the circulation areas inside the mall and but also put at risk the human lives and properties in case of any mishap, claimed the officer. There is a provision for restaurants on the top floor of the malls. But these mall owners have covered the open corridors for keeping seats which invite accidents, claimed the administrator. Mr Praveen Kumar, one of the managing directors, DLF Limited, informed ‘The Tribune’ that the DLF Group which presently runs three malls in Gurgaon would follow all prescribed rules and regulations to safeguard the properties and human lives there. However, if some shortcomings have been identified, the group would like to remove them, added the MD who supervises Gurgaon activities of the group. Brig Baljeet Singh who looks after MGF’s two malls here claimed that no major violations had been highlighted by the DTP (E). The same position has been there for the last three years, added Mr Singh. However, the MGF would file its written reply on September 18 and clarify its stand, added Brig Singh. One senior official of Sahara Mall informed that they had not converted the green belt into parking space, rather the visitors had started parking in the open space themselves, added the officer. The officials would also check remaining two more malls, Gold Sauk and Omaxe Mall at Sohna Road, and issue show cause notices to them if they have violated the law, added the HUDA administrator. |
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HUDA draw of plots mired in controversy
Faridabad, September 17 Though the HUDA authorities have claimed that their system of draw of plots is completely transparent, this has failed to go down well with many. The allegation of unfairness is so strong that some persons have decided to file a PIL in the court over the draw of plots for housing societies at Panchkula recently. The number of officials and employees of HUDA getting plots has increased over the years, it is reported. There is hardly any official in this department who has not been successful in getting a plot. According to reports, a senior official of the HUDA posted at Panipat was among the successful candidates who got a plot in the draw held on September 11. The third such case came from Panchkula where two out of the 27 plots for societies were allotted to the HUDA staff in the draw held on August 25. The society of the HUDA employees also got a plot in the draw held at Sonepat city. Here also a senior officer of the department was among the members. To cap it, the housing societies of HUDA employees also got two plots at Rewari and one plot at Panipat in the draws held recently. “While it is a common knowledge that the employees of the organization holding a draw or lottery were not eligible to take part in such a draw, the decision to allow the staff of HUDA in such draws could not be justified and it has been an ‘unfair practice’, claimed K.L.Gera, social activist based here. |
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CM, DPCC chief asked to work together for municipal polls
New Delhi, September 17 According to the party sources, keeping this in view in connection with the forthcoming corporation election, the high command suggested Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and DPCC President Ram Babu Sharma and in-charge of Delhi state to work together. This tactic was likely to impress the residents of the city and would have positive results in the election, the sources added. Acknowledging people’s anger, senior leaders of the party also feel that winning the election in present circumstances is not an easy job if the CM and the DPCC chief do not work together. The high command gives example of party’s success in students’ union election in Delhi University where NSUI bagged three seats. This was a result of joint fight of both the Chief Minister as well as the DPCC Chief against the rival party, as they put their differences aside. The warning given by the Central leadership has come close on the heels of the announcement of the much-delayed list of PCC executive and office-bearers that has been tilted in favour of the detractors of the Chief Minister, including Sharma, Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler. Having observed sensitiveness of the situation in Delhi following the demolition and sealing drive launched by the MCD, the high command has not given its decision about the reported move of Delhi Chief Minister, who expressed her view before the command to leave the coveted post of the Delhi government. She does not want to continue as Chief Minister. She also tried to join Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee as a secretary, sources said. The Congress had performed remarkably well in the Lok Sabha elections by winning six of the seven seats in Delhi and had three ministers at the Centre till Tytler was forced to step down in the wake of the Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Ram Babu Sharma was appointed PCC chief after the 2004 polls and since then he and the chief minister could not hit it off. He won the assembly election from Rohtas Nagar seat. Earlier, he was councillor from Nand Nagri segment of the corporation. Being the Chairman of the Standing Committee and Leader of the House, he was the most powerful politician in the Municipal Corporation. The differences between both the leaders widened when the MCD launched the demolition drive against unauthorised construction and sealing of commercial establishment in residential areas. Both tried to expose each other by making their unauthorised construction public. |
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‘Employer can’t be faulted for terminating temporary worker’
New Delhi, September 17 Setting aside an order of a Labour Court which ordered reinstatement of a conductor of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) who was appointed on a temporary basis, Justice Shiv Narayan Dhingra observed that the regularisation of such employees would only open a “big backdoor” for entry into public employment. Suraj Bhan was employed by the DTC as a “retainer crew conductor” between December 24, 1985 and June 29, 1988, and was terminated from service along with 30 others after being given a month’s salary and retrenchment compensation. In its order on April 7, 1998, the Labour Court had ordered Bhan’s reinstatement on the ground that his termination was illegal as no chargesheet was served on him. The Labour Court had held that “the continuation of the workman in employment for such a long period was evidence in itself that the employer had a job requirement of a permanent nature”. Since the workman’s appointment was not for any specified period, therefore his appointment was against a vacancy of a permanent nature that was likely to continue for an indefinite period, the Labour Court had observed while ordering his reinstatement with continuous service and all benefits. However, Justice Dhingra noted that no fault could be found in terminating the service of a temporary employee who had been engaged as a stop-gap arrangement. “They are just picked up because of acquaintance with some officers. They cannot be allowed to continue in service in perpetuity. Continuation of such employees in perpetuity would open a big back door for entry into public employment, which can only be done following the Constitutional provisions,” the High Court said. “A temporary or stopgap employee has to give way for the regularly appointed employee,” it observed. |
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Traders announce Delhi Bandh on Sept 20
New Delhi, September 17
“The woes of the trading community due to the sealing drive have reached a pathetic impasse.... they have been reduced to the status of beggars on streets. They are appealing to courts, government and even RWA’s,” Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of the Confederation of All India Traders’ (CAIT), said. “The traders are being treated as aliens as if they do not belong to the city and are illegal residents,” he added. He said CAIT would also launch an “aggressive movement” seeking to stop sealing. Mr Khandelwal said that any source of relief for the traders was being knocked down by the Courts. “It is very strange that in a democratic country that prides itself for the cause of fundamental and human rights of citizens, exploitation and violation is at its peak. All our pleadings are falling on deaf ears,” he added. Mr Khandelwal said the trading community was being made a “pawn” in the battle between the courts and the government. “There is no platform to hear us, we are not even made parties to the judicial process and we are made to suffer without being heard,” he said. “The traders have no confidence.... the see-saw battle between the Government and Judiciary seems endless,” he added. On September 15, the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee had directed the MCD to continue with the sealing drive despite the Centre and Delhi Government issuing notifications to permit trading activities in residential areas. |
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CBI seeks closure of 14-year-old graft case
New Delhi, September 17 The case was registered in June, 1992 against Satbir Singh — a narcotics official with Kamla Market police station — by Sajjan Ali, whom Satbir Singh had arrested while he was allegedly carrying a kg of opium and 100 grams of heroin. According to Ali’s complaint, Satbir Singh had approached him barely a month after the arrest and offered to facilitate his release on bail for a “fee” of Rs 20,000. Subsequently, the official and his co-accused Surender, a head constable with the same cell, were caught red-handed by the CBI on July 23, 1992 while receiving Rs 6,000 from Ali, who was by then out on bail. Ali further complained to the CBI that Satbir Singh had falsely implicated him in the case owing to previous enmity. The agency has now filed a report before Special Judge G P Mittal, saying the suspect was a “known” drug peddler. It informed the court that Ali had died in 2001. The CBI said Satbir Singh had left for Uttar Pradesh on another case shortly after Ali’s arrest, casting doubts on the veracity of the latter’s allegations. “The accused (Satbir Singh) did not have an opportunity to approach and demand illegal gratification from the complainant (Ali) as alleged,” the CBI said in its recent closure report. |
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HC rejects bail plea of man accused of biting off wife’s nose
New Delhi, September 17 Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed, while refusing to grant bail, directed accused Sukh Lal to surrender before the trial judge and seek regular bail. Lal, a rickshaw-puller and resident of Jhilmil Colony in Shahdara, allegedly bit off part of the tip of his wife Pushpa Devi’s nose after a domestic row on August 11. Pushpa, who was left bleeding profusely, was taken to a hospital for treatment. A case was registered under Section 326 (causing grievous hurt) of the IPC against Sukh Lal at Vivek Vihar police station. Sukh Lal’s plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by a trial court on August 28. Following this, he approached the High Court. His counsel argued that the court should have a lenient view on his plea for anticipatory bail as Sukh Lal had no previous criminal record. However, Justice Ahmed rejected Sukh Lal’s plea in view of the gravity of charge and directed that he surrendered before the competent court or authorities and applied for regular bail in the matter. |
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30 IAS officers under Lok Ayukt’s probe
Ghaziabad, September 17 The political leaders are not lagging behind either as an equal number of state’s senior politicians are having enquiries against them, it is learnt. There is an enquiry against a minister of state from Dehra Dun, a Meerut MLA and a district magistrate. Lok Ayukt N.K. Mehrotera who had visited Meerut two days ago said the MLA had siphoned off the fund to his relatives. Evidence is being collected against them in this connection. Meerut’s former D.M. Tulsi Gaur is also involved in a serious case. Mr Mehrotera said normally all probes should be completed within three months, but non-cooperation by the government officials causes delay. Lok Ayukt has to build up pressure on the government departments for action. In most of the cases, the guilty is punished ultimately, he said. Many people facing probe from Lok Ayukt often manage to get stay from the courts. Most of the complaints, Mr Mehrotera said, pertain to the basic education officers and engineers. Complaints against MLAs are normally about squandering the MLA’s funds. The majority of complaints are from the retired officials regarding release of their pensions, funds and other worries, the Lok Ayukt added. |
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Warm, humid weather persists in Capital
New Delhi, September 17 Despite an overcast sky right through the day, the humidity soared to 92 per cent. The minimum temperature was recorded at 26.4 degrees Celsius. The Met department said while the maximum was two degrees above normal, the minimum was a degree above normal. Weatherman has forecast scattered showers in parts of NorthWest India, including the national Capital. In fact, cloudy weather is likely to prevail in the city for the next few days. The weather office has forecast a partly cloudy sky with possibility of rain and thundershowers in some areas of Delhi during the next 24 hours. Delhi was lashed by heavy rains on Thursday.
— UNI |
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Shuchi’s works guided by ‘her spiritual quests’
Ravi Bhatia Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 17 Often described as a multi-dimensional artist by critics, Shuchi’s works are apparently guided by the “soul of her spiritual quests”. Her works now form a part of prized private as well as government collections. She has had held a number of solo and group shows all over the country. Exhibition of paintings and sculptures
Two lecturers of the Delhi College of Art here are presenting their creations at a joint exhibition of paintings and sculptures from September 22 to September 29 at the Lalit Kala Akademi here. While Dr (Mrs) Amargeet Chandok is a lecturer of painting, Mr Sumitabha Pal teaches sculpture. Both have received awards and have regularly showcased their works in many parts of the country. The exhibition will be inaugurated by Mr Keshav Malik, a known art critic and a fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi. Ravi Jain Memorial expo
The Dhoomi Mal Gallery here is holding the annual Ravi Jain Memorial exhibition at the DMG Mega Art Complex in Connaught Place here from September 16 to September 20 as the Foundation in his memory completes 15 years of encouraging and promoting young talent in the country. Gour’s creations in marble
Ashok Gour, a Jaipur-based sculptor is holding an exhibition of his creations in marble at the Lalit Kala Akademi here from September 15 to September 29. Gour, an acclaimed sculptor, has had many exhibitions here and abroad. ‘Open Dream Paths’
Tara Sabharwal is holding a solo show of her recent works at the Art Alive Gallery here from September 19 to September 30. Entitled, ‘Open Dream Paths’, the exhibition will have on show some of her creations which have never been displayed before. Guru Arjun Dev’s martyrdom
The Punjabi Academy here is organising a two-day cultural event to mark the centenary of the martyrdom of Guru Arjun Dev on September 18 and 19 here. On the 18th of September, it will present “Tatti Tawi Daa Sach”, a sound and light performance while on the following day it will host an award function where the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, will be the chief guest to honour personalities who have contributed to the spread and popularization of Punjabi. Hungarian graphic art
The Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre here is hosting a unique exhibition of contemporary Hungarian graphic art, “Multi Coloured Monochrome” from September 14 to October 20. Inaugurated by the eminent artist, Satish Gujral, the extraordinary exhibition consists of 35 pieces of graphic arts from the collection of Foundation For Hungarian Grpahic Art. Classical dance festival
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations here presented a festival of Indian Classical Dance and Music by foreign artistes resident in India from September 12 to September 14 at the Kamani auditorium here. Gond tribal art
The Tribal Welfare Department of the Madhya Pradesh government is hosting an exhibition of rare Gond tribal art at the Lalit Kala Akademi here from September 16 to September 21. For wildlife lovers
And for those who are interested in the depleting wildlife of the country, the Art Gallery (Annexe) at the India International Centre here should be the place from September 23 to September 29 where noted artist from Jaipur, Ajay Singh Peelwa will be showcasing his works under the title “Tigers in the Wild”. An illustrated talk on the subject is also being arranged on September 28. Instrumental music album
A new album of Dr Suman Sharma based on the instrumental music ‘My Sitar’ was released under the aegis of ‘Know India Foundation’ by a sitar player Balvant Roy Verma here today. Dr Sharma has done her doctorate in music under the guidance of great sitar player Debu Chaudhary. |
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Vehicle thefts increasing in Noida
Noida, September 17 One car was looted at pistolpoint. Besides, two criminals have looted gold chains from women at the gunpoint. The police have failed to trace the culprits so far. In Phase-II police station area, Ram Gurwar, a resident of 26-B in Sector-22, was going to Greater Noida in his Maruti Zen No DL-8CR-004 along with his wife. Near Kulesara checkpost, some armed criminals waved them to stop. As the car came to a halt, the criminals dragged them out at gunpoint and sped away with their car. On getting the information, police soon started a vehicle check, but the thieves could not be found. The car jackers also looted a Tata Sumo of Arun Tanwar from Sector-37. The thieves have stolen four vehicles in Sector-39 police area alone. The Hero Honda car of a Sector-19 resident D. Dalal was stolen from Sector-39. The third vehicle was stolen from bus stop Sector-37. It was a motorcycle parked on the roadside by Avinash Mathew. The motorcycle of Delhi’s Vipin Kumar was also stolen from Amity parking under 37 police station area. In 51- A, Sector 21, one Mrs Kamlesh had gone to Santam Dharam Mandir to offer ‘prasad’. As she was about to get into her car at the temple, two youths on a bike pulled her chain off her neck and fled away. Kamlesh’s driver and some other devotees tried to apprehend the culprits, but they disappeared in no time. In Sector-50 D-7, another woman Mrs Sati Siroh was going to market, when two miscreants on a bike pulled the necklace from her neck and sped away. The increasing incidents of vehicle thefts and chain-snatching have caused a panic among the residents of Noida. |
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Two held for operating betting racket
New Delhi, September 17 Prem Parkash alias Guru Satta and Ashok Kumar were arrested from a house in Anand Vihar locality while they were receiving bets on the India-Australia one-day cricket match in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. The arrest came after police raided the house in Saini Enclave on the basis of a tip-off. The duo, residents of Anand Vihar, allegedly used mobile phones to receive bets and record their conversation with the clients so that they cannot back out later, police
said. — OC |
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Manifold rise in prices of ration items
Noida, September 17 The prices of flour, rice, sugar, gram, dals, etc have sharply gone up. The people have started cooking moong dal once a fortnight from three times a week. Soyabean seems to have replaced it. The prices of gram or basin products have also touched a new high. The budget of an average household has gone haywire. |
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