New Delhi, September 28
The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce the much-awaited judgement on the sealing of big commercial ventures in residential areas of the Capital tomorrow regarding the extent to which government proposals to give relief to traders through its two notifications could be permitted.

This would be an interim order as the apex court had not heard arguments on the validity of the Act passed by Parliament in January which provided for a one year moratorium on sealing and the two notifications of the government.

The Court would consider whether its judgements of February 16 and August 10 ordering sealing of illegal shops in residential areas needed to be modified. It would also consider the plea of traders that some relief should be given to them taking the festival season into account.

After the Court had reserved its verdict on September 25, the MCD has virtually stopped the sealing operation, while the meeting of a Group of Ministers (GoM), set up by the Prime Minister to look into the matter, had also been deferred.

The GoM is now scheduled to meet tomorrow after the judgment to take further stock of the situation that might arise.

The Court in its February 16 and August 10 orders had allowed small shops providing daily needs to people to continue with their business in residential colonies.

The Court had indicated during the hearing that as an interim measure, some ventures could be permitted on the ground floor under strict guidelines provided that traders procured certificates from registered architects that the premises were fit for commercial activity and the upper floors were strictly meant for residential purposes. The architects would be penalized in case of false certificates.

This indication had given some hope for the traders of some respite against the sealing operation.

The Court's main objection is against the September 7 notification which allowed mixed land use on 2,200-odd roads in the Capital.

The Court had questioned the government whether it had examined the electricity load capacity, water availability, capacity of roads to take the traffic load and sewage system in those localities before deciding to permit commercial activities.

The government had come under fire from the Court for taking an arbitrary decision to allow mixed land use in a large number of localities without taking it into confidence despite the fact that the matter is sub judice.

The Court had clarified that it had allowed small shops to continue since the real pressure on infrastructure was caused by the opening of offices of multi-national companies, call centres, big show rooms, restaurants, jewellery shops, automobile workshops, banquet halls, fashion shops etc.

Such activities could not be permitted in residential areas with narrow roads and lanes as it not only created problems for residents but adversely affected the environment of the entire city, the Court had observed.

New Delhi, September 28
The CBI today filed a second chargesheet in the Centre Point Hotel case against six persons, including a former chairperson of the NDMC, for illegal regularisation of unauthorised structure of the hotel.

The chargesheet was filed against the then NDMC Chairperson, Mr P M Singh, a 1972 batch IAS officer of the union territory cadre, former Chief Architect Tribhuwan Singh, Architect N K Sharma, Assistant Engineer Subash Chandra (all of NDMC), and purported proprietor K L Bhatia and his wife Prem Lata Bhatia, who holds general power of attorney, in the court of Special CBI Judge under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of IPC and 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI had filed the first chargesheet against Mr P M Singh and four others, including the purported proprietor of the hotel on June 30 for illegal grant of health and lodging house licence to the Centre Point Hotel at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, a CBI press note said here.

The case was registered by the CBI on July 9, 2003 against Mr Singh and the other officials of the NDMC.

During its probe, the agency claimed to have found that in 1927, a plot of 1.357 acres was originally allotted on perpetual lease to a barrister. The ownership changed a few times thereafter, and the land was last transferred in 1977 to a business family.

The premises were a residential property, but a hotel was run there since 1979 by its current owners, initially as tenants, and later as holders of general power of attorney for the property, it said.

It was found that according to the Zonal Master Plans of Delhi, the area was specifically earmarked for residential purposes. But the Bhatias allegedly raised a huge four-storey structure and applied to the NDMC for its regularisation.

NDMC sanctioned the plans for the ground floor and part of the first floor, but the plans for the entire four-storey structure were subsequently rejected. Since a guesthouse was being operated from this residential area, and as there were huge unauthorised constructions at the premises, the Urban Development Ministry ordered the cancellation of the lease.

New Delhi, September 28
Taking note of reports that some recognised public school in the NCR continue to interview children, Social Jurist, a lawyers' collective that has filed a PIL in the High Court seeking an alternate admission policy, has asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to issue directions to all affiliated schools to refrain from doing so.

"We have received complaints that some schools continue to harass children and their parents by putting them through interviews. Taking note of these complaints we have written to the CBSE Chairman to ask all schools to stop the practice," Ashok Agarwal of the Social Jurist, said.

Pointing out that the system of neighbourhood schooling will pave way for a healthier and more transparent admission process, Mr Agarwal said, "The benefits of a neighbourhood school system are many. Apart from saving small children from appearing for nerve wrecking interviews, it also leads to community participation that helps in good governance."

Seeking a complete ban on the practice of interviewing kids for admission to nursery classes in the forthcoming academic year 2007-08, Mr Agarwal has asked the CBSE Chairman to ensure that schools outside and within Delhi affiliated to the CBSE abide by the High Court's interim order.

The Delhi High Court on May 10 passed an interim order making it clear that no school shall call children or their parents for interview without permission of the Court. This order of Delhi High Court was technically not applicable to the schools outside Delhi. So, in a subsequent order dated September 4, it constituted a committee headed by Mr Ganguly to suggest an alternative admission criteria for admission of tiny tots in nursery classes by unaided private schools.

New Delhi, September 28
Amity Business School has been directed by a consumer forum here to pay Rs 1.10 lakh as compensation to a student for misleading her that its course was recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education.

“The candidate should be adequately compensated for mental agony for having spent few years in obtaining the degree which was represented to be recognised by a government authority, but later on found to be un-recognised and was useless for future prospects,” the Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission said in its order.

The order was issued on an appeal by Gunvinder Kaur Bhatia, who did a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Business Programme in Noida-based Amity, asking for the enhancement of the Rs one lakh compensation amount awarded by a District Consumer Forum.

The Bench headed by Justice J. D. Kapoor and member Rumnita Mittal said, "unfair trade practice saddles the person who makes such representation with the liability of compensating the consumer as to the loss or injury suffered by the consumer due to such misrepresentation."

The Commission, enhancing the award amount by Rs 10,000, said that in such cases it was very difficult to assess the loss on highly hypothetical basis.

As per Bhatia, she took admission in the PGDIB Programme of the Amity after being informed that it was recognised by the AICTE. Later, she found the course was not recognised.

The Forum, allowing her complaint, had asked Amity to pay the compensation and directed it to place advertisements in two national dailies that its PGDIB course was not recognised so that the other aspirants know the fact.

New Delhi, September 28
With the stalemate over the demands put forth by the students continuing, the Jawaharlal Nehru University administration has issued a fresh appeal to the striking students to call off their agitation. Through a letter signed by the Dean of Students, Mr R K Kale, the students have been urged to call off their hunger strike, which entered the seventh day today. The administration had tried to pacify the students by claiming that it has already sent its request to increase the amount meant for scholarships to the UGC and the Ministry of Social Justice for a recurring grant.

The students on their part are unrelenting. “There is no question of calling off the strike. We are going on a mass relay hunger strike tonight and there will be a major demonstration tomorrow,” Mona Das, JNUSU President, said. — TNS

Faridabad, September 28
There is a dengue threat here and in the district following reports of 84 suspected cases in various hospitals. There are nine confirmed dengue cases. Reports on a large number of suspected cases are still awaited.

A report by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Delhi, has found 22 cases to be negative. The Health Department has, meanwhile, started fogging operations. An awareness campaign has also been started here.

Though one person died recently after suffering from symptoms similar to that of dengue, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) claimed no death as a result of the disease had been reported from the district so far.

Several suspected dengue patients have arrived here from various areas. The department has stepped up its efforts to create awareness among the residents and prevent the incidence of this disease.

He said besides anti-larval measures fogging of mosquito-prone areas had been launched. Residents were being advised to clean all possible breeding spots, including water coolers and water bodies near houses.

As many as six cases have been reported from Sanjay Colony here. Certain cases have come in from Parvatiya Colony, Dabua Colony, NH-I, NH-4, NH-5, Sectors 17 and 15, Chawla Colony and a couple of villages in the district.

The Mosquito Index, which states the sensitiveness of mosquito breeding, has put Faridabad in the middle level category (6.5). The threat remains at a level which is neither too positive nor negative. The level at neighbouring Delhi and Gurgaon is much higher. It is pegged at 10 and 12, respectively, claim official sources.

The findings came in after tests were conducted by experts of the Health Department in the National Capital Region recently.

But, with Faridabad being densely populated and having a profusion of slums and unauthorised colonies, the chances of outbreak of any disease are much higher here, opines a doctor. While the number of residents reporting at various clinics and hospitals complaining of fever has gone up manifold, it is possible that many cases of suspected dengue or chikungunia, a disease which is also spread by mosquitos, may be more than the official version states, says a medical practitioner based in Sector 7 here.

He claimed that at least one case of chikungunia had come in for treatment recently from Sector 10. Though the Health Department claims to have pasted as many as 5,000 stickers and posters across the city and district so far, the department is yet to contact schools or issue directions to the school authorities about fogging and measures that need to be taken for preventing the breeding of the Aedes mosquito responsible for spreading dengue.

New Delhi, September 28
The Progressive Medicos and Scientists' Forum (PMSF) has accused the AIIMS administration of 'failing' to take action against those students who have resorted to caste-based oppression within the campus.

Blaming the Director, Dr P Venugopal, and other senior officials of perpetuating caste-based discrimination, the Forum alleged that instead of taking action against those involved, the administration chose to inform the police to prevent the pro-reservationists from holding any dharna during the lunch hours.

"We have already circulated a CD that shows some students burning the books of Dr B R Ambedkar and making obscene gestures. Instead of taking any action against those students, two of whom are still on the campus, the AIIMS spokesperson said the incident was five years old and therefore, dismissed it," Dr Vikas Bajpai, PMSF spokesperson, alleged while talking to The Tribune.

He further alleged, "When the anti-quota stir was on, there was no instruction to the police, but when we began our lunch hour dharnas, the Director wrote to the police that our demonstration was in contravention of a court order."

Dr Bajpai blaming the UPA Government for not taking action against the reports of caste-based oppression said, "By not reacting and taking action against such complaints they think, all this (caste-based discrimination) is a done thing".

Gurgaon, September 28
The Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA) project is being implemented in 22 police stations of Gurgaon, Rewari, Faridabad (Rural), Faridabad city, Mewat and Jhajjar districts of Haryana.

CIPA means storing information related to all first information reports (FIRs) lodged, details of charge sheets, progress in investigations and reasons for delay, besides information on stolen vehicles, wanted criminals, missing persons etc on computer. This can be accessed by not only all linked police stations but also the district and state headquarters.

The system, which is in the final stage of implementation, will eliminate duplicate record keeping, reduce manual maintenance of registers at police stations and develop transparency in the working of the Police Department.

It will also ensure better supervision at various levels, claimed the local Senior Superintendent of Police.

He went on to add the availability of relevant and timely information was of utmost necessity by the department, particularly while chasing professional and organised criminals. The scheme would not only ensure better follow-up and watertight scrutiny of cases but also instill confidence among the populace.

Gurgaon district has nine police stations. A stations were being linked under the first phase of CIPA, informed the SSP.

The SSP said that each police station had been provided with five computers. All day-to-day crime related activities would be uploaded on the server, which would be linked to police stations and the headquarters. All information would also be linked to the Delhi Police headquarters.

The SSP further elaborated maximum information about criminal activities originated from the police stations. All such information would be accumulated for possible sharing by other police stations and investigative agencies throughout the region.

The CIPA project in 22 identified police stations in Haryana would be operational within a couple of months as computers had been installed and the training for various police officials was being organised, added the official.

Mr Sanjay Kumar Rastogi, District Informatics Officer, Gurgaon, informed The Tribune his department has been entrusted with the task of uploading the required software and providing other technical assistance, including day-to-day supervision of the entire exercise by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

The Police Department had already started recruiting the professional information technology experts, added Mr Rastogi. 

Gurgaon, September 28
Residents of the posh Sun City are miffed over the alleged violation of environmental norms by the builder and the management and the apathy of the authorities towards finding a remedy to this. Consequently, the Sun City Residents Welfare Association has decided to move court on the issue.

The president of the association, Mr Abhey Poonia, said as per a gazette notification by the Union Ministry of Environment (2004), a builder has to get the clearance on the environmental front for a construction project costing more than Rs 50 crore and meant for more than 1,500 residences.

The notification says, "New construction projects which were undertaken without obtaining the clearance required under the notification and where construction work had not come up to the plinth level shall require clearance under the notification with effect from the 7th day of July, 2004."

The controversy pertains to Sun City Heights-II being set up by the Sun City management on more than six acres of land on the sprawling campus of the Sun City colony.

The association's viewpoint is that although the notification was published in 2004 a public hearing was held on August 19 this year when 70 per cent of the construction work on the project had already been completed. The public hearing was held under the chairmanship of Dr A. K. Mehta, Deputy Director (Enivronmental Engineer) of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board. The hearing was attended by Mr Ajay Malik, City Magistrate, Gurgaon, and other officers, including the District Industrial Officer.

The association has alleged persons who were not residents of Sun City took part in the public hearing. According to it, the public hearing was "stage-managed" by the builder-management. Hence, the exercise failed to serve the purpose it was meant for. The association has already registered its objection to the public hearing with the Haryana State Pollution Control Board on August 25. However, there is a feeling among association members that the issue should also be taken up in the court.

The Regional Officer, Gurgaon, Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Dr C. V. Singh, said his office has received the objection from the association. 

New Delhi, September 28
The 59th Annual Nirankari Sant Samagam is scheduled to be held here from November 11 to 13.

A co-ordination meeting of the Samagam Committee members and the representatives of the Delhi Government and the allied agencies was held here today in this connection. Dr A. K. Walia, Minister of Finance, Planning, Urban Development and PWD, presided over the meeting, while the Samagam Committee was represented by its chairman Mr Gobind Singh, convener Mr K R Chadha and other members. — TNS

New Delhi, September 28
An 18-year-old girl allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the third floor of Rohini court complex in west Delhi today after a court rejected her plea to be united with the man she claimed to have married.

Mamta Devi, a resident of Mangolpuri area in North-West Delhi, jumped from the third floor of the complex after the Additional Sessions Judge directed her to go with her parents and rejected the anticipatory bail application of Lal Babu, whom she claimed to have married.

The girl's father had lodged a complaint with the Mangolpuri police station on September 25, alleging that Lal Babu, who lived in the same locality, was enticing his daughter. Mamta claimed that she had married Lal Babu on September 5 in an Arya Samaj temple. — OC

New Delhi, September 28
The Anti Land and Building Racket Section of Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police today arrested a builder Pawan Kumar Gupta (58) on charges of cheating the buyers of Hoover Apartments, Burari. Gupta, a retired district commander of Delhi Home Guard, had sold the flats of the apartment ranging from Rs 11 lakh to 51 lakh.

He had allegedly sold the flats without paying outstanding dues of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) worth Rs 24 lakh. Apart from this, the property was also booked by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for unauthorised construction for constructing extra floors without the approval of the Town Planner, MCD.

The complex was also built on extended Lal Dora land.

Interestingly, the builder did not put these facts regarding the complex to the notice of the buyers at the time of selling these flats.

On a complaint filed by Dr Nisha Bala and 22 other occupants of the complex, mostly teachers of the Delhi University, the accused was arrested.