New Delhi, October 25
A delegation of Congress leaders, led by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee Chief, Mr Ram Babu Sharma, today submitted a memorandum to the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee to stop the MCD’s sealing drive, which would resume from November 1, till the implementation of new Master Plan.

The delegation members, who included the local MPs Mr Jagdish Tytler, Mr Sajjan Kumar and Mr Krishna Tirath, claimed that they were assured by the monitoring committee member Mr Bhure Lal that the court panel would exercise “authority with compassion” while looking into the issue.

Mr Sharma said, “We have requested the monitoring committee that no shop or trading establishment in the Capital be sealed till the Master Plan for Delhi 2021 is implemented. We discussed the issue with the committee member for 35 minutes.”

He claimed that Mr Lal took serious note of the ‘request’ of the delegation and assured that every possible effort would be made to tackle the problems being faced by the traders as a consequence of the sealing drive.

Mr Sharma claimed that with the implementation of 2021 Delhi Master Plan, about 90 per cent of the traders would get benefit.

He also demanded inclusion of all the notified streets by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in 2021 Master Plan.

The government should make a provision in the Master Plan to create a Special Zone for banned industries in the national Capital.

He said that Delhi Congress also asked the committee that the 41,000 traders, who have submitted affidavits to the court for voluntary closure of their shops, be allowed to carry on with their commercial activities and the streets notified by the MCD for conducting commercial activities be exempted till the new Master Plan comes into being.

“We were given the assurance that the committee will exercise authority with compassion and put forth our appeal before the Supreme Court,” Mr Tytler said.

“We told the panel that the traders who have submitted affidavits should not be punished for obeying the court’s directions,” he said. 

New Delhi, October 25
The Public Works Department (PWD) of Delhi Government has chalked out an ambitious action plan to upgrade the PWD roads to match the world-class ones within three years.

Delhi Urban Development and PWD Minister, Dr A. K. Walia, today disclosed details of the action plan, which would be implemented in time-bound manner. The plan includes widening, strengthening, resurfacing and street-lighting of the PWD roads, apart from comprehensive beautification, setting up of public utilities and signages on the Commonwealth Games Route Roads.

The government has estimated an investment of Rs 1,432 crore to complete the project.

Dr Walia further said that 1,343 kilometer lane length of the PWD roads would be taken up for strengthening and resurfacing at an estimated cost of Rs 379 crore. About 505 km lane length would be upgraded in 2007-08; 484 km in 2008-09 and 352 km in 2009-10.

All the important roads, including Ring Road or Outer Ring Road or National Highway and Commonwealth Games Routes, would be upgraded using polymer modified bitumen, whereas the resurfacing would be done with Hot-in-place recycling technology. About 171 kilometer lane length of the roads would be taken up for widening at an estimated cost of Rs 283 crore. Besides, 80 kilometer length would be taken up in 2007-08, 58 km in 2008-09 and 33 km in 2009-10.

The Minister expressed confidence that this would go a long way in contributing a smooth flow of traffic.

He said that modern street-lighting would be done on 200 km length of PWD roads out of the total length of 375 km. The Transport Department would take up work of street-lighting on 95 km road length of HCBS corridors.

Dr Walia disclosed that the entire street-lighting would be of international standards and uniform that would present a picture of a modern and planned city. The street-lighting of 40 km length would be taken up in 2006-07; 100 km in 2007-08 and 60 km in 2008-09.

Apart from this, Rs 750 crore would also be spent on beautification, setting up of public utilities, installing street furniture and signages etc on all the routes of the Commonwealth Games 2010.

New Delhi, October 25
Dengue has claimed one more life in the national Capital, taking the death toll to 51, even as the total number of the reported cases of the viral disease stood at 2,216.

Thirteen-year-old Asish, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Kashkanj area, died of dengue early today at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He was admitted to the hospital on October 16 with dengue symptoms. The MCD officials said during the past 24 hours, 43 fresh cases were reported as against the yesterday’s 60.

The officials said the disease, caused by the bite of Aedes mosquitoes, is on the decline in the Capital due to a fall in temperature that is not conducive for the breeding of mosquitoes.

The MCD Health Officer said the fresh cases being reported also included some cases admitted to hospitals over the weekend and Monday. “On account of holidays, some cases were reported late to us. But the numbers are definitely coming down,” he added.

At AIIMS, 43 patients were admitted to the dengue ward and 27 were discharged in the past 24 hours.

The total number of dengue patients in the hospital is 184. Another 30 patients are under observation at the institute.

The AIIMS Medical Superintendent said some cases were not reported over the weekend and they have been admitted in the hospital now.

“Now, as the weather has changed, the dengue cases are on the decline. Within the next week or ten days, the disease is likely to subside fully,” he added.

The hospital also plans to withdraw its dengue contingency plan and would start admitting the patients inflicted with other diseases, besides dengue and emergency.

Noida, October 25
For the first time in past 20 days, no fresh case of dengue was admitted to any hospital or private clinic in Noida.

While the total number of dengue patients in Noida, according to CMO office, stands at 91, the private hospitals put this number at 1000. But now viral and malaria fevers pose a threat to the residents in the town.

Increasing number of patients with sore throats, sneezing, flowing nose, light temperature and body pains are trooping into hospitals.

Changing weather and lack of sanitation are the main causes of this malaise. Doctor’s advice: Abstain from cold drinks and eatables. Use of mosquito nets is advised.

The symptoms of malaria are shivering, high fever, tiredness, body aches, bad odour from mouth, etc.

According to CMO, continuing decrease in temperature has led to fall in the number of dengue patients, but the incidents of viral and malarial fever are on the increase.

According to Dr Lokesh Kumar, emergency doctor of district hospital, incidence of viral and malaria fever has increased due to the onset of winter.

Bulandshahr, October 25
A dengue afflicted child died in Rabupura two days ago while one youth was admitted to a Delhi hospital.

The five-year-old Qayum, son of Akeel Khan of Mohalla Rang Rezan in Rabupura, was being treated in a private hospital. He was referred to a Bulandshahr hospital last week where he died.

Pawan Garg, son of a trader Prem Chand Garg, was also suffering from dengue. He was rushed to a Delhi hospital.

To cap it, a large number of people are down with fever.

The citizens have in a letter requested the District Magistrate to organize a medical check-up camp to examine people’s health.

Noida, October 25
Five polio cases have been detected recently in Gautam Budh Nagar, one after the other, but there appears to be little realization in the district administration about the gravity of the situation. No concrete plan seems to have been drawn to combat the scourge.

Meetings and discussions for the next pulse polio campaign have started right now, but they achieve little.

Gautam Budh Nagar which was till three months earlier a polio-free district has got five cases of the disease now.

According to the District Polio Prevention Officer, Dr AK Dhawan, vaccinations have been given in all the villages where the polio cases have been reported. But whether a disease like polio can be stemmed with mere vaccination. That is a moot question.

The District Magistrate has started holding meetings for the next pulse polio campaign starting from November 12. Police force is also busy in the publicity of polio vaccination.

The five polio cases which have been detected cover the children who had been regularly administered pulse polio drops in the previous campaigns. The worrying part is that the report of another 27 suspected polio cases is still awaited from the WHO lab in Mumbai.

The virus has exposed the lacuna in the pulse polio system. 

New Delhi, October 25
The Leader of Opposition in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Mr Subhash Arya, today accused the Delhi Government of ‘failing miserably’ to provide adequate arrangements for Chhath Puja on various Yamuna ‘ghats’ in the Capital.

He also alleged that the government failed to request Haryana to release water in the Yamuna ahead of the festival.

He said that about 40 lakh people from Bihar and other north-east states would celebrate the festival in the Capital.

The devotees would offer ‘puja’ in the Yamuna water at sunrise and sunset, but the sanitary conditions on the banks are very poor and no cleaning steps had been taken by the government, he alleged.

He also demanded that facilities of drinking water and electricity be also made available on the banks for the devotees. 

New Delhi, October 25
Delhi Pradesh Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has announced that it would protest outside the Legislative Assembly on October 30, the first day of winter session of the Assembly demanding the resignation of chief minister Ms Sheila Dikshit.

The party alleged that Ms Dikshit had “completely failed to provide relief to the traders and the public of Delhi”.

According to party leaders, at a meeting in the Capital, the BJP leadership agreed to seek Ms Diskhit’s resignation because “despite the assurances, notifications etc, the Delhi Government has not been able to provide relief from sealing and demolitions to the traders of the Capital.

Now the Group of Ministers and the Delhi Government have clearly refused to intervene in this case.”

The party alleged that owing to the government’s failure to protect the rights of traders, the fate of more than 50 lakh people hangs in balance.

It was decided that all the senior leaders, former MPs, office-bearers, legislators, councillors, district presidents, morcha and cell office-bearers and workers shall assemble at Master Chandagi Ram Akhara on October 30 and proceed to gherao the Legislative Assembly to seek an immediate relief from sealing and demolitions.

New Delhi, October 25
Traders in the Capital will observe a 72-hour bandh starting from October 30 to protest against the MCD’s sealing drive.

Making the announcement today, general secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Mr Praveen Khandelwal, said that if the government failed to take any decision to provide relief to them during the bandh period, the traders might go on an indefinite strike.

The decision to go on strike comes as the Supreme Court-ordered sealing drive against trading activities in residential areas is set to resume from November one.

The traders will also gherao the Delhi Assembly on the opening day of its winter session. 

Faridabad, October 25
The Haryana Government has, at last, taken action against some schools violating various norms and regulations. The Commissioner-Cum-Director-General, School Education, Haryana, has withdrawn the recognition granted to at least three leading public schools here with effect from the next academic session.

This was done in response to a writ petition filed by the Faridabad Abhibhawak Manch in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1997. The court had directed the Education Department to take appropriate action against schools found violating the guidelines regarding fee along with other issues raised by the manch in the PIL within a set time period.

According to the order issued by the office of the Director-General, School Education, dated October 23, 2006, the schools mentioned in the PIL were asked to furnish details regarding the fee and funds charged during the past five years. Most of the schools failed to supply the required information, though they were given an opportunity for personal hearing, with a copy of the representation of the manch, as requested by the schools.

Another opportunity was given to the offending schools on June 17, 2006, but no one from the schools turned up. This led to an inspection team being deputed to ascertain the facts from the schools records.

An inspection team headed by the Additional Director visited the schools on October 18 and 19 to take stock of the ground reality, but many of the schools flatly refused to show the records. They were served a show-cause notice.

Derecognising three schools was the last resort under the provisions of the Haryana Schools Education Rules, 2003. These schools include APJ Senior Secondary School, Sector 15, Modern Vidya Niketan School, Sector 17, and Modern School, Sector 17. The derecognition will be applicable from April 1 next year.

According to Rule 187 of the Haryana School Education Rules, 2003, the Director, Education, was competent to authorise any officer(s) for inspection of all or any of the functions and activities of a recognised school with the school authorities allowing the inspection as demanded.

The recognition of a school may be withdrawn or suspended after reasonable opportunity was given against the proposed action against the school if it failed to fulfil any requirement of the Act or any of condition of the Rules. The manch had alleged in its petition a majority of the CBSE affiliated schools in the city were violating the norms laid down by the government or the authority which had allotted them land on certain conditions.

A copy of the government’s orders has been sent to the CBSE.

New Delhi, October 25
Having been at the vanguard of the anti-quota stir, the Youth for Equality (YFE) wants to amend the perception that it stands opposed to reservation. Gearing up to fight their first campus election at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the YFE says its election agenda is not “reservation”, but “national integration”.

“We want to make it clear that we are not fighting the election on the anti-reservation issue because it is not reservation that we are opposed to, but its implementation. We are against the fact that those who do not merit quotas are the ones getting it,” said Saroj Rath, a core group member of the YFE.

“We are pained at seeing that owing to this flawed reservation policy our friends who should have seats reserved for them are the ones, who are left out. Besides, we are affected by the bitterness that has crept into relationships between the reserved category students and the rest of us. We no longer interact as we did in the past,” Rath, a Ph.D. scholar asserts.

With the YFE having made public its wish to contest the varsity’s student union election scheduled for November 9, speculation was rife that the campus will be divided on caste lines.

And it is this perception that the YFE wants to change. “YFE wants to take its message across to all university campuses and schools in the country that there is a need for national integration. We are talking of harmony from the JNU campus and are hopeful that it will percolate outside the varsity as well,” he added.

Asserting that the YFE has “a strong support base” in the campus, which is considered a Left stronghold, the members claim, “Most of the members of the YFE are people who think alike on the reservation issue and have broken away from groups like AISA, SFI and ABVP.”

Counting the Science Schools, School of Social Sciences and the School of Languages as “their stronghold”, the YFE members are confident of making a “dent into the vote bank of the rest of the parties”.

“We are focussing on national issues like terrorism and on the fact that political parties are shying away from their responsibilities. We (India) have just appointed a new Foreign Minister when so much is happening on the international front, this issue also needs to be highlighted,” said the core group members.

They also brush aside apprehension that finding its feet in a campus that has a tradition of supporting the red brigade will be an arduous task. “Our voice is being heard, which is why we have people from various groups joining us,” Rath claimed. 

New Delhi, October 25
Courts can charge the husband and his family members with abetment to suicide if a married woman dies within seven years of marriage, the Delhi High Court has held.

The court directed the police to register a case under Section 306 of the IPC (abetment to suicide) against the accused Ashok, husband of one Geeta who committed suicide by hanging herself on April 30, 2000, following a revision petition filed by the police challenging a lower court order discharging the accused from dowry death offence under Section 304 B.

According to the prosecution, cases under Sections 498 A (harassment), 34 (common intention) and 304 B (dowry death) were registered against Ashok and his family members after the former’s wife Geeta committed suicide.

The Additional Sessions Judge while charging the accused with committing the offence under 498 A, discharged them for the offence under Section 304 B (dowry death) on the ground of insufficient evidence, following which the prosecution moved a revision application before the High Court.

However, the court said that the Sessions judge erred in not considering framing of charges under Section 306 in view of the stipulation under Section 113 A of the Indian Evidence Act (IEA).

Under the said section, courts can raise a “presumption” of abetment of suicide by a married woman if the death occurs within a period of seven years from the date of marriage, or if husband or relatives subjected her to cruelty, compelling her to commit suicide.— PTI 

Gurgaon, October 25
A goods train proceeding towards the New Delhi railway station from Rewari developed a snag on the way. It was stranded for about two hours between Garhi Harsaru village and Dhankot on the outskirts of the Gurgaon railway station.

As the Rewari-Delhi sector is broad gauge and of single line, the schedule of other trains got disrupted.

Another engine was summoned by the railway authorities from the Capital for the resumption of service of the goods train.

The schedule of the Mandora Express coming from Jodhpur to New Delhi, the 6 RD passenger train from Rewari to New Delhi, the Kalindi Express from New Delhi to Rewari and the Inter-City Express from Ajmer to New Delhi was disrupted as a result of the snag.

Faridabad, October 25
A teenager was allegedly raped by a property dealer in Tilpat Nagar here.

Dharampal, a resident of Sangam Vicar, had borrowed Rs 1.5 lakh from the victim’s mother a few months ago.

The girl’s mother was not at home when the crime was committed. The accused allegedly took the girl to a secluded place near her house and raped her. An FIR was lodged with NIT police station yesterday and the search was on to nab the accused, the police said. — UNI

Greater Noida, October 25
A notorious criminal of Bawariya tribe was shot dead by Dadri police on NTPC Road in an encounter.

Other gangsters managed to escape. This gangster Charan Singh Bawariya had been active in Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttaranchal besides UP. He was wanted in about two dozen cases of murder, dacoity and loot in various police stations in these states.

The SP (Rural) said police had received a tip-off that some dreaded criminals were planning to commit a crime near NTPC Road along the railway line. Sub-Inspector V.P Singh with three constables was sent to arrest the criminals.

Finding themselves encircled by the police party, criminals started firing. In retaliatory fire by the policemen, one of the gangsters was wounded while others slipped away. He was rushed to a hospital where he died sometime later.

A pistol and a large quantity of cartridges were recovered from the criminal.

He identified himself as Charan Singh Bawariya, resident of Muzzafarnagar.

The SP Rural said Charan Singh was a dreaded criminal against whom five cases of murder, loot and dacoity were registered in Jhinjhinyan police station in Muzzafarnagar. Police were on the look-out for Charan Singh Bawariya for a long time.

He was wanted in at least for 18 cases of murder, loot and dacoity in various police stations like Delhi, Saharanpur, Loni, Ghaziabad, Mussori, Baraut, Bagpat, Narula, Kotwali Saharanpur, Dadri, besides Punjab, Uttaranchal and Rajasthan.

New Delhi, October 25
With the arrest of three persons, the police today claimed to have busted a gang of inter-state gangsters. The gang was allegedly involved in over 22 cases of murder, attempt to murder and extortion.

Acting on a tip-off, the police nabbed the three gang members - Rajesh Singh, Ranjeet Singh and Sanjay Zutsi - from Punjabi Bagh Extension and Sarai Kale Khan. Three pistols and nine live cartridges were allegedly recovered from their possession.

Sanjay Zutshi is a post-graduate, while his two other accomplices are graduates, the police said. 

New Delhi, October 25
In an ongoing drive against gambling on the ongoing Champions Trophy cricket matches, the police today claimed to have arrested five persons for betting on the yesterday’s Sri Lanka vs South Africa match.

While three persons were arrested on betting charges from East Patel Nagar, two others were nabbed from West Delhi’s Ramesh Nagar.

The accused were indulging in the betting to the tune of Rs six lakh.

Cases under the Gambling Act were registered against the accused.

The police also recovered a TV set, recording machine, mobile phones and calculators from their possession.

New Delhi, October 25
The interstate cell of the Delhi Police’s crime branch today claimed to have busted a gang of notorious criminals and arrested six of its members Sudesh Hans, Manoj Thakran,Vijaypal, Karamvir Thakran, Surender and Deepak Kumar from Kanjhawala area. Six sophisticate revolvers and bullets in large numbers were allegedly recovered from their possession.

Following a tip-off, the six criminals riding on two motorcycles were nabbed by the police.

The gang was allegedly involved in a murder case of a Rajasthan Police constable at Jaipur and was wanted by both the Haryana Police and Rajasthan Police. The Rajasthan Police had announced a reward of Rs 50,000 on Sudesh and Rs 25,000 each on his other accomplices. — OC