New Delhi, February 2
The Supreme Court today declined to extend the date for filing of affidavits by traders running their shops in he Capital’s residential areas for shifting them away but said it would like to go into the material that formed the basis of the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD), 2021.

The court made it clear it would consider any matter pertaining to the sealing of shops only after the MPD had been notified.

The Centre and MCD have filed applications, seeking modification of the apex court orders on sealing of illegal shops in residential colonies on the ground that the MPD, to be notified soon, proposes to regularise such business ventures. Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy had indicated the MPD would be notified by February 7.

The January 31 deadline had been fixed by the court for filing of the affidavits by those traders whose ventures did not fall in the 23 permitted categories. The government and MCD had sought to extend the date further.

Hearing the matter for the first time, a new Bench of Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Jutice S. H. Kapdia declined to pass any interim order regarding extending the date for filing the affidavits further.

But it said that before considering this aspect the court would like to look into the material forming the basis for arriving at the conclusion in the MPD that mixed land use plan should be permitted in residential areas.

In view of this, the court asked the government to place on record the relevant material before it, including the background papers and any other documents taken into consideration by the Centre to formulate the MPD.

While fixing the next hearing on February 20, the court indicated the MPD was open to challenge if any one had any objection to it.

It further directed advocate Ranjit Kumar, who is the court appointed amicus curiae in the case, to examine the MPD once it was notified by the government and give his views on it before the next hearing.

Solicitor-General G. E. Vahanvati told the court the government had taken care of the interests of all concerned citizens living in Delhi while formulating the MPD, 2021 and in the process had consulted several experts and town planners.

The earlier Bench, headed by former Chief Justice Y. K. Sabharwal, which had taken a tough stand on sealing of illegal shops, had permitted 23 trades, mainly those by small shop owners to continue in residential areas after the government had notified 2186 roads and streets to bring them under the mixed land use plan.

But the court had made it clear the owners of big ventures would have to shift away as their continuation was choking the civic amenities and creating pollution.

New Delhi, February 2
At a meeting with RWAs, the New Delhi People’s Alliance (NDPL) and eminent citizens, Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy agreed the current Master Plan was not the solution to all problems, saying that the document being produced “under pressure” would be subject to public scrutiny and revisions to the plan would be undertaken consequent to public participation. “The Plan is not cast in stone”, he said.

“It is open to criticism, suggestion and amendment. We are also trying to ensure that it is reviewed every five years so that ground realities and changes are taken in to account”, he added.

The delegation of eminent citizens was led by senior journalist Kuldip Nayyar. They met the Union Minister today to outline their concerns over the proposed Master Plan of Delhi (MPD 2021) due to be notified in the next few days.

Putting his views before the minister, Mr Kuldip Nayar said, “It did not take into account the sustainability of the city while pushing its provisions through.”

Mr Kuldip Singh, senior town planner, who was part of the NDPA delegation, argued, “Its top-down approach disregards the areawise ground-level participation of citizens for whom it is being fashioned and lacks the comprehensive vision that takes care of all sections of society while looking at the city as a whole.”

The NDPA outlined a specific proposal that traders and RWAs, professional and environmental bodies on its platform had all agreed to the setting up of an institutionalised hearings process for three to six months and the preparation of a professional plan.

“All citizens’ bodies and local area groups should be given a chance to come to these hearings at the end of which a special working group of private and public planners should come together to prepare a time-bound document that takes city realities into account and also delivers a truly viable city with a vision,” said Ms Alpana Kishore, coordinator, NDPA. The minister agreed to consider this suggestion favourably. Specifically on commercialisation, Mr Atul Goyal, representing URJA, the largest group of RWAs, said, “Traders are willing to shift out of residential establishments if proper legal commercial space is provided to them. If the Plan gives time to the development of this space already marked out in the DDA’s own plans, there is no need to declare wholesale roads commercial.” Mr Jaipal Reddy agreed developing legal commercial space was the need of the hour and reiterated “the Plan is not sacrosanct. It can be amended if needed,” a spokesman of the RWA said.

New Delhi, February 2
There will be no sealing of business establishments on 2,183 roads notified for commercial and mixed land use in the Capital till February 20, the next date of hearing of the matter in the Supreme Court.

There would be no sealing on the 2,183 roads till further court orders, a spokesman of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said.

Of the three lakh traders who had to file affidavits before the apex court by January 31, 1.35 lakh have submitted undertakings to abide by the court order on the status of the notifications allowing commercial and mixed land use on 2,183 roads.

The Supreme Court today refused to extend the deadline of January 31 for filing of affidavits by the traders using residential premises for commercial purposes and posted the matter for further hearing on February 20.

The sealing on non-notified roads and posh A and B category colonies would, however, continue, the spokesman said.

New Delhi, February 2
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today announced the government would give Rs 1 lakh as financial help to building owners for setting up a water harvesting system. Besides, technical information would also be provided to them. She made this announcement at a function organised by the Delhi Jal Board to give the Chief Minister’s Best Harvester Award. The awards were distributed by the Chief Minister.

She said earlier the government used to give Rs 50,000 but it had increased the amount to Rs 1 lakh to encourage the building owners to join the water harvesting scheme launched by the Delhi Government to increase the ground water level. Rainwater went waste as it went to the river through drains. If it was harvested, it would be for the benefit of citizens, she said.

Jamia Hamdard University got the first prize of Rs 2 lakh in the institutional category for implementing rainwater harvesting system on the campus. The The Vice-Chancellor, Mr Syed Ahmed, received the award. The second prize was given to Janki Devi Memorial College of Rs 1 lakh. In the individual category, Mr Baljeet Singh Tyagi was given the prize of Rs 1 lakh for implementing water harvesting system in his farmhouse at Rewala village in the Najafgarh area. Ms Ruchi Sunghal got the second prize of Rs 50, 000 for implementing the system in her residence in Saket.

Apart from this, a special award of Rs 1 lakh was given to Madhu Bhatnagar for her initiative and efforts in getting rain water harvesting system in Sri Ram Group of School at Vasant Vihar. She had also got implemented a kitchen waste water recycling unit. She took an initiative as an individual and did commendable works at the institutional infrastructure available to her. Four others got a special commendation of Rs 25,000 for each.

New Delhi, February 2
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi today sealed the bank accounts of the Delhi Jal Board as property tax amounting to Rs 140 crore was pending against it since long. The Corporation Bank account of the Delhi Jal Board in the Karol Bagh branch was sealed leading to the recovery of Rs 19.6 crore. The Syndicate Bank account of the board in Jhandewalan was sealed leading to the recovery of Rs 12 crore.

The MCD had not sealed the salary and GPF accounts of officers and employees of the DJB, a spokesman of the civic body said.

New Delhi, February 2
A city court today convicted three Delhi Police constables in a 10-year-old custodial death case.

Additional Sessions Judge S. P. Garg held Constables Ramesh Hooda, Rajbeer and Bachu guilty of causing the death of Indaal at the Mehrauli police station where he was beaten after his arrest in 1996.

Victim Indaal, who on January 3, 1996, was allegedly caught red -handed while stealing a car stereo in the area, died after receiving blows in the
lock-up. 

Faridabad, February 2
The 21st Surajkund Craft Mela, which got off with a remarkable start with the arrival of the UPA Chairperson and Congress party President Ms Sonia Gandhi who inaugurated it yesterday, has triggered a new row. While the invitation to Ms Gandhi to inaugurate the event as chief guest left many in political circles amazed, the advertisements which were appeared in many newspapers before and after the Congress chief’s visit have now become a focus point for debate.

Interestingly, no invitation cards were printed and distributed this time, and it seems the organisers were more concerned about giving advertisements to welcome the Chief Guest.

“This year, welcoming Ms Gandhi at the inauguration was the main focus of the event, as every body appeared to be in race to please the high command,” commented an official. He admitted that the arrival of the UPA chief had made the state government and the district administration work overtime and the tension got released after the programme passed off in a proper and smooth manner.

“There were perhaps several things and jobs, which remained ignored or were overshadowed in the wake of the development and the state government had to throw its full energy to make it a success,” he said.

“The inability of the organisers to get invitation cards printed and distributed had perhaps the above reason behind it and the sudden decision of the VVIP to make the visit put the authorities in a confusion,” stated another official connected with the fair.

While some from political circle consider the publishing of advertisements as normal, many others do not hesitate to describe it as an overdose of the move to flatter the Congress leader and the intention to take the entire credit for the event.

Many say that it was not a personal achievement and the advertisements had been just a wastage of money, which could have been invested towards a social cause.

The Congress leader’s visit may have served political benefits to some, but the security blanket that was thrown by the SPG on the occasion had also left the aspirations of several politicians who wanted to meet Ms Gandhi shattered.

While the plan of a local Congress MP to welcome the Congress chief with a group of women got torpedoed, some of the local VIPs and their kin could not get to the venue just because their names were not in the list of the persons allowed by the SPG to enter the venue.

Hundreds of policemen supported by the CID personnel cordoned off the Surajkund area since the morning and erected barricades at many places to stop the entry of private vehicles.

Personal checking frisking was done by the security staff at different spots and even the media persons were not allowed to move from one place to another during the function.

Noida, February 2
Four officials of Kesarwani Cooperative Housing Society, including the ex-president of the Kesar Garden Appartments management society, have been booked in a fraud and cheating case.

One Harish Kumar, a resident of D-302, sector 48, lodged a complaint with the police station sector 39 Noida against the four officials for allegedly committing Rs 10 crore fraud and tempering with the record of Kesar Garden Housing Cooperative.

It has been alleged that the ex-president of the Maheshwari Cooperative Housing Society, U D Kesarwani, along with Rajesh Jain, Prem Kesarwani, and Arun Kumar had fraudulently withdrawn Rs 10 crore from the bank account of Kesarwani Cooperative Housing society even after they had been removed as presidents and members of the society.

Despite this, they had withdrawn the amount from the society’s bank account, destroyed the record and tempered with the documents, the complainant alleged.

Earlier, funds to the tune of crores of rupees were allegedly collected by the accused from the member-allottees but the same were never deposited with the Noida Authority. The Noida Authority had filed a case against the office-bearers of the coop housing society that subsequently landed U D Kesarwani in jail.

New Delhi, February 2
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today inaugurated a two-day annual Bhagidari Utsav at Pragati Maidan by releasing colourful balloons. There were well-decorated halls, stalls, a number of stages and a Stree Shakti Republic Day Tableau. With thousands of participants and spectators, Bhagidari Utsav became a large jan utsav within a few minutes of the arrival of the Chief Minister. She was welcomed by enthusiastic women of the Stree Shakti group, schoolchildren and drum-beaters.

The Chief Minister watched a few stage performances by Sahitya Kala Parishad, the Song and Drama Division, Punjabi Akademi and Urdu Akademi. She was much impressed by the Satyagrah exhibition and a musical presentation in the exhibition. She later visited the special Stree Shakti camp organised at Pragati Maidan where a free health camp had been organised. A number of activities relating to empowerment of women were also effectively displayed.

She presented cheques of Rs 5,000 to five women under the Girl Child Protection Scheme. The Delhi Government is providing financial assistance for long-term fixed deposits in the name of a newborn girl child for a period of 18 years. The scheme aims to provide protection to the girl child to enhance her social status and economically empower the women and the girl child. She also presented cheques of Rs 20,000 each to 10 poor widows as financial assistance for the marriage of their daughters.

A separate comprehensive healthcare camp for the senior citizens has also been organised.

The Chief Minister visited stalls put up by different departments, government agencies, the NDMC, the MCD, the Delhi Police, the Delhi Fire Service, the Disaster Management Authority, the Delhi Jal Board, the DDA, nine revenue districts, Bhagidari Cell etc. The stalls, while showcasing their achievements, are also focussing on their citizen charters, policies and future plans.

The stalls of Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) are showcasing the aspects of various public dealing activities whereas the DTTDC is showcasing Delhi Greenways Project and a model of Mini-India Park.

The Urban Development Department one focuses on Action Plan for City Development and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM). The Environment and Forest Department concentrated on its afforestation plan and greening of vacant land along the drains whereas Education Department disseminated linkage between the MCD and government schools, increase in total enrolments, addition of more classrooms and plans to minimise dropouts. The Transport Department was displaying modes of transport during Commonwealth Games 2010, information on new Metro routes whereas the PWD was highlighting its new projects. The Health Department displayed deployment of CAT ambulances and provided information on the utilisation of CAT.

The Delhi Commission for Women highlighted its efforts relating to legal awareness and abolition of domestic violence. The Labour Department forcefully conveyed the message of abolition of child labour. The Delhi Police displayed details of the FIR filing system, plasma TV showing traffic control and management during Commonwealth Games, self-defence techniques, special schemes for children, women and senior citizens. The MCD showcased the performance of its Citizen Service Bureaus whereas the NDMC showcased its 14 new projects.

A colourful cultural extravaganza enthralled the people. The Sahitya Kala Parishad presented folk dances of India whereas Punjabi songs by Ashok Masti were appreciated by the audience. A “Hasya Kavi Sammelan” by Hindi Akademi and a qawwali competition by Urdu Akademi were also organised. 

Gurgaon, February 2
The local Digambar Jain Community today announced a reward of Rs one lakh for giving information that could help in recovering the ten Jain idols, which were stolen recently from Digambar Jain Mandir.

Ten precious Jain idols, all made of astdhatu (eight metal), were stolen on the night of 26-27 January, after breaking four locks from Digambar Jain Mandir, situated in main Sadar Bazaar, in the heart of the city.

Mr Devender Jain, general secretary of local Digambar Jain Samaj (community) informed that the award money would be paid by the Jain community to any person (individual, government employee or police personnel or group of persons) whose information would help the police recover stolen idols.

Mr Jain further added that if the informer/s does not want to disclose his name, the award money would be paid to him and his name would not be made public.

Mr Pushpi Chand Jain, vice-president of the community, said that five persons were sitting on relay hunger strike daily outside the Mahavir Park Jain Mandir in protest against the theft and for making pressure on the police department to recover the stolen idols on priority basis. He added that the relay hunger strike would continue till the recovery of idols.

A delegation of Jain community today met Inspector General of Police, Gurgaon Range, Mr Mohinder Lal who assured the delegation that the police were doing their best to recover the stolen idols. He lamented that no clue had been identified to trace the idols even after six days of the incident.

However, on the request of the Jain community, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has ordered to hand over the case to the newly-constituted State Crime Investigation agency. 

New Delhi, February 2
Cool north-westerly winds caused a slight drop in temperatures in the Capital and adjoining areas which woke up to a misty morning.

According to the Met Office, the mercury dipped by over three degree with the minimum temperature in the Capital staying at 9.5 degree that was normal for this time of the season. There was shallow fog in the morning which dissipated as the sun began its ascent in the eastern skies.

The weatherman said the fall in temperature was a normal phenomenon caused by the north-westerly winds.

He said there was a possibility of rain or snow in the northern plains which could lead to a drop in temperatures. The maximum temperature yesterday was 26.1 degree Celsius, four degree above normal.

New Delhi, February 2
In the backdrop of the Nithari incidents, the Amity Institute of Behavioural Health and Allied Sciences along with the Prayas Institute of Juvenile Justice organised a seminar-cum-panel discussion on “Children as Victims of Crime, Psycho-Social and Forensic Perspectives” on the Amity University campus in Noida.

The objective of the seminar was to highlight and discuss various issues related to Nature, the course and causes of criminality perpetrated on children, the role of behavioural and social scientists and forensic experts in detecting crime and criminals, the role of the media and the public sensitivity required by them to treat such stories of crime, the attitude of the police and community towards children and their role in prevention and treatment of such cases and the role of public and private institutions that existed to protect children from abuse, harm and trauma.

Inaugurating the workshop, Mr P. C. Sharma, IPS, Member, NHRC, and chief guest, said, “The issue of children as victims of crime is one that is both sensitive and that which needs considerable attention. Violence against children encompasses deliberate behaviour by people that causes physical and psychological harm. It includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, medical abuse and exploitation of varied kinds such as sexual slavery, pornography, sex tourism and child labour”.

The phenomenon of violence against children is also the result of parental inadequacies or illness, or situations peculiar to families or cultural or environmental factors such as poverty. When parents turn pimps and traffickers, the children become most vulnerable.

Expressing his view, he said crime committed against disabled children, physically, mentally or visually impaired ones was the worst form of crime. It was important to empower children to withstand the onslaught on their human rights which could be achieved by raising the level of awareness in society and providing education to every child, he added.

Mr Amod K. Kanth, IPS, Founder General Secretary, Prayas Institute of Juvenile Justice, speaking on the objectives of his organisation, said, “Juvenile justice has been one of the core areas of intervention ever since the beginning of Prayas, both at the programme and the policy level. Besides the role of the police who are the prime movers of the juvenile justice system, Prayas has closely interacted with the juvenile welfare boards, juvenile welfare courts and others. It has always been an effort to save and protect the future of India, our children, but there is a need to sensitize and create awareness amongst not just the protectors of society but civilians as well. There is apathy towards crime. Therefore, the police need to be more conscious, ” he opined.

Mr N. K. Shinghal, Former DG (Police) and Chairman, Prayas Observation Home for Boys (POHB), remarked, “Child protection has been neglected in the Tenth Five Year Plan. One can see lack of concern about children in family, society, police etc, specially towards girl children. There is a need to generate activism among the youth. The government needs to see that laws are implemented.”

He called upon social workers, counsellors, psychologists and all concerned to be presnt and interact in courts with children while they were presented for hearing. Most importantly, more juvenile boards needed to be set up to accommodate more children.

Dr Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Ritnand Balved Education Foundation (RBEF), while sharing his views remarked, “Forensic sciences and the techniques of investigating crime have provided powerful alternative ways of obtaining evidence. Control of crime lies in making punishment certain rather than more severe and for this only forensic science can offer objective, reliable and irrefutable evidence. Keeping this in view, one should aspire to increase it manifold, by way of an appropriate police-forensic scientist partnership.”

Dr Chauhan was keen that children must be protected and for this he announced the establishment of the Amity Centre for Child Protection, which would work in close collaboration with Prayas and take up joint research projects and programmes for rehabilitation of the children in totality. This centre would run under the Amity Institute of Behavioural Health and Allied Sciences (AIBHAS). 

Gurgaon, February 2
Police today claimed to have unearthed a factory where Indian currency coins were melted and converted into metals for selling purpose and arrested seven persons in this connection.

The Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Hanif Qureshi, informed that a team led by Sub-Inspector Mr Surender Kumar, SHO of Sector 5 police station, conducted a search operation in a factory at Basai village and arrested the accused persons when they were allegedly melting coins of Indian currency and converting the melt into slab.

Seven persons were identified as Ram Phar, Ram Lakhan, Chhedi Lal, Krishna, Lalji, Pappu and Ashok Khatik – all permanent residents of Uttar Pradesh, along with their gadgets from the premises.

The police also seized coins worth around Rs 20 lakh and 11 big slabs made of melted coins from the premises.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly told the police that they were just employees in the factory and the owners of the factory were Brijesh Gupta, Alok Aggarwal, Manohar Aggarwal and Subhash Gupta, all residents of Delhi. All the owners were absconding, informed the SSP.

The police lodged an FIR under Sections 247 and 34 of the IPC and under sections 3 and 5 of Small Coin Act, 1871 in this case.