New Delhi, February 12
The Master Plan of Delhi brought by the government amid the Supreme Court pressure on the MCD to seal the illegal shops in the residential areas in the Capital seems to have come to the rescue of traders as the apex court today said no sealing in areas covered under the Plan would be done till further order.

But the court, at the same time, said it would examine the validity of the MPD 2021 in the light of its impact on six basic amenities – water supply, electricity, roads, parking, sewage system and clear environment – whether the government had taken adequate care to address them.

A Bench of Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat, Mr Justice C. K. Thakker and Mr Justice R. V. Raveendran said the entire gamut of the sealing and MPD issue would be heard by it in details for three days from April 10 to 12 and till then there would be no sealing in the areas declared as mixed land use under the Master Plan.

The court kept out the residents’ welfare associations from contesting their petitions against the MPD directly through their counsel and said any petition filed by them would only be dealt by advocate Ranjit Kumar, who has been appointed amicus curiae to assist the court in the matter earlier.

The petitions filed by the welfare associations would be treated only as interim applications in the main matter pending before the court, the Bench said.

The Supreme Court appointed Monitoring Committee (MC), which had been looking after the sealing operation and till date filing its reports directly to the court, was also made to report only through amicus curiae whether it related to filing of its response or giving any suggestions.

The amicus curiae was given four weeks to study the MPD in detail and submit his report, specifically pointing out whether the government had taken care of the six listed basic amenities, essential for planned development of the national Capital.

Solicitor General G. E. Vahanvati, who was allowed to plead the case on behalf of the government, was given two weeks to submit the detailed material that had formed the basic foundation to shape up the MPD 2021 in its present form.

The government, the MCD, the NDMC and the DDA were also directed to submit their suggestions on the Master Plan within two weeks to the amicus curiae and the detailed notes to be prepared by him on it.

The Delhi Pradesh Citizens Council (DPCC), an association of residents, had moved a petition challenging the MPD on the ground that it had completely ignored the interests of residents and was brought under pressure from strong businessmen’s lobby.

It had also said the Master pplan had not taken into account the ground realities and given a licence to all illegal activities by those who had encroached upon the public land and no survey was conducted by the government about civic amenities.

Mr Ranjit Kumar was in full agreement with the welfare associations that civic amenities in the Capital were in a bad shape, particularly electricity supply and sewage system, over which two petitions, one by the court on a suo motu notice, were already pending. 

New Delhi, February 12
The BJP Delhi Pradesh in-charge, Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, and president Harsh Vardhan today said that Master Plan for Delhi 2021 was a “disaster plan” as it had no scheme for development of the national Capital. It has been made in haste due to municipal elections.

The image of the Congress was tarnished by the sealing and demolition operations. This could lead to its defeat in the elections. To undo the harm done to the party, the Congress has notified the Master Plan, which has no vision for development, they added.

Addressing a conference, they said that Master Plan was basically in favour of the builder lobby and it is anti-poor and middle class people. The plan says that the builders will construct cheap flats for poor people. They are businessmen. They will never do this. The same scheme was instituted in Mumbai but it failed.

The government claimed that Delhi would be a world-class city till 2021. This is a mischief. In Master Plan, the government has allowed for construction of multi-storeyed buildings to accommodate more population. The government has not considered the problems of civic amenities after the increase in population. There is already power and water shortage in the national Capital. If the population increases, how the government will arrange for these necessities. It is not explained in the Master Plan.

Both the BJP leaders said that the government had befooled the residents of unauthorised colonies by announcing their regularisation.

The building plan in these colonies is still not being approved by the MCD. There is no improvement of civic amenities. There is hardly any development in the colonies declared regularised in 1977.

New Delhi, February 12
Pulling up the Delhi Police for its RTI redressal mechanism, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked the local administration to take steps towards enabling information access to RTI applicants without any harassment.

“It is important that the public authority (Delhi Police) set its house in complete order so that no information seeker suffers any harassment in filing his request for information, paying the fee, receiving the information and so on,” said Information Commissioner A. N. Tiwari in a recent order.

The CIC was hearing an appeal-cum-complaint filed by Mr Rishi Chawla wherein he complained the system for receipt of fee, applications and transmission of information as managed by the police was far from being citizen-friendly.

Stressing that disclosure of information under the RTI Act was of primary importance, the commission stated an information request should not be turned down merely because it was not accompanied with the requisite fee.

The proper thing to do in such a situation could be to accept the application, set in motion the process of information collection and then intimate the appellant to present the proof of remitting the fee by a given date, it added.

The commission, which was hearing over the complaints raised by Mr Chawla on issues of the police’s failure to effectively disclose information under the Act, further said such complaints were not uncommon against the local police administration.

The appellant/complainant had brought up concerns which appeared to be common to all information seeker vis-a-vis the Delhi Police, it said.

The commission made adverse remarks over the frequent failure of the Delhi Police’s Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) in communicating their contact details while replying to the information seekers.

This (non-specification of the CPIO’s name and contact details) prevented the applicant from bringing to their notice any infirmity or irregularity he may find in the information provided to him, said the commission.

Earlier, Mr Chawla had filed an RTI application with the Delhi Police to which a reply was provided to him. Mr Chawla, unsatisfied with the CPIO’s reply, filed an appeal-cum-complaint before the commission stating his
grievances against Delhi Police’s RTI redressal procedure.

The commission, which blamed the police administration for its prevailing lacuna in its RTI disclosure mechanism, has remitted the case back to the Joint Commissioner of Police (HQ), who is the appellate authority concerned, to disclose the details sought within four weeks.

Gurgaon, February 12
The proposed 200-bed hospital will be constructed and run by the ESIC in Gurgaon, according to Mr R. I. Singh, the Director General of ESIC.

Mr Singh, who was here to inaugurate a free health check-up blood donation camp, said that the
hospital would be set up in Sector 9.

All the ESIC hospitals and dispensaries in the state are being run by the government. Mr Singh said the construction work on the proposed hospital would commence in March.

The free health check-up and blood donation camp was organised by I.M.T (Industrial Model Township) Industrial Association.

Speaking on the occasion, the General Secretary of the Association, Mr Manoj Tyagi, said that the association had decided to gift a motorcycle to the police department to help it to further increase its patrol in the I.M.T complex.

According to him, the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) has decided to provide a four-wheeler to the police for the up-keep of vigil in the complex.

The ESiC has decided to provide an ambulance to the health authorities. 

Faridabad, February 12
The ongoing Surajkund Mela here may be showcasing the traditional art and craft of several states of the country, but the folk dance segment seems to be underrepresented at the event as artistes from just a few states are giving their performances here.

While Rajasthan has been a dominating state in folk culture, it is only the ‘theme state’ which gets an opportunity of full exposure. Five dance performances, out of total 16 dance forms being staged at the mela, belong to Rajasthan with many states seems to be missing from this event.

According to information available, the folk dances presented before the visitors at the Mela site include Tera Tali, Rimbawai, Khari/Kartal dance, Kalbelia and KachiGori (All from Rajasthan), Ragini, Been, Haryanvi dance and Nagara (Haryana), Mayur dance Chakri and Brij Ki Holi (UP), Punjabi songs, gidda and Bhangra (Punjab) and Sidhi Goma dance from Gujarat.

“Though a cultural evening featuring folk dances of various regions of the country, including special solo and group presentation, is organised daily, but there are several states whose folk artistes have not got the opportunity to perform, claimed R.K. Gaur, a resident of sector-15 A. He added that dance and folk culture of states like Bihar, Maharastra, Goa, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands have not been presented here during the past many years, except of the ‘theme state’.

The dances being preformed from Andhra Pradesh, which is the ‘theme state’ this year, included Bonalu dance, Veera Natyam, Gargallu, Tapettagullu, OgguDollu and Kommu Koya. Dance forms like the SiddhiGoma, Mayur dance, Gidda, Rimbavai, Harvanvi Nagara and a group dance from Andhra Pradesh are attracting crowd, claimed an official.

“While the items of traditional art and craft being sold at the Mela had been very expensive and are
out of reach of the common man, the organisers should concentrate more on folk songs, dances and other such presentations, as it was very informing as well entertaining for the visitors,” said Sangeeta, a teacher accompanying a group of school students from Delhi visiting the fair.

She said the authorities ought to focus on providing more facilities and avenues of entertainment and education for the children as students formed a majority among visitors.

Meanwhile, the inclement weather over the past two days has affected the attendance of visitors in the Mela.

“The response and sale of items had been just half of what recorded last year,” claimed Venkat Harji, a craftsman from Gujarat, selling durries and shawls.

He said the rains played a spoilsport. 

New Delhi, February 12
BJP councillor Vijender Gupta today expressed anguish over the cancellation of the meeting of the Standing Committee in which a decision with regard to notification of additional roads as mixed land use and commercial was to be taken. He alleged with the pendency of the notification of additional roads lakhs of traders would suffer again. He added traders were confused about the new Master Plan.

Giving details, Mr Gupta said some time ago a survey was carried out in which 1,000 more roads, which were found to be fit for mixed land use or commercial, were notified. Last week, another survey was carried out at the zonal level in which the number of such roads was reduced considerably.

He said in the earlier survey out of 1,000 roads 53 were identified in Rohini but in the survey carried out last week this number had reduced to 12 and now the notification of even these roads had been postponed.

Mr Gupta further disclosed according to the new Master Plan not a single road in the city, Karol Bagh and Sadar Paharganj zones could be notified since a provision had been made in the Master Plan that without zonal development plan roads could not be notified.

Since all these three zones had been kept in the category of special zones, it was imperative to formulate a zonal development plan which would take three to four years for preparation. Therefore, no roads in these zones could be notified, he said.

He also said the fate of wholesale and retail traders in these areas was not clear. He also disclosed that while formulating the zonal development plan the norms prescribed by the NCR Planning Board also had to be considered. 

New Delhi, February 12
Ansal Institute of Technology (AIT), Gurgaon, celebrated its annual cultural festival, Manthan 2K7, with much fervour.

The students put up spectacular extravaganza for its annual cultural show on AIT campus. The festival was inaugurated by Prof M P Singh, Director AIT. As depicted by the name, it aimed at bringing the hidden talent of the students to the forefront through events like management quiz competition, talent hunt, choreography, cyber games, folk dance, debates, fashion show, basketball, football, volleyball, western dance and various informal games.

An inter-college basketball tournament triggered off the festive mood at Manthan 2K7 held on AIT campus in Gurgaon.

The chief guest was Mr Jonathan Fischer, Vico Consul, US Embassy, New Delhi.

Prof M P Singh, Director AIT, lauded the efforts of the staff and faculty members of Ansal Institute of Technology in fostering the sporting talent.

New Delhi, February 12
After a few days of balmy weather with above normal temperatures, the National Capital Territory of Delhi woke up to a cold morning today thanks to overcast skies, widespread rains and snowfall in the higher regions of North India.

According to the Met Office, the minimum temperature in the Capital was recorded at 14.1 degree Celsius, four degrees above normal, but rainfall over the weekend and a cloudy sky kept the mercury down. The strong easterly winds yesterday had brought in moisture to the region and the weather office has forecast the possibility of a hailstorm here. Intermittent showers lashed the city over the weekend, putting at rest apprehensions of an early summer.

The Met office said that the city received 44 mm rains over the weekend, 25 mm more than what is normal for the entire month of February.

The cold weather conditions are likely to continue for the next couple of days with rains in some parts of the Capital.

New Delhi, February 12
The second phase of Bharat Vikas Yatra being organised by Loktantrik Janata Front will totally focus on the basic problems of the people of this city.

Outlining the blueprint of his eight-day awareness campaign, the national president of the organization Mr Mukesh Pandey said it is ironical that after 60 years of Indian independence, we are deprived of even drinking water. The status and availability of other civic amenities are also the same.

“Seeing that deplorable condition in our society, we have decided to make common citizens aware of their basic rights and responsibilities aimed at building a compact society. Our 500 members will go from door to door across the Capital for this purpose,” he added.—OC

New Delhi, February 12
Noted Odissi dancer Ranjana Gauhar is going to perform at India Habitat Centre on Friday in aid of the Delhi Chapter of the Indian Cancer Society.

A society release said that since 1999, artists like Birju Mahraj, Ustad Shujaat Hussain Khan, Shubha Mudgal and Ashwani Bhide have been performing to highlight the need for cancer awareness and screening, as much as for patient care.

Each artist has sought to emphasise that cancer respects neither class nor wealth. Many of them also spoke of their own suffering when the deadly disease struck their loved ones. Others drew attention to fear, pain and trauma through their performances, the release said.

Ms Ranjana Gauhar has consistently used her celebrity status to espouse social and humanitarian cause through her performance on the stage. She performs a panorama of life, weaving abstract notions of joy, hope, beauty of spirit and ultimate victory of the human spirit, through the traditions of classical dance.—TNS

New Delhi, February 12
In a student-friendly order that would perhaps deter private colleges and institutes from running various courses at par with degree courses, the state consumer commission has asked an aircraft engineering institute to refund the fee of two candidates after they complained of misrepresentation.

There is nothing like ‘at par’ or ‘similar’. Either it is a degree course or it is not. To assign such status to any course is highly misleading and unfair, said state consumer commission headed by Justice J D Kapoor in a recent order.

The institutes which represent that such courses are at par with bachelors’ degree or masters’ degree, are indulging in unfair trade practice and as such a representation has the element of misleading nature as to the need for or the usefulness of such a certificate, Justice Kapoor said.

Expressing concern on the hardship being faced by students who enrol in the courses under the guise of ‘at par’ with the particular course, he observed this practice is detrimental to the future prospects of candidates as they expect a status similar to those passing out with recognised degree courses.

Such advertisements are nothing short of unfair trade practice and a sort of exploitation of the aspiring candidates, Justice Kapoor stated, dismissing the appeal of Indian Institute of Aircraft Engineering based at Mahipalpur here.

Refusing to buy the argument by the institute that the course in question was patronised by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and recognised by UPSC and IIT, Justice Kapoor said no government authority can issue any such notification for any private institute saying the course in question is at par with a degree course.

Directing the institute to give the complainant Rs 1.42 lakh taken as fee for admission in a course which was later found to be at par with bachelor in aeronautical engineering, Justice Kapoor said a mere mentioning of the claim in the prospectus is self-defeating and squarely comes within the mischief of unfair trade practice .

Meeta Sengupta, a resident of Ashram here, had sought refund of fee for her two daughters who were misled while taking admission in a B.Tech degree course, which was later found not duly recognised as a degree course.

After the south-west district forum held in August last year that the institute was guilty of deficiency in service and asked it to refund the fee charged from her, it chose to approach the state consumer commission, which dismissed its appeal holding such a practice amounts to unfair trade practice too. 

New Delhi, February 12
A British tourist, staying at a hotel in Central Delhi, has been allegedly raped by a Polish national.

The Polish citizen, identified as Dominique Rafel, has been arrested after the incident which happened earlier last week, the police said.

The victim was known to the accused as they were staying at nearby hotels in Paharganj, a favourite among tourists because of the availability of a string of budget hotels. The two had gone to a nightclub on February 7 and had drinks together after which Rafel allegedly raped the 28-year-old after taking her to his room.

She filed a complaint against him the next day and he was soon arrested. He was produced before Tis Hazari Court, which remanded him in judicial custody. The police said it had informed the Polish Embassy.—OC

New Delhi, February 12
A 57-year-old woman and her teenaged daughter were found murdered in a South-West Delhi locality, the police said today.

The bodies of Ramrati and Sunita (16) were found late last night at a two-room house owned by them in Najafgarh.

They had been strangled to death.

The police said they were residents of Nangloi and had come to Najafgarh to oversee some construction work at the house. A case of murder has been registered, but no arrests have been made so far.