New Delhi, August 24
The Supreme Court today asserted that all unauthorised commercial structures in the Capital will have to be sealed by the government.

“Anything which is unauthorised shall be sealed otherwise you will face consequences,” a Bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and D K Jain firmly told the Centre.

The Bench made the assertion after Additional Solicitor General Vikas Singh and MCD counsel Sanjiv Sen moved fresh applications seeking a halt to the sealing drive.

The two counsel claimed that over 40 lakh people would be on the roads if the sealing ordered by the apex court’s monitoring committee was not halted.

However, the apex court said it would examine the applications on Monday when the issue would come up for hearing.

New Delhi, August 24
The Indian Music Industry (IMI) and Delhi police today carried out a raid at Shop No. 8/138 operating from a rented godown at Ramesh Nagar in West Delhi. Raj Kumar, the owner of the store was arrested on the spot and the police seized 23 CD writers; 380 MP3 CDs; 750 Warner DVDs; 350 blank DVDs and 23,700 inlay cards.

Vijay Lazarus, president, IMI, said, “It is always a major challenge for us to bust the piracy network operating in the city. Piracy makes its presence felt with every new music launch. The IMI through its anti-piracy operations has always promoted and encouraged the development of music culture and has facilitated the evolution of fair trade and business practices”.

The seized goods from the raid include MP3 CDs of Naqaab, Guru, Awarapan, Delhii Heights, Babul, Gangster, Just Married etc. and Warner DVDs of The Spiderman; Harry Potter; Independence Day; Anaconda, The Mummy, Godzilla etc.

The seizure of this CD writing unit in Delhi has been carried out after a gap of five months. The proximity of the raided shop is just about 3km from the authorized shops.

This is yet another successful effort by the IMI and the local police to curb piracy in Delhi. “Piracy is the biggest threat facing the Indian music industry today. The IMI has responded to the threat proactively and aggressively. Public awareness regarding piracy and its menace is very important to eradicate the problem and media can certainly play a major role in it”, said Lazarus.

New Delhi, August 24
Eight bonded child labourers, who were trafficked from Bihar and were working in sub-human conditions, have been rescued from an artificial jewellery workshop here today, officials said.

Their story of trafficking, captivity and slavery was narrated, after Delhi labour department officials, police and Bachpan Bachao Andolan conducted a raid and rescued them from Sitaram Bazar of Karol Bagh. These children hail from Katihar in Bihar.

Living and working in pathetic conditions, they were never allowed to go home. Most of them were paid merely Rs 50-60 per week. They were given unpalatable food and were subjected to abusive treatment, said Mohammad Naib, one of the rescued children.

The BBA said that they were often hurt by needles used for making artificial jewellery.

The BBA said that their release had been secured under the Bonded Labour Abolition Act, 1976. Under this law, each child’s family would be entitled for rehabilitation and would be given Rs 20,000, including housing facilities. Besides, the employers would be prosecuted for the violation of labour laws.

The eight rescued children are now at Mutki Ashram, a transit rehabilitation centre of BBA, and will be repatriated soon after they get the release certificates from authorities concerned. - IANS

New Delhi, August 24
The Delhi High Court Friday dismissed a petition filed by underworld don Babloo Srivastava seeking a direction to the government not to try him in any other case except in those for which he was extradited from Singapore in 1995.

Justice S.N. Dhingra said: “The petitioner’s prayer for relief that there should be no further violation of the extradition warrant and no trial of any case should take place is a ‘speculative relief’ sought by him.”

Dhingra also dismissed the prayer of the underworld don lodged in a Uttar Pradesh jail for compensation of Rs.1 billion for facing trials in contravention of his extradition terms.

The petition did not mention about any other case for which he was likely to be tried, the court said.

Srivastava, extradited to India from Singapore in 1995 to face trial in four cases of murder and kidnapping, said that the central government was breaking its undertaking for a fair trial alleging that many more cases had been slapped on him in the past 12 years.

Babloo, alias Om Prakash Srivastava, said that the Singapore Court had allowed his extradition on the basis of an undertaking by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that the petitioner would be given a fair trial in India.

He alleged that the prosecuting agency was adopting delaying tactics to keep him in jail without a trial in many cases and said that the trial in a murder case in Kanpur was started only on the direction of the apex court.

Even in the Kanpur case, the prosecution has taken several adjournments leading to strictures passed by the sessions court against it, he alleged.

He had also requested the court to declare his extradition request as “illegal”, accusing the central government of flouting the terms on which he was deported from Singapore.

The government’s counsel, on the other hand, opposed his plea stating that extradition was a diplomatic process between the two countries and the judiciary had no right to intervene.

He further said that the trials in a number of cases were complete and a few were yet to be completed. He also wondered why the issue was being raised now, more than a decade after Srivastava’s arrival from Singapore.

The High Court had earlier also dismissed a similar petition saying that Srivastava could be tried for all alleged offences.—IANS

New Delhi, August 24
The Delhi High Court has asked the city government to upgrade the infrastructure of the Delhi School Tribunal (DST), constituted to decide appeals by teaching and other staff for its smooth functioning.

It also asked the Secretary, Education, to hold a meeting in two weeks with DST presiding officer and PWD executive engineer to improve basic amenities for its staff, lawyers and litigants.

The order of Justice G S Sistani came after a report was filed by two court-appointed advocates who inspected DST on August 8 following complaints from litigants about insufficient infrastructure.

The court was hearing a petition by NGO Social Jurists through counsel Ashok Aggarwal seeking a direction to the Delhi Directorate of Education to improve the tribunal’s infrastructure.

Aggarwal submitted that DST had neither drinking water facilities nor a separate toilet for women. It lacked a bar room and a library for lawyers.

New Delhi, August 24
Strategic experts, Left leaders and former career ambassadors were sharply divided on the advisability of going ahead with the controversial Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.

Those in favour of the deal believed it would finally end India’s isolation from past sanctions and allow it access to the latest technology in the sphere of civilian nuclear energy. The deal assumes importance in the light of country’s increasing need for energy to maintain a growth rate of nine to 10 per cent annually, they said.

Those opposed to the going ahead with operationalising the 123 agreement stressed that the agreement with Americans would harm India’s national interest and the country would end up becoming a satellite of the US. The side also struck a note of caution that India should learn from past behavioural pattern of the US and not perceive the deal in isolation.

Strategic affairs expert K. Subramaniam, Left leader Deepankar Mukherjee and ambassadors Arundhati Ghosh and M.K. Bhadrakumar were part of the panel discussion on the contentious India-US civilian nuclear deal at the Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC) today. The discussion, followed by a question-answer session, was moderated by IWPC president Sushma Ramachandran.

All the members of the panel lucidly presented the two points of view, one favouring and the other opposing the deal.

However, in the end it was clear that opinions on the issue were so sharply divided that it would take time and effort to narrow the chasm between the two sections. Though a consensus of sorts was reached on the point that deal should be evaluated keeping in mind the real pros and cons of the agreement

Ghosh termed the agreement as unlocking of the door from which technology could flow unhindered between the two countries.

“The deal would mean the removal of the thorn between the two countries…. The deal is important for energy security, education, space, bio-technology, education. It is not as if we cannot achieve on our own but we need much higher growth rate and for that we need the technology now,” she added.

Presenting the counter-point, Bhadrakumar felt that there would be an unequal relationship between the two countries where India will be the recipient and America the supplier country. “We do not have much of a choice because we are dealing with a great power…. Moreover, I refuse to see it in isolation as a number of things have happened in India. Also, it is a very volatile international situation and there is tremendous fluidity,” he said

Mukherjee felt that energy security is not the only reason the deal had been signed. “What is the hurry…. First there is a need for consensus on this vital issue,” he said. 

New Delhi, August 24
The Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology (IGIT), a constituent of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) and the only women’s engineering college in the Capital has launched two programmes for working women. The courses, M. Tech (electronics and communication engineering) and MBA (enterprise system) are being offered on weekends.

M. Tech (ECE) is being introduced, as there is a need for upgrading the qualification of women employed in teaching institutes, research labs and industries to enable them to assume higher responsibilities and serve the industry and society at large. The weekend programme facilitates professionals to pursue M. Tech. degree without leaving their full-time jobs. It is a three-year programme with six semesters. Classes will be held on weekends. 40 seats are available in this course.

MBA enterprise system too is being launched due to the increasing educational needs of professionals in government, public and private sector. It is a two-year programme with trimester system. Classes will be held on weekends. 40 seats are available in this course too.

Principal of IGIT Prof Subhash Wadhwa remarked, “This is a unique opportunity for working women in engineering, management, computer applications and quantitative professions to upgrade their skills, without moving out of their jobs. The programmes are innovative and flexible, so that the growing demand for high-valued careers for women can be met in the coming future.”

Apart from meeting the eligibility criterion, a candidate needs to have a minimum of one-two years of work experience, to seek admission in any of the two courses. The admission brochure-cum-application form is available at Kashmere Gate on payment of Rs 500 in cash or demand draft (drawn in favour of “Principal, IGIT, payable at Delhi”). The last date for obtaining and submitting the completed applications is August 31, 2007.

New Delhi, August 24
DPS RK Puram held an unusual debate on Friday in the fond memory of Dhruv, a vibrant and brilliant student of the school. The Dhruv Rajgarhia Interschool Debate is held annually at DPS R.K. Puram. Dhruv was a vibrant person, an avid scholar and an excellent debater, extremely popular with both the faculty and students. His untimely demise has left a deep void in everyone’s life.

Dhruv’s family along with the 17 participating schools gathered on this occasion for the debate. The judges were Shakun Maithel Mandal, a consultant of strategic planning for brands; Sonia Khan, a graduate of the Trinity College of London; and Pankaj Sharma, CEO of News Views India. The gathering paid homage to the departed soul by observing a two-minute silence, and then the principal declared the debate open.

“Preventive Military Action is Justified,” was the issue under active debate. Each school had three participants, one for and one against the motion and an interjector. Many students put forth compelling arguments and facts to support and validate their points and some were exceptionally eloquent.

Speaking against the motion, Shubhi Srivastava from Loreto Convent showcased her declamatory prowess saying that,

“no military action would go without inciting a reciprocal reaction.

Even if the receiver of such an action is unable to retaliate militarily, he tries to seek revenge and gets even with the initiator of the conflict”.

Speaking strongly in favour of the motion, Mehak Mittal of DPS Faridabad, asserted that preventive military action is necessary for international peace and security.

The much-awaited results saw Yajur Mittal of DPS Ghaziabad and Astitva Gulati from DPS Faridabad bagging the first position while Vakasha Sachdev from DPS Noida and Sarvar Bali from DPS RK Puram followed with second and third prizes respectively. The Best Interjector Prize went to Himani from DPS Ghaziabad .

Noida, August 24
An altercation among six students of class X and XI of Ishwar Chandra Inter College, Chhapraula, Dadri, over staining the shirt of a fellow student with a paan masala spit ended in the death of a student yesterday. The student whose shirt was stained was beaten to death by the six students near the main gate of the college.

As the student, Navin fell unconscious, villagers informed the Dadri police who rushed him to a Ghaziabad hospital where he succumbed to his injuries in the evening. The police has sent the body of Navin for postmortem.

According to police, Navin was kicked, punched and beaten with chapals by the six students.

Navin ,alias Harinder s/o Hiralal ,resident of Khera Dharampur was a student of XI class. Navin was involved in an altercation with some boys of Durai village ,who were beaten up by Navin.and his friends on Wednesday. Next day Navin was cornered near the college gate by six students of Durai village who forcibly took him to Flore Farm and beat him up severely and fled .

Navin’s uncle Khapal Singh has lodged a report in the Kotwali police station against Sachin ,son of Kunwar pal, Shakti ,s/o Kunwar pal, Bhagat s/o Vijay, Sonu s/o Rajinder, Sonu s/o Ashok and Vande s/o Ashok of Durai for having beaten Navin to death.

All the students in the collage are in a state of panic.The Durai market was closed in protest against the “murder of the student”.

Noida,August 24
Acid was thrown on a girl sleeping on the terrace of her house in Nithari village,here. The girl had spurned the advances of a youth a month back, said SP City, Paresh Pandey.

The victim has been admitted to the Govt hospital in Noida and the suspect has been arrested.

Riki,17 , daughter of a vegetable vendor, Bhupinder had gone up to the terrace in Asa Ram’s house to sleep along with her younger sister Rani after their dinner. At about 2.a.m the suspect threw acid on Riki .Her hands and neck received burns. She was rushed to the district hospital at 2-.30. Riki told the police that a month ago she had slapped a youth who had attempted to get fresh with her. At that time the youth had “threatened to fix her”.

The SP City said the police had seized a bottle from the terrace of Asa Ram’s house which contained hydrogen peroxide. He said Vijay had been arrested as he was a suspect in the crime. 

Greater Noida, August 24
The state government has approved Rs 60 crore for the development work of the Gautam Buddha University campus in Greater Noida. The construction work of the university was stopped in 2004.

After the formalities of calling tenders are completed, the construction work is likely to start by October this year, it is learnt.

As per the General Manager (Projects ), SS Rizvi, an expenditure estimate had been submitted to the government in June 2007, approval for which has now been accorded, sanctioning Rs 60 crore for the purpose . The tenders for the works are likely to be issued in a day or two.

Main jobs to be taken in hand and the expected expenditure for each is as follows: Rs 1.29 crore for main campus road, Rs1.07 crore for library building and Yoga centre,Rs1.02 crore, for faculty building and Rs 7.26 for administrative building.

The project is one of the favourite projects of the UP Chief Minister work on which was stopped by the Samajwadi government.

Faridabad, August 24
A large number of autos/three-wheelers continue to operate in Faridabad defying the rules and district administration in the process.

The district authorities, including the police take periodic measures to control the malpractices, but the campaign against them tapers off soon. Rather, the situation gets worse.

The illegal business not only hits Haryana Roadways and the government exchequer, but also the unaccounted vehicles pose a major threat to the lives of civilians on the road.

Apart from the sordid affairs reflecting poorly on the administrative dispensation in the district, it also calls the bluff of the Haryana’s minister of transport.

The ministry reels out rosy statistics of buses and services on the road, but the increased vehicles are often not found on the road.

A large number of illegal vehicles are those which were shunned out of Delhi because of the court’s intervention on ground of pollution. These vehicles do not have proper documentation. The original owners of the vehicles sold them which are being recycled in this city.

Those who purchased them are people from the rural areas of the district and they have a powerful three-wheelers union.

A majority of the vehicles are driven by unskilled drivers. Also, the vehicles carry more passengers, as a result of which accidents take place. the drivers are also quite rude to the public.

New Delhi, August 24
A leading industry lobby today said that the UP government’s decision to shut large retail stores would have an adverse impact on the pace of inclusive growth, even as another asked for the review of the policy.

“Modern large-format retail, efficiently connects producers and consumers and is beneficial to both in the long run,” the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said in a statement.

“UP government’s move will be detrimental on several grounds- lower returns for farmers, higher prices for consumers, reduced job opportunities and erode investor confidence,” the industry lobby added.

According to CII, 24-40 per cent of the total produce of vegetables and fruits is wasted and, the large-format retail provides the important infrastructure to carry the farm produce to consumers and, thereby, reduce wastage.

In a decision taken yesterday that shocked India Inc, UP Chief Minister Mayawati ordered all retail chains in the state to be closed, specifically those of Reliance Fresh and the RPG group-owned Spencer’s. She said that the decision was taken because of the ‘law and order problem’, as the opposition was growing over the entry of the large number of corporate houses into retail trade business. However, she permitted retailers functioning in malls, to carry out their business, for the time being.

“The decision of the state government will send adverse signals and might affect development in the state,” said the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

“It seems that the decision is taken in haste and should be reviewed,” chamber president Venugopal Dhoot said. He advised the government to annul the decision in interest of the state.

CII said that modern retail facilitates inclusive growth in several sectors, including agricultural. While, all sectors of the economy are modernising, the recent act will take India back by several steps.

“It will deprive the state of the benefit of modern infrastructure in the form of cold chains, logistics, transport and retail outlets. Such infrastructures take several years to build. — IANS