The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

Govt to outsource forensic work
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 9
The state government has decided to outsource the work of forensic and ballistic experts to accredited agencies to expedite the investigation and trial of criminal matters.

The home department will take steps to ensure that a notification under Section 293 (g) of the CrPC is issued. It would help in expediting the expert opinion on outsourcing/contract basis from accredited agencies, under the supervision of the government's scientific experts, joint secretary (home) R.N. Sharma told additional sessions judge Kamini Lau, recently.

The outsourcing will aid investigations and be helpful in filing timely experts' opinion, in court, said the official, who was asked by the court to explain the delay in filing a forensic report in a murder case.

The court also took note of police's failure to file forensic reports, in time, in as many as 38 cases.

Shockingly, forensic reports have not been received in cases for the last five to six years. It is rather distressing to observe that both the investigating agency and the forensic science laboratories (FSL) authorities do not seem much bothered, the court noted.

Notably, Section 293 (g) of the CrPC empowers government to issue a notification, to specify scientific experts, who can file reports to be used as evidence during probes.

Sharma informed the court that in cases like murder, attempt to murder, rape and trafficking of narcotics, directions were issued to investigating officers to ensure that fingerprints and specimens of blood and semen were sent within a week to forensic labs, for carrying out the necessary tests.

Sharma appeared, after the court had issued a notice seeking an explanation on steps that had been taken to expedite the filing of reports in pending criminal cases.

He also suggested that if persons facing trial did not dispute the reports of forensic laboratories, the prosecutors should avoid summoning experts, thereby, not putting them to the harassment of coming to court to depose.

Most of the time, the entire day of the experts' is wasted on appearing before a court to depose. Their mandatory appearance leaves little time for them to attend office, Sharma said.

Taking his submissions into account, the court decided to send a separate report to the Delhi High court, which had taken suo motu cognizance for the delay in filing forensic reports in criminal matters.

Consumer commission fines GDA
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 9
Coming down heavily on the Ghaziabad development authority (GDA) for its undesirable functioning and harassment of general people, the national consumer commission has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on it.

The commission's observation came recently, in context of a litigation between the Shiksha Vihar Sehkari Avaas Samiti, a society, whose land was acquired by the GDA in 1992, with the promise of delivering a developed area in lieu of it by the end of 1997 on payment of certain charges.

The case illustrates the manner, in which a public authority can harass the common man and, such behaviour on part of the public authority could degenerate into storehouse of inaction, leading to the breeding of corruption, the commission comprising justices M.B. Shah and Rajyalaksmi Rao, said.

The society was informed in 1992 that a plot was allotted to it in Indirapuram and the GDA had asked it to pay the development charges.

It had also directed it to complete the construction by 1997, the society alleged.

However, no possession of the plot was given to the society and no heed was paid to the letters asking for the site plan and other terms of the agreement.

The GDA had then kept on dilly-dallying on the matter and, in August 1998, it informed the complainant that the previous allotment had been cancelled. The next year, the GDA informed the society about a different site for allotment.

The society that was asked to pay various charges, without being given sufficient explanation on the mode of calculation, paid over Rs four crore to the GDA till 2005, the complaint said. On the commission's order, the possession of the land in Indirapuram was handed over to the society only in 2005, but the GDA demanded crores of rupees, as interest and other charges.

Angry at the functioning of the civic body, the commission held the case as a glaring illustration, which established that the consumer was not the king, but could be the subject and object of harassment and exploitation by none other than the statutory body.

Quashing the GDA's demands, the commission observed that it was unjustified to seek interest, when there was a delay of 15 years in handing over possession of the land. Criticising the government body for continuously harassing the society by demanding different amounts, without giving the exact calculations, the commission also ordered it to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the society.

The GDA was also directed to prepare the necessary documents within 60 days.

Domestic violence complaint dismissed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 9
A local court here has hauled up a protection officer appointed under the Protection of Women From Domestic Violence Act for being a mouthpiece of a complainant and not revealing the true facts of the case.

Dismissing a complaint of domestic violence by a woman against her husband, metropolitan magistrate Neerja Bhatia expressed anguish over an attempt to overreach an order of the Delhi High Court by concealing certain facts and took to task the officer for not performing her duty with diligence.

The report of the protection officer is astonishingly lacking and misleading to the extent that it does not reveal the status of the complainant to be that of a lunatic, the magistrate said in a recent order.

The case involved Urmila Devi Gupta, who filed a complaint under the Act seeking relief, including restoration of her matrimonial home at Krishna Nagar here.

After she complained of physical torture and maltreatment by her husband Naresh Chander Gupta, the court appointed a protection officer to provide Urmila assistance for medical examination, legal aid and safe shelter and sought a domestic incident report from the officer.

However, during the trial, Urmila's husband revealed that she did not have a stable state of mind, a fact that was also admitted in a suit of partition in the High Court by her son Ajay, with whom she had been living for the past 15 years.

Naresh, 57, contended that Urmila's complaint was misconceived and mischievous as his son was employing it as a ploy to overreach and negate the High Court's interim order, which directed the parties to remain in possession of their respective houses and restrained them from selling the properties.

Going through the records, the magistrate noted that the report from the protection officer depicted no such facts and her report was a reproduction of the allegations in the complaint.

Man sent to jail for possessing explosives

New Delhi, September 9
A local court has sentenced a man possessing explosive substances to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment.Additional sessions judge Pratibha Rani held 24-year-old Mohammad Yunus guilty of possessing a huge quantity of explosive substances and also fined him Rs 2,000.

According to the prosecution, the special cell of Delhi police apprehended Yunus from the bus stop in Kashmere Gate here, on the night of December 30-31, 2003. A bomb, explosive substances mixed with iron, weighing five kgs, a timer fitted with four bulbs and a yellow-coloured wire were recovered from his possession.

Yunus, a native of Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, had planned to use the explosives to endanger human life or, cause injury to people or property in India, the prosecution alleged.

Arguing against the convict's leniency plea, additional public prosecutor S.K. Singh said that Yunus should be awarded the maximum punishment.

He had brought the explosives to the Capital during the New Year's eve to make innocent people his target.—PTI

Winters to get foggier
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 9
If you are fed up with the heat and humidity during the summers in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and are eagerly waiting for the winter to set in, you may end up shivering. A study conducted by the Indian Meteorological Department here has found that because of the alarming rise in the pollution in the metropolis, the duration of the fog cover has increased by as much as eight hours a day over the last 15 years.

The alarming rise in pollution over the Capital has led to the increase in the duration of the fog cover by almost eight hours per day in last 15 years and it promises to be no better this year. The longer duration of fog cover has led to the drop in the maximum temperature by 2 to 3 degrees C, according to the study.

The study has also found that the visibility levels in the Capital have deteriorated over the years because of the pollution and longer duration of the fog cover.

The study also found that despite the use of CNG as an automotive fuel in the Capital, there was no discernible impact on the pollution level. The annual averages of different pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (no2) and other suspended particulate matter (spm) in the Capital have shown an increase even after conversion to CNG.

'Vatavaran' wildlife film festival from Sept 12

New Delhi, September 9
A documentary on poaching of tigers will start the five-day CMS vatavaran film festival here from September 12, showcasing well-acclaimed national and international environment and wildlife films of the year.

Challenges to environment, natural resources, people's livelihoods, health and wildlife and the manner in which various governments have chosen to deal with these issues will be highlighted through 77 films and documentaries to be screened in the green festival.

The opening film, 'Tiger - the death chronicles', travels to tiger hotspots like- Sariska, Panna, Buxa reserves while, 'Turtle in Soup' highlights the illegal trade of freshwater turtles in the country.—PTI

4 held for demanding bribe
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 9
Four persons have been arrested for demanding bribe to fix electric meters, in two separate cases. Two persons posing as BSES employees were arrested in Khazuri Khas.

They went to one Nasir Ali's house and told him that his meter was tampered with. They further asked the complainant to pay Rs 13,000 to them to avoid any complications. Moreover, they threatened the owner of the house to register a complaint against him, in case he fails to pay them the required money. The duo was caught with Rs 8,000 that they collected as bribe.

In a separate case from Shahdara, two persons have been caught in a similar incident.

Delhi Book Fair concludes
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 9
The 13th Delhi Book Fair held at Pragati Maidan concluded today with an overwhelming response of visitors. Around 225 leading Indian publishers with 560 stalls participated in the Fair this year. The major attraction of the Fair was the participation of 22 foreign nationals. There were nine participants form China and seven from Vietnam. Besides, there were participants from Pakistan, Iran, Germany and the UAE.

The Fair helped in breaking the myth that children today were being weaned away from reading and were spending most of their time in watching television or, on computer. According to the organisers, children's literature like- illustrated stories, fiction, academic texts, folk tales and mythological lore were sold like hot cakes.

The 18th Abu Dhabi Book Fair, 2008, which is going to be held in March 2008, was also publicised during the Delhi Book Fair. It will have special arrangements for Indian publishers and authors to encourage books in various languages from India. The Arabic version of famous Indian titles will be on display.

The Federation of Indian Publishers organised a painting competition for children between the age group of 1-14 years. It was one of the major attractions for children during the 9-day fair.

The FIP organised a valedictory and awards function for the best stall, on the last day of the book fair. Prentice Hall of India Pvt Ltd bagged the first prize while, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt Ltd won the second prize.

Delhi lashed by light showers

New Delhi, September 9
Light to moderate showers hit Delhi this afternoon, helping maintain the coolness in the weather brought about by westerly winds yesterday. The showers, which hit the Capital city at around 1530 hours, followed a build up of heavy clouds towards afternoon.

Although just a short burst of rainfall was recorded across the city, the showers, coupled with the westerlies, brought down the maximum temperature to 34 degree Celsius.

Weathermen attribute the turnaround in the weather in Delhi to the influence of a westerly trough, which had, on Thursday and Friday, caused light to moderate showers in Delhi.

The showers on Thursday and Friday had brought down mercury in the city by several degree Celsius, bringing relief to Delhiites from the hot and humid conditions of early this week.

The Met office has forecast a partly cloudy sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours with possibility of thundery development in a few areas.—PTI

Artscape
'Mythologies Retold' explores ideas from Indian mythology
Ravi Bhatia
Tribune News Service

Mixed media on canvas

New Delhi, September 9
The Rasaja Foundation is holding the premiere of a collaborative dance performance, "Mythologies Retold" by two well-known artistes, Sandhya Raman and Geeta Chandran on September 15 at the Kamani Auditorium here.Produced and conceptualized by Sandhya Raman, "Mythologies Retold" explores stories and ideas from Indian mythology to provide a stimulus for contemporary times.

Rasaja Foundation, an educational, scientific and cultural institution, was created in 1984 by the late Jaya Appasamy, renowned artist, art historian and art critic. Her efforts won the support of a dedicated group of art lovers who helped in the realization of her dreams.

The Foundation aims at bringing to the notice of the art fraternity and the public its rare and valuable art collection.

Mixed media on paper Rasaja Foundation also prides itself on being an important link in keeping India's historical art evidences intact.

'International Art Collections'

Studio Vasant here is presenting 'International Art Collections- I', an exhibition of paintings by known artists and curated by Victor Vijay Kumar from September 5 to September 15.

Select paintings of Raju Durshettiwar

The famous Prakrit Art of Chennai is presenting an exhibition of paintings by Raju Durshettiwar at the Academy of Fine Arts and Literature here from September 7 to September 12.

Entitled, "Defining Space", the exhibition has on display some of the select paintings of the artist who hails from the Cholamandal Artist Village in Chennai.

'Parallels That Meet'

The Delhi Art Gallery here is holding an exhibition of works of veteran Baroda-based artist Jyoti Bhatt from September 15 to October 27.

Entitled, "Parallels That Meet", the exhibition will consist of paintings, photographs, etchings and drawings by the artist.

Curated by Roobina Karode, the exhibition will also release a comprehensive book extensively documenting the entire oeuvre of Jyoti Bhatt's artistic journey.

Born in Bhavnagar, Saurashtara, Bhatt completed his Diploma in Painting and Graphic Art from the famous MS University in Baroda

An evening of dance and music

The Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt here and the Egypt Tourism Board are presenting an enchanting evening of dance and music by the famous Siwa Folkloric Troupe at the Siri Fort Auditorium here on September 10.

Exhibition of artists from Goa

Arushi Arts here is presenting "A Spectrum of Epiphanies", an exhibition of the creations of four prominent artists from Goa from September 12 to September 22. The four artists whose work is being showcased are Viraj Naik, Pradeep B. Naik, Siddharth S. Gosavi and Shilpa.

Lalit Kala Ratnas

The Lalit Kala Akademi will bestow Lalit Kala Ratnas on eminent artists at a function on September 10 at the Kamani Auditorium here. The ceremony will be followed by a flute recital by the famous Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia.