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1984 riots
CBI under pressure to save Tytler: Babbar
Govt asked to set up child rights panel
Blueline claims third victim
Law
against defacement soon
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Rise in minimum temp
Blast or short circuit in South Delhi
Row in DU over degree for Brown
Disputed plots’ sale at new
Traffic diversion
Two killed in road accidents
Four found guilty in kidnap
Children emissaries of Taj city
Tools engineering institute being set up
Choa Kok’s set of 10 books
released
Smile surgery catching on
Schoolkids injured in road mishap
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1984 riots
New Delhi, January 16 Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjeev Jain posted the case to March 12 after the CBI informed the court that a similar case is pending before the Delhi High Court in which they need to respond to a petition filed by Jasbir Singh by Feb 27. The Delhi High Court on Monday also asked the CBI not to submit any closure report till the pendency of the case. The court then asked the CBI why the agency was not interested in recording Jasbir’s statement via video-conferencing. To this, the CBI replied that it disputed the identity of Jasbir Singh and will not record the statement until and unless it was sure about his whereabouts in the US. The California-based Singh, who was earlier declared non-traceable by the CBI, filed the petition last week through his son, seeking quashing of a CBI notice asking him to come to India and give his statement on the riots. The CBI, following a trial court order directive to re-investigate Tytler’s role in the case, issued notice to Singh on January 2 under Section 160 of the CrPC, which empowers the probe agency to seek presence of a witness. Challenging the summons, Singh said the CBI, allegedly with the aim to help the accused Congress leader, was insisting on his presence in India for recording of the statement. “If the CBI is really serious and interested in investigating the case and recording the statement of the witness petitioner, then it should have moved under Section 166A (1)(which allows non-resident Indian to testify in foreign courts on the request of probe agency) and not under Section 160 of the CrPC,” the petition alleged. Singh, in an affidavit before the Nanavati Commission, which investigated the anti-Sikh riots, stated that on November 3, 1984 he had overheard Tytler rebuking his men for “only” nominal killing of Sikhs in his constituency. —IANS
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CBI under pressure to save Tytler: Babbar
New Delhi, January 16 “CBI additional SP Manoj Pangarkar called me to his office and told me about the fact that there is a lot of pressure on the agency to wind up the case against Jagdish Tytler,” said Gurcharan Singh Babbar in a press conference in the Capital. Babbar also claimed that he has evidence regarding the case, but the CBI is not sending him any formal notice. “I want my statement to be registered formally and I have asked CBI to send me written notice,” said Babbar. “I still have not received any letter from the agency.” The organisation also produced Jasbir Singh’s affidavit where he has confirmed Jagdish Tytler’s involvement in the riots. “I do not understand why CBI can not approach Jasbir Singh in America if they are interested in making a case against Tytler,” said Babbar. Babbar also alleged that the government is trying to manipulate the evidence. “They have come up with one Suchha Singh who is mentioned in Jasbir’s statement. It is only two of us who know the real Suchha Singh,” he said. Meanwhile, the Sikh conference has decided not to lose faith in the state. “I am going to send my letter to all the Parliament members in the country. It is about lives of 5,000 Sikhs and I am sure that we would get justice, sooner or later,” said Babbar.
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Govt asked to set up child rights panel
New Delhi, January 16 A bench headed by Chief Justice M.K. Sharma asked the Delhi government to initiate the process of constituting the commission at the earliest. “Constituting a commission will bring smiles to thousands of children who were facing abuse at every step,” said the bench while asking the government to take up the matter seriously. Once it is set up, a child can directly report any abuse to the commission. Gaurav Duggal, appearing on behalf of the central government, informed the court that it was ready to give the necessary powers to the Delhi government. The commission, comprising six people, would be empowered to launch an inquiry into any violation of child rights, and protect children requiring special care, minors in distress, juveniles, children in conflict with law, and those affected by HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, riots, communal violence and terrorism. The proposed panel would be on the lines of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child to which India is a signatory. A 2005 law calls for the setting up of a panel at the national level too. The commission members would include leading figures from the fields of education, child health, juvenile justice, elimination of child labour, child psychology and laws relating to children. The bench also directed the government to take steps to constitute a ‘children’s court’ - also envisaged in the 2005 law - in each district for “speedy trial of offences against children or cases relating to child rights”.—IANS
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Blueline claims third victim
New Delhi, January 16 The bus, plying on route No. 982 between Sultanpuri and Seemapuri, crushed 21-year-old Rajender in Azadpur. Rajender, a daily wager who lived in nearby Shalimar Bagh, was taken to a hospital where the doctors declared him dead. Police said after hitting Rajender, the driver sped off with his bus. “We have registered a case of rash and negligent driving against the driver and a search is on to arrest him,” said a police official. The 4,000-odd Blueline bus fleet, a crucial part of Delhi’s public transport system, has earned public ire for the recklessness of its drivers and owners but officials say they are helpless to check the menace. In 2007, Blueline buses had claimed 120 lives. They claimed the first victim of 2008 on Saturday when a man was crushed to death in east Delhi.—IANS
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Law
against defacement soon
New Delhi, January 16 Senior counsel P.P. Malhotra, appearing for the central government, told a Delhi High Court division bench of Justices T.S. Thakur and Aruna Suresh on Wednesday that permission has been given to the Delhi government to come out with its own law to punish those who deface public places by putting up posters. Counsel for the Delhi government also informed the court that the state was ready with the law and will bring it into effect latest by April. The court fixed April 3 as next date of hearing in this matter. According to the Delhi Defacement of Public Property Bill, 2007, those found guilty of defacing public property would have to pay a fine of Rs.50,000 or will be jailed for a year. The new law would replace the existing West Bengal Defacement Act that is in effect in several states to curb defacement of public properties. The Delhi government has also directed authorities to set up 266 poster display sites all over the Capital within two months, providing people a platform to paste their non-commercial posters without defacing public property.—IANS
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Rise in minimum temp
New Delhi, January 16 The Met office said that the clouds hanging over the city since yesterday led to a rise in minimum temperature to 10.7 degrees, from 9.8 degrees yesterday. The minimum temperature of 10.7 degrees was four degrees above normal. A slight mist was witnessed in the morning hours even though visibility levels remained at near normal level at 1000m. The trend of a rise in mercury is likely to continue in the next few days with the Met office forecasting a rise in minimum temperature to 12 degrees tomorrow.
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Tax cars, not buses: CSE
New Delhi, January 16 The pre-Budget letter has set out a charter of demands for mobility and clean air for all. “The 9th Auto Expo will close on January 17, but its message should make us all sit up. Personal vehicle ownership is rising in India; it will grow manifold in coming years. There will be a few million more cars and many of them driven on toxic diesel — jostling for that limited space on our limited roads. Air quality will only get worse, energy use will go up, and instead of moving ahead, people will actually grind to a stop due to congestion,” the CSE director Sunita Narain has written. “We strongly believe that the current fiscal and regulatory policies do not adequately take into account the social, health and environmental costs of motorisation,” says Narain. “In fact, current fiscal policies are distorted and downright wrong as they end up taxing the bus, which moves the largest number of people in our city — more than the car, which drives few people but hogs valuable road space.” “We know currently that in spite of the phenomenal growth of private vehicles in our cities, large numbers – an estimated 60 per cent and above – still travel by bus or bicycle or walk to work. But while cars and two-wheelers move in our cities, these vehicles fill up our road space and add to inefficiency in travel – congestion and pollution. The personal car in India has not replaced the bus, it has only marginalised it”. The letter lists four key demands:
Firstly, it wants the government to completely remove the 16 per cent Central excise tax on passenger buses. It also wants the finance minister to provide guidance to state governments to correct the current policies, which tax the bus more than the car. “You will agree this is ridiculous,” says the letter as it cites examples to show how city governments charge between 2-23 times more to bus passengers than they do to car
owners. Secondly, the government must not reduce the existing tax rates on cars and SUVs but it must also maintain the differential taxes between small and big vehicles. Small vehicles must be taxed less. Any reduction on taxes on cars will only add to the subsidy being given to cars, as against buses.
Thirdly, it wants government in the Budget 2008 to increase the excise duty on diesel cars. Currently, car manufacturers use the price differential on petrol and diesel as a convenient loophole to sell cars that run on fuel of the poor. Either, the government should remove this differential or use fiscal measures to provide disincentives for the use of dirty polluting diesel in private cars.
Fourthly, it wants the finance minister to link Central excise duties to fuel efficiency standards once finalised and provide tax breaks to vehicles that meet advanced emission norms. |
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Blast or short circuit in South Delhi
New Delhi, January 16 The blast occurred below the IIT flyover, in front of the Indian Gas Agency at around 10.30 a.m. A youth identified as Shivnath who was riding by on a motorcycle suffered injuries on his head and back. He was stated to be recuperating at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). “After seeing the pattern of explosion on the gas agency wall and other evidence, we strongly suspect it was a low intensity crude bomb that had exploded in the morning. We have sent the samples to the forensic lab to verify the facts,” a Delhi Police special cell official told IANS on the condition of anonymity. However, Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Baghat maintained that it was not a bomb explosion. “There was no bomb explosion. It was just a blast in the capacitor of the electricity pole. People should not give importance to rumours and maintain peace and calm,” he said. Munish Chauhan, 35, who works at the gas station, told IANS: “My colleagues and I were working when all of a sudden we heard a deafening blast and then the dust and smoke engulfed the entire area. We got very scared and every one started running for their lives.” Vijay Pal, 44, was sipping morning tea at his tyre puncture shop in the nearby petrol pump when he heard the deafening sound. “After a few seconds I realized that a motorbike rider was emerging from the dust. He was bleeding heavily from his head and back. The bike rider himself called the emergency number. The traffic policemen who were on duty also rushed to the spot,” Vijay Pal said. “Thankfully a major tragedy was averted as there wasn’t heavy traffic on the road at that time,” he told IANS. Soon after the blast, several police control room (PCR) vans, fire tenders and a bomb disposal squad arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area for about an hour so that officials could inspect the explosion site. However, police officials were confused about the cause of the explosion. Some said it could have been a tyre burst as they failed to find any strong evidence of a bomb blast at the scene.
—IANS |
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Row in DU over degree for Brown
New Delhi, January 16 The DTF president, Sanjay Bohidar, says, “Why should Gordon Brown be conferred a degree at Delhi University? What has he done, other than being the British Prime Minister. Yes, he has definitely helped maintain a British Army presence in Iraq.” He adds, “What teachers are objecting to is firstly, the idea of giving Brown a degree and secondly, the manner in which the vote was conducted by the vice-chancellor before the university court. There were only 15-20 hands in favour of the motion out of 280, the majority were against it, and the decision was arbitrarily taken.” Bohidar continues, “This is a clear subversion of the democratic process by Pental to suit his own wishes and this is not the done thing and teachers do not approve of this. Further, this is not the first case where the university process has been subverted, there have been many more cases recently.” The DTF informs in a toughly worded statement that, “so pleased was Prof Pental to please the powers that be in conferring an honorary degree on the Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Gordon Brown, that when he found that only 15-odd members out of 280 members present raised their hands in support for his proposal, he refused to count the votes against the proposal. He simply declared that the proposal was accepted and moved on to the next item on the agenda. He refused to respond the demand by members to complete the process of decision making by counting the votes against and abstention on the proposal.” This is probably the first time that a vice-chancellor has chosen to substitute his decision for that of the supreme authority of the university, the court. Teachers of the university have taken a decision to represent to the chancellor of the university, the Vice President of India about the gross misconduct of the vice-chancellor in conducting the meeting of the court on January 15. Teachers and academicians feel that the vice-chancellor has flouted the procedure for decision making and dishonoured the opinion of the university court against conferring honorary degree on Gordon Brown. In doing so he has undermined the image of the university. The DTF has warned the vice-chancellor against misrepresenting the decision of the court and urged him not to go ahead with the proposal to confer the degree.
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Disputed plots’ sale at new rates
Noida, January 16 Should any applicant have an objection to this arrangement, his money will be refunded by Noida authority. According to authority sources, Noida Authority will initiate the procedure of taking out the draw after apex court pronounces its decision on the disputed 2004 residential scheme draw. Over 11.66 lakh applicants had filled up the forms for 1250 plots of different sizes in 2004. A computerized draw was taken out but due to alleged rigging, the draw was cancelled by the then Noida chairman Dev Dutt to save the skin of those involved. The matter was then taken to the Allahabad High Court and later to the Supreme Court which had stayed the allotments. However, the apex court had vacated the stay on November 22, 2007 and ordered a fresh draw to be conducted. CBI was ordered by the court to probe the matter. According to the departmental officers, the allottees had deposited the money at the rate of Rs 3,700 to Rs 10,800 per sq metre but now allottees will be required to deposit at rates ranging from Rs 12,000 to Rs 33,000 per sq metre. No allotment letters have been issued to the applicants, sources said. The payment will be deposited according to the circle rates prevalent on the day of allotment. Those having any objection to this arrangement are free to get their refund from Noida Authority, source said. The Noida Authority is expected to take an early decision in the matter. Maybe by month end, some notification could be issued. Sources said during 2004, draw of 1250 plots was cancelled due to some reported improprieties. Some people had taken the matter to the High Court. Finding the allegation of rigging the draw correct, the court had ordered two years ago that a fresh draw be conducted. This had given a hope to the applicants who are keenly awaiting the new date of draw.
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Traffic diversion
New Delhi, Jan 16 Traffic will flow from Lodhi Road to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Those who want to go towards Lodhi Road from the Stadium may use either the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Marg or the Bhishma Pitamaha Marg. Buses can terminate either at Lodhi Road or Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Marg. Traffic marshals will be deployed at important locations.
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Two killed in road accidents
Greater Noida, January 16 In the accident in which a child was killed, irate people had jammed the railway road in protest. The police have registered cases against the accused drivers. According to police, Vishnu of Ghori Vachhera village was on his way back to his village from Dadri. When he reached near Tilpalta power house, a tractor hit his bike. The young man received a grave injury in his head as a result of which he died on the spot. The driver abandoned his tractor and fled from the spot. In the second accident, Balbir Singh of Gopal Ganj village in Aligrh had come to meet some relatives in Noida along with his wife Savita and five-year-old son Sachin. The family was going in a bus from Noida to Dadri railway station. At a level crossing, they got down to walk to the railway station. As they were crossing the road, a container had crushed little Sachin under its wheel. The child died on the spot. The tractor driver sped towards Kailashpur village with his tractor. When some people gave him a chase, he abandoned the container and fled away. Angry people jammed the railway road.
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Four found guilty in kidnap case
Faridabad, January 16 The court of District and Sessions Judge may announce the punishment on Monday. The incident, which occurred on February 30 last year, was much talked about in business circles. The complaint on the basis of which criminal case was registered and on which basis the court held out a trial, was that five persons Om Pal, Yashpal, Babu Khana, Gajey Khan Krishan Pandey and Arvind kidnapped a businessman, Rajesh Bansal, when he asked them rent for a machine hired out to them. When pestered for money, the five allegedly turned up with weapons and told him to forget about it. When Bansal tried to lodge a complaint in the police station, he was waylaid and kidnapped. When the matter reached the police, they launched a search for him and finally rescued him. The court held Om Pal, Krishan Pandey, Babu Khan and Arvind guilty of the charge. While one of the accused has been held not guilty, Yashpal is a bail jumper.
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Children emissaries of Taj city
Agra, January 16 This is the first serious initiative by government agencies in combination with local tourism bodies to present a positive image of the city and involve the common man in the “dollar-minting tourism business”, as many see it. Additional district magistrate Rajeev Rautela, who heads the organising committee of the Tourism Awareness Week celebrations, set the ball rolling Wednesday afternoon at the “Run for Tourism” race from the Eklavya Stadium to the Taj Mahal, joined by thousands of colourfully-attired children from 30 schools. Rautela said the Indian Industries’ Association, Agra Vikas Manch, Tourism Guild, Federation of Travel Associations and several other bodies were supporting the event. In the coming days, there will be painting contests focusing on tourism, debates, quizzes, human chains and singing competitions. “The idea is to tell the people of Agra that they too have a stake in tourism promotion and the industry belongs to everyone,” said a hotelier. In another event, thousands of students took part in an essay-writing contest. The subject was “How to Make Agra worthy of Taj Mahal”. On Sunday, the Agra Cartoon Forum is organising its annual contest. Children will draw cartoons on local civic problems, said forum president Manohar Gidwani. “With so many institutions and professional bodies getting serious about changing the profile of Agra, which made the news in 2007 with curfews, riots, rapes and snatching, it was time to move ahead with confidence and present a better perspective of this historical city,” said Rakesh Chauhan, president of the Hotels’ and Restaurants’ Association in Agra.—IANS |
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Tools engineering institute being set up
New Delhi, January 16 A senior government official recently informed, “we observed that the activities of the two institutes were overlapping and therefore it became necessary to merge them for better output.” “We currently have over 18 tool room centres and institutes across the country, but none of these offer degree courses except short-term and diploma courses in the subject,” the official further said. “Our industrial machines and equipments at the two centres at Okhla and Wazirpur will be updated to provide theoretical and practical training to students”, he added. A panel of experts has been appointed to prepare a project report on the plan. |
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Choa Kok’s set of 10 books
released
New Delhi, January 16 These books on spirituality are entitled “Advanced Pranic Healing” (healing with colour pranas), “Inner Teachings of Hinduism Revealed” (why does Lord Ganesha have an elephant head?), “Pranic Crystal Healing” (rediscover the wonderful practical uses of crystals and make them work for your well-being). The others in this series are entitled “Practical Psychic Self Defence For Home and Office” (how businessmen can protect themselves from psychic pollution), “Pranic Psychotherapy” (effective guide in treating anxiety, depression), “The Ancient Science and Art of Pranic Healing” (a must for the serious spiritual healer). The other titles are “The Origin of Modern Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga” (roots of Pranic healing, grand master Choa’s autobiography), “The Existence of God is Self Evident” (54 sutras for daily spiritual expansion of your mind), “Achieving Oneness with the Higher Soul” (Kundalini Energy, and “Super Brain Yoga” (ancient Indian technique of increasing brain power). According to the publishers, grand master Choa Kok Sui’s books are read in more than 72 countries and published in 27 languages. |
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Smile surgery catching on
New Delhi, January 16 Believe it or not, after the soaring demand for silicon implants and Botox treatment for physical enhancement, more people are now turning to cosmetic surgeons for helping them smile better. A recent study in the metropolitan cities suggested that the cosmetic surgeons were in great demand for what is now being increasingly referred to as Smile Surgery. “Demand for aesthetic smile surgery has gone up in the last two years. I operate 25 to 30 patients per year, who complain of a non-photogenic face, particularly youngsters falling in the age-group of 20 to 30 years, whereas 35 to 40 patients demand for Botox treatment,” says Dr Devansh, Senior Consultant, Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon at Max Healthcare here. “Patients come to us dissatisfied with their smile, we identify the changes that can be made to enhance smile which can be lip shape, nose or chin,” adds the doctor. Lip shaping cosmetic surgery which is also a part of aesthetic surgery is done under local anesthesia with or without sedation, normally in a single sitting. “The facial abnormalities whether minimal or gross can be treated like correcting the nose, the chin, the cheek implants. All these are done after a careful evaluation which will create a ‘photogenic face’, as demanded by the patients,” says the surgeon. However, in severe cases, orthodontics treatment may be needed, which is required to correct jaw and teeth misalignment. This treatment should be undertaken after discussing it with a plastic & cosmetic surgeon, points out Dr Devansh.
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Schoolkids injured in road mishap
New Delhi, January 16 All injured students were rushed to a nearby hospital where condition of three is said to be critical. According to the police sources, the driver of the bus has been arrested and a case of negligent driving has been registered against him. |
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