The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood

	Desealing order challenged S S Negi Legal Correspondent New Delhi, February 5 The Centre’s latest notification aimed at giving blanket relief to property owners in the Capital’s residential areas against the Supreme Court-ordered sealing even if they were built up in violation of bylaws, is bound to be scrutinised by the court as its validity was today challenged in a petition. On the other hand, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) armed with the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) notification of January 30, filed an affidavit seeking permission of the court for implementing its provisions. The notification provided for desealing of farmhouses, warehouses, godowns on agriculture land and commercial establishments in residential colonies sealed under the apex court’s series of orders issued after March 2006. The notification extended the relief to property owners beyond the existing MCD jurisdiction, to village “abadis” and their further extension. This virtually attempted to provide relief to all and every property owners within the NCT territory, irrespective of the fact whether they were construction illegally by encroaching upon public land or in violation of the bylaws. The government has given the safety cover of Delhi Master Plan, 2021 to provide such relief. Under the Master Plan, the government has declared that over 1500 unauthorised colonies in the city would be regularised. Residents’ body Delhi Pradesh Citizens Council (DPCC), which had initiated the litigation against illegal commercial complexes in residential areas through a PIL, today moved a fresh petition challenging the Ministry of Urban Development’s January 30 notification for desealing of all sealed properties. DPCC counsel Jasbir Malik, in the petition sought quashing of the notification, terming it “illegal, unconstitutional, arbitrary and unjust” and till final judgement in the case stay its operation in an interim order. The DPCC alleged that the notification was nothing but a “colourable exercise” of power by the executive to circumvent the orders of the apex court. By the notification, the government was attempting to “legalise all illegal” commercial ventures in the residential area, creating a mess in the city and not confining its action to the existing zones but extending the immunity to those areas which were not even fully developed, it said. As MCD wanted to implement the notification, the Supreme Court appointed committee monitoring the sealing operation, had put its foot down saying the civic body could not do so as the sealing was effected by a series of judicial orders for closure of illegal commercial ventures in residential areas. The court after the government had passed two legislations — the Delhi Laws (Special Powers) Act, 2006 and Delhi Laws (Special Posers) Act 2007 – providing relief to commercial ventures in a vast area of the Capital, had modified its order from time to time. In view of the two Acts, the court had confined the sealing operation to major commercial ventures only in the road and streets not covered under them while exempting 26 types of small trades from being covered under orders. The court is scheduled to take up the hearing in the sensitive case on February 13.
	Lid off murder case, one held Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 5 With the arrest of Shaukat, resident of Chimni Mill, Filmistan, the North District police has solved a blind murder case of Mohd. Nuruzamm, alias Dalip, which took place on January 21 under Sarai Rohilla police station area. Blood-stained clothes of the deceased have been recovered from his possession. A PCR call had received a call regarding a body lying near Platform No. 4, Daya Basti Railway Station on January 23. On reaching the spot, it was found that a body of an unidentified male aged about 25/26 years, height approx 5`8”, wheatish complexion, wearing pant-shirt and jacket was lying near the Railway Lines, Daya Basti Railway Station. The body had multiple injuries on its face. It could not be identified. The body was shown to a large number of residents and passers-by. More then 1,000 pamphlets having photo of the body were distributed in the nearby areas to get the identity of the deceased established. A few days later, one Fajlu Rehman and Mohd. Bediuzamma, who were the uncle and cousin of the deceased, came forward and identified the clothes of the deceased. He was identified as Mohd. Nuruzamm, alias Dalip, of village Bhitti Salempur, District Madhubani (Bihar). Once the identity of the deceased was established, the police team started searching for further clues. During investigation, it was revealed that the deceased was last seen with one Shauket, resident of Chimni Mills near Filmistan, Delhi. Search of Shauket was immediately started but he could not be traced. Local sources and informers were deployed which led to the arrest of Shaukat. Accused Shaukat disclosed that he had been HIV positive for the last two years and he had met the deceased on the day of Moharram at Zakhira flyover. The deceased Dalip was drunk. Shaukat admitted that he was homosexual. He asked Dalip along with one Salim for more liquor. Dalip went with them and at about 10.30 pm, they reached near Railway Station, Daya Basti. Both of them had meanwhile planned to commit sodomy on the deceased. They both tried to remove his pants as the deceased objected. A scuffle ensued between them. Shaukat picked up a heavy stone lying nearby and hit Dalip’s face a couple of times and fled away. On the disclosure of Shaukat, the blood-stained clothes were recovered from his house and he was also identified by several witnesses who had seen the deceased with Shaukat. They were going towards the site where the body was recovered.
	Hunt on to nab Chhatrapal Noida, February 5 Police on Tuesday raided various hideouts in Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Noida and Greater Noida in bid to nab Chhatrapal, the kidnapper of Anant, son of Naresh Gupta, Adobe’s India chief. Chhatrapal on Monday managed to flee from police custody while being produced in the court of the chief judicial magistrate. He slipped out of the handcuffs, when two Noida police constables, Bhagwati Prasad and Karamveer, were taking him to the local court. Noida Superintendent of Police Paresh Kumar Pandey told IANS that seven teams had been set up to nab Chhatrapal. “We would nab him soon,” Pandey said. He said Chhatrapal was in love with two women, one living in Baghpat and the other one in Noida. Police was maintaining strict vigil in these areas with the hope that the kidnapper would certainly show up to meet the women. “We have also sought the help of the special operation group (SOG), a specialized group of the dedicated police officers, to nab Chhatrapal,” Pandey said. About the possible dismissal of the two erring constables, Pandey said that he had recommended their dismissal. “A criminal case has been filed against the two constables,” Pandey said. Adobe CEO had paid a ransom of Rs 5 million to Chhatrapal, who kidnapped Anant on Nov 13, 2006 from outside his Sector-15A residence. Police, however, cracked the case only after a few days by arresting Chhatrapal and his two accomplices. Police recovered Rs 4.7 million from them. — IANS
	CM promises priority to Games schemes Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 5 Delhi Chief Minister has stated that first and foremost priority of the Delhi government for the Annual Plan 2008-09 will be timely execution of all the projects or schemes directly or indirectly related to Commonwealth Games-2010. Delhi has made landmark achievements in its development process despite limitations of the state government in the most crucial areas like land, law and order etc, she said. Addressing the third meeting of the Planning Board of Delhi, the Chief Minister said that construction of houses for economically weaker sections will be the next priority programme for the Annual Plan 2008-09. The construction of these houses has already been started and will pick up the pace during 2008-09. Another thrust area for the next Annual Plan is to provide all essential civic amenities like roads, drains, water supply, sewerage, street lights, parks, sanitation services, health care and educational facilities in unauthorized colonies going to be regularized. Delhi Slum Development Board and a special purpose vehicle for development of Shajahanabad heritage area are two major new initiatives of the government under urban development sector. Transport will continue to be the first priority sector during Annual Plan 2008-09 followed by urban development, water supply and sanitation, education, medical and public health and energy. In the field of education, programmes of the government to make Delhi a knowledge hub for the country with the setting up of Ambedkar University, National University of Law School, IIIT, Delhi Knowledge Development Foundation, Science and Technology Park, new engineering and medical colleges was appreciated by all members of the Planning Board. Dikshit assured the members of the board that the government would take all necessary steps for implementation of their suggestions by providing them a proper shape of plan projects. The members of the board made various suggestions and also appreciated new programmes proposed by Delhi government for the Annual Plan 2008-09. Some of the suggestions made were to promote public and private participation (PPP) approach in providing tertiary health care services to the citizens of Delhi, involvement of NGOs to take care of school drop-outs, more sports infrastructure facilities in the rural areas of Delhi, research-oriented studies on the problems of mega cities like Delhi with reference to better land use, infrastructure and mega city development projects, integrated development of entire National Capital Region, etc.
	Court proposes panel on Games village New Delhi, February 5 The Delhi High Court Tuesday suggested the Central government to constitute a monitoring committee to oversee the ecological aspects of the construction of the Commonwealth Games village here. A bench headed by Justice A.K. Sikri and Rekha Sharma asked the government to see if a committee could be constituted after a petition by environmentalist Rajinder Singh alleged the construction of the village on the Yamuna riverbed might harm the eco-system. “You (government) think over it again and let us know if R.K. Pachauri, chairman of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), would like to head this committee,” the court said and asked the government to reply in two days. The court’s contention of setting up a committee came soon after the government pleaded before it that the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) had recently given a green signal to the project for the Commonwealth Games New Delhi will host in 2010. The government also said it was taking every possible step to ensure that the construction will not harm the eco-system of the riverbed. — IANS
	DUTA dharna against Thampu Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 5 Over 500 teachers and karamcharis of Delhi University turned up at a dharna organized by the DUTA this Tuesday at St Stephen’s College. Many of the teachers staging the protest were from St Stephen’s College. Teachers were registering their protest against the curbs on “freedom of expression” imposed by Rev Valson Thampu, the OSD or acting principal at Stephen’s. Thampu is also being accused of “harassing” junior female colleagues. The immediate cause of the agitation is Thampu issuing show -cause notices against two senior colleagues, Sangeeta Luthra Sharma and Dr Tasneem Suhrawardy of the department of history. The DUTA is of the opinion that “this senseless act of desperation springs from Thampu’s attempts to cover up on his own limitations, that is the illegality of his appointment as OSD in contravention of the Delhi University ordinances XXIV and XVIII. Further, president, DUTA, Aditya Narayana Misra informs that, “the NCMEI or the National Commission for Minoroties Educational Institutions supports our stand and has stated that the appointment of Rev. Valson Thampu as OSD is patently illegal and inoperative. His appointment cannot be justified under the clock of minority autonomy.” DUTA further informs that an increasingly desperate Thampu in a bid to cover up his limitation and to meet the minimum eligibility requirements for principal “has managed to obtain some kind of a PHD degree in Theology, from a university whose name has not been revealed yet.” The DUTA further assert that, “this mysterious PHD has been procured violating all rules and norms of UGC which require a minimum period of full enrolment of atleast two years.” Mishra also argues that Thampu has been targeting women amongst the college employees “for uncalled for explanations” and this amounts to “harassment.” The DUTA’s next protest action will be a dharna at VC office on February 8 to demand the unconditional withdrawal of show-cause notices to two women colleagues at St Stephen’s and also for the appointment of an eligible principal at St Stephen’s as now directed by the NCMEI.
	Gang involved in gas pilferage busted Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 5 With the arrest of Anil Kumar Sharma, resident of Pauri Garhwal and Bhushan Kumar Singh of Vaishali, Bihar, Anti-Auto Theft Squad, East District has busted a gang of cylinder deliverymen who were indulging in filling the empty cooking gas cylinders from filled cylinders with the help of iron pipes, thereby cheating the customers who were unaware of the reduced quantity. Fifteen gas cylinders, one iron pipe, two weighing machines and three cycles have been recovered from their possession. Inspector Jagdish Prasad, incharge AATS/East along with other staff was on vehicle checking spree in the area of Mandawali when he got information that two persons were filling empty LPG cylinders with the help of iron pipe from sealed cylinders. A party was formed under the supervision of inspector Jagdish Prasad and a raid was conducted at Khusboo Light House, Shop No. 429, Main Road, Mandawali. The two persons who were refilling empty gas cylinders with the help of iron pipes from sealed cylinders were apprehended on the spot. The accused persons disclosed that they used to collect sealed LPG domestic gas cylinders from the godown of Divya Jyoti Gas Agency, Shiv Shakti Complex, East Vinod Nagar for supply to domestic customers in the area of Mandawali, Vinod Nagar and IP Extension. They revealed that they used to take 2-3 kg gas from a filled cylinder and prepare 20-25 gas cylinders every day. They used to sell these cylinders to dhabas, restaurants and other needy customers at a higher price.
	Plan size has negative growth: Mukhi Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 5 In comparison to the last year’s development plan of the city, the plan size for the year 2008-2009 has negative growth, said leader of opposition in Delhi Assembly, Professor Jagdish Mukhi. At a meeting of the Planning Board held here today Rs 9,000 crore has been allocated for development of the city during the current year. This amount is equal to the amount allocated last year. This year’s amount includes the funds meant for development projects of Commonwealth Games 2010. While allocating fund for development, six per cent inflation rate has not been considered. If money for development of projects for Commonwealth Games and inflation are reduced from the current year’s plan size, the allocated amount will be less than last year’s. This year’s plan size has 18 per cent loss, Mukhi said. While citizens of the Capital are being assured that with the Commonwealth Games, there will be massive growth in the development of city, sector-wise proposed outlay clearly shows that agriculture, rural development, irrigation and flood control were the first victims for the reduction in the Plan Size. Plan Outlay for agriculture has been reduced from Rs 22.8 crore to Rs 15.9 crore, flood control has been reduced from Rs 49 crore to Rs 33.6 crore, energy from Rs 1,250 crore to mere Rs 615.65 crore, industry from 263.5 crore to Rs 244 crore, environment from Rs 17.25 crore to Rs 9.05 crore only, for medical and public health from Rs 922 crore to Rs 822.8 crore, technical education also stand reduced by Rs 10 crore. Instead of consisting of the real scheme of development, Plan Outlay has been reduced to a booklet of pre-election promises. Many of the schemes of previous years have not even been named, said leader of opposition in Delhi Assembly.
	Material show of 40 artists Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 5 Time and Material, a group exhibition of more than 70 sculptures embracing the ubiquitous human form by 40leading Indian sculptors is presently underway at The Stainless Gallery here. India’s artistic heritage is one heavily dominated by a sculptural tradition. From the practical and decorative terracotta pieces of the Indus Valley Civilization to the intricate temple art of Mahabalipuram, Konarak and Khajuraho, the renowned bronzes of the Chola and Gupta periods, and the non-figurative stone-work adorning Mughal monuments, sculpture flourished as an art form in pre-colonial India. Marking the presence of modern India, sculptors began to push the traditional media of their genre to take on new forms. Wood was smoked, burnt and assembled. Metal was not only cast, but etched, embossed, moulded, beaten and welded into shape in the hands of sculptors. These trends continued through the 1970s and early 80s, when students of the early moderns took up their cause to champion the freedom of expression, as their teachers retired. Vikram Bachhawat of Aakriti Art Gallery says, “This sculpture show embraces notions of both the primitive & the modern - earthiness, naturalness, directness, abstraction & the surreal. They are wrought from materials such as brass, copper, iron, bronze, mud and papier-mâché which make for its wonderful richness of colour & light. The variety of medium and form is of utmost importance in sculptures as is proportion. One has to make a concerted effort to bring in a wide spectrum of artists, which was no mean task for us, but the challenge seemed worth taking.” Bhavna Kakar of Art Konsult says, “These sculptors take references from their life experiences, personal accounts and observations, initiating a sequence of activating the viewer through a cerebral engagement. The one common feature in this exhibition is an ubiquitous human presence in most of the participant’s work.” Jehangir Jani, known for his leather sculptures says about his work, “I try to look under the skin of myths, beliefs and predictably come up with ridiculous bases or sacrilegious interpretations. When I see something that has possibilities, my mind starts working on how I can bring it to shape & form.” He doesn’t impose but rather allows each piece to reveal itself as it comes alive beneath his hands. His presentation for the current show, however are executed in fiber glass. Akhil Chandra Das has been working on wood especially mahogany and bronze since ‘93. His subjects are romantic, partly mythical and sometimes probably betraying his self. Based in Kolkata currently, he is exhibiting two of his sculptures titled Warrior and My World. Speaking about his work he says, “Warrior is based on the age-old Naga tradition where warriors cut off the head of their enemies and wear it around their neck to boast about the number of people they have killed. As for My World, it depicts the beauty an individual can find in solitude.” Kanta Kishore Moharana’s sculptures in wood and bronze showcase the conditions of the contemporary society through a tongue-in-cheek portrayal using newspaper headlines. Anil Sen too works in bronze and chooses to portray the feminine presence in body or in portrait. His forms are indifferent towards any particular character and are representative of either his or the male fantasies around the female body. For example, in his work titled ‘She’, he has resorted to a combination of flat & curve surfaces merging in sharp angular lines. Asim Basu’s human forms talk of a deeply felt naturalism that makes his style so specific and convincing. He attempts to depict acute feelings of human suffering. Gusty Wind & Man In Deep Sleep are ideal examples of this attitude. If on one hand, a man sturdily holds on to his umbrella against the powerful force of the wind, then, on the other hand a working man is sleeping on a bench peacefully without a care of what’s going around him is depicted. One can see the sculptor perfectly and beautifully merging life & nature. A well known name in contemporary Indian sculpture, Chinthala Jagdish uses papier-mâché to create his sculptures. His works are either columnar figures or masks, painted usually in high key palette. Jagdish deals with universal, intimate and human emotions. The charm of his sculptures lies in their simplicity which is so inherently alive as to vitiate all criticism. A master over terracotta, Shyamal Roy contemporaneity lies in the choice of themes that stresses on human behaviour from his surrounding ambience. His expressions in clay are in tune with the terracotta traditions intrinsically part of his cultural heritage, which he takes a step forward through individual interpretation. Shiv Verma, born in a small village in Bastar, showcases works influenced by the region’s traditional art. His works in iron, bronze and local mud, are all about transgenic vegetables and fruits; which includes both the folk elements and interference of external forces like science and technology.
	AIT cultural festival held Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 5 Ansal Institute of Technology (AIT) celebrated its Eighth Annual Cultural Festival-MANTHAN 2K8 with much fervour as the students put up spectacular extravaganza at the AIT campus. The festival was inaugurated by Prof. Sudhir Mehta, associate vice-president (Academic Affairs) and Prof. Eugene Berry, associate professor, Dept. of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences, NDSU, USA. As depicted by the name, the festival aimed at bringing the hidden talents of the students to the forefront through events like management quiz competition, talent hunt, choreography, 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 2K8 held at AIT Campus in Gurgaon. The chief guest was Adnan Siddiqui, counselor for Cultural Affairs, US Embassy, Delhi. Prof. M.P.Singh, director AIT, lauded the efforts of the staff and faculty members in fostering the sporting talent among students. The students and teachers fraternity did their best to make “MANTHAN 2K8” a great event. The fest was beautiful synchronization of the cultural and academic elements. The two-day fest had a mix of literary and cultural events.