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40-yr-long struggle for regaining job continues
BRT corridor opening on May 1
Landlords can evict shop tenants: SC
Traders, millers decry govt action
2 held with fake notes
Mayor peeved over no invite for torch run
Jewellery stolen
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Fake encounter
Agra’s neglected monuments
Contact lenses are o.k.
Mediator attacked
One Noida cop for 1900 persons
Kids gain from rise in parents’ income
IIT Delhi to display innovations
IGNOU to launch 2 courses
TV scribe attacked in road rage
208 illegal colonies to
be regularised
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40-yr-long struggle for regaining job continues
New Delhi, April 18 As an assistant school inspector in Jalaun district in 1971, he came across an incriminating evidence of financial irregularities against a few government employees. While preparing a report, the director asked him to drop certain names. Gautam refused to comply with. He was transferred and suspended without notice. Senior officers of the education department in Lucknow gave him nothing beyond assurances. Years flew by. Gautam approached the Supreme Court in 1983. In 1986, the SC asked the UP government to give him a job in sync with his experience and education. “The government did not respond to the SC notice and kept on dilly -dallying the matter. After years it offered to give me a clerk’s position. Since it was well below by my education and experience, I refused it”, says Gautam. He again approached the SC .On the court’s reminder of its earlier order, the UP government gave an undertaking to appoint Gautam as an ad hoc history teacher in a college. “They gave the undertaking but did not follow it. My pleas to Chief Ministers and Prime Minister’s have not been aqble to get me a job . How did you carry on the running around without any source of income? “My wife was given a job by Indira Gandhi in wake of my matter being sub-judice on humanitarian grounds. She also alloted a house to her in which we have been staying in all these years”, told Gautam. Following his wife’s retirement the government has issued her a notice to evacuate the house. Her meager pension being their only source of income, Guatam wants the case to be referred to cabinet committee for accommodation for a favourable consideration. I have met the ministers concerned but have not yet received any response, says he. Gautam is now planning to meet Rahul Gandhi, MP, to request him to use the house.
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BRT corridor opening on May 1
New Delhi, April 18 The corridor, to be built from Ambedkar Nagar to Delhi Gate, was delayed due to some problems. The work was stopped to make parking arrangement for vehicles at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. High-capacity buses will run on the corridor from Ambedkar Nagar to Moolchand that is 6.8 kilometre stretch. Sometimes technical snag in vehicles cause traffic jams. The government will provide two cranes to deal with the situation. To avoid traffic jams the left turn from Chirag Dilli to Nehru Place is likely to be closed. Traffic going for Nehru Place will take U-turn from Panchsheel. The decision for corridor construction was taken keeping in view the topography of the area where a few villages are located and stray cattle roam the roads. If the animals continue to roam, they can cause accidents. The government has discussed the issue with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
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Landlords can evict shop tenants: SC
New Delhi, April 18 “No doubt the citizens are divided over the issue. Tenants are not happy with the ruling but the landlords regard it as a landmark“,said Atul Goyal, convenor, United Residents Joint Action (URJA), an apex body of the RWAs. “The arguments that tenants most of them are traders had paid advance money (pagri) at that time of occupying the property does not hold good, as they had been paying only five per cent rental value”, said Varinder Arora of People’s Action. “Now that even house tax is more than the annual rent being collected by the landlord. Maintenance and conversion and parking charges levied by the MCD are also paid by the landlords” , said V.N.Bali of Ram Vihar RWA. “Vested interests of traders or tenants had earlier scuttled the Delhi Rent Control (amendment)bill (1995) passed by Parliament and signed by President. This could not be notified under political pressure. Now it stands suspended” ,said R.L.Dua , president, Old Rajender Nagar RWA.
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Traders, millers decry govt action
New Delhi, April 18 The government has registered FIRs against 33 traders in Lawrence Road, Naya Bazar and Khari Bawli. “We have no role in the rising prices of essential food items. The cost of grains including pulses, besan and sugar are down by five to ten per cent this year as compared to the same period last year. Most traders against whom cases have been filed have stocks within prescribed limits. The government is harassing the traders under the Essential Commodities Act,” said Ashok Gupta, president, Daal & Besan Millers Association. “The charges being framed under the ECA include not displaying prices of the stocks and other petty issues. Both the Central and state governments have failed to check the prices of essential commodities,” said OP Jain, president, Delhi Grain Merchant Association. “Wholesale prices of pulses, other cereals and flour are down by five to ten per cent in the last couple of months. Foodgrain retail stores are also helping in checking prices of essential kitchen items,” added Ashok Gupta. “We support the government in bringing down the prices,” he added. “We are open to checks for our stocks and no trader wants to hoard items in today’s fluctuating market,” Gupta said.
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2 held with fake notes
New Delhi, April 18 Alok Kumar, DCP, special cell said that fake currency notes worth Rs 1,80,000 were seized from the two. Mohammad Iqbal was arrested from Anand Vihar bus stand. Fake notes worth Rs 1,70,000 in denomination of Rs 500 were recovered from him. On his instance, Furkan was arrested from Panipat. Fake currency notes worth Rs 10,000 was recovered from him. Alok Kumar said that Furkan supplied fake notes to Iqbal from West Bengal. Iqbal had transferred fake currency worth Rs 3 lakh in the market in last three months. |
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Mayor peeved over no invite for torch run
New Delhi, April 18 While Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit were present at Rajpath, Mehra was conspicuous by her absence. Mehra told newsmen that this was not the first time that she had been excluded from an official function. One of the reasons could be that she belongs to the Bhartiya Janata Party while the Congress is at the helm of affairs of the government, she said. Officials said that political affiliation notwithstanding, the first citizen of the national Capital commanded a certain place in the official protocol and should be invited for all official functions. Some Indian Olympic Association officials said that it was an oversight as they were too involved in ensuring the safety of the run. |
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Jewellery stolen
New Delhi, April 18 He was sleeping on the third floor of his house when the theft took place at the ground floor. “When I came down in the morning, I found that the front door lock broken and the almirah open. Gold jewellery and silver coins kept there were missing,” said Satya Prakash. “I had recently got them made for the marriages of my children,” he added. “No place other than the almirah has been touched by the thieves. They seem to be aware of jewellery in the house,” said a police official. |
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Fake encounter
Ghaziabad, April 18 Special judicial magistrate Sapna Mishra has ordered to book the policemen under Sections 302, 364, 147, 148, 149 and 120b of the Indian Penal Code. She asked that the policemen be presented before the court within three months. The accused policemen include Niwadi police station in-charge Mukesh Gautam, two sub-inspectors and six constables. According to sources, Mukesh Kumar Gautam then posted as SSI at Sihani Gate police station, Ghaziabad; SI Jatinder Singh and Nirmal Singh along with six constables picked-up Salim from Ghaziabad bus stand. He had come to Ghaziabad along with his friends for some work. Salim was a resident of Meerut. Other accused policemen include Ashok Kumar, Anup Singh, Omkar Singh, Brij Pal Singh, driver Jayveer Singh and Subash Yadav. Nirmal Singh is the in-charge of Nehru Nagar police post and Omkar Singh is posted as an inspector at Sihani Gate police station, Ghaziabad.
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Agra’s neglected monuments
Agra, April 18 Local historians point out dozens of structures that need immediate attention and repairs. “Our total approach has been Taj-centric, paying very little attention to other historical monuments like Babar’s Ram Bagh or Chini ka Roza. Several important monuments including the Jama Masjid of Agra and the tomb of Rasul Shah in Fatehpur Sikri have been wilfully neglected,” said R Nath, a Mughal historian. Amit Mukherjea, head of the history department at St John’s College, says the Jama Masjid, overlooking the Agra Fort, is crying for attention. “It has been under repair for years, and god alone knows when the total renovation and maintenance work of this beautiful structure will end.” “The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is neither following guidelines drawn up in various manuals nor adhering to the Unesco rules for heritage monuments. Some buildings in the Agra Fort complex are still under repair and not open to public, without justification and in blatant violation of the 1958 Act,” he added. Conservationists feel that except for the Taj Mahal other lesser-known monuments are in a shambles calling for urgent restoration work. The ASI in the Agra circle has close to 400 protected monuments under its charge. “Ritualistically celebrating World Heritage Day without doing anything tangible other than allowing free entry to the monuments makes no sense as half a dozen other recommendations of the International Council for Monuments and Sites (Icomos) as also of the Unesco have not been implemented,” said Surendra Sharma, president of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society. Superintending Archaeologist DN Dimri denied these charges and said all the monuments in the Agra circle are being properly maintained. So many delegations and even members of parliament have appreciated the ASI’s work, he added. The ASI has announced ticket free entry to the Taj Mahal and other monuments on World Heritage Day. — IANS
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Contact lenses are o.k.
New Delhi, April 18 He said that it was due to the myths associated with contact lenses that many people prefer using spectacles even if they find them uncomfortable. Soft contact lenses are so precisely designed that the wearer forgets about wearing contacts within minutes. He considered taking care of lenses — a hassle, as myth. Compared to any other vision correction aid, contact lenses were easiest to take care of. He added that it was also not true that regular use of contact lenses could harm the eyes. The material used for manufacturing lenses is soft and there are no chances of damaging the eyes. |
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Mediator attacked
Faridabad, April 18 The victim, , also a real estate agent, was attacked by the Faridpur resident’s men. In his report with Sadar police station, Ballabgarh, he has said that the Faridpur resident had called him to his office in the village for talks. At the boundary of the village his henchmen attacked him. They also opened fire, but he managed to escape. The victim has received head injuries and has been admitted to the civil hospital in
Faridabad. The police has not yet registered a case.
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One Noida cop for 1900 persons
Noida, April 18 This is inadequate as the town’s population has reportedly increased 50 times in the past decade.
While foreign companies have invested billions of rupees in Noida, the state government does not tire of claiming Noida belt has a fool-proof security, not withstanding series of serious and gruesome crimes that take place at regular intervals. The political leaders and police top brass have also been talking of introducing the Delhi pattern of police set up in Noida and Greater Noida for the past 10 years. In Gautam Budh Nagar district, comprising Noida and Greater Noida divisions, there are 1070 cops. Of these 350 are deployed in police offices, while 406 cops, 57 head constables, 93 sub- inspectors and one inspector are deployed in Noida city. Six police stations are manned by 30 cops, 18 cops are on duty in courts and 12 are on sentry duty. After all these, whatever force is left is deployed for the safety and security of the people. In short, some 316 cops are responsible for the security of 6 lakh Noida residents. Apart from maintaining law and order, tackling crime and protests they have to take care of VIP security. According to SSP A Satish Ganesh ,police personnel at police stations and police posts are posted as per the total constabulary made available by the state administration. |
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Kids gain from rise in parents’ income
New Delhi, April 18 It is directly related to the increase in your income level, points out a survey conducted by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). The survey ‘Trends of Pocket Money in Urban Areas’ was recently conducted in the Capital and other metro cities, where over 2,500 schoolchildren in various age groups were interviewed. The pocket money of schoolchildren between 10 to 17 years of age group has risen by over six times. From an average Rs 300 per month ten years ago, it has shot up to Rs 1,800 because of increase in income levels of parents. The allocation of pocket money varies with age and gender. The survey states that over 65% children between 15 and 17 years receive an average of Rs 350 per week, compared to Rs 200 for those aged between 12 and to 15 years. Older children are more likely to get weekly pocket money (71%) as compared to younger children (68%). Girls between 15 to 17 years receive more pocket money than their male counterparts. Children between 15 to 17 years are more likely to receive pocket money from their parents (84 per cent), compared with those aged 10 to 14 years (70 per cent). Older girls are also more likely to receive money for doing well at school or in exams. Some 22% of girls between 12 to 16 years are rewarded for academic achievements as compared to just 14% boys in the same age group. Girls mostly spend on clothes. Girls between 12 to 16 years spend up to 58% per week on clothes, the highest of any category. They spend 25% of their money on toiletries and cosmetics while, boys spend only 5% of their money on these. Boys spend the most on computer games and equipment. They spend over 56 per cent of their pocket money on computer games and gadgets. Whereas girls spend merely 4% on these. The rise is contributed to technological advances and changing eating habits of the generation. Most of the money is spent on mobile phones, computer games/MP3 players, DVDs and videos. A sizeable portion is also spent on eatables and clothes. More children are purchasing DVDs, videos and computer games, which indicate the growing popularity of the Internet and gaming, equipment like — iPods, laptops, mobile phones and play station. The survey indicates that personal appearance is also important and children spend a sizeable amount each week on clothes (55%), mobile phones (45%), going out (23%), perfumes and deodorants (10%), face creams (8%) and hair oil (5%). An average of 24% of children interviewed said that their pocket money increased once a year, while 6% said that it goes up more than four times a year. Over 26% said the timing of any increase varies, while 22% said that their pocket money never goes up. Birthdays are the most common time for parents to increase the amount, with 33 per cent of children receiving more as they get older. Most children said they do not save their pocket money for anything in particular – 54% said that they had nothing in mind to spend their savings on. Of the 46% children, who save their pocket money, tend to spend on computer games and holidays. This generation of young consumers has very different spending habits and tastes as compared to those a decade ago. In 2008, children are most likely to spend on sweets, chocolates and crisps (73 per cent), drinks (63 per cent) and going out (58 per cent). The survey found that with increasing modernisation, the child has emerged as a powerful influencer on most family indulgence purchases. The trend increases, as the child grows older. The survey says that with progressing age (10 to 13 years) comes a need for more independence, a need to be recognised as individuals and to be treated as grown-ups.
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IIT Delhi to display innovations
New Delhi, April 18 “Over decades we have achieved excellence in education and it is time to become famous by an image makeover,” said M. Balakrishnan, dean, post-graduate studies and research at IIT-Delhi. “It’s a temple of learning and we need to spread this message through displaying our innovations,” Balakrishnan told IANS. “To showcase our work, we are going to display 275 innovations on Saturday. We have invited industries, experts, schools and colleges to attend the event.” From a disaster resistant house prototype to a smart cane for the blind, from a formula one car to robots and alternative fuel-run vehicles, these innovations of IIT Delhi students and their professors will be put on display. “Anyone can come, ask questions and participate in our special lectures,” said Subrat Kar, a professor and in charge of the I2tech event. Kar said that people must know what IIT Delhi is doing. “When we talk about famous institutes, names like MIT, Stanford and Oxford come to our mind. Why cannot we become like them?” Professors said that IITs were providing quality education like any top international institutes or universities but “some how they are more famous. It’s a matter of image building”. Kar said that ITT would try to attract as many students as possible to interact through a special programme called “talk to our faculty”. Kar said they would tell schools how to become technology savvy and run a school through free software. Sunit Tuli, associate dean of industrial research and development at IIT Delhi, said that people should know IIT innovations. “We have expertise in teaching and technology and what we need is to tell it to the world. This can give us popularity in the international arena,” Tuli added. Every year IIT Delhi gives admission to nearly 550 students in various |
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IGNOU to launch 2 courses
New Delhi, April 18 IGNOU will provide B.Com course in corporate affairs and administration and M.Com course in business policy and corporate governance. Union minister of corporate affairs Prem Chand Gupta will be the chief guest on the MoU signing ceremony. Keyoor Bakshi, president of ICSI and VN Rajasekharan Pillai, vice-chancellor of
IGNOU will attend the function. |
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TV scribe attacked in road rage
Noida, April 18 The incident took place around 11:30 p.m. yesterday at Sector 44 near Amity University police post close to the Capital. The police identified the journalist as Chandra Prakash of NDTV. Superintendent of police Rakesh Gautam said that Prakash was returning home in his car at Sector 93. While he was taking a u-turn, another car hit his car. When Prakash objected, a man from the other car - later identified as Nand Nandan, a resident of New Delhi’s Pandav Nagar - took out a rod from his car and started beating the
journalist. — IANS |
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208 illegal colonies to
be regularised
Ghaziabad, April 18 The UP administration has invited suggestions on the policy from development authorities across the state through a letter. A copy of Jaipur Development Authority’s policy is also attached. The development authorities have to post their suggestions within 15 days.
The state administration would regularise illegal colonies on priority basis. Under the new policy, development authorities have been given more power so that regularisation work could proceed speedily, said Ghaziabad Development Authority secretary Raj Kumar Sachan. The state’s approval has to be sought in trivial matters too. However, it is not amndatory in the Jaipur authority policy. The regularisation tax is also comparatively less. Development works can be completed after regularisation of the colonies. Presently, development works under MLA and MP grant can only be undertaken here. The Ghaziabad Development Authority will be able to execute its works after regularisation is
completed.
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New Delhi, April 18
