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AIIMS faculty accuses Ramadoss of favouritism
Terror strike feared on colleges, defence units
Kites, prayers mark Sankranti, Bihu
HOLY DIP: Devotees pray at Bangla Sahib Gurdwara on the occasion
of Makar Sankranti in New Delhi on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui |
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Lawyers’ strike hits work
in city courts
MCD develops waste plant
Indians making cheaper
garments now
Snoring at night may cause apnoea
Admin distorting facts on hostel
crisis: JNUSU
Delhi gets first PG
courses in homeopathy
DMC decries lack of facilities at abattoir
Power cuts in many Delhi areas today
Warm days ahead
MCD goes hi-tech
2 caught for killing friend
‘Wake-up’ call to check crime against women
World War-II veteran dies
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AIIMS faculty accuses Ramadoss of favouritism
New Delhi, January 14 Again, the minister reportedly gave a written reply in Parliament on December 12 to a question of superannuation policy that says that the age of superannuation has already been increased, when no notification had been issued by then. Sources informed that last year, four doctors were supposed to retire, including Dr Sushma Vashisth of Radiology, Dr Sudhir Bahadur of ENT, Dr Veena Kalra of Pediatrics and Dr Sampat Kumar. But, only Dr Sampat Kumar was given an extension, and in order to accommodate him in the system, a circular was issued by Shailesh Yadav, the deputy director of AIIMS stating that the superannuation benefit has been extended to those on extension as well. FAIIMS claims that in order to ensure that Dr. Sampat was eligible when the provision for extending the age bar to 65 years came through, a memorandum (dated December 30, 2008) was issued by S K Yadav, just before the expiry of Dr Sampat’s extension on December 31. “The memorandum was circulated in the institute which declared that the age of superannuation of the medical teaching faculty at AIIMS has been enhanced from 62 to 65 years, including those who are on extension in service,” remarked Dr Binod Khaitan, president of FAIIMS. However, as per the AIIMS regulation- 30, those who are on extension cannot be entitled with the benefits of superannuation and even the Rajya Sabha panel had observed that faculty on extension cannot avail the benefits of superannuation policy. Senior faculty members of AIIMS said, “The same rule ought to be applicable for everybody. Moreover, only gazetted notification can result with amendments in the Act, and the last such notification had come on February 25, 1999. Thus, his extension is illegal.” On this, AIIMS deputy director said, “All the doctors who have retired after April 28, 2008 will be granted superannuation benefit, and this date has been selected as it was on that day the file relating to the issue was moved in the health ministry. It has nothing to do with the retirement of Dr Sampat.” In this regard, the faculty of AIIMS (FAIIMS) had written a letter of protest to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on December 1, 2008, accusing the health ministry of favouritism. It alleged that the administration has violated the AIIMS code of conduct by granting undue privileges, in the form of two extensions issued on July 31 and October 30, 2008. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha panel, suggesting that the ministry should limit itself to broad policy directions to the six new AIIMS coming up across the country instead of getting entangled in the individual AIIMS, is critical of the health minister’s involvement in the internal affairs of the institute, which has led to many unfortunate situations. |
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Terror strike feared on colleges, defence units
Ghaziabad/Noida, January 14 According to sources, colleges and containers carrying petroleum products could be targeted by the Pakistani terror groups who seem to be out to create some mischief on Republic Day. A checking campaign has been started in colleges of western UP while containers carry petrol, diesel, CNG from Mathura Refinery pose a grave risk to the Agra division. The special intelligence branch,
Allahabad, is understood to have alerted Meerut and Agra divisions to show alertness and take precautions. Ordinance factory at Muradnagar and two schools in Ghaziabad are also likely to be targeted, according to intelligence agencies.
Defence establishments in Delhi and adjacent areas in western UP have also been alerted. Intelligence agencies, in a meeting with senior military authorities, have conveyed the possibility that the defence establishments or units in and around Delhi could be targeted by the terrorists on Republic Day. Some defence establishments in Ghaziabad are also at a risk of being the target of terror strike. The local intelligence units
(LIUs) are being evasive with regard to the whereabouts of 50 Pakistani nationals. The intelligence teams have, however, become alert after the arrest of an agent of Pakistan’s ISI network in Meerut a few days ago. The intelligence staff are trying to trace the Pakistanis in all the seven districts of Meerut division. The maximum number of missing Pakistani nationals has been reported from
Ghaziabad, said a senior intelligence officer. After that come Gautam Budh Nagar and
Meerut, according to the same source. Surprisingly the LIUs do not have the full details of the missing Pakistani nationals. In
G.B. Nagar (Noida) alone, 11 Pakistanis are reported to have gone underground and even their files have been closed by intelligence staff. Intelligence sources have come to know through surveillance that a dangerous ISI agent is active in Muradnagar area. The call details of this man have disclosed very alarming information. The cops are trying to trace him. Meanwhile, Pakistani citizens have adopted a new technique of crossing over to India stealthily without a passport or visa. This information has been filtered from the interrogation of some arrested people. They enter India via Bangladesh and Nepal, the sources said. These are the people who constitute maximum danger to India. Security has been beefed up recently at Nepal borders from where anybody can slip into India. |
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Kites, prayers mark Sankranti, Bihu
New Delhi, January 14 Various temples had organised a special prayer for this day. Devotees attended the morning ‘aarti’ at Kalkaji and Jhandewalan temples. While many paid their obesience to the sun god in the early morning. Devotees were seen distributing tilkut, tilba, chivda and khichri to the needy. Sweets and porridge were also distributed. “No sooner the sun lits up the sky than the poor start asking for prasad,” said Mayuri Sharma of Geeta Colony. “People offer fruit, cereals, rice, cloths and other things to the needy. Those begging alms outside the temple earn a lot on this day,” said Akash, who lives on the footpath of Hanuman Mandir in Connaught place. While there were some who celebrated the festival by donating secretly. Some families in Mayur Vihar came out during midnight and donated blankets to those sleeping on footpath without blankets/quilts. South Club at Mayur Vihar here had organised Pongal celebrations. Dressed in sarees and adorning their hair with gajra, south Indian women were found enjoying the festival. While men were clad in dhoti-kurta. White tilak on their forehead completed their ensemble. “We celebrate the festival every year. A special prasad is prepared for the day,” said Minak Unnan, secretary of South Club. Marking the winter harvest, the festival is significant for farmers. It marks a new financial year for them. Celebrated a day after Lohri, the festival is known as ‘maghi’ in Punjab. |
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Lawyers’ strike hits work
in city courts
New Delhi, January 14 With the amendments, it is no longer mandatory to arrest someone charged with an offence punishable with up to seven years in jail. Advocates across the region, which includes the towns of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Noida, Moradabad, Hisar, Bulandshahr and Alwar, were on strike. “The strike was total in the district courts of Delhi as well as the NCR region,” spokesperson for the strikers’ coordination committee Rajiv Khosla said. Lawyers representing cases listed for the day did not appear in courts while the courts adjourned the matter, he said. “The proposed amendment removing mandatory arrest provisions in the offences punishable with imprisonment up to seven years would remove fear from the minds of criminals, who will misuse the provisions under the garb of personal liberty,” he added. The bar associations of five district courts had on January 7 observed a strike to oppose the amendments. The decision to go on strike again was taken in a meeting of the coordination committee of bar associations of Delhi and various lawyers’ associations of the NCR. The advocates also disapproved the Limited Liability Partnership Bill claiming it was aimed at allowing backdoor entry of foreign lawyers into the country. A meeting of the different bar associations is going to take place on Thursday where a decision regarding an all-India strike and demonstration would be taken. The lawyers’ association has also sent a memorandum seeking withdrawal of the proposed amendments to the President and the home minister. “Harbouring of an offender of cases like Mumbai terror attacks and Batla House encounter and selling of counterfeit stamps like in Telgi scam would incur no arrest and the police would have the liberty not to arrest offenders under the Prevention of Corruption Act,” Khosla said. — IANS |
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MCD develops waste plant
New Delhi, January 14 The plant has been set up on built, operate and transfer basis, which will include collection and transportation of demolition waste from Sadar and Pahar Ganj. “The management of construction waste is a major concern due to the increasing quantum of demolition rubble, continuing shortage of dumping sites, increase in transportation and disposal cost,” said Vijender Gupta, chairman, Standing Committee. The construction waste is dumped on landfill sites, which are already running out of capacity. “We had asked the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) to carry out feasibility study on the use of construction waste in road construction. The study confirmed the waste can be used in roads works,” he said. |
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Indians making cheaper
garments now
Noida, January 14 This is considered a sequel to many units in China closing down and despite Chinese currency becoming stronger vis-a-vis dollar. The prices of Chinese products in international market had been ruling the roost—right from Chinese toys to textile and garments. But after the Olympic Games in China, hundreds of Chinese textile units have closed down. According to Lalit Thukral, UP convenor of Indian Council of Garment Exports, the wages of workers in China have gone up very sharply with the result that artisans have started returning to their villages. Besides, the Chinese trade and commerce has got the biggest jolt on account of currency. Yuan has been going from strength to strength which had given a setback to exporters. The garments manufactured in Noida for 8 dollar used to cost 4 to 5 dollars in China, says Thukral. But now the scenario has changed. The garments being manufactured in Noida for 6 dollars is costing 7 dollars in China. This has caused buyers to sit up and think twice before buying from China, says Thukral. According to garment exporter Sunil Bhargav, garment manufacturers in NCR who had cut on expenses during bad season, have helped them reduce some manufacturing costs which have given them great relief. |
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Snoring at night may cause apnoea
New Delhi, January 14 The recommendation from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention says that all doctors should assess their diabetic patients for sleep apnoea symptoms. Sleep apnoea occurs when a person’s airway gets blocked during sleep. It’s usually caused by the collapse of soft tissue in the back of the throat during sleep. Between snores, breathing stops for a period of 10 seconds or longer, and this pattern repeats itself many times over the course of a night, it added. Apart from depriving one of a good night’s sleep, it may increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. Obstructive sleep apnoea affects 2 per cent of women and 4 per cent of men in the general population but it is more prevalent among diabetics. In a recent report in the Journal Endocrine Practice, researchers examined data from 279 men and woman with type 2 diabetes. Overall, 36 per cent had obstructive sleep apnoea. Men with diabetes were particularly vulnerable. Below the age of 45, they had more chance of developing sleep apnoea, and that risk doubled above the age of 65. For women below 45, the chances of having sleep apnoea were slim: between 5 per cent and 8 per cent. However, women 65 years and above had more chance of sleep disorder. Previous research has also shown that people with mild to moderate sleep apnoea were twice as likely to develop high blood pressure, compared to those without the sleep disorder. Those with severe sleep apnoea were three times as likely to have high blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. |
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Admin distorting facts on hostel
crisis: JNUSU
New Delhi, January 14 “The JNU administration chose not to meet the agitated students. Instead it went on a misleading public relation exercise with fudged figures in the media. We condemn such dubious tactics,” said Sandeep, president, JNUSU. JNUSU alleged that the university’s statement gave an impression that only 167 students were left without hostels. “The university is not counting the number of students who are living as second roommate (SR) or third roommates (TR). SR, TR and dormitories are considered temporary arrangements. Students thus living are not entitled to beds, chairs, tables and cupboards of their own,” said Sandeep. In JNU, SR and TR students are accommodated in hostels with other students who enjoy the hostel facility. JNUSU office-bearers reiterated their claim that there are 600 students yet to be provided with accommodation. The students also mentioned that their agitation was not over till their demands were met. “We demand an honest effort on behalf of the administration to meet the basic demand, rather than fudging numbers. JNUSU would continue its protest for the hostel facilities,” said
Sandeep. |
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Delhi gets first PG
courses in homeopathy
New Delhi, January 14 The new courses would be on organaon of medicine and homeopathic philosophy. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that teaching for the new courses would include modern methodology and state-of-the-art technology. The minister said that the government is committed to provide excellent health infrastructure to the people of Delhi at their doorsteps, especially the poor. She said that the commencement of PG courses would be a new dawn in the lives of the students aspiring to do higher studies in homeopathy. |
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DMC decries lack of facilities at abattoir
New Delhi, January 14 Three members of the commission, Pushpinder Singh, James and its chairman, Kamal Faruqui informed the Municipal Commissioner about their visit. Sources said that commission members pointed out various deficiencies in the slaughterhouse. The government handed over 85 acres to the MCD to develop the slaughterhouse but so far only five-acre land had been developed. The commission members said that there is no place demarcated for the live stock market. Besides meat, other parts of the body like horn, bone, skin, blood and intestine are also sold. But there is no place to store them. In old slaughterhouse at Idgah, all arrangements were made. The corporation should have done a study about the required facilities, sources said. Ghazipur slaughterhouse is not able to fulfill Delhi’s demand of meat as it slaughters hardly 250 goats while the demand is for 12,000 goats. The remaining animals are slaughtered at
Idgah. |
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Power cuts in many Delhi areas today
New Delhi, January 14 Residents of Saket will have to bear the problem from 9 am to 5 pm. That of Khanpur from 10 am to 5 pm, Hauz Khas from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, Vasant Kunj from 11 am to 4 pm, Nizammuddin 11 am to 3 pm, Mayur
Vihar-I from 10 am to 4 pm, Nand Nagri from 10 am to 3 pm, Dwarka from 10 am to 4 pm, Najafgarh from 11 am to 2 pm, Janakpuri from 11 am to 5 pm and Mundka from 11 am to 4 pm. |
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Warm days ahead
New Delhi, January 14 According to the Met department, the maximum temperature today recorded was 22° Celsius, one notch above average and the minimum was 6.7° Celsius. The expected maximum temperature for tomorrow is 24 degree Celsius and minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius. Fights and trains are running according to their schedule. |
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MCD goes hi-tech
New Delhi, January 14 “Those who cannot operate computer can take training at the computer lab set up at Asif Ali Marg,” said K.S. Mehra, municipal commissioner. |
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2 caught for killing friend
New Delhi, January 14 All three of them lived in a jhuggi near the work site and contributed equally to the day-to-day expenditure. On New Year’s Eve, the friends decided to celebrate and prepared special meal. Police said the boys had a fight over sharing the expenses of the night. The alleged accused pushed Deepak and banged his head on a wall. He fell unconscious and the duo strangulated him with a lungi. The accused fled from the city after the incident and were arrested from Mathura on secret information. Fake notes seized
Special cell of Delhi police has arrested three persons for allegedly printing fake currency notes. Fake currency in denomination of Rs 100 amounting to Rs 80,000 was recovered from the alleged accused. After receiving information about a currency racket operating in Delhi, special cell mounted surveillance to catch people involved in the crime. Specific information was received yesterday about a consignment of fake currency notes. A trap was laid in Rohini and three persons were apprehended as the consignment was delivered. The accused were identified as Vijay, Wasim and Mahinder. According to the police sources, the accused had been involved in the racket for eight years. The gang was operating from Faridabad and printing currency with computers and peripherals. Lid off piracy racket
With the arrest of two persons, Sumit Luthra and Vijay Kumar Gupta, the crime branch of the Delhi police has busted the biggest-ever piracy racket in the Capital. Thirty-five thousand DVDs and CDs containing over 10,000 pornographic videos have been seized in raids carried out in different parts of the city. One person was caught from Rithala Metro station. Many pirated DVDs and pornographic CDs were seized from him. Then a raid was conducted at his house and shop. A factory manufacturing pirated CDs was found. Thirty DVD writers were also seized. Eventually, another raid was conducted at Ashok Vihar and one more associate of the alleged accused was arrested. |
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‘Wake-up’ call to check crime against women
New Delhi, January 14 The campaign will spread awareness about increasing incidents of rape, harassment and other crimes against women. “It was shocking to hear about the Noida rape case. I think we need to sensitise people about violence against women,” said NCW member Neeva Knowar. Gursharan Kaur, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s wife, is likely to launch the campaign from the lawns of India Gate on January 16. “We have tied up with several schools, NGOs and other organisations to spread awareness about violence against women,” Konwar said. A team of the NCW visited Noida last week to enquire into the incident. The victim, a management student from south Delhi, had gone with her friend Amit Pawar to the Great Indian Place Mall in Sector 18 market on January 5. According to the police, the girl and her friend in their WagonR car were returning to their homes in Delhi when around 10 men intercepted them. They raped the girl after thrashing Pawar. — IANS |
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New Delhi, January 14
