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Govt to set up more schools
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Shobhit’s killer eludes cops
Govt to move SC on phase-out of Blueline buses
Why are they still running,
asks Gupta
After sem row, VC offers sops to teachers
SC lets off Faridabad lawyers with rap
Noida land scam
BJP men file nominations for MCD
panel poll
Two senior citizens held for Rs 32-lakh robbery
Woman with pistol in bag held at airport
Buy IPL tickets at Easy Bill outlets
Govt submits reply on Chauhan
Foreigner robbed
Hunt on for killer driver
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Govt to set up more schools
To hire 14,000
teachers Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday said 14,000 new posts of school teachers had been created in a bid to ensure proper implementation of the Right to Education Act in the national capital. "This will also go a long way in enhancing job opportunities," she told a public rally in west Delhi's Tri Nagar area. "A number of new universities have also been commissioned and a separate Women's Technical University would be commissioned soon," she added.
— IANS
New Delhi, May 9 While briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit stated that her government took up the issue of amending the existing policy of land allotment by the DDA to private educational institutions. In view of the RTE Act, there is need to open more schools by the city government as well as private societies. Even the city government has been finding it difficult to obtain land for its educational institutions. The Chief Minister met the Union government many times, appealing that the educational institutions should be allotted land at concessional rates. To make it easy, the Union government asked the city government to make policy in this connection. The policy was made and tabled before the cabinet. The cabinet has since approved a policy in this regard chalked out under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Delhi. The policy will now be forwarded to the Union ministry of urban development and the ministry of HRD. Dikshit further stated that the city government had submitted workable suggestions in the policy and stressed the need of effecting shift from auction to allotment mode. The policy also envisages that the requirement of city government, MCD, NDMC, Delhi Cantonment, Kendriya Vidyalaya and Novodaya Vidyalays to set up schools will be met in the first instance. Moreover, 50 per cent of the balanced plots available with the DDA should be earmarked for the government bodies and the remaining 50 per cent should be disposed of to private educational societies for setting up schools, higher and technical institutes. It has also been suggested that out of 50 per cent plots for private institutions, up to 80 per cent may be allotted to existing societies on the basis of sponsorship from the Land Allotment Committee of the city government at zonal variant rates and the rest 20 per cent plots may be considered for new societies through auction mode. Dikshit expressed confidence that the policy which is being forwarded to the Union ministry will help in setting up more educational institutions in the Capital. |
2 robbers held for killing cop in park; 2 on the run
New Delhi, May 9 According to A.K. OJha, DCP (southwest), the robbed service revolver of the victim, Kailash Chander, has been recovered from the accused. "To catch the culprits in the case, the police interrogated several local criminals. This threw up some vital information about the gangs frequenting the area and about those possibly responsible for the killing. On a tip-off that Rakesh was sleeping in a park in Dabri, he was arrested today. At his instance, Sonu was arrested from Najafgarh," said OJha. He added that a third accused, identified as Sanju Nepali, was absconding. The identity of the fourth accused could not be confirmed. On the fateful night, all the four accused were sitting in the DDA park and planning to rob a well-off local resident. However, as luck would have it, around 2.30- 3 am, they saw head constable Kailash Chander on bike coming towards them. Afraid, they decided to take him on. When Chander saw the accused in the light of his bike, he recognised Sanju Nepali and caught hold of him. "On this, the other three accused attacked Chander with weapons. In the mêlée, Nepali freed himself and attacked Chander with a dagger several times on the stomach, chest and neck. Bleeding profusely, the officer fell on the ground. Thereafter, Nepali took his service pistol and wallet and they fled the spot," said Ojha. Injured Chander bled to death by morning. Chander is survived by his wife, a daughter and son. They live in Alwar (Rajasthan). According to information, Kailash had an excellent service record. He had received 11 commendation rolls from the commissioner of police, Delhi, a commendation certificate from the additional commissioner of police and 27 commendation cards from the deputy commissioner of police during his service. |
Shobhit’s killer eludes cops
New Delhi, May 9 From questioning close to 40 students and friends known to the deceased, including their families in the past few days, the Delhi police has not made much headway in the case. From drugs to robbery, girls or their relatives, the police is yet to reach any conclusion. Meanwhile, the crime branch of Delhi police has also been roped in by the South district police to assist it in the case which is becoming the first real test for DCP Chhaya Sharma, who took over the district police on April 2. According to information, the police today investigated the allegations that Shobhit was threatened by father of one of the girls he was close to, but the family has denied doing so. "We were told that a girl's father threatened Shobhit to stay away from his daughter. However, he has denied doing so. We might check the call details if there was any interaction between Shobhit and this man," said a police official close to investigation. The most likely reason, 'peer jealousy' is another option before the police and according to a senior police official from the district, it is possible that Shobhit was killed by someone for a girl he was close to. "Robbery is completely ruled out as nothing was taken from Shobhit. We are also checking if Shobhit was into drugs that could have brought him into contact with the bad company. So far we have got nothing on this. The most likely reason now remains the girl and since the deceased was popular with the fair sex, he might have been attacked by some jealous person," said the official. A Delhi police inspector today even visited Modi'a college (Manav Rachan University) in Faridabad and spoke to teachers and students for any vital clue. The official is known to have left his phone number at the college for anyone to call him with regard to any information, which proves the fact that the police has not learnt much about the people behind the murder. Shobhit Modi was discovered with four stab wounds on his body on the gates of his society and later succumbed to injuries at the hospital. His father, Suraj Modi is a general manager with the Mines and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC). |
Govt to move SC on phase-out of Blueline buses
New Delhi, May 9 This decision was taken today at a meeting of senior officers of the Transport Department. Transport minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said that with the launch of cluster bus service and RTV, there was no need of Blueline buses in Delhi. Now the government will go to Supreme Court to get their permit cancelled. Some of the buses have their permit till 2012. A total of 1,900 buses have already been phased out. Now 300 buses are still on the Capital's roads as they have permit till June 2012, he said. In 2009, as Blueline buses were reported to be involved in fatal accident cases, the government decided to strengthen the public transport system by phasing out the private buses. It also decided to launch cluster bus service and RTV in rural areas. At present, the government has 4,000 low-floor buses, including air conditioned, some cluster buses, chartered buses and RTV. Within a few months, more than 600 cluster buses will be added to its fleet, an official said. |
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Why are they still running,
asks Gupta
New Delhi, May 9 "Some of these killer buses still have licences to run. The department concerned has not suspended the licences of these buses. The government should make public the details of those Blueline buses which are still operational. The details should include the names of the owners, drivers and conductors of the buses, their licences and experience," Gupta demanded. He also demanded that the government should grant Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia amount to the next kin of the man who died in yesterday's accident and Rs 2 lakh to the injured. "When the Delhi High Court has asked the government to ban the operation of Blueline buses in the city, how come these buses are still running? It is the citizens of the Capital who suffer because of the negligent drivers of Blueline buses, he said. |
After sem row, VC offers sops to teachers
New Delhi, May 9 The teachers have welcomed the recent decision of the university to extend the services of the ad hoc teachers working in various colleges till the last working day of the current academic session 2010-11, i.e. June 7, 2011. The summer vacation starts on June 8. Ever since the new calendar was implemented in the current session, there has been widespread confusion with regard to the continuation of the services of the ad hoc teachers beyond April which was the practice till last year. After some colleges decided that they may not continue the term of the ad hoc teachers, a delegation of DUTA met the DU VC Dinesh Singh and urged him to intervene in the matter. "The VC realized the gravity of the problem and agreed to DUTA's demand. Now the university has issued a letter asking the colleges to continue the services of ad hoc teachers till June 7. This step will enable the colleges to release their summer salary at the beginning of the next academic session," said DUTA member Janmejoy Khuntia. Finally, the demand for better medical reimbursement for the teachers has also been taken up. "The university has agreed to constitute a task force to recommend a comprehensive and better health scheme for teachers. A task force has been constituted to suggest a viable insurance option or some other measures to enhance the scope of the medical scheme. The task force will be headed by Janaki Kathpalia, treasurer of the university and it has 14 other members, including the president, vice-president and secretary of DUTA," added Khuntia. However, the teachers have also demanded that the university solve the problem of conversion of CPF to GPF which has affected many of them. Finally, they have urged the VC to convene meetings of AC and EC to address the issues such as review of API system for promotion of teachers, appointment of teachers in colleges, appointment of principals and continuation of promotion of eligible teachers under the 1998 scheme. |
SC lets off Faridabad lawyers with rap
New Delhi, May 9 A Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and BS Chauhan discharged the advocates, including OP Sharma and LN Prashar, who had openly used unparliamentary language against the Civil Judge after an order against a litigant. On August 25, 2004, the HC had sentenced them and the Editor of "Majdur Morcha" newspaper who had reported the incident for committing contempt of court. The HC had taken suo motu notice of the incident. The SC let off all the accused, accepting the unconditional apology tendered by them to the civil judge and the affidavits filed in the HC and the apex court, expressing regret. At the same time, the SC Bench made it clear that "acceptance of an apology from a contemnor should only be a matter of exception and not that of a rule." "An advocate is under an obligation to uphold the rule of law and ensure that the public justice system is enabled to function at its full potential. Any violation of the principles of professional ethics by an advocate is unfortunate and unacceptable. Ignoring even a minor violation/misconduct militates against the fundamental foundation of the public justice system," the Bench ruled. As a rule, an advocate being a member of the legal profession had a social duty to show the people a beacon of light by his conduct and actions rather than being adamant on an unwarranted and uncalled for issue, the SC said. |
Noida land scam
New Delhi, May 9 A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and BS Chauhan delivered a judgment, directing the CBI to hold a "preliminary" inquiry and launch "criminal prosecution" against him if there were "some substance" in the allegations. "We are of the considered opinion that these allegations are of a very serious nature" as Mathur had "passed orders in colourable exercise of power favouring himself and certain contractors" and this required an investigation, the SC held. The CBI should investigate the matter without being influenced by the court's observations, the Bench said. The allegations of misuse of power against Mathur pertained to the year 1993-94. The charges relate to allotment of a 360 square metres plot for himself and awarding of two contracts worth about Rs 5 crore without following the due procedure. Yadav has been chief of the Noida Development Authority. |
BJP men file nominations for MCD
panel poll
New Delhi, May 9 Mahendra Nagpal and Bhupendra Gupta of the BJP filed their nominations for elections to the posts of chairman and deputy chairman of the education committee. Naraian Singh and Kuldeep Singh Dagar filed their nominations for elections to the posts of chairman and deputy chairman of the rural areas committee, respectively. They were accompanied by the Leader of the House, Subhash Arya, and a number of BJP councillors and supporters. Today was the last date for filing nominations for these posts. The election for the posts of chairman and deputy chairman of the standing committee will be held on May 16 at a meeting of the committee while the elections for the posts of chairmen and deputy chairmen of the education and rural areas committees will be held on May 13 during meetings of their respective committees at Old Meeting Hall, Town Hall. |
Jamia Row
New Delhi, May 9 About 20 students of the Anwar Jamal Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre at Jamia have been debarred from appearing for their examinations. The university authorities undertook a medical check-up of students sitting on strike with the varsity doctor. The university was satisfied with the doctor's pronouncement that the students were well and not ailing. Meanwhile, an incensed Jamia administration reacted to the hunger strike and news reports about it with the Jamia spokesperson declaring that the ordinances at Jamia do prescribe a minimum attendance of 75% attendance though there is scope for latitude of a further 15% in case of certain emergencies, including medical exigencies. This is clearly written in the university prospectus and the students give an undertaking to this effect at the time of admission. However, the Jamia spokesperson underlined the fact that, "unfortunately seeing a window to use the medical sickness clause, a number of students have provided false medical certificates. These certificates have been thoroughly examined by the university's doctors and the matter has been brought to the notice of the Medical Council of India, with the request to take action against the erring doctors." The spokesperson said, "With regard to the cases pertaining to the AJK MCRC, 20 students were found short of attendance of which 13 approached the Delhi High Court. Twelve of these petitions have been rejected by the court with strict instructions to the university to follow its rules and ordinances. This matter, in fact, has been widely reported in the press also. Moreover, the parents of all these students were informed not once but several times of the lack of attendance of their wards." The spokesperson added, "Now the anti-social elements are trying to hijack the dharna by the students to disturb the peace in the area." Meanwhile, students are firm on their strike. Nabila Zaidi, a student said, "Despite the police action of yesterday, we will continue our hunger strike till we get justice. The varsity's high-handedness will not be tolerated." On Sunday, the university and the police had disrupted the strike by reportedly beating up many students and took five into custody. The students were later released. |
Two senior citizens held for Rs 32-lakh robbery
New Delhi, May 9 According to Ashok Chand, DCP (Crime), the accused have been identified as Manjeet Singh (61) and Sarvan Singh (75) with the former being the mastermind in the crime. Sarvan was the one who had the information about the movement of the cash. "Manjeet is involved in 28 cases and Sarvan is booked for 19. Manjeet roped in Dinesh, Balwinder, Ravinder Paswan, Raju, Ghanshyam and Mukesh for the robbery," said Chand. After conducting a recee, the youth intercepted the employers at gunpoint and fled with the cash. After the incident, all the accused assembled at Dinesh's house in Raghubir Nagar and the booty was distributed. According to Chand, Manjeet purchased jewellery worth Rs 20 lakh with the money and gave Rs 10 lakh to his son-in-law Virender to keep with him. Virender has also been arrested. |
Woman with pistol in bag held at airport
New Delhi, May 9 The incident happened when she came to the airport to catch a flight for
Mumbai. "During the security check, a firearm was found in her baggage. She failed to produce its documents. A cartridge was also found with her," said an official. Kaushal was arrested and produced in court, which granted her bail on a surety of Rs 10,000. |
Delhi gets hotter at over 41°C
New Delhi, May 9 An official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the temperatures were likely to rise further over the next couple of days. "The weather today remained dry, with hot winds blowing throughout the day. The maximum humidity was recorded at 63 per cent. Similar weather conditions are likely to prevail tomorrow as well," the official said. "The city will see clear sky tomorrow. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to oscillate between 41 and 26 degree Celsius. Hot winds are here to stay and most likely, the day temperature will cross the 40-degree mark in the coming week," the official added. |
20-year-old arrested with Rs 3 cr heroin
New Delhi, May 9 The accused has been identified as Ashfaq, a resident of Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh. He was apprehended yesterday from near Gurudwara Bangla Sahib after a tip-off. "He told us that he belonged to a poor family and got involved in the drug trade to support his family. He was working for a man named Guddu in Mandsaur. He was paid Rs 5,000 to 10, 000 for each delivery," said Ashok Chand, DCP (Crime). |
Buy IPL tickets at Easy Bill outlets
New Delhi, May 9 "With the IPL becoming the world's largest cricketing event, there is a need to provide match tickets to cricket enthusiasts. With our added IPL ticketing option, customers can now avail themselves of tickets from their neighbourhood without having to go to the stadium," states Rahul Munjal, managing director and CEO, Easy Bill. The tickets are available at different price slabs. Weekday matches cost between Rs 300 and Rs 20,000 and on weekends, they range from Rs 500 to Rs 22,500 for all the Delhi Daredevils IPL matches. The tickets are available at around 1500 outlets in Delhi. |
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Govt submits reply on Chauhan
New Delhi, May 9 The government did not disclose the contents of the report, but there was nothing that could damage the career of the minister, the sources said. Now the MHA will send its report to the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi Tejender Khanna and thereafter it would be tabled before the Assembly where the Congress is in majority. The Lokayukta in his order said that in February the minister tried to influence the sleuths of sales tax department of the Delhi government to favour the Tivoli restaurant owner. The sales tax commission in a written letter made a complaint that a minister pressurized it in favour of the restaurant owner. The Delhi Lokayukta took suo motu notice. |
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Foreigner robbed
New Delhi, May 9 The incident took place in the Mandir Marg area yesterday when Alicia Rose was travelling with her friend, a police official said. Muhlauser lives at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. In her complaint, she claimed that the two motorcycle-borne men snatched the bag from her hand while on move. She claimed she lost her passport, Rs 7,000 and USD 1,000, a camera, an I-pod, sun glasses, some medicines, a mobile phone and airline tickets.
— PTI |
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Hunt on for killer driver
New Delhi, May 9 The bus owner, Ranjeet Singh, was questioned regarding the driver, but that has not yielded any result, a police officer said. The incident took place at Kashmere Gate early on Sunday.
— IANS |
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