The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE Govt-run anti-ragging helpline as good as defunct Aditi Tandon/TNS New Delhi, August 13 Last Independence Day, Abhishek Sahai, a student of SRM University at Modinagar in UP, died of alleged ragging in his hostel, having sent two distress emails to the government-run Anti-Ragging Call Centre and Crisis Hotline. A year later, a high-level inquiry initiated by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) into the circumstances leading to Sahai’s death and the working of the hotline has ripped into the Ministry of Human Resource Development’s claims that the helpline is functioning well, as mandated by the Supreme Court under whose direction it was set up. The commission’s inquiry has concluded, quite shockingly, that out of 25, 45, 575 ragging complaints received by the hotline since its inception on June 15, 2009, only 839 were actually registered till March 18, 2011. Out of these, even lesser - 810 - were forwarded to the respective authorities for action. The rest were dismissed as queries; and complaints by callers who didn’t want to be identified were ignored. “Merely 0.3298381 per cent of the complaints received were registered. This draws the attention towards the criteria being followed to decide the seriousness of a complaint. During our interactions with Pawan Kumar, Operation Manager of the helpline, we observed there was tendency to ignore complaints where the caller was unwilling to be identified. This needs serious thought,” states the report of the committee, led by NHRC’s SSP Mamta Singh. The report, in exclusive possession of The Tribune, also states that the Call Centre, whose operation has been outsourced by the UGC to Caretel, has only one supervisory officer to deal with a rush of about 3,850 email complaints daily. It concludes that there was a delay of up to 48 hours in the processing of Sahai’s emails. The report is replete with other shocking details. It states that the telephone operators who receive complaints on two toll-free numbers -- 1800 1805522 and 152222 -- can only receive calls and don’t have dial facility to forward complaints to the authorities concerned. This is a violation of the manual because complaints must be forwarded immediately without loss of time. However, the Call Centre does not even have an updated database of respondent authorities. “The operator has to search for contact numbers on the Internet; this causes loss of time,” says the report, adding that the Crisis Hotline is not operating effectively and time schedules are not being maintained. “Invariably, there is delay in forwarding complaints to the authorities. There is no facility of digital or voice recording of complaints. Also, though the call centre people claimed they generate fortnightly reports to be forwarded to the UGC for action, the team found no evidence of scrutiny of these reports by any agency as the Call Centre has never received instructions for improvement,” says the NHRC panel. It may be recalled that the apex court had also directed the HRD Ministry to nominate an NGO to monitor the functioning of the Anti-ragging Call Centre and report non-compliance. But the NHRC inquiry found that the DRS (Development and Research Services) which the Ministry nominated for the task is actually a private limited company owned by GVL Narsimha Rao, currently adviser to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister. Further, DRS is not monitoring complaints as is its mandate. “We were given an impression that DRS was an NGO but the fact is that it is a private limited firm. From our interaction with its chief director SK Bose, we also found DRS was not monitoring complaints from the moment of receipt until action,” NHRC committee concludes. The panel also found that it was only once in the history of the helpline/Call Centre, which HRD Minister Kapil Sibal had launched in June 2009, that the UGC sent any advisory to its operators. It was after the death of Sahai on August 15, 2010. Bare Facts NHRC report says only 0.3 % of the complaints received were registered in 2 years Centre has just one supervisor to handle about 4,000 complaints received daily
	POST-GODHRA RIOTS Gujarat top cop chargesheeted Ahmedabad, August 13 Just a week after suspending IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, the Gujarat Government today charge- sheeted senior officer Rahul Sharma for alleged misconduct in not submitting the original CDs containing mobile phone call records related to the 2002 communal riots. “Rahul Sharma was today served the copy of the charge sheet,” state government spokesperson Jaynarayan Vyas told mediapersons here. Sharma, who confirmed he has received the copy, was charge-sheeted after his notice period ended yesterday. The DIG rank officer was served the first notice on January 27 and the final one on July 28, seeking his reply within 15 days. In the charge sheet, the IPS officer has been accused of gross misconduct under Section 3(1) of All India Service Rules, 1969. He has been accused of not submitting the CDs containing phone call records during the post-Godhra riots to respective Investigating Officers of Naroda Gam, Naroda Patia and Gulburg Society cases. According to the government, Sharma's conduct was unbecoming of an IPS officer as he did not submit the CDs even to his superiors when he was transferred from the post of DCP Control (Ahmedabad). “Sharma has committed gross misconduct by taking away vital CDs from the case papers,” Vyas said. Vyas, who is also a minister, clarified that Sharma had not been served a show-case notice for deposing before courts and commissions looking into riot-related cases. “It is not the case. In fact, it is the opposite. Because of his not giving the CDs to Investigating Officers or supervisory officer, he has caused serious infirmity to the riot cases investigations,” he alleged. “Sharma served as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Control), Ahmedabad, from March 24, 2002, to July 3, 2002. He was not the Investigating Officer (IO) or direct supervisory officer in the riot cases for which the compact discs were procured from cellphone service providers,” Vyas said. “Sharma, on receiving the said CDs, did not include the same as case property (muddamal).” From the data obtained from the mobile service providers, Sharma had prepared CDs detailing the calls made by important people in the state administration, including ministers, police officials, and VHP and Bajrang Dal activists, during the communal violence. Sharma, currently posted as DIG (arms unit) at Rajkot, had later submitted the CDs to the Nanavati Commission, Banerjee Committee and the Supreme Court-appointed SIT which dealt with the Godhra train fire and the subsequent riots in the BJP-ruled state. Sharma's lawyer Mukul Sinha dubbed the charges against his client as “absurd”. “The charge is that Sharma had taken away the CDs. I think the allegation is absolutely absurd because he was assisting investigations and the Crime Branch had actually asked him to analyse the CDs,” Sinha said. “We are certainly going to challenge the entire action either in the departmental proceedings or even outside,” he said. Meanwhile, Vyas also took on Union Mome Minister P Chidambaram, who spoke about the possibility of the Centre stepping in over the issue of Narendra Modi Government’s action against two senior IPS officers. “This attitude is dangerous to the federal governance of the country,” Vyas said. Yesterday, the Gujarat High Court had rejected Sharma’s plea seeking grounds on which he was served the show-cause notice. IPS officer Bhatt, who has alleged Narendra Modi's complicity in the post-Godhra riots, was suspended on August 8 for “acts of indiscipline”. — PTI
	BJP: PC promoting indiscipline in police Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 13 The BJP today took Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to task for what it called an attempt by the Home Minister to encourage indiscipline in the police force. Reacting to Chidambaram’s comment yesterday in reply to a question, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said, “The Home Minister gave a clear suggestion to the officers accused of indiscipline to seek the Congress-led Central government’s help,” adding that, “It sounded like an invitation to erring officials by the Union Home Minister responsible for building a disciplined police force in the country,” the BJP spokesperson said. Chidambaram had said yesterday that the Centre could intervene if the officers approach it. "The Gujarat issue is a matter of concern. Rules provide for the Central government to take certain action. If the officer invokes the rule, certainly we will do it," he said. Nirmala recalled how the Congress first “misused” the CBI to destabilise the Narendra Modi government and added, “Of late, they are tempting officers with expensive gifts and official favours. There cannot be a more shameful, brazen and unconstitutional way to disturb a state government.” Justifying action against the victimised IPS officer Rahul Sharma, the BJP leader said, “He is accused of having procured CDs on a matter in which he was neither the investigating officer nor the supervisory officer. After his transfer to another post, he did not hand over the CDs to the officer taking charge from him, nor did he inform any jurisdictional court about the procurement of the CDs.
	K’taka CJ JS Khehar to be elevated to SC May become first Sikh CJI R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent New Delhi, August 13 The Law Ministry is considering the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendations for the elevation of three High Court Judges, including Chief Justice JS Khehar of Karnataka HC, to the apex court, official sources said today. Justice Khehar, who hails from Punjab, will stand a chance to become the first Sikh to be the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in December 2015 if his elevation to the apex court comes through. In that case, he will hold the office of the CJI till August 28, 2017 when he attains the age of 65. Under the present practice, the senior most Judge of the SC is normally appointed the CJI. Assuming that this practice will continue, CJI SH Kapadia will be succeeded by Justice Altamas Kabir in September next year. Justice Kabir will be followed by Justice P Sathasivam in July 2013, by Justice RM Lodha in April 2014 and Justice HL Dattu in September 2014. Justice Ranjana Desai of the Bombay High Court and Gujarat High Court Chief Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya are the other two Judges who have been recommended by the Collegium, comprising the five senior most Judges of the SC, for elevation to the apex court. Once Justice Desai is elevated, the SC will have two women as Judges, the other being Justice Gyan Sudha Misra. At present, the apex court has 28 Judges, including the CJI, against a sanctioned strength of 31. As many as six Judges will retire by mid-October, bringing down the strength to 22. Justice VS Sirpurkar will be the first one to go on August 22, followed by Justices HS Bedi on September 5, Mukundakam Sharma on September 18, Markandey Katju on September 20, JM Panchal on October 6 and RV Raveendran on October 15. The Collegium has apparently made the recommendations for elevation only for the present vacancies. The fresh appointments by the President would take about three weeks in the normal course, the sources said.
	AFT orders assured career progression for Army doctors Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 13 The Armed Forces Tribunal has directed the Union government to issue instructions for implementation of the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme for military doctors of the Army Medical Corps (AMC) within three months. The Tribunal has passed these directions on a petition filed by a senior AMC officer posted at Command Hospital, Chandimandir. On the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, the government had directed the implementation of the DACP for all doctors under every Central government ministry, including those holding isolated posts. The said scheme involved four time-bound grade pay progressions till 20 years of service. While the first three grade pay progressions in the AMC were similar to other services, the non-grant of fourth progression of Rs 10,000 grade pay on 20 years of service affected AMC officers. The scheme, which was accepted by the Cabinet, was till now not implemented for AMC because the Principal Personnel Officers Committee (PPOC) comprising military officers had not given their nod on the grounds that the Defence Ministry should first remove anomalies related to non-medical officers before implementing the scheme. The PPOC had also opined that grant of higher grade pay to AMC officers would create internal seniority problems between the AMC and non-AMC officers. The petitioner had, however, pointed out that according to the government’s gazette notification, higher grade pay did not affect seniority between different cadres. The Defence Ministry had also observed on file that the PPOC could not have overridden what was already approved and notified by the Cabinet and the government. It was also observed by the ministry that the contention of seniority problems due to higher pay was misconceived since doctors always traditionally enjoyed an edge in pay. The government had, however, submitted before the Tribunal that they were examining the issue holistically before implementing the scheme. It also came on record that the government, the Director-General Armed Forces Medical Services, the Navy and the Air Force had separately favoured the implementation of the DACP.
	IAF comes to aid of landslide-hit Arunachal Shillong, August 13 IAF helicopters have been pressed into action in the landslide-hit areas of Arunachal Pradesh for assitance missions, especially to air drop food supplies. Several areas of East Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh were completely cut-off from the mainland due to disruption in road communication following landslides because of incessant rain in the region. The Arunachal Pradesh Government requisitioned IAF helicopters to supply emergency rations from Seppa to areas where people were facing critical shortage of food supplies, an IAF communique from the Eastern Air Command here said. Though the helicopters were in stand-by from August 6, they could not take-off due to inclement weather. IAF helicopters from Eastern Air Command units in Tezpur, Guwahati, Kumbhigram and Mohanbari were activated and two Mi-17 helicopters were finally able to position at Seppa on August 11 and food supplies were air dropped at Chyangtajo, Bameng and Khanewa, the release said. The relief operations are continuing in full swing and around 5 tonnes of supplies have been air lifted to the affected areas till yesterday. Further sorties had also been planned and would continue till the crisis situation in the affected areas were overcome. More helicopters will be pressed into service, it added. — PTI
	36 hurt at traditional stone-throwing fair Our Correspondent Pithoragarh, August 13 More than 36 participants were injured, none of them seriously, at the traditional stone-throwing fair of Bagwal, conducted at the Barahi Devi Temple in Devidhura village of Champawat district, today. “The traditional stone war between four feudal groups lasted only for eight minutes,” said Dr Pankaj Pandey, District Magistrate, Champawat district. “Bagwal has now become symbolic and is played in the presence of the police and administration just to fulfill rituals,” said Laxman Singh Lamgaria, patron of the temple committee. “This year, Bagwal began at 2.31 pm when the last group of warriors from traditional feudal clans of the old kingdom of Kali Kumaon area entered the ground after worshipping their deity Barahi Devi. “More than 15,000 spectators gathered to witness the fair from all parts of the state and from other states as well. The Bagwal (stone throwing) was stopped by the temple priest by blowing a conch after eight minutes,” said Lamgaria. “The district administration was ready with ambulances and a team of four doctors supported by other medical staff. The persons injured in the stone war were treated immediately,” said Dr Pankaj Pandey. According to mela officials, the number of animal sacrifices offered in the fair has dwindled this year. “Due to the spread of information about laws against cruelty to animals and the standing orders of the court, devotees preferred to offer gold ornaments instead of animal sacrifice at the temple this year,” he added.
	9 Indian sailors freed by pirates Mumbai, August 13 Ending a six-month ordeal, the crew of nine Indian and 12 Iranian sailors of cargo ship MV Sinin was freed today by Somali pirates. “Nine Indian sailors along with 12 Iranians of Sinin have been released by the pirates today. All of them are safe,” said Director General of Shipping S B Agnihotri. The Somali pirates had on February 12 seized the Malta-flagged bulk carrier 315 nautical miles off Masirah (Oman) while it was on way to Singapore from Fujairah (UAE). Details like ransom, if any paid to secure the release of the sailors and the ship, were not known. — PTI
	Firing incident Pune village tense as arrests continue Shiv Kumar/TNS Mumbai, August 13 The situation at Maval on the Mumbai-Pune route continues to remain tense even around a week after the police opened fire on violent protesters, resulting in three deaths. Farmers and local leaders in several villages are still being arrested on charges of inciting violence. “The police has filed FIRs against leaders of the Shiv Sena, the BJP and the Republican Party of India in addition to office-bearers of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangathana,” says BKS president Mauli Tupe. FIRs have been filed against more than 1,200 persons and many have been taken into custody, Tupe says. Police officials in Pune also confirmed that FIRs were being filed against all those suspected of supporting the farmers’ agitation. “There have been protests for more than three years, so we know who is behind them,” a police official from the Pune rural police told The Tribune. Among those who have been declared absconders include elected panchayat officials, school teachers and leaders of women self-help groups in the area. The FIRs and arrests come days after video clips surfaced showing policemen aiming their guns at the protesters. It is alleged that at least one of them was chased and shot by policemen from close range. Six policemen have been suspended and a probe ordered into the incident. However, farmers in the area accuse the Maharashtra Government of favouring builders who have begun large-scale construction projects in the Pimpri-Chinchwad township, near Pune. “Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is actively backing the builders,” Tupe said.
	Chiranjeevi to join Cong on Aug 20 Hyderabad, August 13 The Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) will officially be merged with Congress on August 20, according to PRP president Chiranjeevi. “We decided to officially merge the Praja Rajyam with the Congress on August 20, the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. On August 20 and 21, senior party (PRP) leaders will take Congress party membership at Gandhi Bhavan,” Chiranjeevi told reporters here. Chiranjeevi was earlier scheduled to meet AICC chief Sonia Gandhi between August 7 and 10, to formally take primary membership of Congress. However since Sonia is undergoing treatment in the US, the PRP chief is expected to take Congress membership from Rahul Gandhi. The PRP, which has 18 seats in the 294-seat state assembly, had announced the merger plans in February. — PTI