Election Office to ensure voting of staff on duty
New Delhi, August 8
The Delhi Election Office, this year, has taken upon the task to increase the polling percentage of around 80,000 Delhi police personnel and over 50,000 government servants to, at least, 60 per cent from the existing five per cent who will be on duty on the day of voting for the Delhi Assembly elections.

Court seeks fresh status report on complaint against Dikshit
New Delhi, August 8
A court here today asked the Delhi Police to file fresh status report on the alleged misuse of government funds to the tune of Rs 22.56 crore by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in a 2008 ad campaign before the assembly polls.

BJP has not taken any decision on CM candidate: Rajnath
New Delhi, August 8
President of the Delhi unit of the BJP Rajnath Singh today said the party has not taken any decision on projecting a chief ministerial candidate for the forthcoming assembly elections or zeroed in on any name for the purpose.

Inmates vandalised juvenile detention centre
New Delhi, August 8
Juvenile offenders allegedly damaged property and resorted to stone pelting at a juvenile detention centre in Majnu Ka Tilla this morning, to protest against the administration for ill-treating them.

Tharoor launches Shubha Sarma’s book on short stories
New Delhi, August 8
A collection of 13 short stories, "Fly on the Wall and Other Stories" written by IAS officer Shubha Sarma was today launched by Minister of State for Human Resource Development Dr Shashi Tharoor at the India International Centre, in the presence of Minister of Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch.

Election Office to ensure voting of staff on duty
Himani Chandel
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 8
The Delhi Election Office, this year, has taken upon the task to increase the polling percentage of around 80,000 Delhi police personnel and over 50,000 government servants to, at least, 60 per cent from the existing five per cent who will be on duty on the day of voting for the Delhi Assembly elections.

The assembly election, which will held in November, will witness the back-hand support of approximately 1.30 lakh persons, including officials from various government departments and the Delhi police.

The Chief Election Officer, Vijay Dev, said that the office is busy developing a mechanism to distribution and collection of Postal Ballot Paper (PBP) and Election Duty Certificate (EDC) to such huge number of duty staff.

"We have taken it as a challenge that no one should miss out on exercising his right to vote just because he was helping other to cast theirs," said Dev.

He said that PBPs and EDCs will be distributed to the staff during their training period itself. They will be collected later on and sealed to be opened only at the time of counting of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM). The ballots and certificates, Dev said, will be counted before the EVMs to maintain the confidentiality.

The Election Office is developing a database of all police personnel and government officials where they can login and submit their details. On the basis of the details received through the database, the process of their voter identity card issuance will begin.

"We have asked the Delhi police to provide us the data under one single window. For this, a database has been developed which will be furnished with the details of all police personnel. They will be given user IDs and passwords where they can login and share their personal details. Same procedure will be followed for government employees," he said, adding that no physical verification is required for them as they are already verified under the Delhi Police.

For people who will be posted on duty in their own constituency, will be issued EDCs and for the ones outside their constituency, PBPs will be given. "If a person happens to work in the same constituency but not at the polling booth allocated to him, he can use EDC to cast his vote and for the rest others PBPs will be given," said Dev.

Court seeks fresh status report on complaint against Dikshit

New Delhi, August 8
A court here today asked the Delhi Police to file fresh status report on the alleged misuse of government funds to the tune of Rs 22.56 crore by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in a 2008 ad campaign before the assembly polls.

The court said this was necessary as the report filed by it "does not disclose steps taken by the investigating agency on allegations made in the complaint" by former Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta.

"I have also gone through the report. I am satisfied that the report does not disclose steps taken by the investigating agency on allegations made in the complaint," Special Judge Narottam Kaushal said and directed the police to file the fresh status report by August 17.

The police in its report placed before the court had said it should be left to the President to take a decision on the Lokayukta's recommendation on the alleged misuse of public funds by Dikshit in a 2008 ad campaign ahead of the assembly polls.

It said "the decision of the President would be final in the matter" as the complaint filed by Gupta against Dikshit are not specific to attract any criminal charge.

Further, the police in its status report said "since the allegations do not constitute a criminal offence, there is no basis for the police to carry out any enquiry/investigation into the complaint." — PTI

BJP has not taken any decision on CM candidate: Rajnath

New Delhi, August 8
President of the Delhi unit of the BJP Rajnath Singh today said the party has not taken any decision on projecting a chief ministerial candidate for the forthcoming assembly elections or zeroed in on any name for the purpose.

"The party has not closed in on any candidate for the post of the Delhi Chief Minister. The BJP Parliamentary Board has not taken any decision on the issue. It will take a decision on the matter at the appropriate time," Singh said.

The party is also undecided about whether it should project a chief ministerial candidate for the elections or take a call after the polls.

Singh's statement today comes in the wake of reports that the BJP has decided on the CM candidate and an announcement is imminent. The names of former minister Harshvardhan, state party Chief Vijay Goel and others have reportedly been doing the rounds.

Party sources said the top brass is apprehensive about announcing any leader as a chief ministerial candidate as declaring a name may lead to acrimony and may jeopardise the party's prospects in the assembly elections due later this year. — PTI

Inmates vandalised juvenile detention centre
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 8
Juvenile offenders allegedly damaged property and resorted to stone pelting at a juvenile detention centre in Majnu Ka Tilla this morning, to protest against the administration for ill-treating them.

The juvenile accused in the December 16 gangrape case is lodged at Adharshila Observation Home and Special Home for Boys, which is run by the Delhi Government, where the ruckus took place. Hundreds of juveniles are lodged here.

"They allegedly set fire inside the home by burning blankets. A couple of cars parked outside the home were also damaged in the incident. Some of them climbed the boundary wall and threw out blankets, beddings and cylinders," said a police officer.

The administration of the home had tried to control the juveniles, but when the situation went out of their hands, they informed the police about 9 am. Four fire tenders were rushed to the site to douse the fire.

Inmates accused the administration of treating them badly and not providing them food on time. According to sources, the inmates claimed that the warden does not give them food on time and if they complain about it, he allegedly beats them.

Following the incident, the Women and Child Development Department, Delhi Government, has taken note of the accusations made by the inmates and has ordered an inquiry.

Tharoor launches Shubha Sarma’s book on short stories
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 8
A collection of 13 short stories, "Fly on the Wall and Other Stories" written by IAS officer Shubha Sarma was today launched by Minister of State for Human Resource Development Dr Shashi Tharoor at the India International Centre, in the presence of Minister of Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch.

The book tells some realistic tales which are rooted deep in the Indian soil. Inspired by the great Indian storytellers such as Munshi Premchand and Sharat Chandra Chattyopadhyay, the young author tries to revive the old world charm through her innovative fiction.