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AIIMS sprucing drive hits hawkers' bread and butter
Dispute over AIIMS faculty recruitments
Coolers, special diet for zoo animals to beat the heat
Release Saibaba without delay: DUTA
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Plots to Wakf Board: HC asks Centre to respond
Desperate drug smugglers using golf kits, car pistons
Crackdown against wrongdoers to continue, says Lt Governor
Soon, plastic money can be used to pay traffic fines
Seized items stolen from
sales tax office
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AIIMS sprucing drive hits hawkers' bread and butter
New Delhi, May 11
Claiming that they have a stay order from the Delhi High Court, they are crying foul over the institute's decision to put up cemented flower pots as part of its sprucing drive outside the gate one where until last month around 15 hawkers had set up eating stalls which drew customers after the eateries inside the gate and in front of the Rajkumari Amrit Kaur OPD were closed down. Hawkers have levelled allegations against Dy. Chief Security Officer Rajdeep S Rawat and Dy. Secretary and Chief Vigilance Officer Sanjeev Chaturvedi of AIIMS. "In January, Rawat demanded Rs 50,000 from us to let us continue putting our stalls outside AIIMS gates. We told we had a stay from the Delhi High Court and so we should be allowed. We were harassed by the security guards on his orders and on April 2, our goods were confiscated and on April 4 afternoon and April 5 early morning, we were manhandled by his private and permanent security personnel," Anuj Gupta, a tea vendor and resident of Dwarka told The Tribune. When contacted, the Deputy Secretary and Chief Vigilance Officer Sanjeev Chaturvedi maintained that the area inside and outside AIIMS was cleared for patients and smooth flow of traffic. Besides, the step was taken to allay security threat in view of frequent VIP movement. "People were occupying space illegally and it had become a security issue because of VIP visits. Our effort has been to ensure that security is in no way compromised. The decision was taken at a higher level and is part of a larger project. The encroachments gave a shabby look to the premier institute. We would henceforth ensure no such unauthorised eateries come up in and around," he said. Rawat echoed the same view, "All their claims are false and it is the mafia which is being run by a handful who have their unauthorised stalls here as well as Sarojini Nagar. Over the last few months, they came up one by one and the area had become very crowded, unhygienic and people used to urinate next to the gates during nights. We received several complaints and then we told them to vacate." Noting that action should have been taken much earlier, they said the space was finally cleared with the cooperation of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Police and henceforth it would be ensured that no unauthorised encroachments in and around AIIMS institute happen. Under the banner of Urban Street vendor- Squatters Welfare Association, the hawkers have protested against the move to evict them. "For years my father and many others earned a living through stalls here but now we have been shoved away by AIIMS authorities. Both the NDMC and police acted in favour of AIIMS. We have approached the Central Vigilance Commission demanding a favourable action," said the group of hawkers. Justifying the municipal action, NDMC spokesperson Arun Mishra pointed, "They are illegal occupants and moreover as per the Supreme Court judgement, there should be no encroachments around hospitals. On humanitarian grounds, we are seeing if we can relocate them to some alternative place." However, social activist associated to NASVI Ranjit Abhigyan argued, "Hawkers can't be removed from their livelihood site. Either the September 9, 2013 Supreme Court judgement related to the Maharashtra Ekta Hawkers Union has to be complied with or the recently enforced Street Vendors Law should be implemented."
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Dispute over AIIMS faculty recruitments
New Delhi, May 11 In this regard, he has demanded cancellation of the "extraordinary" meetings of the Institute Body and Governing Body slated for May 12, citing that the Model Code of Conduct is in force and the elections results will be out on May 16. The Health Minister, who is also president of the premier medical institute, decides the issues to be discussed in the meetings of the Institute Body, the highest decision-making body of AIIMS. The meeting in question is approved by the minister. "He has fixed the meetings at a very short notice after throwing all norms to winds. It would be worthwhile to scrutinise the list of candidates shortlisted in such a clandestine manner and in the process, the minister has deprived other candidates of a level playing field, an endeavour for which the Election Commission of India has been striving throughout these polls," said Singh, who is a candidate from J&K's Udhampur Lok Sabha seat from where Azad is also contesting. The matter has also been raised by the national chairman of All India "Apart from violating the constitutionally enshrined rights of the SCs and STs, the illegal recruitment is being carried out by the institute administration when the Model Code of Conduct is in force," Raj said. This is not all, a section of AIIMS faculty under the banner of Forum for Rights and Equality has already made protests, demanding that the "extraordinary" meetings be postponed.
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Coolers, special diet for zoo animals to beat the heat
New Delhi, May 11 Desert coolers, fans, thatched sheets are being put up at all animal enclosures in the National Zoological Park, which is home to around 110 different species. "At first, we are in the process of installing coolers which will be run all day long inside the enclosures of animals, including tigers, jaguars, lions and elephants, and birds. This will help ensure air circulation," said zoo veterinary official N Panneer Selvam. Increased intake of glucose, fluids, vitamin C and fruit-rich diet are important to restore electrolyte balance, the officials said. According to Selvam, herbivores such as deer, buffaloes and chinkaras will be given fruit like cucumber, watermelon which are rich in vitamins. What's more, 'rice-kheer' will replace bread in the daily diet. Among the carnivores, including the big cats, meat-intake has been reduced by a few kgs while water intake has been doubled for all the animals. The official said as the day temperature is hovering close to 40° C, animals are prone to diarrhoea and heat stroke. "Our veterinarians are conducting regular check-ups to detect illness at an early stage," Selvam said. Until last year, the Delhi zoo did not have temporary wallowing pools inside enclosures of big animals such as hippopotamus, elephants and buffaloes. However, this year the authorities have constructed both "kuccha" and "pucca" ponds to keep animals cool. "There is also a provision of dust bath inside enclosures of many animals," Riaz Khan, zoo curator (education), said. Special arrangements have also been put in place for winged inmates of the zoo. "Seasonal fruits have been included in their diet. Enclosures will be sprinkled with water every day for temperature regulation," said the curator. Renovation work which is going on in the zoo has further broadened the scope for the authorities to help the animals cope with heat as new sheds are being constructed in some enclosures. With more saplings being planted to keep zoo environs cool, the authorities are hoping to minimise cases of illness among animals and birds.
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Release Saibaba without delay: DUTA
New Delhi, May 11 Calling the police action a grievous violation of human rights, the teachers' body said it has learned that his driver was blindfolded and brutally dragged into a separate car so as to prevent him from seeing and reporting on anything that followed. Not only did DUTA question the manner of "law enforcement", but also expressed shock over the university's silence in defending the faculty. It urged the college and university authorities to intervene on behalf of Dr Saibaba who suffers 90 per cent disability and ensure that his rights are safeguarded. "The police have chosen to ignore his ailing condition in the most inhuman manner. Till date, his family has not been issued a single official document pertaining to his arrest or the charges levelled against him. The government must release him and the college and university must intervene," said DUTA president Nandita Narain. Failure to do so will send a wrong signal to the teaching community which is expected to discharge its duty in expressing free and fair opinion in support of democracy and intellectual freedom, added DUTA secretary Harish Khanna. Stating that the investigating police have "flouted" the law on all these occasions, DUTA maintained, "During the earlier raids, the police ransacked his home and confiscated his personal belongings and no official receipt was issued."
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Plots to Wakf Board: HC asks Centre to respond
New Delhi, May 11 The high court took note of the petition that accuses the Central government of according "undue favour" to the minority community, and sought responses from the Union Home Secretary, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Delhi Wakf Board (DWB). A bench of Justices B D Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul has posted the matter to May 15 for further hearing. The government notification said its land-owning agencies -- Land and Development Office and the DDA -- will relinquish their rights over the properties, spread across the national Capital, and those will now go to the Wakf Board. The petition, filed by lawyer Anil Grover on behalf of the Indraprastha Vishva Hindu Parisha\d, seeks quashing of the government notification issued on March 5 by which the Centre has withdrawn from the acquisition of the 123 properties. It also alleged that "the notification has been issued only with a view to confer illegal and undue benefits upon the Respondent No. 4 (Delhi Wakf Board) and particular religious community for illegitimate political gains keeping in view the general elections". The petitioner also claimed that the notification had been issued illegally with "oblique motives" to appease the minorities, especially the "Muslim community for showing them that the government was gifting them away 123 prime properties in Delhi". At present, 61 of these 123 properties are owned by the Land and Development Office attached to the Union Urban Development Ministry, while the rest are with DDA. The petition appealed to the high court to "direct the Respondent Nos 1 to 3 (Union of India, Land and Development Officer, DDA) not to transfer or dispose of the properties mentioned in the impugned notification dated March 5, 2014 to the Respondent No. 4 (Wakf Board) or any other person in any manner whatsoever". The Minority Affairs Ministry had earlier set up a committee of experts under the Central Wakf Council to evaluate the proposal to hand over the properties. The expert committee has also backed the proposal. Most of these properties are in and around Connaught Place, Mathura Road, Lodhi Road, Man Singh Road, Pandara Road, Ashoka Road, Janpath, Parliament House, Karol Bagh, Sadar Bazaar, Darya Ganj and Jangpura in the national Capital. — PTI
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Desperate drug smugglers using golf kits, car pistons
New Delhi, May 11 Officers of the Anti-Narcotics Cell and the Crime Branch of Delhi Police say that their sustained efforts in curbing the problem of drug smuggling is paying off and in the last three years, the number of cases have drastically declined. According to police data, 435 cases of drug trafficking were registered and 536 people were arrested in 2013 - a drop from 825 registered cases and 956 arrested in 2012. In 2011, 1,127 cases were registered and 1,285 people were arrested. In the first four months of 2014, only 14 cases have been registered and 19 people, including 16 Indians and three foreigners, have been arrested. "They (smugglers) are definitely feeling the heat. We have come down hard on them and will continue to do so," Narcotics and Crime Prevention Cell Inspector Vivekanand Pathak said. As a result, the peddlers are anxious to find new ways to move their contraband abroad. "Golf kits, women's sandals, bicycle seats and car pistons are some of the new items being used by drug peddlers to smuggle heroin, cocaine and 11 other contraband items to countries like China, Nigeria, South Africa and the US," Pathak said. "Concealed cavities in these items are cleverly filled with the drugs and shipped through couriers as parcels," he added. The security agencies discovered the new trend following the arrests of a Grecian, Emmanouil Chatzak, 35, and a Nigerian, Odeomenan Kenneth Ozioma, 23, here in February and April respectively while they were in the process of sending such a parcel to their associates. Pathak said the drug traffickers earlier used text books and tea packets for the job but ditched them after being caught by the police several times.—IANS
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Crackdown against wrongdoers to continue, says Lt Governor
New Delhi, May 8 “The crackdown will not end till the time President's rule in Delhi gets over," Jung said. Jung had recently ordered massive raids at fair price shops, petrol pumps and gas agencies. "We will act tough against hoarders and blackmarketeers," he said. Delhi is under President's rule since February 17, when it was imposed five days after Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal announced the resignation of his government. — IANS
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Soon, plastic money can be used to pay traffic fines
New Delhi, May 11 The traffic police are now working to upgrade its hand-held e-challan device which will accept money through debit and credit cards. "A proposal in this regard has been approved and very soon we would be able to accept challan through debit and credit card on the spot," a senior police officer has said. — TNS |
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Seized items stolen from
sales tax office
New Delhi, May 11 A Sales Tax official told the police that he entered the office around 10.30 am and found the lock of a room, in which valuable items seized by the department were kept, broken. He also found that some of the valuables were missing and immediately informed his seniors about the incident. The police said the stolen items were totally valued at several lakhs of rupees. A case has been registered. |
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