Old-note holders won’t be penalised till SC order: Govt

Dhananjay Mahapatra| TNN | Nov 4, 2017, 01:54 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

The SC asked the Centre to consider opening a window as those in genuine difficulty could not be forced to see their hard-earned money becoming trash.

The SC observed that each individual case should be examined for genuineness of difficulty before permitting the scrapped notes to be redeemed.

NEW DELHI: Hearing petitions which were filed after the deadline to deposit old notes was abruptly shortened, the Supreme Court told the 15 petitioners on Friday to await the verdict of a Constitution bench on the validity of demonetisation.

For close to six months, the SC offered sympathetic observations and asked the Centre to consider opening a window as those in genuine difficulty could not be forced to see their hard-earned money becoming trash. The SC had observed that each individual case should be examined for genuineness of difficulty before permitting the scrapped currency notes to be redeemed.

The Centre has not been amenable to such suggestions, arguing that the objective of demonetisation would be defeated. The government has been wary of the alleged misuse of windows, such as the daily exchange facility, petrol pump payments and exceptions for the northeast during notebandi.

On Friday, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud told the petitioners to withdraw their pleas and intervene in the case pending before a five-judge Constitution bench, which will commence hearing to decide the validity of demonetisation soon. This drew protests from the petitioners, who said they had not challenged the validity of demonetisation.

"All we want is the government or RBI to examine the genuineness of difficulty we had in approaching banks between November 9 and December 30 last year and permit us to redeem the scrapped currencies in our possession, which is our hard-earned money," they said.

"Depending on the result of the scrutiny by the five-judge bench for deciding validity of demonetisation, petitioners can present their grievance before the court," it said. Advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for a petitioner, said Centre had made it a criminal offence to hold scrapped currency notes at which AG K K Venugopal assured petitioners that they will not face coercive action under law till the Constitution bench gives its verdict."

தேசிய செய்திகள்

வங்கி கணக்கு, மொபைல் போன் எண்ணுடன் ஆதார் இணைப்புக்கான கடைசி தேதியை தெரியப்படுத்துங்கள்



வங்கி கணக்கு மற்றும் மொபைல் போன் எண்ணுடன் ஆதார் எண்ணை இணைப்பதற்கு எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்து மாத்யூ ஸ்டீபன் என்பவர் சுப்ரீம் கோட்டில் மனு தாக்கல் செய்துள்ளார்.

நவம்பர் 04, 2017, 04:54 AM

புதுடெல்லி,

வங்கி கணக்கு மற்றும் மொபைல் போன் எண்ணுடன் ஆதார் எண்ணை இணைப்பதற்கு எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்து மாத்யூ ஸ்டீபன் என்பவர் சுப்ரீம் கோட்டில் மனு தாக்கல் செய்துள்ளார். அந்த மனு, நீதிபதிகள் ஏ.கே.சிக்ரி, அசோக் பூ‌ஷண் ஆகியோர் அடங்கிய அமர்வு முன்பு நேற்று விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது.

அப்போது, எந்த இடைக்கால உத்தரவும் பிறப்பிக்க மறுத்த நீதிபதிகள், ஆதார் தொடர்பான அனைத்து வழக்குகளையும் இம்மாத இறுதியில் வேறு ஒரு அமர்வு விசாரித்து முடிவு செய்யும் என்று கூறினர்.

இருப்பினும், வங்கி கணக்குடன் ஆதாரை இணைப்பதற்கான கடைசி தேதி டிசம்பர் 31 என்று வங்கிகளும், மொபைல் எண்ணுடன் ஆதாரை இணைப்பதற்கான கடைசி தேதி பிப்ரவரி 6 என்று மொபைல் சேவை நிறுவனங்களும் தங்கள் வாடிக்கையாளர்களுக்கு தகவல் அனுப்பச் சொல்லுமாறு மத்திய அரசுக்கு உத்தரவிட்டனர்.

Contraband in schools: Be more vigilant, Madras HC tells cops

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedNov 2, 2017, 6:03 am IST

The judge said the people of TN were already suffering because of easy availability and accessibility of liquor and many families were shattered.

Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court expressed shock over the availability of contraband goods even in higher secondary schools. It said that addictive goods were spoiling the youth. The same is the case with the professional and arts colleges.

The court went on to say that the police should be more vigilant around educational institutions and should conduct raids whenever the necessity arises.

“Visible policing would prevent this kind of commission of offences and it would also save the students/ youngsters from falling prey to the dangerous consequences of tobacco eating or consuming ganja or other banned products”, said Justice N. Kirubakaran while passing further interim orders on a petition from M/s Studio 11, which sought a direction to the police to take steps against the persons who smoke in public places.

The judge said the people of Tamil Nadu were already suffering because of easy availability and accessibility of liquor and many families were shattered. If the youngsters were going to be spoiled, then there will not be any future for our younger generations.

These things have to be taken into consideration and in the next hearing, the police have to give details of institutions in which the banned items were available and the number of raids conducted and the items seized and other actions taken, the judge added and posted to November 6, further hearing of the case.

The judge said in response to his queries posed earlier that the police filed a reply stating prohibited products gain entry into Tamil Nadu from bordering states through various transport means and a close vigil was being maintained.
No clandestine units manufacturing banned products exist in the state.

However, there were many reports in the newspapers which would show that many units were operating in Tamil Nadu. In this regard, a detailed report needs to be filed by the police, the judge added.

The judge said in the reply, it has been stated that periodical checks were being conducted from June 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017 regarding smoking in public places and as many as 25,946 persons have been fined and `35,29,405 has been collected as fine from the offenders.

Regarding the raids conducted in the shops located near schools, as many as more than 3,579 persons have been fined and `7,06,640 has been collected as fine from the offenders. It has been stated that 8,702 shops located near the vicinity of schools have been raided and 8,035 persons arrested.

However, it has to be noted that the FIR has been registered only under bailable sections. Thus, 8,035 persons said to have been arrested was only an eye wash, the judge added.

Chennai rains: Checking veracity of WhatsApp complaints gets tougher

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J M RUDHRAN BARAASU

PublishedNov 3, 2017, 1:37 am IST

Another problem that officials face are complaints about the same issue from different WhatsApp numbers, which make it difficult.

Motorists have a tough time riding on an already battered road due to water stagnation in Cantonment Colony, Pallavaram, opposite Janta theatre. (Photo: DC)

CHENNAI: Chennai corporation officials are flooded with photographs of waterlogged areas, uprooting of trees and faulty streetlights, literally. WhatsApp has made things easy for public to complain about civic issues to authorities during this monsoon season. But, officials are facing tough time checking the authenticity of the pictures and complaints since several of them have turned to be old. Another problem that officials face are complaints about the same issue from different WhatsApp numbers, which make it difficult. “WhatsApp numbers received good response, as many residents are using social media to complain about rain-related issues,” an official posted in the Corporation control room told Deccan Chronicle.

Officials exclusively designated to receive and forward complaints to divisions concerned are finding it difficult to organise WhatsApp complaints since there are several photos of an area affected badly by the floods. “Apart from this, more than one resident sending complaints regarding the same problem makes the job hard and quite confusing. Also, we are struggling to check their authenticity. It will be helpful if the residents stick to single photos,” the official added. Although officials are not sending the action taken reports to the complainant, they are making records of complaints and actions taken.

On the other hand, residents of rain battered city make use of the easiest and fastest mode of sending their grievances. Although the corporation has not been maintaining the exact figure of total complaints received from WhatsApp owing to replicas, it has received more grievances through the social media handle than telephones, according to a source. F. S. Mohan Eddy, a resident of Ritherdon Road, Vepery, who sent a complaint about waterlogging in his locality through WhatsApp, welcomed the move.

“Corporation’s initiative is very useful to address our problems as WhatsApp is easy to use and is fast. My complaint is partially rectified by the officials and I can see that work is underway,” he said. On Thursday, the control room continued to receive complaints through telephones and social media. Meanwhile, a press release from the corporation stated that it had cleared waterlogging in 101 spots of total 213 and removed 37 fallen trees from roads.

Stop flood of rumours

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | C S KOTTESWARAN

PublishedNov 3, 2017, 1:32 am IST

False news, old videos leave babus rattled.

Retteri lake, one of the large waterbodies in north Chennai, is receiving copious inflows, thanks to incessant rains. (Photo: DC)

Chennai: For television rating point (TRP) and sensation, the media have been sending crews and creating panic in low-lying areas of Mudichur, Perungalathur and Tambaram. There are also late night rumours on social media stating that Chembarambakkam lake is full and flood disaster is awaiting, said a senior official co-coordinating with the state disaster management control room. There are a few TV channels mixing live coverage with file videos dating back to 2015, creating unnecessary panic, the official said seeking anonymity. Even before the Chennai collector commenced the meeting with the education department on Tuesday there was a ‘breaking news’ stating schools declared a holiday in Chennai. Such ‘news’ without authenticity, puts immense pressure on us, forcing to declare a holiday, but the sun was shining the very next day, the IAS officer noted.

In case of north Chennai, there are issues with waterlogging and there can be no official justification for the electrocution death of two school-going children, but creating unnecessary panic is not good for the viewers and the administrators, the highly placed official in secretariat opined. The friction between the media and the administrators was also visible on Wednesday when a section of journalists cornered no-nonsense officer P. Amudha when she revealed that there are National Highways culverts blocking the flow of stormwater along GST road flooding southern suburbs. But when a series of queries were raised, Amudha initially explained that the state has identified the culverts and has written to NHAI seeking to widen culverts. But when the scribes insisted minute details like the locations of these culverts and when is the next meeting with NHAI and state officials scheduled, the upright officer abruptly ended the press briefing saying “that’s all I have”.

However, state disaster management commissioner K. Satyagopal views media reports as a tool that can stimulate the community and youngsters, when there are floods. “You (press and media) people played a constructive role during the 2015 flash floods and the social media helped people to speed up the relief. There is a need for such constructive responsibility. The role of media is to report on the errors, but at times the credit is not given if the situation has improved. For instance, the usual waterlogging at Olympia signal and Koyambedu is arrested, but this is not covered and such coverage will boost the morale of field workers and engineers who bring the change, he added.

Chennai : Thief leaves half Rs 10.75 lakh loot on railway platform

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedNov 3, 2017, 1:24 am IST

Egmore Railway Police have secured the abandoned cash and began enquiries into the identity of the man who escaped with the cash.

Chennai: A businessman from Salem was robbed of his suitcase with Rs 10.75 lakh cash in it while traveling in the Salem-Chennai Express train on Thursday. This is the same train in which unidentified robbers drilled a hole through the roof and decamped with Rs 5.75 crore belonging to the RBI last year. While the businessman's suitcase was found abandoned on the Tambaram railway station platform, the joy was shortlived as the person who fled with the suitcase escaped with Rs 5 lakh and left the remaining cash.

M Ravikumar of Thadakapatty in Salem was travelling in the first AC compartment of the train, which departed from Salem at 11 pm on Wednesday. He was carrying two suitcases, one with cash and the other with his personal belongings. Ravikumar woke up when the train was in Kodambakkam and was preparing to get down at Egmore when he noticed that his suitcase was missing. On getting down at Egmore, he approached the station manager and filed a complaint with the Government Railway Police.

Since the train's previous stop was Tambaram, Railway police alerted the police there and checked the CCTV footage to find a man alighting from the first AC compartment with Ravikumar's suitcase. "The man looked like a destitute and was carrying a cloth bag around his shoulder", a police officer said. A few minutes later, the man abandoned the suitcase under one of the benches on railway platform-5 and escaped. Ravikumar and a police team rushed to Tambaram and after scanning the suitcase for explosives, it was opened to find Rs.5 lakh was missing from it. Egmore Railway Police have secured the abandoned cash and began enquiries into the identity of the man who escaped with the cash. "The passenger told us that he was loitering outside the first class AC compartment until midnight seeking alms from passengers," a police official said. Further investigations are on.

Woman in China shocked to find that a tooth growing inside her nose

DECCAN CHRONICLE

PublishedNov 2, 2017, 6:20 pm IST

She had been suffering constant nosebleeds for decades and thought it was due to inflammation.

At first doctors thought of the circular object in the scan as a stone (Photo: YouTube)

Several people have long term health issues which they tend to take lightly without considering the grave possibilities behind them. These seemingly minor problems may at times turn out to be shocking conditions which a person can’t possibly imagine.

A bleeding nose can mean many things but what it revealed in a case from China is the last thing anyone can think of. A woman believed that an inflammation of the nose membrane was the cause for the constant nosebleeds that she suffered for decades.

But she was shocked when a scan revealed that she had a tooth growing in her nasal cavity. Even the doctors first suspected the circular object in her nose to be a stone when they saw it.

When they peeled layer after layer of the nasal cavity during surgery, the doctors found out that it was a fully grown tooth with a root and a crown. They pulled the tooth out and since then the woman identified as Xia has been feeling much better.

The condition is known as supernumerary teeth which causes extra teeth to grow randomly in any part of the face.