‘Can’t jail people for infinity while looking for others’

‘Can’t jail people for infinity while looking for others’

New Delhi:19.12.2020

Applicants cannot be made to remain in jail for infinity merely on account of the fact that other persons who were part of the mob have to be identified and arrested, a Delhi court said while granting bail to two men lodged in jail since April after being held for rioting. “Needless to say, the investigation is complete; chargesheet has also been filed; trial is likely to take a long time,” additional sessions judge Vinod Yadav said. Dinesh Tiwari, counsel for Shah Alam and Riyasat Ali, had sought bail on the ground of parity with co-accused. TNN

‘No FIR or any specific charge against accused’

It also came on record that Alam is the brother of former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, the main accused. Accused counsel Dinesh Tiwari argued that the accused had been identified by the witnesses for they belonged to a particular community.

He also highlighted that after completing the investigation, police had filed a chargesheet. “No useful purpose would be served by keeping them behind bars, as the trial in the matter is likely to take a long time,” submitted Tiwari.

Special public prosecutor Manoj Chaudhary contested the submission by saying that the two men had been identified by the witnesses and therefore they couldn’t take the plea of parity.

HC: Passport can’t be denied if only FIR filed

HC: Passport can’t be denied if only FIR filed

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:19.12.2020

The Punjab and Haryana high court had made it clear that the passport authorities cannot refuse or cancel a passport merely on the ground of registration of a FIR unless the criminal matter has reached the court of law. The high court directed the passport authorities to issue a passport to a resident of Haryana’s Rewari who was denied passport after a criminal case was found to be registered against him during police verification.

“It is a settled position that the passport authorities cannot refuse or cancel a passport merely on the ground of registration of a FIR. Sections 6 (2)

(f) and10 (3) of the Passport Act, 1967, provide that such refusal/ revocationis to be invoked only in the event of proceedings in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed by the applicant are pending before a criminal court in India,” observed Justice Lisa Gill.

Reason For Denial

The petitioner, 23, had applied for a passport on September 26, 2020. However, due to the pendency of an FIR against him, it was not issued to him

PASSPORT

HC tells petitioner to submit detailed fresh application

The HC passed the order while disposing of a petition filed by Yogesh Kumar of Rewari who had sought directions for issuance of passport.

The counsel appearing for the Union government pointed out that in the application for issuance of a passport submitted by the petitioner, pendency of FIR has not been mentioned. It was only on police verification that the same came to light.

The passport authorities were well within their right to deny the passport to the petitioner.

On this, the counsel for the petitioner submitted that the application form was filled at a cybercafé with help of a person there. It is due to this reason that the pendency of FIR was not mentioned. He, however, added that no permission from the trial court was required as charge against the petitioner has not been framed.

After hearing both the parties, the HC observed that admittedly, in the present case, cognizance of the FIR has not been taken by the criminal court. “The provisions thus do not come into effect. The petitioner can, therefore, not be refused a passport on the sole ground that FIR stands registered against him.”

“Keeping in view the facts and circumstances as above, it is directed that in case, the petitioner submits a fresh application giving the entire requisite details, the concerned Regional Passport Officer, shall consider the said application in accordance with law while taking into account the aforementioned legal position... In case, the application is submitted within one week, necessary action thereon, shall be taken within two weeks, thereafter. It is made clear that in case the petitioner needs to travel on the said passport, it would be subject to orders of the court of competent jurisdiction in respect to the FIR registered against him,” observed the HC while asking the passport authorities to issue him fresh passport.

Man held for selling same plot of land three times

Man held for selling same plot of land three times

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:19.12.2020

A man, identified as Nandkishore, allegedly sold a plot of land to three different people for around Rs17 lakh.

According to police, complainants Vinod Kumar Thakur, a resident of Jehangirabad and Akhilesh Dwivedi, a resident of Soubhagya Nagar Govindpura, stated in their complaints that Chhoti Bai, mother of accused Nandkishore Lodhi, a resident of Maholi village, sold a plot of land to Akhilesh Dwivedi for Rs7 lakh in 2017. Later, the accused Nandkishore sold the same plot to Vinod Kumar for Rs5 lakh in January 2020, and sold it once again to Heeralal Jatav for Rs5 lakh in July. Acting on two victims’ complaints, police registered a case of fraud and arrested the accused. He was produced before the court from where he was sent to jail.

Students complain of mask irritation, docs suggest small breaks

Students complain of mask irritation, docs suggest small breaks

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:19.12.2020

Wearing a mask for long hours during school time was an irritant for several students on Friday. Doctors have suggested that students can remove masks for a few seconds whenever they feel itching or irritation. However, this can be done only when people around them are at a 6-feet distance or no one is around. Doctors have specifically recommended wearing masks and practising hand hygiene for students attending schools.

For parents, the biggest concern is the safety of the students. Schools have opted several measures to follow the Covid guidelines like physical distancing and sanitisers across the campus. Nevertheless, the biggest concern was asking students to wear a mask throughout the school hours.

“I have been using masks regularly ever since the pandemic surfaced. But, wearing masks for long hours during school was somewhat irritating. I do not know what to do in such a situation. I will ask my parents after school is over,” said a student, Bharti Verma.

For such children, doctors suggested that they can remove the mask for a few minutes only when the other person is at least 6 feet away.

“There is no excuse when it comes to wearing masks. However, it is also true that children may get irritated after wearing them for long hours. In such a situation, they can remove it for a few minutes when people are at a 6-feet distance. During other times, students will have to wear masks,” said Dr Rakeh Sukheja.

He added that hand hygiene is a must. “Wearing masks and hand hygiene is the need of the hour. Keep doing this regularly,” said Dr Sukheja.

Notably, schools have formed teams to monitor the students. “Teams will ensure that students must follow the Covid norms properly. They will report the management daily about their monitoring,” said Babu Thomas, secretary, Association of Private Un-aided Schools.

Students wait for their class to begin at Kamla Nehru School on Friday

No high fives, no huddles: Students warned for flouting distancing norms

CAUTION YES PANIC NO

No high fives, no huddles: Students warned for flouting distancing norms

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:  19.12.2020

Coming in groups and high-fiving each other were some of the errant behaviour among students that were spotted on Day 1of schools reopening.

While schools have made all possible arrangements on

the campus, in a few institutions, students were found not following the Covid norms. School administrations warned the students several times to follow physical distancing norms and keep the mask on their faces.

“We have no control over the students before they reach the school. What they have done on the way can’t be controlled by the schools. For that, parents have to ensure that their children follow the instructions,” said a school owner, not wishing to be named.

In a few schools, students were spotted high-fiving each other inside the classrooms. “Children were instructed that they can’t touch each other in any situation. Students agreed to follow the instructions after they were informed that they can’t even high-five,” said a school teacher.

It was also noticed that students came in groups and scattered in front of their school gates. When asked about it, a student tried to avoid the question.

In order to ensure that the students follow the Covid norms, several parents went to drop their children. “I can’t take any kind of risk. These are children who have come out to attend school after a long time. Outside the school, as a father I am taking care of her and inside I hope school management will do the same,” said Neeta Rane, a mother.

Parents said that for practical learning, students need to send their children to the schools. “It is true that I can’t keep our children at home as this year she has to appear for class 12 boards. For practical purposes, they need to attend school. I think it is the responsibility of both parents and schools to ensure that students must follow the Covid norms,” said Anay Sisodia, father of a student.

Students stand in groups in front of a school in Bhopal on Friday

Online side-effect: Writing not quite right

Online side-effect: Writing not quite right

Ramendra.Singh@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:19.12.2020

Students attending school after a gap of 10 months displayed one major problem — poor writing habit. Teachers advised them to improve their writing, otherwise they would face problems in higher classes.

With the opening of schools, even teachers were spotted in a new uniform — wearing masks and gloves. On Day 1 of schools reopening, most teachers had to motivate students to resume their writing habits.

Teachers said that class 9 to 12 are crucial for school students. “After completing class 8, syllabus of students change suddenly. They have to make notes and put extra effort in writing. But the online classes have made them stay way from writing. When students attended classes on Friday, it was noticed they they were avoiding writing,” said a teacher, not wishing to be named.

The teacher said that such a habit will land students in trouble. “Students must resume their writing habits. They have to make bigger notes in higher classes and if they lose their writing habit, it will be a big issue for them,” said another teacher.

Even students admitted that they were losing the writing habit. “Online classes are of shorter time. There was no way for teachers to check notebooks as they were focused on completing the course. As writing was very limited, it has become a little problem while attending class and start writing again,” said a student, Akshay Raj.

Schools are now planning to focus on the writing habits of the students. “Schools can start such classes as writing habits are important for students. Even during online classes, students can keep working on their writing,” said a teacher.

It is to be noted that the school education department has allowed online classes for students who do not want to attend classes.

New search committee to be formed for Vidyapith VC post

New search committee to be formed for Vidyapith VC post

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:19.12.2020

After a controversy erupted over the appointment of a new vicechancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith, questions are being raised about the appointment of the members in the selection committee itself.

This committee, entrusted with identifying the next vice-chancellor, flouted some rules in the appointment of its members. The controversy comes as the varsity, founded by Mahatma Gandhi, is in its 100th year.

The four-member selection committee appointed by Vidyapith trustees consisted of only three members and the fourth member, to be nominated by the University Grants Commission (UGC), had not been brought on board, sources in Gujarat Vidyapith said.

“The UGC has now ordered a new search committee to be formed,” a source said.

Questions are also being raised on whether the current members were appointed legally.

The selection committee had recently recommended the name of former Vidyapith registrar, Rajendra Khimani, for the vice chancellor’s post. The term of the present vicechancellor, Anamik Shah, ends on December 31.

There is growing uncertainty over the candidature of Khimani and whether he can take charge as the new VC on January 1, or if the appointment is challenged, can he re-apply for the post. The next available option is to select the next best candidate of the three names that were initially proposed, sources said.