RAM MANDIR WITHIN SITE

SC Settles, By Unanimous Verdict, Centuries-Old Hindu-Muslim Conflict By Granting Entire 2.77-Acre Disputed Land To Deity Ram Lalla, One Of The 3 Claimants In The Case; Directs Centre To Appoint Trust In 3 Months To Manage Construction Of Temple
Balancing Act: 5 Acres At ‘Prominent Place’ For Masjid In Ayodhya

Dhananjay Mahapatra & Amit Anand Choudhary TNN

New Delhi:10.11.2019

A five-judge Supreme Court bench on Saturday settled the centuries-old Hindu-Muslim dispute that had been in courts for 70 years through a unanimous verdict and handed over the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid disputed land for construction of a Ram temple. It also allocated five acres at a “prominent place” in Ayodhya for a mosque.

The bench said the verdict weighed in favour of deity Ram Lalla because the Hindu parties could produce better evidence to substantiate their right over the disputed land. However, the bench was also unanimous that the Muslim parties too had established a competitive right over a part of the land. Hence, it used its inherent powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to direct the Centre/UP government to allot five acres at a prominent place in Ayodhya for construction of a mosque. The bench ordered framing of a scheme and its implementation through a trust, to be set up by the Centre, within three months for construction of the temple

and its management.

The bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi, CJI-designate Sharad Arvind Bobde and Justices Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer took just 23 days to author a common judgment running into 929 pages.


Sunni & Shia boards won’t file review pleas

UP Sunni Waqf Board and Shia Central Waqf Board, parties to the case, welcomed the SC verdict and said they would not file review petitions. Iqbal Ansari, another litigant, lauded the order. However, AIMPLB’s Kamal Farooqui and AIMIM chief Owaisi said they were “disappointed”. P10

CJI Ranjan Gogoi reads out 26-page summary of Ayodhya judgment

Top Court Turns Down Nirmohi Akhara’s Suit

The bench had reserved its verdict on October 16 and delivered it on November 9. CJI Gogoi read out a 26-page summary of the judgment for close to 40 minutes in a packed courtroom. “Jai Shriram” chants from advocates in black robes echoed immediately after the pronouncement of judgment, inserting a discordant note to the otherwise smooth process.

The judgment was along anticipated lines. After parsing the hearings, legal eagles were expecting the bench to turn in a verdict favouring the construction of Ram Mandir at the disputed site. But the 5-0 score came as a surprise.

The SC set aside the September 30, 2010, verdict of the Allahabad high court, which had divided the core disputed area of 1,487 square yards, included the disputed 2.77 acres of plot, into three equal parts and allotted one part each to Ram Lalla (the area under the central dome of the demolished mosque), Nirmohi Akhara (outer courtyard including Ram Chabutra and Sita Rasoi) and the rest to Sunni Waqf Board.

Nirmohi Akhara became the biggest loser on the day as the SC dismissed its 1959 suit staking claim to the site as time barred and refused to even recognise its right as a ‘shebait’ (priest), thus robbing it of any major role in the to-be-constructed temple. The apex court ordered that it would get “appropriate representation” on the trust, but that would be like a participation certificate, with the court leaving it to the Centre to determine what would constitute “appropriate representation”.

The directive that construction of the temple be assigned to a trust to be set up by the Centre comes at the cost of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, which was set up by the VHP in 1985 to construct and manage the proposed Ram temple. However, the Sangh Parivar constituent, which spearheaded the temple movement, should still get to play a key role in the matter, considering that the court has given the Centre a decisive say in determining the composition of the proposed trust.

The verdict was celebrated by temple votaries. Those arrayed on the opposite side were, obviously, not satisfied, but there were signs suggesting an acquiescence, if grudging, into the outcome: something that raised the prospect of an awkward closure of the vexed mandir versus mosque question that has left an indelible imprint on politics and society.

Political parties also restrained their impulse. BJP and Sangh Parivar, starting from PM Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and BJP chief Amit Shah, exercised restraint. Political parties and other outfits, who had opposed the mandir campaign, also calibrated their reaction to suit the need for peace.

In its order, the court said, “The central government shall, within three months, formulate a scheme pursuant under Sections 6 and 7 of the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, 1993. The scheme shall envisage setting up of a trust with a board of trustees or any other appropriate body under Section 6. The scheme shall make necessary provisions in regard to the functioning of the trust or body, including on matters relating to the management of the trust, the powers of the trustees, including the construction of a temple and all necessary, incidental and supplemental matters.”

The SC told the governments at the Centre and the state that handing over of the disputed site to the trust must coincide with the handing over of five acres of land at a prominent place in Ayodhya to the Sunni Waqf Board for construction of a mosque. “The Sunni Waqf Board would be at liberty, on the allotment of the land, to take necessary steps for the construction of a mosque on the land so allotted together with other associated facilities,” the bench said, adding that till the scheme and allotment of alternative five acres to the Waqf Board was worked out, possession of the disputed land would continue to remain with the Centre.

ON GUARD: A security officer standing guard at Sri Krishna Janmasthan temple in Mathura

விபத்துகளுக்கு காரணமாகும் புறவழிச் சாலைகள் 






எஸ்.விஜயகுமார்.

தமிழகத்தில் முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்த சாலைகளில் ஒன்றான, சேலம்- உளுந்தூர்பேட்டை நான்கு வழிச் சாலையில், 8 இடங்களில் உள்ள புறவழிச் சாலைகள் இரு வழிச்சாலைகளாக உள்ளன. இதனால், நாளுக்குநாள் விபத்து அபாயம் அதிகரித்து வருவதால், இந்த புறவழிச் சாலைகளை உடனடியாக நான்கு வழிச்சாலை களாக மாற்றவேண்டும் என்று சமூக ஆர்வலர்கள் வலியுறுத்தி உள்ளனர்.

தமிழகத்தின் மேற்கு மாவட்டங்களான நீலகிரி, கோவை, திருப்பூர், ஈரோடு, சேலம் ஆகிய மாவட்டங்கள் மட்டுமின்றி, கேரள மாநிலத்தின் கொச்சி, திருச்சூர், பாலக்காடு நகரங்களை சென்னையுடன் இணைக்கும் பிரதான சாலையாக சேலம்- உளுந்தூர்பேட்டை நான்கு வழிச்சாலை உள்ளது. குறிப்பாக, இந்தச்சாலையை கொங்கு மண்டலத்தின் நுழைவு வாயில் என்றும் கூறலாம்.

சேலம்- உளுந்தூர்பேட்டையை இணைக்கும் இந்த 136 கிமீ., நீள நெடுஞ்சாலை, ஒரு முனையில் திருச்சி- சென்னை நெடுஞ்சாலையையும், மறுமுனையில் பெங்களூரு- மதுரை மற்றும் சேலம்- கோவை நெடுஞ்சாலைகளை இணைக்கிறது. இந்த சாலையில், தினந்தோறும் பல ஆயிரம் வாகனங்கள் பயணிக்கின்றன.

இருப்பினும், பல்வேறு காரணங்களால் பாதுகாப்பற்ற சாலையாகவே இருந்து வருகிறது. இதனை 4 வழிச்சாலை என்று கூறினாலும், புறவழிச்சாலைகள் அனைத்தும் இரு வழிச்சாலையாகவே உள்ளன.

குறிப்பாக, சேலம் மாநகரை அடுத்த உடையாப்பட்டி, வாழப்பாடி, ஆத்தூர், சின்னசேலம், கள்ளக்குறிச்சி, தியாகதுருகம், இலவனாசூர்கோட்டை, உளுந்தூர்பேட்டை என 8 இடங்களில் உள்ள புறவழிச் சாலைகள் இரு வழிச்சாலையாகவே உள்ளன.

4 வழிச்சாலையில் சராசரியாக மணிக்கு 100 கிமீ., வேகத்தில் பயணிக்கும் வாகனங்கள், திடீரென இரு வழிச்சாலையில் நுழைய வேண்டியுள்ளது. சென்டர் மீடியன் கூட இல்லாத இரு வழிச்சாலையில், அதிவேக வாகனங்கள் எதிரெதிரே கடந்து செல்லும்போது விபத்து ஏற்படுகிறது.

பல உயிர்களும் பலியாகிவிட்டன. இந்தச்சாலை நெடுகிலும் எண்ணற்ற கிராமங்கள் உள்ளன. கிராம மக்கள், 4 வழிச்சாலையை கடப்பதற்கு எந்தவொரு கிராமத்திலும் சுரங்க நடைபாதை அமைக்கப்படவில்லை. இதுவும் விபத்துகள் அதிகரிக்க முக்கிய காரணமாக உள்ளது.

புறவழிச்சாலை அமைந்துள்ள ஒவ்வோர் ஊரில் இருந்தும் வெளியேறும் பேருந்துகள் உள்ளிட்ட வாகனங்கள் அனைத்தும் 4 வழிச்சாலையின் குறுக்கே புகுந்து, மறுபுறம் உள்ள சாலையை அடைய வேண்டி உள்ளதாலும் விபத்து ஏற்படுகிறது. எனவே, சேலம்- உளுந்தூர்பேட்டை 4 வழிச்சாலையில் உள்ள 8 புறவழிச் சாலைகளையும் உடனடியாக, 4 வழிச்சாலையாக மாற்று
வதற்கு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும் என்று பல்வேறு தரப்பினரும் தொடர்ந்து வலியுறுத்தி வருகின்றனர்.

இது குறித்து சேலம் மாவட்ட பாஜக பொதுச்செயலாளரும் சமூக ஆர்வலருமான எஸ்.என்.செல்வராஜ் கூறும்போது, ‘ சேலம்- உளுந்தூர்பேட்டை 4 வழிச்சாலை பாதுகாப்பற்ற முறையில் அமைக்கப் பட்டிருப்பதால், ஏராளமான விபத்துகள் நிகழ்ந்து, அவற்றில் பலர் உயிரிழந்துவிட்டனர்.

இது குறித்து, தகவல் அறியும் உரிமைச் சட்டத்தின் கீழ் பெற்ற தகவல்கள் அச்சமூட்டுபவையாக உள்ளன. இந்த சாலையில் சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் மட்டும் 2012-ம் ஆண்டு ஜனவரி முதல் 2017 ஜூன் வரையிலும் 344 விபத்துகள் ஏற்பட்டு, அதில் 117 பேர் உயிரிழந்துவிட்டனர். 126 பேர் படுகாயமடைந்தனர்.

இதே சாலையில் சேலம் மாவட்ட எல்லையில் தொடங்கி உளுந்தூர் பேட்டை (விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டம்) வரையிலான சாலையில் 2012-ம்
ஆண்டு தொடங்கி 2019 அக்டோபர் வரை 1,573 விபத்துகள் நிகழ்ந்து, அவற்றில் 417 பேர் உயிரிழந்து விட்டனர். 53 பேர் படுகாய
மடைந்தனர். ஒட்டுமொத்தமாக சேலம்- உளுந்தூர் பேட்டை 4 வழிச்சாலையில், 2012-ம் ஆண்டு தொடங்கி 2019 வரை சுமாராக 2 ஆயிரம் விபத்துகள் நிகழ்ந்து, 530-க்கும் மேற்பட்டோரின் உயிர் பறிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

ஒப்பந்தப்படி 2013-ம் ஆண்டுக்குள் புறவழிச்சாலைகளை 4 வழிச்சாலைகளாக மாற்ற வேண்டும் என்ற நிலை இருந்தாலும், விலை மதிப்பற்ற மனித உயிர்களை இனியும் பலி கொடுக்கக் கூடாது என்பதற்காக, மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகள் துரித நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்’ என்றார்.

BREAKING| Ram Mandir to be built on disputed Ayodhya site; Alternate land of 5 acres to be alloted for construction of Mosque

Hot Off   The PressNews
 
Published on November 9, 2019By Prachi Bhardwaj

Supreme Court: The 5-judge bench of Ranjan Gogoi, CJ, S.A. Bobde, Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S. Abdul Nazeer, JJ, has directed that disputed land to be given to Trust for construction of Ram Mandir, putting an end to decades of uncertainty ever since the Babri Mosque was demolished in 1992. It also directed that a suitable plot of 5 acres must be granted to Sunni Waqf Board to set up a Mosque.

While reading out the verdict, CJI said that as per the testimony of Hindus & Muslims, both were offering prayers at the disputed site and that Sunni Waqf Board was not able to prove adverse possession over the disputed property.

Key takeaways from the verdict that was read out in Court Number 1 today: 

Unanimous verdict

SLP filed by Shia Waqf Board challenging the order of 1946 Faizabad Court dismissed

Ram Janma Bhoomi not a juristic person but Ram Lalla is.
Babri Masjid was not built on a vacant land. There was an underlying non-Islamic structure as per ASI’s report.

Titles can’t be decided on faith and belief but on the claims. 

Historical accounts indicate the belief of Hindus that Ayodhya was the birthplace of Lord Ram.

Sunni Waqf Board can’t claim adverse possession.

There is no evidence that Muslims abandoned mosque.Hindus always believed birthplace of Lord Ram was in inner courtyard of mosque. Clearly established that Muslims offered prayer inside inner courtyard&Hindus offered prayers in outer courtyard.
Alternate site of 5 acres to be allotted to Muslims to construct mosque.

Disputed land to be given to Trust for construction of Ram Mandir.

Yesterday, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi held a meeting on Friday with Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari and state DGP Om Prakash Singh to take stock of law and order situation in the state.

Security arrangements have been beefed up across the country, especially in Ayodhya, in view of the impending judgment in the case. Section 144 has been imposed in the district till December 10. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had held a meeting on Thursday via video conferencing with all district magistrates and senior officials directing them to crack down on those trying to disrupt peace. He also asked the officials to stay alert and pro-active. The Uttar Pradeh government has ordered closure of all educational and training institutes till Monday.

Between August to October, the Supreme Court held a day-to-day hearing for 40 days on a batch of petitions challenging Allahabad High Court’s order trifurcating the 2.77 acres of the disputed land at Ayodhya into three equal parts to Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board and Nirmohi Akhara. The 16th-century Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992.

 https://blog.scconline.com/post/2019/11/09/breaking-ram-mandir-to-be-built-on-disputed-ayodhya-site-alternate-land-of-5-acres-to-be-alloted-for-construction-of-mosque/

39 ஆண்டாக, 'அரியர்' இருந்தால், தேர்வுக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்கலாம்

Added : நவ 09, 2019 00:11

சென்னை : 'சென்னை பல்கலையில், 1980ம் ஆண்டு முதல் படித்தவர்கள், 'அரியர்' இருந்தால், தேர்வுக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்கலாம்' என, அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சென்னை பல்கலையின் தேர்வு கட்டுப்பாட்டு அதிகாரி, பாண்டியன் வெளியிட்ட செய்தி குறிப்பு:சென்னை பல்கலையின், தொலைநிலை கல்வி திட்டத்தில், 1980 - 81ம் கல்வி ஆண்டு முதல், தற்போது வரை படித்தவர்களில், யாருக்காவது சில பாடங்கள் தேர்ச்சி பெறாமல், 'அரியர்' இருந்தால், அந்த தேர்வை எழுதி தேர்ச்சி பெறலாம்.இதற்காக, இந்த ஆண்டு டிசம்பர் மற்றும் அடுத்த ஆண்டு மே மாதம், தேர்வில் பங்கேற்கலாம் என, சலுகை திட்டம் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

டிசம்பர் தேர்வில் பங்கேற்க விரும்புவோர், சென்னை பல்கலையின்,www.ideunom.ac.in என்ற இணையதளம் வழியே விண்ணப்பங்களை பெற்று, நவ., 22க்குள் சமர்ப்பிக்கலாம். மேலும், விபரங்களை, பல்கலைக்கு நேரில் வந்தும் தெரிந்து கொள்ளலாம்.இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

டிக்டாக்கில் மூழ்கிய மனைவி: பூரிக்கட்டையால் அடித்து கொன்ற கணவன்

Updated : நவ 08, 2019 17:53 | Added : நவ 08, 2019 17:41




பிரகாசம்: ஆந்திரா மாநிலத்தில் டிக்டாக்கில் மூழ்கிய மனைவியை பூரிக்கட்டையால் அடித்து கணவன் கொன்ற சம்பவம் பரபரப்பை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது.

சமீ பகாலமாக பலரும் தங்களின் இயல்பு வாழ்க்கையை மறந்து சமூக வலைதளங்களில் மூழ்கியுள்ளனர். இது அவர்களுக்கும் அவர்களை சார்ந்த மற்றவர்களுக்கும் பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தும் என்பது தெரியாமல் அந்த மாயையில் சிக்குகின்றனர்.

ஆந்திர மாநிலம், பிரகாசம் மாவட்டத்தில் டிக்டாக் செயலியால் ஒரு கொலை சம்பவம் அரங்கேறியது அதிர்ச்சியை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது. தல்லூர் கிராமத்தை சேர்ந்த பாச்சூ, டெய்லராக உள்ளார். இவருக்கு பாத்திமா என்ற மனைவியும் பள்ளி செல்லும் வயதில் இரு குழந்தைகள் உள்ளனர்.





பாத்திமாவுக்கு டிக்டாக்கில் வீடியோ வெளியிடும் பழக்கம் இருந்து வந்தது. வீட்டிற்கு அருகில் உள்ள வயல்வெளி, தோட்டம் என பல்வேறு இடங்களுக்கு சென்று, நடனமாடி வீடியோ வெளியிட்டு வந்துள்ளார். இதனை பலமுறை பாச்சூ கண்டித்தும், பாத்திமா கேட்கவில்லை.

ஆத்திரமடைந்த அவர், வீட்டில் இருந்த பூரிக்கட்டையால் அடித்தும், கழுத்தை நெரித்தும் மனைவியை கொன்றுள்ளார். மாட்டிக் கொள்வோம் எனக் கருதி, மனைவியை தூக்கில் தொங்கவிட்டு தற்கொலை செய்தது போல் நாடகமாடினார். போலீசாரின் கிடுக்கிப்பிடி விசாரணையில் கொலையை ஒப்புக்கொண்டார். பாச்சூ கைது செய்யப்பட்டார்.

Madras high court stays charge memo issued against doctor

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedNov 9, 2019, 2:18 am IST

According to petitioner, already the Central govt has fixed basic salary of Rs 56,000 for the doctors working in the government medical hospitals.

Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has stayed the operation of the charge memo issued against a doctor, who participated in the recent strike, demanding pay
hike.

Justice M.Dhandapani granted the interim stay on a petition filed by Dr.S.Syed Naser, an assistant surgeon in orthopedics in government PHC at Nainampatti of Salem district, challenging the charge memo issued against him.

The judge said considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the very same issues raised in all other writ petitions, all the cases are directed to be posted along with similar cases. The counsel for the petitioner also submitted that the very same petitioners were already transferred to faraway places, apart from issuing charge memos. “Interim stay on the charge memo issued. Post along with batch of cases. Call on November 18, 2019”, the judge added.

According to petitioner, already the Central government has fixed basic salary of Rs 56,000 for the doctors working in the government medical hospitals. The Central government already brought 6th pay commission and 7th pay commission with regard to the basic salary for the doctors. The state government for so many years had not followed the central government’s guidelines.

Therefore, various doctors associations sent representations to the authorities. But, there was no response. Hence, the doctors went on indefinite strike from October 25, 2019. While so, the Chief Minister and the health minister issued a press release on October 30 stating that doctors demand will be solved and also called the entire doctors to report to duty. Accordingly, the Federation of Government Doctors Association, in which he was a member decided to withdraw the strike on November 1 and reported to duty. Subsequently and secretly, the state government issued transfer orders and charge memos. The orders were issued without any administrative reasons, he added.

Suburban trains partially cancelled in Chennai-Tambaram section on Nov 9, 10

17 suburban train services cancelled in Chennai - Tambaram section on November 9 and 10 due to engineering works.

Published: 08th November 2019 06:41 AM 

Image for representational purpose only

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: As many as 17 suburban train services would be cancelled between Chennai and Tambaram on November 9 and 10 to facilitate engineering works, according to a statement from Southern railways.

Chennai Beach - Tambaram local trains departing from Chennai Beach at 11 pm, 11.20 pm, 11.40 pm, and 11.59 pm on November 9 have been cancelled.

Similarly, Tambaram - Chennai Beach departing from Tambaram at 10.15 pm, 10.25 pm, 10.45 pm, 11.25 pm and 11.45 pm on November 9 also will not ply.

The Chengalpattu - Chennai Beach local leaving Chengalpattu at 11.10 pm on November 9 is cancelled.

Cancellations on November 10:

The Chennai Beach - Chengalpattu local leaving Chennai Beach at 3:55 am, 4.35 am, and 4.55 am November 10 will be partially cancelled between Beach and Tambaram. The train run from Tambaram as per the schedule of regular trains, said the statement.

The Chennai Beach - Tambaram local leaving Chennai Beach at 4:15 am, on November 10 is fully cancelled.

The Tambaram – Chennai Beach local leaving Tambaram at 3:55 am, 4.15 am and 4.35 am on November 10 is fully cancelled, said the statement.

Officials blocked from WhatsApp for using ‘suspect’ group name
The name ‘Child Sex Ratio Decline’ rings alarm bells at instant messaging platform

09/11/2019, TANU KULKARNI ,BENGALURU

A WhatsApp group initiated by an official with the Department of Women and Child Development ( DWCD) has run afoul with the instant messaging platform, which reportedly took objection to the group name and blocked it. What’s worse, officials from the Department of Primary and Secondary Education, who were added to the group, found that their numbers were blocked by WhatsApp. The name of the group that has caused so much trouble — ‘Child Sex Ratio Decline’.

While officials are not clear why such stringent action was taken, they believe the use of the words ‘child’ and ‘sex’ may have triggered WhatsApp’s alarm. The Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD), Dakshina Kannada, has approached the cybercrime police station in Mangaluru, where the police filed a non-cognizable report and have reached out to the platform.

“We received a letter from the department about a week ago stating that numbers of all the people who were added to the group as well as the administrator has been blocked after they created the WhatsApp group. The cybercrime police have acknowledged the issue,” said the police.

An official of the Education Department, who was part of the group, said all group members were part of a workshop titled ‘Gender sensitisation and legal awareness’ that was conducted by the DWCD along with other departments.

This was part of the Union government’s flagship — Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme. “After the workshop, we wanted to share the best practices carried out in the district, and discuss the medical and social perspectives pertaining to the issue. We also wanted to stay in touch and follow up on this. So a WhatsApp group was created in October. We were surprised when we learnt that our numbers had been blocked,” said a source. The source added that at least 18 officials were blocked from WhatsApp.

One of the affected officials said that he was finding it difficult to coordinate assignments at work as he could no longer use the messaging platform. “This is a great inconvenience as I am unable to receive timely updates on several activities of the department. We want our numbers to be unblocked at the earliest,” he added.

The Child Sex Ratio is the number of females per thousand males in the 0 to 6 age group and is one of the most important child welfare indicators. The ratio in Karnataka, according to the 2011 census, is 948. The same ratio for Dakshina Kannada district is 947, which is a decline from 952 in 2001.

High Court for audio/video recording of witness statements

09/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

With the list of hostile witnesses getting bigger each day resulting in acquittals, the Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday wondered if it can put to use audio/video electronic means for recording statements so that the witnesses who disown their statements can be confronted.

A Division Bench of Justices S. Vaidyanathan and N. Anand Venkatesh observed that if the trend of hostile witnesses was allowed to continue, people will lose faith in criminal justice system. Recording of examination of witnesses by police will make it easier for prosecution to confront witnesses.

“It will bring in an element of deterrence and make the witness think twice before he disowns the statement given to the police.” Also, this will enable the witness to substantiate before the court whether the statement was actually given by him or not.

The court said similar provisions were added to Criminal Procedure Code which deals with recording of statements by Metropolitan Magistrates or Judicial Magistrates. Also in POCSO cases, the special courts were recording the statements of victims.“We are living in an era where science has grown so much and it is high time that electronic means were used extensively in investigation and quality of investigation is substantially improved,” the court said.

The court sought the assistance off Bar associations of the HC Bench. The court further directed the State Public Prosecutor and Additional Public Prosecutor to take necessary instructions from the police, to assist the court. The case was posted for hearing on November 13.

HC imposes cost on parent in NEET impersonation case

Judicial custody of fathers of three students extended

09/11/2019, B. TILAK CHANDAR , A. 

SHRIKUMAR,MADURAI

The Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday imposed a cost of ₹5,000 on a parent accused in the NEET impersonation case for filing another bail petition, just days after he was denied the relief by the High Court Bench. The bail petition was dismissed.

Calling the intention of the petitioner an abuse of the process of law, Justice V. Parthiban observed that the court cannot remain a mute spectator to such an act. The petitioner cannot take the court for a ride. The cost is imposed for making a mockery of the court, the judge said.

The State submitted that there was no change in the circumstances of the case that warranted the petitioner to file a fresh petition seeking bail. The court had denied bail to five parents in the NEET impersonation case, while granting relief to their wards.

Custody extended

The Theni Judicial Magistrate (JM) Court extended judicial custody of the fathers of three students arrested in the case.

They were arrested by the CB-CID for hiring an impersonator to clear the NEET exam and securing seats in MBBS admissions 2019. The three accused were produced before the JM, N. Panneerselvam, who extended their custody for the third time, and ordered them to be produced again on November 22.

7 teachers found to have used fake qualifications
09/11/2019,BERHAMPUR

After several RTIs filed by locals, seven government school teachers in Odisha’s Ganjam district were found to have secured appointment using fake qualification certificates. According to sources, investigation is on to ascertain the authenticity of certificates of around 20 more teachers serving in government schools. A special cell has been set up in the district to verify certificates submitted by junior teachers.

Onions to be imported from Dubai, Egypt

09/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

With onion prices breaching the ₹100 per kg mark in Delhi and soaring to ₹80 in other metros, the Centre has decided to import the staple from Dubai, Egypt, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan. The first shipments are likely to arrive by November 15, according to officials in the Consumer Affairs Ministry.

Public sector trading agency MMTC, which operates under the Commerce Ministry, has issued a tender to import 2,000 tonnes from Dubai, said an official.

15th Annual Convocation 2019

THENI RAPE & MURDER

SC stays execution of TN convict

New Delhi:09.11.2019

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the execution of a death row convict who has been held guilty by the lower court and the Madras high court for brutally killing a college girl and her lover after raping her near Suruli hills in Theni district of Tamil Nadu in 2011.

Abench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi admitted the special leave petition (SLP) of condemned prisoner Kattavellai alias Devakar challenging the March13 verdict of the Madurai bench of the Madras high court upholding his conviction and award of the death penalty in the twin murder case. “The appeal is admitted. The execution of the death penalty is stayed,” the bench, which also comprised Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant, said. The top court, in April, had quashed the trial court’s warrant of execution of the death sentence of the convict issued on March 27 saying that he cannot be hanged without being given the opportunity to exhaust all available legal remedies. Devakar had then not filed the SLP in the apex court against the high court verdict.

“Be that as it may, as the period for filing of a special leave petition/an appeal against the order of conviction and sentence passed is yet to be over, we are of the view that the warrant for execution of death sentence, dated March 27, 2019, is contrary to the law laid down by this Court... We deem it proper, without issuing any notice, to set aside the said warrant of execution of death sentence and allow this petition,” the SC had said. PTI

₹5,000 fine imposed on NEET accused

Madurai:09.11.2019

The Madras high court has imposed ₹5,000 on a petitioner, who filed a second petition seeking bail as he was arrested in the NEET impersonation case. The court imposed the cost observing that the petitioner is making a mockery of the process of law.

The petitioner, C A Davis had moved the high court Madurai bench seeking bail in the case. When the petition was heard on Friday, the state government submitted that there is no change in circumstance that warrants the petitioner to file a fresh petition seeking bail.

Taking note of the submissions, justice V Parthiban observed that the intention of the petitioner is to make mockery of the process of law and stampede the process of law.

The judge further observed that the court cannot be a mere spectator to the act committed by the petitioner. TNN

AIADMK uses pension as poll tool

Sets Target To Identify 5L Beneficiaries

Julie Mariappan & A Subburaj TNN

Chennai:09.11.2019

With local body polls around the corner, the ruling AIADMK is racing against time to identify old age beneficiaries for the government’s social security pension scheme. This comes in the wake of chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami expressing displeasure at a party meeting on Wednesday that a mere 1.5 lakh applications were received during the CM’s special grievance redressal scheme, while the government had set a target of five lakh.

The revenue department issued an order last week to sanction old age pension to five lakh new eligible persons from current fiscal that would cost an additional ₹618 crore to the exchequer. “We are working hard given the limited time before notification of local body polls. We have spread the word to all local functionaries in the constituency to identify the eligible beneficiaries and sanction the pension,” said a senior AIADMK leader, who attended the party meeting. Until September this year, 29.64 lakh people avail monthly pensions under nine schemes, including 12.52 lakh old age pensioners. The Jayalalithaa government enhanced the pension for all categories from ₹500 to ₹1,000 from 2011.

The AIADMK functionaries said applications were pouring in. “We only recommend, and the officials oblige our requests. I received 30 applications today,” said a district secretary. Incidentally, the AIADMK government deleted some six lakh beneficiaries in 2015, when it had to do an annual verification, as per the guidelines of the Centre’s National Social Assistance Programme. In the wake of an uproar from the opposition in the state assembly, the government cited duplications, deaths, change of address and non-fulfilment of certain eligibility criteria as reasons. The Centre also sponsors partially the pension schemes for old age, widows and differentlyabled.

Elders above 60 years, destitute and those falling below poverty line are eligible to avail the pension, but many a time, the affluent get paid, it is alleged. The Coimbatore district administration had received 21,000 applications seeking old age pension in the recently held CM’s special grievance redressal programme in the district.

Lack of proper mechanism had people like C K Vijayalakshmi of Teachers Colony in Anupanadi in Madurai waiting for months to get her application moving in the district collectorate, while A Venkatesh of Ponnammapet in Salem could get it done for a relative, Neela, but not before paying a tout ₹4,000. The state should strictly implement the law for maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens that guarantees monthly allowance from children and legal heirs, and orders imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month for violations.

(With inputs from Padmini Sivarajah, V Senthil Kumaran)

SR vigilance officials in Salem to investigate sick leave scam

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.11.2019

Southern railway vigilance officials from Chennai are camping in Salem for the past two days to probe complaints that some station masters misuse sick leave to go on long holidays to their home towns or hill stations.

Sources said the role of officials at the railway hospitals in the division is under scanner. Vigilance officials are investigating if bribes were paid to obtain false medical certificates.

Employees who were supposed to be on sick leave for 10-14 days returned from holiday and got a medical certificate dated a day before they rejoined duty.

After TOI reported this practice, many station masters complained that they, guards and pointsmen were being denied leave as there were a lot of vacancies. "Senior officials are not taking steps to fill these vacancies and station masters are overworked," said EK Babu, a senior office-bearer of the All-India Station Master Association (AISMA).

In fact the letter from Salem division sent to Vigilance itself highlights the vacancy issue. A large number of station masters are from north and eastern India. "They have to take leave to visit their families at least once or twice a year but it is difficult to get leave. They use the sick leave route for this," said a station master based in Chennai.

After the vigilance took up the case, the medical department officials in Salem has released all employees who were currently marked as sick, sources said.

₹35L compensation for family of man mowed down by bike

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.11.2019

An accident claims tribunal in the city has directed an insurance firm to pay ₹35.9lakh to the family of a man who was fatally knocked down by a two-wheeler near Kandhan Chavadi in 2016.

The family moved the tribunal seeking a compensation of ₹1crore.

The petitioner, D Anjugam, said in her petition that her husband Dakshinamurthy was crossing the road near the Kandhan Chavadi bus stop when a rashlydriven motorcycle hit him. He was taken to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital where he died three days later.

The two-wheeler owner submitted before the tribunal that Dakshinamuthy was crossing the road negligent of road traffic rules and was responsible for the accident. The bike owner further contended that his vehicle had a valid insurance at the time of the accident and hence the insurance firm was liable to pay compensation, if any.

Counsel for the insurance firm contested the age, income and other particulars of the victim.

“The victim suddenly crossed the carriageway unmindful of the oncoming vehicle. Further, the motorcycle owner was not in possession of a valid driving licence at the time of the accident and had violated provisions of motor vehicles act,” the counsel submitted.

After examining the submissions and documents, the tribunal held that the accident happened only due to the negligence of the motorist.

Noting that the deceased was aged 40 at the time of the accident and was a contractor earning a monthly income of around ₹25,000, the tribunal computed other factors such as loss of future income for the family and medical expenses and held that they are eligible to receive a compensation of ₹35.9lakh.

After examining the submissions and documents, the accident claims tribunal held that the accident happened only due to the negligence of the motorist.

VIT entrance application sale begins

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.11.2019

The sale of printed application forms for VIT Engineering Entrance Examination (VITEEE-2020) for BTech programmes was launched at the Vellore Head Post Office on Friday by chancellor G Viswanathan. VITEEE will be held from April 13 to April19, 2020, as a computer-based test in 120 cities in India as well in Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat and Qatar.

The application forms can be obtained by providing a demand draft for ₹1,250 drawn in favour of VIT, payable at the respective campus or by cash payment at 22 select post offices across the country. The last date for applying is February

29. For further details go to www.vit.ac.in.

Quack held for third time in 4 years

Chennai:09.11.2019

Police have arrested a quack for the third time in four years at Siva Kanchi in Kancheepuram.

Thirumalai, 40, of Periya Kancheepuram had been operating his ‘clinic’ a few streets from his house for more than six years. Even after his arrest in 2016 and 2018, Thirumalai, who was allegedly proficient in siddha and acupuncture, continued to practise allopathy, said a police officer.

He had been operating his new clinic a few streets from his previous facility after coming out of prison, police said. Residents alerted qualified doctors in the area, who tipped off the joint director of medical services in Kancheepuram.

On Friday, a team of doctors along with senior officials and police personnel from the Siva Kanchi police station carried out a search at his clinic and found allopathic medicines which he was prescribing to patients.

Based on a complaint, the Siva Kanchi police registered a case under Section 15 and 15 (3)

(a) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. They arrested and remanded Thirumalai in prison after producing him before a magistrate’s court on Friday.

Thirumalai was arrested twice in 2018 and jailed. TNN

NEWS DIGEST

9.11.2019

Man found murdered near Mamallapuram

A 53-year-old man was found murdered at Echur Erikkarai near Mamallapuram on Thursday. Manjunathan was employed as a supervisor at a construction firm at Anupuram in Kalpakkam. Preliminary inquiries revealed that Manjunathan left his house after he received a call on his mobile and didn’t return. Based on his wife Poonkothai’s complaint, a case has been registered. He is survived by Poonkothai, a school teacher, daughter and son.

23-yr-old barges into house, tries to sexually assault widow: A 23-year-old man has been arrested for barging into the house of a widow in Muttukadu and attempting to sexually assault her when she was sleeping with her two daughters. The arrested, identified as Shreeban, a resident of Muttukadu, was nabbed after the woman revealed his identity. Based on her complaint, the Kanathur police arrested Shreeban, member of the housekeeping staff at a private firm.

Tasmac outlets to remain closed on Sunday: Tasmac shops, bars and clubs serving liquor in the city will remain closed on Sunday on account of Milad un-Nabi. There shall be no sale of liquor at any other related commercial establishments as well, said a press release issued on Friday by Chennai collector R Seethalakshmi.

TNPSC asks candidates to upload scanned documents: Candidates who have been admitted provisionally for second phase of certificate verification or counselling for assistant agricultural officer posts, should upload their scanned original certificates through listed e-Seva centres from November 18 to November 22. The counselling will be held on December 3, according to a Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) release. Those, who fail to upload documents, will not be considered for the next stage of selection process.

Pay bribe and pray for a water connection here
In Spite Of Arrest Of Official, Graft Rampant

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:09.11.2019

Residents of areas added to Greater Chennai Corporation in 2011 struggle to get water and sewage connections eight years down the line. While red tape is rampant, residents say authorities refuse to process filled-in applications unless a bribe is paid.

While officials dismiss this as a wild allegation, an FIR filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) last week shows officials employing delaying tactics to extract money from applicants. The FIR came following the arrest of a superintending engineer of Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metrowater). According to the FIR, Metrowater senior engineer R Vijayakumari allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹1lakh for processing an application from a gated community of 93 residentsin Nolambur for water andsewer connections.The residents’ group had paid a fee of ₹37.42lakh towards infrastructure development and connection charges. They had also bought meter chambers for water connections, rain water harvesting system and water meters. Metrowater officials inspected the place and issued a ‘job completed’ certificate, but the department did no ground work to provide water and sewage connections. Residents said the engineer asked for ₹1lakh bribe, half of it as advance. DVAC laid a trap and caught the official red-handed taking ₹50,000 from the residents.

Residents of peripheral areas of the city have similar complaints of officials demanding bribe,either directly or by delaying the work. D Sundarraman, 76, general secretary of Venkatapuram Residents’ Welfare Association in Ambattur, said it is difficult to prove bribery in the government departments, but many knew it happens. “Some files are processedquickly,while others gather dust,” he said.

Banu Vishwanath, president of Piruthipakkam Residents’ Welfare Association in Ambattur, said officials exploit the desperation and ignorance of residents to demand bribe. Ramalingam, another resident of Ambattur,said60 residentsin WestBalajiNagar gotwater connection without bribe as they were supported by a non-governmental organisation that took up civic issues. “When residents approach individually, huge amounts have to be paid as bribe,” he said. Residents said they chose to settle in these neighbourhoods by buying a homewiththeir lifetimesavings as they could not afford houses in the city. But even after these areas were added to the city, the benefits of being part of the corporation are yet to reach them.

A Metrowater official said many residents had not got connections asthey wereopposedto the corporation’s property tax rates. He, however, declined to comment on complaints of corruption in the department.


STRUGGLE FOR WATER

Bulbul leaves city warm, rain may return next week

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:9,11,2019

Tropical cyclone Bulbul moving towards West Bengal-Bangladesh has left Chennai warm and dry with daytime temperature peaking at a record 35.1°C. But all is not lost, as weathermen said monsoon rain might be back to Chennai by mid next week due to a low atmospheric pressure after the cyclone makes a landfall.

“We can expect some rainfall in the city from November 15 or 16 due to an easterly trough. Till then, the weather will be dry,” said N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD. Easterly trough is an elongated area of relatively low atmospheric pressure.

He said Bulbul might make landfall after weakening and was unlikely to influence the rainfall that might begin along the southeast coast including Chennai later next week.

IMD has forecast that the sky condition is likely to be partly cloudy. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 33°C and 26°C for the next 48 hours in the city.

As Cyclone Bulbul is gathering strength over the bay pulling away all northeasterly winds, the city has been witnessing a change in wind direction with north-northwesterly winds or dry land breeze blowing towards the east coast leading to warmer day.

On Friday, the Nungambakkam station recorded 35.1°C and Meenambakkam registered 34.7°C, 5.4°C and 4.8°C above normal. The city’s temperature has never touched 35°C in November in the last10 years. The maximum daytime temperature for this month was 34.7°C recorded on November 5, 2016.

Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist at Skymet Weather, said after the cyclone made a landfall, there would be a change in wind direction once again as southeast coast of India including Chennai would get back the northeasterly winds resulting in rainfall. “But it may be only scattered rainfall, not heavy rain,” he said.

Bulbul is expected to make a landfall near the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast after weakening into a severe cyclonic storm from very severe cyclonic storm.

SC to rule on 70-year-old Ayodhya land case today

Verdict To Be Pronounced At 10.30am

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:9.11.2019

In dramatic fashion, the Supreme Court notified at 9pm on Friday that Saturday will be judgment day for the 70-year-old Ayodhya dispute involving ownership claims by Hindu and Muslim parties over an area of 1,487sq yards in the UP town.

A bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer decided to deliver the verdict on a court holiday, hours after the CJI and Justices Bobde and Bhushan met the UP chief secretary and the DGP to take stock of security arrangements in Ayodhya and the state. The Delhi police too beefed up security at the judges’ houses.

The announcement sharpened the suspense on the verdict, keenly awaited by both sides. The Ayodhya dispute has been central to national politics, marking an ideological cleavage between BJP and its “secular” opponents. Several Hindu and Muslim organisations have called for calm ahead of the ruling while the Centre and states are on alert.

Security personnel stand guard on a street in Ayodhya ahead of the temple verdict

Maintain harmony after verdict: PM

PM Narendra Modi on Friday said the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya would not be a victory or defeat for anyone, and appealed to all citizens to maintain harmony after the judgment. P2

There will be more than one judgment in the case: Sources

The notification merely said the five-judge constitution bench would deliver judgment at 10.30am on Saturday in two cases, Shia Central Board of Waqf, UP vs Sunni Central Board of Waqf, UP; and the Ayodhya land dispute case involving four suits — filed by Gopal Singh Visharad in 1950, by Nirmohi Akhara in 1959, Sunni Waqf Board in 1961 and deity Ram Lalla Virajman through next friend in 1989. The deity and Sunni Waqf Board are locked in litigation over complete ownership over the disputed land, while Nirmohi Akhara seeks priestly rights.

The claim of Gopal Singh Visharad is to continue worshipping the deity at the place where it sits at present.

The SC notification did not indicate if the judgment will be unanimous, or by three to two, or four to one majority. However, sources told TOIthat there will be more than one judgment in the case. The centre stage on Saturday will be taken by the SC’s decision on the four suits, which were decided by the Allahabad High Court on September 30, 2010.

An interesting facet will be whether the SC takes into account the mediation panel’s October 16 report informing the court about a settlement reached between parties through negotiation.

The settlement’s main point was that the Sunni Waqf Board had agreed to give up its claim over the disputed site if certain other conditions, including restoration of two dozen mosques in Ayodhya and opening up of several other mosques under ASI control for offering of prayers.

The HC had divided the 1,487 square yards of disputed land into three equal parts, allotting the area under the central dome of the now demolished Babri Masjid to Ram Lalla, the Kaushalya (Sita) Rasoi and Bhandara area in the outer courtyard of the demolished mosque to Nirmohi Akhara and the rest to Sunni Waqf Board.

CMC Vellore Study: High incidence of latent TB in healthcare workers, nursing staff more vulnerable’ 

The risk of infection was higher among nursing students who remain in close proximity to patients for longer durations than doctors, the study found.

Written by Tabassum Barnagarwala | Mumbai | Published: November 7, 2019 9:18:37 am

The CMC study found that latent tuberculosis was present in 52 per cent nursing students as opposed to 27 per cent MBBS students in the medical college.

INCIDENCE OF latent tuberculosis may be higher among healthcare workers, more so in nurses than doctors, a study by Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, has found. The study underlines the need for regular screening of healthcare workers not just for active tuberculosis (TB), but also latent TB bacteria.

Latent TB means the bacteria is lodged inside a person’s body in a dormant stage, waiting for poor immunity and low diet to get activated. Healthcare workers tending to patients remain at five times higher risk of getting infected than normal population, the pulmonary department of CMC has found.

In India, about 35-40 per cent population is estimated to be infected by latent TB, and one in every 10 people infected by the bacteria is likely to get active tuberculosis infection.

“Currently, India’s Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) has a screening policy for only children aged up to six for latent TB,” Yogesh Patel, consultant with RNTCP, said. No screening for latent TB, however, is provided for adults and healthcare workers.

The CMC study found that latent tuberculosis was present in 52 per cent nursing students as opposed to 27 per cent MBBS students in the medical college.

In 2017-18, 278 MBBS students were screened of which 27 per cent had latent TB. Of them 42 students, who got recent exposure to bacteria, were put on preventive treatment of prophylaxis for 3-12 months. “The risk of getting TB is maximum for two years after exposure to the bacteria. We targeted those people for intervention,” Dr DJ Christopher, head of pulmonary department, CMC Vellore, said.

The risk of infection was higher among nursing students who remain in close proximity to patients for longer durations than doctors, the study found. Of 436 nursing students undergoing postgraduate, diploma and undergraduate courses who were screened at CMC between 2007 and 2011, at least 52 per cent had latent TB. The incidence of infection was higher among postgraduate (MSc) and diploma students at 72.7 and 84.2 per cent respectively.

“We found that the risk of exposure increased with postgraduate students because they are exposed for longer duration,” Christopher said.

The study also indicated the need to regularly screen healthcare workers and put them on preventive treatment. Currently, tuberculin skin test and Interferon-Gamma Release Assays test are the most methods of diagnosing latent TB.

 In Mumbai, the TB control office will soon launch a pilot project to test people in close contacts of TB patients for latent TB bacteria.

Helene-Mari Van Der Westhuizen, working in South Africa to control TB epidemic, said they have already begun preventive therapy for health workers. “They are at the first point of risk. If we have to control the infection, we must protect their health.”

In Group of TB Hospital in Mumbai, India’s largest TB hospital, tests are only conducted among staff to screen active TB, not the latent bacteria. “Preventive drug therapy is also associated with toxicity. Instead we look at other preventive measures,” superintendent Dr Lalitkumar Anande said, adding that staffers were given banana, milk and protein-laden food.

Court Cannot Quash Disability Certificate Issued by a Medical Authority: Delhi HC [Read Judgment]

Court Cannot Quash Disability Certificate Issued by a Medical Authority: Delhi HC [Read Judgment]: Delhi High Court has held that when a disability certificate is issued by a competent medical authority, the plea demanding the quashing of such certificate cannot be granted by the court of law. ...

ரூ.200க்கு பதில் ரூ.500 வாரி வழங்கிய ஏடிஎம்: குஷியில் குவிந்த வாடிக்கையாளர்கள்

By DIN | Published on : 08th November 2019 09:51 AM 

சேலம் மாவட்டம் ஓமலூர் அருகே எஸ்பிஐ ஏடிஎம் இயந்திரம் ஒன்றில் ரூ.200க்கு பதில் ரூ.500 வந்ததால் வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் குழியில் போட்டி போட்டு பணம் எடுத்துள்ளனர்.

சேலம், ஓமலூர் பண்ணப்பட்டியில் எஸ்பிஐ வங்கிக்கு சொந்தமான ஏடிஎம் மையம் உள்ளது. இங்கு நேற்று மாலை சுமார் 5 மணியளவில் இருந்து ரூ.200க்கு பதில் ரூ.500 வந்துள்ளது. இதனால் குஷி அடைந்த வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் போட்டி போட்டுக்கொண்டு பணம் எடுத்துள்ளனர்.

தகவல் அறிந்து விரைந்து வந்த வங்கி அதிகாரிகள் பணம் மாறி வந்த ஏடிஎம் மையத்திற்கு பூட்டு போட்டனர். ரூ.200 வைக்க வேண்டிய ரேக்கில் ரூ.500 வைக்கப்பட்டதே பணம் மாறி வந்ததற்கான காரணம் என்றும், பணத்தை மாற்றி வைத்த தனியார் நிறுவனமே பண இழப்புக்கு பொறுப்பு என வங்கி அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

Supreme Court Monthly Roundup – October 2019

Case BriefsSupreme Court (Monthly Roundup)
 
Published on November 1, 2019

 By Prachi Bhardwaj

TOP NEWS

AYODHYA HEARING| 40-days hearing comes to an end; Verdict reserved

The Court had, though, initially set October 18 as the deadline for completion of all arguments in the protracted land title dispute. If speculations are to be believed, the Ayodhya verdict will be out by mid-nov.

“Can’t treat all of them as a liar”: SC while partially setting aside the 2018 SC/ST Act verdict

The 3-jduge bench of Arun Mishra, MR Shah and BR Gavai, JJ has held that some portions of the verdict in Dr Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra, 2018 SCC OnLine SC 243 were against the concept of protective discrimination in favour of down­trodden classes under Article 15(4) of the Constitution and also impermissible within the parameters laid down by this Court for exercise of powers under Article 142 of Constitution of India.

In a big blow to the Telecom Sector, SC refuses to change AGR definition

The definition of revenue has been taken in a broad, comprehensive, and inclusive manner to pose fewer problems of interpretation, and exclusion of certain items was avoided.

Land Acquisition Hearing| Why Justice Arun Mishra said his recusal would be a grave blunder

Recusal is not to be forced by any litigant to choose a Bench. It is for the Judge to decide to recuse. if he recuses, it will be a dereliction of duty, injustice to the system, and to other Judges who are or to adorn the Bench/es in the future.

INX MEDIA CASE|SC grants bail to P. Chidambaram

Being the Member of Parliament and a Senior Member of the Bar has strong roots in society and his passport having been surrendered and “look out notice” issued against him, there is no likelihood of his fleeing away from the country or his abscondence from the trial.

SC sets aside Delhi High Court stay on proceedings against Gautam Khaitan under Black Money Act

Setting aside the Delhi High Court order any staying any action against Gautam Khaitan in a case relating to the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, the 3-judge bench of Arun Mishra, MR Shah and BR Gavai, JJ said that the interim order passed by the High Court is not sustainable in law.

Poll Affidavit Case| SC quashes clean chit; Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to face trial

A contesting candidate is mandated to furnish information concerning the cases in which a Competent Court has taken cognizance along with the cases in which charges have been framed. 

MORE NEWS

Aarey Forest Politics| Forest Bench to hear the matter on Oct 21; status quo to be maintained

The Special Bench was constituted to hear the plea against the cutting of trees in Mumbai’s Aarey colony for the city’s metro rail project after a group of law students wrote to Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi seeking Supreme Court’s intervention in the matter and the cutting of trees to be suspended immediately.

Women who missed 2018 Bihar Police PET due to pregnancy should be considered for appointment

It was brought to the Court’s notice that the total number of ladies who claimed extension of PET on the basis of pregnancy or injuries is stated to be 78 in all, out of which 73 are on account of pregnancy.

Online RTI Portal| SC seeks Centre’s response on Pravasi Legal Cell’s plea

The Court has asked the Centre and State Governments to file reply on a plea seeking direction to establish Right to Information(RTI) web portals in all states to enable citizens, especially those living abroad, to file RTI applications online.

Bhima Koregaon case| SC extends Gautam Navlakha’s interim bail

The two-judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra allowed him to approach trial court for pre-arrest bail. Navlakha has to apply for pre-arrest bail in the meantime.

State Legislature cannot enact a law providing a direct appeal to the Supreme Court

State cannot enact a legislation providing an appeal directly to the Supreme Court. That would amount to entrenching upon the jurisdiction of the Union, which the State Legislature does not have.

Geomapping is the answer to the increasing menace of illegal construction

Geomapping can be done by satellite, drones or vehicles. Once one has the whole city geomapped it would be easy to control illegal constructions.

SC quashes trial against a man in a sexual assault case of a 6-year-old

The involvement of other persons on the statement of the child of impressionable age does not inspire confidence that the appellant is liable to be proceeded under Section 319 of the Code. In fact, it is suggestive role of the family which influences the mind of the child to indirectly implicate the appellant.

Mere change of address in IT return is not enough; Assessing Officer must be specifically intimated

In absence of any specific intimation to the Assessing Officer with respect to change in address and/or change in the name of the assessee, the Assessing Officer would be justified in sending the notice at the available address mentioned in the PAN database of the assessee, more particularly when the return has been filed under E­Module scheme.

SC transfers Assam NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela to MP on deputation

The Court has ordered the transfer of Assam NRC coordinator, Prateek Hajela, to Madhya Pradesh on deputation. The bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, however, did not specify the reason, behind transferring Hajela to Madhya Pradesh.
IN OTHER NEWS

President signs a warrant appointing Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde to be the 47th Chief Justice of India

Read more at Education Medical Dialogues: Appearing for NEET PG 2020: View Exam pattern here 
 https://education.medicaldialogues.in/neet-pg-2020-exam-pattern/

Read more at Education Medical Dialogues: Appearing for NEET PG 2020: View Exam pattern here https://education.medicaldialogues.in/neet-pg-2020-exam-pattern/

Rape & murder of a 10-year-old & her brother: SC refuses to review it’s 2:1 verdict awarding death sentence

Case Briefs  Supreme Court
 
Published on November 7, 2019By Prachi Bhardwaj

Supreme Court: In a ghastly case involving rape and murder of 2 children, the 3-judge bench of RF Nariman, Surya Kant and Sanjiv Khanna, JJ has refused to review their verdict in Manoharan v. State, (2019) 7 SCC 716, upholding the conviction of the accused. In the said judgment, the bench had unanimously upheld the conviction, but gave 2:1 verdict on quantum of punishment.

While Nariman and Surya Kant, JJ awarded death penalty, Khanna, J did not think that this case was fit for a death penalty and hence, commuted it to imprisonment for life i.e. till convict’s natural life with a stipulation that he would not be entitled to remission under Sections 432 and 433 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. 

FACTUAL BACKGROUND
In October 2010, accused Mohanakrishnan & Manoharan kidnapped a 10-year-old girl & her 7-year-old brother while they were preparing to leave for school.

The children were taken to a remote area and rape was committed on the girl.

Attempt was made to kill both the children by feeding them poisonous cow dung powder mixed in milk. However, the children took only a small amount of the milk and didn’t die.

The children were then thrown away alive in the Parambikulam-Axhiyar Project canal.

Both the accused were arrested but Mohanakrishnan was later shot dead in an encounter. 

MITIGATING FACTORS CONSIDERED BY THE COURT IN THE REVIEW PETITION

Lack of adequate opportunity to place on record material/evidence of mitigating circumstances

After re-visiting the mitigating circumstances against aggravating circumstances, as well as a report commissioned by this Court during the course of appeal and submitted by the jail superintendent, the Court held that the conduct of the Petitioner is merely satisfactory and he has not undertaken any study or anything else to show any signs of reformation.

Backward socioeconomic circumstances

There is nothing to support the arguments that the accused is a helpless, illiterate young adult who is a victim of his socioeconomic circumstances. Far from being so, it is clear through the version of events that the accused had the presence of mind to craft his own defence and attempt to retract his confession through an elaborately written eleven page letter addressed to the Magistrate and had further received adequate legal representation.

Remorse

Accused’s advocate argued that the retraction letter shows that he stopped the co-accused from committing rape and this is evident of the fact that he has remorse which entitles him to commutation, if not acquittal. The Court, however, held that the retraction was extremely belated and only a defence to shield himself. Further, medical evidence has proved that rape was committed on the deceased girl. It is hence factually incorrect to state that the Petitioner prevented the co-accused from raping the girl and is nothing more than a belated lie at the end of the trial.

Young age and aged parents

Mere young age and presence of aged parents cannot be grounds for commutation. Such young age poses a continuous burden on the State and presents a longer risk to society, hence warranting more serious intervention by Courts.

Criminal Record

The Court refused to give leeway of the lack of criminal record, considering that the current crime was not just one offence, but comprised of multiple offences over the series of many hours.

The bench held that the present case is essentially one where two accused misused societal trust to hold as captive two innocent school-going children, one of whom was brutally raped and sodomised, and thereupon administered poison and finally, drowned by throwing them into a canal. It was not in the spur of the moment or a crime of passion; but craftily planned, meticulously executed and with multiple opportunities to cease and desist.

Nariman and Surya Kant, JJ, hence, held

“We are of the view that the present offence(s) of the Petitioner are so grave as to shock the conscience of this Court and of society and would without doubt amount to rarest of the rare.”

While Khanna, J agreed with his learned brothers on the dismissal of review petition and upholding of the conviction of the accused, on the question of sentence, he held,

“I do not see any good ground and reasons to review my observations and findings in the minority judgment.”

[Manoharan v. State, REVIEW PETITION (CRL.) NOS. 446-447 OF 2019, decided on 07.11.2019]

உயர் கல்வி நிறுவனங்களில் ரொக்க பரிவர்த்தனைக்கு தடை

Added : நவ 07, 2019 23:25

சென்னை: அனைத்து கல்லுாரி மற்றும் பல்கலைகள் போன்ற உயர் கல்வி நிறுவனங்களில், ரொக்க பண பரிவர்த்தனைக்கு தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நாடு முழுவதும் உள்ள, வர்த்தக நிறுவனங்கள், வங்கிகள் மற்றும் அரசு நிறுவனங்களில், நிதி பரிவர்த்தனைகளை, 'ஆன்லைன்' வழியாகவும், மின்னணு முறையிலும் மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும் என, மத்திய அரசு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

இதை பின்பற்றி, அனைத்து கல்லுாரிகள் மற்றும் பல்கலைகளுக்கு, பல்கலை மானிய குழுவான, யு.ஜி.சி., சார்பில் சுற்றறிக்கை அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதில் கூறியிருப்பதாவது:கல்லுாரிகள் மற்றும் பல்கலைகளில், ரொக்க பண பரிவர்த்தனைகளை மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டாம். தேர்வு கட்டணம், கல்வி கட்டணம், மாணவர் சேர்க்கை கட்டணம் உள்ளிட்டவற்றை, 'ஆன்லைன்' வழியே பெற வேண்டும்.அதேபோல், பல்கலையின் உள்கட்டமைப்பு மற்றும் பராமரிப்பு செலவுகள் உள்ளிட்ட அனைத்தையும், 'டிஜிட்டல்' வழியிலேயே மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

திருக்குறள் சொல்லுங்க பிரியாணி மெல்லுங்க

Added : நவ 08, 2019 01:36 |

திண்டுக்கல், :நவ.14-ம் தேதி குழந்தைகள் தினம் கொண்டாடப்படுகிறது. அன்று குழந்தைகளின் சிந்தனையை துாண்டும் வகையில் திண்டுக்கல்லை சேர்ந்த முஜிப் பிரியாணி கடை புதுமை போட்டியை அறிவித்துள்ளது. அதன்படி திருக்குறள் ஒப்பிக்கும் 133 குழந்தைகளுக்கு இலவசமாக அரைபிளேட் பிரியாணி வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது.

உரிமையாளர் ேஷக்முஜிபுர் ரஹ்மான் கூறியதாவது: ''மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்பதறிவு'' என்ற தலைப்பில் இளைய தலைமுறையின் சிந்தனைக்கு வித்திடும் வகையில் நவ.14 அன்று 'குழந்தைகள் தின பிரியாணி'யை அறிவித்துள்ளோம். இக்காலத்திற்கேற்ப 5 நிமிடங்களில் 5 திருக்குறளை ஒப்புவிக்க வேண்டும்.ஒன்று முதல் 8 ம் வகுப்பு வரையான மாணவர்களே பங்கேற்கலாம். வெற்றி பெறும் குழந்தைக்கு அரை பிளேட் சிக்கன் பிரியாணி வழங்கப்படும். நடுவர்களாக 5 தமிழாசிரியர்கள் பங்கேற்கின்றனர். குழந்தைகள் பள்ளிக்கு செல்வதால், மாலை 4:00 மணிக்கு மேல்தான் போட்டி நடைபெறும், என்றார்.

Got 3 Neet impersonation complaints: CBI

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

PublishedNov 8, 2019, 2:01 am IST

In response to the same, Srinivasan referred to the communication received from the CBI dated November 6, 2019.

Madras high court.

Chennai: The CBI has informed the Madras high court that it has received three complaints relating to Neet impersonation and other malpractices and the two complaints from Chennai have been referred to the Medical Council of India and Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the other complaint received from Cochin, Kerala is under scrutinisation of the CBI.

K.Srinivasan made the submission when the appeal filed by S.Dheeran, an aspiring medical students, which sought to set aside an order of a single judge, dismissing his petition, challenging the selection process for the 207 seats that got reverted to the management quota owing to not getting filled up under the NRI quota, came up for hearing before a division bench comprising Justices N.Kirubakaran and P.Velmurugan on Thursday.

The bench had on November 4 directed K.Srinivasan, counsel for CBI to verify as to whether CBI has got any complaint with regard to impersonation or other malpractices in the NEET examination to get admission in the medical colleges in other states.

In response to the same, Srinivasan referred to the communication received from the CBI dated November 6, 2019 and submitted that the Chennai Zone of CBI has received two complaints from Chennai and one complaint from Cochin, Kerala. As far as the two complaints received from Chennai were concerned, they have been referred to the MCI and Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the complaint received from Cochin was under scrutinisation of the CBI, he added.

Recording the same, the bench said Special government pleader J.Pothiraj submitted that so far 16 students who have failed to give fingerprints to the CBCID would be giving their fingerprints before November 8 and the same will be informed to this court on the next date of hearing. Assistant solicitor general G.Karthikeyan has filed an affidavit by the Under Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The same was taken on file. He further assured that in the next hearing he will submit as to whether the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has received any complaint regarding malpractice in NEET examination, including impersonation or not, the bench added.

The bench said M.Velmurugan, counsel for the appellant submitted that the appellant has obtained 303 marks, whereas except seven students the other students who have got admission under the surrendered NRI lapsed quota to the private medical colleges have got marks lesser than the petitioner. One of the candidates who was admitted under NRI lapsed quota got 107 marks only and therefore, he submitted that there was no transparency in the admission under NRI lapsed quota and the private medical colleges have not followed the guidelines as laid down by the Supreme Court in Dar-Us-Salam Educational Trust case, while admitting the students in medical colleges. V.P.Raman, counsel appearing on behalf of MCI submitted that they will get proper instructions so that this kind of problems would not arise in future, the bench added.

The bench said it was brought to the notice of this court that the names of the candidates who were alleged to have impersonated have also been sent to Dr.M.G.R.Medical University for registration. However, Abdul Saleem, counsel appearing on behalf of the Selection Committee submitted that the names of the students who were alleged to have impersonated have been deleted from the list. The same was recorded, the bench added.

The bench said since the selection committee has sent the selected candidates for registration to Dr.M.G.R.Medical University, it was also a necessary party to this proceedings and hence this court suo motu impleads the Registrar, Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R.Medical University as party respondent to this proceedings.

D.Ravichander, counsel takes notice on behalf of the newly impleaded respondent. He assures that on the next date of hearing, he will produce the list of candidates sent by the selection committee, the bench added and posted to November 21, further hearing of the case.

3 plaints of NEET fraud: CBI
The complaints from Chennai had been referred to Medical Council of India (MCI) and Union Health Ministry.

Published: 08th November 2019 05:44 AM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation told the Madras High Court on Thursday that its Chennai zone has received two complaints from Chennai and one from Kochi alleging impersonation in NEET.

The complaints from Chennai had been referred to Medical Council of India (MCI) and Union Health Ministry. The one from Kochi is under scrutiny of CBI, its counsel told a division bench of Madras High Court comprising Justices N Kirubakaran and P Velmurugan when a PIL petition from K Dheeran of Coimbatore praying for a directive to government to undertake proper counselling and mop-up procedure to fill-up 207 management quota seats available due to non-filling of NRI quota seats, came up again.

Assistant Solicitor-General G Karthikeyan filed an affidavit of Union Health Ministry, which was taken on file by the bench. He also assured that in the next hearing he will submit as to whether the Union Health Ministry had received any complaint of malpractice in NEET, including impersonation.

Counsel representing various medical colleges and universities submitted that they would obtain the fingerprints of the left out students and forward the same to the authority concerned, soon. Advocate M Velmurugan submitted that his client had obtained 303 marks, whereas except seven students, the other students, who had got admission under the surrendered NRI lapsed quota to the private medical colleges, had got marks lesser than his client.

One of the candidates who was admitted under NRI lapsed quota got only 107 marks and therefore, Velmurugan alleged there was no transparency in admission under the quota and private medical colleges had not followed guidelines as laid down by Supreme Court.MCI’s senior counsel VP Raman submitted he will get proper instructions so that this kind of problem will not recur.

It was also brought to the notice of judges that the names of candidates, who were alleged to have impersonated, had also been sent to Dr M G R Medical University for registration. However, selection panel counsel Abdul Salem told court that names of students who were alleged to have impersonated had been deleted from the list. The matter has been adjourned till November 21.

Now, Chennai-Jaffna flights for less than Rs 4,000 from Nov 11

The Alliance Air will now be flying to Jaffna and back, from November 11, with fares less than Rs 4,000.

Published: 08th November 2019 05:49 AM |

The inaugural Alliance Air flight from Chennai was the first to land at the new international airport in Jaffna. (Photo | Twitter)
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Alliance Air will now be flying to Jaffna and back, from November 11, with fares less than Rs 4,000. The Chennai to Jaffna fare will cost Rs 3,990 plus applicable government taxes and levies. Similarly, the return fare is priced at Rs 3,190 plus applicable government taxes and levies.

This flight is special in many ways. Apart from being Alliance Air’s maiden international foray, it connects Chennai to Jaffna after a gap of 41 years. Flyers coming into Chennai from Delhi, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Dubai, Trivandrum and Muscat, now have the option of connecting onwards to Jaffna over Chennai, making air travel more convenient.

There will be direct flight operations connecting the two destinations on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Flight 9I 101 will depart from Chennai at 1035am and arrive in Jaffna at 1200pm.  Flight 9I102 will depart from Jaffna at 1245pm and arrive in Chennai at 14:10 pm.

Panel to go into complaint against MKU professor

08/11/2019

A four-member committee, led by R. Lakshmipathy, Syndicate member, was formed on Thursday to look into the complaint of Registrar in-charge of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) R. Sudha against a professor, V. Kalaiselvan, for allegedly using unparliamentary language and verbally abusing her.

The panel was constituted at a meeting of the Syndicate held here. It was asked to submit its report in 15 days.

On Wednesday, Ms. Sudha lodged an official complaint with Vice-Chancellor M. Krishnan regarding Mr. Kalaiselvan's behaviour which was a result of an internal tussle for space at the School of English and Foreign Languages.

According to university sources, the Syndicate meeting also finalised the names of seven members for the panel to interview applicants shortlisted for the post of Registrar.

The meeting also asked the Vice-Chancellor to remove unqualified candidates from their teaching posts, as per norms of the University Grants Commission.

A member of the Madurai Kamaraj University administration said that such candidates had already been relieved of their posts.

Advocate S. Vanchinathan who met the press on Thursday said that ‘provisional selection’ of two candidates for interview to the post of Registrar was not in accordance with rules.

Bar Council lodges complaint against law graduate, lawyer

08/11/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCTNP) has lodged a police complaint against a law graduate, an advocate and another individual for attempting to influence its members and having collected bribe money by misusing their names to get the graduate enrolled as an advocate in the council.

According to the complaint initiated at the instance of K. Balu, chairman of the Enrolment Committee of BCTNP, the application of one B. Vipin, 59, of Villivakkam in Chennai was rejected by the council since he had undergone law degree between 2015-18 while serving in the Southern Railways.

The applicant did not relent and instead appeared to have paid bribe money of ₹25,000 to a lawyer and his accomplice who had promised to get him enrolled by exercising their influence with the Bar Council members.

After making such payment, the applicant continued to pressurise the members to enrol his name.

Irked over his attitude, BCTNP chairman P.S. Amalraj asked the council’s secretary C. Raja Kumar to lodge a police complaint against all the three individuals.

Accordingly, a First Information Report was registered against the trio in the High Court police station and the prime accused was picked up for the investigation.

Don’t transfer doctors in mid-academic year: Judge
‘It may affect their performance’

08/11/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Justice N. Kirubakaran of the Madras High Court on Thursday disapproved of the State government’s move of transferring government doctors, including those heading various crucial departments in government hospitals, from one district to another in the middle of an academic year.

While hearing a case related to medical admissions along with Justice P. Velmurugan, the judge said, the government doctors may not work properly if they get transferred in the middle of the academic year. He batted in favour of providing better wages to doctors as well as policemen.

The senior judge clarified that during the last hearing of the case, he had compared the salary paid to the doctors with that of college faculty and not schoolteachers.

Unacceptable pay

He said, it was unacceptable to pay ₹57,000 a month to a newly appointed government doctor when such amount was received even by college faculty.

Also stating that he had respect for all professions, the judge said, that some professionals such as doctors as well as policemen required to be paid better given the nature of work performed by them and the number of hours that they had to work every day.

NEET impersonation: more cases likely

One complaint received from Kochi; several students yet to submit fingerprints

08/11/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

An exercise undertaken by the Madras High Court to dig deep into the issue of impersonation in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) might lead to many skeletons tumbling out of the closet as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) disclosed that it had received one complaint from Kochi in Kerala, apart from Chennai.

Justices N. Kirubakaran and P. Velmurugan were also informed that though they had ordered cross-checking of fingerprints of all students who had got admitted in MBBS course this year, about 16 of them were yet to give their fingerprints, citing reasons of ill health and one of them rushed to court seeking anticipatory bail.

The counsel for Sree Balaji Medical College in Chennai stated that two of its students were yet to give fingerprints since they were not in station. The Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute said two of its students were bedridden due to viral fever and hence they were unable to give their fingerprints to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department.

SRM Medical College said that one of its students was yet to give his fingerprint. Though all the private institutions assured that their students would give their fingerprints at the earliest, Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute said one of its students failed to give his fingerprint and he had instead filed an anticipatory bail petition.

Counsel for Meenakshi Medical College stated that three of its students were yet to give their fingerprints and that they shall give it at the earliest.

After recording their submissions, Justice Kirubakaran suggested that the Selection Committee of Directorate of Medical Education itself could obtain fingerprints at the time of admissions from next year.

They also recorded the submission of K. Srinivasan, special public prosecutor for CBI cases, that the two complaints received by it from Chennai were forwarded to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as well the Medical Council of India (MCI) whereas the complaint from Kochi was still under its consideration.

The judges directed Assistant Solicitor General G. Karthikeyan to find out from the Ministry by November 21 as to whether the complaints of impersonation in NEET were received from other States. The directions were issued during the course of hearing of a writ appeal related to alleged misuse of NRI quota seats in medical admission.

Appellant’s counsel M. Velmurugan said his client could not secure a medical seat despite scoring 303 marks in NEET, while nearly 200 students who had scored less than him got admission in private medical colleges under the lapsed NRI quota seats that were sent back by the Selection Committee to the respective colleges. Finding that Dr. MGR Medical University was a necessary party to the litigation, the judges suo motu included it as one of the respondents and adjourned the case to November 21 for submission of report by CB-CID.

Andhra CM under fire for sanctioning ₹73L for house
Amaravati:08.11.2019

The Andhra Pradesh government’s order sanctioning ₹73 lakh for doors and windows of chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s residence here has come under flak from the opposition.

Leading the attack is N Chandrababu Naidu, who himself was target of the ruling YSR Congress Party over living in an alleged illegal house.

“YSR Jagan’s government has allotted a whopping ₹73 lakhs to fix windows for his house! Now that’s one super expensive view at the expense of state exchequer! This comes at a time when AP is grappling with fiscal mess caused by mismanagement in the last 5 months. Truly cringe-worthy!” tweeted Naidu.

Naidu’s son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh accused Jagan of hypocrisy for sanctioning such a large amount while claiming that “he takes home ₹1 as salary”.

The order, issued by Roads and Buildings Department on October 15, accorded administrative sanction for ₹73 lakh afor supply and installation of aluminium windows/doors and miscellaneous works in camp residence and office block of the chief minister. IANS

Now, T’gana revenue officials get threat calls

Sushil.Rao@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:08.11.2019

Days after a tehsildar was burnt alive inside her office, several revenue officials in Telangana are claiming to have been receiving threats from unidentified persons. While a worried tahsildar has gone on leave, a revenue divisional officer (RDO) filed a complaint with police after a cop threatened him that he would meet the same fate Vijaya Reddy faced on November 4 in her office.

K Rajendra Kumar, RDO of Kamareddy district, approached police on the very same day on which Vijaya was set on fire, after receiving a call from an unknown person who threatened him that he too would be burned alive if he did not resolve his land dispute.

SP K Swetha Reddy told TOI on Thursday that after a preliminary enquiry, they have identified the person who made the call as armed reserve (AR) constable Srinivas Reddy. “We have taken the complaint and put up the matter before the court,” she said. The SP said an FIR would be filed under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Meanwhile, revenue employees at Maripeda tehsildar office in Mahabubabad district were allegedly threatened by a farmer who came to the office with petrol in a bottle. He kept it on the table and shouted at them. He apparently wants them to solve his land issue.