SC stays
proceedings against Arun Nehru in pistol deal case
Last Updated: Friday, March 22, 2013, 21:
New
Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed till further order the proceedings
pending in a trial court in a corruption case relating to purchase of pistols
for the Army in 1998 in which former Union minister Arun Nehru and others are
accused.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir stayed the proceedings before the trial court which had fixed March 30 for commencement of arguments on charges in the case.
Nehru had moved the apex court against the order passed by the Delhi High Court which had refused to stay the proceedings.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir stayed the proceedings before the trial court which had fixed March 30 for commencement of arguments on charges in the case.
Nehru had moved the apex court against the order passed by the Delhi High Court which had refused to stay the proceedings.
Senior
counsel Vikas Singh and advocate Sandeep Kapur, appearing for Nehru, told the
apex court that the order on cognisance by the special CBI court was passed
"in a casual and perfunctory manner" as the sanction to prosecute
Nehru, a public servant, was not taken before proceeding against him.
"It is pertinent to mention that the bar to taking cognisance under section 197 CrPC is operative even after a person ceases to be a public servant by retirement or otherwise and as long as the act complained of is related to his duties while he was a public servant sanction ought to be sought against the said person," Nehru, in his petition, said.
According to the FIR registered by CBI against Nehru, who was then a Minister of State in the Home Ministry, he along with two other senior officials had allegedly caused a loss of Rs 25 lakh to exchequer in a pistol deal with Czechoslovakia in 1988.
"It is pertinent to mention that the bar to taking cognisance under section 197 CrPC is operative even after a person ceases to be a public servant by retirement or otherwise and as long as the act complained of is related to his duties while he was a public servant sanction ought to be sought against the said person," Nehru, in his petition, said.
According to the FIR registered by CBI against Nehru, who was then a Minister of State in the Home Ministry, he along with two other senior officials had allegedly caused a loss of Rs 25 lakh to exchequer in a pistol deal with Czechoslovakia in 1988.
The case dates back to 1985-86 when BP Singhal, the then
additional secretary in the Home Ministry, and AK Verma, then director in the
Home Ministry, allegedly conspired with Nehru, the then Minister of State
(Internal Security) for Home Affairs, to execute the deal.
However, proceedings against Singhal and Verma have abated as they have died. CBI had alleged that Nehru had ignored the guidelines for conducting the evaluation of 9 mm pistols.
The trial court had taken cognisance of the 24-year-old case against the accused after rejecting CBI's closure report which had contended that nothing incriminating could be found against Nehru during the protracted probe.
Nehru, in his petition filed before the apex court, had contended that the high court had failed to appreciate that in "the instant matter cognisance has not been taken under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 but under Prevention of Corruption Act, (Act II), 1947, under which, there is no such bar on stay of proceedings."
CBI, in its probe in the case, had found that a policy decision to replace .38 mm revolvers with 9 mm pistols was taken on February 21, 1986, following which global tenders were invited and the deal was finally clinched with Czech firm Merkuria Foreign Trade Corp for purchase of the pistols.
CBI had told the trial court that the investigations did not reveal any written instruction by Nehru. "No prima facie evidence has come (up) that the accused had committed any misconduct or had misused his office with regard to the deal," CBI had said.
It had also submitted that Nehru gave approval for the purchase on the recommendation of the then Home Secretary.
CBI had filed the closure report on June 13, 2007 but the trial court had rejected it observing that a few documents reflected involvement of the accused in the case.
The court had taken cognisance of the offences punishable under various sections of IPC including sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and also under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
PTI
However, proceedings against Singhal and Verma have abated as they have died. CBI had alleged that Nehru had ignored the guidelines for conducting the evaluation of 9 mm pistols.
The trial court had taken cognisance of the 24-year-old case against the accused after rejecting CBI's closure report which had contended that nothing incriminating could be found against Nehru during the protracted probe.
Nehru, in his petition filed before the apex court, had contended that the high court had failed to appreciate that in "the instant matter cognisance has not been taken under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 but under Prevention of Corruption Act, (Act II), 1947, under which, there is no such bar on stay of proceedings."
CBI, in its probe in the case, had found that a policy decision to replace .38 mm revolvers with 9 mm pistols was taken on February 21, 1986, following which global tenders were invited and the deal was finally clinched with Czech firm Merkuria Foreign Trade Corp for purchase of the pistols.
CBI had told the trial court that the investigations did not reveal any written instruction by Nehru. "No prima facie evidence has come (up) that the accused had committed any misconduct or had misused his office with regard to the deal," CBI had said.
It had also submitted that Nehru gave approval for the purchase on the recommendation of the then Home Secretary.
CBI had filed the closure report on June 13, 2007 but the trial court had rejected it observing that a few documents reflected involvement of the accused in the case.
The court had taken cognisance of the offences punishable under various sections of IPC including sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and also under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
PTI
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Geetika Sharma
suicide: Supreme Court declines to entertain Gopal Kanda's bail plea
Published: Friday, Mar 22, 2013, 21:44 IST
Place: New Delhi | Agency: IANS |
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SC
to examine another PIL on age of offenders
New Delhi, March 22,
2013, DHNS:
The Supreme Court on Friday decided to examine yet another PIL
relating to the determination of a juvenile delinquent’s age, contending that
the rules framed under the Juvenile Justice Act took away discretion granted to
a trial judge for the purpose.
A bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra issued notice to the Union government on the petition filed by Nisha Bagchi.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi appearing for the petitioner submitted that the rules framed under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, providing the determining factors for a juvenile, go beyond the provision, which has to be quashed. “The provision of the law provided discretion to the judge which has been taken by the rules,” he said.
The petition also challenged the methodology adopted by trail court under which the matriculation certificate is to be given first preference and second the birth certificate and at last ossification test for ascertaining the age of a juvenile. “Suppose a person is hefty and well-built, capable of committing rape and murder and does not seemingly appear to be a juvenile, but produces a matriculation certificate declaring him to be below 18, the judge is helpless,” counsel said. In that circumstances, the accused has to be given the benefit of the special law.
The bench said it would examine the issue and sought response from the government.
A number of PILs, including one by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, has been filed in the apex court.
Court stays interview of victim’s friend
The Supreme Court on Friday allowed a plea made by Delhi police seeking a stay on a High Court order granting permission to December 16 Delhi gang-rape accused to use TV interviews given by a friend of the victim in their defence. A three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir issued notice to the accused on a petition challenging the March 7 order. Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran submitted that the interviews were not admissible and the use of a CD permitted by the HC in defence of the accused should be stayed. The court decided to seek response from the accused on the petition. It said that the use of CD under the Evidence Act is stayed. The HC had allowed a plea made by accused Ram Singh (since expired) and his brother Mukesh against the trial court’s order declining them permission to use the interview during the recording of evidence.
A bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra issued notice to the Union government on the petition filed by Nisha Bagchi.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi appearing for the petitioner submitted that the rules framed under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, providing the determining factors for a juvenile, go beyond the provision, which has to be quashed. “The provision of the law provided discretion to the judge which has been taken by the rules,” he said.
The petition also challenged the methodology adopted by trail court under which the matriculation certificate is to be given first preference and second the birth certificate and at last ossification test for ascertaining the age of a juvenile. “Suppose a person is hefty and well-built, capable of committing rape and murder and does not seemingly appear to be a juvenile, but produces a matriculation certificate declaring him to be below 18, the judge is helpless,” counsel said. In that circumstances, the accused has to be given the benefit of the special law.
The bench said it would examine the issue and sought response from the government.
A number of PILs, including one by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, has been filed in the apex court.
Court stays interview of victim’s friend
The Supreme Court on Friday allowed a plea made by Delhi police seeking a stay on a High Court order granting permission to December 16 Delhi gang-rape accused to use TV interviews given by a friend of the victim in their defence. A three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir issued notice to the accused on a petition challenging the March 7 order. Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran submitted that the interviews were not admissible and the use of a CD permitted by the HC in defence of the accused should be stayed. The court decided to seek response from the accused on the petition. It said that the use of CD under the Evidence Act is stayed. The HC had allowed a plea made by accused Ram Singh (since expired) and his brother Mukesh against the trial court’s order declining them permission to use the interview during the recording of evidence.
Designate Kollam court as special court: Asaf Ali
Director
General of Prosecution says this will help speedy trial
Now that the two Italians
are back in India at the end of an unprecedented stand-off between the two
countries, the marines will have to stand trial before a special court to be
set up by the Union government in accordance with the Supreme Court’s
directive.
The apex court had on
January 18 directed that a special court be set up to try the marines accused
of shooting to death two fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15 last
year. One of the main arguments of the Italian government for not returning the
marines to India after their four-week stay in Italy had been that the
Government of India had taken no step to set up the special court. The Italian
media had criticised the extreme delay in the Indian judicial process.
When a special court is set
up, now that the issue has grabbed international attention, the biggest
challenge before it would be to complete the trial in a short period.
FOR SPEEDY TRIAL
According to T. Asaf Ali,
Kerala’s Director General of Prosecution (DGP), who had represented the State
government in the Kerala High Court in the marines’ case, the best option
before the Union government will be to designate the sessions court in Kollam
as special court to try the sailors. “The best way for a speedy trial is to let
the Kollam court try the case,” Mr. Ali told The
Hindu on Friday. “For this,
the Government of India has to designate it as special court on the basis of
the Supreme Court directive.”
Mr. Ali pointed out that
the police had filed their charge sheet against the marines before the Kollam
court. All the records and evidences were now before this court. The police had
already completed their investigation and the ship, Enrica Lexie, which was the key
evidence, had long left the Indian waters. Moreover, if a special court were to
be set up in New Delhi or elsewhere, the witnesses who were in Kerala would all
have to travel to Delhi frequently to testify.
BEST BET
“Since the biggest
challenge before a special court would be to complete the trial in a short
time, designating the Kollam court as special court will be the best bet,” Mr.
Ali said. In his view, the Kollam court could complete the trial in three
months as all the records and evidences were already before it.
In its January 18 order,
the Supreme Court had said that Kerala had no jurisdiction to try the two
foreigners and asked the Union government to set up a special court, in
consultation with the Chief Justice of India, to try them. The proceedings
pending before the Kollam sessions court should be transferred to the special
court, the court said. The January 18 order also allowed the marines to be
moved from Kochi to New Delhi and let them stay at the Italian embassy.
Can we have an affluent promoter and a sick company? - NO
The other day, Finance
Minister P. Chidambaram made no secret of his displeasure at the indulgence
shown to wilful defaulters. These are people who have the capacity to repay, or
are guilty of diverting loans for personal gain, or for purposes other than the
ones stated in the loan applications.
The financial system
indulges them through endless corporate debt restructuring. Canara Bank is
wringing its hands helplessly after Deloitte reportedly admitted its inability
to trace the loan of Rs 400 crore it extended to a Hyderabad-based media group.
It is now knocking at the doors of the Debt Recovery Tribunal.
The media group’s dues to
the Indian banking system are in the region of Rs 5,000 crore. Its promoter’s
dalliance with cricket by sponsoring an IPL team is well known.
The rumour mill has it that
the bulk of the money owed by the group has found its way into cricket
investments, apart from investments in fancy cars. Another cricket aficionado
and liquor baron, too, owes our banking system a whopping Rs 7,000 crore. For
too long has the system winked at the shenanigans of wilful defaulters,
sometimes going to the extent of converting the outstandings into equity at
exaggerated valuations.
The Sick Industrial
Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985, made industrial sickness fashionable
by extending several concessions to sick companies, including stay of coercive
legal proceedings against their assets. There were many instances of contrived
or feigned sickness, with the BIFR unable to tell between what was genuine and
what wasn’t.
The indulgence to wilful
defaulters has, predictably, spawned a slew of jokes. Such aphorisms as “you
borrow in lakhs, you are in trouble with the bank; borrow in crores, the bank
is in trouble with you” have become the stuff of folklore. Levity aside, the
truth is the lot of the financial system is not hopeless; but only if it
bestirs itself and goes for the jugular of the defaulters.
BENAMI, HAWALA
There is a view that
promoters can take shelter behind limited liability. This is not entirely true
because the financiers invariably take a personal guarantee from the promoters,
be they individuals or corporates. Such personal guarantees should be invoked
without the slightest hesitation. The institution of benami, of course, makes things
difficult for financiers in India. The money trail is also often lost in the
dizzying maze of shell companies acting as a buffer. Add the hawala route and the repertoire of tricks at
the disposal of the wily defaulters is complete.
A frontal attack on benami brooks no delay. Vested interests have
been scuttling it since 1988, when Rajiv Gandhi made bold to fashion a law that
sent fear down their spines with confiscation staring them in the face.
Inter-corporate loans need to be regulated more strictly.
(The
author is a Delhi-based chartered accountant.)
Durai Dayanidhi moves HC
DMK leader M.K. Alagiri’s
son Durai Dayanidhi has moved the Madras High Court bench here to modify the
conditions of his anticipatory bail. Mr Durai was granted anticipatory bail on
December 10, 2012 in the cases registered against him by the Keelavalavu police
for alleged offences under Mines and Minerals Act and Explosive Substances Act
in the multi-crore illegal granite quarrying scam. The High Court had asked Mr
Durai to surrender his passport at the Judicial Magistrate Court, Melur and
appear before the police whenever he was required for interrogation.
In his petition Mr Durai
has sought the return of his passport considering the nature of his business.
He owns a movie production house and has business interests abroad, making it
necessary for him to make foreign trips frequently, he contended. “The
petitioner has strong roots in the State and will not leave the country. He
will cooperate with the legal process”, Mr Durai’s counsel John Satyan has
stated in the petition. The case is expected to be heard on Monday.
HC allows 13 with criminal cases to turn policemen
CHENNAI: They faced rioting, causing hurt and criminal
intimidation charges not long ago. But now, at least 13 police constable
aspirants, who were denied the job because they were accused in criminal cases,
are set to don uniforms, thanks to a Madras high court order asking the authorities to ignore
the cases because they had ended in acquittals even before the selection
process began.
A total of 15 people had approached the high court saying they had been unfairly denied employment as police constables, because police verification before the appointment revealed they faced either criminal cases or had bad antecedents. Most of them faced charges like wielding dangerous weapons, causing hurt, rioting, criminal intimidation and destruction of public property. One person was charged with attempt to murder.
The government issued a notification on March 22, 2012 for selection of candidates for 13,320 posts — 12,152 police constables, 377 jail wardens and 791 firemen. The written test was held in June 2012. These candidates had cleared the written test and undergone medical examination, too. The fact that they once faced criminal cases came to light during character verification by local police.
Noting that 13 of them had been acquitted from the cases either on the ground of benefit of doubt or due to dropping of charges, they said their acquittals happened much before the selection process began. On the date of announcement of selection process, they had no cases pending against them and hence they should not have been denied jobs. Two of them, however, said they faced a minor punishment of imposition of fine and that they should not be deprived of the job merely because of a minor punishment.
Justice Vinod K Sharma, allowing the pleas of the 13 aspirants on Friday, said: "In all these cases, the petitioners were acquitted much before the commencement of selection process. Acquittal in criminal cases means that the charges framed against the accused itself were bad, therefore it cannot be said that persons were involved in any criminal case."
As for Rule 14(b) of the Special Rules for Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Services Rules, which says even acquittal due to 'benefit of doubt' would not absolve a person completely, Justice Sharma said: "Rule 14(b) can only be interpreted to mean that if cases, pending at the time of selection, end in acquittal on the ground of benefit of doubt, then a person can be denied the right of appointment. But not in a case where much before the start of selection process, the person is acquitted even by giving benefit of doubt."
The government submitted that the Rule 14(b), the validity of which was upheld by the apex court, held that a person acquitted or discharged by giving benefit of doubt or due to the fact that the complainant had turned hostile, has to be treated as a person involved in a criminal case. Hence, he can still be disqualified for selection to police service, it said.
A total of 15 people had approached the high court saying they had been unfairly denied employment as police constables, because police verification before the appointment revealed they faced either criminal cases or had bad antecedents. Most of them faced charges like wielding dangerous weapons, causing hurt, rioting, criminal intimidation and destruction of public property. One person was charged with attempt to murder.
The government issued a notification on March 22, 2012 for selection of candidates for 13,320 posts — 12,152 police constables, 377 jail wardens and 791 firemen. The written test was held in June 2012. These candidates had cleared the written test and undergone medical examination, too. The fact that they once faced criminal cases came to light during character verification by local police.
Noting that 13 of them had been acquitted from the cases either on the ground of benefit of doubt or due to dropping of charges, they said their acquittals happened much before the selection process began. On the date of announcement of selection process, they had no cases pending against them and hence they should not have been denied jobs. Two of them, however, said they faced a minor punishment of imposition of fine and that they should not be deprived of the job merely because of a minor punishment.
Justice Vinod K Sharma, allowing the pleas of the 13 aspirants on Friday, said: "In all these cases, the petitioners were acquitted much before the commencement of selection process. Acquittal in criminal cases means that the charges framed against the accused itself were bad, therefore it cannot be said that persons were involved in any criminal case."
As for Rule 14(b) of the Special Rules for Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Services Rules, which says even acquittal due to 'benefit of doubt' would not absolve a person completely, Justice Sharma said: "Rule 14(b) can only be interpreted to mean that if cases, pending at the time of selection, end in acquittal on the ground of benefit of doubt, then a person can be denied the right of appointment. But not in a case where much before the start of selection process, the person is acquitted even by giving benefit of doubt."
The government submitted that the Rule 14(b), the validity of which was upheld by the apex court, held that a person acquitted or discharged by giving benefit of doubt or due to the fact that the complainant had turned hostile, has to be treated as a person involved in a criminal case. Hence, he can still be disqualified for selection to police service, it said.
HC rap gets woman victim of police brutality CRPF cover
CHANDIGARH: Within hours of Punjab and Haryana high court issuing contempt notice to it,Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Friday provided security to
Harbinder Kaur, who was assaulted by Punjab policemen in Tarn Taran town of
Punjab earlier this month.
The CRPF had failed to provide cover to the woman despite HC orders issued on Tuesday.
Harbinder has been provided the security by one 'section' of the CRPF troops, comprising eight cops.
Earlier, on Friday morning, Justice Ranjit Singh of the HC had issued show cause notice to IGP (Chandigarh zone) of CRPF for not complying with the directions of the court issued on March 19.
The directions came about after the victim had moved the HC informing it that she was not being provided security by the CRPF despite court directions, which amounted to showing disregard to the judiciary.
Within hours after the HC issued the contempt notice, senior standing counsel of the Union government, Onkar Singh Batalvi, summoned one ASI and seven constables of CRPF and asked them to provide security to the victim and her family members.
After this, the CRPF troops left for Tarn Taran in their official vehicle along with the woman and her kin.
On Monday, Harbrinder had moved a petition seeking protection to life and liberty of her and her family members. She had also alleged that Tarn Taran police was exerting pressure on her to strike a compromise in the case.
Hearing her plea, the HC had ordered the transfer of seven cops, who had beaten her up, out of Tarn Taran district and ordered security for the victim and her family.
On March 3, the woman was thrashed in full public view by Punjab cops in Tarn Taran town after she had approached them with a complaint of sexual harassment.
The CRPF had failed to provide cover to the woman despite HC orders issued on Tuesday.
Harbinder has been provided the security by one 'section' of the CRPF troops, comprising eight cops.
Earlier, on Friday morning, Justice Ranjit Singh of the HC had issued show cause notice to IGP (Chandigarh zone) of CRPF for not complying with the directions of the court issued on March 19.
The directions came about after the victim had moved the HC informing it that she was not being provided security by the CRPF despite court directions, which amounted to showing disregard to the judiciary.
Within hours after the HC issued the contempt notice, senior standing counsel of the Union government, Onkar Singh Batalvi, summoned one ASI and seven constables of CRPF and asked them to provide security to the victim and her family members.
After this, the CRPF troops left for Tarn Taran in their official vehicle along with the woman and her kin.
On Monday, Harbrinder had moved a petition seeking protection to life and liberty of her and her family members. She had also alleged that Tarn Taran police was exerting pressure on her to strike a compromise in the case.
Hearing her plea, the HC had ordered the transfer of seven cops, who had beaten her up, out of Tarn Taran district and ordered security for the victim and her family.
On March 3, the woman was thrashed in full public view by Punjab cops in Tarn Taran town after she had approached them with a complaint of sexual harassment.
HC order allowing TV interview as evidence in gang rape case
stayed
Supreme Court
order comes on plea of Delhi Police
The Supreme Court on Friday
stayed the Delhi High Court order allowing the plea of one of the accused in
the December 16, 2012 gang rape case to use as evidence a CD containing the
interview of the victim’s male friend.
A Bench of Chief Justice
Altamas Kabir and Justices Anil R Dave and Ms. Ranjana Desai stayed the March 7
order after the Delhi Police submitted that the TV interview was inadmissible
as evidence and issued notice to the accused.
Solicitor-General Mohan
Parasaran appeared for the Delhi government.
The High Court had allowed
the contention of accused Ram Singh, who allegedly committed suicide in the
Tihar jail, and his brother Mukesh and set aside the trial court order by which
they were not allowed to exhibit as evidence the CD of the interview telecast
on January 4.
Mukesh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay
Sharma and Akshay Singh are facing trial. The sixth accused, declared as a
juvenile, is facing trial before the Juvenile Justice Board.
In its appeal, the Delhi
government said that by the impugned order the High Court had allowed the
interview to be used as a previous statement though the said interview was
recorded after the statement of the complainant (an eyewitness to the crime)
was recorded under Section 164 Cr.PC., investigation concluded and a charge
sheet was filed.
It said the High Court had
erred in not noticing the dangers of allowing media interviews as evidence in a
criminal trial, especially when such interviews were taken after the filing of
the charge sheet. Such a practice would have a direct effect on the
administration of the criminal justice system as it would lead to an erosion of
the sanctity of the judicial trial and would result in causing undue
interference in criminal justice process.
Devise action plan to prevent custodial deaths: HC
Hindustan
Times Mumbai,
March 23, 2013
Taking
serious note of custodial deaths in Maharashtra, the Bombay high court on
Friday directed the state to devise a plan to prevent the menace.
“The incidences of
custodial deaths are continuing unabated in Maharashtra; what preventive steps
have you taken?” the division bench of judges Ajay Khanwilkar and Ashok
Bhangale sought to know while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed
by city NGO Indian Center for Human Rights and Law.
The bench directed
the secretary (special), home department, to file his personal affidavit by
April 1 disclosing what preventive measures were being taken to prevent
custodial deaths.
The counsel for the
petitioner, Rebecca Gonsalves, pointed out that during the last 10 years, more
than 220 persons had died in police custody in Maharashtra. The PIL cites a
report prepared by Asian Commission for Human Rights revealing that during
between 2001 and 2009, 192 persons had died in police custody in the state.
According to an
affidavit filed by the state government earlier, 24 persons died in police
custody between January 2008 and March 2009, of which at least 15 deaths were
attributable to atrocities committed by police personnel concerned or
negligence on their part.
Delhi HC slams Censor Board over vulgar content
PTI New Delhi, March 22, 2013
First
Published: 20:04 IST(22/3/2013) | Last Updated: 20:20 IST(22/3/2013)
The Delhi High Court
on Friday slammed the Censor Board for not doing its job "properly"
and asked it and the Centre to respond to two separate PILs alleging vulgar
content in Salman Khan-starrer 'Dabangg 2' and Saif Ali Khan's 'Race 2'.
"Nowadays, the
Censor Board is not doing its duty properly," a bench comprising Chief
Justice D Murugesan and Justice V K Jain said while asking the Information and
Broadcasting Ministry, CBFC and producers of 'Dabangg 2' and 'Race 2' to file
their responses by May 14.
While hearing the PIL
of lawyer Sanjay Kumar seeking a ban of alleged provactive item number of
'Dabangg 2,' the bench ordered deletion of names from an array of parties of
Kareena Kapoor Khan, on whom the song was filmed, director Arbaaz Khan and
musicians duo Sajid and Wajid.
"Why you have
made the actress a party? This is not a criminal complaint. File a fresh memo
of parties. Delete the name of the actress, director and musicians...,"
Justice Jain said during the hearing.
The bench, however,
refused to stay the release of DVDs of 'Dabangg 2' and 'Race 2' and their
further screening on TV channels. It, meanwhile, gave the petitioners liberty
to approach it again if they receive information that the films are going to be
shown on channels.
"We are not
experts and have not seen the movies. How can we stay the films on the basis of
photographs we saw here?" the bench said.
The other PIL, filed
by social worker Teena Sharma, has sought an immediate ban on further screening
of 'Race 2' in cinema halls and its telecast. It also sought deletion of
explicit scenes and "vulgar" dialogues in the film.
HC notice to UT DC, MC for not reviving
rickshaw stands
HT Correspondent ,
Hindustan Times
Chandigarh, March 22, 2013
Chandigarh, March 22, 2013
The Punjab and Haryana high court has issued show-cause notice to the
Chandigarh deputy commissioner (DC) and municipal commissioner as to why
contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for not
demarcating and reviving rickshaw stands in the city despite repeated court directions.
A special division bench comprising justice Surya Kant and justice Ajay Tewari on Friday issued the notices when it came to know that the Chandigarh authorities had failed to comply with the court orders and were passing the buck on each other.
The
court was hearing a case pertaining to the introduction of eco-friendly cycle
rickshaws and designating vehicle-free zones in Punjab, Haryana and UT.
Earlier
on November 2, 2012, the court had directed the chief architect of Chandigarh
to designate proper parking space for rickshaws in every sector.
The
court had said it was interested in how to popularise non-polluting vehicles
and also proper parking for them which would reduce traffic chaos and accidents
on roads.
Whereas
during the hearing of the case, the court was informed that chief architect
Sumit Kaur had written a letter to the DC seeking details of demarcated
rickshaw stands in the city but her letter had not received any reply till date
and thus rickshaw parking places all over the city had not been specified.
Appearing
for the Chandigarh administration, senior standing counsel Sanjay Kaushal
informed the court that the administration was mulling levying congestion
charges on vehicles in various parkings in the city.
Kaushal
further reiterated that parking problem cannot be solved in the city and the
ultimate option was to use the public transport system. He also informed the
court that very soon the administration would also put its master plan on the
website to invite objections from the city residents.
However,
amicus curiae (friend of court) advocate Rita Kohli submitted that the
administration had failed to properly utilise its existing resources to ensure
proper parking space for vehicles, where thousands of vehicles could be parked.
The
case would now come up for hearing on May 3.
Gujarat HC gives a go ahead for
railway line in Kutch by APSEZ
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat high court on Friday gave a go ahead for the
construction or railway line betweenMundra and Adipur in Kutchdistrict by Adani Port Special Economic Zone.
The Court rejected a petition by a local resident objecting the company's move
claiming that it did not take the permission of local gram panchayat prior to
constructing the railway line.
On Ullasba Barach of Luni village in Kutch district had filed a Public Interest Litigation in the high courtclaiming that APSEZ cannot construct a railway track parallel to the existing railway line. She also objected the construction of a compound wall along the tracks without the permission of local gram panchayat. She further demanded that an under-bridge be constructed at Luni.
The court said that under The SEZ Act, the company is free to construct a compound wall along the railway line which is part of SEZ. The court ruled that once an area is notified as a SEZ, local village panchayat does not have any authority over it. It said that once the plan is approved by the railway authorities, the court cannot interfere with the decision, whether or not to construct an overbridge.
On Ullasba Barach of Luni village in Kutch district had filed a Public Interest Litigation in the high courtclaiming that APSEZ cannot construct a railway track parallel to the existing railway line. She also objected the construction of a compound wall along the tracks without the permission of local gram panchayat. She further demanded that an under-bridge be constructed at Luni.
The court said that under The SEZ Act, the company is free to construct a compound wall along the railway line which is part of SEZ. The court ruled that once an area is notified as a SEZ, local village panchayat does not have any authority over it. It said that once the plan is approved by the railway authorities, the court cannot interfere with the decision, whether or not to construct an overbridge.
Withdrawal of drug smuggling case against
singer KS Makhan under HC scanner
The Punjab government's withdrawal of a drug smuggling
case against singer KS Makhan is under the scanner of the high court now.
Taking up a public interest litigation (PIL) on Friday, the Punjab and Haryana
HC directed the state government to produce details of the decision taken by
the home affairs
department.
The directions came from a division bench headed by chief justice Arjan Kumar Sikri on a petition filed by advocate HC Arora, who has challenged the withdrawal of the case that had been registered against Makhan, his relative Hardeep Singh and six other persons on August 1, 2006, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The chargehseet was presented in April last year, and additional sessions judge, Jalandhar, framed the charges on February 22 this year.
But
when the case was to come up for prosecution evidence, the home department
directed the deputy commissioner of Jalandhar to withdraw the case.
Arora
informed the high court that under the directions of the Punjab State Human
Rights Commission, the state police's crime branch had even conducted an
inquiry and concluded that the FIR had been registered rightly. Further, Arora
said, in such cases where there is no specific complainant or victim, and the
crime is against society at large, a public notice must be issued to invite
objections against the proposed withdrawal. The case would now come up for
hearing on March 26.
Know the case
KS Makhan and two other Canadian citizens, Lakhwinder Singh Lakha and Raja Boparai, allegedly used to receive heroin from Makhan's brother Hardeep Singh, a resident of Shankar village in Jalandhar. It was alleged that Makhan, Boparai and Lakha used to send money through the hawala route to Hardeep to purchase drugs from smugglers in Jalandhar, Nakodar and Ludhiana.
KS Makhan and two other Canadian citizens, Lakhwinder Singh Lakha and Raja Boparai, allegedly used to receive heroin from Makhan's brother Hardeep Singh, a resident of Shankar village in Jalandhar. It was alleged that Makhan, Boparai and Lakha used to send money through the hawala route to Hardeep to purchase drugs from smugglers in Jalandhar, Nakodar and Ludhiana.
Delhi HC issues
order for setting up special court to try Italian marines: Sources
IBN
KERALA, Updated Mar 23, 2013 at 12:02am IST
New
Delhi: The
Delhi High Court has issued order for setting up of special court to try
Italian marines, said sources on Friday night. The two Italian marines accused
of killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast reached Delhi on Friday after
India gave an assurance that they will not face death penalty nor will they be
arrested, bringing to an end a raging 11-day diplomatic row between the two
countries.
The
marines, Massimiliano Latore and Salvatore Girone, arrested in connection with
the killing of the fishermen in February, 2012 returned late Friday evening in
the company of Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Steffan de Mistura in a military
plane.
The
dramatic u-turn by the Italian government, which had earlier last week said the
two marines would not be sent back, enabled the marines to meet the deadline
set by the Supreme Court when it gave them permission to go for a month to vote
in the elections there. With the Supreme Court acting tough and restraining the
Italian Ambassador Daniele Mancini from leaving the country, Italy sought and
got assurances to enable the marines' return.
External
Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, who denied any deal was reached on the issue,
told Parliament that Italy had sought "clarifications" on death
penalty and other issues which were a matter of "concern" to that
country. "It (Italy) sought from India clarifications regarding the
conditions applicable to the marines on their return and the provisions
regarding the death penalty that could be applicable in this case which was an
Italian concern," he said.
"Notwithstanding
the pending proceedings, the government has informed the Italian government
that the two marines will not be liable for arrest if they return within the
time frame laid down by the Supreme Court of India," the minister added.
India
also allayed Italy's fears by saying that "according to well-settled
Indian jurisprudence, this case would not fall in the category of matters which
attract the death penalty, that is to say the rarest of rare cases. Therefore,
there need not be any apprehension in this regard," Khurshid said.
(With
additional information from PTI)
HC orders govt
staff benefits for teachers teaching disabled kids
In a
significant judgment, the Gujarat High Court on Friday ordered the state
government to regularise around 1,248 teachers who are teaching disabled
children and grant them all the benefits and allowances given to government
employees.
A division
bench of HC passed the order while acting on a series of petitions that
included a suo motu action taken by the court.
According to
one of the lawyers who appeared for the petitioners, a sizable number of
teachers are teaching disabled children in Gujarat and they are deprived of
regular benefits by the state government. The HC had taken suo motu cognisance
of the matter, said the lawyer who did not want to be named.
Subsequently,
a number of such teachers had joined the litigation after they faced problems
in getting salaries from the NGOs acting as a nodal agency for the scheme under
which they were teaching the disabled students.
The lawyer
stated that the teachers were appointed through NGOs under the Integrated
Education for Disabled Children scheme of the Central government. The object
aims at allowing the disabled children to intermingle with normal students. The
scheme was being implemented by the state government.
However, due
to this arrangement, there was no job security for the teachers, who also faced
problems with payments of their salaries.
"The
court held that under the provisions of the Right to Education Act and Disabled
Children Special Act, the implementation of Acts is a responsibility of the
state government. The court ordered that the teachers be absorbed as the
regular teachers by the state government and entitled to all the benefits of a
regular teacher," the lawyer said.
Two killed in building collapse
Two persons
were killed Friday when an old two-storey building collapsed in the city. The
deceased were identified as Mahesh Kishor Ojha (43) and Natubhai Mochi (40).
The incident occurred at Devsa na Pado, on Relief Road in walled city area of
Ahmedabad. The police said the building was empty for last few months and it
was under renovation.
'Suspicious' boat spotted off Porbandar coast
A
"suspicious" boat moving towards Porbandar was spotted by a Coast
Guard patrol in the Arabian Sea early Friday, sources said, adding that it
changed course and headed towards Jamnagar when challenged. The Coast Guard and
Marine Police have sounded an alert from Okha to Jhakau coast. "When the
Coast Guard ship moved towards the boat, it escaped," Coast Guard
officials said.
HC puts stay
on arrest of suspended DIG Alok Kumar
Last Updated: Friday, March 22, 2013, 17:
Patna:
DIG Alok Kumar, suspended on charge of seeking Rs 10 crore extortion money from
a liquor trader, Friday got a relief from the Patna High Court which put a stay
on his arrest.
Hearing an anticipatory bail petition of the DIG, Justice D K Singh put a stay on his arrest by the police.
The court ordered police administration to submit case diary.
Hearing an anticipatory bail petition of the DIG, Justice D K Singh put a stay on his arrest by the police.
The court ordered police administration to submit case diary.
DIG's
advocate Soni Shrivastava who had filed an anticipatory petition on his behalf
argued that the officer has been implicated in a case of extortion and pleaded
the court to grant him anticipatory bail.
The officer, who was put under suspension by the state government on February 5 last, was facing the possibility of arrest in the case.
Kumar has been charged by a liquor trader Tunnaji Pandey of demanding an extortion money of Rs 10 crore as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Saran.
The officer, who was put under suspension by the state government on February 5 last, was facing the possibility of arrest in the case.
Kumar has been charged by a liquor trader Tunnaji Pandey of demanding an extortion money of Rs 10 crore as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Saran.
CID had recently raided his houses and found some papers related
to purchase of land. Two of his associates have already been arrested.
Kumar, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir cadre of IPS officer, had earlier served as Senior Superintendent of Police of Patna.
PTI
Kumar, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir cadre of IPS officer, had earlier served as Senior Superintendent of Police of Patna.
PTI
Haryana recruitment exam under HC lens
CHANDIGARH: Punjab and Haryana high courton Friday ordered Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) to provide details of written
test and final selection of mandi supervisors and assistant secretaries in view
of certain "surprising features" in the selection process.
A single bench headed by Justice Rajesh Bindal also ordered to implead as parties in the case all the 21 candidates selected for the post of mandi supervisions and 15 candidates as assistant secretaries in Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board (HSAMB) and issued them notice through HSAMB.
Justice Bindal expressed surprise over certain distinctive features of the result of written test, and noted down the argument of the petitioners' counsel that out of 27 candidates shortlisted for interviews on the basis of written test, as many as 19 were from one particular examination centre, namely BN Senior Secondary School, Panchkula, and again out of 32 candidates shortlisted for interviews for the post of assistant secretaries, as many as 23 were from the aforesaid examination centre.
Thus, for the said post of mandi supervisors, only 8 candidates, and for post of assistant secretaries, only 9 candidates were successful from remaining 11 centres of examination in Panchkula. The HC expressed surprise that this was such a case where the number of candidates passing the written test was less than the number of posts, and even the aforesaid number of candidates were shortlisted for interview by giving grace marks.
The HC further directed HSSC to give information regarding candidates who were shortlisted for interviews from each of the 12 centres of examination and those who were finally selected and appointed.
The directions from the HC came in the wake of petitions filed by candidates Dinesh Beniwal, Mamta Rani and Bhupinder Kumar challenging the selection and appointment of persons to these posts. Now the case has been fixed for further hearing on July 10.
A single bench headed by Justice Rajesh Bindal also ordered to implead as parties in the case all the 21 candidates selected for the post of mandi supervisions and 15 candidates as assistant secretaries in Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board (HSAMB) and issued them notice through HSAMB.
Justice Bindal expressed surprise over certain distinctive features of the result of written test, and noted down the argument of the petitioners' counsel that out of 27 candidates shortlisted for interviews on the basis of written test, as many as 19 were from one particular examination centre, namely BN Senior Secondary School, Panchkula, and again out of 32 candidates shortlisted for interviews for the post of assistant secretaries, as many as 23 were from the aforesaid examination centre.
Thus, for the said post of mandi supervisors, only 8 candidates, and for post of assistant secretaries, only 9 candidates were successful from remaining 11 centres of examination in Panchkula. The HC expressed surprise that this was such a case where the number of candidates passing the written test was less than the number of posts, and even the aforesaid number of candidates were shortlisted for interview by giving grace marks.
The HC further directed HSSC to give information regarding candidates who were shortlisted for interviews from each of the 12 centres of examination and those who were finally selected and appointed.
The directions from the HC came in the wake of petitions filed by candidates Dinesh Beniwal, Mamta Rani and Bhupinder Kumar challenging the selection and appointment of persons to these posts. Now the case has been fixed for further hearing on July 10.
Gujarat HC wants
action against cops who beat up dalits last year
The Gujarat
High Court Friday came down heavily on police for its "high-handed,
arbitrary and barbaric" assault on dalits in Rajkot last year and ordered
a compensation of Rs 25,000 each to six of the victims.
The court
also ordered principal secretary (home) to constitute a high-level inquiry into
the entire episode and take necessary action, including criminal prosecution,
against the erring officers.
The HC also
said that the amount of compensation be recovered from the salaries of the
erring officers.
A division
bench comprising Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala,
apparently moved by the police atrocities, pronounced the judgment Friday.
The court
had taken suo motu cognisance of a letter by a human rights activist addressed
to the Chief Justice about the police atrocities on dalits in Rajkot last year.
It all
started on June 24 last year when a dalit leader from Rajkot, Gunvant Rathod,
was killed by some non-dalits. The next day, a funeral procession was taken out
by dalits.
After the
cremation, some in the procession staged protests, demanding arrests of the
culprits, when police lathicharged them.
The letter
sent to the Chief Justice also stated that policemen entered the houses of
dalits at Ambedkarnagar and mercilessly beat them up. Those beaten up included
children and women.
One of the
injured, Rupa Sondarava (16), was allegedly kicked by police following which
she sustained serious spinal injury that threatened to cause permanent
disability.
The dalits
lodged complaints against policemen but no action was taken.
Following
this, one Dr Jayanti Mankadiya wrote to the Chief Justice about the police
atrocities on dalits and sought his intervention. Photographs and a video CD as
evidence of police atrocities accompanied the letter.Subsequently, the court
appointed senior advocate Shalin Mehta as the amicus curiae in the matter.
The state
government had defended the police action saying they were discharging their
duty to maintain law and order. However, the court observed it was quite clear
from the video clip that the policemen acted without any provocation and
mercilessly beat up even those who were not part of the mob.
The court
observed that in the video that "struck us with horror", policemen
were seen pelting stones back at the mob, which was not expected of them.
"This was unheard of and unexpected of them (police)," it said.
The court
also observed that policemen kept beating a man even after he was lying on the
ground, as if he was "a bait before a hungry lion".
Advocate
Hemang Shah, who assisted Mehta in the case, said the court had ordered that
the inquiry committee to be constituted by the principal secretary (home) fix
responsibilities of the erring officers and take appropriate action against
them, which included criminal prosecution.
Mani’s bail term: HC seeks government
view
By Express News Service - KOCHI
22nd March 2013 12:00 PM
The Kerala High Court on Thursday sought the view of the state
government on a petition filed by M M Mani, the former CPM Idukki district
secretary and the accused in the Anchery Baby murder case, for relaxing his
bail conditions.
Granting the bail to Mani, the High Court had ordered him
against entering the limits of Idukki district, except for reporting before the
Investigating Officer in the case, between 9 am and 10 pm every Friday.
Justice S S Satheesachandran issued the order seeking to delete
the condition of restriction on entry into the district and adjourned the case
to Monday.
Mani was arrested in connection with the murder of Anchery Baby,
a Youth Congress leader who was shot dead on November 13, 1982. He was
arraigned as the second accused in the case registered at the Santhanpara
police station. Mani submitted that for almost two month now, he had been
forced to live outside his hometown. He submitted that as a known politician
and social worker of Idukki, his presence was required in the district for
carrying out his political and social obligations.
He added that his wife has been staying alone at the couple’s
house in Idukki for long, and that he had to be in the district to take care of
her.
peed up
installation of CCTVs on e-way: HC
Bombay High
Court (HC) directed the state government Friday to expedite installation of
CCTV cameras on Mumbai-Pune Expressway and ensure heavy vehicles without
indicators do not ply on the road.
Hearing a
PIL seeking ambulances and quick medical aid, a division bench of justices A M
Khanwilkar and A P Bhangale asked the government and Maharashtra State Road
Development Corporation (MSRDC) to improve surveillance on the expressway that
has witnessed several accidents.
"Expedite
the proposal and get it (CCTV) installed. This will reduce workload on
police," justice Khanwilkar said.
Advocate
general Darius Khambata told High Court an MSRDC proposal seeking Rs 37 crore
to install CCTVs would be submitted to the government soon.
"The
plan is to install fewer cameras with high range to cover the entire
expressway.
"The
main control room in Lonavla will do the monitoring," he said.
After it was
brought to its notice that a majority of accidents on the expressway involved
heavy vehicles plying without proper indicators, High Court asked the
government to appoint dedicated officers at toll booths to check indicators of
vehicles.
"In
case a vehicle does not have proper indicators, do not let it ply on the
expressway," the court said.
Chief Justice of
new Manipur HC to be sworn in tomorrow
Justice Ahay Manohar Sapre will be sworn in
as the Chief Justice of the new Manipur High Court tomorrow by Governor
Gurbachan Jagat.
Justice Sapre, a former judge of Chhattisgarh High Court, was appointed on March 19 by President Pranab Mukherjee, official sources said today.
Manipur High Court will have three judges including Chief Justice Sapre, the sources said.
Judge of the Guwahati High Court N Koteswar Singh has been appointed as one of the judges of the high court.
The third judge will be appointed soon, the sources said.
The new Manipur High Court will be inaugurated by Union Law and Justice Minister Ashwani Kumar on March 25.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh will be present at the inauguration ceremony, the sources added.
Justice Sapre, a former judge of Chhattisgarh High Court, was appointed on March 19 by President Pranab Mukherjee, official sources said today.
Manipur High Court will have three judges including Chief Justice Sapre, the sources said.
Judge of the Guwahati High Court N Koteswar Singh has been appointed as one of the judges of the high court.
The third judge will be appointed soon, the sources said.
The new Manipur High Court will be inaugurated by Union Law and Justice Minister Ashwani Kumar on March 25.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh will be present at the inauguration ceremony, the sources added.
High court orders TMC to complete road projects
THANE: The Thane municipal corporation invited the ire of the Bombay high
court recently for its failure to undertake road projects approved in the city
development plan but are at a cross purpose with rules of coastal regulation
zone and forest.
Citizen
activists Pradeep Indulkar had filed a PIL in the HC pointing out that the TMC
had suspended the construction work on as many as 19 internal roads and three
roads connecting Mumbai to Thane. This has greatly inconvenienced the citizens
and put a strain on the vehicular traffic as the TMC was hesitant to proceed
with the road project for fear of inviting action from environment and forest
department.
The PIL came up for hearing before a division
bench of Justices Ajay Khanvikar and AP Bhangle who then directed the
TMC to take up the issue with the concerned departments and resolve it within
two weeks.
The court is
said to have expressed optimism that the civic administration would be able to
convince the state departments about the need to improve connectivity and
remove traffic bottleneck in the city.
The court said
the Thane municipal commissioner will be personally responsible to ensure
compliance of their directions to the administration to apply for permissions
from state departments in two weeks time.
Indulkar
pointed out that after laws pertaining to CRZ , forest and environment were
strengthened after the development plan of the city was approved. Most of the
roads displayed in the DP could not be taken up due to the stringent CRZ and
forest laws, he said.
In quite a few
cases, the TMC had taken up road widening work but had to abandon it in some
patches as any conduction activity was prohibited due to CRZ or forest rules.
Such obstacles have resulted in traffic congestions on the streets, he argued.
The court directed the state urban development
department to look into the issue where three road projects connecting Mumbai
and Thane were incomplete and also directed the BMC andTMC administration to ensure that work is undertaken and
completed in specified time.
High Court knocks outs Sanjay Dutt starrer 'Knock Out'
Subhash
K Jha | Mar 22, 2013, 13:11PM IST
The Sanjay Dutt starrer ‘Knock Out’ which was locked in a
copyright battle with 20th Century Fox has suffered a serious blow
with the High Court ruling in favour of 20th Century Fox, thereby putting Mani
Shankar into a position of deep embarrassment at a time when he has just
completed a very successful stint with Gujarat’s chief minister Narendra
Modi in using the holograph 3D technique to project Modi’s life-like image on
stage in several cities of Gujarat simultaneously during the recent election
campaigning.
So impressed is Narendra Modi by Mani Shankar’s technological
panache that the Gujarat CM tweeted, “Gujarat Election Campaign 2012 becomes
even more memorable with the 3D interaction creating a Guinness World
Record.”
Says Mani Shankar, “In truth it was the most challenging 14 days
of my life with a 1200-men team spread over 53 locations. Over 100 checklists
had to be got right in each location, a fresh crisis every hour, unbelievable
team-work. It was exhilarating. I’d rather focus on the good work with Modiji
than concern myself with a lawsuit that I had no hand in bringing about.”
Reluctant to talk about the copyright issue involving his film
‘Knock Out’ Mani protests. “None of my films so far, whether it was December
16, ‘Rudraksha’ or ‘Mukhbir’ has been remotely unoriginal. As far as I am
concerned ‘Knock Out’ was an original story with original characters. One could
argue that it bears a rough similarity, and that too only in certain parts of
the plot structure, to the Colin Farrell starrer Phone Booth. But I could also
argue that another Hollywood film ‘Liberty Stands Still’ starring Weslet Snipes
is uncannily similar to ‘Phone Booth’. Certain similarities with existent works
are inevitable in the creative process. It doesn’t mean I copied any other film
in ‘Phone Booth’. Anyone who has seen my other films would vouch for my
penchant for originality. We are all inspired by what we see hear and read. But
after all the reading and thinking is done, if what we create comes from within
our hearts then it should be deemed original.”
Incidentally when the resemblance between ‘Knock Out’ and ‘Phone
Booth’ became evident, Mani Shankar repeatedly told the producers of ‘Knock
Out’ to talk to 20th Century Fox and settle the matter before it went to court.
One of the producers of ‘Phone Booth’ Amitabh Parekh passed away a
month ago. And the other producer Sohail Makhlai refuses to comment. That
leaves poor Mani Shankar to defend the film against charges of plagiarism.
We hear Mani Shankar now intends to seek Narendra Modi’s help in
the matter.
CIC asks CM office to explain
‘Shrimant’ tag on Scindia road
NEW DELHI, Sandeep Yadav, March 23, 2013,
DHNS:
Surprised
to note that a monarchy title ‘Shrimant’ was prefixed to the road named after
Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia in Lutyens Delhi, Central Information
Commission has asked the chief minister's office to provide complete
information on the decision taken.
No other roads named after former rulers like Akbar Road, Aurangzeb Road, and Ashoka Road has a monarchy title attached to it.
Not satisfied with New Delhi Municipal Council’s reply that ‘Shrimant’ was added to the name of the road after a mere letter by chief minister Sheila Dikshit's then parliamentary secretary Ramakant Goswami, RTI activist Subhash Chand Aggarwal had approached the CIC three days ago.
When CIC sought to know the reason behind adding the title of former rulers of Gwalior, NDMC produced a couple of letters written by Goswami to its then chairman Subhash Sharma. Goswami had initially requested to name a road after Madhavrao Scindia and NDMC informed him of renaming Canning Road as Madhavrao Scindia Marg.
On February 26, 2002 he again requested Sharma to add ‘Shrimant’ before the name.
The CIC has directed NDMC to provide Aggarwal all papers in relation to the decision — whether it was Goswami's decision or the CM's order.
According to Article 18 of Constitution, no title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the state.
Aggarwal told Deccan Herald that the CM should undo the wrong done by writing to the New Delhi Municipal Council to remove the word ‘Shrimant’.
No other roads named after former rulers like Akbar Road, Aurangzeb Road, and Ashoka Road has a monarchy title attached to it.
Not satisfied with New Delhi Municipal Council’s reply that ‘Shrimant’ was added to the name of the road after a mere letter by chief minister Sheila Dikshit's then parliamentary secretary Ramakant Goswami, RTI activist Subhash Chand Aggarwal had approached the CIC three days ago.
When CIC sought to know the reason behind adding the title of former rulers of Gwalior, NDMC produced a couple of letters written by Goswami to its then chairman Subhash Sharma. Goswami had initially requested to name a road after Madhavrao Scindia and NDMC informed him of renaming Canning Road as Madhavrao Scindia Marg.
On February 26, 2002 he again requested Sharma to add ‘Shrimant’ before the name.
The CIC has directed NDMC to provide Aggarwal all papers in relation to the decision — whether it was Goswami's decision or the CM's order.
According to Article 18 of Constitution, no title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the state.
Aggarwal told Deccan Herald that the CM should undo the wrong done by writing to the New Delhi Municipal Council to remove the word ‘Shrimant’.
Blackbuck case: Court frames fresh charges against Salman, Saif, others
Chief Judicial
Magistrate Chandrakala Jain read out the charges under sections 9/51 and 9/52
of Wildlife protection Act and 149 of IPC and posted the case for next hearing
on April 27.
The actors
denied the charges read out to them by the judge.
Salman Khan was also supposed to appear in the
court but failed to do so.
The high court
had revised the charges against the actors in December 2012, charging Salman
Khan with section 51 of Wildlife Protection Act and others including a local
accused Dushyant Singh with section 51/52 of Wildlife Protection Act and
section 149 of IPC.
They are
accused of poaching two Blackbucks in the intervening night of October 1 and 2,
1998 in Kankani village near Jodhpur during the shooting of the film 'Hum Saath
Saath Hain'.
Blackbuck is a
protected animal and hunting or poaching of the same is a punishable offence
under law.
