Elaborate security arrangments for Dec 6

MUMBAI, Dec 3: In the wake of violent protests by Dalit groups, Mumbai Police have made special security arrangements for the 50th death anniversary of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the annual Urs of Baba Maqdoomi Dargah in the city, coinciding with the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition on December 6.

Over 10 lakh people are expected to converge at Chaitya Bhoomi at Dadar and thousands more are expected to attend the annual Urs of Maqdoom Shah Baba at Mahim, both situated about three kilometers apart in central Mumbai on that day, a senior police official said.

"We are taking extra steps to ensure that the day passes off without any incident. An advisory has also been received from the intelligence bureau as the events are coinciding with the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992," Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order) Arup Patnaik told.

In view of the law and order and traffic problems which the events can create, Mumbai Police have requested the State Government to announce December 6 as a public holiday, a request that is pending.

"At least 10 companies of State Reserve Police, some companies of Central Reserve Police force, three from the rapid action force, Homeguards, volunteers from NGOs and over 2,000 extra police personnel will be part of the security arrangements," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone V) D M Phadtare said.

Over five lakh followers converge every year at Chitya Bhoomi, the site where the last rites of Ambedkar were held, on the occassion of his death anniversary and the number is expected to double this year as it is the 50th death anniversary, he added.

Police have also erected 15 watch towers at crucial points and installed CCTVs on each of the tower, Phadtare said adding that plainclothes policemen will also be posted in the area along with officials from the State Intelligence Department.

"We have made additional arrangements for anti-sabotage checking where we will frisk any suspect," he said.

Dalit leaders like Prakash Ambedkar, Ramdas Athawale, Chandrakant Handore, Yogendra Kawade have made requests to be allowed to address the crowds at Shivaji Park, but, "this year there will be greater restrictions on them," Phadtare said.

The event comes within a month of violent protests in various parts of Maharashtra over the killing of a Dalit family in Khairlanji village of Bhandara district and exactly a week after the desceration of Ambedkar’s statue in Kanpur that had led to violence across the state.

Vehicular traffic would be diverted in many parts of central Mumbai to prevent any congestion due to the presence of the devotees on the road, an official release said here.

Death anniversary of Ambedkar, observed as "Mahaparinirvan Divas", witnesses lakhs of his followers from Vidarbha and other parts of the country converging at Shivaji Park for two days. (PTI)

Racket to buy blood from children exposed, 3 arrested

GUNTUR, Dec 3: Police here have unearthed a racket allegedly involved in buying blood from children for petty amounts and arrested three persons, including the manager of a private medical laboratory.

The racket came to light when a boy revealed to his teacher, after intensive questioning, that he had sold blood to get money to buy a film ticket, police said.

The teacher informed a TV channel, who along with police, sent a 12-year-old child as a decoy to the lab.

This led to the arrest of the three persons, including two Laboratory Assistants last night, as it is an offence to obtain blood from children aged less than 18, police said.

Enquiries revealed the suspects allegedly visited playgrounds to induce children to sell blood, they said. (PTI)

CBI files chargesheet against seven
in Narmad CGHS scam

NEW DELHI, Dec 3: The CBI has filed a fresh chargesheet against prime accused N Diwakar, former Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS), builder Anna Wankhede and five others in the Narmad Cooperative Group Housing Society (CGHS) scam.

Filing the chargesheet in a special court here, the CBI said a cooperative group housing society — Narmad CGHS Ltd — was allegedly revived in 1998-99 even though it was declared defunct in 1978 under the Delhi Registrar Act to get land allotment from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

It alleged Diwakar, then RCS, Sanjeev Bharati, then stenographer, Niranjan Singh, then Head Clerk, and Prahalad Kumar Thirwani, then senior auditor, entered into a criminal conspiracy with Sreechand, Sushil Kumar and builder Wankhede with the intention of cheating the DDA.

They also allegedly got the land alloted at a rate cheaper than the market rate by using forged and fabricated documents, the chargesheet said.

The CBI is inquiring into the scam on the basis of a Delhi High Court order of February 13, 2006 to probe allegations that RCS officials had conspired with private parties to revive the defunct society for allotment of land in the national capital.

The CBI alleged that all RCS officials did not conduct proper election of the society or visit the registered office of the CGHS and that they submitted a false report. They also abused their official position as public servants and obtained illegal favours from various persons, it alleged.

It has chargesheeted the seven persons under sections 12O-b (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for cheating), 471 (using forged documents as genuine) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988. (PTI)

Minister reviews development works

SRINAGAR, Dec 3: State Works Minister Gulchain Singh Charak today reviewed the progress of ongoing construction works in various parts of the district.

Charak said the work on Hajj complex, coming up at a cost of Rs 10.50 crore, was going on in full swing and expected to be completed by December 2007.

Accompanied by Chief Engineer (roads and buildings) and other senior engineers, the minister also assessed the pace of work on Sessions Court complex, also coming up at Bemina.

He inspected work on foot bridge estimated to cost Rs 35 lakh and directed the engineers to complete the construction of bridges by the end of this month.

The minister also took stock of work on three-lane 309 meter span Tangpora by-pass bridge on National Highway coming up at a cost of Rs 17 crore.

Charak also visited Radapora Nowhatta Interior Road in downtown Srinagar to ascertain the authenticity of complaint received by him regarding usage of sub-standard material in its construction. (PTI)

Verdicts in 1993 blasts case to conclude today

MUMBAI, Dec 3: The first phase of verdicts in the 1993 bomb blasts case will conclude tomorrow with the TADA Court here expected to decide the fate of six accused.

The court has so far found 94 accused, including film actor Sanjay Dutt, guilty and acquitted 23 people due to lack of evidence.

Six accused, allegedly involved in throwing grenades on a fishermen’s colony in Mahim, an attack that left three persons dead and injured six, have been summoned tomorrow for the pronouncement of the verdict against them.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Minorities Front has said it will challenge the acquittal of Sanjay Dutt of terrorism cahrges under the TADA Act in the Supreme Court.

Front president Farooq Alam said in a release that members of the Muslim community had been convicted under TADA while the actor had been acquitted of charges under this law though he was found guilty under the Arms Act.

Alam said he would move the Supreme Court, praying that Muslims had been discriminated against.

Those convicted by the court include members of gangster and prime accused Tiger Memon’s family such as his brothers Yakub Memon, Yusuf Memon, Essa Memon and his sister-in-law Rubina Memon. (PTI)

Surgery by junior Doc; vimhans, surgeon
fined Rs five lakh

NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Delegation of surgery to junior doctors, which resulted in untimely death of a patient, has been held by a consumer forum to be "gross medical negligence" and has directed the hospital and its senior surgeon to pay Rs five lakh as compensation to kin of the victim.

The District Consumer Forum (South-I) has asked the south Delhi-based Vimhans Hospital and Dr A K Banerjee, who was the in-charge for the surgery of deceased Meera Jha, to compensate her legal heirs in a month.

"It seems that the duty of operating her was left to junior doctors and she suffered the fatal cardiac arrest due to traumatic experience she underwent," said the forum headed by G D Dhanuka and members S C Kaushik and Nargis Rajkumar.

Noting the patient did not have any history of heart problem before the surgery, it said, "this shows that something must have gone seriously wrong during the surgery and the hospital has failed to rebut this argument."

It took into account the certificate of fitness given by the doctors of the same hospital which declared her physically fit and with no cardiac problem before the surgery.

Dismissing the contention of the hospital regarding the consent form signed by victim’s son, the forum observed that in the absence of mentioning the nature of the surgery in the form and the specific risks involved in it, the consent did not amount to "informed consent."

Jha was, on July 17, 2004, admitted in Vimhans following a neck pain and was to be opearted by Banerjee on July 20.

But her condition deteriorated after the surgery and she died due to a cardiac arrest on August 16.

The victim’s son, Anand Kumar Jha, had complained about medical negligence by Banerjee who was allegedly found roaming in the wards when the surgery of the patient was being conducted.

He had also alleged that the hospital authorities kept his mother in unhygienic conditions after the surgery, which resulted in further complications.

Jha, who was a resident of Shakarpur in east Delhi, is survived by her husband, three sons and a daughter. (PTI)

Even death fails to redeem them of their tag

NEW DELHI, Dec 3: For these dalits, even death fails to redeem them of their tag of untouchability.

Contrary to the popular theory of the Churches and Christian leaders professing equality in parishes, in the Palakarai township of Tirichy (TamilNadu), the Church cemetery, located right adjacent to the Bishop’s house has a wall separating the alloted space for the burial of Dalit Church members.

"The wall was constructed with the support of the Church by the upper class members of the Church some 20 years ago and none has dared to intervene fearing backlash," said Prof Selva Kumar, a local Dalit Christian from Tirichy.

"Cases of discrimination are many. We are not allowed to mix up with other members of the Church, marriages outside the caste is a big no and even for the holy communion we are made to come in a separate line," said Franklin Caesar, Co-Ordinator, National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC).

Members of the NCDC, who are here on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar demand equality within the Church and reservation privileges at par with their Hindu counterparts.

"We are at the fringes and only some urgent measures can save us, we are facing a grave situation," Caesar adds.

When asked about this, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) here responded with great caution.

"Social changes take time and the Church authorities do not want things to be spoiled by acting overnight," said Fr Babu John, Spokesperson, CBCI.

"Although we don’t acknowledge any discrimination but we are aware that these things exist and we are looking into it," he added.

Demanding that the Union Government should extend the Scheduled Castes (SC) rights to the Dalits converted to Christianity also, as done to the converts of other religion, the leaders here also ask for immediate redressal and measures from the Church’s side.

"Asking for reservation is our foremost agenda but more representation in the leadership and a strict note of acts of discrimination by the Church can go a long way in giving us the relief," said Fr Paul.

Fr Paul, himself a Dalit priest from Tamil Nadu, shared the difficulty of being an untouchable and opting for clergy-ship.

"It was difficult in the beginning, there was a social inertia to accept me as a leader and priest but with time I am now used to adverse comments and also things have improved," he adds. (PTI)

Grant of aid did not take away protection
of minority inst: SC

NEW DELHI, Dec 3: The Supreme Court has held that the grant of aid to the Minority Educational Institutions did not take away their right to claim immunity from state’s interference in the management and appointments including that of the Principal of such institutions.

"Having regard to the key role played by the Principal in the management and administration of the educational institution, there can be no doubt that the right to choose the Principal is an important part of right of administration and even if the institution is aided there can be no interference with the said right," the Apex Court said.

This was stated by the court while delivering the judgement on the appointment of a Principal in a private minority-aided college in Kerala which was challenged on the ground that since it was granted aid and governed by the State Act, the candidate should fulfil the criteria set by the state.

A bench comprising Justices H K Sema and R V Raveendran recently set aside the verdict of the Kerala High Court which had held that the receipt of the aid by a minority institution removes the protection under Article 30 (1) of the constitution by taking away its right to claim immunity from interference.

The High Court had held that under such circumstance the regulations made by the state governing the manner of making appointments and their removal as also the conditions of service of Principals and Lecturers will be binding on such aided institution.

However, the court said that a constitution bench in the T M A Pai case has made it clear that a minority institution did not cease to be so, merely on reciept of aid from the state or agencies.

"Article 30(1) clearly implies that any grant that is given by the state to minority institution cannot have such conditions attached to it which will in any way dilute or abridge the rights of the minorities to establish and administer educational institutions," the bench said.

The Malankara Syrian Catholic College had challenged section 57(3) of the Kerala University Act making seniority-cum-fitness as the basis of appointment of Principal in private aided minority institution on the ground that it was violative of Article 30 (1).

The bench said "section 57 (3) of the Act cannot apply to minority run educational institutions even if they are aided". (PTI)

Master plan for 2021 moots law for groundwater use

NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Even as a controversial bill to regulate indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater in the national capital has been opposed by some MLAs, a similar legislation has been suggested by the Master Plan Draft (MPD) for 2021.

Taking a cue from Chandigarh, which enacted a law to prevent groundwater depletion, the MPD 2021 has emphasised the need for a similar law in the capital. Local MLAs, however, have opposed even the Delhi Jal Board (amendment) bill 2005.

The MPD said, "except for a ban on borewells in specific pockets by the control ground water authority, there is no check on groundwater extraction. Hence it is necessary to bring groundwater under the purview of the DJB. A bill in this regard sould be immediately announced."

The master plan has sought stringent steps to check the rampant pilferage and theft of water in the city.

There is a need to amend the Delhi Jal Board Act to ensure strict action can be taken against elements involved in stealing and exploiting water, according to the master plan.

The MPD has also emphasised the need for a more effective system to detect and control water leakage.

"It is necessary to develop an effective system to check water leakages. For this, investment is required to install meters and pressure gauges in a large scale," said the master plan which has listed several steps for better water management in the capital.

To meet water requirements for 2011, when the demand is likely to be 1,840 million gallons a day, the plan has recommended the setting up of water harvesting systems and construction of treatment plants at Dwarka, Bawana and Okhla with capacities of 40, 20 and 20 MGD respectively. (PTI)

Freedom of press doesn’t mean interference: Jethmalani

NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Observing that judicial and media activism are here to stay, noted lawyer and former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani today said the press should be careful that its "enthusiasm" doesn’t turn into interference in the working of courts.

Jethmalani, currently defending accused Manu Sharma in the high-profile Jessica Lal murder case, said, "the highest form of contempt (of court) consists of creating public prejudice against a man who is standing trial as is evident in two or three recent cases."

The law of contempt must be vigorously enforced in such cases, he asserted during a discussion on "role of media in judicial activism" here.

The enthusiasm of the press, he noted, amounted to interference. "Though judges are trained minds, they are also human beings. It is foolish to suggest that nothing is able to affect them," he said

"it has happened in some cases that are being tried in the media," he said. "What appears to be media activism is in reality a proliferation of channels."

In a democracy, however, it is important for the press to be active. "Judges are likely to be influenced, but that is the whole idea of press freedom," he said.

Judicial and media activism are here to stay, asserted Jethmalani who has faced criticism from some quarters for representing Manu Sharma.

Asked whether the media can influence the judiciary, the former Union Minister said it was true that "some cases have been taken out and they are being tried in precedence to some other pending cases. Judges do succumb to media pressure. But that is the whole idea of press freedom." (PTI)

5,000 convicted for crimes in past year: Nitish

PATNA, Dec 3: About 5,000 people accused of different crimes across Bihar have been convicted and 1,000 of them awarded life imprisonment in the past year, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said.

Underlining the importance of rule of law for the development of the state, he asked policemen to be more alert and efficiency in their duties to checking the crime graph.

"Establishment of the rule of law is the basic requirement for taking Bihar into a new era of development and prosperity," he told a police investiture function here.

Expressing satisfaction at the working of law enforcing agencies, he said they had "managed to win back" the faith of people through hard work. There had been a change in the work culture of these agencies, he said.

Recognising the shortage of manpower as a handicap, Kumar said the process of recruiting more policemen would begin soon. He also promised to provide the force with better working conditions.

Kumar gave away awards to eight Superintendents of Police, 30 dsps, 130 Inspectors and 61 citizens for showing efficency in the discharge of their duties.

The awardees included Amit Kumar, the SP of Kumar’s home district Nalanda, Sudhansu Kumar (Purnea), N H Khan (Rohtas), Umesh Kumar (Bhojpur) and Amit Kumar Jain (Gaya).

State Police Chief Ashish Ranjan Sinha too asked his colleagues to show more efficiency while discharging their duties. (PTI)

Cracks appear in Ram Mandir movement

AYODHYA, Dec 3: Having already lost its political sheen, cracks have begun to appear in the Ram Mandir movement with VHP and the Dwarkapeeth Shankaracharya at loggerheads over the issue of temple construction.

The two appear to be charting a diametrically opposite course since Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati, along with Hindu ‘Sadhus’ and ‘Sants’ and some Muslims, undertook a ‘Parikrama’ of Ramjanmabhoomi here on November 30.

VHP, which claims to spearhead the movement, accused him of being "an agent" of the Congress-led UPA Government and trying to get "political mileage" out of the movement even as Uttar Pradesh heads for Assembly elections early next year.

The Shankaracharya’s camp claims the VHP has no locus standi in the dispute as it is not a party in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suits pending in Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court.

To the VHP’s discomfiture, BJP general secretary Vinay Katiyar and former Bajrang Dal convenor, associated with the temple movement since the early 1990s, also attended the Dwarka Seer’s programme.

Moreover, devotees from tribal belts of Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and other states undertook the ritual circumambulation in traditional attire, chanting "Jai Sitaram" and "Shankaracharya Ki Jai".

People from various parts of Maharashtra also formed part of the ‘Parikrama’, which the Seer said was not motivated by political considerations.

"We took part in the programme around Sri Ramjanambhoomi with a religious aim and it has nothing to do with politics nor is it meant to downgrade anybody," he said.

He said the ‘Parikrama’ could pave the way for the Ram Temple construction. "We are not against a Mosque and that is the reason a large number of Muslims participated in the programme," the Seer said.

VHP leaders accuse the seer of trying to "split" the Temple movement and playing into the hands of the Congress.

"Swaroopananad Sarswati has always been a puppet of the Congress and he has harmed the Ram Temple cause," its senior leader and Ram Janambhoomi Nyas trust member Ram Vilas Vedanti told here.

With the Seer making it clear he would continue to strive for a "negotiated settlement" of the vexed issue and the VHP adopting a hardline approach, the issue could well hot up by the time the electorate goes to the hustings. (PTI)