NEW DELHI, Nov 19:
The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the AAP government if it could explain to those who had lost their near and dear ones to COVID-19 in the last 18 days why the administration did not take steps when cases were spiralling in the national capital.
The high court, which also asked the government to look at the situation with a “magnifying glass”, observed that it was “disheartening” to see that the number of daily deaths due to the virus has increased to 131 and fresh COVID cases have risen to 7,486.
Pulling up the Delhi government, a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad asked why it waited till the court intervened to take steps such as reducing the number of people attending weddings to 50 to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“You (Delhi government) saw from November 1 which way the wind was blowing. But you turn turtle now because we asked you some questions. The bell should have rung loud and clear when the numbers were spiralling. Why did you not wake up when you saw the situation was deteriorating?
“Why did we have to shake you out of your slumber on November 11? What did you do from November 1 till November 11? Why did you wait 18 days (till November 18) to take a decision. Do you know how many lives were lost during this period? Can you explain it to those who lost their near and dear ones,” the bench asked.
It also noted that Delhi government statements, with regard to the rising COVID cases, to the press appear to be contrary to the submissions made in court.
The bench said that while Delhi government ministers were giving press statements to the effect that third wave of COVID infections has reached its peak and the numbers are going down, the same “is not reflected” in the daily figures and the status report before the court.
“We can take judicial note of the statements your ministers are making,” the bench told senior advocate Sandeep Sethi and Delhi government additional standing counsel Satyakam, who were representing the AAP government.
The bench also noted during the hearing that the crematoriums are “overflowing” and the “funeral pyres are burning throughout the night” and asked the Delhi government whether adequate arrangements are in place to cremate or bury the rising number of people succumbing to COVID-19.
It said that Delhi government ought to reduce its reliance on the Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) and focus on increasing tests by the more accurate RTPCR method as more and more asymptomatic persons are testing positive and the number of COVID-19 cases are spiralling in the city. “Delhi government should have been alive to the fact that RAT is not effective,” it said.
RT/PCR, short for Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction, is a laboratory technique widely used in the diagnosis of genetic diseases and to measure gene expression in research.
The bench directed the Delhi government to file a status report, before the next date of hearing on November 26, indicating the funeral/burial arrangements, increase of ICU beds in its hospitals by an additional number of 663 and number of care homes for accommodating those who cannot home quarantine themselves.
On implementation of social distancing norms, prevention of spitting and wearing of masks, the court was not satisfied with the monitoring being done by the Delhi government in some districts where COVID-19 numbers were high.
The bench also said the fines being imposed — Rs 500 for first violation and Rs 1,000 for every subsequent violation — did not appear to be a deterrent.
It said there appeared to be substantial disparity in monitoring and imposition of fines in certain districts as compared to others.
“What kind of monitoring and marshalling are you doing? Look at the situation seriously with a magnifying glass. You have crossed cities like New York and Sao Paolo,” the court said.
The high court was hearing a PIL by advocate Rakesh Malhotra seeking increase in the COVID-19 testing numbers in the national capital and getting speedy results.
The court on November 11 had pulled up the Delhi government for relaxing norms for public movement and gatherings even as COVID-19 cases were increasing with no household “left untouched”, and sought to know if it had any policy or strategy in place to deal with the “alarming” situation.
It had directed the Delhi government to file a status report explaining steps taken by it in the last two weeks, when the COVID-19 cases have risen alarmingly, to contain the spread of the infection.
In its latest status report filed on Wednesday, the Delhi government has said that it was not allowing all the activities, like reopening of schools, higher educational institutions and swimming pools, that have been permitted by the Central government.
It also told the court that it banned bursting of firecrackers during diwali with the view to prevent increase in air pollution and crowding of people and also prohibited celebration of Chhath Puja in public places, open grounds, river banks and temples.
The Delhi government also told the court that it has approached the Centre seeking its sanction for closing certain markets in the city during certain days or hours of a week.
It told the court that it was alive to the situation and was making every effort to arrest the spread of COVID-19.
However, the bench said that whatever the Delhi government was doing was not enough in the prevailing situation. (PTI)
HC raps Delhi Govt on COVID situation
Man dies after electric pole falls on him
Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Nov 19: A man was killed after an electric pole he was erecting fell upon him in Sangaldhan area, here today.
As per police sources, a man identified as Wali Mohammad, son of Mehmood, a resident of Thatharka Tehsil Gool was erecting electric pole in Movalkote area of Sangaldan when the pole fell on him, resulting his on the spot death.
The deceased was engaged by Pisceesia Savoronics Joint Venture M/s Infra Associates Ramban for lying of electric wires by erecting the electric poles in Sangaldhan area.
However on getting information, relatives of the deceased and local people assembled at Sangaldhan and held protest. They demanded compensation for the bereaved family.
After getting information, SDPO Gool rushed to the spot and assured of all possible help.
On the assurance, the protestors dispersed.
After completing medical and legal formalities, the body of the deceased was handed over to family members for last rites.
Later, a case under FIR Number 74/2020 under Section 304-A IPC was registered against the aforesaid company at Police Station Gool and investigation started.
Use of earphones for working online causing infections:Experts
MUMBAI, Nov 19:
With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing professionals to work from home and students to attend classes online using earphones, doctors are now getting more patients with complaints of pain, irritation and infection in the ears.
According to medical experts, use of headphones and earpods for long hours in the last seven to eight months has increased such complaints.
“All these complaints are directly linked to extensive use of headphones at higher volume,” Dr Shrinivas Chavan, head of the ENT department at the government-run J J Hospital in Mumbai, told PTI.
Every day, five to 10 people are turning up at the J J Hospital’s Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department with such complaints, he said.
“Most of them are working for more than eight hours wearing headphones. This is putting a lot of stress on their ears and unsterilised earpods or ear-plugs could spread infection. Continuous listening at higher sound volume for long hours is weakening the listening ability also,” he said.
If people do not change their habits, they could face “permanent damage” to their ears, Dr Chavan warned.
He said the wax inside the ear kills the bacteria naturally and prevents infection.
Use of cotton buds to clean ears removes this protective wax covering and exposes the inner part of the ear to bacterial infections. This generally leads to earaches, he said.
Asked how such infections could be avoided, he said, “We have been advising people to remove earphones from time- to-time. Fresh air should go inside the ears to keep them safe.”
Dr Rahul Kulkarni, head of the ENT unit at St George Hospital here, said ear problems are not just related to working professionals, but school children who have to attend online classes are also having such complaints.
“Ideally, school children should not be using headphones at all. If they are attending classes on laptop or personal computers, then the device volume is sufficient,” he said.
“Once schools resume, I fear there will be a significant number of students complaining about hearing difficulties,” he said.
Dr Kulkarni said people are unaware of the etiquettes of how to converse on phone calls, conference calls and video-conferences and use loud sound volume on headphones.
“If school-going students are using headphones at the sound of more than 60 decibels, it will naturally put a strain on their hearing power,” he said.
He said attention should be paid to what sound volume children are using while attending their classes. If they are listening to lectures at a higher volume on headphones, then it could lead to complications.
“Even adults are coming up with complaints of irritation in the ears. The exposure to loud sound for a longer period makes people anxious and short-tempered. Such complaints are also being seen nowadays,” he said. (PTI)
Director Agriculture conducts extensive tour of Samba
Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Nov 19: Director Agriculture Production & Farmer Welfare, Jammu, Inder Jeet along with team of officer conducted an extensive tour of Samba district to inspect the progress of various Farmer Welfare Schemes and field activities being under taken by Department of Agriculture.
He interacted with 30 mushroom growers in a single village, Nud and inspected some Mushroom Production Units where he instructed the staff for organizing the mushroom growers in to Farmers Producer Organization (FPO) that will ultimately help in scaling up the level of production and better marketing by Product Branding, Value Addition and Better Market Linkages.
Director appreciated the efforts of the young entrepreneur, Puspinder Singh of Kartholi (Samba) who has established mushroom production unit of more than 5000 bags capacity and has earned the profit of about Rs. 5.5 Lakh from the sale of Button Mushroom last year.
At Kolpur, Director interacted with a group of vegetable growers under Intensive Vegetable Development programme. He urged the farmers to diversify their farming through activities like Apiculture, Mushroom, Seed Production, production of high value vegetables under protected and controlled conditions to get round the year production for high returns. He further advised them to shift organic farming.
Earlier, Inder Jeet, while interacting with the Self Help Group (SHG) of 30 women farmers engaged in the cultivation of organic vegetables, turmeric and oil-seed at village Dhurie, assured them of all possible help by the department. Director was appraised that some farmers in same village have been motivated and identified for Aleovera cultivation, for which director instructed the officers to work on providing proper marketing avenues to the farmers.
At village Tanda, Director was shown cluster of organically grown vegetables and other food crops. Some farmers raised the issue of damage to crops and vegetable nurseries by Industrial / pesticide pollution which is harmful for environment and human health as well. Director assured the farmers to depute the team of experts from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) soon for detailed studyof the problem and suggesting the remedial measures there off.
The team of officer including Chief Agriculture Officer Samba, Sanjay Verma, SDAO, Samba, Varinder Dogra, SMS- SDL, R. K. Mathu, SMS-DL, Sanjay Raina, MDA, Avatar Singh, AEOS and AEAs accompanied the Director during the visit.
Indian players will feel extra pressure without Kohli in Tests: Ponting
SYDNEY, Nov 19: India will “not be clear in their own mind” about their batting order after the departure of talismanic captain Virat Kohli at the end of first Test Down Under, feels Australian great Ricky Ponting.
The 32-year-old Kohli has been granted paternity leave by the BCCI to be with his wife for the birth of their first child.
“India will feel that without Kohli there (for three Tests), for his batting and leadership, that’ll put all sorts of pressure on different players,” Ponting was quoted as saying by cricket.Com.Au.
“You’d think (Ajinkya) Rahane will take over the captaincy, which will put extra pressure on him, and they’ve got to find someone to bat at that really important No.4 spot.
“I don’t think they’ll be clear in their own mind, even now, what their batting order will look like for the first Test. Who’s going to open, who’ll bat at four when Kohli goes?” Ponting added.
The Indian bowling attack will comprise Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami in lead roles. The tourists will call on Ishant Sharma if he recovers from the side injury sustained at the IPL while Umesh Yadav and Navdeep Saini are also part of India’s Test squad.
With so many options, Ponting feels India will have to answer more questions than the hosts.
“The questions that are being asked around Australia with Pucovski and Green, I think India have got a few more questions to answer.
“Shami, Jasprit Bumrah – will it be Ishant, will it be Umesh Yadav, will it be a young guy like Saini or Siraj?
“They’ve got a lot of questions to ask as well. And which spinner? They’ve got a few spinners in their squad and they’ve got to figure out which one to pick for the pink-ball game in Adelaide,” Ponting said.
India made history by winning their first Test series on Australian soil in the 2018-19 series. However, the hosts were then without their star batsmen David Warner and Steve Smith, who were were serving bans for their involvement in the 2018 ball-tampering incident.
“The one thing we haven’t spoken enough about is yes India were really good here last time, but with those guys (Smith and Warner) missing at the top of the order, that leaves a big gap in any team,” Ponting said.
The-45-year-old backed incumbent opener Joe Burns to start ahead of the young Will Pucovski.
“Burns hasn’t done much wrong. If you go back to last summer, he played really well in the first Test in Brisbane and I remember saying then to lock him in and give him a good go at it for a while.
“We read a lot into what’s happened in the first few rounds of Shield cricket, and because they haven’t played a Test match for so long, a lot people are forgetting what happened last summer.”
Pucovski is coming off back-to-back double hundreds in the Sheffield Shield and is in sensational form. His inclusion has set up a competition with Burns, who is feeling the heat after a disastrous start to the first-class summer.
“But I think that’s where this one becomes a unique one; Burns is about 30, and you’ve got a young guy who seems to be at the peak of his powers, who’s been touted as a very good player for Australia and has been for a few years.
“That’s where the decision is going to be a really tough one for them.”
Head coach Justin Langer and and skipper Tim Paine both have hinted at persisting with the experienced Burns at the top.
“I’m just reading the tea leaves a little bit, even with what Justin had to say about the relationship between Burns and Warner, my gut feeling is they won’t go to Pucovski just yet.
“But it’ll only be a few slip ups from a few players and we know who the next cab off the rank is going to be. (Opening) is just another string to (Pucovski’s) bow,” Ponting added. (PTI)
MIET School of Management organizes lecture on ‘Leadership’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 19: MIET School of Management organized an online distinguished guest lecture on ‘Leadership’.
Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director IIM Indore was the distinguished resource person and he interacted with MBA students on ‘Leadership’ and focused on the concept that ‘one should realize his/her destiny’ and the factors that stop one from achieving one’s goal.
He talked about certain fears like fear of money and said it is merely an instrument but more important is what you want to do with that money.
The second fear which he talked about was the fear of failure. He motivated the students by saying that failure occurs when one stops trying and failure is the foundation on which the stairs of success are build.
The third fear which he emphasized was the fear of success.
Prof. Rai said that one should not live up to the expectations of others.
“Live your life on your own expectations and feel pride in coming up to your expectations,” he maintained.
The next fear which he discussed was the negative thinking. He advised that one may listen to the views of all and do what is analytically good for one.
He concluded the session by saying ‘Don’t worry too much about good or bad, focus on the difference between right and wrong.
He said, past may belong to those leaders who did things well but future will belong to those leaders who not only do things well but also do the right things.
The session was highly motivating and encouraging which was attended by all MBA Faculty including the HoD. Many interesting questions from the students were answered to their full satisfaction.
Earlier, Prof Ankur Gupta, Director MIET, welcomed the guest speaker.
The proceedings of session were coordinated by Dr Ankita Nanda, Associate Professor and finally the formal vote of thanks was presented by Professor B.C Sharma, Dean Placement MIET.
NCC cadets of GCW interact with Defence Minister
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 19: Eight cadets of 2 J&K Girls Battalion 2 Naval Cadets of GCW Gandhi Nagar virtually interacted with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the inaugural function of month long activities of ‘Constitution Day Youth Club Activities’ on the theme ‘Ekta Hamari Pehchan’ at NCC Directorate Office, JK&L Directorate, Canal Road, here.
Along with senior officers of JK&L Directorate, Captain Shivani Sharma from GCW Gandhi Nagar attended the virtual interaction with the Defence Minister.
Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister emphasised the cadets to follow the path of righteousness and dutifulness and always be a guiding light for others.
Defence Secretary at length praised the contribution of NCC cadets from all over India in nation building process and addressed them ‘A 2nd Line of Defence’.
The objective of the activities is to enhance knowledge and information of Indian Constitution across the masses by mobilizing youth in various organisations i.e. NCC, NSS, NYKS, Hindustan Scouts and Guides and Red Cross.
Prof (Dr) Sangita Nagari, Principal of the College motivated the cadets to work wholeheartedly.
Gayle, Malinga pull out of LPL; Bopara too withdraws
COLOMBO, Nov 19: Chris Gayle and Lasith Malinga, two of T20 cricket’s biggest draws, have pulled out of the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL) along with England pacer Liam Plunkett, dealing a huge blow to the tournament even before its take-off.
While Gayle and Plunkett’s withdrawals were confirmed by their franchise Kandy Tuskers, Malinga pulled out citing “inadequate preparation time”, according to a report in ESPNcricinfo.
“We are sad to announce that Chris Gayle will not be playing for us in this year’s @LPLT20,” Tuskers tweeted without specifying the reasons for the West Indian’s decision.
This was followed by another tweet, “We are also sad to announce that Liam Plunkett will also not be playing in this year’s @LPLT20.”
The 41-year-old swashbuckling Jamaican holds the record for hitting the most number of sixes in the T20 format. He was recently seen in the IPL, turning up for Kings XI Punjab.
Malinga, Sri Lanka’s T20 skipper, who was supposed to lead the Galle Gladiators, said he didn’t have any training since March and it would be tough for him to play a high-level tournament without any practice.
“Since the West Indies series early this year, I haven’t had any cricket, and there hasn’t been any training for me at all,” Malinga, who had opted out of the recently-concluded IPL in the UAE citing personal reasons, told ESPNcricinfo.
“When the draft happened last month, I thought there would be about three weeks of training before the LPL, but there has been nothing. They are only having us come to Hambantota this week, and even there they are asking us to do three days of quarantine.
“It’s not easy for a bowler to play at a high level without training. At the LPL they also have matches on back-to-back days. So I decided not to play the tournament.”
The latest developments from the LPL come a day after former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed’s pullout from the franchise-based T20 tournament that is facing a host of issues including player payments and contracts.
Sarfraz was to captain the Galle Gladiators franchise.
Gayle and Plunkett were set to join former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, local icon Kusal Perera, Sri Lankan T20 specialists Kusal Mendis and Nuwan Pradeep among others in the team.
England batsman Ravi Bopara, who was drafted into the Jaffna Stallions franchise, too has pulled out. He has confirmed to the franchise that he will not play.
Meanwhile, Colombo Kings franchise has roped in former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs as coach, replacing Kabir Ali, who had tested positive for COVID-19 this week. Gibbs will have Rangana Herath as an assistant coach.
The LPL is scheduled to start on November 26 with a clash between Colombo Kings and Kandy Tuskers in Hambantota, with the final slated for December 16.
Five teams — Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna — will compete for the top prize in the tournament.
The Kandy franchise is owned by Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s brother Sohail and will be coached by former Sri Lanka batsman Hashan Tillakaratne. (PTI)
Boy dies as gun goes off
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Nov 19: A minor boy was killed in an accidental gun fire in Taryath area of district Rajouri today.
The deceased has been identified as 9-year-old, Sachin Kumar, son of Ganesh Dass, resident of village Balwal Harichumma near Taryath, under Dharamsal police jurisdiction. The mishap took place when 8-year-old Vicky, son of VDC member- Ajeet Kumar of the same village was fiddling with his father’s loaded gun. His friend- Sachin was also standing nearby. Suddenly, the gun sent off and Sachin got serious injuries. He was rushed to Taryath hospital where he was declared as dead. The police seized the gun and registered a case in this connection.
JTC, SKF dharna enters 49th day, Cong asks Govt to settle demands
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 19: The dharna launched by Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC) and Soan Kashmir Front (SKF) at Jagti township in support of the demands of the displaced people from Kashmir Valley entered the 49th day today.
The protestors continued shouting slogans in support of their demands and failure of the Government in settling them. They said that Government was doing a step motherly treatment with the displaced people from the Valley and in last 32 years it has failed to evolve a concrete policy for their safe and dignified rehabilitation in accordance with the geo-political aspirations of the community in Kashmir.
The protestors warned that in case the Government failed to settle the demands immediately the JTC and SKF will be constrained to intensify the struggle.
The JTC and SKF president, Shadi Lal Pandita while addressing the protestors reiterated the demands regarding enhancement of monthly relief to Rs 25,000, job package of 20,000 with 5000 jobs of class fourth for those KPs youth who could not continue their education beyond 10th class due to poverty.
Meanwhile, Congress Migrant Cell chairman and its general secretary, Hira Lal Pandita and Chuni Lal Kandi have taken the Government to task for maintaining the studied silence over the demands of the displaced people from Valley who are on dharna for over last one and half month at Jagti.
The duo in an appeal to Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha urged him to look into the genuine demands of the displaced people and settle them on priority basis.
They said it is unfortunate that a community of over five lakh people were forced to leave the Valley and they are leading an exiled life for over last 30 years with Government not taking any initiative in settling their issue. They said that Government should frame a concrete policy on their rehabilitation as how long a peace loving community which has made a tremendous contribution to Indian aesthetics will remain homeless is a serious question to ponder.