Friday, June 25, 1999
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HC for action against ex-CMs
‘society’ MUMBAI, June 24 — The Mumbai High Court today directed the Maharashtra Government to take corrective steps within six weeks over alleged irregularities by way of sale, lease or sub-letting of flats in Worli Sagar Cooperative Society which has four former Chief Ministers, MLAs, MLCs and MPs as its members. Karan sets up Vijay Trust NEW DELHI, June 24 — To help next of kin of Kargil martyrs and those injured in Operation Vijay, Dr Karan Singh, Rajya Sabha MP, has set up a trust with a corpus contribution of Rs 10 lakh. |
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 An Army column marches past a bus (visible in the background) carrying mediapersons to Dras. — A Tribune photograph
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NHRC tells UP to pay 16 lakh
relief Jethmalani defends letter to
President Hope after 53 years Retired couple murdered Arundhati decides to ‘give
back’ "Kill, not capture,
intruders" Shabana named goodwill envoy BJP ‘to go whole hog’ to
form govt |
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HC for action against ex-CMs ‘society’ MUMBAI, June 24 (PTI) — The Mumbai High Court today directed the Maharashtra Government to take corrective steps within six weeks over alleged irregularities by way of sale, lease or sub-letting of flats in Worli Sagar Cooperative Society which has four former Chief Ministers, MLAs, MLCs and MPs as its members. Chief Justice Mr Y.K. Sabharhwal and Mr Justice S.H. Kapadia, noted that the government had assured to conduct an inquiry last year but nothing had been done so far. The judges warned that if the government failed to take action within six weeks from now, the court would step in to book the guilty. The ruling was delivered on a petition filed by Dinanath Gajanan Kamat, former MLA, alleging that the government had lost Rs 120 crore as revenue due to irregularities committed by members of the society located at Worli in Central Mumbai. Srimantrao Kapse, counsel for the petitioner, submitted that in this case the law makers were themselves law breakers and hence it was not expected that the government take action against the defaulters. He demanded that the CBI be directed to probe the irregularities. He alleged that most of the society members had falsely affirmed in their affidavits before the Mumbai collector that they did not possess any flat having an area of 600 square feet or more in the city limits. The petitioner furnished a list of members which include former Chief Ministers Manohar Joshi, Shivajirao Patil-Nilangekar, Babasaheb Bhosale and Sudhakarrao Naik who already owned flats in the city limits. On January 12 last year, the then Mumbai collector Vijay Kumar Gautam filed an affidavit in the court saying his office had surveyed all the six buildings located in Worli Sagar society on November 11, 1997. He also said a report on alleged irregularities had been forwarded to the government. The report mentioned that three flats had been sold and transferred in the names of other persons in breach of allotment rules. Besides, 29 flats were found to be occupied by persons other than members on leave and licence basis. Fortyone flats were found to be in possession of persons who claimed that they were either friends, relatives or caretakers of original members. Eighty flats were locked and only 69 others were found to be occupied by members. The petitioner contended that he was denied membership of the society although he was issued a receipt of Rs 251 for membership fees on March 17, 1981, by R.S. Gavai, promoter of the society and former chairman of state legislative council. Besides, he alleged 60 per cent of the 130-odd members had violated conditions laid down by the government on the basis of which the land was allotted at concessional rates. One of the conditions
laid down was that a member could not sell, lease or
sub-let his flat without prior permission of the
government. |
Karan sets up Vijay Trust NEW DELHI, June 24 — To help next of kin of Kargil martyrs and those injured in Operation Vijay, Dr Karan Singh, Rajya Sabha MP, has set up a trust with a corpus contribution of Rs 10 lakh. "The National Vijay Trust has been formed for those brave men who are paying a heavy price in blood and pain to redeem our national honour and integrity", a note said. Apart from Dr Karan Singh and his wife, the trustees include Mr N.N. Vohra, Dr Thakur V. Hari Prasad, Mr Rajendra S. Pawar, Mrs Deep Duggal and Ms Laila Tyabji. LPG dealerships The Government has decided to earmark 500 LPG dealerships for direct allotment to widows and dependants of defence personnel killed in action. This would be outside the normal selection procedure through advertisement or interviews by the dealer selection boards (DSBs), according to an official press note issued here on Thursday. The feature of the special scheme is that the allotment of dealership would be made on the recommendations of the Ministry of Defence by the Petroleum Ministry. Cross LoC: Swamy MADURAI: Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy has said the Indian Army should cross the Line of Control (LoC) and destroy all militant bases in Pakistan. He told reporters here that the government should not hesitate to take an aggressive stand when the international community was supporting it. The Prime Minister, he charged, was not taking a bold decision in resolving the Kargil issue. He also said that he had suggested to the AIADMK not to have any alliance with the Puthia Tamizhagam (PT). Sonia wants answers SINGRAMPUR (MP): Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday asserted that her party had every right to seek an explanation from the BJP-led government at the Centre about lapses that had led to the Pakistani intrusion into the Kargil sector. As an Opposition party,
the Congress had every right to demand an explanation
from the Centre about the reasons that led to the
Pakistani intrusion into Kargil, she said at a public
meeting here while launching the party’s campaign in
Madhya Pradesh for the Lok Sabha. |
Defence attaches updated NEW DELHI, June 24 — As part of the campaign to project the sanctity of the Line of Control and Pakistan’s infiltration into Indian territory, the Ministry of Defence yesterday again invited the Defence Attaches from the diplomatic missions based here to show them the conclusive evidence of presence of Pakistani army regulars in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Sources disclosed that at the briefing which took place yesterday evening, the Army officials passed on brochures, booklets, maps, information regarding the delineation of the Line of Control and also information regarding the Northern Light Infantry of the Pakistani army. The Defence Attaches were also shown the large number of arms, ammunition and other equipment which the Indian forces had recovered from the heights which they had recaptured in Dras, Batalik, Tololing and Kaksar sub sectors of the Kargil region, from the Pakistani infiltrators. According to reports, Defence Attaches from 28 missions based here had attended the briefing which was held at South Block by senior Army officials. The Defence Attaches were apprised of the status of the continuing operations in the Kargil sector. The MoD had carried out similar briefing earlier in the month, a few days after the launching of `Operation Vijay’. Sources said, the briefing of the Defence Attaches was necessary keeping in mind the deliberate fudging of the issue of Line of Control by Pakistan, which was also evident from the use of language by it. The demarcation argument is being believed as an attempt by Pakistan to take a convenient exit route, specially as it had been clearly caught attempting to concretise a deliberate military intrusion. The Defence Attaches were told about the Pakistani plans in the Kargil region, the inception which took place several months ago with the basic idea of internationalising the Kashmir issue. Besides it wanted to gain control over substantial piece of ground across the LoC and enable it to negotiate from a position of strength. The Defence Attaches were given clear documentary evidence of the involvement of Pakistani army regulars in the intrusion, specially through the letters of Pakistani soldiers, written to their family members, copies of invitation cards and newspaper cuttings carried by the Pakistani soldiers, money order receipts and other cash receipts, currency notes, visiting cards and other papers. The Defence Attaches were also given evidence through family identity card, civilian identity card, leave certificates, pay books and Pakistani postal envelopes, which were recovered from the Pakistani army soldiers. Sources in MoD said that this latest briefing of the Defence Attaches was very important as the international opinion on the issue was already with India and providing documentary evidence at this stage would further help India’s cause. Most of the countries were convinced that Pakistan had carried out an armed intrusion into Indian territory and further evidence would only concretise this view point. Incidentally, Pakistan had also attempted a similar briefing on the Kargil issue late last month but had not been successful to convince the Defence Attaches of different missions based there about the Pakistani view point on the issue. The Defence Attaches based in Pakistan are said to have gone away with the impression that it is the Pakistani troops and not the Mujahideen who were fighting the Indian troops in Kargil. Reports here said, the Pakistani Army had arranged a briefing for the Military Attaches of more than 35 countries on May 31 at Army Headquarter where the Director-General of Military Intelligence (DGMI) told them that a number of strategic posts overlooking the crucial Srinagar-Leh highway were captured by the Pakistani Army regulars and soldiers. The DGMI, in the briefing, tried to deliver home the argument that these posts were in fact on the LoC and not on the Indian territory while stressing that the LoC was not clearly demarcated. The briefing, emphasised on two points: that, “while Pakistani troops were in control of these posts and some of them actually been occupied over a period of time were on the LoC and not inside Indian territory”. A ridiculous explanation as regards the presence of the so called Mujahideens in the Kargil area, was also given where it was told that “the Kashmiri fighters were fighting the Indians on their own on the slopes of these high peaks and had got nothing to do with the fight going on between Indian and Pakistani troops atop these mountains”. Reports here said even the briefing carried out on an earlier occasion by the DG, Inter-services Public Relations had not been very convincing. The DG had reportedly said that Pakistan’s army had set up certain posts of strategic importance in Kargil hills. This was again interpreted to mean that Pakistan had crossed the LoC to get an upper hand over India. The diplomats in Pakistan apparently have also not been convinced with the later clarification which the DG Inter-services Public Relations gave pointing out that Pakistan had only built some posts at higher level within its own territory and that the LoC had not been crossed. Sources disclosed that
besides the efforts put in by India to explain the
Pakistan intrusion, the reports sent by the foreign
missions, based in Islamabad, to their respective
countries had led those countries to believe that it was
Pakistan which had violated the LoC and unless it
withdraws its `troops’ and restores status quo ante,
conflict would spread. |
Intruders to be ‘evicted by Sept’ NEW DELHI, June 24 (PTI) — Defence Minister George Fernandes hopes the intrusion in Kargil will be cleared by September-end and has conceded that the intelligence establishment failed to provide any advance warning of the Pakistani infiltration. Stating that 80 per cent of the infiltrators were Pakistani army regulars with mercenaries engaged only as porters and others who provided supplies, Mr Fernandes said: “The fact is there was no intelligence on this (infiltration)”. “I don’t think we were able to penetrate into the sanctum sanctorum and get information...entering the portals of decision-making in Pakistan may have been beyond us,” he added in an interview to Vir Sanghvi for the “Star Talk” programme to be telecast by Star Plus tomorrow. Mr Fernandes said: “We are fighting the Pakistani army. I don’t think we should have two thoughts about that. Our estimate is that 80 per cent (of them) are Pakistani army regulars. The mercenaries are fewer in number because the rest of the 20 per cent are porters and others who provide supplies.” Although the Defence Minister was hopeful that the intrusion in Kargil would be cleared by September-end, he said: “I think it is better not to fix any date.” The minister also said he saw no possibility of the general election being postponed and added that these would be held on time as the problem (of intrusion) would be over in three months, according to a “Star Talk” press note today. Sticking to his controversial stand that there was a distinction between the Pakistani army and the Nawaz Sharif government, Mr Fernandes said “even the sceptics should be convinced after hearing the tape (of the conversation between two top Pakistani army officials)”. However, he added,
“while I still make the distinction as far as
planning and operation are concerned, I think that once
the operation is started, it is the government
ultimately”. |
NHRC tells UP to pay 16 lakh relief NEW DELHI, June 24 (PTI) — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to pay a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to each of the next of kin of the four “innocent” victims of a “fake” police encounter in 1998 and asked state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to file a charge sheet against the guilty. Asking for compliance of its “recommendations” by July 20, the commission in a release here today said “material collected by investigating agencies clearly brought out the fact that the encounter on October 17, 1998 in the Bhadoi police station area was entirely fake. In fact four innocent persons had been brutally killed by the police after taking them out from a hotel in Bhadoi”. The commission, on receipt of a complaint from Panna Lal Yadav, one of the victim’s father, had earlier sought a report from the Superintendent of Police (SP) concerned. “The commission found the report of the SP unconvincing and directed its own investigation team to look into the incident”. The release said, adding “Director-General. NHRC, D. R. Karthikeyan on consideration of the report submitted by the investigation team opined this to be a case of fake encounter”. A magisterial probe is being conducted on the orders of the District Magistrate and the matter had also been entrusted to the state CB, CID and 36 persons, including 34 police officials, have been accused in the case, the release said. One Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), one Inspector and seven Sub-Inspectors are allegedly involved in the case, it said. Besides, finding the
case a “fake encounter”, the NHRC also found
that the “cases of Arms Act registered against the
deceased were found to be false”, the NHRC release
stated. |
Jethmalani defends letter to President NEW DELHI, June 24 (PTI) — Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani today said his note to President K.R.Narayanan questioned the rationale of Election Commission’s recommendation to debar Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray from contesting elections and voting. “The recommendation ten years after commission of the electoral malpractices, and more so eight years after the High Court verdict is meaningless,” Mr Jethmalani told PTI. The Bombay High Court in its 1991 order had found Thackeray guilty of electoral malpractices which was confirmed by the Supreme Court in 1995. In the note to President Narayanan, the Law Minister said “a person against whom the order has been made is at liberty not to ask for stay of operation of the order. In such an event, the order shall take effect against him the moment it is pronounced. “With respect, the Election Commission has committed a grievous error in this regard,” the note said. The EC recommendation pertains to certain electoral malpractices committed by Thackeray and Shiv Sena candidate Yashwant Prabhu in the 1987 Vile Parle assembly byelection where they made inflammatory speeches. The Bombay High Court in 1991 held them guilty of misusing religion during their campaign. While Prabhu was disqualified for six years on the basis of the High Court verdict, the Shiv Sena appealed against the high court verdict in the Supreme Court, which in 1995 held Thackeray guilty. Mr Jethmalani, a noted jurist, said as six years was the maximum punishment prescribed in the statute for the malpractice, the question that now arose was “from what point of time the EC recommendation would be effective”. “Whether it commences from the date of the High Court judgement (in 1991) or the Supreme Court judgement (in 1995),” he added. Asked what were the options before the Law Ministry on this issue, Mr Jethmalani said “we have to prepare the draft of the presidential notification and I felt it was my duty to place my views before the President.” “How the President
views it is his prerogative,” he said, adding
“unless all necessary precautions are taken before
issuing the notification, the matter will unnecessarily
end up in the court.” |
Hope after 53 years NEW DELHI, June 24 (PTI) — For 82-year-old East Pakistan Displaced Person (EPDP) P.R.Datta Gupta, there was finally a ray of hope when Urban Development Minister Jagmohan evinced interest in his problem at his first public hearing here today. Reaching Nirman Bhawan, Headquarters of the Ministry, with great difficulty along with his ailing wife, Mr Gupta told Jagmohan that after migrating to India in 1946 he had been running from pillar to post for a plot of land under the EPDP quota from the government. "Unfortunately, there has been no response to my application for an EPDP refugee plot from the government," said Mr Gupta. A retired section officer in the Department of Power, he was happy that the minister had taken due note of his grievances and passed necessary instructions to his officials. Jagmohan gave a patient hearing to the assembled crowd whose complaints pertained mostly to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Land and Development Office (LDO) and the Slums Department of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The weekly hearings were
planned by the minister soon after he took over the
department to redress public grievances speedily. |
Retired couple murdered NEW DELHI, June 24 — The decomposed bodies of a retired official of UNESCO, John P. Kurian (60) and his wife Pushp Lata (55) were found in their one-bedroom house at Jangpura in South Delhi, this afternoon. The badly swollen corpses bone marks of injuries inflicted with a blunt object, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Mr Sudhir Yadav said. He said that the house was locked from outside and newspapers of June 22, 23 and 24 were lying near the door. The Police Control Room received a call at 1.05 p.m. of a foul smell was emanating from house number I - 10, Jangpura-B in South Delhi. The police broke open the door and recovered the decomposed bodies. The DCP said that Kurian
and his wife may have been murdered on the night of June
22. Kurian had dismissed his servant, Karan Singh
accusing him of theft. At present he works in Faridabad.
The police is trying to contact him. |
Arundhati decides to ‘give back’ NEW DELHI, June 24 (UNI) — Nearly two years after she became rich and famous, Booker prize-winning author Arundhati Roy says it’s time to give back. About 12,000 tribals in 60 villages of the Narmada valley which is going to be submerged in this monsoon are her immediate concern. “I am trying to give back something which I have taken,” she said here last evening, urging conscience-stricken Delhi’ites to raise a public outcry against the big dam, while presenting figures and arguments against the Sardar Sarovar project. Flanked by activists of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), Arundhati, who initially wanted only to share the money she has with the evacuees of the dam project, decided to take the plunge after she went to the valley. Following up her recent
article, The greater common god’ in the Outlook and
the Frontline, against the dam, she said there are no
government figures on how many people have been displaced
by big dams. |
"Kill, not capture, intruders" NAGPUR, June 24 (PTI) — Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today said there was no need for giving the Pakistan-backed infiltrators prisoners of war (PoW) status and those who crossed the Line of Control (LoC) should be killed there itself. "Don't capture the intruders and Pakistan Army regulars. Who had crossed the Line of Control, but kill them", Mr Thackeray suggested in an informal chat with reporters here. To a query whether the military intelligence had failed to take cognisance of the intrusion by the infiltrators, he said "it is a petty issue which should be debated when peace returns to the border". Mr Thackeray expressed
satisfaction over the entire handling of the Kargil issue
by the government. |
Shabana named goodwill envoy NEW DELHI, June 24 (PTI) — Rajya Sabha member and noted actress Shabana Azmi has been appointed the UNFPA’s Goodwill Ambassador for India. Known for her commitment to social causes, Ms Azmi will advocate issues related to population control and development, reproductive health and gender equality besides visiting project sites of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Ms Azmi will also
interact with communities and address population-related
concerns at various fora, a UNFPA release said here
today. |
BJP ‘to go whole
hog’ to form govt NEW DELHI, June 24 — The BJP has said that it will spare no efforts to form a non-Congress government in Haryana. BJP National Vice President K L Sharma told newspersons here today that the party would try to form an alternative government with the help of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), independents and a section of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP). Mr Sharma said the
BJP’s decision to withdraw support from the Bansi
Lal government was right and timely under the present
circumstances. |
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| Meghalaya Budget passed SHILLONG:The Meghalaya Assembly passed by a voice vote the Rs 1472.20 crore Budget for 1999-2000 on the last day of its summer session on Wednesday. The Meghalaya Appropriation No II Bill, 1999, of a like amount was also passed by a voice vote by the House. The Budget could not be cleared earlier as the annual plan outlay of the state was not finalised by the Planning Commission and a vote-on-account for the first three months of the current financial year was passed during the Budget session in April. — PTI Lyngdoh ministry expanded Basu seeks
additional RPF Fake stamps in
circulation CVC launches
website Villages to be
named after martyrs Relief for
undertrial’s death |
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