Properties worth over Rs 13.43 crore attached in Srinagar during anti-drug campaign

New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) The Supreme Court is set to hear on Thursday a clutch of petitions challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.

As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi will resume hearing the matter on October 16.

In the previous hearing, the Justice Kant-led Bench requested the Bihar State Legal Services Authority (BSLSA) to communicate with the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) to ensure the availability of paralegal volunteers and legal aid lawyers who can assist the persons omitted from the voters’ list in filing appeals.

“The DLSAs must publicise contact details of these volunteers across villages, coordinate with Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and ensure that all eligible citizens are informed of their rights,” the apex court ordered, asking BSLSA to file a status report within a week.

In that hearing, the ECI refuted the allegations that a large number of names were deleted from the final voter list following the SIR of the electoral rolls in Bihar.

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the ECI, countered that the affidavits relied upon by advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing on behalf of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), were incorrect.

Dwivedi told the apex court that several individuals claimed to have been “deleted” were never part of the draft list because they had not submitted their enumeration forms.

The ECI stated that a “false” affidavit had been filed, which amounts to perjury, and clarified that the individual in question had never appeared in the draft list, adding that the person had failed to submit the necessary enumeration form, leading to their exclusion from the final list. At this, the Justice Kant-led Bench expressed displeasure with Bhushan for submitting the affidavit without proper verification.

“The person should have disclosed the correct information; we do not appreciate this,” the apex court remarked.

Bhushan attempted to defend his position, stating that there were affidavits from 20 other individuals in a similar situation, and that it was not possible to verify their authenticity. However, the apex court said, “After our experience with this affidavit, we don’t know how authentic the others will be!”

It added that it was ADR’s responsibility to ensure the veracity of such affidavits before they were handed over to the top court.

Meanwhile, the ECI has announced that the Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases, on November 6 and 11, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 14.

Addressing a press conference recently, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar described the upcoming Bihar polls as the “mother of all elections”, highlighting the extensive preparations made to ensure peaceful and transparent voting.

“We want to assure the voters of Bihar that the elections will not only be smooth and fair but also the most peaceful ever, with a special focus on law and order,” said the CEC, joined by fellow Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

–IANS

pds/dpb

Chennai, June 14 (IANS) After a 61-day annual fishing ban aimed at conserving marine resources and ensuring the breeding of fish species, thousands of mechanised fishing boat operators along the Tamil Nadu coast are preparing to resume deep-sea fishing from Sunday night.

The Union government had imposed the seasonal fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal from April 15 to June 14 along the eastern coastline, covering Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The annual restriction is intended to protect fish stocks during their peak breeding season and promote the long-term sustainability of marine resources. During the ban period, mechanised fishing boats were prohibited from venturing into the sea.

Fishermen utilised the two-month break to carry out maintenance work on their vessels, repair engines, overhaul fishing equipment, and mend nets in preparation for the new fishing season.

With the ban set to end at midnight on June 14, fishing harbours across Tamil Nadu are witnessing heightened activity as fishermen make final arrangements before setting sail. Harbour authorities and fisheries officials have also completed necessary preparations to facilitate the resumption of operations.

More than one lakh fishermen operating over 15,000 mechanised boats are expected to venture into the sea from various coastal districts and fishing centres across the state. These include Chennai’s Kasimedu fishing harbour, as well as coastal regions in Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Puducherry, Karaikal, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari.

The return of mechanised fishing vessels is expected to boost fish landings in the coming days, bringing relief to fishermen and allied sectors that depend on marine catches for their livelihood.

Fish traders, auctioneers, transporters and workers engaged in seafood processing are also anticipating increased business activity following the lifting of the ban.

Fishing communities along the coast are hopeful for a productive season, particularly after the enforced break that allows fish populations to replenish.

Fisheries experts have long maintained that the annual fishing ban plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and ensuring sustainable fish production in the Bay of Bengal.

As the countdown to the end of the ban begins, fishing harbours across Tamil Nadu are gearing up for the return of thousands of boats to the sea, marking the start of a new fishing season.

–IANS

aal/dpb

Mumbai, Oct 25 (IANS) Reacting to Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad’s statement on the suicide of a woman doctor in Maharashtra after being repeatedly raped by a police officer and being intimidated by an MP in the state, BJP MLA Ram Kadam on Saturday accused Congress leaders of “continuously indulging in cheap politics” over sensitive issues. He asserted that Maharashtra remains completely safe under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and assured strict action against those found guilty.

This came after Varsha Gaikwad had termed the incident a “deeply concerning situation.” She said, “I have seen the incident that occurred in Maharashtra, and the way the female doctor mentioned the police officer’s name in her suicide note raises serious questions. This is a deeply concerning situation, as it points to grave lapses in law enforcement. When protectors themselves become a threat, whom can citizens rely on for safety?”

Speaking to IANS, BJP leader Ram Kadam said, “Whatever incident has occurred, the police are thoroughly investigating it to determine the factors behind it. After a technical examination and detailed enquiry, all the facts will come to light.”

He further said, “Congress leaders have continuously done cheap politics on such matters. This is the same Congress under whose rule gelatin sticks were found outside the homes of industrialists. It was the same Congress government involved in Rs 100-crore extortion cases, and during whose tenure atrocities were committed against the people. Varsha Gaikwad should not forget this. Maharashtra is completely safe under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis. Strict action will be taken against the culprits.”

Meanwhile, police in Maharashtra’s Satara district arrested one accused on Saturday in connection with the death of the female doctor who allegedly committed suicide after being repeatedly raped by a police officer and being pressurised by an MP to falsify medical reports of accused in cases.

According to officials, the arrested person has been identified as Prashant Bankar, the son of the doctor’s landlord whose name was mentioned in her four-page suicide note.

The deceased doctor, a native of Beed district, was posted as a medical officer at a government hospital in Phaltan, Satara. On Thursday night, she was found hanging in a hotel room under mysterious circumstances. Shockingly, she had written a suicide note on her palm, naming Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane and Prashant Bankar, accusing the police officer of rape and Prashant of mental harassment.

After Prashant’s arrest, police said he will be produced before the court and his custody will be sought for further investigation. Meanwhile, Sub-Inspector Badane has been suspended, and a detailed enquiry is underway. Both accused have been booked at the Phaltan Police Station. Satara SP Tushar Doshi confirmed that the rape allegations and Prashant’s role are being thoroughly investigated.

The female doctor who allegedly committed suicide left behind a detailed four-page suicide note apart from the inked note on the palm of her hand, stating that a police officer raped her four times and exerted pressure on her to issue fake fitness certificates for accused persons in police cases. It has now emerged in her note that she was allegedly under pressure not only from police officials but also from a Member of Parliament (MP) and his personal assistants.

She had complained 21 times to various authorities, but no action was taken against her tormentors.

Recounting a particular instance in her note, the doctor said she had refused to issue a certificate and two personal assistants of an MP had come to the hospital and made her speak to him over the phone. She stated in her note that during that conversation, the MP had threatened her indirectly.

Her cousin also made similar allegations about the doctor being made to falsify medical certificates.

–IANS

jk/rad