Court waives sentence, asks youth to serve at Jama Masjid
NEW DELHI: Inspired by scriptures that “forgiveness is the best punishment”, a Delhi court has waived 10-day jail term of a youth for drunken driving and directed him to do social and religious service at the Jama Masjid in the walled city here.”While dealing with petty cases such as the present one, wherever it is felt necessary, the principle contained in almost all the religious scriptures that ‘forgiveness is the best punishment’ should be invoked. Doesn’t each religion teach us forgiveness and compassion?,” Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Virender Bhat said.The court’s remarks came while setting aside the jail term given by a magistrate to walled-city resident Salman, 20, who was convicted for driving in an inebriated state.Salman was caught driving a vehicle under the influence of liquor and the alcohol content in his blood was found to be 227 mg/100 ml against the maximum permissible limit of 30 mg/ 100 ml. He was also fined Rs 3,000 besides the jail term.(PTI)
Court notice to Delhi over right to education
NEW DELHI:The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to the Delhi government on an NGO’s plea seeking framing of rules to provide free and compulsory education to children in the capital under the right to education law.Directing Delhi government’s education secretary to appear before it, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw asked him clarify his stand on the issue.Pulling up the government over its failure to frame rules since 2009, the bench sought a reply by Nov 9, the next date of hearing.The court was hearing the petition of NGO Social Jurist filed through its counsel Ashok Agarwal.The petition said that the government did not seem to be serious about making and notifying rules as required under Section 38 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.(IANS)
Tamil Nadu civic polls ends on peaceful note
CHENNAI:The second and final phase of the local body polls in Tamil Nadu passed off peacefully, barring a few stray incidents. Over 68 per cent of polling was recorded till 3 PM and Tamil Nadu State Election Commission officials said the percentage will go up as the polling comes to its end. Karur witnessed a record 77 per cent polling till 3 PM, followed by Salem and Namakkal registering 75 per cent and Madurai and Erode 73 per cent.The final phase covered over 1.31 crore voters from across 65 municipal corporations, 31 district panchayats, 270 town panchayats, 194 panchayat unions, 50 third grade municipalities and 12,000 village panchayats.Polling was held amid tight security with over 80,000 police personnel manning the polling booths across the state to ensure free and fair polls.Reports said rival factions clashed at a few places. A report from Dharmapuri said two persons, including a 65-year-old man, died after suffering a heart attack while awaiting their turn to cast vote. The first phase of polling was held on October 17 and counting of votes for both phases is scheduled on Friday. (PTI)
Bhatt is being penalised for exposing Modi: Paswan
AHMEDABAD: Sanjiv Bhatt was the one who exposed Narendra Modi for his role in 2002 riots, and that was why he was being victimised, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ramvilas Paswan said here on Wednesday.Paswan met Bhatt at his residence in Memnagar here.”Those who believe in democracy and those who want the rule of law to prevail will be proud of Bhatt,” Paswan said, after a 20-minute meeting with the IPS officer.”He (Bhatt) is the one who has exposed Modi, the real culprit behind the 2002 riots.”Paswan alleged that Bhatt’s arrest was a result of direct orders of Modi, and the aim was to create fear. “It is not the government which is behind Bhatt’s arrest, it is Modi himself,” Paswan said.But, this time the Gujarat Chief Minister had encountered “a real man of calibre and character”, he said.”I was the first minister who had asked the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to dismiss Modi. But he did not do it, and therefore I resigned as minister from Vajpayee government,” Paswan reminded.When somebody is too proud, his destruction is imminent, Paswan said of Modi. (PTI)