Judge suspended for‘‘offensively staring’’ at female staff
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has suspended a sessions court judge on charges of sexually harassing a female staff worker. M T Gaikwad, presiding over a special Narcotics Drugs and Psychotrophic Substances Act (NDPS) Court in South Mumbai, was suspended last week after a preliminary inquiry found substance in the complaint by the staff member about his “inappropriate behaviour”. “The judge was suspended on August 14 after holding a preliminary inquiry,” Shalini Joshi, Registrar General of the Bombay High Court, said. The complainant had alleged that the judge used to stare at her quite often in an offensive manner. During the preliminary inquiry, the allegation made by the complainant was corroborated by other employees, high court sources said. The complaint was filed against the judge early this month. The preliminary inquiry was conducted by another special judge S D Tulankar, who presides over a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA) court. According to the procedure, a judge under suspension faces a departmental inquiry either by a senior sessions court judge or a judge of the high court as decided by its Chief Justice. (PTI)
Teen stabbed to death for objecting harassment of sister
Indore: A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death allegedly by three persons after he objected to their attempts to harass his sister, police said on Wednesday. Himanshu alias Shanu Manwat, who resided in the Srikrishna Colony here, was stabbed with knives by the three men, who were his neighbours, outside his house last night, Chandan Nagar police station in-charge Vinod Dixit said. Shanu was rushed to a private hospital where he succumbed to his injuries late last night, Dixit said. The three accused, Om Chauhan (45), Mahendra (20) and Raja (25), and some other persons in their families used to harass RPT harass Shanu’s elder sister because of which the victim had a dispute with them, he said. The three were subsequently arrested and booked under sections 302 (murder) and 34 (criminal acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, he added. (PTI)
Bhadana quits Cong, attacks Hooda and Sonia
New Delhi: The ruling Congress on Wednesday saw yet another desertion in poll-bound Haryana with former MP Avtar Singh Bhadana quitting the party for Indian National Lok Dal while attacking Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the central leadership. The four-time MP, who wields influence in the Gujjar community, said Congress President Sonia Gandhi failed to take action against the Haryana Chief Minister despite being given “all kinds of proofs”. “We had given everything in writing to Sonia Gandhi, and she agreed to what we said. But I really don’t understand as to why Soniaji has not take action against him,” Bhadana told reporters here. He alleged that Hooda was “blackmailing” the Congress president and raised the issue of controversial land dealings of her son-in-law Robert Vadra. He said that Hooda created a situation which led to many leaders quitting the party. “There is no respect for senior leaders like us. Hooda created a situation for everyone. We all put forth our problems before Soniaji. (Rao) Inderjit (Singh), Birendra Singh left the party. “Hooda wielded influence on those who are close to Rahul and Soniaji. We thought the party would take care of this, but they decided not to take any action against the Chief Minister,” Bhadana said. He alleged that Hooda was behind the clashes in the Sikh community over the HSPGC issue, riots in Mewat and indulged in Jat and non-Jat politics. “It’s not the same Congress in which I worked for so long. Hooda has broken all records. I have submitted a letter against Hooda and his ministers to (Narendra) Modi.” “Hooda fought the Lok Sabha election with BJP and will contest assembly election together. The fight for the assembly election will be between INLD and BJP,” he said. Many senior state leaders have quit Congress to join the BJP and INLD ahead of assembly election while attacking Hooda’s style of functioning.(PTI)
BSF jawan found dead in Meerut
Meerut: A 35-year-old BSF jawan was found dead under Daurala police station area here, police said on wednesday. Satyendra, a resident of Bilsari village in Bulandshahr and posted in Kasganj, Bihar in the 134 Battalion, was found strangulated on Monday evening, they said. The deacesed’s wife Reena, tried to cremate Satyendra’s body on Tuesday without informing her in-laws, police said, adding her plan, was however, foiled as police reached the spot on time and sent the body for post-mortem. According to Daurala police, the post-mortem report has confirmed that Satyendra was murdered. The victim’s father had lodged an FIR against Reena, and brother-in-law, Rohit, who are absconding, police said. The jawan’s family members have alleged that his wife had an extra-marital affair because of which she plotted along with her brother to kill Satyendra, they said. (PTI)
Will try to get Civil Defence subject in school textbooks: HM
New Delhi: The Home Ministry will take the initiative to introduce civil defence as a subject in school textbooks and curriculum to inculcate knowledge of this important life-saving skill in young minds. Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said he would write to the Human Resource Development ministry to include the civil defence course in the curriculum. “It is important that children have the required set of skills in this area,” Singh said as he formally sanctioned a new Rs 290.89 crore scheme for civil defence works. The Minister, while speaking at an event of the central government’s Civil Defence, Home Guards and Fire Services department said, he would also take it up with the Finance Ministry to increase the funds for these units setup at all levels including in the states. The scheme, unveiled by Singh, is called ‘Mainstreaming Civil Defence in Disaster Risk Reduction’ and it will be implemented in 32 states and Union Territories during the 12th Five Year plan. Describing the Civil Defence and Home Guard personnel as those who evoke “confidence” amongst the citizens, the Minister said it was necessary to strengthen and make effective this department as he observed that these vital departments were not getting their due and the required respect in the public domain. Singh recalled his younger days to say that Civil Defence volunteers used to be an essential feature before, during and in the aftermath of a disaster or any man-made or natural challenge. (PTI)