New Delhi, Aug 22: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to list a plea seeking review of its order upholding the Enforcement Directorate’s powers related to arrest, attachment of property involved in money laundering, search and seizure under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
“Okay, we will list it,” a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said after the plea was mentioned before it.
It is common experience the world over that money laundering can be a “threat” to the good functioning of a financial system, the apex court had observed on July 27 while upholding the validity of certain provisions of the PMLA. It underlined that this is not an “ordinary offence”.
The Centre has been insisting money laundering is an offence that is committed not only by unscrupulous businessmen but also terror organisations, posing a grave threat to national security.
A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar had said authorities under the 2002 Act are “not police officers as such” and the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) cannot be equated with an FIR under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
The bench had said supply of an ECIR copy in every case to the person concerned is not mandatory and it is enough if the ED, at the time of arrest, discloses the grounds of such an arrest.
The petitioners in the case had raised the issue of the contents of ECIR not being disclosed to the accused.
The court’s judgement came on a clutch of over 200 petitions filed by individuals and other entities questioning various provisions of the PMLA, a law which the opposition has often claimed has been weaponised by the government to harass its political adversaries. (Agencies)
SC agrees to list plea seeking review of PMLA judgment
One dead, three injured in Kathua car accident
JAMMU, Aug 22: One person was killed and three others injured in a road mishap in Kanthal Dhar road in Bani area of J&K’s Kathua district on Monday, police said.
Police said that a car rolled down into gorge on Kanthal Dhar road in Bani Sub division of Kathua district resulting in the death of one person and injuries to three others.
A rescue operation has been launched in the area. (AGENCIES)
Hundreds of farmers reach Delhi to take part in ‘mahapanchayat’
NEW DELHI, Aug 22: Hundreds of farmers from different states started reaching Delhi amid heavy security arrangements to participate in a ‘mahapanchayat’ called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) at Jantar Mantar on Monday.
SKM Leaders claimed at some locations, farmers were being stopped from reaching Jantar Mantar, a claim denied by the Delhi Police.
“The mahapanchayat is a one day-long peaceful event where we will reiterate our demands such as a legal guarantee on MSP and cancellation of Electricity Amendment Bill 2022 among others,” said Abhimanyu Singh Kohar, SKM (non-political) member and organiser of the ‘mahapanchayat’.
He, however, added that the police is yet to give permission for the ‘mahapanchayat’ at Jantar Mantar.
Mr. Kohar said farmers coming from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh were stopped last night and not allowed to reach Jantar Mantar. They were taken to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Rakabganj and Moti Bagh and later released, he said. Kohar said farmers from Punjab, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Haryana have reached Delhi and more are coming to take part in the ‘mahapanchayat’.
He said earlier during the farmers’ movement, the central government had promised to consider all our demands but they did “nothing”.
“So here we are again to discuss and raise our demands and chalk out future strategy of the movement,” Mr. Kohar said.
Heavy traffic jam at Ghazipur border
A massive traffic jam was witnessed at Delhi’s Ghazipur border while vehicular movement remained slow at Singhu border amid traffic curbs put by Delhi Police ahead of the ‘mahapanchayat’ called by farmers’ body at Jantar Mantar on Monday, officials said.
They said that all vehicles entering the capital are being checked and the police personnel are on ‘alert mode’.
Long queue of vehicles was seen at the Ghazipur border as each one was being checked by the police. This is part of the security arrangements made in view of the ‘mahapanchayat’, said a senior police officer.
Movement of vehicles at the Singhu Border also remained slow due to additional pickets deployed there in view of the ‘mahapanchayat’, police said.
“Traffic movement has been slow due placement of additional pickets. We are managing the situation according to the flow of traffic. Personnel have been deployed and arrangements would be made without causing any inconvenience to public,” said another senior police officer.
Security beefed up
Officials said security has been beefed up at Delhi borders, including Singhu and Ghazipur points, ahead of ‘mahapanchayat’.
“In this connection, adequate deployment of local police and outside force has been made in outer district at Tikri border, major intersections, along railway tracks and metro stations to avoid any untoward incident,” a police official said.
In a tweet, the police also asked motorists to avoid Tolstoy Marg, Sansad Marg, Janpath Road, Ashoka Road, Outer Circle Connaught Place, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Pandit Pant Marg due to farmers’ ‘mahapanchayat’.
In November 2020, thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh had camped at border points around Delhi against Centre’s three farm laws, which were repealed a year later. The farmers had suspended their movement in December last year after the Centre assured them to consider their other demands concerning legal guarantee on MSP, withdrawal of cases against them among others. (Agencies)
J&K parties to meet today; discuss issue of ‘inclusion of non-local voters’ in electoral rolls
Srinagar, August 22: The National Conference will hold an “all-party meeting” here on Monday to discuss the issue of “inclusion of non-local voters” in the revised electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir.
Parties like the NC and PDP claimed that the administration had not addressed their main concern on whether ”outsiders” ordinarily residing in J-K would be allowed to enrol as voters and the meeting would discuss the clarification issued by the administration on the matter.
“So the meeting will discuss everything threadbare. Even the clarification will be discussed. It is an all-party meeting and every party will present their point of view,” PDP chief spokesperson Suhail Bukhari had said.
NC president Farooq Abdullah had called the meeting to discuss the issue of the “inclusion of non-local voters” in the electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir after remarks related to the addition of voters in the revised rolls by the UT’s Chief Electoral Officer Hirdesh Kumar raised hackles of the regional parties.
The government on Saturday issued a clarification, saying the reports of a likely addition of over 25 lakh voters after the summary revision of electoral rolls is a “misrepresentation of facts by vested interests”.
The Kashmiri migrants “will continue to be given the option of voting at their place of enrolment or through postal ballot or through specially set up polling stations at Jammu, Udhampur, Delhi, etc,” it said.
“This revision of electoral rolls will cover existing residents of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the increase in numbers will be of voters who have attained the age of 18 years as of October 1, 2022, or earlier,” it said.
Mainstream political parties have alleged that the “inclusion of non-locals was a clear-cut ploy to disenfranchise the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.
However, even after the clarification, the political parties will go ahead with the all-party meeting convened by the NC president at his residence.
“The ‘clarification’ issued by DIPR is a silent endorsement of the statement given by the Chief Election Officer. Doesn’t address our apprehensions about non-locals en masse being given the power to vote. Yet another design to dispossess people of J&K,” PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
The National Conference also said the clarification did not address whether “outsiders” residing on J-K could vote or not.
“There is no clarity on the most important point of voting rights to outsiders ordinarily residing in J-K,” National Conference (NC) state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said.
Dar said the government should make it clear what it meant by ordinarily living persons.
“The problem is that someone has come here and works as a labourer. There is no documentary proof like it is needed in other places that a person has lived for seven or eight years or so and then he becomes eligible to vote there.
“Any such person can come here for two months, deregister himself at his native place and register here to vote, and then return. So, if somebody comes here for two months, will he also be eligible for enrolling himself as a voter here,” the NC state spokesperson said. (Agencies)
All 23 AIIMS to be named after local heroes, monuments, geographical identities
New Delhi: The government has firmed up a proposal to give specific names to all the AIIMS, including that in Delhi, based on regional heroes, freedom fighters, historical events or monuments of the area or their distinct geographical identity.
Majority of the 23 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have submitted a list of names, after the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare sought suggestions from them in this matter, official sources told PTI.
AIIMS, many of which are operational while others being set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), are known by its generic name and distinguished only by their location, an official explained.
“So, the Union health ministry has drafted a proposal to give specific names to all the 23 AIIMS, which include those fully functional, partially operational or under construction,” the source said.
In this regard, suggestions were sought for assigning specific names to different AIIMS, which could be linked to local or regional heroes of prominence, freedom fighters, distinct geographical identity of the area where the institute is located and prominent historical events or monuments of the region,” the source explained.
Majority of these premier health institutes are learnt to have suggested three to four names along with an explanatory note for the names suggested.
Six new AIIMS — Bihar (Patna), Chhattisgarh (Raipur), Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal), Odisha (Bhubaneswar), Rajasthan (Jodhpur) and Uttarakhand (Rishikesh) were approved in Phase 1 of PMSSY and are fully functional.
Out of the 16 AIIMS established between 2015 and 2022, MBBS classes and outpatient department services have been started in 10 institutes, while only MBBS classes have been started in another two. The remaining four institutes are at different stages of development.
J&K is becoming one of the leading regions in every industrial sector: LG
Srinagar: Calling for making J&K fear-free, corruption-free, drug-free, and job-oriented Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday urged people to become part of J&K’s developmental journey.
An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that speaking in the 17th edition of the ‘Awaam Ki Awaaz’ programme, the LG said ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ provides the perfect opportunity to make four big resolutions of making J&K fear-free, corruption-free, drug-free, and job-oriented.
He said that these resolutions entail the participation of the people to fulfill the resolve and build upon the achievements of the last 75 years.
The LG said that in three years, the government had introduced reforms in every sector, which had opened up a plethora of opportunities for growth and development.
“The results are visible as J&K is now moving ahead to be one of the leading regions in sectors like IT, Industries, Tourism, Revenue, Women Entrepreneurship, and Youth Empowerment,” he said.
The LG also expressed gratitude to all the citizens for their immense contribution and wholehearted participation in ‘Har Ghar Tiranga Utsav’.
He shared inspiring stories of citizens who were making a positive impact in the lives of others and playing the role of a change-maker for society.
“The story of Haji Muhammad Shafi Sheikh is truly inspiring. A pioneer in introducing horticulture in Bhaderwah, he encouraged other farmers for converting their land into orchards, and now three villages have been transformed into exotic fruit hub of Jammu division,” the LG said.
Appreciating Syed Jalees Qadri, a young entrepreneur from Srinagar for his endeavor of replacing the use of plastic cups with ‘kulhad’ (earthen cups), he said Jalees was on a mission to promote environmental sustainability and reviving traditional crafts.
“For environmental protection, it is necessary to adopt a sustainable lifestyle and bring about a change in our behaviour.
Now, environment-friendly ‘kulhad’, which has been a part of our tradition for ages, is slowly and steadily replacing plastic cups,” the LG said.
Acknowledging the determined efforts of Srinagar’s Abdul Rahim Bhat to plant a million trees by 2030 in Kashmir, he said that his story was an inspiring tale of the common man’s social responsibility.
“He has planted two lakh trees in Kashmir without the help of any organisation. His spirit to give back to society is commendable,” the LG said. “Our natural resources are limited, and their conservation and protection is essential for our existence. We must take inspiration from Abdul Rahim Bhat and discharge our responsibility towards protecting natural resources from destruction while walking on the path of development.”
Highlighting the role of Self Help Groups as a facilitator of development, he mentioned Reasi resident Anita Devi, who is spearheading a Self Help Group of 1300 women and has transformed several villages in her area.
“She is a living example of ‘Nari Shakti’ who has converted the challenges of remote hilly areas into opportunities,” the LG said.
He also acknowledged the work of Kulgam’s Shahina Akhtar for providing free coaching to the women of her area so that they could become self-dependent.
Referring to a suggestion received from Doda’s Reva Raina related to capacity building and credit facilities for women entrepreneurs, the LG listed various programmes of the government to connect womenfolk with entrepreneurial endeavours and assured her that all the necessary steps would be taken by the administration.
“We have adopted the MTC model- Market Network, Training, and Continuous Support, to create a strong ecosystem of women entrepreneurs in J&K with personalised support,” he said.
The LG said that financial assistance of Rs 1840 crore was also given through various banks to the people to start their employment in the financial year 2021-22.
“Under Tejaswini scheme, 2000 girls were made entrepreneurs in the last financial year, having been provided financial assistance of Rs 102 crore. Skill development training has also been ensured by JKEDI to all the entrepreneurs,” he said.
The LG instructed the JKTPO to integrate the suggestions received from Reva Raina during their upcoming programmes.
On the suggestion of Anita Goel from Inner Wheel Club Jammu on strengthening the relationship between the civil society and administration, he called upon civil society groups to participate in the process of social development and create awareness about public welfare programmes run by the administration.
The LG thanked Poonam Shashtri from Jammu who suggested for conservation and preservation of heritage sites and assured her that the key ideas would be incorporated into the policies.
He exhorted the enlightened citizens to identify ancient heritage sites in their respective areas to intensify the ‘Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’ initiative.
The LG also called upon all the public representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to join this campaign.
He also mentioned some thoughtful observations shared by Uma Sharma from Jammu to promote ‘literary festivals’, ‘book cafes’, and scaling up the pace of digitisation of libraries.
The LG also shared the insights received from Kupwara’s Altaf Hussain Khan and Ganderbal’s Peerzada Vikar Shah about the maintenance and promotion of gardens and landscaping in J&K, besides the promotion and monetisation of floriculture.
Traffic on Srinagar-Jammu NH suspended for 6 hours
Ramban: Vehicular traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained suspended for six hours on Sunday.
Traffic authorities said that for making the carriageway double at Nashri and between Mehar to Cafeteria Morh, Ramban stretch of the highway, vehicular traffic remained suspended for six hours.
They said that the vehicular traffic suspended at 3 am resumed at 9 am.
On Saturday, the vehicular traffic on the highway also remained suspended for seven hours on the recommendations of the authorities for necessary repairs of the road and to make the carriageway double between Cafeteria Morh, Ramban to Mehar stretch of the highway.A manager of the contractor company of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) said that the accumulated debris was removed from the Nashri slide, Cafeteria Morh to Mehar road stretches and a double-lane carriageway was prepared.
However, local commuters said that the Mehar to Cafeteria Morh road stretch was still narrow and two heavy vehicles cannot pass simultaneously on this stretch due to which they remained stuck in traffic jams on Sunday.
Traffic officials at Ramban said that hundreds of light and medium vehicles crossed towards their respective destinations whereas Jammu-bound heavy vehicles were still crossing the Banihal-Ramban stretch towards Jammu.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police Headquarters issued a fresh advisory stating that subject to fair weather and better road conditions, private cars, passenger light, and medium vehicles would be allowed to ply on both sides of the highway while Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) would be allowed to move towards Kashmir after assessing the road and traffic situation on the highway on Monday morning.
The cut-off timings for the Srinagar-bound Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) from Nagrota, Jammu has been fixed for 7 am to 12 pm and from Jakhani Udhampur from 8 am to 1 pm.
The cut-off timings for Jammu-bound LMVs from Qazigund, Kashmir has been fixed as 7 am to 12 pm.
The security forces were advised not to ply their vehicles against the advisory because of the possible traffic congestion due to the narrow carriageway between the Nashri and Banihal sectors of the highway. TCU Udhampur would liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the HMVs on Monday.
Partly cloudy sky with isolated light rain likely in J&K
Jammu, Aug 22: Weather remained mainly dry in J&K during the last 24 hours as the MeT office said on Monday that partly cloudy weather with light rain at isolated places is likely in the Union Territory in the next 24 hours.
“Partly cloudy weather with chances of light rain at isolated places in J&K during the next 24 hours,” MeT officials said.
India adds 9,531 Covid cases
New Delhi, Aug 22: India on Monday logged 9,531 fresh coronavirus infections that pushed its tally to 4,43,48,960, while the number of active cases came down to 97648, according to Union Health ministry data.
The toll due to COVID-19 climbed to 5,27,368 with 26 more fatalities, including 10 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.22 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 98.59 per cent, the ministry said.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 4.15 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 3.59 per cent, the ministry said.
A total of 88.27 crore tests have been conducted so far with 2,29,546 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,37,23,944, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.19 per cent, it said.
So far, 210.02 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country under the nationwide vaccination drive, it added.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4, three crore on June 23 last year and four crore on January 25 this year. (AGENCIES)
Media XI CC delegation calls on President Press of Club Jammu, issues discussed
Jammu, Aug 21: A delegation of Media XI Cricket Club Jammu Sunday met President Press Club of Jammu Sanjeev Pargal and discussed various issues pertaining to the media fraternity in Jammu.
The delegation comprised Media XI Cricket Club Captain Yash Khajuria, Vice-Captain Sunil Bali, Faheem Tak, Ashu Mehra, Sunil Thappa, Imran Mir, Pardeep Singh Bali, Dev Thakur, Sohan Kalpuria, Sachin and Ajay Raina.
During the course of the meeting, team members discussed many burning issues pertaining to the media fraternity in Jammu in general and Media XI Cricket Club Jammu in particular.
The team informed President Press Club of Jammu that some vested interests are hell bent upon maligning the image of Media XI Cricket Club by seeking undue benefits in the name of media fraternity. It was also brought to the notice of Sanjeev Pargal that Media XI Cricket Club is the oldest cricket club of the media fraternity, which comprises senior journalists and photojournalists from different newspapers and news channels.
Speaking on the occasion, senior player of the team, Faheem Tak, flanked by Captain Yash Khajuria and Vice Captain Sunil Bali requested President Press Club of Jammu Sanjeev Pargal to stimulate the sports committee of the press club Jammu and make Media XI Cricket Club its subsidiary.
They also said that playing under the umbrella of Press Club Jammu shall not only provide recognition to the cricket club but will also help in fighting vested interests, who are misusing and exploiting the name of media for the sake of sponsorships.
After giving a patient hearing to the delegation, President Press Club of Jammu Sanjeev Pargal assured all the help from the Press Club of Jammu and said that all the points shall be discussed and necessary action will be taken. He further appreciated the role of Media XI Cricket Club in encouraging sports, despite having a tight working schedule.
“I shall appreciate and acknowledge the determination and sincerity of all the players of Media XI Cricket Club Jammu for keeping the spirit of sports high in the media fraternity despite having busy schedule,” he said and added he shall try to bring Media XI Cricket Club Jammu under the direct management of Press Club of Jammu, which will help Press Club of Jammu to have a professional cricket team of its own.
He further said that once brought under Press Club of Jammu, Media XI Cricket Club Jammu shall represent Press Club of Jammu at all levels of the cricket and will help in stimulating the sports committee of the club in letter and spirit.
In the end, Ashu Mehra expressed gratitude to President Press Club of Jammu, Sanjeev Pargal and the entire team of Press Club Jammu for always extending support to Media XI Cricket Club Jammu.
The meeting ended with high tea hosted by President Press Club Jammu Sanjeev Pargal.