The temperature is likely to remain at 40 degree Celsius on Friday as the heatwave continues. (Express File/Amit Mehra)Delhi News: A massive fire broke out at Delhi’s Azad market area Saturday, gutting three buildings and collapsing one of them, news agency PTI reported. At another fire in the Anand Parbat area, 6 fire-fighters were among nine people who were injured while trying to douse a blaze which started at an electrical components manufacturing factory.
The Delhi government on Friday unveiled a detailed blueprint of its five-year plan to generate 20 lakh jobs under the ‘Rozgar Budget.’ A high-level meeting was convened by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia to expedite the implementation of these schemes and set specific targets and timelines for different departments to achieve the goal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for a “severe heatwave” in the national capital on Saturday. Heatwave conditions will continue with the maximum temperature likely to remain at 40 degrees Celsius or above till April 13. Yesterday, the city recorded 41.6 degrees Celsius, seven notches above normal and the highest so far this year.
In the past, during Navratri, outfits under Samiti’s banner have taken to streets to ‘request’ shop owners to close their meat shops. (Representational)
The Delhi BJP on Saturday alleged that party spokesperson Tajinderpal Singh Bagga's mother and sister were being harassed by the Punjab Police, which has booked him for attacking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his remarks on 'The Kashmir Files' film.
No immediate reaction was available from the police in Punjab or the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is power in the state. Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta and party MP Parvesh Verma in a press conference accused the ruling AAP in Punjab of indulging in "vendetta" against its political opponents.
Verma alleged that Punjab Police was tapping phones of Delhi BJP leaders. He also played a video which purported to show Kejriwal saying during Punjab polls that if police came under his control he would make it arrest 3-4 people speaking against him, to silence the rest. This proved our fears that Kejriwal will misuse the police for political reasons true, Verma charged. (PTI)
The India Metrological Department’s (IMD) Twitter handle was hacked on Saturday evening and efforts were on to restore it, officials said. It was not immediately clear who was behind the hacking.
The hacker after getting into the account posted and pinned a tweet regarding an NFT trading event. The tweeted posted in a thread has tagged several thousand accounts about an hour ago. (Read more)
The maximum temperature in Delhi soared to reach 42.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, the highest for the first 15 days of April in the past 72 years. It surpassed the previous record of 41.6 degrees Celsius for April 1-15, registered on April 8 this year, and April 12 and 13 in 2010, at the Safdarjung weather observatory, from 1951 to 2022.
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The maximum temperature on Saturday was also eight degrees above normal for this time of the year and the highest recorded in the month in the past four years. The highest maximum temperature in April 2021 was 42.2 degrees, while it was 40.1 degrees in 2020, 42.1 degrees in 2019, and 42 degrees in 2018. (Read more)
A day after the death of a 21-year-old student in Canada’s Toronto, his family in Ghaziabad continues to look for answers. Kartik Vasudev, a resident of Ghaziabad, was shot dead outside a subway station in Toronto on Thursday evening. Speaking to The Indian Express, his family said they were unaware about the motive of the crime and were desperately seeking the government’s help for clarity and justice.
“We are as clueless about Kartik’s death as we were on the first day. I have received no phone call from the Embassy or Canadian authorities. He was the only one killed and there seems to be silence around it. I feel everyone wants to let the issue die down but I will knock every possible door for justice,” said his father Jitesh Vasudev.
Kartik was pursuing global management from Seneca University and was in his first year. Shortly after joining college, he found a job at a restaurant in the Downtown area. (Read more)
Amid the increasing adoption of electric vehicles, the Delhi Traffic Police has written to the Environment Department, suggesting that adequate number of charging stations be installed in the capital to avoid traffic snarls due to breakdown of 'uncharged' EVs.
The suggestion came in response to the government's draft policy mandating all aggregators and delivery service providers to induct electric vehicles while procuring a new fleet. It said the absence of charging points could lead to traffic jams in case "electric vehicles breakdown due to low charge".
"It is, therefore, suggested that an adequate number of charging points may be installed at various locations to ensure smooth movement of traffic in the interest of electric vehicle users," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) S K Singh wrote to the Environment Department.
A senior official in the Environment Department said a committee will be constituted soon to examine the suggestions and comments received from various departments and the general public on the draft policy. The government had issued the draft policy in the Delhi Gazette on February 8, 2022, inviting suggestions and comments from the public within 60 days. (PTI)
The Delhi University (DU) has asked to the College of Art to start the admission process and has informed the city government that the college will not be de-affiliated from the varsity, vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh said. He said the issues between the 12 DU colleges funded by city government and the AAP dispensation had arisen due to procedural lapses, and they are being sorted.
The office of L-G had earlier given an in principle approval to the merger of College of Art (CoA) with the state-run Ambedkar University subject to its de-affiliation from DU. However, Executive Council of the university, which is its highest decision making body, refused to de-affiliate the college.
"The proposal was by the college. DU has a system and it has not given an NOC for de-affiliation ever. The university's Executive Council has decided to not give an NOC. We have conveyed our decision to the Delhi government," Singh told PTI in an interview earlier this week. "We have written to them to start the admission process. We have told them that we are not de-affiliating you. We will follow what the EC has decided. Students are suffering because of the delay," he said. (PTI)
Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor and her husband Anand Ahuja’s New Delhi residence was allegedly robbed of Rs 2.41 crore, the police said on Saturday. Their house is located near Amrita Shergill Marg, and a complaint was lodged on February 23.
According to the police, Anand’s father Harish Ahuja and other family members reported the matter at the Tughlaq Road police station.
Amrutha Guguloth, DCP (New Delhi) said, “We received a complaint from the family alleging that cash and jewellery worth Rs 2.4 crore was stolen from their house. They noticed it on February 11 but lodged a formal police complaint on February 23. Our staff immediately registered an FIR on the same day. Teams have been formed, and an examination of the evidence is underway. Further investigation is in process.” (Read more)
With a day to go for the beginning of the administration of precaution doses of Covid-19 vaccines to all beneficiaries aged above 18 years, doctors at private vaccination centres in Delhi on Saturday said they are all prepared for the exercise and that the third shot will provide "stronger protection" against the coronavirus.
The Union health ministry announced on Friday that the precaution dose will be available for all aged above 18 years at private vaccination centres from April 10. Doctors and administrators at several leading private hospitals in Delhi asserted that they are prepared for the exercise starting from Sunday. (PTI)
The university placement cell (UPC) of Jamia Millia Islamia has entered into a partnership with an online digital learning platform to give students essential technical skills.
The platform is called IBM Skills Build-CSRBOX Foundation.
“The foundation is a skill-building and learning digital platform where students can get industry-relevant skills and courses. The collaboration will facilitate the delivery of free digital learning to university students through acquisition of essential skills like technical skills, professional skills and job readiness skills,” Jamia said in a statement.
Delhi on Friday recorded 146 fresh Covid-19 cases and one death due to the viral disease, while the positivity rate stood at 1.39 per cent, according to health department data. With this, the national capital's caseload has increased to 18,65,942 and the death toll has climbed to 26,156, the latest bulletin stated. A total of 10,488 Covid-19 tests were conducted in the city the previous day, it said. There has been an uptick in Covid-19 cases in Delhi over the last three days.
The Delhi government on Friday unveiled a detailed blueprint of its five-year plan to generate 20 lakh jobs under the 'Rozgar Budget' and set up department-wise targets to implement the AAP dispensation's ambitious scheme. Industrial areas, retail markets, startup policy and shopping festivals were major contributors to achieving the objective of providing 20 lakh jobs.
A high-level meeting was convened by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia on Friday to expedite the implementation of these schemes and set specific targets and timelines for different departments to achieve the goal. In the meeting, Kejriwal said 20 lakh jobs in five years is perhaps a first-of-its-kind experiment in the budget-making exercise.
Six fire-fighters were among nine people who were injured while trying to douse a blaze at an electrical components manufacturing factory in the Anand Parbat area here on Saturday morning, officials said. It is suspected that the fire broke out after an LPG cylinder exploded around 5:15 am, they said. (With PTI)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for a “severe heatwave” in the national capital on Saturday. The maximum temperature at the Safdarjung Observatory may touch the 42-degree mark on Saturday, the IMD said. Heatwave conditions will continue till April 13.
A 'severe heatwave' scorched Delhi on Friday with the city recording a maximum temperature of 41.6 degrees Celsius, seven notches above normal and the highest so far this year, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The weather stations at Mungeshpur, Najafgarh, Pitampura and Sports Complex recorded maximum temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius, 43.3 degrees Celsius, 43.4 degrees Celsius, and 43.9 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Observing that Khalid Saifi had connectivity with other accused persons, and their cumulative role must be seen to comprehend the entire conspiracy as stated in the chargesheet, a Delhi court rejected the bail application of the United Against Hate founder in a UAPA case in connection with the Northeast Delhi riots.
Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat said that Saifi also figures in the list of those who made a flurry of calls to other accused following the riots.
Saifi’s lawyer, senior advocate Rebecca John, told the court that he has been falsely implicated in this case, and the entire case of the prosecution is unsubstantiated without any evidence to link the accused with the riots.
A massive fire broke out in three buildings in Delhi's Azad market area on Saturday morning, officials said. One of the buildings has collapsed, they added. According to the fire officials, after information regarding the blaze came in, 20 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and the fire was brought under control around 7.30 am. (With PTI)
Congress leader Sachin Pilot met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra here on Friday amid speculation over organisational changes and ongoing deliberations on the party's revival. Sources said they discussed the political situation in Rajasthan, ways to strengthen the party in the state, organisational elections, upcoming polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and the revival of the party going forward.
Sources close to Pilot said he is keen on remaining active and involved in strengthening the party in Rajasthan, and reiterated that he is willing to take on any role the party asks him to. The meeting took place at Rahul Gandhi's residence and Priyanka Gandhi was also present, the sources said.
There has been speculations over organisational changes after the drubbing the Congress received in the assembly polls in five states. Earlier this week, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had called for unity at all levels of the organisation, while noting that the road ahead for the party is more challenging than ever and the spirit of resilience of party workers is under severe test. (PTI)
The Centre on Friday raised a red flag to four states and the Union Territory of Delhi that reported a marginal increase in the Covid test positivity rate —directing them to maintain a strict watch and take pre-emptive action in any areas of concern to control any emerging spread of infection.
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Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan communicated to Kerala, Maharashtra, Haryana, Mizoram and Delhi to continue monitoring the spread of infection and undertake required steps for prompt and effective management of Covid-19. (Read more)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at nine locations across Delhi and Gurgaon in connection with its money laundering probe into the alleged manipulation of the National Stock Exchange when Chitra Ramkrishna was at the helm of affairs at the bourse.
Sources said the raids were carried out at premises associated with some NSE brokers, including OPG Securities. (Read more)
The Delhi government on Friday unveiled a detailed blueprint of its five-year plan to generate 20 lakh jobs under the 'Rozgar Budget' and set up department-wise targets to implement the AAP dispensation's ambitious scheme. Industrial areas, retail markets, startup policy and shopping festivals were major contributors to achieving the objective of providing 20 lakh jobs.
A high-level meeting was convened by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia on Friday to expedite the implementation of these schemes and set specific targets and timelines for different departments to achieve the goal. In the meeting, Kejriwal said 20 lakh jobs in five years is perhaps a first-of-its-kind experiment in the budget-making exercise.
"Employment generation may be a challenge, but we've proven in Delhi that nothing is impossible. The whole world is looking at us and appreciating how we have transformed education, healthcare, electricity and water. "We will overcome all challenges and make Delhi an example in the employment sector too," an official statement quoted Kejriwal as saying.
He exhorted officials not to delay approvals and files and approach him or the deputy chief minister for clarifications. "If there is any problem, don't sit on it, don't wait for the next meeting. We all are available here. You can approach me, the deputy CM, the chief secretary or any minister but flag it as soon as possible. This will help us to find timely solutions," Kejriwal said. (PTI)
The Delhi High Court on Friday said it expected the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to extend the last date for admissions to class I by two more days, as it continued to hear a challenge against the KVS decision of setting six years as the minimum age for admission to grade I in Kendriya Vidyalayas from academic year 2022-23.
Justice Rekha Palli on April 11 will continue to hear the petitions seeking admission of children aged 5 years to class I of Kendriya Vidyalayas. April 11 was the last date for submitting online applications for admissions to grade I. Since the court could not hear the matter completely on Friday, it asked the KVS to postpone the last date. The counsel representing the KVS agreed to the court suggestion. (Read more)
Delhi recorded another day of unrelenting heat, along with this season’s highest maximum temperature of 41.6 degrees Celsius and a severe heat wave on Friday.
The maximum temperature at the Safdarjung weather observatory, which provides a marker for the city, was 41.6 degrees, seven degrees above the normal for this time of the year. All weather stations in the city recorded maximum temperatures above 40 degrees on Friday.
The highest recorded at a weather observatory in the city was 43.4 degrees Celsius at Pitampura, followed by 43.3 degrees at Najafgarh, 42.9 degrees at the Ridge, 42.4 degrees at Aya Nagar, and 41.9 degrees at Lodhi Road. The maximum temperature at Gurgaon hit 43.3 degrees. (Read more)
A Delhi court on Friday dismissed the bail application of Khalid Saifi, founder of the organisation -- United Against Hate -- fin a case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the Delhi riots in February 2020. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat diminished the plea saying the allegations against Saifi were “prima facie” true.
“On perusal of charge sheet and accompanying documents, for the limited purpose of bail, I am of the opinion that allegations against the accused Khalid Saifi are prima facie true,” the judge said.
The activist was charged under various sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, along with the sections of the Arms Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, and the IPC. Saifi is accused of being the "mastermind" of the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots, which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. (PTI)
The Supreme Court Friday upheld the validity of certain amendments to the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, which came into effect in September 2020, saying "the strict regime had become essential because of the past experience of abuse and misutilisation of foreign contribution.”
Observing that receiving foreign donations cannot be an “absolute or even a vested right”, the apex court said no one can be heard to claim a vested right to accept the foreign donation because the theory of the possibility of the national polity being influenced by foreign contribution is globally recognised.
Upholding the amendments meant to strictly regulate the foreign funding of the NGOs, the top court noted many recipients of foreign contributions had not utilised the same for the purposes for which they were registered or granted prior permission under the Act and that many recipients had also failed to adhere to and fulfil the statutory compliances. "...the strict regime had become essential because of the past experience of abuse and misutilisation of the ‘foreign contribution' and cancellation of certificates of as many as 19,000 registered organisations on the ground of being grossly non-compliant,” the apex court said. (PTI)
A fire broke out in some shanties near sector 74 in Gurgaon on Friday. No casualties have been reported.
At least 62 per cent of parents favour mandatory masking for children and staff members in schools while they are indoors, a new survey has claimed.
The survey conducted by online platform LocalCircles had over 25,000 respondents residing across 381 districts of India. Forty-two per cent of the respondents were from tier-1 cities, 35 per cent from tier-2 and 23 per cent from tier-3 and 4 cities and rural districts.
"At least 62 per cent of citizens said the mask mandate should be there. Only nine per cent said the mask mandate should be removed. Eight per cent respondents said that mask mandate should be removed and reinstated if the national TPR rises above one per cent," the survey report said. According to the survey, nine in 10 parents indicated that most people in their areas either did not have masks or were not wearing them properly. (PTI)
The Amnesty International India (AII) chair Aakar Patel was again stopped by Immigration officials at the Bengaluru airport from flying to the US, over the CBI look-out circular.
"Yesterday I wanted to fly to Dallas-Texas but I was not allowed to go. I am not able to move out of Bengaluru. I am waiting for the court order," Patel told PTI. The AII chair had moved the special CBI court in the Rouse Avenue District Court in New Delhi against the CBI for non-compliance of the court order.
The court on Thursday directed the CBI to withdraw a Look-Out Circular (LOC) issued against Patel in a case of an alleged violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act and apologise to him. The court said a "written apology" from the CBI Director on behalf of the agency acknowledging the lapse on the part of his subordinate to Patel would help uphold the trust and confidence of the public in the premier institution. (PTI)
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Friday said he will visit Gujarat on April 11 to see what work has been done by the BJP government as he hit out at its Education Minister Jitu Vaghani for his recent remarks that people who do not like schools there should go to any other state.
Addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters, Sisodia, who is Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister, hoped that the Gujarat government would have done "some good work" to improve the quality of education in the state.
"I want to see what work they have done in education (sector) in 27 years. I will go to Gujarat to see schools in the state next Monday. I am completely hopeful they must have done some work," Sisodia, who is also Delhi's Education Minister, told the reporters.
"If they have not done anything, the people of Gujarat have already made up their mind to give their mandate to the AAP and its national convenor Arvind Kejriwal (in the upcoming assembly elections). He will do it (improve quality of education)," he added. (PTI)
The Supreme Court Friday said the supervisory committee on the 126-year-old Mullaperiyar Dam shall discharge all the functions and powers of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) until a regular national authority becomes functional under the Dam Safety Act 2021.
The apex court said for strengthening the existing supervisory committee which was constituted earlier by the top court, two technical expert members -- one each for Kerala and Tamil Nadu -- be made it's part.
A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar said until the regular NDSA becomes functional, the supervisory committee shall be accountable for all the matters relating to the safety of the dam. The apex court said the reconstituted supervisory committee will decide all outstanding matters related to Mullaperiyar Dam's safety and conduct a safety review afresh. (PTI)
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said that the government has constituted a 'Gramin Vikas Board' for the development of natioanl capital's rural region.
Stating that a budget of Rs 200 crore has been allotted for the board, Rai alo said, "A special plan has been made with officials regarding the speeding up of its projects."
"In the last meeting last year, 826 projects of the board were approved. Till May 6, the primary documents of these projects will be scrutinized. On May 11 and 12, we'll put a village development special camp with all departments at the Secretariat to speed up development work, the minister added. (ANI)
The Delhi government imposed over Rs 154 crore in fines for COVID-19 violations between 2021-22, with the maximum fines being imposed for not wearing masks in public places. According to official data available for the period between April 17, 2021, and April 6, 2022, the fine imposed during the period stood at Rs 1,54,75,22,968 but the amount collected was only Rs 16,79,27,080.
A total of 37,809 FIRs were registered for various Covid violations, with the New Delhi (37,803) district contributing the major chunk. There were five FIRs registered in the south district while a single FIR was lodged in the southwest district. Three people were arrested for violating Covid protocols, according to the data.
There were zero FIRs registered in the remaining eight districts.
The maximum number of fines were issued for not wearing a mask in public places with the highest number of such offences being recorded in Shahdara district (1,85,354), followed by the east (1,84,618) and north district (1,78,563). The least number of such offenders were found in the Central district (80,496). New Delhi (90,293) and south (91,572) districts also recorded less than lakh violations, the data said. (PTI)
A Delhi court on Friday directed the chair of Amnesty International India Board Aakar Patel not to leave the country without its prior permission and stayed an order directing the CBI to withdraw a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against him in a case relating to the alleged violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA).
Special Judge Santosh Snehi Mann passed the order on a petition filed by the CBI seeking revision of the order passed on Thursday by a magisterial court which also asked the agency to apologise to Patel. The judge said it was necessary that due opportunity was given to Patel to file a formal reply if any to CBI's revision application.
“In the meantime, it is necessary that the cause is not frustrated. During the course of arguments, it was pointed out by Nikhil Goel (advocate for the CBI) that respondent made an attempt to leave the country yesterday,” the court said. (PTI)
The Punjab Police has registered an FIR against a Delhi BJP leader for allegedly sharing on his Twitter handle a 'doctored video clip' of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal.
The FIR against Delhi BJP's media cell head Naveen Kumar Jindal was registered by the police in Mohali on Thursday night on the basis of a complaint filed by a Punjab and Haryana High Court advocate, sub-inspector Gagandeep Singh, SHO of Mohali's Phase 11 police station, said on Friday.
This is the second case registered by the Punjab Police against a Delhi BJP leader after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in the border state. “The complainant alleged that Jindal, on his Twitter handle, shared a cropped video from the original footage of an interview given by Arvind Kejriwal to a TV channel and doctored the original content. (PTI)
“Babu Wasim had been absconding for more than two years and was declared a proclaimed offender by the Trial Court. Wasim has admitted to have supplied the said pistol seen in video to Shahrukh Khan prior to the riots in Delhi,” Jasmeet Singh, DCP Special Cell, said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday reviewed the progress of all the projects and plans proposed under the “Rozgar Budget” and set targets and timelines for each department, officials said.
Through the Budget, the Delhi Government aims to create 20 lakh jobs in the next five years. According to officials, the meeting was held at the Delhi Secretariat at 11 am and all senior officials from the concerned departments attended it. Read more
Amnesty International India Chair Aakar Patel moved a Delhi court on Friday seeking action against the CBI investigating officer (IO) for contempt of a court order quashing a look out notice (LOC) issued against him.
On Thursday, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Kumar granted relief to Patel who was stopped from boarding a flight to the United States a day earlier at the Bangalore International Airport. The court had also asked the CBI director to issue a written apology to “heal his wounds” and “uphold the public trust in the agency”.
However, Patel was prevented from flying out of the country late on Thursday night. Read more
The CBI Friday challenged the court’s order passed on Thursday to withdraw the Look Out Certificate and directing the CBI director to issue a written apology to Patel.
Amnesty International India Chair Aakar Patel Friday filed a contempt petition against CBI officials for not following court orders to withdraw the Look Out Circular issued against him. The former journalist was prevented from from flying out of the Bengaluru International Airport late on Thursday night.
The maximum temperature at Delhi touched 40 degree Celsius on Thursday for the first time this season, according to the readings of the Safdarjung weather observatory. This was five degrees above the normal or long period average for this time of the year.
It is likely to remain at 40 degree Celsius on Friday as the heatwave continues. The minimum temperature recorded over the past 24 hours was 19.7 degree Celsius. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the heatwave is expected to continue for six more days. Read more
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi will organise its annual science and technology festival ‘Tryst’ from April 15-17.
The institute said that US-based Graphite GTC, a leading no-code software development platform, would be the title sponsor for Tryst 2022, which is considered to be "north India's largest technical festival".
"In association with various technical clubs and societies at IIT-Delhi, Tryst will present a rich variety of events like Drone Racing League, Robotics Competition, Coding Hackathons, and workshops by Google and IBM," it said in a statement. Read more
Registrations for entry-level classes at government Sarvodaya schools are set to begin from April 11.
These admissions -- for nursery, KG or Class I, whichever is the entry-level class at a school -- are done through a draw of lots at the school concerned. The application forms will be available at the school between April 11 and 25. After filling the forms, parents will be required to submit them in drop boxes available in the schools. Read more
A five-year-old boy died while his 58-year-old grandfather sustained injuries after their scooter was allegedly hit by a bike in Southwest Delhi, said police, adding that they have apprehended a teenager in connection with the case.
According to police, the incident took place on Wednesday evening when the man, Prem Prakash (58), and his grandchildren, Vidit (5) and Daksh (3), were heading home from a park. Police said they received a PCR call around 6.30 pm from locals and the hospital where the boy was taken. Read more
The Forest Department has granted permission to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to fell or transplant 2,940 trees in the North Forest Division, and 450 trees in the South Forest Division, for Phase 4 of the Delhi Metro.
Of the 2,940 trees in the North division, 1,963 are to be transplanted, and 977 trees will be felled. The trees are to give way for a Metro line between Janakpuri West and Mukarba Chowk, and Mukarba Chowk to Derawal Nagar. These sections will be part of the DMRC’s Phase 4 line from Janakpuri West to R K Ashram, which will cover 29.26 km and have 22 stations. Read more
The Delhi High Court Thursday granted interim protection from arrest to SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh in the FIRs registered against him by the Delhi Police last year, saying the case was based on a civil and commercial dispute arising out of Share Purchase Agreements with regard to which Singh and the complainant had different interpretations. Read more
Delhi’s Covid positivity rate has been inching up and remained above 1% for four days in a row. This is attributed to fewer tests being conducted and mostly symptomatic persons getting tested, said government officials. Delhi recorded a positivity rate of 1.68% on Thursday, with just over 10,000 tests. Read more
In a significant step, the Delhi government has decided to include and incentivise e-cycles under its Electric Vehicle (EV) policy. This will include passenger and cargo e-cycles with a speed of less than 25 km/hour.
“A purchase incentive of 25% of MRP up to Rs 5,500 will be provided to the first 10,000 buyers. An additional incentive of Rs 2,000 to the first 1,000 individual e-cycle owners will be provided with an eye on creating the much-needed demand for e-cycles. Similarly, the government will provide a purchase incentive of 33% of MRP upto Rs 15,000 per vehicle to the first 5,000 e-cargo cycles buyers to support food delivery and e-commerce drivers,” the government said in a statement. Read more
Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh on Thursday said students should be taught the "art of collaboration" to help them find good job opportunities. Remarking that "Indians are very poor team players", he urged teachers to create an environment of collaboration.
At the inauguration of a three-day job fair organised by the Central Placement Cell of the university, the vice-chancellor urged the students to be "loyal, committed and honest to the company".
"I would request the dean of students' welfare to strengthen this platform. It should be a perennial activity. Whenever a company wants to come to Delhi University at any time of the year, they should be allowed. We should work very hard towards this," Singh said. (PTI)
The Delhi High Court Thursday restrained the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) from passing a final order in disciplinary proceedings against advocate Prashant Bhushan, who has challenged the action being taken on a complaint alleging that he appeared on behalf of three NGOs before the court despite being a member of governing bodies of those organisations.
Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing Bhushan, before the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla argued that the BCD Wednesday reserved its order on the complaint after hearing the matter despite knowing that the challenge was pending before the HC and was scheduled for hearing Thursday. Read More
The Delhi High Court Thursday rapped the Delhi government for allowing thousands of e-rickshaws and auto rickshaws which lack the requisite fitness certificates to ply on the city roads, and directed it to take “remedial steps” forthwith.
The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla took note of the government response which stated that 80,583 e-rickshaws, whose fitness certificate expired in December 2021, are continuing to ply on the roads. The court was also told that 9,451 autos have expired fitness certificates. Read More
The Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) Thursday issued show cause notices to the mayors and commissioners of the three municipal corporations seeking an explanation on the “order” to shut meat shops during Navratri.
On Monday, South MCD mayor Mukesh Suryan had sent a letter to the civic body commissioner with instructions that all meat shops should be shut. East MCD mayor Shyam Sundar Agarwal had also made a similar appeal.
Seeking a report within 24 hours, DMC chairman Zakir Khan has asked the mayors and commissioners to appear before it on Friday. In the notice, the commission has said that “… such proclamation can also incite and encourage hoggish behaviour on the ground. Senior authorities and the courts should step in and put a stop to such behaviour.” Read More
A Delhi court has dismissed the bail application of Shifa-Ur-Rehman, president of the Alumni Association of Jamia Millia Islamia University (AAJMI), in a UAPA case filed in connection with the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots.
Dismissing the bail plea, Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat noted that on perusal of the chargesheet and accompanying documents, for the limited purpose of bail, he was of the opinion that the allegations against the accused are prima facie true. Read More
The Delhi government will conduct a survey of a number of places in the city to identify littering hotspots and quantify plastic waste generation as it inches close to its June 30 deadline for phasing out of 19 single-use plastic items.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has invited bids from agencies to conduct the survey, and the tender will be opened on April 11, according to official documents.
The survey will cover all 11 districts in Delhi and will have to be completed within four months from the date of signing of contract, an official said. (PTI)
The Delhi Minorities Commission has issued a notice to all the three Commissioners and Mayors of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi over reports of the closure of meat shops during Navratri. Quoting media reports, the commission stated that it has been observed that the Mayor is acting like a law unto himself. It has also sought a status report on the matter by Friday.
The Congress' Delhi unit on Thursday staged a protest at Jantar Mantar against the BJP-led government at the Centre over the continuous rise in petrol, diesel and CNG prices.
Several Congress leaders and workers participated in the party's 'Mehngai Mukt Bharat' campaign and raised slogans against the Centre.
Delhi Congress president Anil Chaudhary alleged, "The prime minister is least bothered about the common man." The protest over the issue was "started by Rahul Gandhi from Parliament and now it has spread across the nation", he said, adding the stir would intensify in the days to come. (PTI)
A Delhi court on Thursday granted relief to Rights activist and former Chair of Amnesty International India Board, Aakar Patel, as it asked the CBI to withdraw the lookout circular (LOC) against him.
The court further asked the CBI Director to issue a written apology to Patel acknowledging the lapse on part of his subordinate. It added atht this will go a long way in not only healing the wounds of the applicant but also upholding the trust of the public in the premier institution.
The Delhi government has asked liquor vends, situated within 100 metres in the national capital from Ghaziabad, to observe 'dry days' for three days from Thursday on account of the biennial election to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.
In an order issued on Thursday, the Delhi government excise department has also asked the vends to observe a dry day on April 12 on account of the counting day.
"... On account of the Biennial Election to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, 2022, dry day has been declared from 4:00 PM of 7 April, 2022, to 9 April, 2022 till the end of poll, and 12.04.2022 (full day) on account of counting day," the Delhi government excise department said. (PTI)
Delhi government will provide a subsidy of Rs 5,500 each for first 10,000 buyers of e-cycles in the city, Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot said on Thursday.
The first 1,000 buyers of passenger e-cycles will also be given an additional subsidy of Rs 2,000, he added. The government will also give subsidy on purchase of heavy duty cargo e-cycles and e-carts for commercial uses, he said. The subsidy on cargo e-cycles will be Rs 15,000 each for first 5,000 buyers.
The subsidy was earlier provided to individual buyers of e-carts but now a company or corporate house buying these vehicles will also be provided a subsidy of Rs 30,000, he said. (PTI)
The police and the flying squad raided a fake call centre and arrested 17 employees, while another 149 staff members were let go after issuing a warning, officials said on Thursday.
The ‘call centre' was launched four months ago and was being operated from a three-storeyed building in Udyog Vihar phase-4.
The callers used to dupe US and Canada citizens by introducing themselves as employees of Microsoft, an American multinational technology giant, and giving pop-ups on the victims' screens offering technical support, hardware upgrade and antivirus among etc. They used to charge 500 to 1,000 US dollars (Rs 38,000-Rs 76,000) from the victims, police said. (PTI)