Delhi Underground

AIIMS experts look to govt for ‘petrol cash’

Forensic medicine experts at AIIMS are miffed since the administration refuses to cough up transport allowances for their court visits. After a Delhi government directive put the onus of transport funds on hospitals rather than courts last year,doctors say no doctor in AIIMS or the adjacent trauma centre of the institute has received any money. With petrol prices soaring,doctors say it is time the administration showed some consideration. “We have to visit courts at least twice or thrice a week considering the number of accident cases we get,especially at the trauma centre. Forensic medicine is already a thankless job and this is really the last straw,” a professor at the institute said.

Cold war between Delhi,Gurgaon police

There seems to be an ongoing but unspoken tiff between the Gurgaon police and their counterparts in Delhi. Strangely,even after the two shooters who were caught by the Delhi Police for a double murder case in Gurgaon reportedly confessed the involvement of a newly elected MCG councillor,the former is yet to take any action against the councillor,who has gone into hiding. The Gurgaon police maintain that they will interrogate the shooters further to ascertain if the councillor was involved. Seems like undercurrents between the two police forces will continue.

For Maya men,peace is where home is

As Bhatta Parsaul drew politicians of all colours trying to gain a few brownie points,the representatives of the party in power in the state were nowhere to be seen. Why? Their boss,Mayawati,had instructed them to stay off and gave bytes to media from Lucknow. While these may be routine orders by her to ensure her cadre is “not exposed”,no one speaks out of turn and discipline is maintained in the ranks. But,as a party worker put it,the decision has left local leaders sulking. “Assembly polls are here. If Madam doesn’t give us freedom to even visit the affected spot,voters won’t let us even enter the area,” said an annoyed leader.

Winds of change in DU for admissions

If one looks close enough,it is not difficult to miss a certain group of desperate parents at the Delhi University. While,some wait outside Principals’ offices,waiting for a chance to admit their ward who has not made the cut. The more affluent make appointments and walk in. Most are discouraged immediately,with Principal’s citing the RTI Act. There is another group,who in the past did not even have to make an appearance; a phone call would suffice. The practice was so entrenched,certain politicians and bureaucrats had a de facto “quota,” to admit a student of their choice every year. Officials at colleges admit there have been calls this year too – the names read like the who’s who of the capital — but almost every request has been turned down.