Delhi Beat

SC decision hailed
The director of the Joint Women8217;s Programme on Thursday hailed the decision of the Supreme Court which gave a Hindu mother equal rights to the guardianship of her minor children.

Jyotsna Chatterji, director of the Joint Women8217;s Programme JWP, said that the judgment has come at the right time when the number of single mothers and female-headed households are increasing.

Expedite afforestation: LG
Lieutenant Governor Vijai Kapoor has directed the authorities to expedite afforestation projects in Delhi. A major chunk of land along the Yamuna has been earmarked for tree plantation, he stated in a release today. He said the Asian Development Bank is being approached to provide expertise and financial assistance to monitor air quality in the city. This would include a component on noise pollution. He also expressed concern over the impact of projects such as the Mass Rapid Transit System, construction of the peripheral expressway and a channel of flyovers all over Delhi, on the environment of Delhi.

Kapoor was reviewing the anti-pollution measures taken by various agencies in a meeting with the the chairman, Environment Pollution Authority, senior officers of the Government of Delhi and the Delhi Police.

DU registrar nominated
Kamalkant Panda, registrar, University of Delhi, has been nominated for the International Man of the Millennium award by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge.

Unauthorised structures
A contingent of about 40 officers and employees of the MCD today removed 260 pucca and semi-pucca structures at Padam Singh Road, Bapa Nagar, road number 3, Pyare Lal Road and adjoining areas of Tank Road. According to S. Kumaraswami, Deputy Commissioner, Shahadra south zone, 30 permanent structures and 80 kitchen gardens were removed in Mayur Vihar, Phase-II. Besides this, a 500 metre road was cleared of encroachers.

In the city zone, four unauthorised permanent structures were removed from Vishnu Digamber Marg, three unauthorised permanent structures were removed from the Fasil road and five unauthorised encroachments were removed from Asaf Ali road.

Jewellery exhibition
A four-day India International Jewellery Show 8217;99 Delhi will begin at Pragati Maidan from Saturday. The fair is being organised by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council GJEPC, the apex body constituted under the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, to promote the export of gems and jewellery in India. As many as 70 exhibitors, comprising India8217;s leading international and jewellery exporters and manufacturers, will be participating in the fair.

Lokur appointed HC judge
Additional Solicitor General Madan Lokur today took over as judge of Delhi High Court. He was appointed the additional judge of the High Court by President K.R. Narayanan through a notification dated February 15, for a period of two years.

Lokur was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Delhi High Court Acting Chief Justice Devinder Gupta at a function here this morning. The function was attended, among others, by Supreme Court Judge A.P. Misra, all the judges of the High Court, Attorney General Soli Sorabjee and members of the Delhi High Court Bar Association, New Delhi Bar Association, Tis Hazari Bar Association and Karkardooma Bar Association.

Forty five-year-old Lokur, who has been the central government standing counsel for a period of nearly 10 years, was appointed the additional solicitor general in May last year.