Supreme Court Allows Passive Euthanasia, Living Will for Terminally -Ill Patients

Supreme Court Allows Passive Euthanasia,
Living Will for Terminally -Ill Patients

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday, 9^th March 2018,  allowed a "living will" authorising the withdrawal of life-support system for patients suffering from terminal and irreversible illnesses. It recognised a person’s right to die with dignity.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra said passive euthanasia and advance living will are "permissible".

The bench, also comprising justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan also laid down guidelines as to who would execute the will and how the nod for passive euthanasia would be granted by the medical board.

"When the rainbow of life becomes colourless… life becomes still and frozen... sanctity of life is destroyed. Should we not allow them to cross the door and meet the death with dignity? For some, even their death could be moment of celebration,” the bench said.

The apex court said that advance directives for terminally-ill patients could be issued and executed by the next friend and relatives of such person after which a medical board would consider it.

The top court said that directions and guidelines laid down by it and its directive shall remain in force till a legislation is brought on the issue.

The CJI, while reading out the judgment, said that though there were four separate opinions of the bench but all the judges were unanimous that the 'living will' should be permitted since a person cannot be allowed to continue suffering in a comatose state when he or she doesn't wish to live.

The top court had in 2011 recognised passive euthanasia in Aruna Shanbaug case by which it had permitted withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from patients not in a position to make an informed decision.

The bench was hearing a PIL filed by NGO Common Cause, saying safeguards were needed while taking a decision by medical boards to withdraw life support of a terminally-ill patient.

On January 15, 2016, the Centre had said the 241st report of the Law Commission stated that passive euthanasia should be allowed with certain safeguards and there was also a proposed law — Medical Treatment of Terminally Ill Patient (Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners) Bill, 2006.

Futile attempt to take possession of Sachidananda Nagara

Futile attempt to take possession

of Sachidananda Nagara

Bangalore: Tahsildar, Bangalore south, attempted to take the possession of Sachidananda Nagar VHBCS layout on the basis of Assistant Commissioners order of 2001 on Tuesday, 14th March 2017.

However, Residents of Sachidananda Nagar protested against it under SNNA. At last Deputy Commissioner of Bangalore Urban Mr. Shankar came to the spot. After residents Dr. Shankara Prasad, Pranesh, Lokanath and others showed the documents, He asked to stop stop the action and asked the residents to meet him at his office with documents on next morning.

On Wednesday, 15th March 2017, residents of Sachidananda Nagar led by SNNA visited Deputy Commissioners office and showed the documents and explained that there is the stay by HIgh Court to the AC’s order. Deputy Commissioner convinced of it and asked Tahsildar not to proceed further till the case is disposed in High Court. He also asked them to enter the High Court case number in the Mutation Records.

Watch the video by clicking the image below:

PM breaks silence on dalit student's suicide

PM breaks silence on dalit student's suicide

Lucknow:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 22^nd January 2016,  broke his silence on the suicide of a dalit scholar in Hyderabad University and expressed grief saying he felt the pain but faced slogans from a handful of students at a convocation ceremony here.

"...when there is news that a youth of my country, Rohith, was forced to commit suicide, what his family must have gone through. Mother India has lost a son. There will be reasons, there will be politics (surrounding it) but the fact remains that a mother has lost her son. I feel the pain very well," a visibly emotional Modi said.

He was speaking as the Chief Guest at the convocation ceremony of the B R Ambedkar University here, where a couple of students shouted slogans like "Modi murdabad" and "Modi go back, Modi go back" and "inquilab zindabad" as he began his speech.

The two students, who were donning blue stole, meant for Masters degree scholars,were evicted by police and detained. They have been identified as Ram Karan and Bhuvnesh Arya.

The suicide by Rohith Vemula, a dalit scholar of the Hyderabad Central University, has kicked up a major row with Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya coming under intense attack from political rivals, who have blamed them for the incident and demanded their removal.

University Proctor Kamal Jaiswal said, "we were taken aback. We had taken all precautions. Action will be taken as per rules." 

However, Modi did not go into the politics behind Rohith's suicide.

Did you know that?

Did you know that?

Absence of law tied the hands of SC, will it be freed by Parliament?

Absence of law tied the hands of SC

 Will it be freed by Parliament?

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Monday, 21^st December 2015, dismissed a plea to block the release of the juvenile convict in the 2012 gang rape case citing absence of law in this regard, even as the victim's parents protested at Jantar Mantar for more stringent guidelines to tackle criminals like him.

Meanwhile, all members in Rajya Sabha, irrespective of parties supported the passing of  the Juvenile Justice Bill soon. Tthere was consensus among parties on the need to discuss the Juvenile Justice Bill and bill is listed for Tuesday, 22^nd Tuesday, 2015.

"We share your concern," the apex court's vacation bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit said, dismissing the Delhi Commission for Women's plea and observing that "everything has to be in accordance with law, we have to enforce law".

"We need to have a clear legislative sanction," the court said, making it clear that given the law as it stood today, it (DCW) could not ask for further detention of the convict, who is now aged 20.

Expressing disappointment, deceased victim Nirbhaya's parents said they knew the Supreme Court won't be able to help them as there has to be a new law to deal with a situation like this.

"I had no hope from the Supreme Court. I didn't go to the court today (Monday) since I knew the verdict (in advance that it cannot block his release)", the victim's mother told reporters at Jantar Mantar.

Badrinath, father of the para-medical student who was gang raped and brutalised in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, told reporters they were being let down by the Narendra Modi government but people were stiil with them.

"People are still with us. It's the government which has failed us. I have no hope of justice from Modi," he said.

They also said that they would fight for a new law so that criminals like him do not get away because they were not of a certain age when the crime was committed.

"We will continue our fight to get the bill passed on the issue," Badrinath said.

The parents of the victim also expressed fear that the Supreme Court ruling on the issue would encourage more such crimes to be committed against women.

"There is no provision (to convict juveniles) or to punish them. They (courts) are more concerned about the accused. Women have been cheated and they continue to be cheated. Nobody wants to do anything about women's safety," Nirbhaya's mother said.

The juvenile, who was under 18 years of age when he was arrested for the brutal rape and brutalisation of the para-medical student who died of her injuries later, was tried under the Juvenile Justice Act.

He was put in a remand home for three years, the maximum permissible under the legal provisions.

Jaitly- Kejriwal Lock horns in Legal Fight now

Jaitly- Kejriwal Lock horns in Legal Fight now

New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitly on Monday, 21^st December 2015, filed a Civil & Criminal defamation suit against Delhi Chief Minister Aravind Kejriwal & other leaders of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and sought Rs.10 crore in damages for accusing him of corruption when he headed the DDCA. The suit entails a punishment of upto two years in jail. Kejriwal retorted that he and his AAP can't be intimidated.

Even as a combative Jaitley defended himself in parliament against the corruption charges, fellow BJP MP Kirti Azad, who has been alleging major financial bungling in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) for years, demanded to know why the minister had not sued him.

The Delhi High Court said it would hear on Tuesday the defamation suit slapped against Kejriwal, who took on Jaitley from the day the CBI raided his principal secretary Rajendra Kumar for alleged corruption.

A week after a CBI raid on the Chief Minister's secretariat against his principal secretary that triggered allegations by AAP against Jaitley in the affairs of the Delhi's cricket body DDCA, the minister took the legal recourse saying the AAP leaders' "malicious and defamatory" campaign was causing irreversible damage to him.

The others who have been named in both the petitions are Kumar Vishwas, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha and Deepak Bajpai.

The Patiala House Courts in the heart of the city saw the rare spectacle of a union minister walking amidst a jostling crowd of BJP supporters, who shouted slogans against Kejriwal, to enter the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjay Khanagwal to file the criminal complaint.

Jaitley came to the court a little after lunch at 2.05 pm and the proceedings lasted 35 minutes.

A phalanx of union ministers, including M Venkaiah Naidu, Smriti Irani, Dharmendra Pradhan and J P Nadda, also came to the court and later said they were showing solidarity with Jaitley describing him as a man of impeccable integrity.

The complaint was filed under various sections of the IPC including 499 (defamation), 500 (punishment), 501 and 502 (printing and sale of defamatory matter).

Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, who appeared for Jaitley, himself an eminent lawyer, pleaded for immediately recording the minister's statement but the court just took cognisance of the complaint and posted the case for January 5 when Jaitley will record his testimony.

Earlier in the day, Jaitley filed a civil suit in the Delhi High Court against Kejriwal and five others AAP leaders for issuing allegedly false and defamatory statements against him and his family members.

Jaitley's counsel advocate Manik Dogra said the civil suit, in which he has sought Rs 10 crores as damages, will come up in the normal course of listing

SC upholds as valid Majithia wage boards, awards

SC upholds as valid Majithia wage boards, awards

New Delhi, Feb 7:  In a morale booster for working journalists and newspaper employees, the Supreme Court Friday upheld the validity of the Majithia wage boards, observing their  recommendations for wage hike are based on genuine considerations. It also junked newspaper organisations' challenge to the constitutional validity of the working journalists and newspaper employees act.

Journalists Association of Karnataka (JAK) President Prof. Harischandra Bhat, in a statement hailed the Supreme Court Judgment and thanked all Journalist and Non-Journalist Employees Organisations like Bangalore News Paper Employees Union (BNEU), National Union Of Journalists (NUJ), Confederation of Newspaper Employees, PTI & UNI Employees Union etc. for striving hard unitedly for achieving this success .

National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president Uppala Laxman & Secretary General Prasanna Mohanty aslo hailed the Supreme Court Judgment.

Here are the reports from IANS & PTI regarding Supreme Court Verdict on Wage Board and reactions of JAK & Nation Union Of Journalists (JAK).

IANS Report:
 In a morale booster for working journalists and newspaper employees, the Supreme Court Friday upheld the validity of the Majithia wage boards, observing their  recommendations for wage hike are based on genuine considerations.

It also junked newspaper organisations' challenge to the constitutional validity of the working journalists and newspaper employees act.

Justice G.R. Majithia was appointed chairman of the two wage boards for journalists and non-journalists in 2009, and his recommendations wage hikes for both categoriers of newspapwer employees were notified by the government Nov 11, 2011.

A bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh said: "Accordingly, we hold that the recommendations of the wage Boards are valid in law, based on genuine and acceptable considerations, and there is no valid ground for interference under Article 32 of the Constitution of India."

Upholding the validity of the Majithia wage boards, the court said: "The wages as revised/determined shall be payable from Nov 11, 2011, when the government notified the recommendations of the Majithia wage Boards."

"All the arrears up to March 2014 shall be paid to all eligible people in four equal instalments within a period of one year from today and continue to pay the revised wages from April 2014 onwards," the court said in its order.

Examining the challenge to the constitutional validity of the Working Journalist Act, Chief Justice Sathasivam, pronouncing the judgment, said the court was of the opinion that the challenge to the act "is wholly unfounded, baseless and completely untenable".

Addressing the contention by the newspaper organisations that the wage boards have not taken into account regional variations, the court said: "It is clear from the report that the wage Boards have categorized the HRA and transport allowance into X, Y and Z category regions, which reflects that the cost on accommodation and transport in different regions in the country was considered."

The court also rejected the newspaper organisations' objection to the appointment of former law secretary K.M.Sahni and journalist P.N.Prasanna Kumar as independent members of the board.

"Merely because K.M. Sahni was a part of the government that took the decision to set up the wage Boards, does not automatically follow that he ceased to be an 'independent' member of the wage Boards. We are satisfied that K.M. Sahni is an independent member of the Board and cannot be considered to be 'biased' in any manner."

"The contention of the petitioners alleging bias against independent members of the wage Boards, being based merely on their past status, is entirely baseless in law and amounts to imputing motives," the court concluded.

Furthermore, the court said that "there is gradation of variable pay and allowances according to the size of the establishments wherein smaller establishments are required to pay those at a lower rate compared to larger establishments".

"Hence, we are satisfied that the wage Boards followed certain well laid down principles and norms while making recommendations."

Rejecting the objections to the procedure followed by the wage boards, the court said: " Numerous such incidental contentions vis-a-vis procedure adopted by the wage Boards were alleged which, in our considered view, are not of such grave nature that it calls for withdrawing the recommendations of wage Boards."

"In this light, after having exhaustively gone through the record of proceedings and various written communications, we are fully satisfied that the wage Boards' proceedings had been conducted and carried out in a legitimate approach and no decision of the wage Board is perceived to having been taken unilaterally or arbitrarily."

It also described as "not correct" the newspapers' contention that the boards copied the Sixth Pay Commission blindly.

"The concept of 'variable pay' contained in the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission has been incorporated into the wage Board recommendations only to ensure that the wages of the newspaper employees are at par with those employees working in other government sectors."

"Such incorporation was made by the Majithia wage Board after careful consideration, in order to ensure equitable treatment to employees of newspaper establishments, and it was well within its rights to do so," said the court.

--Indo-Asian News Service

PTI Report: 

 The Supreme Court today upheld the recommendations of Majithia wage Board for journalists and non-journalists on their pay structure and directed that the revised salaries be granted to the employees.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said that the revised pay structure should be given to the employees from November 11, 2011 when the Centre notified the recommendations of the Board.

It said that new pay structure would be given from April 2014 and the employer will have to pay arrears within a year in four instalments.

"We hold that the recommendations are valid," the bench said, adding that the Board had followed proper procedures in giving its recommendations and the allegations levelled against it and its constitution are not right.

The bench dismissed the pleas filed by various newspaper managements challenging the validity of the Board's constitution and its recommendations.

"We are fully satisfied that the procedure adopted by the Board is legitimate and no decision was taken unilaterally and arbitrarily and there is no irregularity in the procedure, the bench said.

The bench also said that the recommendations by the Board regarding variable pay is also within its jurisdiction.

"It cannot be held that wage structure is unreasonable," it said.

The court in January this year had reserved its verdict on the pleas of the newspapers.

The 6th (Majithia) wage Board was constituted by the Labour Ministry in 2007 despite strong reservations from the newspaper industry, and thereafter announced an adhoc interim relief of 30 per cent of basic pay with effect from January 2008. This was implemented by the industry despite the heavy financial burden.

The wage Board submitted its final recommendations on December 31, 2010, which were notified by the Centre with certain modifications, a year later on November 11, 2011. PTI 

JAK HAILS:

It is a great victory for Working Journalists and Non Journalist Employees of Newspapers. We must congratulate those journalist organizations who fought for justice and the role played by Journalists' Association of Karnataka, National Union of Journalists (India), Confederation of Newspaper Employees, Dr.N.K.Trikha, Shri Rajendra Prabhu, Com.M.C.Narasimhan for working day in and day out for the success. I wish to thank all those who helped me to present the Memorandum to the Jt.Majithia Wage Board during its sitting at Bengaluru namely, the DH&PV Employees Union, Newspaper Employees Union headed by Com.M.C.Narasimhan, Indian Express employees Union, UNI and PTI Unions.

While celebrating the success it would be our endeavour to see that all the Newspaper Employers to implement the recommendations of the Wage Board totally and completely.

I once again congratulate the members of JAK and BNEU for the success, delayed but not denied !

Sathyameva Jayathe !

- Prof.B.Harishchandra Bhat, President Journalists' Association of Karnataka

NUJ WELCOMES:

New Delhi: “The National Union of Journalists (India) hails the Supreme Court's decision rejecting the petitions of the newspaper managements on the Majithia Wage Board Recommendations and the Government’s subsequent notification on the issue of newspaper employees wage fixation. The Court has called for payment of wages of both journalist and non-journalist employees of newspaper establishments as per the new scales from November 2011 and implementation from April 2014.

The NUJ(I) welcomes this as a great victory of the newspaper employees, journalists and non-journalists together who fought the managements attempts to block the wage revision that came after 12 years in particular and working class in general at a time when the employers have been pressuring government to deny workers their due under the pretext of globalisation and liberalisation. The Government has also done the right thing to stand by justice to workers in notifying the Majithia Boards’ recommendations with minor modifications. The credit for the success in the case goes to the Confederation of All unions of the newspaper employees including the NUJ(I) under the leadership of the PTI Federation Secretary Mr. M.S. Yadav. 

The NUJ(I) considers this success as a challenge for the newspaper employees, more specifically working journalists to stand united and beat the managements’ attempts to impose an illegal contract system on them and also work together for the advancement of ethical journalism against attempts to dilute and disfigure it by various outside and inside forces.

Uppala Laxman                    Prasanna Mohanty

President                              Secretary General

ಸಚ್ಚಿದಾನಂದ ನಗರ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ: ಸುಪ್ರೀಂ ತೀರ್ಪಿನಂತೆ ಇತ್ಯರ್ಥ

ಸಚ್ಚಿದಾನಂದ ನಗರ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ: ಸುಪ್ರೀಂ ತೀರ್ಪಿನಂತೆ ಇತ್ಯರ್ಥ
ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಕಮೀಷನರ್ ಪ್ರಕಟಣೆ















ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು: ನಗರದ ರಾಜ ರಾಜೇಶ್ವರಿ ನಗರ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಸಚ್ಚಿದಾನಂದ ನಗರ ಬಡಾವಣೆಯ ನಿವೇಶನದಾರರಿಗೆ ಖಾತೆ, ಕಟ್ಟಡ ನಕ್ಷೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಸವಲತ್ತು ನೀಡಿಕೆಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಸುಪ್ರೀಂಕೋರ್ಟ್ ನೀಡಿದ ತೀರ್ಪನ್ನು ಪಾಲಿಸುವ ಮೂಲಕ  ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಬಗೆಹರಿಸುವುದಾಗಿ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಕಮೀಷನರ್  ಎಂ. ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನಾರಾಯಣ ಅವರು ಶನಿವಾರ ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ರಾಜರಾಜೇಶ್ವರಿ ನಗರ ವಲಯ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ರಾಜರಾಜೇಶ್ವರಿ ನಗರ ವಿಧಾನಸಭಾ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಉಸ್ತುವಾರಿ ಸಚಿವ ರಾಮಲಿಂಗಾರೆಡ್ಡಿ, ಮೇಯರ್ ಬಿ.ಎಸ್. ಸತ್ಯ ನಾರಾಯಣ ಅವರೂ ಹಾಜರಿದ್ದ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಶಾಸಕ ಮುನಿರತ್ನ ಅವರು ಸಚ್ಚಿದಾನಂದ ನಗರ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪಿಸಿದಾಗ ಕಮೀಷನರ್ ಅವರು ಈ ಘೋಷಣೆ ಮಾಡಿರುವುದಾಗಿ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಮೂಲಗಳು ತಿಳಿಸಿವೆ.

ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಡಾವಣೆಯ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪಿಸಿದ ಶಾಸಕರು ಸುಪ್ರೀಂಕೋರ್ಟ್ ತೀರ್ಪು ನಿವೇಶನದಾರರ ಪರವಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ನಿವಾರಿಸದೆ ಸತಾಯಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದಾಗ ಕಮೀಷನರ್, ಮೇಯರ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಚಿವರು ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳನ್ನು ತರಾಟೆಗೆ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ನಿವಾರಿಸುವ ಭರವಸೆ ನೀಡಿದರು ಎಂದು ಮೂಲಗಳು ತಿಳಿಸಿವೆ.

ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಜರಿದ್ದ ಸಚ್ಚಿದಾನಂದ ನಗರ ನ್ಯಾಯಪರ ಆಂದೋಲನದ ಸದಸ್ಯರೂ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಪ್ರೀಂಕೋರ್ಟ್ ತೀರ್ಪಿನ ಪ್ರತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಸಚಿವರು, ಮೇಯರ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಕಮೀಷನರ್ ಇತರರ ಗಮನಕ್ಕೆ ತಂದರು. ಬಡಾವಣೆಯ ಶಾಸನಬದ್ಧತೆಯನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿ ಹಿಡಿದು ಖಾತೆ, ಕಟ್ಟಡನಕ್ಷೆ, ಸವಲತ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡುವಂತೆ ಆಜ್ಞಾಪಿಸಿದ್ದ ಸಿವಿಲ್ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯದ ತೀರ್ಪನ್ನು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಲಾಗಿದ್ದ ಮೇಲ್ಮನವಿಗಳನ್ನು ಹೈಕೋರ್ಟ್ ಮತ್ತು ಸುಪ್ರೀಂಕೋರ್ಟ್ ವಜಾ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದವು. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ಸಿವಿಲ್ ಕೋರ್ಟ್ ತೀರ್ಪು ಅಂತಿಮಗೊಂಡಿತ್ತು.

MLA Muniratna promises to remove all BBMP hurdles in Sachidananda Nagara Lay Out, without bribery

MLA Muniratna promises to remove all BBMP hurdles in Sachidananda Nagara Lay Out, without bribery

Banglare: Rajarajeshwari Nagar MLA, Mr. Muniratna met with more than 400 site owners and home owners of the Sachidananda Nagara Lay Out in Rajarajeshwari Nagara , on Sunday (4th August 2013) morning. The meeting was arranged by Sachidnanada Nagara Nyayapara Andolana, (SNNA) , a registered Society, that is fighting for Khatas, Building plans and all lay out facilities without paying a single paisa of bribe to any of the public officials.

SNNA movement was started almost three years ago by a group determined site owners who opposed paying bribes, and got the Khatas and all other statutory papers from BBMP thru Lokayukta, RTI and Gandhigiri.  However, this successful movement was hindered by inappropriate interference by the former MLA from Rajarajeshwari Nagar and former Mayor of Bangalore and few BBMP Officials.

Dr. Shankara Prasad, one of the members of the SNNA movement explained, to Mr. Muniratna,  how BBMP officials avoided implementing Supreme Court order and Lokayukta order; and how BBMP officials even stopped electricity supply from BESCOM and threatened to stop BWSSB water supply. Dr. Prasad also appraised, how the local Welfare Association was acting like a conduit for collecting bribe money to pay politicians and bureaucrats.

Nethrakere Udaya Shankara Bhat, one of the key forces behind the SNNA movement gave a five point program for implementation by the new MLA, Mr. Muniratna. He requested that immediate action is required in the following areas.

BBMP to Issue khatas and building plans to all site owners of layout who have not yet got them.

Provide for reliable BWSSB water supply
Make sure BESCOM does not threaten any lay out residents.

Stop all land mafia activities in the lay out.
Provide police protection for safe living in the lay out.

MLA Muniratna, spoke to the large audience and assured that he will speak and write to BBMP Joint Commissioner, BESCOM Chief Engineer, BWSSB authorities and the police and resolve most of the issues in the next few weeks.

Muniratna also commented on the apathy of citizens in not removing non-performing elected officials, and gave the example of how Rajarajeshwari Nagar, ward 160 had voted for BJP candidate in large numbers in spite of poor performance. MLA spoke about his humble beginnings as an idli seller in Malleswaram, and his “corruption free” approach in public life.  Muniratna explained that his main motive for being in politics is to do “seva” to people.

And he also appreciated the way SNNA is forthcoming in publicly discussing the issue of corruption, as well as taking remedial measures.

SNNA members appreciated the hopeful message of MLA, and are eagerly waiting to see the outcome of his promises.

ಸವಲತ್ತಿಗೆ ಅಡಚಣೆ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟಾಚಾರ ರಹಿತವಾಗಿಯೇ ನಿವಾರಣೆ: ಮುನಿರತ್ನ ಭರವಸೆ

ಸವಲತ್ತಿಗೆ ಅಡಚಣೆ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟಾಚಾರ ರಹಿತವಾಗಿಯೇ ನಿವಾರಣೆ: ಮುನಿರತ್ನ ಭರವಸೆ

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು: ರಾಜರಾಜೇಶ್ವರಿ ನಗರದ ಸಚ್ಚಿದಾನಂದ ನಗರ ಬಡಾವಣೆಯ ಜನತೆಗೆ ನ್ಯಾಯೋಚಿತ ಸವಲತ್ತು ಪಡೆಯುವಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ಅಡಳಿತಶಾಹಿಯಿಂದ ಆಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ಎಲ್ಲ ಅಡಚಣೆಗಳನ್ನು ಭ್ರಷ್ಟಾಚಾರ ರಹಿತವಾಗಿಯೇ ನಿವಾರಿಸಿಕೊಡುವುದಾಗಿ ಶಾಸಕ ಮುನಿರತ್ನ ಭಾನುವಾರ (04-08-2013) ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಭರವಸೆ ನೀಡಿದರು.

ಸಚ್ಚಿದಾನಂದ ನಗರ ಬಡಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟಾಚಾರ ಮುಕ್ತವಾಗಿ ಖಾತೆ, ಕಟ್ಟಡ ನಕ್ಷೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಇತರ ಸವಲತ್ತುಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಹೋರಾಟ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಸಚ್ಚಿದಾನಂದ ನಗರ ನ್ಯಾಯಪರ ಆಂದೋಲನ (ನೋಂದಾಯಿತ) `ಎಸ್ ಎನ್ ಎನ್ ಎ' ಸಂಘಟಿಸಿದ್ದ ಕಾರ‌್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಡಾವಣೆಯ ಸುಮಾರು 400ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ನಿವೇಶನದಾರರು ಹಾಗೂ ನಿವಾಸಿಗಳನ್ನು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿ ಅವರು ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.

ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಅಡಿಷನಲ್ ಕಮೀಷನರ್, ಬೆಸ್ಕಾಂ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಎಂಜಿನಿಯರ್, ಜಲಮಂಡಳಿ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಪೊಲೀಸರ ಜೊತೆ ಮಾತನಾಡುವುದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಅಗತ್ಯ ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆಯುವ ಮೂಲಕ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬಗೆ ಹರಿಸಿಕೊಡುವುದಾಗಿ ಶಾಸಕರು ಭರವಸೆ ನೀಡಿದರು.

ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡದ ಜನಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಗಳನ್ನು ಬದಲಾಯಿಸುವ ನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಗರಿಕರು ತೋರುತ್ತಿರುವ ಅಸಡ್ಡೆ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಖೇದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತ ಪಡಿಸಿದ ಅವರು, ರಾಜರಾಜೇಶ್ವರಿ ನಗರ- 160ನೇ ವಾರ್ಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಮತದಾರರು ಹೇಗೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡದ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಅಭ್ಯರ್ಥಿಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ ನೀಡಿದರು ಎಂದು ಅಂಕಿ ಅಂಶಗಳ ಸಹಿತ ವಿವರಿಸಿದರು.

ಮಲ್ಲೇಶ್ವರದಲ್ಲಿ ತಾವು ಇಡ್ಲಿ ಮಾರುವ ಹುಡುಗನಾಗಿ ಹೇಗೆ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಬಡತನದ ಜೀವನ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದೆ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ವಿವರಿಸಿದ ಅವರು ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಬದುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟಾಚಾರ ಮುಕ್ತ ವ್ಯವಹಾರ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡಿರುವುದಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಿದರು. ರಾಜಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದ ತಮ್ಮ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಉದ್ದೇಶ ಜನಸೇವೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದ ಅವರು ಭ್ರಷ್ಟಾಚಾರದ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಬಹಿರಂಗವಾಗಿ ಹೋರಾಟಕ್ಕೆ ಇಳಿದ ಆಂದೋಲನವನ್ನು ಶ್ಲಾಘಿಸಿದರು.

ಎಸ್ ಎನ್ ಎನ್ ಎ ಚಳವಳಿಯ ಸಕ್ರಿಯ ಸದಸ್ಯರಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬರಾದ ಡಾ.ಶಂಕರ ಪ್ರಸಾದ್ ಅವರು ಸುಪ್ರೀಂಕೋರ್ಟ್ ಆದೇಶ ಮತ್ತು ಲೋಕಾಯುಕ್ತ ನಿರ್ದೇಶನಕ್ಕೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾಗಿ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ವರ್ತಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ವಿಧಾನವನ್ನು ವಿವರಿಸಿದರು.

ಮೂಲಭೂತ ಅಗತ್ಯಗಳಾದ ನೀರು ಮತ್ತು ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಸರಬರಾಜಿಗೆ ಧಕ್ಕೆ ಉಂಟು ಮಾಡುವ ಬೆದರಿಕೆ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದನ್ನೂ ಅವರು ದಾಖಲೆ ಸಹಿತ ವಿವರಿಸಿದರು. ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಕ್ಷೇಮಾಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಸಂಘವು ಭ್ರಷ್ಟಾಚಾರದ ಚಟುವಟಕೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಮಧ್ಯವರ್ತಿಯಾಗಿ ವ್ಯವಹರಿಸಿದ ಬಗೆಯನ್ನೂ ಅವರು ಬಿಚ್ಚಿಟ್ಟರು.

 ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬ ಸಕ್ರಿಯ ಸದಸ್ಯ ನೆತ್ರಕೆರೆ ಉದಯಶಂಕರ ಭಟ್ ಅವರು ಬಡಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜಾರಿಯಾಗಬೇಕಾದ ಅಗತ್ಯ ಸವಲತ್ತು ಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಐದಂಶದ ಕಾರ‌್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ಮುಂದಿಟ್ಟರು.

ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಖಾತೆ, ಕಟ್ಟಡ ನಕ್ಷೆ ವಿತರಣೆಯ ಪುನರಾರಂಭ, ಜಲಮಂಡಳಿ ಮೂಲಕ ಸಮರ್ಪಕ ನೀರು ಪೂರೈಕೆ, ಬೆಸ್ಕಾಂ ಮೂಲಕ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಸರಬರಾಜು, ಬಡಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲ ರೀತಿಯ ಭೂ ಮಾಫಿಯಾ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಗಿತಗೊಳಿಸುವುದು, ನಿವೇಶನದಾರರು, ನಿವಾಸಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಒದಗಿಸುವುದು ಇವು ಅಗತ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಆಗಬೇಕಾದ ತುರ್ತು ಕಾರ‌್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳು ಎಂದು ಅವರು ಹೇಳಿದರು.

ಎಸ್ ಎನ್ ಎನ್ ಎ ಚಳವಳಿಯು ಸುಮಾರು ಮೂರು ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಖಾತೆ, ಕಟ್ಟಡ ನಕ್ಷೆ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ನಾಗರಿಕ ಸವಲತ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ಲಂಚಮುಕ್ತವಾಗಿ ಪಡೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಸಲುವಾಗಿ ಆರಂಭವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಲೋಕಾಯುಕ್ತ, ಆರ್ ಟಿ ಐ ಮತ್ತು ಗಾಂಧಿಗಿರಿ ಮಾರ್ಗಗಳ ಮೂಲಕವಾಗಿ ತನ್ನ ಹೋರಾಟ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಾ ಬಂದಿದೆ.  ರಾಜರಾಜೇಶ್ವರಿ ನಗರದ ಮಾಜಿ ಶಾಸಕ ಹಾಗೂ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿಯ ಮಾಜಿ ಮೇಯರ್ ಮತ್ತು ಕೆಲವು ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ಹಸ್ತಕ್ಷೇಪದಿಂದಾಗಿ ಈ ಸವಲತ್ತು ಗಳಿಕೆಗೆ  ಅಡ್ಡಿಯುಂಟಾಗಿತ್ತು.

SNNA Stages Gandhigiri in R R Nagar Police Station

SNNA Stages Gandhigiri in Police Station

Bangalore: Residents and site owners of Sachidananda Nagara Layout in Raja Rajeshwari Nagar staged Gandhigiri in Raja Rajeshwari Nagar Police Station on Saturday 17th November 2012 to press their demand to take action against land mafia in the area.

Members of Sachidananda Nagara Nyayapara Andolana (SNNA) met the Police Inspector Sri Ravi  with Roses and presented the memorandum to him pressing the legal action against the tresspasers and law breakers who are carrying out land mafia activities in the layout.

The Facts of the case according to the memorandum are::

* Civil Court upheld the legality, ownership issue and directed BBMP to issue Khatas, Building Plans to site holders of Sachidanadna Nagara in 2005. This order of Civil Court was upheld by High Court in 2006 and Supreme Court in 2010. With Supreme Court Judgment the said civil court decree order attained finality.

* Tahsildar of Bangalore South issued endorsement regarding the creation of  fake documents (in 2007) related to the portion of land of layout and  lodged complaint to the RR Nagar Police to register criminal cases against two persons namely Naveen Kumar & Vijay. Case was registered against Naveen Kumar, but the other one was leftout.

* One Vijay who is suspected to be the left out person, allegedly creating records after records on the basis of first fake document and impersonating himself in various names

* High Court of Karnataka issued Status-Quo order regarding the entries in the land in question in 2010. But BBMP officials violated the Order and issued Khata's and Building Licences in favor of above mentioned alleged persons. These persons even built building up to 5 floors neglecting fact that they were given the permission to  build 2^nd floor only. They even damaged the  public road, drainage, water pipe lines etc  formed way back during 1993 to 2000. This road was clearly shown in the GIS Map prepared by Sky Group in 2012 on orders of  BBMP and also in the layout map.

* Complaints lodged  by site owners from the beginning were neglected and unheeded by the police.

They demanded to 

• Register Cases and File FIR immediately against the offenders mentioned above & initiate action as per law and arrest them.
• Respect Court Orders and Police Commissioner’s direction and give protection to  site owners. (various judgments and  other relevant records attached to the memorandum)
• Initiate action to vacate the  tress passers in the sites/ sheds in the layout and to fulfill the other demands mentioned in the detailed memo attached to this memorandum..

 Police Inspector Mr. Ravi heard pleadings patiently and assured the site owners that he will initiate action immediately to stop all activities conducted by the miscreants against court orders. He also assured to take-up the matter with higher officers to  chalk out the action plan on the issue.

Click the image above for larger view the land mafia activities in the area and click the link here to view more information on the SNNA Struggle: http://spardha.wordpress.com

Karantaka Journalists submit memo to Governor

Karantaka Journalists submit memo to Governor

Bangalore: As a part of the National agitation of National Union of Journalists (India), Journalists' Association of Karnataka (JAK) submitted a memorandum to His Excellency Hans Raj Bharadwaj, Hon'ble Governor of Karnataka on Friday 23rd June 2012, stressing the need to protect journalists from all kinds of astroscities, attacls. fpr,atopm pf


JAK delegation was led by the President Prof. B. Harischandra Bhat, Gen. Secretary Nethrakere Udaya Shankaranarayana Bhat, Vice President Venugopalan and Organising Secretary Ompprakas Agarwal.


His Excellency, the Governor received for memorandum and agreed to forward the same with strong recommendations to the  Hon'ble Prime Minister. The delegation thanked Shri Hans Raj Bharadwaj for the patient hereing and kind action. 


Here is the full text of Memorandum:


Dr. Manmohan Singhji,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India


Through 
Shri Hans Raj Bharadwaj,


Honorable Governor of Karnataka, 
Raj Bhavan,
Bengaluru,


Demand for comprehensive security legislation for journalists’ protection, formation of Media Council and implementation of Wage Board recommendations.


Respected Sir, 


Working journalists all over the country are shocked at the rising trend of physical assaults on them and their killings in offices, homes and on streets. Attacks are mostly carried out by individuals and groups often supported and backed by political parties and influential persons wielding power who fear exposure of their wrong deeds and true selves.


Over 190 attacks on journalists have been documented in different States in the recent past. In Assam alone, for instance, at least one journalist has been fatally attacked every year during the past 14 years for refusing to file report as per the instructions of either the terrorists or the police.


The situation is no different in the naxal-affected areas. It has worsened with the rise of what is called ‘conformance’ in political parlance, threat to mafias that grab land and other resources with political support, blind hero-worship of political personalities and the general atmosphere of intolerance and appeasement. Reporters, cameramen and other media personnel are always exposed to vandalism and physical assaults by groups feigning victimization. The police do not intervene in time or effectively -- more often they reach the spot much after the occurrence despite getting informed.


The National Union of Journalists (India) to which we the members of Journalists Association of Karnataka are affiliated had on different occasions brought it to the notice of the authorities concerned and sought immediate redressal also. But, we are sorry to state that, such individual instances are generally being dealt with as merely a law and order issue, and are invariably lost in police records sans any concrete action. Everyday journalists are facing new types of threats. The situation has become so drastic and critical that it now requires drastic solutions to protect journalists which only the Central Government and Parliament can provide.


We take this opportunity to make it very clear that we are not asking for police protection for every working journalist. 


The lack of a specific legal mandate to the authorities responsible for maintaining law and order to protect working journalists and other media staff compels us to demand protection from vandals and mafia-paid criminals for our tribe. To obviate this lacuna and demand entitlement to protection against physical assaults the journalists need a specific and comprehensive law to be enacted.


There is a need for a comprehensive Journalist Protection Act with clear provisions of registering complaints in police stations on intimidation, attack or torture of journalists and also that all such complaints should be investigated by a SP/DCP level police officer. Failure to nab the culprit should be turned into a black mark on the concerned police officer’s ‘Performance Record’. 


We also want that the investigation of all such complaints should be conducted within two days and action taken / ensured against the culprits. Moreover, whenever a journalist is assassinated or attacked the case should be heard in a fast track court to ensure timely justice. It is essential keeping in view the fact that no action is taken against culprits for months and sometimes years even after registration of FIR. 


It is imperative to mention here as also demand that in grave situations of any type media persons covering them should not be treated as crowd. The police should be directed to help and provide complete information to the media so that all concerned persons get correct information. If the authorities feel that it causes trouble in rescue operations, the administration can organise training camps to impart basic training required for covering such events. 


A rising trend has been noticed in the recent past that racketeers – social, commercial as also religious – have started launching newspapers with the twin nefarious designs i.e. to become self-appointed editors or to put a ‘YES MAN’ of their choice as dummy editor to misuse the privileges to their benefit as also to befool the masses by casting their spell over them. The most funny side of such editors is that they have no professional standing. we the state unit NUJ (I) condemn such racketeers and to protect the professional ethics and standards of Indian journalism demands that the definition of a journalist should be mentioned in unambiguous terms in the proposed Journalist Protection Act. The Journalists Association of Karnataka (JAK) is determined to press for such national legislation and will agitate for it and address Parliament, State legislatures and political parties on its immediate promulgation. 
The Journalists Association of Karnataka(JAK) also demands that the Central government to take steps to force the newspaper managements to implement the recommendations made by the Journalists’Wage Board headed by Justice Majithia, immediately.


Keeping in view the present media situation, the unhealthy trends in both the print and electronic media and the new challenges of the online media as well as emerging trends in various sections of society impacted by the media, we feel the Government of India should take early steps to set up a Media Council to guide the progress of the sector into a robust fourth estate supporting and promoting diversity and freedom in this largest constitutional democracy in the world. The NUJ(I) has been making this demand for quite some years ever since the electronic media emerged as a powerful factor in our mass communication environment. We are now encouraged by the recent expression of strong support to this demand by the new chairman of the Press Council, Mr. Justice (retd.) Markandeya Katju who himself is the author of many significant judgments in the Supreme Court.


Newpapers, in most cases, apparently on the behest of their owners have stopped reporting Press Council’s decisions as they often tend to expose the weaknesses and creeping viruses in the Press. In the electronic media the so-called publishers’ regulatory bodies have been ignoring the emerging basic trends and only dealing with peripheral wrong doings. The Central Government as well as State governments are making either desultory or politically motivated moves in their relationship with media. The Centre’s weakness was recently exposed when it quietly withdrew instructions to the electronic media in the context of the public concerns about certain events in the TV coverage. 


All this exposes the absence of a robust mechanism that is authentic voice of sanity and public concern and democracy in regard to media content. The JAK therefore strongly stresses the demand for Media Council being set up by a new law expanding the Press Council legislation to take care of the emerging media environment. We want the provisions in the proposed Media Council which not only help in keeping a watch on the media but also protects the interests of the working journalists. Such an effective body can be created within the Journalist Protection Act only.