Hyderabad: Free tution to Muslims for SSC exams

DECCAN CHRONICLE | S.A. ISHAQUI

Published Dec 18, 2015, 6:45 am IST

3,000 students and dropouts would be provided coaching.

 Representational image. (Photo: PTI)

Hyderabad: South Zone police and the minority welfare department have decided to provide free coaching to Muslim students who are appearing for SSC exams or are attempting again after failing earlier.

South Zone DCP V. Satyanarayana mooted a proposal to Mr Syed Omar Jaleel, special secretary to the minority welfare department, stating that the police had noticed many Muslims students failing to clear the SSC exams due to lack of proper coaching in mathematics, science, English and Telugu. This was resulting in their dropping out altogether. 

Many such students were found loitering in the streets, which caused not only social problems but law and order issues as well in the old city.

The DCP felt that if the students were given special coaching in the four subjects, many of them could clear their exams and go for higher studies. Mr Jaleel said the department had accepted the proposal and released Rs 20 lakh for coaching through Minority Finance Corporation to start the coaching centres from Milad-un-Nabi, birthday of Prophet Mohammad.

He said 3,000 students and dropouts would be provided coaching. “We will use 43 computer training centres belonging to the Urdu Academy in the old city to offer coaching every day from 4 to 6 pm.”

Each teacher will be paid a honorarium of Rs 2,500 and the centres would offer two- to three-month coaching to prepare the students for the exams in March 2016.

Durbar behind MIM popularity

DECCAN CHRONICLE | S.A. ISHAQUI

Published Dec 16, 2015, 12:25 pm IST

Updated Feb 23, 2016, 2:43 pm IST

All MIM legislators hear public grievances daily, solve them.

 An elderly Sikh gentleman airs his grievance to MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi at Darussalam, the party headquarters, in Hyderabad on Tuesday. (Photo: DC)

Hyderabad: The daily durbar at Darussalam, the MIM headquarters, where the party’s elected representatives meet the people, is thronged these days by aspirants for party tickets for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation polls. Traditionally, the daily durbar gives the people an opportunity to meet the party’s elected representatives, including the party president, on all days, except Fridays, from 11 am to 3 pm. 

 

The people’s grievances are heard, and steps taken to redress them. Most of the visitors seek ration cards, old-age pensions, water connections or highlight sewerage or road-related problems. According to Jaffar Hussain Meraj, Nampally MLA, on an average, about 500 people from various corners of the city and across the state, irrespective of caste and creed, visit the party office daily. They list various types of problems, mostly regarding basic amenities like water, power, roads and sewerage besides seeking help for ration cards, old age pensions, delay in sanctioning of scholarships and government welfare scheme etc. 

 

“We, including Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi, are available in the office to hear their problems and resolve them by contacting the officers concerned, either on phone or writing a letter. If necessary, we personally visit the officers concerned to resolve the issues,” Mr Meraj said. He expects the number of visitors to increase after the announcement of the 2BHK scheme, especially in light of the forthcoming polls. 

 

MLC Altaf Hyder Rizvi said, “We also sit on Sunday for the convenience of the working classes so that they can visit the office to resolve their issues. This has been the practice since the party’s inception and after Sultan Salauddin Owaisi became an MLA, it gained more significance.” According to the party workers, besides the four hours at the party headquarters, every MLA, MLC and corporator has to be available at their local party offices in the evening for the public. 

 

Every day, 200 to 300 workers also visit the headquarters, apart from the public. Since elections are round the corner, the number of visitors has crossed over 1,500 per day, and is expected to increase after the poll notification is issued. “Interestingly, we are witnessing considerable increase in the number of non-Muslim visitors, who are aspiring for party tickets,” Mr Rizvi said. 

 

The party MLAs said that the MIM is prepared to face the elections and this time too, its is confident of living up to its slogan, “Shaher hamara, mayor hamara”. The party has decided to use the social media as a publicity tool for its election campaign. The MIM won 43 wards in the last elections and is expecting to better its performance to 55 seats and emerge as single largest party in the GHMC.

Hyderabad develops a taste for middle east food

DECCAN CHRONICLE | S.A. ISHAQUI

Published Dec 6, 2015, 6:53 am IST

Stephen of Deccan Engineering College also depends on shawarma for lunch during college hours

 Low fat food: Chicken pieces being scraped at Mataam-Al-Arabi restaurant in Barkas. (Photo: DC)

Hyderabad: Several new food joints are offering cuisine from the Middle East in areas like Mehdipatnam, Humayunnagar, Tolichowki, Banjara Hills, Mallepally, Falaknuma, Barkas and others parts of the city.

These food joints mainly serve dishes like Laham Mandi, Laham Khabsa, and Laham Majbooz, apart from the Shawarma, a Turkish starter familiar in the Middle East.

Mr Abdullah Bin Masood Bashadi, owner of Mataam-Al-Arabi restaurant, said Laham means meat in Arabic and Laham Mandi dish is prepared with lamb meat, or beef and rice.

He said Laham Khabsa is also prepared with meat and rice. Mandi is served with boiled meat and Khabsa is served with fried meat and Laham Majbooz is similar to biryani.

Time to binge: Customers relish Arabic food at Mataam-Al-Arabi restaurant in Barkas.   (Photo:  DC)

“We started our eatery about five years ago in Barkas. Software professionals, doctors, politicians, businessmen and film stars including actor-politician Jayasudha are our regular customers,” he added.

He said “We also serve a dish called Faham which contains either grilled or fried meat, fish or bater (quail). We serve Mandi either with grilled or fried fish (royal basa of Vietnam) or meat keeping in view the preference of Hyderabadis for spicy food.”

There is a dampener for vegetarians. He said that as of now many restaurants have not made an effort to introduce Arab vegetarian dishes in the city. 

A few restaurants are serving Masoub, a sweet banana-based breakfast dish made from a base of over-ripe bananas and ground flatbread, and Mutabbaq, a stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread.

Restaurants in the city are offering traditional Arab deserts like Aseed, a sweet dish made with jaggery and wheat flour, and Umm Ali, a bread pudding.

Shawarma is a meat (chicken, mutton and beef) preparation, where the meat is grilled for as long as a day rolled into flat bread called khubus (pita bread) or rumali roti and dressed with sauces, explained Mr Shaik Iliyas, a shawarma maker at MB Food Junction in Falaknuma of the Old City.

Mr Mohsin Alkaseri, a resident of Barkas, said, “Hyderabadis who returned from Saudi a decade ago first introduced shawarma here. Now it is easily available everywhere in the new city and also in Secunderabad.”

Health-friendly Arab foods hit among city youngsters

Many youngsters say they prefer Mediterranean cuisine as it is less oily and spicy. Jibran Asif Shareef, a student of MJ Engineering College, who is fond of Mandi, said, “It is less spicy and less oily when compared with our traditional Deccani non-vegetarian dishes.”

Yaser Shareef, a graduate from Anwar-Ul-Uloom College, said “I always finish my lunch during college hours with shawarma. I can buy it for just `50 along with a cola, which suits my pocket and the food joint id close to my college.”

Stephen of Deccan Engineering College also depends on shawarma for lunch during college hours.

The upscale restaurants located in Banjara Hills and Masab Tank have been serving Lebanese dishes like tabbouleh (a salad made with tomatoes, couscous and olive oil), fattoush (toasted pita bread salad),uzi (whole lamb rice), baklava (dry fruit filled pastry), and kunafa (cheese pastry soaked in sugar syrup) apart from mandi, khabsa and aham majbooz.

How it is done

Masoub

Ingredients
l 3-4 very ripe bananas
l 2-3 fla breads
l 10-15 sliced almonds
l 1 tbs golden raisins/ dates (optional)
l 1 tbs fresh cream
l 2 tbs honey
l 1/4 cup whole milk

Preparation
Peel, mash and place the bananas in a  bowl. Coarsely grind the bread using a blender or food grinder. Add to the banana mash and mix well. The ratio of banana to bread should be 50:50. Make mixture slightly stiff and add milk if it’s very thick. Spoon the banana mixture into a serving dish and smooth out on top. Add raisins, almonds, low-fat fresh cream and honey on top. Heat the Masoub in a microwave oven for 30 seconds if desired.

Masoub

Baklva

Wakf Board to move Supreme Court for contempt against Lanco

DECCAN CHRONICLE | S.A. ISHAQUI

Published Nov 30, 2015, 10:19 am IST

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Wakf Board has decided to move a contempt petition against Lanco Hills Technology Park Pvt Ltd for creating third party interests by selling flats and villas at its Lanco Hills Project in the city without informing buyers about the Supreme Court direction with regard to the land on which the project is located.
According to the Board, it has noticed that the company was advertising the sale of flats and villas without mentioning the Supreme Court observations that the land on which the Lanco Hills Project was located belonged to the Dargah Hazrath Hussain Shah Vali under the jurisdiction of the Wakf Board.
Explaining the case, Mr Syed Omar Jaleel, competent authority of the Board and special officer of the minority welfare department told this newspaper that the Wakf Tribunal had earlier, in an order, specified the actual owners of the land. Aggrieved by the findings of Wakf Tribunal, the Lanco Hills Technology Park moved a civil revision petition before the Hyderabad High Court. However, the HC had upheld the tribunal’s order.
While dismissing the revision petition, the HC pointed out, “There is prima facie case to hold that the land is Wakf land. In this background if the petitioner is allowed to alienate the land as rightly observed by the Wakf Tribunal, it would certainly multiply litigation une-ndingly as third party interests would certainly come into the picture.”
Lanco Hills Technology Park challenged the HC order before the Supreme Court in 2012 and the apex court stayed the orders of the HC and the tribunal.

Hyderabad High Court orders CCTVs in recreational clubs

DECCAN CHRONICLE | S A ISHAQUI

Published Nov 1, 2015, 9:28 am IST

Updated Jan 10, 2016, 8:38 am IST

The cameras will be linked to police stations for observation

 Image for representational purpose only

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court has directed 11 recreation clubs located in the city and one in Jagtial, Karimnagar district, to install video cameras or closed circuit cameras to record recreational activities and link them with local police stations.
Justice A.V. Sesha Sai was disposing of a batch of petitions moved by a group of clubs challenging the interference of the police and banning card games on their premises. They contended that rummy with 13 cards was a game of skill and does not fall under the definition of gambling.
Mr Venugopal, counsel for the Telangana state home department, told the court that it was the duty of the police to enforce the provisions of the AP Gaming Act, 1974. Under Sections 5 and 9 of the Act, the police is obliged to conduct raids whenever it receives reliable information that gambling is taking place on the premises.
While concluding that the rummy with 13 cards was not a game of chance and was preponderantly a game of skill, the judge ordered the police not to interfere with the game, whatever be the stakes.
He then ordered the managements of the clubs to install CCTV cameras and link them to police stations for observation.

NJAC stalemate leads to 392 judges vacancies

DECCAN CHRONICLE | S.A. ISHAQUI

Published Sep 21, 2015, 6:29 am IST

The Centre had decided to replace the existing collegium system with the NJAC

 Representational image

Hyderabad: The stalemate with regard to the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) has led to none of the 392 judges’ vacancies in various High Courts across the country being filled.

The Government of India on April 13, 2015 had notified the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014 and the Constitution (99th Amendment) Act, 2014 for bringing in a change in the existing system for appointment of judges in Supreme Court and High Courts.

As per the existing system, a collegium headed by the Chief Justice of India and three senior-most judges are empowered to make recommendations to the Centre for the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and high courts and also elevation of high court judges as Chief Justices and permanent judges.

The Centre had decided to replace the existing collegium system with the NJAC, which would be chaired by the Chief Justice of India, and would also comprise two senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court, the Union minister of law and justice and two eminent persons to be nominated by a committee of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha — if there is no Leader of the Opposition, then the leader of the single largest Opposition party in Lok Sabha.

After the notification of the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014, certain people had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Act and a Bench had reserved its orders in July this year.

Though there was no stay from the Supreme Court on the NJAC Act, neither the collegium nor the Centre has made any effort to fill the vacancies.

According to the Union Law ministry, most High Courts across the country function with less than 50 per cent of the sanctioned strength of judges.

According to the ministry, the high courts of Hyderabad, Guwahati, Gujarat, Karnataka, Patna, Punjab and Haryana and Rajasthan are functioning with acting Chief Justices.

A senior judicial officer in the Hyderabad High Court said the sanctioned strength of judges was 49 though the court was currently functioning with 27 judges, which was resulting in a rise in pending cases.

Muslim scholars appeal against cow slaughter

DECCAN CHRONICLE | S.A. ISHAQUI

Published Sep 20, 2015, 7:47 am IST

Updated Jan 10, 2016, 8:38 am IST

Muslims could slaughter sheep, camels, buffaloes, cows, bulls and bullocks

 Representational Image. (Photo: AFP/File)

Hyderabad: Amid a debate on cow slaughter ahead of Bakrid, a group of Islamic scholars from southern India has appealed to Muslims to avoid sacrificing cows, in the community’s larger interest.

Maulana Anwar Ahmed, senior academic with the Jamia Nizamia, said the Sharia had given multiple options to Muslims in terms of animal sacrifice on the three days of Bakrid.

Muslims could slaughter sheep, camels, buffaloes, cows, bulls and bullocks.

He said there was nothing wrong if the Muslims “strategically” refrained from sacrificing cows for the festival. “Islam is a religion of flexibility. We are not bound to slaughter cows on Id. We have other options which we can use,” the maulana said.

Islamic scholar Syed Hussain Madani, who is heading the campaign to appeal to the Muslim community to refrain from sacrificing cows, said that well-known personalities like Majlis-e-Tameer-e-Millat president Mohammed Abdul Raheem Qureshi,  All India Muslim Personal Law Board assistant secretary Moulana Aneesur Rehman Azmi of Chennai and others like Maulana Mufti Nassem Ahmed Ashrafi, and Maulana Mufti Mahboob Shareef Nizami were backing the initiative. Mr Madani advised Muslims to show pragmatism in the prevailing situation and sacrifice the alternative animals permitted by the Sharia to ensure that peace is maintained.

He said, “Allah doesn’t burden more than one can bear. There is ample room to avoid this (sacrifice of cow) in the prevailing situation when there are legal restrictions and threat to communal disharmony over the issue.”

Telangana faces big test on 12 per cent Muslim quota

DECCAN CHRONICLE | S.A. ISHAQUI

Published Aug 31, 2015, 6:36 am IST

Updated Jan 10, 2016, 8:38 am IST

YSR step was quashed as reservations crossed 50 per cent

 Representational image (Photo Courtesy: centreright.in)

Hyderabad: Will the Telangana government succeed in providing 12 per cent reservations to Muslims in the state as promised in its election manifesto?

As per the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Indira Sawhney case, reservations contemplated in Clause (4) of Article 16 of the Constitution cannot exceed 50 per cent.

Crossing the 50 per cent mark was one of the grounds for the maiden attempt by the Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy-led Congress government in July 2004, to provide five per cent reservations to Muslims, to be struck down.

After three years of legal battle, the government cut five per cent down to four per cent to maintain total reservation at 50 per cent. Even the four per cent survived only due to an interim order of the Supreme Court.

If the Telangana government provides 12 per cent reservations, the percentage of total reservations will reach 58 per cent. Whether this will stand judicial scrutiny is a big question before the government.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his Cabinet colleagues have been claiming that they will adopt the Tamil Nadu model where total reservations are 69 per cent.

After more than 50 years of struggle, the Tamil Nadu government had succeeded in including the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in educational institutions and of appointments or posts in the Services under the State) Bill, 1993 in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution through the 76th Amendment.

Though that decision was validated by Parliament through Article 31 (B) of the Constitution, a seven-member bench of the Supreme Court had held that validation of Acts through the Article could not be barred from judicial review and the matter of Tamil Nadu was also pending before the Supreme Court for final verdict.

In view of this fact, the move of the Telangana government to provide 12 per cent reservations and whether it will stand legal scrutiny is interesting.

Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao has been claiming that strong political will and his conviction will ease things.

He had also constituted a three-member commission of inquiry in March this year to study the social and educational backwardness among Muslims of the state.

The commission has begun its exercise.

High Court advocate S. Sriram said the government would have to follow the procedure provided under law and should not repeat the mistakes done while providing reservations to Muslims in Andhra Pradesh.

The reservations will have to pass judicial scrutiny because Article 16 (4) of the Constitution speaks of adequate representation and not proportionate representation, he added.

The Supreme Court had said that in certain exceptional circumstances the reservations may cross 50 per cent but it would be subjected to judicial review, Mr Sriram said.

Mr Abid Rasool Khan, chairman of the Minority Commission for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, said, “Twelve per cent reservation for Muslims will have authenticity in the eyes of the law when the Minority Commission, which is a statutory body, is also involved along with the Backward Classes  Commission and the three man-committee in studying and identifying social and educational backwardness among Muslims.”
Timeline
July 12, 2004: The Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy-led Congress government, after coming to power in 2004, issued G.O. Ms. No.33 on July 12, 2004, providing five per cent reservation to Muslims by treating the entire community as a Backward Class under Category-E in addition to the existing categories of A, B, C, D, in educational and employment, following a report of the Commissionerate of Minorities Welfare, headed by the ex-officio commissioner.

Sept. 2004: The GO was stuck down by a five-member Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court based on the findings of the apex court in the Indira Sawhney case. The court had held that the GO was ultra vires inter alia on the ground that the government was bound to consult the Backward Classes Commission before undertaking any revision of the Backward Classes List and they did not reflect formation of opinion as to adequacy of representation of Muslims in the service of the state. It then directed the government to reconstitute the AP Commission for Backward Classes to examine the matter.

Nov. 2004: The government constituted the BC Commission on November 14 and it submitted its recommendations on June 14, 2005. On the basis of the report, the government issued the AP reservation of seats in educational institutions and of appointments/posts in public services in the state as Muslim Community Ordinance, 2005 (Ordinance No. 13 of 2005, dated 20-06-2005).

Oct. 2005: The Ordinance was repealed by AP Act No. 21 dated October 25, 2005.

Nov. 2005: Another five-member bench of the AP High Court struck down the Act. However it declared that there was no prohibition to declare Muslims, as a community, socially and educationally backward for the purposes of Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution of India, provided they satisfied the test of social backwardness.

2007: The government brought out another Act to provide 4 per cent reservations to Muslims. This was again challenged before the High Court and a five-member Bench referred the matter to a seven-member Constitution Bench in January 2008.

Feb. 2010: The seven-member Constitution Bench, in a 5-2 majority ruling, held the law providing 4 per cent reservation to backward class Muslims in the state as invalid stating that it was unsustainable and in violation of Article 14, 15(1) and 16 (2) of the Constitution. The bench found that the commission had neither evolved any criteria nor published these before inviting objections.

It had merely stated that it had followed the two criteria evolved by the Mandal Commission for identification of socially and economically Backward Classes among non-Hindu communities.

When the matter was placed before the Supreme Court, it gave an interim order for continuation of reservations to Muslims ruling that the reservation would be available only to Muslims who fell under the 14 categories figuring in the Andhra Pradesh Reservation Act, 2007.
Muslim groups enjoying a reservations in AP and Telangana
Achchukattalavandlu, Singali, Singamvallu, Achchupanivallu, Achchukattuvaru, Achukatlavandlu,
Attar Saibulu, Attarollu
Dhobi Muslim / Muslim Dhobi / Dhobi Musalman, Turka Chakla or Turka Sakala, Turaka Chakali,Tulukka Vannan, Tsakalas, Sakalas or Chakalas, Muslim Rajakas
Faqir, Fhakir Budbudki, Ghanti Fhakir, Ghanta Fhakirlu, Turaka Budbudki, Darvesh, Fakeer
Garadi Muslim, Garadi Saibulu, Pamulavallu, Kani-kattuvallu, Garadollu, Garadiga
Gosangi Muslim, Phakeer Sayebulu
Guddi Eluguvallu, Elugu Bantuvallu, Musalman Keelu Gurralavallu
Hajam, Nai, Nai Muslim, Navid
Labbi, Labbai, Labbon, Labba
Pakeerla, Borewale, Deera Phakirlu, Bonthala
Qureshi, Kureshi / Khureshi, Khasab, Marati Khasab, Muslim Katika, Khatik Muslim
Shaik / Sheikh, n Siddi, Yaba, Habshi, Jasi
Turaka Kasha, Kakkukotte Zinka Saibulu, Chakkitakanevale, Terugadu Gontalavaru, Thirugatigantla,
Rollaku Kakku Kottevaru, Pattar Phodulu, Chakketakare, Thuraka Kasha.
Other Muslim groups excluding Syed, Saiyed, Sayyad, Mushaik; Mughal, Moghal; Pathans; Irani; Arab; Bohara, Bohra; Shia Imami Ismaili, Khoja; Cutchi-Memon; Jamayat; Navayat.

Telangana, Andhra Pradesh told to check adulteration

DECCAN CHRONICLE | S. A. ISHAQUI

Published Aug 20, 2015, 8:25 am IST

Updated Jan 10, 2016, 8:38 am IST

States must list steps to stop the use of carbide

 Representative image (Photo: DC)

Hyderabad: A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt of the Hyderabad HC on Wednesday said that food adulterators were more dangerous than terrorists. Dealing with a taken up case seeking to prevent the use of chemicals for ripening fruits, they said that while terrorists killed innocent people at one go using firearms, adulterators are killing people slowly by injecting poison into their bodies.

Adjourning the case for two weeks, the bench directed both states and the Centre to file affidavits within two weeks explaining the steps being taken to prevent the use of chemicals to ripen fruits and inspection reports.

On August 14 the bench had directed the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana state governments to conduct surprise checks in the fruit markets of both states, collect samples, send them for lab testing and submit reports on August 19.

When the case come up for hearing the Andhra Pradesh government submitted that it has not found carbide ripened fruits in Andhra Pradesh, but the Telangana government confirmed the use of calcium carbide to ripen fruits in Hyderabad city.

TS special counsel A. Sanjeev Kumar submitted that the authorities had seized the carbide, sealed shops and had sent the fruits to labs for verifying the impact of chemicals.

Senior counsel P. Gangaiah Naidu, who appeared for fruit traders, said that officials inspected only nine shops out of 90 at the Gaddi Annaram fruit market in the city and there were no fruits in the sealed shops.

Defending the traders he said that fruits are perishable and there is no other way to ripen them.

The bench said, “Traders can sell raw mangoes and leave the job of ripening to consumers. The only way is to allow fruits to ripen naturally.”

High Court seeks clarity on jurisdiction over Andhra Pradesh

DC | S A ISHAQUI

Published Jun 21, 2014, 7:47 am IST

Court asked whether the existing judges of High Court had power to deal with AP cases

 AP High Court. (Photo: DC/File)

Hyderabad: Certain provisions of the AP Reorganisation Bill, 2014, have left the judges of the Hyderabad High Court in a dilemma while dealing with cases pertaining to Andhra Pradesh.
Justice L. Narasimha Reddy on Friday asked the Union of India, ministry of law and ministry of home to clarify whether the existing judges of the common High Court had power to deal with cases pertaining to Andhra Pradesh.

Also read: Demand for division of High Court
While dealing with a contempt case, the judge pointed out that Section 30 of the AP Reorganisation Act directed that on and from the Appointed Day, which is notified by the President of India on June 2, the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad would be the common High Court for both the states till a separate High Court for the state of AP was formed under Article 214 of the Constitution read with Section 31 of the Act.
The judge said that prima facie, Parliament had decided to constitute a separate High Court for AP through Sections 31 and 32 of the Act. The seat of the High Court for the state of AP was left to be notified under Section 31 and the allocation of judges for functioning in the High Court of AP from the date determined by the President of India was to be done under Section 32 of the Act.

Hyderabad mosque to provide bathing service to dead

DECCAN CHRONICLE | S.A. ISHAQUI

Published Jun 14, 2015, 6:52 am IST

First-of-a-kind facility at Masjid Tek

 The facilities at the Ghusul Khana-e-Mayyat

Hyderabad: The managing committee of the Masjid Tek at Nampally has decided to provide the facility to wash dead bodies within the mosque premises. It will be a free-of-cost facility extended to all deserving Muslims. The committee has constructed a ‘Ghusul Khana-e-Mayyat’ with modern facilities for washing and shrouding of bodies before they are taken to the graveyard for burial.

Muneeruddin Muqtar, the president of the managing committee, said, “Many Muslims are not able to perform the Ghusul (washing of the dead body), for their near and dear ones when they die, at their homes due to lack of space. In many apartment complexes, other residents raise objections. In such circumstances, it becomes very difficult to wash the dead bodies.”

The committee decided the construct a Ghusul Khana for such people. Akbaruddin Owaisi, the MIM floor leader in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, along with several prominent Muslim scholars and religious leaders, inspected the Ghusul Khana on Saturday and praised the mosque committee for providing the facility. Mr Muqtar said that it is a first-of-its-kind facility in the city.

Common High Court to continue for Telangana, Andhra Pradesh until new court is established

DC | S.A. ISHAQUI

Published May 2, 2015, 8:28 am IST

AP, Telangana to have common HC until new court is established

HYDERABAD: While directing the Centre to allocate funds for the setting up of a separate High Court for AP, the Hyderabad High Court on Friday ruled that the Constitution did not permit having the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad, which is an integral part of Telangana.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar made it clear that the existing common High Court would remain the High Court for AP and Telangana till the constitution of a separate High Court for AP.
The bench was delivering the final verdict on petitions by High Court advocate T. Dhangopal Rao, AP High Court Sadhana Committee and others, seeking creation of separate High Courts for the AP and Telangana.
While appreciating the sentiments of the people of Telangana and AP for wanting separate High Courts for both states, and the gesture extended by the Telangana government to provide logistic and infrastructural support for creation of the separate HC for AP at Hyderabad, the Bench held that the Telangana government had no role in creation of the HC for AP.
Justice Sengupta said, “It is for the AP government to provide infrastructure and the place to set up its own  High Court. Just earmarking a certain area for the new High Court by the government is not enough, it has to indicate the place where it has to be located.”

National Human Rights Commission summons Telangana State police

DC | S.A. ISHAQUI

Published Apr 24, 2015, 11:48 am IST

Scene of offence clearly shows that it was a cold blooded murder

 Syed Bilal (centre), the father of terror suspect Viquaruddin, and women from Medak district with farmer suicide cases, wait for their turn at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the second day of its camp in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Hyderabad: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday directed the Telangana government to furnish the reports of inquest, post-mortem and magisterial inquiry with regard to Alair encounter in which Viquaruddin and four other terror suspects were killed on April 7.

 

The full bench of the NHRC comprising its chairman K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices Cyriac Joseph, D. Murugesan and S.C. Sinha was hearing complaints by Mohammed Ahmed, father of Viquaruddin activists seeking action against the police personnel involved in the encounter.

 

Mr Ahmed asked whether it is possible for a person with hand cuffs and chained legs to snatch a weapon from the police and the pictures of the scene of offence clearly shows that it was a cold blooded murder.

 

It was brought to the notice of the bench that a day prior to the killings, one of the deceased, Zakir was taken to the Warangal prison from Chanchalguda prison in the city, despite his appearance along with the other four before the trial court at Hyderabad on April 7. While asking to furnish the reasons for shifting him from the city to Warangal, the NHRC bench pointed out that it is raising suspicion at the motive of the police.

 

The IG of Hyderabad Naveen Chand, told the bench that the deceased had a known history of violence and they are responsible for killing of three home guards and a constable and they also assaulted the jail staff in Chanchalguda prison. “As the suspects killed several policemen, it seems that out of vindictiveness, the police eliminated them,” the bench said.

 

NHRC holds open hearing:

 

The full bench of the NHRC, which conducted an an open hearing in the city on Thursday directed the Cyberabad Police commissioner C.V. Anand to submit within three weeks, the report on the progress of the investigation including postmortem reports with regard to the police firing in Kishanbagh area of the city on May 14 last year.

 

The bench was dealing with complaints seeking action against the police for opening fire on a mob through BSF police personnel during a clash between two groups in Kishanbagh in which three people were killed and 18 were injured.

 

90-yr-old incited mob: Police

 

The NHRC bench on Thursday directed the SP of Srikakulam district to submit postmortem reports of the deceased who were killed in police firing on February 28, 2011 during an agitation against the establishment of thermal power plant in Kakarapalli of the district. The bench also directed to furnish the copies of medical reports of the police personnel injured in the clash.  

 

The bench was dealing with a complaint by the villagers alleging that the police held a 90-year-old woman responsible for the agitation and was arrested. It wondered how a 90-year-old woman who is in immovable condition could lead the mob to attack the police. 

 

Gail probe on hold:

 

The NHRC on Thursday directed the East Godavari police to complete the investigation with regard to the fire mishap caused due to the leakage of gas pipe line of the GAIL in Nagaram village in which 21 people were killed and 18 others injured.

 

While hearing the complaints from the villagers seeking action against the GAIL authorities, the bench enquired with the police about the progress of the investigation. The police said that the investigation was put on hold as the union petroleum minister ordered probe through a high level committee. 

 

Labour abuse may invoke SC Act:

 

A bench of the NHRC conducting an open hearing here on Thursday directed the AP and the Telangana governments to examine the possibilities of booking a case under the SC and the ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 in the incidents of bonded labour.

 

While hearing the complaints from victims of bonded labour from both the states, the bench said it would be more appropriate if the cases are booked under the Act 1989, in addition to the cases under the Minimum Wages Act and bonded labour, as in most of the cases, the victims belong to the SC and the ST communities.

 

The bench also enquired about the progress of the investigation in the case of the children involved in bangle making. The police, however, said that the investigation is yet to complete. The bench suggested taking steps to recover Rs 20,000, which were given as compensation to the victim from the owners of the units.

Do not jail accused in dowry cases, rules High Court

DC | S.A. ISHAQUI

Published Jan 22, 2014, 1:16 pm IST

The AP High Court asks police to take SP order before arresting a dowry accused.

Hyderabad: In a significant ruling, the AP High Court has directed the police not to arrest the accused involved in dowry harassment cases without the permission of the district superintendent of police or any other officer of equal rank in metropolitan cities.
The High Court directed the magistrates that no accused should be remanded to judicial custody mechanically in a routine manner.
While allowing a criminal petition by Syed Kaleemuallah Hussaini and three others seeking anticipatory bail in a dowry harassment case, Justice B. Chandra Kumar observed: “It is most unfortunate that Section 498A IPC has become a weapon for breaking families rather than for uniting them.”
“There cannot be any doubt that there is dowry menace in society. But at the same time, it is also a fact that certain marriages are performed without any dowry.
Due to ill advice or under the wrong impression that the husband may come to terms if a complaint is lodged under Section 498A IPC, complaints are being lodged with the police,” the judge added.
Next: Dowry plaint be examined: Judge
Dowry plaint be examined: Judge
Hyderabad: Issuing certain guidelines to be followed by the investigation officers in dowry harassment cases, Justice B. Chandra Kumar observed that normally, no accused should be arrested on allegations of simple dowry harassment.
If an arrest is necessary, the investigating officer should obtain permission.
He said that when an accused is produced before the magistrate, they should examine the matter judiciously and consider whether there are valid grounds for remanding the accused to judicial custody.
The judge said if arrest is not necessary, the police may complete the investigation and file a chargesheet without arresting the accused.
He also made it clear that in the case of dowry death, suspicious death and suicide or when the allegations are serious in nature, the police officer may arrest the accused and the intimation of arrest should be immediately sent to the concerned SP.
According to the instructions of the judge, no accused or witness should be unnecessarily called to the police station. In case their presence is required for enquiry, they should be sent back immediately after that.
There should not be any unnecessary harassment either to the relatives of the complainant or of the husband. A fair and dispassionate probe should be conducted. After completing investigation, it should be verified by an officer not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police.
The judge said, “During investigation, if the probing officer is satisfied that there is false implication of any person in the complaint, then he may delete the names of such persons from the chargesheet after obtaining necessary permissions from the SP or any other officer equivalent to that rank.”
“As soon as a complaint is received either from the wife alleging dowry harassment or from the husband that there is possibility of being implicated in a case of dowry harassment, then both the parties should be asked to undergo counselling with any experienced counselor or counsellors,” the judge maintained.
He directed that the report of the counsellors should be made a part of the report to be submitted to the court.
The judge also ruled that the SP, in consultation with the chairman, district legal services authority, prepare a panel of counselors and details of the panel, along with their addresses and phone numbers, should be made available at all police stations.
Senior cops should also ensure that the parties are not forced to come to any settlement in police stations against their wishes. “Advocates have to play their roles in trying to unite the families.
The welfare of the children should be given utmost importance,” he added. The judge directed the DGP to issue necessary instructions to the concerned authorities in this regard.