By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad,Oct. 29: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation filed against the state government’s move to develop 1,412 acres in Velugodu reserve forest at Atmakuru in Kurnool district as Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy Smruthi Vanam (memorial park) as arbitrary and illegal.
The government, on September 30, had issued a GO to develop a memorial in the name of YSR at the spot where his copter crashed on September 2.
WATCH, a registered society represented by its secretary, Mr B. Dasharatham, had filed the PIL saying that the Nallamala forest which covers a large number of districts is the only dense forest in the state. He said apart from having rich flora and fauna, it houses a number of animals and plant species which may become extinct due to the proposed memorial.
The government told a division bench comprising Chief Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy that it would neither destroy the flora and fauna nor the environment in the forest. It also submitted that the government would not fell any trees in the area. It added that it would take steps for afforestation at the proposed site.
Friday, October 30, 2009
AP High Court seeks information on women police in Andhra Pradesh police department
By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad,Oct. 29: The Andhra Pradesh High Court asked the state government to spell out what steps it took to improve representation of women in the police department.
At present, women police constitute only 2.6 per cent of the police force in AP. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, while admitting a petition filed by one Mr Srinivas Madhav, a practising advocate, directed the principal secretary of the home department to provide more details on the number of women and men they had taken in each recruitment drive. It also sought the men and women ratio in the police department.
When Mr K. Janakirama Reddy, counsel for the home department, told the bench that they had classified certain categories of jobs in the police department and were taking women for those categories, the bench wondered whether gender would make any difference in the civil police wing.
The bench asked him: “If you feel women are not suited for night patrolling, driving and other tasks, better define them.”
The bench observed that they do not see any problem in women officers handling law and order situations and asked the home department, director-general of police and the chairman of the State Level Police Recruitment Board to file their counters.
Mr Srinivas Madhav told the court that it was a matter of concern that out of the total 65,826 civil police in the state, only 1,744 are women and there are only 27 women police stations in the state. He said it was nothing but tokenism which will not yield the desired results.
He added that in Tamil Nadu which has a women police force of 8,810 in its 72,208 civil police strength, there were 196 women police stations. While Tamil Nadu reported just 7,811 crimes against women in 2007, the crime rate added up to 11.8 per cent and for the same period, the crime rate in the state was 30.3 per cent.
Hyderabad,Oct. 29: The Andhra Pradesh High Court asked the state government to spell out what steps it took to improve representation of women in the police department.
At present, women police constitute only 2.6 per cent of the police force in AP. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, while admitting a petition filed by one Mr Srinivas Madhav, a practising advocate, directed the principal secretary of the home department to provide more details on the number of women and men they had taken in each recruitment drive. It also sought the men and women ratio in the police department.
When Mr K. Janakirama Reddy, counsel for the home department, told the bench that they had classified certain categories of jobs in the police department and were taking women for those categories, the bench wondered whether gender would make any difference in the civil police wing.
The bench asked him: “If you feel women are not suited for night patrolling, driving and other tasks, better define them.”
The bench observed that they do not see any problem in women officers handling law and order situations and asked the home department, director-general of police and the chairman of the State Level Police Recruitment Board to file their counters.
Mr Srinivas Madhav told the court that it was a matter of concern that out of the total 65,826 civil police in the state, only 1,744 are women and there are only 27 women police stations in the state. He said it was nothing but tokenism which will not yield the desired results.
He added that in Tamil Nadu which has a women police force of 8,810 in its 72,208 civil police strength, there were 196 women police stations. While Tamil Nadu reported just 7,811 crimes against women in 2007, the crime rate added up to 11.8 per cent and for the same period, the crime rate in the state was 30.3 per cent.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
AP High Court seeks info on flood relief from AP, Centre
By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad,Oct. 12: The Andhra Pradesh High Court wanted to know from the Centre and the state government the measures taken so far to provide relief and rehabilitation to flood victims in the five districts of the state.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy was dealing with a public-interest litigation filed by Ms T.H. Soubhagya Lakshimi, a practising advocate, seeking a direction to declare the flood as a national calamity.
The court asked the state and the Centre to post replies with the details on the measures taken in the flood affected districts within 10 days.
The petitioner alleged that the flood affected people were not getting proper assistance and confidence to start their life afresh.
Permission for screening DVDs
A petitioner on Monday urged the AP High Court to permit his counsel to arrange the screening of televised interviews of ministers requesting the Congress high command to make Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as Chief Minister.
Mr Bezavada Govinda Reddy, a Congress leader from Nellore district had earlier filed a writ of quo warranto against the appointment of Mr K. Rosaiah as Chief Minister of the state. He filed an additional affidavit seeking permission of the court to screen the DVDs of interviews of the ministers.
The petitioner submitted two DVDs containing footage of the interviews of the ministers and a press conference addressed by the Chief Minister. The petitioner told the court that Mr Rosaiah in his press conference told the media that he does not find anything wrong in ministers and MLAs representing to the high command to make Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy as the Chief Minister.
Info sought on Maoist leader
The High Court directed the police to file written instructions by Wednesday on the alleged detention of Maoist leader N. Ravi Sharma and his wife Ms N. Anuradha in Bihar state by the special police officers of the state. A division bench comprising Justice D.S.R. Varma and Justice R. Kantha Rao, while dealing with habeas corpus petition filed by Ms Sulochanamma, mother of Ravi Sharma, asked the assistant government pleader Ms Mohana Reddy to get instructions from the police on the whereabouts of the duo. Later in the evening, she informed the court that there was no information on the arrest of the two Maoists leaders with the state police.
Mr Raghunath, counsel for the petitioner, alleged that the officers of the special investigation wing of the state had arrested the two in broad daylight in Bihar. The court asked Ms Mohana Reddy to submit written instructions on the issue.
GHMC told to stop building
The High Court on Monday directed the GHMC to stop construction at the open space situated at Road No. 82, Phase III of Jubilee Hills area in the city. The court was dealing with a PIL filed by one Mr T. Hanumantha Rao alleging that the GHMC is constructing houses for weaker section in an open space belonging to the Jubilee Hills Co-operative Housing Society. The court directed the GHMC to conduct the land survey to identify and determine the open space.
Hyderabad,Oct. 12: The Andhra Pradesh High Court wanted to know from the Centre and the state government the measures taken so far to provide relief and rehabilitation to flood victims in the five districts of the state.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy was dealing with a public-interest litigation filed by Ms T.H. Soubhagya Lakshimi, a practising advocate, seeking a direction to declare the flood as a national calamity.
The court asked the state and the Centre to post replies with the details on the measures taken in the flood affected districts within 10 days.
The petitioner alleged that the flood affected people were not getting proper assistance and confidence to start their life afresh.
Permission for screening DVDs
A petitioner on Monday urged the AP High Court to permit his counsel to arrange the screening of televised interviews of ministers requesting the Congress high command to make Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as Chief Minister.
Mr Bezavada Govinda Reddy, a Congress leader from Nellore district had earlier filed a writ of quo warranto against the appointment of Mr K. Rosaiah as Chief Minister of the state. He filed an additional affidavit seeking permission of the court to screen the DVDs of interviews of the ministers.
The petitioner submitted two DVDs containing footage of the interviews of the ministers and a press conference addressed by the Chief Minister. The petitioner told the court that Mr Rosaiah in his press conference told the media that he does not find anything wrong in ministers and MLAs representing to the high command to make Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy as the Chief Minister.
Info sought on Maoist leader
The High Court directed the police to file written instructions by Wednesday on the alleged detention of Maoist leader N. Ravi Sharma and his wife Ms N. Anuradha in Bihar state by the special police officers of the state. A division bench comprising Justice D.S.R. Varma and Justice R. Kantha Rao, while dealing with habeas corpus petition filed by Ms Sulochanamma, mother of Ravi Sharma, asked the assistant government pleader Ms Mohana Reddy to get instructions from the police on the whereabouts of the duo. Later in the evening, she informed the court that there was no information on the arrest of the two Maoists leaders with the state police.
Mr Raghunath, counsel for the petitioner, alleged that the officers of the special investigation wing of the state had arrested the two in broad daylight in Bihar. The court asked Ms Mohana Reddy to submit written instructions on the issue.
GHMC told to stop building
The High Court on Monday directed the GHMC to stop construction at the open space situated at Road No. 82, Phase III of Jubilee Hills area in the city. The court was dealing with a PIL filed by one Mr T. Hanumantha Rao alleging that the GHMC is constructing houses for weaker section in an open space belonging to the Jubilee Hills Co-operative Housing Society. The court directed the GHMC to conduct the land survey to identify and determine the open space.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Modernity takes toll of Ramzan tradition
By S A Ishaqui
Like in many regions, Ramzan in Andhra Pradesh is linked to mouth- watering sevayya (vermicelli). The link between Ramzan and sevayya is so intimate that this festival has come to be known in the State as "semia la panduga" (feast of sevayya).
Sevayya is not just an ingredient or a dish. It's a tradition as far as Ramzan in the State is concerned. Every Muslim house in Andhra Pradesh used to be busy making hand-rolled sevayya in the last 10 days of the month. Everyone in the family right from the grandma to the toddler used to contribute in making the vermicelli. The neighbours too used to participate, lending their helping hand. In those days sevayya were not sold in the open market and they had to be made at home.
Till 1970s sevayya used to be rolled out by hands. It was a tedious and long- drawn process. Only the experts were involved in the main process, while others used to be engrossed in works like drying the wet vermicelli under the sun. The moulds ranged from ordinary eating plates to aluminium utensils.
Later machines, both manual and mechanical, were introduced, speeding up the process of sevayya preparation. But manual machines were quite popular in those days.
But with life becoming fast in the new millennium, the tradition of making sevayya at home has died down. Today sevayya, of various sizes, are readily available in the market. They are no longer made at home.
Kheer made of sevayya is a Ramzan delicacy and many Muslims make it a point to eat a bowl of sheer khurma before going to the Idgah or mosque to offer the Id prayers.
The making of Sevayya used to be an instrument in bringing hearts closer. It was a week-long process and used to bring the rich and the poor together. Both Muslims and Hindus used to participate in the preparation. There used to be one or two vermicelli machines in a mohalla.
People used to borrow the machine, one after one.
The wheat dough that's left in the machine is rolled into a chapati and cut into small diamond-shaped pieces, called sutlees. The payasam made of such sutlees is one of the Ramzan delicacies.
The sevayya machines have disappeared. So is the tradition of making vermicelli at home. Sevayya used to serve as a thread that bonds the hearts.
And with the tradition gone, the binding thread is broken.
Like in many regions, Ramzan in Andhra Pradesh is linked to mouth- watering sevayya (vermicelli). The link between Ramzan and sevayya is so intimate that this festival has come to be known in the State as "semia la panduga" (feast of sevayya).
Sevayya is not just an ingredient or a dish. It's a tradition as far as Ramzan in the State is concerned. Every Muslim house in Andhra Pradesh used to be busy making hand-rolled sevayya in the last 10 days of the month. Everyone in the family right from the grandma to the toddler used to contribute in making the vermicelli. The neighbours too used to participate, lending their helping hand. In those days sevayya were not sold in the open market and they had to be made at home.
Till 1970s sevayya used to be rolled out by hands. It was a tedious and long- drawn process. Only the experts were involved in the main process, while others used to be engrossed in works like drying the wet vermicelli under the sun. The moulds ranged from ordinary eating plates to aluminium utensils.
Later machines, both manual and mechanical, were introduced, speeding up the process of sevayya preparation. But manual machines were quite popular in those days.
But with life becoming fast in the new millennium, the tradition of making sevayya at home has died down. Today sevayya, of various sizes, are readily available in the market. They are no longer made at home.
Kheer made of sevayya is a Ramzan delicacy and many Muslims make it a point to eat a bowl of sheer khurma before going to the Idgah or mosque to offer the Id prayers.
The making of Sevayya used to be an instrument in bringing hearts closer. It was a week-long process and used to bring the rich and the poor together. Both Muslims and Hindus used to participate in the preparation. There used to be one or two vermicelli machines in a mohalla.
People used to borrow the machine, one after one.
The wheat dough that's left in the machine is rolled into a chapati and cut into small diamond-shaped pieces, called sutlees. The payasam made of such sutlees is one of the Ramzan delicacies.
The sevayya machines have disappeared. So is the tradition of making vermicelli at home. Sevayya used to serve as a thread that bonds the hearts.
And with the tradition gone, the binding thread is broken.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Dr Y S R Reddy chopper crash : Separate probe not needed : AP High Court
By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad,Sept. 10: The AP High Court on Thursday refused to gave a direction to the Centre to appoint a special investigation team to probe the helicopter crash which took the lives of the then chief minister, Y.S. Raja-sekhar Reddy, and four others.
A division bench comprising the Chief Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, while disposing a petition filed by Mr R. Chandra Sekhar Reddy, Supreme Court advocate, said there was no need to appoint a team to probe the incident.
Mr A. Rajasekhar Reddy, assistant-solicitor-general, told the court that apart from the CBI, the DGCA and civil aviation authorities are also probing the incident. He said the state government had appointed a two-member expert team to conduct an inquiry into the mishap. While agreeing with the contentions of the Centre, the judges observed, “We do not see any other reason as to why we should order another probe.”
The bench made it clear that the petitioners can supply whatever material they have in this regard to the investigating agencies and get their doubts clarified.
Hyderabad,Sept. 10: The AP High Court on Thursday refused to gave a direction to the Centre to appoint a special investigation team to probe the helicopter crash which took the lives of the then chief minister, Y.S. Raja-sekhar Reddy, and four others.
A division bench comprising the Chief Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, while disposing a petition filed by Mr R. Chandra Sekhar Reddy, Supreme Court advocate, said there was no need to appoint a team to probe the incident.
Mr A. Rajasekhar Reddy, assistant-solicitor-general, told the court that apart from the CBI, the DGCA and civil aviation authorities are also probing the incident. He said the state government had appointed a two-member expert team to conduct an inquiry into the mishap. While agreeing with the contentions of the Centre, the judges observed, “We do not see any other reason as to why we should order another probe.”
The bench made it clear that the petitioners can supply whatever material they have in this regard to the investigating agencies and get their doubts clarified.
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