Wrongful confinement in jail

National human rights’ body leaves matter open
National human rights’ body leaves matter open
Chandgarh, March 3
In a case where a person was wrongfully kept in jail for two months owing to a mistake by the court staff, the NHRC has left the matter open and said that the complainant can approach the court of law for relief.
Pankaj Chandgothia, Advocate and national convener of NGO, Harmonious Omni-Directional Public Endeavour (HOPE), had filed a complaint with the NHRC on June 18, asking for compensation and corrective measures in case of a person who was put in jail for over two months desspite being acquitted by the court.
The NHRC has left the matter open and said that "the victim may seek redressal of his grievance from the court of law”.
Ironically, in the judgement he was acquitted but due to inadvertence or clerical mistake, his conviction warrant was prepared by the reader of the court and got signed by the AD and SJ in a routine way. Later, the mistake was detected and release order was sent on June 17 for victim Ravi Kumar.

HC stay on colony in ‘green zone’

Chandigarh, March 3
PUDA’s plan of developing a colony in Fazilka was put on hold by Punjab and Haryana High Court after it directed the authorities to maintain status quo.
The directions came after a social worker, Navdeep Asija, sought judicial intervention in the matter, stating that the new colony was being developed under eco-sensitive zone of Badha Lake wetland.
The petitioner said the decision of developing the colony on the banks of Badha Lake wetland was solely aimed at earning revenue. The decision would destroy hundreds of grownup trees, which provide natural shelter, biodiversity and ecological balance in Fazilka, which is home to national bird peacocks as well, counsel for the petitioner APS Shergil stated.

Modern judicial complexes to be ready in a year: HC Judge

Khamano (Fatehgarh Sahib), March 3
People have high hopes from the judiciary for redressal of their grievances as well as to get justice, which is their fundamental right, so it is the duty of the judicial officers to give proper justice by developing quality delivery system, said Justice Ranjit Singh, chairman, Building Committee of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, while addressing a gathering of judges, lawyers, sarpanches, panches and prominent citizens after lying the foundation stone of the judicial courts-cum-residential complex at Khamano town today.
"Judicial officers should not take their job as a mere employment, but they should work with a mission. Moreover, honesty is not a quality, but a need of a judicial officer, said Justice Ranjit Singh. He termed the judicial complexes as temples of justice. Interestingly, it was for the first time that 14 judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court were present on the occasion.
Justice Ranjit Singh said that all the district headquarters and sub-divisions would have modern judicial complexes with all types of facilities within a year. The Punjab government had sanctioned Rs 135 crore for the purpose and Rs 115 crore had been spent.

Punjabi singer K S Makhan was sent to jail

Punjabi singer K S Makhan was sent to jail by a local court on Friday when he appeared in the court in connection with a case registered against him under NDPS Act for allegedly smuggling Heroin to Canada, where he was staying, in 2006.
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Jalandhar,3 MAR (Press Public News):-Punjabi singer KS Makhan, accused in a drug trafficking case, landed behind bars today after he appeared before the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge.Makhan appeared in the court in a case registered against him under the NDPS Act in 2006 at the Nakodar police station. He was accused of running a network of smuggling heroin from Canada.The police had booked Makhan after nabbing his aide Rajwinder Singh for his alleged involvement in drug trade.Makhan's counsel Vijay Bhushan Mehta said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had granted a bail to him in August, 2011, following which he joined the police investigations.The police presented a challan against him and the court summoned him for personal appearance. Mehta alleged that the police submitted a false report about Makhan, following which the proceedings to declare him a proclaimed offender (PO) were initiated. 

40k Indians may be allowed to work in Europe

London, March 2
At least 40,000 Indians may be allowed to work in Europe, including 12,000 in Britain alone, under a secret trade plan between the European Union and New Delhi, a media report said, citing leaked documents.
The EU has proposed that 40,000 Indian workers will be admitted to Europe without any labour market test as part of the plan to boost export trade with New Delhi, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported, quoting a leaked copy of the EU/India Free Trade Agreement, which is due to be signed later this year.
Central to the agreement is the EU’s offer on what is known as “Mode 4”, which will allow Indian companies to bring temporary workers into the EU, the newspaper said.
According to the leaked papers, out of 40,000 Indians who would be allowed to work in Europe, Britain has been asked to take 12,000, which is 30 per cent of the total allocation, despite the UK making up 12 per cent of the EU’s population.
The 12,000 Indian migrants, who would be able to live and work in Britain for six months, will be in addition to people given visas under Britain’s supposedly strict immigration cap, the newspaper said.
A large number of beneficiaries will be IT workers who already arrive in Britain from India in large numbers, the report added. According to EU officials, in return for opening up the jobs market, countries such as Britain will be helped to land lucrative export deals.
The negotiations on the India deal, first initiated by Former EU Trade Commissioner Lord Mandelson in 2007 and subsequently led by the Business Department, was going on in the shadows for years, the daily said.

Immigration firm owner arrested

Chandigarh, February 28
The special investigation team (SIT) of the Chandigarh Police arrested Brig Rajbir Singh Khanna (retd) of the Silicon Global Education Immigration Company here today.
He was arrested following a complaint by Anuradha Sharma of Mohali, who reported that his company made a false promises of sending her abroad.
She also alleged that the money she paid since 2006 was not returned. The accused was produced before a magistrate, who remanded him in custody till March 13. He has been running the business since 2000.

Sarabjit’s Case

Pak court seeks report from Interior Ministry 
Lahore, February 28
A court in Pakistan has sought a report from the Interior Ministry in response to a petition seeking the release of Indian national Sarabjit Singh, currently on death row for his alleged involvement in bomb attacks in 1990.
Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik of the Lahore High Court yesterday asked the Interior Ministry to file a reply by March 16, failing which the court would decide the matter on merit.
Sarabjit's counsel Awais Sheikh had submitted a petition, seeking that his client be included on the list of foreigners languishing in Pakistan’s jails despite having served their sentences.
Sheikh had asked the court to issue directions in this respect to the Foreign Secretary and the jail superintendent of Kot Lakhpat Jail where Sarabjit is being held. The superintendent had earlier informed the court that though Sarabjit's prison term had expired a year ago, his fate would be decided in the light of directions from the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army and the Presidency. The superintendent said he had written four times to the Inspectorate of Prisons and the Home Department of Punjab, seeking guidance on the issue in the light of these directions.
Sarabjit, imprisoned since 1990, was awarded the death sentence under the Army Act for his alleged involvement in four blasts that killed 14 persons.
He submitted a mercy petition to the army chief, but it was rejected with the direction that it be forwarded to the President.