Kerala Suffered Losses Worth Rs 40,000 Crore in Floods, Says Minister
Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 12: Kerala has suffered a loss of Rs 40,000 crore as per initial estimates in the rains that ravaged it last month, state industries minister EP Jayarajan said on Wednesday.
The state will submit a memorandum to the Centre on Thursday, seeking compensation based on the preliminary estimated loss, he told reporters here after a meeting of the cabinet sub-committee that reviewed the post-flood situation and relief operations. However, Jayarajan said the actual loss would go up once the final picture on the damage caused to houses, public property, agriculture and infrastructure emerged.
Representatives of international financial agencies such as the World Bank, ADB and IFC were in the state to assess the loss, he said. "Their visit would be completed in three-four days, he said, adding that a report was expected from them on September 21 and a decision on getting assistance from these agencies would be taken.
Jayarajan rejected the Congress-led UDF opposition’s charge that the administration has come to a standstill in the absence of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is in the US for treatment. "Relief operations are going on as planned... disbursement of immediate relief of Rs 10,000 to the affected people is almost complete," the minister said. A total of more than five lakh families have been given Rs 10,000 each till Tuesday.
He said the relief now needs to be disbursed to the remaining 96,500 families and it would be completed in two days. Cleaning of houses submerged in the deluge was almost over, the minister said.
About 6.89 lakh dwellings have been cleaned under the leadership of civic bodies, while 4,857 people are still housed in 122 relief camps. According to officials, 491 people have died in rain-related incidents since May 29.
Courtesy: www.news18.com
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
BCI urges CJI to take action against Andhra HC judge for sending young lawyer to 24-hour custody
New Delhi (PTI): The Bar Council of India on Wednesday sought the urgent intervention of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant following a "deeply disturbing" incident where a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court reportedly sent a young advocate to
24-hour judicial custody over a procedural lapse.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, in a formal representation, termed the conduct of Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao "grossly inappropriate" and "damaging to the confidence of the Bar".
“I most respectfully request your Lordship to kindly take immediate institutional cognizance of the matter and call for the video recording of the proceedings, the order passed, and the surrounding circumstances.
“I further request that appropriate administrative action may kindly be considered, including withdrawal of judicial work from the learned Judge pending review, his immediate transfer to some far off High Court, and his nomination for appropriate judicial training/orientation on court management, judicial temperament, Bar-Bench relations, and proportional exercise of contempt/judicial authority,” Mishra wrote.
This representation is made to preserve the “dignity, moral authority and public confidence of the judiciary”, he said, adding, “Judges command the highest respect not by fear, but by fairness, patience, restraint and constitutional humility”.
The communication urged the CJI to intervene at the earliest to ensure that the faith of Bar, particularly young advocates, in the protective and corrective role of the judiciary is restored.
The controversy stems from proceedings on May 5.
According to the BCI, a video circulating online shows Justice Rao rebuking a young advocate who was unable to produce a specific order copy during a hearing.
The letter said that despite the advocate "repeatedly seeking pardon and mercy" and claiming he was in physical pain, the judge remained "unmoved".
The judge allegedly told the lawyer, "now you will learn," and mocked his experience before directing the Registrar and police personnel to take him into custody for 24 hours.
The BCI chairperson said that the judge’s actions lacked proportionality and fairness.
"The dignity of the court is not enhanced when a lawyer is made to beg for grace in open court and is still sent to custody for a procedural lapse," the letter said.
"A young lawyer... is an officer of the Court, still learning, still growing, and entitled to correction without humiliation," it added.
The bar body said that such actions create a "chilling effect" on the legal fraternity, particularly among junior members, and undermine the mutual respect required between the Bench and the Bar.
