Street vendor allegedly attempts suicide after harassment by officers to build auto stand at Bondel
Vendors’ association demand police to take action
Mangaluru: In the backdrop of a suicide attempt by a flower vendor near Bondel Junction, after allegedly being harassed by City Corporation officers under the pretext of a project to construct an auto rickshaw stand, the Dakshina Kannada District Street Vendors’ Association (CITU) has strongly condemned the authorities and demanded strict action against the guilty officers.
The street vendor, identified as Shalini (38), has reportedly been selling flowers near the Junction for the last 13 years. She is being given intensive care at AJ Hospital in Mangaluru as her health condition is said to be critical.
The Association members have pointed out that the auto rickshaw stand was constructed illegally, using the MLC’s funds but without approval of the Corporation. The vendor had been selling flowers 50 metres away from the stand, strictly abiding by the rules for vendors. “In spite of this, Shalini was handled in an offensive manner, with some of the rickshaw drivers parking their vehicles to cause her inconvenience. She was not only issued threats using political influence, but her flower stocks were also destroyed,” they said, urging the police officers concerned to probe the matter and take immediate action on those who harassed Shalini.
Association Working President Sunil Kumar Bajal has also demanded a suspension of the Corporation officers who harassed the vendor with political power.
Honorary President BK Imtiyaz, who issued a joint press release, has called it unfortunate that a woman vendor was being harassed by the auto rickshaw drivers for than a month under influence of a leader of the ruling party. “There is sufficient space in the area for construction of an auto rickshaw stand. Also, it is illegal to construct an auto rickshaw stand without the consent of the Traffic Police and the City Corporation,” he pointed out and warned, “If the police fail to take action against the persons guilty of harassing Shalini, we will undertake a protest leading to Bondel.”
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
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SC stays HC order restraining Tamil Nadu Waqf Board from exercising functions
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a Madras High Court order which restrained the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board from exercising any functions while observing that its constitution was prima facie not in accordance with the provisions of law.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government and others seeking their responses on the petition filed by the waqf board challenging the high court's January 8 order.
The high court had passed the order on a plea which challenged the constitution of the waqf board on the grounds, including that one out of the two persons as mandated in clause (d) of Section 14 of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995, has not been nominated.
The plea before the high court also claimed non-compliance of the mandate that two of the total members of the Bar appointed under sub-section (1) of Section 14, excluding ex-officio members, shall be non-Muslim.
Section 14 of the Act deals with composition of board.
Before the high court, the counsel appearing for the state contended that constitution of the board is almost complete as majority of members have already been nominated or appointed and as far as other members are concerned, steps are being taken to complete the same.
In its order, the high court noted the mandate of second proviso that two of the total members of the board appointed under sub-section (1), excluding ex-offico member, shall be non-Muslim has also been not fulfilled.
"The constitution of the board as exists today, prima facie is not in accordance with the provisions of law," the high court said.
"In view of the above, the board cannot be allowed to exercise any powers and functions under the act. The board is hereby restrained from exercising any powers and functions," it said.
