High Court judge 'loses' pet dog, lets out anger on police before cooling down
New Delhi (PTI): A former Delhi High Court judge got furious and demanded the suspension of the security staff posted at his official residence after he "lost" his pet dog who ventured out of the open gates due to the "callousness" of the sentries.
Justice Gaurang Kanth, however, recanted on his demand later and said he wanted no action against the security personnel.
He had written a letter to a top city police official seeking suspension of security personnel posted at his residence for their alleged lapse of not locking the gates of his bungalow leading to the loss his pet dog, Delhi police officials said on Saturday.
It was not known whether the dog got lost in the city's traffic mayhem or was crushed under a vehicle.
Justice Kanth was recently transferred to the Calcutta High Court.
"I am writing this letter with a lot of pain and anguish. Due to lack of devotion and incompetence on the part of the officers providing security at my official bungalow, I have lost my pet dog.
"In spite of repeatedly telling them to keep the door locked, the security officials deputed at my residence have failed to comply with my directions and carrying out their professional duty. Such dereliction of duty and incompetence needs immediate attention as the same can cause grave danger to my life and liberty," he said in the letter to Delhi police.
"Such callousness in carrying out their duties by the said security personnel may cause any untoward incident at my residence and I fear for my security. Not manning the gate and lack of devotion in keeping a check on the movement and ingress and egress from the gate of my residence is intolerable," he said.
Kanth's letter, which he wrote on June 12 to the Joint Commissioner of Police (Security), has gone viral on social media.
He requested Delhi police to immediately suspend the officers, as their conduct was unbecoming of government servants, and carry out a thorough investigation.
A senior police officer, who did not wish to be named, said Kanth wrote the letter to them last month. Kanth, however, later informed them that he does not want any action against the posse of policemen posted at his residence.
The incident came to light days after Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud wrote letters to the chief justice of high courts where he said protocol facilities available for judges should not be used in a manner that is "liable to result in inconvenience to others or to bring public criticism of the judiciary."
Justice Chandrachud had taken serious exception to the Allahabad High Court registry demanding an explanation from the railways over the 'inconvenience' caused to a judge who did not get pantry facilities on a train running late.
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.
All arrangements in place for second phase of polling in West Bengal on April 29: Poll official
Kolkata (PTI): All arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on April 29, Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters, Agarwal asserted that there would be no bogus voting and no disturbances.
"We have made all arrangements. For every possible issue, there is a remedy that will be applied at the right place,” he said.
"The election process is being handled uniformly across the state and not viewed separately in phases," he said.
Referring to the first phase of polling held on April 23, Agarwal said voting was peaceful due to coordinated efforts of the administration, police, central forces, political parties and voters.
"Preparations have been further strengthened for the concluding phase," he said, adding that he had visited several districts and sensitive areas to review preparedness.
"There is strong enthusiasm among people to vote. The 93 per cent turnout in the first phase has set a new benchmark, and in many places, people are aiming to surpass that figure in the second phase," he said.
On incidents of unrest ahead of the polls, Agarwal said such occurrences were not new and similar incidents had taken place before the first phase, but the situation remained under control on polling day.
He said the state police and central forces were fully prepared to maintain law and order and ensure peaceful voting.
A total of 3,21,73,837 people -- 1,64,35,627 men, 1,57,37,418 women and 792 third-gender voters -- are eligible to cast their votes across 142 assembly segments in seven districts in the second phase, officials said.
Polling will be held at 41,001 polling stations, all of which will be covered by webcasting. A total of 2,321 companies of central forces have been deployed, with the highest deployment of 273 companies in Kolkata, they said.
Returning officers have also been directed to ensure the movement of polling personnel from booths to receiving centres under proper security arrangements immediately after the conclusion of voting, they added.
Agarwal said deployment of central forces for the second phase began on Sunday, adding that earlier there had been a relative shortage of forces.
"Taking advantage of that, miscreants indulged in incidents of unrest and intimidation," he said.
As many as 142 general observers, 95 police observers and 100 expenditure observers have been deployed, while drones fitted with cameras will be used to monitor the polling process.
A total of 1,448 candidates are in the fray in this phase. Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district has the highest number of candidates at 19, while Goghat in Hooghly district has the lowest at five.
Among the prominent candidates contesting in this phase are Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari in Bhabanipur, state ministers Sujit Bose in Bidhannagar, Firhad Hakim in Kolkata Port, Jyoti Priya Mallick in Habra, Bratya Basu in Dum Dum and Sovandeb Chattopadhyay in Ballygunge, and BJP's Arjun Singh in Noapara, Swapan Dasgupta in Rashbehari and Rudranil Ghosh in Shibpur.
Also in the fray are CPI(M)'s Minakshi Mukherjee in Uttarpara, Dipsita Dhar in Dum Dum Uttar against state minister Chandrima Bhattacharjee, Kalatan Dasgupta in Panihati against BJP’s Ratna Debnath, mother of the doctor raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and ISF MLA Nawsad Siddiqui in Bhangar.
Asked about the alleged attack on TMC MP Mitali Bag, Agarwal said, "Three aspects are emerging in the incident. In some places, it is being described as an intra-party conflict. Reports have been sent by the district magistrate and the police. The EC will examine all reports and the entire matter before commenting."
In the first phase, polling was held for 152 seats across 16 districts on April 23. A voter turnout of 93.19 per cent, the highest in the state's history, was recorded.
