JNPT may sail into Mumbai landmark - Air India Building
Mumbai, June 27: If all goes according to plan, the country's premier container terminal, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) may buy out Mumbai's landmark, the Air India Building, the erstwhile headquarters of the country's flag-carrier, official sources indicated here on Wednesday.
The Central government has already set in motion the process for the proposed sale - as part of an innovative measure to raise funds for the beleaguered airline after recent efforts for a strategic disinvestment proposal crash-landed.
Well-placed sources from the JNPT confirmed that a high-level committee from the Civil Aviation Ministry and Shipping Ministry has been constituted to work out the nitty-gritties including the valuation of building sitting on one of the most prime pieces of real estate in the world, Nariman Point.
"So far, we have not received any official communication in this regard, but we are hopeful it will come in due course," an official, who declined to be identified, told here.
The developments follow a green signal from the PMO and an inter-ministerial panel formed to hammer out the modalities of the proposed sale, as well other aspects like the name of building, its existing tenants which are source of huge revenue for the national carrier.
Some prominent realtors in south Mumbai declined to speculate a probable value for the majestic white-hued 23-storeyed tower standing at the entrance of Nariman Point on the Arabian Sea at the southern end of Marine Drive, with the AI's massive revolving logo on its terrace visible from long distances in south Mumbai.
However, they explain that given its "ultra-prime location in the heart of the CBD", it could fetch a very handsome figure for the AI, which is buried under accumulated debts of around Rs 50,000 crore.
After the deal finalizes smoothly, besides the JNPT, only PSU Shipping Corporation of India would be having its own skyscraper at Nariman Point, the area which has the offices of several major Indian and international shipping companies and allied services, plus a couple of five-star hotels and an arts complex, prominent media houses, and the Mantralaya - the Maharashtra government headquarters.
The Air India Building, among the most sought-after commercial addresses in the city, was one of the 13 prominent targets during the March 12, 1993 serial bombings in Mumbai, considered the biggest single act of terror which left 257 dead and 713 injured in a matter of two hours.
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.
K’taka HC judge whose controversial remarks triggered controversy expresses regret before open court
Bengaluru: Karnataka High Court judge, Justice V Srishananda, on Saturday expressed regret in open court after facing backlash over his controversial remarks in his recent court hearings, reported Bar and Bench.
Two purported video clips from Justice V Srishananda’s court hearing that show him making inappropriate comments went viral across social media platforms.
On Saturday, Justice Srishananda invited members of the Advocates Association, Bengaluru, and senior lawyers to his courtroom at 2:30 PM, where he read out a note expressing regret for inappropriate comments.
Quoting Advocates Association President Vivek Subba Reddy, Bar and Bench wrote, “He expressed regret for the comments and clarified that it was not his intention to offend any community or members of the Bar. He also requested the association to relay this message to all members of the Bar.”
Reddy further stated, “We also advised him to encourage young lawyers in the courtroom and refrain from making any irrelevant remarks during hearings.”
Another senior lawyer present during the session confirmed to the legal news portal that Justice Srishananda also addressed comments directed at a woman lawyer, who was seen in one of the videos being reprimanded by the judge. The judge Justice Srishananda clarified that his remarks were not intended to target her (woman lawyer) specifically, but rather pertained to the appellant she was representing. “He explained that his comment was meant to imply that the appellant seemed to know a lot about the other party,” said the lawyer.
In addition, Justice Srishananda assured those present that he would avoid making such comments in the future.
The controversy came to light on September 19, when a video clip from an August 28 Court hearing surfaced on social media, showing Justice Srishananda referring to a Muslim-majority sub-locality in Bengaluru’s Goripalya as "Pakistan." Hours later, another video from the same courtroom emerged, in which the judge was seen making a gender-insensitive remark.
Following outrage over the viral videos, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, on September 20 took a suo motu cognizance and sought a report from the Karnataka High Court Registrar General in connection with the viral video.
