Rajnath Singh to Lead Panel of Ministers for Anti-Lynching Law, Report to PM Modi
New Delhi, July 23: The central government has set up a four-member committee headed by union home secretary Rajiv Gauba to suggest measures and legal framework to effectively deal with incidents of mob violence and lynching.
The panel will submit its recommendations to a ministerial committee, headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, within four weeks, the home ministry said on Monday. Apart from Singh, the group of ministers also comprises Sushma Swaraj, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Thawar Chand Gehlot.
The group of ministers will submit its findings directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but no timeline has been announced for that.
"In order to formulate appropriate measures to address the situation, government has set up a high level committee headed by union home secretary to deliberate the matter and make recommendations," a government spokesperson said.
The Centre’s move has come after the Supreme Court had last week directed it to enact a law to deal with such cases. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra had termed the incidents of lynching "horrendous acts of mobocracy".
Several cases of lynching and mob violence have been reported from across the country in the recent past, the latest being from Rajasthan where a man was beaten to death on Friday on suspicion of cow smuggling.
In the statement, the government said that it is committed to upholding the rule of law and adopting measures to curb such incidents as it has previously said in the Parliament as well. It also reiterated that law and order is a state subject and repeated advisories have been issued to states and UTs to curb mob violence in the name of cow protection.
A top home ministry official also told CNN-News18 that the Centre has asked Rajasthan government for a report on the Alwar lynching.
The Narendra Modi government has also come under attack from the Opposition, which has questioned its sincerity in tackling the recent spate of mob violence
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tweeted to target PM Modi on the lynching incidents on Monday, saying this his "brutal 'New India'" where hatred rules and "people are crushed and left to die".
Other opposition leaders too questioned the comments made by home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday in Lok Sabha when he said that the biggest mob lynching happened during the anti-sikh riots of 1984.
"These incidents are happening in BJP ruled states because of political patronage," CPI MP D Raja told CNN-News18. Raja has given a notice for adjournment in Rajya Sabha to discuss the lynching issue.
NCP leader Majid Memon said that police has been asked to turn a blind eye in these incidents. "It is now emerging that police (in Alwar) wasted precious time in trying to take the cow to a shelter home than take the lynching victim to a doctor, this is shameful," he said.
Courtesy: www.news18.com
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
