SC allows Bengaluru bar association to create new posts
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday modified its order and allowed Advocate Association of Bengaluru to create a post of vice-president in the bar body for which elections will be held in the coming weeks.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the order on different intervention applications filed by lawyers of the association for creating the new post.
The move came after the court on January 24 earmarked the post of treasurer for women, after the election process had begun and nominations were filed even by male candidates.
The bench now allowed the Advocate Association of Bengaluru (AAB) to create an additional post of vice-president in the bar body.
It directed male candidates, who had filed their nominations for the post of treasurer before the January 24 order, to have an opportunity to contest for other posts or withdraw from the contest.
The bench also allowed for creating posts in AAB's governing council as 30 per cent seats were reserved for the women.
While the nomination papers would be filed within a week, elections would be held in three weeks, it said.
The top court clarified if any eligibility criteria was mentioned for a particular post in the regulations, it would be strictly adhered to.
On January 24, exercising its plenary powers, the top court reserved the post of treasurer in the association for women lawyers.
It exercised its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution observing the election for the bar body was scheduled on February 2 and the nomination process was over.
The court invoked its powers saying it was "high-time" to provide women reservation in different elected bodies of advocates and there were no express provisions in the memorandum and by-laws earmarking seats for women candidates of the association.
The bench directed the high-powered committee constituted to oversee the election and the chief returning officer for the bar body polls to extend the date for inviting nominations and if required, the election to be deferred for a few days.
However, such a decision will be at the discretion of the committee and the chief returning officer, it added.
The top court ordered the committee and the returning officer to also consider adequate representation of the women advocates in the governing council of advocates' association of Bengaluru to ensure at least 30 per cent elected members of the council were women candidates with 10 years of practice experience.
The main petition filed by women lawyers sought the implementation of directions of women reservation issued in case of Delhi High Court Bar Association, where the court last year directed for reserving seats for women lawyers including the post of treasurer.
It said there was no legal impediment in providing reservation to women lawyers.
The top court recently directed reserving the treasurer's post and 30 per cent seats for women lawyers in the executive committee of Delhi Sales Tax Bar Association and Delhi Tax Bar Association.
On January 20, the top court directed 33 per cent seats would be reserved for women lawyers in the election of the National Green Tribunal bar association.
The top court in December, last year directed reserving three posts for women lawyers in the DHCBA election. It had also said in the district bar association elections, the post of treasurer plus 30 percent of other executive committee posts should stand reserved for women lawyers (including those already reserved for women).
On September 26 last year, the apex court directed the DHCBA to have the post of treasurer reserved for women, besides another post in the five-member office-bearer body of the association.
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UP govt sacks five doctors, orders action against 16 health officials for negligence
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak on Friday ordered strict action against several health officials, including the dismissal of five doctors from service, over alleged negligence, dereliction of duty and irregularities in the health department.
According to an official statement issued by his office, five medical officers were dismissed for remaining absent from duty for a prolonged period without information and for staying away from medical work.
Those dismissed include Dr Alaknanda of the district hospital in Gorakhpur, Dr Ramji Bhardwaj posted under the Kushinagar Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Saurabh Singh posted under the Balrampur CMO, Dr Viklesh Kumar Sharma of CHC Jagdishpur in Amethi and Dr Monica Verma of CHC Dibiyapur in Auraiya, it stated.
The government also ordered departmental disciplinary proceedings against 16 medical officers, including Ambedkar Nagar CMO Dr Sanjay Kumar Shaival and Deputy CMO Dr Sanjay Verma, over alleged irregularities in the registration and renewal process of private hospitals, nursing homes and ultrasound centres, it added.
According to the statement, "the two officers were found guilty of deliberately violating government norms, misusing their positions and showing negligence in clearing files for personal interests."
"A preliminary inquiry conducted by a three-member committee, including an Additional District Magistrate, reportedly confirmed several complaints against them, following which Pathak ordered strict action."
Departmental proceedings were also ordered against Hardoi Medical Superintendent Dr Manoj Kumar Singh for allegedly failing to act against unauthorised private hospitals operating in the district and neglecting official responsibilities.
The health department has also sought an explanation from the Hardoi CMO over assigning senior-level responsibilities to a junior doctor despite the availability of senior officers in the district.
The statement said action has also been initiated against several doctors in separate cases related to alleged negligence in treatment, administrative lapses, improper medico-legal examinations and misconduct with colleagues.
Among them are Dr Shameem Akhtar of Prayagraj, doctors and a pharmacist posted at CHC Lambhua in Sultanpur, and two doctors at the district hospital in Mathura accused of negligence in preparing medico-legal reports in an assault case.
Departmental proceedings were also ordered against doctors posted in Balrampur, Varanasi, Badaun, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sambhal and other districts for alleged negligence in medical duties.
In another case, Dr Rituj Agrawal, an associate professor in the orthopaedics department of the government medical college in Badaun, faces disciplinary action over allegations of abusing and misbehaving with a woman doctor and another colleague.
Two doctors -- Dr Pratibha Yadav of Bahraich and Dr Rakesh Singh of Mathura -- have been awarded censure punishment in separate negligence-related cases.
The statement further said the deputation of Dr Aditya Pandey, who was posted with the State Health Agency under the cashless treatment scheme for government employees, has been terminated with immediate effect over alleged misconduct and inappropriate behaviour with a colleague.
He has been sent back to his original posting in Raebareli and departmental action has also been ordered, it added.
The government has also ordered withholding of salary increments in several cases. Dr Lalmani, a gynaecologist currently posted in Hamirpur, has been penalised with permanent stoppage of three increments and censure punishment over allegations of extortion from patients and misbehaviour during an earlier posting in Azamgarh.
Four increments of Dr Santosh Singh of Balrampur and two increments of Dr Nisha Bundela of Jhansi have also been withheld.
Action has also been directed against Dr Pawan Sahu, an orthopaedic surgeon at the trauma centre in Moth, Jhansi, after allegations of private practice against him were found to be true, the statement added.
