UP chief secy told to form panel for action on issue of NOCs to hotel where fire killed 4
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to constitute a High-Powered Committee (HPC) to ensure strict action against officers involved in issuing different licenses and NOCs to a city hotel where a fire claimed four lives in September.
The bench said on Wednesday that the HPC would comprise two additional chief secretaries and the DGP.
The bench further directed the HPC to consider the inquiry report of September 9, 2022 prepared by Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, and Divisional Commissioner, Lucknow Zone, in which it had found different regulatory authorities failing in discharge of their duty.
A bench of Justice Alok Mathur passed the order dismissing the petition filed by Chief Fire Officer Vijay Kumar Singh, who had challenged his suspension order.
The bench declined to accept his plea that he had no role in granting fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the hotel, Levana Suites.
"There is sufficient material as borne out from the inquiry report of September 9, 2022 to proceed against him, hence the writ petition is accordingly dismissed", observed the bench.
In course of hearing of the petition, the bench said, "The report of September 9, 2022 discloses serious disturbing facts with regard to the functioning of the regulatory authorities which are given the task of ensuring the safety and security of the public at large and are expected to discharge their duties sincerely following the mandate of law.
"The Development Authority tasked with the object of ensuring planned development and scrutinising and sanctioning of building maps is permitting rampant construction in total violation of the rules and norms as is evident from the report placed before this court. It is only when incidents like the present one occur where numerous lives are lost, then only their work and conduct is scrutinised", the bench said.
The fire at the Levana Suites hotel in the Hazratganj area of the city in the month of September had claimed the lives of four guests and had left several others injured.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
