News Analysis India

Tag: DDMA

  • 2021 Markaz congregation: Delhi Police moves HC seeking details of ownership of Banglewali Masjid

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI:  The city police has moved the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to the Delhi Waqf Board to produce documents related to the ownership of Nizamuddin Banglewali Masjid where the Tablighi Jamaat congregation was held in March 2020 amid the covid-19 pandemic.

    The Delhi police filed the application on a petition by the Board to reopen the Nizamuddin Markaz comprising the Masjid, Madarsa Kashif-ul-Uloom and the attached hostel following its closure after the onset of the pandemic.

    In May, the high court passed an interim order allowing certain areas of the Markaz, which were closed following the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, to reopen.

    The Central government, in its affidavit, opposed reopening the premises completely.

    The police, in its application, said the petition was filed by the Waqf Board claiming possession of the property in its capacity as the custodian but “no supporting documentation has been filed by the petitioner to claim locus or that the property is a waqf property”.

    It said before the petition is disposed of, it is just and necessary that the rightful owner/possessor of the “alleged waqf property” is brought on record so that suitable orders may be passed with respect to its maintainability.

    The application also seeks directions to another applicant in the matter, a member of the managing committee of the premises, to disclose documents with respect to the mutations or ownership of property.

    “It is submitted that to date neither the petitioner nor the applicant has either replied to the said notice nor has placed any documents before this Hon’ble Court either showing their locus standi/title of possession or their right to possess and administer the said waqf property,” the application said.

    The application also seeks the production of the sanction plan of the property as well as a copy of any notices issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi with regard to any violation of the building plan or illegal construction, and if any action has been taken.

    It also seeks a report on how safe and secure the building is in terms of structural stability and other safety norms.

    Several FIRs were registered under the Epidemic Diseases Act, the Disaster Management Act, the Foreigners Act and various provisions of the penal code in connection with the Tablighi Jamaat event held at the Nizamuddin Markaz and the subsequent stay of foreigners there during the covid-19 lockdown in 2020.

    The Delhi Waqf Board had moved the court in 2021 seeking directions to reopen the premises on the ground that even after unlock-1 guidelines permitted religious places outside containment zones to be opened, the Markaz continues to be locked up.

    In its affidavit affirmed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, the Centre told the court it was “necessary and incumbent” to preserve the markaz property as the investigation in the case registered for violation of the covid-19 protocols has “cross borders implications and involves nation’s diplomatic relationship with other countries”.

    The Waqf Board, represented by lawyer Wajeeh Shafiq, had earlier argued that the mosque, which was under the lock of Delhi Police, should be opened as the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has now lifted all restrictions that were imposed on account of the pandemic.

    NEW DELHI:  The city police has moved the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to the Delhi Waqf Board to produce documents related to the ownership of Nizamuddin Banglewali Masjid where the Tablighi Jamaat congregation was held in March 2020 amid the covid-19 pandemic.

    The Delhi police filed the application on a petition by the Board to reopen the Nizamuddin Markaz comprising the Masjid, Madarsa Kashif-ul-Uloom and the attached hostel following its closure after the onset of the pandemic.

    In May, the high court passed an interim order allowing certain areas of the Markaz, which were closed following the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, to reopen.

    The Central government, in its affidavit, opposed reopening the premises completely.

    The police, in its application, said the petition was filed by the Waqf Board claiming possession of the property in its capacity as the custodian but “no supporting documentation has been filed by the petitioner to claim locus or that the property is a waqf property”.

    It said before the petition is disposed of, it is just and necessary that the rightful owner/possessor of the “alleged waqf property” is brought on record so that suitable orders may be passed with respect to its maintainability.

    The application also seeks directions to another applicant in the matter, a member of the managing committee of the premises, to disclose documents with respect to the mutations or ownership of property.

    “It is submitted that to date neither the petitioner nor the applicant has either replied to the said notice nor has placed any documents before this Hon’ble Court either showing their locus standi/title of possession or their right to possess and administer the said waqf property,” the application said.

    The application also seeks the production of the sanction plan of the property as well as a copy of any notices issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi with regard to any violation of the building plan or illegal construction, and if any action has been taken.

    It also seeks a report on how safe and secure the building is in terms of structural stability and other safety norms.

    Several FIRs were registered under the Epidemic Diseases Act, the Disaster Management Act, the Foreigners Act and various provisions of the penal code in connection with the Tablighi Jamaat event held at the Nizamuddin Markaz and the subsequent stay of foreigners there during the covid-19 lockdown in 2020.

    The Delhi Waqf Board had moved the court in 2021 seeking directions to reopen the premises on the ground that even after unlock-1 guidelines permitted religious places outside containment zones to be opened, the Markaz continues to be locked up.

    In its affidavit affirmed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, the Centre told the court it was “necessary and incumbent” to preserve the markaz property as the investigation in the case registered for violation of the covid-19 protocols has “cross borders implications and involves nation’s diplomatic relationship with other countries”.

    The Waqf Board, represented by lawyer Wajeeh Shafiq, had earlier argued that the mosque, which was under the lock of Delhi Police, should be opened as the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has now lifted all restrictions that were imposed on account of the pandemic.

  • Delhi-NCR rains: Gurugram issues WFH advisory to private offices, order schools to remain shut

    By PTI

    GURUGRAM:  Many areas in Delhi witnessed traffic jams on Friday as continuous rainfall led to waterlogging at several key stretches.

    The Delhi Traffic Police issued an alert, asking commuters to plan their journey in view of the rainfall.

    The district administration here has ordered all private offices to work from home on Friday amid heavy rains.

    The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), in an advisory, said that all corporate offices and private institutions are advised to guide employees to work from home to avoid traffic congestion.

    The advisory stated, “In view of heavy rainfall prediction for the district Gurugram on September 23, there are chances of waterlogging and traffic congestion.” 

    “Therefore, all corporate offices and private institutions in the district are advised to guide their employees to work from home on Friday so that traffic congestion can be avoided and repair works of roads and drains can be carried out smoothly by civic agencies,” it read.

    Deputy Commissioner, Nishant Kumar Yadav on twitter said, “Gurugram District Administration has issued advisory for all corporate companies, private institutions to allow their employees to work from home in larger public interest,” While the rain continued, vehicular movement was smooth in Gurugram.

    Traffic jams were reported in some areas in the morning due to waterlogging.

    The traffic police have been put on duty to manage the traffic situation.

    GURUGRAM:  Many areas in Delhi witnessed traffic jams on Friday as continuous rainfall led to waterlogging at several key stretches.

    The Delhi Traffic Police issued an alert, asking commuters to plan their journey in view of the rainfall.

    The district administration here has ordered all private offices to work from home on Friday amid heavy rains.

    The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), in an advisory, said that all corporate offices and private institutions are advised to guide employees to work from home to avoid traffic congestion.

    The advisory stated, “In view of heavy rainfall prediction for the district Gurugram on September 23, there are chances of waterlogging and traffic congestion.” 

    “Therefore, all corporate offices and private institutions in the district are advised to guide their employees to work from home on Friday so that traffic congestion can be avoided and repair works of roads and drains can be carried out smoothly by civic agencies,” it read.

    Deputy Commissioner, Nishant Kumar Yadav on twitter said, “Gurugram District Administration has issued advisory for all corporate companies, private institutions to allow their employees to work from home in larger public interest,” While the rain continued, vehicular movement was smooth in Gurugram.

    Traffic jams were reported in some areas in the morning due to waterlogging.

    The traffic police have been put on duty to manage the traffic situation.

  • Obligation to ensure Covid protocol compliance more on those charged with enforcement: Delhi HC 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Coronavirus protocols must be adhered to even “more strictly” by those charged with their enforcement and they must lead by example, the Delhi High Court has said.

    The court said it is imperative that all individuals including those in charge of maintenance of law and order follow these protocols at all times.

    The court made the observations while hearing a plea by an advocate seeking direction to take necessary action against on-duty Delhi police officials for allegedly violating Covid guidelines, and for not ensuring the implementation of safety norms in society despite many orders passed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

    The petitioner has said that in the early hours of August 9, 2021, two police personnel posted at Sadar Bazar Police Station were without masks and helmets during patrolling on a government bike and they allegedly misbehaved with him and his relatives and used derogatory words.

    The court was informed by the Delhi Police counsel that on taking cognisance of the complaint, it was duly enquired into and subsequently two police personnel were also cautioned.

    “The obligation to ensure compliance with those protocols must be adhered to even more strictly by those who are charged with its enforcement and must therefore lead by example,” Justice Yashwant Varma said.

    “Insofar as the incident which led to the institution of the present writ petition is concerned, the court notes that the two police personnel have been duly admonished and that consequently circumstances warrant a closure being accorded,” he said.

    The police counsel also said that the authorities remain duty-bound to ensure that all citizens including members of the police force adhere to the protocols mandated by DDMA as well MHA circulars.

    Regarding the allegation of unauthorised hawking in the Sadar Bazar area raised in the plea by petitioner and advocate Shalen Bhardwaj, the court noted that the appropriate statutory authorities who are obliged to ensure the implementation of the Street Vendors Act (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 have not been arrayed as party respondents.

    The court left it open to the petitioner to initiate appropriate proceedings as may be permissible in law.

    The petitioner has claimed, “The said police personnel not only violated the provisions of CrPC but also defamed the petitioner in the eyes of his relatives and residents. Further by misusing the police power and section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), he extended threat to the petitioner to falsely implicate him in false cases. His said act does not come under the discharge of his official police duty.”

  • Delhi government likely to propose DDMA to make 1st dose of Covid vaccine must for entry to public places

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi government is likely to propose to the DDMA to make the first dose of anti-Covid vaccine mandatory by December 15 for entry to public places and also incentivise people with cash prizes, discounts and lottery to encourage them in getting inoculated, officials said on Thursday.

    It may also be proposed that by March 31 next year getting fully vaccinated be made a must for entry to public places like malls and metro stations, they said.

    They cited examples of European countries that have adopted a vaccine transport system thereby limiting access to public places for the unvaccinated.

    The officials also said that countries like the US, Philippines, Moscow and Mexico have incentivised vaccination.

    In a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority held in September to review Delhi’s COVID-19 situation, the city health secretary had suggested many measures, including making vaccination mandatory for entry to malls and metro trains.

    “It is also the right time to de-incentivize/incentivize remaining beneficiaries for vaccination by making vaccination mandatory for entry into malls Delhi Metro, restaurants and offices,” the minutes of the meeting read.

    Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said on Tuesday that 97 per cent of Delhiites have received their first dose of vaccine, and 57 per cent are fully inoculated.

    “These are good numbers,” he had said and urged people to get their second dose soon.

  • BJP trying to prevent Purvanchalis from performing Chhath Puja in Delhi, alleges AAP

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Politics over Chhath Puja in Delhi intensified on Saturday with the AAP accusing the BJP of not letting ‘Purvanchalis’ prepare ‘ghats’ required to perform rituals pertaining to the festival.

    The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) urged the BJP to stop playing “dirty politics” over Chhath Puja and let people celebrate the festival in Delhi.

    “And, if they (BJP) continue playing dirty politics over Chhath Puja, Purvanchalvasi (People who hail from Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh) will not forgive them,” AAP legislator Sanjeev Jha warned while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here.

    The BJP hit back, accusing the AAP of trying to create tension over the issue.

    In a statement, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor also appealed to the people to not pay heed to the “provocative statements” of the AAP leaders.

    The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the municipal corporations are developing ‘ghats’ for Chhath Puja at “all traditionally identified locations”, the BJP leader clarified.

    The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has prohibited celebrations of Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna this year.

    In a recent order, the Authority said Puja celebrations will be allowed at designated sites in the city, except on the banks of the river Yamuna.

    Following this, Jha requested L-G Anil Baijal to allow Chhath Puja celebrations on the banks of the Yamuna, saying ghats (banks) are cleaned before the devotees perform rituals.

    “At the behest of the BJP, however, L-G sahab issued an order barring Chhath Puja celebrations at Yamuna banks,” the AAP MLA alleged.

    “The BJP is now trying to prevent the celebration of Chhath Puja at DDA and municipal corporations’ land in Delhi. It’s clear that the BJP hates Purvanchalvasi,” he charged.

    Jha alleged that authorities are not letting devotees prepare ghats for Chhath Puja at various locations in Delhi at the behest of the BJP.

    “Preparations for Chhath Puja ghat were underway in Dwarka. The mayor of the BJP-ruled municipal corporation visited the spot and said Puja will not be allowed,” he said, adding that the AAP MLA of the area has been sitting on a dharna at the site in protest against denial of permission by the mayor.

    Lashing out at the BJP, AAP leader Somnath Bharti claimed that the saffron party is “insulting” ‘Purvanchalis’ by putting hurdles in their preparations for Chhath Puja.