News Analysis India

Tag: Uttar Pradesh government

  • Uttar Pradesh redraws policy for jobs on compassionate ground

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW:  In a major administrative decision, the Uttar Pradesh government, in a bid to facilitate benefits for the dependents getting government jobs on compassionate grounds, has amended Service Rules-1974 easing the norms for them. Instead of terminating their services on failing to fulfill a condition within two years of their appointment, the government will now give them fresh appointments but in a lower grade.

    The order was passed by Additional Chief Secretary, Personnel, Dr Devesh Chaturvedi, on Tuesday. It says the dependents of those who die while being in service, are usually given a direct appointment in Group C on compassionate grounds provided they have a graduation degree. 

    After getting the job, the new appointees, so far, were required to clear a typing test within two years of getting govt emploment, failing which they were dismissed. As per the latest order, the new appointee, who has got a job on compassionate grounds in Group C, will not be sacked on failing to clear the typing test within two years of service. Such an employee will be demoted and given a fresh  appointment in Class 4. Their services will be terminated only if they fail to join in time.

    As per the process so far, if the new job entrant failed to clear the typing test in the first year of service, he was not given the annual financial hike. But if they did not clear the test in the second year as well, they were fired. Such candidates were made to sign a bond at the time of appointment.

    Senior officials said the dependents, when fired on failing to fulfill the condition of clearing the typing test within two years of service, would often move High Court. “The departments, in such a case, were made to give explanations in courts which, sometimes, used to pass orders for their reinstatement,” said an official, adding that considering the aspect, the department of personnel and appointment wanted a permanent solution.

    As per the new order, such appointees would now be demoted on failing to clear the test instead of getting sacked. “This move would not only benefit the appointees but also relieve the department concerned from frequent court appearances,” said the official. Earlier, the state had allowed dependent children of teachers and non-teaching staff of govt-aided secondary schools eligible for jobs on compassionate grounds.

    ‘Will be sacked only if they fail to join in time’

    New order says the appointee, who got job on compassionate grounds in Group C, will not be sacked on failing to clear typing test within two years of service

    Such an employee will be demoted and given a fresh appointment in Class 4. Their services will be terminated only if they fail to join in time

    Dependents of those who die in service were required to clear typing test within two years of getting govt emploment, failing which they were dismissed  

    LUCKNOW:  In a major administrative decision, the Uttar Pradesh government, in a bid to facilitate benefits for the dependents getting government jobs on compassionate grounds, has amended Service Rules-1974 easing the norms for them. Instead of terminating their services on failing to fulfill a condition within two years of their appointment, the government will now give them fresh appointments but in a lower grade.

    The order was passed by Additional Chief Secretary, Personnel, Dr Devesh Chaturvedi, on Tuesday. It says the dependents of those who die while being in service, are usually given a direct appointment in Group C on compassionate grounds provided they have a graduation degree. 

    After getting the job, the new appointees, so far, were required to clear a typing test within two years of getting govt emploment, failing which they were dismissed. As per the latest order, the new appointee, who has got a job on compassionate grounds in Group C, will not be sacked on failing to clear the typing test within two years of service. Such an employee will be demoted and given a fresh  appointment in Class 4. Their services will be terminated only if they fail to join in time.

    As per the process so far, if the new job entrant failed to clear the typing test in the first year of service, he was not given the annual financial hike. But if they did not clear the test in the second year as well, they were fired. Such candidates were made to sign a bond at the time of appointment.

    Senior officials said the dependents, when fired on failing to fulfill the condition of clearing the typing test within two years of service, would often move High Court. “The departments, in such a case, were made to give explanations in courts which, sometimes, used to pass orders for their reinstatement,” said an official, adding that considering the aspect, the department of personnel and appointment wanted a permanent solution.

    As per the new order, such appointees would now be demoted on failing to clear the test instead of getting sacked. “This move would not only benefit the appointees but also relieve the department concerned from frequent court appearances,” said the official. Earlier, the state had allowed dependent children of teachers and non-teaching staff of govt-aided secondary schools eligible for jobs on compassionate grounds.

    ‘Will be sacked only if they fail to join in time’

    New order says the appointee, who got job on compassionate grounds in Group C, will not be sacked on failing to clear typing test within two years of service

    Such an employee will be demoted and given a fresh appointment in Class 4. Their services will be terminated only if they fail to join in time

    Dependents of those who die in service were required to clear typing test within two years of getting govt emploment, failing which they were dismissed 
     

  • SC raps UP government for filing plea after 1173 days with ‘incorrect particulars’

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court rapped the Uttar Pradesh government over a delay in challenging the judgement of the Allahabad High Court after 1173 days with “incorrect particulars.” 

    While rejecting the plea with a cost of Rs 1 lakh, the apex court said it had no doubt that such matters are filed in a “cursory manner” and chastised the state government over the “casual manner” in which the application seeking condonation of delay was filed.

    A bench of Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Hrishikesh Roy said, “It is also disturbing to notice that the application has been filed in a casual manner before this Court, as could be seen from paragraph 6 of the extraction aforesaid, where the date of judgment and particulars of the appeal are not of the present matter at all. Obviously, such incorrect particulars have occurred because of preparation of the application in a casual manner, essentially with reproduction or copying of the contents from any other application.”

    The court also said, “In the totality of circumstances of this case, we have declined such a prayer for filing a better affidavit. The State litigation, in our view, cannot be taken so casually that the application seeking to explain an inordinate delay of 1173 days is filed bereft of all the necessary particulars and is containing incorrect particulars.”

    The state of Uttar Pradesh and others had challenged the May 17, 2019 verdict of the High Court which enhanced the compensation to a Jaunpur-based woman for her land that was acquired by the government. Since the plea was filed after a delay, the state had also filed an application urging the court to condone the delay. It was argued in the application that the plea couldn’t be filed due to the pandemic.

    Terming the reasons as baseless, the SC said, “A cursory reference to the pandemic situation is baseless for the reason that no such situation was prevalent on the date of passing of the order by the High Court and at least seven months thereafter. Moreover, the suspended limitation period due to the pandemic came to an end on 31.03.2022 and there is no explanation whatsoever for an inordinate delay even thereafter.”

    The bench left it open for the state to recover the cost from the officers responsible for filing the petition with an “inexplicable delay” without sufficient cause and without any justification.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court rapped the Uttar Pradesh government over a delay in challenging the judgement of the Allahabad High Court after 1173 days with “incorrect particulars.” 

    While rejecting the plea with a cost of Rs 1 lakh, the apex court said it had no doubt that such matters are filed in a “cursory manner” and chastised the state government over the “casual manner” in which the application seeking condonation of delay was filed.

    A bench of Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Hrishikesh Roy said, “It is also disturbing to notice that the application has been filed in a casual manner before this Court, as could be seen from paragraph 6 of the extraction aforesaid, where the date of judgment and particulars of the appeal are not of the present matter at all. Obviously, such incorrect particulars have occurred because of preparation of the application in a casual manner, essentially with reproduction or copying of the contents from any other application.”

    The court also said, “In the totality of circumstances of this case, we have declined such a prayer for filing a better affidavit. The State litigation, in our view, cannot be taken so casually that the application seeking to explain an inordinate delay of 1173 days is filed bereft of all the necessary particulars and is containing incorrect particulars.”

    The state of Uttar Pradesh and others had challenged the May 17, 2019 verdict of the High Court which enhanced the compensation to a Jaunpur-based woman for her land that was acquired by the government. Since the plea was filed after a delay, the state had also filed an application urging the court to condone the delay. It was argued in the application that the plea couldn’t be filed due to the pandemic.

    Terming the reasons as baseless, the SC said, “A cursory reference to the pandemic situation is baseless for the reason that no such situation was prevalent on the date of passing of the order by the High Court and at least seven months thereafter. Moreover, the suspended limitation period due to the pandemic came to an end on 31.03.2022 and there is no explanation whatsoever for an inordinate delay even thereafter.”

    The bench left it open for the state to recover the cost from the officers responsible for filing the petition with an “inexplicable delay” without sufficient cause and without any justification.

  • UP vaccination drive not only a model for India, but for the world: Melinda Gates

    By Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), appreciated the Uttar Pradesh government’s efforts towards the Covid-19 management and control of diseases like encephalitis in the eastern region, especially the Gorakhpur division.

    While paying a visit to CM Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday, Gates said that the way the state government carried out the anti-Covid vaccination leadership despite a huge population was worth learning. “The world should learn from the way vaccination was carried out in UP despite such a large and dense population,” she said.

    Gates also discussed the foundation’s (BMGF) deep ties with Uttar Pradesh saying: “We have been working here for a long time in the field of health and social security. It is a matter of happiness that we are able to provide facilities to the weakest sections of society. We intend to further improve ourrelations with UP in the coming times.”

    Apart from the improvement in infrastructure and logistics in the state during the last few years, she also mentioned the digital banking system. “The growth of UP has been exemplary in the last couple of yearsand it is on the right track,” said Gates.

    She further discussed the crucial role played by women’s self-help groups in making the nutrition mission a big success in Uttar Pradesh. Gates also praised the efforts that are being made to increase the income of farmers by promoting the formation of FPOs in the largest agricultural state of the country.

    LUCKNOW: Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), appreciated the Uttar Pradesh government’s efforts towards the Covid-19 management and control of diseases like encephalitis in the eastern region, especially the Gorakhpur division.

    While paying a visit to CM Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday, Gates said that the way the state government carried out the anti-Covid vaccination leadership despite a huge population was worth learning. “The world should learn from the way vaccination was carried out in UP despite such a large and dense population,” she said.

    Gates also discussed the foundation’s (BMGF) deep ties with Uttar Pradesh saying: “We have been working here for a long time in the field of health and social security. It is a matter of happiness that we are able to provide facilities to the weakest sections of society. We intend to further improve our
    relations with UP in the coming times.”

    Apart from the improvement in infrastructure and logistics in the state during the last few years, she also mentioned the digital banking system. “The growth of UP has been exemplary in the last couple of years
    and it is on the right track,” said Gates.

    She further discussed the crucial role played by women’s self-help groups in making the nutrition mission a big success in Uttar Pradesh. Gates also praised the efforts that are being made to increase the income of farmers by promoting the formation of FPOs in the largest agricultural state of the country.

  • Place before us action plan to curb vector-borne diseases: Allahabad HC asks UP govt

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to place before it the action plan to curb the menace of vector-borne diseases in the city.

    It expressed deep anguish over the poor handling of patients suffering from vector-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya and viral fever in government-run hospitals in the state capital.

    The Lucknow bench of the high court was especially concerned about the alleged lack of beds in government hospitals for treating such patients.

    It also pulled up Municipal Corporation for its failure to control the spread of dengue due to poor sanitation and fogging.

    The HC also commented on the media that it was under-reporting the dengue menace that has caught every other family in the city.

    The bench of justices D K Upadhyay and Saurabh Srivastava directed the additional chief secretaries of medical and health services as well as the medical education department, the municipal commissioner and other departments concerned to lay before it the steps which are required to be taken to check the already widespread menace caused by vector-borne diseases in the city.

    The bench has fixed the next hearing on Friday.

    “The counsel representing state, municipal corporation and other concerned departments shall be appropriately briefed as to what effective steps are being taken or have been taken by the state authorities and the Municipal authorities not only for prevention of the spread of such vector borne diseases but also for providing adequate medical facilities to the patients suffering from such diseases,” the bench said.

    Hearing a PIL on the issue, the bench further expressed concern with government authorities on the charges of bar association members who alleged that the government and civil machinery were lethargic in dealing with the situation while the condition is so grim even in the state-run hospitals that it is difficult, rather almost impossible, to get an appropriate hospital bed if a person needs the same.

    The bench also directed the central government counsel to seek complete instructions from the highest authority of CGHS and Railway Hospital Administration in Lucknow as to the measures being taken by these authorities for the treatment of the patients who have been contracting vector-borne diseases.

    LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to place before it the action plan to curb the menace of vector-borne diseases in the city.

    It expressed deep anguish over the poor handling of patients suffering from vector-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya and viral fever in government-run hospitals in the state capital.

    The Lucknow bench of the high court was especially concerned about the alleged lack of beds in government hospitals for treating such patients.

    It also pulled up Municipal Corporation for its failure to control the spread of dengue due to poor sanitation and fogging.

    The HC also commented on the media that it was under-reporting the dengue menace that has caught every other family in the city.

    The bench of justices D K Upadhyay and Saurabh Srivastava directed the additional chief secretaries of medical and health services as well as the medical education department, the municipal commissioner and other departments concerned to lay before it the steps which are required to be taken to check the already widespread menace caused by vector-borne diseases in the city.

    The bench has fixed the next hearing on Friday.

    “The counsel representing state, municipal corporation and other concerned departments shall be appropriately briefed as to what effective steps are being taken or have been taken by the state authorities and the Municipal authorities not only for prevention of the spread of such vector borne diseases but also for providing adequate medical facilities to the patients suffering from such diseases,” the bench said.

    Hearing a PIL on the issue, the bench further expressed concern with government authorities on the charges of bar association members who alleged that the government and civil machinery were lethargic in dealing with the situation while the condition is so grim even in the state-run hospitals that it is difficult, rather almost impossible, to get an appropriate hospital bed if a person needs the same.

    The bench also directed the central government counsel to seek complete instructions from the highest authority of CGHS and Railway Hospital Administration in Lucknow as to the measures being taken by these authorities for the treatment of the patients who have been contracting vector-borne diseases.

  • UP all set for private madrassas survey, proprietors fear repressive action 

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: With the Uttar Pradesh government set to conduct a survey of private madrassas, proprietors of the theological schools fear that their institutions may be declared illegal and “run over by bulldozers”.

    According to sources, the fear was expressed by them on September 6 in New Delhi at a meeting of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, one of the leading organisations of Islamic scholars belonging to the Deobandi school of thought.

    However, state minister Danish Azad Ansari said the apprehension has no basis.

    The Muslim body’s president Maulana Arshad Madani said, “Nobody has any objection if the government wants to conduct a survey of private madrassas but care should be taken so that it doesn’t interfere in their internal matters.”

    The sources said it was decided at the meeting that views of the Muslim community will be placed before the government, a close eye will be kept on the exercise and a steering committee be formed to protest any wrongdoing.

    It was also decided to hold a meeting on September 24 in Darul Ulum Deoband to chalk out the future course of action. Earlier, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi and BSP supremo Mayawati had raised questions over the exercise, for which teams were to be formed by September 10.

    The government has maintained that the exercise is aimed at streamlining private religious seminaries so that students there could learn science and computers.

    AIMIM chief Owaisi had described the exercise as “mini NRC” (National Register of Citizenship).

    BSP supremo Mayawati has alleged that the government is trying to interfere in the internal matters of the seminaries with an intention to “terrorise” Muslims.

    Meanwhile, UP’s Minister of State for Minority Affairs Danish Azad Ansari assured us that no centre will be razed.

    “Those expressing such an apprehension should tell if any madrassa was brought down by any bulldozer in the previous five years of the state government. The anxiety has no basis,” he said.

    The lone Muslim minister in Yogi Adityanath’s government said the state government is working honestly to bring madrassas into the mainstream. “The purpose of the survey is to know the actual condition of the madrassas and help these in lifting their standard,” he added.

    The minister said during the survey, owners of private madrassas will be asked which schemes of the government they wanted. They will also be given information about development programmes run by the government for minorities.

    “Relevant papers and forms regarding schemes for minority communities will be made available to them during the survey so that welfare schemes reach villages and towns deprived of them till now,” Ansari said.

    Ansari asked critics to stay away from politics “if they are supporters of Muslim upliftment”.

    All-India Muslim Personal Law Board member and Lucknow city Qazi Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli too criticised Owaisi for dubbing the survey as “mini NRC” and said everything should not be politicised.

    He, however, said before carrying out the survey of private madrassas, the state government should strengthen the arrangements in government-affiliated madrassas and a similar survey be conducted in every primary school run by the government.

    The Uttar Pradesh government had on August 31 taken the decision to conduct the survey to assess basic facilities available in private madrassas. There are 16,461 such theological schools in Uttar Pradesh at present, of which 560 are registered with the government and getting financial assistance.

    Teams formed for the survey will include the deputy commissioner, district basic education officer and the district minority welfare. They will complete the exercise by October 15. The DMs should hand over the reports to the state administration by October 25.

    Sources said basic information like the name of a madrassa, its owner, whether it is run from rented premises, the number of students enrolled, and arrangements of drinking water, toilet, power supply and furniture will be collected.

    It will also seek information about the number of teachers in every theological school, syllabus followed, source of income and whether the institutions are linked with any NGO.

    LUCKNOW: With the Uttar Pradesh government set to conduct a survey of private madrassas, proprietors of the theological schools fear that their institutions may be declared illegal and “run over by bulldozers”.

    According to sources, the fear was expressed by them on September 6 in New Delhi at a meeting of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, one of the leading organisations of Islamic scholars belonging to the Deobandi school of thought.

    However, state minister Danish Azad Ansari said the apprehension has no basis.

    The Muslim body’s president Maulana Arshad Madani said, “Nobody has any objection if the government wants to conduct a survey of private madrassas but care should be taken so that it doesn’t interfere in their internal matters.”

    The sources said it was decided at the meeting that views of the Muslim community will be placed before the government, a close eye will be kept on the exercise and a steering committee be formed to protest any wrongdoing.

    It was also decided to hold a meeting on September 24 in Darul Ulum Deoband to chalk out the future course of action. Earlier, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi and BSP supremo Mayawati had raised questions over the exercise, for which teams were to be formed by September 10.

    The government has maintained that the exercise is aimed at streamlining private religious seminaries so that students there could learn science and computers.

    AIMIM chief Owaisi had described the exercise as “mini NRC” (National Register of Citizenship).

    BSP supremo Mayawati has alleged that the government is trying to interfere in the internal matters of the seminaries with an intention to “terrorise” Muslims.

    Meanwhile, UP’s Minister of State for Minority Affairs Danish Azad Ansari assured us that no centre will be razed.

    “Those expressing such an apprehension should tell if any madrassa was brought down by any bulldozer in the previous five years of the state government. The anxiety has no basis,” he said.

    The lone Muslim minister in Yogi Adityanath’s government said the state government is working honestly to bring madrassas into the mainstream. “The purpose of the survey is to know the actual condition of the madrassas and help these in lifting their standard,” he added.

    The minister said during the survey, owners of private madrassas will be asked which schemes of the government they wanted. They will also be given information about development programmes run by the government for minorities.

    “Relevant papers and forms regarding schemes for minority communities will be made available to them during the survey so that welfare schemes reach villages and towns deprived of them till now,” Ansari said.

    Ansari asked critics to stay away from politics “if they are supporters of Muslim upliftment”.

    All-India Muslim Personal Law Board member and Lucknow city Qazi Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli too criticised Owaisi for dubbing the survey as “mini NRC” and said everything should not be politicised.

    He, however, said before carrying out the survey of private madrassas, the state government should strengthen the arrangements in government-affiliated madrassas and a similar survey be conducted in every primary school run by the government.

    The Uttar Pradesh government had on August 31 taken the decision to conduct the survey to assess basic facilities available in private madrassas. There are 16,461 such theological schools in Uttar Pradesh at present, of which 560 are registered with the government and getting financial assistance.

    Teams formed for the survey will include the deputy commissioner, district basic education officer and the district minority welfare. They will complete the exercise by October 15. The DMs should hand over the reports to the state administration by October 25.

    Sources said basic information like the name of a madrassa, its owner, whether it is run from rented premises, the number of students enrolled, and arrangements of drinking water, toilet, power supply and furniture will be collected.

    It will also seek information about the number of teachers in every theological school, syllabus followed, source of income and whether the institutions are linked with any NGO.

  • House demolition: Allahabad HC gives a day’s time to UP govt to respond to Parveen Fatima’s plea 

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court, on Tuesday, gave a day’s time to the Uttar Pradesh government and Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) to respond to a writ petition filed by the wife and daughter of Javed Mohammad alias Javed Pump, the alleged mastermind of June 10 violent protests in Prayagraj, against the demolition of their house by the district administration and Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) on June 12.

    Hearing a petition filed by Parveen Fatima and Summaiya Fatima, the wife and daughter of Javed Mohammed, respectively, the division bench, comprising Justice Anjani Kumar Mishra and Justice Syed Waiz Mian, posted the matter for next hearing on June 30.

    High Court lawyer KK Roy represented the petitioners while state advocate general, Ajay Kumar Mishra appeared on behalf of the state government. 

    Earlier, on Monday the court had adjourned the case for a day when one of the judges had recused himself from the case.

    The petitioners’ counsel submitted that the house demolished by the authorities did not belong to Javed Mohammad but to his wife Fatima who had received it as gift from her parents even before her marriage. It was mentioned by the petitioners’ lawyer that Parveen Fatima had been paying house tax and water tax from time to time. Even tax receipts were issued in her name.

    Advocate Roy contended that the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) did not serve any notice upon the owner of the house but to her husband Mohammad Javed, the activist and businessman who was arrested on June 10 on charges of instigating violent protests against the remarks of former BJP spokesperson over Prophet Mohammad.

    In the writ petition, the petitioners have sought compensation and punishment to erring officials. Besides, as an interim measure, they have requested the court to direct the state government to arrange a government accommodation for them till the reconstruction of their house.

    In the writ petition, it has been alleged by both petitioners — wife and daughter of Javed — that on June 10, 2022, around midnight they were forcibly taken away by police to Mahila Thana and detained for three days. Accordingly, they have requested the court to direct the state government to pay them compensation for their illegal arrest and detention and for violation of their fundamental rights under Article 21 (protection of right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution of India.

  • UP govt does away with night shift for women factory workers

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: In order to provide a secure working atmosphere for women and to protect their professional rights, the Uttar Pradesh government has taken a significant decision to do away with the night shift for the women workers in factories across the state.

    The UP labour department issued the GO to notify the decision late Friday night. It makes it clear that women workers will not be compelled to stay back for work beyond 7 pm at the workplace and would not be called to work before 6 am without their written consent.

    As per the sources, the decision would be applicable in the private sector as well. The GO adds that before 6 am and after 7 pm if the woman worker refuses to work, she would not be terminated from employment. So far there had been no provision for women workforce working in state factories.

    The UP government has notified the exemptions to women workforce across all the mills and factories in the state under the powers vested in the Factories Act-1948 following the work plan of women employees.

    Besides, the GO also provides free pick and drop transportation facilities by the employer for those who give written consent to work the night shift.

    As per the GO, the employer will be liable to provide dinner to women workers working between 7 pm and 6 am. They should also be given sufficient protective supervision during working hours and journeys after completing the night shift.

    The state government makes the employer liable to ensure toilets, washrooms, changing-room, drinking facilities, and lights near the workplace of the women workforce along with the provision of allowing not less than four women workers to work on the premises or a particular department between 7 pm to 6 am.

    To spruce up the working environs and make it secure for women workers, the GO says that the employer shall intimate the arrangement proposed by him for female workers’ employment to the Inspector of factories (labour inspector) of the region concerned, for verification. The verification should be completed within a period of a maximum of seven days.

    The employer is also expected to send a monthly report electronically or otherwise to the Inspector of factories of the region concerned about the details of women workers engaged during the night shift.

    The employer has also been made liable to report, in case there is some untoward incident, to the Inspector of factories and local police station promptly.

    On the other, the labour inspector has also been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring safe working conditions for women workers and conducting inspections from time to time to ensure that there is no non-compliance with the provisions at the workplace.

    The onus of providing a secure working atmosphere to the women workers will lie with the employer to prevent an incident of sexual harassment in the workplace. Moreover, the GO makes it mandatory for the employer to inculcate a robust complaint mechanism in the factory in compliance with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 or in any other related enactments.

    The GO also expects the employer to make the women workers aware of their rights by displaying the guideline prominently.

  • NHRC notice to Uttar Pradesh government, DGP over torture of woman at police station

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The NHRC has issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and the state’s police chief over reports that a woman was subjected to “extreme torture” by allegedly stripping and brutally beating her with a belt at a police station in Lalitpur district, the rights panel said on Saturday.

    The police officer and his family have not only “misused their position” but also subjected the victim to physical torture and cruelty, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) observed.

    The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that the police personnel of Mehrauli police station “subjected a woman to extreme torture by stripping her and brutally beating with a belt in Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

    Reportedly, she was working as a domestic help at the residence of a police officer,” it said in a statement.

    The Commission has issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary and the DGP, Uttar Pradesh seeking a detailed report within four weeks, including action against the responsible police officer and any relief granted the victim by the authorities, it said.

    The Commission has observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, raise serious issue of violation of human right to the victim.

    According to the media report, carried on May 6, the wife of the police officer locked the victim at her home on the evening of May 2.

    Her husband, a police official, came along with a woman Inspector and started interrogating her about a theft in the house.

    Besides beating her brutally, they also subjected her to water cannon and electric shocks to force her to admit the allegations, the statement said.

    Later, sensing that the matter may snowball into a controversy, she was called to the Mehrauli police station where the police personnel tried to project the matter as a dispute with her husband and also initiated action against him for disturbing peace, it added.

  • BHU Iftar row: Uttar Pradesh government won’t interfere, says Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya

    By PTI

    VARANASI: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Monday said the state government won’t intervene in the BHU’s Iftar party row but suggested that the programme should have been avoided.

    The controversy should not have been invited by organising such a programme on the BHU campus, Maurya told reporters.

    “No such work was ever done on the university campus established by Pt Madan Mohan Malviya,” he said.

    Maurya, however, clarified that the matter is between the university and students.

    “We cannot interfere from the side of the government,” he added.

    On Wednesday, an Iftar party was organised in Banaras Hindu University, with Vice-Chancellor Sudhir Jain and other staff members attending it, leading to a protest by some students.

    Alleging that the Iftar party was held in the university college for the first time and questioning the need to start a new tradition, students raised slogans at the VC’s residence and burnt his effigy in protest.

    A university spokesperson, however, had said it was not a new thing for the BHU and alleged that the protest was an attempt to disturb the peace and harmony on the campus.

    Maurya also expressed unhappiness over the Chandauli incident, in which a young woman died under suspicious circumstances during a police raid.

    Her family members have alleged that she was raped, a charge yet to be confirmed by police.

    Maurya said the inspector of the police station concerned has been suspended with immediate effect.

    Action will be taken on the investigation report, Maurya said as he claimed that the law and order situation is fine in the state.

    On inflation, Maurya said efforts are being made to control it.

  • Four decades on, 63 Hindu families displaced from East Pakistan get land, houses in Uttar Pradesh

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: After a four-decade-long wait, 63 Hindu families displaced from East Pakistan were given houses, agricultural land and residential plots by the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday.

    Each family was given two acres for agriculture purposes, a residential plot measuring 200 sq metres and a house in Kanpur Dehat district.

    Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held previous governments responsible for the plight of such families.

    All these families had migrated from East Pakistan, now called Bangladesh, in 1970s and were given jobs in a yarn mill in Hastinapur town of Meerut district, he said.

    The CM said the yarn mill closed down 1984 and some of them were rehabilitated while 65 families kept waiting for their rehabilitation.

    “Your 38-year-long wait is over today,” the CM said in the presence of Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak and Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh.

    “I am happy while granting two acres of land, 200 sq metres residential patta to each of the 63 families in the Rasulabad area of Kanpur Dehat district,” he said, adding that each family is being given a house under the chief minister’s housing scheme.

    Targeting previous regimes, Adityanath said people used to go to them but “insensitive” governments never took them seriously.

    He asked why their sufferings did not reach who talked about the poor and why they did not do any work for the people of Musahar (rat eaters) caste or why people from Vantangiya villages in eastern Uttar Pradesh had been left to fend for themselves.

    Citing achievements of his government, the CM said, “We converted 38 villages of Vantangiya into revenue villages and they voted for the first time in the Assembly elections after the Independence.”

    Originally brought from Myanmar for afforestation activities during the British period, the Vantangiya community has been living in forests since then without any modern development as their villages lacked the revenue village status that makes them eligible for welfare schemes.

    After becoming the UP chief minister in 2017, Adityanath had granted the revenue village status to many Vantangiya people.

    Elaborating on efforts of his government, he said, “When Prime Minister Narendra Modi passed the order to give citizenship to the minorities migrating from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, we started searching for such people in UP also and traced the families.”

    He termed this as an unprecedented example of India’s service to humanity.

    The benefits are meant for 63 families but the population of 400 is going to be directly benefited by this, he said.

    Adityanath said so far 1.08 lakh houses have been provided such families.