WEDNESDAY 02 OCTOBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR 'HAVE NO ROLE IN MUDA SCAM, WON'T RESIGN' ‘IAF GETTING EQUIPPED WITH THE MOST ADVANCED PLATFORMS’ P5 SENSEX 84,266.29q33.49 WEATHER Morning thunderstorms. Storms could contain frequent lightning. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 33°C and 27°C respectively. P6 NIFTY 25,796.90q13.95 ` vs $ 83.81 Max. 86% Min. 77% NEW DELHI, 1 OCTOBER Min: 27.8˚C SUN SETS 17:23 hrs MOON SETS 17:09 hrs T TEMPERATURE New Moon on 3 October THUMBNAILS Sufi artists rehearse for the Navratri festival, in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.n ANI Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin becomes first woman officer to be appointed as DGAFMS: Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin has become the first woman officer to be appointed at the Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), the branch directly responsible to the Ministry of Defence for overall medical policy matters which relate to the Armed Forces. he Supreme Court on Tuesday extended its earlier order on freezing demolitions across the country without the permission of the top court as it reserved its decision on laying down pan-India directives. A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan reserved its orders on laying down pan-India directives governing demolitions of unauthorised structures after several petitions were filed before the court alleging that demolitions were carried out by several state authorities without sufficient notice. Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, the second highest law officer of the Central government, suggested that service of notice should be effected through a registered post. In case, the registered post is not accepted, notice may be served through alternative means, including affixing on the walls of the property in question, Mr Mehta said. He flagged that the pan-India guidelines are being issued by the highest court of the land based on a few instances alleging that one particular community is being targeted. At this, the apex court said: “We are a secular country. Whatever directions will be passed, will apply pan-India irrespective of the religion. We do not intend to protect encroachments on public roads, footpaths, railway lines, etc. If there is any religious structure in the middle of the road, be it gurudwara, dargah or temple, it cannot obstruct the public. Public interest and safety is paramount.” “What we are loudly thinking is that protect the property (alleged unauthorised structure) after demolition order is passed, say 10-15 days to allow exercise of appellate remedy and in case a court entertains the grievance, the question of stay should be decided within a month,” it added. Further, the Supreme Court mulled the creation of an online portal recording the fact of dispatch of notice for demolitions. It reiterated that the illegal structure will have to go if built in contravention of statutory rules. “We will ensure that our order does not help encroachers,” the court said. Representing the petitioner side, senior advocate C.U. Singh said that the notice period should be uniform across the country and there should be a clear mandate for service of notice on a person lodged in jail or custody. “There cannot be demolition in a particular vicinity. If authorities come to the conclusion that a house is illegal, they should make a survey of the entire area. They should not go and demolish one particular house, and say ‘we have done everything as per law’,” submitted advocate M.R. Shamshad. After hearing both sides, the bench reserved its orders and thanked the parties for assistance rendered by them. In an earlier hearing held on 17 September, the top court flagged "glorification" and "grandstanding" over bulldozer action in the country, as it paused all demolition actions across the country, except with its permission, till the next date of hearing. P15 SILVER 99,990 GOLD 77,770.00 Court reserves decision on laying down pan-India directives AGENCIES ROHIT OPENS UP ON EQUATION WITH GAMBHIR P8 Apex court extends stay on demolitions RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max: 33.4˚C SUN RISES 05:28 hrs MOON RISES 04:54 hrs GANDHI’S HUMOUR BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 73.78p2.08 CM Mamata urges urgent relief for flood-affected people ahead of Durga Puja Junior doctors resume total cease-work strike AGENCIES KOLKATA, 1 OCTOBER STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA 1 OCTOBER Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grave concern over the floods that have hit many districts in south and north Bengal, stressing the need to provide relief for flood-affected people during Durga Puja. She was visiting the Durga Puja of Sribhumi Sporting Club, organised by the state Fire and Emergency Services minister, Mr Sujit Bose. Miss Banerjee said tomorrow is the end of Pitripaksha and beginning of Debipaksha and she will inaugurate several Durga Pujas tomorrow. She virtually inaugurated two fire stations at Dubrajpur in Birbhum and Birpara in Alipurduar. She also flagged off 50 motor cycles that are fitted with fire fighting equipment. She said these motorcycles are very useful as they can enter lanes and bylanes to tackle fires where big fire tenders find it difficult to enter. Mr Bose said there are 164 fire stations in the state. With the addition of 50 motor cycles today, the total number of motor cycle fleet equipped with fire fighting gear went up to 281. Miss Banerjee said vast areas have been inundated due to man-made floods and high tide is expected tomorrow. The entire administration was involved in providing relief to the flood-hit people, she said. Miss Banerjee reiterated that Nepal had released 6 lakh cusec of water from Koshi river that caused flood in north Bengal. In south Bengal DVC had released water without informing the state government. After the flood water recedes, drinking water becomes a major problem and because of water contamination, diarrhoea becomes a major issue, she said. She lauded the role played by the Kamarpukur and other units of Ramakrishna Mission to provide relief to the people. "We believe that through service human life takes a full circle. Our minds reach a higher place if we serve the needy," she said. Junior doctors in Bengal on Tuesday resumed total ‘cease work’ in connection with their demands raised in connection with the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The decision was taken after an eight-hour long meeting of the junior doctors. They have placed a set of 10 demands related to strengthening hospital security, improving health infrastructure and putting an end to ‘threat culture’ and politics in hospitals. In a statement, the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front said: "We are compelled to return to a full cease work starting from today. Unless we receive clear action from the government on safety, patient services, and the politics of fear, we will have no choice but to continue our full strike." The doctors criticised the CBI’s investigation into the RG Kar rape and murder case as being slow. “The Supreme Court, which had taken the initiative to expedite the trial of this heinous incident, has instead only postponed hearings and reduced the actual length of proceedings. We are disappointed and angered by this protracted judicial process," the doctors further said.