Day: July 18, 2019

DPS, Ranchi, celebrates 30th Foundation Day

Source: .dailypioneer.com

Delhi Public School, Ranchi celebrated its 30th Foundation Day with much pomp and show here on Wednesday. Around 500 children of classes IX to XII got a chance to participate and paid a tribute to the founders of the school and the school’s development ever since its inception.

The Chief Guest of the function was Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh of Jharkhand High Court, while Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay graced the occasion as the Guests of Honour. Students were blessed by the presence of various other esteemed dignitaries. The members of the school managing committee, principals of eminent schools of the city and other dignitaries of the city were also present for the occasion.

The programme began with the rendition of the welcome song, which was followed by the instrumental musical gala which was a beautiful blend of Indian & Western Music. The cultural fiesta was meant to honour the eminent dignitaries for their incredible contribution in the field of law and order and it was marked by a series of exotic talents thus creating a festive mood.

Principal Ram Singh greeted everyone present very warmly on this momentous occasion. He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the guests for being a part of the celebration. He emphasized on the necessity of the Holistic development of the child’s personality and how the school is constantly working for the same. He explained the 30 years journey of DPS Ranchi in which the school has gradually developed from a bud and blossomed into a flower. He talked about the academic as well as the infrastructural initiatives taken by the school in recent years.

A dance drama: SHAKUNTALA, which aroused the energetic audience on the edge of the seats, was performed. Audience was spellbound to see such young children giving such enigmatic and jaw dropping expressions with the help of mudras of Indian classical dance forms. This was followed by the release of the school magazine: ‘Dips Time’.

The Chief Guest, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh expressed his thanks to the principal for inviting him in the function. He showed his concern on the present day education system. He emphasised on the promotion of creativity in place of marks and requested the schools to allow the children to choose their field as per their interests. He was impressed by the initiatives of Ability Test, Enhancement and remedial classes and the competitive atmosphere of the school. He admired the experiments and innovative initiatives taken by the principal. At the end, he invited the students to come up with a healthy spirit of competition.

The ending was marked by the grand finale done by the students. All the participants gathered on stage as a display of unity in diversity.

Other eminent guests also said that it’s a matter of immense pride that this school not only imparts quality education but also works on the holistic development of the students.

Over 500 students joined hands in making the programme a kaleidoscopic display of immense talent which was a clear reflection of the ideals of the school. The parents left the hall feeling energised and overwhelmed with happiness.

Brimming with smiles on their faces and they also appreciated the invigorating show.

Almost 40 Years On, Man Declared Juvenile at Time of Murder, Spared Life Term

Source: news18.com

New Delhi: If there has to be a perfect example of how the wheels of justice turn slowly but grind exceedingly fine, this is it. Almost four decades on, a man has been spared life behind bars since he was six months short of 18 at the time of committing a murder.

Incarcerated for a period of more than 10 years since 1980, Banaras Singh has finally earned his freedom with the Supreme Court concluding that he was 17 years and 6 months old when he committed the murder.

A bench headed by Justice NV Ramana held that Singh is entitled to the benefit of the juvenile justice law, and since he has already served a long time in jail, he should be released immediately instead of being sent back to a juvenile court again.

The incident occurred in August 1980 when Singh had checked in a hotel room with his cousin in Bihar’s Gaya. Later, the hotel staff found the cousin’s dead body inside the room while Singh had left. Singh was arrested immediately. In 1988, a trial court in Gaya convicted him of the murder charge and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

In 1998, the Patna High Court dismissed Singh’s appeal and affirmed his conviction as well as life term.

Singh filed an appeal in the Supreme Court in 2009, and claimed that he was juvenile at the time of commission of the crime. His petition sought benefit of the Bihar Child Act, which was subsequently amended as per the Juvenile Justice Act. The matter remained pending for a decade in the top court, which in December last year sought a report from the jurisdictional trial court.

Based on Singh’s matriculation certificate and other records, the trial judge sent a report to the Supreme Court, confirming that Singh was indeed a minor and six months short of 18 when the offence took place. “Taking into consideration the said fact and the law prevailing as on today, we are of the considered view that the appellant is entitled to the benefit of juvenility,” thus held the apex court.

The bench took into account that Singh has already undergone more than 10 years of sentence. “In view of that, there is no need to again sending the matter for determination under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 by the Juvenile Justice Board. We dispose of the appeal accordingly and direct that the appellant be released forthwith, if he is not required in any other case,” it ordered.

Drought fear looms large in Jharkhand as 14 districts face 40% rainfall deficit

Source: hindustantimes.com

With monsoon rains skipping Jharkhand in peak kharif sowing season, drought cloud is looming large over the state as merely 10.58% paddy sowing coverage was achieved so far.

Paddy sowing is yet to take place in 13 out of 24 districts of the state due to rain deficit. Of the 11 districts where sowing has started, five districts have recorded less than one percentage sowing till Monday, according to district-wise kharif coverage data of the state agriculture department.

The coverage of other kharif crops is also not encouraging. Maize sowing coverage till date is 38.91%, pulses 12.76%, oil seeds 25.81% and coarse cereals 8.50%, according to the data.

In first week, the monsoon rainfall had raised hope of farmers, but it started weakening after July 12. Due to good rainfall till July 10, rainfall deficit recorded from 52% on July 1 to 30% on July 11. However, the weak monsoon for last five days has again increased the crisis as the rainfall deficit was recorded at 38% on Tuesday.

“Barring two districts Ranchi and Simdega, rainfall was nil in 22 districts in past 24 hours due to inactive monsoon,” said SD Kotal, director at Ranchi’s centre of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). He, however, said monsoon became active over Jharkhand from Tuesday evening due to formation of a cyclonic circulation over Bay of Bengal

Light to moderate rainfall was expected in 50% area of Jharkhand mostly in parts of southern, north and northeast during next 24 hours, he said. “We are expecting good rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday due to the system, which would help improve rainfall deficit,” Kotal said. Jharkhand has received 227.4mm rainfall against the normal rainfall of 364.9mm, which means 38% deficit. Khunti district is facing highest 61% rain deficit, where the paddy sowing was recorded at 0.36% till Monday.

Out of 24, 14 districts have been facing over 40% rainfall deficit, which has largely impacted the paddy sowing activities.

An agriculture department official said the paddy sowing trend was almost similar to the previous year, which witnessed drought in 129 blocks out of 264. In 2018, sowing could not take place in 12 districts in the state till July 16.

Director research of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), Dr DN Singh said that situation was grim.

“Farmers will have to change the pattern of paddy farming, as rainfall shortage has emerged as major trouble in state for last few years. Now, farmers will have to go for direct seeding instead of transplanting,” he said.

He said the ideal time for paddy sowing was July 15. “With delayed rainfall in monsoon season, the paddy sowing activity was extended to July 31. But, delayed sowing causes harvest loss due to age of the seed,” he said.

The state aims to sow paddy on 18 lakh hectares of land this kharif. However, BAU scientists find it a tough task due to delayed and deficit monsoon.

10-year-old boy, man commit suicide in separate incidents

Source: millenniumpost.in

Noida/Ghaziabad: In two separate incidents of suicide, a 10-year-old boy allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself with the ceiling fan at his house in nithari area of Noida while in another a 30-year-old makeup man with a private news channel hanged himself to death inside his house in Vaishali area of Ghaziabad on Wednesday. In first incident reported from Noida, 10-year-old Sumer Das, native of Murshidabad district in West Bengal lived at a rented house along his family in Nithari area.

Cops said that his father is a e-rickshaw driver while his mother works as a house help at nearby residential sectors. “The incident came to light around 11 am on Wednesday when the boy was alone at home.” “When the mother came back home from work, she spotted the child hanging with the ceiling fan and rushed him to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead,” said Rajbir Singh Chauhan, Station House Officer at Sector 20 police station of Noida.

“The parents told police that the boy had urged his father to take him along on his daily ride on Wednesday morning but he denied as it was raining. Somehow, the boy got mentally depressed due to this and he took the extreme step to end his life,” added Chauhan.

In another incident, 30-year-old Nitesh Kashyap allegedly committed suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan at his residence in sector -5 Vaishali area of Ghaziabad.

Police have received a suicide note from the spot. Cops said that the suicide note revealed that the deceased had a dispute with his wife and family.

He also said that he loves his wife and family very much but taking the step under mental stress.

“We have not registered any case into the matter as no complaint has been received. Police recovered a suicide note in which the deceased said that no one should be held responsible for his death,” said Sandeep Kumar Singh, SHO of Indirapuram policestation.

BPSC chairman meets Bihar Governor over question paper row

Source: hindustantimes.com

Chairman of Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has met and briefed state Governor Lalji Tandon over civil service examination question paper in which a question referred to the governors of states as “kathputli (puppet)”.

BPSC Chairman Shishir Sinha briefed Tandon and said that action has been initiated in the matter and the commission has sought an explanation from the person who set the particular question on the role of Governor in the BPSC Mains Examination paper.

The Governor Office said in a press release, “The Chairman of BPSC informed us that anyone from commission was not aware about anything related to question paper. Even, the commission get to know about if after the completion of exam.”

“Critically examine the role of Governor in the State politics in India, particularly in Bihar. Is he a mere puppet?” the question asked in the General Knowledge Paper II examination of Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Mains read, which later caused flutters in political circles.

The question paper of the BPSC Mains Examination, which was held on Sunday, has come under attack from ministers in the state.

In a damage control exercise, however, the BPSC has sought an explanation from the person who put the question on the role of Governor in BPSC Mains Examination paper. Blacklisting him, the Commission has also barred him from setting the question paper in future.

“The person who put the question on a Constitutional post in BPSC Mains Exam has been asked for an explanation and has been barred from setting a question paper in future, thereby, putting him in a blacklist. Express regret over it,” said BPSC in a press release.

The BPSC Civil Services Main examination was conducted from July 12 to July 14 while the final optional subject exam will be conducted on July 16.

Bihar is flooding, but where did it start? Hint: look north

Source: downtoearth.org.in

You would expect floods to follow heavy rains, but the current flooding of north Bihar preceded extreme rainfall. The trigger for the deluge was the downpour in Nepal.

Bihar shares its northern border with the country, from which a slew of Himalayan rivers run down south. Rising water level in many of those wreaked havoc in 12 districts of north Bihar as floodwater breached embankments, snapped roads, washed away small bridges and damaged standing paddy, maize and jute crops.

On July 11-12, Nepal’s Simara weather station received more than half the 580.2 milimetre rainfall it gets in July normally. The spell totalled 478.40 mm by July 13. 

The next day Nepal opened all 56 sluice gates of the Kosi barrage, with water at alarming levels, releasing three lakh cusecs towards Bihar.

Heavy rainfall ensued in bihar as well, but the sudden rise of water levels in Kosi, Bagmati, Kamka Balan, Gandak, Budhi Gandak and their tributaries was due to an extreme weather event in Nepal, said Vyas, vice-chairman of Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA).

The floods have affected more than 2.5 million people of 546 panchayats at 77 blocks in 12 districts, BSDMA officials said.

The state is not new to floods, but it was taken by surprise by the amount of rainfall it received this time and its timing. It usually rains heavily in the state during August, instead of July.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told the Assembly on July 16, 2019 that the state is “fully prepared to deal with” the flash floods. But, everyone else in the state — be it activists or people actually bearing the brunt — feel surprised and unprepared for the unprecedented amount of rainfall.

Everyone living in villages near embankments in Supaul district failed to understand why the water level in river Koshi rose so high in July itself, said Mahendra Yadav, an activist working with flood victims in Koshi region. “Even people in their mid-60s said they had not experienced such a phenomenon in their lifetime,” added Yadav.

North Bihar districts received record-high rainfall during between July 12 and 13, said India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials. East Champaran got 214.92 mm of rainfall, Sitamarhi 154.55 mm and Muzaffatpur 125.15 in those 24 hours. This surpassed a 54-years-old record of heavy rainfall in 24 hours in Bihar.

Then, on July 14, Kishanganj block alone recorded 186.8 mm rainfall within five hours followed by Kochadham block that got 164.2 mm, Thakurganj block 163 mm and Bagadurganj block 162 mm. “Intensity of heavy rainfall was not witnessed before. It caused swollen rivers,” said a disaster management official.

These floods are an example of how climate change would affect lives of people, particularly the poor, Ranjeev, another activist, told Down To Earth.

Now, water resources department officials said water levels in rivers originating in Nepal are decreasing since no heavy rainfall has been recorded in last two days.

Relief and rescue operations are on in flood-affected areas as 26 companies of National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and Seema Sashatra Bal have been deployed. Also, 125 boats have been pressed into rescue works.

Political storm brewing in Bihar over police seeking info on RSS, Sangh Parivar functionaries

Source: indiatoday.in

Aletter purportedly issued by the special branch of Bihar police with directions for collecting details about functionaries of the RSS and its affiliates has raised hackles of state BJP leaders and brought to fore the uneasiness in ties with ally JD(U).

Home department officials were tight-lipped about the veracity of the purported communication dated May 28 wherein a report on name, address, telephone number and occupation of district-level office bearers of 19 Sangh Parivar outfits had been sought by the special branch.

The recipients of the letter had been asked to submit their reports within a week.

State BJP leaders expressed surprise over the police move with BJP MLC Sachchidanand Rai saying the party must be careful of the intentions of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who holds the home portfolio in the NDA government in Bihar.

BJP MLA and state vice-president Mithilesh Tiwari expressed surprise that police were involved in surveillance of activists of Sangh Parivar, “who are known to be selflessly devoted to nation building”.

Tiwari, however, asserted the development will not have any bearing on BJP-JD(U) ties.

BJP MLC and party’s media cell national co-in charge Sanjay Mayukh said it would be better if the officials responsible for issuing such a communication come clean on the matter.

“I am astonished that the government is seeking such information. The government should have had the information by now since Sangh activists are not known to be secretive. They function in a transparent manner,” he remarked sarcastically.

Rai pointed to the timing of the letter. It was around the same time when Nitish Kumar refused to join Narendra Modi government at the Centre despite contesting the Lok Sabha polls as an NDA ally.

Kumar’s JD(U) was expected to have representation in the Union Cabinet. However, the Chief Minister who also heads the party decided otherwise stating that JD(U) was being offered a symbolic representation not commensurate with its strength in Parliament.

The chief minister has also remarked wryly on a couple of occasions thereafter that the BJP is actually not in need of allies for running its government at the centre and a mere symbolic representation is of no significance.

Notably, the BJP has 303 MPs in Lok Sabha, far in excess of 272 needed for a majority. In Bihar, it contested 17 seats and won all of these while the JD(U) which fought as many bagged 16.

“If information is being gathered as part of some routine procedure then I have no problems. But if it was being done with any ulterior motive, then I have strong objections.

“I am unable to understand why the police should keep a surveillance on activists of the Sangh Parivar, who are known to be selflessly devoted to nation building,” Tiwari said.

He, however, noted that the parties have come together to develop Bihar and will continue to work in this direction.

Both parties have a mutual understanding that each would pursue its own ideology in a way that does not harm the other, he said.

Altogether 19 organisations have been named in the purported circular. These include RSS, its minorities cell Muslim Rashtriya Manch, students body Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, labour organisation Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh besides Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, among others.

The letter also seeks information on right-wing Hindu Mahasabha though it is not an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Opposition RJD leaders latched onto the issue to take a swipe at the BJP and the JD(U).

Senior RJD leader Bhai Birendra said “this shows the imperfect alliance between NDA partners”.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar comprises JD(U), BJP and LJP.

Kumar had snapped 17-year-old ties with the BJP in 2013 but returned to the NDA in 2017 after a short-lived alliance with arch-rival Lalu Prasad’s RJD and Congress.

BPSC apologises for controversial question, state promises probe

Source: newkerala.com

Patna, July 16 : The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on Tuesday apologised for a controversial question in a paper of its ongoing main examination that sought to know from civil service aspirants if the state Governor was “merely a puppet”. 
The second question in the first part of the General Studies Paper II, held on Sunday, asked aspirants to “critically examine the role of the Governor in state politics, particularly in the context of Bihar. Is he merely a puppet?”

In a press note issued on Tuesday, the BPSC said it had blacklisted the person who set a erroneous question about a constitutional position in the first part of the General Studies Paper II. The BPSC said it apologised for its mistake. 

State Education Minister Krishnanandan Prasad Verma even promised an inquiry into the error and said appropriate action will be taken against those who are found responsible for it. 

According to aspirants, the paper had many such questions, based on their opinions and perceptions.

As the question created controversy, the BPSC’s Examination Controller Amarendra Kumar contended that such questions had been asked earlier too. 

The BPSC’s 64th Main Examination began on July 12 and will end on July 16. Three papers have been held so far and on July 16, the examination in the optional subject will be held.