Stop eviction of villagers, SC panel directs Punjab
Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 May, 2022 09:51 AM
Chandigarh, May 18 (IANS) Taking note of the Punjab government's decision for issuing eviction orders against Scheduled Caste residents in Ludhiana district, who are living there since independence, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman Vijay Sampla on Wednesday issued a notice and asked the state to reply in 15 days.
Besides, the NCSC also asked the government to stop the eviction drive and maintain status quo.
In a complaint to the NCSC, residents of Bhama Kalan village said they have possession of 200 acres in the village since 1947.
"Since 1947, we are utilising the land for agricultural and residential purposes. We have electricity and water connection, besides other government identification documents on these addressees.
"But now, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government is asking us to immediately vacate the land. This is not justified as the children have to attend the local school. We can't vacate the land and shift our elderly people, especially those who are unwell. We request the NCSC to please help us and protect our land," the villagers rued.
However, invoking relevant clause Section (7) of the rules of procedures of the commission, the NCSC asked the state Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police, the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana and the SSP to maintain the status quo until the matter is pending.
The NCSC warned the officers that no Scheduled Caste should be forced to vacate the land and if found otherwise, the commission will take necessary action against the erring officers as per the Prevention of Atrocities Act of 1989, as amended from time to time.
India on Tuesday recorded 1,68,063 new Covid cases, taking the total tally to 8,21,446. Although the fresh infections were 6.4 per cent less than Monday when the country logged 1,79,723, the weekly positivity rate has climbed to 8.85 per cent and the daily positivity rate has declined to 10.64 per cent. On the other hand, 4,461 Omicron cases were recorded from 28 states.
Delhi reported a 25 per cent surge in Covid-19 cases after recording 19,166 fresh cases. With this, the infection tally has climbed to 15,68,896. Meanwhile, the city has recorded 17 Covid deaths on the second consecutive day, pushing the death toll to 25,177.
On Monday, after a detailed hearing in the matter, a bench, headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, said the court will set up a committee headed by a retired top court judge to probe the PM's security breach and asked both the Centre and Punjab government to not move ahead with their respective inquiries into the matter.
Several Supreme Court advocates on Monday claimed to have received an international call with a recorded message asking the apex court not to help the Central government by taking up a case connected with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security breach in Punjab last week.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress are projected to poll 40 per cent and 36 per cent votes in Punjab, respectively, as per the ABP-CVOTER Battle for the States survey. The 117-member Punjab Assembly will go to the polls on February 14, and the counting of votes will be taken up on March 10.
The highest quantity has been procured from Punjab (1,86,85,53 MT) followed by Chhattisgarh (67,65,986 MT) and Telangana (65,54,739 MT) while the highest number of farmers benefitted in are Chhattisgarh (16,90,459), Telangana (9,67,134) and Punjab (9,24,299).
