14112024-TTC-01.qxd 11/14/2024 12:38 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 8 NO. 315 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 PM CREDITS NITISH WITH PULLING BIHAR OUT OF JUNGLE RAJ NATION /thetribunechd SENSEX SLUMPS 984 PTS, NIFTY BELOW 23,600 BUSINESS MILITANTS, FORCES EXCHANGE GUNFIRE IN KULGAM J&K FORMER TOP US SPY JOHN RATCLIFFE TO LEAD CIA WORLD thursday | 14 november 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Bulldozer justice unlawful,can’t raze Trump picks Ramaswamy, Musk for new ‘efficiency dept’ even criminal’s property illegally: SC Army veteran Pete Hegseth named Defence Secretary Lays down guidelines | Cautions executive against acting as judiciary ❝ Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 13 Amid allegations of selective demolition of unauthorised constructions belonging to members of a particular community in BJP-ruled states as a punitive measure, the Supreme Court on Wednesday declared “bulldozer justice” unconstitutional, saying the executive could not demolish residential and commercial properties of persons only on grounds that they were accused or convicted of a crime. “It is a settled principle of criminal jurisprudence as recognised in our country that a person is presumed to be innocent till he is held guilty… if demolition of a house, wherein number of persons of a family or a few families reside, is permitted only on grounds that one person residing in such a house is either an accused or convicted in the crime, it will amount to inflicting a collective punishment on the entire family or the families residing in such structure,” a Bench led by Justice BR Gavai said. The Yogi-led Uttar Pradesh Govt’s ‘bulldozer justice’ has triggered many controversies in the past. FILE 15-DAY SHOW CAUSE NOTICE, RESTITUTION RIDER IN GUIDELINES ■ SC says executive can’t raze registered post, affixed conspicuously on property’s outer portion ■ As soon as notice is served, intimation to be sent to DM via email ■ Every municipal/local body shall assign designated digital portal within 3 months from November 13 to carry details on service, pasting of notice, reply, etc ■ Opportunity of personal hearing must be given to affected party ■ Authority to give reasons why demolition is only option left and options such as compounding, partial demolition not available ■ If demolition found illegal, officers to be held responsible for restitution of property at personal cost, will also pay damages people of their right to life by removing shelter from their heads… would be wholly unconstitutional.” Pronouncing the verdict on petitions challenging arbitrary demolition of properties of accused persons, Justice Gavai said, “It is not a happy sight to see women, children and aged persons dragged to the streets overnight. Heavens would not fall on the authorities if they hold their continued on page 9 municipal laws, whichever is later property only on grounds someone is accused or convicted of a crime; lays down guidelines ■ No demolition without a 15-day prior show cause notice or notice, as provided under local ■ Notice to be served on owner via Noting that the right to shelter was one of the facets of Article 21 (right to life and liberty), the Bench said, “Depriving such innocent HimachalHC sets aside appointment of six Chief Parl Secys Legal Correspondent Cricketer MS Dhoni and his wife at a polling booth in Ranchi. ANI Over 66% turnout in Jharkhand Phase-1 polling new delhi: A voter turnout of 66.18 per cent was recorded in the 43 Assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where polling was held in the first phase on Wednesday, officials said. Lohardaga district topped the list with 73.21 per cent polling, while Hazaribag district recorded the lowest at 62.78 per cent, the officials said. Former CM Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora were among the 683 candidates in fray in the first phase. At least 15,344 polling stations were set up, with 1,152 managed entirely by women. INSIDE Centre rushes 20 more CAPF units to Manipur new delhi: The Centre has rushed 20 additional CAPF companies, comprising about 2,000 personnel, to Manipur in the wake of fresh attacks and law and order issues in the state, official sources said Wednesday. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued orders on Tuesday night for airlifting and immediate deployment of these units. At least 10 suspected militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with the CRPF on Monday after insurgents in camouflage uniforms attacked a CRPF camp at Jakuradhor in Jiribam district. INSIDE It’s not a happy sight to see women, children and elderly dragged to streets overnight House embodies collective hope of a family for secure future. If this is to be taken away, the authorities must be satisfied that this is the only option available Heavens won’t fall on authorities if they hold themselves back for some period Officials indulging in arbitrary demolition should be held accountable. — SC Shimla, November 13 In a landmark judgment, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday quashed the appointment of six Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPSs) and declared the law under which the appointments were made as void. The verdict was passed by the Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Bipin Chander Negi. It also directed that all facilities and privileges of these CPSs be withdrawn with immediate effect. The court declared the Himachal Pradesh Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances, Powers, Privileges and Amenities) Act, 2006, as void, saying enacting the same was beyond the legislative competence of the state legislature. In January last year, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had appointed six Congress MLAs as CPSs. They were Mohan Lal Brakta (Rohru), Ashish Butail (Palampur), Ram Kumar Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 13 US President-elect Donald Trump has picked Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Indian-origin American Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aimed at improving governance and curbing wasteful expenditures. Trump also named Pete Hegseth, a military veteran, to lead the world’s most powerful army as the next Secretary of Defence. The 44-yearold Hegseth served as an infantry officer in the National Guard and was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. He now co-hosts a news programme on US television station Fox News. Describing the role of Musk and Ramaswamy, Trump said, “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditure and restructure federal agencies.” In a post on X, Ramaswamy said, “DOGE will soon begin crowdsourcing examples of government waste, fraud Elon Musk Vivek Ramaswamy TRUMP: DOGE TO CUT WASTEFUL EXPENSES ■ Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will improve governance, said Trump ■ It will also curb wasteful expenditures, dismantle bureaucracy, cut regulations ■ Musk and Ramaswamy’s work to conclude by July 4, 2026, said the Prez-elect and abuse. Americans voted for drastic government reform and they deserve to be part of fixing it.” Ramaswamy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1985. His parents had migrated to the US from Kerala. His mother was a geriatric psychiatrist and his father worked as an engineer and patent lawyer at General Electric. A biotech entrepreneur, Ramaswamy is married to Apporva Tewari, a doctor. Ramaswamy had chal- At 418, Delhi air quality turns ‘severe’ Doctor stabbed multiple times by patient’s son AIR QUALITY INDEX 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD Chennai, November 13 An oncologist at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital here was stabbed multiple times on Wednesday by the son of a patient allegedly over grievances regarding the treatment of his mother, a hospital official said. Directs withdrawal of privileges | Verdict triggers political slugfest Chaudhary (Doon), Kishori Lal (Baijnath), Sanjay Awasthi (Arki) and Sunder Singh Thakur (Kullu). Eleven BJP MLAs then filed a PIL challenging the appointments. The Bench observed, “Since the impugned Act is void ab initio, the six CPSs are usurpers of public office right from their inception and thus, their continuance in office, based on their illegal and unconstitutional appointment, is completely impermissible in law.” “Accordingly, from now onwards, they shall cease to be holder of the office(s) of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries with all the consequences,” it said. Sukhu said the judgment would be studied and the Cabinet would decide the next step after talks. Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said the membership of MLAs appointed as CPS should be cancelled. lenged Trump in the Republican presidential primary, but endorsed him in January. During his campaign, Trump spoke about having a government efficiency commission to reduce spending. “As the first order of business, the commission will develop an action plan to totally eliminate fraud and improper payments within six months,” he had said in September. On the proposed new US Defence Secretary, Trump said, “I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my Cabinet as the Secretary of Defence.” “Pete has spent his entire life as a warrior for the troops, and for the country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America first. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice — our military will be great again, and America will never back down,” Trump said. A graduate of Princeton University, Hegseth also has a degree from Harvard University. He is an army combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. “For his actions on the battlefield, he was decorated,” Trump’s announcement said. continued on page 8 CHENNAI MEDICOS GO ON STRIKE | STALIN VOWS JUSTICE An anti-smog gun being used to spray water droplets to curb air pollution in New Delhi on Wednesday. PTI Hry bought drugs from blacklisted firm: CAG Bhartesh Singh Thakur 376L substandard medicines supplied to health centres Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 13 Haryana Medical Services Corporation Limited, a government body responsible for procuring medicines and equipment for public health facilities, not only bought drugs worth Rs 1.52 crore from a blacklisted firm, but also paid Rs 5.67 crore to 15 suppliers whose drugs had been found substandard on more than two occasions, the Comp- OVER ~14 CR EXPIRED DRUGS IN STOCK As Haryana didn’t take steps to get medicines replaced by the firm concerned on time, expired drugs worth ~14.52 crore were lying in warehouses and hospitals, said the CAG troller and Auditor General (CAG) said in a report. The auditor mentioned that despite Gujarat Medical Services Corporation Limited (GMSCL) blacklisting Nestor Pharmaceuticals for three years in February 2017 for the supply of folic acidferrous sulphate tablets, Haryana Medical Services Corporation Limited (HMSCL) purchased the drug worth Rs 1.52 crore from the firm between May and December 2019. The purchase happened despite the HMSCL itself too blacklisting Nestor for three years in September 2018 for concealing information regarding the GMSCL, it said. The report, ‘Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services’, was tabled in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha today. According to the Drug Purchase Policy, continued on page 8 The man assaulted the doctor inside the outpatient room during a conversation regarding his mother’s treatment. He was immediately apprehended by the hospital staff and handed over to the police. The assailant has been identified as Vignesh. His mother Kanchana was the patient. The victim, Balaji Jagannathan, is a renowned oncologist and is serving as an associate professor in the medical oncology department in the hospital. He is being treated and is said to be stable. Police Commissioner A Arun inspected the hospital and reviewed the security arrangements. He said a police outpost would be set up on the premises. The attack led to an outrage among doctors and nurses, who gathered in front of the hospital to continued on page 8 Day to go for Parkash Utsav, Nanak Nagri struggling with roads, lighting Five years after getting Smart City tag, Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala awaits infra upgrade Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Kapurthala, November 13 The holy town of Sultanpur Lodhi was declared Smart City ahead of the 550th Parkash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev in 2019, but five years on it is doing little justice to the tag. While big projects such as the Rs 500-crore plan for setting up heritage village ‘Pind Babe Nanak Da’ are yet to take off, the basic TOWN IN DARKNESS We have Gurpurb celebrations in Sultanpur Lodhi but the entire town is submerged in darkness. The government and local administration have completely failed in their duties. Rana Inder Partap, LOCAL MLA (INDEPENDENT) ❝ amenities in the town also leave much to be desired on the eve of the 555th Gurpurb celebrations. Gurpurb is just two days away, but the roads of the town remain in a deplorable condition. One can gauge the situation from the fact that Local Bodies Minister Dr Ravjot Singh had to visit the place thrice in the past three weeks to ensure the roads were repaired ahead of the Parkash Utsav on November 15. The minister visited the town on Sunday and stated that a show cause notice had been issued to the Superintending Engineer, PWD (B&R), and the XEN, Sewerage Board, for not completing the work within the deadline. As the big day nears, interlocking tiles are being laid to cover trenches dug up c m y b in the middle of roads for sewerage work. Nearly 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh pilgrims from Punjab and beyond are set to visit the town for the Gurpurb festivity. A nagar kirtan will also be taken out in the town on Thursday, but the dusty and patchworked roads remain an eyesore. The town, which is a part of Kapurthala district and is located about 47 km continued on page 8 Tiles being laid to cover trenches in Sultanpur Lodhi. TRIBUNE PHOTO