SC notice to Govt on plea to TACKLE MAN-ANIMAL CONFLICT

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre and 17 states on a plea seeking strict implementation of standard operating procedures (SOP) to tackle emergency situations arising out of man-animal conflicts in and around tiger reserves and forests.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul sought response from the Ministry of Environment and Forests and 17 states on a plea filed by advocate Abir Phukan seeking setting up of a committee to examine unregulated activities in forests and tiger reserves.

While issuing notice, the bench observed that if the governments come and pledge that they would follow the SOP in letter and spirit, then nothing would remain in the plea.

The plea referred to a recent incident at Belpadao region of Terai West forest division in Uttarakhand, in which forest officials allegedly tried to subdue a tiger using an earth mover after trying to tranquilise it.

"Completely brushing aside the standard operating procedure, the forest officials decided to use an earth mover to overpower the tiger," it said, adding that the incident reaffirmed the fact that "the unregulated activities of miners and quarry owners at places in and around forests are enough to cause significant harm to wildlife."

The plea sought urgent directions to ensure that an incident of this kind does not recur, by setting up a panel to look into the causes of concern which were contributing by increasing conflicts between human beings and animals.

"Ensure that forest departments of all states having tiger reserves engage competent staff which is adequately trained and equipped with the latest technology to deal with similar situations, " it said.

It alleged that there was an unholy nexus of miners and quarry owners with forest and other government officials which have resulted in an absolute disregard for all justifiable norms of sustainable development. NEW DELHI: Can drivers working for app-based taxi companies like Ola and Uber be considered as their employees?

This was a question raised today before the Delhi High Court which sought to know the Centre's stand on the issue.

Apart from the central government, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva also issued notice to the Delhi government, Uber and ANI Technologies, which provides cab services under the name of Ola, and sought their responses by August 10 on the issue raised by a drivers' union.

The Delhi Commercial Driver Union, which claims to represent around 1.5 lakh drivers operating in the national capital region, has alleged that the two companies were not treating them as employees The West Bengal Central School Service Commission ACHARYA SADAN: 11 & 11/1, Block-ee, Salt Lake; Kolkata-700091

NOTICE PUBLICATION OF RESULT OF THE 1ST STATE LEVEL SELECTION TEST-2016 HELD ON 27.11.2016 FOR RECRUITMENT OF ASSISTANT TEACHERS IN THE STATE GOVT. AIDED/SPONSORED SECONDARY (CLASSES IX & X) SCHOOLS (EXCEPT HILL REGION) Memo No.496 /6878/CSSC/ESTT/2017 Dated: 08.05.2017 and instead "exploiting" them.

It has claimed in its plea that the drivers were being exploited with regard to their pay and service conditions and were also being denied benefits like compensation in case of accidents or deaths while on duty, under the labour laws.

The Delhi government, during the hearing, told the court that the issue raised was either an industrial dispute or a policy decision to be taken by the administration.

It said no representation has been made to it by the drivers highlighting their grievances. The central government, on the other hand, said a Bill amending the Motor Vehicles Act for regulating companies like Ola and Uber has been passed by the Lok Sabha. NEW DELHI: The Centre has asked all states to link prisons with courts through video conferencing for expeditious trial and to save costs of escorting undertrials to courts.

In an advisory to all states, the Ministry of Home Affairs also said prison e-system should be integrated with Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) as well as e-courts on priority basis. “The prisons should be linked with courts through video conferencing for expeditious trial and to save costs in escorting undertrials to the courts,” it said. DEHRADUN: The Comptroller and Auditor General has pointed to an "unreconciled" amount to the tune of a whopping Rs 4990.11 crore in the accounts of different Uttarakhand government departments during the financial year 2015-16. In its latest report on Uttarakhand's finances submitted in the state assembly during a special two-day session earlier this month, the CAG said it was a "gross contravention" of Uttarakhand Budget Manual 2012 which stipulates monthly reconciliation of expenditures by departments.

The CAG has asked the state government to ensure reconciliation of accounts by the defaulting departments at the earliest to eliminate "possibilities of fraud and misuse of funds". The auditor has named 10 departments where the figures related to the amount allocated and spent did not match.

Among those who have not reconciled their accounts against budgetary allocations include the Estate Department, Social Welfare Department, Relief and Revenue, as well as the Housing and Urban Development department.

When contacted state finance minister Prakash Pant said all anomalies pointed out by the CAG will be discussed by the public accounts committee and proper action will be taken against responsible officials.