NEW DELHI: Implement Juvenile Law Without Delay, States Told
“Enough is enough”, the Supreme Court said on Monday as it rapped States for their failure to comply with its directions on implementing the Juvenile Justice Act and told them to get their act together. A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and N V Ramana listed out 16 points like the setting up of Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Homes in every district and asked the Centre to come up with a road map in two weeks to ensure compliance. “States should now get their act together. Enough is enough. These are serious issues which need due consideration and deliberation,” the Bench said. The Bench also asked the Centre to inform it about the status of the State advisory boards and State commission for the protection of child rights and posted the matter for a further hearing on February 29.
SC Turns Down Plea for CBI Probe in Salman Case
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking a CBI probe into a 2002 hit-and-run case, saying that corrupt means had been adopted in securing the acquittal of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in the case. “These are all wild allegations. He must have spent `25 crore on lawyers,” a bench comprising Justices J S Khehar and R Banumathi observed when the lawyer said there were news reports quoting Salim Khan that they had to spend `25 crore in securing acquittal for his son. “What are the materials to substantiate this? They must have hired lawyers. How can you say that they did something wrong,” it said. The PIL alleged that Salman had “succeeded” in manipulating police and the judicial system.
BJP Team Seeks Security for Kerala, Bengal Polls
Expressing concern over chances of poll-related violence in Kerala and West Bengal, the BJP demanded that Central forces be deployed in these States and discrepancies be removed from the voters’ lists. In a memorandum submitted to the Election Commission, a BJP delegation raised doubts over the way the voters’ list has been prepared in Kerala. “The population of Kerala is 3,34,06,061 according to the 2011 census, but 2,56,27,620 voters have been shown in the list, which is impossible,” the delegation told the EC. It further alleged that about 23.63 lakh Non-Resident Keralites have not been included in the list. The delegation including Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Election Commission had assured them that the scrutiny of voters’ lists would be held at the booth level in Kerala before the polls.
2 Maharashtra Girls Die in Russia Medical School Fire
Two Indian girls died in a fire at the dormitory of a Russian medical school on Sunday morning. Both the students are from Maharashtra. Confirming the news, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday night that their bodies would be brought to Moscow on Tuesday. “We will fly their mortal remains to Mumbai. Our heartfelt condolences,” the minister tweeted. The minister said some other students also got injured in the fire, but are out of danger. “The place is 400 kilometres from Moscow. Our team has already reached there,” Sushma tweeted. As per Russian agency reports, fire occurred on the fourth floor of the six-floor dormitory of Smolensk State Medical University on Sunday morning. About 200 people have been evacuated from the building after the fire broke out on the fourth floor, reports added.