1. Gujarat HC to Expedite Hearing on Gulbarg Society Massacre Appeals
Gujarat High Court has decided to expedite the final hearing of appeals pending before it in the 2002 Gulbarg Society massacre and take the appeals on priority.
The same was conveyed by a division bench headed by Justice JB Pardiwala, which has ordered the prosecution, the Supreme Court-appointed special investigation team (SIT), to prepare the paper books related to the appeals and supply it to all the concerned parties within four weeks.
Only after the prosecution supplies the paper books, which contains all the documents related to the case, the court can finalise the date for initiating final hearing in the cases.
Notably, the division bench ordered the SIT to supply the paper books after one of the advocates for the victim-witnesses, MM Tirmizi, submitted that they have not received the paper books and are not prepared to argue their case in the final hearing.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
2. Interest, Power Sops for Textile Units: Gujarat Government
In a bid to strengthen the textile value chain, the state government on Thursday announced a scheme to provide interest and power tariff subsidy, and other incentives for specific sectors in the textile industry.
The Scheme for Assistance to Strengthen Specific Sectors in the Textile Value Chain would apply to new as well as the expansion of existing units, a government resolution dated January 10 said.
Weaving, knitting, dyeing, printing, machine carpeting, technical textile, made-ups, crimping, twisting, texturising, sizing, and winding are among the activities that would be eligible for benefits under the scheme, while ginning, spinning, garment and apparel, and units located in SEZs would be ineligible.
The scheme provides interest subsidy of up to Rs 20 crore per year for a period of five years. For MSME units, the subsidy would be 6%, while it would range from 4 to 6% for large units depending on the number of persons employed.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
3. Kunvarji Bavaliya to Demand More Tickets for Koli Candidates in LS Poll
The Minister for Water Supplies and Animal Husbandry, Kunvarji Bavaliya, had convened the meeting of leaders from Koli community on Thursday at his residence in Gandhinagar. The crowd of hundreds of people thronged the minister's enclave that created excitement in political circles, especially in the BJP.
Bavaliya, who won the by-polls last month, is acquiring a great position in state politics being the Koli community leader. Last week, he took oath as the MLA after being elected in by polls and the reports of his elevation as deputy CM in Gujarat government also had become a talking point.
Coincidentally, PM Narendra Modi had posted a tweet with a photograph of his meeting with Bavaliya in New Delhi after the by polls and that gave impetus to Bavaliya gaining weight in government and BJP organisation as well.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
4. HC Advocates Association Writes To PM, Law Minister Over Judicial Vacancies
Two days after DNA reported about an acute shortage of judges in the Gujarat High Court, the Gujarat High Court Advocates' Association (GHCAA) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad condemning the "lethargic" and "insensitive" approach of the Centre in the appointment of judges.
The association also pointed out that such "negligent approach" of the Centre reflects its non-committal approach towards the independence of the judiciary.
Notably, the high court is grappling with an acute shortage of judges which is affecting disposal of cases. In fact, the situation is getting from bad to worse, with only 27 judges in position out of the sanctioned strength of 52, especially when the high court administration is hell-bent on reducing the pendency of cases from the present figure of 1.14 lakh.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
5. Rs 9.5 Cr Recovered From Importers Evading Customs Duty, Four Nabbed
Four people were arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Ahmedabad, on Thursday for allegedly evading customs duty of crystallised glass panels. The agency also recovered Rs 9.5 crore from the accused.
Responding to a lead that several importers of crystallised glass panels were evading customs duty by resorting to undervaluation at Mundra Port, Nhavasheva Port and ICD Tughlakabad, the sleuths raided places across Ahmedabad, Delhi, Abu Road and Kishangarh in Rajasthan.
Incriminating evidence revealed that the accused were importing these panels at a higher cost from China, but declaring a much lower value in the commercial invoices submitted to the customs.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
6. Gujarat To See 21% Rise in Emergencies on Uttarayan
The 108 emergency service is expecting a 21% and 19% estimated hike in emergencies during Uttarayan and the day after the festival in the state. It should be noted that in Gujarat, Uttarayan celebration extends up to two days.
The 21% rise in emergencies on January 14 is similar to the rise that was seen in 2018 while the emergencies on January 15 is lower than the 23% hike the service saw in 2018.
It should be noted that on an average the service sees 3071 cases of emergencies against which the emergencies are expected to shoot to 3730 on the day of Uttarayan and 3659 the next day.
The service is expecting a 281% rise in assault cases followed by 167% rise in non vehicular trauma.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
7. Rahul Gandhi Said He Has Immense Trust in Me: Alpesh Thakor
Congress MLA in Gujarat and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, who recently criticised the state leadership of the party, met party president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi Thursday. Speaking to reporters at the city airport after returning here, Thakor claimed that Gandhi trusts him a lot.
“I apprised Rahul Gandhi of the current situation in Gujarat and how the Congress can win in the state in Lok Sabha elections. I also shared my views about the ways to strengthen the party and how we can start preparations for the elections,” Thakor said.
"Rahul Gandhi said he has immense trust in me. He offered to give me any responsibility of my choice. Such offers are rare to come by in politics," Thakor claimed. The Congress MLA from Radhanpur also said that though he asked Gandhi to relieve him of the responsibility of Bihar, the party president asked him to continue.
(Source PTI)
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