Latest news with #NavaKeralaSadas
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Unused, old school building collapses in heavy rain
Kottayam: A major tragedy was averted after an old, dilapidated, unused building of govt higher secondary school collapsed at Kadammanitta in Pathanamthitta district on Thursday night. The around 80-year-old building with tiled roof came down during heavy rain. It had been unused as it was in a dangerous condition for the last three years. Two rooms were completely destroyed in the collapse. Village, police and education department officials arrived at the spot following the incident. Around 400 students are studying in the school and the building had classrooms functioning until 2002. Since the building was unfit, teachers had warned students not to go near it. Students, who used to play in the nearby ground, would resort to this building for rest during the day. During chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's Nava Kerala Sadas in 2023, locals had submitted an application for constructing a mini stadium there after demolishing the old building. According to headmistress R Sreelatha, the tendering process for this was in progress. However, anti-social elements used to camp there at night, according to local residents.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Kerala HC stays proceedings against CM Vijayan over Nava Kerala Sadas violence
Kochi, Jul 17 (PTI) The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed the proceedings initiated in a complaint seeking prosecution of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the violence that occurred during the state government's outreach programme — 'Nava Kerala Sadas' — in 2023. Justice V G Arun stayed the proceedings for three months on a plea moved by Vijayan seeking quashing of the complaint and a July 3 order of a magisterial court in connection with a speech made by him during the Nava Kerala Sadas. It also issued notice to the state government and the complainant and sought their stand on the plea by October 14. The High Court noted that there was, prima facie, substance in the CM's contention that the Chief Judicial Magistrate exceeded his jurisdiction by entertaining the complaint as the alleged incidents took place outside the territorial limits of the magisterial court in Ernakulam. The High Court also said that the contention, in Vijayan's plea, that the contents of his speech do not attract the offence under section 109 (punishment for abetment) of the IPC 'is also liable to be considered". With the observations, the High Court said, 'Hence, there shall be an interim stay of further proceedings in CMP No.4322 of 2024 (complaint against the CM) pending on the files of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Ernakulam, for three months." The court of Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate had on July 3 observed that a prima facie case did exist, but sanction for prosecution was required from the Governor to register a case against the CM. The observation came on the complaint by Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) president Muhammed Shiyas seeking registration of a case against Vijayan in connection with the various instances of violence during the state government's outreach programme in 2023. The magisterial court was scheduled to take up the matter next on November 1. In his plea seeking quashing of the complaint and the July 3 order, Vijayan has said that the matter relates to a speech made by him on November 20, 2023 during the outreach programme with regard to Youth Congress activists allegedly obstructing his convoy. In his plea, the CM said that he only praised the bystanders who prevented the protestors from falling in front of the moving bus in which he was travelling and described their conduct as 'life saving". 'The petitioner (CM) did not endorse violence or call for retaliation," the petition has said. Subsequently, three 'stray incidents of political violence" occurred in different districts between November 30, 2023 and December 16, 2023 and the police registered FIRs against unnamed persons in those cases, the petition said. The FIRs did not name or implicate the CM, but the complainant filed a private complaint before the magisterial court alleging that Vijayan's speech amounted to abetment of those incidents, it said. 'Though the police submitted a report stating that no material was found against the petitioner (CM), the magistrate rejected the negative report and opined that the petitioner's speech prima facie amounts to instigation of criminal offences," it further said. The CM, in his plea, has claimed that the magisterial court's order was 'grossly erroneous and liable to be set aside" as it did not have the jurisdiction to deal with the matter and there was no factual or evidentiary material linking the petitioner's speech with the incidents of violence. The petition also claimed that the magistrate 'failed to apply his judicial mind, ignored material inconsistencies and conducted no preliminary enquiry into the FIRs or surrounding facts". Kerala Students Union and Youth Congress workers were allegedly assaulted by activists of the CPI(M)'s Democratic Youth Federation of India and the security personnel of the CM at various places across the state for showing black flags to Vijayan during the outreach programme. PTI HMP HMP KH view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 19:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Nava Kerala Sadas' speech: Kerala HC stays proceedings against CM Pinarayi Vijayan
Kochi: High court on Thursday stayed for three months the further proceedings in the case alleging that chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan 's 'life saving' speech at Kannur during the Nava Kerala Sadas tour in 2023 amounted to the offence of abetment under Section 109 of IPC. The bench of Justice V G Arun issued the interim order while considering a petition by the chief minister challenging the Ernakulam chief judicial magistrate (CJM) court's order of July 3. The CJM court had held that the alleged speech prima facie contained elements of abetment, observing that it instigated the use of muscle power to suppress protestors. The court also held that cognizance of the offence could be taken only upon production of a sanction for prosecution from the governor. While considering Vijayan's petition, HC observed that there appears to be prima facie substance in the petitioner's contention that the CJM exceeded his jurisdiction by entertaining the complaint, since the alleged incident occurred outside the court's territorial limits. The bench also noted that the contention that the contents of the alleged speech do not attract the offence under Section 109 IPC is a matter requiring serious consideration. HC posted the matter for Oct 14. The case arises from a complaint filed by Ernakulam DCC president Muhamed Shiyas, alleging that a speech delivered by the CM at Kannur on Nov 20, 2023, during the Nava Kerala Sadas tour, amounted to abetment under Section 109 IPC. In the speech, the CM praised bystanders who prevented protestors from coming in front of the moving Nava Kerala Sadas bus, describing their actions as 'life saving.' The complaint alleged that this statement led to brutal attacks on Youth Congress workers who were protesting against the Sadas, accusing the govt of maladministration. The attacks were allegedly carried out by CPM, DYFI and SFI members. Earlier, acting on the CJM's directive, police had submitted a report finding no material against the CM. However, the CJM rejected the report, observing that the speech prima facie amounted to the instigation of criminal offences. In his petition, Pinarayi contended that the CJM, Ernakulam, lacked territorial jurisdiction to entertain the complaint since the alleged incident took place in Kannur. He also submitted that the complaint is politically motivated.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Timely decision-making key to good governance: says CM
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has emphasised the need for timely decision-making by officials, saying that hesitation and deferring responsibilities to higher levels unnecessarily hampers governance. He was speaking at a regional review meeting on development and administrative progress in Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. 'Decisions that can be taken at one's level should not be unnecessarily passed on to higher levels. Officers must take prompt action within the framework of existing rules, and the government will fully back such decisions,' the Chief Minister said. He added that civil servants, from junior officers to the Chief Secretary, were key to the effective functioning of government. Mr. Vijayan highlighted improvements in administrative efficiency, noting that around 1,000 services had been digitised, and taluk-level adalats had addressed numerous public grievances. He also referred to successful interactions with citizens during the Nava Kerala Sadas. 'Although decisions are taken faster, the pace can still be improved. The file adalat system is helping, with oversight by secretaries and even inspection at the level of the Chief Secretary,' he noted. The Chief Minister strongly criticised sections of the media for what he described as deliberate attempts to create a negative image of the State's performance. 'There are conscious efforts to misrepresent our achievements. The media is not reporting facts anymore, but their opinions,' he said. He particularly defended the State's healthcare sector, calling it one of the best in India. 'Medical colleges in Kerala have made significant progress due to conscious government intervention and increased budget allocation. Yet there is a concerted attempt to project a false picture, he said. On the controversy surrounding Dr. Harris Hasan of the Thiruvanathapuram Medical College Hospital, who publicly raised concerns about delayed surgeries, the Chief Minister said, 'The official might have been sincere, but his statement was misused to malign the entire healthcare system. That should not have happened.' The Chief Minister also pointed to the ongoing expansion of the National Highway network, terming it a major achievement. He claimed that some prominent media houses have assigned special teams to highlight only negatives in infrastructure development, including roads, with the intent to tarnish the government's image. A parallel meeting of police officers was also held on the day. The meeting was chaired by the Chief Minister and attended by State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar. The session reviewed the law and order situation in the four northern districts. Ministers Ramachandran Kadanappally, K. Krishnankutty, P.A. Mohamed Riyas, M.B. Rajesh, and O.R. Kelu, Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak, and District Collectors attended the review meeting.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Extension of Kochi Water Metro service proposed in developing Kadambrayar as a tourism destination
Extending the Kochi Water Metro service using feeder boats from Kakkanad to Kadambrayar in Ernakulam for sustainable, efficient, and eco-friendly transit for tourists and Infopark professionals figured among the recommendations included in a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed enhancement of Kadambrayar tourism destination centre. A well-designed, eco-friendly boat jetty has been proposed to facilitate the service. A floating or fixed reinforced cement concrete jetty based on water conditions, covered passenger waiting area with seating, safety railings, signage, and lighting, information display about the water metro schedules, easy pedestrian access from the riverfront promenade and integrated CCTV and Wi-Fi zones for safety and digital access are some of the features proposed for the jetty. 'We have already discussed the proposal with the Kochi Metro Rail Limited, and the outcome has been, by and large, positive. A more detailed discussion will have to be held,' said P.V. Sreenijin, Kunnathunadu MLA. Smaller boats He said that boats smaller than those used for the water metro services will have to be designed for the proposed service, considering the lack of vertical clearance under the Brahmapuram Bridge. The project has already received administrative sanction from the government. Once the technical sanction is also granted, the tourism department will tender it. The ₹3.50 crore project was approved during the chief minister's Nava Kerala Sadas. The DPR, however, proposes a three-phased development with an estimated investment of ₹5.50 crores. The first phase proposes a walkway widening, lighting, parking, and a café at an estimated ₹2 crores to be completed in six months. The second phase includes a proposed amphitheatre, gym, a boat jetty and parking facilities at an investment of another ₹2 crores in six months. Beautification and other amenities for ₹1.50 crores have been proposed in the final phase. The DPR observes that the Kadambrayar riverfront, with its natural beauty and ideal urban-rural interface, presents an exceptional opportunity for Kerala to showcase a sustainable tourism success story. It concludes that through targeted interventions, smart infrastructure, and community involvement, Kadambrayar can be developed as a model riverfront destination attracting urban professionals, families, and global tourists alike.
