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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
CZA, Bengal forest dept probe animal count discrepancies at Alipore Zoo in Kolkata
Kolkata: The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and the West Bengal forest department have launched separate investigations into alleged discrepancies in the number of wild animals at Kolkata's Alipore Zoological Garden, officials said. Save Wild Animals of Zoo and Our Nature (Swazon), a citizens' forum in Kolkata, have also approached the Calcutta High Court over the issue, and the petition is likely to be heard next week. (Samir Jana / Hindustan Times) Save Wild Animals of Zoo and Our Nature (Swazon), a citizens' forum in Kolkata, flagged huge differences in the number of animals in the zoo's inventory reports of 2023–2024 and 2024–2025. Even though animals such as tigers, leopards, lions, and elephants are present in the Alipore Zoo, the oldest zoo in the country, the zoo's latest inventory report makes no mention of them, the citizens' forum said. They have also approached the Calcutta High Court over the issue, and the petition is likely to be heard next week. 'We have set up a three-member team comprising officials from the CZA, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and Indian Veterinary Research Institute to look into the allegations. The team was there in Kolkata for two days. The team is expected to submit its report within a week,' CZA member secretary V. Clement Ben said. Meanwhile, the state forest department has ordered a separate probe to look into the allegations. The probe is being conducted by a senior Indian Forest Service officer. 'We have ordered a probe after the allegations surfaced. An officer of the rank of Principal Chief Conservator of Forest is probing into this. He will submit a report within two weeks,' West Bengal chief wildlife warden Sandeep Sundriyal said. Also read: Delhi zoo revises norms to allow 1-day adoptions Swazon pointed out that the number of birds recorded on March 31, 2024 (closing stock of 2023–2024), was 408. A day later, on April 1 (opening stock of 2024–2025), the number of birds dropped to 218. The number of mammals dropped from 129 to 74 overnight. Similarly, the number of reptiles came down from 135 on March 31, 2024, to 59 on April 1, 2024. 'The closing stock of animals in the zoo of any financial year, recorded on March 31, and the opening stock of the animals in the next financial year, recorded on April 1, should be the same. But there were huge differences in the closing stock of 2023–2024 and 2024–2025. The number of animals dropped by a few hundred,' Jayanta Sen, member of Swazon, said. 'The closing stock of 2023–2024 registered 672 animals in all. The opening stock of 2024–2025 registered 351 animals. Overnight, 321 animals disappeared on paper even though they are present in the zoo,' Sen added. Also read: West Bengal to hand over Tigress Zeenat to Odisha tonight: Forest official Alipore Zoo director Arun Mukherjee refused to comment on the controversy when contacted by HT. A zoo official, requesting anonymity, said that as the inventory has to pass through several stages, there could be mistakes in the data entry. The final inventory report, with the anomalies, was published on the website of the CZA. Sen said that this is not the first time such anomalies have been spotted. 'There was a difference of at least 276 animals in Alipore Zoo in the closing stock of 2016–2017 and opening stock of 2017–2018,' he said.
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘You are acting as if you are monitoring the probe': Cal HC judge to NCW
KOLKATA: The Calcutta high court on Friday questioned how the National Commission for Women (NCW) could tell the West Bengal police to add specific sections in a first information report (FIR) registered in connection with Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal's abusive remarks during a phone call with a police officer. Calcutta High Court (Samir Jana/HT Photo) 'How can you ask the police in what manner the investigation is to be done and what sections need to be added? This is interference with the investigation. You do your investigation. I have got nothing to say. Who can interfere in an investigation that is being done by a police officer?' the bench of justice Tirthankar Ghosh observed. The high court was hearing a petition by the Birbhum superintendent of police (SP) challenging the summons issued by NCW that required him to appear in person before the panel in Delhi. The officer said he had asked NCW to let him appear virtually but the request was denied. The court was told that NCW directed the police to add certain sections to the FIR and had sought some documents related to the case from the police. 'I am not trying to demean the power of the commission. Where from are you getting the power that you may direct the police or recommend to add certain sections. Tomorrow, the human rights commission may make recommendations. There are thousands of such commissions and they may make recommendations and interfere with the police investigation. Even a higher court of law is reluctant to interfere with the police investigation,' the bench said. Rajdeep Majumder, deputy solicitor general appearing for the NCW, said the commission had only recommended addition of certain sections and that the commission had the authority under the National Commission for Women Act to summon an officer. 'You are acting as if you are monitoring the investigation. You see the language you have used in your letters (to the Birbhum police). The language is very offensive. Have an approach of a statutory authority. Public servants must respect another public servant,' the court observed. The court told the Birbhum SP to virtually appear before the NCW at 12 noon on July 14 and have a designated officer appear in person at a later date to answer the queries. It also directed the police to send available documents related to the case, which were sought by the NCW, to be sent digitally. 'The SP will appear virtually on July 14 at 12 noon and all the documents under the category referred be sent to the commission electronically. A next date be fixed by the commission with a designated officer to be deputed by the SP who will appear for answering the necessary query' 'The SP or the designated officer would send the available documents amongst six categories of documents digitally which have been sought for. In case, there is reservation of the investigating authorities in sharing any information, the same may be canvassed before this court on a subsequent date,' the bench said in its order.
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Bharat Bandh cripples public transport in parts of India; railway blockades reported in Bihar, West Bengal
Public transportation was severely affected across several Indian states on Wednesday as the 'Bharat Bandh' protest called by a joint forum of 10 central trade unions intensified. The protest is aimed at opposing labour reforms and economic policies introduced by the central government, which the unions allege undermine workers' rights. Police personnel extinguishing a burning effigy as members of Central Trade Unions take out a rally in support of Nationwide General Strike against Union Government's four Labour Code in Kolkata on July 09, 2025.(HT Photo/Samir Jana) The strike targeted disruptions in public transport, government offices, public sector undertakings, banking and insurance, postal services, coal mining, and industrial production. Train tracks blocked in Bihar, Bengal Bihar witnessed disruptions as members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal's students' wing blocked railway tracks at Jehanabad railway station. In West Bengal, agitators obstructed rail services at multiple stations, including Jadavpur, where members of Left-affiliated unions defied police presence and squatted on tracks. Follow Bharat bandh live updates. Bus drivers wear helmets in North Bengal amid tension In a unique safety measure, bus drivers of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) were seen wearing helmets during duty hours, except in the Darjeeling Hills. While talking to news agency ANI, a bus driver said, 'These people are saying the right thing (referring to the 'Bharat Bandh'), but we have to do our work. We are workers, so we support (the 'Bandh')…We are wearing it (helmet) for protection in case something happens.' Highway blockade in Odisha, shops shut in Kerala In Odisha's Bhubaneswar, members of the Khordha District unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) blocked the national highway in support of the Bandh. Meanwhile, in Kerala's Kottayam, shops and malls remained closed as traders joined the protest, backing the trade unions' call. Services run normally in parts of Tamil Nadu Unlike other states, public transport services in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, remained largely unaffected by the Bharat Bandh, with buses continuing to operate as scheduled. CITU leader slams labour codes Left-backed trade unions spearheading the protests in Bengal alleged that the central government was pushing pro-corporate reforms at the cost of labour rights. A large police presence was visible near Jadavpur 8B bus stand, although private and state-run buses continued to operate in parts of the city. CITU General Secretary Tapan Kumar Sen said, 'On the 17-point charter of the demand, the focus was on the demand to completely scrap the labour ports enacted by the government in 2020 to destroy the country's trade union movement. This will be a highly dangerous exercise, and ultimately, the government aims to dismantle the democratic structure. Against that, the trade unions have given a call for a nationwide general strike.' Unions slam government's inaction The strike saw participation from the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), and others including AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, and UTUC. In a joint statement, the unions criticised the Centre for not holding the annual labour conference for over a decade. They alleged the government was pushing four new labour codes to weaken union activity and collective bargaining under the guise of improving the 'ease of doing business'. The unions also blamed central economic policies for rising unemployment, surging prices of essential commodities, and falling wages. They said budgetary cuts in health, education, and civic services had further impacted workers. Among the key demands of the trade unions were the immediate recruitment to vacant government posts and increasing the number of working days and wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). Workers' grievances at the heart of Bharat Bandh today The Bharat Bandh is being projected as a call to restore the rights of organised and unorganised workers, opposing what the unions describe as a coordinated attempt to dismantle hard-won labour protections in India. While participation levels varied across states, the widespread disruption and symbolic gestures—like helmet-wearing bus drivers—reflect a simmering discontent among India's working class. At the time of filing this report, the central government had not issued an official response to the protest. However, observers say the protest may prompt a review of the implementation timeline of the new labour codes.
Hindustan Times
27-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
HT Kick Off: ISL: The way forward?
As draft documents go, it is heavy on promise for All India Football Federation (AIFF) and clubs in the Indian Super League (ISL). It pitches alignment with global best practices – and that alone should be why AIFF and clubs must go for it – but then gives another reason: compliance with the new draft constitution. For ISL double winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the Salt Lake stadium was a fortress last season. (Samir Jana/HT) So, what's not to like? A lot as it turns out. No promotion and relegation in ISL for the next 10 years for one. Apart from what's-in-it-for-us for I-League clubs, it is not in line with what was proposed and accepted in 2019 by Asia's apex body. And since, as part of the proposal, it is AIFF's responsibility to deal with Asian Football Confederation and FIFA, I am guessing the onus will be on the federation to explain why. After allowing promotion for two seasons, ISL proposes to be a closed league again, the difference being that this time it will also be India's top tier competition. The argument that I-League clubs have not helped improve the standard is complicated. True, Mohammedan Sporting hit a new high in abjection and have been beset by financial problems but Punjab FC also qualified through that route and have shown they can compete. In their second season, Punjab FC finished above two teams that have been in ISL way longer. Even after parachute payments, 10 of the last 15 teams promoted to the Premier League went down the next season but that has not got the world's most watched league to stop relegation. For the second successive Premier League season all three promoted teams have gone down. Surviving in the top tier is difficult – Nottingham Forest needed 57 signings and some £125m to make an impact – everywhere but how can clubs not be allowed to dream of doing what Ipswich Town (1961-62), Forest (1977-78) and Kaiserslautern (1997-98) did? All three won the top league in the season they were promoted. And if off-the-field problems are the ones that worry those who conceived ISL, well, it would be difficult to look beyond what hit Hyderabad FC in 2023-24. Financial problems led to the club being hit with transfer bans and a host of players leaving months after head coach Manolo Marquez did. Clubs formed with ISL have had protection from relegation for 11 seasons. Granted, it takes time to grow the culture but how much have they done to suggest they are on the right path and would need insulation for another 10 years? Joint-venture: Are clubs able? The plan to form a company to run ISL is in line with global best practices and the document lists the Big Five in Europe and Asian countries doing it. As far as I know, the document or its contents was shared with clubs before being sent to AIFF. And that they had agreed in principle with the proposals. But should six ISL clubs failing the Premier 1 license test not come in the way of them being co-owners of ISL? More so, because this was hardly the first time ISL clubs flunked licensing tests. Should FC Goa, NorthEast United, Odisha FC, Hyderabad FC, Kerala Blasters and Mohammedan Sporting therefore be allowed to own a stake in a joint-venture company despite not meeting all the licensing requirements? ISL double winners, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC, Chennayin FC, Mumbai City FC and East Bengal made the grade after paying fines. The only club to have ticked all the boxes? Punjab FC. Punjab FC, promoted from I-League in 2023-24, were the only ISL club to clear the licence test without paying a fine. ( ISL) While it is indeed best practice to allow clubs to have a say in the running of a competition that is about them, what is not clear is why that company should also get to own rights for national team matches in perpetuity? As per the draft document, national team matches will be the property of a company where AIFF, technically sole guardians of all India teams, has only 14% stake. What was AIFF doing? The document was sent to AIFF in March. It was read out in the next executive committee meeting but why were copies not circulated? Wouldn't that have given the members a chance to better engage with ideas meant to shape the future of ISL, India teams and AIFF's responsibilities? Also, when it was known to all that the current agreement ends in 2025, why was the conversation over the future of AIFF-FSDL relationship stalled after it began in 2023? It was sub-judice then, it is sub-judice now. And if AIFF has an answer to Bhaichung Bhutia's question, we are yet to hear it. They went, listened and had pizza, Bhutia said in his latest salvo on AIFF. Accepted in this form, AIFF could have a lot to answer for. For now, though reports of ISL not happening may be somewhat exaggerated, as are claims that clubs are not working the transfer market, but it is likely the 2025-26 season will not start in September. That has hit the Durand Cup. Clubs have pulled out of the world' third oldest tournament because it makes no sense to start pre-seasons as usual when the start of the season is likely to be delayed. PLAY OF THE WEEK PLAY OF THE WEEK
