Latest news with #TSSivagnanam
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
CJ thanks CM on funds sanction
Kolkata: During the inauguration of the new court complex at Howrah on Friday, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court T S Sivagnanam credited the 'benevolent' sanction of funds by chief minister Mamata Banerjee for several inaugurations at district court complexes in the past one and a half years. "Several programmes have taken place in the past one and a half years. And, all because of benevolent sanction of funds by chief minister Mamata Banerjee and consistent efforts by minister Moloy Ghatak," the Chief Justice said. Ghatak, during the inaugural ceremony, said that after 2011, a court building was constructed at Alipurduar with an expenditure of over Rs 64 crore, Jhargram (close to Rs 72 crore), Asansol (over Rs 12 crore). You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Apart from this, funds were sanctioned for construction or renovation of court buildings. The new six-storied court complex, as per the Chief Justice, was a much-needed additional space in an already-packed Howrah court complex.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
‘Frame policy for docus for disability certs'
Kolkata: Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the state to come up with a policy on documents required for persons seeking disability certificates. A division bench of Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee Das issued the directive after counsel for the petitioners, Kaushik Gupta, highlighted the disparate documents sought from people applying for Unique Disability Identity Cards under UDID. "R G Kar insists on a permanent residence certificate from the councillor though NRS does not," Gupta said. The division bench held Aadhaar and voter ID cards, passport, passbook and parents' driving licence could be relied on as residence proof. The CJ directed the authorities to frame a uniform policy for all hospitals in the state. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The counsel said at NRS Hospital, persons with disabilities had to go to the basement for scrutiny. "There is no ramp to the basement, forcing them to use the stairs," Gupta said. The CJ said ramps were mandatory at hospitals, and the state PWD should act immediately. HC welcomed the state move to give patients with muscular dystrophy, and rare diseases, with free supportive drugs for two months. State counsel Tapan Kumar Mukherjee said the state was considering hiking monthly stipend of such patients from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
More beds for patients with rare diseases
Kolkata: Prodded by the Calcutta HC, the state on Tuesday submitted that a 50-bed critical care unit at the Kolkata Police Hospital was on the verge of completion. In this unit, three ICU beds on the ground floor would be reserved for persons suffering from rare diseases. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee Das recommended that the state reserve at least five ICU beds, of which three would be reserved for patients suffering from muscular dystrophy. The division bench also directed the centre of excellence in the state to arrange for sleep study tests for patients with muscular dystrophy. The Chief Justice wanted the Kolkata Police Hospital to have the necessary facilities to conduct sleep study tests and BIPAP machines. The state counsel also submitted that, upon the directions of the division bench on May 23, the govt was actively considering increasing the stipend of such patients from the existing Rs 1,000. The division had also observed that tablet deflazacort, a costly medicine used to treat patients with muscular dystrophy, should be supplied free of cost to patients, at least for two months. The state counsel submitted that the supply already started. Keeping in view the other ailments these patients suffer from due to the application of steroids in treatment, the division bench held that necessary medicines should be provided to such patients along with tablet deflazacort. The Chief Justice directed the additional solicitor general to take instructions from the director of the National Institute of Locomotor Disability, Bonhooghly, to supply knee orthosis, braces, and belts for spines, after being informed that the institute provided these aids free of cost to the disabled. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Chief Justice, upon suggestions from the petitioner over the availability of lightweight non-mechanised wheelchairs for children suffering from the disease, asked the petitioner to obtain a proforma from a Bidhannagar-based company so that the state could consider procuring them. The Chief Justice noted that despite requests earlier, the chambers of commerce had not responded to the appeal for sponsoring some of the mechanised wheelchairs. The division bench urged the lawyers in touch with the chambers of commerce and corporate houses to take it up with their clients. The Chief Justice directed the state to submit a report in the form of an affidavit during the next hearing of the matter on July 15.
Indian Express
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Happened in institution meant to uphold rule of law': Lawyer asks Calcutta HC to take suo motu cognisance of rape at college
A lawyer of the Calcutta High Court has urged Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam to take suo motu cognisance of the rape at a Kolkata law college, arguing that the state machinery will otherwise 'continue its descent into callous inertia, and evidence may be destroyed, witnesses may be silenced, and justice will be permanently derailed'. Advocate Souma Subhra Ray wrote in his letter, 'As the voice of a frightened student community, a shaken civil society, and a democratic conscience that bleeds today in the wake of a heinous and unconscionable act of sexual violence perpetrated on the evening of 25th June, 2025.' 'This was not a spontaneous crime of opportunity; it was politically motivated, premeditated, and brazenly executed within the walls of an institution meant to uphold and teach the rule of law. What is even more horrifying is that despite prior complaints, threats to the victim, and a pattern of coercion aimed at forcing her into certain politically affiliated student activities, neither the college administration nor the local police authorities acted,' he further wrote. Ray has asked the high court to make five considerations. Firstly, issuing directions for a court-monitored, independent criminal investigation, preferably by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), secondly, constituting a judicial commission, headed by a retired judge of the court, to investigate the institutional, administrative, and security failures that permitted this incident to occur; thirdly, directing the West Bengal government and the university authorities to undertake immediate audits of safety and surveillance systems across all law colleges and higher educational institutions, with special attention to the enforcement of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 and UGC safety guidelines; fourthly, calling for an explanation from the police and local administration on the use of force against peaceful protesters and the denial of democratic expression; and finally, issuing appropriate interim directions to safeguard evidence, ensure witness protection, and prevent the further erosion of public trust in the law enforcement system. Ray described the incident not just as a crime against one individual but as a 'monumental institutional failure — a breakdown of every constitutional assurance granted to our citizens under Articles 14, 15(3), 19(1)(a), 21 and 51A(e)'. Ray further wrote in his letter, 'If Your Lordship does not intervene, the State machinery will continue its descent into callous inertia, and evidence may be destroyed, witnesses may be silenced, and justice will be permanently derailed. The culture of impunity and patriarchy, particularly in institutions of legal education, will only deepen leaving countless more students exposed and unprotected.' A first-year student of the law college was allegedly raped on Wednesday in the security guard's room on the campus. The survivor's medical examination done in a state-run hospital has corroborated her statements, officials said without divulging details. On Thursday, a contractual staffer and former student of the college, Monojit Mishra, 31, and two students — Zaib Ahmed, 19, and Pramit Mukherjee, 20–were arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by the survivor. On Saturday, a security guard of the college, Pinaki Banerjee, was also arrested. The survivor's statement has been recorded by a magistrate under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita section 183.
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Beyond the headlines: As HC order on MNREGA gives TMC a boost, BJP says act against ‘corruption' first
After multiple setbacks in court, the TMC-led state government got significant relief as the Calcutta High Court recently directed the Central government to resume the MNREGA scheme in the state from August 1. The BJP, however, has pointed out that while it is 'not against MNREGA scheme,' the onus is on the ruling TMC to first take action against 'corruption' in its ranks. The Centre, through an earlier order dated March 9, 2022, stopped releasing funds for the scheme, citing irregularities under Section 27 of the Act. In May 2023, the Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity (PBKMS), a rural workers' trade union, filed a petition in the High Court challenging the suspension. A Division Bench of Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee noted that while Clause 27 allows the Ministry of Rural Development to withhold funds for a 'reasonable period' in case of irregularities, the scheme in Bengal has been stalled for nearly three years. 'At this juncture, the endeavour of the court is on implementation of the scheme in the state of West Bengal, which has been kept in abeyance for close to three years,' the Bench observed. A senior official in the state administration welcomed the verdict and expressed hope that the Centre would not only release MNREGA funds but also 'unblock' dues under other centrally sponsored schemes, such as PMAY-G. 'The Centre cannot withhold funds for years because of corruption involving a few. The state has Rs 8,000 crore pending under PMAY-G alone. We hope this order will pave the way for resumption of other stalled projects as well,' the official said. TMC leaders termed the HC order as a 'much-awaited relief for the state and its millions of NREGA workers.' In a post on X, the TMC wrote, 'We made a promise to the people of Bengal – that we would fight for their rights with every ounce of strength in our bodies and we reaffirm our commitment to fight for Bengal against the ZAMINDARS in every forum, at every level.' Party MP Abhishek Banerjee also wrote in a post on X, 'The Calcutta High Court's order to restart MNREGA in Bengal is a blow to BJP's politics of revenge. This wasn't governance, it was retribution. The Court's directive to resume the scheme from August 1 is a step toward restoring justice.' However, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee struck a more cautious note. 'The Centre is sending teams to Bengal, but they haven't released a single rupee in years. This is public money. People have worked, but they haven't been paid. Who will pay them? We had to pay from state funds. That's why we launched the 'Karmashree' scheme,' she said. Anuradha Talwar, leader of Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity, the organisation that filed the petition, called the verdict a moral victory. It is the reward of the hard work and persistence of PBKMS members who did not give up their struggle despite three frustrating years. Our next task is to now ensure a corruption-free MNREGA in our State and to continue our struggle against BJP's attempts to kill MNREGA.' CPI(M) Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty also welcomed the order.'From the very first day we have been asking… Why are poor labourers suffering because of the fight between BJP and TMC? It is their right. There may be corruption allegations. That can be investigated. But it is not acceptable that, year after year, MNREGA work has been stopped,' he said. BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya, however, maintained a guarded stance. 'We're not against MNREGA. But the TMC government wants to loot public money. The Centre cannot allow that. They've admitted to corruption but haven't taken action against those responsible,' he said. Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
