Boy Clicks Photo Of Teacher Snoozing In Class, Allegedly Thrashed By Cops

A Class 10 student in Telangana who had taken a photo of a teacher sleeping in class and sent it to the education department was tied up to a pole in school and beaten up allegedly by policemen.

The incident took place on Saturday in Mahbubnagar.

The boy had allegedly clicked on a mobile phone his math teacher sleeping in class on Thursday and forwarded it to the District Education Officer on WhatsApp. The teacher was suspended, which is believed to have incensed other teachers in the school.

On Saturday, a group of teachers contacted the police.

The student alleges he was sitting with friends and having a soft drink when he was caught, tied to a post in the school grounds and, with teachers watching, thrashed by two policemen with sticks. He has bruises all over his body. His friends had managed to run away, he says.

Denying that the boy was beaten, the police claim he had been caught drinking on school premises.

Supreme Court notice to Centre on plea challenging Finance Act

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Centre on a petition challenging the constitutional validity of Finance Act, 2017, as it “purports to” change the constitution of tribunals, including the National Green Tribunal (NGT), and adversely affect “functioning and independence” of the environment body. A bench of Chief Justice of India J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud issued the notice on a plea by the NGO Social Action for Forest and Environment (SAFE). The petition challenges Sections 156 to 189 of the Act dated March 31, 2017 and the Tribunal, Appellate Tribunal and other Authorities (Qualifications, Experience and other Conditions of Service of Members) Rules, 2017 framed under Section 184 of the Act.

The impugned sections, appearing in Chapter XIV of the Act, were “unconstitutionally certified as Money Bill” to bypass the requirement to get the assent of both Houses of Parliament, the petition stated. This amounts to colourable exercise of power, it said. Vivek Chib, the counsel for SAFE, argued that the new regime of appointment and removal of judges in tribunals introduced through the Finance Act is grossly unconstitutional and contrary to judgments of the apex court declaring the National Tax Tribunal Act as unconstitutional.

Eviction cases should be given priority by courts: Supreme Court

Eviction matters should be given priority by courts at all stages of litigation, especially in cases where the landlord has sought eviction for his bonafide needs, the Supreme Court has said.Eviction matters should be given priority by courts at all stages of litigation, especially in cases where the landlord has sought eviction for his bonafide needs, the Supreme Court has said.

The apex court observed that the object of the rent law was to ensure speedy disposal of eviction cases between the landlord and the tenant and expressed hope that due attention would be paid by all courts in deciding such matters.
A bench of Justices A M Sapre and R Banumathi made these observations while dealing with an eviction-related case of Kerala which went on in different courts for over a decade.

“We sincerely feel that eviction matters should be given priority in their disposal at all stages of litigation and especially where the eviction is claimed on the ground of bonafide need of the landlord,” the bench said.

“We hope and trust that due attention would be paid by all courts to ensure speedy disposal of eviction cases,” it said while allowing the appeal filed by a landlord against an order of the Kerala High Court.

The high court, in its January 2016 verdict, had allowed the petition filed by one of the eight tenants who was evicted from a rented shop on the basis of an order passed by the trial court. The other seven tenants had not challenged the lower court’s order.

The high court, while allowing the plea of the tenant, had quashed four separate orders passed by the lower court and remanded the case for fresh trial. The landlord had approached the apex court against the high court’s order. In its judgement, the apex court held that the high court had not only erred in entertaining the writ petition filed by the tenant, but also erred in exercising its supervisory jurisdiction by interfering in the trial court’s orders.

Dealing with the challenge to the high court’s order, the top court said that in the absence of “any prima facie case having been made out on any jurisdictional issue affecting the very jurisdiction of the court in passing the eviction decree, the high court should have declined to examine the legality of four orders impugned therein”.

“On the other hand, we have no hesitation in forming an opinion that the respondent (tenant) was contesting the eviction proceedings as a ‘professional litigant’ and was successful to a large extent in keeping the proceedings pending for 10 years which enabled him to enjoy possession of the suit shop to the detriment of appellant’s (landlord) interest,” it said.

While setting aside the high court’s order, the bench also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the tenant and directed him to pay the amount to the landlord.

SC rules out abortion for 10-yr-old rape victim

The Supreme Court 28 July turned down a plea for medically terminating the 32-week pregnancy of a 10-year-old rape victim from Chandigarh following expert medical advice that an abortion would be dangerous to the girl’s health. A bench of Chief Justice of India J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud also asked the Centre to examine if it was possible to have permanent medical boards in states to decide on such matters, given the increasing number of abortion pleas being filed in the apex court.

“In view of the recommendation of the medical board, we are satisfied (that it is) neither in the interest of the girl child or foetus which is approximately 32 weeks to order abortion. However, we are of the view that the girl child should be extended due medical care. We are informed that she is being treated at the government hospital in… Chandigarh, and we are satisfied it is fully equipped to render full medical aid possible,” the court said. The court also said that it shall be open to doctors to examine the girl and follow the best course possible.

On July 24, the court had ordered a medical examination of the girl at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. After perusing the report, which was submitted in a sealed cover on Friday, the bench said the medical opinion was that given the advanced stage of pregnancy, it will be “good if pregnancy was to continue and bad if was to be discontinued”.

The girl was subjected to repeated rape allegedly by her maternal uncle, and the pregnancy was confirmed by doctors at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Chandigarh. On July 18, a local court refused permission for an abortion on the basis of a GMCH report, which warned that there could be “high chances of physical trauma”, considering the girl’s age and health.

The plea in Supreme Court was filed by a Delhi-based advocate, who claimed that doctors were of the opinion that the girl’s pelvis wasn’t fully developed and tolerating a full-term pregnancy would be risky.Following the Supreme Court’s directions, the PGIMER formed an eight-member panel of senior doctors, including six department chiefs, to examine the girl.

Bihar: Minor Girl Gangraped, Thrown Out Of Moving Train

Ahmedabad: Navneet publication's director kidnapped, killed

 Navin Shah, one of the directors in Navneet publications of Ahmedabad, was found murdered in the outskirts Malipur village of Arvalli district. Ahmedabad crime branch sources said they have arrested two persons for kidnapping and murder of Shah for ransom.

Senior crime branch officials said Shah was kidnapped from near hotel Gorbandh near Vaishnavdevi temple in Adalaj of Gandhinagar district on Tuesday afternoon. Shah had left his house in Bopal at about 12 noon for his office at Dantali village. On his way, he received a call from kidnappers who called him on the pretext of a business deal near Gorbandh hotel said a crime branch sources.

Shah who was also son in law of Laljibhai Shah, eldest of the five brothers who own Navneet Publications, told his driver Prabhat Desai to wait till he comes back. However, as Shah never returned, a complaint was lodged at Adalaj police station.

Meanwhile, as Shah confronted his kidnappers they strangulated him to death and abandoned his body in the outskirts of Malipur village of Arvalli district.

HC orders probe against Amin for thrashing journalist

Gujarat high court on Wednesday directed the inspector general of Surat Range to conduct an inquiry against Tapi district SP and an encounter-accused, N K Amin, and his two subordinate officers, and to register an FIR, if he finds any substance in a journalist's complaint of being beaten and stripped.

In this case, a journalist associated with a Surat daily, Shivnaresh Bhadauria, filed a petition before the HC demanding registration of an FIR against Amin, Tapi's DySP Bhagirath Gadhvi, and a police inspector for illegally detaining, beating and stripping him naked on July 10, besides threatening him not to highlight crime instances.

Tapi police issued a notice to the journalist asking for an explanation for reporting crime news in the daily. When he went to police headquarters, he was made to sign a statement by Amin and two others, who did not even allow him to read it. But before he signed the statement and was allowed to leave the office, Bhadauria was allegedly beaten and stripped on pretext that he was carrying a recording device with him. Cops allegedly threatened him to detain him under the Prevention of Anti-social Activities Act (PASA), if he did not stop writing about the surge in crime rate in Tapi district.

Bhadauria claimed that the cops called his senior at the newspaper and asked him to sack the reporter. He has urged to book Amin and two others under sections 120B, 342, 321 and 506(2) of the IPC.

After hearing Bhadauria's case, Justice A J Desai ordered IG, Surat Range, Shamsher Singh, to inquire into the matter and register an FIR, if any offence is revealed.  Bhadauria had earlier made a complaint before Singh for action against Amin, but his alleged inaction had forced him to move the HC.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has sought state government's reply over extension of Amin's service after he retired last year.

No arrest in dowry cases till charges are verified, says Supreme Court

Expressing concern over disgruntled wives misusing the anti-dowry law against their husbands and in-laws, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed that no arrest or coercive action should be taken on such complaints without ascertaining the veracity of allegations.

Acknowledging a growing trend among women involved in marital discord to abuse Section 498A of IPC to rope in their husbands' relatives — including parents, minor children, siblings and grandparents — in criminal cases, a bench of Justices A K Goel and UU Lalit said it was high time such frivolous cases which violated the human rights of innocent was checked.

This is a shift from the dominant judicial conception of women as victims who would silently suffer injustice rather than bring disrepute to their family by taking domestic conflict outside the four walls of the home. Going by the popular portrait, it is only the worst victim of abuse among women who approach the court for redress.

On Thursday, the court broke away from the reigning perception to rule that in dowry cases, the account of the alleged victim need not be taken at face value.

Undercutting the innocence law enforcement agencies had so far assigned to complainants in dowry harassment cases, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed all states to set up family welfare committee (FWC) in each district and tasked them with testing the veracity of every complaint.

"It is a matter of serious concern that large number of cases continue to be filed under Section 498A alleging harassment of married women...

Many such complaints are not bona fide. At the time of filing of the complaint, implications and consequences are not visualised. At times, such complaints lead to uncalled for harassment not only to the accused but also to the complainant. Uncalled for arrest may ruin the chances of settlement," the bench said.

"We are conscious of the object for which the provision was brought into the statute. At the same time, violation of human rights of innocent cannot be brushed aside," it added.

"Report of such committee be given to the authority by whom the complaint is referred to, latest within one month from the date of receipt of complaint," the court said. The court also said bail applications of husband and in-laws should be decided expeditiously by trial courts, preferably the same day it is filed.

The court further said impounding of passports or issuance of Red Corner Notice against person living abroad should be avoided and personal appearance of husband's family members should not be insisted upon by trial courts in dowry harassment cases.

It also directed that a designated police officer should be appointed to deal with complaints under Section 498A.
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Supreme Court of India on Thursday has issued new set of directions to prevent the misuse of Section 498A of Indian Penal Code.

A two Judge Bench of Justices AK Goel and UU Lalit observed that Section 498A was inserted in the statute with the laudable object of punishing cruelty at the hands of husband or his relatives against a wife particularly when such cruelty had potential to result in suicide or murder of a woman as mentioned in the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Act 46 of 1983.

“It is a matter of serious concern that large number of cases continue to be filed under Section 498A alleging harassment of married women. To remedy the situation, we are of the view that involvement of civil society in the aid of administration of justice can be one of the steps, apart from the investigating officers and the concerned trial courts being sensitized. It is also necessary to facilitate closure of proceedings where a genuine settlement has been reached instead of parties being required to move High Court only for that purpose”.

After considering the submissions of ASG A.S. Nadkarni, and Senior Advocate V. Giri, the Court has issued the following directions;

i) (a) In every district one or more Family Welfare Committees be constituted by the District Legal Services Authorities preferably comprising of three members. The constitution and working of such committees may be reviewed from time to time and at least once in a year by the District and Sessions Judge of the district who is also the Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority.

 (b) The Committees may be constituted out of para legal volunteers/social workers/retired persons/wives of working officers/other citizens who may be found suitable and willing. 16

(c) The Committee members will not be called as witnesses.

(d) Every complaint under Section 498A received by the police or the Magistrate be referred to and looked into by such committee. Such committee may have interaction with the parties personally or by means of telephone or any other mode of communication including electronic communication.

(e) Report of such committee be given to the Authority by whom the complaint is referred to it latest within one month from the date of receipt of complaint.

(f) The committee may give its brief report about the factual aspects and its opinion in the matter.

(g) Till report of the committee is received, no arrest should normally be effected. 17

(h) The report may be then considered by the Investigating Officer or the Magistrate on its own merit.

(i) Members of the committee may be given such basic minimum training as may be considered necessary by the Legal Services Authority from time to time.

(j) The Members of the committee may be given such honorarium as may be considered viable.

(k) It will be open to the District and Sessions Judge to utilize the cost fund wherever considered necessary and proper.ii) Complaints under Section 498A and other connected offences may be investigated only by a designated Investigating Officer of the area. Such designations may be made within one month from today. Such designated officer may be required to undergo training for such duration (not less than one week) as may be considered appropriate. The training may be completed within four months from today;

ii) In cases where a settlement is reached, it will be open to the District and Sessions Judge or any other senior Judicial Officer nominated by him in the district to dispose of the proceedings including closing of the criminal case if dispute primarily relates to matrimonial discord;

iii) If a bail application is filed with at least one clear day’s notice to the Public Prosecutor/complainant, the same may be decided as far as possible on the same day. Recovery of disputed dowry items may not by itself be a ground for denial of bail if maintenance or other rights of wife/minor children can otherwise be protected. Needless to say that in dealing with bail matters, individual roles, prima facie truth of the allegations, requirement of further arrest/ cust

Your son overseas sent you some money. Should you pay tax?

Many individuals overseas do send money to their parents in India. This money is treated as gift and one need not pay any tax on it, but keep a record of such receipts.

Sometimes children support their parents financially. Children settled abroad make transfers to account of parents to support them. A lot taxpayers are unsure about the tax treatment of such transactions. Let’s take a look at the tax implications –

When money is transferred to a parents account 

If you transfer money to your parent’s account there is no tax implication for you as a giver or for them as a receiver. They don’t need to pay tax on this gift. As per the income tax act, exchange of gifts between relatives are exempt from tax. Relatives includes your parents, your spouse, your spouse’s parents, your brother & sister and their spouses, including your spouse’s brother & sister and their spouses. Any of you or your spouse’s lineal ascendant or descendant are also included. Any gifts in cash, bank transfer or cheque or in kind exchanged between you and these relatives is not taxable. This is irrespective of whether they have any taxable income or not.

When money received is invested in fixed deposits, shares or other avenues

When you transfer money to your parents account so they can buy a house, or a car or invest money in fixed deposits, or buy shares, there is no tax on the receipt of this money. But any income that will arise from these investments shall be directly taxable in your parent’s hands. For example, your parents deposit the money received in a fixed deposit account in their own name, any interest income earned is directly taxable for them. No clubbing of income is attracted is such a case. Similarly, when they use the funds to invest in shares and incur capital gains and losses, those are reported in your parent’s tax returns and tax paid on them accordingly. 

When money is returned to the children 

If the parents decide to transfer money back to their children, again this transfer is considered as a gift and there is no tax implication for the giver or receiver. Also, any income earned by the children from such funds or income from assets purchased from these funds shall be taxable directly in the hands of the children. However, this is only true for transfer of money to adult children. In case funds are transferred to account held by a minor child, any income thereon shall be taxable in the hands of parents. Such income earned by a minor from transfer of funds by parents is clubbed with the income of the parent. 

Any sums of money or asset received from parents by way of a will or inheritance is exempt from tax.

Reporting of receipts from children or parents

If you have received a large sum of money as gift, you can choose to report this receipt under exempt income in your tax return. Though there is no specification for reporting gifts under exempt income, since these are not taxable in the first place. In case of receipts of large sums or fixed payments, it is also recommended that a proper documentation of the gift transaction be maintained.

15-Year-Old, Raped Allegedly By Neighbour, Delivers Baby In School, Accused Arrested

  A 15-year-old girl delivered a premature baby inside the washroom of a government school in North Delhi; her neighbour who had allegedly raped her repeatedly over a period of one year has been arrested, police said.

The class 10 student had gone to the school in Mukherjee Nagar on Thursday to give an exam. She reportedly experienced stomach ache and went to the washroom, where she gave birth to the baby.

The girl was rushed to a hospital by the school authorities and the police was informed.

She reportedly told the police that she was raped four-five times by her 51-year-old neighbour during the past one year. The accused used to give money to the girl asking her not to inform about his activities to anyone, police said.

The accused was later identified by the girl and arrested yesterday. He hails from Bihar and works as a autorickshaw driver in Delhi, they said.

The man told the police that he gave the girl some abortion pills after she told him about her stomach pains but did not realise that they failed to work, a police official said.

The pills created complications due to which the girl delivered the premature baby in its 26th week only, the official said.

Even the girl's parents did not realise that their daughter was pregnant and ignored it thinking that her stomach problem was merely a gastric ailment.

50 Million Litres Of Crude Stolen From India's Largest Onshore Oilfield

Police in Rajasthan have cracked a criminal syndicate accused of smuggling more than 50 million litres of crude oil inside water tankers from India's largest onshore oilfield, an official said.

The theft at the Cairn India oilfield went undetected for nearly six years until police in Rajasthan arrested 25 people this week for involvement in the sophisticated smuggling network.

Local media reported Rs. 49 crore worth of oil could have been stolen in total from the oilfield run by a subsidiary of British mining giant Vedanta Resources.

More than 75 people, many drivers and contractors working at the oilfield, are still wanted in connection with the heists, said district police chief Gangandeep Singla.

"The company suspected something fishy was happening and complained to us, and during investigations we found this was an organised ring," he told AFP.

He said the drivers were authorised to carry water -- a byproduct in oil exploration -- from exploration sites for dumping but some of the tankers were filled with crude instead.

The drivers were disabling their GPS devices to avoid tracking and detection. More than 30 trucks have been seized, with numbers likely to grow, police said.

The oil was sold to two small factory owners nearby, who stockpiled the crude in underground tanks before selling it on to clients across India.

The stolen oil was used in road construction and diesel production, police said.

In February, police in Uttar Pradesh arrested nearly a dozen people accused of stealing nearly Rs. 100 crore worth of petroleum from a high pressure refinery pipeline in the northern state.

The gang had purchased land adjacent to the refinery and dug a tunnel to tap the pipeline owned by state-run Hindustan Petroleum.

NDTV CEO Pranay Roy convicted of money laundering

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal has convicted NDTV CEO Prannoy Roy as guilty of tax evasion and money laundering of Rs. 642 crores. In a verdict this month, the Tribunal said that NDTV had illegally sought money from foreign companies and misinterpreted the financial agencies of India. ITAT has said that the way money was invested, it is clear that this work was done to whiten the black money.

 NDTV CEO Prannoy Roy, though, is saying that he has not used any kind of black money, but Income Tax Appellate Tribunal i.e., the July 14th judicial verdict of ITAT makes it clear that Pranay Roy's claims The truth is not there. In the verdict, ITAT has clearly identified NDTV CEO Prannoy Roy as guilty of tax evasion and money laundering of Rs 642 crores.

 Tribunal says that in 2009, together with the corporate affairs ministry, Pranoy Roy made fake companies in the Netherlands and used it in money laundering of Rs 642 crores. ITAT has said that the way money was invested, it is clear that this work was done to whiten the black money. ITAT has said in its July 14 order that NDTV had applied in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in May 2009 It was given that foreign companies should be exempt from disclosure in financial matters. The permission of the ministry was found in July, but before that in April, Pranoy Roy told SEBI and the stock exchange in a fraudulently manner through the Director Reports that they have got the permission.

  ITAT has taken this forgery very seriously. ITAT has also said that if a company invests in any other company, then there is talk of promoting trade. But invested in NDTV only exchanges money. The Appellate Tribunal has also taken cognizance of the mail as evidence, in which the matter is cleared by the conversation between Pranay Roy and PWC.

CBI finds fake Chinese parts in India-made Dhanush gun; case filed against Delhi company for conspiracy

China-made parts camouflaged as 'Made in Germany' found their way to the production line of indigenised Bofors guns used by the army, prompting the CBI to file a case against a Delhi-based company.

Besides Sidh Sales Syndicate, the CBI also registered a case against unidentified officials of the Guns Carriage Factory (GCF), Jabalpur, under criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery for supplying fake and cheap China-made spares passing off as Made in Germany for Dhanush guns, the FIR alleged.

Dhanush is the indigenised version of the Bofors artillery guns which performed exceedingly well during the Kargil conflict in 1999.

The CBI alleged that the supplier entered into criminal conspiracy with the unidentified GCF officials to supply duplicate spare parts (bearings) used in the manufacture of Dhanush guns.

In furtherance of the said criminal conspiracy, unknown officials of GCF accepted the Chinese manufactured 'Wire Race Roller Bearings' supplied by Sidh Sales Syndicate which were embossed as 'CRB-Made in Germany'," the CBI said in the FIR.

The agency said production and performance of the Dhanush gun is extremely crucial for India's defence preparedness and "wire race roller bearing" is its vital component.

A tender was floated for the procurement of four such bearings according to the Rothe Erde drawing for 155 mm gun in which four firms had participated. The order was given to Sidh Sales Syndicate at the value of Rs 35.38 lakh in 2013, the FIR stated.

The order was further increased to six bearings at the cost of Rs 53.07 lakh on 27 August, 2014.

The company supplied two bearings each on three occasions between 7 April, 2014 and 12 August, 2014.

The company submitted 'certificates in origin' showing the bearings were procured from CRB Antriebstechnik, Germany. They were also embossed with the label, CRB-Made in Germany.

GCF tests showed that the bearings were unacceptable due to deviations in dimensions.

The company provided clarifications and assured that in case of non performance of the bearing due to manufacturing defects, they would replace the bearing free of cost and take corrective action for future supply.

"Consequently the bearings were accepted as a special case by unknown officials of GCF Jabalpur," the CBI alleged.

Information received by the CBI shows that the German company does not manufacture these parts.

It showed that Sidh Sales Syndicate got the six bearings manufactured by Sino United Industries (Luyang) Ltd Henan, China.

The agency also seized several emails which were exchanged between China and Sidh Sales Syndicate. The letter from Germany shown by the company was also on forged letterhead, CBI alleged.

The certificate of origin from Germany was also forged.

"The said forged letter and certificate were accepted by unidentified officials of GCF with ulterior motive and by abusing their official positions as such without ascertaining the genuineness of the said letter and certiciates and cause undue advantage to Sidh Sales Syndicate and corresponding loss to the Government of India," the investigating agency said in the FIR.

'Convert to Islam within six months': Malayali Author KP Ramanunni gets threat letter

A renowned Malayali author and a woman college lecturer have complained to the police of receiving threats even as Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said his government would not ignore threats to those who expressed progressive views.

Efforts to tarnish those with progressive opinions on the social media and making death threats to them would not be accepted, Vijayan said on Facebook.

"Those who feel that independent voices can be gagged by threats are living in a fool's paradise," he wrote.

The chief minister's statement comes in the wake of Malayali author K P Ramanunni lodging a police complaint today regarding an anonymous threat letter, warning him that his right arm and left leg would be chopped off if he did not convert to Islam within six months.

The letter was sent to Ramanunni's Kozhikode residence six days ago.

The writer said though there was no indication as to who was behind the letter, it was understood that it was posted from Manjeri in Malappuram district.

"I am not aware of the motive behind the letter. I filed a complaint with the Kozhikode city police commissioner today, urging him to look into the matter," he told PTI.

Ramanunni said though he had ignored the letter initially, other senior writers advised him to file the police complaint.

The letter alleged that some of the recent articles written by the award-winning writer amounted to "misleading" the Muslim youth.

It also warned that Ramanunni would meet the same fate as that of professor TJ Joseph, whose right arm was chopped off by the members of a radical Muslim outfit for allegedly hurting their religious sentiments through a question paper he had set.

"Like T J Joseph, your right arm will be cut off...your left leg too. You are given six months to convert to Islam. If you do not embrace Islam, we will inflict Allah's punishment on you," the letter said.

The police said a probe was launched on the basis of Ramanunni's complaint.

The right arm of Joseph, who was a professor in the Thodupuzha New Man College, was chopped off while he was returning home from the Sunday mass at a church in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district on July 4, 2010.

A novelist and short story writer, Ramanunni is a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award and Vayalar Award among other literary acclaims.

In the other case, Deepa Nishanth, a lecturer in the Thrissur-based Kerala Varma College, lodged a police complaint regarding death threats received by her on the social media, allegedly from right-wing activists, in connection with a painting of renowned artist late M F Hussain put up on the college campus.

She alleged that her morphed pictures with derogatory comments were widely circulated and shared on the social media.

She said the threat seemed to be on the assumption that she was in support of the exhibition of the controversial painting, 'Saraswathy', on the college campus.

A banner, with the painting, was put up by the SFI, the students' union of the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala, to welcome the freshers, she said.

"I was shocked to see the series of abusive comments against me on the social media over a matter, in which I was not even involved," said Deepa.

She added that the comments and morphed pictures were also sent to her family members, causing great mental agony.

The police registered a case under the Information Technology (IT) Act after the lecturer lodged a complaint with the chief minister and Director General of Police (DGP) Loknath Behera.

Gujarat High Court fines Govt for delay in release of prisoner

The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday ordered the state government to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation for confining a petitioner illegally for six months after his conviction got over earlier this year and release him.

The petitioner, Prabhatji S Dhabi, convicted for murder more than 13 years ago, moved the High Court seeking remission citing a notification issued by the state government earlier this year.

The notification stated that those prisoners, serving life imprisonment, who have completed 12 years, without absconding for the past 10 years, be released. Dhabi’s lawyer Dilbur Contractor said that the government kept rejecting his appeal for remission citing one reason or the other. The government responded saying that Dhabi’s plea was rejected on the grounds that he had once jumped parole.

Contractor told the court that Dhabi should have been released in January.

Passport back office sets daily appointment limit of 100

The Regional Passport Office at Gulbai Tekra has decided that only 100 people will be allowed every day to visit the back office with queries. Therefore, RPO Ahmedabad will give only 100 appointments daily.

"We are introducing the new system of appointments at the back office to manage the crowd load and deliver more responsible and accountable service to people," said Neelam Rani, the regional passport officer. "We will release 100 appointments per day in different slots for all 17 categories of services given at the Passport Back office (PBO)."

Neelam Rani said that beginning from Thursday, the passport office will not allow visitors without appointments. Appointments can be obtained from the website that facilitates appointments at the passport Seva Kendras.

A senior officer said that appointments were introduced to stop people from coming with inquiries that can be easily resolved on the website. Officials said that unnecessary visits not only inconvenienced other visitors but also placed additional burden on the staff.