Hyderabad: Posts of more than 2,000 professors and assistant professors in 11 universities of the state are lying vacant, affecting the education of students. At present, there is no possibility of starting the process of appointment for these posts immediately.
Seven months ago, the government approved a common recruitment board in the Assembly, which was pending with the governor for a long time. After the government approached the Supreme Court, Governor T Soundararajan approved three bills, returned two bills to the government and two bills were referred to the President, including the Common Recruitment Board Bill for the promotion of universities.
Until a decision is taken by the President, the process of appointment on the vacancies of professors and assistant professors in the state’s universities will not begin. More than 2,000 professors and assistant professors’ posts are lying vacant in eleven universities in Telangana. Teaching work is being done using the services of contract staff.
In the year 2017, it was decided to appoint 1061 professors and assistant professors on vacant posts by issuing GO 34, but the appointments have not been made yet. For the appointment of professors, the UGC has issued some guidelines in the year 2018. In light of these guidelines, the state government has considered amending the Universities Act for appointments on the vacancies of assistant professors.
It has been decided to conduct the common entrance test for the appointment of assistant professors. In this regard, the formation of the Common Board amended the Universities Act and sent a special bill to the Raj Bhavan by approving it in the Assembly. The governor kept the bill pending for seven months and has now referred it to the President.
The stalemate over the pending bills and the petition filed by the BRS government last month in the Supreme Court has given an unprecedented turn to the rift between the government and the Governor.
The BRS leaders are targeting the Governor for what they call running a parallel system, undermining the people’s elected government.
SRINAGAR: In 1988, Handwara Degree College opened its doors to students, but unfortunately, its struggle with infrastructure, faculty, and advanced labs has been a never-ending saga. As a result, the college has failed to secure a good NAAC ranking over the years.
Despite being home to more than three thousand students, acute faculty shortages and poor infrastructure have jeopardized the quality of education. As the college has a staff strength of 46 posts out of which 27 are filled rest posts are vacant. Similarly, the college has 18 non-faculty posts, out of which 11 are vacant.
The lack of permanent faculty in crucial subjects like Maths, Physics, Geology, and Electronics has left students with limited resources and opportunities as subjects are without permanent faculty. Shockingly, the Electronics subject has less than 25 students left, and there has been no permanent faculty for years.
The science labs are ill-equipped, leaving students without the necessary tools to complete experiments and assignments. With most crucial subjects lacking permanent faculty, students are forced to make do with just one class a day, and attendance has become a rarity.
Reports suggest that GDC Handwara has only 20% permanent faculty despite a massive influx of students. The college is also lacking critical human resources like senior and junior assistants, and accountants, with accounting operations being managed by a need-based employee.
Although the college was NAAC accredited in 2016, it failed to apply for accreditation with National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
However, the college is currently processing its Annual Quality Assurance Report for the next five years, which could potentially lead to a not-so-good NAAC ranking because of inadequate material and human resources. Ironically, the largest college (in terms of enrollment) in the Kupwara district does not have an auditorium. The library is too small for the students with no permanent Librarian and isn’t fully automatic. The students reported a lack of a serene reading room facility and a browser center for non-BCA students.
It doesn’t have even a First Aid facility or a rest room for its students, not even for the female students. All students complained about the absence of a dining hall facility, a gym center, and a language lab.
The principal doesn’t even have proper accommodations. Despite being a female principal, she has no cook or proper place to stay. However, despite all odds, she has been successful in giving the college some semblance that was lost in the wilderness.
Many students complained about the presence of outsiders in the college during class hours who couldn’t be monitored or dealt with due to the non-availability of CCTV cameras in the college.
It is high time that the government takes note of the situation and provides the college with the necessary resources.
Sumaya, a student in the 4th semester, complained in a resentful voice ‘Where are social justice and equality of opportunity for us? After graduation, we are supposed to compete with students who graduate from the best of the colleges in India and J&K. How can we match their academic productivity when we don’t receive 1/20th of their facilities”.
Another student who wished to remain anonymous said, “I had a dream to become a mathematician. How I see my dream getting aborted at the altar of callous administration for whom we aren’t the focus of attention. I may be not graduating because of the non-availability of faculty and quality books”.
This reporter found the college washrooms in dilapidated condition, two teaching blocks with broken windows and glass frames, and a library disorganized.
The college’s growth and funding prospects depend upon a good NAAC ranking and the effective and timely completion of various ongoing works, including a multipurpose hall.
A sense of despondency and a palpable feeling of denial about the lack of facilities and poor academic environment is brewing up on the campus. The quicker the government responds to the issues, the better it would be in the way of rectification of injustice and deprivation.
Meanwhile, Principal GDC Handwara Prof Dilruba Rasool acknowledged the shortage of staff and said that she is managing the same by framing the roster of academic arrangements as per need.
Over the years college has seen growth on many fronts like we have got advanced equipment for our labs. We have very expensive devices in our science labs to help our students to excel in the field of science and technology. Our infrastructure is getting improved every new day, she said.
She said when she assumed charge, she has been putting all her efforts to bring the college into the limelight and secure a good NAAC ranking, but it is not possible overnight.
“I am taking up the issues like staff shortage, infrastructure, and other important things with the higher-ups and I am sure the college will get serious attention,” she added. (KNS)
The agency has an acting administrator, but his decisions don’t have the heft of someone with a Senate-granted mandate to lead — such as spearheading major changes that might be needed to avoid a catastrophe while also keeping up with new technologies such as drones and air taxis.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a helicopter pilot who leads the Senate subcommittee in charge of the FAA, said bluntly that she’s been frustrated with the delay and that a candidate needs to be put up “as soon as possible.”
The Republican crusade against Washington created partisan rifts that could leave the post vacant for months to come. Washington, a former municipal transit official and member of Biden’s transition team, didn’t have any aviation experience until he took the top job at Denver’s airport in 2021. Cruz and Wicker, both senior lawmakers on the Senate Commerce Committee, repeatedly hammered his nomination as a patronage hire.
But now, Cruz has embraced the person who’d likely be confirmed by the Senate the fastest — Billy Nolen, the acting administrator of the FAA and a former pilot and safety expert. That may tarnish Nolen’s chances with Democrats, who are still angry that Cruz torpedoed Washington’s nomination.
Shortly before Washington withdrew, Cruz publicly floated the idea that he would support Nolen for the job.
“A number of Democrats have expressed privately to me that they think it is a reasonable suggestion,” Cruz said in an interview last week. “To be clear, I don’t know Billy Nolen, it’s not like he’s a Republican or a friend of mine. He was Joe Biden’s choice to be acting administrator, he just happens to be qualified for the job.”
Nolen was a long-time pilot for American Airlines before taking on safety-related roles at American and Airlines for America, a trade association representing major U.S. airlines. He then held safety-related executive roles at Qantas and WestJet before joining the FAA as associate administrator for aviation safety in early 2022. Nolen held that role for less than four months before becoming acting administrator.
Whether or not the White House wants to elevate Nolen, he’s clearly acting the part, including television appearances and a high-profile decision to call a safety summit to try to get ahead of cracks in the system that may be behind the recent uptick in near misses.
“He’s [Nolen] clearly running for it. I’m not sure Cruz’s endorsement helps him though,” said one aviation industry lobbyist who was granted anonymity to describe private conversations about the White House’s stance. “What I’ve heard is the White House is going to nominate someone in the next couple weeks. I don’t think they are asking the Hill what they want.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment. But after Washington withdrew, the White House pledged to pick a new nominee quickly and blamed Washington’s exit on a Republican smear campaign.
Senators on the Commerce Committee last week confirmed that the White House hadn’t reached out to them about a potential nominee, though Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), a major supporter of Washington’s, said he would prefer someone who isn’t already working at the FAA. So far, Nolen has yet to pick up any public support from Senate Democrats.
In supporting Washington, some Democrats — including Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who chairs the Commerce Committee vetting the nomination, have said they prefer someone not part of the revolving door of the aerospace industry.
In the Senate, Democratic ire is also focused on holdouts within their own party that helped tank Washington’s nomination — chiefly Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who were noncommittal ahead of a committee vote on Washington’s nomination. That vote ultimately was postponed at the last minute. Washington withdrew shortly after.
Duckworth has blamed “one person” for the postponed vote but declined to say who.
And Senate Democratic aides also seem frustrated with the White House, with one suggesting it failed to understand the dynamics of the committee, on which Sinema sits and where Democrats have a one-vote majority.
“You can’t ignore Sinema,” said a Democratic aide who requested anonymity to recount private conversations. “The White House didn’t understand it, and his confirmation hearing showed that she wasn’t on board.”
They also groused that the White House didn’t account for Washington’s relative lack of aviation experience or the perception among Republicans that his nomination was a patronage pick.
A second aviation industry representative, granted anonymity to describe private conversations, said the White House is considering potential nominees beyond Nolen and agreed that it is wary of handing Cruz another victory.
“My understanding is the only person who really wants Billy is Ted Cruz,” the aviation source said. “The administration really seems interested in picking someone else.”
Cruz said his initial endorsement of Nolen was on a whim, after turning around to speak with his staff during a Commerce Committee hearing.
“I turned back to my staff and said, ‘What do you think about Nolen? Would it be crazy for me to suggest right now that they should withdraw Washington and nominate Nolen?’” Cruz said on his weekly podcast. “And my guys were like ‘No, that’s fine.’”
Duckworth said that elevating Nolen to the top FAA job would be “relatively smooth” because he’s already in a senior position, though she was not explicitly backing Nolen for the job.
“He’s already inside the agency. It would be relatively smooth in terms of him stepping up in that way, but I have not talked to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle,” Duckworth said. “He’s one of the names that gets floated on a regular basis.”
But Duckworth was referring to the potential confirmation process should Nolen garner Democratic support, which he doesn’t yet have. In the runup to the vote on Washington that the Commerce Committee abruptly abandoned, most Democrats who took a public position, including Cantwell, said they supported Washington because he doesn’t have any ties to the aerospace industry. Nolen, meanwhile, has more than 30 years of experience working at airlines.
Lobbyists and representatives from the aviation industry who spoke with POLITICO, many of whom work for companies or associations that did not weigh in on Washington’s nomination, said their main priority is getting someone confirmed.
Another aviation industry lobbyist agreed that won’t happen any time soon, however.
“It’ll be months — you have the individual work that Senate Commerce will do,” the lobbyist said, adding that getting someone confirmed by this summer will be nearly impossible. “We realize the timeline is not great.”
Valery Miftakhov, CEO of ZeroAvia, which is developing hydrogen-powered aircraft, said not having a Senate-confirmed leader means “we cannot expect to see the FAA take anything but small steps and it will be difficult to set the strategic direction.”
For instance, Miftakhov said his company’s attempt to create zero emission aircraft amid growing climate concerns “could end up sitting on a shelf in the FAA waiting for a willing advocate.”
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( With inputs from : www.politico.com )
Hyderabad: Applications for admission are invited to Class VI, VII, VIII, intermediate and degree colleges, said Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Telangana Backward Classes Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (MJPTBCWREIS) here on Thursday.
According to a press release, the last date for submission for admission to Class VI, VII and VIII is April 20 and April 16 for intermediate and degree admissions.
The admission test for Class VI, VII and VIII in on May 20 while intermediate and degree admissions will be held on April 29.
Hall tickets for Class VI, VII and VIII and intermediate and degree tests will be issued on May 2 and April 20 respectively.
For more details, contact 040 – 23328266, 23322377.
New Delhi: BJP MLA Vijender Gupta on Monday claimed that more than 2,300 seats at Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU) are vacant due to a steep fee hike.
He said LG VK Saxena has sought a detailed report on it within 15 days.
Gupta shared a copy of the purported order issued from LG office on March 16. No immediate reaction was available from the LG office or the DSEU on Gupta’s claim.
The BJP MLA from Rohini said the issue was brought to the knowledge of the LG by him during a recent meeting.
“There was a 400 per cent hike in polytechnic diploma courses, from Rs 6000 to Rs 24,000. The fee of BTech and MTech course was hiked from Rs 35,000 to Rs 1,81,000,” he claimed.
Despite a high demand of such courses more than 2300 seats are vacant, he claimed in a statement.
New Delhi: The Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala was declared vacant on Friday after its MP Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Parliament after he was sentenced to a two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case.
The Lok Sabha secretariat issued a notification disqualifying Gandhi as a member of the Lower House of Parliament following his conviction by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case.
The Lok Sabha website now shows three vacant seats Jalandhar, Lakshadweep and Wayanad.
The Jalandhar seat fell vacant after the demise of Congress member Santokh Singh Chaudhary.
The Lakshadweep seat fell vacant after the disqualification of NCP member Mohammad Faizal P P after his conviction in an attempt to murder case in which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Gandhi represented the Amethi parliamentary seat in the Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2019. BJP leader Smriti Irani defeated Gandhi in Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Gandhi won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad, the second seat he had contested.
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Government on Sunday said more than 30,000 vacant government posts have been filled in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the process to fill 20,000 vacancies would be initiated soon in the Union Territory.
More than 6 lakh youth of JK have been enhanced with technical support and financial assistance to become entrepreneurs, said the Lt Governor while addressing the Youth Festival at BSF Camp Paloura .
He felicitated the beneficiaries of Mission Youth’s schemes, atheletes and new recruits of Agniveer and JK police.
He also launched a Rozgaar Mela and on the spot placement drive.
He said that in just 10 days of Back to Village and My Town, My Pride, the UT Administration has created 75,000 new entrepreneurs.
The Lt Governor also launched an employment fair and on spot placement drive on the occasion.
Congratulating the winners of the athletics meet and the new recruits, the Lt Governor reiterated the commitment of the UT government towards the aspirations of the young population.
“We are empowering our youth for tomorrow. The ongoing training and skill development and the Apprentice Mela are aimed at boosting their career prospects and creating an entrepreneurship ecosystem.
“ We have ensured financial resources and start-up support services to encourage new business creation,” said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor said, the UT administration is moving forward in a planned manner and in consultation with the stakeholders, is providing all assistance to our youth to make their dreams come true.
The Lt Governor said, “We are always ready to listen to the common man, farmer, laborer, trader, employee and take necessary intervention to protect their interests.”
LG Sinha shared new milestones achieved in youth empowerment by J&K under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Lt Governor said, “Our youth are converting opportunities into infinite possibilities to fulfill the vision of a strong Atmanirbhar J&K.”
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir set up the highest number of PMEGP units last year and with a record number of entrepreneurs, the dream of becoming job creators rather than job seekers is coming true. He said that the credit of this historic achievement goes to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir who have made the country proud.
The Lt Governor said, the Central Government is spending one lakh crore rupees to build highways and tunnels in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that more than Rs 5000 crore has been made available to double the contribution of agriculture to the GDP of J&K in the next 5 years.
Highlighting the efforts of the government to realize the true potential of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, the Lt Governor said that the Jammu and Kashmir administration is running about 17 self-employment schemes and job fairs are also being organized in every district, in which private companies are participating. On spot offers are being given to the youth from all over the country.
Jammu and Kashmir, which was at the bottom of the medal table, is now bringing laurels to the country in international events. ‘My Youth, My Pride’, University Athletic Championship and LG Rolling Trophy are providing a fair platform to lakhs of budding sportspersons.
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the foundation day celebration of Cluster University, Jammu at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government PG College for Women, Gandhi Nagar.
Congratulating the Cluster University for achieving excellence in quality education, the Lt Governor said that the University, established on 1st March 2017 with five Constituent Colleges, is playing its role of a change agent, with focus on skill development and to transform the vibrant institutions as the centers of new ideas and discoveries.
The Lt Governor highlighted the important role of college campuses & class rooms in enriching the society, creating and nurturing the best talents and stressed upon the necessary changes in sync with the National Education Policy.
“In a new era, the education system & role of a teacher needs to adapt to fast-changing world. Teacher is not just a disseminator of knowledge. A teacher is the one who imparts different skill sets, ignites creativity, innovation in young generation to live a better life,” said the Lt Governor.
The new invention will not be born out of memories of the past or books, but from a free mind, from a young mind full of curiosity. To make the curiosity, innovation, invention, lifeblood of academic institutions, we must implement recommendations of national education policy, the Lt Governor added.
Observing that Innovation will be a major contributor to India’s five trillion economy, the Lt Governor asked the educational institutions to keep pace with digitalization and future technologies.
“We must remove the burden of textbooks and instill in young students the urge for new discoveries. We must give them courage & strength to explore the unknown and not just syllabus. We should provide them with academic freedom so they get to know themselves and respect their own uniqueness,” the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor also spoke on the growth registered in various sectors including tourism, industries, livelihood generation, sports and the measures taken to improve services for the people.
Entire J&K administration is working towards the welfare of common man. The time has gone when J&K’s administration was running at the whims and fancies of some handful of people with vested interests, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor said 20,000 vacant posts in administration will be filled soon. He also assured strict punishment to the culprits who are behind rigging of recruitment exam.
Speaking on the anti-encroachment drive, the Lt Governor said that the anti-encroachment drive only retrieved the land from the big and influential land grabbers who had illegally occupied large chunks of state land and if any poor person was affected by anti encroachment drive, strict action will be taken against the concerned officers.
The Lt Governor asked the educational institutions and students to collectively participate in the conduct of G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir. Be the socio-cultural ambassadors of JK and make the world aware of the diversity of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
Educational institutions should also dedicate themselves to actively provide solutions to local problems, the Lt Governor said.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor inaugurated the Laboratory block of School of Sciences of Cluster University of Jammu and laid foundation stone for Examination block to be come up at a cost of Rs 39.35 crores.
RR Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta Chief Secretary, and Bechan Lal, VC, Cluster University of Jammu shared the journey of making of the Cluster University of Jammu, highlighting the achievements of the University and the reforms introduced in the education sector.
Jammu, Mar 01: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the foundation day celebration of Cluster University, Jammu at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government PG College for Women, Gandhi Nagar.
Congratulating the Cluster University for achieving excellence in quality education, the Lt Governor said that the University, established on 1st March 2017 with five Constituent Colleges, is playing its role of a change agent, with focus on skill development and to transform the vibrant institutions as the centers of new ideas and discoveries.
The Lt Governor highlighted the important role of college campuses & class rooms in enriching the society, creating and nurturing the best talents and stressed upon the necessary changes in sync with the National Education Policy.
“In a new era, the education system & role of a teacher needs to adapt to fast-changing world. Teacher is not just a disseminator of knowledge. A teacher is the one who imparts different skill sets, ignites creativity, innovation in young generation to live a better life,” said the Lt Governor.
The new invention will not be born out of memories of the past or books, but from a free mind, from a young mind full of curiosity. To make the curiosity, innovation, invention, lifeblood of academic institutions, we must implement recommendations of national education policy, the Lt Governor added.
Observing that Innovation will be a major contributor to India’s 5 trillion economy, the Lt Governor asked the educational institutions to keep pace with digitalization and future technologies.
“We must remove the burden of textbooks and instill in young students the urge for new discoveries. We must give them courage & strength to explore the unknown and not just syllabus. We should provide them with academic freedom so they get to know themselves and respect their own uniqueness,” the Lt Governor said.
Under the guidance of Prime Minister, Jammu Kashmir has emerged as the hub of education in the country. Our agriculture Universities are also going global. We must enable universities to contribute to India’s knowledge economy, the Lt Governor observed.
All the educational institutions will have to keep pace with evolving world, he added.
The Lt Governor also spoke on the growth registered in various sectors including tourism, industries, livelihood generation, sports and the measures taken to improve services for the people.
Entire J&K administration is working towards the welfare of common man. The time has gone when J&K’s administration was running at the whims and fancies of some handful of people with vested interests, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor said 20,000 vacant posts in administration will be filled soon. He also assured strict punishment to the culprits who are behind rigging of recruitment exam.
Speaking on the anti-encroachment drive, the Lt Governor said that the anti-encroachment drive only retrieved the land from the big and influential land grabbers who had illegally occupied large chunks of state land and if any poor person was affected by anti encroachment drive, strict action will be taken against the concerned officers.
The Lt Governor asked the educational institutions and students to collectively participate in the conduct of G20 meeting in J&K. Be the socio-cultural ambassadors of J&K and make the world aware of the diversity of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
Educational institutions should also dedicate themselves to actively provide solutions to local problems, the Lt Governor said.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor inaugurated the Laboratory block of School of Sciences of Cluster University of Jammu and laid foundation stone for Examination block to be come up at a cost of Rs 39.35 crores.
The Lt Governor also felicitated students who excelled in Yuvatarang-2023.
RR Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta Chief Secretary, and Bechan Lal, VC, Cluster University of Jammu shared the journey of making of the Cluster University of Jammu, highlighting the achievements of the University and the reforms introduced in the education sector—(KNO)
New Delhi: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) told the Delhi High Court on Thursday the government land in Ladha Sarai village, which falls within Mehrauli Archaeological Park, where the authorities have started a demolition drive, has been encroached upon and Google images of 2014 show it was completely vacant.
The DDA said it is the mandatory and fundamental duty of citizens to ensure protection of the heritage as well as composite culture of the city, which obligation requires the authorities to protect all old monuments, archaeological sites and remains, and make them free from encroachments by unscrupulous people.
The DDA’s submissions were made in an affidavit filed in response to a petition by residents of Green Apartments in Mehrauli, which along with various other properties, has been identified to be demolished as part of the ‘anti-encroachment’ drive.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora was informed by DDA counsel Shobhana Takiar that the agency has filed a detailed counter affidavit in the lead petition along with a demarcation report of December 2021.
The counsel said short affidavits of the DDA responding to facts of each of the petitions shall be filed by February 27.
The high court, while listing the matter for March 9, said the interim order of maintaining status quo on the properties of those who have approached the court shall continue till then.
Advocate Siddhant Kumar, the counsel for one of the petitioners, has said the building of his client is situated in Khasra No. 1151/3 in Mehrauli which is not mentioned in the demolition order but the demolition action was still proposed against it.
“The petitioners have encroached on the government land of village Ladha Sarai which falls in Mehrauli Archaeological Park. It is submitted that as per the Google images of 2014, the land under reference was completely vacant,” the DDA said in the affidavit.
“The land in question falls in Mehrauli Archaeological Park which forms part of the Southern Central Ridge where a large number of historical world famous monument exists which are protected/ unprotected and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India in order to protect Indian Heritage and Culture,” it said.
It said as per the land records maintained by DDA, the land that is the subject matter of this petition falls in Khasra number-209 and 210 of village Ladha Sarai and it was acquired and placed at the disposal of the DDA by a July 1, 1975 notification.
“This land has been earmarked as Green’ in the Master Plan of Delhi since beginning and is to be developed and maintained as Green’ and to be conserved under the Mehrauli Heritage Zone. It is submitted that the area is notified as Reserved Forest vide Notification . dated May 24, 1994 issued under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 being situated at the western side of the road going to Andheria More from Qutub,” it said.
The land owning agency said attempts were made by many people in the past to encroach upon this parcel of DDA land and it had been preventing such attempts of the land grabbers.
The DDA also referred to a July 2019 order of a division bench of the high court which had directed the authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure the Mehrauli Archaeological Park is free from encroachment.
It said in compliance with various orders of the high court the Delhi government prepared a demarcation report on December 21, 2021 for the seam-line between village Ladha Sarai and Mehrauli.
“After the demarcation report duly verified by the revenue department of Delhi government, DDA has issued notice on December 12, 2022 for removal of encroachments in Mehrauli Archaeological Park falling in village Ladha Sarai which is a government land ,” the DDA said.
Regarding the sale deeds of land submitted by the petitioners, the authorities said such sale is void and barred under the provisions of Delhi Land Restriction on Transfer Act and other documents in the nature of property tax do not confer any right, title and interest in the property.
The high court has been hearing a batch of petitions challenging the demolition action.
The counsel for the residents of Green Apartments in Mehrauli had earlier said there are 62 families residing in 62 flats in the apartments and the entire action of DDA is illegal because the authorities are going ahead with the drive without giving any opportunity to the residents to be heard.
He had said the residents of the apartments have got their title deeds registered by the registrar and DDA, along with the Delhi government, has gone ahead with the demarcation exercise without notifying those residing there which is not allowed as per law.
A large number of residents of the area have approached the high court with separate petitions against the action being taken on their individual properties.
On February 10, the high court had directed the authorities to maintain status quo on 400 jhuggis of Ghosiya Slum Colony in Mehrauli, which were also to be demolished.
The DDA, on February 10, started a demolition drive in Mehrauli amid police security. However, on February 14, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena directed the DDA to stop the anti-encroachment drive in Mehrauli and Ladha Sarai villages till further instructions.
The drive was launched a month ahead of a proposed G20 meeting at the park in south Delhi.
According to the DDA, the old park has about 55 monuments under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India, state archeological department and the urban civic body.
The land on which the alleged encroachment was done belonged to multiple agencies including DDA, Waqf Board, and Archaeological Survey of India, it has been claimed.
