State News

GURUGRAM : Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday inaugurated the ‘Tower of Justice’ judicial complex in Gurugram, emphasising that the justice delivery system must evolve with the changing nature of litigation. According to an official statement, the event was attended by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The CJI also advocated establishing integrated district court complexes across Haryana on the lines of Uttar Pradesh, saying that more courts will enhance judicial capacity, particularly in commercial disputes and cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act. The new facility houses 55 modern courtrooms compared to 45 in the earlier one, and the complex has been equipped with facilities such as video-conferencing and a judicial record room with a proposed International Arbitration Centre, functioning under the supervision of the high court, the statement said. Justice Kant said that the construction of the ‘Tower of Justice’ creates an environment for the administration of justice. At the same event, he also virtually laid the foundation stone of the Tauru and Punhana Judicial Complexes in Nuh district. He also recalled his privilege of performing the groundbreaking ceremony of this judicial complex while serving as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in January 2017. The courts in Gurugram city, which has regional offices of more than half of the Fortune 500 companies, are dealing with more than 24,000 civil disputes, nearly 1,000 commercial disputes and over one lakh cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act. He expressed confidence that the Tower of Justice, built on seven acres of land, would emerge as a symbol of justice for every citizen. Saini said that the judicial complex is a symbol of the Constitution’s dignity and the unwavering faith of citizens in the justice delivery system. “The establishment of a modern judicial complex in such a city will further strengthen and improve the justice delivery system,” he said. Coincidentally, he said, the building, whose foundation was laid in 2017 by Kant, who was Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, was inaugurated by him on Sunday. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, he said that along with ease of doing business, equal importance must be given to ease of justice. He said that this judicial complex, developed in two towers — on the land of Guru Dronacharya and Mata Sheetla Devi — is among North India’s largest judicial complexes. Saini also announced that a portion of the old judicial complex will be earmarked for the construction of modern chambers for advocates. Khattar said, “With the increasing number of cases in a rapidly developing district like Gurugram, there was a pressing need for a modern judicial complex equipped with world-class facilities.” Meghwal called it an important milestone in the collective commitment to making the justice delivery system more accessible, effective and citizen-centric. Referring to the PM’s mantra of “Reform, Perform and Transform”, he said that a modern, transparent and robust justice system is indispensable for building a developed India. “The central government is continuously strengthening the infrastructure of subordinate courts to accelerate judicial reforms. Through initiatives such as e-Courts, e-Filing, e-Prosecution, e-Prisons, e-Forensics, e-Seva Kendras, digital payments and national judicial digital systems, the justice delivery process is becoming simpler, safer and faster,” he said in the statement. Union Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh, who was also present during the occasion, said that the PM’s vision of Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living can be realised only when every citizen has access to timely and affordable justice. According to Singh, since 2014, more than 1,500 obsolete laws have been repealed, and via reforms, including the Jan Vishwas Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, National Judicial Data Grid, e-Filing, AI-based case management, and the expansion of commercial courts are playing a significant role in reducing pendency. “As Gurugram rapidly emerges as the country’s economic capital, the city has now received judicial infrastructure befitting its growing stature and requirements”, added Singh. Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra paid his gratitude to the thousands of construction workers, masons, engineers and support staff for their role in this project. (Source: PTI)  

ITANAGAR : The All Arunachal Pradesh Workers Welfare Society (AAPWWS) extended financial assistance of ₹1 lakh to families affected by the recent floods in Possa during a visit to the flood relief camp on Saturday. The AAPWWS team, led by its president Jalley Sonam and general secretary Karbia Sonam Tara, met the affected families, expressed solidarity with them and assured continued support during their recovery. Speaking to the media, Jalley Sonam said it was deeply distressing to witness the loss of lives and the widespread devastation caused by the floods. He prayed that such a tragedy would never recur and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He said that although AAPWWS is a newly formed organisation, it remains committed to serving the people, particularly workers and labourers, and would continue to extend support to those in need during times of crisis.

Staff Reporter ITANAGAR : The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Saturday strongly opposed the proposed consultative meeting on the inclusion of the Kachari community of Namsai and Changlang districts as a Scheduled Tribe (ST), sub-tribe or plains tribe in the National Population Census, prompting the state government to cancel the exercise. The consultative meeting, convened by the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Tribal Affairs (SJETA), was scheduled to be held at the Civil Secretariat on July 13 under the chairmanship of the state’s Chief Secretary. Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here, AAPSU president Meje Taku said the apex students’ body was firmly against any move to extend Scheduled Tribe status to communities that are not indigenous to Arunachal Pradesh. He warned that the union would intensify its democratic agitation if the proposal was pursued. “Arunachal Pradesh is a 100 per cent tribal state protected by the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. Any move to extend ST status to non-indigenous communities will weaken the constitutional and legal safeguards protecting the state’s indigenous population,” Taku said. Questioning the basis of the proposal, he pointed out that the Sonowal Kachari community already enjoys Scheduled Tribe (Plains) status in neighbouring Assam. He cautioned that relaxing the existing criteria for ST recognition in Arunachal Pradesh could encourage similar demands from other communities with historical or ethnolinguistic links to the state, thereby affecting its demographic and political balance. Taku also warned that proceeding with the proposal could disturb peace and social harmony in the state and held the government responsible for any consequences arising from the process. Following AAPSU’s strong opposition, the SJETA later issued a circular on Saturday announcing that the consultative meeting “stands cancelled.” Meanwhile, AAPSU reiterated its demand that no recruitment advertisement be issued by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) or the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB) until the high-level committee reviewing the existing 80:20 recruitment ratio submits its final report. Taku informed that the state government had constituted a high-level committee, headed by Industries, Skill Development and Labour & Employment Minister Nyato Dukam, to examine the feasibility of abolishing the 80:20 reservation ratio in state government recruitment and making Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) and APST certificates mandatory in all competitive recruitment processes. The committee was constituted through an order issued by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Training (AR&T) on July 6. The AAPSU president also recalled that the union had earlier submitted a 13-point memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khandu seeking urgent government intervention on issues concerning indigenous rights, employment, education and constitutional safeguards. Among its key demands, the union sought the abolition of the 80:20 recruitment ratio, mandatory verification of PRC and APST certificates in all recruitment processes, and strict action against candidates found using forged documents to obtain government jobs and benefits. The memorandum also called for the introduction of a single-window scholarship disbursement system, effective implementation of the Chief Minister’s Research Fellowship for APST scholars, and the establishment of Common University Entrance Test (CUET) centres within Arunachal Pradesh to reduce the burden on students travelling outside the state for examinations. Additionally, AAPSU reiterated its demands for strengthening constitutional safeguards for indigenous communities, resolving the Chakma-Hajong issue, curbing illegal immigration, and addressing racial discrimination against people from the Northeast. Taku said Chief Minister Pema Khandu had received the memorandum positively and assured the union that the issues raised would be examined at the earliest.    

ITANAGAR : Arunachal Pradesh Rural Bank (APRB) Chairman Vikal Sharma called on Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik (Retd) at Lok Bhavan here on Saturday and briefed him on the bank’s operations, financial inclusion initiatives, outreach programmes, and the banking and insurance services being extended across the state. Emphasising the pivotal role of APRB in promoting inclusive growth and socio-economic development, the Governor said banking facilities must reach every village and remote habitation so that people can access financial services with ease and confidence. He advised the bank to give special attention to aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), farmers and rural youth by facilitating access to credit, financial literacy and entrepreneurship support. Timely financial assistance and proper guidance, he said, can transform innovative ideas into sustainable enterprises, generate employment and contribute to building a self-reliant and economically vibrant Arunachal Pradesh. The Governor also urged the bank to work closely with government departments and other development stakeholders to ensure that welfare schemes, livelihood initiatives and financial inclusion programmes effectively reach the intended beneficiaries. He expressed confidence that APRB would continue to play a key role in grassroots development and economic empowerment across the state. Sharma informed the Governor that APRB is providing inclusive banking services through its network of 38 branches across the state and is steadily expanding its outreach. He also highlighted the bank’s adoption of modern technology and multiple service channels to improve access to banking and insurance services. APRB General Manager (Vigilance) Nitul Phukan and Senior Manager Nako Taker were also present during the meeting.    

DOLIKOTO : Commerce and Industries minister Nyato Dukam on Saturday inaugurated the administrative block of the Rongoge Mega Food Park at Dolikoto here, marking a significant milestone in the frontier state’s stride toward industrialisation and value-added agro-processing. Following the inauguration, the minister inspected the state-of-the-art infrastructure within the facility, including the Rongoge Animal Feed Plant and various common processing hubs. Reaffirming the state government’s unwavering commitment to the project, Dukam stated that Chief Minister Pema Khandu is committed to ensure that the park becomes a model for local industrial development. Describing the project as a defining step in Arunachal Pradesh’s economic transformation, the minister said, “With this Mega Food Park, Arunachal Pradesh has started walking towards industrialisation. We may not be running yet, but we are certainly no longer crawling.” Emphasising the importance of economic self-reliance, Dukam observed that sustainable industrial development is essential to strengthen the state’s internal revenue base. “We cannot depend on financial assistance from the Central government indefinitely. Projects like this will help create employment, encourage entrepreneurship, and promote value addition to our agricultural produce,” he said. The lead promoter of the Rongoge Mega Food Park, Likha Maj, highlighted the enormous investment potential of the project. He said that around 35 industries, including brands such as Haldiram and Varun Beverages, are expected to establish manufacturing units within the park. Maj said that while road connectivity has been established, securing an uninterrupted power supply and adequate water infrastructure remain critical for the park’s optimal operation. Once these utilities are fully secured, the park will emerge as a game-changing ecosystem for the region, he added. Doimukh MLA Nabam Vivek lauded the project’s promoters and assured full cooperation to develop the facility into one of the country’s premier food processing hubs, urging line departments to work in close coordination. Developed under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the mega food park features modern infrastructure, including cold storage, warehousing, quality control laboratories, and logistics support. The facility aims to significantly boost market linkages for local farmers and entrepreneurs by adding value to regional agricultural and horticultural commodities.