Petitioner pained at reversal of Mangalore crash payout verdict

August 27, 2011

Kasaragod, August 27: Abdul Salam, one of the family members of the Mangalore air crash victims, on whose petition the single judge bench of the Kerala High Court had directed the awarding of Rs. 75 lakh compensation, has described as “a matter of great concern” the division bench's move of striking down the earlier order.

Abdul Salam, whose son Mohammed Rafi died in the crash, one of the worst air disasters the country witnessed in recent years, said he felt deeply hurt when the Air India decided to file a writ against the verdict of the single judge.

“The approach of the Air India with regard to the kin of the victims is improper. AI counsel Nanavati had sought the details and documents of my slain son. However, all the documents had been lost in the air disaster. However, we had provided them some documents after securing them from his employers in the Gulf. But every time we visited the AI lawyers, we had to listen to some negative talk,” he said.

Meanwhile, pall of gloom descended across the district after High Court set aside a single judge's order directing Air India to pay a minimum compensation of Rs.75 lakh each to the dependant families of 158 air passengers who lost their lives in the Mangalore air crash on May 22, 2010.

“The High Court verdict was very painful and shocking, and we are determined to approach the Supreme Court,” N.A. Sulaiman, coordinator of the Mangalore Air Crash Victims Family Association, said.

He said the association was forced to take legal recourse only after the authorities began to discriminate between the victims' families on the issue of disbursing deserving compensation as per the Montreal Convention, to which India was a signatory.

As many as 100 victims hailed from economically weaker sections, and the Centre should urgently intervene to settle the issue amicably on humanitarian grounds, Mr. Sulaiman said.

As many as 58 victims hailed from Kasaragod and Kannur districts of Kerala, Mr. Sulaiman said.

Plea to Ravi

Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi owed an explanation to the people of the State on why Air India took initiative in dragging the settlement of compensation to the victims' close family.


mangalore-air-crash-victims_1

Petitioner Abdul Salam (extreme right), his son Abdul Nasir with a
photo of Mohammad Rafi, who was killed in Mangalore air crash

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News Network
February 9,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 9: Kerala has sanctioned the setting up of 28 fast track courts for speedy trial in rape cases and other cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

State Social Justice and Women and Child Development Minister KK Shailaja said the state government has decided to set up POCSO courts to ensure that the culprits get the punishment they deserve. She said the decision has been taken in the wake of rising violence against women and children.

"The Union Law Ministry has recently sanctioned the opening of 28 POCSO fast track special courts in Kerala at the request of the state government. The project will be implemented jointly by the High Court, Law and Home Departments under the leadership of the Department of Women and Child Development," the Minister said.

The four courts are alloted in Thiruvananthapuram district, three in Thrissur and Malappuram districts, two each in Kollam, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur districts.

The Minister informed that POCSO courts are jointly established by the central and state governments and according to the High Court data, 12,234 POCSO and rape cases are pending in the state.

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News Network
February 11,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 11: Onion price dropped to Rs 25-30 per kg on Monday, down from the dizzying Rs 200/kg in December and January. The price had spiked because of excess rain, which ruined the crop in several parts of the country.

With supply stabilising, especially from Maharashtra and northern Karnataka, and exports banned, the rate is now easing, officials said.

Consumers may be smiling but farmers are worried as they are not able to make more than Rs 17/kg as against the expected Rs 40.

"We get onions from Nasik and Sholapur in Maharashtra. Nasik onions used to be exported but since that is currently banned, they are landing in Bengaluru, leaving the market here with a surplus," said K Lokesh, president, Karnataka State Onion Merchants Association.

A farmer from Sholapur wh o was part of a onion growers' delegation which met traders in Bengaluru, said, "The cost of everything has gone up. Labour charges and fuel prices are draining us. How can we survive? How can I pay for my children's education?"

Another Sholapur farmer rued: "My daughter's wedding is in March. How am I going to meet all the expenses? I have to pay for labour, transportation, gunny bags and when everything adds up, I don't get to save more than Rs 30,000 in a month."

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News Network
January 30,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 30: There are around 3 lakh Bangladeshis across Karnataka and around 3,000 of them left Bengaluru following the recent crackdown, according to Bhaskar Rao, Bengaluru city police commissioner.

It's the first time a high-ranking official has put a number to Bangladeshis in Karnataka following the debate over the new citizenship law.

At a conclave on 'Construction Workers Safety, Health and Welfare' organised by the labour department and IIMB here, he said the estimate was arrived at based on information sourced from Bangladeshis deported recently.

There's been no study to ascertain the Bangladeshi population in the state, Rao said, adding that most illegal Bangladeshis in Bengaluru are victims of human trafficking.

"They come to Bengaluru for employment. Unlike other cities, Bengaluru has a lot of job potential and pays good salaries too. There are a lot of Bangladeshis working in the construction industry," Rao said.

Workers from Bangladesh demand lower wages. While other labourers demand around Rs 500 to Rs 600 per day, Bangladeshi workers don’t complain about being paid around Rs 100-150,” Rao said, adding that this has encouraged human traffickers to increasingly bring in Bangladeshis.

Suresh Hari, chairman, Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India, however, said they’re not aware of the nationality of their workers as contractors bring workers registered for tasks. “It’s difficult to say where they are from as there’s also construction work outside Credai’s purview,” Hari said.

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