Thane creek bridge: TISS to assess payout for fisherfolk
Mumbai: Bombay HC has appointed
Tata Institute of Social Sciences
(TISS) to prepare a detailed report on the extent of damage and loss caused to fisherfolk due to the construction of the six-lane third
Thane creek bridge
(TCB III) and to recommend compensation payable to them.
Taking note of a TISS report on compensation for fisherfolk affected by the coastal road project, a bench of Justices Burgess Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla said on May 2, "A similar effort should be made by TISS in the present case." HC was told TCB III is largely complete, a portion is open to vehicular traffic, and it will be fully operational in the coming weeks.
The petition was filed in 2021 by Mariyayi Macchimaar Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit, a society of fisherfolk from koliwadas such as Vashigaon, Juhugaon, Koparkhairane, Ghansoli and Diva, who feared their livelihood would be affected.
Miffed that there was no progress by a committee it set up to determine compensation and as MSRDC-appointed Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) sought a year's time to determine compensation, HC in Feb 2022 directed MSRDC to deposit Rs 10 crore towards ad hoc interim compensation to over 900-odd members.
In March 2022, HC directed the distribution of Rs 1 lakh per family.
The petitioner's advocate, Zaman Ali, said while CMFRI's final report concluded that there is some impact on fishing activities, it doesn't indicate the quantum and damage to project-affected fisherfolk.
He urged that TISS, an institute with the requisite knowledge and expertise, be appointed to carry out this exercise. Senior advocate Milind Sathe, for MSRDC, opposed it, saying there was no infirmity in CMFRI's report.
In the absence of damage caused, no further compensation is required to be paid, he added. Amicus curiae senior advocate Sharan Jagtiani supported the petitioner. He referred to TISS's Aug 2023 report on compensation for fisherfolk hit by the coastal road.
HC said, "From a reading of earlier orders, there has been a clear determination that TCB III will have an impact on the livelihood of project affected fishermen". Also, despite its report concluding to some extent that there is temporary and permanent damage caused to the fisherfolk's customary right to fish, "CMFRI has been unable to quantify the extent of loss and consequent compensation payable" to them, it said.
HC said the TISS study was undertaken "after construction of the coastal road was well underway, and despite this, TISS was able to deploy a methodology by which it could reasonably assess damage and compensation". TISS has to submit the report by Nov 21.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
United News of India
23 minutes ago
- United News of India
Bombay Lawyers Association seeks CJI's sanction to prosecute Allahabad HC Judge Justice Varma under corruption charges
New Delhi, June 3 (UNI) The Bombay Lawyers Association (BLA) has submitted a formal request to Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai seeking permission to initiate criminal proceedings against Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court, in relation to an alleged recovery of unaccounted cash from his official residence earlier this year. In its representation dated June 2, the Association has requested the CJI's sanction for registration of a First Information Report (FIR) under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The letter, signed by BLA President Advocate Ahmed Abdi and Secretary Advocate Eknath R Dhokale, asserts that there is credible material, comprising video footage and photographic evidence, indicating the commission of a cognizable offence. It states, 'The applicant seeks your Lordship's approval for registration of an FIR against Justice Yashwant Varma under applicable provisions of anti-corruption law, in light of the alleged seizure of unaccounted cash from his government residence.' The letter invokes the principle of equality before the law, asserting that the judiciary, too, must be subject to legal accountability. The BLA has pointed out that despite the reported severity of the incident, no formal FIR has yet been filed, nor has there been any official seizure memo or panchnama. The Association has drawn attention to the landmark constitutional judgment in K Veeraswami versus Union of India (1991), where a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that judges are considered 'public servants' under the Prevention of Corruption Act and can be prosecuted with prior sanction from the Chief Justice of India. Citing procedural inaction and risk of evidence tampering, the BLA has urged the CJI to take prompt steps to secure and preserve all material evidence, including partially burnt currency notes, videos, and photographs of the location in question. The Association has also asked that either the Delhi Police or the Central Bureau of Investigation be directed to act on the matter. The letter adds, 'Delay in initiating proceedings risks compromising key evidence. The absence of a seizure report, FIR, or panchnama raises serious concerns about transparency in the ongoing inquiry.' The BLA has further requested access to the report of the in-house inquiry committee that was constituted following the incident. The developments stem from an incident on March 14, 2025, when a fire broke out at Justice Varma's official government residence at 30, Tughlak Road, New Delhi. At that time, Justice Varma was serving as a judge of the Delhi High Court. During firefighting operations, emergency services allegedly found approximately Rs 15 crore in partially burnt cash. In response, then-CJI Justice Sanjiv Khanna constituted a three-member in-house inquiry committee on March 22, consisting of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu (Punjab & Haryana High Court), Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia (Himachal Pradesh High Court) and Justice Anu Sivaraman (Karnataka High Court) The committee submitted its findings to the CJI on May 3, reportedly holding Justice Varma culpable. A press release issued by the Supreme Court on May 8 confirmed that both the committee's report and Justice Varma's written response dated May 6 had been forwarded to the President and Prime Minister for further action. Justice Varma was later transferred to the Allahabad High Court on March 28 and relieved of all judicial duties pending the inquiry's conclusion. Earlier, a petition filed in the Supreme Court seeking immediate registration of an FIR was dismissed on May 21, with the bench holding that the plea was premature. However, the petitioners were allowed to approach the appropriate authorities. The matter now awaits the CJI's decision on the BLA's request for prosecution sanction. UNI SNG SS
Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Time of India
Woman seeks bail for live-in partner she charged with abuse of minor daughter
Kolkata: In a bizarre turn of events, a Salt Lake-based entrepreneur, who lodged a complaint against her live-in partner for allegedly abusing her minor daughter leading to his arrest under Pocso charges, pleaded for his bail in Calcutta High Court on Tuesday because her "child misses her father (the live-in partner)". The woman told the HC that while her partner "is dying in prison", she was "dying outside". The court granted bail to the accused, who is at Dum Dum Central Jail since Aug 8, 2024, stating that "there is no immediate chance of conclusion of trial". Moving the bail plea before Justice Prasenjit Biswas, senior advocate Phiroze Edulji argued that Pocso charges were being "weaponised" in this case. Edulji said the woman met the accused in prison, and the minor daughter, who was allegedly abused, refused to corroborate the claims before the trial court. The state had to declare the child a "hostile witness", he said. The state counsel opposed the bail plea, citing several "incriminating documents" about the involvement of the accused in the crime. The state argued that it would be risky to grant bail when the trial was ongoing, and that the accused could tamper with evidence. Edulji said: "The woman said she lodged the complaint in a fit of rage. Her daughter, she said, misses her partner." "Failure to conclude the trial within a reasonable time resulting in prolonged incarceration militates against the precious fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution," Justice Biswas said. The court noted that the victim girl (PW1), who already deposed before the trial court, was examined on Jan 8, 2025. It also noted that the victim girl was declared "hostile" by the prosecution, and nothing came out after her cross-examination. It was also noted that the de facto complainant didn't turn up in trial court on several dates despite receiving summons, the latest being on May 7. Justice Biswas directed the accused to furnish a bail bond of Rs 20,000 and directed him to appear before the Pocso special court, Barasat, on each hearing date. The court also asked him to stay outside the jurisdiction of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate until further orders.
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
3 held for 49L digi arrest fraud
Varanasi: A special team of police commissionerate arrested three members of a digital arrest gang for duping a Mahmoorganj native of Rs 49.4 lakh. On Tuesday, ADCP Shruti Srivastava said Subhash Chandra of Mahmoorganj had filed complaint with cybercrime police station, alleging unknown cyber criminals defrauded him of Rs 49.4 lakh by issuing threats of digital arrest. After the case was lodged under sections of BNS and IT Act, a special police team was formed to work out the case. The team succeeded in arresting Gaurav Jaiswal (22), Tabish Ur-Rehman (21) and Asad Vakil Khan (27) of Khairabad in Sitapur district. Police recovered mobile phones that were used to target Chandra and Rs 3,000 cash. Providing details of their modus operandi, she said the cyber criminals lured individuals with promise of money and convinced them to open accounts in various banks. A portion of the amount credited was given to the account holder, while the criminals kept all the bank documents with themselves. After that, they collaborated with their foreign partners in cybercrime to transfer money obtained through digital fraud and investment scams into these accounts. The money was then transferred to various other bank accounts, withdrawn in cash and the criminals paid their foreign partners in dollars after deducting their commission.
