Latest news with #StandardOperatingProcedure
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Advance booking for safari at R'bore begins today
1 2 Jaipur: People can book tickets in advance online for safari at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve from Aug 1 on the forest department's upgraded online platform. The bookings will be from Oct 1 to Dec 31 department has released comprehensive guidelines detailing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for bookings. Chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) and field director Anoop KR said that bookings must be made through Bookings for Jan 1 to March 31 begin on Nov 1, while April 1 to June 30 slots open on Feb 1. Gypsy bookings are available seven days beforehand, and canter safaris open at 10am one day prior to morning shifts and at 10am on the same day for evening shifts, he said. Identity verification protocols have been established. A senior official explained, "Foreign tourists must enter their complete passport number but are not required to upload a copy. Indian nationals must upload a clear, legible copy of their Aadhaar card with all digits visible. At the entry gate, visitors must present an original photo ID—such as a passport, Aadhaar card, or student ID—with the full identification number. If the name entered during booking differs from the one on the uploaded ID, the system will issue a warning, and the booking will only proceed after necessary correction." The administration has implemented strict regulations to prevent misuse. Each photo ID permits only one booking per safari shift. Using false identification or attempting multiple bookings with the same ID will result in blacklisting of both the ID and associated mobile number. The use of autofill tools, bots, or technical manipulation will face legal consequences under RTR administration rules. An official stated, "Seats cancelled three days before the safari will be available at 10 AM under the 'instant quota' on a sharing basis. Cancellations within three days will also be redistributed under this quota for current bookings."
Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Karnataka HC sets out guidelines for compassionate appointment, directs state to prepare standard operating procedure
The Karnataka High Court on July 25 set out guidelines for compassionate job appointments, including assistance for widows and illiterate persons, while also directing the state to prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) for making such appointments. A bench of Justices Mohammad Nawaz and K S Hemalekha of the high court's Kalaburagi bench stated that regardless of whether applications are in the correct format or not, the authorities have to acknowledge them in 30 days along with information on the status of the application, any issues with documentation/formatting, limitation period, and rights of other dependents. The final decision has to be rendered within 90 days with a reasoned order. The court also directed that proactive steps have to be taken to assist widows and illiterate persons. The order came in a case related to the widow of Raja Patel Banda, who was a peon at the Jewargi tahsildar's office and died while on duty in 2014. Although his widow applied for a pension, retirement benefits, and a job for one of her sons on compassionate grounds, there was no official response. Later, the state rejected an application that one of her sons submitted in October 2015 on the grounds of his having crossed the age limit. In February 2017, her younger son applied for a job on compassionate grounds. This application was rejected as, according to the regulations, any such application had to be submitted within one year of the death of the employee. The family successfully challenged the rejection before the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (Kalaburagi), after which the state approached the high court, arguing that the appointment was not a matter of right and had to follow rules concerning the time period, failing which there was a possibility of claims being put forward indefinitely. On the other hand, the opposing counsel stated that it was an exceptional case where the widow, who was illiterate, had made an application within a year of her husband's death, expressing a clear intent. It was the duty of the relevant department to have guided her regarding the technicalities, he further argued. The court agreed, stating, 'The intent was unambiguous. The authorities had the opportunity to consider and guide the family. The applications submitted by the widow ought to have been rejected or communicated to her. There was no intimation whatsoever….Had she been informed, she could have applied or rather asked her sons to make necessary applications within time.' The court dismissed the state's petition against the appointment, noting that the state has a duty to ensure procedural fairness in such cases. The court also said, 'A uniform Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and training of officials handling compassionate appointments should be made by the Government to ensure no procedural lapses.'
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra govt to issue property titles to five lakh dispalced Sindhi families
The Maharashtra government will issue property titles to around five lakh displaced Sindhi families living in 35 cities across the state, excluding Thane and Ulhasnagar, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced on Tuesday. The decision will be part of a series of measures to be implemented during the state's upcoming Revenue Week, from August 1 to 7, 2025. Key decisions during the week include regularising pre-2011 encroachments on state government land, resolving disputes over farm roads, and penalising violations of lease agreements on government-allotted land. Around 30 lakh families will benefit from the state government decision of regularising pre-2011 encroachments on state government lands. The state cabinet had taken the decision in year 2018 which will be re-enforced in the revenue week. During the week, district collectors will conduct a survey to assess if land leased by the government is being used for its intended purpose. In cases of misuse or encroachment, the land will be reclaimed by the state, Bawankule said. He said that 'Special Abhay Yojana-2025' will be implemented, and residential and commercial lands in 30 colonies of the Sindhi community, who migrated after the partition of 1947, will be regularized and made free-hold (occupier class-1) by breaking the conditions as per the move comes as part of a special policy led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to address long-standing demands of the Sindhi community, fulfilling the promise made in the election manifesto. The Sindhi community in 30 colonies in the state, including Nagpur, Jalgaon, Mumbai, will get legal ownership rights of their houses and establishments. 'This scheme will be implemented through the Revenue Department. This will give justice to the demands of the Sindhi community for years,' Bawankule said. Bawankule also said that the government has decided to give priority to the use of artificial sand (M sand). 'Action will be taken to implement this policy and complete the policy as per the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Under this, workshops/camps etc. will be organized on August 7 to make this policy a success,' said Bawankule. Additionally, the government will launch the Rashtraneta to Rashtrapita Abhiyan from September 17 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday — to October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. As part of this drive, a Face App will be introduced to help revenue officers mark attendance from their respective field locations. A drone-based survey of all rural land parcels will also begin shortly, with the goal of issuing property cards to every household in villages within the next two years.
India Today
a day ago
- Business
- India Today
Encroachers on state-owned land to get ownership rights in Maharashtra
Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday announced that the state government will grant ownership rights to individuals who have encroached on state-owned land prior to 2011. The move is expected to benefit nearly 30 lakh households across the state.'This policy covers encroachments on state-owned land such as collector land, grazing land, and zilla parishad land,' said Bawankule. 'Encroachments up to 500 square feet will be regularised free of cost. Larger plots will need to be purchased at the current ready reckoner rate.'advertisementThe cut-off date for eligibility under the scheme is January 1, 2011, in line with an earlier protection granted in 2018. Beneficiaries will also be eligible for housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), ensuring they are not rendered SAND (M-SAND) POLICY The minister also announced that the Maharashtra Government has finalised the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Artificial Sand (M-Sand) Policy. The policy aims to put a complete stop to sand mining from the state's rivers by promoting the use of manufactured the new framework, details of suitable public and private lands for M-Sand units will be made available on the 'Mahakhanij' portal for auction. Registered undertakings will be required to set up these units. The government plans to conduct awareness campaigns, including workshops, camps, and webinars, at the district level to ensure widespread SCHEME FOR SINDHI REFUGEESIn a significant relief for displaced families, the state has approved a special amnesty scheme to regularise land leases in 30 notified areas where Sindhi refugees were settled post-Partition, excluding estimated 5 lakh people are expected to benefit from this move. Under the scheme:A 5 per cent premium on the 1989 Ready Reckoner Rate will be charged for residential properties up to 1,500 sq properties will be charged a 10 per cent exceeding 1,500 sq ft will attract double the applicable decision provides long-awaited legal ownership to families that migrated from West Pakistan during the communal unrest following India's independence. CRACKDOWN ON FAKE BIRTH CERTIFICATESBawankule further revealed that the state government is taking steps to address the issue of illegal birth certificates held by Bangladeshi nationals residing in Maharashtra. A task force will verify and cancel such of now, around 45,000 fake birth certificates have been identified. This number may rise in the coming days. The verification and cancellation process will be completed by August 15, under the supervision of District Collectors.- Ends
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Kerala HC orders dedicated authority, management plan to save Ashtamudi lake
Kochi, Jul 30 (PTI) The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to set up a dedicated authority and prepare a specific management plan to protect the ecologically fragile Ashtamudi Lake, warning that the wetland is under serious threat from pollution, encroachment, and unregulated activities. A division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that highlighted the deteriorating condition of Ashtamudi Lake, a Ramsar Site of international importance. The court noted that despite the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 mandating such measures, as of today, therefore, Ashtamudi lacks both a dedicated unit and a specific management plan. The absence of these two crucial components has resulted in haphazard and disjointed efforts, leading to the resultant situation. The bench stressed that the first and foremost requirement for conserving the lake is 'that a dedicated multi-member unit has to be constituted" and that 'an integrated management plan for Ashtamudi which will be implemented by this Unit" must be prepared. The court observed that without the plan in place, steps taken for the conservation of Ashtamudi Lake could only be ad hoc and haphazard. The plan has to identify and address the specific ecological and hydrological conditions of the site, assess threats, propose conservation and restoration actions, and include timelines, budgets, and performance indicators, it said. The court also noted that pollution from sewage, biomedical waste, and solid waste, along with mangrove destruction caused by encroachment, were major threats to the lake. In 2023, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a Rs 10 crore penalty on the government for failing to protect the lake. In its final order, the bench issued several binding directions, including the constitution of the Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit within two months, 'by issuing an official notification in that regard." The first meeting of the Unit is to be held within two months of notification to finalise procedures. Other directions include the preparation of a Standard Operating Procedure to govern the Unit's functioning, including co-ordination among stakeholders. The state was directed to provide 'necessary office infrastructure, support staff, and funding" for the Unit. The court said the Unit must have its own website or dedicated web page with public access, including the management plan, its composition, and a feedback mechanism for citizens. It further stated that the Integrated Management Plan for Ashtamudi must be finalised within six months, in line with regulations, and that an interim management plan must be prepared until the final plan is ready. All government departments and agencies were directed to extend 'full co-operation" to the Unit. The court also emphasised the need for public participation, directing that the website should have a 'digital feedback mechanism (web/social media) for the general public to bring to its notice the matters of concern by enabling them to upload/share audio-visual material." The petition was accordingly disposed of, with liberty to the Secretary of the Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit to approach the court again if further directions are needed. PTI TGB TGB ROH view comments First Published: July 30, 2025, 21:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
