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Indian Express
05-08-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Shri Tara Devi Hill green belt: at the centre of SC warning about environmental destruction in Himachal, legal tussle
The Shri Tara Devi Hill in Shimla, recently brought under environmental protection, was at the centre of the Supreme Court's July 28 order in which it expressed apprehension that 'the day is not far when the entire state of Himachal Pradesh may vanish in thin air from the map of the country'. While local residents welcome the conservation efforts —the Himachal Pradesh government on June 6 declared the Shri Tara Devi Hill a green area—they also rue the fact that they cannot undertake any development activities on their land. The Himacal government's notification encompasses hundreds of acres of dense forest, which has deodar, chir pine, and baan (oak) species, and is home to a small section of the UNESCO-protected Kalka-Shimla heritage railway line as well as the shrine of Tara Devi, perched atop the hill. The Tara Devi Hill area, which falls under the jurisdiction of two gram panchayats Badai and Anandpur, was the 26th notified green belt in the Shimla district. The notification stated that no new private construction should be allowed except reconstruction or addition and alteration in an existing building with prior approval of the state government. The construction activities pertaining to the Shri Tara Mata complex, if any, should be carried out by the temple trust with prior approval of the state government. 'Except for the temple premises on the hilltop, most of the green area, including the dense deodar, chir pine and baan forest, falls under the Badai gram panchayat. The forest area is full of wild animals, including leopards. The division between the two panchayats is clearly demarcated in the revenue records,' said Raman Thakur, a member of the Anandpur gram panchayat. Arun Sharma, the pradhan of the Badai gram panchayat, said nearly 90 per cent of the Shri Tara Devi Hill green area lies within their jurisdiction. 'A small hamlet called Duggal Cottage, comprising over two dozen houses, has come under the new green area notification. Apart from this, there are about half a dozen scattered residential structures and several small privately owned plots,' he said. 'While we appreciate the state government's move to safeguard the environment, locals owning land in these areas now face serious restrictions. They can barely undertake any development activity even on their own land,' Sharma said. As per the government notification, the boundary of the green area begins at Shoghi on National Highway 5 (Kalka-Shimla highway), near the building of Rajender, which is adjacent to the Food Plaza and Tyre Retreat. From there, the boundary extends straight uphill to the Shoghi-Mehli Road, excluding any existing buildings and their premises. Next, it follows the Shoghi-Mehli Road toward Mehli, continuing up to the railway over-bridge. It then follows the Kalka-Shimla railway track from this overbridge to the entry point of tunnel No. 91. A straight line is then drawn from the entry point of tunnel No. 91 to the junction of NH-5 and the Totu/airport bypass road, crossing the hill between the railway line and NH-5. Finally, the boundary follows NH-5 back towards Shoghi, returning to the starting point near the building of Rajender, adjacent to the Food Plaza and Tyre Retreat. Supreme Court refuses to interfere with high court order The Supreme Court's remarks came while hearing a plea filed by a resort group, Pristine Hotels and Resorts, which first challenged the green area notification in the Himachal Pradesh High Court. On July 2, the high court division bench of Justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Sushil Kukreja dismissed the petition stating that the the petitioner did not have locus standi because it had not acquired any interest within the state of Himachal Pradesh, and its rights were not affected or governed by the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, or the notification dated June 6. The high court noted that the petitioner was not a 'person aggrieved'. When the resort group approached the Supreme Court, it refused to interfere with the high court's decision and said, 'A plain reading of the notification indicates that the area has been declared a green area. Once such a declaration is made, construction is restricted. The petitioner appears to want to build a resort, but the notification stands in the way.' Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Advocate General Anup Kumar Rattan said, 'In a way, the apex court has acknowledged our commitment to preserving Shimla's environment. We took a clear and consistent stand — first in the high court and then in the Supreme Court — and the court accepted our position. The petitioner, a resort and hotel group, wants to build a commercial complex in the area. Indeed, the apex court expressed concerns over many issues in its July 28 order. We will submit our reply before the court.' Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Munish Rampal, who oversees the Tara Devi Hill green area, said new construction is strictly prohibited. 'Only reconstruction or limited alterations to existing structures are allowed, and that too with prior state government approval,' he said. He further said this is not the first such green zone in Shimla. 'There are 25 other green belts in the city, including Nabha, Tutikandi, Khalini, and Phagli-Lalpani, which are governed by similar restrictions.'
The Print
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Don't touch innocent, don't spare those guilty: J-K LG assures justice in Gujjar youth killing case
Lieutenant Governor, who handed over the appointment letters to 80 next of kin terror victims in Jammu, said 'Two officials have been suspended. Further action will be taken on the basis of the inquiry report.' The LG narrated the heartrending incident of Tara Devi, a resident of Cherji village in Kishtwar, who on July 21, 2001 sacrificed her life while protecting her son from the Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. Parvez Ahmad (21), a Gujjar hailing from the Nikki Tawi area of Jammu, was killed in crossfire when police were allegedly chasing drug peddlers in the Satwari area on Thursday. Ahmad's killing has sparked protests by the community, with his family accusing the police of murdering an 'innocent' man in a 'staged' encounter. Jammu, Jul 28 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday assured that further action will be taken on the basis of the inquiry report as a special Investigation team is probing the case of killing of a Gujjar youth in cross firing by police here ''Don't touch the innocent and don't spare the guilty' is our policy. Police have taken effective action. SIT has been constituted and magisterial investigation has been ordered', Sinha said while addressing a gathering here. 'On April 30, 1998, Pakistani terrorists slit the throats of Gyan Devi and her one-and-a-half-year-old son Kikar Singh in Balgran village of Kishtwar. On April 5, 2005, Ashfaq Ahmed from Doda, a member of the Village Defense Committee was martyred in an encounter with terrorists. His son Shamim Ahmed was only 7 years old at that time,' he said. Dharma's victory over Adharma is inevitable, the LG said. 'We are committed to ensuring justice for every terror victim's family, making their rehabilitation, jobs, financial assistance, and livelihood opportunities our foremost responsibility,' he added. He said that this initial step towards justice has already brought a ray of hope to the terror victim families. 'It is the beginning of a new era of justice in Jammu and Kashmir.' The Lieutenant Governor observed that an internal web portal has been launched and a centralized database of terror victim families is being developed to monitor and process all cases, ensuring timely relief. 'Additionally, helplines are now active in every district of Jammu and Kashmir for victims to register grievances. Further support is available through divisional helplines, staffed by trained employees, at the offices of the Divisional Commissioners,' he said. Deputy Commissioners in every district are now receiving a steady flow of applications, which are being thoroughly scrutinized, Sinha added. We are also integrating a mechanism in the portal for extending self employment assistance to the members of terror victim families, he said. 'Appointment letters and other assistance will be handed over to terror victim families in large numbers on August 5, in Srinagar. This process will continue till every terror victim family gets justice,' the Lieutenant Governor said. PTI AB NB NB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Time of India
2 dogs trained for illegal hunting maul woman, 60, to death in Saharanpur
Meerut: Two Indie breed dogs, trained to hunt monitor lizards and porcupines for alleged illegal wildlife trade, mauled a 60-year-old woman to death while she was collecting fodder in Saharanpur's Satpura village, police said on Wednesday. Four men from Uttarakhand crossed over to Uttar Pradesh with their dogs on Tuesday to hunt for animals when the canines attacked Tara Devi, tearing through her chest, neck and torso. The woman died on the spot. The accused men, Bilas Kumar, Lucky Singh, Neeraj Kumar, and Tinku Singh, are Dehradun residents and are aged between 25 and 40 years. "They are snake charmers involved in illegal wildlife trade. They would cross into UP to search of animals in the forest. During interrogation, they said the animals were sold on demand for use in medicines, pain relief oils and other purposes. Further investigation is on," said Saharanpur SP (rural) Sagar Jain. "The post-mortem report revealed deep injuries all over the woman's body. An FIR has been filed under BNS sections 106 (causing death by negligence), 291 (negligent conduct with respect to an animal), and relevant provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972," said Jain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gleiten Sie in Ihre finanzielle Zukunft eToro Click Here Undo Jain added that the forest department has seized the dogs and arrested the four men who trained them. Indian Pariah dog is a hardy, territorial breed often used as guard or police dog as it is intelligent and can be easily trained. Experts note that it is more resilient than many pedigreed breeds. Devi is survived by her three children -- a son and two married daughters. She had been living with her son in Satpura since her husband's death a few years ago.
New Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
11 years after being given an expired vax, six victims to get Rs 1.25L compensation in Telangana
HYDERABAD: The Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has directed the state government to pay compensation of Rs 1,25,000 each to six individuals who were administered expired Hepatitis-B vaccines at Gandhi Hospital in 2014. Terming the incident a serious violation of the victims' fundamental right to health and dignity, the commission chaired by Dr Justice Shameem Akther pointed to systemic lapses and recommended action against the responsible officials, including the superintendent of the hospital. The complaint was filed in 2014 against Gandhi Hospital, alleging that expired Elovac-B Hepatitis-B vaccines were administered to them by Dr V Tara Devi, who was a research fellow at the time. The complainants alleged that the expired vaccines caused side effects such as mental tension, giddiness, drowsiness, stomach pain, and body aches. The Commission had instructed the superintendent of Gandhi Hospital to submit a report which stated that the vaccine pack carried two different dates, one for expiry and another for the syringe and due to this oversight, Dr Tara Devi administered the expired vaccine. Further, the hospital denied negligence on the part of the doctor and attributed the confusion to the manufacturer, who had printed two different dates on the packaging. They also claimed that the expired vaccine was of low potency and unlikely to cause side effects. The Commission also directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police to inspect the drugs at the hospital. Later, Dr Tara Devi was suspended by the hospital administration. However, the Commission found the Superintendent's report unsatisfactory, noting that it failed to adequately address the issue of administering expired vaccines. It stated that the explanation of oversight in such a sensitive matter was unacceptable, especially as it involved patient safety. The Commission also criticised the attempt to shift responsibility to the manufacturer and dealer without addressing the hospital's accountability. It further noted that suspending Dr Tara Devi did not absolve the institution from the responsibility of providing adequate compensation to the affected individuals. The Commission directed that all recommendations be implemented within two months.
News18
11-07-2025
- General
- News18
Adoption Offers Pour In For 11-Month-Old Nikita Orphaned In Himachal Floods
The story of Nikita's survival has spread on social media and hundreds of people have reached out offering help, some willing to adopt her, others promising financial support In a heartbreaking turn of events in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district, 11-month-old Nikita was left an orphan after a devastating flash flood on the night of June 30 swept away her entire immediate family including her father, mother, and grandmother, while she lay asleep inside her home. The tragedy occurred in Parwada village of Gohar in the Seraj Valley. That night, Nikita's parents and grandmother had stepped out to check whether the rising waters of a nearby drain might breach their home during the flash flood. But before they could return, all three were swept away by the gushing waters. Miraculously, Nikita, who had been left asleep inside, survived unscathed. So far, only the body of her father, Ramesh Kumar, has been recovered. The search for her mother and grandmother continues, even after ten days. In the days that followed, as the story of Nikita's survival spread on social media, hundreds of people reached out offering help, some willing to adopt her, others promising financial support. But now, her aunt Tara Devi has stepped forward with a heartfelt decision that she will raise Nikita as her own. 'Tara Devi has expressed her wish to keep Nikita with her and raise her like her own child, and she has turned down the offer of adoption," said Balh SDM Smritika Negi, who initially took Nikita into her care following the incident. The administration, acknowledging the overwhelming support pouring in, has opened a dedicated bank account for Nikita's future. An initial financial aid of Rs 25,000 has already been released, with further compensation and donations to follow. All funds deposited will be locked in her name and can only be accessed once she turns 18. The District Child Protection Unit (DCPO, Mandi) will oversee the security and management of this fund. 'More than 150 people have approached to help Nikita, some of whom have offered financial assistance and some have offered adoption. However, the family has turned down the offer of adoption and wants help to secure Nikita's future," the SDM said. To contribute towards Nikita's future, the district administration has provided the following account details: Himachal Pradesh State Co-operative Bank Limited Punjab National Bank 'A small contribution by people… can change the entire life of an innocent," the SDM noted. view comments First Published: July 11, 2025, 15:13 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.
