Latest news with #Custodian
Saudi Press
6 days ago
- General
- Saudi Press
Pilgrims Arrive in Mina for Day of Tarwiyah
Accommodations for Guests of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Hajj Program Ready at Holy Sites
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Metropole: House of luxury to enemy property to now a parking lot, Nainital hotel's inheritance of loss
Last week, the Ministry of Home Affairs temporarily allotted Nainital's Metropole Hotel Complex — classified as enemy property — to the state government for use as a parking facility. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had requested the allotment in light of the serious parking issues in the popular hill station. Built in 1880, Metropole was owned by the Raja of Mahmudabad and is one of the oldest luxury hotels in Nainital. This is where Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his wife Rattanbai honeymooned in 1918. The design of its roof came to be known as Nainital-pattern-roofing, which the British then used in many buildings across India. However, the hotel was later classified as enemy property, setting in motion its slow decline. After Mohammad Amir Ahmed Khan, the Raja of Mahmudabad, moved to Pakistan post Partition, his considerable properties in north India, including the 11-acre Nainital hotel, were declared enemy property. His son and heir Mohammad Amir Khan, who remained in India, fought a 30-year-long legal battle for the properties, and eventually secured a favourable Supreme Court order in 2005. However, his win opened the floodgates for similar litigation across the country, with genuine or purported relatives of people who had migrated to Pakistan producing deeds of gift claiming they were the rightful owners of enemy properties. On July 2, 2010, the UPA government promulgated an ordinance that restrained courts from ordering the government to divest enemy properties from the Custodian. The 2005 SC order was thus rendered ineffective. Hosting history Metropole, says historian and former professor Dr Ajay Rawat, was frequented by tall figures of history. 'Pandit Rahul Sanskrityayan, who was an exceptional scholar with proficiency in almost 11 languages, stayed there and wrote his famous work, Kumaun. Historian Dr Satyaketu Vidyalankar briefly maintained it,' he said. Speaking of his time in the hotel when he was eight years old, historian and former JNU professor Pushpesh Pant said that in 1953, the hotel was managed by a Parsi man, Shapoorji. 'I still remember the luxury we had in Metropole. It was an extension of your home. We had our meals in the suite we were occupying, and it was brilliant. It had four tennis courts, a billiards room, and a reading room. I was too young to realise that the hotel was already starting to show signs of wear and tear,' he said. The next time he visited Nainital, in 1960, the hotel's fortunes were dipping. People had started encroaching on the grounds of the property. 'When Nainital became a destination for films, several actors would stay at the Metropole. Actors Shashi Kapoor, Dev Anand, and their crew have stayed there. The cast of films like Gumrah also stayed there. Till the mid-60s, the hotel was catering to guests. After this, the perception of 'enemy property' made people wary of investing in its maintenance,' Pant says. Another reason for its fall is the change in the tourists themselves, Pant believes. 'After the departure of the Europeans, no one would pay to stay in a hotel to play billiards or go to a bar. They would rather go out. Soon, the hotel's sprawling grounds began to be used as a parking space. This is the connecting link to the present developments,' he says. Pant also said that after the 2010 ordinance, the government could have taken up the hotel as a heritage building. 'The saddest part is that the bureaucracy wants to demolish heritage buildings and give contracts to somebody. Before this, Post Office Tallital was to be demolished to widen a road.' In her book Mr and Mrs Jinnah, Sheela Reddy hints at the time the couple stayed in Nainital. 'As on this first evening of her honeymoon, coming down to dinner with the Raja of Mahmudabad's family in his palatial residence in Lucknow. She was dressed unexceptionally—underdressed, in fact, for a newly-wed—in a plain white sari with a black and gold embroidered border, and with no trace of the shy, demure bride. Jinnah had accepted Mahmudabad's invitation to visit them in Lucknow before driving to Nainital, where they would stay for a month in the Raja's house in the hill station,' she writes of Rattanbai, also known as Ruttie. Legal battles In 2023, the SDM of Nainital served notices to people living near the hotel, calling them encroachers on enemy property. The residents moved the High Court, claiming they had been living in the property's outhouses since the time of their forefathers. However, the court held that the property is required for developing a parking lot, 'which is a crying need for the town of Nainital'. The future plan According to the Nainital administration, the parking lot will have a surface parking facility to accommodate 510 cars and 200 two-wheelers. 'A DPR has been prepared, estimating the value of the project to be Rs 43.83 crore. However, a matter to be noted is that the parking lot will not function at 100 per cent potential because Nainital sees tourists for six months,' said an official. He further said that the property is not a heritage property, and no demand has been raised to categorise it as such. 'The accommodation of historical figures alone cannot fulfil heritage norms. This move will help reduce the congestion in the city and ensure the lives of locals are not disrupted. The hotel is a dilapidated structure and was a garbage dumping ground,' he added. Aiswarya Raj is a correspondent with The Indian Express who covers South Haryana. An alumna of Asian College of Journalism and the University of Kerala, she started her career at The Indian Express as a sub-editor in the Delhi city team. In her current position, she reports from Gurgaon and covers the neighbouring districts. She likes to tell stories of people and hopes to find moorings in narrative journalism. ... Read More
Saudi Gazette
22-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Over 755,000 pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia for Hajj
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) announced that a total of 755,344 pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for Hajj 1446H through the Kingdom's air, land, and sea entry points as of Wednesday, May 21, 2025. According to the directorate, 725,297 pilgrims arrived via airports, 27,225 through land crossings, and 2,822 pilgrims entered by sea. Jawazat affirmed that all resources have been mobilized to facilitate the arrival procedures for pilgrims. It has deployed qualified multilingual staff and cutting-edge technical equipment at all international entry points to ensure smooth and efficient processing. This year, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman will host 1,000 pilgrims from the families of martyrs, prisoners, and the wounded among the Palestinian people at his own expense to perform Hajj. This is part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit, being implemented by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance. The Saudi authorities have completed all the foolproof and flawless arrangements to enable the pilgrims to perform their rituals in ease and comforts. Deputy Emir of Makkah Prince Saud bin Mishaal made on Tuesday a comprehensive inspection tour to assess the Kingdom's operational readiness for Hajj 2025, reviewing projects and systems aimed at ensuring the safety, comfort, and well-being of pilgrims. On his part, Hajj Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah inspected on Tuesday a number of new projects implemented by Kidana Development Company to improve and develop the environment of the holy sites. These included a new emergency hospital in Mina with a capacity of 200 beds, 71 emergency centers along the pedestrian paths in the holy sites, and shading and cooling the squares surrounding the Namirah Mosque. Minister of Transport and Logistics Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser launched on Monday a number of innovative initiatives for the Hajj Season of 2025, with the aim of enhancing the comfort of pilgrims at the holy sites. The inauguration included the expansion of the Flexible Rubber Roads and Road Cooling Initiatives, in addition to two new initiatives: planting trees and improving the environment on flexible rubber roads, and a path serving people with disabilities. The eastern squares of the Jamarat facility, where Hajj pilgrims will perform the stoning ritual, in Mina witnessed the installation of 200 mist fans to cool the air during the Hajj season.
National Post
06-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
New Jersey Custodian Sweeps the 2025 Cintas Custodian of the Year Contest
Article content Article content CINCINNATI — Congratulations to the 12 th annual Cintas Custodian of the Year contest winner, Dan Davis from Deerfield Elementary School in Short Hills, New Jersey. After thousands of votes were submitted, Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) has crowned Dan Davis as the 2025 grand prize winner. Dan was honored today with a surprise ceremony by students, teachers, staff and his family and was presented with a $10,000 check from Cintas. Article content 'Too often, the hard work of custodians goes unnoticed, yet they're the unsung heroes of our facilities, keeping them clean and safe,' said Emily Ramos, Director of Marketing at Cintas. 'Dan is a valued member of his community and a role model for students. It was an honor to help celebrate his well-deserved recognition.' Article content Dan exemplifies what it means to go above and beyond as a school custodian. He arrives each day with a smile and positive attitude, creating a welcoming atmosphere throughout the school. His commitment is evident in how he keeps the school clean and organized, and how quickly and willingly he responds to unexpected challenges. The entire community values his reliability, attention to detail, and uplifting presence. When a staff member broke their foot, Dan didn't hesitate to lend a hand, going out of his way to help them in and out of their car. He's also a familiar and friendly face during drop-off and pick-up, always offering students a bright smile, an enthusiastic hello or a fist bump that starts their day on the right note. Article content 'Custodians play a vital role in maintaining a safe, healthy school environment where children can learn and thrive,' said John Barrett, Executive Director of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association. 'For over 100 years, ISSA has been committed to advancing the cleaning industry. The training opportunities we're providing to this year's finalists will help them build on their skills and open the door to future leadership roles.' Article content In addition to the $10,000 cash prize, Dan will receive $5,000 in Cintas and Rubbermaid Commercial Products and services for his school. His school also receives a comprehensive facility assessment, valued at $20,000, in partnership with the ISSA Global Consulting Network. Cintas will also award the winning school a pizza party for all staff and students. Dan, along with the two other top three finalists, will receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to the ISSA Show North America in Las Vegas in November, where they'll be celebrated for their accomplishments. Article content 'Dan Davis is extremely deserving of this title, and we are honored to be a part of recognizing his hard work,' added Robert Posthauer, SVP & GM, Rubbermaid Commercial Products. Article content Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers' facilities and employees clean, safe, and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, towels, restroom supplies, workplace water services, first aid and safety products, eye-wash stations, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and alarm service, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday ®. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index. Article content About ISSA: Article content With more than 10,500 members – including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members – ISSA is the world's leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Milan, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Sydney, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Leaders
21-03-2025
- General
- Leaders
Islamic Affairs Ministry Gives 500 Iftar Meals to Islamic Univ. in Malaysia
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance, via the Religious Attaché at the Saudi Embassy, provided 500 Iftar meals at the International Islamic University Malaysia, benefiting students from various academic fields. So far, the cumulative number of meals distributed has reached 5,500. This year, the ministry is implementing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Iftar Program during Ramadan across multiple countries worldwide, reflecting its commitment to supporting communities during the holy month. Related Topics : Ramadan Generosity: Nearly 11M Iftar Meals Served at the Two Holy Mosques Historic Effort: 4.9M Iftar Meals Served at Holy Mosques in Ramadan's First Week Ramadan 2025: Saudi Arabia Issues New Rules for Iftar at Prophet's Mosque Saudi Islamic Affairs Min. Distributes Dates, Qur'an in Indonesia Short link :
