Regd. No. MH/MR/South-160/2012-14 RNI Regn. No. 43675/1985 MUMBAI TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014 32 PAGES `3 Website: www.afternoondc.in
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WHERE’S THE FFC?
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Health&Fitness Pg13-20
After learning that Fare Fixation Committee was never constituted as claimed by government, Bombay High Court takes suo moto cognisance for its formation
By Philip Varghese
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lmost two weeks after the ADC reported that the search for arbitrators to resolve the dispute on Metro fares may be fruitless after a Right to Information (RTI) reply revealed that no Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) was constituted at all, the Bombay High Court (HC) took suo moto cognisance in the formation of the FFC, wherein the division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sonak made the state and the central governments as the respondents in the case. In its report on June 21 (Saturday) under the headline 'What FFC?', the ADC had highlighted that an RTI query by activist Anil Galgali had revealed that the FFC, which fixes the fare for Mumbai Metro One Pvt. Ltd. (MMOPL) to be charges in order to recover operational
costs, had not been constituted at all. Meanwhile, MMOPL on Monday gave a statement, in front of the division bench of the HC, agreeing to keep the ticket fares in the range of Rs 10 to 20. Initially the fare was fixed between Rs 10 to 40. The reduced fares will be effective from July 8 till July 31. Two weeks ago, the HC had dismissed a petition filed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) challenging the ticket fares. However, the state government agency later approached the division bench against the verdict. Senior counsel Aspi Chinoy appearing for the MMRDA argued that as per the original tender, the MMOPL can increase the fare only after the approval of the FFC, and till then, it will have to charge the fare mentioned in the tender, which is in the range of Rs 9 to 13. “The FFC will come into effect in 90 days. Then what prevents
No wedding, film shoots on campus MU to take strict action against colleges renting out their spaces for receptions and shooting of Bollywood films By Yatin Ingle
MU, a college campus can only be utilised for student-oriented acollywood will not be permit- tivities like festivals and sports ted to shoot its college scenes meets, depending on the avalabilin colleges any more as the Mum- ity of space in the college campus. bai University (MU) may soon put For years, college campuses a cap on on-campus shoots, es- have been used as shoot locations pecially during college hours. The in several commercial shoots with varsity has sent out a strict warn- the college management adeing to its colleges, instructing quately compensated. Even wedthem not to allow shoots during ding ceremonies have been college hours because students allowed on college campuses. are distracted from their lectures. However, the students have reIf the university receives com- ported to their grievance cells and plaints, it has promised strict ac- principals that these activities are tion against the offending college. Continued on pg 8 « According to the rules of the
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the MMOPL from adhering to tender for that time?” he asked. Senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas, who appeared for the MMOPL, said that despite repeated reminders from their side, the state government delayed in appointing its representative on the FFC. “It is not an arbitrary exercise. The construction cost of the Metro has increased to more than the original estimate and despite raising the ticket fare to Rs 40, we will experience the loss of Rs 113 crore,” he said. The next hearing of the case will be held on July 24. Activist Anil Galgali had filed a query with the MMRDA asking about the status of the FFC. “The ongoing tussle between the Maharashtra government and MMOPL regarding fixing of fares for the Metro, which is now in court, has a reverse Continued on pg 8 «
LIFE UNTIL DEATH Security guard Sajjad Ahmed is sentenced to languish in jail till he dies, for the murder of advocate Pallavi Purkayastha; her family expresses disappointment
By Santia Dudi
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ustice was finally seen to establish itself in court when the murderer of advocate Pallavi Purkayastha, was sentenced to life in prison till death at the Sessions Court. Special Judge Vrushali V Joshi, who passed the judgment, said, "After considering all the mitigatory and appagatory circumstances, accused Sajjad Ahmed is punished with imprisonment till death." Court room no 34 was packed to capacity with people awaiting the verdict, and hoping it was death. While Defence lawyer Wahab Khan was not present in the court room, the accused, who arrived late, looked calm throughout the reading of the judgment. Later, he pleaded for a milder punishment. To this,
Pallavi Purkayastha the judge responded, "You have got minimum punishment as against the demand for death penalty."
Public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, while speaking to the ADC, said, "This is a good judgement. Although I did demand a death penalty, a judge has to consider both sides." However, Pallavi's parents were not satisfied with the judgment. Pallavi's mother, Sumita Purkayastha, said, "We are highly dissappointed with the judgment. Now, it seems as if anyone can get away with any crime. In this city, anyone can now rape women, murder them and get away without a proper punishment." Advocate Pallavi Purkayastha (25) was murdered in her Wadala apartment on August 9, 2012. On July 3, the security guard of the building, Sajjad Ahmed, was convicted for her murder at the Sessions Court.