tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83442834644688671012024-03-07T23:07:36.530-08:00RTI activist , Environmentalist Amit JethwaThis blog is dedicated to a prominent environment and RTI activist Amit Jethwa who has sacrifice his life for gir forest and lions and transparency in system .Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-61257609645625027902012-10-09T23:56:00.003-07:002012-10-09T23:58:43.294-07:00CBI registers case in RTI activist Amit Jethwa's murder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cbi-registers-case-in-rti-activist-amit-jethwas-murder/299413-3.html">IBN Live</a><br />
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<span style="border: none; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">New Delhi:</b> CBI on Tuesday registered a case in connection with the sensational 2010 killing of RTI activist Amit Jethwa outside the Gujarat High Court in which a state BJP MP is a suspect. The agency started probe on the instructions of the High Court which had handed over the case to CBI and criticised the state police for their shoddy investigations in the murder in which BJP MP from Junagadh Dinu Bogha Solanki's nephew Shiva Solanki was arrested for allegedly carrying out the killing but the MP was given a clean chit. The agency has registered the FIR against unknown persons under Section 302 (murder) of IPC, CBI sources said. The team of special crime unit would soon be reaching Ahmedabad to initiate its probe in the case, they said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Right to Information (RTI) and environment activist, Gujarat-based Jethwa, who had filed numerous RTI applications and a PIL against illegal mining in Gir forest region, was shot dead outside the Gujarat High Court on July 20, 2010. The killing had sparked uproar among the RTI activists across the country who raised concerns over the safety of such whistleblowers. His father Bhikabhai Jethwa had sought a CBI probe alleging that Dinu Bogha Solanki was behind the murder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his plea before the High Court, Bhikabhai has alleged that state police had not properly probed the case and the state government was shielding the BJP MP. The division bench of Justices DH Vaghela and JC Upadhyay, on September 25, while handing over the case to CBI had observed that investigation in Jethwa murder case was "far from fair, independent, bona fide or prompt". The High Court had also rapped the state police for its shoddy probe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It has come on record that Shiva Solanki (nephew of BJP MP and prime accused in the case) and DB (Dinu Bogha Solanki) were living together in a joint family and no investigator could have been easily satisfied with the statements that they did not interact in respect of the conspiracy to commit a capital crime," it had said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Police had arrested six persons including Shiva and sharp shooter Sailesh Pandya, who had shot at Jethwa but it ruled out any involvement of Dinu Bogha Solanki in the murder. The court later directed the police to specifically probe the role of the BJP MP but Solanki got a clean chit again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jethwa had filed several petitions in the Gujarat High Court including a Public Interest Litigation in connection with illegal mining in Gir forests in Junagadh district which is a protected area and last home to Asiatic lions. The bench while conceding the demand of the RTI activist's father Bhikhabhai,had severely criticised the investigation into the case conducted by Gujarat police.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The commission of murder, in the facts of the present case, amounted to an affront to the judicial system and a challenge to implementation of an Act of Parliament, with national repercussions and has to be viewed seriously," the bench had observed. It had asked the central agency to complete further investigation and file the report, preferably within six months. "Murder of a petitioner in a PIL and an RTI activist, in front of the High Court, could be read as a clear message to the concerned citizens that they may have to pay by their lives, if they insist upon using the tools placed in their hands by law and approach the court for redressal of public grievance against some individuals," it had said.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-57879831487103121622012-09-26T05:17:00.001-07:002012-09-26T05:17:11.561-07:00High Court hands over Amit Jethva murder probe to CBI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/high-court-hands-over-amit-jethva-murder-probe-to-cbi/1008006/0">indianexpress</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px;">Ahmedabad, Wed Sep 26 2012</span>
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<i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Police come under heavy fire for probe that was ‘controlled’ to let off BJP MP Dinu Solanki.</i></div>
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Slamming Gujarat Police for its “controlled” investigation into the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethva, a division bench of Gujarat High Court on Tuesday ordered a CBI probe in the case.</div>
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In the recent past, this is the sixth criminal case wherein the probe has been transferred to the CBI either by HC or the Supreme Court.</div>
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BJP MP from Junagadh, Dinu Solanki, is a prime suspect in the Jethva murder case although Gujarat Police had given him a clean chit.</div>
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Since the beginning, the High Court has maintained that the probe in the case was “controlled” to close it after filing a chargesheet.</div>
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Jethva was shot dead outside the HC building on July 20, 2010, days after he moved a public interest litigation (PIL) against illegal mining in Junagadh. Jethva had directly held Solanki responsible for the illegal work and following his PIL, the HC had made Solanki and his nephew Pratap alias Shiva as respondents to the petition.</div>
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“ ... progressive steps cannot be allowed to be nullified and no one should face a threat to his life when he approaches a court of law to exercise his right of access to justice. In such milieu, murder of a petitioner in a PIL and RTI activist, in front of the High Court, could be read as a clear message to the concerned citizens that they may have to pay by their lives if they insist upon using the tools placed in their hands by law and approach the court for redressal of public grievance against some individuals,” observed the bench consisting of Justice D H Waghela and J C Upadhyay.</div>
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The bench termed the investigation by Gujarat Police as “far from fair, independent, bona fide or prompt”.</div>
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The bench pronounced its judgment while acting on a petition moved by Jethva’s father, Bhikha, who had alleged that the Gujarat Police was shielding Dinu Solanki.</div>
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The case was first investigated by Sola Police Station, then by Ahmedabad City Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) and later by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Surendranagar district’s Superintendent of Police, Raghvendra Vatsa. The DCB arrested six persons in the case, including Dinu Solanki’s nephew Pratap alias Shiva Solanki. Vatsa endorsed the DCB probe by giving a clean chit to Dinu Solanki.</div>
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While criticising the investigation as “controlled” at every level, the HC also made a terse remark that additional DGP Mohan Jha was supervising the case throughout. “Mohan Jha continued to guide and control even the further investigation under the orders of this court and, therefore, it was unlikely that any new line of investigation could be pursued which might affect the chargesheets already submitted,” the court observed.</div>
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Highlighting the lapses in the police investigation, the HC said the police did not wait for the deceased’s family members or contact them to come and lodge the FIR, or else Solanki’s name could have figured in the FIR itself. The court also observed that police did not act on the FIR for 25 days and it was “cracked” in one day after the investigation was transferred to the DCB on August 15, “a national holiday”.</div>
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The bench also observed that police did not carry out any independent investigation and only followed the statements of the arrested accused while claiming to have cracked the case.</div>
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DCB officials also did not include in its chargesheet the statements of some independent witnesses who were naming Dinu Solanki in the case.</div>
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The court also highlighted other important lapses like the missing memory card from Jethva’s mobile phone, non-recording of Dinu Solanki’s statement till the arrest of the chargesheeted accused and reliance on the accused rather than on relatives of the deceased.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-39075534755533707872012-09-26T05:15:00.001-07:002012-09-26T05:15:23.655-07:00Direct threat to the judicial system<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=776223">outlookindia</a><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase;">AHMEDABAD | </span><a class="livenewsbyline" href="http://news.outlookindia.com/itemindate.aspx?date=9/25/2012" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px 0px 1px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;">SEP 25, 2012</a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">Terming the murder of an RTI activist Amit Jethwa a direct threat to the judicial system and a challenge for the implementation of the RTI Act, Gujarat High Court today ordered a CBI probe into the case.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">The division bench of Justices D H Vaghela and J C Upadhyay, today while conceding the demand of the RTI activist's father Bhikhabhai, also severely criticised the investigation into the case conducted by Gujarat police.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">"The commission of murder, in the facts of the present case, amounted to an affront to the judicial system and a challenge to implementation of an Act of Parliament, with national repercussions and has to be viewed seriously," the bench has observed in its judgment.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">A Right to Information (RTI) activist, Jethwa, who had filed numerous RTI applications and a PIL against illegal mining in Gir forest region, was shot dead outside the Gujarat High Court on July 20, 2010.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">"Murder of a petitioner in a PIL and an RTI activist, in front of the High Court, could be read as a clear message to the concerned citizens that they may have to pay by their lives, if they insist upon using the tools placed in their hands by law and approach the court for redressal of public grievance against some individuals," court observed.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">"Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the case on hand is thoroughly investigated and properly prosecuted by independent and competent officers, so as to inspire confidence and reaffirm faith of the people in rule of law," court has added.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">Court has asked the central agency to complete further investigation and file the report, preferably within six months. "Till CBI files report to the court of competent jurisdiction, further proceeding pursuant to the chargesheets submitted by Gujarat police, shall remain stayed," court has ordered.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">"Investigation in Jethwa murder case was far from fair, independent, bona fide or prompt... In the interest of justice and to instill confidence in the investigation into a serious case having far reaching implications that we order that further investigation int the case shall be transferred to CBI," the court observed. </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">"Investigation into the murder of the petitioner's son does not appear to have been carried out in conformity with the legal provisions," the court observed further.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">The probe in this case, which was carried out under the supervision of SP of Crime Branch (Ahmedabad) Mohan Jha, has come under severe criticism from the court.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">"The control exercised by Mohan Jha, in-charge of the Crime Branch at that time, all throughout and even after the orders for further investigation by this court, provides sufficient ground to conclude that the investigation was controlled and the line of investigation was determined and supervised so as to put to naught the suspicion raised by the family members of the deceased," it said.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">Court has also, in its order, has cleared the motive behind the killing of Jethwa, as his being an RTI activist.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">"So many people, whose vested interests may have been affected by his applications under the RTI Act, could have a motive to contribute into his killing," court has added.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">"Therefore, it is imperative that proper and comprehensive investigation is undertaken by an agency, which is not under the control of the state government," it said.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">Though the court has refrained from commenting on what line of investigation should have been taken, it has overtly expressed some doubts about the efforts by the state police, in "shielding" the BJP MP Dinu Bogha Solanki.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">"It has come on record that Shiva Solanki (nephew of BJP MP and prime accused in the case) and DB (Dinu Bogha Solanki) were living together in a joint family and no investigator could have been easily satisfied with the statements that they did not interact in respect of the conspiracy to commit a capital crime," court has observed.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">Court has also directed the Gujarat police to hand over all the papers of the investigation to the CBI within 10 days and to cooperate with the agency.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">After the pronouncement of the judgement, the government pleader requested for a stay of three weeks to challenge the order in the higher forum, which was rejected by the court.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">Father of Amit, Bhikabhai had approached the high court saying that the state police had not properly investigated the case. Bhikabhai had alleged that BJP MP from Junagadh Dinu Solanki was behind the murder but the state government was shielding its own MP.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">In its investigation Gujarat police had given clean chit to Solanki.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">Gujarat police has arrested six people in the case including nephew of BJP MP Shiva Solanki and the sharp shooter Shailesh Pandya, who had fired at Jethwa.</span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">"I am happy that the investigation will be carried out by the CBI. Now, I will get justice," Bhikhabhai said.</span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-56503312053846243272012-09-26T02:40:00.001-07:002012-09-26T02:40:46.562-07:00HC slams probe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Amit-Jethava-murder-HC-slams-probe/articleshow/16551293.cms">timesofindia</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px;">TNN </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px;">|</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px;"> Sep 26, 2012, 05.30AM IST</span>
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While transferring the Amit Jethava murder case to CBI, the division bench of Gujarat high court has highlighted how cops botched up investigation at every stage right from registering the FIR.</div>
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The high court has found that the probe was not carried out in conformity with legal provisions. Citing the reason for handing over the case to CBI, the court said, "The control exercised by one police officer of a very high rank, all throughout and even after the orders for further investigation by this court, provides sufficient ground to conclude that the investigation was controlled. And the line of investigation was determined and supervised so as to put to naught the allegations made and the suspicion raised by the acquaintances and family members of the deceased."</div>
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The court also highlighted that additional DGP <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Mohan-Jha" style="color: #336797; text-decoration: none;">Mohan Jha</a> was in control of the investigation from the day FIR was lodged. The court also noticed that Jha remained reporting authority for the investigating officer <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Raghavendra-Vatsa" style="color: #336797; text-decoration: none;">Raghavendra Vatsa</a> even when the probe was transferred on court order.</div>
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The court noticed that since the probe continued to be under Jha's monitoring and guidance, there was no possibility that probe could proceed further on any new line.</div>
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Besides, the court highlighted the facts showing how the investigators - Sola police and the city crime branch followed the leads by accused after their arrest. Instead of working on suspicion expressed by witnesses and relatives of the victim, the cops chose to limit their probe to statements given by the accused persons.</div>
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From how the FIR was lodged under guidance of many senior officers, the court took notice of the fact on how investigation at a later stage was paralyzed by a "cryptic" court order in rejecting remand of accused person. This was followed by a bad advice to the <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/investigation-officer" style="color: #336797; text-decoration: none;">investigation officer</a> by public prosecutor that the lower court's order should not be challenged.</div>
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"A perfunctory investigation on the basis of statements of the accused persons themselves may not unearth the whole truth and meet the ends of justice. Therefore, it is imperative that proper and comprehensive investigation is undertaken by an agency which is not under the control of the state government," the court said.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-79491406646981939672012-09-26T02:36:00.000-07:002012-09-26T02:36:17.639-07:00Gujarat HC orders CBI probe in RTI activist’s death<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/content/281130/gujarat-hc-orders-cbi-probe.html">deccanherald</a><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Ahmedabad, September 25, 2012</span>
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<strong style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In a further blow to the Gujarat Police, the High Court on Tuesday ordered for a CBI probe into the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethwa, allegedly killed at the behest of land and mining mafia in July 2010 at the High Court premises. </strong><br style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Jethwa was at the forefront of exposing illegal mining and land encroachments in and around the famous Gir Sanctuary, home to the Asiatic lions. He was shot dead from a close range in the HC campus where he was following up on his petition filed against BJP MP from Junagadh Dinu Solanki.The crime branch, which had carried out the initial investigations, arrested about half a dozen people including Solanki’s nephew Shiva Solanki for hiring contract killers. </span><br style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Curiously, the crime branch had given a clean chit to the BJP MP. Dissatisfied with the probe, Jethwa’s family approached the HC demanding an independent investigation by the CBI. </span><br style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Family’s council Anand Yagnik said, “The court, while directing a CBI probe, expressed dissatisfaction over the investigation carried out by the crime branch and has ordered appointment of a special officer by the state police.”</span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-89574143152342260232012-09-26T02:29:00.001-07:002012-09-26T02:29:24.861-07:00Gujarat HC orders CBI probe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_amit-jethwa-murder-case-gujarat-hc-orders-cbi-probe_1745503">DNA</a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, verdana; font-size: 11px;">Wednesday, Sep 26, 2012, 14:08 IST </span>
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Severely criticising the Gujarat police for its ‘unfair’ probe in the murder case of RTI activist Amit Jethwa, a division bench of Gujarat high court, on Tuesday, handed over the probe to CBI. It also directed the investigating agency to submit its report within six months.</div>
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The development is another embarrassment for the BJP, just a couple of months or so before the state assembly elections. Amit Jethwa’s father, Bhikha Jethwa, has alleged that BJP’s Junagadh MP Dinu Solanki was behind the killing of his son, who was shot outside Gujarat high court on July 20, 2010.</div>
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The probe by Gujarat police had given a clean chit to Solanki. However, court observed that investigation by Gujarat police was far from satisfactory. The court said that it is compelled to transfer the case to the CBI to instill confidence and sense of justice in the probe.</div>
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Solanki is the BJP’s fourth leader in the state to be caught in legal web. BJP MLA and former minister of state for home, Amit Shah is already facing murder charges in Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsi Prajapati fake encounter cases.</div>
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Minister of state for fisheries, Parshottam Solanki, is also facing the heat in the Rs400 crore alleged fisheries scam. Another former state minister and sitting BJP MLA, Maya Kodnani has already been sentenced to 28 years jail term in the Naroda Patiya case.</div>
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The bench of justices DH Waghela and JC Upadhyay also turned down the request of government pleader to stay the order for three weeks to enable the government to challenge it in the SC. The court also asked the police to hand over all papers related to the case to the CBI within 10 days.</div>
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Granting Amit Jethwa’s father Bhikha Jethwa’s request for a probe by CBI into Dinu Solanki’s role in the case, the court observed, “Investigation into the murder of petitioner’s (Bhikha Jethwa) son does not appear to have been carried out in conformity with <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />the legal provisions and the control exercised by one police officer of a very high rank.”</div>
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Observing that investigation in the case was far from being fair, independent, bonafide or prompt, the bench further said, “…There is sufficient ground to conclude that the investigation was controlled and the line of investigation was determined and supervised so as to put to naught the allegations made acquaintances and family members of the deceased.”</div>
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Expressing satisfaction over the court’s directive, Anand Yagnik, counsel for Bhikha Jethwa said, “The court has not accepted state police’s claim that they have done a fair investigation in the case.”</div>
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Earlier on February 29, Raghvendra Vats, SP of Surendrangar had given a clean chit to Dinu Solanki in the final report submitted before the high court. It is said that in the final report the police probed allegation of money given to Shailesh Pandya (sharp shooter) to kill Amit Jethwa, bank accounts and businesses of Dinu Solanki, and his mobile call details, but no evidence was found against him.</div>
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Vats was probing the case as per the directive of the high court which had entrusted the probe to ADGP level officer of the crime branch.</div>
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RTI activist Amit Jethwa was killed opposite Gujarat high court premises on July 20, 2010 during pendency of a PIL filed by him against illegal mining within 5-km prohibited periphery of Gir forest by and at the behest of Dinu Solanki.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-38986332691303957202011-12-24T03:47:00.000-08:002011-12-24T03:47:11.165-08:00Jethava case: Investigator seeks nod for narco test<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-23/ahmedabad/30550855_1_narco-test-conduct-narco-analysis-pachan-desai">TimesOfIndia 23 Dec,2011</a><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">AHMEDABAD: Superintendent of police Surendranagar, Raghavendra Vatsa, who is probing the RTI activist Amit Jethava murder case, has sought permission to conduct narco analysis on six arrested accused. Vatsa has filed an application in the sessions court in this connection.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Vatsa said that the test is necessary to ascertain whether the member of parliament, Dinu Solanki, is connected to the murder case. The slain activist's father Bhikha Jethava had accused Solanki of masterminding his son's murder.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Amit was shot on July 20, 2010, at 8.30 pm outside the <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Gujarat" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: rgb(51, 103, 151) !important; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Gujarat</a> high court by two persons. A complaint was later lodged with the Sola police. Investigation in the case was later handed over to crime branch and six persons were arrested including two shooters. Solanki's nephew Shiva Solanki was also among those arrested.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Not convinced by the police investigation, Bhikha moved the Gujarat high court, alleging that Ahmedabad crime branch was trying to shield the MP. On November 12, HC handed over the probe to Surendranagar SP. Vatsa had sought police remand for all the six accused on December 7. However, the remand application was rejected. Vatsa then questioned the accused inside the Sabarmati Central Jail.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">After this session, Vatsa told the court that the accused were hiding more than they were ready to reveal. To unearth the truth, he felt, that the accused should be subjected to forensic interrogation through narco and lie-detection tests.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Vatsa cited six reasons for conducting the narco test. He told the court that he had grilled all the accused between December 12 and 14. "When I asked them about Solanki, all the accused gave unsatisfactory replies and seemed to be hiding much," he said . Two other accused - Bahadur Vader and Sailesh Pandya - were questioned about the weapon used to shoot Amit. Vatsa told the court that both gave contradictory statements.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In a similar manner, when an accused Pachan Desai was asked about the car used in the murder, he too gave contradictory statement about the ownership of the vehicle. </div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-91092190602799232512011-12-24T03:43:00.000-08:002011-12-24T03:43:32.632-08:00Now, Surendranagar SP to probe Jethava murder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-13/ahmedabad/30394274_1_rti-activist-amit-jethava-crime-branch-probe">TimesOfIndia 13 Nov, 2011</a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">AHMEDABAD: Investigation in the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethava has been transferred from the city crime branch to Surendranagar SP Raghavendra Vats after the Gujarat high court ordered a further probe, sources said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Jethava was shot dead in front of the high court premises on July 20 last year.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">On October 19, HC directed further investigation in this case by a Class I officer of the IPS rank under the supervision of the special commissioner, crime branch or an officer of rank of additional DGP. Instead of handing over the probe to a higher probe agency like CID (crime), the state government chose to shift it to the district police, which lacks resources for detection of the offence in comparison with the crime branch, sources said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">However, special commissioner Mohan Jha will continue to supervise the investigation.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Interestingly, HC has granted time till November 28 to complete the further probe. However, it took nearly 20 days for the government to transfer the probe. Surendranagar SP only has 16 days to complete the task now.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">HC ordered further investigation after Jethava's father Bhikhalal alleged that the probe agency was shielding Junagadh BJP MP Dinu Bogha Solanki and not probing beyond the role of his nephew Shiva. This despite the fact that Jethava had made specific accusations against him in his PIL against illegal mining in the Gir Sanctuary.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The crime branch recorded Solanki's statement only after HC began questioning the probe. A bench headed by justice D H Waghela even asked the crime branch whether recording Solanki's statement was adequate from the angle of probing his involvement in the case.</div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-79852156164075864352011-10-25T01:41:00.000-07:002011-10-25T01:41:19.101-07:00NDTV Indian of the year 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ndtv-indian-of-the-year-2011-142183">NDTV</a> 18 October 2011<br />
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New Delhi: NDTV gave out the Indian of the Year Awards 2011 in New Delhi today. This award honours individuals who helped build brand India through their outstanding contributions.<br />
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The winners this year are: <br />
1. Indian of the Year - Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal <br />
2. India's Heroes - Team India, World Champions <br />
3. Entertainer of the Year - Team Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Farhan Akhtar, Kalki Koechlin, Abhay Deol, Ritesh Sidhwani and Zoya Akhtar) <br />
4. Entertainer of the Year (Music) - Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy <br />
5. Lifetime Achievement Award - Dev Anand & Rahul Dravid <br />
6. LIC Unsung Hero of the Year - RTI activists Amit Jethwa, Dattatreya Patil, Vishram Dodiya, Satish Shetty and Vitthal Gite <br />
7. Transformational Idea of the Year Award - Nandan Nilekani <br />
8. Icon of India - N R Narayana Murthy<br />
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<div class="articleLead" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #999999; font-style: italic; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div style="margin-bottom: 20px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 1em;">Crime Branch probe beset by high political links, claimed Jethwa's father</div></div><div class="body" style="margin-bottom: 20px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">A Division Bench of the Gujarat High Court on Wednesday ordered further investigation into the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethwa, based on a complaint by his father, Bhikhabhai Jethwa, alleging that the Crime Branch was not probing the case properly because of high political links.</div><div class="body" style="margin-bottom: 20px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">The Bench ordered that the probe be supervised by an IPS officer of the rank of Additional Director-General and asked the police to submit the report by November 28 and scheduled the next hearing for November 29.</div><div class="body" style="margin-bottom: 20px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Amit Jethwa, who was also an environmentalist, was killed on July 20 last year, right in front of the Gujarat High Court by two motorcycle-borne assailants. The police arrested six persons, including Sailesh Pandya, who, they claimed, had actually pulled the trigger, but did not find any link with BJP MP from Junagadh Dinu Solanki, believed to be connected with alleged mining mafias in the area.</div><div class="body" style="margin-bottom: 20px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">The senior Jethwa, in his petition, had claimed that both he and Amit had received several threats from Mr. Solanki because his son was “exposing” the mining mafias through his RTI queries.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-14676445673899517622011-10-20T04:21:00.000-07:002011-10-20T04:21:57.584-07:00Probe deeper in Jethava murder case: HC to cops<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Probe-deeper-in-Jethava-murder-case-HC-to-cops/articleshow/10421251.cms">TimesOfIndia 20/10/2011</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Wednesday asked the city police to conduct further investigation in the murder of <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/RTI-activist-Amit-Jethava" style="color: #336797; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">RTI activist Amit Jethava</a>.<br />
The high court has decided to monitor this case again. It directed that the probe be carried out under direct supervision of two senior police officials - ADGP of CID (crime) and special commissioner of city crime branch. A bench constituting Justice D H Waghela and Justice J C Upadhyay also directed that the further probe will be conducted by an IPS officer.<br />
Jethava's father Bhikhalal has sought <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/CBI-inquiry" style="color: #336797; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">CBI inquiry</a> into the murder on the ground that the investigating agency was shielding BJP MP from Junagadh Dinu Bogha Solanki.<br />
Jethava was shot dead on July 20 last year in front of HC campus, a few days after he filed a PIL demanding court directions to curb illegal mining activities in prohibited Gir sanctuary. He had accused the BJP MP in his petition. The high court monitored the probe for some time but stopped after the petition was disposed.<br />
Six persons including Solanki's nephew, Shiva, were arrested for the murder. After the arrest and filing of two chargesheets, the city crime branch did not move ahead in its probe. This led Jethava's father to move HC with a complaint that police were shielding the Junagadh MP.<br />
When the high court inquired about status of the investigation and particularly what efforts were made to determine Solanki's involvement in the case, the state government could not put forth satisfactory reasons for not investigating alleged role of the parliamentarian.<br />
On HC query, the state government admitted that Solanki's call details were also not fully scrutinized. The crime branch recorded Solanki's statement after Jethava's father moved the high court. However, the judges were not convinced with the efforts and observed that mere recording a statement does not mean investigation.<br />
Finally, the judges asked the investigating agency to complete further probe as per provision of section 173<br />
(8) of CrPC<br />
and place the report before the court by November 28. The court has kept further hearing the next day with observation that final order on the petition demanding CBI probe would be passed after submission of investigation report.<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-54715703198414991232011-10-20T04:19:00.001-07:002011-10-20T04:19:53.345-07:00HC orders probe in Jethava’s murder case<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/2011102020111020024437763498948aa/HC-orders-probe-in-Jethava%E2%80%99s-murder-case.html">AhmedabadMirror 20/10/2011</a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">HC took note of the allegations made by Bhikhabhai, father of the slain RTI activist</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Gujarat High Court on Wednesday ordered further probe into the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethava. A division bench comprising Justice D H Waghela and Justice J C Upadhyay directed that the probe be supervised by an IPS officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police and the report be submitted by November 28.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /> <br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />The court issued the orders taking note of allegations made by slain activist’s father Bhikhabhai Jethava, who had expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing probe and prayed for transfer of case to the CBI. <br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Amit was shot dead by two assailants near Gujarat High Court on July 20, 2010. The incident took place soon after he filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), seeking court directions against illegal mining allegedly by BJP MP from Jungadh, Dinu Solanki in Gir wildlife sanctuary. <br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Bhikhabhai had later approached HC alleging that Dinu Solanki, was behind the killing, and the city crime branch was reluctant to carry probe against him. Jethava alleged that he and his son had received several threats from Solanki in the past. Bhikha had also contended that he did not have faith in the crime branch, as some of its officials have been involved in the fake encounter.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-3052602219839733132011-09-02T23:50:00.001-07:002011-09-02T23:50:53.762-07:00Notice to govt to stay development of lands under M B Shah probe ambit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-02/ahmedabad/30105603_1_anand-yagnik-land-rti-activist">TheTimesOfIndia 02/09/2011</a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">AHMEDABAD: Bhikhabhai Jethava who sought the appointment of a Lokayukta in a petition before the high court, on Thursday dashed off a legal notice to the state government seeking direction to stay industrial houses from developing plots, that are under the judicial scrutiny of the justice M B Shah commission of inquiry.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The state government set up the inquiry commission by a notification on August 16 to probe 17 different charges leveled by the opposition party against the Narendra Modi government by tendering a memorandum to the governor. Nine of these accusations of corruption are related to allotment of land to different companies to set up industries and hotels.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Jethava is expecting the authorities' reply within three days; else he has threatened to take the issue to the Gujarat high court by filing a writ petition.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-15816473684963296262011-09-02T23:49:00.000-07:002011-09-02T23:49:38.082-07:00Stop Work on Lands Under Probe: Jethva's Father<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?733314">OutLookIndia 01/09/2011</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">Bhikhalal Jethava, father of the slain RTI activist Amith Jethava, today sent a legal notice to Gujarat government seeking a freeze on development activities on all lands, the allotments of which are being probed by the M B Shah Commission for alleged irregularities.<br />
<br />
The Narendra Modi government, on August 17, appointed Justice Shah, a retired judge, to head a commission of inquiry to probe allegations of corruption; especially those levelled by the Gujarat Congress against state government in a memorandum submitted to the President earlier.<br />
<br />
The allotments under the commission's scanner include ones to the Tata (for Nano plant), Adani Group (for Mundra Port and Mundra Special Economic Zone), Essar Group, L&T (in Hazira, Surat) and other allotments to the industrialists near major cities.<br />
<br />
Jethava, through his lawyer Anand Yagnik, has sent a notice to the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, demanding that a notification be issued to stop development on these lands.<br />
<br />
"It is necessary that till the Commission completes its inquiry...And makes recommendations, all the allottees be directed not to develop the land," Jethava's notice said.<br />
<br />
"If the allottees are permitted to develop the land in question, then the inquiry will be inconsequential," it said.<br />
<br />
Jethava's notice further stated that if the industries put up constructions on these lands, then irrespective of the outcome of commission's inquiry, it would be difficult for the government to take them back and put them to another use.<br />
<br />
Amit Jethava, a Right To Information Act activist who carried on a campaign against illegal mining in Gir sanctuary area, was shot dead last July.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-63973503030849479842011-08-20T03:38:00.000-07:002011-08-20T03:38:44.241-07:00In Gujarat you are killed if you fight for justice ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/2011082020110820023528705eda1386/In-Gujarat-you-are-killed-if-you-fight-for-justice-.html">AhmedabadMirror 20/08/2011</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">... says slain RTI activist Amit Jethava’s father Bhikhubhai who has filed a PIL seeking appointment of lokayukta to check corruption in state</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Even as people back Anna Hazare demanding a corruption-free India, one man quietly but determinedly filed a public interest litigation seeking appointment of a lokayukta in Gujarat. His anguish and agony is understandable. His young son was murdered sometime back opposite Gujarat High Court because he was using his right to seek information against the rich, powerful and politically connected mining mafia. Bhikhubhai Jethava, father of slain RTI activist Amit Jethava, says Gujarat is an unsafe place for all those who fight for their rights. “Just like Haren Pandya who was assassinated by someone who felt threatened by him and his father Vithalbhai died fighting for justice for his son’s untimely death, I too will die fighting. Worse, I might be murdered because now I am all out to expose that Gujarat is not vibrant,” Bhikhubhai tells Dilip Patel and Tanushree Bhatia. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;">Excerpts from an interview:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cms.mumbaimirror.com/portalfiles/28/3/201108/Image/2011-08-20/02-1th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cms.mumbaimirror.com/portalfiles/28/3/201108/Image/2011-08-20/02-1th.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bhikhubhai Jethwa, father of slain actiivist Amit Jethwa<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What made you file the PIL demanding a lokayukta?</strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /> My son had filed a PIL in 2008. There already is a law in Gujarat but the state government is deliberately not appointing a lokayukta. When my son filed the PIL, the state government assured Gujarat High Court of appointing lokayukta “immediately”. It didn’t happen. Hence this PIL.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What would you achieve by filing this PIL?</strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I feel pained. Everybody is carried away by the hype that Gujarat is vibrant. My son was fighting for justice. He was fighting against corruption and politicians. There are two reasons for filing this PIL: to continue my son’s fight against corruption and politicians, and to support the movement started by Anna Hazare. I have spoken to Anna several times on the issue.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</strong></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How will lokayukta benefit the state?</strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />What is the other way left in Gujarat at the moment to seek justice? Those who raise their voice against falsehood, injustice or corruption are eliminated. From Haren Pandya to Amit Jethava. What is the action taken against corruption and injustice under the Narendra Modi government? The institution of lokayukta is the only recourse left for common people like us to get justice and to fight against powerful politicians and corruption. Once lokayukta is in place, believe me, several ministers will be behind bars. Today, corruption has crossed its limits in Gujarat. <br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Yesterday (August 18) there was a government function at Khambha in Amreli - Chalo Taluka Sarkar. It was followed by lunch for the villagers. Only 500 people ate at the function, but the government claimed that 120,000 people had lunch. Now officials will also claim that money was spent on this extravaganza! It is taxpayer’s money. <br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />People can know where their leaders stand once lokayukta is in place. Until now, all of us thought Karnataka government was good. So much development and international investment has come to Bangaluru. But look what (BS) Yeddyurappa had done there. Worse things are happening in Gujarat but no action is being taken against those responsible. Lokayukta is Gujarat’s only hope to know the reality. <br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Are you facing any problem in your fight?</strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />If you want to fight, you have to be ready for everything. I had a small shoe shop which I had to shut down once my son was murdered. I took over his crusade. I have an old worn out motorcycle on which I travel all across Gujarat to spread the message. I do not have any bank balance. I support people who are fighting against corruption. I support the Jan Lokpal Bill and Anna. Even BJP which is ruling Gujarat is supporting Anna. It is good to have a lokpal in Delhi and to support Anna, but please support me also. If you are truly for justice and want to fight against corruption, BJP should support me in getting a lokayukta appointed in Gujarat. We already have a law and entire machinery in place for the lokayukta’s office but the government does not want to appoint one because it will be exposed.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Have you received any threat?</strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I will be murdered. Isn’t that what happens in Gujarat when you fight for justice? What happened to Haren Pandya? It was a political murder. What happened to my son? Specially after this petition, my life is in danger. I have also informed President Pratibha Patil about the same through an affidavit. I am a small man. My life is not valuable and it is so easy to eliminate me. But I don’t care. My father was a freedom fighter. My son was a fighter. I am also a fighter. I want to expose corruption prevailing in Gujarat.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How can you say there is corruption in Gujarat? The state is known for clean governance. </strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Corruption in Gujarat is different. Gujarat has traditionally been very progressive and rich. Right now corruption that exists in Gujarat is not only different from that in other states but dangerous. We are a border state. Still our government is sheltering and doling out land to industrialists who have been sent to jail for extortion or custom evasion.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />My son was fighting to stop illegal limestone quarries. He had openly named BJP MP Dinu Bogha Solanki. He had proof. Still what happened? My son was murdered. Haren Pandya deposed before a people’s tribunal about Narendra Modi’s complicity in the genocide, that he was responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent people in 2002 riots. What happened? Modi became number one and Harenbhai was killed. This is Gujarat. It is sad that in Gandhi’s Gujarat we blindly support Anna but are ignoring corrupt and criminal politicians. These politicians in partnership with select industrialists are plundering the state. The government allots land to industrial houses at throwaway prices. Look at Adani and his growth story. Adani Industries is the biggest beneficiary of our state government’s generosity. What is happening in the name of land acquisition? The Modi government is misusing the Land Acquisition Act. <br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How will lokayukta help?</strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />According to the law, only the lokayukta can probe chief minister or his council of ministers or the government. This is exactly what happened in Karnataka. If we want transparency in Gujarat, we need a lokayukta. The common man today does not get basic information on industries and politicians through RTI. I am eagerly waiting for lokayukta. The first case that I will file with the lokayukta will be against Dinu Solanki and after that against 15 other politicians of Gujarat.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-78690969675052878942011-08-19T03:49:00.000-07:002011-08-19T03:49:04.479-07:00HC issues notice to Modi govt over Lokayukta appointment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/hc-issues-notice-to-modi-govt-over-lokayukta-appointment/833756/">IndianExpress 19/08/2011</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span><br />
<div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Gujarat High Court today issued a notice to the state government over a PIL seeking appointment of the Lokayukta.</span></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A division Bench of Justice Akil Kureshi and Justice Sonia Gokani while issuing the notice asked the Narendra Modi government to file its reply by August 29 when the next hearing is scheduled.</span></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The high court asked the government to file an affidavit detailing the present status of the appointment of the ombudsman as per the Gujarat Lokayukta Act, 1986.</span></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The government has not appointed anyone to the post in the last seven years.</span></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The PIL was filed by Bhikhabhai Jethava, father of Right To Information (RTI) activist Amit Jethava who was shot dead in front of the Gujarat High Court in July last year.</span></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Jethava demanded that non-appointment of the Lokayukta be held illegal and unconstitutional and sought the court's directions to the state government for the appointment to take place within a stipulated period of time.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">he petitioner also contended that the state has failed to appoint the Lokayukta even one year after it made a statement on the same.</div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">In June last year, the Additional Advocate General had said in the High Court on a similar petition that the consultation process for the appointment of Lokayukta was already over.</div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">He had said that the state Cabinet had taken a decision in the matter and had forwarded it to the Gujarat Governor for taking an appropriate decision.</div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Jethava accused that either the statement of the Additional Advocate General was incorrect, which was very serious as it amounted to propriety on the part of a constitutional authority, or the state government had developed cold feet in appointing a Lokayukta.</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">He alleged that the government may be trying to prevent a statutory authority from investigating into allegations of corruption, misdeeds, abuse of power and personal benefit on the part of ministers and public functionaries as defined in the Gujarat Lokayukta Act.</div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The petitioner stated in the PIL that Gujarat had a Lokayukta till 2003 and even after more than seven years the state government has not made another appointment, thereby frustrating the Act.</div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">He alleged that non-appointment of a Lokayukta was a deliberate failure on part of the government in fulfilling its constitutional obligation since it was mandatory to appoint the authority as per the Act.</div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Jethava also alleged that there were serious complaints against the state government regarding corruption, disposal of government land at throwaway prices to industrial houses, privatisation of natural, public and community resources in the name of development, intellectual and monetary corruption and abuse of position for improper and corrupt motives.</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Due to the absence of a Lokayukta there was no institution or platform in the state that could investigate such allegations, he contended.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-72207150051241034272011-08-19T03:28:00.000-07:002011-08-19T03:28:31.383-07:00લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંકમાં વિલંબના મુદે સરકારનો જવાબ માગતી હાઇકોર્ટ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/20110819/gujarat/ahd2.html">GujaratSamachar 19/08/2011</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">ગુજરાતમાં લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂક મામલે પીઆઇએલ<br />
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અમદાવાદ,ગુરૃવાર<br />
ગુજરાત રાજયમાં લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક કરાવવા આખરે ગુજરાત હાઇકોર્ટમાં જાહેરહિતની રિટ અરજી દાખલ કરાઇ છે. જેની સુનાવણીમાં જસ્ટિસ અકીલ કુરેશી અને જસ્ટિસ સોનિયાબહેન ગોકાણીની ખંડપીઠે રાજય સરકાર અને રાજયના મુખ્ય સચિવ વિરુદ્ધ કારણદર્શક નોટિસ જારી કરી છે. વધુમાં, હાઇકોર્ટે રાજય સરકારને એ બાબત સ્પષ્ટ કરવા કહી છે કે, અત્યારે લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંકનો મામલો કયા તબક્કે છે અને અત્યાર સુધી લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક શા માટે થઇ શકી નથી? સરકારને આ બાબતે ખુલાસા સાથેનો જવાબ રજૂ કરવા નિર્દેશ કરી ખંડપીઠે કેસની વધુ સુનાવણી તા.૨૯મી ઓગસ્ટના રોજ મુકરર કરી હતી.<br />
સાડા સાત વર્ષ કરતાં પણ વધુ સમય વીતી જવાં છતાં સરકાર દ્વારા લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક કરાતી નથી<br />
સ્વ. આરટીઆઇ એકટીવીસ્ટ અમિત જેઠવાના પિતા ભીખાભાઇ કલ્યાણજીભાઇ જેઠવા દ્વારા કરાયેલી રિટ અરજીમાં એ મતલબના મુદ્દા ઉપસ્થિત કરવામાં આવ્યા હતા કે, ગુજરાત લોકાયુકત એકટ-૧૯૮૬ની કલમ-૩ હેઠળ લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક કરવી અનિવાર્ય હોવાછતાં ગુજરાત સરકાર દ્વારા એક યા બીજા પ્રકારે લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક કરવામાં આવતી નથી. રાજય સરકારના ઉદાસીન વલણના કારણે છેલ્લા સાડા સાત વર્ષોથી આટલી મહત્વની જગ્યા ખાલી પડી રહી છે તેમછતાં સરકાર હજુ સુધી આ મામલે તાત્કાલિક કોઇ નિર્ણય કરતી નથી.<br />
ગત વર્ષે સ્વ. આરટીઆઇ એકટીવીસ્ટ અમિત જેઠવાએ લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંકના મામલે એપ્રિલ-૨૦૧૦માં હાઇકોર્ટમાં રિટ અરજી કરી હતી. જેની સુનાવણીમાં ખુદ રાજયના એડીશનલ એડવોકેટ જનરલ તરફથી અદાલત સમક્ષ એવું નિવેદન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું કે, લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક અંગે સલાહમસલતની પ્રક્રિયા પૂર્ણ કરી દેવાઇ છે. કેબીનેટ દ્વારા લોકાયુકતના મામલે નિર્ણય લેવાઇ ગયો છે અને તે રાજયપાલની મંજૂરી અર્થે મોકલી અપાયો છે. આમ, લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંકના પગલાં ઓલરેડી લેવાઇ ગયા છે, જે પાઇપલાઇનમાં છે. સરકારની આ બાંહેધરી ધ્યાનમાં લઇ તત્કાલીન જસ્ટિસ ભગવતીપ્રસાદ અને જસ્ટિસ જે.સી.ઉપાધ્યાયની ખંડપીઠે રિટ અરજીનો નિકાલ કર્યો હતો.<br />
પરંતુ સૌથી આશ્ચર્યની વાત એ છે કે, રાજય સરકારે હાઇકોર્ટ સમક્ષ આપેલી આ બાંહેધરીને સવા વર્ષ જેટલો સમય વીતી ગયો છે તેમછતાં, હજુ સુધી લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક કરવામાં સરકાર નિષ્ફળ રહી છે. રાજયપાલ સમક્ષ પણ આ સમગ્ર મામલો છેલ્લા ઘણા લાંબા સમયથી પડતર પડી રહ્યો છે પરંતુ હજુ સુધી કોઇ જ નક્કર પરિણામ આવ્યું નથી, જેથી અરજદારને આ રિટ અરજી કરવાની ફરજ પડી છે. લોકાયુકત કાયદાની જોગવાઇ હેઠળ રાજયના મુખ્યમંત્રીથી માંડી સરકારના પ્રધાનો, આઇએએસ-આઇપીએસ સહિતના ઉચ્ચ અધિકારીઓ અને જાહેરસેવકો વિરુદ્ધ લોકાયુકત સમક્ષ નાગરિકો સીધી ફરિયાદ દાખલ કરી શકે છે અને તેમાં જાતે તપાસ કરવા લોકાયુકતને સત્તા બક્ષાયેલી છ પરંતુ ગુજરાતમા તા.૨૪-૧૧-૨૦૦૩થી લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક સરકાર દ્વારા થતી નહી હોવાના કારણ નાગરિકો ફરિયાદ દાખલ કરી શકતા નથી અને ન્યાયથી વંચિત રહી રહ્યા છે.<br />
લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંકના અભાવે ગુજરાત રાજયમાં સરકાર, તેમના પ્રધાનો અને જાહેરસેવકો વિરુદ્ધની ફરિયાદો પડતર પડી રહી છે. પ્રજાની ફરિયાદોમાં કોઇ કાર્યવાહી ના થઇ શકે તેવા બદઇરાદાથી જાણીબુઝીને જ સરકાર ભ્રષ્ટાચાર, સગાવાદ અને ગેરરીતિઓને છાવરી રહી છે. હાઇકોર્ટે આ તમામ બાબતોની ગંભીર નોંધ લઇ નાગરિકોના અને ન્યાયના હિતમાં હાઇકોર્ટે રાજય સરકારને તાત્કાલિક ધોરણે લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક કરવા માટે આદેશ જારી કરવા જોઇએ એ મતલબની દાદ અરજદારપક્ષ દ્વારા રિટ અરજીમાં માંગવામાં આવી હતી.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-68015086099304386142011-08-07T01:32:00.000-07:002011-08-07T01:32:22.599-07:00State rights body seeks reports from DGP, mines dept<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/state-rights-body-seeks-reports-from-dgp-mines-dept/825339/">IndianExpress 01/08/2011</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has sought reports from the Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) and the Mines and Minerals Department in connection with the murder of RTI and environmental activist Amit Jethava.</span><br />
SHRC wants reports on the alleged role of Junagadh BJP MP Dinu Solanki in the murder as well as in illegal mining in the periphery of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.<br />
Jethava (32), who had filed a PIL against illegal mining in the Gujarat High Court wherein Solanki and his nephew Pratap alias Shiva Solanki were made respondents, was shot dead on July 20 last year. Subsequently, the Ahmedabad police arrested Shiva and three others.<br />
The Jethavas have pointed finger at the BJP MP from the beginning, citing several incidents wherein Amit was allegedly attacked by Dinu, but the leader has not yet been questioned.<br />
SHRC additional director general K Kumarswamy, on July 25, issued a notice to the DGP seeking a report in 21 days on why, despite a statement in this regard by senior lawyer Anand Yagnik, the police have not interrogated Solanki and why the investigation should not be handed over to the CBI.<br />
Kumarswamy sought the report after Jethava’s widow, Alpa, filed a complaint with the Commission that despite evidence and statements against the MP, the police have not questioned him.<br />
In the notice to the Mines and Minerals Department, the Commission has sought to know if Solanki had been involved in illegal mining at Alidar village in Kodinar taluka of Junagadh.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">This came after Bhikha Jethava, Amit’s father, submitted an application that his son had written to that department on several occasions about illegal mining at Alidar. “The SHRC has accepted our contention that illegal mining </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">and Amit’s murder case are related. Mining mafias killed my son,” said Bhika.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">Besides, SHRC, on July 22, wrote to the Ahmedabad City Sessions Court judge requesting to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">investigate whether Shiva, who is in judicial custody at the Sabarmati jail, is frequently given parole and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">facilities like cellphone.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">Earlier, Bhikha had written to the DGP complaining that Shiva gets parole on the pretext of ill health and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">meets business associates in the hospital.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-60164238687524930372011-07-27T04:45:00.000-07:002011-07-27T04:45:50.171-07:00શિવા સોલંકીની જામીન અરજી હાઈકોર્ટે ફગાવી<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sandesh.com/image/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sandesh.com/image/logo.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://sandesh.com/sandesh_article.aspx?newsid=312402">Sandesh 27/07/2011</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><span>આરટીઆઈ એક્ટિવિસ્ટ અને પર્યાવરણવાદી અમિત જેઠવાની હત્યાના કેસના મુખ્ય આરોપી અને ભાજપના જૂનાગઢના સાંસદ દીનુ બોઘા સોલંકીના ભત્રીજા શિવા સોલંકીની જામીન અરજી આજે હાઈકોર્ટે ફગાવી દીધી હતી.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><span>શિવા સોલંકીની જામીન અરજીનો વિરોધ કરતાં સિનિયર એડ્વોકેટ ભરત બી. નાયકે એવી દલીલ કરી હતી કે</span><span>, <span>ભીખુભાઈ સોલંકી ઉપરાંત અમિત જેઠવાના પરિવારના અન્ય સભ્યોએ પણ શિવા સામે હત્યાની કોશિશની ફરિયાદો નોંધાવી હતી. આ ઉપરાંત</span>, <span>ક્રાઈમ બ્રાન્ચે જ્યારે શિવા સોલંકીના ફોન કોલ્સની ડિટેઈલ્સ કઢાવી ત્યારે તેમાં પણ અમિત જેઠવાની હત્યાની સોપારી આપવામાં શિવા સોલંકીની પ્રથમદર્શી સંડોવણી બહાર આવી છે. ચાર્જશીટ અનુસાર</span>, <span>શિવા સામે હત્યા</span>, <span>ષડયંત્ર અને પુરાવાનો નાશ કરવાના ગુના લગાવવામાં આવ્યા છે. આ સંજોગોમાં જો તેને જામીન પર મુક્ત કરવામાં આવે તો તે આ કેસના સાક્ષીઓ અને પુરાવા સાથે છેડછાડ કરે તેવો ભય હોવાથી જામીન મળવા ન જોઈએ. જસ્ટિસ અનંત એસ.દવેએ આ દલીલો ગ્રાહ્ય રાખી શિવા સોલંકીની જામીન અરજી ફગાવી દીધી હતી.</span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-28205092024256294222011-07-25T05:11:00.000-07:002011-07-25T05:11:44.486-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/images/common/opt8_265.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.outlookindia.com/images/common/opt8_265.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?728770#comments">OutLook 25/07/2011</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">Expressing concern over their safety and Gujarat government's 'pathetic' approach in implementation, the Right to Information (RTI) activists from across the state today decided to form a union.<br />
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The activists alleged implementation of the RTI Act in Gujarat has been 'pathetic' with over 52 per cent applications being rejected by the Chief Information Commissioner of the state.<br />
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RTI activist heading an NGO, Citizen Resources and Actions Initiatives (CRANTI), Bharatsinh Zala, claimed, "RTI activists in Gujarat are being attacked, killed for exposing the illegal activities in the state which are being run with connivance of politicians."<br />
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"RTI activists are not safe in Gujarat and there is not protection from the state government so we have decided to form a union of activist," Zala told media persons at a press conference here.<br />
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Social activist and danseuse, Mallika Sarabhai alleged that state government was trying to suppress the activists.<br />
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"Our freedom is being curbed and voice of RTI activism was being suppressed by the government. The change from Bombay Charitable Trust Act to Gujarat Charitable Trust Act is example of the autocratic approach of the state government. Our right for information is also being violated," Sarabhai said.<br />
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"This is an emergency like situation in the state of Gujarat. We activists need to come together and fight those trying to suppress the implementation of RTI Act in Gujarat," she added.<br />
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Bhikhu Jethva, whose son and RTI activist, Amit Jethva was killed by gunmen one year ago for exposing illegal mining in Gir forest region, said he would fight till the end for the cause in which his son believed in.<br />
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"I have faith in the High Court where the PIL filed by Amit (Jethva) is being heard. They will do justice to it. But if I feel that they have not done enough I will approach the Supreme Court," Bhikhu said.<br />
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Another RTI activist, Bhagubhai Devani from Porbander said he too was attacked by land mafia after he complained against illegal mining in the Saurashtra region which he said was being promoted by a former minister.<br />
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Bharat Tann from Rajkot narrated the same citing alleged land scam to the tune of Rs 800 crore in the heart of the city.<br />
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The group of activist also demanded that the state and the Central government should pass bill for providing protection to RTI applicants.</span></div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-19775335228696774512011-07-25T05:10:00.000-07:002011-07-25T05:10:12.973-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.indianexpress.com/frontend/iep/images/logo_new.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static.indianexpress.com/frontend/iep/images/logo_new.gif" /></a></div><a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rti-activists-meet-resolve-to-form-body/821864/">IndianExpress 25/07/2011</a><br />
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<div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">A number of RTI activists from Gujarat on Sunday resolved to form an association to address their issues in the wake of the rising number of attacks on them.</div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Around 50 RTI activists from , Surat, Kutiyana and Khambha organised a protest programme under the aegis of Citizens Resource and Actions Initiatives (CRANTI) near Lal Darjawa today.</div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Among the participants were Bhikhu Jethava, father of RTI activist Amit Jethava, who was killed last July; Bhagu Dewani who was recently attacked in Porbandar; and family members of Jabbardan Gadhvi, who had committed suicide in Kutch district.</div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Bharat Jhala of CRANTI said RTI activists are being attacked for exposing illegal activities, which are going on with the connivance of politicians. Jhala said the government is not providing any protection to the activists, and so they have decided to form an association to look into these issues.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-34110116772925372392011-07-25T05:07:00.000-07:002011-07-25T05:07:07.392-07:00માહિતી અધિકાર માગનારાઓનું ગુજરાત સરકાર ગળુ રુુંધે છે<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/images/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="45" src="http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/images/logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/20110725/gujarat/ahd14.html">gujarat samachar</a> 25/07/2011</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><table><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" valign="top"><div align="justify"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">અમદાવાદ,રવિવાર<br />
ગુજરાતમાં માહિતી અધિકાર માટે લડતા કાર્યકરો પર થયેલા હુમલાઓને વખોડી કાઢી આવા હુમલોઓનો યોગ્ય પ્રત્યુત્તર આપવાની જાહેરાત કરવામાં આવી હતી. માહિતી અધિકારના કાર્યકરોએ માહિતી માગનાર સાથે ગુનેગાર જેવા થતાં વર્તાવ તરીકે ગણવામાં આવ્યો હતો. ગુજરાત સરકાર માહિતી અધિકાર માગનારઓનું ગળુ રૃંધી રહી છે.<br />
માહિતી માગનારને ગુનેગાર ગણવામાં આવે છેઃ કાર્યકરોનો આક્રોશ<br />
ગુજરાતભરમાંથી આવેલા આરટીઆઇ કાર્યકરોએ માહિતી અધિકાર માટે આદરેલી લડત અને તેના પરિણામે થતી હેરાનગતિ અને હુમલાઓની વ્યથા વર્ણવી હતી. બળાત્કારનો ભોગ બનેલી મહિલાએ ન્યાયતંત્ર સાથે સંકળાયેલા એક ડોક્ટર વિરુદ્ધ કરેલા આક્ષેપો અંગે માહિતી અધિકાર અન્વયે કરેલી અરજીઓનો જવાબ આપવાના સત્તાવાળોના ઇન્કાર બાબતે પોતાની વ્યથા જણાવી હતી.<br />
ગીરમાં ખનીજ ખાણની ગેરકાયદે પ્રવૃત્તિ સામે લડનાર કાર્યકર અમિત જેઠવાની હત્યાના બનાવ અંગે અમિતના પિતા ભીખાભાઇએ આવા હુમલાઓ અંગે ઇંટનો જવાબ પથ્થરથી વાળવા આક્રોશ વ્યક્ત કર્યો હતો. રાજકોટના ભરતભાઇ તન્ના, નડીયાદના પ્રમોદરાય ભટ્ટ, જામનગરના એડવોકેટ ગૌતમ ગોહિલ,પોરબંદરના ભગુભાઇ દેવાણી, કોડીનારના ખાન ગામના ભીખાભાઇ ગોહિલ, વલસાડના કેતન શાહ, કુતિયાણાના અસ્લમ ખોખર, જામનગરના જગજીવન વાઘેલા વગેરે કાર્યકરોએ પોતાને થયેલી હેરાનગતિઓ અને હુમલાઓની વ્યથા જણાવી હતી.<br />
સંસ્થાના અગ્રણી મલ્લિકા સારાભાઇએ જણાવ્યું હતું કે ગુજરાત સરકાર સારા શાસનની વાતો કરે છે પરંતુ હાલમાં ઇમરજન્સી જેવી સ્થિતિ છે. માહિતી માગનારાઓનું સરકાર ગળું રૃંધે છે. ગુનેગાર હોય તે રીતે સરકાર સ્કેન કરે છે. ગુજરાતમાં કંઇપણ માહિતી માગવી એ મુશ્કેલ હોવાનું માહિતી અધિકાર માટે લડતા કાર્યકરો પરના હુમલા પ્રદર્શિત કરે છે. મુખ્યમંત્રીને લખીને જણાવ્યું છે કે તમે જે કંઇ કરો તે બાબતો વેબ સાઇટ પર મૂકો છતાં તેમ કર્યું નથી.<br />
તેમણે કહ્યું હતું કે માહિતી અધિકાર એ મૂળભૂત અધિકાર છે અને તે ગુમાવીએ છીએ. ગુજરાતમાં ૨૫ ટકા જ લોકો બોલી શકે છે. ચોક્કસ વિભાગ માહિતી અધિકાર હેઠળ આવતો નથી તે નક્કી કરવા માટે લોકયુક્તની રચના કરવામાં આવી નથી. સંસદ સભ્યો અને ધારાસભ્યોની મિલકતોની માહિતી માગવા છતા આપવામાં આવતી નથી.<br />
ક્રાંતિ સંસ્થાના કન્વીનર ભરતસિંહ ઝાલા જણાવ્યું હતું કે અત્યાર સુધીમાં ગુજરાતમાં ૧૧ લાખ માહિતી માગવા માટે અરજીઓ થઇ છે. અંદાજે ૧૦ હજાર જેટલા માહિતી અધિકારના કાર્યકરો કામ કરે છે. છેલ્લા કેટલાક સમયથી કાર્યકરો પર હુમલા થયા છે. કાર્યકરોની સલામતી માટે નહીં પરંતુ તેઓને ક્યાં મારવા તે માટે સરકાર દ્વારા યાદી તૈયાર કરવામાં આવી રહી છે. જેને વખોડી કાઢવામાં આવે છે.</div></div></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-62014082971708710382011-07-25T04:51:00.000-07:002011-07-25T04:51:22.200-07:00Gujarat RTI activists unite against atrocities<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.ibnlive.in.com/ibnlive/pix/header/ibn_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static.ibnlive.in.com/ibnlive/pix/header/ibn_logo.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/gujarat-rti-activists-unite-against-atrocities/170001-3.html">IBNLive</a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black; font: normal normal normal 14px/20px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><b style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Ahmedabad:</b> RTI activists from across the state of Gujarat gathered in Ahmedabad to share stories of their struggle against the government. Over the past few months several activists have been threatened, beaten and even killed in the state.</div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black; font: normal normal normal 14px/20px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-decoration: none;">There has been still no justice for the family of Amit Jethwa who was gunned down over a year ago. The RTI activist was attempting to expose illegal mining around the Gir Sanctuary. His father Bhikhubhai Jethwa and other RTI activists gathered in Ahmedabad on Sunday to strengthen their resolve to expose corruption. Amit's father has named BJP strongman Dinu Solanki as accused, but Solanki has not even been questioned yet.</div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black; font: normal normal normal 14px/20px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-decoration: none;">"One day, I'll put Dinu Bogha Solanki and his masters in Gandhinagar behind bars," said Bhikhubhai Jethwa.</div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black; font: normal normal normal 14px/20px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-decoration: none;">But Jethwa's case is not an isolated one. Whistleblower Bhagubhai Dewani was attacked in June, 2011 for seeking information on illegal construction and mining in Porbander, especially by former BJP minister Babu Bokhiria.</div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black; font: normal normal normal 14px/20px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-decoration: none;">Bhagubhai Dewani said, "I have already gone to the High Court and will go to the Supreme Court too. I'm not scared of death. Let it come today itself. But I'll keep fighting till I win."</div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black; font: normal normal normal 14px/20px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-decoration: none;">Social activists have accused the government of failing the whistleblowers by shielding those who attack them. The activists said that instead of ensuring safety of those attempting to expose corruption, the government is sheltering those who are responsible for attacking RTI activists.</div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black; font: normal normal normal 14px/20px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-decoration: none;">Social Activist Mallika Sarabhai said, "The space to ask questions to the government is shrinking. People who ask questions are attacked, raped, beaten and killed. Getting information from government is difficult."</div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black; font: normal normal normal 14px/20px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-decoration: none;">But these fearless men and women say they will fight on even though the campaigns they choose to fight put their lives at risk. RTI activists are now planning to form an organisation, which they can use as a platform to fight corruption together.</div><div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black; font: normal normal normal 14px/20px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-26710120348392632982011-07-21T05:19:00.000-07:002011-08-07T01:35:45.750-07:00અમિતના હત્યારાઓને સજા તે જ શ્રધ્ધાજંલિ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/article/SAU-punishment-to-culprits-of-amit-is-shraddhanjali-2279358.html?ZX3-V">DivyaBhaskar</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; word-spacing: 2px;"><b>- જુનાગઢમાં અધિકાર રક્ષક સંમેલનમાં વક્તાઓનો હુંકાર</b><br />
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<b>- હત્યારાઓને છાવરવા રાજકીય અગ્રણીેઓ મોખરે હોવાનો આક્ષેપ</b><br />
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<b>- સાંસદ સોલંકી સહિત સામે અમિતના પિતાએ આક્રોશ વ્યક્ત કર્યો</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.bhaskar.com/web2images/www.divyabhaskar.co.in/2011/07/21/images/amit1_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.bhaskar.com/web2images/www.divyabhaskar.co.in/2011/07/21/images/amit1_f.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 15px;"><span class="fs95" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify; word-spacing: 2px;">આરટીઆઈ એક્ટીવીસ્ટ અમિત જેઠવાની પહેલી પૂણ્યતિથી નિમીતે જુનાગઢમાં આજે યોજાયેલા અધિકાર રક્ષક સંમેલનમાં અમિતના પિતા સહિત વકતાઓએ આરટીઆઈ એક્ટીવીસ્ટની હત્યા અને હુમલા જેવા બનાવમાં પુરતુ રક્ષણ ન મળતુ હોવાનું જણાવી અમિતના હત્યારાઓને સજા થશે ત્યારે જ સાચી શ્રધ્ધાજંલિ ગણાશે તેવો હુંકાર વ્યક્ત કર્યો હતો. ઉલ્લેખનીય એ છે કે, આજના આ સંમેલનમાં પણ અમિતના પિતાએ જુનાગઢના સાંસદ સહિત રાજકીય અગ્રણીઓ સામે નો આક્રોશ જાહેરમાં વ્યક્ત કર્યો હતો.<br />
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ગત ૨૦મી જુલાઈના રોજ અમદાવાદ ખાતે ગુજરાત હાઈકોર્ટ સામે જ અમિત જેઠવાની હત્યાને આજે એક વર્ષ પૂર્ણ થતાં જુનાગઢના શામળદાસ ગાંધી ટાઉન હોલમાં અધિકાર રક્ષક સંમેલન યોજાયું હતું. આ સંમેલનમાં અમિત જેઠવાના પિતા ભીખુભાઈ બાટાવાળાએ જણાવ્યું હતું કે, પિતાની ગાદી ઉપર પુત્ર બેસે અને પિતાના નામે પુત્ર ઓળખાઈ એ સ્વાભાવિક વાત છે પરંતુ અહીં આજે હું પુત્રના નામે ઓળખાઉ છું તેને હું ગર્વ રૂપ ઘટના ગણું છું. જો કે, ખાણમાફિયા સહિત સામે લડનારા મારા પુત્રના હત્યારાઓને હું છોડીસ નહીં અને જ્યારે આ હત્યારાઓને સજા થશે ત્યારે જ સાચી શ્રધ્ધાજંલિ ગણાશે.<br />
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આ તકે તેઓએ જુનાગઢના સાંસદ દિનુભાઈ સોલંકી સહિત હત્યારાઓને છાવરનારા રાજકીય અગ્રણીઓને સૂચીતાર્થ કરી કહ્યું હતું કે, અમિતની હત્યા રાજકીય ઈસારે થઈ છે અને સંડોવાયેલા કોઈપણને જેલવાસ મળશે જ તે ચોક્કસ છે. દરમિયાન આ સંમેલનમાં હાજર પોરબંદરના એડવોકેટ ભગુભાઈ દેવાણીએ પણ લોકશાહીમાં માહિતી માંગવી તે અધિકાર હોવા છતાં મારી ઉપર હુમલા થયા છે પરંતુ હું મોત થી ડરતો નથી. તેઓએ કથાકાર રમેશભાઇ ઓઝા ઉપર પણ ચાબખા વિંઝતા હરી મંદિરમાં પણ પેશકદમી થઇ હોવાનું જણાવ્યું હતું.<br />
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દરમિયાન અમિત જેઠવા માનવ અધિકાર રક્ષક ફાઉન્ડેશન દ્વારા યોજાયેલ આ સંમેલનમાં જલગાંવના ડૉ.રાગીબ રહેમાન, ક્રાંતિ ફાઉન્ડેશનના ભરતસિંહ ઝાલા, રાજુલાના મનિષ વૈધ્ય, અતુલભાઈ ખોખર, અતુલ સેખડા, શીવાભાઈ રામ, અરવિંદભાઈ સોની હાજર રહ્યા હતા.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fELkt_vXORM/Tj5OMJMc1rI/AAAAAAAAADY/DrXYYBDaLYk/s1600/Photo0138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fELkt_vXORM/Tj5OMJMc1rI/AAAAAAAAADY/DrXYYBDaLYk/s320/Photo0138.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">momento</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 15px;"><span class="fs95" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify; word-spacing: 2px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 660px;"><div class="w100p" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 660px;"><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div class="cb10" style="clear: both; font-size: 1px; height: 10px; line-height: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344283464468867101.post-35975756984172523642011-03-31T04:47:00.000-07:002011-03-31T04:47:39.894-07:00Jethava case: Solanki plea withdrawn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/jethava-case-solanki-plea-withdrawn/769653/">IndianExpress</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Shiva Solanki, the nephew of BJP MP from Junagadh Dinu Solanki and prime accused in the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethava, withdrew his bail petition from the Gujarat High Court on Wednesday. Jethava was shot dead in July last year. His father alleged that Dinu was behind the killing.</div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font: normal normal normal 15px/20px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Ahmedabad city DCB arrested Shiva and termed him the main accused in the case, giving a clean chit to his uncle. Shiva had moved a bail application before a sessions Court, which was rejected. Subsequently, he approached the high court.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0