Garlosa, Hojai granted interim bail

 GUWAHATI, Aug 12 – The Gauhati High Court (GHC) today granted conditional interim bail for a period of four months to DHD (J) chairperson Jewel Garlosa and its ‘commander-in-chief’ Niranjan Hojai in connection with two National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases relating to diversion of public funds for militant activities and abetting waging of war against the Union Government.
The cases were registered under Sec 120(B)/121/121(A) of the IPC read with Sec 16/17/18/19/20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Sec 25(1) (d) of the Arms Act.
The Division Bench of the GHC comprising Chief Justice MB Lokur and Justice Hrishikesh Roy passed the bail order after NIA (after discussing with the Union Home Ministry) and the State Government submitted that it had no objection if the duo was granted bail in the interest of the peace process.
The court, however, was of the opinion that liberty should be granted to enable the NIA or the State of Assam to apply for cancellation of bail or modification of the bail conditions, should it be necessary at any stage.
The accused were represented by senior advocate Niloy Dutta, advocate Bijon Mahajan, and advocate Arshad Choudhury in the court.
It needs mention that Garlosa was arrested from Bangalore on June 3, 2009, while Niranjan Hojai was nabbed on the Bihar-Nepal border on July 1, 2010.
The bail order comes after the NIA Special Court had rejected the bail petitions of the both the accused on July 30 last in view of the provisions of Sec 43D(5) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967, as amended by Amendment Act, 2008. Both Garlosa and Hojai had already secured bails in a number of cases registered against them.
Asked, advocate Bijon Mahajan said,“The bail order would definitely assist in bringing in permanent peace, amity and tranquility to the strife-torn district of North Cachar Hills.”
Moreover, the order stated that considering the threat perception and security of the petitioner, both the accused should be provided sufficient armed security coverage(preferably of CRPF) round the clock.
The bail was granted on conditions that the accused shall furnish two local sureties with Rs 5 lakh each.
“The accused shall take permission of the Court before leaving the jurisdiction of the Court and should not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the cases so as to dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any investigation agency or tamper with the evidence,” the order stated.
It also maintained that certain other conditions asking the accused to surrender their passport, driving license, if any, along with other identity proofs.
Both the accused are expected to be released on Tuesday, subject to fulfillment of conditions.
Our Law Reporter adds: The Court after hearing the criminal appeal number 126/11 and Criminal Appeal number 127/11 allowed both the accused to go on bail for a period of four months. Both Garlosa and Hojai were arrested in connection with NIA Case No 1/2009 and 2/2009.
The State Government has also produced the written instruction before the Court.
The order was passed after going through the records of the case and the affidavit filed by the NIA. Senior advocate DK Das for the NIA while public prosecutor Ziaul Kamar appeared for the State.

AASU moves Govt over education policy

 GUWAHATI, Aug 11 – 
The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) today handed over a copy of 78 resolutions on the State Education Policy and its demands on such polices to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma seeking its early and effective implementation to bail out the education system from the existing ‘dismal’ scenario.
Beside other demands, the AASU laid special stress on making the education system free from political interference and even sought decentralization of the entire system.
“The government, over the years, has failed to address the issues concerning theeducation system. The education system lacks vision or a clear-cut policy, which is why implementation of the resolutions is a must,” AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya told media persons today.
Among others, the students’ body also put stress on setting up institutes for higher studies, development of the infrastructure on schools and colleges and upgradation of basic standard of primary education.
The AASU further demanded setting up of Government Law College, Government B Ed College and Government Engineering College in every districts of the State.
“Like the private sector, even government schools should have play schools for students between age group of 3 to 5. We want the government to set up and attach such play schools in each of the lower primary schools of the State,” Dr Bhattacharya asserted.
The 78-point resolutions and demand also touched issues concerning excessive holidays for the educational institutes.
The AASU also demanded increase in the annual grant for Gauhati University.
“Besides, the government should allot Rs 100 crore each to Gauhati University, DibrugarhUniversity and Assam Agriculture University which would help in introduction of new courses. We also want Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) and Indian Institute of Management(IIM) in the State,” he further added.
Steps to streamline teachers’ appointment process, delinking of +2 from colleges, overhaul of examination system, especially the marking system, change in the existing syllabi and curriculum have also been demanded by the students’ body.

Delhi relents on NREGA funds to Dima Hasao

Nagaon, Aug. 8: Normal flow of funds to Assam’s troubled Dima Hasao district, under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), would resume after a gap of four financial years.

The development came just a couple of weeks after representatives from the hill district’s autonomous council moved the Centre, seeking special consideration regarding funds.

The decision to stop funds flow made the 40,000-plus job card holders of the hill district “victims of red tape”.

A source of the state government today said of the annual requirement of Rs 49 crore, Rs 14 crore would be released at the earliest. The remaining amount would be released in phases.

Normal flow of funds to the Dima Hasao district was stopped following the detection of major funds misutilisation during the financial year of 2006-07, during which the district received Rs 86 crore.

The government later ordered a principal secretary-level inquiry into the matter and subsequently took steps against two senior officials of the district rural development department.

A high-level district autonomous council team, led jointly by chief executive member Debajeet Thausan and chairman Debulal Hojai, moved the Union rural development ministry recently and pleaded for immediate financial support as the system deprived poor villagers.

“We could not provide detailed explanations of the fund utilisation mechanism at that period since we were not in power then. What we can say is that over-expenditure was because of the government’s decision to release more funds than was required. The department perhaps spent the money as it was released to the council,” said a council source.

Thausan today said all formalities for smooth funds flow had already been completed after the recent meeting of the council team with officials of the Union rural development department and work would be started soon after the money was released.

Dima Hasao district has five development blocks, including New Sangbar in Garampani, Jatinga valley in Mahur, Diyung valley in Maibong, Hasrangajau and Doyangbra. According to office records, the district has 4,079 job card holders of who 1,536 are Scheduled Castes, 33,494 Scheduled Tribes and the remaining 5,760 belong to other communities.

“People lining up for work is a common phenomenon in the block offices as ignorant villagers do not understand that sufficient fund is not there to give them hundred days of work in a year. If the normal flow begins, it might relieve the poor people from the work crisis,” said a source from the Jatinga valley development block.

A state panchayat and rural development department source said strict monitoring of funds utilisation would be done.