Kochi, July 27 (IANS) In a significant ruling, the Kerala High Court has ordered 28 lawyers of the Kottayam Bar Association to offer legal aid services for six months to get relief from contempt of court proceedings, stating that mere apologies will not suffice.

The lawyers came under the high court scanner for raising ‘abusive’ slogans against a Chief Judicial Magistrate inside the court in Kottayam last year.

When the high court started proceedings the erring lawyers, 28 of them offered to apologise unconditionally.

“This court is of the view that the respondents ought not to be allowed to get away by merely offering ‘sorry’ by way of an apology as the easiest way,” the court noted, as it pointed out that the 28 lawyers should provide free legal services to the poor and needy as a remedial measure.

The lawyers said they would do so provided it did not affect their right to practice law.

“Given the peculiar facts of this case, we deem it appropriate to accept the unconditional apologies tendered by respondents 2 to 29 and purge the contempt committed by them based on the undertaking that they shall offer their services to the District Legal Services Authority, Kottayam, for free to the poor and needy for a period of six months,” the court said, adding that these lawyers can go forward with their regular law career.

The incident occurred in November last year when a group of advocates entered the courtroom of Kottayam CJM Viveeja Sethumohan and raised slogans against her over her alleged conduct with the lawyers and to protest against the registration of a forgery case against one of them.

After receiving a report on the incident, the Kerala High Court issued contempt notices to the erring lawyers.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 27 (IANS) The presidential residence will provide a free bus service to tourists to the President’s summer retreat in Shimla.

The Shimla to Mashobra service was started to celebrate President Draupadi Murmu’s two years in office on July 25.

The Rashtrapati Niwas at Mashobra in Himachal’s Shimla District opened its doors to the public in April 2023.

The complimentary bus service of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation operates from the lift parking at Mall Road, Shimla on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Ajay Bhardwaj, a guide at the presidential residence said that visitors can explore the 174-year-old Rashtrapati Niwas, nature trails and other parts of the building including its lawns and parks.

Shimla is a city that is rich in historic buildings from the British colonial era.

Constructed in 1850 by the King of Koti in European architectural style, the Rashtrapati Niwas, previously known as the Retreat Building, is one of four existing presidential residences in India.

The other three are, Rashtrapati Ashiana a Presidential retreat in Dehradun, Rashtrapati Nilayam in Telangana and Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President, in New Delhi.

–IANS

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Srinagar, July 27 (IANS) One Pakistani terrorist and an Indian army soldier were killed on Saturday in the exchange of fire on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

The Defence Ministry said in a statement: “Taking advantage of bad weather and poor visibility along the LoC in Machhal Sector, a group of two to three armed personnel crossed the LoC and fired on a forward Army post from close proximity.”

“Alert troops responded vigorously and in the ensuing exchange of fire. One Pakistani intruder was killed,” as per the statement, adding that weapons, ammunition and war-like supplies were also recovered.

“Identification and affiliation of this Pakistani national is being ascertained. During this intense fire exchange, two of our brave soldiers also suffered some grave injuries and were immediately evacuated to Base Hospital at Srinagar,” according to the Ministry’s statement.

“Unfortunately, one of these bravehearts has succumbed to his injuries. The other brave is responding well to treatment and care and is presently stable,” it added.

Similar attempts have been made by infiltrators in the past, actively aided and abetted by Pakistan Army.

“Indian Army is firm in its resolve and commitment to maintain the sanctity of the Line of Control and defeat the nefarious and inimical designs of Pakistan,” the statement said.

–IANS

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Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Maharashtra), July 27 (IANS) In a pre-election jolt to the ruling ally Nationalist Congress Party’s Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, a senior leader from Parbhani, Abdullah Babajani Khan Durrani, MLC, crossed over to the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), led by Sharad Pawar, here on Saturday.

Babajani, as he is commonly known, functioned as the NCP’s Parbhani district president and was welcomed to the NCP (SP) fold by Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders.

Political circles were agog with speculation over Babajani’s moves amid backdoor talks with the NCP (SP) and finally, he cleared the air on Saturday on his decision.

Sharad Pawar said that many people who joined (Ajit Pawar) felt they had gone astray and were in touch with the NCP (SP), but reiterated that “the final decision on taking them will be decided by the party leadership”.

NCP (SP) circles hinted that Babajani, an ex-MLA and two-time MLC who was always keen to contest the assembly elections, may be considered for a party ticket from Parbhani for the state polls to be held in October.

However, Babajani, who was overlooked for an MLC ticket, denied that he had made any demands from the NCP (SP) or was given any assurance by the party, and claimed that his move was purely on grounds of political ideology.

“The Muslim minority community is under stress… They are disenchanted with the parties in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Under such circumstances, it is awkward to continue with such a party (NCP) any longer, hence I am joining the NCP (SP),” declared Babajani.

Senior NCP (SP) leaders like state President Jayant Patil, national general secretary Jitendra Awhad, Rohit R. Pawar and others have stated in the recent past that around 18-20 legislators from the ruling MahaYuti ally NCP will join NCP (SP), but the NCP leaders have scoffed such suggestions.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 27 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday said that the Cauvery Aarti will be done on the lines of Ganga Aarti at Brindavan Garden in the premises of the famous KRS Reservoir.

“We are trying to conduct Cauvery Aarti on the lines of Ganga Aarti. It is purely to promote tourism,” the Deputy Chief Minister told media persons while talking about upgrading the KRS Brindavan Garden.

He said that the cabinet has approved the plan to give a new look to the KRS Brindavan Garden.

On opposition remarks that the government is wasting money, the Deputy Chief Minister said: “Their allegations are bogus. This project was proposed during Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s previous government. When Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister and I was the Irrigation Minister, this project was announced in the budget.”

He said that the project will be undertaken with private and public partnerships.

“The government is not making any investment. This will significantly boost tourism. Just like the Ganga Aarti, we will have a Kaveri Aarti program, which is aimed at promoting tourism,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister had said that a Cauvery Aarti programme will be held at the KRS reservoir, similar to the famous Ganga Aarti in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi.

When asked about the pending Greater Bangalore bill, he said that all MLAs have stated that there should be a detailed discussion on this matter.

“Due to the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution, we need to provide effective governance to Bengaluru. A meeting of MLAs from all parties has been called and a committee will be formed soon. We will accept the suggestions and opinions of the opposition parties,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

–IANS

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