QKolkata: Relief for Hill Schools; CBI Quizzes Madan Mitra & More
Your daily lowdown on all things Kolkata in QKolkata.
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1. Relief For Hill Schools
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations has decided to allow schools in the Darjeeling hills to conduct students' registration and confirmation for Class X and Class XII exams from September 18 through 23.
The students of over 60 ICSE and ISC schools in the hills couldn't complete the registration and confirmation for the board exams by the scheduled date of August 31 because of the ongoing indefinite strike and the resultant clampdown on Internet.
Prakash Pradhan, a standing committee member of the ICSE and ISC examinations, today told The Telegraph: "The council has made a special exception for the 60-odd ICSE and ISC schools in the hills and decided to open its web portal from September 18 through 23 for registration and confirmation of entries for students of classes 9, 10, 11, and 12."
While students of classes 9 and 11 have to register themselves with the council for the board exams in the next academic year, those of classes 10 and 12 have to confirm their entries for the board exams.
Source: The Telegraph
2. Narada Scam: CBI Quizzes Madan Mitra
Former Transport Minister Madan Mitra, who was interrogated by CBI officials after the probe agency summoned him, vowed further “cooperation” if he’s asked to appear before the officers again.
After a marathon six hours of questioning, Mitra told mediapersons that he had answered all questions that the probe officials had thrown at him and would be ready to extend further cooperation if they ask for it. “Today, I met CBI officials at around 11.50 am after receiving their summon only yesterday. I have answered all the questions that they wanted from me. If they need further cooperation, I’m ready to render it,” Mitra said.
The former Transport Minister, however, ducked a question on if he knew Mathew Samuel, the Narada CEO who who photographed him taking money in lieu of assurances that he had purportedly given to them. Sources in the CBI said that the former Minister, who had been jailed in the Sarada ponzi scam, admitted to having taken money. He was also asked to identify his aide who was also seen in the footage taking wads of cash.
Source: The Statesman
3. Bid to Sack Ritabrata
The Bengal state secretariat of the CPM on 13 September recommended the expulsion of Rajya Sabha member Ritabrata Banerjee for "anti- party activities", 36 hours after he had gone on TV criticising the organisation and leaders. "Although few members of the secretariat had verbally opposed the decision to oust Ritabrata Banerjee, none gave it in writing. So, technically, it was a unanimous decision," a CPM insider said. The expulsion, he said, will have to be ratified by the central committee which is slated to meet in the middle of October.
Source: The Telegraph
4. State's DA Notification Tabled in High Court
State Advocate General Kishore Dutta on 13 September told the Calcutta High Court, the state government had issued a notification on 12 September for a 15 percent DA hike for its employees with effect from January, as promised by the Chief Minister.
Arguing before the division bench of acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty, who were hearing a petition for DA hike by two groups of state governmment employees, the advocate general placed a copy of the notification before the court. Dutta further said, “State government employees now receive 85 percent DA. With the addition of the 15 percent DA, they will now receive 100 percent.’’
Source: The Times Of India
5. Pramod-Da Plea for Canteen
Pramod Swain, the man behind the counter at the Presidency canteen for four decades, has written to Vice Chancellor Anuradha Lohia explaining why he failed to procure the documents required to bid for the canteen contract.
Pramod- da, as he is fondly known, could not submit audited balance sheet, IT return, PF/ ESI registration, GST registration and other documents in time to take part in the bid. The Presidency University authorities have advertised thrice in as many months, inviting bids to run the canteen on the College Street campus.
Prospective bidders were asked to submit several documents with the tenders. “I was never advised by the authorities in the past 40 years or so, nor am I educated enough to be aware of the requirements," Swain wrote.
Source: The Telegraph
6. Star Theatre to House Art Gallery
Art lovers in the city are all set to get a gift from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) ahead of the Pujas when a new gallery – to be christened Binodini Art Gallery –on the ground floor of Star Theatre throws open its gates on 16 September . “On 13 September, a KMC team inspected the place to see if everything was in place,“ said MMiC (parks and gardens) Debashis Kumar. The gallery will have a display area of about 3,500 sqft. There will also be an amphitheatre for people to sit and enjoy plays and performances. According to civic officials, KMC chose Star Theatre as there was no proper art gallery in the north.
Source: The Times Of India
7. Lost, Found, Lost Again: Octogenarian Goes Missing From Hospital
The members of a Haltu club were in for a shock on 12 September night when cops informed them that the octogenarian they had rescued and admitted to a hospital had gone missing. The hospital authorities said the woman had been untraceable since 11 September. And though the Jadavpur police have registered a missing case, they are yet to get any leads on her whereabouts.
Exactly a week back, members of Nandibagan's Nabin Sangha Club rescued a homeless 80-year-old woman who was loitering near the SD-8 bus stand. They brought the woman, suffering from severe memory loss and acute bronchitis, into the club, fed her, looked after her for 48 hours and got her admitted to the MR Bangur Hospital with help from cops. According to Garfa and Jadavpur police, this development came under dramatic circumstances.
“A man who intro duced himself as a Kasba resident came to us saying the rescued woman might be his mother. At the hospital though, he eventually refused to identify the woman. We are not sure if the woman picked up on the conversation or if she deci ded to leave on her own -just like she left the Haltu club a day after the members rescued her. However, unlike last ti me when she was found in the club vicinity, she could not be traced near the hospital after 11 September,” said an officer from Garfa.
Source: The TImes Of India
8. Pregnant Woman Assaulted for Not Paying Puja Subscription
A 62-year-old Howrah businessman alleged that he and his pregnant daughter-in-law (26) were assaulted by a bunch of hoodlums from a local club from Howrah's Nischinda on 9 September, when they refused to pay Rs 1 lakh for a puja subscription.
The businessman added that the OC of Nischinda police station, Sanjib Sarkar, bowed to threats by the accused and allowed them to flee. All this happened despite Howrah Police commissioner DP Singh's directive to arrest the accused. According to the victim, when his daughter-in-law tried to save him, the goons tore her clothes and kicked her on her stomach.
“We were taken to Howrah hospital by neighbours,“ added the 62-year-old He further added: “The next day , after we were discharged, we went straight to Nischinda police station to lodge a complaint. When we came out, we saw the youths standing outside. They warned me and went inside to warnthe OC that they would create major law and order problem in the area if they were arrested.“
Source: The Times of India
9. App Cabs May Lower Surge Fee During Pujo
App cab service providers Uber and Ola, that allegedly charge exorbitant surge fares whenever the demand rises (during rush hours or rains), have assured the state government to work on the pricing during the puja days by adding more cars to the platform.
“Uber and Ola have assured us they will work on the surge-pricing. They said they will try to lower the fares on rainy days and during the Pujas and offer pocket-friendly rides to the revellers. The government has done its bid in ensuring availability of cabs on the street by funding the Gati Dhara scheme. Now its time for app cab aggregators to work responsibly,’’ said Additional Chief Secretary (transport) Alapan Bandyopadhyay .
Source: The Times of India
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