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March23, 2005 - [India Thinkers Net]"What next for the US-India Relationship?" >> |
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From: "CHROkeralam" <chro1@rediffmail.com> Date: Wed Mar 23, 2005 Subject: KERALA: Acquitted By Court, But Prisoners In Mental Hospital The HIndu, March 22, 2005, Tuesday New lease of life for Raghuraman By Our Staff Reporter Thiruvananthapuram, March 21. The first thing that Raghuraman did when he stepped out of the Mental Health Centre (MHC) was to throw away his worn out slippers. "We'll buy a pair of sandals on the way," his wife told him. After 14 years as an inmate in the forensic ward of the mental hospital here, Raghuraman, 49, today went back to his house in Nedumangad, near here. He had been jailed in 1991 on charges of murdering his relative. Though he was acquitted in 1995, the court had sentenced him to the mental hospital for life. Raghuraman realises that he is one of the lucky few to have secured his freedom. The first and the last time any one was released from the forensic ward was in 2001, when four persons were sent home with their families. There are 12 others like Raghuraman inside the high-security enclosure inside the MHC, all of whom were acquitted of their crimes, but cannot go home as their families do not want them back. Clad in a new dhoti and shirt, Raghuraman seemed a bit nervous but happy, as he walked out of the hospital. "My son had just been born, when, in 1991 I came here as an undertrial prisoner. In these 14 years, I have just seen him once. He must have become a big boy now," he said. Raghuraman had been on psychiatric drugs since 1986. He claims that he committed murder by accident while he was trying to intervene and stop people from fighting. His wife used to visit him once in a while at the hospital. In 2001, the Medical Board and the Board of Visitors at the hospital certified that he was fit to be released. However, it was only after much persuasion and counselling by the Superintendent of the MHC, S. Jayaram, and other staff members that his wife agreed to give an application seeking his release. His release order was issued by the Home Secretary last month. Raghuraman has been released on the basis of a bond his wife executed stating that she would keep him under her care and custody. A teacher in a private institution, she hopes he will once again settle down to a normal life once he is with his family. Said Dr. Jayaram: "His illness is well under control. But he will continue to take medicines and come to the MHC every six months." http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/22/stories/2005032215480300.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 2] TN & KERALA: 70 Tamil Children In Kerala Juvenile Home New Indian Express, March 23, 2005, Wednesday 70 Tamil children in Kerala juvenile home CHENNAI: As many as 70 children belonging to Villupuram and Cuddalore districts were rescued from Kerala and kept in a juvenile home in Calicut, Special Government Pleader K Mahendran told the Madras High Court on Tuesday. Mahendran told this to a Division Bench comprising Justice M Karpagavinayagam and Justice C Nagappan when arguments on a public interest writ petition from K Ramakrishnan of Coimbatore resumed on Tuesday. The petition prayed for a direction to the authorities concerned to verify the veracity of a news report in a vernacular daily alleging that hundreds of children in Salem district had been sold in Kerala and to initiate appropriate action if the report was true. In his counter-affidavit, Salem district Superintendent of Police Pon Manickavel submitted that there were no such incidents in Salem district. However, Mahendran and Additional Public Prosecutor E Raja told the Bench that they had received a message today stating that 198 children were rescued from Kerala and that they were kept in a juvenile home there. Of them, 70 children belonged to Villupuram and Cuddalore districts. Disposing of the writ petition, the Bench directed the Collectors of the two districts to take steps to bring back the 70 children. It also directed the Salem SP to hand over the investigation to the police officers concerned. http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IET20050322105023&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0& ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3] SC: "PREVENT CHILD MARRIAGES" The Hindu, March 23, 2005, Wednesday 'Prevent child marriages' NEW DELHI, MARCH 22. The Supreme Court has asked Collectors and Superintendents of Police to prevent mass child marriages. This is in view of the thousands of child marriages every year during festivals such as "Akshay tritiya," "Akha Teej," "Ram Navami," "Basant Panchami" and "Karma Jayanti." ??” PTI http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/23/stories/2005032307760101.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Indian Express, March 23, 2005, Wednesday Don??™t allow child marriages: SC to collectors, SPs The 1929 Child Marriage Restraint Act renders all child marriages illegal but not void: Petitioner NEW DELHI, MARCH 22: The Supreme Court has asked district collectors and SPs across the country to take steps to prevent child marriages. A bench comprising Justices S.B. Sinha and S.H. Kapadia issued the direction just before the Holi vacation on a PIL filed by Forum, Fact Finding Documentation and Advocacy. The forum sought stringent action against officials who fail to prevent child marriages. Presenting the case of the Centre, Solicitor General Goolam E. Vahanvati submitted that the Prevention of Child Marriages Bill, 2004, had been introduced in Parliament to replace the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, and objections and suggestions had been invited from the public. The NGO pointed out loopholes in the 1929 Act and said the impugned Act was a queer piece of legislation which rendered all child marriages illegal but not void. Criticising the 2004 Bill, the petitioner said that instead of plugging the loopholes in the law, Section 3 of the Bill provides that a child marriage would be rendered void only if the children file legal proceedings in this regard. http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=67007 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 4] GHOST OF ABDUL GHANI LONE STILL HAUNTS CPI-M LEADERS IN SOUTH CHRO NEWS, March 22, 2005, Tuesday Ghost of Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone still haunts CPI-M leaders in South India Thiruvananthapuram, March 22: Even after three years of his killing, the ghost of All Party Hurriyat Congerence (APHC) leader Mr. Abdul Ghani Lone seems to be haunting the CPI-M leaders far away from Kashmir -- in deep South. This is evident from the statement of CPI-M Karnataka State Secretary, G. N. Nagaraj. Addressing a press conference at Mysore yesterday, he cautioned intellectuals and youth to keep away from the Karnataka Vimochana Ranga (KVR). Reason? The Kashmiri "secessionist" leader Abdul Ghani Lone was recipient of KVR's hospitality during his visit to Karnataka, he said. It is to be recalled that the Kerala State Secretariat of CPI-M joined hands with Sangh Parivar chorus to oppose Abdul Ghani Lone's visit to Kerala in 2002 organised by CHRO. Read below the full report about Karnataka CPI-M leader's press conference: The HIndu, March 22, 2005, Tuesday CPI(M) cautions people against Karnataka Vimochana Ranga By Our Staff Correspondent MYSORE, MARCH 21. The State unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday cautioned intellectuals and youth to keep away from the Karnataka Vimochana Ranga's (KVR) "divisive and separatist ideology," which, it alleged, is a threat to the country's unity and integrity. Addressing a press conference here, the CPI(M) State Secretary, G.N. Nagaraj, said KVR comprises full-fledged members of the outlawed People's War, which is allegedly perpetuating violence in Andhra Pradesh. The KVR, which was established in the State a couple of years ago, draws inspiration from secessionist movements in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, he alleged. A secessionist leader Abdul Ghani Lone was the recipient of the KVR's hospitality during his visit to Karnataka some months ago, he alleged. The KVR not only has links with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Punjab, but has also hosted national level meetings of terror organisations in Bangalore, he charged. Stripping case Mr. Nagaraj came down heavily on the police for their failure in curbing the growth of "communal elements" in Dakshina Kananda and Udupi districts, besides Kodagu and Shimoga. The stripping of two cattle traders in Adi village in Udupi and the assault on them by alleged Sangh Parivar activists underlines the need to stem the rot, he said. Earlier, Mr Nagaraj participated in an anti-war rally organised by the party at Gandhi Square in the City to mark the second year of U.S. war on Iraq. http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/22/stories/2005032204500300.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Confederation of Human Rights Organizations (CHRO) 3, Rams' Cottage Ambalathumukku Pettah Thiruvananthapuram-695024 Kerala South India Ph.: 0471-2476262 |
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