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The Hindu
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Declare wild pigs as vermin in conflict zones, Kerala asks Centre in fresh appeal
Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran has once again written to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav reiterating the State's key demands to address the increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict in Kerala. The State's demands chiefly include an amendment to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the declaration of wild pigs as vermin, at least temporarily in identified hotspots. The renewed appeal comes in the light of a letter from the Union Ministry, explaining the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, particularly those pertaining to hunting animals listed under Schedules I and II. 'Limits powers' Arguing that these limited the powers of the Chief Wildlife Warden and hampered timely action, Mr. Saseendran also flagged the ambiguity in the definition of the term 'dangerous animal' in the Act. Highlighting the growing threats posed by wild animals in human habitats, he emphasised the impracticality of the current procedures. He pointed out that due to these constraints, the Forest department had been unable to act swiftly, thereby intensifying the conflict and endangering human lives and livelihoods. He also proposed simplifying the Standard Operating Procedures for eliminating dangerous animals. The State has also called for declaring wild pigs as vermin in villages identified as hotspots. 'Such a declaration, even if limited to a duration of six months, would greatly facilitate site-specific management of the species in these areas and contribute significantly to mitigate the ongoing human-wildlife conflicts,' the letter states. The government also renewed its demand for an assistance of ₹620 crore to implement preventive measures to tackle the unfolding crisis.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Assam Cattle Preservation Act to be strictly implemented: Himanta
Guwahati, The Assam Cattle Preservation Act will be strictly enforced in all districts of the state to prevent availability and consumption of beef within a five km radius of religious places of worship, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday. ''The availability and consumption of beef during the recent Eid festival despite the ban within a 5 km radius of temples and other places of worship is a very serious matter. In this regard, we will take strict action under the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021'', Sarma said at a press conference here. After the Eid Uz Zuha festival this year, it has been seen that in some areas of sensitive districts like Dhubri, Goalpara and Hojai, several attempts have been made to create disturbances by throwing body parts, particularly skulls near temples and prayer halls, he said. Sarma said that it has been observed that these have occurred near localities where beef consumption during Eid is common and all are within the restricted area of 5 km radius of places of religious worship. ''This has been in clear violation of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act which clearly states that beef consumption or its sale and distribution is banned within a radius of 5 km of religious places of worship. The concerned district administrations did not enforce this provision strictly leading to this situation'', he said. If people had been made aware of the 5 km restrictions, these incidents could have been avoided, he added. ''I have directed all district commissioners to strictly implement the Act and ensure that slaughter, sale or consumption of beef is banned within the restricted area'', he said. In places like Lakhimpur and Lakhipur in Goalpara district, it has been seen that these incidents have occurred in areas classified as tribal belts and blocks of Village Grazing Reserve and Professional Grazing Reserve where in many cases, people have occupied the land illegally, Sarma said. ''Even the leader of the opposition had said in the assembly that immigrants who came after a certain year cannot legally occupy or claim the land as their own. I have directed district commissioners and additional district commissioners to conduct a survey in these areas to identify those people whose families have not lived in Assam for at least three generations and prepare a list of all those people living in tribal belt, block or in VGR/PGR, particularly in the sensitive areas which will help us to take necessary legal action'', he said. On Wednesday, seven persons were arrested following the alleged recovery of three cow skulls, approximately 30 metres from a 'Namghar' , in Lakhimpur district. Recently, shoot-at-sight orders at night were issued in Dhubri where a day after the Bakrid, a cow's head was found in front of the Hanuman Temple and again the next day, another skull was found again there along with incidents of stone pelting reported. On June 8, Sarma had said that a number of cattle were allegedly slaughtered illegally at several places during the Bakrid festival and parts of the meat were thrown at multiple locations across Assam. Police have so far arrested over 60 people with over 50 in Dhubri alone in connection with illegal slaughter of cows with the intention of creating communal disturbances in the state.
Borneo Post
3 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Used clothes seller acquitted, discharged of possessing drugs
Mohd Jamri (left) smiles after his acquittal. With him is his counsel Chew. KOTA KINABALU (June 20): A used clothes seller was acquitted and discharged by a Sessions Court here today from two counts of possessing cannabis and syabu. Judge Dayang Ellyn Narisa Abang Ahmad freed Mohd Jamri Basir, 24, after a full trial. The first count accused Mohd Jamri of possessing 158.6 grams of cannabis at an apartment at Jalan Tuaran Bypass on May 15, 2020. The charge was under Section 39A (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 6 of the same Act. The second count accused him of having 6.64 grams of syabu at the same place and on the same day. The alleged offence was under Section 12 (2), punishable under Section 39A (1), both of the same Act. The prosecution commended the case on December 7, 2022 and rested it on August 15, 2024. Ten witnesses were called by the prosecution while the defence called three witnesses, including Mohd Jamri. Mohd Jamri was represented by counsel Dominic Chew Ban Huat.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SoP soon for implementation of provisions of Assam Cattle Preservation Act
Guwahati: The Assam government will come up with a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) to implement the provision of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021. The law restricts slaughter of cows and eating of beef within 5 kms radius of temples, namghars (prayer halls) and other religious sites. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said there is an attempt to spread communal hatred and sensitive areas are chosen. There were recent incidents of throwing beef in some Hindu religious places in districts like Dhubri, Goalpara, Lakhimpur and Hojai. 'The incidents this year took place just after the Eid-Ul-Zuha. We already have this Assam Cattle Preservation Act 2021. This Act prohibits slaughter of cows and eating of beef within a 5 kms radius of the temples and other religious sites. However, the administration did impose it strictly this time. But now we are going to ensure that the Act is implemented strictly across the state.' He added all the districts will be sent the SoP for implementation. The Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 banned cattle slaughter and sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains and Sikhs are in majority and within a five-km radius of a temple or Satra (Vaishnavite monastery). Live Events The Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 also regulated the transportation, and slaughter of all cattle, and sale of beef and beef products in the state. In December last year, the Assam cabinet decided to amend the 2021 act and put a restriction on public consumption of beef also. Accordingly, sale and consumption of beef became prohibited in public places such as restaurants and hotels.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
NMC continues to reject patient appeals against state councils
Representative Image With the draft amendment bill of the NMC Act, which includes a provision allowing patients to appeal before the ethics board of the commission, in limbo since December 2022, the commission is repeatedly rejecting appeals filed by patients. In the latest rejection of a patient's appeal on June 11, the section officer of the Ethics Section of NMC states that 'To accept the appeal of non-medicos against SMC require the revision of the relevant provision of NMC Act 2019 i.e. passed by Parliament and any amend (sic) in the Act shall only be done by the act of Parliament.' The Ethics Board meanwhile is totally vacant as the health ministry is yet to complete the process of appointing members after the tenure of all its members came to an end. Hence, all communication is from the EMRB secretariat. A patient's right to appeal was not a part of the Indian Medical Council Act 1956, which was replaced by NMC 2019. However, based on a 2002 Supreme Court order which upheld the patient's right to appeal, a clause was added to the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002. Clause 8.8 which was added stated: 'Any person aggrieved by the decision of the State Medical Council on any complaint against a delinquent physician, shall have the right to file an appeal to the MCI within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of the order passed by the said Medical Council'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Laxmi Ji Idol For Wealth, Peace & Happiness Luxeartisanship Shop Now Undo Thus, patients had won the right to appeal without amending the IMC Act 1956 but by introducing a clause in the ethics regulations. 'Section 30(3) of the NMC Act talks of a medical practitioner's right to appeal against an SMC's decision. It does not expressly prohibit or deny patients' right to appeal. Similarly, the IMC Act also did not expressly prohibit patients' appeals. Hence, the right was granted through addition of a clause in the ethics regulation and not through amendment of the IMC Act. The 2002 regulation has been in force right from the inception of the NMC,' argued Dr KV Babu an ophthalmologist and RTI activist. The NMC Act states that 'the rules and regulations made under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, shall continue to be in force and operate till new standards or requirements are specified under this Act or the rules and regulations made thereunder'. The ethics code was not replaced by the NMC, except briefly in August 2023. On August 2, 2023, the NMC brought in the National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2023 to replace the ethics regulation of 2002. However, in the face of huge protests from doctors and the pharmaceutical and medical device industry against the new regulations, which stipulated generic prescription, the NMC announced on August 23, 2023, that the new regulations were being held in abeyance with immediate effect. Along with this, EMRB notified that Indian Medical Council (Professional conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 was being adopted and made effective 'as if the same have been made by the commission by virtue of the powers vested under the NMC Act 2019'. In the NMC meeting held on December 12, 2023 it was decided that 'all appeals received by the EMRB will be entertained'. The minutes of the meeting added: 'Further, as regards action not being taken by State Medical Councils on complaints filed by non-medicos even after issuance of reminders by the boards. It was decided to send a communication by EMRB to State Medical Councils to complete the process in a time bound manner. In case of failure by the concerned SMC to act upon, EMRB may take over the complaint matter from the SMC and dispose of the same. This is noted by EMRB, and board will proceed further accordingly.' 'It was illegal for the Ethics Board to reject appeals of patients as they had the right from the very inception of the NMC. But to continue to reject appeals after the gazette notification on ethics regulation 2002 in August 2023 and the NMC decision in December 2024 is wilful denial of patient rights and it is for the health ministry to intervene and put a stop to this,' said Dr Babu. In response to Dr Babu's query to the health ministry on the status of the NMC Act amendment Bill, the ministry responded on April 30 this year that the matter was 'under consideration with the ministry'.
