National
HC orders CBI probe into illegal construction of 108-feet Hanuman idol
New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) Observing that it was “high time public officials are held accountable” for turning a blind eye to encroachment of public land, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered a CBI enquiry into how an 108-feet Hanuman idol came up on public land in Karol Bagh area of the national capital.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to go after the civic officials under whose tenure the structure came up.
The bench directed the CBI to also investigate if there was any quid pro quo for not acting against the encroachers.
“It’s high time all public official are held accountable. It is an abuse of official position,” said the court while directing DDA, North MCD, Land and Development Office, Public Works Department and Mandir Marg Police Station to join the investigation and cooperate with CBI.
The court also froze the bank account of the trust running the temple. It said the trust should not be permitted to enjoy the benefit of money derived from the public land.
As per the police, the monthly income of the temple from offerings is Rs four lakh but the actual figures may be more than what they were able to ascertain, said the court.
Earlier, the High Court was informed that while one paw of the Hanuman idol fell on the pavement, the rest of the structure was primarily located on land belonging to DDA.
The High Court had called for full particulars of the persons who are responsible for erection of the idol as well as the unauthorised buildings and constructions, including particulars of the persons who have funded it and are in control of these encroachments.
The court was hearing a bunch of petitions relating to illegal constructions and encroachments in Karol Bagh area of Delhi.
The court was earlier informed that the idol was built in 2002 and the temple along with it was run by a trust.
A committee appointed by the High Court had revealed large scale trespass on public land, including for construction of the Hanuman idol and unauthorised construction of multiple small and big buildings.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.