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Strikes by lawyers no answer to filling of HC vacancies: SC
New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) The Supreme Court has taken a serious view of the strike by Calcutta High Court lawyers in protest against court vacancies, including non-appointment of a regular Chief Justice, which has adversely impacted its functioning.
The High Court lawyers are on strike since February 18 as the High Court has only 33 Judges as against a sanctioned strength of 72.
“A strike is not an answer… strikes can’t be linked to that. Vacancies have to be filled up,” Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel told Attorney General K.K. Venugopal.
Justice Goel, sitting with Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman on the Bench on Thursday (April 19), took a serious note while dealing with a matter involving E. Meditek Insurance TPA Limited and National Insurance Company Limited.
The apex court sought the Attorney General’s assistance on the issue of lawyers strike, following which Venugopal said that he would address the court on the issue on Tuesday (April 24).
Venugopal suggested to the court that it can consider both the lawyers strike and non-filling of vacancies together.
He said that a Karnataka High Court Bar Association delegation had met him a few days back and submitted a memorandum to point out that there were 40 per cent vacancies of Judges and half the courtrooms were locked.
Telling the Attorney General about a High Court Judge who was considering resigning because he was not comfortable drawing a salary without doing work, Justice Goel said that the strike can’t be linked to High Courts’ vacancies.
“If we combine the two it would provide an alibi for strike,” the bench told the law officer.
Justice Goel said that there are vacancies in the High Courts as there were not enough suitable candidates and that unsuitable candidates can’t be recommended.
As against a sanctioned strength of 31 Judges, the top court at present has 24 Judges only.
The top court’s collegium’s recommendation to elevate Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice K.M. Joseph and senior counsel Indu Malhotra to the Supreme Court is pending with the government for over three months.
E Meditek TPA Insurance Limited’s lawyer said that they had moved the High Court to challenge termination of a contract by the National Insurance Company Limited. Meditek wanted an early listing so that it could press for a stay on the contract’s termination, but the High Court listed it for April 6.
Meditek subsequently moved the top court which granted the stay on April 3. Seeking vacation of the April 3 stay, the National Insurance Company Limited moved an application which was taken up on April 19.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.