HC puts brake on fresh recruitment in loss-making HPTDC

Shimla: Taking serious note of the loss-making Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), the Himachal Pradesh high court has placed a stay on any recruitment for positions within the corporation without court’s prior approval.“In the meanwhile, no fresh appointments will be made directly, indirectly, on contract basis or on outsource basis by the respondent corporation against any post without the leave of the court,” ordered Justice Ajay Mohan Goel on Oct 15, while hearing a petition highlighting non-release of the retiral benefits to pensioners by the HPTDC.During the earlier hearing on Sept 17, the court had expressed that the affidavit filed by the managing director of the HPTDC reveals shocking details. “Not only is there delay in the payment of post retiral benefits to almost all the retired employees, the dues as are payable to the retired employees on August 31, 2024 are to the tune of Rs 35.13 crore,” the court had observed. The court has also underlined that though Himachal Pradesh is recognised as a tourist destination but the corporation “apparently is in shambles.” Justice Goel had also pointed out that it is not as if the tourists were not coming to Himachal, but the issue is that they are not lodging in the premises of the HPTDC. It appears that they are residing in hotels other than the ones owned by the HPTDC, despite the fact that the corporation is having properties at the prime locations of the state, said the court. “If the observations of this court in this regard are incorrect, then the matter is more serious because the same would be demonstrative of the fact that despite a good footfall of the tourists in the hotels run by the corporation, the actual revenue being generated is not reflecting the same,” the court observed.The court had directed the state govt to file a detailed affidavit so that something indeed is done to convert these “white elephants (properties of the corporation) into profit-earning units”.

Gyanvapi original suit: Court fixes next hearing on Oct 19

The fast-track court of Varanasi has fixed Oct 19 for the next hearing in the Gyanvapi case. Advocate Vijay Shankar Rastogi seeks an additional survey by ASI, despite objections from the mosque's management. The court had previously directed a comprehensive survey and dismissed the management's petition against it.

Government can file pleas against high court orders post-2022 benami law ruling: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court overturned its 2022 ruling on the benami properties Act after the Centre argued that the decision was made without any challenge to the Act's provisions. The decision now allows the government to pursue review petitions. The 2022 judgment had previously declared Sections 3 and 5 of the 1988 Act unconstitutional, affecting punishment and confiscation measures.

High court tells magistrate court to order probe

The Kerala High Court has directed an investigation into a womans complaint of sexual assault against three senior police officers, including the former SP of Malappuram. The woman alleged she was raped by these officers during inquiries related to a property dispute. The court emphasized that such allegations cannot be dismissed as acts within official duties.

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