The Bombay High Court today directed the state government to invite tenders for the construction of the fifth-generation oceanarium in place of the present Taraporewala Aquarium at Marine Lines and publicise the terms and constructions on the basis of which tenders would be invited. The division bench of Chief Justice M B Shah and Y S Jahagirdar made the observation while hearing petitions filed against the awarding of the oceanarium contract to the Singapore-based firm ATD.During the last hearing, Bharat Oceanic Recoveries Limited, a rival Australian firm, had contended it could present a more competitive and financially better proposal for the oceanarium.
The company today presented the proposal document. However, it proposes to build the oceanarium in an area of 20,000 square metres. Advocate General C J Sawant said the area available is much less than that envisaged by Bharat Oceanic. The court directed the government to inform about theextent of land available for the project. Meanwhile, the court also directed the government to give wide publicity to the terms and conditions under which the project has to be devised. Companies and the public can thus respond to the offer.
Cops told to set up cells on prostitution
Justices B P Saraf and A Y Sakhare of Bombay High Court today ordered Mumbai police to immediately form vigilance cells to curb immoral traffic and prostitution in public places in the city.The division bench gave the direction in response to a public interest petition filed by a non-governmental organisation, Savdhan. The petitioner has complained about police inaction in stopping these illegal activities in various public places. The petitioners' counsel, Rajendra Desai, specifically mentioned prostitutes openly soliciting customers in south Mumbai, especially VT station. He said such practices vitiate the atmosphere and police don't seem to take any action, thereby violating the Immoral Traffic PreventionAct.
Justice Saraf ordered police to identify similar pockets in the entire city. He said police should take the help of NGOs working with prostitutes and form vigilance cells in these areas, and added that immediate patrolling should start in these public places.
Moreover, police personnel, from the inspector to the constable on duty should be made responsible for any incident of immoral traffic in these areas.
Police have been directed to report to the court on September 21. Government pleader R V Govilkar told the court vigilance teams are already reporting about prevalence of minor sex workers. Now they will also identify public places notorious for immoral traffic. He told the judge about practical difficulties in carrying out the operation against prostitutes.
But the court said: ``If the police want to stop the menace, they can do it. At least they can set a time-bound programme, take addresses of the notorious spots from NGOs and raid these areas. One can understand the practice ofprostitution in private areas. But it should be completely banned in public places.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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