|
Custom officials' role in 1993 blasts devastating, says SC
Thursday March 21, 2013 11:38:22 PM,
IANS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Delhi: In a
scathing indictment of custom officials of all levels, the Supreme
Court Thursday said that but for their complicity, the
perpetrators of 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts would not have been able
to smuggle the weapons under their conspiracy to bomb the city.
Recounting the series of incidents pointing to the involvement of
custom officers at all level in shady deals, a bench of Justice
P.Sathasivam and Justice B.S.Chauhan said: "It will not be an
overstatement to state that if not for the help of the customs
officials, they (the conspirators) would not be in a position to
smuggle the weapons required for the said blasts."
"It is shattering to notice that all grades of customs officers,
including the commissioners of customs, played an active role as
members of conspiracy and implemented the plan," the court said.
"Every kind of smuggling activity is devastating to the economy,
but the smuggling of dangerous arms and ammunitions causes
wreckage not only to the economy but also to people's lives," the
court said pronouncing its verdict on cross appeals by the
convicted and the Maharashtra government in the blasts case.
"A rationally structured and effective customs department is the
need of the hour in order to curtail illegal imports which can
have frightening ramifications upon the nation's economy and
citizens' security. Corruption among public servants indicates a
failure of our system where pursuit of personal gratification
subdues public interest," the court said.
The occurrence of Mumbai blasts, the court said, "brings us to the
reality that such incidents take place along the Indian coastline
irrespective of the numerous laws and safeguards provided due to
the lack of moral ethics and misconduct on the part of the
officials".
Customs being a significant source of government revenue, the
court said. "The officers of customs department must perform their
respective duties honestly and diligently. Any act or omission on
their part can have devastating consequences."
|
|
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More Headlines |
|
Women cabbies: We know how to handle mean men |
|
Muslim Personal Law Board to meet in Ujjain on
March 22 |
|
Farooq Abdullah to attend Bangladesh president's funeral |
|
UNHRC's resolution watered down and useless: Karunanidhi |
|
Rukshaks turn goons: Two Maharashtra legislators sent to police custody |
|
Punjab Police busts terror plot, arrests three |
|
US President Obama on few hours visit to West
Bank |
|
Pope Francis I reaches out to Muslims, Jews |
|
River Cauvery being exploited to the brink |
|
More slums dwellings with power, phone than
latrines: Census data |
|
No new taxes in Tamil Nadu's revenue surplus
budget |
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
 Tamil
Jhatka
UNHRC adopts resolution against Sri
Lanka, India votes in favour
India voted for the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at
the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which was adopted »
India will send 'resolute message' on Sri
Lanka
Indian shadow on US resolution forced DMK's
hand
|
|
|
|
Most Read |
|
 SC upholds death for Yakub Memon, Sanjay
Dutt's conviction
The
Supreme Court Thursday upheld the death sentence of Yakub Abdul
Razak Memon in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case and commuted the death
sentence of 10 others. The apex
»
Dutt only foolish, not a terrorist: Counsel
|
|
Andhra Politics
Owaisi's Hindu candidate defeats a Muslim
in Hyderabad by election
Struggling for an image makeover following Akbaruddin Owaisi's
arrest in a hate speech case, All India Majlise
Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Wednesday received a timely shot in
arm when its women candidate from the Hindu
» |
|
|
|
News Pick |
|
Interfaith Dialogue
Pope Francis I reaches out to Muslims, Jews
Pope Francis has promised to continue the Catholic Church’s
“fraternal” dialogue with Jews and work with Muslims for the
common good. »
|
|
12 Model Degree Colleges, 57 Polytechnics
approved in Muslim areas
"Under the scheme of establishment of 374 Model Degree Colleges in
districts having a Gross Enrolment Ratio of Higher Education below
the national average, 12 proposals were received and approved
»
|
|
New Delhi Budget
Sheila presents populist budget, no new taxes
With an eye to the Delhi assembly elections scheduled later this
year, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Wednesday presented a
Rs.37,450 crore budget for 2013-14 with a spate of schemes
» |
|
Tamil Nadu Budget
No new taxes in revenue surplus
budget
Presenting the budget for next fiscal, Panneerselvam said: "During
2013-14, we are projecting a revenue surplus of Rs.664.06 crore
and a fiscal deficit of Rs.22,938.57 crore. This fiscal deficit »
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day |
|
 |
|
Chairperson National Advisory Council Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
calling on the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr.
Mohamed Morsy, in New Delhi on March 19, 2013. |
|
|
|
Recommend the story to
your friends |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
Quick links