Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept 30: On 29/09/2024, a dedicated team from PS Mayabunder, led by Insp. S. Kannan, SHO, PS Mayabunder conducted an excise checking operation in the Mayabunder area. The team consisting of Insp. Gracefield, PCs S.N. Pathak, S. Shiva Kumar, and Felicitus. During the operation, the team received credible information about a person named Muniyasamy who had illegally stored a large quantity of liquor.
Acting swiftly on the tip-off, the police team raided the location and successfully recovered a jute bag containing (i) 48 bottles (180 ml) of IMFL DK Double Kick Fine Whisky (company-sealed), (ii) 10 bottles (375 ml) of IMFL Bagpiper Deluxe Supreme Whisky (company-sealed) and (iii) 2 bottles (750 ml) of IMFL Pentagon Gold Edition Whisky (company-sealed). The illicit liquor was seized from the possession of Muniyasamy, (41) yrs, S/o Late Karuppan, R/o near Fish Market, Mayabunder. When asked to provide valid permits or licenses for possessing such a large quantity of liquor, the accused failed to produce any legal documentation.
Following the seizure, legal action has been initiated against the accused under relevant sections of Excise Regulation for possessing and storing an excess quantity of IMFL without proper authorization.
The entire operation was carried out under the supervision of Mr. Ankesh Yadav, DANIPS, SDPO Diglipur, and the overall direction and supervision of Ms. Geetanjali Khandelwal, IPS, Superintendent of Police, N&M Andaman District.
The general public is requested to pass and share any credible information pertaining to any crime or illegal activities to their nearest Police Station or over phone No.100, 112 & 03192-273344. The identity of the informers will be kept secret and will also be suitably rewarded.

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Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept 29: The newly established dialysis unit at Apollo Clinic, Garacharma, is now operational and available to the residents of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The unit offers life-saving hemodialysis treatment for individuals suffering from kidney failure.

Hemodialysis is crucial for patients whose kidneys can no longer filter waste and excess fluids from the blood. It helps regulate essential minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium, and bicarbonate, while also managing blood pressure.

The Apollo Clinic now offers In-center hemodialysis, Outpatient dialysis services, Nutritional counseling from kidney specialists, Temporary dialysis for travelling patients, 24/7 service and acute care, Convenient hours in a healing environment, Compassionate and experienced medical staff and Emergency ICU services.

To introduce this service the Apollo Clinic has brought State-of-the-Art Equipment like Brand new NIPRO dialysis machines, RO machines with medical-grade water, Ultra-pure water system and Single-use dialyzers.

The clinic provides dialysis at an economically friendly price, ensuring patient comfort with well-furnished beds and rooms. Existing patients can book slots directly, while new patients will need a consultation before booking.

 

Staff Correspondent
Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept 27: Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, holds a special emotional and historical significance for its residents. The recent renaming of the town to Sri Vijaya Puram has sparked a wave of dissent across the islands. Advocate Prohit Mohan Lal, a well-known legal personality and a proud islander, has taken a firm stand against the decision by filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the name change in the Calcutta High Court’s Circuit Bench at Port Blair. The PIL has garnered widespread support from the islanders, many of whom feel strongly connected to the original name of the city.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha about today’s court proceedings Advocate Prohit Lal informed that the matter was scheduled for a final order today, where the court referred to a 2024 Supreme Court judgment related to the renaming of a place in Maharashtra. According to this ruling, the power to rename cities lies solely within the executive branch, and the court cannot interfere in such matters. The presiding judge emphasized that the executive authority has the absolute right to make decisions on renaming places and that the judiciary must respect this prerogative.
Advocate Prohit Lal acknowledged the importance of the Supreme Court’s judgment but argued that it does not directly apply to the case of Port Blair. He pointed out that the situation in Maharashtra involved a legislative assembly’s decision, with the necessary cabinet approval and statutory scrutiny. In contrast, the renaming of Port Blair was carried out without following these processes.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, Advocate Lal and his legal team made a compelling argument that the renaming process in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands lacked transparency and failed to follow due procedure. The court, in response, advised the petitioners to gather more information about the 2018 committee that proposed the name change and its statutory setup.
Advocate Prohit Lal has decided to temporarily withdraw the PIL to collect additional documents and information as per the court’s suggestion. He explained that they would use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to obtain details about the committee’s proceedings, its statutory powers, and whether it adhered to prescribed rules. Once they have gathered this information, they plan to present it before the court once again.
The lawyer assured that the fight is far from over and that he and his team will continue to challenge the renaming on the grounds of procedural lapses. “We are committed to bringing justice to the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” Lal stated. “The 2018 committee’s proceedings, its statutory setup, and the rules it followed will be thoroughly examined. This issue is not just about a name, but about ensuring that due process is followed in decisions that affect the identity and emotions of the people.”
Advocate Lal also highlighted the broader issue of the limited powers granted to Union Territories (UTs) like Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the Indian Constitution. Unlike other Union Territories that have legislative assemblies, Andaman and Nicobar Islands do not have this privilege, and as a result, their representation and say in decision-making processes are severely limited.
“Union Territories like ours have very limited powers. Even those UTs with legislative assemblies have some say, but we are left with almost none,” he said. “This structural flaw needs to be addressed to ensure that the voice of the people is heard, especially in matters that directly affect their identity and heritage.”

Rabindranath Biswas
Kamorta ,Sept. 27: Vehicle ferry service in Kamorta, Champin, Hitui and Munak Islands was severely disrupted owing to malfunctioning of two vehicle ferry boats ferrying in the island.
According to information, the situation is extremely grim in Kamorta, Champin, Hitui and Munak as the motor vessel the is the sole commuting means in these islands and the service provided by it was disrupted owing to malfunctioning of vehicle ferry boats MV Galathia as well as MV Barren.
According to sources, the residents of these islands demanded that these ferry boats should be decommissioned as they have reached decrepit condition while the MV Galathia developed holes beneath, they claimed. And the administration stopped the service of MV Galathia and placed only MV Barren in service. And now since the Barren has also developed a major snag, the residents especially school going children of the islands such as Champin, Hitui and Munak are suffering a lot, they rued.
The situation is unspeakable as the exams in schools are going on while the students couldn’t reportedly attend schools and write the exams yesterday, they further alleged. Though the ferry boat MV Barren was repaired and placed in service, the residents of these islands reportedly can’t rely on the boat and its service as it may breakdown at any moment, they said. In absence of the boat service, residents of these islands reportedly used small dinghies, however, it was highly risky and perilous in the inclement weather and/or rough sea conditions to sail in the tiny dinghies, they said.
They reportedly transmitted a message/signal to the Chief Secretary, Director of Shipping Services and the Member of Parliament as well and apprised them of all the grievous situation they were confronting. However, the higher authorities assured that they would take up the matter on priority. The residents of Kamorta and other islands were reportedly waiting for the redressal; and they said that new boat should have been placed in service but the defunct MV Barren hasn’t been replaced by a new one yet, they lamented.
And the residents now don’t know the reason why the matter is not taken seriously while it is much concerning, the decried. It is a serious issue and the administration should immediately resolve it as ferry boat service is life-line in this group of islands, and without it patients and students are put in grievous situation, they rued.
The denizens of these islands further said that the DSS carried out a mending on the MV Barren but it doesn’t guarantee how many days it will sail and then they will have to face the wrath of the situation again in the event of it going kaput, they warned. They would further talk to the administration so as to resume the service with a new boat so that they face no such difficulties in future. However, if their demand isn’t met, the Tribal Council along with students and the general public would mount a peaceful agitation in front of the Office of the Assistant Commissioner, they further warned.

 

Staff Correspondent
Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept 26: In a significant move, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed on 23rd Sept 2024 in the Calcutta High Court’s Circuit Bench at Sri Vijaya Puram, formerly known as Port Blair, challenging the renaming of the town, was heard today.According to details the matter is fixed for orders tomorrow.

The petitioner, Shri Prohit Mohan Lal, an well-known advocate from Naya Gaon village, South Andaman District, has raised serious concerns about the abrupt decision to rename the historically significant town without proper consultation or consideration of its socio-cultural and financial implications.

The PIL, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, calls for judicial intervention to set aside the controversial decision. The writ specifically seeks a certiorari to quash Notification No. 99/2024 dated 14th September 2024, which approved the renaming of Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram. The petition also questions the legality of the approval granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, arguing that the process violated established executive guidelines and lacked the required public consultation.

Renaming Without Public Consultation:

The petitioner argues that the renaming process was conducted hastily over a mere four days, without any meaningful consultation with the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The PIL claims that the decision has caused widespread discontent among the islanders, who were neither informed nor involved in the decision-making process. The petitioner emphasizes that Port Blair, a town with deep historical and cultural significance, was renamed without adhering to the executive instructions issued by the Government of India.
In his petition, Shri Lal cited the executive guidelines issued by the Government of India in 1953 and 1981, which require state governments and Union Territories to seek prior concurrence from the Union Government before changing the names of places. These guidelines also mandate that any such decision must be backed by compelling reasons, and public consultation must be conducted. According to the petitioner, none of these procedures were followed in the case of renaming Port Blair.

Impact on Local Culture and History:
One of the primary concerns raised in the petition is the negative impact of the name change on the composite culture of Port Blair. The PIL asserts that Port Blair, home to a diverse population for over 160 years, has developed a unique identity that reflects the island’s multicultural heritage. The abrupt decision to rename the town to Sri Vijaya Puram, a name with South Indian historical connotations, has alienated many islanders, who feel disconnected from the new name.

The petitioner also points out that the historical significance of Port Blair, which played a crucial role during the British colonial period and the Indian freedom struggle, has been undermined by the name change. Iconic freedom fighters like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and V.D. Savarkar are associated with the town, and the petitioner argues that renaming it without considering its rich history dishonors their contributions.

Questionable Historical Justification:

The PIL also challenges the historical justification provided for the name change. According to the notification, the name Sri Vijaya Puram was chosen to reflect the legacy of the Chola Empire, which allegedly had a maritime base in the region. However, the petitioner refutes this claim, stating that historians have confirmed that the Chola dynasty’s maritime base was in the Nicobar Islands, not Port Blair. Furthermore, the petitioner argues that the Chola Empire, known for its imperialist ambitions, has no connection to the British colonial legacy, which is a more appropriate historical reference for Port Blair.
The petitioner also raises concerns about potential international ramifications. The name “Sri Vijaya Puram” is closely associated with the Chola conquest of the Sri Vijaya Kingdom, located in present-day Indonesia. The petitioner fears that reviving a name linked to imperialist expansion could strain diplomatic relations between India and Indonesia, a friendly neighboring country.

Financial and Logistical Implications:

Another significant issue highlighted in the PIL is the financial burden the name change will impose on the residents of Port Blair and the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. The petitioner estimates that the cost of updating essential documents, including land records, school certificates, Aadhaar cards, passports, and voter IDs, could run into hundreds of crores. The process would also be time-consuming and inconvenient for the town’s residents, many of whom are already grappling with other pressing issues such as water shortages, poor infrastructure, and unemployment.
The petition criticizes the respondents for failing to consider these financial implications before approving the name change. The petitioner argues that the money and resources required for this process could be better utilized to address the more immediate needs of the islanders.

Violation of Constitutional Rights:

The PIL further contends that the renaming of Port Blair violates several constitutional rights, including the right to culture under Article 29 and the right to life under Article 21. The petitioner asserts that the name Port Blair has become an integral part of the town’s identity and its people. Any attempt to alter this identity without sufficient justification amounts to an assault on the cultural and historical heritage of the town’s residents.
The petition also highlights that Article 51A(f) of the Constitution enshrines the fundamental duty to value and preserve the rich heritage of India’s composite culture. The petitioner argues that the decision to rename Port Blair ignores this duty and erases a significant part of the island’s cultural heritage.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept 26: Delegation led by Maj. Gen Mukesh Aggarwal SDS (Army-II) of National Defence College (NDC) 64th Course of 15 officers including those from friendly foreign countries visiting A&N Islands as part of their Forward Area Tour called on Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency today at Raj Niwas. Discussed ongoing mega Projects in Tourism, Hospitality & Infrastructure Sectors being executed by Andaman & Nicobar Administration under the aegis of Islands Development Agency and overall security strategic scenario.