& V I C I N I T Y
Tuesday, July 21, 1998
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C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
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Tuesday, July 21, 1998 |
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Outsiders harassed by traffic cops CHANDIGARH, July 20 — A person travelling in an Esteem bearing a Punjab registration number was stopped by the Chandigarh Traffic Police near the GMCH, Sector 32, roundabout last week and was rudely asked to produce papers of the car... HC puts off bail pleas again CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today adjourned to July 23 the bail applications moved by Dinesh Sharma and Suresh Sharma, two of the three alleged middlemen in the kickbacks case... Hike in fee for arms licences CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has increased the fee for issuing and renewing arms licences. According to a notification these orders will be effective from January 3 last... |
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 Appear in court, Jail Superintendent told CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Prakash, today directed the Patiala Jail Superintendent to appear in his court in person on August 3.... Booth collapses PANCHKULA, July 20 — The building of a service booth in Sector 8 market collapsed ... Katia molestation case adjourned |
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Traffic regulations from July 25 CHANDIGARH , July 20 — The Chandigarh traffic police will start checking various traffic violations from July 25 in the city following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court... SJP protesters cane-charged CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Members of the local unit of the Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) and colony residents from all over the city were subjected to a mild cane-charge when they were protesting in support of their demands near the Chandigarh Housing Board roundabout here today... Mahima mesmerises select audience CHANDIGARH: For the most part, the history of Urdu poetry in India is the story of Urdu ghazal, which has been the favourite of both poets and audiences in every period. The traditional theme of love and wine of this Urdu ghazal was savoured at the Chandigarh Press Club, which organised an evening with television and radio artiste — Mahima Casewa on Sunday evening... 
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Outsiders harassed by traffic cops Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 20 — A person travelling in an Esteem bearing a Punjab registration number was stopped by the Chandigarh Traffic Police near the GMCH, Sector 32, roundabout last week and was rudely asked to produce papers of the car. The driver duly produced the papers but the cop started writing a challan for "overspeeding". The driver's plea that a car which had must overtaken him was travelling at a much faster speed, was ignored. Understandably the other car was bearing a local number and the cops chose to "trap" the car from another state. Without any documentary proof that the Esteem was travelling at a higher speed than the set limit, the cops issued an overspeeding challan. This is not a stray case but a routine feature on city roads where harassment and unfair treatment is meted out to people travelling in vehicles from outside the city. However, no one seems to take any action against the cops who brazenly indulge in these acts. Interestingly, the police seems to apply a different yardstick for interpreting the law for violations by VIPs and their security vehicles, especially the Gypsies run by their cousins from Punjab and Haryana police. Leave alone challan, they are not even stopped and reprimanded for overspeeding or any other violation. Meanwhile, none of the roads in the city have any speed limit indications and people from outside are caught unawares and a majority of the times they are well within the speed limits but are stopped and harassed. If the person is travelling with his family he is harassed more as he is in no position to fight for his right. This leaves the police with all the powers on earth and no curbs on them. The punishment, if any, for erring cops is no more than a suspension and the cop, if he belongs to the UT cadre, cannot even be transferred out. This adds to the confidence of the lower level cops, said a senior officer on anonymity. Though the traffic police never asks local residents to produce pollution certificates, vehicle owners from outside are asked to produce the same. The idea of the cops is to harass them rather than educate, opines Mr Bunny Oberoi, who travels out of station frequently in his Uttar Pradesh registered vehicle. If someone's registration number is not written properly or say the headlights are in the high beam position, no second chance is given and a person from other city naturally wants to escape the challan thus leaving him at the mercy of the police. A Sector 37 resident, Mr N.K. Thapar, who routinely travels to Delhi said nowhere in the country he had seen such a traffic police force that is cut out to harass and not to help the public . He claims that he has never been harassed in Delhi as cops there only ask for documents and let one off if everything is in order." He suggested that these cops should not be allowed to stop vehicles unless accompanied by an SDM who can deal with challans on the spot. A city doctor, who has faced these cops once, said senior officers need to devise a system to check that how many vehicles were stopped and how many were challaned and what were the reasons for letting off the others. In the same breath he added, "How many of these vehicles are from other states" With cops stationing themselves on all exit and entry points in the city, roads users from other states are in for a tough time . |
| HC puts off bail pleas again Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today adjourned to July 23 the bail applications moved by Dinesh Sharma and Suresh Sharma, two of the three alleged middlemen in the kickbacks case registered by the Chandigarh Administration against certain officials of the Engineering Department. The order was handed down by Mr Justice S.C. Malte. Today's was the eighth adjournment ordered by the high court. In this case their bail pleas were filed on July 1. These were first adjourned to July 3, then July 6, July 9, July 13, July 17, July 18 and then July 20. As the case came up for hearing, the judge enquired from counsel for the administration what purpose would be served by incarcerating them for such a long time. Counsel for the administration told the court that if they were enlarged on bail, the others (the principal suspects) would also have to be released on bail. The administration's counsel further contended that the main suspect in the case was yet to be arrested. Counsel for the Sharmas, on the other hand, pleaded that they were subjected to custodial interrogation before sending them to the judicial lock-up. They had been there for 86 days. After 90 days they would have to be released on bail as the administration would not be able to put up challans in court. Mr Justice Malte also adjourned to July 23 the bail application moved by Mr K.B. Sharma, Superintending Engineer of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. He was granted anticipatory bail by Mr Justice B. Rai until today. Council for Mr Sharma told the court that he had already joined the investigation. The prosecution was reluctant to grant him a certificate about his joining the investigation. Therefore, he had moved an application in the court of the Judicial Magistrate, Mr Jasbir Singh. In its reply t he prosecution admitted that he had joined the investigation. The order passed by the magistrate was placed before the judge. He further apprised the court of the fact that the administration had not opposed the bail plea of Mr A.K. Sachdeva, a Haryana cadre Superintending Engineer, also one of the suspects in the case. The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr M.R. Batra, who had granted bail to Mr Sachdeva, had incorporated the administration version that it would not oppose Mr Sachdeva's bail application. Counsel for Mr Sharma contended that the administration was applying different standards. In one case it did not oppose the bail, while in another case it sought the cancellation of the anticipatory bail. Mr Justice Malte directed the administration to supply entire information to the court by the next date of hearing. |
Appear in court, Jail Superintendent
told |
| Campus
Beat Faculty posts: date for application receipt extended Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Panjab University today extended the last date for the receipt of applications for the faculty positions advertised in April. The applications will now be accepted till August 7 instead of the earlier date of July 20, according to a university press note. M.Sc (Hons School): Admissions to the first year of M.Sc (Hons School) have been fixed for July 28. Applicants will have to attend an interview in the department from 10 a.m. onwards, according to the Chairman of the department. Seats filled: All seats in the reserved category for admission to part I of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Punjab Engineering College and the College of Architecture were filled on the first day of counselling on Monday, according to sources |
| Katia molestation case adjourned Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Granting another "last opportunity" to the prosecution for securing the presence of Ms Katia in the court, the Chief Judicial Magistrate today adjourned the Katia molestation case to October 7. Today's order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Prakash, would provide three month's more time to the prosecution for arranging Ms Katia's presence in the court. On an earlier hearing, Mr Sant Prakash had turned down the request of the prosecution for the appointment of local commission for recording the statement of Ms Katia in France. The Chief Judicial Magistrate had given the "last opportunity" to the prosecution on June 15 while issuing bailable warrants against Ms Katia. The case has been hanging fire for the past four years. Ms Katia was allegedly kidnapped and molested by seven persons, including Gurkirat Singh, a grandson of the slain Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Beant Singh, on August 31, 1994. She had expressed her reluctance to appear in the court when the trial of this case was transferred from Ropar to Chandigarh by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. |
Crime
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| Hike in fee for arms licences Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has increased the fee for issuing and renewing arms licences. According to a notification these orders will be effective from January 3 last. An official spokesman said here today that for pistols, revolvers and repeating rifles the licence fee for the initial year of grant will be Rs 100, whereas the renewal fee for each subsequent year will be Rs 50 per weapon. Similarly, for .22 rifle and BL guns, and air-rifles it will be Rs 40 and Rs 20, respectively. For ML gun, air gun, sword, bayonet, dagger etc. the fee will be Rs 10 for the initial year and Rs 5 in subsequent years. |
| Booth collapses From Our Correspondent PANCHKULA, July 20 — The building of a service booth in Sector 8 market collapsed after its foundation gave in here this morning. However, no one was injured in the mishap. According to an eyewitness, digging of a basement at an adjacent service booth site led to the collapse. HUDA officials said the construction of the basement was being done unauthorisedly. The owner of the booth, Mrs Prem Lata Jindal, had been given directions by HUDA to demolish the part of the booth constructed unauthorisedly but she went to court and took a stay. |
| Traffic regulations from July 25 Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH , July 20 — The Chandigarh traffic police will start checking various traffic violations from July 25 in the city following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The police will start action against those who are found driving or riding the pillion of a two wheeler without a helmet. Sikhs wearing turbans are, however, exempted. Use of black films on the glasses of four-wheelers has been prohibited. The same goes for use of power or musical horns. No vehicle without entitlement from the government will carry red or blue light on the roof top or bonnet of the vehicle. Even the entitled vehicles will have to carry the authorisation slip from the respective authorities. No vehicle, heavy and light, will be driven by a person not holding a licence or a person not having attained the prescribed age for driving the vehicle. The escort or pilot cars of all VIPs will also adhere to the traffic rules and would not jump traffic lights. There will be implementation of one way traffic in Sector 17, Sector 24 and on the road that pass in front of St Johns School, Sacred Heart School, St Kabir School , all in Sector 26, and the road outside Carmel Convent School Sector 9 and St Anne's School, (Sector 32), at the time of opening and closing of the schools. |
| SJP protesters cane-charged Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Members of the local unit of the Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) and colony residents from all over the city were subjected to a mild cane-charge when they were protesting in support of their demands near the Chandigarh Housing Board roundabout here today. The protesters were demanding power and water connections in all colonies and protesting against the decision of the local administration to acquire land in Hallomajra village where hundreds of houses have been built by people. After assembling at Faidan village, near Sector 48, they marched through various sectors of the city before sitting in dharna near the roundabout. Enroute the protesters raised slogans against the administration. The protesters also held up traffic for two hours and later on tried to march towards the Civil Secretariat following which they were cane-charged by the police. Earlier, Mr Devinder Singh Babla, president of the party, demanded that the administration should make efforts to provide power and water connections to all people living in the colonies. He also criticised the decision of the authorities to acquire land for the CRPF in Hallomajra village. Members of the Deep Complex Welfare Association were also present in large numbers in the gathering. A deputation later met the Home Secretary, Mrs Anuradha Gupta, and informed her of their problems. She assured the members that their demand would be considered sympathetically. |
| Mahima mesmerises select audience CHANDIGARH: For the most part, the history of Urdu poetry in India is the story of Urdu ghazal, which has been the favourite of both poets and audiences in every period. The traditional theme of love and wine of this Urdu ghazal was savoured at the Chandigarh Press Club, which organised an evening with television and radio artiste — Mahima Casewa on Sunday evening. Beginning with a rendition of Kaifi Azami's ghazal, 'Tune samjha meri nazaron ka takaza kya hai', Mahima Casewa seemed to weave various motifs of ecstasy and freedom. Daughter of a musician and a musicologist, Usha Rawat, Mahima also received her training from late Ustad Shakoor of Agra gharana and late Pandit Vinay Chandra Maudgalya among others. Her remarkable choice of poets and poetry, from Faiz Ahmed Faiz to Ashiq Ambalavi, to Kaifi Azmi, was a genuine treat for the handful of audience that gathered in the dining room of the Press Club to listen to her syrupy smooth voice. Mahima Casewa's excellent diction and delicate rendering of the virile Urdu poetry did not fail to uplift the mood of the audience, who at first seemed quite hesitant to enter into the hall sans their footwear and sit on the floor in a 'darbar' style! Mahima's intense and emotional delivery of Urdu poetry had the modest attendance clamouring for more, but it certainly did not stop the flurry of activity of people getting up in the middle for refilling their glasses or from the shrieking and wailing kids. Sensing this upbeat mood, Mahima Casewa switched on to Punjabi folk — 'Pichey-pichey aanda', which though did not seem to suit her child-like velvety voice, certainly lightened the ambience of the evening. The charm of her honeyed but very tender voice was well brought out in the Rajasthani folk song — 'Kesariya balma', in which she displayed her background in classical training. The high tones of her distinct voice did not seem jarring even with the very loud sound systems. |
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