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Sunday, September 13, 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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Sunday, September 13, 1998 |
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Case against trust chief, 7 others CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The police has registered a case against Mr Swaran Singh, Chairman, Chardi Kalan Trust, and seven others, in the Sector 23 Blood Diseases Hospital case on the directives of the Chief Judicial Magistrate. Park
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Poor
amenities in MIG flats Parking
fee system suspended temporarily Religion
must not be ‘thrust on others’ 125
vehicles challaned Roohani
mission to hold samagam at Mullanpur 33rd
anniversary of battle honour day celebrated |
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Case against trust chief, 7
others CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The police has registered a case under sections 467, 468, 471 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code against Mr Swaran Singh, Chairman, Chardi Kalan Trust, and seven others, in the Sector 23 Blood Diseases Hospital case on the directives of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash. The chairman of the hospital, Mr K N Dubey, had filed a plaint in the court of the CJM under sections 156(3), 154 and 190(1) (b) of the Cr P C for directives of the police to register a case and investigate the matter. Mr Dubey in his plaint, maintained that a group, led by Sukhdev Khanna and Jaswant Singh Chawla, in conspiracy with Swaran Singh conspired to forge and falsifysome documents, they instituted a suit in a civil court projecting Swaran Singh as plaintiff, claiming that he has paid Rs 45 lakh to the complainant (Mr K N Dubey) as chairman of the Blood Diseases Hospital in an intent to mislead the judicial process by putting up a cooked up story. Mr Dubey further stated in his plaint that in the so-called suit, allegations made were vague, unfounded and concocted and a few documents were fabricated and bear complainant's (K N Dubey's) forged signatures. He further said that some blank papers lying with Sukhdev Khanna, also named in the plaint, who was erstwhile counsel of the complainant, in trust were misused. Further, the plaint said that Swaran Singh had shown all payments to have been made in cash and no cheque or draft was issued for any payment. Mr Dubey also maintained that the hospital premises were totally under his control till May 6 this year when Swaran Singh and others named in the plaint forcibly and illegally tried to capture the premises. But their attempts were foiled by society's people who were threatened with dire consequences. Further, Mr Dubey said that both Sukhdev Khanna and Jaswant Singh stand restrained by a competent court as a criminal case is pending before a court in Chandigarh. They had been restrained from interfering in the affairs of the hospital and raise any funds for it. He further alleged that in present attempt, Sukhdev Khanna, Jaswant Singh and Mr Ashok Gandiya of New Delhi had signed as witnesses in the forged documents. Mr Dubey said that he made a detailed complaint to the Inspector-General of Police on May 7. Instead of registering a case, he said, the police started making enquiries where in statements of the complainant and others were recorded by the Superintendent of Police, Mr Baldev Singh. The enquiry officer submitted his report with regard to forging of agreement. The officer came to the conclusion that fraud has been committed by the accused persons and attempt has been made by them to grab the property of the hospital society by adopting illegal means. But no case was registered even after the enquiry was held. Mr Dubey further stated in his plaint that the conspirators then tried to forcibly enter the premises with the help of CRPF personnel and a complaint in this regard was made on July 30. Though this was brought to the notice of the police, no action was taken. Further, Mr Dubey stated that Sukhdev Khanna impersonated as founder chairman but there was no such position in the constitution or memorandum of the society. Mr Sant Parkash after
hearing his arguments and going through the plaint
observed that "as per allegations levelled in the
complaint, the cognizable offences appear to have been
made out. Accordingly, the present complaint is sent to
SHO, Police Station, Sector 17, Chandigarh under Section
156(3) Cr. P. C. for the registration of case and
investigation." |
Park notification sparks row CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The issue of notification of the Sector 21 park as a bird sanctuary has snowballed into a controversy, with residents, especially senior citizens, saying the step will hamper their morning walk and get-togethers. Even as the administration, while issuing the notification, settled the rights of the residents by allowing them to enter, walk or sit in the sanctuary, the elders feel agitated, thinking they might not enjoy the freedom of indulging in activities such as exercise and playing of cards after the conversion of the 30-year-old park into a sanctuary. They demanded status quo for the park area, measuring 1.80 hectare, which unlike a forest area, should be regularly maintained as had been promised by the administration on many occasions. As per a notification issued by the UT Administrator under Section 21 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, on September 3, the entire park area measuring about 2.90 hectare, including 1.10 hectare of area, is restricted for birds. However, bowing to the demands of residents, entry was allowed to them on the condition that they would not disturb or touch the birds. However, this has failed to satisfy residents who decry the conditions imposed upon them and contend that the area could not be declared as a sanctuary as Section 18 of the Wildlife Act prescribed that any area intended to be declared as a bird sanctuary should have fauna, flora or of significance with natural boundaries. "But in this case, none of these requirements are fulfilled. Moreover, the Act prescribes that immediately after declaration of an area a notice regarding settling of claims should be issued, but in this case the notice has been issued after 10 years of a declaration," said Baij Nath Sharma, an office-bearer of the Senior Secular Welfare Society, Sector 21. He said the main objection of the residents was that though they had been allowed entry, but being a protected area grass and wild growth would not be removed. "How can anyone, walk around in an area infested with wild growth and grass?" he asked. He maintained that they had met the Mayor and the local MP, Mr Satyapal Jain, to retain the area as a park but nothing had happened so far. The UT Chief Wildlife
Warden, Mr H.S. Sohal, said the fears of residents were
unfounded. He said the cutting of grass and clearing of
area of wild vegetation would be the responsibility of
the MC. "In view of difficulties of residents, we
have decided that if MC is unable to maintain the area,
we will do this," he added, while denying that there
was any condition regarding notification under the
Wildlife Act. |
Wares stray onto passageways Place: The old Bajwara market in Sector 22-D. Problem: Large scale encroachments in passageways, corridors, road berms and the parking area of the market. History: Shopkeepers of this area, especially those carrying out their business from the booths , are responsible for displaying steel almirahs, chairs, trunks, plastic water tanks, mattresses, including their carding and filling on the roadside besides other encroachments in the area to such an extent that parking and the movement of pedestrians is greatly hampered. Besides the public, the local administration loses out on revenue as the land belongs to government and is being used without paying any charges. Countless anti- encroachment drives by the Administration and the civic authorities over the past years have failed to have any effect and things are back to normal soon after the clearing operations. Economics: The market, including the bay shops, facing Sector 35 witnesses brisk business, being located right on one of the main roads and has been much sought after by the business community and vendors alike. If a section of the road berm facing the market is occupied by private water tanker operators doing a roaring business, others too are not lagging behind. Considering the prime market value of the open spaces, one could very well imagine the amount that would be realised by charging rent for the space used. Public response: Parking and movement in the market, especially in summers and in the monsoon, are the first casualties. Shopkeepers all these years have not paid heed to either the action of the authorities or pleas from the public, says an old-time resident living at the back portion of the market. During the peak season
goods are not only stacked in a major portion of the
parking area but loading and unloading is also done here,
adding to the chaos, comments another resident. The
ineffectiveness of the various anti-encroachment drives
are mentioned by yet another resident. Most of them are
highly critical of the opening of workshops at the rear
of the shops which are a source of great nuisance for the
residents. Workers in their undergarments could be seen
going about their jobs at odd hours everyday, lamented
another resident. All appeals to the authorities over the
years have been without a lasting solution, residents
add. |
Kashmir handling worries MCPI CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The ongoing national congress of the Marxist Communist Party of India (MCPI), reiterated its faith and commitment towards Marxism and expressed grave concern at the neo- colonial policies of Imperialism. Nine resolutions were also passed. Expressing concern at the Kashmir problem, the delegates were of the view that even after 50 years of Independence the people of the state were still suffering. Unfortunately the government was treating the issue a law and order problem while Pakistan was encouraging violence and unleashing senseless violence and terror in the state. This had provided the USA with an excuse to intervene and draw mileage out of the problem. The BJP government too, by going in for the nuclear blasts, had given the USA an excuse to intervene in the matter. The issue of suicide by farmers was deliberated in detail and it was felt that successive bourgeoisie landlord government had failed to make capital investment in the agricultural sector. The policies followed by successive governments over the years and unremunerative prices had landed the farmer in heavy debt. An appeal to the farmer to participate in the peoples struggle rather than take their lives was made by the house. A resolution on contentious issues of Punjab was also passed. The house felt that despite sharing power at the Centre the Akalis had failed to resolve issues like transfer of Chandigarh, just and equal distribution of river waters, inter State boundary disputes. An all party meet should be convened at the earliest while the Akalis should leave no stone unturned in getting their demands solved. The issues of criminalisation of the polity, corruption and cultural degeneration in the youth were discussed. The house expressed its concern that corruption had eclipsed even the highest office of the land. Invariably, a large number of politicians or ministers were being tried for various crimes and embroiled in scandals. Communalism was debunked by the congress. An appeal to remain vigilant about the communal card being played by the BJP and other parties was made. It was a matter of great concern that even as the apex court deliberated on the matter, the BJP was going ahead with preparations for constructing the Ram Mandir. On the other hand the imperialist invasion on the minds and culture of our society had relegated national and vernacular languages to the background. The congress also took up the issues of the critical economic scenario and effects on the working class. Draft resolutions on price rise and the faulty economic policy were also passed by voice vote. Mr Prem Singh Bhangu,
politburo member said that the congress concludes
tomorrow and elections to various party posts would also
be held. |
Poor amenities in MIG flats CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — Residents of 504 MIG flats in Sector 61 are living with numerous problems, thanks to the apathy of the authorities concerned. Residents alleged that though a majority of the allottees had occupied the houses, the provision of basic amenities seemed to be low on the agenda of the authorities. Unscheduled power cuts, lasting for hours, seem to be a daily feature. Repeated representations to the UT Electricity Department, had failed to brighten up the things, residents alleged. As the water supply was linked to electricity, in case of a power breakdown, the water supply becomes erratic, say residents. On Thursday, the housing complex suffered a major disruption in telecom link, which had occurred reportedly due to damage to underground telephone cables on account of the repair work of the causeway linking SAS Nagar with the city. Perhaps the thing the residents resent most is the use of open space as toilet in the 7-acre area opposite the housing complex by slum-dwellers, who had been rehabilitated by the Chandigarh Administration in Sector 52. Scores of slum-dwellers in the morning and at night defecate in the open, a resident complained. Despite a time-schedule chalked out by the Chandigarh Housing Board to clear the area of weeds by August 15, nothing has been done, a spokesman of the Residents Welfare Association rued, adding, the area had become a health hazard for the residents. Moreover, a couple of garbage bins in the complex are not adequate with the result that heeps of garbage are seen littered in the open. The Punjab Urban
Development Authority (PUDA) has completed its portion of
the approach road to the complex but the Municipal
Corporation of Chandigarh is yet to start work in the
area falling under its jurisdiction. |
Parking fee system suspended
temporarily CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The Bharatiya Janata Party-Akali Dal, ruling alliance in the municipal corporation has suspended the parking fee system imposed in certain sectors of the city for a month, and constituted a nine-member committee to look into the parking fee issue afresh. A meeting of senior BJP leaders and councillors was held in the party office in Sector 36 here today. Besides the Mayor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, who will be the chairman of the committee, the other members include the local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, Mr Dharam Pal Gupta, local BJP president: Mr Prem Sagar Jain, Senior Deputy Mayor, Ms Harjinder Kaur, Deputy Mayor, Mr Des Raj Tandon, Mr Inder Lal Batra, President, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, Mr B.K. Sharma, a representative from the employees, and Mr O.P. Mahajan of Sector 17. The mayor told TNS that the step had been taken keeping in view the feelings of the people and the difficulties being faced by them. He said the committee would look into various suggestions by members of the public, the employees and other sections of society, and a final decision would be taken in the light of the panel's observations. The local unit of the Akali Dal has welcomed the decision of the civic body to suspend the levy of a parking fee. Mr N.S. Minhas, secretary-general of the party, said the fee had been levied in view of safety of vehicles of the public and on the pattern of parking fees already being charged in various parts of the city. Mr Satya Pal Jain, who arrived from Delhi in the morning and held a meeting with senior officers of the Administration to discuss the issue, has appealed to the public to make their representations to the committee. The civic authorities had
been receiving in the past few days suggestions which
included the issuance of a single pass for all parking
lots in the city, concessional passes for employees,
exemption for government vehicles and for wholesale
suppliers and mediapersons. |
Religion must not be ‘thrust
on others’ SAS NAGAR, Sept 12 — Religion plays a positive role in one's life but only as long as it is not thrust upon anybody. Stating this at a seminar organised by the local Lions Club on "Religious education and healthy living" here today, Mr M.P. Arora, SDM, said one could not compel a person to believe in God. Although places of worship such as temples and gurdwaras were revered and sacred, their managements should not disturb others by the playing of loudspeakers at high volume. This, he felt, should be borne in mind throughout the year and not merely in March and April when students were preparing for their examinations. Mr G.S. Gill, a former Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board, said no religion had preached that people should be woken up early in the morning by shabad-kirtan played on loudspeakers at places of worship. He said owing to this practice sacred kirtan was sometimes being described as mere "noise". Public opinion should be created against the use of loudspeakers, especially at odd hours. Among the speakers were Mr
Varinder Singh of the Gurmat Chetna Society, Mr Prabhjot
Kaur Sodhi, municipal councillor and Mrs Surjit Kaur
Sandhu, honorary secretary of the local branch of Family
Planning Association of India. |
125 vehicles challaned CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — As many as 125 vehicles were challaned last night for various traffic violations during a special drive organised by jointly by the Chandigarh Traffic Police and the Traffic Warden Cell in sectors 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39 and 40. Meanwhile the Traffic Warden Cell held a special programme on "Traffic awareness and road safety" for students of Class XII of Shishu Niketan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, during last week. Nearly 1,200 students participated in it. Literature on road safety were distributed by the Chandigarh Traffic Police. A traffic quiz contest for the students who participated in the programme will be held in the coming week. Under the programme three
schools of Chandigarh have already been covered in 1998.
The schools are DAV Model Sr Sec School, Sector 15;
Sacred Heart Secondary School; Sector 26; and DAV
Centenary Public School, Sector 7. |
Roohani mission to hold samagam at
Mullanpur CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The Vishav Gurmat Roohani Mission will organise its ninth annual samagam at Ratwara Sahib at Mullanpur, near here, from October 3 to 5. According to a spokesperson of the mission, more than a million followers from all over the country and abroad, including the USA, the UK, Australia, Germany, Malaysia, Kuwait, Canada and other countries are expected to come. Over 5,000 volunteers under the guidance of Sant Waryam Singh have been busy making arrangements for the smooth conduct of this spiritual samagam. Those expected to deliberate include Sant Waryam Singh, Sant Sadhu Singh of Sangrur, Swami Ved Bharti of Rishikesh, Sant Mohinder Singh of Khanna, Sant Prabhjot Singh of Mahilpur, Swami Pritam Jyoti of Amritsar, Sant Sucha Singh of Jawadi Kalan, Sant Hari Singh Randhawa, Sant Bhoopinder Singh of Jarag, Sant Sarabjot Singh of Una, Sant Darshan Singh Dhakiwale, Sant Avtar Singh Dhoolkot, Sant Dhanwant Singh Gurdaspur, Sant Kalyan Das of Anandpur Sahib, Sri Syed Ahmed Jelani, Dr Jodh Singh, Dr Shamsher Singh, Dr Joginder Singh and Dr Jagjit Singh. The spokesperson said that the mission had been using various means to spread its message of spirituality and for the uplift of human beings, irrespective of their caste, colour and creed. The mission has produced
2,400 audio cassettes and 900 video cassettes to
propagate spirituality. Besides, it had been publishing a
monthly, Atam Marg, in Punjabi and Hindi. |
33rd anniversary of battle
honour CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The second battalion of Mahar Regiment celebrated 33rd anniversary of "Asal Uttar" battle honour day somewhere in the Western Sector today. The battalion earned this honour and Theatre Punjab honours during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war. A number of cultural events were organised to commemorate the occasion. General K.V. Krishna Rao (retd) was among those who joined the celebrations. Colonel M. Panigrahi,
Commanding Officer of the regiment, lauded the role of
the men and officers of the unit for their glorious
deeds. |
CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The old guard has given way to new entrants as the battle lines for the coming elections to the Panjab University Campus Students' Council were drawn up with the naming of the candidates by various student organisations here today. The day also saw the emergence of new alliance. The Panjab University Students' Union, the National Students' Union of India and the Haryana Students' Association announced the formation of an alliance. The combine will fight elections to student bodies in the local colleges. Mr Rohit Sharma emerged as the consensus candidate for the post of president. He replaces Munish Anand, the outgoing president of the campus council. Sharma is a student of the Department of Laws. An impressive orator, Sharma feels relieving students from "political suffocation on the campus is of paramount importance." Sanjay Singh will contest for the post of the secretary under the banner of this alliance. Sanjay is also a student of the Department of Laws. The alliance is likely to name at least one girl student among the four office-bearers of the council. Dyal Pratap Singh Randhawa had decided to make another attempt for the post of president of the Students Organisation of Panjab University. Randhawa is a student in the Department of Education. Randhawa whose organisation had a meteoric rise in previous year's elections feels a lot is left to be done in the students welfare front. SOPU has decided to field Akhil Kumar Goyal (Department of Laws) as the candidate for the post of Secretary. Only the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has announced its complete panel for the four posts of office-bearers. No candidate is a repeat of last year's election. Ravneet Singh Yuri (Department of Laws) has been named the presidential candidate. Anuradha Negi (Department of Economics) will contest for the post of vice-president. She was the president of the student body in Government College for Girls, Sector 11, last year. Kapil Dev Sharma has been named the candidate for the post of secretary while Jeesu Jaskanwar Singh (Zoology) has been named for the post of joint secretary by ABVP. Arun Sood, vice president of ABVP, who will be the overall in charge of elections, said his organisation would fight the elections on issues of its performances in colleges, campus and schools; poor performance of the previous council; concern against vandalism; falling academic standards; and politicisation of the Senate and the Syndicate. NSUI, which last year had contested the elections in alliance with SOPU, said no student with criminal background would be sent under the banner of the alliance. Binder Singh, president of PUSU, said no office-bearer of the organisation was involved in any activity of violence in the past one year, unlike SOPU. The Chandigarh unit of the Students' Federation of India has also decided to contest the elections. Jagmeet Singh Sidhu and Ganesh Bhardwaj, office-bearers, said the panel would be announced on Monday. The federation said national issues were on top of its agenda. Meanwhile, a majority of
those named in the list of 25 students who could be
picked up by police in case of activities of violence
today presented themselves before the Area Magistrate and
furnished a personal bond of Rs 10000 each sources said. |
CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — One person was killed and two others were injured in two separate accidents since last night. An unidentified truck hit a cyclist, Kalyan, killing him on the spot. The same truck afterward hit a rickshaw puller, Satpal, injuring him. The truck fled the scene. A case under Sections 279/337 and 304-A of the IPC has been registered. Meanwhile, Kasturi, a resident of Colony No 5, was hit by a motor cycle (PB-18-B-5522) in Sector 29. A case has been registered. Overcharged: The Mani Majra police has registered a case against the owner of a petrol station for excess billing of a customer. Mr Inderjit Bajaj was reportedly charged for 47 litres of petrol, while the capacity of a Maruti Esteem's tank is only 40 litres. The police has registered a case under Section 420 of the IPC. Car stolen: A
Maruti car (CHL-5670), owned by Mr Surinder Kumar of
Sector 22, has been stolen from Sector 22-A market. |
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