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| Friday,
August 10, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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7 part-time lecturers
shown the door Chandigarh, August 9 The stay order granted to these lecturers to continue to serve in the colleges in February beyond their dates of relieving was vacated by CAT when the case was admitted on July 16. Following these orders, the colleges Principals have been directed by the Director, Public Instructions (Colleges), that these lecturers be asked to vacate the posts. While three of these lecturers have been teaching in Government College, Sector 46, for more than six years, two were teaching at Government College Sector 11, and one each at Government College for Girls, Sector 11, and Government College for Girls, Sector 42. While vacating the stay order, CAT observed that since the UPSC had held interviews for some of these posts, they ought to be held by regular lecturers selected by the commission. Although the number of applicants in two of these cases heard together by CAT was more than 10, seven of these lecturers have since been relieved as the UPSC is yet to select candidates against the other three posts. These lecturers too will have to vacate their posts after
selections are made by the UPSC. Two similar OAs by 12 part-time lecturers in city government colleges were filed in February in CAT pleading that the posts held by them in the colleges were not governed by the 1990 recruitment rules since the amendments to new rules continued till 2000. These lecturers were granted stay to serve beyond March 31. The case will be heard by sometime in July, 2002. The part-timers employed in the colleges of the city have been resentful of the UT Administration’s attitude towards them. They claim that all the years that they have served in the city’s government colleges, they have been overworked and underpaid as compared to the lecturers who are enjoying the status and pay of a regular teacher. Many a times these part-timers have also complained of having given in to undue treatment to ensure that they are re-employed in the same college the next session. College part-time lecturers are re-employed each year after an interview at the college level to fill in till a regular lecturer is selected. The part-timers are relieved on the last day of the academic session. Although the UGC has laid down that the part-timers are to be paid the basic salary along with half applicable allowances, which comes to Rs 8000+ per month for full workload, the Chandigarh Administration has been paying them Rs 2200 to 3500 with none of the due allowances. In accordance with the UT Administration’s decision, no more part-timers are being employed in government colleges. In fact, the colleges have to take a special permission from the Administration to employ lecturers as guest faculty in the college in case there is a need to keep one. One of these college lecturers says, “We have been virtually thrown out of the college. I have served in this college for seven years and now I have nowhere to go. I am hopeful that next year when our case comes up for hearing, we will be better off.” |
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3 Ramgarh contractors fined for illegal clay
extraction Panchkula, August 9 Fined under Rule 21 (5) of the Mines and Minerals Regulation and Development Act, 1957, these “discoveries” have taken the total cases of unauthorised extraction in the district to four. Sources in the department said that these cases came to light after a survey of all mining sites in the district was carried out by the officials concerned. In Makian and Ramgarh, the contractors were found to have lifted clay for work elsewhere. The department has fined a Chandigarh contractor, Mr JR Verma, Rs 3.65 lakh, imposed a fine of Rs 1.82 lakh on Ropar Construction Company, Phase VII, Mohali, and of Rs 91,476 on Mr Ravinder Kumar of Panchkula. Sources said that a complete inspection of the site of Mr Chander Mohan, local MLA, in Ramgarh, and that of Mr Parminder Singh Sandhu, a relative to a state minister, adjacent to the Nada Sahib Gurdwara, was carried out. “We got both the sites in question examined for unauthorised extraction of clay but have found no evidence against the two. Hence, no action is being contemplated,” an official said. According to the survey carried out for the piece of land in Nada Sahib, the department official stated that the land owner, sarpanch of the gram panchayat, former sarpanch of the village, among others had confirmed that no clay had been despatched from there. It is learnt that all these contractors are using this clay for completion of development works being carried out by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in the city and around.
“Most of the areas where extraction is on lies around Ramgarh. We have checked the entire land and booked the guilty. However, we will keep an eye even after this survey,” the official added. It maybe recalled that a Faridabad-based contractor, Mr RK
Gandhi, was fined Rs 7.62 lakh for removal of clay and using it to
fill pits and level land in the vicinity. |
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Notice to air chief, Defence Ministry Chandigarh, August 9 Consequent to the amendment in the existing policy, airmen opting for a career in banks as probationary officers have now become ineligible for pre-mature release from the IAF, even though they have qualified in the written tests and interviews. The career of about 200 airmen nation wide is affected by the amendment. According to the petition, Air HQ has raised the limit of minimum basic salary of the post for which airmen can apply to seek premature release. The basic salary for posts of probationary officer, applicable currently, is lower than the minimum salary limit prescribed by revised IAF regulations. In a policy, which dates back to 1992, Air HQ allowed airmen, irrespective of their terms of engagement, to apply for Group-A posts in central and state governments as well as other departments or undertakings controlled by them. This includes Group-A posts of probationary officers in public sector banks. Successful airmen could seek premature release from service. As per the rules in vouge earlier, airmen could apply for posts which carried a minimum basic salary of Rs 4,000 per month or above. As per the revised regulations, issued recently, airmen cannot apply for posts which have a basic salary less than Rs 13,400 per month. The basic salary for probationary officers, on the other hand, is stated to be Rs 12,540 per month. This is where the hitch lies. While maintaining that the fixation of the salary limit is incorrect and unreasonable, the affected airmen are contending that the new policy is preventing them from career advancement or applying for a higher post, which is unethical on the part of the authorities. They are of the opinion that since the nature and the status of the job they are aiming for has not changed, pay should not be the criterion for release in such cases. They add that the policy which was devised for the betterment of the airmen and to give them an opportunity for advancement in life is now working out to be against their interests. |
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TRIBUNE IMPACT Chandigarh, August 9 According to sources, the decision was taken following a series of meetings between the top administration officials and representatives of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM) and the Traders Association of Sector 7, Madhya Marg, over the past few days. The Administration has now allowed the movement of trucks on the Madhya Marg from 11 a.m. to 12 noon, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The trucks would, however, be allowed to enter the market from the rear side only. It may be recalled that the authorities had imposed restrictions on the movement of trucks from the Transport Chowk, Sector 26, towards Sector 7 during daytime a few months ago apparently with a view to ease traffic congestion and bring down the number of accidents on one of the busiest roads of the city. The shopkeepers on the Madhya Marg had complained of heavy losses as it was a wholesale market and with restrictions on the entry of trucks several shops were on the verge of closure. Chandigarh Tribune had highlighted the plight of the shopkeepers recently. The shopkeepers had contended that the entry from the rear side of the showrooms would not pose any traffic problem. |
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Cong issues whip to councillors Chandigarh, August 9 The Congress today directed in writing its four councillors to be present in the House and deferred the decision to vote or not to vote or who to vote according to the situation, which has been opposed by the acting Mayor, Mr Gurcharan Dass Kala, daring the party to expel him. Mr Kala told Chandigarh Tribune ''He will not go to the House meeting for election of a new Mayor and persuade other party and nominated members not to go for House proceedings to prevent the House attaining quorum.'' The local unit Congress President, Mr B.B. Bahal, said that if anybody did not toe the party line, he would have to face the consequences. The lone Chandigarh Vikas Manch member, Ms Satinder Dhawan, also clarified her position that she would not attend the House meeting as she had already demanded dissolution of the House and voted for the same. Those in favour of the dissolution of the House have led a campaign to convince one of the Akali members and one his proposers not to go for the house meeting for preventing from a quorum. However, certain legal experts and politicians said as per the Punjab Municipal Act ''a quorum is not required for an election meeting as the House is not going to transact any business.'' The presiding officer for tomorrow's election Mr Harish Bhanot said there was no need of any quorum for an election meeting while those favouring dissolution of the House are making last ditch efforts to persuade members not to go for the meeting. The BJP local unit has been asked by senior Punjab leaders to sort out the matter locally with Akalis staying clear from intervening in the local politics. A section of the BJP was trying to
The local Akali Dal unit General Secretary supporting the rebel candidate Ms Kaur claimed that her victory was sure and that she had blessings of Ms Badal and was not a rebel. The 30-member House requires 10 members for quorum to be completed and with only six nominated members told to be present in the city and the four member Congress deciding to go to the House quorum is likely to be completed but the division in the party may stall quorum. With the two candidate Akali members likely to be in the House quorum may be completed. The former Congress Mayor, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, who did not attend earlier meetings has also assured the party leadership that he would go to the House. |
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Drowning case: JE
suspended SAS Nagar, August 9 The JE, posted in the estate office of PUDA, has been suspended pending the inquiry conducted by Mr N.S. Sangha, Land Acquisition Collector (LAC)-cum-GM(P), PUDA. Two attendants, Gurdev Singh and Mohinder Singh, have also been shifted from the pool. The contract of coach Manish Kumar and lifeguard Preet Bhupinder Singh has also been terminated . A PUDA official said the responsibility of the circumstances leading to the drowning of the boy should be fixed on senior officials. “Irregularities took place at the pool even before the tragedy took place. The SDO issued I-cards to the persons using the facility. Slips with a noting “may be allowed” were issued to a number of people against the rules.” In response to a public notice asking people to make their statements about the incident, only three persons had come forward to share information about the pool. Sources said that inquiry officials had found that safety rules, especially for children, had certainly been given a go-by by the officials concerned. Though the inquiry was expected to take few more days, overcrowding at the pool due to “back-door entries” of children has been found as the main reason which could have lead to the drowning. |
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Retired top cop enjoying service
perks Interestingly, the city police is unwilling to withdraw these perks from their former top boss “out of regard”. Nor has the officer himself offered to return the two Police Department employees attached with him, even as he is learnt to have decided to stay on in the City Beautiful. It is learnt that the former top cop serving in Chandigarh till his retirement in June last year has now made the city his home. However, a driver and a cook of the Police Department are still attached with him. For the past six months, he has been staying in the Police Officer’s Institute by paying a nominal fee of Rs. 100 per day. “The attendants of the institute are also there to cater to his needs,” quipped a senior police official. He also alleged that earlier the former police officer would often demand an official vehicle for his transportation — a practice that has now been put to an end. The log-book of the driver of the official vehicle, too, was filled and entry made. It showed the vehicle was used by another senior police officer, he alleged. According to police sources, a cook, Sarabjit and driver, Constable Wazir Singh, have been attached with the said person, ever since he retired last year. It is alleged that most often the driver and the cook also move about with the cop when he goes visiting to Delhi. Upon his retirement in June, the said officer was shifted to another government accommodation from the IG’s official residence in Sector 5, which was allotted to him by the administration for a period of three months . Following the end of this time frame, the former cop approached the city police and requested that he be allowed to stay in the Police Officers’ Institute in Sector 26. Senior police officers claim that the permission for staying in the institute to the retired cop was granted , thinking that it was a temporary arrangement and that he would shift to Delhi soon. However, 14 months after he retired from service, he continues to stay in the Police Officers’ Institute. It is learnt that since all police officers ( serving as well as retired), who are members of the institute and allowed to stay there by paying a nominal fee of Rs. 60 per day (Rs. 100 per day if the stay is more than three days at a stretch), are allowed to stay here, no one is allowed to stay here permanently. |
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1 discharged in murder case Kharar, August 9 According to a copy of the order received here today, the Judge has written that the prosecution has requested for discharging the accused as there is nothing on the record against the accused under Section 302 of the IPC. The Assistant Public Prosecutor had stated that he had no objection if the accused was discharged for the time being. According to the order, in view of the written request as well as the statement at the Bar, the accused has been discharged for the time being. Earlier the SHO of SAS Nagar had produced a request letter in the court that Baljit Kaur was killed by some unidentified persons on May 11 and Rajwinder Singh, the adopted son of the deceased, was arrested on May 15, but no witness had come forward against him so far. The person discharged, Rajwinder Singh, is the son-in-law of Mr Didar Singh, an inspector with the Punjab police and a former SHO of Kharar. |
Make “Green Chandigarh Plan” a success:
Jacob Chandigarh, August 9 Speaking after planting a “bahera” sapling at the GMCH, Sector 32, this morning Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd) said children must be educated about the importance of plants. Ms Neeru Nanda, Adviser to the UT Administrator, said the plan launched by the UT Administration had been a success as coordinated efforts had been made by the Horticulture and Forest Departments and the Municipal Corporation. Earlier, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests Ishwar Singh said 25,000 saplings had been distributed among various NGOs and schools against a target of 10,000. UT Home Secretary, R.S. Gujral, Chief Engineer Puranjit Singh, GMCH Director-Principal S.B.S. Mann, faculty members and others planted about 50 saplings in the hospital campus. According to GMCH Medical Superintendent Raj Bahadur, over 5,000 saplings have been planted in the campus during the past month as part of the on-going vanmahotsav celebrations. |
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Tap hydel power,
says Jacob Chandigarh, August 9 Inaugurating a seminar on the “accelerated hydro power development and pumped storage” organised by the Central Board of Irrigation and Power and the Bhakra-Beas Management Board, he said India was utilising only 25 per cent potential of 84,000 MW hydroelectric potential. He said hydroelectric power development had become one of the primary pillars of national development. General Jacob regretted that the ratio of hydel power to total installed capacity had been steadily declining and hydel power accounted for 25% of the total installed capacity. Eariler, Mr Yoginder Prasad, Chairman and Managing Director of the National Hydro Power Corporation, in his keynote address, emphasised that India needed to harness the full potential of its hydroelectric potential to become self-sufficient on power front. The president of the Central Board of Irrigation and Power gave the presidential address. |
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3 ITBP jawans test
positive for dengue Chandigarh, August 9 What has surprised the doctors here is the fact that the virus usually does not manifest itself during this part of the year and surfaces mostly during the months of September and October. Although worldwide instances of more than couple epidemic routes have also been reported, they add. Keeping this in mind these three patients have been asked to report back to the PGI after an interval of four weeks when they will be subjected to another panel of tests. If the tests also show positive results it will be confirmed that these patients are indeed suffering from dengue, say the doctors. Since the institute and other laboratories in this region do not have more refined techniques for culture for isolating the virus, the PGI is also in the process of sending the sera of these patients to the Centre for Communicable Diseases in Atlanta, USA, and the Nationals Virological Institute, Pune, where a broader panel of tests for epidemic outbreaks and other unusual cases from all over the world exist. Seven ITBP jawans from Jalandhar had been admitted to the PGI emergency on Friday night with high fever, dry cough and breathlessness all signifying systemic disease affecting different systems of the body. More than 50 personnel, all trainees of the ITBP batallion, had fallen ill and had been admitted in hospitals in different parts of Punjab. Five of those admitted to the PGI were discharged yesterday while two jawans, who as per the doctors were serious but out of danger continue to get treatment in the institute. The attending doctors also add that at this stage it is difficult to comment on the origin of this virus and so far the the only clue is that if not dengue this could be is some form of a viral infection. |
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FCI union begins
stir Chandigarh, August 9 A press note issued by the union said, the demands include no curtailment into the jobs of the corporation, stoppage of misuse of minor penalty rule 60, service to dependents of expired employees, settlement of pending revision with effect from October 1, 1997, and promotion of Class IV employees who have obtained matriculation qualification. Mr Balbir Prashad, regional secretary, said in case the management failed to accept the demands, the union would continue its agitation. |
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CVM supporters quit
Cong Chandigarh, August 9 Addressing a rally of his supporters here today, Mr Dhawan announced that the CVM would contest in the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh’s election slated to be held later this year. He said he had joined the Congress over two years back to serve the people but the infighting in the Congress had forced him to leave the party and float the CVM to redress the grivances of people. He alleged that the political parties and the bureaucracy had turned insensitive to the genuine demands of the people and the manch would try its best to raise the genuine demands of the people. Effigies of the Chandigarh Housing Board, building bylaws and the Market Committee, Chandigarh, were also burnt by the protesters.
Later, a scooter rally was also organised by manch activists. |
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State-level
convention SAS Nagar, August 9 Policies of globalisation, WTO consequences on industry and agriculture, rampant corruption would also be discussed at the convention. |
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JD(U) men submit memo Chandigarh, August 9 Addressing the rally, Mr Surinder Bhardwaj, president of the local unit of the party, said this was the time when the Punjab and Haryana Governments had become financial burdens on the city. He urged the residents to join hands to throw these governments out to safeguard Chandigarh for the future generations. A memorandum was also submitted to the UT Administrator. It demanded permanent UT status for Chandigarh, extension of “lal dora”, provision of electricity to certain parts of Mani Majra and an end to the contract system. |
Car financed from
two banks Chandigarh, August 9 According to the information available, Mr Dharamveer Khumani had applied for a loan for buying a car from the State Bank of Patiala, Sector 22- D and the bank granted him a loan of Rs 3.84 lakh on January 31, 2001 and after the remaining sum was contributed by the accused, the bank issued a draft of Rs 4,80,340 payable at M/s Maruti Udyog Ltd. It is alleged that as a security for the loan, the accused hypothecated the vehicle purchased and bearing registration number (CH-03B-1232). The RC of the car was submitted to the bank. However, on going through the RC, the bank officials noted that the RC bore the address of the bank as State Bank of Patiala, Sector 22-C, instead of Sector 22-D. As luck would have it, the bank sent the RC to the Registering Authority Chandigarh and it was then revealed that the car was hypothecated with Chandigarh State Cooperative Bank and that he had obtained a loan from the bank.
A case under Sections 420, 467 , 468 and 471 of the IPC has been registered. |
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Proclaimed offender held Panchkula, August 9 The accused, along with two others, Sanjeev and Ram Singh, had allegedly kidnapped a 16-year-old girl from the Sector 16 market three years ago. A case under Sections 363, 366, 376 and 120-B of the IPC was registered against the accused. The girl was recovered during investigation, but the accused were absconding. Giving this information, here today, the Superintendent of Police, Mr Manoj Yadav, said the local police had started a drive to nab proclaimed offenders involved in various criminal activities.
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Kidnapped girl
recovered Panchkula, August 9 While Pawan Kumar was arrested on July 22, Satnam Singh was arrested on July 26. The five absconding accused are believed to be hiding in Bijnore and Hardwar. Police parties have already been sent to nab them. |
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Suspect surrenders
before
Magistrate SAS Nagar, August 9 It had been stated earlier that that boy had surrendered before the police. The suspect had been remanded to judicial custody. |
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52 quintals of khair wood seized, 2 arrested Panchkula, August 9 The police set up a naka at Nalagarh road, as a result of which 40 quintals of khair wood worth Rs 99, 000 was seized from a truck near Pinjore. Later the police party raided Pipali Ghati and seized 12 quintals of khair wood worth Rs 24, 000. The police arrested two persons, Manjit Singh and Madan Lal, and a case under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC was registered at the Pinjore police station. Four more persons allegedly involved in the smuggling of khair wood were likely to be arrested soon as the police was conducting raids at several places. |
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One held, stolen
items recovered Chandigarh, August 9 According to an FIR registered under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC, two wrist watches, six pairs of silver earrings, a steel chain and an artificial gold set was stolen from the house of Mr Joginder Singh. Later, the police arrested the neighbour of the complainant, Ramesh, from near the DM Colony barrier and the stolen property recovered from his possession. One booked:
Bhana, a resident of Madrasi Colony, has been booked under Section 354 of the IPC on charge of trying to outrage the modesty of a woman in Bapu Dham Colony late last night. Car stereo stolen:
The stereo of Mr Kewal Saini’s car was stolen while it was parked near the Godrej building on August 7. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered. Two held: Raju and Sunder Singh were arrested on charges of gambling at a public place near Kabir Ashram, Bapu
Dham, and recovered Rs 210 and a pack of playing cards from them. They have been booked under Sections 13, 3 and 67 of the Gambling Act. SAS Nagar Commits suicide:
A 20-year-boy of Matour village, Jeetinder Kumar, committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance here on Thursday. The police has initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174,
CrP.C. |
Grain market strike ends Chandigarh, August 9 A delegation of the committee met the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen JFR Jacob (retd) here today to resolve the matter. According to a press note of the committee, the Administrator directed the UT Deputy Commissioner, Mr M Ramsekhar, to resolve the issue. The delegation later called on the Deputy Commissioner and it was aggreed that the traders would help the Market Committee in the cleanliness drives and all encroachments done by the traders on the road would be removed, the press note said. The Deputy Commissioner assured the delegation that the administration would rehabilitate the “rehriwalas” and “phariwalas” and the barricades would not be put in operation. A close reading of the press note revealed that the administration had acted smart as the traders, who had been using prime government land worth crores of rupees for storing their articles in front of the showrooms, would first have to remove the encroachments. Only then, the Administration would consider removal of the barricades, sources added. |
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Chandigarh, August 9
