M A I N   N E W S

PPSC case: Trivedi to defend Punjab

Chandigarh, May 30
Additional Solicitor-General R.N Trivedi, along with an advocate, were today flown in for defending the Punjab Government’s stand in the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam even though Advocate-General Harbhagwan Singh had been appearing on behalf of the state till now and Punjab has a strong team of over 90 law officers “capable of arguing such cases”.

Interestingly, the high court on Tuesday had come down heavily on Punjab state for hiring the services of an advocate in the online lottery case even though the Advocate-General was readily available. The advocate in the case was reportedly handed over certain confidential documents against the interest of the state. TNS

Docs absent at border clinics
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 30
The sub-health centre (SHC), Cheema Khurd, was found locked when vigilance sleuths conducted raids at the primary health centres (PHCs) and SHCs in the border districts of Amritsar and Gurdaspur recently. With the result residents of border belt are doubly cursed who have facing the apathy of the Health Department and also because of Army build-up.

According to a report sent to the Additional DGP (Vigilance), the Vigilance Bureau has mentioned startling facts about the habit of absenteeism among the medical staff, including medical officers, staff nurses and ANM, etc.

During the raid at the health centre, Tugalwala, Kahnuwan (Gurdaspur), the building was found locked from outside. Mohan Singh, a member of the block samiti, and Mangal Singh, a panchayat member, said Dr Upinderjit Singh, a Medical Officer, Ranjit Kaur, an ANM, Kuljit Singh, multi-purpose health worker and Jeeto, a sweeper, were found absent.

Mr Tejinder Paul Singh Sandhu, Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Bureau, who compiled the report today said in all 48 PHCs and SHCs were raided in Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts and about 70 employees, including seven medical officers, six staff nurses, seven pharmacists, six ANMs, 15 class officers, multi-purpose health workers, laboratory assistants, basic health workers, eye assistants, driver, health inspector and LHVs were found absent. Mr Sandhu said he had sent the detailed report regarding this today for taking strict action against the absent officials.

The report reads that during the raid on the primary health centre, Ramdass, Dr Manjit Singh, Medical Officer, Vinasty Dass an LHV, Subhash Chander, Dharmo Devi, and Kashan Lal — all class IV employees were found absent. Similarly, when the PHC, Rajoke was raided six employees including Dr Anujit Kaur and Dr Parminder Singh both medical officers, Jaswant Singh, chief pharmacist, Peji Raj — LHV, Jagtar Singh, a laboratory technician and Baljit Singh, basic health worker, were found absent.

The attendance at border town Khemkaran’s community centre was pitiable as 10 employees were found absent. The centre is a few kilometres away from the Indo-Pak border.