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Tatkal passports at normal fee soon
Chandigarh, March 22
Passport applicants from the city will soon have the vital identity document for foreign travel within the Tatkal period of 35 days without having to pay the double urgency fee.

Barber killed over altercation
Chandigarh, March 22
An argument over a minor issue proved costly for an Attawa shopkeeper tonight.

Relatives of Mohammad Gulzar break into tears after he was declared brought dead at Government Medical College and Hospital in Chandigarh on Tuesday night. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan.

College told to refund student’s fee
Chandigarh, March 22
In a decision that may benefit scores of students, a local court today directed MCM DAV College, Sector 36, here to refund the fee of a girl student, who had deposited fee in the college but sought admission in a better course in another college.

Passing Thru
Q. What is the purpose of your visit to Chandigarh?
I have come here to deliver a special lecture at a workshop on training and job placement of the mentally challenged children.’’

2 killed in collision
Zirakpur, March 22
Two persons were killed and four others were injured, two of them seriously, in an accident involving a Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation bus and an auto-rickshaw on the busy Zirakpur-Patiala highway at Chhat village, this noon.

City- based Shivani Sabikhi, who has been selected for the Pond’s Femina Miss India-2005 contest.

	Congress sway over mining operations in Ghaggar March 22, 2005
	Quark office under cloud March 21, 2005
	UT move to recover rent arrears of ministers’ houses March 20, 2005
	Admn told to pay benefits to Kansal March 19, 2005
	Court orders impleading of 37 city schools March 18, 2005
	Admn announces changes in land allotment policy March 17, 2005
	Admn announces policy on special economic zone March 16, 2005
	Price fixation panel decides relief March 15, 2005
	Cricket teams leave the city March 14, 2005

Complete strike observed in public sector banks
Chandigarh, March 22
Work in all public sector banks in Chandigarh and the twin towns of Panchkula and Mohali came to a halt as employees and officers working in 250 branches of 27 nationalised banks observed a complete strike on the call of United Forum of Bank and Unions.

Ramanand Sagar, Raj
Babbar for Lahore
Punjabi Congress
Chandigarh, March 22
While writers, academics and artists figured prominently in the Indian delegation to attend the World Punjabi Congress, organised by Punjabi writer Fakhar Zaman, in Lahore last February, this year the effort is to rope in more film stars and singers for the congress to be held in Lahore from April 17 to 19.

Post-Munjal case: Bar Council goes after amicus curiae
Chandigarh, March 22
Less than a fortnight after the Punjab and Haryana High Court decided a petition relating to contempt of court by a former Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana Chairman Chander Mohan Munjal, the Bar Council has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the amicus curiae in Mr Munjal's case.

COMMUNITY

7,000 money orders not delivered
Postal Dept to raise issue with Bihar, UP POs
Chandigarh, March 22
A ray of hope has emerged for hundreds of city-based migrant labourers whose money orders have not been delivered at their native place in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh in the past few months. The Punjab circle of the Department of Post has taken up the case with the authorities concerned in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Alcoholic husband drives wife to suicide
Chandigarh, March 22
Tormented by excessive drinking of her husband, Pal Neema (20), a resident of the Madrasi Colony in Maloya, ended her life by hanging herself at her house this morning. She took the extreme step following a fight with her husband over his drinking habit.

Grid system for water scarcity advocated
Chandigarh, March 22
By conserving just 1 per cent of the rain water by way of harvesting, 100 crore liters of water could be saved for use in the city annually, said Mr V.K. Sikka, Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board, while speaking at a function held here today to mark the world water day on the theme “importance of water in sustaining human existence on the planet.”

The Guards given status of mechanised infantry
Chandigarh, March 22
The Army's seniormost Infantry regiment, the Brigade of The Guards, is no longer the traditional foot sloggers' outfit. The elite regiment has been granted the status of the mechanised infantry.

Delay in plot allotment due to stay: minister
Mohali, March 22
Mohali township figures prominently in the question hour of the current session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Highlighting a burning issue of the township, the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Minister, Mr Raghunath Sahai Puri, was asked about the delay in the allotment of residential plots by PUDA to various allotees in Sectors 76 to 80. 

Fast by MC staff enters 100th day
Chandigarh, March 22
The fast by government and Municipal Corporation employees of the city entered its 100th day here today. The Coordination Committee of Government and MC Employees today decided to organise a convention on April 2 to announce a complete strike in case the demands were not accepted by the administration.

Members of the Kendriya Punjabi Lekhak Sabha hold a rally in support of their demands in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Rally by govt staff
Chandigarh, March 22
Thousands of government employees from Punjab and Chandigarh held a massive protest here today on a call given by the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation and the Punjab and UT employees’ Joint Action Committee.

Protest by joint action panel
Chandigarh, March 22
To register their protest against the ‘anti-employess’ policies of the Panjab Government as reflected in its Budget, thousands of members of Joint Action committee Punjab and Chandigarh UT employees gathered in Sector 17 today.

CRIME

One arrested for immigration fraud
Mohali, March 22
A person wanted in a case of alleged cheating and fraud in connection with immigration racket here was arrested by the police in a dramatic way in Delhi with the help of the complainant.

20-yr-old woman ‘kidnapped’ by colleague
Chandigarh, March 22
A 20-year-old married woman waiting to join her husband and in-laws in the USA has allegedly been kidnapped by her former colleague on March 12.

3-yr-old girl dies in mishap
Panchkula, March 22
The lap of a mother failed to protect her 3-year-old baby girl from death. The tragedy struck a family of migrant labourers from Madhya Pradesh in Sector 20 here, late last night.

2 held for theft
Mohali, March 22
The police has arrested two residents of Phase 1 here on a charge of theft. According to press note issued here today, the arrested persons, Amandeep Singh and Manpreet Singh, had allegedly stolen a scooter from the market of Phase III B-2 on March 21.

Syal’s son alleges bid to kidnap
Panchkula, March 22
Mr Nikhil Syal, son of Mr R.K. Syal, Managing Director of Golden Forests Private Limited, today alleged that he was attacked by unidentified persons on the GT Road near Gharaunda.

BUSINESS

Contractors to get 15 pc share in profit
Chandigarh, March 22
Contractors of day markets will be given a share of 15 per cent out of the total profits. This was decided at a meeting of the Apni Mandi and Day Market Committee of the municipal corporation here today. Day markets are proposed to be set up at sites adjoining apni mandis.

Exempt medicines from VAT purview, say chemists
Mohali, March 22
The Punjab Chemist Association has demanded that the state government should exempt all medicines from the purview of VAT.

EDUCATION

PU students question hike in fee
Chandigarh, March 22
Student organisations of Panjab University have a grouse against the university authorities. They are “taxing” the student community with a 10 per cent hime in fee despite having “failed” them on all fronts — providing adequate teaching staff, infrastructure and functional canteens.

• Dharna at VC’s office

200 graduates get degrees
Chandigarh, March 22
Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, held its convocation and prize distribution function today. Nearly 200 graduates of BCA, B.Com and BA, including 30 honours students were conferred the degrees. Mr Krishan Mohan, Home-cum-Education Secretary, Chandigarh was the chief guest on the occasion.


Students of Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, Chandigarh in a jubilant mood after receiving their degrees at a convocation on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph.

New twist to school buses case
Chandigarh, March 22
The controversy over the plying of school buses inside the Pushpac complex in Sector 49-B by the Chandigarh Administration today took a new turn with the president of the Pushpac Cooperative House Building Society, Mr B.D. Agnihotri, resigning in protest against the decision.

Keep school surroundings clean: Mayor
Chandigarh, March 22
The schools in the city which will keep their surroundings clean will be honoured by the municipal corporation. This was stated in an official press note issued here today.

COURTS

Charges to be framed on March 29 in jailbreak case
Chandigarh, March 22
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Balbir Singh, today fixed March 29 the date for the framing of charges in the infamous Burail jailbreak case.

LEISURE

Only change is permanent
Raman Kumar, director of the forthcoming serial “Miilee”, Mona Wasu, main character of the serial and other artists like Ajay Gehi and Imran Mashkoor Khan were in the city to talk about the serial and to share some personal experiences. The serial is scheduled to be aired on Star Plus soon.


From left: Imran Khan, Mona Wasu and Ajay, star cast of a forthcoming TV serial, ‘Miilee’, in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

HEALTH

Red Cross to run centre for AIDS patients
Chandigarh, March 22
The UT Red Cross is all set to run a community care centre for patients suffering from HIV/AIDS. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, said the UT AIDS Control Society had entrusted the project to UT Red Cross.

Barbers get tips on AIDS awareness
Chandigarh, March 22
The Citizens Awareness Group in collaboration with the State AIDS Control Society, UT organised AIDS awareness camp for roadside barbers. The camp was held in two tenements near Shri Sanatan Dharam Mandir, Sector 37. Several barbers from the area attended the camp.

SPORTS

AG Punjab lift title
Chandigarh, March, 22
Last year’s semi-finalist AG Punjab registered a 2-0 victory over AG Orissa to clinch the title in the final of the All-India Audit and Account Inter-Zonal Hockey Tournament held at Hockey Stadium, Sports Complex, Sector 42, here today.


Vikram Saini of Punjab AG exulting after scoring the first goal for his team against AG Orissa in the final of the All-India Inter Audit (Inter Zonal) Tournament in Chandigarh on Tuesday. 
— Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

Chandigarh State Games begin
Chandigarh, March 22
The first Chandigarh State Games began here today. More than 600 participants are taking part in these games which are being organised by the UT Sports Department as part of the 2005 year being celebrated as ‘Year of Physical Education and Sports’ by the United Nations Organisation.

A gymnast participates in the Chandigarh State Open Gymnastic Championship being held at DAV College, Sector-10, Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

ADMINISTRATION

Nagar panchayat passes budget for Rs 7.87 cr
Zirakpur, March 22
The Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat has passed a budget for Rs 7.87 crore for the next financial year. Besides, a surplus of the previous two years, Rs 94,78,000, will also be utilised.