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VAT put on hold in city
President’s assent awaited on Punjab Bill
Chandigarh, March 31
Traders in the city can take a breather as the imposition of VAT has been delayed for a few days. Since Chandigarh will be adopting the Punjab VAT Bill 2005 which awaits Presidential assent, VAT cannot be implemented from the proposed date of April 1.

Banks wide awake at midnight
Chandigarh, March 31
The Bank Square in Sector 17, which extended normally wears a deserted look after 5 pm, was today brimming with hectic activity well past midnight. People in large numbers queued up outside banks till midnight to deposit the service tax and excise duty.

Officials of the Oriental Bank of Commerce, Sector 19, working till late night in Chandigarh on Thursday. A Tribune photograph

Housing dept errs on planning charges
Could have realised Rs 86.9 cr from PUDA: CAG
Chandigarh, March 31
Due to the delay in the framing of relevant rules, the Punjab Housing and Urban Development Department has failed to realise planning charges to the tune of crores of rupees from PUDA.

It rained liquor today
Chandigarh, March 31
It seemed that all roads today led to liquor vends today as bottles of liquor were being offered, at throwaway prices. A survey of liquor vends in the city revealed that a large number of the people had queued up to make most of the opportunity. People could be seen buying cartons and later dividing the bottles among them.

People buy liquor in bulk because of cheap prices in Chandigarh on Thursday.

Accident victim’s woes fail to move Dhuri police
Chandigarh, March 31
It has indeed been tough times for Mr Jagdev Sharma, resident of Dhuri, who was incapacitated in a road accident nine months ago. All his efforts to get those responsible for his plight arrested have yielded no results, courtesy callous Dhuri police.

‘Surinder was always there to help others’ Chandigarh, March 31 “One outstanding quality that separated Mr Surinder Singh from other students was the vigour with which he helped others. He made all efforts, even if he had to go out of his way, to help the needy.” CII mourns death of Haryana ministers Local leaders condole deaths

Missing Punjab Mandi Board supervisor found dead
Zirakpur, March 31
Mr Naiz Hussian, resident of Chhat village, who was missing since March 26, was found dead along the Panchkula-Morni road in Palsora village, last evening.

Satirists Jaspal Bhatti and Vinod Sharma celebrate “Fools Day” by linking it with the implementation of VAT at a mock drinking place in Chandigarh on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Pasco may quit Maruti dealership
Chandigarh, March 31
Pasco, the oldest dealer of Maruti Udyog Limited in the city, has decided to end its 20-year-old tie-up with the company by quitting its dealership in Chandigarh.

22 SAD (Amritsar) activists detained
Chandigarh, March 31
As many as 22 activists of the youth wing of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) were detained by the local police when they were on their way to submit a memorandum to CPI leadership at Kisan Bhavan here today.

Passing Thru: Kulmani Parida

COMMUNITY

Beware of tricky weather
Chandigarh, March 31
It is that time of the year again when after a long cold spell of winter, there is a promise of summer in the air.

Bal Niketan likely to take in Amar Singh’s children
Chandigarh, March 31
Amar Singh’s children are finding their feet and while their loss will always be felt, the kindness is going a long way in bringing back smiles on their faces.

Mahamoorakh sammelan on April 13
“Fools rush in where angles fear to tread” On April 13 the seventh ‘rashtriya mahamoorakh sammelan’ will transform the quaint Kalagram complex into a glittering "fools’ paradise”. The prestigious annual presentation of the Haryana Institute of Fine Arts (HIFA) and Liberty in association with the NZCC will been stage at the Kalagram after six consecutive shows at Karnal.

Penguin book fair at The Browser
Chandigarh, March 31
With exams out of the way and the days turning warm and lazy, pick into a bowl of grapes, sit in the cool shade of a verdant garden and devour books!

Children look through books at The Browser, Sector 8, host to the Penguin Children Book Fair, which starts today. — Tribune photo by Malkiat Singh

Gen Rodrigues surprises Burail jail authorities
Chandigarh, March 31
The UT Administrator, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), today paid a surprise visit to Burail jail.

Rs 1.5 cr cleared for bus purchase
Chandigarh, March 31
On the last day of the financial year the Chandigarh Administration cleared Rs 1.50 crore for the purchase of 19 buses for the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking and nearly Rs 1 crore for major equipment for the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

Brahma Kumaris ignite spiritual passion
Chandigarh, March 31
A four-day personality development camp for children was held at the zonal headquarters of Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Rajyoga Bhavan, Sector 33, from March 27 to 30.

JCT Electronics staff hold rally
Mohali, March 31
A rally was organised by employees of the JCT Electronics Ltd here today in protest against the failure of the authorities to re-start the factory.

Man found dead near city hotel
Chandigarh, March 31
An unidentified Sikh man, aged about 50 years, was found dead in a lawn near hotel Sunbeam in Sector 22, here, today.

CRIME

Two burglaries committed in city
Chandigarh, March 31
Two burglaries were committed in the city while two motorcycles and a scooter were stolen in the past 48 hours, the local police released this information here today.

Man tries to snatch cellphone, nabbed
Mohali, March 31
A man who allegedly attempted to snatch a mobile phone from a girl was nabbed soon after the crime here today.

BUSINESS

LIC employees strike work
Chandigarh, March 31
All Class III and IV LIC employees of the Divisional Headquarters, Chandigarh, joined the strike today to press for their demand of wage revision due since August 1, 2002. The call for the nationwide strike had been given by the All- India Insurance Employees Association.

EDUCATION

PU in quandary over vocational courses
Chandigarh, March 31
The Panjab University authorities are in a quandary. They continue to fund and run those vocational courses which have practically became non-existent and have no takers for the past four years. The centre of vocational studies, set up in 1998, in the university had started four employment-oriented courses — bee-keeping, silviculture, mushroom culture and fisheries.

Economists discuss patent laws, seeds
Chandigarh, March 31
A seminar on the theme of “Agricultural crisis-seeds and patents laws” was organised at the ICSSR Complex here today.

Tiny tots get a vibrant induction at Rai School
Chandigarh, March 31
The environment was vibrant with smiling faces during an orientation programme for tiny tots at Rai School, Sector 48, here today.

Concern over growing aged population
Chandigarh, March 31
The ICSSR North-Western Regional Centre organised a lecture on “Ageing in India in a comparative perspective” at the ICSSR Complex, Panjab University, here today.

Seminar on RFID
Chandigarh, March 31
A seminar on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), was conducted by Infosys Technologies Ltd. Mohali at UIET, Panjab University, Chandigarh, yesterday.

Hamara School
Grooming to realise potential
WITH over three decades in the field of education, Modern Ways Model School has nurtured and groomed thousands of children and made them responsible and well-rounded individuals.

A view of Modern Ways Model School, Sector 29-C, Chandigarh

Principalspeak

COURTS

Senior advocate questions Bar Council authority
Chandigarh, March 31
Senior Advocate S.P. Gupta, amicus curiae in the contempt case against former Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana M.C. Munjal, has questioned the authority of the Bar Council in issuing notice to him for alleged professional misconduct.

Ex-postmaster's plea dismissed
Chandigarh, March 31
A full Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has ruled that Extra-Departmental Branch Post Masters (EDBAM) are holders of civil post, but their service can not be considered as qualifying service for the purpose of benefit of pension.

CULTURE

New Release
‘C U at 9’, a bold thriller
Another bold movie "C U at 9" opens today at Fun Republic, Manimajra. The title is a definite attention grabber. Designed as a multiplex film, this sex flick has already generated a lot of interest among the viewers. This is a thriller with bold scenes. A new name has been added to the list of bold beauties of Bollywood glamour world. Shweta Konnur, a South Indian beauty hits the silver screen through director Marlon Hoden's "C U at 9". Isaiah play the lead role opposite Shweta.

Shweta Konnur in "C U at 9"

LEISURE

An evening dedicated to Ghalib
Ghazals from Mirza Ghalib rendered in the mellifluous voice of Manu Kohli and his literary prominence were brought alive through the renditions by Anees Azmi at the Tagore Theatre on the concluding day of the Urdu drama festival organised by the Haryana Urdu Akademi.

A scene of “Yahudi ki Ladki” that was staged at the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh.
— A Tribune photograph

Hasrat Memorial Award for Soz
“The poets and litterateurs are the national treasure and Sukhpalvir Singh 'Hasrat' was one such writer blessed with intuitive wisdom and imagination", said Vipin Pubby, Resident Editor, The Indian Express, while paying tributes to the poet at a function held at the Punjab Kala Bhavan under the aegis of the Punjabi Sahit Kala Kendra, Mohali.

Prof S. Soz honoured in Hasrat Yaadgiri Award function at Punjab Kala Bhavan, Sector 16, Chandigarh, on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Mixing music their passion
Being a disc jockey (DJ) means more than spreading fun at a party. It is also about having a positive attitude towards life. Meet 22-year-old DJ Naveen Sharma, alias Nash. Every night you can see him mixing music in a hotel in Sector 35. The psychedelic lights pamper his passion.

HEALTH

Functioning of CGHS dispensary under fire
Chandigarh, March 31
In a severe indictment of the functioning of the Central Government Health Scheme(CGHS), a sub-committee has ruled that the Sector 45 CGHS Dispensary is inadequate to cater to the health requirements of the thousands of central government employees and pensioners.

SPORTS

It’s home coming for Railways coach
Mohali, March 31
For Vinod Sharma, coach of Railways Ranji team, visiting Mohali is like home coming. The Railways team is here to play the five-day Ranji Trophy match against Punjab, which began today at Punjab Cricket Association grounds.

Vinod Sharma, coach of Railways Ranji team

Senior kabaddi nationals from today
Chandigarh, March 31
The 17th Senior National Circle Kabaddi Championship for men and women organised by the Amateur Circle Kabaddi Federation of India is going to be held at Football Stadium, Sector 17, here on April 1.

3 local v'ball players win laurels
Chandigarh, March 31
Three local volleyball players brought laurels to the country by being part of the Indian youth volleyball team, which won the 23 rd Memorial Ferruccio Cornacchia International Volleyball Tournament in Italy recently. They defeated Hungary in the finals.

Preetinder lifts Grewal Salver
Chandigarh, March 31
Preetinder Kaur played steady golf on all three days to lift the Grewal Salver defeating her nearest rival Dimple Minocha by three strokes in the Chandigarh Open Ladies Amateur Golf Championship on the lush course of the Chandigarh Golf Club here today.

ADMINISTRATION

Inspector Jaggi promoted as DSP
Chandigarh, March 31
Inspector Arjun Singh Jaggi, who till recently held the charge of DSP (Security), was today formally promoted to the post after retirement of S.C. Sagar.

DSP Sagar retires
Chandigarh, March 31
This cop loves to be in the middle of action - solving cases of murder and kidnapping and handling rallies or arresting political bigwigs, including former President Giani Zail Singh. His passion for activity was demonstrated today itself when he planned to don a lawyer’s robe, the day when he retired after 33 years of service.