Kapurthala, August 30
Mr Amarinder Singh-led Congress government in Punjab has different set of rules for the Opposition and the ruling party politicians. 
The Kapurthala Zila Parishad Chairman, Mr Harjinder Singh Khalsa, moves freely despite being booked under a criminal case for corruption on June 28 this year.

The Jalandhar MP, Rana Gurjit Singh, was seen publicly with Mr Khalsa at a function at Lakhan Kalan village on August 27. The function marked the laying of the foundation stone of the link road from Lakhan Kalan to Gurdwara Harnarayan Pur. The District Public Relations Office also confirmed that Mr Khalsa attended the function.

The complainant, Mr Jaswant Singh, told The Tribune that he had met Jalandhar Vigilance Bureau SP, Mr Lok Nath Angra, to ensure Khalsa’s immediate arrest. Being an influential and powerful person, he might temper with the evidence any time, he added.

When contacted, the DSP Vigilance, Kapurthala, Mr Tarsem Singh, said the matter was being investigated and no further progress could be made. He, however, denied any political pressure to shield the accused.

The Kapurthala police had booked Mr Khalsa on June 28 within two days of publication of news in The Tribune columns on June 26. He had allegedly received Rs 5.20 lakh as bribe from Mr Jaswant Singh of Haibatpur village and others in November last year. 

An FIR under Section 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and Section 8,9 and 10 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was filed against Mr Khalsa, his personal assistant, Mr Jaimal Singh and Sarpanch of Ibrahimwal village, Ms Sarabjit Kaur, at the city police station. The case was handed over to the Vigilance Bureau a few days later. 

The anticipatory bail applications of all the accused were rejected by the Sessions Court in July. Two of the accused, Mr Jaimal Singh and Ms Sarabjit Kaur, then moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Mr Justice Ajay Lamba allowed anticipatory bail for Ms Sarabjit Kaur, while rejecting Mr Jaimal Singh’s on August 8. Mr Khalsa did not move the high court for anticipatory bail. 

While Rana could not be contacted, despite repeated attempts. The SAD district president, Mr Raghubir Singh, demanded Mr Khalsa’s immediate arrest. Accusing the Amarinder Singh government of adopting double standards, he alleged that Rana was shielding most criminals active in Kapurthala.

Mr Jaswant Singh and others had alleged in their complaint that they had paid the bribe in the presence of his Mr Jaimal Singh, Ms Sarabjit Kaur and Mr Ranjit Singh of Ibrahimwal.

The bribe was given on promise of getting their case decided again in their favour by the court of the ADC (Development)-cum-Collector, Panchayat Lands, Kapurthala, the complainant had alleged.

Mr Khalsa had told them on May 5 that the work couldn’t be done and refused to return the money. 

Jalandhar, August 30
Increasing incidence of violence against private hospitals over suspicion of negligence has forced doctors in the city to tread cautiously while admitting patients. Sometimes, patients are not admitted at all.

As a direct outcome of this changed pattern and attitude, patients in a critical condition bear the brunt. They have no alternative but to go to Ludhiana or Chandigarh.

It has also resulted in additional financial burden for patients and their families due to extra costs and medical tests at different hospitals.

During the past six months more than 10 major private super-specialty hospitals in the city have been attacked by irate relatives of deceased patients on suspicion of negligence.

Holding the management and doctors responsible for death of patients, relatives and family members of the deceased often vandalise these hospitals, pelting stones and damaging property.

Dr Charanjit Singh Pruthi, the Managing Director of the local BBC Heartcare Centre, affirmed the trend. “Yes, we are very cautious about patients who come to us in a serious condition. Though, no doctor or hospital wants its patients to suffer but we had a bad experience in 2000. After that incident, we have been cautious in case of serious patients.”

“It is not that the doctors or hospitals are turning away serious patients. In this age of competition, nobody can afford to ignore patients. They have started following more stringent procedures, including, making it a point to ask patients or family members to sign their consent before undertaking any surgical procedure. The caution is more in case of diabetic and heart patients. There is definitely a fear psychosis, which, has gripped doctors at most of private hospitals and it is not in the interest of patients,” said Dr Yash Sharma, a member of the Punjab Medical Council.

Dr Balraj Gupta, chairman of the ethics committee of the council, said violence was not a solution to any problem. If patients or their family members feel that they were subjected to negligence, there were appropriate forums like the council or the police, he added.

Jalandhar, August 30
Following reports of contaminated water supply and cases of gastroenteritis in Mithu Basti and Arjun Nagar, the Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, belatedly swung into action and decided to replace the existing pipes.

Although the exact cause of the outbreak could not be ascertained, the MC Commissioner ordered fitting of GI pipes in the main line from which the residents would be asked to take connections. He visited the colony today with a team of officials. After finding dirty water supply in many houses, the Commissioner ordered immediate action.

Meanwhile, health authorities also pressed a medical team into service. The team has been asked to provide health care, distribute chlorine tablets and educate the residents.

The Civil Surgeon, Dr Avtar Singh Jarewal, said only one out of the six water samples had failed and the cause of infection could be viral diarrhoea which was common these days. He said stool tests were being conducted to verify the cause.

Meanwhile, Hazara Singh (60) of Mithu Basti reportedly died at the Guru Nanak Mission Hospital due to symptoms similar to gastroenteritis. Doctors at the hospital and the Civil Surgeon have denied the report.

Jalandhar, August 30
In an unprecedented decision, the District Bar Association (DBA), Jalandhar, has withdrawn the chamber number of two advocate brothers Mr Parmod Kumar Kashyap and Mr Paramjit Kumar Kashyap, whose membership had already been withdrawn.

The advocate brothers, according to Mr Mandeep Singh Sachdev, secretary, DBA, were suspended from the membership on June 13 for their “misconduct and misbehaviour under Rule 17 and 18.”

After “receiving complaints from public and fellow advocates,” a one-man inquiry was instituted and the membership of the said advocates was terminated, which has also decided to send a letter to the Chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana and the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking action against them, he added.

“Not only this, both the advocates gave wrong statement to the Press against the president and the secretary of the DBA in their personal capacity. On the basis of it, a decision has been taken by the executive body to withdraw their chamber number and all facilities available to them as members of the association.”

Jalandhar, August 30
“Moon casts tremendous effect on the size and shape of root and other crops and farmers can benefit a lot if they plan sowing of crops in accordance with the lunar phases,” observes Mr Jaspal Singh Chatha.

Mr Chatha, a progressive farmer at Musewal village near Nakodar, has been practising biodynamic farming on his 30-acre farm for past about two years.

Biodynamic farming is said to be the next step after organic farming as it not only advocates avoiding pesticides and chemical-based fertilizers, but it also works according to the cycles of the Moon.

Punjab has lagged in biodynamic farming while farmers of the UK, New Zealand, the USA, Australia and other western countries have adopted the technique based on Oriental farming practice. In India, farmers of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Maharashtra have increasingly adopted the technique.

“If you follow the lunar calendar and sow root crops like potato when the Moon is comparatively near to Earth then the size is much bigger as compared to potatoes sown when Moon is away from Earth. Similar is the case with leafy crops and vegetables. This is an ancient method and now it has been scientifically proved,” said Mr Chatha.

Mr Chatha has participated in a number of biodynamic farming training sessions organised by various organisations, including the Uttranchal Organic Board and a national consultation workshop on organic farming for mountain states. He has also been a member of the Biodynamic Association of India — a 71-member representative body. Mr Peter Procter, a leading New Zealand based biodynamic scientist, also visited his farm and imparted latest techniques to Mr Chatha.

“In biodynamic farming, nothing is brought into the fields from outside. All things, from manure to pesticides are available in the field. It is a big step towards restoration of health of the earth. An ideal biodynamic farm is where the input cost (excluding labour) is zero. I have brought down the annual per acre input cost from Rs 5,000 to Rs 500 and the journey goes on,” he said.

Rahon (Nawanshahr), August 30
The Government Senior Secondary School for Boys, Rahon, the oldest school in the state, recently turned 150 years old without any fanfare. There were no celebrations to mark the passage of time for the school.

Not that it had much to celebrate except the years. The school is woefully short on infrastructure. The boundary wall is intact only in parts while the furniture is in no better shape. There is no regular Principal as well.

While most government schools in the city have improved facilities, this school seems to have been left in a time wrap. Only the staff and students are proud to be a part of it.

The school has produced many stalwarts and the students are well aware of them. “Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh and IAS officer Mr Balbir Singh, who retired as the Chief Secretary, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, were students here like us”, senior students chorus confidently.

A stone on the right side of the gate informs that the middle school was founded in 1855 and upgraded to high school in 1921. Before Partition there were only two high level schools in Punjab, the other being in Lahore. The school then was called District Board High School, Rahon, Jullundhar. It also had a hostel.

The school has some rare collections. It has the oldest science laboratory in the state. The long, wide experiment tables date back to 1912 with a price stamp of Rs 100 each while the weighing box was manufactured at the Punjab Science Institute Workshop, Lahore. Weights include seers, pounds, tolas and oz. The denominations vary from one quarter units to higher range.

The thermometers show temperature in Centigrade, Fahrenheit and Reamer. Other rare pieces include electrical microscope-cum-slide projectors. While most schools have skeletons of synthetic fibres, the laboratory here has an original one.

Science teachers, Mr Joga Singh and Mr Rajan Bhardwaj, said rare collections were displayed in the science fairs and exhibitions.

Science books published in London date back to 1915 and there are parts of Wimshurst Electric Machine used earlier to create electric charge and torn pieces of geography maps printed in Urdu. Sadly, the school which is a rich source of treasure is hardly equipped to preserve them.

Meanwhile, the only 150-year anniversary celebration that the school had seen was in the form of an Old Students’ Meet held about a year back for the first time.

Mr Gurmel Singh Sahlon, District Education Officer, Nawanshahr, said celebrations were not held as the school staff did not give information regarding its anniversary. When asked about any plans to preserve the rare collections, he said that he would have to talk to officials on the matter.