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Tribune News Service

Lalru, December 25
An ex-serviceman and a Congress leader was killed after hit by an unknown vehicle near Jola Khurd village here yesterday.

The victim has been identified as Karnail Singh, a resident of Basloli village. He had retired as subedar.

The incident took place around 3 pm when Karnail Singh was on his way to Basoli from Lalru on a scooter. A speeding vehicle rammed into his scooter from the rear near Jola Khurd.

The police said he fell on the road and a passersby took him to the local Civil Hospital in an injured state.

As his condition was serious, the doctors referred him to the GMCH-32, Chandigarh, but he died on the way to the hospital, the police added. A case has been registered against an unidentified driver.

Chandigarh, December 25
The Army’s continuation of filing appeals against High Court orders granting relief to disabled ex-servicemen in apparent violation of the settled legal position has caused resentment among the service community.

In a letter written to the Ministry of Defence as well as the Ministry of Law, ex-servicemen have contended that the Department of Pensions of the Defence Ministry and the Personnel Services Directorate at the Army Headquarters are making it a point to file appeals against almost all decisions of courts rendered in favour of disabled soldiers.

The said departments, the letter states continues to file appeals against the decisions of single benches before Division Benches and of division benches before the Supreme Court, even when the law is well settled by the apex court.

Highlighting some specific examples, the letter contends that the ministry has been filing appeals by brushing under the carpet, the legal opinion of the office of the Solicitor General and verdicts of the Supreme Court. A noting sheet obtained under the RTI Act on one such issue showed that the Ministry of Defence ignored legal opinion of the Solicitor General.

The letter contends that more than the logic behind the decisions, it is the ego of the mighty government machinery which swings into action once a verdict is pronounced in favour of a petitioner. Further, some departments tend to file frivolous, misleading and unethical appeals not only leading to a burden on the judiciary but also forcing a waste on the exchequer and man-hours of public servants.

Ex-servicemen say that unnecessary litigation against disabled soldiers not only causes extreme financial and psychological distress to them but is also against the overall spirit of the policy of the government in this regard and the stated position of the Law Ministry. 

Chandigarh, December 25
The Punjab and Haryana High Court is all set to tilt the scales of justice in favour of expeditious disposal of cases in 2010.

Available information suggests that the High Court has already initiated a number of steps for dealing with the problem of pendency, and is expected to push further the reforms in the coming year.

To begin with, the High Court is expected to see the elevation of more advocates as judges, with the Chief Justice, Mukul Mudgal, saying he was in favour of filling up the vacancies. The High Court has not seen the elevation of advocates as judges for about a-year-and-a-half, as it had earlier decided not to go ahead with the process in the absence of requisite infrastructure. In fact, a section of judges was of the opinion that the High Court was not having adequate facilities to put up more judges.

But now, with more courtrooms expected to be ready in the coming few months, the High Court will have the requisite infrastructure.

As of now, the HC has 48 judges against the sanctioned strength of 68. One of the judges, Justice Nirmal Yadav, is at present not holding the court following the surfacing of her name in the cash-for-judge scam. The year may also see Justice Yadav’s transfer.

It is believed the number of criminal matters pending before the High Court, too, will register a substantial decrease, with Chief Justice Mudgal further increasing the number of single benches hearing criminal matters to 16. Justice Mehtab Singh Gill had initiated the first step in the direction by increasing the number to 14 soon after taking over as the Acting Chief Justice. The High Court is also expected to lay greater stress on alternative methods of disputes redressal through the permanent lok adalats and mediation centres.

Already, the High Court’s initiative of seeking the assistance of retired judges to dispose of the cases to cut down on pendency has paid of. The HC is also gaining in monetary terms. It is spending just about Rs 247 per case, as against Rs 1,500 per case during the normal course of hearing.

The move was widely appreciated during the conference of the chief justices and the chief ministers held in New Delhi only recently; and the other high courts are expected to follow suit. Even in the lower judiciary, the situation is expected to register an improvement with the High Court amending the rules for the appointment of additional district and sessions judges. The mandatory condition of clearing Hindi examination in Haryana had been relaxed; and the percentage had been lowered for the SC/ST candidates. 

Zirakpur, December 25
A computer set provided by the state government for students was reportedly stolen from Government School, Gazipur.

The school principal lodged a complaint with the police in this regard, after which it registered a case against an unidentified person, investigating officer stated.

According to the police, school principal Kiran Bala claimed that she had locked the school on December 9. On return the following day, she found the locks of the computer lab broken.

While she entered the room, she found a computer set missing. She said the state government had provided them with six sets of computers for the school.

The police stated they had started further investigations into the case.

Mohali, December 25
After floating bogus recruitment firms, thugs have now evolved a new technique to squander investors’ money. On the pretext of running a computer training institute in Phase XI here, a couple has duped firms renting out computers.

After taking computers on rent, the thugs sold out the computers to other persons at lesser rates and squandered the money. As a security, the thugs had given post-dated cheques that, too, bounced. However, the police has failed to act.

Vishal Kumar, one of the complainant, told The Tribune that few months ago, Manpreet Kaur and Rajinder set up their computer training institute in SCF 113, Phase XI. The duo contacted his firm to take computers on rent. After completing the formalities, the computers were given on rent. But the cheque issue by the thugs bounced.

In another complaint, Paramjeet Singh, who works at ALPS Technology, said the duo cheated the company in a similar fashion and ran away with their computers.

Chandigarh, December 25
Fine all-round performance by Parvesh Sharma helped BTS Royal beat Kundan International Cricket Academy by 83 runs in the first BTS Gold Cup Cricket Tournament (under-13) held at Banyan Tree School grounds in Sector 48 here today.

After winning the toss, Kundan International Cricket Academy-46 elected to bowl first and BTS Royals scored 150 runs losing five wickets in their stipulated 20 overs.

Parvesh Sharma (52 n.o.), Shubham (27) and Hunny (17) were the top-scorers for the BTS team, while Nipun (1 for 20) and Balwinder (2 for 19) were the main wicket-takers for the Kundan International team.

In reply, Kundan International Cricket Academy-46 were bundled out for just 67 runs in 15 overs. Anku Dogra (19) and Nitin 9 were the main scorers for their team, while Parvesh Sharma (5 for 18), including a hat-trick, Resham (2 for 9) and Hunny (2 for 7) were the main wicket-takers for the BTS Royals.

Brief scores: BTS Royals: 150 for 5 in 20 overs (Parvesh Sharma 52 n.o., Shubham 27, Hunny 17; Nipun 1/20, Balwinder 2/19).

Kundan International Cricket Academy-46: 67 all out in 15 overs (Anku 19, Nitin 9, Parvesh 5/18, Resham 2/9, Hunny 2/7).

In the second match of the day between between LIC Juniors and Stepping Stone Cricket Academy- 37, excellent knock of 88 by Pranjay helped LIC Juniors win the match by 41 runs.

After winning the toss, LIC Juniors elected to bat first and scored 159 runs for four wickets in 20 overs.

Pranjay (88) and Shivam (31) were the top scorers for their team, while Jaijeet (2 for 15) and Sahiljeet (2 for 36) were the main wicket-takers for Stepping Stone Cricket Academy-37.

In reply, Stepping Stone Cricket Academy-37 failed to chase the target of 160 runs and were bowled out in 19.1 overs scoring 118 runs.

Yogesh (67) continued to hold the crease at one end and tried to make runs on lose balls, however other batsmen failed to give full support to him to achieve the target.

Aakash (12) was the other batsman who was able to offer some resistance to the accurate bowling of LIC bowlers.

Shubranshu (2 for 29) and Aakhil (2 for 12) were the main wicket-takers for the LIC team.

Brief scores: LIC Juniors: 159 for 4 in 20 overs (Pranjay 88, Shivam 31; Jaijeet 2/15, Sahiljeet 2/36).

Stepping Stone Cricket Academy-37: 118 all out in 19.1 overs (Yogesh 67, Aakash 12, Shubranshu 2/29, Aakhil 2/12).

Chandigarh, December 25
An opening wicket partnership of 88 runs between Abhishek Shukla (28) and Bhagwinder Ladhar (27) helped DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, beat LIC Academy by four wickets in the Blue Chilly Cup Cricket Tournament for Under-16 at the LIC ground, Sector 26, here today.

The event is being organised by the Desh Prem Azad Cricket Association.

Required to score 138 for victory, DAVSSS-8 overtook their rivals’ total, losing six wickets in 28 overs. Poor fielding by LIC players led to lion’s share of extras in the opening wicket stand between Shukla and Ladhar. Extras contributed 38 runs to DAV’s total of 138 for 6.

Simranpreet (16), Rahul Dhaiya (13) and Sagar Babbar (12 not out) were the other prominent scorers for the winners. For LIC-26, Jasvir (3 for 25) and Aneesh (2 for 33) were the main wicket-takers.

Earlier, the LIC won the toss and elected to bat. Their openers Subir Haiyer (50, 5x4s) and Manoj (16) were associated in a 40-run opening wicket stand.

Sagar Sharma (3 for 22), Simranpreet Singh (2 for 25) and Arvind Chauhan (3 for 9) restricted the LIC to 137 all out in 36.2 overs.

It was second successive win for the DAVSSS-8 from as many as matches.

Brief scores: LIC-26: 137 all out in 36.2 overs (Subir Haiyer 50, Manoj 16; Sagar Sharma 3/22, Simranpreet Singh 2/25 and Arvind Chauhan 3/9).

DAVSSS-8: 138 for 6 in 28 overs (Abhishek Shukla 28, Bhagwinder Ladhar 27, Simranpreet 16, Rahul Dhaiya 13, Sagar Babar 12 n.o; Jasvir 3/25, Aneesh 2/33).

Tomorrow’s fixture: DP Azad Cricket Academy versus DAVSSS-8 at DAVSSS-8 and MCA versus GNPS-36 at GNPS ground.