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Excise Dept Fraud
Police commissioners for three cities
Lecturers’ shortage in Punjab leaves students in lurch
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Inside Babudom Political interference made him quit police 
Chandigarh, January 22
Political interference in the working of the Police Department is nothing new to this region. Way back in 1964, Felix Bernard Manley, who belonged to the 1939 batch of the Indian Police, quit his job in protest against political interference. He also perhaps belonged to the select group of British who had entered the Indian Police through competition. Among a few survivors of the Indian Police, appointed during the British Empire, is Ashwani Kumar, also of the Punjab Police. It was the Indian Police that paved the way for the Indian Police Service in free India.
Cabinet lauds Basu’s contribution
Enrolment up in govt schools
Social Security — II
News Analysis
Central varsity session from Feb
Extension of industrial concessions opposed
Role of Punjabis in Canada’s growth lauded
Jagdish Mittal promoted as IG
Funds released for canal remodelling
High Court
Rape story concocted, HC told
Punjabi University former VC acquitted
Rs 1.5 lakh robbed from office
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Excise Dept Fraud Umesh Dewan Tribune News Service
Patiala, January 22 Speaking to mediapersons, Patiala IG Paramjit Singh Gill said the Excise Department had hired a private security agency, Night Detective and Security Service, Mohali, for depositing the cash, collected through the department’s mobile wing, in the form of penalty imposed on the defaulters, in Axis Bank, opposite the Main Post Office. He further said that Dalbir, who was working with the security agency, was responsible for the deposit. “Instead of depositing the money in the bank, Dalbir kept usurping it and submitted fake receipts. When the Excise Department officials checked the account, there was a shortfall of Rs 1.5 crore, following which they reported the matter to the police,” he added. Gill further said that on the basis of a written complaint lodged by Excise Department official AETC Jaspinder Singh, an FIR against Dalbir, former manager of Axis Bank, Satwinder Singh Sandhu and the security agency was lodged under Sections 420/409/320/120-B of the IPC at Civil Lines police station. “Immediately after, we started investigations and within 12 hours, managed to arrest the main suspect, Dalbir Singh,” said the IG. Police officials further said that from the embezzled money, suspect Dalbir purchased property worth Rs 70 lakh. “We have recovered the documents and are also investigating about the rest of the money embezzled by suspect,” said Gill. Reacting to a query that the suspect was “not depositing” the money for the past three years, then how was the Excise Department unaware of the fraud, he replied, “What we can say is that whosoever is found guilty will be taken to task.” However, sources in the police department said that since the fraud seemed impossible without the involvement of officials, the police is also investigating the role of the Excise Department officials in the entire case. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the state Excise and Taxation Commissioner has also constituted a special investigation team to look into the matter.
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Police commissioners for three cities
Chandigarh, January 22 Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said there would be a larger involvement of senior and experienced police officers who would be entrusted with powers of executive magistrates with matching duties and accountability under the provisions of the CrPC at the cutting edge, resulting in their accessibility and interface with the public and transparency. He said this would also ensure a single-window system for licensing under the Arms Act and the Explosives Act and ensure a better delivery of these and allied services. He said Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra and recently Haryana had adopted the system. He added that the step had no financial implications. It would also not require additional manpower as the mobilisation of human resource would be done through internal structuring. The three cities had their own peculiar problems emanating from their historic, religious or economic importance. The Cabinet also approved the promulgation of the Special Security Group Ordinance, 2010, for the constitution and regulation of an armed force for tackling terrorist activities, Naxal activities and providing “proximate security” to highly threatened persons and their immediate family members. Badal said Rs 40 crore would be spent on the creation of these special security groups. The latest equipment and weapons would be procured for these teams. The Cabinet also gave its nod for the adjustment/ absorption of 1,192 SPOs against vacant posts of constable besides the fresh recruitment of 800 constables during 2010-11 against vacant posts of constable by relaxing the ban on direct recruitment and to take recruitment through the Departmental Selection Committee out of the purview of the Subordinate Selection Board. The Cabinet also gave approval to the creation of additional posts of 600 head constable, 400 assistant sub-inspector, 400 sub-inspector and 200 inspector by abolishing 1,600 posts of constable.
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Lecturers’ shortage in Punjab leaves students in lurch
Patiala, January 22 In many schools of Patiala, there were only one or two vocational masters and lecturers and their promotions as principals have left the students without teachers now. Government Senior Secondary School, Tripri, which runs vocational courses in electrical and mechanical streams, had two vocational teachers namely Rajesh Modi and Satpal Sharma, who have been promoted and resumed their duties as principals in respective schools. It is pertinent to mention here that no teachers has been deputed in their place, as a result of which around 150 vocational students return home without attending even a single class. Same is the case with Government Multipurpose Senior Secondary School and Government Senior Secondary School for Girls at Old Police Lines. “Vocational subjects cannot be taught by other teachers because they are highly technical and need complete knowledge about the subject. No doubt many schools are short of principals and these promotions will help them get over some problems, but as a result of this decision, other problems have come up. The government should have made some arrangement for these students because with just a month to go for exams, students have become helpless. There is no teacher to complete the syllabus and prepare them for exams. How can you expect them to study on their own and clear the exams?” questioned one of the teachers of Tripri School. A member of the Government Teachers Union of Patiala seconding his opinion added that this decision has definitely affected the functioning of the schools. He said, “The students have already paid the fees and there is no way that they can study on their own. The government should have made some arrangement before shifting these teachers.” Secretary education of the Punjab government GS Grewal (IAS) said the government was totally aware of the problem and is working really hard to solve it. “We had to comply with the deadline of the High Court, as a result of which we did the promotions of these teachers. It is really difficult to replace them with new teachers overnight. The process of recruiting new teachers is on and we are likely to give them orders very soon,” he added.
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Political interference made him quit police
Prabhjot Singh Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 22 Among a few survivors of the Indian Police, appointed during the British Empire, is Ashwani Kumar, also of the Punjab Police. It was the Indian Police that paved the way for the Indian Police Service in free India. Manley, who was the last British Principal of the Police Training School at Phillaur, died yesterday in London at the age of 91. Manley had the distinction of serving the pre-Partition Punjab and had stints in many of the major districts of west Punjab, now in Pakistan, besides serving some areas that after the 1966 re-organisation formed parts of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Before he quit his job, he was awarded the President’s Police Medal for meritorious service. Rajdeep Singh Gill, Director-General of Police-cum-Director, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Police Academy, who follows religiously career graphs of his seniors and predecessors, says that after the police job, Manley worked on the management of the Lawrence School, Sanawar, for some time before moving back to England where he settled in London. After his schooling in Britain and graduation from France, he cleared the competition for appointment to the then Indian Police. Manley had his initial training at Phillaur Training School before he got his first posting as Assistant Superintendent of Police, Shimla. He held similar stints in Gujarat, Sialkot and Lahore, all in west Punjab in Pakistan now. Subsequently on his promotion as Superintendent of Police, he remained district police chief of Jhang, Ambala, Shimla, Lahore and Ferozepore. Manley also had a stint as Assistant IG of Railway Police before going to Phillaur as the Principal of the Police Training School. Manley also remained Deputy Inspector-General of Jalandhar, Ambala and Border Ranges besides serving the Punjab Armed Police.
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Cabinet lauds Basu’s contribution
Chandigarh, January 22 Further the Cabinet took several other decisions that include approving allotment of land to registered political parties at district headquarters for opening their offices. The Council of Ministers also gave approval for transfer of some part of land of Cattle Fair ground, Nabipur (Sirhind) in Fatehgarh Sahib district with land of education department for providing extreme modern facilities in departmental Cattle Fair grounds. The state government has decided to provide these modern facilities in the Cattle Fair ground in a phased manner. Under the first phase Kilianwalia in Muktsar district, Vallah in Amritsar, Nabipur (Sirhind) in Fatehgarh and Tran Taran would be taken up. The Council of Ministers also gave in principle approval in the light of the judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court not to recover arrears of excess payment from employees of Ranjit Sagar Dam on account of special increments but, however, pay and emoluments of all employees, including those who have retired, should be re-fixed as per rules and pension and other retrial benefits of the employees be released on the basis of the re-fixed correct pay. In another significant decision, the council of ministers also approved change of designation of veterinary pharmacists to veterinary inspectors as now they were performing duties of animal vaccination, cattle census and herd registration also under the supervision of veterinary officers. The Council of Ministers also gave approval to offer land on lease basis for 20 years @ of Rs1,200 per annum to the Ministry of Defence, GoI for construction of Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinic at Muktsar. The Council of Ministers also decided to confer ownership rights upon the occupants of land belonging to Mud Hut Colony, Trivadi camp in Mubarkpur, Ambala district, now under Tehsil Derabasi in Mohali district thereby conceding the long-pending demand of the residents of the area. The Council of Ministers also gave approval for arranging two years regular ETT course for the EGS volunteers for the session 2009-11 in DIETS in the Department of School Education. The Council of Ministers also gave ex-post facto approval for the transfer of 28 villages in Banur area of sub-division/Tehsil Rajpura in district Patiala to district SAS Nagar Mohali besides giving ex-post facto approval for the creation of sub-Tehsil at Mehatpur and Lohian in district Jalandhar. The Council of Ministers also approved to run city buses connecting suburban areas with the main cities of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana for which city bus operational area has been extended 5 kms from the municipal corporation limit. The Council of Ministers also approved the transfer of 4 kanal land of Open Air Jail, Nabha, to Primary School Gobind Nagar
Nabha.
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Enrolment up in govt schools
Chandigarh, January 22 Recording a marginal improvement in attendance in government schools, it states that 456 government primary and upper primary schools were visited across Punjab in October-November 2009. While in 2005, 84.1 per cent of enroled children were attending school, on the day of the visit, the number had increased to 85.3 per cent. It adds that there has been an increase in the percentage of children in Class I who can read letters from 75.6 per cent in 2006 to 85.6 per cent in 2009. “Percentage of children in Class V in 2006 who could read in Class II was 53.5 per cent. It increased to 64.3 per cent in 2009,” points out the report. On the quality of teaching of mathematics at the primary level, it states that the number of students in Class I, who can recognise numbers one to 9, has increased from 77.8 per cent in 2008 to 82.3 per cent. The number of students in Class V in 2008, who could divide, was 43.5 per cent and increased to 48.9 pc in 2009. The ASER has also given its feedback on other facilities being provided in schools. Nearly 456 primary and upper primary schools were visited by the ASER team. It noted that while in 2005 only 20.4 per cent students were being served midday meals, this number swelled to 95.5 per cent in 2009. The reports further pointed out that almost 9 per cent of primary schools and 12 per cent of upper primary schools in Punjab did not have separate provision for girls’ toilets.
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One old-age home for 100 in 20
districts
Jyotika Sood Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, January 22 The interesting fact related to the establishment of old-age homes under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, has been admitted by the nodal agency, Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development, Punjab. “The department has confessed that there is only one Old-Age Home with a capacity of 100 inmates in Punjab and that, too, was established in 1961. No steps have been taken by the Punjab government for the establishment of old-age homes in each district except sending a letter to the deputy commissioners,” said Hitender Jain, an RTI activist. On March 6, 2009, the Department of Social Security and Women and Child development (DSSWCD) had shot off letters to the deputy commissioners, asking them to hand over lands to the department for setting up of old-age homes. “Rs 13-crore grant has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, for 2008-2009 to set up old-age homes,” states the RTI reply given by the DSSWCD to NGO Resurgence India. Besides, the department had also asked the deputy commissioners to forward them detailed project reports (DPR) of the NGOs who were ready to run the old-age homes with a recommendation letter. However, none of the deputy commissioners took a lead to ask for the amount that has been sanctioned. As a result, the help offered by the Government of India could not be availed by the state government. On the basis of population census of 2001, the Government of India (GoI) had directed the state governments to decide the capacity of old-age homes depending upon the population. According to the GoI, a district with a population up to 10 lakh should have old- age home of minimum capacity of 25. Likewise, an old-age home for 50 should be there for the population between 10 to 20 lakh, and for population above 20 lakh, a senior citizen home for 100 is required. NGO general secretary Hitender Jain said, “If you divide Rs 13 crore in 19 districts, every DC could have got around Rs 68 lakh for the construction of an old-age home. But there is no will.” He revealed that stalling of projects due to paucity of funds was quite common in Punjab, but as far as setting up of old-age homes was concerned, funds were never a problem as disclosed through the RTI. (Concluded)
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Retirement age: Govt leaves staff in limbo
Prabhjot Singh Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 22 The Punjab Council of Ministers that otherwise accepted all recommendations of the committee decided to give an option to employees, whether those retiring in the current year, would like one-year extension in service or not. Those employees who opt for extension will get one extra year in service as a special one-time measure.This decision, according to Harcharan Bains, media adviser to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, has been taken to overcome the shortage of staff during the intervening period of employees retiring this year and subsequent recruitment to posts so fallen vacant so as to keep the public delivery system unaffected. But this decision neither supports the promise the SAD had made in its election manifesto nor it endorses the recommendation of the Badal-Kalia committee report. Instead, the SAD-BJP government has chosen the middle path of neither disappointing the employees on the verge of retirement nor those seeking to get in against vacancies. It will, say many in the administration, will create confusion, unnecessary file work and create hurdles in the routine work in offices. Energies will be focused more on who all from the 2010 retiring batch are seeking extensions and why? By losing another year, the government will be left with little time to make new appointments against posts that will keep on falling vacant in 2011, a year before the Assembly elections. Instead the government may have opted for diluting the recommendation by making 59 as the retirement age. Administratively, point out experts, it is always better to arrive at a firm decision than making it optional or leaving the final decision- making to subjective considerations. The new decision does not make it mandatory that all those who seek extension in service by one year would get it. Employees would have to look up to both their administrative and political bosses for “conditional benefit”. Such conditional benefits are not without severe heartburning and getting the government ill will of its employees.
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Central varsity session from Feb
Bathinda, January 22 The Central University of Punjab Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Jai Rup Singh, said here today that admission to 20 seats of the four courses would be done on the basis of an online test to be held on January 25 in Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Noida. He said about 300 students had applied for the entrance test. The VC said from July, various other MPhil-PhD integrated programmes namely museology, archeology and conservation; chemical and pharmaceutical sciences, social Sciences, computational sciences, human genetics, waste management, genetic diseases and molecular medicine and physical and mathematical sciences would be started. Five students would be admitted to each course, he added. Besides, the university would also start MBA in information technology and management, MTech-PhD integrated programme in computer science and technology, LLM-PhD integrated programme in environmental law, master of architecture in green architecture and landscape design and ancient and modern architecture from July. The VC further said the process to set up a library and laboratories was at the final stage. He added that Internet connectivity at the residences of teachers would also be provided.
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Extension of industrial concessions opposed
Chandigarh, January 22 In a joint statement issued here, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Haryana Chief
Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed concern that such an extension disturbed the level playing
field among states in the spheres of development and economic growth. They pleaded that continued concessions to Himachal Pradesh, J&K and Uttrakhand without giving the same package to Punjab and Haryana acted as a deterrent to economic growth in these states. The two Chief Ministers asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene to either stop the extension of this package to these states or declare a similar package for Punjab and Haryana. Badal and Hooda further observed that due to these incentives, there had been a flight of industries from Punjab and Haryana to neighbouring states. Meanwhile, the Punjab Cabinet also passed a resolution to this effect during its meeting.
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Role of Punjabis in Canada’s growth lauded
Chandigarh, January 22 He spoke about recent initiatives implemented to develop business, economic, educational, social and cultural links between north India and British Columbia at a function organised at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development here today. Former minister of British Columbia Dr Gulzar Singh Cheema said strong trade, education and agricultural ties between Indians and Canadians would boost the economy. Prof DJ Sandhu, official representative of the British Columbia government, said the aim of the project was to benefit the skilled worker and to save youngsters from
exploitation. Michael de Jong was honoured by the Punjab Cultural Promotion
Council. The Canadian delegation included elected municipal representatives and prominent citizens of major cities of British Columbia.
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Jagdish Mittal promoted as IG
Chandigarh, January 22 Issuing the transfer orders here yesterday, home secretary AR Talwar said the promotion would come into being with immediate effect. Mittal, who had recently been awarded the DGP’s commendation disc, the only DIG to be honoured in this manner for outstanding performance in his official duties, has also been instrumental in establishment of the state anti-narcotics cell. Mittal monitored the functioning of the cell during his two-year tenure as DIG. Mittal also handled the sensitive situation arisen during the protests against the Sacha Sauda guru two years back, and is credited as the man responsible for giving crucial information that led to the unearthing of the Naxalite movement in the state.
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Funds released for canal remodelling
Mohali, January 22 He said due to leakage and seepage, the water in the canal got considerably reduced and the farmers were not getting sufficient water. “The CWC had released Rs 3,450 crore for remodeling the canals of Punjab, but the present state government neglected the issue,” he claimed.
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High Court Process on to fill up vacancies Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 22 In an affidavit handed over to the high court, it was added that the state government was “ready to fill up to 819 posts of principals in the state, and the remaining vacancies can be filled up quickly by holding the DPC after final decision by the Punjab and Haryana High Court”. Special secretary, Department of School Education, RL Mehta, said the appointment of principals in the government schools in the state was delayed due to petitions on the issue of quota for the posts. The DPC was scheduled to be convened on July 14, 2009. But, petitions were filed challenging the seniority list. As the matter came up before the Bench headed by Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal, advocate Rahul Sharma was appointed amicus curiae in the case. The case now stands adjourned to February 26. Taking suo motu cognisance of news report “1,175 Punjab schools sans principals”, carried in The Tribune on January 6, the High Court has asserted it cannot “close its eyes” to such issues. In the two-page order, Chief Justice Mudgal asserted: “In the scheme of the Constitution of India, creating a welfare state, Right to Education of a child has been made a fundamental right under Article 21-A. Education here refers to quality education and it is evident that quality of education imparted by an educational institution, not having a principal, would be unsatisfactory. “There is news item on front page of the late city edition of The Tribune, published from Chandigarh, on January 6, 2010, about 1,175 Punjab schools to be there without principals for a decade. “It is reported that the appointment of the principals in the schools in Punjab was being delayed for last one decade for one reason or the other, the main reason being failure of the departmental promotional committees to have its meetings. This court cannot close its eyes to such issues”.
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Rape story concocted, HC told
Chandigarh, January 22 As the matter came up before Justice MMS
Bedi, state counsel said petitioner Shamsher Singh Jagera, the organiser of the press conference, where the allegations of rape were
levelled, was not cooperating in the inquiry. The counsel said Jagera was repeatedly called, but he was not appearing. Justice Bedi verbally observed in the open courtroom that the matter was apparently an abuse of the process of law and indicated at the dismissal of the petition. The case will now come up on January 27. The police probe into the allegations has already indicated that the matter is turning out to be a case of implication. The complainant is still untraceable, and preliminary inquiry by the police indicates she was threatened to make a statement against the former Chief Minister of Punjab. Describing himself as the president of organisation for protection of human rights, Jagera had moved the high court expressing apprehension regarding his personal safety on the ground of being attacked by the ex-Chief Minister’s supporters for holding the conference. Justice Ranjit Singh had initially ordered a probe in the matter.
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Punjabi University former VC acquitted
Patiala, January 22 A case had been registered against Ahluwalia on April 22, 2002 under Sections 467, 468 and 471, IPC, and Sections 13(1)(A)(D)(E) of the PC Act at Sadar police station, Patiala. The Additional Sessions Judge while pronouncing the order today aquitted Dr Ahluwalia in the said case. NPS Waraich and SS Waraich, counsel for Dr Ahluwalia, argued in the court that their client had been falsely implicated in the case.
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Rs 1.5 lakh robbed from office
Ludhiana, January 22 According to witnesses, four men with muffled faces entered the collection office and fired at the cashier. They ordered him to hand over the cash.The bullet narrowly missed the cashier and hit a wall. The
cashier, Robbin, said while one robber, who was carrying a pistol, headed towards him, the other three took the rest of the employees hostage. He said the robbers arrived in a grey Alto car. They took away all money from the counter and fled. No guard was deployed at the collection centre when the crime took
place. — TNS
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