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Sant Niranjan Dass, disciples return
Curbs to check infiltration hit farmers
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State yet to appoint ombudsman under NREGA
Undertrial escapes amid gunshots
High Court finds fault in selection of 6 IAS officers from PCS
Punjab to impose entry tax from Feb 5
Loan Liabilities
Funding of PAU
Setting up of junior science colleges
PSEB diploma engineers’ body threatens protest
DSGMC can’t call Sarbat Khalsa: Avtar Singh
Punjabi varsity library to go Wi-Fi
Punjab Health Dept to fill key posts soon
Book released
A clarification
High Court
Maharaja Narindra Enclave Case
Turtles seized, three held
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Sant Niranjan Dass, disciples return
Jalandhar, February 1 Earlier tension prevailed in the city between members of the Samaj Bachao Morcha (SBM) and Ambedkar Sena when the SBM convener objected to the creation of a separate religion for the Ravidass community. At a formal press conference at the Press Club here, SBM convener Gian Chand said the members of the Ravidass community were not bound to accept the decision to create a separate religion taken in Banaras, the birthplace of Guru Ravidass on his birth anniversary. When Ambedkar Sena activists came to know about the SBM press conference, they reached outside the Press Club and started raising slogans against the SBM and in favour of the Ravidass community. At this, the district administration deployed heavy security force, including riot control vehicles, near the Press Club in order to avoid any untoward incident. Later security was also beefed up at Jalandhar city railway station as the Ravidass followers led by Sant Niranjan Dass were about to arrive here from Banaras in Begampura Express. Almost all district police officials led by SSP RK Jaiswal were seen supervising the security arrangements. While the creation of the separate religion Ravidass Dharm was announced at Banaras, the community will also have its own religious book, “Amrit Bani Guru Ravidass” and a separate symbol, Hari. Ravidassis led by Dera Sachkhand Ballan decided to create a separate religious identity for the community after the Vienna firing incident in which Sant Niranjan Dass was wounded whereas his deputy, Sant Ramanand, was killed in May last year.
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Curbs to check infiltration hit farmers
Attari, February 1 Due to these restrictions, lakhs of farmers who have their agriculture land, about 12,000 acres on the other side of the 345-mile zigzag border fence, had to face hardship and their movement has been prohibited by the BSF. Consequently, their produce gets spoilt because it is unattended or by wild animals from the Pakistan side. Most villagers along the Indo-Pak border area dependent on farming for their livelihood. In the latest development, the farmers have been asked to get afresh their photo identity cards, including those of their family members, as well as of the labourers working in their respective fields. The government, in June 2009, had issued photo identity cards to the head of the family. The rest of the members were allowed to go to the fields beyond the border. This practice has now been disallowed. At Rorawala village, Attari, the farmers rued that they have been suffering harassment at the hands of local Patwaris for furnishing documentary evidence for the identification of their land as well as themselves. On the other hand, their produce is being damaged. The farmers resent the “short-term impractical decisions.” “The end result of these haphazard steps only disturbs our lives. What was the logic of making afresh ID-cards of our family members and labourers when we already have them?” questioned Lakhwinder Singh, a farmer. “The harvesting machines could be lying idle in the fields due to a mechanical fault as the mechanic would not be allowed to cross the fence in the absence of an ID- card. Does it mean that authorities will issue temporary cards too? Moreover, how can ID-cards of migrant labourers, who return to their native places after the season, be made? This implies that every time we will have to make an ID-card of every labourer before hiring them. We have not been informed about it yet,” said Sukhdev Singh from Daoke village, surrounded on three sides by Pakistan. Another farmer rued that local Patwaris openly ask for a bribe for furnishing documentary evidence required to make identity cards. JS Sarao, Additional DIG, Border Security Force, said the new ID-cards would benefit them in the long run. Now each and every family member, including women, would have access beyond the fence to work in the fields. Modalities are being worked out to make provision for three-month span temporary ID-cards too. We would also ascertain that those already having cards need not submit their identification documents again and no discrimination or harassment is meted out to them.
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State yet to appoint ombudsman under NREGA
Jalandhar, February 1 The Union Government had asked the Punjab Government to appoint ombudsman for the redressal of grievances of the job card holders, engaged in different projects under the NREGA, in the state. In an order dated September 7, 2009, Amita Sharma, Joint Secretary (NREGA), had directed different states and Union Territories to appoint ombudsmen so that the grievances be redressed in a time-bound manner. The Union Government has also directed the states to set up offices of the ombudsmen within three months from the date of issuance of the order. The government has also said that expenditure incurred for this purpose would be met out of the provision for the administrative expenditure under the scheme. The union government had decided to appoint the ombudsmen after massive grievances arose with regard to the implementation of the scheme across the country. Talking to The Tribune, DR Karnus Raju, NREGA Commissioner, Punjab, claimed that the process of appointing ombudsmen was under process. The government has finalised a panel and put it on the Central Government’s website so that general public could file their objections, if any. The government has not received any objections as yet, he added. Being a small state, the government is planning to appoint ombudsman for clubbing more than one district in a group. The appointments would be made after next meeting of senior government functionaries shortly, he claimed.
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Undertrial escapes amid gunshots
Khanna, February 1
While being taken back to the Patiala jail, when the police party reached near a dhaba in Bhadson village, Mandeep said he wanted to have some food and the police vehicle stopped at the dhaba. According to planning, two cars and a Pulsar motorcycle-borne youth reached the spot and shot rounds in the air. They took Mandeep in their car and fled from the spot. Police officials investigating the case said a man had come to meet Mandeep on the Khanna court premises today. The man is known to be involved in criminal activities and had a long conversation with Mandeep. The police suspects this man’s role in the run-away episode. The police has issued a red alert in the entire state. Also senior police officials from the Patiala police reached Khanna and held a meeting with Khanna police officials at Sadar police station. Mandeep Singh, a resident of the grain market here, was arrested a few months ago for attacking a police official and firing at him. He was at present lodged at Patiala jail and is known to be an
accomplice of a gang involved in smuggling narcotics. The gang members had smuggled narcotics and were arrested near Rajpura eight months ago and had attacked the police party. The police had managed to
arrest most of the gang members except its kingpin. Mandeep was brought before the Khanna court in the same case. The police is investigating the case.
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High Court finds fault in selection of 6 IAS officers from PCS
Chandigarh, February 1 Allowing a petition by PCS officer Parveen Kumar, the high court today quashed the combined eligibility list of the state civil services officers dated August 7, 2008. Justice MM Kumar and Justice Jitendra Chauhan also quashed notification dated August 13, 2008, issued by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, (Department of Personnel & Training), “making appointments of the members of the state civil service of Punjab to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) for the select list years 2007”. In his petition, Kumar had asserted that he was born on February 17, 1952. On April 23, 1986, he was inducted into the Punjab Civil Service (executive branch). He attained the age of 55 years on February 17, 2007, and his date of superannuation was February 28, 2010. In the gradation and distribution list of PCS (executive branch) as it stood on January 1, 2008, his name figured at serial number 12. On August 7, 2008, a combined eligibility list was prepared for filling four posts of the IAS for 2006 and five posts for 2007. According to the petitioner, the vacancies were to be filled by promotion from among members of the state civil service during 2007 and 2008. But his name was not included in the list. The petitioner then approached the Central Administrative Tribunal, but the applications were dismissed vide impugned order dated September 9, 2009. During the pendency of applications, the respondents finalised the selection process and on August 13, 2009, a notification was issued making appointments to the IAS. In all, five officers were appointed against the select list for 2007; and four appointments have been made against the select list for the year 2008. Petitioner’s counsel AR Takkar argued the petitioner cannot be “kept out of the consideration zone on the ground he had attained the age of 54 on January 1, 2007, having been born on February 17, 1952. The Bench asserted: “The order of the Tribunal, dated September 4, 2009, is hereby quashed. As a consequence, the combined eligibility list of the state civil service officers dated August 7, 2008, and the notification dated August 13, 2008, in respect of so called select list for the year 2007 is also quashed.” It asserted: “It is made clear that respondents will continue to work on their present postings till the fresh decision is taken by the committee to make selection. Accordingly, the UPSC and other respondents are directed to re-consider the names of all eligible candidates by determining the age of 54 years as on January 1, 2006, qua the vacancies occurring from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2006, by including the name of the petitioner.
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Punjab to impose entry tax from Feb 5 Chandigarh, February 1 Giving details, Excise Commissioner, Punjab, A Venu Prasad said, “The new system is expected to plug a pilferage of over Rs 50 crore. These are the four main items that are brought into the state, as a result there is maximum pilferage of entry tax in these items. Cement for instance is coming from Pakistan, but there is not much revenue from that. Similarly marble is coming from Rajasthan, but the bills for the import are arranged locally.” The entry tax would be equivalent to the normal rates of VAT applied to these commodities. Gathering of entry tax in advance is part of the several recommendations for resource mobilsation given in the Sukhbir-Kalia report. Prasad added that there would be no additional deployment of staff at the entry barriers for the collection of the tax. “The receipt for the paid tax would be given at the barrier and any additional payment will be adjusted in the later payments,” he said. The Excise Department has already implemented the recommendation that relates to the increase in VAT from four to five per cent on certain items. “That was one of the first recommendation to be implemented. It is likely to bring in an additional revenue of Rs 300 crore,” Prasad added.
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Loan Liabilities
Patiala, February 1 Notably, recently the subcommittee members had visited Punjab and held deliberations with the arhtiyas, farmers, academicians, officials of the Agriculture Department and representatives of the different Kisan Unions of the state. The discussions mainly concerned the farmers, who had taken loans from commission agents and moneylenders and were not being covered under the loan-waiver scheme. Speaking to The Tribune, Lakhowal said their main demand was that “whopping” interest being levied by the arhtiyas and moneylenders should also be waived. “Loan on zero per cent interest rate should be given by the government-operated banks to farmers facing debts, so that they can re-pay their loans taken from arhtiyas and moneylenders,” he asserted. Lakhowal said he had apprised the committee that every second farmer in Punjab was burdened with a huge agricultural debt and already many farmers, who had taken loans from the arhtiyas and private moneylenders, had committed suicides. The main reason behind the poor financial situation of Punjab farmers is inadequate Minimum Support Price (MSP) and exorbitant interest being levied on loans given to farmers by arhtiyas and moneylenders. He demanded that MSP should be fixed as per the recommendations of the Dr Swaminathan Committee.
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Funding of PAU
Jalandhar, February 1 "I have come to know that PAU's board of directors at a recent meeting held at Mohali passed a proposal in this regard and has sought a meeting with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to get his
nod," said Rajewal. The figure of 0.25 per cent appeared to be insignificant but farmers would have to pay approximately Rs 125 per acre. Rajewal has written a letter to the CM, opposing this proposal. He said it had been proved by the Johl Committee earlier and now by the Ghuman Committee that growing wheat, paddy and other crops was unviable for farmers.They earn no profit from such crops. "The PAU has argued that the earning of the farmers and the state government from the food sector had gone up several fold because of the varieties developed by it. Hence the farmer should be made to pay something in return to the PAU which was facing problems in paying even salary to its employees and pension to former employees," said Rajewal. The state government charges rural development fund, VAT, market fee and infrastructure development cess, etc on the foodgrains. "There was no truth in the arguments advanced by the PAU. Farmers were suffering losses and the Green Revolution has not improved their lot. In fact, it has added to their woes," said Rajewal. "As the food grains grown by Punjab farmers were going to the national pool, the Union Government should be made to fund the research projects in the PAU," he said.
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Setting up of junior science colleges
Jalandhar, February 1 Official sources said the Punjab Technical University (PTU) has been asked to prepare blueprint in this regard at the earliest. There are six government and 76 non-government engineering degree colleges in the state. It is learnt that each college will be allocated about 200 seats. The science education in government schools, especially in the rural areas, is in a bad shape. Most of the students have to go to urban schools and tuition centres for better education. In fact, most of the rural schools do not have full strength of teachers to teach science. The Principal Secretary, Technical Education, Suresh Kumar, said the purpose was to revamp technical education in the state by ensuring quality intake of students in engineering colleges. “I have told the PTU to focus on raising the level of technical education in the state to make students capable enough to secure well-paid jobs in the national and international market”, he said. “We intend to enrol 16,000 students in junior science colleges at the earliest possible”, he said. The PTU has been asked to double the number of seats in M.Tech courses. The engineering colleges are facing acute shortage of teaching faculty and one solution to tackle this problem was to increase the number of M.Tech seats. Some of the colleges are being run only with 40 per cent of the required faculty. The PTU has also been asked to introduce dual degree system. Students should have the opportunity to secure degree from the PTU as well as from abroad with which it ties up. Students can spend first two years in any of the engineering colleges affiliated to the PTU and then can opt to enrol in some engineering college abroad as a part of the dual degree system. The Punjab Government has asked the PTU authorities to conduct inspection of all engineering colleges affiliated to it to find out whether these were conforming to the norms laid down by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). The PTU has also been directed to organise conferences with the managements and faculties of private engineering colleges to resolve the problems being faced by them and improving the engineering education in the state. Similarly, a conference should also be held with the faculty of government engineering colleges.
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PSEB diploma engineers’ body threatens protest
Patiala, February 1 It has shot off a letter to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for taking action in this regard. The leaders feel that the board management’s action would jeopardise the interest of unemployed diploma engineers in the state. Association general secretary SS Gill said: “At present, there are 1,000 posts of JE to be filled through the direct recruitment. But we have got to know that the PSEB management has agreed to fill 700 posts by promoting board employees from lower cadre, who are at present working as linemen, notwithstanding the fact that these posts were meant for the direct recruitment quota.” Claiming that the board is all set to give its approval to this contentious matter at its meeting scheduled for February 2, Association president Gursharan Singh said it would be wrong to promote a lineman to the post of JE, as the lineman do not fulfill the requisite supervisory qualification required as per the Technical Services Class-III regulation. The association members alleged the board management was moving on a fast track to extend “undue benefits” to non-qualified board employees They added that the board had not even taken permission from the state government in this regard.
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DSGMC can’t call Sarbat Khalsa: Avtar Singh
Amritsar, February 1 Earlier, Sarna sought calling of the “Sarbat Khalsa” for discussing the issues of the excommunication of Prof Darshan Singh from the community and changes in the Nanakshahi Calendar. Avtar Singh said from the statement of Sarna it seemed that he was not aware of the established procedure and circumstances in which the “Sarbat Khalsa” was called. He said only the Jathedar of Akal Takht was empowered to call the “Sarbat Khalsa”. The SGPC chief alleged that the DSGMC chief was releasing baseless statements to mislead the community and added that questioning the edict of Akal Takht also amounted to guilt. He said former Akal Takht Jathedar Prof Darshan Singh was given ample time to present his case in front of the five Sikh high priests. However, the former Jathedar did not find it suitable to turn up before the priests, which apparently evinced his “egoistic attitude”, he added. On changes in the calender, he said it had brought “disgruntled” sections within the community closer.
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Cops take religious route to check crime Bathinda, February 1 The police station complex is well-decorated with green carpet and ropes to mark the path leading to the room where the Akhand Path is being performed. The main entrance of the police station is also adorned with huge trees on its sides. Besides, the gate of the police station, which usually remains closed for common men, has also been opened to welcome everyone. Above all, senior cops have directed their subordinates to be polite to everyone till the Akhand Path concludes on Wednesday. Elated cops disclosed that they had been organising langar (free food) also, the expenses of which would be shared by them only. “We have not asked anyone else but our staff to donate for the entire event,” said Roshan Lal, reader to the SHO Kotwali. Showing a list of 51 cops posted at the Kotwali police station, a policeman claimed that all would voluntarily donate blood on Wednesday on the occasion of the bhog ceremony of the Akhand Path. “Our colleagues from other police stations and police posts have also been coming forward to get themselves enrolled for blood donation,” he added. Sub-inspector Balwinder Singh said, “During the past few weeks, with the grace of god and our united efforts, we succeeded in bringing down crimes like extortion, snatching and thefts. To thank for the same as well as for a better future, we are offering prayers.” However, some cops claimed that the Akhand Path was being organised to mark the receiving of appreciation from the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Faridkot range, for well maintaining records and building of the police station. It was said the Kotwali staff had done their best to give a facelift to the police station to please the Director General of Police, Punjab, who was expected to inspect the police station during his visit to the city on January 28. However, the DGP did not visit the police station. Meanwhile, DIG (Faridkot range) Jitendra Jain inspected the police station on the day along with the SSP, the SP (D) and the DSP (City) and hailed the efforts of the cops by awarding them the appreciation certificate. Despite repeated efforts, SHO Kotwali police station Gurjeet Singh Romana could not be contacted.
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Punjabi varsity library to go Wi-Fi
Patiala, February 1 The facility would enable students to surf Internet sitting in any corner of the library. The university has also invited tenders in this regard so that this facility could be made functional by the month of June. Head of computer science department Jyotsna Sengupta said the university had hired a private company for the task. Students, too, are elated with its prospects, saying that it was a necessary step in order to make the library well-equipped. “It is very difficult to read all books for various projects. Sometimes I had to prepare some emergency assignment and would not find the book. So, I had to rush to the market in order to find the relevant matter. I am glad that now everything would be available in the library itself,” Gagan Deep, an MBA student, said. “It’s a very good step on part of the university. There are numerous books in the library but students are not very careful while handling them. Many important pages are missing from various books. Therefore, I had to buy a laptop. However, downloading material is quite expensive. I am glad that the university has taken this step, which would not only help students in better learning, but also cut down our expenses,” added Gurpreet Singh, another student.
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Punjab Health Dept to fill key posts soon
Patiala, February 1 This has been stated in an affidavit which was filed on January 27 in
the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a case titled ‘Senior Punjab
Civil Medical Service’ through its General Secretary DC Sharma and
others. The affidavit said the departmental promotion committee (DPC)
meetings for various posts would now be held in a time-bound manner and
these vacant posts would be filled up by May 31 next. The civil writ
petition filed in July by the Senior PCMS Association and others,
challenged the action of the Punjab government in re-employing on
contract basis, two deputy directors and one assistant director rank
officers, after superannuation. It was apprehended that the government
might re-employ more superannuating doctors, by pick-and-choose method
which would deprive the next-in-line of their legitimate rights of
promotions to the posts falling vacant due to their retirement. The
High Court, in its first hearing on July 28, 2009, restrained the
respondent state from filling any further posts by way of re-employment.
The PCMS-I Association has demanded that since there was a delay on
part of the government to fill up the posts of additional directors and
deputy directors from time to time for which the doctors cannot be
punished, the eligibility criteria will have to be relaxed. And in
future, there will be hardly any candidates available with this much
experience because of the meagre chances of promotions available in PCMS
cadre. The Principal Secretary has said the posts of the additional
directors and joint directors would be filled up by March 15.
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Book released
Chandigarh, February 1 Appreciating the efforts made by ADGP (Rules) Rajinder Singh and his staff for their effort, the DGP said the compilation in a volume was necessary to provide ready reckoner solution to the in-service problems faced by the forces in field and provide authentic orders on every set of problems. He said with the statutory standing orders the discretion of processing authorities would be minimised and it would bring transparency in personnel administration. He exhorted the police personnel to acquaint themselves with the standing orders and comply with them in letter
and spirit. Originally, the compilation was made in 2000 and has been revised as the 2nd edition. The book contains 135 chapters containing
all standing orders issued by the office of the IGP/DGP till date, elaborating on various standing operative procedures related to the discharge of police functions.
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High Court
Chandigarh, February 1 In her petition in the high court, Kanwaljit Ghumman, associate professor in Punjab Education Department and on deputation at Government Girls College-11 since 1989, had sought directions for implementation of the Cabinet decision taken on January 22 in accordance with the recommendations by Sukhbir-Kalia committee. Quoting the report, she said one-year extension was directed to be given to employees retiring in 2010. The petitioner claimed she was on deputation with the UT administration and was to retire on January 31, 2010. Seeking directions on continuation, she relied on notification dated January 27, which said in case of employees retiring on January 31 but willing to avail extension, the head officers were competent to “accord sanction”. The extension will be accorded by the Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department. Taking up the matter, Justice Surya Kant of the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued notice of motion to the Punjab Education Secretary and others. Before parting with the order, Justice Kant also directed the respondents to not to relieve the professor till further orders.
Beant Singh case in final stages
The trial against Paramjit Singh for his alleged role in the assassination of Punjab’s former chief minister Beant Singh is in its final stages. As the appeal against his conviction and sentence filed by Jagtar Singh Hawara and others came up for hearing before Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Justice Arvind Kumar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today, the CBI said the evidence had been recorded and the judgment was to be expected soon. Paramjit Singh had tunnelled his way out of the Burail jail during the trial, and was declared a proclaimed offender. The trial resumed after he was arrested again. The Bench was also informed how a human skull and two legs were found at the Punjab civil secretariat - the site of the blast. The body of human bomb Dilawar Singh was identified by his father Harnek Singh, it was added. Taking up the matter, the Bench fixed February 25 for hearing the appeals. The Bench ordered this after nearly an hour-long hearing during which primarily other preliminaries, like the time and date of the incident and the registration of the FIR, were detailed. The Bench indicated its inclination to conclude the hearing expeditiously. While accused Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh were handed down death sentence by the special CBI judge, other accused, including Lakhwinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Shamsher Singh, were sentenced to life imprisonment. One of the accused Navjot Singh was acquitted.
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Maharaja Narindra Enclave Case
Patiala, February 1 Bajaj said: “In 2006, we had acquired 18 acres near Tripuri area to develop the Maharaja Narindra Enclave scheme. The residents challenged the move in the high court, but the petition was dismissed. Later, the matter went to the Supreme Court and now the decision has come in our favour.” He further said though the court never gave any stay orders on the progress of the scheme, 100 plots had already been allotted through the draw of lots “but still in wake of the fact that matter was sub judice, we were not accelerating the development works at full pace.” Bajaj said now the Trust would allot another 76 plots in different auctions, starting from May.
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Turtles seized, three held
Anandpur Sahib, February 1 During investigation, the accused revealed that they consumed tortoise meat. “Earlier, people from areas in and around Ropar were found fishing for tortoises near the wetland. Our employees warned them and now they shifted to Tibba Tappariyan area,” said Balwinder Singh. “Tortoises do not swim into deep waters and hence its easy to catch them in shallow areas,” he added The accused have been registered under sections 9, 3, 49 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. They were presented before the court of Jeetinder Kaur Walia that sent them to judicial remand till February 15.
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