Members of a Pakistani delegation, Dr Muhammad Younas (left) and Dr Hafiz Abdul Qayyum, at PAU, Ludhiana, on Thursday. A Tribune photograph

Ludhiana, February 11
“Partition gave us wounds but it could not break our special bonds of friendship that are alive even today,” said Dr Hafiz Abdul Qayyum, the oldest member of a 10-member delegation from Pakistan on a visit to Punjab Agriculture University here.

The delegation is in the town to be a part of a two-day alumni meet of the College of Agriculture at the PAU, which started here today.

Prof Qayyum is the senior most alumnus of the University of Agriculture, Faislabad (formerly Lyallpur), Pakistan. The university was formerly known as the College of Agriculture that was earlier based at Lyallpur before becoming a part of the PAU.

“The painful partition separated many friends geographically but it could not distance many hearts,” said Prof Qayyum (85), who graduated from the College of Agriculture at Lyallpur in 1945 and is regular at the alumni meet.

“I keep visiting India every now and then especially on such occasion as this alumni meet keeps social relations alive,” remarked the scientist, who has been the general secretary of the Alumni Association of the College of Agriculture, Lyallpur.

An emotional Prof Qayyum recounted how he was a friend with world- renowned Indian scientists. ‘‘I have no words. Only I can say is that I am on the top of the world after meeting my old associates like Dr DR Bhumbla, Dr SS Chahal, Dr GS Khush, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, Dr GS Kalkat and Dr BS Boparai, under one roof.”

Walking down memory lane reminiscing about his association with the greatest names in the scientific world, Dr Qayyum proudly narrated how in 1983, Dr Kulwant Randhawa, along with his wife and son, had visited Pakistan to be a part of his son’s wedding. “My friends in India have never let me down and have always been gracious enough to accept any invitation that I have extended. My grand daughter’s wedding in 2008 indeed is another memorable moment for me as among the esteemed guests were Dr Kalkat, Dr SS Johl and Dr Kiraj Dhillon from across the border,” said Dr Qayyum.

He said to keep social ties alive, he had been actively organising alumni meets where Indian alumni from the erstwhile College of Agriculture, Lyallpur, are always invited.

Also, accompanying the delegation is Dr Muhammad Younas, Professor and dean, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Though with no direct link with the PAU and its scientists, Dr Younas is in the town with a mission to carry forward the legacy of their elders in strengthening social ties with India.

"The people of both nations are eager to bond but due to the persistent social problem that the two governments are suffering from since ages, they are unable to do so. Hence, with an aim to build strong social ties with our Indian brothers and sisters, and keep alive the relations that our elders like Dr Qayyum have formed, I am here,” said Dr Younas.

Chandigarh, February 11
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called on the Information Commission to launch a massive campaign to aware the general public about the RTI Act, which would not only promote the good and transparent governance in the state but also help the government to improve its day-to-day functioning in the larger public interest.

Badal was addressing a gathering on the occasion of the release of the Punjabi version of RTI Act 2005 published by Mehram Group for free distribution.

Referring the Commission as a bridge between the people and the government, Badal emphasised upon the need to frequently hold panel discussions and seminars about the importance of RTI Act.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Information Commissioner RI Singh informed that the Commission was regularly clearing about 400 cases per month. Presently there were 1,300 cases lying pending with the Commission which would be cleared within two months, Singh said.

Earlier, the Chief Minister honoured SS Bir and Darbara Singh Kahlon for their commendable efforts for translating and publishing the Punjabi version of the Right to Information Act 2005.

Badal also honoured SS Gill and journalist Davinder Pal for their efforts in publishing an earlier Punjabi version of RTI Act on their own as a NGO. 

Ludhiana, February 11
Fearing arrests and ‘‘rough weather’’ the agitating ETT teachers today called off tomorrow's protest rally at Lambi village and stayed away from schools run by zila parishad in the district, as the students had to go back without learning their lessons today.

The teachers' leaders virtually went into hibernation when the police allegedly detained two office bearers of the ETT Teachers Union in Ludhiana as a preventive measure. They had to cancel the rally as the private transporters refused to give them services for carrying the teachers to Lambi by their buses.

Private bus operators said they had to pay back the advance payment as the Transport Department asked them not to help the agitating teachers. ‘‘We had no option as a senior official of the department called us up,’’ said a private bus operator praying anonymity. So, they decided to postpone the rally and would do with burning effigies of the government at zila parishad offices in all the districts.

While state vice president of the ETT Teachers Union Balraj Ghaloti said district president and general-secretary of the union Paramjit Singh Mann and Inderjeet Singh Sandhu were detained by the police, officiating SSP Harsh Bansal denied the report vehemently. Ghaloti said the police conducted raids at his house. Similar operations were carried out at the houses of his two colleagues Narinder Singh Bharri and Palwinder Singh Ghwaddi.

‘‘We are asked to listen to the diktats of these representatives. Otherwise, we are threatened that our increments would be stopped,’’ asked Ghaloti. While the teachers stick to their stand, the elected representatives feel that the teachers hated to be accountable and were resorting to such pressure tactics. ‘‘In our 460 schools in district, all the teachers come in time, have to inform us to take a leave and have to show result. This actually does not go down well with them, ’’ said chairman of the Ludhiana's zila parishad Manpreet Singh Ayali.

Rajay Deep adds from Muktsar: The administration was anxious to prevent the assembly of protesters and all roads leading to Lambi were cordoned off and the village was turned into a fortress. All high rise buildings including water tanks were cordoned off with barbed wire and cops in tow, apparently to avoid a replication of the Kapurthala-like incident.

Meanwhile, terming the protest to be a baseless action, Muktsar DC had imposed Section 144 of the CrPC to ban the assembly of protesters and declared their demands as unconstitutional. If the ETT teachers are to be relied upon, the state government did its best to foil the scheduled rally, as about 100 activists of the union were arrested from various corners of the state.

Chandigarh, February 11
It seems there are more gaping holes in the way in which the eligibility rules for PCS (executive branch) examination to be conducted by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) were laid down.

While taking a decision on the cut off date for determination of age of the candidates, the government reversed an earlier decision following the advice of the special executive officer (litigation) and sacrificed the career prospects of many young boys and girls, benefiting a few aged candidates.

Documents in possession of The Tribune reveal that an approval was given by the Punjab Chief Minister on November 28, 2008, to fix the age limit for direct recruitment as 21 to 35 years. It was further approved that under Rule 13(2) of PCS (executive branch), the last date for receipt of applications by the PPSC would be the cut off date for the determination of age limit.

Subsequently, however, this proposal was “reconsidered and reversed” after discussion with a “special executive officer (litigation)”, who pointed out that candidates from allied services were also appearing in the examination for recruitment to PCS (executive branch), including posts of tehsildar.

According to the rules made by the Revenue Department regarding tehsildars, January 1 of the year in which the last date for receipt of application falls, is to be taken as cut off date for the determination of age.

Taking this as a cause to change the earlier proposal, a note was put up by the personnel department that the cut off date to determine the age of all prospective candidates should be January 1.

This was done to avoid “complications of many types and for different posts, different norms would be there for determination of age.” This note was approved by the then chief secretary on December 31, 2008, and eventually by the Chief Minister.

The fallout of this decision was that young graduate boys and girls, who had not yet completed the age of 21 years as on January 1, 2009, but were completing the age of 21 years as on December 28, 2009 (which was eventually fixed as last date for receipt of applications by the PPSC) were left out of consideration.

Moga, February 11
Local travel agent Satinder Pal Singh alias Bittu has alleged that the local police was harassing him at the instance of Punjab DGP PS Gill, pressurising him to become approver against NRI Jagdev Singh allegedly facing the trial of murder of DGP’s father Nachhatar Singh, who was a former MLA from this constituency.

In a telegram addressed to the Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana yesterday, he has alleged that Inspector Jaspal Singh, Sub-Inspector Shamsher Singh and ASI Tajinder Singh were threatening him to involve him in any false case. His name already figures in two FIR’s registered against Jagdev under Sections 7, 13(2), 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and under Sections 419, 420, 465, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC.

Meanwhile, the police had today filed an application before the court of additional Sessions’ judge SK Aggarwal intimating that the investigating officer had added the charges of the Corruption Act in the first FIR registered under Sections 419, 420, 465, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC, thereby, paving the way for the cancellation of the separate FIR registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The police had raided his house several times and also picked him up once exerting pressure to become approver, but he plainly refused to do so, alleged Bittu. He further alleged that his name had been falsely dragged in this case to put pressure on him to become approver against Jagdev. 

Chandigarh, February 11
The President of the SAD, Sukhbir Badal, has asked the SAD MPs to move a privilege motion against the Congress-led UPA government in the ensuing Budget session of Parliament after issuing of a clean chit to Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 riots.

Sukhbir said the clean chit by the CBI was counter to the assurance given by the Leader of the House, Pranab Mukherjee, saying that all responsible for 1984 riots would be punished. He said the Congress, by giving an assurance in Parliament on the one hand and instructing the CBI to give a clean chit on the other was committing breach of privilege of the august House and Akali MPs would request Speaker Meira Kumar to initiate a privilege move against the UPA government and to refer the matter to the privilege committee. 

Amritsar, February 11
Sikh religious organisations, including the SGPC, that have been opposing the idea of a separate granth for Ravidassias have got support from unexpected quarters in the Vishwa Guru Ravidass Mission. The Canada division of the mission has not only condemned the creation of the separate granth, but has also sought the restoration of the old maryada at Benaras-based Seer Govardhanpur shrine by holding parkash of Guru Granth Sahib.

Vehemently supporting the existing religious set-up, wherein parkash of Guru Granth Sahib was held at Guru Ravidass and other gurdwaras, mission’s Canada wing president Sital Dass Kaler has said that the recent announcement pertaining to the separate granth for Ravidassias has left society divided. “Such an act has hurt the sentiments of all. I want to ask the Dera Ballan Trust as to whether deras and other religious places are to connect people or to separate them in the name of religion. How can we shun bani like this?” he said in a letter sent to the SGPC.

“The main religious shrine of Seer Govardhanpur does not belong to one dera or an organisation, but it is a religious place for all. We want that the community should not get torn apart and that the old maryada should be restored at Govardhanpur shrine,” said Sital Dass Kler.

Jalandhar, February 11
The board of Governors of the Punjab Technical University that met in Chandigarh today cleared names of candidates for posts of registrar, four deans and three deputy registrars. It, however, did not finalise any name for the posts of controller of finance and controllers of examination. The board also gave a nod for promotion of six regular employees.

Assistant professor of mechanical engineering from the Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology Rajinder Singh Bains has been appointed as the registrar. Buta Singh from Punjabi University, Dr Anirudh Partap Singh from the Government College, Ferozepur, Nirmal Singh from Beant College, Gurdaspur, and NP Singh, already working as dean academics, have been selected on the four posts of deans.

In fact, NP Singh is one of the three candidates who were already serving the university on deputation or contract basis in various capacities and have now re-joined through open selection. Both Paramjit Singh and Ek Onkar Singh Johal, already working as assistant registrar and project officer, respectively, have been selected for the posts of deputy registrar. Sunil Kumar from a private engineering college has also been chosen for the same post.

The six regular employees who have been elevated include controller of finance SK Mishra, who is now director of finance. Deputy registrars Jaspal Singh and RPS Bedi have been promoted as joint registrars. Assistant officer SS Walia is now the deputy registrar, while superintendents Dinesh Juneja and Rajinder Dogra have been taken as assistant registrars.

It is learnt that there were 12 candidates who had been invited for the very important post of controller of examination. While two of them did not turn up, three of the remaining candidates had also been short listed for the other posts. The remaining, it is being said were not found suitable. The sources revealed that most of the candidates for the post of controller of finance were from the private sector, while the BOG had made the government experience a pre-requisite for the post. 

Moga, February 11
A minor Dalit girl, a resident of a nearby village, was sexually abused by the wards of some influential families and gave birth to a baby girl on April 19 last year. Now, she has recently been married off to a youth in Jalandhar in violation of the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriages Act 2006.

Dalip Singh Pandhi, Member, Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes, told TNS that the girl was recently married off by her parents, but no action was taken by the district administration under the Prohibition of Child Marriages Act 2006 to save the girl from exploitation.

While alleging that the district administration was trying to hush up this case, he said the commission had time and again been demanding the case file of the girl, but it was not being sent to him by the police for perusal.

Pandhi was of the opinion that the age of the girl should be verified from the village record available with the panchayat or the revenue authorities of her village and her mother’s village.

It was learnt that the influential families whose wards had abused her sexually had managed an age certificate of the girl from the health authorities in connivance with the district authorities in a bid to close down the case.

No effort was made to trace the record of her birth from the place where she was born. The police had recorded the statements of the members of the family that they did not want any police action against the culprits.

Gurmail Singh, an ASI who was allegedly responsible for adopting an insensitive attitude towards this incident, was suspended from service and sent to the Police Lines. It was alleged that the victim and her parents approached the ASI on April 14 to lodge an FIR, but he did not take it seriously.

Contrary to the claims of the district administration, particularly the police, Pandhi said the statement of the minor girl or her parents had no legal value. "It is the primary duty of the district administration particularly the police to find out the culprits as she had given birth to a child," he said.

He said the administration should conduct DNA tests of the baby and the alleged culprits named in the FIR and all other suspects to take the case to a logical conclusion. 

Bathinda, February 11
The 11-year-old poverty-stricken, Gurjeevan Singh, who displayed exemplary bravery by thwarting a daylight robbery attempt in a bank in Mansa district, was today honoured here by DIG Faridkot range Jitendera Jain.

Gurjeevan Singh was given a cash reward of Rs 10,000, a certificate and memento by Jain.

The boy thwarted the robbery attempt in the Sutlej Gramin Bank in Phaphre Bhaika village yesterday, leading to arrest of the three miscreants, by raising an alarm and hitting them with stones.

The Sarpanch of the village panchayat, Raghubir Singh, announced that the panchayat would allot four biswa of land to the boy, while the DIG said that he would ask some philanthropist to build a house for him. Jain said that steps would also be taken to recommend Gurjeevan for the national bravery award.

The Chairman of the bank, KJS Dhillon, said that the bank would also provide a cash reward to Gurjeevan.

The panchayat has also decided to get Gurjeevan enrolled in a government school where he could pursue his study. He is totally illiterate and is employed as a servant in the house of Malkiat Singh, a member of the panchayat. Gurjeevan’s father died when he was just four years old and at this tender age was now shouldering the responsibility of taking care of his two brothers and two sisters. His mother was mentally challenged and was undergoing treatment.

Narrating the sequence of events of the dacoity attempt, Gurjeevan said he raised an alarm when at about 11.45 am, he saw three motorcycle-borne miscreants grappling with the bank guard and snatching his gun. He threw stones at the miscreants who retaliated and injured Gurjeevan’s forehead. The pistol brandished by one of the miscreant fell from his hand in the melee.

Meanwhile, someone made an announcement about the robbery attempt on the public address system of the gurdwara of the village and men and women turned up in strength at the bank and overpowered the miscreants who were given a thrashing. The police reached the spot and arrested the three miscreants.

Chandigarh, February 11
Love has made them transcend the family ties.As 19-year-old Tanpreet Kaur leans against her “husband” Manpreet Singh’s shoulders outside a courtroom, you think they are just another runaway couple seeking protection, from parents, in the corridors of justice. The chura complimenting her new black suit provides testimony of their recent marriage.

And, the congregation of relatives around gives credence to the theory of their tying the knot with trouble against the parents’ wishes. It’s only when you make inquiries, the realisation dawns - they are cousins; and they are married.

Her parents insist they could not have been married “being related from maternal side”. As of now, the girl has been sent along with her father, but has been asked to appear before the court on February 19.

The two came to the high court this afternoon following the filing of a habeas corpus by the girl’s father Joginder Singh. He was seeking the release of Tanpreet Kaur from Manpreet Singh’s custody. In his petition, he had alleged Tanpreet Kaur was picked up on February 3 from Delhi.

Elaborating on the circumstances leading to her departure, Joginder Singh claimed she left for college in the morning, but did not return; only a phone call was received from Manpreet Singh announcing their marriage.

As they stood before the court, Manpreet Singh’s counsel placed on record a copy of a high court order dated February 4, asking the senior superintendent of police to take appropriate action on their plea for security. The order was passed on their application averring they had got married.

Taking up the matter, Justice Mohinder Pal asserted: Today, both Tanpreet Kaur and Manpreet Singh are present in the court, along with their parents. I have talked with both the girl and the boy separately and in the presence of each other. I have also talked with the parents of the boy and the girl.

“The girl is of fickle mind and is not in a position to take independent decision at this stage. Keeping in view the mental condition of the girl, I am of the view that the girl’s custody be given to her parents for the time being. I order accordingly. The girl will be produced in the court by her parents on February 19. Girl’s parents as well as of the boy will come on the adjourned date.” 

Chandigarh, February 11
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the Punjab for April 20 on a PIL filed by advocate HC Arora. The Chief Minister, ministers and the chief parliamentary secretaries are entitled to ‘untied’ grants disbursed through the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats.

Before the Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Moudgil and Justice Jasbir Singh, the petitioner contended that during 2008-2009, Punjab Chief Minister’s quota of these ‘untied discretionary grants’ was Rs 3 crore, that of Deputy Chief Minister was Rs 2.50 crore, and Rs 1.50 crore was allocated to each of the 17 cabinet ministers, including late Kanwaljit Singh and Bikramjit Singh Majithia, and all chief parliamentary secretaries got Rs 1 crore each.

The Chief Minister and the Finance Minister had an additional quota of 8 crore and 2 crore, respectively, from the funds released by the Planning Department.

Both also have the power to issue grants from the funds of small savings available with the Directorate of Small Savings. These grants are issued/disbursed through district small savings officers. These grants are the prerogative of only the Chief Minister and Finance Minister. During the last three years, Rs 51.12 crore was disbursed by them from these funds.