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Charge-sheet filed against Babla at last
Chandigarh, February 25 Reacting to the police action, the Chandigarh administration’s senior standing counsel today sent a strongly worded letter to UT IGP PK Srivastva for “showing obsequiousness to the political class”. Citing a quote of Walter Scott, "Without courage there can be no truth and without truth there can be no virtue", Gupta told the IGP a police officer responsible for criminal law enforcement should be “made of sterner stuff”. “I don’t wish to queer the pitch at a time when the regime in the union territory has just changed. However, the sheer fact of your unprecedented action, and its implications, leave me with no option but to distance myself publicly from what you have done,” reads Gupta’s letter to Srivastva. Meanwhile, DSP (CID) Satbir Singh, in charge of the special investigation team, said the charge sheet into the case had been filed today. When asked about the “loopholes” the IGP had talked about yesterday when defending his decision to hold back the charge sheet, Satbir said the investigation into the case had been completed and the charge sheet was ready. “The file was sent to senior officials and the matter was discussed with them”, he added. Satbir further said a hard disc of a computer seized from the market committee was sent to the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory for examination and its reports were awaited. “We’ll file a supplementary charge sheet as and when evidence comes up during the course of the investigation”, he asserted. Last August the police had registered a case of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy against Babla, the former chairman of the market committee, and Rakesh Sahny, president of the Arthiya Association of the Sector 26 Grain Market into alleged irregularities committed in allotment of 69 platforms in the market.
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Abducted girl returns home
Mohali, February 25 Not ready to share much information about the sequence of events leading to her release, the police claimed that it pressurised the abductor(s) to abandon their plans. The child was left near a STD booth at Ambala Railway Station. The sequence of events leading to the girl’s release did not, however, match with the police theory as it failed to provide any clues of about the abductor(s). Though the police and family members totally denied that any ransom had been paid, sources said the child release was secured only after paying ransom of about Rs 15 lakh. “We have got our child back, we have nothing to say beyond it”, said Jastej Singh, father of the girl. The abductor(s),
however, Jastej Singh, father of the girl, told mediapersons that he received the first call at 2.15 am from an abductor who informed him that the child was standing near the PCO at Ambala Railway Station. While one of the family friends said the girl’s family left for the spot after a gap of seven hours (at around 11 am). Though police officials and her family were not ready to share much in this regard, the sources said the caller had pinpointed the place where the girl had been dropped. Going by the modus operandi it seemed to be handiwork of professional abductor(s) or someone known the family. The facts would be known in the coming days, the source added. “The abductor(s) must have realised their fault, they left the child and called the family members. A lot of pressure had been exerted on them”, said a police official. The leads about the description of the abductor’s vehicle have so far yielded any success to the police. Incidentally, a few senior police officers, including the DIG, Punjab, Chief Minister Security, lives in the area and still the abductor(s) had their way. The city-sealing plan did not come in to force even after the incident and abductor(s) managed to slip in to Ambala through the Shambu barrier. At the time of the incident, a majority of the cops were on route duty for a visit of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
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Lawyer seeks Pak boy’s repatriation
Chandigarh, February 25 You would have dismissed it as just another tale fit for a soap opera to be aired on the television. But then, fact is stranger than fiction-at least this is the impression a writ petition filed by a city-based lawyer in the Punjab and Haryana High Court gives. In his petition, Sector 10-based advocate Ranjan Lakhanpal has asserted that the train from Pakistan brought Mohammad Atik to India. He was, soon, taken into custody. Since the time of his arrest, he has been languishing in a jail, Lakhanpal has added, while seeking the indulgence of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in sending him to his native country. The petition filed by Lakhanpal’s World Human Rights Protection Council says 13-year-old Atik, son of Iftaquar of Farukabad in Lahore, was scolded and thrashed by his father while he was flying kites. Full of resentment, he went out to watch a movie before finding his way to the railway station. Having no where to sleep, Atik simply choose a coach to spend the night without realising it was of Samjautha Express-the twice-weekly friendship
train- that runs between Delhi and Attari in India and Wagah and Lahore in Pakistan. As he entered the Indian territory, Atik was taken into custody for travelling without valid documents. The boy’s plight was brought to the Lakhanpal’s notice through Ansar Burney, Pakistan’s leading human rights and civil rights activist. Burney and the Lakhanpal’s association has earlier filed number of petitions in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the courts in Pakistan. In fact, the two have been drumming up support even for the release of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian prisoner in a Pakistani jail. The petition was filed this morning and would be taken up for hearing by a Division Bench on Tuesday.
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Notices issued to 230 property tax defaulters
Chandigarh, February 25 As per the records of the corporation, the authorities are yet to recover about Rs 63 crore from the defaulters, who have been given several notices. Sources said, besides the industrial plots and shops in the city, there are 39 defaulters, they include religious places, educational institute, bhawans, Hindustan Petroleum, Indian oil, Panjab University and the Haryana Roadways workshop. These bodies have to pay crores of rupees as property tax to the authorities. According to the defaulter list, there are six religious places, which have to pay over Rs 18.94 lakh, out of which Gurdwara Teg Bahadur Ji is the highest tax defaulter as it has to pay Rs 7.56 lakh. Other religious organisations are Kalghidhari Niwas, Siri Baba Balak Nath Mandir, Sanatan Dharma Mandir, Satya Narain Mandir and St Thomas Christ Church. Similarly, there are seven bhawans in the city, which have to pay an amount of Rs 23.89 lakh as property tax to the corporation. In the list of defaulters, education institutes including Panjab University have to pay Rs 47.87 lakh
and many schools have pending amount of Rs 85.53 lakh. Other major defaulters are the Haryana Roadways workshop with a pending tax of Rs 16.28 lakh, KC theatre Rs 5.44 lakh, Neelam theatre Rs 4.27 lakh and Indian oil Bhawan Rs 4.01 lakh. The sources said the Chandigarh Administration had included all bhawans under the preview of property tax after a detailed survey of the commercial activities was carried out at these places. On this, a number of bhawans objected that there was a ban imposed on the commercial activities in the bhawans by the estate office of Chandigarh Administration, and they were only permitted to organise social activities in it. They pleaded that how could the bhawans be included in the list issued by the MC. The sources said that later they were permitted to rent out a particular area for commercial activities and generate funds for the maintenance of the place. An official revealed that if they failed to comply with the notices, the authorities would be forced to take action against them under clause 138 of rent attachment under the Punjab Municipal Act 1994. It may be mentioned that in 2004, when the corporation imposed property tax on the commercial sites, the authorities had allowed provision of self-assessment, under which, if any defaulter deposited the tax before the due date, benefits would be given to them.
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Fake Yoga Certificate Case
Chandigarh, February 25 With this, the way for the promotion of Ram Gopal has been paved. “The case was investigated on the merit basis in which five independent witnesses were examined and reply of the President of Italian Yoga Federation was received through Indian Embassy in Italy,” SP Madhur Verma said. He added, “There was no further scope for the investigation.” The counsel for the complainants said they would now move the High Court as they were not satisfied with the district court’s decision. At least six sub-inspectors had challenged the cancellation report, which was submitted following a departmental inquiry. They had alleged that Ram Gopal had produced a forged and fabricated certificate before the police, stating that he was declared a world champion as he stood first and won a gold medal in the World Yoga Sport Cup held at Genoa in Italy. On the basis of this, he was given promoted but they found it irrelevant. A case of cheating and forgery was registered against Ram Gopal on April 25, 2008. The Judicial Magistrate is the third judge who had been asked to look into the matter. Earlier, the court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Sumit Ghai had referred the report to the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate J Sidhu, citing personal reasons. Later Sidhu had transferred the case to Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Mahesh Kumar, who again cited the same reason. The complainants then moved the Punjab and High Court to get the case transferred to another court in Punjab stating that Ram Gopal is an influential person
and thus none of the judges is ready to intervene in the matter. But the High Court directed the district court to
A preliminary inquiry conducted by DSP (CID) Satbir Singh had found Ram Gopal guilty of producing the fake certificate. However, another inquiry conducted by the then ASP, Madhur Verma, had found him not guilty following that a report demanding cancellation of an FIR against Ram Gopal was submitted in the court. Following this, six cops challenged the cancellation report. Before that, the matter was with the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that had asked the UT administration to inquire into the authenticity of the yoga certificate awarded to Ram Gopal on the basis of which he got the promotion. The CAT had pronounced the order in 2007 after 17 sub-inspectors lodged a complaint against Ram Gopal, challenging the authenticity of the certificate. The tribunal had directed the IGP and the Home Secretary to examine the matter and find if the promotion was obtained by submitting wrong facts. Ram Gopal joined the UT Police as ASI in March 1991 against a general quota seat and was last on the merit list of seven successful candidates.
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Boston Scandal
Chandigarh, February 25 In a reply furnished to PU officials after one of the participating students, Nitin Jindal, was arrested on charges of molesting a girl, the Harvard administration has reportedly clarified all queries regarding registration and participation of students, though in an incomplete manner. “Soon after the reports of Jindal’s arrest in a molestation case, we had written to them (HNMUN officials) asking details of students who had registered online. The first thing they clarified was that HNMUN was a student-run organisation and not Harvard University, as being said in some reports. According to them, students registered under the name of four bodies. The first was UILS, which includes the official PU delegation, while the second was stated as ‘University School of Law’, which is nonexistent entity within PU. The HNMUN officials, have, however failed to give us the names of the remaining two bodies that are thought to be fake. In answer to our query about detection of any forgery they have admitted they accepted all students who registered independently in good faith, without taking care to verify their claims or supporting academic details,” said a senior official. “The student who was arrested was not part of our delegation but, like many others, had registered online. PU didn’t help any outsiders to attend the meet by providing fake certificates and, if they managed to do so, the conference officials should have verified their bona fides,” added another official. According to sources, the authorities even have some questions pertaining to the ongoing inquiry into the matter, the report on which is expected to be submitted tomorrow. The controversy
was sparked off after reports
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CAT tells PGI to let doc function as Professor
Chandigarh, February 25 The court has directed the PGI to treat Gupta as the Professor of the Hospital Administration -cum-Medical Superintendent for all intents and purposes from the date of his appointment w.e.f January 9,1996, as the Medical Superintendent in the pay scale of a professor with all consequential benefits of status and seniority as per rules and his eligibility. In his application before the tribunal, Gupta had claimed that he had applied for the post of Professor of Hospital Administration-cum-MS that was advertised in the paper dated May 18, 1995, along with the post of Professor (medical), one each in the Department of Anatomy, Cardiology, Pediatrics (Neonatology). He submitted to the court that he had requisite qualifications and was within the age limit prescribed for the post of Professor of Hospital Administration-cum-MS, but was short of experience by five years at that point of time, as he possessed only nine years experience against the prescribed experience of 14 years. It was on the persuasion of the then director of the institute that he had applied for the said post. He went through the selection process and was selected. The recommendations of the selection committee were also accepted and approved by the governing body of the institute dated November 15, 1995. Consequently, he was appointed as the MS in the pay scale of Rs 5,900-200-7,300 but was given the rank of an additional professor; instead of a professor of the hospital administration vide appointment dated December 1, 1995. He mentioned that under the rules of the PGI, only the post of professor in the prescribed scale of Rs 5,900-7,300 could be filled by way of direct recruitment and there was no post of additional professor to be filled by way of direct recruitment. He could not be appointed to a non-existent post particularly when he had applied for the post of professor and not that of additional professor. He urged the court to assign him the designation of additional professor on selection, as the post of the MS was arbitrary and in contravention of the rules and regulations. Such action on the part of the PGI had no lawful basis. It was therefore, void and could not operate to his detriment. In any case, if it had been done for the reason that he did not possess the requisite experience of 14 years as a natural corollary of his selection and appointment as aforesaid, he should have been granted the rank of professor automatically on completion of the requisite experience of 14 in December 2000. He also mentioned that he had made numerous representations to designate him as the professor of the hospital administration instead of an additional professor while continuing as the MS but nothing was done in pursuance to the representations made by him and his claim was rejected on April 10, 2001. Gupta mentioned that his grievance was that he had ultimately been re-designated as the Professor of Hospital Administration-cum-MS on completion of seven years of service as additional professor dated January 8, 2003 whereas, he had completed the prescribed experience of 14 years in December 2000 and was eligible for elevation to the rank of professor dated January 1, 2001, which was rejected by the institute on March 7, 2006. It is contended by Gupta that under extant rules he cannot be treated as a junior to the incumbents holding the substantive post of additional professor and drawing a lower scale of pay than him and that too merely by way of financial up-gradation. After hearing all the arguments the tribunal asked the PGI administration to grant Gupta all the benefits to be granted to a professor since the day of joining.
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Admn to start yoga at welfare institutes
Chandigarh, February 25 Besides, counselling would also be provided to avoid any untoward incident. To begin the yoga classes would be started at Nari Niketan. This was discussed at a meeting to review the progress of the monitoring committee and visitors’ committee, under the chairmanship of home secretary Ram Niwas here today at UT Secretariat. Director (social welfare) Samwartak Singh, director-principal, GMCH-32, Prof Raj Bahadur and members of the various NGOs under the Partnership Initiative Programme attended the meeting. Medical superintendent of the GMSH-16 NK Arora said they were regularly examining the inmates of Nari Niketan and the last examination was carried out on January 20. Dr Bhavneet from the advanced paediatric centre, PGI, said medical record of children in the Snehalaya was being maintained. She also emphasised the need for making an LCD projector available in all institutions for screening the documentaries for their well-being and education. Suggestions were made by the members of the NGOs for segregating the mentally challenged inmates of Nari Niketan from the normal ones so that proper care of these inmates could be taken. The director (social welfare) informed that out of 22 inmates of Nari Niketan, five were mentally challenged and six were mentally ill. He further suggested that the mentally disturbed and mentally challenged inmates should be shifted to Aashreya. For giving proper care to the inmates of Nari Niketan, one girl should be adopted by each NGO to take care as parents. The home secretary agreed that five mentally challenged inmates should immediately be shifted to Aashreya and the interested NGOs for taking care of the inmates be also identified.
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Interaction on GM crops
Chandigarh, February 25 Social activist Hemant Goswami alleged that the Bill did not have any provision to punish those who concealed adverse effect of GM organisms and food. Even unauthorised field trial of GM crop has not been made a punishable offence. Wide scope has been left for companies to illegally and unethically deal in all other forms of trials, he added. “Agriculture is a state subject as per the Constitution of India. By inserting Section 2 and 81 in the BRAI Bill, the Union Government illegally wants to take control of all agricultural activities and encroaches upon the authority of the states, which is undemocratic and unconstitutional,” Umendra Dutt of the Kheti Virasat Mission mentioned. Lawyer Reeta Kohli said Section 63 is a direct assault on the freedom of speech. Social worker Onkar Chand denounced the casual manner in which the government was dealing with the BRAI Bill. Vinod Chander Nanda said the composition of the committee in Chapter II of the Bill was unacceptable. How can decision-making on an important issue be vested in just three members, that too who are just technical experts whereas, the issue of GM crops has its own socio-economic, ethical and political dimensions too, he questioned.
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Provident fund body meeting
Chandigarh, February 25 It was headed by Vijay Kumar Sharma, secretary general, All-India EPF Staff Federation, under the chairmanship of RD Rane. All members were given warm welcome by the Regional Union Chandigarh of the Employees Provident Staff. The meeting was inaugurated by Surinder Pal, general secretary, central government employees, coordination committee, Chandigarh, by lighting
a lamp. At the meeting, AD Nagpal, member, Central Board of Trustees, was elected unopposed as president, Dr Sanjeeva Reddy, MP, Rajya Sabha, President (INTUC) and member Central Board of Trustees was unanimously nominated as the chief patron. GS Chattopadhyay, a senior experienced trade union leader, was nominated advisor of the All-India EPF Staff Federation. Anil Kumr Sharma and Chaman Lal Saini were nominated office secretary and treasurer, respectively, of the All-India EPF Staff Federation.
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Rose Festival
Chandigarh, February 25
The first prize in the category of a garden spread over 4 kanal was won by the Institute of Microbial Technology, Sector 39, near the Haryana Chief Minister’s residence at House No 1, Sector 3. Whereas the first prize for small garden in less than 4 kanal was shared by the Commanding Officer, 25 Squadron, Air Force, C/o 12 Wing, and the Accountant General, Punjab, Sector 17. In the category of small garden in less than 1 kanal, the prize was shared by Group Capt SP Singh, P-49-A, Brar Enclave, Air Force, and Surria Rajpoot, 8-H7, PGI, Sector 12. The Regional Institute of Cooperative Management, Sector 32-C, won the prize for the best-maintained college campus. Ansal Properties and Infrastructure, SCO 183-184, Sector 9 C, won the second prize for the best open space maintained in the market.
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MC to award best-maintained parks
Chandigarh, February 25 The committee also approved printing of a booklet on various developmental works undertaken by the horticulture wing of the corporation. The committee has decided to upgrade security in parks, green belts and improve sanitary
conditions. Besides this, provision of dustbins and prior permission for erecting tents for holding functions
in the parks. The committee also approved developmental works like modifying the existing iron railing, providing a hut with sitting facility at a park in Sector 28 B at a cost of Rs 3.16 lakh, development of a park near radio station colony on the V-5 road, Sector 48-A, at a cost of Rs 5.06 lakh and that of seven parks in the rehabilitation colony, Sector 25, at a cost of
Rs 11.70 lakh.
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LPG Shortage
Chandigarh, February 25 The Deputy Commissioner directed oil companies to ensure timely supply of LPG cylinders to the gas agencies to minimise the inconvenience caused to the consumers. The officials of the oil companies as well as the dealers said there wasn’t any shortage and the backlog was only of two to three days. He also directed the Food and Supplies Department to check the misuse of domestic LPG cylinders in shops or commercial establishments. The department has also been asked to obtain a list of the commercial users from the oil companies or gas agencies concerned within a week for ascertaining their requirement.
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21 condemned vehicles to be auctioned
Chandigarh, February 25
It would be done on the ‘as-is-where-is’ basis. There are 13 motorcycles, a Swaraj Mazda bus, two Ambassador cars, four Tata buses and 20 mobile oil drums (210 liter capacity) to be auctioned. The auction is open to all, including government servants, barring the employees of the Chandigarh police. The highest bidder will be required to deposit 25 per cent of the total money of the bid on the spot and balance amount (75 per cent) will have to be deposited within 72 hours of the auction. The UT IGP or the officer deputed by him especially for the auction has the power to refuse or accept the highest bid without giving any reason for doing so.
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AKSIPS Disaffiliation
Chandigarh, February 25 “This fiefdom cannot go on. We approach the CBSE for affiliation only after getting an NOC from them. We will communicate our decision to both education minister and adviser that we can only follow the rules of one entity,” said Independent Schools Association president HS Mamik. It may be noted that the association met Adviser Pradeep Mehra against the consistent “harassment” by the education department yesterday. While according to sources, the Independent Schools’ Association has suggested to provide a counsellor to education department officials in order to help them to “rectify” their attitude towards these schools, the education high ups on the other hand, have threatened to close almost 20 schools violating norms. A few days back the education department had apprised the CBSE of various violations in the functioning of Ajit Karam Singh International Public School (AKSIPS) like improper reserve fund and non-implementation of mandatory 15 per cent reservation for EWS students and even recommended its disaffiliation. Reacting to this, the school authorities submitted a written representation today demanding review of this decision stating that other than 15 per cent EWS quota, it was fulfilling all conditions recommended by the department. They were accompanied by a delegation of the Independent Schools’ Association, who complained to the Adviser against the alleged arbitrary intervention of the administration in their affairs and consequent harassment. Interestingly, the schools have even accused the administration to be running a well-planned conspiracy by not providing them any written communication. Meanwhile, the education department claimed to be in a no-nonsense mood, as the Home Secretary asserted, “There is no question of reviewing or taking a U-turn on any decision. We have been supporting these schools by giving them all facilities, but they are becoming business empires. Despite repeated notices, they do not bother to follow the norms and talk highly about students’ welfare. We are not singling out anybody but whosoever is found violating the norms will face the music. We are not doing anything but just telling the CBSE the true picture of these institutions.”
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Boston Fiasco
Chandigarh, February 25 Though the student elections are still far, the campus is already buzzing with the symbolic protests and press interactions aimed to highlight the varsity’s official’s role in allowing Brinder Dhillon, president of SOPU, to go for the conference although he was not a valid student and also involved in various criminal cases. PUSU, through a press conference today, reaffirmed its stand against the role played by the university authorities in giving a bonafide certificate and sending a ‘criminal’ to represent the university. The group claimed that the investigation done by the complainant council revealed that Naval Kishore, dean, student welfare, had provided Dhillon with a bonafide certificate to help him seek court’s permission to go abroad. It was also alleged that the relevant document was ‘mysteriously’ missing now. When contacted, Naval Kishore rubbished the claims saying, “First of all the DSW is not authorised to give any such certificate and had it been there anybody would have got it from the courts. Dhillon and many other students went independently to the conference and nobody flouted any norm to help him. The students’ groups are maligning the university’s image just to gain political footage.” Similarly, the ABVP staged a protest outside the vice-chancellor office against lack of action against Dhillon and even demanded suspension of the student council. “These people are doing all this for publicity without even knowing the real issue. They talk of criminals. Which party is not having their former members involved in criminal cases? Let me tell you that every single party in the university has ‘outsiders’ as their patrons who manage all affairs and most of them are involved in criminal cases. Why single out somebody? We will take action against all,” reacted a senior university official.
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‘Zenith-2010’ organised
Mohali, February 25 Prof Sudhir Baweja, University School of Open Learning, Panjab University, A Kohli, director, Super Rug Private Limited, Prof AK Vashisht, Panjab University, Dalvir Singh, creative head, BR Advertising, and Prof Mandeep Dhillon, senior professor, ICFAI College, were among the judges. Surinder Talwar, senior director, Philips India Limited, who was the
chief guest, said such events provided opportunity to the students to enhance creativity and innovation in addition to entertainment. Manmohan Kumar Garg, CEO, Gurukul Vidyapeeth, said the fest was the culmination of days of strenuous efforts under the guidance of faculty and was aimed at honing the talent of the students. Meanwhile, Gurukul Vidyapeeth has added another feather to its cap. It has won the best B-school award. The institute has been awarded for using the best technology, innovative, modern industry-based techniques and methodology in teaching budding professionals.
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Science exhibition awards given
Chandigarh, February 25 The State Science Exhibition, which was organised in the month of January, provided a rare opportunity to city's students and teachers to develop and design something new and innovative. Meanwhile, as per a press note released by Sri Guru Harkrishan Model School, Sector 38, Chandigarh, its model “Future Farming” won the first prize under the theme “Biology in Human Welfare” at the exhibition. The model was represented by Naveen Rattu of class XI (non-medical) at the exhibition and was the brainchild of teacher Suvrita Sharma. Info centre inaugurated
Dr SS Dahiya, Director, State Institute of Education, Sector 32, inaugurated a hi-tech information and communication centre (ICT) here today. The centre is equipped with 36 computers and highly sophisticated audio-visual aids, including high-powered projectors and DLPs. It aims at modernising the training imparted to both in-service and pre- service teachers.
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