Chandigarh, March 4
The Punjab Congress today staged a walkout during the Governor’s Address in the Vidhan Sabha and came out with an “address” of its own but chose not to press on against Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon by deciding not to move a substantive motion against him as planned earlier.

The government’s decision to refuse sanction to the CBI to question the Speaker with regard to corruption allegations during the latter’s stint as minister earlier had led to unruly scenes in the last session. The party had recently prepared the ground to move a substantive motion to record its protest against the conduct of the Speaker.

Among recent developments, the Assembly’s Privileges Committee had summoned CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal to answer charges of goading party legislators to take on the Badal duo of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal in the last session. Bhattal, when asked about the party’s stand vis-a-vis the Speaker, said a PIL on the issue had been admitted in court and the party expected the court to decide on it.

Today the party staged a walkout around 20 minutes into Governor Shivraj Patil’s address to the House during the course of which its legislator Sadhu Singh Dharamsot read out a parallel “address”. Bhattal later termed the Governor’s Address as a pack of lies. The Congress will, however, participate in the rest of the session. Bholath legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira said though the Speaker had refused to step down on moral grounds, the party felt that it could not sacrifice the issues of the people and had chosen to participate in the Assembly proceedings.

Meanwhile, in the parallel “address” released by the Congress, the party, while asserting that it held the Governor in high esteem, claimed the ruling combine had submitted a “false, misleading and politically motivated document” before the Governor. It claimed the government was taking credit for central schemes that were resulting in the creation of much-needed infrastructure in the state. It said misleading adverstisements were being put out regarding the atta-dal scheme when the fact was that the scheme was limping on only in the constituencies of Akali bigwigs.

The Congress claimed similarly the state government was making tall claims about new power projects at Gidderbaha, Talwandi Sabo and Rajpura even as it was the truth that except for a few bricks there was nothing on the ground at these project sites. It said at present there was a lack of resources for development and the government was unable to pay the arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission or meet the recurring liability of the salaries of its employees. 

Jalandhar, March 4
The day temperature came down by 7°C following a light to moderate rainfall in various parts of the region today. The maximum day temperature recorded yesterday was 25°C. However, it came down to 18°C today. There was also considerable fall in the day temperature in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and adjoining areas.

Rain has been reported from Amritsar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr and other areas in the region. It is considered good for rabi crops at this stage. “Rain will not cause any harm to any crop. In fact, it will prove useful,” said Balwinder Singh Sidhu, Director, state Agriculture Department. Fall in temperature would also prove good for late-sown wheat crop. There was 3 to 5 mm rainfall in this region.

“There will certainly a record yield of wheat this year,” said an official of the Agriculture Department. He added that the area under the crop was nearly 35 lakh hectares. “We are expecting a total output of 156 lakh tonnes of wheat this year. Its arrival in the grain market for procurement in the Central pool will be about 115 lakh tonnes provided the weather remain normal in April,” the official added.

Gurdev Singh, a farmer, said wheat harvesting was expected to start late this year. Most of the crop was sown late.

Chandigarh, March 4
Forty-year-old Devinder Singh today took temporary leave from the PGI here where he is admitted in the Emergency ward to appear before newsmen and allege that he was picked up by the Punjab police on trumped- up charges and tortured brutally.

Devinder Singh, who was flanked by the Punjab Human Rights Organisation head, Justice (retd) Ajit Singh Bains, Majha Ex-Servicemen Human Rights Forum head Col (retd) G S Sandhu and a former Amarinder aide, Capt Bikramjit Singh Pahuwindia, claimed that he was subjected to torture by the Sardulgarh DSP as well as the Jhineer Station House Officer on the directions of the Mansa SSP.

Devinder claimed he was pressurised to admit a double murder that occurred in Patiala one year ago of Colonol and Mrs Sirjit Singh. He claimed that the police pressurised him to name Capt Pahuwindia in the murder case. He said after he was interrogated and the police was satisfied about his innocence, he was let off in the presence of respectables of the area at the SSP’s residence. He said he had fled Mansa fearing for his life and got admitted to the PGI here.

Meanwhile, Mansa SSP Hardyal Singh Mann, when questioned about the allegations, said Devinder was wanted in an extortion case. He said Devinder, who was a dismissed police personnel, was accused of brandishing a weapon and indulging in extortion. The SSP said the allegations seemed to be part of a ploy to avoid arrest adding “why would we leave someone who is wanted by us”. He went on to claim that he did not know about the case being referred to in Patiala and that the Mansa police was not investigating it. 

Ludhiana, March 4
The night shift for women workers in the textile industry may not become a reality in the near future. The textile industry is keen to have women workers in the night shift with some guarantees from the state government to meet the labour shortage. The state government wants that the textile industry should provide a guarantee for the safety and security of the women workers.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal held a meeting with textile industrialists in Ludhiana on February 13 where the possibility of having female workers in the night shift was discussed. The Chief Minister had set up a committee consisting of the representatives of the textile industry and the state government. The committee has held its meeting and discussed the pros and cons of the problems of having night shift for the women workers.

Enquiries made by The Tribune have revealed that after the meeting of the Chief Minister on February 13, the Women’s Forum had raised objections to the night shift of women workers in view of the apprehension of lack of security for the women and social responsibilities of the women workers.

The managements of the textile mills in Ludhiana want that the state government should adopt the Tripur pattern of employment of women workers in the textile industry where all three shifts are managed exclusively by women. This has been possible after a verdict and guidelines provided by the Tamil Nadu High Court. The Tripur textile complex is located in Tamil Nadu and has employed a very large number of women workers. The employment of women workers in the textile industry in Tripur was challenged in the Tamil Nadu High Court which issued guidelines for the employment of the women workers. After this, the Tamil Nadu government has passed a law making safety of the women workers mandatory for the textile units and also meeting other social obligations like construction of women’s hostels and setting up of crèches for the children of the workers.

SS Channy, Principal Secretary, Industry and Commerce, Punjab, told The Tribune today that the committee had met and finalised the report that had been submitted to the Chief Minister.

Channy said for the employment of women workers in the night shifts, the managements of the textile mills would have to construct hostels for them and also meet other social obligations like the construction of crèches for their children, women supervisors and providing transport facility. The management of the mills would also have to assure the safety of the women workers, he said.

DL Sharma of Vardhman Group said they were already having 3,000 workers in their three units at Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur who work during the day time. “We have set up a hostel also for them where 500 workers stay. Besides, we have deployed 25 buses which fetch the women workers from their villages and drop them back in the evening.”

Mohali, March 4
The Punjab Forest Department has come to the rescue of hundreds of its employees working under the Japan project, who stood demoted or retrenched with the project coming to an end. The project ended on February 28.

Punjab Forest Minister Tikshan Sud said till the Cabinet did not clear the case of restructuring of the forest department, the employees would continue to work with it. The affected employees on contract might be adjusted under the compensatory afforestation management project.

The minister said the employees would continue with the department, allaying fears among the affected employees of being demoted or retrenched. There has been an objection from the Finance Department regarding extension of posts under the Japan project.

Once the restructuring was approved, the number of posts other than the IFS posts would automatically increase. While the cadre strength of IFS officers has doubled over the years, the posts of the lower staff, including those of the state forest department have not been increased. 

Chandigarh, March 4
A three-member committee headed by Inspector-General of Police (administration) Parag Jain has been constituted by Punjab in consultation with the Punjab and Haryana High Court to go into the issue of promotions and related matters concerning police inspectors.

The issue follows recent decision to divide the inspectors’ state cadre into four different cadres. The other two members of the committee are DIG (Administration) Gurpreet Kaur Deo and state additional advocate-general MS Gill.

The details were communicated in writing by Punjab advocate-general Hardev Singh Mattewal today and handed over to Justice Surya Kant during the resumed hearing on a writ petition of an inspector under the Faridkot range, Ranjit Singh and some other similarly placed inspectors.

The petitioner through counsel Gurminder Singh argued the division into cadres and consequential distribution of officers had adversely affected their promotional prospects. As such, there was a need to quash the creation of four separate cadres in place of one unified state cadre.

Four independent cadres, comprising the Punjab Armed Police, district police, technical and service wing, along with the intelligence wing was carved out.

Disposing of the matter, Justice Surya Kant in the open court directed that the committee would convey its report within two months period

Chandigarh, March 4
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has warned the State of Punjab against filing appeals in a mechanical manner. The warning came on an appeal filed by the state in a terminated inspector’s case.

Holding the Punjab Police at fault for blatant misuse of power in terminating the services of Arjan Lal, and then filing an appeal against the orders reversing the termination, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “It is not understood as to why two appeals were filed on behalf of the state to impugn the same judgment. These not only deserved to be dismissed, but would require to be dismissed with costs.”

Justice Ranjit Singh said: “It may need to be observed that the state machinery should not file appeals in a mechanical manner. How could the state have decided to file an appeal in such a case. There is virtually no ground on which such an order can be justified. Still the decision was taken to file this appeal.” Arjan Lal was retired prematurely by flouting all norms by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

Justice Ranjit Singh has already observed in the matter: “The facts would clearly reveal that senior police officer, in charge of police range, had been unfair in dealing with the respondent. It is rather unpalatable to notice that even the Inspector-General failed to correct the misuse of power and, thereby, became partner in allowing the illegality to perpetuate.”

Asking the state to be more judicious and less protective towards the erring officers, Justice Ranjit Singh observed: “The officer has not conducted himself well and he comes out in very poor light. No viable submission could be made before me. No substantial question of law could be pointed out, which would require consideration.”

“The lower appellate court dismissed the appeal with costs and this cost was directed to be paid by DIG R Syrangal,” the court pronounced.