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Punjab fails to make payment to power corp
OPD for cancer, cardiac diseases opens in Bathinda
Government honours martyr Dhingra’s kin
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Chawla to pitch in to bring back relics
Gurdaspur meeting of Cong ends in bedlam
Another PPP founder member joins SAD
SAD-Sant Samaj alliance an eyewash: Dal Khalsa
SAD-Sant Samaj alliance an eyewash: Dal Khalsa
Hansi Butana: Farmers to go on hunger strike from September 1
Verdict to check politicising of PPSC
Shots fired as farmers resist land acquisition
Centre gives nod to more warehouses
Sutlej fury: Crops on 900 acres inundated in Fazilka
State admits lapses in probe of riots after Vienna firing
Support for Anna pours in from all quarters
PCS Exam 2009: Candidates a worried lot
Moshe reviews Khalsa heritage project, Farmer ‘burnt’ alive, probe ordered EU seeks mercy for Bhullar Crops on 900 acres inundated in Fazilka
High Court for 3-tier appointment system
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Advance Subsidy
Patiala, August 17
Engineers working with PSPCL have flayed the Punjab Government for its failure to release the full amount of the monthly advance payment of the power subsidy to PSPCL. PSEB Engineers’ Association president H.S.Bedi has said despite the PSERC tariff order, the Punjab Government is still not releasing the full advance subsidy payment to the PSPCL. Speaking to TNS, Bedi said on account of ill planning and irresponsible attitude of the SAD-BJP government, the power corporation was on the verge of financial collapse. Elaborating the matter, he said either the state government adjusts the power subsidy amount with the pending loans of the PSPCL or delays the release of the power subsidy. “The decision of the state government to adjust the subsidy with loan amount is in gross violation of Section 65 of the Electricity Act, 2003. Since 2006-07, PSPCL had been continuously registering commercial losses. PSPCL suffered a loss of Rs 1,800 crore (2006-07), Rs 1,611 crore (2007-08), Rs 1,292 crore (2008-09) and Rs 1,623 crore (2009-10). There is immediate need to bring the financial condition of PSPCL on track,” he said. Association general secretary Bhupinder Singh said the state government should infuse fresh equity, pay regular advance power subsidy payment and invest in power generation projects, in order to ensure good fiscal health of the PSPCL. “It is really unfortunate that the state government is not complying with the PSERC tariff order. If the full amount of the advance payment for the power subsidy was not released on time, the financial condition of the PSPCL would deteriorate further,” said Padamjit Singh, a power sector expert. All attempts to contact Anirudh Tiwari, Secretary, Power, proved futile. power shock Monthly advance payment for power subsidy is Rs 394.08 crore For July, the government released just Rs 282.69 crore The power corp is on the verge of financial collapse The corporation is suffering losses since 2006-07 Infuse fresh equity into power corp, say engineers
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OPD for cancer, cardiac diseases opens in Bathinda
Bathinda, August 17 According to an official, the formal inauguration of the hospital will be done by Punjab Chief Minister on September 26. However, though the authorities have made the OPD functional, construction work is still on. The foundation stone of the hospital was laid by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on February 22, 2009, while Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal performed the ground-breaking ceremony on November 29, 2009. As per official information, as many as 14 patients were examined by the doctors in the OPD on the first day. Talking to the Tribune, Executive Director of the Max Healthcare Institute Limited, New Delhi, Dr Dilpreet Brar said the OPD would function from 8 am to 8 pm daily. About 25 doctors were present at the OPD for examining the patients, including specialists of ear, nose and throat (ENT), medicine, gynaecology, orthopaedic, oncology and cardiology, she said. With regard to the consultation fee being charged in the OPD from the patients, Dr Brar said it would vary from Rs 150 to Rs 400. However, the registration fee for every patient would be Rs 20. She said by September 15, about 50 doctors would be available for examining the patients. Except for transplantation of the organs, all types of patients would be treated here, she added. Formal inauguration by the CM on Sept 26 To function from 8 am to 8 pm daily Consultation fee to vary from Rs 150 to Rs 400 Registration fee will be Rs 20
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Government honours martyr Dhingra’s kin
Amritsar, August 17 It is said the place where the park has come up is believed to be the spot where Dhingra’s last rites were performed after his mortal remains were brought from London in 1976 with the effort of the then Chief Minister, Punjab, Giani Zail Singh. People have encroached upon a portion of the park to create a green belt in their own backyard. With the main entrance gate closed for a long time now, the interior of the park is ‘resplendent’ with wild growth. People in the vicinity prefer not to visit the park because of the overgrowth and only cattle can be seen grazing there. In the absence of proper care, snakes and poisonous insects are a common sight. “The condition of the park further deteriorated during the construction of the elevated road. The area become a favourite haunt with drug addicts and anti-social elements due to lack of proper lighting. There is only a single high mastlight there on one side of the road in the name of a lighting system,” says Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of the nearby Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra residential complex. “We hardly see any gardner tending to the park,” he added. The then government had also announced the construction of a suitable memorial in his memory but that never happened. Consecutive governments failed to erect a suitable memorial in memory of the hero of the freedom struggle who was born in the house of Dr Sahib Ditta Mal in 1887. Promises made by the government to convert the residence of Dhingra situated in the arterial lanes of the walled city into a museum met the same fate. The ancestral house of the martyr could be another memorial for those visiting the city to pay regards to the Jallianwala Bagh martyrs. Dhingra’s ancestral house was to be converted into a museum during the centenary celebrations of his martyrdom two years back. But this could not materialise for reasons best known to the authorities. Salute to Dhingra The state government today organised a state-level function to mark the 102nd martyrdom day of Madan Lal Dhingra at S R Government College. The government honoured the family members of Dhingra, besides other freedom fighters during the function. While addressing the gathering, Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Minister of Social Security Women and Child Development, stressed that the people should come out of their age-old mentality that is still a slave to western culture. A blood donation camp and painting exhibition were organised in the college premises to mark the occasion. Earlier, she paid tributes to martyrs at the historic Jallianwala Bagh memorial.
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Chawla to pitch in to bring back relics
Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla, while talking to The Tribune said that she would take up the matter of bringing back the relics belonging to the martyr which were lying in British Museum.
She said, “I have been informed that relics, including Dhingra’s shirts with Vande Matram written on them, his writings and other belongings are lying with the British Museum in London. I have decided to take up this issue with the Punjab government and the Centre in this connection. After this, I would also take up the issue of construction of a suitable memorial where his relics would be displayed to inspire the young generation”. When asked about the pitiable condition of Madan Lal Dhingra park, she said she would direct the district and civic administration to take adequate steps in this direction.
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Gurdaspur meeting of Cong ends in bedlam
Gurdaspur, August 17 The Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency has 10 assembly segments. Skirmishes erupted among ticket contenders as they tried to impress Charak. Charak pacified the workers, maintaining that he was there to listen to their grievances and not to shortlist candidates. Earlier, Charak was accorded a warm welcome by District Congress Committee vice-president Anil Dara at Sarna, 30 km from here,while on his way to Gurdaspur from Jammu. The proceedings of the meeting began on a fiery note. Stage secretary and senior Congress leader Ajay Verma, a staunch Bhinder loyalist, was booed at by supporters of his rival Raman Bahl when he pointed out that Bahl had worked against the party candidate PS Bhinder during the 2007 assembly elections. Bhinder had lost to SAD candidate GS Babbehal. Annoyed, Bahl’s supporters asked Verma to leave the stage. At this point, DCC chief Sukhjinder Randhawa intervened to pacify the agitated workers.Charak seemed helpless as ticket aspirants hurled charges and counter-charges at one another. The situation could have gone out of hand but for the intervention by Sukhjinder Randhawa, Bhinder, Tripit Rajinder Bajwa and Fatehjung Bajwa. A senior Congress leader said: “ Charak came to quell infighting in the Gurdaspur DCC. However, he left the meeting a sad man.”
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Another PPP founder member joins SAD
Chandigarh, August 17 Party President and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal utilised the moment to appeal to all the original cadres to return to the parent party fold, rising above the personal and factional feuds. Brar said he was forced to leave the PPP as the party cadre was totally disillusioned as there was a large gap between promises and action on the ground. He said he was shocked to see that the constitution had been tailor made to adjust near and dear ones in the ‘kitchen cabinet’ of the party. Welcoming Brar and his supporters back in the party, Sukhbir said certain party workers who had left the party due to personal, factional or egoistic feuds should return to the party fold to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.
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SAD-Sant Samaj alliance an eyewash: Dal Khalsa Amritsar, August 17 Both the sides have presented a concocted story. Contrary to the claims of 30 seats, Sant Samaj has got less than 6 seats, while the rest of the nominees shown to be theirs, are actually the SAD candidates.” He alleged that the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had adjusted several of his loyalists under the guise of Sant Samaj to “hoodwink his own cadre and stem the rebellion in his party.” The alliance could be best described as a ‘skin-saving’ formula for the Badals and face-saving exercise for the Sant Samaj”, he added.
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SAD-Sant Samaj alliance an eyewash: Dal Khalsa
Amritsar, August 17 Both the sides have presented a concocted story. Contrary to the claims of 30 seats, Sant Samaj has got less than 6 seats, while the rest of the nominees shown to be theirs, are actually the SAD candidates.” He alleged that the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had adjusted several of his loyalists under the guise of Sant Samaj to “hoodwink his own cadre and stem the rebellion in his party.” The alliance could be best described as a ‘skin-saving’ formula for the Badals and face-saving exercise for the Sant Samaj”, he added.
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Hansi Butana: Farmers to go on hunger strike from September 1
Patiala, August 17 While confirming this, district president, BKU Ekta (Dakunda) and coordinator of Anti-Hansi Butana Canal Committee, Dr Darshan Pal said inhabitants of all Punjab and Haryana villages, situated near the Ghaggar and Hansi Butana canal stretch on Patiala-Kaithal state highway, have unanimously decided that they will not buckle under any pressure and will demolish a part of the Hansi Butana canal embankment to save their villages in case of a flood threat. Dr Pal further said in accordance with the decisions taken during the August 8 mahapanchayat at Ramnagar village, a meeting of the Anti-Hansi Butana Canal Committee was held at Sassi Thay village on August 15. The meeting was attended by the farmers of two dozen flood-prone villages. “During the meeting, a resolution to demolish a part of the canal embankment was passed. If it rains heavily, the canal would obstruct the natural flow of water and subsequently, flash floods will wash about hundred villages of Punjab and Haryana. To deal with that exigency, we will be left with no other option but to demolish a part of the canal embankment, in order to remove the obstruction in the free flow of water.” He further said from representatives of the Anti-Hansi Butana Canal Committee will sit on a chain hunger strike for 10 days at the Punjab-Haryana border on the Patiala-Kaithal highway from September 1. Meanwhile, the farmers of the flood-prone villages have stated that the Haryana Government was misguiding the masses on the issue of concrete wall. Speaking to The Tribune, Gurmeet Singh, Rajinder Singh and Satnam Singh from Dharmheri, Sassi Gujaran and Sassi Thay villages, respectively, said, “The claims of the Haryana Government that the wall is being built to strengthen the Ghaggar embankment are misleading. The main objective behind constructing the wall is to ensure that there is no breach in the Hansi Butana canal. By doing so, Haryana wants to obstruct the natural flow of water.” The villagers further said in case the Punjab Government doesn’t get relief on August 19, which is the next date of hearing in the matter in the apex court, the farmers would intensify their agitation.
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Verdict to check politicising of PPSC
Chandigarh, August 17 PPSC, like most other institutions, has come under attack on more than one occasion for corruption, favouritism and nepotism. The HC judgement will go a long way in checking the politicising of this recruiting body. There has been misuse of the PPSC during the tenure of almost every government with scandals surfacing time and again. The HC directive for a committee of bureaucrats and eminent persons and the need to consult the Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha and also the Speaker will rectify many ills. Former Congress Chief Minister HS Brar had appointed Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu as the PPSC chief. His term saw the biggest “job-for-cash” scam that led to the recovery of Rs 8.16 crore from his lockers. Subsequently, the Congress Government appointed SK Sinha as Chairman. During Sinha’s term, the PPSC saw scams in the recruitment of doctors. Months before Punjab was to go to the polls, the SAD-BJP Government hurriedly appointed Dhanda, a sitting SAD legislator from Ludhiana-West, as PPSC Chairman following Sinha’s death. A lawyer by profession, Dhanda was appointed Chairman because the SAD and the BJP wanted to make some seat adjustments. Though, all parties have been appointing their favourites to the PPSC top post, Dhanda’s appointment did not go very well with the Congress as Dhanda was the chairman of the Vidhan Sabha committee that had recommended Capt Amarinder Singh’s expulsion from the Vidhan Sabha. The Congress has described the High Court judgement as “poetic justice”. PCC vice-presidents Lal Singh, Rana KP, general secretary Arvind Khanna, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Balbir Sidhu pointed out that Dhanda had “embarrassed his government before and has done it again now.” Amarinder Singh hailed the verdict and said it would will lead to transparency in the appointment of PPSC Chairman and its members. He said since the PPSC was responsible for making important appointments, including those in the lower judiciary, “it becomes even more important that the appointments are done in a most transparent manner and the persons appointed are above board.”
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Shots fired as farmers resist land acquisition
Bathinda, August 17 Two mediapersons covering the incident were beaten up and treated at the local Civil Hospital for minor injuries. The mediapersons alleged that the policemen at the site did not arrest the man who opened fire. Instead, they escorted him to safety. Bathinda SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill hurriedly called a press meet in the evening and admitted lapses on the part of the DSP and the SHO deployed at the site. "I admit the policemen erred in beating up mediapersons. They will not be assigned any further duty till they arrest the accused," he said. A case has been registered against Amarjeet Singh Happy of Green Avenue, Gurtej Singh of Amarpura Basti and Jaskaran Singh of Mehma Sarja village under Section 307 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54, 69 of the Arms Act. Efforts are on to nab all the three. The Bathinda Development Authority has acquired 185 acres of land to build Modern Town Phase IV and V. Family member of the affected farmers were seen crying helplessly. They alleged the government had purchased their fertile land at a paltry sum to further sell it at an exorbitant price.
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Centre gives nod to more warehouses
Chandigarh, August 17 He said the proposal for another warehouse with a capacity to stack 2 lakh tonnes of grain was yet to be granted approval. Warehouses with a capacity to stack 12.29 lakh tonnes of grain were under construction. Besides, the government had floated tenders inviting bids forthe construction of warehouses to stack 22 lakh tonnes of foodgrain, Grewal said. “We anticipate that there will be a sizeable increase in the state’s storage capacity in a year or so,”he said. As of now, about 200 lakh tonnes of foodgrain in the state is stacked in the open. According to estimates by government procurement agencies, there will be a stock of 300 lakh tonnes of wheat and rice by the end of this fiscal year. By then about 80-90 lakh tonnes would be moved to other states. This implies that on April 1 next year, before the beginning of the harvesting of wheat, there will be a stock of about 210 lakh tonnes of wheat and rice in the state.
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Sutlej fury: Crops on 900 acres inundated in Fazilka
Fazilka, August 17 “Around 41,000 cusecs of water was further released from the Hussainiwala Headworks yesterday and more areas could be affected,” said Fazilka DC Dr Basant Garg, adding that alert had been sounded in the flood-prone villages situated on the banks of the river. The administration has cautioned the villagers to be vigilant as there is threat of more water pouring in. According to information, the standing crop of paddy and cotton on about 600 acres in Mohar Jamsher village, about 200 acres in Hasta Kalan village, 100 acres in Walleshah Hithar village and some part of land in Kanwawali Pattan village has been submerged. Agricultural fields in Ghurka, Jhangar Bhaini, Retewali Bhaini and Dona Nanka villages are also under flood threat. Keeping in view the grave situation, the administration had removed the floating bridge, too, about a fortnight back connecting the village to the main land. “All the links have been snapped from the main land. We have been commuting through a single boat,” rued Sarpanch of Mohar Jamsher village Kulwant Singh. Fazilka ADC CS Mann, supervising work of strengthening of the banks of the Sutlej creek, said, “There are two weak points on Kanwali Pattan that need to be strengthened.” — OC
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Beas, Sutlej below danger mark: BBMB official
Jalandhar: While the farmers of villages along the Beas have been closely monitoring the rising waters following the news of additional spillage by the BBMB over the past few days, SE (Drainage, Bist Doab) Anil Sood said there was no need to panic as of now but things will change if there are more widespread rains and the BBMB authorities discharge more water. The officials monitoring the situation said they were keeping a close watch on the situation. At present, the discharge has been between 50,000 to 1 lakh cusec. — TNS
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State admits lapses in probe of riots after Vienna firing
Chandigarh, August 17 As the case came up for hearing, an affidavit by IAS officer DS Bains was placed before the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Adarsh Goel and Justice AK Mittal. The affidavit added, “guidelines have been issued to the Senior Superintendents of Police, five special investigating teams have been constituted and raids carried out, but arrests have not been made so far.” The failure of the state to act nearly landed the Home Secretary and Director-General of Police in trouble. They narrowly escaped the contempt loop, after Punjab Advocate-General Baldev Singh came to their rescue. He assured the Punjab and Haryana HC of showing “tangible progress” in the matter. Taking note of the assertion, the Bench asserted: “Unfortunately, no tangible progress appears to have taken place in spite of orders of this court. We are inclined to proceed for contempt against the Home Secretary and Director-General of Police, but for the assurance held out by the Advocate-General, Punjab”. The Bench quoted the AG as saying, “in a month tangible progress would be shown to the Court to uphold the law”. Fixing September 20 as the next date of hearing, the Bench directed: “The Home Secretary and DGPmay remain present”. The directions came on a petition filed in public interest by Phagwara-based General Samaj Manch. Guru Sant Ramanand was attacked by six men armed with knives and a pistol during clashes at a religious ceremony at a temple in Vienna. He later died from his wounds in hospital. Soon after his death in May 2009, the government had to call in the Army to help cops restore order after at least two people were killed and four injured in police firing on rioters in Jalandhar. In fact, thousands of angry protesters took to the streets damaging public property and setting trains afire. Tardy justice Guru Sant Ramanand was attacked by six men armed with knives and a pistol during clashes at a temple in Vienna He later died in hospital in May 2009 Two persons were killed and 4 injured in police firing in Jalandhar; Army called in to restore order HC says no tangible progress in spite of the court orders
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Support for Anna pours in from all quarters
Patiala, August 17 Terming Anna's arrest as the murder of democracy, state president of SFI Gurpal Singh Dhaliwal said the Central Government had ignored the basic rights of Indian citizens by arresting Anna even before the beginning of his ‘anshan’. Lovedeep Sharma, another SFI leader, said the Central Government was deliberately ignoring the implementation of the Lokpal Bill in its original form in order to save its corrupt leaders and the bill it was proposing was just a formality. Until an unless the government implemented a stringent Lokpal Bill, it was impossible to end corruption in our country, he said. University leaders Jagpal Cheema and Gursewak Singh said despite tall claims by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that India was progressing fast, more than 50 per cent of people were still not getting proper health facilities and education. They maintained that all students would support Anna's cause as it was for the betterment of the society. Even the District Bar Association, including around 1,300 members, refrained from work today in support of Anna's fight against corruption. President of the association J.S.Grewal said they did not support any political party and were protesting in order to make Indian society corruption-free. He said, "India's lawmakers should be clean and should not have any criminal background. These should be the general parameters as protectors of law. Earlier, lawmakers were advocates but with changing times, even those who make law are sometimes involved in various cases which is very sad," he added. Meanwhile, the BJP activists burnt effigy of the UPA Government to express their anger against the Union Government. Crusade against corruption Students boycott classes to protest against govt 1,300 lawyers of the District Bar Association refrained from work in support of Anna Hazare Despite claims by the government, more than 50 per cent of the population was not getting healthcare facilities
and education The BJP activists burnt an effigy of the UPA government to express their anger
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PCS Exam 2009: Candidates a worried lot
Patiala, August 17 The Commission had earlier postponed the main exam from June 23, 2011, to September 2, 2011. As per information available, hours after the news came in that HC has set aside appointment of Dhanda, many of the candidates called up PPSC office to inquire whether the exam would be held on schedule or not. Many candidates, who called up this correspondent said that they fear that without a permanent chairman in place, the Commission may put off the exam again. A total of 2,140 candidates have to appear in the main exam for 180 posts of PCS, PCS (allied) and DSP in the state police. The recruitment process for filing the above-mentioned posts got underway in 2009 and so far, the PPSC has been able to conduct only the preliminary exam. “Even the preliminary exam was postponed number of times. It has been almost one and half years since process for conducting the Punjab State Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination-2009 was initiated but so far the Commission has conducted only the preliminary exam,” was what many of the candidates said, preferring anonymity. Meanwhile, all the PPSC members and authorities are tight-lipped over the matter. Preferring anonymity, one of the Commission member said, “There is possibility of slight change in the examination schedule but not because of the quashing of Dhanda’s appointment but because of administrative reasons.”
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Moshe reviews Khalsa heritage project,
Chandigarh, August 17 An official spokesman here, the chief minister assured Safdie that the government would extend full cooperation for the timely completion of the project. Those attending the meeting included Anandpur Sahib Foundation head and Secretary Tourism Dr. K S Sra. The Israeli architect was accompanied by associate architect Ashok
Dhawan.
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Farmer ‘burnt’ alive, probe ordered Nakodar, August 17 According to sources, the incident occurred at 10 pm yesterday night when some youths carrying sharp-edged weapons barged into a dera situated on the outskirts of Shahkot and tried to take away the buffaloes. While the farmer was trying to protest against the move, the miscreants started beating him up and poured diesel on him and consigned the farmer to flames. While requesting anonymity, villagers who were present on the spot revealed the same story. A UP-based servant, Raju, who was also present on the spot, informed the nearby villagers and later the police. Shahkot DSP Jasveer Singh, Inspector GS Sandhu, along with a number of policemen, took stock of the situation. “Prima facie it is an accidental death and we also deny any incident of loot,” said the police. The farmer’s cloths accidentally caught fire when he was preparing a desi, a country made liquor at the dera, said the cops. “The body has been sent for postmortem. We have done the proceedings under Section 174 (CrPc). The police will work on different theories to know the truth,” added the police. — OC
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New Delhi, August 17 "The EU, in its letter, has inter-alia requested to commute the death sentence of Bhullar to life imprisonment,” Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran said. He said Punjab had not asked the Centre to reconsider Bhullar’s execution. — TNS
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Crops on 900 acres inundated in Fazilka Fazilka, August 17 “Around 41,000 cusecs of water was further released from the Hussainiwala Headworks yesterday and more areas could be affected,” said Fazilka DC Dr Basant Garg, adding that alert had been sounded in the flood-prone villages situated on the banks of the river. The administration has cautioned the villagers to be vigilant as there is threat of more water pouring in. According to information, the standing crop of paddy and cotton on about 600 acres in Mohar Jamsher village, about 200 acres in Hasta Kalan village, 100 acres in Walleshah Hithar village and some part of land in Kanwawali Pattan village has been submerged. Agricultural fields in Ghurka, Jhangar Bhaini, Retewali Bhaini and Dona Nanka villages are also under flood threat. Keeping in view the grave situation, the administration had removed the floating bridge, too, about a fortnight back connecting the village to the main land. “All the links have been snapped from the main land. We have been commuting through a single boat,” rued Sarpanch of Mohar Jamsher village Kulwant Singh. Fazilka ADC CS Mann, supervising work of strengthening of the banks of the Sutlej creek, said, “There are two weak points on Kanwali Pattan that need to be strengthened.” — OC
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High Court for 3-tier appointment system
Chandigarh, August 17 The high court also recommended a three-rung appointment system, where the recommendations of the search committee would be considered by a high-powered committee. Final nod would come from the Governor. In all, candidates three times the number of posts would be considered for appointments. . Laying down the norms, the Bench asserted the search committee shall consist of at least three members, including a serving Principal Secretary. Another member “can be serving or retired bureaucrat, not below the rank of Financial Commissioner, or member of the Armed forces not below the rank of Brigadier or of equivalent rank”. “The search committee shall consider all the names which came to its notice or are forwarded by any person or by any aspirant. The search committee shall prepare panel of suitable candidates equal to the three times the number of vacancies. “While preparation of the panel, it shall be specifically elicited about the pendency of any court litigation, civil or criminal, conviction or otherwise in a criminal court or civil court decree or any other proceedings that may have a bearing on the integrity and character of the candidates. “Such panel prepared by the search committee shall be considered by a high-powered committee, consisting of Chief Minister, Speaker of Assembly and Leader of the Opposition. It is thereafter the recommendation shall be placed with all relevant materials with relative merits of the candidates for the approval of the Governor after completing the procedure before such approval”. Giving a reason for judicial intervention, a Full Bench observed: “The successive state governments have failed to develop any criteria for appointment of persons of integrity as members and chairman of the Commission. Therefore, a transparent, fair and objective procedure is required to ensure that persons of impeccable integrity, calibre and qualifications alone are appointed as chairman/members of the public service commission”. Setting Norms The HC has recommended a three-rung appointment system, under which the recommendations of the search committee would be considered by a high-powered panel The search committee would consist of at least three members, including a serving Principal Secretary Final nod by Governor Candidates three times the number of posts would be considered for appointments
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Even as the state government today observed the 102nd martyrdom day of Madan Lal Dhingra, the park set up in his memory at the Mall Mandi area just close to the International Bus Terminal on the main GT Road, has been crying for attention.
Punjab Congress affairs incharge Gulchain Singh Charak had a tough time controlling incensed party workers at a meeting here today.
The Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency has 10 assembly segments. Skirmishes erupted among ticket contenders as they tried to impress
Charak. 
With Patiala receiving heavy rainfall during the past couple of days, the worried farmers of the flood-prone villages, alongside the Ghaggar and the Hansi Butana Canal, have announced that in case there is a flood-like situation, they would not hesitate to demolish a part of the Hansi Butana canal embankment in order to save their villages from devastation.
Students of Punjabi University, Patiala, led by the Students Federation of India
(SFI) leaders held a rally on the university campus today to protest against the arrest of Anna Hazare by the Delhi police yesterday. They boycotted the classes and gathered in front of library to protest against the attitude of the UPA government and raised slogans against them.
Notably, in lieu of the free power being given to agriculture sector, SCs, non-SC/BPL domestic consumers, the state government has to make advance payment of Rs 394.08 crore to PSPCL on monthly basis. But contrary to this, for the months of July, the state government released just Rs 282.69 crore, which is Rs 111.39 crore less than the full subsidy amount. For the month of August so far, the government has released Rs 142 crore (see box).