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SAD quells dissent in Moga, Cong yet to pick candidate
DSGMC elections
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HC releases new rules for transfer of cases
Govt acts tough on erring employees
15 Education Dept employees sacked
Ex-MLA Jain’s appointment as chairman challenged
SGPC sets up panel to ‘rewrite’ Sikh history
17 Indians in Sharjah murder case can finally return home
Companies fined for failing to meet Aadhar deadline
Ludhiana Excise Dept collects Rs 31 lakh in 3 months
Low visibility: Flights hit despite Rs 4.5 cr device
21 govt employees found absent in Ropar
Wait for BSNL landline gets longer
Goodwill gesture: Pak youth strays into India, sent back
Kuka Martyrs' Day observed Faridkot Abduction
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SAD quells dissent in Moga, Cong yet to pick candidate
Chandigarh, January 17 A prompt announcement of the Moga byelection by the Election Commission had taken the SAD by surprise as it missed a chance to woo the constituency. However, even as the entire senior leadership of the party is in Delhi for the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) elections, the SAD managed to soothe the wounded egos of both former DGP PS Gill and former Agriculture Minister Tota Singh. Gill was the SAD nominee from the constituency before former Congress legislator Joginderpal Jain, who defeated him in the last assembly elections, switched over to the Akalis. Moga is also the former constituency of Tota Singh, who had been nursing the same for his son Makhan Brar. SAD sources said Gill had been won over by SAD president Sukhbir Badal. Gill would now be the "star campaigner" for the party. This is likely to give a fillip to the SAD campaign. Besides, the party has also prevailed upon Tota Singh to take active interest in the campaigning. Sources said the veteran leader was keen to get back into the Cabinet by contesting the Moga byelection. The Congress is divided on the candidate for the byelection. There are three major claimants — Vijay Sathi, Dr Malti Thapar and Darshan Singh Brar. Vijay is identified with the urban voters of Moga and is supported by CWC member Jagmeet Brar. There is a feeling that a Hindu candidate would be the best choice keeping in view the fact that out of the total electorate of a little more than one lakh, Moga has a population of over 70,000 Hindus. However, the party is keen to project a candidate who can take on the Akalis forcefully and has financial might. Darshan Brar maintains he fits this bill and is making a claim for the ticket on this basis. Brar had lost the last election from the neighbouring constituency of Baghapurana, but claims a number of his former villages are now part of the Moga constituency. The Congress committee headed by Rana Gurjit Singh, which has been mandated with recommending the party candidate, held a meeting on the issue today. Though the party is open to even fielding an influential Hindu candidate from outside the constituency, it is yet to zero in on any candidate. ec guidelines The Election Commission today issued guidelines to curb the misuse of official vehicles during electioneering for the ensuing Moga byelection. A statement issued by the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer said ministers should not combine their official visit with electioneering work and should also not make use of their official machinery and personnel during the elections
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DSGMC elections
New Delhi, January 17 In a gathering of over 100 people, comprising businessmen, educationists, former Army officers, among others, Badal, speaking in Punjabi, urged the Sikhs to vote in the elections. “You people are the voice of the community. I request you to vote for change in order to better the prevailing situation. If people think that they do not want to participate, they would not be doing justice to the Sikh community,” said the CM. He said the manifesto of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) will be released tomorrow on the occasion of Gurpurb (Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary). The SAD (Badal) is going all out to wrest control of the cash-rich and powerful Delhi gurdwaras from the Sarna brothers -- Paramjit Singh and Harvinder Singh -- who are of the SAD (Delhi). They have been at the helm for a decade. “The ruling party has disgraced the community by violating the rules of Akal Takht several times. There have been complaints of corruption and outsider involvement in the management of gurdwaras. Change need to be brought for protecting the rights of the community,” said Badal. Talking on the deteriorating level of DSGMC controlled schools, Badal said that they once used to be the benchmark in the field of education. “During our regime in the committee, the schools used to give tough competition to public schools. But now, no parent wants to opt for them,” said Badal. With the entire leadership of SAD (Badal) camping in the national capital, campaigning has intensified for election to the 46-member general house of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee slated for January 27. Though the issues are unrelated, this election might set the trend for the assembly elections in Delhi due later this year.
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HC releases new rules for transfer of cases
Chandigarh, January 17 The High Court Registrar-General has asserted that applications for transferring cases from one Bench to another have to be made on the judicial side. The Registrar-General has asserted some advocates, and even parties to litigation, were filing applications on administrative side before the Chief Justice for transfer of their cases from one Bench to another "on account of certain reasons". The Registrar-General has added: "It is brought to the notice of all the members of the Bar and the general public that advocate/parties at the first instance may move on the judicial side in case transfer of a case is sought, by filing appropriate application before the Bench concerned, instead of moving an application on the administrative side before the Chief Justice". The Registrar-General has also made it clear to the authorities concerned that their identity and credentials have to be specified in no uncertain terms in the replies and written statements, lest these are turned down by the branch concerned. "It has been observed that despite earlier directions, in written statements and replies filed in this Court on behalf of the respondents, the authorised officers, who sign on such replies, do not display their identity and sign the same without mentioning their names and designation. "The officers concerned, who sign the written statements/replies must disclose their complete identity, failing which the written statements/replies will not be accepted… Any official accepting such replies in contravention of these instructions will be held liable for disciplinary action. Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri has also made leave arrangements of Single Bench dealing with writ, civil and criminal roster. Chief Justice Sikri has made it clear that dates in ordinary motion cases will be given by the Court Master of the Court after seeking directions from the Bench when a Judge sitting singly is not holding Court. In case of urgency in ordinary motion cases, request for listing the case on the same date can be made before the Registrar (Administration) by the advocate or the party concerned.
Service benefit given The Punjab and Haryana High Court has found faults with its own interpretation of rules on the administrative side. Dealing with the "promotion" case of judicial officer Jagdeep Singh Marok, a Division Bench has asserted on the judicial side that the interpretation placed by the High Court on the administrative side was "erroneous". Marok had asserted that he has wrongfully ignored for promotion to the post of Additional District Judge by the High Court
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Govt acts tough on erring employees
Amritsar, January 17 The action followed a preliminary investigation report prepared by Deputy Superintendent NK Sharma and a spot visit by Inspector General (Jails) Jagjit Singh. Jail Superintendent Amrik Singh Waraich, who issued the dismissal orders, said: “The circumstantial sequence of the jail escape incident and the investigations conducted by us revealed negligence on the part of these officials. They stand dismissed from service with immediate effect.” Waraich said he had recommended strict action against head warder Mohinder Singh, who was also present in the jail when the incident occurred, as well. The prisoners, Suraj Kumar, Budh Singh and Narain Singh, had cut an iron grill of barrack number-6 at the high-security jail a few days ago with the help of a saw. Then they scaled the 25-ft high boundary wall with the help of a 30-ft long water pipe. While Suraj fell in the police net the very next day, the other two escapees are still at large. In his twenties, Suraj received grievous injuries while jumping over the wall and his condition is stated to be critical.
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15 Education Dept employees sacked
Chandigarh, January 17 The dismissed employees are: District Education Officer Parmod Kumar; Dinesh Didwal and Gurminder Singh (science teachers); Amrik Singh, Raghvir Singh and Rachhpal Singh (all PTIs); Pritam Singh and Baldev Singh (art and craft); Shiv Shakha Singh and Balwinder Singh (SLA); Jarnail Singh (drawing), Resham Singh (computer), Jagdev Singh (social studies), Baldev Singh (math) and Satish Kuman (peon).
— TNS
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Ex-MLA Jain’s appointment as chairman challenged
Chandigarh, January 17 The challenge to his appointment comes at a time when Jain has officially launched his campaign as the SAD candidate for the Moga bypoll. Taking up the petition challenging the appointment, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today even issued notice of motion to the State of Punjab, its Chief Secretary, the Managing Director of the Central Warehousing Corporation and Jain. The petition was filed in public interest by advocate H.C. Arora seeking quashing of the appointment. The Bench of Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain also fixed March 8 as the next date of hearing. In the public interest litigation, Arora asserted that a person cannot be appointed as Chairman unless he is State Warehousing Corporation Director, in view of the provisions contained in the Warehousing Corporation Act, 1962. Otherwise also, the intent of the provision is that a person with criminal background cannot be appointed as Chairman or Director of the Corporation, required to be run on sound business principles. Referring to the affidavits filed by Jain before the Returning Officer for contesting elections from Moga Constituency in January, 2012, Arora asserted the former legislator had stated he was convicted under Section 419 and 471 of the IPC and was sentenced to one-year imprisonment, but was released on probation. As per the affidavit, charges have been framed by the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Faridkot, on September 28, 2010, against Jain under the provisions of “Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 1995” pertaining to setting up of an unauthorised colony. Arora asserted he had sent a notice to the Punjab Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary and the MD of the Central Warehousing Corporation, after learning that a person with controversial antecedents was being appointed. They were called upon not to appoint Jain as the Chairman.
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SGPC sets up panel to ‘rewrite’ Sikh history
Amritsar, January 17 In a statement released here today, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said the committee comprised of Punjabi University VC Dr Jaspal Singh, Dr Prithipal Singh Kapoor, Dr Kirpal Singh, Dr JS Grewal, and Dr Indu Banga. SGPC secretary Roop Singh will be the coordinator of the panel. Makkar attributed the move to the demand from Sikh sangat and various religious groups from India and abroad in this regard. He said the decision was taken in view of the sentiments of the Sikh community. Though Makkar could not be contacted for further details, sources in the SGPC said the idea was at a nascent stage and nothing had been finalised yet. The sources, however, said the Sikh history would be rewritten in 10 volumes, of which the first two would dwell on the life and the times of the Sikh gurus, while the remaining eight volumes will be about Sikh history in the British era, which will include the period of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Meanwhile, Sikh intellectuals and groups have raised doubts over the move. Noted Sikh scholar Bhai Ashok Singh Bagarian said this was not the right time to revise Sikh history due to the controversy that surrounded the SGPC’s decision to participate in the Kumbh Mela. He said the SGPC had already set up a panel to update the Sikh history and it had released the first two volumes. He said he was also associated with the project and they were now working on its fourth volume.
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17 Indians in Sharjah murder case can finally return home
Chandigarh/Dubai, January 17 All of them had got death sentence, which the court had waived in 2011 after Dubai businessman SP Singh Oberoi paid blood money of one million US dollars to the parents of the victim Mishri Khan. But, permission to leave the United Arab Emirates was held up as a civil petition seeking compensation for those injured in the Mishri Khan murder case was filed. The case pertains to 2009 when a group of Indian workers clashed with a group of workers from Pakistan in which Mishri Khan of Sargodha was killed and two of his cousins — Mushtaq Ahmed and Shahid Iqbal — were grievously injured. Subsequently 17 Indian boys were charged for a drunken brawl leading to murder and arson. They were subsequently convicted and sentenced to death. It was under pressure from the media that the Indian mission in UAE hired a team of lawyers to defend the Indian boys who pleaded innocent. An appeal was filed in the Sharjah Appeal Court against the orders of the Sharjah Court in April 2010. It was during hearing of the appeal that the Sharjah Court asked the defence team if it was prepared for settlement under Diya - blood money - to which it reluctantly agreed holding that it had a fool proof case. Oberoi paid up the blood money and the court also endorsed the settlement deal and waived the death sentence in 2011. But then the civil petition was filed and it took more than a year for adjudication and forced the 17 Indian boys to have an extended stay in the Sharjah jail even after their death sentence had been waived. SP Singh Oberoi says that with the pronouncement of a joint compensation of AED 1,00,000 for Mushtaq Ahmed and Shahid Iqbal for grievous injuries they received in the clash will now get Indian boys released. case file
Way to freedom for 17 youths Sukhjinder Singh of Patti, Sukhjot Singh of Sanghera in Barnala, Ram Singh of Kanvi in Amritsar, Aarvinder Singh of Gurdaspur, Baljeet Singh of Sangwal in Jalandhar, Daljeet Singh of Aitiana in Ludhiana, Dharampal Singh of Jhoke Tehal Singh Wala in Ferozepur, Satgur Singh of Ghanaur Jattan in Sangrur, Satnam Singh of Roohli Kalan in Ludhiana, Kashmir Singh of Rattu Ke in Tarn Taran, Suban Singh of Lohian Khaas in Kapurthala, Kulvinder Singh of Ludhiana, Kuldeep Singh of Moga, Sukhjinder Singh of Kapurthala, Namjyot Singh of Ludhiana, Harjinder Singh of Phagwara and Taranjit Singh of Kaithal
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Rain brings cheer to farmers
Chandigarh, January 17 Dr KK Gill, agri-meteorologist, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, said: "Rain during this part of the year is good for winter crops, particularly wheat and mustard. Besides providing a break from the spell of dry cold and frost, rain helps protect crops from insects and pests". Areas around Patiala and Chandigarh witnessed good rainfall today although there were clouds of varying density all over the state.
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Yellow rust spreads in Ropar again
Ropar, January 17 The crop that is hit by the disease, develops yellow stripes on its leaves. It stunts the growth of the plant ultimately lowering the yield, said District Agriculture Officer Lakhwinder Singh Hundal. While it affected almost all parts of the district in the last two years, this time it has only been seen in select areas. However, agriculture experts have their fingers crossed as a sudden spurt in temperatures can aggravate the situation and provide favourable conditions for the disease to spread throughout the district. A team of experts from the Union Agriculture Ministry visited the affected fields at Mothapur village in Nurpur Bedi and Surewal Upper village in Anandpur Sahib and advised the government to take notice of the problem. Even though we take remedial measures every year, the disease survives in Himachal Pradesh due to favourable climatic conditions. The disease then slowly spreads to the areas in the district adjoining the border. Ultimately yellow rust spreads throughout the district, said Hundal. The farmers in the area have been informed about the gravity of the situation and told to use recommended pesticides to eliminate the disease, he added.
potential danger
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Companies fined for failing to meet Aadhar deadline
Chandigarh, January 17 The government had engaged four companies for the purpose and each of them was to issue 60 lakh cards. For the purpose, each company was supposed to procure 600 special machines. Each company is paid a little more than Rs 29 per card. Sources said two companies, however, failed to procure the requisite number of machines and, thereby, were unable to meet the deadline. As a result, the penalty clause was invoked. The registrar of the UID scheme, DS Grewal, confirmed that fine had been slapped on erring companies. So far, he said, 47 per cent of the state population had been covered under the scheme. “About 1.22 crore cards have been issued till date. We have told the companies to expedite the process,” he said. As the Union Government has launched its Direct Cash Transfer Scheme in Fatehgarh Sahib, Nawanshahr and Gurdaspur, these companies have been told to first cover all beneficiaries in these districts. Grewal said in case the desired pace was not achieved in the issuance of UID cards, the state government could explore the option of engaging banks for the task. Taken to task
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Ludhiana Excise Dept collects Rs 31 lakh in 3 months
Ludhiana, January 17
Government godowns located outside municipal corporation limits and all institutes other than senior secondary schools are liable to pay the tax. People, who own buildings that are 500 sq feet or more in area, will have to pay tax at the rate of one rupee per square foot. Not many institutes have deposited the tax since it was levied. The tax is to be deposited by June 30 every year. Sources said the department has collected more than Rs 6 lakh from Malwa Industries, Rs 5 lakh from ST Kotex, Rs 1 lakh each from Kitty Bread, Bonn Bread, Maharaja's Cot Spin, Vallabh Knit Crafts. Ludhiana College of Engineering and Technology has deposited an amount of Rs 1 lakh of the 4 lakh, that it needs to pay the government. Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, HPS Ghotra said, “We have sent notices to those that have failed to pay the tax. We will not spare anyone. If anybody fails to deposit the tax even then, we can seal their premises after 60 days and levy a 2 per cent interest per month on the tax
amount.” — TNS
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Chandigarh railway station to get more security gadgets
Bathinda, January 17
Security system was also being upgraded at the Bathinda railway station. Sanghi said with the railways expected to earn about Rs 1,200 crore from the recent hike in passenger fare this year, the amenities provided on the trains would also be improved. Sanjeev Garg, Chief Commercial Manager of the Northern Railways, who had come to flag off the first rake from the newly built railway siding at the Ambuja Cement factory, said such private railway sidings would decongest the road network in cities. The government has approved the construction of another railway siding at the Ambuja cement factory in Nalagarh in Himachal Pradesh. Garg said the goods carrying capacity would also be increased from the existing 51 million
tonnes. — TNS
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Low visibility: Flights hit despite Rs 4.5 cr device
Ludhiana, January 17 Due to this, the lone Air India flight operating between Ludhiana and Delhi has not landed in the city since December 20 because of visibility problems. The Air India flight operates every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. In the absence of the DVOR device, a visibility of 5,000 m is required and if the DVOR device starts functioning, the visibility requirement will come down to around 2,500 m. In November last year, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari had written to the Principal Secretary, Civil Aviation Department, Punjab, in this regard. Tewari had requested the Principal Secretary to take up this matter with the Airports Authority of India so that the flights at the Ludhiana airport were not affected during the winter months. After remaining grounded for several years, the Ludhiana-Delhi flight had resumed on May 13, 2010. But a few people are availing this facility due to frequent cancellations in the absence of proper infrastructure. As per the schedule, the flight operates thrice a week. It departs from Delhi at 12:35 pm and reaches the Ludhiana airport at 1:45 pm. The same flight then departs from Ludhiana at 2 pm and reaches Delhi at 3:10 pm. VP Jain, Director, Ludhiana (Sahnewal) Airport, and Assistant General Manager, Airports Authority of India, said after the installation of a DVOR device, a test flight had landed in Ludhiana. "The report of the test flight has been submitted to the authorities. From our end, all formalities have been completed, and the matter now rests with the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The DVOR device will start functioning after the DGCA gives its approval, which is expected soon," said Jain.
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21 govt employees found absent in Ropar
Ropar, January 17 Today morning Ropar DC directed the two ADCs Sucha Singh Mast and SS Marar to visit different offices. Mast, who visited the election branch in the mini secretariat complex, found two data entry operators absent. Their colleagues also could not inform him about their whereabouts. Similarly, two inspectors and a class IV employee were found absent at the Land Protection Office. Marar found 15 employees absent from the offices of the District Marketing, Market Committee and District Town Planner. These include District Mandi Officer Almer Singh, and his deputy Jasvir
Kaur.
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Wait for BSNL landline gets longer
Chandigarh, January 17 Similarly, against the demand for 60,000 connections, only 825 modems are available. Resultantly, the waiting list of the customers in each district is more than 100 for landline and internet connections. Official records reveal, in the past two months not even a single landline set has been issued by BSNL in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Sangrur, Patiala, Ropar, Chandigarh and Pathankot. Even in Amritsar, Bathinda and Ludhiana districts, where the sets were earlier available, no new instruments are being issued. Reports reveal in Bathinda, Chandigarh, Hoshiarpur, Ropar and Pathankot, type I modems (required for high-speed internet connection) and in Amritsar and Patiala, type II modems (normal speed connection) are not available for the past two months. Manoj Panth, Punjab Circle General Manager, Consumer Fixed Assets, said for the past one year, the corporate office had not issued any landline instruments and modems. He said the department has recently submitted a fresh demand of around 70,000 instruments which were expected to be received by the next month. He said due to non-availability of landline sets, a scheme was introduced where customers were given 300 calls free for getting a connection with an instrument. RL Moudgil, circle president, BSNL employees union, said representations had been given to the authorities about the non-availability of instruments many times in the past. But no action had been taken in this regard, he said, adding even cable kits for repair work and replacement of landline sets had not been provided to the field staff in Punjab for the past two years.
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Goodwill gesture: Pak youth strays into India, sent back
Amritsar, January 17 The BSF move came despite the recent tension between India and Pakistan following the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources in the BSF said Sayad Naseem Hussain Shah, a Lahore resident, inadvertently entered the Indian side of the fence. The BSF found nothing incriminate from him and after thorough investigations, he was released and sent back to Pakistan. "Investigations revealed that he belonged to an economically weaker family and had unintentionally crossed the border after a quarrel with his family. After checking the antecedents with our counterparts and intelligence agencies, we sent him back," said RPS Jaswal, DIG (border),
BSF.
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Malerkotla, January 17 The function was organised at the Namdhari Shaheedi Samarak here to pay tributes to 66 Kuka martyrs, who were blown off with cannons by the British on January 17 and January 18, 1872 here. A large number of Namdharis paid obeisance at the Kuka martyrs' memorial that is a 'Khanda', with 66 holes, signifying the 66 martyrs. Mata Chand Kaur, widow of Satguru Jagjit Singh, and new chief of the Namdhari sect Satguru Uday Singh were also present. — TNS
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Faridkot Abduction
Faridkot, January 17 The police today registered a criminal case against Nishan Singh for allegedly intimidating the witnesses. Station House Officer Jatinder Singh said Nishan Singh made the phone call from the Faridkot Central Jail around 9:30 pm. The police officer said the phone call to the victim family was made from a mobile phone number 9813367005. "This number has been purchased from Haryana. We are investigating as to who bought this mobile connection and how did it reach Nishan in the jail," he said. The victim's father alleged that Nishan threatened them saying they would have to face dire consequences in case they appeared in the court. The threats, however, failed to scare away the victim and her father, who deposed before the district and session judge today. During the in-camera proceedings, the victim narrated the sequence of events: how she was kidnapped by the accused two times (in June and September 2012), how she was physically molested, tortured and threatened by the accused. The victim's father also recorded his statement before the court how a gang of goons allegedly helped Nishan Singh in kidnapping his minor daughter twice in two months. The next hearing in the case is on January 19.
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