B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Funds for construction of chambers at Faridkot court complex
State defaults, lawyers move HC
Faridkot, February 26
Days after the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), an autonomous non-governmental body, made a complaint to the Building Construction Committee of Punjab and Haryana High Court, accusing the state government of not releasing it the money promised for the renovation.

Doc’s son held for nurse’s rape
Abohar, February 26
A staff nurse of the Dalit community, aged about 19 years who had yesterday consumed a poisonous substance inside a private nursing home in neighbouring Bhadra (Hanumangarh) town died today.

UID scheme a non-starter in 102 villages of Muktsar 
Muktsar, February 26
Though the deadline for making Aadhar card (March 31) is only a month away, the process has not started in 102 villages of Muktsar district, comprising three sub-divisions of Muktsar, Malout and Gidderbaha.
People await their turn to get their Aadhar cards prepared. A Tribune photograph

Historic clock tower lying non-functional
Gidderbaha, February 26
Almost 104 years ago, in 1909, a grain market was established in Gidderbaha town, apparently among the oldest in the state. A clock tower was also installed there. But due to the neglect of the officials concerned, it is lying non-functional for the past almost two-three years.

Funds for construction of chambers at Faridkot court complex
State defaults, lawyers move HC
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, February 26
Days after the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), an autonomous non-governmental body, made a complaint to the Building Construction Committee of Punjab and Haryana High Court, accusing the state government of not releasing it the money promised for the renovation of the historical building of the District Court Complex in Faridkot, now the advocates here have also filed a writ petition in the HC, demanding that the state government release Rs one crore as its share for the construction of 165 chambers for advocates.

To renovate this historical building, INTACH and the Punjab government had entered into a Rs 11.72 crore contract. Some time back, the INTACH had to stop the work after the state government did not release the money. After the INTACH made a complaint to the Building Committee of the HC, the money was released and the work was resumed.

But now, it is the advocates who have filed a writ petition in the HC, demanding Rs one crore for the construction of their chambers. The old chambers for the advocates are being demolished to preserve the quaint and historical look of the historical building and the construction cost of the new chambers is estimated to be Rs 2.57 crore.

As per the notification of the Punjab government, (10/30/2002, MA 2(3) 5739/ 6.8.2009), the state government will contribute a matching grant of Rs one crore for the construction of lawyers' chamber, claimed the writ petition, filed in the HC.

But the procedural glitch in getting this grant is that before the construction start, an agreement was to be entered into with the deputy commissioner to get possession of the government land for starting the construction of the chambers. However, in the present case, before entering into an agreement, the construction of the chamber was started.

While the Bar Association allotted the construction work on May 21, 2012, the agreement between the Bar Association and the Deputy Commissioner was signed on February 1 this year. Even the PWD made the estimates for the construction of the chamber months after the start of the construction.

As the advocates had constructed most of their chambers even before entering into an agreement with the state government, so their claim for a share in the cost of construction is a violation of the state government's notification, said a senior official in Faridkot.

Sources revealed that without caring for the norms, a judicial official started the construction of chambers before his transfer from Faridkot but now it is the advocates who are facing difficulty in getting the money from the state government.

Doc’s son held for nurse’s rape
Our Correspondent

Abohar, February 26
A staff nurse of the Dalit community, aged about 19 years who had yesterday consumed a poisonous substance inside a private nursing home in neighbouring Bhadra (Hanumangarh) town died today.

DSP Hari Ram Chaudhary said her statement had been recorded yesterday in the presence of a sub-divisional magistrate.

She alleged that Sandeep Kumar (27), son of the owner of the nursing home had ferried her in a jeep on the pretext of visiting another hospital for some work.

He allegedly raped her at an isolated place and later threatened her with dire consequences if she dared to reveal the incident to anyone. Sandeep runs a medicine shop in the same nursing home.

The body of the victim was handed to her parents after a medical board conducted the post-mortem examination, the DSP added.

Sandeep Kumar has been arrested under Sections 364, 376 and 306 of the IPC.

The accused has refuted the allegations vehemently.

Members of the Bahujan Students Federation submitted a memorandum to the SDM at his residence in the evening demanding trial of the accused by a fast-track court.

UID scheme a non-starter in 102 villages of Muktsar 
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, February 26
Though the deadline for making Aadhar card (March 31) is only a month away, the process has not started in 102 villages of Muktsar district, comprising three sub-divisions of Muktsar, Malout and Gidderbaha.

According to the Census, nearly nine lakh people had to be enrolled, but till now 4,56,909 people have been covered and 4,43,091 are yet to be registered. It means nearly 51 per cent population has been enrolled and 49 per cent people are yet to be enrolled.

The figures procured from the office of District Food and Supplies Controller revealed that the population of 121 villages was almost covered and the process was going on in 11 more villages, but the residents of 102 villages were still uncovered.

Kaushal Rao Singla, District Food and Supplies Controller, said, "The process is going on at a snail's pace since the registration started almost two years ago. A Hyderabad-based private company, Karvy Computershare Pvt Ltd, has been entrusted with the work, which is no where near completion."

He added, "The shortage of machines was proving to be a reason behind the slow pace of card making. The district required at least 80 machines, but the company has installed only 23 machines. Now, they have almost doubled the machines, but the shortage of staff is proving a hurdle now."

He also accepted that the company would not be able to complete the work by March 31, 2013.

Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) NS Bath also said, "I am aware of the slow pace of Aadhar card making process. The higher-ups have been informed and the officials of the 
company have also been informed. Now, they will decide to impose any penalty to the company, if it failed to complete the work by its scheduled deadline."

On the other hand, the residents also complained that those who were enrolled months ago had not yet received their cards and regretted the delay in the making of Aadhar card.

Historic clock tower lying non-functional
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Height of neglect

The clock tower was installed at the grain market in Gidderbaha town about 104 years ago. Residents say that it took almost two years to complete the nearly 62-feet-high tower. It was meant to inform time to people travelling in trains The administration had got repairs conducted during the centenary celebrations of the town in 2009. However, the clock tower went out of order after some time and is awaiting maintenance since then.

Gidderbaha, February 26
Almost 104 years ago, in 1909, a grain market was established in Gidderbaha town, apparently among the oldest in the state. A clock tower was also installed there. But due to the neglect of the officials concerned, it is lying non-functional for the past almost two-three years.

During the centenary celebrations of the town, in December 2009, the local administration had spent some money on the repair and whitewash of this tower, but after a short time, it again went out of order and is awaiting maintenance since then.

The residents here say that it took almost two years to complete this nearly 62-feet-high tower that time, which was built with the efforts of a British architect SD Wasan and a local philanthropist Chunni Lal.

It was made with a purpose that people travelling in trains could also see the correct time.

Gradually, it became the landmark of this town and got a special place in the hearts of people. But, nowadays the needles in the clock tower have stopped moving and showing the correct time.

"This is a historical building of the city and the administration should preserve it. But unfortunately, nobody seems to be bothered about its repair or maintenance," said an octogenarian Janak Raj.

When contacted, Sub-divisiional Magistrate, Gidderbaha, Kumar Amit said, “I have told my subordinate staff to repair the clock at the earliest and the work will start shortly.”