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Staff shortage takes a toll on quality education in schools
New transfer policy for teachers on anvil
Check mining in Chakki riverbed: Badal to officials
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Former Patiala Mayor among 4 injured in clash
Further remand for Ram Singh
SAD no longer a party of jathedars alone
State headed for fiscal disaster, warns Bajwa
‘Sadda Haq’ team meets Takht chief
After 4 deaths, fitness plan for revenue staff
Sniffing trouble, state police bolsters its dog squad
Policy on regularising illegal colonies soon
Power tariff revision in Punjab soon
40% workers exploited by
brick-kiln owners: Report
Retired IAS officer booked for selling Rajasthan land
2-yr-old drowns in village pond
Power corp warns bill collection
companies against irregularities
Former DGP dons a new mantle
Online course on Gurmat Gyan launched
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Staff shortage takes a toll on quality education in schools
Chandigarh, April 7 The high number of vacancies gains greater relevance in the context that all ambitious projects that are being launched by the state government, including e-learning, special coaching and changed learning and evaluation methods, have no relevance without the requisite manpower. The information on staff shortage was supplied by the state government in the Vidhan Sabha recently. The maximum vacancies were of masters (11,012), followed by JBT/ETT (6,358), lecturers (3,870), centre heads (2,051), vocational teachers (2,029), headmasters (706) and principals (522). The staff situation was more skewed in rural areas. Nirmaljit Singh, student of a high school in Gurdaspur, said, “Without coaching, entry in any professional course after Class XII was practically impossible. Till date this year, we have not had even a single class in chemistry and there have been negligible in mathematics. As such, we stand nowhere on the competition front.” To tackle the situation, the education department has initiated certain plans, including the merger of 609 primary schools. While the government maintained that the merger “will definitely take care of teachers’ problem in several places”, experts say large-scale recruitments was the only solution. On recruitment, a senior official said, “The TET (teacher eligibility test) is being held on April 26, which will take care of at least 10,000 appointments. Then, the process is nearly complete for recruitment of 222 headmasters. Another 5,178 appointments are set for a final clearance from the Punjab and Haryana High Court shortly.” But even after considering these appointments, the department will be short of around 15,000 teachers. “How will the gap be filled? The students will be the ultimate sufferers,” a teacher quipped. A principal in a border district said certain schools were appointing teachers out of the ‘parent teacher association’ funds. “But, a sizable number of schools lacked such a scheme as well as funds,” he pointed out.
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New transfer policy for teachers on anvil
Bathinda, April 7 A fixed tenure of three years, so as to ensure continuity at a particular station, will be the main highlight. Sources said senior officials in the Education Department had been flooded with transfer requests for the past few weeks. But instead of carrying out the hitherto annual routine, the state government wanted to bring about “qualitative” changes this time, they said. All teachers seeking transfers would have to file their requests online; so far, they used to give written applications. Officials said the requests of women teachers, including widows, newly married girls or couple cases would be met on a priority. The move would be in sync with the state government’s women empowerment agenda. Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said his officers had been working on finalising the policy for the past several weeks and the aim was not only to carry out transfers, but also to rationalise the entire process. Since focus would be on
rationalisation, information had been sought from all district education officers so that a ready reckoner — on the basis of available strength of teachers and vacancies — was in place at the headquarters beforehand, he pointed out. In the past, there have been instances when two or more people managed to get orders for the same place of posting, causing unwarranted confusion and bad blood among the teachers. Since all applications under the new policy would only be accepted online and in the prescribed format, such incidents would be a thing of the past. Orders would also be posted on the department’s website. The Education Minister, however, warned teachers against lobbying, which “will invite action against them as per rules”. Key aspects
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Check mining in Chakki riverbed: Badal to officials
Chandigarh, April 7 The illegal mining could wreak havoc in the area and downstream the river in case of any floods during the monsoon season. The issue was raised recently by Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon at a review meeting of flood-protection measures required to be taken in the state. Badal directed the entire state machinery to make all necessary arrangements well in advance, besides updating the equipment and other technical support, to tackle any kind of emergency during the rainy season. The Finance Department has been directed to release Rs 56 crore to the Irrigation Department for making necessary flood-protection arrangements in the state. Also, the Principal Secretary (Irrigation) has been told to regularly monitor the work. The Chief Minister also gave approval for purchasing four hydraulic machines at a cost of Rs 22 crore as flood protection equipment and told the officials to chalk out modalities in this regard at the earliest. Revamp of irrigation network in pipeline The Punjab Government will prepare a master plan for all canals and distributaries in a bid to revamp the irrigation network in the state. A decision to this effect was taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at a meeting with the officials of the Irrigation Department here at his official residence late last evening. The plan is expected to save a large quantity of water being wasted due to seepage and excessive silting in rivers, canals, distributaries and water channels.
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Former Patiala Mayor among 4 injured in clash
Patiala, April 7 Gurjit Singh Walia, owner of Hotel Sunrise, alleged that when Pardhan was Mayor, he had taken Rs 25 lakh from him for getting some work done. He claimed to have a video-tape of the same. But Pardhan called it a conspiracy by his rivals to further tarnish his image. An MC squad had demolished the front portion of Hotel Sunrise when Pardhan was the city Mayor. Walia alleged that after Pardhan was forced to step down, he asked him to return his money. "Today, when I went to his house for the money, Pardhan and his son Preetinder Singh called me inside. As soon as I went inside, they started thrashing me. I was attacked with a kirpan. I rushed out and saved myself. They also hit my brother," he alleged. Walia and his brother were admitted to Government Rajindra Hospital. Refuting the allegations, Pardhan said: "First, they (his rivals) tried to implicate me Parampreet Kaur's murder of . Now that I have been given a clean chit, they have found another way of damaging me. I don't even know Walia. If he claims that I had taken money from him, why was he quiet all this while. "If he had a recording, he could have approached the police or taken legal action against me." Pardhan, who is undergoing treatment at a local hospital, alleged that Walia, along with a group of 50 persons, came to his house unannounced and fired gunshots. "They forced their way into my house and broke the windows. They gheraoed me and my nephew Ekjot Singh and beat us up mercilessly with kirpans." Senior Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh Gill said they were looking into the matter and would take action accordingly.
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Further remand for Ram Singh
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 7 Deol has been booked by the Sangrur police in an assault case. Ram Singh's counsel Jashandeep Singh Sunam claimed that his client was innocent. The police had not recovered any drugs or other incriminating material from his possession. He said the prosecution had sought another five days of police remand, to which he had vehemently objected. He alleged the police was targeting Ram Singh to put pressure on Olympian Vijender Singh to join investigations in the Rs 484 crore drug haul. It was after the police recovered a huge quantity of drugs worth Rs 115 crore in the international market from Deol’s house in Sangrur that the police arrested Ram Singh for his "links" with Deol. The police alleges that Ram Singh continued to be in touch with Deol even after the latter was declared a proclaimed offender.
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SAD no longer a party of jathedars alone
Goa, April 7 Earlier, the SAD primarily consisted of jathedars with stress on recognition to those jailed during the party's various ‘morchas’. Though the jathedars still have their importance, the party under Sukhbir’s stewardship has become much more inclusive. With businessmen, traders and former bureaucrats forming part of the "new” SAD, brain-storming amid five-star luxury was only a step away. Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said: “The entire country is changing. Instead of meeting at a dharamshala, we are meeting at a different location.” He said an “issueless” Punjab Congress was trying to sensationalise the meeting knowing well that every party, including the Congress, held its meetings at different locations. “There is nothing wrong in it. We have the leverage and freedom to meet anywhere we like,” he emphasised. Senior leader Prem Singh Chandumajra said the party was "everything for both Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir." He said legislators have been part of their lives and it was only natural for them to select relaxed environs for the conclave. “This will generate positive vibes in the SAD and the BJP,” he maintained. The SAD leaders are clear that they don’t have the luxury of "honeymoon", having completed only the first year of their second term in office. “People expect us to perform better than we did in our last tenure and we must strategise new ways to make this possible, " said a leader. The party seems to have borrowed a lot from the 2009 Shimla conclave, the first such party meeting outside the state, while planning the current conclave. Leaders feel the Shimla conclave paved the way for administrative reforms, till then a brainchild of the partry president. The conclave also decided on establishing power projects through private companies and on allowing greater private participation in development projects. The SAD-BJP managers view federalism as the most important issue and would want to initiate a movement in the country in this regard. The SAD believes each state has its unique problems and development needs which cannot be addressed by Central planning. This issue is likely to be discussed and a strategy chalked out.
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State headed for fiscal disaster, warns Bajwa
Chandigarh, April 7 "It is ironical that at a time when the state's financial condition is in peril, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has flown to Goa for a luxurious Vichar Manthan," Bajwa said. The PPCC president alleged that owing to gross mismanagement of funds, the government had been borrowing heavily and selling immovable assets of the state government to meet day-to-day expenses. Instead of imposing fresh taxes like property tax, if the government had merely checked wasteful expenditure, it would have prevented the situation from deteriorating further, Bajwa said. An official spokesperson today said the government had instructed its officers to ensure timely disbursement of salaries to the staff. He denied the government had withheld salaries for the month of March. Sangrur: Terming the Badal government as the “worst” in the country, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa today said the PPCC would launch a statewide agitation next month against the “illegal mining” in various parts of the state. Bajwa said Congress workers and activists would conduct raids at the “illegal mining” sites. He said it was a matter of concern that while the common man was suffering, those into the business were flourishing by the day. Bajwa was here at the residence of Vijay Inder Singla, MP, to pay tributes to his father, Sant Ram Singla, on the latter's death anniversary. On SAD's “Chintan Shivir” in Goa, the Bajwa said the SAD had shifted from Samundari Hall in Amritsar Goa's seashore to discuss its affairs, indicating how much its leadership loved Punjab. Flaying the SAD-BJP Government for the financial crisis in the state, he said all secular forces should unite against fundamentalist forces in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Also present at the function were Haryana minister Randeep Surjewala, former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former ministers Jagmohan Singh Kang and Chiranji Lal Garg, former Sangrur MLA Surinderpal Singh Sibia, Sukhdev Singh Libra, MP, and legislators Rana Gurjit Singh and Mohammad Sadique.
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‘Sadda Haq’ team meets Takht chief
Amritsar, April 7 The Jathedar said the issue would be deliberated upon at the next maating of the five high priests. “The opinion of the high priests will be conveyed to the SGPC for further action,” the Jathedar said. The film crew, along with members of several Sikh organisations, performed ardas at Akal Takht. The Punjab Government has banned the film which focuses on the dark days of militancy in the state. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), that had played a key role in getting clearance from the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) last year, has now distanced itself from the matter. Dejected, filmmaker Sidhu said the ban on his film, that had been cleared by the censor board with a U/A certificate, was arbitrary. The film's promotional song, 'Baghi' , reportedly equates Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh Rajoana with freedom fighters. "Since there is no problem in letting the public watch films based on the Naxalite movement, the government appears biased in banning my film which is about a minority community," he said. He announced that he would move the Supreme Court against the government’s decision, if nothing else worked. “We have requested the high priests to form a committee comprising Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims to view the film for an unbiased opinion,” he said. “It is nothing but murder of freedom of expression. The film is a true portrayal of whatever happened during the period of militancy. It is ironical that a handful of bureaucrats have given their verdict against the screening of the film on the plea that it may disturb peace and harmony. Their apprehension is totally baseless,” Sidhu added. Anandpur Sahib: Washing his hands of the controversy, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, during his visit here on Sunday, said it was the prerogative of the state government to take a decision on whether or not to ban a film. Makkar, who was the chief guest at an inter-state turban tying competition, said the state government had to look after law and order too. Of the 2,000 students who participated in the 'dastarbandi' contest, 245 were selected for special prizes. Prabhpreet Singh of Guru Nanak Senior Secondary School, Dhannupura, Amritsar, won the first prize. Gurnoor Singh of Dasmesh Model Senior Secondary School, Doraha, and Kaka Harpreet Singh of Sahibzada Fateh Singh Public School, Malerkotla, were declared first and second-runners up. The three were awarded a cash prize of Rs 31,000, 21,000 and 11,000, respectively.
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After 4 deaths, fitness plan for revenue staff
Moga, April 7 As part of the plan, medical check-up camps would be held for patwaris, kanungos and tehsildars to suggest them medication, if required, diet plan and measures to keep diseases at bay. The programme is the brainchild of Joram Beda, a young IAS officer hailing from a tribal belt in Arunachal Pradesh. He is currently posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Moga. Beda has also done MBBS, but he opted for administrative service. He said the four officials probably died of cardiac arrest (sudden death while asleep). Krishan Gopal, a patwari from Dharamkot, breathed his last while he was asleep three months ago, followed by Jasbir Singh, another patwari from Nihalsinghwala sub-division. Then, Jaswant Singh, a kanungo of Dagru circle, died of cardiac arrest and recently, Dayal Singh, a patwari in Budhsinghwala village, lost his life to heart failure. In the first such medical camp held at Zila Parishad building, 50 patwaris were checked by medical experts. Over 90 per cent of them were found to be suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension and other lifestyle-related diseases. Ashok Verma, president of the district association of patwaris, said there was a heavy work load on the patwaris for the past few years due to which they were in the grip of hypertension and other lifestyle-related diseases. There were 200 sanctioned posts of patwaris in Moga district, out of which 60 were lying vacant for the past several years, which has increased the workload on the remaining staff, added
Verma.
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Sniffing trouble, state police bolsters its dog squad
Jalandhar, April 7 “The dogs are currently undergoing a 32-week mandatory training at the PPA. After its completion, these would be deployed in various districts as per requirement,” said Ishwar Chander, Director, PTA. The state police has bought dogs in large numbers after a long time. Sources said the police top brass had observed that the security of VVIPs and the general public could be compromised due to long-running shortage of sniffer dogs. Though the sanctioned strength of the dog squad is 121, there were just 53 dogs. These were mainly deployed in the dog squad units attached with the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, IGs, commissioners and SSPs. The sources said the shortage of as many as 68 sniffer dogs was being considered a threat to the security scenario. To meet the shortage and to select finest quality of pups, the police authorities had formed a committee chaired by Additional Director General of Police (Human Resources) SK Sharma. The committee had recently given its approval to purchase quality pups and dogs required for the detection of explosives like RDX and TNT, and drugs like heroin, hashish and charas. “After following an exhaustive selection process and inspections, the committee procured pups from four breeding centres based in Ludhiana, Patiala and Amritsar. Most of the vacancies of dogs were created due to the retirement of a large number of canines over the years,” said Iswhar Chander. Sub-Inspector Parkash Chand, incharge, PPA’s Dog Training Centre, said since the dogs were of good quality, these were responding quickly to the training. The dogs would be able to detect all types of explosives and drugs after the completion of the training. “Every dog retires from the service after 10 years,” he said. The PPA has already trained more than 2,000 sniffer dogs belonging to paramilitary forces like the CISF, the CRPF, the RPF and the ones owned by police of states like UP and
Haryana.
Canine force
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Policy on regularising illegal colonies soon
Ludhiana, April 7 The preamble of the legislative measure says the phenomenal increase in population owing to migration has put tremendous pressure on land and infrastructure in Punjab, resulting in developments which are not in consonance with the master plan of cities and towns and the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulations Act 1995. It further notes that action taken regarding violation of the provisions of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act 1995 and the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulations Act 1995 is causing avoidable hardship and irreparable loss to a large number of people. “Keeping this in view, a strategy is proposed to be prepared by the Government of Punjab in accordance with the Punjab Housing and Habitat Policy for Urban Housing to all.” Emphasising the need to provide temporary relief to people, the government pleaded that some time is required for making orderly arrangements for solving problems of areas under unauthorised colonies. The said Act will remain in force for a period of one year from the date of its commencement by which time various policy issues related to unauthorised colonies are expected to be finalised, the statement of objects and reasons read. Hailing the Punjab Government move to address the issue of unauthorised colonies, which was hanging fire for the last more than 15 years, Kultar Singh Jogi, president, Punjab Colonisers and Property Dealers Association, expressed confidence that the Act will take effect very soon and the rules thereunder will also be framed in such a manner that the onerous task of getting such colonies compounded and regularised becomes a simple and hassle-free affair. Highlighting key features of the legislation, Jogi said the Act will provide relief to all colonies/buildings/structures that had come up before April 1, 2013. All sorts of punitive action for violation of provisions of existing laws like show-cause notices and demolition notices shall be deemed to have been suspended during the period of one year that the Act will remain in force. Exception will be made only in cases which have been forwarded and pending before any court or FIR having been lodged. Jogi said, “Once the legislative measure comes into force, thousands of unauthorised colonies across the length and breadth of Punjab will be regularised. It will not only pave the way for regulated development in future, but also bring huge revenue to the exchequer by way of change of land use charges, composition fee, licence fee and external development charges.”
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Power tariff revision in Punjab soon
Jalandhar, April 7 "Due to some procedural issues, the tariff order has got delayed. It will be issued soon," said a PSERC official. Following the orders, the power corporation has issued a circular that reads: "In compliance with the PSERC order, the existing tariff for all categories of consumers will be charged with effect from April 1, 2013, till the issuance of the tariff order for 2013-14, subject to the condition that the Punjab Government continues to pay subsidy to PSPCL in respect of consumers getting subsidised power". Sources said once the new tariff order was issued, it would be implemented with effect from April 1, 2013, and the power bills would be revised accordingly. The tariff for different categories of power consumers is revised annually and implemented from April 1 every year. A few months ago, PSPCL had filed the annual revenue requirement (ARR) report for 2013-14 with the PSERC. The corporation had projected an accumulated annual revenue gap of Rs 16,039 crore and the net revenue gap of Rs 2,839 crore. Sources said the hike in the power tariff would be around 7 per cent.
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40% workers exploited by brick-kiln owners: Report
Amritsar, April 7 Brick-kiln workers were subjected to exploitation and worst forms of human practices along with violation of labour laws, he said. An NGO, Dalit Dasta Virodhi Andolan, had found in its survey that labour conditions of workers and their family members in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts fall within the definition of bonded labour, he said. The union has demanded that brick-kiln workers should be given provident fund and medical facilities, separate toilets and bathroom for men and women at kilns and implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme for children of brick-kiln workers. —
PTI
Poor plight
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Retired IAS officer booked for selling Rajasthan land
Faridkot, April 7 The action against Bhagwant Singh came about two months after the High Court had directed the police for necessary legal action against four persons, including the property dealer and a revenue officer. After receiving the court orders on January 30, the police had started an inquiry into the allegations and found Bhagwant Singh prima facie “guilty” of the offence. However, the role of the property dealer and the revenue officer in the scam was yet to be established, said Jaswinder Pal Sharma, Faridkot Deputy Superintendent of Police, the investigation officer in the case. In a writ petition filed in the High Court, it was alleged that the retired IAS officer had sold the prime land owned by the Rajasthan Government, situated on the Kotkapura-Talwandi bypass, in Faridkot to a few property dealers in connivance with revenue officials in January 2010. Over 50 years ago, the Rajasthan Government had purchased and acquired over 2 lakh acres of agricultural land in south-west Punjab for construction of the Rajasthan Feeder Canal. While about 65,000 acres are under the canal, the remaining 1.35 lakh acres lay unused. In the present case, two separate inquiries by the economic offences wing of the police and the Revenue Department had earlier implicated the retired IAS officer for the fraud, but no action was taken as the accused was “quite influential”. His son is a serving IAS officer in Himachal Pradesh, complainant Pawan Mittal alleged in the High Court. The petition maintained that the accused owned 272 square yards of land. But in a land deal with three realtors, he allegedly sold 3,030 square yards extra land (of the Rajasthan Government). Though the Revenue Department officials “got to know about the scam”, they reportedly remained silent when the sale deed was being registered and its mutation was entered in the revenue record as they feared backlash since the accused had a considerable clout in the area. Taking cognisance of the writ petition, the High Court had directed the police to take necessary action. Though a criminal case under Section 420, 167, 120-B of the IPC was registered, no arrests had been made so far. Root of the controversy
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2-yr-old drowns in village pond
Ropar, April 7 When the child was not traced in the village, a search was carried out in a nearby water pond from where the boy's body was retrieved by divers. The victim's family members did not suspect any foul play. The police has started inquest proceedings under Section 174
CrPC.
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Power corp warns bill collection
companies against irregularities
Jalandhar, April 7 KD Chaudhri, CMD, PSPCL, said there were widespread complaints that power consumers were being charged by these outlets for depositing the bills. "We have taken strong note of this irregularity. A warning has been issued to both the companies," he said. Sources said in case the Suvidha and Easy Bill outlets continued to indulge in irregularities, the corporation might terminate its contract with the two companies. With a view to facilitating the payment of electricity bills by the consumers in a hassle-free manner, the corporation had entered into an agreement with these firms around two years ago. Subsequently, Suvidha and Easy Bill appointed 188 and 433 franchises, respectively, across the state. The sources said the outlets had started charging Rs 5 to Rs 10 from consumers for collecting their electricity bills. "The PSPCL also learnt that the firms had started appointing more franchises without taking the former into confidence," said Chaudhri. PSPCL officials also pointed out that the vendors were not depositing the cash collected through the bills in a time-bound manner.
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Former DGP dons a new mantle
Chandigarh, April 7 Chander Shekhar, who superannuated as Director-General of Police (DGP) in November 2010, worked on "Police and Criminal Justice Administration: A critical study of human rights perspective with special reference to Punjab" for his doctorate. The subject of his research becomes all the more relevant as the Punjab Police has remained mired in controversies over alleged atrocities and human rights violations committed by it both during and after militancy. Since Chander Shekhar had Masters in Law to his credit, his research work was greatly appreciated by the university for giving valuable insights into the problem of human rights violations, especially with reference to Punjab. The Constitutional perspective of the working of the police and the criminal justice system presents a good account of modern emerging jurisprudence, the citation for doctorate said. A number of senior Punjab Police functionaries, both serving and retired, have completed their doctorates and M.Phil from Guru Nanak Dev University as the Phillaur-based Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Police Academy has over the years provided facilities for in-house students to pursue their academic interests. Besides former DGP GS Aujla and late PM Dass, others who have done their doctorate include Jatinder Jain. Chander Shekhar, in his recommendations, has suggested an effective internal mechanism that permits the public to make complaints against the police.
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Online course on Gurmat Gyan launched
Patiala, April 7 Through the programme, a self-learning course in shabad kirtan has been started for the learners. Gurnam Singh, Head of Gurmat Sangeet Chair, said the elementary course would be available to the world community free of cost so that knowledge about Gurmukhi, gurmat studies and gurmat sangeet could be spread worldwide. Vice Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh launched the website www.gurmatgyanonlinepup.com. Others present included Tarlochan Singh, former MP, and Amrinder Bajaj, Patiala Mayor.
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Four persons, including former Mayor Jaspal Pardhan, were injured in a clash at Pardhan's house here this afternoon over a monetary dispute. Gunshots were reportedly fired during the brawl.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa today expressed solidarity with Punjab Government employees who are not being paid salaries in time. Stating that the
SAD-BJP Government had lost all sense of responsibility, Bajwa warned that Punjab was headed for an economic disaster. He flayed the Badal government for its faulty policies that would reduce the people to "paupers".
Led by its producer-actor Kuljinder Singh Sidhu, the crew of banned Punjabi movie
'Sadda Haq' today approached the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, urging him to intervene in the matter.
So much so that, several schools have not had regular teachers for senior classes for the past more than a year. The vacancies include those of science and mathematics, the streams that play a key role in shaping the careers of students. With so many unfilled posts, one does not require any mathematical calculation or a chemical formula to understand the poor state of affairs, an official said. 
