Chandigarh, August 6
High drama was witnessed at the ISBT-43 when two school students entered into a scuffle with a bus driver and a conductor of the CTU as they boarded an overloaded bus to their school.

Shamshad Alam and Nitish Kumar, students of Class XII at Government Model School, Sector 44, had come to the ISBT to board a bus when the conductor asked them to get down as the bus was already overloaded. The driver also asked them not to board the bus.

A scuffle ensued when one of the students was pushed by the conductor, Roorak Singh. The student also pushed the conductor in retaliation. The driver, Malkiat Singh, intervened and he too got into a scuffle with the students. The students attacked the driver and also pulled his uniform. CTU officials said following the scuffle, parents of the students created a ruckus at bus stand. The parents alleged that the CTU staff misbehaved with their children, following which the police was called. The students also staged a protest at the ISBT resulting in inconvenience to the commuters. Vehicular traffic was disrupted for some time before the students and the CTU staff reached a compromise.

The CTU workers Union said there was shortage of buses resulting in overloading. A daily diary report was lodged.

Dera Bassi, August 6
A gang of eight miscreants armed with rods and sharp-edged weapons struck at a house at Behra village and decamped with Rs 20,000 and gold jewellery worth Rs 1 lakh after injuring five persons, including two women and a minor girl last night.

The injured have been identified as Swarn Singh, his wife Harbhajan Kaur, his son Fateh Singh, his daughter-in-law Jagmeet Kaur and nine-year-old granddaughter Jaspreet Kaur.

Harbhajan Kaur (65) suffered a head injury and fractured her arm after. She has been admitted to GMCH-32, Chandigarh. The other injured were shifted to the Dera Bassi Civil Hospital.

Sources said the miscreants had covered their faces. They remained in the victim’s house for nearly two hours. The robbers were barefoot and entered the house after scaling the main gate.

The police said the family earned its livelihood by performing ‘kirtans’ and other religious events. “They attacked only those members who showed resistance or tried to raise the alarm. Swarn Singh, younger son Jorawar Singh, Amarjit Kaur and her daughter were left unhurt as they gave their ornaments without any resistance,” the police said. The police found two trunks from the fields, which were taken away by the robbers.

Mohali SSP GS Bhullar, SP Anil Sharma and the CIA in charge Gurcharan Singh visited the spot this morning. Services of the dog squad and forensic experts were also taken.

A case under Sections 457, 458 and 380 of the IPC was registered against unknown persons.

Chandigarh, August 6
Saying no to defacement of the Panjab University campus, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Chandigarh Police to take strict action against the violators. The directions have come just before the elections in the university.

As the issue came up for resumed hearing before the High Court, the Bench was told that the university authorities and principals of colleges had decided to inform the UT Senior Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate about the cases of defacement. The decision was taken at a meeting held recently.

Taking up the matter, the High Court also directed the colleges to identify and allocate space to students for putting up publicity material. The Bench was told that most of the colleges had already identified and allocated such spaces. Three colleges — Government College for Boys-11, SGGS-26 and a college in Sector 42 — were yet to earmark space for allowing students to paste posters.

The court also directed the municipal corporation authorities to initiate strict action against those defacing properties in the city. The court was assured that violators would have to pay for their deeds. On a previous date of hearing, the university authorities produced instructions issued to the student leaders against defacement.

Chandigarh, August 6
Five years after an inter-state reciprocal transport agreement was signed between Punjab and UT, the State Transport Authority (STA) has cracked a whip on the operators of diesel-run autos from Mohali, that are plying in the city without permission

As per the inter-state agreement, only LPG, CNG or battery operated autos registered with the Mohali Transport Authority but plying in Chandigarh can be countersigned by the STA, Chandigarh. The diesel-run autos cannot be countersigned by the UT, said officials.

Incidentally, most of the autos impounded by the authorities in the last two days were found without registration documents. State Transport Secretary Mahavir Kaushik said seven autos had been impounded and another six have been challaned. The drive would be intensified in the coming days, he said.

There are around 10,000 diesel-run autos plying in the city, mostly registered in Mohali and Panchkula. Authorities have also challaned old and smoke billowing autos registered at Ropar and Patiala. On the other hand, there are around 5,000 LPG autos registered in the city.

Apart from overloading, the diesel-run autos are found plying without registration documents. Under a multi-pronged strategy, the STA in a proposal sent to the Transport Secretary had sought strict action against the diesel-run autos coming to the city and direction s to the police to impound such vehicles.

Recently, the LPG auto drivers union met the UT officials over the unauthorised plying of the diesel auto-rickshaws from Mohali and Panchkula in the city. “While attempts are being made to switch over to LPG autos in Chandigarh, the diesel-run autos from neighbouring town continue to ply on city roads,” said Malkiat Singh, president of the auto union.

Chandigarh, August 6
In a move that would bring respite to thousands of patients, the Institute Body of the PGI has approved the proposal of ‘highest discount offered’ as the bidding criteria instead of ‘highest rent offered’ for the auction of medical stores on the premises.

“The PGI should float open tenders for the allotment of medical stores at this institute for having maximum discount on the MRP for patients on the patterns of AIIMS, New Delhi,” directed the Institute Body of the PGI, which is headed by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

“Doctors should prescribe generic medicines so that patients are not forced to purchase expensive medicines,” the apex management body directed the PGI.

The proposal was mooted by Congress MP from Sangrur Vijay Inder Singla. The patients will be offered discount on medicines as the allotees will now focus on sales and not on paying rent, which runs into lakhs.

Chandigarh, August 6
Taking a U-turn from the statements given to the police, a six-year-old girl who was allegedly raped in March this year allegedly by her father turned hostile in the court along with her mother.

The girl, whose medical report had clearly shown grievous injury on her private parts at the time the incident, told the court today that some other person had raped her.

The girl’s mother too turned hostile in the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Shalini Nagpal, and told court that she does not identify the person who raped her daughter.

The prosecution is now waiting for the DNA report of the girl from the CFSL which will provide evidence that her father had raped her.

The incident was reported on March 24, 2013, when the police had arrested Suresh Kumar for raping his daughter, a resident of Colony Number 4.

The girl was recovered from a forest after she went missing from her residence. She was later taken to GMCH-32.

Chandigarh, August 6
The study tour of councillors and officials of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has run into rough weather.

Not only the opposition councillors, but some Congress councillors have also declined to be a part of the study tour. Earlier too, the MC had faced criticism for wasting public money on annual study tours.

BJP councillor and leader of opposition Arun Sood alleged that the study tour was finalised by the Mayor without identifying the problems of the city. The Mayor did not take suggestions and consent of the opposition councillors on the study tour, he added.

He also accused the Mayor for playing politics by sending the list of Congress and nominated councillors to the UT Administration for the study tour. BJP councillor Satinder Singh, who had sent a questionnaire on study tours last year, received a reply that the MC had no record of projects that were introduced in the city on the basis of tours. “The reply proves that study tours are sheer wastage of public money. I will raise this issue again in the coming House meeting,” he added.

When contacted, Mayor Subhash Chawla said the consent of every councillor would be taken before leaving for the study tour.

Ineligible Savitri, a physically challenged candidate who scored 82.97 percentile.

Official version

Our prospectus mentions that we need to consider both percentage and percentile. In some cases, the per subject scores of students turn out to be below consideration and it may lead to a conflict. Last year, a conflict arose due to similar variations in percentile and percentage, which is pending in the court. To keep the system fair we are taking both percentage and percentile into consideration.

Dr Atul Sachdev, Director-Principal, GMCH-32

MCI chairman’s version

For NEET the eligibility criteria is to score a minimum of 45 percentile. The percentage is to be considered while taking into account the marks obtained in Class XII.

Dr KK Talwar, MCI chairman

MCI guidelines

In respect of the general candidates with locomotory disability of lower limbs, the minimum marks shall be at 45th percentile,” states the qualifying criteria defined by the MCI for NEET.

GMCH-32 prospectus states

The prospectus of GMCH states, “As per the amended Regulation of Medical Council of India, the eligibility criteria for admission to the MBBS course is 50 per cent for the general category; 40 per cent for SC and 45 per cent for candidates with physical disability separately in qualifying examination (+2 or equivalent) and competitive entrance examination (i.e. NEET) in the subjects of physics, chemistry, bology and biotechnology.”

Mohali, August 6
Acting tough against those dumping debris on roadsides or in vacant plots, the Municipal Corporation has now decided to impose a fine and levy lifting charges on offenders.

The civic body has failed to take action against the offenders who had dumped the debris on roads, leaving a scar on the face of the town.

The debris lying alongside the roads obstructs vehicular movement.

The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) is yet to earmark specific sites for dumping.

Sources said Joint Commissioner of the civic body Dilraj Singh had asked the officials concerned to issue challans to people who dumped debris on the roadsides. Dilraj Singh said if offenders did not lift the debris on their own, a fine of Rs 500 would be imposed on them apart from levying an additional Rs 2,000 per tractor-trailer as lifting charges.

If the offender lifted debris after being challaned, he will have to pay Rs 500.

"A site will have to be identified in the town for the dumping of the debris," said the Joint Commissioner.

Gurjeet Singh, a resident of Phase III B1, said, "Mohali should not be turned into a dumping ground and timely action should be taken to develop various neglected areas so that people do not dump debris at these spots."

Another resident, Roshan Lal, said as no site was earmarked by GMADA for dumping the debris and it was thrown according to the convenience of rehriwallas who then lifted it.

Chandigarh, August 6
More than 200 villagers led by sarpanchas and Zila Parishad members staged a protest, regarding the impounding of cattle of poor village residents, outside the MC office today. Village residents also raised slogans against the Mayor Subhash Chawla and MC officials. During the protest, situation become so tense that the protesters gheraoed the Mayor and nearly manhandled him.

On the issue of impounding of cattle by the MC staff, the village residents mentioned that it was an illegal practice and demanded the possession of the cattle. They also levelled allegations that instead of imposing fine, the MC officials were selling these cattle. They stated that there were hundreds of families whose only source of income was their cattle, and by taking their cows and buffaloes away the MC was playing with their lives.

Manoj Lubana, Zila Parishad member, said the cost of one buffalo was Rs 50,000 and by taking away two buffaloes of any poor people, the MC was affecting the livelihood of these people.

Recently, after the death of a resident of Sector 45 in an accident involving stray cattle, the MC had taken a tough stand to deal with the stray cattle menace.

Chandigarh, August 6
In the wake of Independence Day on August 15, the UT police conducted a special drive from 4 am to 7 am, to check the presence of anti-social elements in the colonies here on Tuesday.

A special search operation was carried out in Dadu Majra and Mauli Jagran Colony. As many as 22 persons from Dadu Majra Colony and 46 persons from Mauli Jagran Colony were detained for verification.

Similar search operations were carried out at Bapu Dham Colony on August 5, and 47 persons were detained for verification.

The police also verified the antecedent of local weapon holders. During the special campaign from 9 pm to 11 pm on, all hotels, guest houses, restaurants, hostels and dharmashallas checked and the antecedents of the persons staying there were verified.

Drunk driving nakas were laid in the city area at eight different locations and a total of 66 challans were issued, which include 35 for drunk driving and 31for other miscellaneous traffic violations. As many as 35 vehicles were impounded.

Special nakas were also set up in the city on Monday from 6 pm top 9 pm in which, 300 police personnel were deployed to make the checking effective.

In the evening, search operation will be carried from 4 pm to 6 pm, at all vital installations, malls, Panjab University, PGIMER, GMCH-32, ISBT-17, ISBT-43 and District Courts. The checks will also be carried out in crowded markets of Sector 17, 22, 35 and 26.

On Tuesday evening, the police carried out extensive checks for anti-sabotage/explosive with EVD (explosive vapor detector), NLGD (non-linear ground detector), DSMD (deep search metal detector), sniffer dogs and other security equipment at the Sector 17 ISBT, Sector 20 temple and other markets.

Mohali, August 6
In a move that would benefit the girl child, the state government has decided to provide free medical treatment to girls up to five years of age.

This was stated by Husan Lal, mission director, National Rural Health Mission, State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Phase VI, today.

As per provision, medical treatment is being provided to a girl for 30 days. “Now, we have sent a proposal to the Central Government to extend the period to five years," said Husan Lal while addressing a gathering during a seminar on 'Save the girl child' today.

He urged people to join hands to eradicate social evils from society.

To encourage residents, the district administration also honoured panchayats of villages where the number of girls was more than boys. Mohali Deputy Commissioner Tajinder Pal Singh Sidhu said special teams were constituted to keep a check on private clinics where sex determination tests were being conducted.

“Seeking help from students will help social activists spread awareness. NGOs, social activists and gram panchayats play a vital role," said Sidhu.

The gram panchayats, which were honoured today included Chajjumajra village, Chandu, Chandiala, Adda Jhunggia, Amlala, Ibrahimpur, Alapur, Mianpur, Jhampur, Marholia, Rurkeekalan and Raipur Khurd.

Mohali Civil Surgeon Dr Rajiv Bhalla and District Family Welfare Officer Dr Balwinder Singh were also present.

Chandigarh, August 6
Members of the Indian Institute of Architects, Chandigarh, Punjab Chapter, have prepared a report highlighting anomalies in the Metro project. The report is now forwarded to the Union Ministry of Urban Development because the Chandigarh Administration has sent the proposal of Metro project to the Ministry for clearance.

Surinder Bahga, former chairman of the chapter and nominated councillor, said they sent this report to Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Urban Development because the ministry could consider these points before finalising the project so as to ensure optimum utilisation of public money and resources.

In the report it was mentioned that the technology being proposed for the Chandigarh metro would be outdated by the time Chandigarh Metro Project would be commissioned. It would be about 45 years old. The technology was changing very fast and the public money would not be put to optimum use. It was also pointed out that Chandigarh was a world class city, therefore, if any metro project had to be commissioned, it should be of the latest technology.

On the proposed metro stations, it was highlighted that the metro stations were opening into residential areas, which would cause a lot of inconvenience to the residents of that area.

It was also mentioned that for the Chandigarh Metro Project, cross system of network being proposed by the DMRC report was not suitable for the region of Chandigarh. Moreover, this is one of the most inefficient MRTS systems in the world. (barring geographical limitations). This type of network has hardly been used in any major cities of the world.

The report also mentioned that as per the study of RITES, the major inflow of traffic was from the neighboring areas. Over 4 lakh daily commuters enter Chandigarh from Panchkula, Mohali, Zirakpur, Kharar, Pinjore, Rajpura etc. Therefore, there was a need to integrate these areas by an efficient transport system so that they were well connected with the city also.

Chandigarh, August 6
Local Member of Parliament (MP) Pawan Kumar Bansal raised a question on the long pending demands of the UT employees in Parliament today.

He questioned the Ministry of Home Affairs, whether, while meeting the long -pending demand of the Chandigarh Administration employees regarding Punjab pay scales, the government had in 1992 also applied the service conditions of the Punjab government employees to the UT.

The Minister replied that the Conditions of Service of UT of Chandigarh Employees Rules, ‘1992 extended the benefits under the conditions of service to the UT employees on the Punjab pattern like probation, seniority, pay of members of service, leave, pension, retirement (including pre-mature and voluntary retirement), medical facilities, promotion, all allowances including deafness allowance, pension and other retirement benefits, leave travel concession, rent free accommodation, age for retirement, general provident fund (contribution of withdrawal), group insurance scheme and bonus.

The entry into government service does not fall within the ambit of the conditions of service. As such, the Chandigarh Administration follows the Central pattern in the matter of upper age limit for entry into government service. For making appointment on compassionate grounds, the Chandigarh Administration follows the scheme issued by the Government of India under which compassionate appointment can be made upto maximum of 5 per cent ceiling in direct recruitment for the Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ posts in a year, the Minister replied.

Chandigarh, August 6
The committee looking into the complaint of mental harassment by a PGIMER doctor from the department of pharmacology against the head of the department has submitted its report with the PGIMER Director.

The recommendations of the committee constituting Dr Savita Malhotra, head of the psychiatry and Dr Anil Bhansali, head of the endocrinology are being reviewed currently.

Following the complaint sent about three months ago, the committee was formed. The head of department of pharmacology, has already been summoned by the police to join investigations in a separate case, recently, involving a missing courier of his junior doctor.

He is alleged to have received the courier meant for another doctor, which has been missing since January.

Chandigarh, August 6
City Mayor Subhash Chawla once again raised the issue that the administration should move a tribunal to decide on the exact water share for the city.

In the coordination committee meeting between the MC and the UT Administration, Chawla said that as the city was facing water crisis, the time had come of the UT Administration to move a tribunal for its share of water. The share of Chandigarh should be specified so that Chandigarh does not have to look towards Punjab and Haryana for its basic needs, he added.

In the meeting a demand was made for land for a dog pound. UT Advisor KK Sharma assured that soon they would identify two-acre land for the purpose.

A demand was also raised by the Mayor and MC officials to provide anti-rabies vaccine at all the dispensaries instead of providing it at only one dispensary in Sector 19. The UT officials said that they would look into the demand.

Chandigarh, August 6
Residents of Sector 54 today staged a protest outside the Sector 43 electricity office for poor power infrastructure and supply in their area.

Residents of Adarsh Colony, Sector 54, complained that they had been complaining about the hanging electricity wires, which had led to a number of accidents in their locality. Besides, residents were also angry about frequent power cuts in their area.

After the protest, later in the evening, the Electricity Department sent their officials to check the problem in their locality, a resident said.

Chandigarh, August 6
Munshi Prem Chand Theatre Festival concluded today. A play 'Mandir' was staged on the last day of the fest.

Artistes stage a play at Tagore Theatre in Sector 18, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. Tribune photo: S Chandan

Presented by Alankar theatre group, the play depicted the plight of a woman belonging to lower caste.

Soon after her husband's death, her son fell ill. With each passing day, the condition of her son deteriorated.

For the well-being of her son, she wanted to offer prayers to Lord Krishna, but people belonging to upper caste did not let her enter the temple. Directed by Chakresh Kumar, the cast included Yogesh Arora, Joyti, Krishan Rathee, Jashan Singh Kohli, Dr Amrit Karan, Hardeep Singh, Sumit, Rajat, Heena, Promila, Sioldeep, Priya, Nishant, Raman Panchal and Rajesh Krishnan.

Chandigarh, August 6
The candidates who arrived for the B Com counselling at the PU's Law Auditorium today, had to wait outside the auditorium for their turn for a long time. As the rain started, the candidates and their parents had to take shelter in the corridors of the nearby department.

The counselling for 420 B Com seats in various colleges of the city was held at the university. As the candidates and their parents were allowed to sit inside the the auditorium having a seating capacity of 800, they had to wait outside the auditorium.

One of the parents said the gallery of the auditorium should have been opened for parents and the main auditorium for the students. " The university should make arrangements so that students or their parents don't face any inconvenience," the parents said.

The counselsing for 316 seats in the general category for the UT pool in the city colleges will be held on Wednesday.

Chandigarh, August 6
A contempt petition has been filed against Panjab University (PU) and the chairperson of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology in the Punjab and Haryana High Court by a candidate seeking admission in BTech under the sports category.

The petitioner stated that the court had directed the university to entertain candidates under the sports quota during the the counselling, which was scheduled to be held on July 29. “The court had also quashed the corrigendum issued by the university on July 8 changing the eligibility criteria on grounds that the rules of admission can't be changed midway," a candidate stated.

Petitioner further mentioned that the university didn’t conduct the counselling on July 29 and challenged the court’s order on July 30, which was upheld by the division bench. “The university didn’t conduct the counselling of sports category candidates and invited fresh applications for the sports and defence category," the petitioner stated.

The candidate regretted that the UIET had accepted their admission forms irrespective of the JEE score though the court had asked the university to stick to the original eligibility criteria.

Chandigarh, August 6
The National Student Union of India (NSUI) announced its office-bearers for the upcoming elections at Panjab University (PU) today. Dalveer Singh Khangura, former PUCSC president, announced the names of office-bearers. Jaideep Mor has been appointed as the general secretary of UT and in charge of the Haryana student wing.

Sunny Bajaj has benn made as the elections and NSUI party in charge while Nishant Hooda is the new president of the Haryana student wing of the party,

Bindu Grewal, president, NSUI, said the newly announced panel had been given the responsibility to ensure victory for the party in the forthcoming students' elections. — TNS

Chandigarh, August 6
The student organisations at PU won't be allowed to hold road shows this year. The university took the decision in an all-party meeting today. A meeting with the representatives of the student parties was held with the Dean Student Welfare (DSW) Navdeep Goyal during which it was decided that the parties won't be allowed to hold car rallies to show their strength. “All the party leaders have agreed to it and have assured that such rallies won't take place on the campus," the DSW said.

During the meeting it was decided that the each party won't use more then two-vehicles together for campaigning. “The aim behind restricting the number of vehicles for campaigning is to ensure peaceful elections," Goyal said stated.

Officials said soon after the announcement of elections, every party would be given time slots for campaigning in the each department. “There have been instances when various parties reach a particular department for campaigning and enter into an altercation. This can only be checked only by ensuring that student parties don’t visit the same department at the same time," the DSW added. — TNS