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333 witnesses booked for turning hostile
fallout of Fatehgarh Sahib Bus Accident
HIV Spreading
Tentacles — III
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Amid tension, 15 peace activists leave for Pak
To transform schooling, Sampark Foundation inks MoU with Punjab
US Sikh groups to seek Sukhbir’s prosecution
Rs 2.6 cr siphoned, says Maharaja’s daughter
CM says Sangat Darshan meant to solve problems
Paddy goes missing from Moga mill
Court seeks report on drug mafia in jails
Maternity benefits to SSA teachers
PPSC scam: Bail denied to Ravi Sidhu
Land scam: Capt fails to appear in court
Follower of rival group ‘attacked’ at Bhaini Sahib
20 labourers hurt in group clash
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333 witnesses booked for turning hostile
Chandigarh, August 13 Suresh Arora, Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, had in July directed his field officers to speed up legal proceedings against hostile witnesses under Section 182, without waiting for the court verdict. While 333 persons have been booked under Section 182 of the IPC and Section 340 of the CrPC for going back on their statements, no action has been taken against 38 witnesses in the disproportionate assets case against the Badal family. The case was decided on October 1, 2010. All the 10 accused, including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, were acquitted as there was no incriminating evidence against them. As many as 38 of the 59 witnesses in the case had turned hostile. The court had ordered the prosecution of the Investigating Officer, Surinder Pal Singh, then Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Vigilance, and the Supervisory Officer, Deputy-Inspector General (DIG) BK Uppal, for perjury and misconduct. It had said they had fabricated false evidence and harassed officials while recording their statements. But the Vigilance failed to act against the witnesses who had turned hostile. A senior Vigilance official said since the court had already proceeded against these officials, the Vigilance had not taken action against them. Among those who have been booked in other such cases are lower-rung officials such as junior engineers and patwaris. As many as 87 witnesses, the maximum, turned hostile in a case in Amritsar, followed by 74 in Ferozepur, 59 in Ludhiana, 55 in Patiala, 39 in Jalandhar and 19 in Bathinda.
VB's pick-and-choose policy
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fallout of Fatehgarh Sahib Bus Accident
Chandigarh, August 13 Confirming the development, Principal Secretary (Transport) Jagpal Singh Sandhu said the current service provider’s agreement had ended in December but the company was given two extensions. The company was employed by the state government in 2006. The agreement with The Providers is likely to be terminated next month, it has been learnt. The Sirhind mishap, involving a PUNBUS (public transport) vehicle, had left a large number of passengers dead. The Tribune had carried a series of reports on how the privately hired staff was being made to work overtime to earn extra money. It was found the staff was not being paid the minimum wages, as mandatory under the Labour Act. To top it all, there was no government agency to monitor their working in a service that involves commuting by thousands of passengers daily. Sandhu said Transport Minister Ajit Singh Kohar was seized of the matter and had been apprised of the changes that were being made in the contract. Sources said the state government was working on changing the terms of the service rules to stop the exploitation of drivers and conductors by private contractors. Against the minimum wages of Rs 8,404 for a driver and Rs 7,372 for a conductor, The Providers was reportedly paying around Rs 3,000 a month. The Labour Department is learnt to have taken note of the “anomaly”. Harpreet Singh, The Providers coordinator, said, “The company is giving a monthly basic of Rs 5,473 to a driver and Rs 4,776 to a conductor. They are also paid for their overtime, besides compensation for night stay. The company deducts provident fund at 13.61 per cent and service insurance at 1.75 per cent. The payment may work out to around Rs 3,000, but the deductions remain in the employees’ savings.” MS Sidhu, president, PUNBUS Contract Workers Union, said, “Being paid at the rate of Rs 1.26 per km, every driver tries to cover as much as possible to survive financially.” He said the union had submitted a complaint to the Labour Department alleging the PUNBUS was not giving them any relief despite agreements in the past.
Anomalies alleged
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HIV Spreading
Tentacles — III
Patiala, August 13 Each unit has been catering to around 5,000 patients in a month. The NGOs active in the field say the number of patients coming forward for HIV treatment is bound to rise if every district has one ART centre. “Many patients don’t register only because they have to travel to neighbouring districts and then wait in queues for hours,” says an expert. An affected patient from Patiala laments: “I have to travel 160 km for check-up and medicines. The process has to be repeated every fortnight, which means spending a huge sum on travelling as well as taking an off from my private job.” The need for new centres notwithstanding, the condition of the existing ones is not good either. Most of these have been operating from two-room wards located inside government hospitals. Tight budget, poor pay structure and an even poorer government support to the existing staff in terms of perks and facilities has only compounded the woes of the employees working in the field in various districts. A counsellor at an ART department, whose duty is to ensure HIV persons stay in a positive frame of mind before treatment, takes home Rs 8,000 a month. “Can anybody survive with this less money?” quips she, having more than 100 patients to look after daily. “Come anytime in the day and you will find a long queue of patients, with five to six new cases being registered daily,” she adds. Similarly, a doctor at an ART centre in Punjab is paid a poor Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000, a sum that fails to attract the finest of the talent. “We recently advertised a doctor’s post. Given the money we offered, only one candidate applied,” says a PSACS functionary. Amid staff crunch and poor infrastructure, patients are the ultimate sufferers. They have to spend an entire day at government centres to meet a doctor. “We can only write to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) for better salaries. Though the hike in the past couple of years has not been on the expected lines, we expect a decent raise this time,” says PSACS additional director Dr Usha Bansal. She says the case has been forwarded to the National Aids Control Organisation, which releases funds and decides on pay
hike. (Concluded)
In need of cure
Meeting takes stock Following reports in The Tribune, an ‘Inter-departmental sensitisation workshop for mainstreaming HIV’ was organised in Chandigarh on Tuesday. The meeting, held under the chairmanship of Hussan Lal, Project Director, PSACS, was attended by 13 representatives from 11 departments.
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HC notice to 2 IAS officers for illegal mining in state
Chandigarh, August 13 A notice has also been issued to his predecessor AR Talwar. They have been asked to show cause why contempt of court proceedings not be initiated against them for alleged defiance of High Court orders passed on August 17 last year. They have been asked to file their reply by August 30, when the case comes up for further hearing. Digging deep into the issue of environment protection, the High Court had last year imposed a complete ban on mining without environmental clearance in operational quarries measuring up to five hectares in the state. The Division Bench had also made it clear that the Deputy Commissioners would be held squarely responsible in case of any illegal mining. In its detailed orders, the Bench directed the Punjab Advocate-General to bring the court orders to the Chief Secretary’s notice for forwarding the information to all Deputy Commissioners. The Bench had issued the directions after counsel for the Union Government informed the High Court that the orders passed by the Supreme Court had made clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests mandatory. The state, as such, would have to obtain clearance from the state environment impact assessment authority (SEIAA) to continue with the mining operations, he said. For expediting the grant of permission, the Bench directed the authority to decide within 10 days a representation for granting clearance. But the state government failed to get the clearance from the SEIAA for mining even after a year of the High Court orders. The directions came soon after the Supreme Court made it clear in the Deepak Kumar versus the State of Haryana case that “leases of minor mineral, including their renewal for an area of less than five hectares be granted by the States/Union Territories only after getting environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest”.
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Amid tension, 15 peace activists leave for Pak
Amritsar, August 13 The delegation comprised journalists, lawyers and human rights activists. Talking to mediapersons before crossing the border, a delegation member said: “Our aim is to promote peace with our Pakistani counterparts and stress on the need to have congenial and lasting relationships with each other. We condemn the killing of Indian soldiers in Poonch. But, we believe that it is only dialogue that can solve a majority of the perceived problems that exist between India and Pakistan”. On the other hand, Hind-Pak Dosti Manch general secretary Satnam Singh Manak said they had decided not to send any delegation to Pakistan this year in view of the killing of Indian soldiers. No delegation would arrive from Pakistan as well, he said, adding as far as the candlelight vigil at the Attari border was concerned, though they had the necessary permission, they were yet to take a final call on it. There are reports that the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch and its associate outfits may decide to hold the candlelight vigil at some alternative place in Amritsar. All these developments suggest that this annual initiative aimed at boosting bilateral ties will be reduced to a mere symbolic exercise this year. Earlier, the manch had cancelled the cultural evening which was to be held in Amritsar on August 13. The only programme that is certain at the moment is a seminar on the Indo-Pak ties at Guru Nanak Dev University here tomorrow.
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Hoardings invite people to I-Day function
Patiala, August 13 Sources said the illegal hoardings were political in nature as the YAD had invited everyone for the August 15 function. The Municipal Corporation, the district administration and even the police were helpless in checking the mischief as it involved the name of YAD president Bikram Singh Majithia. The hoardings, mentioning the name of YAD general secretary and local councillor Harpal Juneja, have belittled the efforts of the district administration which has been busy from the past two days in removing all illegal hoardings to ensure that the venue of the function looks neat and clean. “I have put up these hoardings as our leader is coming to the city and there is nothing wrong in it,” he said. District Congress Committee, Patiala (Rural), president Hardyal Kambhoj said the YAD had no right to put such hoardings for invitation. “The district administration should take action and if the YAD leaders are so much interested, they can separately hold a rally for their supporters. Sanctity of such functions should be maintained,” he said. Deputy Commissioner Gopal Krishan Singh said if the YAD leaders were inviting people for the Independence Day function he could not help it. “However, I will ask the YAD leaders not to put hoardings near the venue as the function is purely a government event,” he stated. Meanwhile, the role of the Municipal Corporation is also under the scanner for not taking action against these hoardings. “I will check with my staff,” said Patiala Municipal Commissioner PS Gill.
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To transform schooling, Sampark Foundation inks MoU with Punjab
New Delhi, August 13 The initiative, in its first phase, will cover 500 primary schools in Patiala district benefitting 50,000 primary schoolchildren and will expand to cover 13,500 government primary schools and impact 2.5 lakh children
all over Punjab. Nayar told The Tribune that he would now move into a non-executive role at HCL Technologies and devote most of his time to Sampark Foundation, which was founded in 2004 by Nayar and his wife, Anupama. As he moves into the third phase of his career with social philanthropy, "Why be an ant when you can be a butterfly" is the question Nayar raised in his blog. Nayar says it is important to nurture dreams and live them. "It was a butterfly moment for me, to see if I could challenge myself and focus on social innovation. This phase is moving from for profit to not for profit", Nayar said on the transition to the next phase of his career. Sampark Foundation is seeking large-scale transformation in the areas of education, livelihood and social entrepreneurship projects. Speaking on the 'Parivartan' project, he says, "I chose Punjab for the education project because I was born in Jalandhar and my family has roots there. We found the bureaucracy in Punjab to be open, aware of the problems and inclusive in partnership. We see the Punjabi enthusiasm in teachers. And the combination of these factors led us to choose Punjab". 'Parivartan' aims at improving academic outcomes through holistic adoption of large number of schools and driving change through intervention in curriculum, learning outcome assessment, headmaster and teacher training. Nayar said the project would be funded by Sampark's own resources over the next 5 years. Sampark has tied up with the US think tank, Brookings, to measure the learning outcomes of the project. Anjali Bhawra, Principal Secretary, Education, Punjab, said, "We are happy that Sampark Foundation has partnered with the Punjab Government to implement a new teaching methodology that promises to transform learning process in our primary schools across the state". Nayar says this is now the third phase of his career. The first was when he spent his early 30s building a startup, HCL Comnet which is now $1.4 billion in size. The second phase, which began in 2005, was to lead the 30,000-strong HCL Technologies team in its transformation journey. Nayar’s eight-year stint in executive leadership role at HCL Technologies saw its revenue, profit and market capitalisation grow eight-fold.
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US Sikh groups to seek Sukhbir’s prosecution
Washington, August 13 Sukhbir is scheduled to visit Canada in September to hold meetings with Canadian officials and business leaders. A case against Sukhbir will be filed by the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and Canadian Sikh Coalition (CSC), a non-government organisation representing over 50 Sikh gurdwaras and societies. This follows after the New York-based SFJ repeatedly failed to file a similar case against Badal in a US court. The two NGOs are seeking arrest warrants for Sukhbir under the Criminal Code of Canada, Section 269.1, which provides that "every official or every person acting at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of an official, who inflicts torture on any other person is guilty of an indictable offence."
— PTI
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Rs 2.6 cr siphoned, says Maharaja’s daughter
Chandigarh, August 13 “There are accounts in the name of the trust in more than 12 banks at various places across the country. As per bank statements, after the judgment on July 25, Rs 2.6 crore have been withdrawn,” said advocate Balbir Singh, who is representing Amrit Kaur. He said Rs 1.36 crore has been withdrawn from Oriental Bank of Commerce, Rs 85 lakh from Bank of India, Rs 34 lakh from Canara Bank, Rs 3.75 lakh from Punjab and Sind Bank and Rs 1.97 lakh from State Bank of Patiala, all in Faridkot. Balbir alleged the trustees and other employees had been illegally selling properties of the late Maharaja’s estate earlier also even as per the clauses of the alleged Will, which was later declared forged, the so-called trustees could not sell the properties they were required to maintain. “The trustees have already sold four aircraft, besides several properties in Hisar, including 54 acres of agriculture land for Rs 23,000 per acre, an airstrip measuring 110 kanal for Rs 25,000 per acre, Dhanna Kothi measuring 80 kanal for Rs 40,000 per acre, and trees in forest spread on 1,500 acres in Bir Chahal, Bir Ghungiana and Bir Shekhawala in Faridkot,” he claimed. Claims 4 aircraft sold Amrit Kaur alleges the trustees have already sold four aircraft, besides several properties in Hisar, including an airstrip measuring 110 kanal for Rs 25,000 per acre.
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CM says Sangat Darshan meant to solve problems
Chandigarh, August 13 “Sangat Darshan is like a single window for solving the problems of the people. While the elected representatives and other people can approach me anytime, the common man just has this forum to come forward with their complaints before me and senior officials to get these redressed,” he said. Badal alleged: “The Congress will not understand it as the party has moved away from the common man. They have forgotten the concept of ‘sewa’.”
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Paddy goes missing from Moga mill
Moga, August 13 District manager (DM) of the PSWC Akshar Kumar has written to Senior Superintendent of Police SS Grewal to lodge a case of fraud against Joga Agro Industries, Ajitwal. Grewal said he had asked the local Deputy Superintendent of Police to verify the facts. “Since, the DM is not the competent authority to lodge an FIR, we have decided to hold a preliminary inquiry,” he said. The DM’s letter says that 8,241.45 quintals of paddy have gone missing from the Ajitwal rice mill. Simultaneously, gunny bags worth Rs 4,79,726 have gone missing from the mill, it says.
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Court seeks report on drug mafia in jails
Chandigarh, August 13 The report was submitted by Punjab’s former Director-General of Police Shashi Kant when he was Additional DGP (Intelligence). For the purpose, the Bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul has given the state time till September 10, when the case will come up for further hearing. Kant was assisting the Bench when the order was passed. The development is significant as Shashi Kant has all along been asserting that prison bars are not strong enough to keep the drug mafia away. Kant and the state government were virtually at loggerheads on the issue of drug peddling in jails. Kant had created a flutter by announcing that a drug mafia was operating inside the Punjab jails and it had the backing of a strong lobby in the state. A petition on the issue has been filed by Tarlochan Singh through counsel Navkiran Singh. A Mohali resident, Tarlochan was lodged in the Ropar district jail at the time of filing the petition. The inmate is seeking an inquiry not only into the sale of intoxicants inside the Ropar Jail “in connivance with the jail officials,” but also their highhandedness towards prisoners reporting against such illegal activities.
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Maternity benefits to SSA teachers
Chandigarh, August 13 The stay orders came on an appeal filed by the authority (LPA number 1308 of 2013) against the Single Judge’s judgement in Reena Singla's case. Notice of motion has been issued for November 12; and by way of interim directions the payment of benefits of maternity leave beyond 90 days has been stayed. Reena Singla had earlier moved the HC after her claim for an extension of maternity leave was dismissed vide order dated March 1. It was stated that the Punjab Civil Services Rules were not applicable to the petitioner’s service conditions as she was working on contractual basis in the SSA Society. The society had framed its own regulations, which governed the services of its employees and had been incorporated in the appointment contract. As per the regulations/instructions of the SSA Authority, she was entitled only to 90 days maternity leave, it was added. The Single Judge had asserted: “It is true that under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, a woman is entitled to maternity leave of six weeks. However, there is no bar to grant benefits over and above the period, as specified in Section 5 of the Act. “The state of Punjab as well as the Central Government having adopted the norm of 180 days to be the maternity leave, the employees, who are working in Punjab under the SSA Society, would be entitled to the same benefit of 180 days”.
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PPSC scam: Bail denied to Ravi Sidhu
Chandigarh, August 13 At the same time, the High Court admitted an appeal for hearing filed against the conviction orders. On July 16, a subordinate court of Ropar awarded six years’ imprisonment to Sidhu in an 11-year-old cash-for-job bribery case. He is at present lodged in the Ropar jail.
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Land scam: Capt fails to appear in court
Mohali, August 13 Amarinder Singh’s counsel Ramdeep Partap Singh said the Congress leader was abroad and he had taken permission for the visit in the last hearing. Arguments were addressed at length in the court of Additional and District Sessions Judge (Senior Division) PP Singh by the defence counsel and the public prosecutor on the application on behalf of former Secretary, Vidhan Sabha, Nachchatar Singh Mavi, and former Under Secretary Tara Singh. The application was moved on the ground that they had been falsely implicated in the case.
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Follower of rival group ‘attacked’ at Bhaini Sahib
Bhaini Sahib, August 13 He told the police that six persons, including Kesar Singh Laddi, driver of Mata Chand Kaur, wife of the late Satguru Jagjit Singh, had attacked him.The assailants blamed Thakur Dalip Singh for the attack on the Satguru, he said. Randhir Singh’s son Ranvir Singh was among those present at the Namdhari gurdwara in Leicester when Satguru Uday Singh was attacked. Surinder Singh, vice-president of the Namdhari Darbar, maintained that Randhir Singh was levelling false allegations. “With more than 100 policemen deployed in and around Bhaini Sahib, how could such an incident have gone unnoticed," he asked. Navtej Singh, president, International Namdhari Sangat, condemned the attack. “External forces are conspiring to prevent Satguru Uday Singh and Thakur Dalip Singh from coming together. By attacking Randhir Singh, these elements are trying to fuel tension between the two groups,” he said. The Koom Kalan police said investigations into the case were on.
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20 labourers hurt in group clash
Sangrur, August 13 The injured reportedly belonged to the two groups of ‘palledars’ led by Ram Singh Matran and Sukhpal Singh. Both the groups had levelled charges against each other for attacking and injuring the labourers of their respective groups. Both the groups alleged that their men were loading bags allotted to them into trucks when their opponents attacked them. Sources said one person, who sustained serious injuries, was referred to Government Rajindra Hospital,
Patiala. — TNS
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