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C’wealth player accuses coach, IWF
top official of sexual harassment
Faux pas: Govt allots cow shelter land for rehab
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Process to amend Gurdwara Act begins
More incentives for bulk power consumers
Faridkot BJP leader’s son accused of graft
Punjab Byelection 2014
Amritsar MP Capt Amarinder Singh interacts with students during an election meeting in support of Congress candidate Preneet Kaur in Patiala on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar
Constituency watch: Talwandi Sabo
Balkar’s mother storms AAP press meet
Mother of Independent candidate Balkar Sidhu argues with AAP workers in Talwandi Sabo on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma
Arms exhibition to mark I-Day function at Attari
Farmers to be exempted from mortgage fee for bank loans
Eyeing subsidy, govt wants special status for kandi areas
Withdraw order or face stir: RMOs
harassment case
Residents protest police inaction, lathicharged
Despite ban, schools allow sale of junk food
Arrested teacher’s wife threatens to move HC
UGC chairman to address universities on Aug 14
Fazilka hospital gets CT scan machine
15 hurt as van rams into truck in Bathinda
PR official chargesheeted
Successor authority cannot review appointments: HC
Plus 2 schooling from state must for admission in MBBS, says HC
2 minor girls gang-raped in Moga
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C’wealth player accuses coach, IWF
top official of sexual harassment
Jalandhar, August 12 Meena alleged that she lost the medal under an alleged conspiracy hatched by Sehdev Yadav, Indian Weightlifting Federation vice-president, and her coach Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kumar of the Punjab Armed Police (PAP), who is also the Punjab Weightlifting Federation secretary. Yadav has rubbished the charges as “baseless”. “Meena could not win a medal in the Games and now she is trying to hog the limelight by blaming her defeat on others,” he claimed. Sandeep too dubbed the allegations “as nothing but a bundle of lies, with some vested interests attached”. Posted as head constable at the PAP headquarters in Jalandhar, Meena alleged that she had even submitted a written complaint against the duo to Gurdev Singh Sahota, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), a month before the Games, “but no action was taken”. “While attending the selection camp at Patiala, both of them repeatedly made sexual advances towards me. When I refused to give in, they started passing casteist remarks. Fearing a threat to my dignity and even to my life, I faxed a written complaint to the ADGP’s office on June 4,” she said. Meena claimed though an official was sent to investigate the matter, no action was taken. “Instead, I was warned to stay quiet or else get ready to be dropped from the Commonwealth squad. I also complained to the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which assured me of my safety. It was only then that I agreed to go to Glasgow,” she said. She alleged that under the conspiracy at the Games, she was made to do rigorous workout minutes before the actual event to exhaust her physically. And later, she alleged, she was deliberately told to lift much lesser weight than she had lifted during a practice session. “I lifted up to 202 kg while practising. But there they only asked me to lift 117 kg and 119 kg in the first and the final chance,” she claimed. Yadav, however, could not provide a satisfactory reply when questioned on Meena’s charge about the rigorous workout prior to the Commonwealth event and she being made to lift lesser weight. Tulsi Ram, Commandant-cum-Secretary, Sports, Punjab Police, said an inquiry had been ordered on the basis of the fresh complaint lodged by Meena, and not on the basis of the one she had faxed to the ADGP’s office. Giving a clean chit to the coach, Tulsi Ramsaid, “We are looking into the role of two women coaches from SAI who made her do strenuous workout before the main event. But, she has not mentioned in her complaint that she was sexually harassed at Glassgow. We can seek an explanation from the coach only if she mentions it.”
The allegations * Meena Kumari has accused her coach Sandeep Kumar and Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) vice-president Sehdev Yadav of conspiring against her during the Commonwealth Games *
She has alleged that she lost the medal under an alleged conspiracy hatched by the duo *
She claims she was made to do rigorous workout minutes before the actual event to exhaust her physically *
She alleged she was deliberately told to lift much lesser weight than she had lifted during a practice session to see her lose the medal *
She stood fifth in the 59-kg category
It’s a bid to hog limelight: IWF vice-president
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Faux pas: Govt allots cow shelter land for rehab
Faridkot, August 12 Sources said the plot was chosen due to its proximity to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital where an ultra-modern de-addiction centre, with an investment of Rs 5 crore, was started recently. They said officials of the Health Department and the district administration suggested to the government that a rehabilitation centre close to a de-addiction unit and a hospital would bring forth the desired results. But once the district administration started mapping the land two days ago, it started facing opposition. Several Akali leaders have even approached the Chief Minister demanding change of the venue as a ‘gaushala’ was already functioning there. On Monday, Faridkot MLA Deep Malhotra led a delegation to submit a representation to Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tayyab, demanding that the rehabilitation centre be set up elsewhere. “I have already raised the matter with the Chief Minister. He has been apprised that a big ‘gaushala’, taking care of more than 1,000 cows with religious and social feelings attached, is already present there,” he said. Malhotra claimed the Chief Minister had agreed to his demand. The Deputy Commissioner said the government had agreed to look for an alternative for the rehabilitation centre. “Running a ‘gaushala’ is also a common cause. There is nothing for personal gain in this act,” he said. Those who had set up the ‘gaushala’ had allegedly encroached upon government land, which measures around 8 acres. While the cow shelter had come up on 3 acres, the rest of the land too is under illegal occupation. About the encroachment, the Deputy Commissioner said the matter was sub judice. The alleged illegal possession and constructions on over 5 acre of prime land, worth several crores, near the medical college had stirred a controversy several years ago. An inquiry by the district administration had held that a large portion of this ‘mushtarka malkan’ (joint public property), measuring 927 marlas was encroached upon by some private institutions and persons. A public grievances officer, who conducted the inquiry, had alleged that there was connivance of some revenue officials in the encroachment of the land, situated in the heart of city. He alleged the usurpers of the land had not only encroached upon it, but were also donating or re-selling it further.
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Process to amend Gurdwara Act begins
New Delhi, August 12 Akali MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa told The Tribune that a proposal to amend the Act would be placed before the Cabinet and subsequently tabled in Parliament for approval. As sought by the SAD, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had issued a notification depriving the Sehajdhari Sikhs of their voting rights. But the notification could not be implemented as it was challenged in court. The court said that any change in the voting rights could be made only if the the law was amended. Dhindsa said then Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had attended the meeting at which a consensus on disenfranchising Sehajdhari Sikhs was reached. SGPC flays RSS
chief’s remark
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More incentives for bulk power consumers
Chandigarh, August 12 Sources said the commission had been given to understand by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) that the state would have substantial surplus power after October when the paddy season comes to an end. As there is a mandatory clause in the agreement to buy power produced by state’s private thermal plants, the PSPCL will have to pay “capacity charges” to such plants, even if the power produced by them is not consumed. The rate for the Talwandi Sabo thermal plant is Re 1.35 per unit and in case of the Rajpura thermal plant it is Re 1.64 per unit. Sources in the PSPCL said the regulatory commission would announce more incentives for bulk and big consumers such as industries so that they used maximum power generated by internal sources. The commission will discourage bulk consumers getting power from outside under the open access system during the power surplus period. A senior PSPCL official said the commission would announce a rebate of up to Re 1.50 per unit for industries using power at night during the power surplus period. In other words, industrialists would be encouraged to use the maximum power at night. It is estimated that in October 1,500 MW of power will be rendered surplus during the night and about 200 MW-300 MW during the day. Sources said the state government’s power subsidy bill would come down this year. The provision of Rs 5,300 crore in the state’s Annual Budget to provide free power to the farm sector would be enough to serve the purpose. The sources said that based on a sample survey, the regulatory commission had concluded that power consumption in the farm sector was less than what had been shown by the PSPCL in its petition. The sources said that the power subsidy bill was expected to go down by Rs 1,200 crore from the estimated Rs 6,700 crore. Last year, the commission had slashed the consumption figures in the farm sector. The regulatory commission may also announce an optional scheme for tube wells. In the potato belt and elsewhere farmers are ready to pay for the power consumed if assured of a 24-hour power supply to their tube wells. The commission is likely to introduce the “Kilowatt ampere hour (KVAH)” system to save industrialists of exploitation at the hands of officials.
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Faridkot BJP leader’s son accused of graft
Faridkot, August 12 While Sharma said it was a conspiracy to tarnish his image, the economic offences wing of Faridkot police has started a probe into the matter. In the complaint, Komal alleged after the death of her husband, she found out that there were some vacant posts of Anganwadi workers in the Women and Child Development Department in Kotkapura. She claimed Sharma had assured her of help, when she approached him. She alleged Sharma’s son then demanded Rs 1 lakh as ‘facilitation fee’. “I paid Rs 45,000 as the first instalment, but I did not get any assistance from the leader,” Komal alleged. She further alleged that Sharma was threatening her with dire consequences since she had visited his house several times. The BJP leader claimed he was not aware of any such deal. “My rivals in the party have hatched a conspiracy to tarnish my image,” he said. Sharma further alleged the complainant was already facing a criminal case in Abohar for dacoity. “I am confident the police probe into the matter
will bring out the truth,” he added.
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Punjab Byelection 2014
Patiala, August 12 Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Amarinder promised to set up a special task force for women's security in Punjab, if the Congress came to power after the 2017 elections. He also announced that the Congress government would resume student body elections in the colleges and universities to ensure that there were officially recognised students' representative bodies in educational institutions. Amarinder shared concerns of girl students about their safety and security and the rise of incidents of crime against them. "The spurt in cases of crime against women was a serious issue and the government should take strict measures in that regard," he said. He said the Akali government in the state had failed to attract any investment. "Its policies have been such that the existing industries were moving out, thus limiting the scope of job avenues for the educated youth," he said. Amarinder spent around an hour interacting with students off the stage. In an interaction with members of various rotary clubs of Patiala, he said if the Congress government came to power, it would ensure that the state attracted investment, as had been the case between 2002 and 2007 when Punjab witnessed a boom and investors lined up to invest here. He said the countdown for the SAD-BJP government would begin with their defeat in the August 21 byelection in Patiala and Talwandi Sabo. Both seats would be won by the Congress, he claimed. Urging residents to vote for his wife, he said he was sure that the residents would make her emerge victorious by a huge margin.
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Constituency watch: Talwandi Sabo
Bathinda, August 12 The seat fell fallen vacant after sitting MLA Jeet Mohinder Sidhu left the Congress and joined the SAD in March this year. Most villages in the constituency face the problem of unsafe drinking water. A study by the PGIMER, Chandigarh, has shown a high uranium content in the water supplied to the villages. It is believed that unsafe water may have spread cancer in Giana, Jajjal, Malkana and Laleana villages which fall in Malwa's 'cancer belt.' Trying to cash in on the public sentiment, the Congress promises to collect a fresh data on cancer patients. Jeet Mohinder Sidhu (SAD) is pitted against Harminder Singh Jassi of the Congress. The latter held the seat in 1992 and in 1997. The Aam Admi Party (AAP) candidate, Baljinder Kaur, is facing a tough battle with singer Balkar Sidhu, who was earlier allotted the AAP ticket, contesting as an Independent. Since 1977, the seat has remained a SAD stronghold. It was held by former Congress Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, in 1985. He had then contested on the SAD ticket after resigning from the Congress in protest against Operation Bluestar. In 1977, the seat was won by local Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhillon. Avtar Singh Gatwali of the Congress won this seat in 1980. He was made Transport Minister. Harminder Singh Jassi of the Congress was victorious
in 1992. He was then pitted against Jagdeep Singh of the BSP. Takht Damdama Sahib is located in Talwandi Sabo, which is also called Guru Ki Kashi. Sikh warrior Baba Deep Singh was the first Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib.
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Bhattal takes on SAD on HSGMC
Talwandi Sabo, August 12 Of other states could have separate gurdwara committees, why not Haryana, she asked. Asked about AAP’s impact on the byelection, she said it would have none. “While the Patiala seat has always remained with the Congress, it is a Congress versus Congress affair at Talwandi Sabo as SAD candidate Jeet Mohinder Singh was earlier the sitting Congress MLA,” she said. No threat to alliance: Mittal Industries Minister Madan Mohan Mittal today said that the SAD and the BJP were working in close coordination to ensure the victory of their candidate. He said reports of the BJP changing its ministers was nothing but a “media hype.” He accused the Hooda government of setting up the HSGMC only to divide the Haryana Sikhs for political mileage. He said that Jeet Mohinder Singh for certain to win the seat anf the alliance was working hard to secure a victory with a record margin. Cong a house divided, says Sukhbir Depuy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the Congress was a divided house and the cold war between the groups led by PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa and former CM Capt Amarinder Singh had reached its peak. Replying to media queries after addressing a rally in favour of Jeet Mohinder Singh at Lelewala village, Sukhbir said the Congress infighting would lead to the defeat of the Congress candidate.
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Balkar’s mother storms AAP press meet
Talwandi Sabo, August 12 The timely intervention of the police saved the situation from turning ugly as Balkar’s mother and her supporters started exchanging heated arguments with AAP volunteers. AAP spokesperson Kultar Singh urged both the parties to refrain from using foul language. Balkar’s mother alleged Harbans Singh of their village had falsely accused her son of taking Rs 7.5 lakh from a girl to help her migrate to Canada.
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Arms exhibition to mark I-Day function at Attari
Amritsar, August 12 MF Farooqui, BSF DIG, said, "Apart from the famous retreat ceremony, the visitors will have an added attraction to look forward to at the border. We will be rolling out a host of activities to celebrate the Independence Day." Farooqui said the weaponry exhibition would give the people an opportunity to closely watch their weapons, including artillery guns. "Besides, there will be special programmes in which we will rope in different schools from Amritsar whose students will add colour to the revelry. BSF bands and horses will also be putting up a show for the visitors at the border," he said. He said the timings of these celebrations would be from 4 pm to 7 pm.
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Farmers to be exempted from mortgage fee for bank loans
Chandigarh, August 12 The move will help farmers to procure loans in a hassle-free manner. The amendment will also lessen the work load of the Revenue Department. It is estimated that 35 per cent of the department's work deals with land mortgage registration. At present, a farmer has to pass through the process of registration of an agreement with the bank for loan and then with the tehsildar and naib tehsildar. The process takes two to three days for a farmer to get his loan agreement registered with the Revenue Department. Under the amended law, a farmer seeking loan will enter into an agreement with the bank concerned and instead of registering the agreement, revenue officials will be intimated so that an entry regarding the loan can be made in the revenue records. The amended law will also help the government in weaning away farmers from the clutches of private money lenders and arhtiyas and bringing them into the fold of institutional finance. Though the government and State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) for Punjab have been emphasising on swapping of farmers' debt from money lenders with bank loans, the scheme has not failed to take off. Officials in the Agriculture Department say the amendment was likely to encourage more farmers to go in for bank loans. The government had decided in principle to make the amendment in the Act last year and a Bill was also passed by the Vidhan Sabha earlier this year. However, when the Bill was sent to the Punjab Governor for an approval, he had reserved the same for consideration of the President. The Bill will now be notified and guidelines on the new amendments will be circulated to all banks for necessary action.
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Eyeing subsidy, govt wants special status for kandi areas
Chandigarh, August 12 SR Ladhar, Secretary, Food Processing, has mooted the proposal after discussing the matter with Siraj Hussain, Secretary, Union Food Processing Department. Once accepted, the proposal can bring significant changes in the development of kandi areas, a sub-mountainous region where farmers are unable to grow much crops due to lack of underground water and resources to use modern equipment. Similarly, the government intends to bring border areas in this category for availing subsidies in farming or setting up food processing units. Ladhar said the Centre provided grant-in-aid under the National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP). The grant is issued for technology upgrading, setting up cold stores for non-horticulture products, abattoirs, besides running degree or diploma courses, promotional activities such as organsing seminars and schemes for creating primary processing centres or collection centres and modernisation of meat shops. The Centre gives up to 50 per cent grant for these schemes in general area, but for the "difficult area", the grant is 75 per cent. The government proposal says there are many regions in the state which have similar topography like the semi-hill areas of Himachal Pardesh and Jammu and Kashmir. These areas are backward in development and don't have good roads. Similarly, the border areas too face lack of road development and investment there was negligible due to contentious border.
The move * Once approved, the proposal will help farmers avail higher subsidies and entrepreneurs grant-in-aid of up to 75 per cent for setting up food processing units *
The Centre provides grant-in-aid under the National Mission on Food Processing *
The grant is issued for technology upgrading, setting up cold stores for non-horticulture products, abattoirs, besides running degree or diploma courses, promotional activities and schemes for creating primary processing centres
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Withdraw order or face stir: RMOs
Jalandhar, August 12 Perturbed with the government decision, the Rural Medical Service Association (RMSA) has discussed the matter at length. “Authorising BDPOs to check the functioning of RMOs is an insult to the doctors. The association is ready for a battle to force the state government to withdraw the orders,” said association president Dr Aslam Parvez. The RMOs have the support of the Indian Medical Association. Dr DS Bhullar, IMA, Punjab unit, said: “To empower officers junior to RMOs to keep a watch on them is an insult to the medical profession. We urge the Chief Minister to direct the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats to withdraw the arbitrary orders with immediate effect. Dr Rohit Sharma, chief of the local unit of the RMSA, said: “ The denial of PG quota in the state’s medical colleges to RMOs has blocked their career opportunities.” Dr Anand Malhotra, an RMO from Ludhiana, said owing to unavailability of medicines, the number of patients visiting OPDs has come down from 80 lakh to 12 lakh patients in two years. “Rural dispensaries have poor infrastructure. No funds are being sanctioned for their upkeep. Central funds are not being earmarked for these dispensaries,” he said.
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harassment case
Chandigarh, August 12 Rajesh Bagha, commission chairman, said it was unfortunate that the custodians of the law were indulging in heinous crimes. "We have directed the SSP to initiate action against the accused and send the compliance report to the commission within a week," said Bagha. He said: "When the girl resisted the alleged move of the policemen, the latter terrorised her. Even the SHO refused to lodge a complaint and pressured the girl."
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Draw water cautiously, says BBMB
Chandigarh, August 12 “We have asked partnering states to draw water cautiously to save water for the next crop season. The states have agreed to do so,” BBMB member SL Aggawal said. A meeting of the partnering states was held here today to review the water situation. The Chief Engineer of the Punjab Irrigation Department, AS Dullet, said the states would continue to get water as per their requirement. There would be no reduction in the water supplied to them. Dullet said if the water level in the Bhakra reservoir improved after August 15, then 7,000 cusecs more would be released from the Bhakra. The Pong Dam, set up on the Beas , today recorded a water level of 1,345 ft, which is 33.82 ft less than the level on the same day last year. The inflow was 22,000 cusecs and the outflow at about 14,000 cusecs, said a BBMB official. The Bhakra Dam today recorded a water level of 1,663.50 ft, which was 5.20 ft higher than that recorded last year on the same day. The inflow was about 44,000 cusecs and the outflow 25,000 cusecs. The dams are to be filled up to a level of 1,680 ft and 1,390 ft respectively by September. — PTI
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Residents protest police inaction, lathicharged
Abohar, August 12 The protesters alleged the police failed to take any action against the accused in the road mishap. Gian Chand (40) and Devi Lal (35) of Choohriwala Dhanna village died when their motorcycle was hit by a speeding vehicle on July 2. Bhanwer Lal, a protester, said the relatives of the victims had nabbed the driver and cleaner of a trailer from Phalaudi (Rajasthan) that hit the motorcycle. However, he said the duo soon escaped from police custody. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jagdish Bishnoi said the persons nabbed by the relatives of the deceased were released since they
were not involved in the mishap. He said the police would try to identify the real culprits. Some of the protesters said that the police had failed to solve many accident cases.
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Despite ban, schools allow sale of junk food
Muktsar, August 12
The DGSE had stated that no shop or canteen should be allowed to sell junk food at government schools and nearby. The schools were also directed to instruct students of classes VIIII to XII to bring food from home. Further, the Health Department has been told to regularly check the quality of food items available at the school canteen and shops located near the schools. The school heads have also been told to hold seminars on health. However, a visit to some government schools today revealed that junk food was still available on school premises and students were found consuming it. School authorities said they were yet to receive any such order. A copy of the order has been already uploaded on the official website of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Health Department officials too said they were yet to get the instructions. Speaking over the phone, Avtar Singh Randhawa, Deputy State Project Director, SSA, said, “We have informed all the officials concerned to keep a check on the sale of junk food items at government schools and nearby. In case, the orders are not implemented, we will issue reminders.” Instructions issued * The DGSE had stated that no shop or canteen should be allowed to sell junk food at
government schools and nearby * The schools were also directed to instruct students of classes VIIII to XII to bring food from home *
The school heads have also been told to hold seminars on health
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Arrested teacher’s wife threatens to move HC
Malerkotla, August 12 The police say Markan, who is a teacher in Government High School, Matoi village, was nabbed with 19 bottles of Rexcof at a naka. — TNS
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UGC chairman to address universities on Aug 14
Chandigarh, August 12 The programme is being organised as part of the commemoration of the completion of sixty years of the UGC. The national web address to will be transmitted nationwide. — TNS
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Fazilka hospital gets CT scan machine
Fazilka, August 12 Dr Davinder Kumar Bhukal, Senior Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Fazilka, said Radiologist Dr Bhupinder Singh conducted the maiden CT scan on Krishna of local Radha Swami Colony.
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15 hurt as van rams into truck in Bathinda
Bathinda,August 12 Sources said a van belonging to owners of a spinning mill in Jiwan Singhwala village, was ferrying workers to Bathinda. In a bid to save a motorcyclist, van driver swerved the vehicle and hit a truck. The victims were rushed to Bathinda Civil Hospital.— TNS
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PR official chargesheeted
Chandigarh, August 12 The matter is already in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The case is scheduled for resumed hearing on August 18. Sources said advertisements were released to the same newspapers from time to time earlier too. Duggal declined to comment. The advertisements pertained to the auction of contracts for the Kapurthala, Dhilwan, Bholath and Sultanpur Lodhi market committees.
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Successor authority cannot review appointments: HC
Chandigarh, August 12 Taking up the matter, the High Court also rapped the State of Punjab for choosing “a totally arbitrary manner” to dispense with her services. Setting aside the order, Justice Mahesh Grover also dubbed it as unsustainable in the eyes of law. The admonishment came on a petition by Amandeep Padda against the State of Punjab and other respondents. She had challenged order dated May 16, 2008, by which “the benefit of appointment on compassionate basis, initially conferred upon her in 2007”, was withdrawn and the appointment cancelled, resulting in her dismissal from service. Her father ASI Sukhpal Singh had died in harness in January 1987. Amandeep asked for appointment on compassionate grounds. Initially, the plea, submitted in 2001, was negated solely on the ground that the petitioner did not possess the requisite qualification of a graduate. The petitioner completed her post-graduation and acquired a diploma as well before resurfacing for appointment. But the plea was again rejected. The DGP, however, differed and the whole matter was appraised afresh before she was hired as a constable. But the benefit of appointment was annulled by the impugned order, resulting in her dismissal from service. The respondents, on the other hand, pleaded that the appointment was totally contrary to the provisions of law, as appointment on compassionate cases could only be granted to tide over extreme financial crisis by the family. But in the instant case, the death took place in 1987 and the petitioner had asked for appointment in 2005 after acquiring the qualification. She could not by any stretch of imagination plead financial stringency to be a reason for appointment. Justice Grover asserted: “The petitioner would be right in contending that once the competent authority had appointed her on compassionate grounds, the successor authority would have no cause to review the appointment and the only course available with the respondents would have been to fall back on the Punjab Police Rules…. The petition is allowed and petitioner is also held entitled to all benefits”.
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Plus 2 schooling from state must for admission in MBBS, says HC
Chandigarh, August 12 The ruling came on a petition filed by Shamly Jindal of Mansa district. In her petition against the State of Punjab and others respondents, she had claimed admission to a medical college under the 85 per cent reserved quote, as she was a Punjab resident. The petitioner contended that she was born in Punjab, though she did not reside in the State. As such, she was entitled to be treated as Punjab resident. She had also challenged the Punjab government notification issued on March 7 which made it clear that the candidate was required to be not merely a Punjab resident, but also a student who had passed plus 2 from an institute in Punjab. The state and the university contended that a Punjab resident could not be merely a person born in Punjab, as originally set forth in the policy issued by Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Personnel Policies II Branch) on June 6, 1996. The policy had been modified and the requirement to pass plus 2 from a recognised institution in Punjab was added. Taking up the matter, Justice Kannan asserted: “The notification prescribing the residential status in Punjab and also requiring a 10+2 is founded on a primacy of importance to local candidates, a practice adopted literally by every state government and what has found judicial approbation in the Supreme Court as well. “It is expected that a person who passes out of college also serves within the state where he or she studied... As parochial as it might seem, there have been regional aspirations from various states...” Dismissing the petition, Justice Kannan added: “Judicial interventions relating to policy are always minimal, but if a notification is pitched against a policy, so long as the notification itself does not violate the fabric of the policy but also adds an additional requirement which advances the state’s interest, I will not find that objection to the notification as so overwhelming to uphold the challenge…. The challenge to the notification cannot survive successfully
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2 minor girls gang-raped in Moga
Moga, August 12 Kamaljit Singh, Station House Officer (SHO) said, “We are trying to identify the accused, but it is difficult since the girl is differently-abled.” A case under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 has been registered and investigations are on. In another incident, a 15-year-old Dalit girl was kidnapped from her house and gang-raped by two youths on the intervening night of August 11 and August 12 at Madarpur village in Dharamkot sub-division of the district. The girl was allegedly kidnapped and sexually abused by Jasvir Singh alias Baggi of the same village and his friend Amarjit Singh of Daulewala village. A case has been registered. SHO Surjit Singh said the youths were still at large.
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Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today had a two-hour interaction with college and university students as part of his strategy to canvass for his wife and Congress candidate from Patiala (Urban) Preneet
Kaur. He also attended election meetings in the Sheran Wala Gate and Ragho Majra area.
Expelled AAP member and singer Balkar Sidhu’s mother Charanjit Kaur today stormed the press conference of party candidate Baljinder
Kaur, claiming that the AAP leadership cancelled ticket to her son on baseless charges.
The timely intervention of the police saved the situation from turning ugly as Balkar’s mother and her supporters started exchanging heated arguments with AAP volunteers.
