& V I C I N I T Y
Friday, August 7, 1998
|
C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
|
Friday, August 7, 1998 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
|
|
|
 |
  Enthusiastic girls buy "rakhis" for their brothers, to be tied on Saturday. Such stalls have come up all over Chandigarh, offering a wide array of "rakhis". |
|
Chhibber points out
uncertain growth
|
|||||
|
States told to be on maximum
alert CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Union Home Ministry has asked the states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, besides the union territory of Chandigarh to be on maximum alert during the current month. The ministry's assessment made after a clear input from the Intelligence Bureau, Raw, the local police and several other agencies of the state, is also based on the detailed interrogation reports of militants arrested from Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, besides Delhi. The Union Home Secretary, Mr B.P. Singh is scheduled to meet senior police officers and others here tomorrow. Senior police officers from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are rushing to Chandigarh for this meeting. The idea of the meeting is to brief these officers about the threat perception. Tomorrow's meeting has been specially convened to coordinate the working of the police of Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir. The police in Punjab is on maximum alert as is the case now in Haryana, where the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal has been having detailed discussions with the police officers. Even today he told them to be on alert to foil any untoward incident. The Punjab Director-General of Police, Mr P.C. Dogra told TNS that he had visited all range headquarters and made the officers aware of the situation. Tomorrow he is meeting all senior officers and district police chiefs. "We have very reliable, but disturbing information that the militants would attempt to strike either before independence day or on that day. So we are taking no chances. These are not the home grown militants, but those trained outside the country", he said. As part of the evidence he quoted the interrogation reports of several militants and even some human rights activists arrested by the police. Mr Dogra said that the militants from Jammu and Kashmir and the remnants from Punjab were working in tandem. He said his information was that the blast in a Haryana Roadways bus in Delhi some days back was the handiwork of the KCF Panjwar group and J and K militants. Asked about the criticism of the police by a section of public, including some senior human rights leaders, that the police was spreading scare in order to enjoy unbridled powers, Mr Dogra said: " This is just not true. No one is more interested in peace than the police. Look at the total number of recoveries we have made in just one year. Can we plant all this. Can we create people to admit all the crimes and jail breaks?" Mr Dogra said since August last year the police seized 2.68 quintal of RDX and PTN. In addition, 73 assault rifles and mousers were recovered. The police also recovered 60 rockets and 75 powerful hand grenades during this period. Over 440 revolvers and pistols were also seized from all over the state. Mr Dogra said that 73
militants, their harbourers and carriers of arms and
contraband who were arrested during this period tell
their own tale. |
Letters fished out from ditch CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — A bundle of letters — all addressed to senior officers of the Air Force Station here — would have been destroyed had it not been noticed by a former Air Force officer. Flt-Lieut Sudarshan Sehgal (retd) was on his way to home from the Air Force station this afternoon when he saw a postman hurling a bundle of letters into a ditch separating Sectors 47 and 31 here. He stopped his scooter. Picked up the bundle of letters from the ditch and shouted for the postman to stop. As he looked back he found that his scooter had been hit by a minor driving a two-wheeler. Before he could collect himself to shout again, the postman had managed to escape leaving behind the bundle of letters. "This happened at about 4 p.m. I did not open the bundle. In fact, the postman was little ahead of me as he also came out of the Air Force station," says Lieutenant Sehgal. The letters carry the delivery date of August 3 and 6 with a post marking of Aerodrome Chandigarh. Many letters in the bundle contained bills. A couple of letters contained rakhis. There are other personal letters, too. Most of the letters were to be delivered in the Brar Enclave of the Air Force station. Lieutenant Sehgal said he picked up the bundle, but was not sure what to do with it. The letters are in the possession of The Tribune. Attempts by The Tribune to get in touch with authorities concerned proved abortive as the Sector 47 post office was closed. A top functionary of another post office, on the condition of anonymity, maintained that because of "rakhi and admission season", there has been a heavy rush of mail. In the absence of adequate strength of postmen, the load had increased manifold. And under pressure of work, such stray incidents cannot be ruled out. Though the quantum of mail has grown manifold, there has been little or no fresh recruitment of postmen for a long time. Another employee of the
post office said even working environment was not ideal.
The post office was so crowded that postmen do not get
enough space even to sort out letters. The space was
shrinking while the workload was increasing day by day,
he complained. |
Chhibber points out uncertain
growth CHANDIGARH, Aug 7 — At present Chandigarh is passing through a period of uncertain growth and development, the Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen BKN Chhibber (retd) said here yesterday. Inaugurating a two-day seminar on "Chandigarh and Environs; Future Planning", organised by the Chandigarh Administration as a prelude to the 'International Conference', which the society of 'Chandigarh Perspectives' proposes to hold in January, 1999, to celebrate Chandigarh, the 50 years of the idea, he said that the population pressure on the city had led to numerous problems, viz slums and squatters settlements, traffic and transportation, unauthorised construction, unplanned growth and development of villages particularly those falling within the planned sectors, pressure on infrastructure and haphazard growth in the periphery. In his key note address, Mr Jagdish Sagar, Adviser to the Administrator, the city did not look like the square as designed by Le Corbusier any longer. The Adviser said the standard of development had to be qualitatively maintained in the city for which periphery development was an issue of great significance. He stressed that it was time to think and plan about growth of Chandigarh as an urban conglomeration with the cooperation of states of Punjab and Haryana. Dr G. Vajralingam, Finance Secretary, in his introductory remarks, said for the two-day seminar, eminent experts from the fields of urban growth and town planning from all over the country would make deliberations in the five technical sessions. Mr S.K. Midha, Chief
Architect and Secretary Urban Planning, proposed a vote
of thanks. |
No opening of tenders till
Monday: HC CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today foiled an attempt of the Chandigarh Administration to allot the work about the construction of 'E' and 'F' blocks of the Government Medical College and Hospital building in Sector 32 to certain contractors, to the exclusion of others. Mr Justice J. L. Gupta and Mr Justice N.C. Khichi, before whom a petition filed by eight contractors against the administration, came up for hearing directed that the tenders would not be opened until Monday. This order was handed down following a statement made by counsel of the administration. The petitioner-contractors, Gautam Builders, Abhinandan Construction, Sandeep and Company, Ram Lal Garg and Company, Surindera Builders, Mounton Fabricators and Engineers, Forward Builders and Hans Raj Kohli and Company, stated that the procedure adopted by the administration was that it used to invite sealed tenders from 'A' class contractors. The tenders were accompanied by earnest money. Conditional tenders or tenders without the earnest money were rejected. The contractors brought to the court's notice that until now there had never been any clause in the tender notice which could restrain any "A" class contractor from participating in the tender floated by the administration. This led to healthy competition among contractors. They stated that this time the administration adopted a bizarre procedure. It invited "pre-qualification bid" from the contractors. According to this condition each of the contractors ought to have executed two works of similar nature and having magnitude of Rs 1.05 crore for any government or semi-government. Council for the petitioners pleaded with the court that such conditions were alien to tender notices earlier issued by the administration. Moreover, the administration was following the Punjab PWD instructions. These instructions also do not have any such conditions. Counsel for the administration vehemently argued with the court that some of the petitioners had been allotted other works for which they were qualified. During his prolonged arguments with the Bench, he tried to justify the administration's action. However, when Mr Justice J.L. Gupta asked counsel whether he was satisfied with the procedure adopted by the administration, counsel replied: "This is an embarrassing question, my Lord." The Bench adjourned the
case to Monday because counsel for the administration was
to seek instructions from the Secretary of the
Engineering Department for further action in the matter. |
Nuclear status jeered CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — There is nothing for both Pakistan and India to feel elated over their newly acquired nuclear status as it was not a solution to the basic problems being faced by both the neighbouring countries. Stating this at a seminar "Lessons of Hiroshima and Today's Political Situation" organised by the Chetna Manch, Chandigarh, at Kisan Bhavan in Sector 35 here today, the CPM leader Mangat Ram Pasla said the act of exploding nuclear tests by India and Pakistan was an effort to divert the attention of the people from hunger and poverty. Describing the nuclear explosion as a crime against humanity, Mr Pasla said no meaningful purpose could be served by devising or using weapons of mass destruction. "In case of a war between the two countries, none, but the people of these countries will be the victims", he added. Lashing out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party combine, Mr Pasla said these parties were sowing the seeds of fundamentalism by organising pooja of the Pokhran bomb explosion sites. By indulging in such acts the BJP was strengthening the capitalist forces led by the USA. Prof Harkrishan Mehta said instead of using nuclear power for mass destruction, we should resolve to use it for peaceful purposes like producing electricity. To protest against the recent nuclear tests and inflation, the Association for Democratic Rights, Punjab, staged a rally here. Addressing the gathering,
the association state committee member, Dr Dharamveer
Gandhi said the tests have created fear psychosis amongst
the people of both Pakistan and India as they feel that
war was inevitable in the prevailing circumstances. |
Kickback case: SC
grants interim bail to SE CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Supreme Court today granted ad interim bail to Mr K.B. Sharma, Superintending Engineer with the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, whom the administration planned to arrest in connection with the investigation of the kickbacks case registered against certain engineers of the Administration. According to Mr Sharma, this order was handed down by Mr Justice K.T. Thomas and Mr Justice Syed Shah Mohammad Kuadri on a special leave petition he had filed against the Punjab and Haryana High Court judgement. He said the order of the Bench was: "Taken on board. Issued notice (to the administration) returning on August 17, 1998. Arrest will remain stayed till August 17." The Supreme Court also
stayed the operation of the high court judgement handed
down by Mr Justice S.C. Malte. The judge had rejected his
prayer for the grant of anticipatory bail. He was granted
ad interim bail by Mr Justice B. Rai of the high court.
Later the case was transferred to Mr Justice Malte who
declined to confirm the bail. |
HC admits plea on disability
pension CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — Brig Santokh Singh (retd) has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the action of the Defence Ministry in rejecting his disability element of pension claim on the ground that the disability was neither attributable nor aggravated by military service. A Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice Arun B. Saharaya and Mr Justice H.S. Bedi admitted the writ petition. Counsel for the petitioner submitted before the Bench that the petitioner was commissioned on December 12, 1961, after having been found medically fit in all respects. He was promoted to the rank of Captain, Major, Lt-Colonel, Colonel and then Brigadier from 1964 to 1985. The petitioner served to the satisfaction of the military authorities wherever posted. Besides he actively participated in many operations during the Indo-Pak wars. The petitioner while posted at a high altitude field area suffered heart disease on April 10, 1986 and was immediately shifted to the Air Force Hospital at Hasimara. The authorities declared that the petitioner suffered the attack while on active duty and had undergone physical, mental and emotional strain of exceptional nature as per the 14 days charter of duty. Hence the disability was attributable to military service, which was later confirmed by the DGMS (A). The petitioner on discharge on superannuation was found to be in the medical category-P 2 with 40 p.c. disability and the medical board held the disease as attributable to military service, but the Defence Ministry rejected the claim of the petitioner wholly on erroneous grounds. Counsel for the Union of
India accepted the notices with the direction to file a
reply. |
LLB entrance test results out CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — Panjab University has declared the results of entrance examinations to LLB (three-year) and postgraduate diploma in computer applications being offered at the Regional Centre, Muktsar, an official press note said here today. Candidates could make
inquiries about the results from the enquiry counter at
the Gymnasium hall on the campus on all working days. |
Another IAS officer recalled by
Centre CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Home ministry has ordered the recall of Mrs Asha Nayyar, an IAS officer of the UT cadre, who had been on deputation with Administration. Mrs Nayyar was the Chief Executive Officer, Chandigarh Housing Board, and had gone for training. She becomes the fourth UT cadre IAS officer to be recalled from the Chandigarh Administration. Earlier three officers — Mr Amar Nath, Mr Sanjiv Khirwar and Ms Rinku Dugga — were transferred out. While Mr Amar Nath has gone to Pondicherry, Mr Khirwar and Ms Dugga have been transferred to Goa. Mrs Asha Nayyar is going back to the Capital. The Home ministry has not
named any substitutes for the four officers. |
Rajput's bail plea rejected CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Lamba, today rejected the bail plea of D.S. Rajput, a local lawyer. Rajput was arrested by the Chandigarh Police in connection with the Burail jail blow-up conspiracy case. Rajput had in his application stated that his name did not figure in the FIR. He had disclaimed knowledge about the allegations levelled against him in the FIR. He further told the court that the prosecution did not recover any incriminating material from his possession. He also denied having made any statement before the police during his interrogation. Rajput charged the police that he had been falsely implicated in the case as he was contesting cases against senior officers of the Punjab Police. The stand of the prosecution, on the other hand, was that two mobile phones smuggled in to the jail in September, 1997, and February, 1998, were smuggled through him. The prosecution told the
court that he used to talk to Jagtar Singh Hawara through
these phones. Demand on UT status 'under
review' CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Central Government is considering the demand of grant of Class A city status to Chandigarh, according to a statement by the National Organisation of Government Employees (NOGE). Mr Sudama Ram Mamgain, president of the organisation, said he had received a communiqué to this effect from the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani. The restoration of the
post of the Chief Commissioner for the city had also been
raised with the Home Ministry. |
Nature conservation week CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Western Command headquarters will observe an environment and nature conservation week from August 8 to create awareness about the importance of plants and trees in maintaining the ecological balance. Various formations and units under the command located in different military sectors and cantonments will also hold mass sapling plantation programmes. The activities planned include saplings plantation by school children, all ranks of men and their families, lectures by experts in the field of eco-conservation, besides seminars and workshops for the benefit of those living in military stations. The week-long programme
will conclude on August 13 with a Vanamahotsava . |
SAD to boycott MC functions CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The local unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal has decided to boycott all functions being organised by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to commemorate the Golden jubilee of Independence in protest against the failure of the civic body to accept any of its demands. Mr N.S. Minhas, Secretary
of the party unit, said the Mayor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta,
had promised to introduce Punjabi as an official
language. No room had been provided to the Deputy Mayor,
Ms Harjinder Kaur, who belongs to the SAD. Even
invitations for all functions had been printed in Hindi
and English while Punjabi had been ignored totally. |
17 seats vacant in B.Ed CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — All except 17 seats in the UT pool have been filled in Government College of Education in the ongoing admissions for the Bachelor of Education course. In a press note it was pointed that 17 seats were vacant for combination of any two subjects (at the graduation level) out of home science, music, fine arts, Hindi and social studies. All other seats in the UT and general pool have been filled. In Dev Samaj College of
Education, a total of seven seats are vacant in the
general pool in music. There are 38 seats vacant in the
UT pool (home science-12; music-14; commerce-6; and Hindi
and social sciences-6). |
Rally on road safety today CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — A mass rally of school children will be organised here tomorrow to mark road safety celebrations on behalf of the Ministry of Surface and Transport through the Central Board of Secondary Education. Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, has been chosen as the nodal point to coordinate all activities, a press note said here today. Six different starting points have been fixed where students of different schools will assemble and march towards the Parade Ground. As many as 2,500 students are likely to take part. A poster-making contest
will be organised in Shivalik Public School on August 13. |
Inauguration today of Lok Adalat CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The country's first-ever permanent Lok Adalat will be formally inaugurated at the Sector 17 district courts complex tomorrow. The Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Justice Arun B. Saharya, will inaugurate the Lok Adalat. Mr Justice K.K. Srivastava
will preside. |
Ban orders in UT CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The District Magistrate of Chandigarh, Mr R.K. Rao, has promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr P.C. The orders, which became effective from August 7, taking out of processions, making speeches or raising slogans, assembly of five or more persons and carrying of lathis in the sectors falling on the north of Madhya Marg — Sectors 1 to 12 and 26. The ban will be in force
for 60 days. |
Strike by teachers hampers
education CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — Strikes by teachers during times of delayed academic sessions and crumbling examination system have cast a shadow on the prevailing conditions in the education system. Private colleges have been more severely affected during 90s. This fact is acknowledged by even the die-hard union leaders. Although there have been very few "complete day strikes" in the past one year but it a known fact that on days of one or two period strike, the entire routine of students is upset. In fact a cross-section of principals while talking to TNS said that "one period strikes are more dangerous than complete strikes. "It is one of the strategies that teachers have developed against no-work no-pay orders", a principal said on a note of anonymity. "In this way they are able to mark themselves present and yet abstain from teaching." Sanjay Kumar, a student of Panjab University, said while colleges charged fees for the whole year, classes were not held for more than three months. Should not the colleges and universities refund the amount of fee when teachers are on strike?, he asked. Dharnas and strikes for payment of gratuity and for pension scheme in non-government aided colleges has become a routine feature over the past one year. The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union sat on dharna on June 11 last year, demanding implementation of the pension scheme. Teachers wore black badges from August 4 to 9, 1997, all over Punjab and Chandigarh. In 1998, one or two period cease-work was observed on January 12 and 22 and February 6, 13 and 19. Now the clouds of indefinite strike at the national level loom large from August 11 onwards. By an easy estimate, at least 24 days are dotted with protest of one kind or the other since June last. A principal went to the extent of saying that the unions were tools of collective bargaining. By taking to streets on every small issue, unions seem to have lost their impact. Mr P.S. Sangha, principal of Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, said it was becoming extremely difficult to complete 180 teaching days as required by the UGC. Principal A.C. Vaid said that it was almost unpractical. Principal Sangha in a communication to Panjab University had mentioned that there were approximately 240 valid holidays. And only the remaining days could be utilised for teaching. A principal said one should also subtract the number of casual leaves and earned leaves that a teacher avails. The number of working days rarely exceed 120, which is approximate two months less than the required. Prof Charanjit Chawla, a former general secretary of PCCTU, says they were not happy agitating but the government left them with no option. The pension and gratuity scheme has been hanging fire for the past six years. Now comes the problem of lower pay scales. An independent observer, however, points out that even if a teacher took about 200 lectures in a year, still one lecture would cost nearly Rs 1000. Dr Satya P. Gautam who
takes over as president of the Panjab University
Teachers' Association, said he did not think there was a
way out from strikes. However, individually speaking I
would recommend teachers going to classes with their
mouths covered. May be, students also may join teachers
cause," he added. |
Campus beat CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The display of merit lists for Centralised Admissions in departments of Social Sciences in Panjab University was a smooth affair here today. The Centralised Admission Cell seems to have streamlined all shortcomings of July 28 when the admissions had to be postponed. A guide sheet for students underlining procedures to approach the merit list was displayed. This was supplemented by research scholars who acted as volunteers to help students. Separate lists were displayed in each department, giving details of aggregate marks and the standing of all eligible candidates. A local complaint cell was set up in each department. There was also a central complaint cell with Prof B.S. Brar as convener. Sources said the total number of complaints received today was negligent. At least three different categories of lists were prepared. One displayed the aggregate marks of the candidates in the department where he applied according to the merit. A separate list was displayed for the reserved categories. The lists have been prepared under categories A and B. Students who studied a subject at the undergraduate level and applied for the same at the postgraduate level figure in list A. Students will be required to deposit the fees tomorrow and on August 8. Admissions for students on the waiting list will be held on August 11. The final counselling will be held on August 20. PUTA elections: Campaigning is on for the elections to posts of vice-president, secretary and joint secretary of the Panjab University Teachers' Association. There are two contestants each for the three posts. Dr K.P. Singh (Physics) and Prof Surinder Sekhon (DCS) are in the race for the post of vice-president. Dr Navdeep Goyal (physics) and Dr M. Rajivlochan (history) are the candidates for the post of secretary. For the post of joint secretary, Dr Harjinder Singh (chemistry) and Dr Tankeshwar Kumar (physics) are in the fray. Dr S.P. Gautam (philosophy) and Dr P.D. Sharma (pharmaceutical science) have already emerged as consensus candidates for the posts of president and treasurer, respectively. As many as 12 teachers are in the field for three seats of executive members while two have been elected unopposed. Dharna: The campus unit of the NSUI staged a ‘dharna’ for the second day in succession in Panjab University on Thursday. Students are demanding re-examination in four papers of different courses, including B.Sc and M.Sc (Sociology). Tomorrow onwards a group of five boys and five girls, each, will sit on a one-day fast till the demands are accepted, Harmohinder Lucky, president of the local unit said. Seminar: A three-day national seminar-cum-field meeting on "mega events from Blani to Tal" being organised by Department of Geology, PU, gets underway from Friday onwards. Mr S.V. Srikantia, renowned geologist and secretary of the Geological Society of India, Mr S.S. Kanwar, Deputy Director-General of the Geological Survey of India; and Prof S.B. Bhatia, a former CSIR scientist, will be the guest of honour. Demand: Parents of students of bachelor of business administration and bachelor of computer application courses in private institutions affiliated to Punjab Technical University have demanded that the fee structure should be rationalised. In a letter written to the Vice-Chancellor, parents have cited the fee structure of Panjab University. While PU is charging Rs 7,000 for BBA and Rs 12,000 for BCA, the corresponding figures in PTU are as high as Rs 25,000 and 35,000, respectively. Parents have sought the
government's intervention in this matter. |
Crime file CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — Raj Kumar, a resident of Burail village, in a complaint with the police alleged that a gold chain and a pair of ear- rings have been stolen from his residence last night. A case has been registered. Purse stolen: Mr Dhamanti, a coach working in Sector 42 stadium, in a complaint with the police alleged that his purse containing Rs 4,500 had been stolen. A case has been registered. Music system stolen: Mr Ashok Ahuja, a shopkeeper of the Sector 22 market, alleged that his music system and Rs 940 had been stolen. A case has been
registered. |
Cultural scene CHANDIGARH: The euphoria over Pokhran-II is yet to die out. Protests against proliferation of nuclear weapons have already gained momentum in the country. Today morning to mark Hiroshima Day the CEVA Repertory presented a Punjabi play 'Desh di Surakhya ton Saanu Khatra Hai'. Gursharan Singh performed 'Ek Maa, Ek Bomb'. Both the plays were done near the Sector 17 bridge market. CEVA's 'Desh di Surakhya ton Saanu Kahtra Hai' questioned the meaning of being a nuclear state for the sake of world peace. Directed by G.S. Channi, 'Desh di Surakhya ton..." was replete with the exact slogans and mottos that screamed "Boo" to the Pokhran tests and ridiculed supporters of India going nuclear. The chanting of slogans like "Vote for Pokhran", "Hum Hindi Hai" and dialogues that pronounced our 'reverent' Home Minister and Prime Minister as "Asli Mard", were direct digs at our holy hang-up of being peace loving. "Sant Bill Clinton" definitely had a role to play, as he was termed as the inevitable "Lambardar of the third world". Gursharan Singh's ‘Ek Maa, Ek Bomb', based on Saint John Irwin's play, "Progress", talked about the fixation of a scientist, Henry, to create a "big" bomb. However, his sister, Jane, whose 19-year-old son dies in a war, abhors the notion of an armed conflict. Both the plays will be
staged on Friday at 6 p.m. in front of Neelam cinema. |
 |
 |
 |
| Nation
| Punjab | Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | | Editorial | | Business | Stocks | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
