& V I C I N I T Y
Thursday, August 27, 1998
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C H A N D I G A R H & V I C I N I T Y |
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Thursday, August 27, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Residents prevent
demolition |
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 Delay in results worries
students |
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Voter
I-cards in garbage heap |
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Residents prevent demolition CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Residents of sectors 7, 8 and 9, cutting across religious lines did not allow the anti-encroachment staff of the Administration to demolish an annexe housing an allopathic dispensary and a physiotherapy unit being run on a charitable basis by the Sector 8 gurdwara management on the gurdwara premises here today. Besides residents, who reached in large numbers after the news about the arrival of the demolition spread, a majority of the shopkeepers in these sectors also put down their shutters to register their protest. People could be seen rebuking the officers accompanying the staff and raising slogans against a former member who they alleged was behind the episode. Mr Fateh Singh Chugh, president of the gurdwara management committee, alleged that the issue had been complicated by a former member, Mr B.S. Wasu, who had been "expelled" four years ago. He had been nursing a "grudge" and had taken the issue of the land on which the dispensary had been built to the court, he added. Other members said that the gurdwara was built on the land of Kaliwadh village, which was acquired for the capital project, and in the absence of proper records it was not possible to know how much land was with the gurdwara. The dispensary was built on the land of the gurdwara and attempts to demolish it would be resisted by the people of the area. No individual would be allowed to interfere in the affairs of the community and the management, they said. Even as the staff waited for orders to demolish, a deputation of the management and some senior citizens called on the Chief Administrator and appraised him of the whole situation. Since an appeal on the matter is pending before the CA, he granted a stay till the pendency of a decision, he added. The people dispersed only
after the demolition staff left at about 2 p.m. following
which the shopkeepers also opened their shops. |
Tele-housing scheme fails to take off CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Even after over a year of its launch the much-publicised "unique" interactive voice response system (IVRS) scheme of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) seems to be a non-starter. The computerised scheme, popularly called "tele-housing" and introduced with a view to providing answers to the inquiries made by applicants and allottees on the telephone round the clock, has failed to take off in the absence of any follow-up action on the part of the CHB authorities. This is despite the fact that the CHB had spent a substantial amount on the installation of a computer and a separate telephone line for entertaining inquiries from the public. Under the scheme the information regarding the location of a project like its distance from the bus stand, railway station and airport, the total payment received from the allottee, the balance payment due from him and other related queries were to be answered through the telephone. The caller was also to be guided on how to proceed with various formalities before and after the allotment of flats. It may be recalled that the scheme was launched with a fanfare by the UT Administrator, Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), on August 15 last year as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of Independence. As the first step the 504 MIG flats scheme at Kajheri was put on the IVRS. The chairperson of the CHB, Ms Meenakshi Datta Ghosh, had then claimed that no calls by applicants and allottees would go unanswered. She had claimed that more housing schemes were to be added to it. Enquiries by this correspondent revealed that the scheme was "impracticable" from the very beginning. As the two main branches of the board — accounts branch and development branch — were not computerised, the idea of the computerised response system was not rooted in reality and was far-fetched, sources told TNS. The sources said data was fed into the computer after being compiled manually only once in August last year. Since then no effort seems to have been made to reactivate the system, the sources added. Repeated efforts to get through to the IVRS telephone number proved futile . Not only this, the main enquiry counter of the CHB was oblivious of the existence of the scheme. Ms Ghosh could not be
contacted for comments despite repeated efforts. |
Delay in results worries
students CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 —Hundreds of students of various postgraduate courses of Panjab University await their results nearly four months after the completion of examinations in April. There is a growing unrest and anxiety among students while the examination branch claims that the process of compiling the results has been nearly completed. In a letter signed by 17 students of the Punjabi Department the delay has been lamented. Students have pointed out that MA II classes started on July 27 and old students were allowed to continue on the provisional basis. The fate of aspirants from outside Panjab University, who have applied for admission in second year of various courses, continues to hang in the balance till the results are declared. While the university has declared the results of few MA courses where the number of students is less, none of the results of classes with greater number of students has been declared. The delay in the declaration of results comes as a deterrent to students who wish to apply for the M.Phil courses in other universities. As the results are late the process of re- evaluation for these classes will be delayed further. There is every chance that these students will not be able to appear for the supplementary examinations in September. Sources in the examination branch point out that the delay occurred due to the late receipt of answer sheets from examiners in many papers. The Answer sheets in certain papers are sent to places as far as Hyderabad and Kerela by post. For examiners in the neighbouring areas the answer sheets are sent by hand. The examiners are expected to send back the answer sheets within three weeks, although the university does not fix a deadline It is found in more than one case that the process is delayed which in turn affects the whole process. A senior university official said that till 1995 the practice of on-the- spot evaluation was followed. The answer sheets used to be checked at a common place in the departments concerned. This saved a lot of time. The practice was discontinued after 10 years during the previous Vice-Chancellor's tenure after there were allegations of favouritism in certain cases. Mr A.K. Bhandari, Joint Controller of Examinations, said the results would start flowing in from tomorrow onwards. All the results were likely to be declared by the first week of September. The results of MA I (economics ) are likely to be declared tomorrow. The results of MA II
(economics), MA II (history) and MA I (political science)
are likely to be declared by August 28, while the results
of MA II (political science) are expected by August 29. |
Voter I-cards in garbage heap Chandigarh, Aug 26 — The voter identity card of Maharaj Singh, (50), a resident of 138, Urban Estate, Phase I, Jalandhar, has not reached him. He can, however, collect it from a garbage dump in Sector 34-C, Chandigarh. Similarly, Santosh Kumari of 229, ward 33, Patiala, who sent her card for a correction has not received her document. This is not a sarcastic comment. A team of the Tribune is in possession of a more than 100 voter identity cards that were found in a garbage bin near the Sector 34 gurdwara this evening. Most of the cards are of residents living in the Jalandhar South and Jalandhar Central parliamentary constituencies. Some of the cards are from the Patiala constituency. Several of these cards had come for effecting corrections and slips indicating the relevant rectifications have been stapled with the cards. Paper slips in bundles of cards have been put to indicate the batch and file numbers. How these I-cards reached the garbage bin is still a mystery. Even if duplicate cards have had been issued, the old ones in the garbage bin are like an invitation for impersonation by unscrupulous elements. The I-cards were found this evening by Col. D.R. Nijhawan (retd), who is also president of the Sectors House Owners Welfare Association. It was by chance that he noticed the cards lying in the garbage outside the bin and collected them. He said the claims about the secrecy of the whole process of I-card making has been exposed. Colonel Nijhawan demanded
the matter should be investigated and the lapse on the
part of the authorities engaged in making the cards
identified. Even if the cards turned out to be cancelled
ones or had some flaws, there should have been a proper
procedure to destroy them,he added. |
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Making common cause with teachers CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — He throughout his life, has been a courageous fighter, in different roles, that of a freedom-fighter, a teacher, and a veteran sports lover. Unlike other of his age even at 72, Mr K.K. Bhanot, a resident of Jalandhar, is still a man imbued with a cause, this time not for his personal advancement, but for thousands of teachers, thrown out of job by the Punjab Government, after court ruling that recruitment of teachers was made, than the more number of vacancies advertised by the Education Department, Punjab. For lending moral support to the teachers struggling under the aegis of the Punjab Nav Niyukat Adhiyapak Union, Mr Bhanot, who himself has been a teacher, has joined them by courting arrest during a rally by teachers at the local Housing Board Chowk on July 22. Not only this, he intends to go a step further and lead a jatha of 101 old men, for courting arrest in the support of the teachers' demand regarding reinstatement without further delay, as their services were terminated after they had put in two to four years' service. Talking to The Tribune,
the veteran sportsperson said that if the government did
not relent after his arrest, he along with his
"jatha" would go on indefinite strike, as he
felt that the teachers were subjected to rude treatment.
"Imagine the plight of a person, who had joined the
profession, after quitting his or her job, just because,
they wanted to be a part of the noble profession,"
thundered an angry Bhanot, whose voice, does not falter
even in the evening of his life, and in whom one could
see a freedom fighter, who once had participated in the
"Quit India Movement" launched by Mahatma
Gandhi, and even claimed to have been arrested in 1942 at
Kartarpur in Jalandhar district, for participation in the
movement, he was imprisoned for one year at Yol Camp in
Himachal Pradesh. |
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Need for extra security steps
PANCHKULA: The growing incidence of burglaries and robberies has proved that bolts and locks are no longer enough for complete protection against attacks by intruders. Residents realise that they cannot depend upon the police alone and must supplement an "incredible police" by hiring private watchmen for their own satisfaction. A majority of those interviewed by The Tribune feel that there is an urgent need to look beyond the police for their own security. Although the affluent people can afford to get highly sophisticated gadgets fitted, what happens to a poor or middle class family which struggles hard to make both ends meet. And do such high-security gadgets to ensure immunity against attacks by intruders? No, these devices, too, can be jammed or made redundant by clever burglars, says a retired police officer. He feels that nothing can replace effective policing. Until the electronic security systems came to India, people could only think of keeping dogs as an additional security measure. Mr Anil Sharma, an electronics security consultant, says that the advanced electronic security system has the in-built intelligence to discriminate between the house-owner and the intruder. The microprocessor based system provides foolproof protection to houses, offices, godowns and factories against theft, fire, pilferage and espionage. The control panel pinpoints the exact location of violation, he adds. A resident, who is awaiting installation of the system in his house, says: "Modern architecture does not make the houses impregnable. Since it is not difficult for an intruder to remove the grills fixed with screws, an alarm system is essential." But not many people can afford to install a system which costs about Rs 30,000. A couple who intalled the system in their house in 1995 say the neighbours never respond to the hooter. "It only alerts us and our servants." Others are in favour of keeping dogs. They are also aware that even dogs can be poisoned by thieves and burglars. Dr Vasheesh Chander, a veterinary surgeon, does not agree with this. He says: "A well-trained dog will refuse a piece of meat offered by a stranger." A well-trained dog can
outdo a guard or a security system in preventing crime.
He recommends dogs of some good breeds for the purpose. |
Campus
Beat CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Members of the Students Organisation of Panjab University at a press conference here today demanded arrest of those named in the FIR of the shoot- out incident at the campus on August 21. Addressing mediapersons, Akhil Kumar Goyal, general secretary of the organisation said while Mr Kuljit Nagra, allegedly involved in the shooting incident had been arrested other three, including the outgoing president of the Panjab University Campus Students Council Sartaj Gill and Sudhir Kamboj, were still moving around freely. Akhil Goyal said there was no point in having an independent inquiry from university authorities. "A case has been registered. Let the judiciary decide whether those named in the FIR were guilty or not ", he added. Members of the organisation have also met the UT Home Secretary, the IGP and the SSP in this regard . Mr Azadpreet Singh, a supporter, said no security had been provided to SOPU members "despite potential threat to their lives" . Meanwhile, Mr Harmohinder Lucky, president of the local unit of the NSUI, said they would be forced to launch an agitation in case its supporters were arrested. He reiterated his demand of a "fair and fresh FIR where all culprits would be booked". Protest rally: A rally will be organised by the Panjab University Teachers Union at Gandhi Bhawan on Thursday in support of their demand for higher pay scales. Dr M. Rajivlochan, secretary of the union, said the rally would also be attended by members of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union and the Government College Teachers Union. A delegation of teachers led by Dr S.P. Gautam, PUTA president, has also met the local MP in this regard. The delegation submitted a representation to the Punjab Government asking them to take necessary steps. MA I results: Results of MA I examination (political science) conducted by Panjab University in April this year will be declared on Thursday, according to a press note issued on Wednesday. The copies of the result
gazette will be available at the Panjab University
gymnasium hall |
Crime
File CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — A partner in a famous cinema house in Amritsar and his family members have been booked by the local police for allegedly harassing his wife. A case under sections 406 and 498-A of the IPC was registered today on the complaint of Mrs Harniv Sandhu nee Dhillon, a local resident who was married to Mr Sandeep Singh Sandhu, alias Bawa , in January 1995. The girl and her parents complained to the police that she was being harassed and mentally tortured. She has been living in Mani Majra in a flat owned by her husband, for the past six months with her two and half year old child, while her husband is in Amritsar. She said she had moved to Mani Majra from Amritsar as her husband asked her to do so. In her complaint she has also named, Mrs Devinder Kaur, her mother-in-law, Mr Randeep Singh Sandhu, alias Rana, brother-in-law and Mrs Navdeep Sibia, her married sister-in-law. Police sources while confirming the FIR said that the woman had also alleged that her house in Mani Majra was intruded twice within the past three months by persons close to her husband’s family. Meanwhile in another case of harassment a case under Sections 406 and 498 of the IPC has been registered against Udham Singh of Sector 28. His wife, Ms Manju, has alleged that her husband had been demanding more dowry. Chain snatched: In a daring theft two persons snatched the gold chain worn by a nurse near the Sector 26 police lines on the night of Tuesday. The nurse, Ms Binny Kiran, is employed in the Police hospital in Sector 26 and lives in Phase XI, SAS Nagar. Arrested: A person selling liquor in an unauthorised manner from his home at Dadu Majra village was arrested by the police following raids on Tuesday. Forty pouches of country-made liquor were seized from the residence of Rakesh Kumar. Body found: The dead body of an unidentified 60-year-old man has been found at Mauli Jagran village. The body has been sent for post mortem examination. PANCHKULA Car Stolen: A car and a scooter have been stolen in two separate incidents in the township since last night. Mr Dheeraj Chhibber,of Sector 7, complained to the police that his Maruti car was stolen from in front of his house on the night of Tuesday. A Yamaha motor cycle was
stolen from Sector 5 here on Wednesday. |
HC show-cause notice to MC, MHO CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Taking suo-motu notice of the pathetic conditions prevailing in the city’s Sector 17, the Punjab and Haryana high Court issued notice to the Commissioner and Mayor of the Municipal Corporation and the Medical Health Officer U.T. to show cause why a news report published in The Tribune be not treated as writ petition in public interest. Realising the plight of those working in Sector 17, a Division Bench comprising the Ist Puisne Judge Mr Justice Amarjeet Chaudhary and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal treated the report as a writ petition and asked for an explanation from the authorities. The judges also called for the explanation from the Medical Health Officer and Municipal Corporation regarding the deterioration in the facilities provided in the business sector. The Tribune in a report headlined "Shopping centre a shambles", had highlighted the apathy of the Municipal Corporation to keep pace with the growing needs of the sector. It was also highlighted that the toilets in the said sector were not fit for use. Street lights were inadequate and pavement steps leading to the shops were badly damaged and broken . The proposal of the civic body to hand over sanitation work to a non-governmental organisation had been hanging fire for the past many months. Even the Mayor had
conceded that the proposed drive by the Corporation to
beautify and maintain the sector had been delayed despite
the fact that it wanted to develop this sector as a model
sector. |
No pay for striking college teachers CHANDIGARH,
Aug 26 — The Haryana Government has decided to
implement the principle of "no work, no pay" in
the case of college teachers who have been on strike
since August 11. Man
jailed for killing wife CHANDIGARH,
Aug 26 — The Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, today
convicted Sompal, a resident of Palsora village in Union
Territory, under Section 302, IPC. |
Truck with liquor pouches
impounded KASAULI, Aug
26 — In a major haul up, the Solan police today
impounded a truck no. (CH-01V 4625) and recovered more
than 5000 pouches of country made liquor being smuggled
being from Chandigarh. 7 bomb hoax calls in 10 days CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 —
Educational activities were disrupted in a yet another
city school today following a call that later turned out
to be hoax. A call was received in the Government Senior
Secondary School, Sector 40, saying that bomb had been
planted. |
PRTC men hold gate rally PATIALA, Aug
26 — The employees union of the PRTC, affiliated to
various trade unions, held a gate meeting outside the
head office of the PRTC here today. Order on articles of accused CHANDIGARH,
Aug 26 — The Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, today
directed the CBI to collect the articles of Balwant
Singh, one of the accused in the Beant Singh
assassination case, and deliver them to him. |
806.09 lakh HUDCO loan for HP CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) has sanctioned a loan of Rs 806.09 lakh to the Himachal Pradesh Housing Board for providing financial assistance to economically weaker sections of society for the construction of their houses under the Gandhi Kuteer Yojana. A press note issued here said today that the amount had been sanctioned for the fourth phase of the yojana and covered the districts of Kangra, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Chamba. Till now HUDCO had
sanctioned 146 projects worth Rs 261.05 crore to the
Himachal. The loan commitment for these projects was to
the tune of Rs 177.83 crore of which 128.87 crore had
been released. Land acquisition questioned CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Members of the Naujawan Sabha have questioned the logic of the administration in acquiring land on which houses had already been built at Hallo Majra village for building a CRPF complex. Mr Bachan Singh, president of the sabha, said thousands of people who had invested their hard earned money in small houses were being harassed and served with eviction notices while little had done to evict people who had encroached on prime government land. The administration was not
acquiring land of an influential person which was lying
vacant in the village, he alleged. Punjab, UT staff stage dharna CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Members of the Joint Action Committee of the Punjab and UT employees staged a dharna in Sector 17 in support of their demands here today. Their demands include
regularisation of daily wagers, grant of promotions after
four, nine and 14 years of service, considering the
employees transferred to the corporation from various
departments of the administration as being on deputation
and exempting DA, HRA and CCA allowances from income tax. |
Assault case: JEs threaten stir PANCHKULA, Aug 26 — The assault on a junior engineer (JE) of HUDA allegedly by security men at the local Gymkhana Club has taken a new turn with the HUDA Junior Engineers Welfare Association threatening to launch an agitation if the assailants are not brought to book. Mr R.P. Punia, JE had alleged that he had been assaulted when he had accompanied Mr S.K.Beniwal, SDO in HUDA, to the club for dinner. In a letter to the president of the club, who is also the Chief Administrator of HUDA, the association has expressed its anguish over his inability in taking action against the club staff involved in the incident. The association said if the management of the club did not take action against the erring staff by September 1, it would be forced to launch an agitation. Demanding dismissal of the
employee , Mr Sukhbir Singh, general secretary of the
association, has sought lodging of a complaint on behalf
of the club. The association has demanded a compensation
of Rs 5 lakh for Mr Punia. Villagers attend open darbar PANCHKULA, Aug 26 — Residents of Khoi, Bhgarani, Kajiana, Dhatogdi, Mallah, Toran, Ganeshpur, Ghardi and Patan villages listed their grievances at an open darbar organised by the district administration at Jalauli village in Pinjore block near here today. The Mallah Panchayat sought a principal for the government school in their village. Residents of Bagarani demanded repair of the village bylanes. Repair of dharamshala and construction of rooms of the government school were sought by residents of Khoi and Dhatogdi villages, respectively. The Deputy Commissioner,
Ms Saroj Siwach, who conducted the open darbar, announced
that Rs 2.24 lakh had been sanctioned for the repair of
government schools at Dhatogdi and Bhagarani villages. |
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