The Tribune...Chandigarh

C H A N D I G A R H
& V I C I N I T Y

Saturday, July 18, 1998

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today's calendar

Rich states poor in health, education
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — A panel discussion on UNICEF's 1998 report on "The Progress of Nations", held at Chandigarh Press Club today...
Dowry death: husband,
in-laws arrested
PANCHKULA, July 17 — The husband and in-laws of a 26-year-old woman have been arrested by the Naraingarh police for allegedly torturing her to death in their house at Shahzadpur, near here...
HC to hear bail pleas
on Monday
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today adjourned to Monday the bail applications moved by three suspects in the kickback case...

Normalcy by Monday, says Chief PMG
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — Work in the city post-offices resumed today after the eight-day-long strike by the postal employees was called off yesterday...
Ex-servicemen's plea on pay allowed

UT move on land for CRPF
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — The UT Administration has passed demolition orders against constructions in 33 acres of land in Hallo Majra earmarked for the CRPF, a press note said here today...
Sikka denies hand in plot sale fraud
PANCHKULA, July 17 — Mr Ashok Sikka, whose name has figured in the sale of a one kanal plot No. 61 in Sector 4 through personation has denied in a statement his hand in the fraud...

Lt-Gen Buch dead
Campus Beat
Corporation Beat
Crime File........

Rich states poor in health, education
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — A panel discussion on UNICEF's 1998 report on "The Progress of Nations", held at Chandigarh Press Club today, expressed concern as to why even progressive states like Punjab and Haryana lagged behind in key areas of health and education.
The UNICEF global report has focused on the challenges of birth registration, which, it said was a child's first birthright. In the absence of this right, nearly 40 million new borns, worldwide, remained without an official identity.
The panelists today were former Planning Commission member, Dr G.S. Bhalla, who spoke on "hardships in the midst of plenty", Ms Swaranjit Mehta from Panjab University, who spoke on "birth registration", Dr Supriya from AIDS cell, Haryana, who spoke on "immunisation" as did Dr Kulwant Kaur from Punjab Health Department, while Ms Sonia Trikha, a gynaecologist, spoke on "adolescent girls."
The UNICEF's state representative, Dr Subash Chander, also spoke.
Dr Bhalla wondered as to why despite the highest per capita income Haryana and Punjab faired poorly when it came to health and education. The demograph indicators were discouraging. He dubbed the syndrome as "secondary crisis". Even the growth rate in a state like Punjab had declined. In the last plan again an all-India growth rate of 7 per cent Punjab recorded a growth rate of 4 per cent. Even Himachal Pradesh had done better.
Ms Swarnjit Mehta of the Geography Department, Panjab University, talking of birth registration said the field staff detailed for the purpose must be given incentives and utility of birth certificate made more wider.
Dr Supriya referred to disparities among male and female children.
Dr Trikha said nearly 4,000 induced abortions were reported in Chandigarh, annually. She was talking on adolescent girls and said "seclusion norms" were responsible for this happening because of the prevailing "conservatism" in society.
Dr Subash Chander referred to important observations made in the report. When social safety nets erode to the extent that some people can no longer afford even the basic necessities, women and children are the first victims. In 12 wealthiest countries, the per capita gross national product more than doubled in the last 15 years but at the same time the homelessness increased.

Corporation Beat
MC to have PR wing
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — With a view to projecting its image before the public, the municipal corporation (MC) will soon have a public relations wing of its own.
This decision was taken at the finance and contract committee of the civic body here today. Initially, an Assistant Public Relations Officer, a steno-typist and a peon will form part of the office.
The proposal, which has already been passed at one of the past meetings of the corporation, was mooted by Ms Surya Pandit, a nominated councillor. In her resolution, Ms Pandit had argued that many achievements of the corporation were not being projected before the UT residents in the absence of a PR wing.
Through another decision, the committee decided to appoint a team of one assistant manager, three supervisors and eight helpers for better functioning of the 16 community centres under the control of the civic body.
The committee again urged the Chandigarh Administration to transfer the building fee collected on account of passing of the building plans in the city. It also urged the Administration to transfer to the MC the revenue generated from putting up of the banners, advertisements and hoardings in the city.
The committee okayed the purchase of 20 turnkey radio sets for the officers of the civic body.

Campus Beat
PU depts to remain open on Saturday, Sunday
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — To overcome admission-related problems which arose in Panjab University as a result of the eight-day nationwide postal strike, various sections and departments will remain open on Saturday and Sunday.
According to an office order, signed by Dr Paramjit Singh, the Registrar, section dealing with BA II, BA III, and B.Sc III will remain open on both days. Collection of answersheets will continue unabated in the secrecy branch.
The office of the Dean, College Development Council, will receive admission forms for the Regional Centre of the university at Muktsar. The cash counters will also remain open for sale of forms.
The university will maintain services at the reception and the enquiry counters.
Candidates who had sent their admission forms by post but have no intimation about the date of interviews have been asked to contact the respective co-ordinators of admissions or chairpersons by July 20, according to a press note by Dr I.B.S. Passi, Dean University Instructions. The offices concerned of the university will remain open on Saturday and Sunday.
Statistics dept: Interviews for admission to M.Sc I will be held on July 23 in the department.
Education dept: Interviews for admission to M.Ed (morning classes) will be held in the morning session on July 23. Interviews to M.Ed (evening) will be held in the afternoon session on the same day.
Interviews to M.Ed (guidance and counselling) will be held in the morning session on July. Interviews for M.Ed (Education Technology) and MA I (Education) will also be held on the same day.
Instrumentation centre: The aptitude test for admission to M. Tech (instrumentation) will be held on July 27 in the RSIC. Interviews for GATE passed students and those who qualify in the aptitude test will be held in the afternoon on the same day.
School of Punjabi Studies: Interviews for MA I (Punjabi) will be held on July 23. Interviews for diploma course in translation, diploma in Punjabi language and culture and certificate course in functional Punjabi will be held on August

5.
B.Com admissions conclude: Admissions to B.Com in colleges of the city concluded on the second day of the counselling here today. The lowest cut-off percentage was 65.8 in Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Sector 26.
Admissions for the reserved categories had finished yesterday. Of the total 200 reserved seats, 135 were filled. The remaining 65 were made open to general category. This put the total number of seats in the general category at 705.
The GGDSD, MCM DAV and Government College for Women, Sector 11, finished the admission in both the categories on the first day. The cut-off percentage for MCM DAV was 80.6. It had a quota 60 seats. GGDSD College with 120 seats recorded a cut-off percentage of 77.2. The last rank admitted was 295. Of the first 10 candidates, one was absent.
GCG, Sector 11 had a cut-off percentage of 77.6. The last rank admitted was 268. There were 54 seats in the open category while remaining six were filled from the reserved category. GCG, Sector 42 closed their admissions at 75.4 percentage. The last rank admitted was 399.
The ABVP had set up counters for guidance of students as well as parents.
Ms Sneh Mahajan, overall co-ordinator of admissions in colleges of Panjab University, said admissions at Hoshiarpur were being carried out as per schedule. She, however, said she had no information about why colleges in Ludhiana had changed the dates of admissions.
Girls dominated the B.Com admissions in all colleges. Of first 300 candidates on the merit list approximately 250 were girls.
Admissions to DAV College, Sector 10, finished at 72.4 per cent. The last admitted rank was 585. The last rank which could manage admission in GCM, Sector 11, was 934. With a cut-off percentage of 68. Admissions for Dev Samaj College concluded at 69.3 per cent. The rank of the last candidate was 830.
The last rank for Khalsa College for Women was 827 with a cut-off percentage of 69.4. The last rank in GGSKC, Sector 26 (co-educational) was 1149.

Lt-Gen Buch dead
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — Lt-Gen Gurbachan Singh Buch passed away at the Army Hospital in New Delhi this evening, according to a message received here.
Commissioned into the Armoured Corps, he was the Commander of the Northern Command and retired in 1980 after a long and distinguished career.
His funeral procession will start from his residence Gurjas Niwas, New Officers Colony, Patiala, at 3 p.m.
He is survived by his son, Col D.S. Grewal and two daughters.

Crime File
Woman duped of over Rs 2 lakh
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — The police has registered a case of attempted suicide against a resident of Sector 20-C.
Sources said that Mr Vijay Kumar, tried to commit suicide by hanging himself with a rope tied to a hook of a ceiling fan.
A case has been registered under Section 309, IPC.
Complaint: Mrs Suman Garg, a resident of New Delhi, has complained to the police that she has been duped of more than Rs 2 lakh by Mr V.N. Atre, a resident of the housing board complex, Mani Majra.
The accused had taken the money towards the sale of a flat in the complex and had accepted money by way of demand drafts and in instalments. He had failed to honour his commitment and was not returning the money, she complained.
A case under Section 406, IPC, has been registered.
Case registered: The police has registered a case under various sections of the Essential Commodities Act against the owner of a fair-price shop in Hallomajra village following a complaint lodged by an inspector of the Food and Supplies department.
Sources said that the owner was selling wheat in the black market.
Hit by truck: Mr Waria Swami has been admitted to the GMCH, Sector 32, after he was knocked down by a speeding truck near the railway station traffic lights.
The driver, Surat Ram, has been arrested. The truck has been impounded. A case under Sections 279, 337, IPC, has been registered.
Letter pads stolen: Ms Geeta Rani, a clerk with the office of the IG, Prisons, Haryana, lodged a complaint with the police that someone had stolen the official letter pads of the IGP from the office in the NAC area, Mani Majra.
A case has been registered.
Car stolen: Mr A.K. Badra, a resident of Sector 27, reported to the police that his car has been stolen from his residence. A case under Section 379, IPC, has been registered.

Dowry death: husband, in-laws arrested
From Our Correspondent
PANCHKULA, July 17 — The husband and in-laws of a 26-year-old woman have been arrested by the Naraingarh police for allegedly torturing her to death in their house at Shahzadpur, near here.
The victim. Vijay Kumari, who ever since her marriage to Vishwajit Bittu in 1992, was being harassed to bring in more dowry.
The intervention by the girl’s family and with the help of the village panchayat did solve the problem but only for a brief period.
The father of the victim, Mr Rishi Kumar Gupta, a resident of Mullanpur Gribdas, alleged that the letters written by her daughter to him showed that she had been tortured for dowry.
On the night intervening July 13 and 14, the girl was allegedly done to death by her in-laws.
Dr G.S. Jammu, secretary of the Kharar Tehsil-level committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), claimed that when he along with the father of the deceased reached the house of the woman’s in-laws on receiving message of her death, he saw her blood-stained body bearing injuries inflicted with blunt weapons.
Meanwhile, the husband, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Vishwajit Bittu, Ved Parkash and Nirmal Devi, respectively, of the deceased have been arrested by the police under Sections 302/34 of the IPC.

HC to hear bail pleas on Monday
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today adjourned to Monday the bail applications moved by three suspects in the kickbacks case registered by the Chandigarh Administration against certain officials of the Engineering Department.
Mr K.B. Sharma, Superintending Engineer with the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, was granted anticipatory bail by Mr Justice B. Rai until today. The judge extended the stay of arrest order until Monday and adjourned Mr Sharma's application for confirming the bail to that day.
The regular bail applications moved by two of the three alleged middlemen, Dinesh Sharma and Suresh Sharma, were also adjourned to Monday. This was the fourth adjournment granted by the Judge. Octogenarian parents of the Sharmas cooled their heels in the courtroom from morning till evening. When the bail applications of their sons were adjourned again, they left court in dismay.
Counsel for the Sharma brothers also brought to the court's notice that his clients had been behind bars for nearly 80 days. The intention of the administration was to keep them in jail for 90 days before they were granted bail due to the failure of the prosecution to put up challans in the court.
Mr Justice Rai, however, told counsel that his hands were full of work. The court of Mr Justice Rai remained packed cheek by jowl from morning till evening with policemen, lawyers and relatives of those persons whose bail applications were expected to come up. However, a majority of them were disappointed as these were not even heard.
Mr J.C. Gilhotra, former Chief Engineer of PSEB, who also served the Chandigarh Administration as Superintending Engineer (Electricity), was granted anticipatory bail by Mr Justice K.K. Srivastava until today. On a request made by Mr Gilhotra's counsel, his bail application was adjourned to July 27. However, the judge extended the stay of his arrest till that date.

Normalcy by Monday, says Chief PMG
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — Work in the city post-offices resumed today after the eight-day-long strike by the postal employees was called off yesterday.
Crowds again returned to post offices for sending money orders and registered letters.
Going round the city by a TNS team found long queues at a number of post offices, including at sectors 17, 47, 20, 21, 22 and 29. A number of factory workers at the post office in Industrial Area, Phase II, could be seen standing in a queue awaiting their turn to send money orders to their native places.
Sources said that the situation with regard to the sorting of mail and its distribution would become normal in a few days. While the local mail was expected to be distributed by tomorrow, outstation mail, which was yet to be sorted out, would take three to four days to be sent to the respective areas.
Meanwhile, a number of customers faced problems at certain post offices on account of shortage of change.
Colonel Tilak Raj, Chief Post Master-General, when contacted, claimed that normalcy would return as regards distribution of mail and other services by Monday.
He said that local mail would be cleared by tomorrow and outstation mail might in a couple of days.
All 22 head offices, 228 sub-post offices and 818 post offices have started working normally, he added.

Ex-servicemen's plea on pay allowed
By Our Legal Correspondent
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — The claim of two re-employed ex-servicemen, Mr Gurdev Singh and Mr Massa Singh, for refixing their pay by giving the benefit of Article 510, 10(a) and (b) of the Central Civil Service Regulations by allowing one increment for each year of service which they rendered before retirement from military service, was allowed today by the local Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal.
Justice R.K. Nehru and Mr S.C. Vaish comprised the Bench.
The Bench directed the respondents to refix the pay of the applicants notionally from the date of their joining of re-employed posts after giving them the benefit of the decision in the B. Ravindran and Supra cases.
The Bench while rejecting the objections raised by the department held that applicants were entitled to the arrears of 18 months before they filed these applications. It ordered that the directions be complied within four months.

Plea against sack rejected
The local Tribunal Bench, comprising Justice R.K. Nehru and Mr S.C. Vaish, today dismissed the plea of Birbal, a constable in the Railway Protection Force, against his dismissal.
The applicant was convicted by Judicial Magistrate and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for one and a half years and a fine of Rs 2000. On appeal, he was released on probation by Additional Sessions Judge, Gurdaspur. The constable was given notice by the respondent department for action against him under Rule 151(1) of R.P.F. Rules. After receiving his reply, he was dismissed from service.
The applicant had taken the plea that he should not be dismissed under Rule 162.2 as he was convicted under Section 324 IPC and that he was released on probation.
The Bench relying on apex court judgements in the Shankar Dass vs Lakshman Singh case rejected the contention of the applicants wherein the disqualification mentioned under Section 12 were shown to be no bar for the action against applicant.

UT move on land for CRPF
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 17 — The UT Administration has passed demolition orders against constructions in 33 acres of land in Hallo Majra earmarked for the CRPF, a press note said here today.
The Deputy Commissioner has been asked to finalise a scheme for providing small plots of land to those residents whose houses existed at the time of Section 4 of the notification and which would be acquired, it added.

Sikka denies hand in plot sale fraud
From Our Correspondent
PANCHKULA, July 17 — Mr Ashok Sikka, whose name has figured in the sale of a one kanal plot No. 61 in Sector 4 through personation has denied in a statement his hand in the fraud.
Mr Sikka who at the time of the fraud was posted as Tehsildar (Boundary Cell) in the office of Financial Commissioner, Punjab, claimed that the prime accused in the case, Zora Singh, had never worked as his steno and he was misleading the police by allegedly giving false statements.
He claimed that he had purchased the plot through property dealer, Subash Bhalla and came to know about the fraud only in 1993 much after he had disposed of the plot.