Lok Adalats for UT villages CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The Chandigarh State Legal Services Authority has once again taken the lead over the rest of country by deciding to take Lok Adalats to villages. Nine in fray for coop society poll CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — On the last day of withdrawal and scrutiny of nomination papers for elections to the managing committee of the Manimajra Cooperative Marketing-cum-Processing Society, as many as nine candidates are left in the fray. Poll symbols have been allotted to them.

Chinks in varsity examination system Four injured as contractors clash Jain group councillors boycott meeting

Swiss students in city
CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — A team of 17 students accompanied by two professors from College Kischenfeld in Switzerland is now in the city to study architecture and life style of the region.

Six remanded in district courts clash
CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash, today remanded six persons, who were arrested by the local police in connection with the group clash at the local district courts complex yesterday in judicial custody until October 14.

Accused gets bail in lottery case
CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Lamba, who is also special Judge for Chandigarh, today granted bail to Ms Jasmine Madan, an accused in the U.T. Red Cross lottery case.

SE's police remand extended
CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The Judicial Magistrate, Mr Jasbir Singh, today extended the police remand of K.B. Sharma, Superintending Engineer with the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, until tomorrow.

Roohani Mission samagam from Oct 3
CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The Vishav Gurmat Roohani Mission will organise its ninth annual samagam at Ratwara Sahib, Mullanpur, near here, from October 3 to 5.

Sect 17 rail booking office gutted
Three firemen receive burns
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The main railway booking office at the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) in Sector 17 was gutted in a fire that broke out here this evening. Three firemen while battling the flames received minor injuries. No casualty has been reported.

An estimated sum of around Rs 2 lakh — collected from ticket bookings since morning — was saved due to alert officials of the Railways and the UT Tourism department.

The air-conditioned booking office of the Railways located on the first floor of the ISBT caught fire around 4.45 p.m. following a short circuit, the Chief Fire Officer, Mr Darshan Singh, said.

Booking of tickets was suspended in the city as the counters located at Chandigarh station is also linked through the main computer at the ISBT. The fire broke off the link as the main computer linking the city's network with Delhi was also damaged.

Now city residents could get their rail ticket bookings done either from Ambala or Kalka where the nearest computerised booking facilities are available. The booking of tickets for all South-bound trains will be possible only from Ambala and not from Kalka, railway sources said.

Though the exact loss could not be ascertained the heat generated due to the fire may have definitely wiped out the software and damaged the computers beyond repair, sources said. Or worse, water used to extinguish the fire may have caused damage.

The entire wooden false ceiling of the booking hall was damaged badly and its replacement may be the only answer.

The resumption of ticket bookings in the city will depend upon how long the Railways will take to restore the computers and their connectivity with Delhi.

At the time of the fire around 200 people were waiting in the hall to get reservations made. Instead of moving out, members of the public started crowding railways authorities who were busy trying to salvage whatever possible, including cash, Mr Vinod Kalia, Assistant Director, Tourism, Chandigarh, told The Tribune.

Mr Kalia, whose office is on the same floor as the booking office said the fire spread quickly.

The hanging cooling units of the air-conditioners melted in intense heat and so did the fans.

When two fire engines were pressed into service the flames were extinguished.

The injured firemen are the Chief Fire Officer, Mr Kashmiri Lal and Mr Amar Singh.

Few takers for fair price shops
by Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The recent decision of the Administration to open more fair price shops in various parts of the city, villages and colonies has come a cropper with few persons opting for running the shops. Only 12 persons applied for the proposed 130 shops to be opened.

At present there are 235 fair price shops in the city out of which 35 shops are in rural areas and colonies. Some villages like Faidan, Sarangpur, Khuda Ali Sher, Kaimbwala, Dadu Majra and Manimajra town do not have any fair price depots.

Talking to TNS, a cross section of depot owners said the poor response was due to the low profit margins offered by the authorities and the conditions imposed for opening shops under the new scheme. In view of the exorbitant charges of renting a shop in the city it was almost impossible for a beginner to earn profit.

Such were the conditions today that many of the old time depot holders have written to the UT Food and Supplies Department offering to surrender their shops. The department has asked them to continue till the shops could be allotted to others.

A distinct disadvantage of running the shops was the procedure of maintaining ledgers and the ever present threat of a raid in the event of a complaint. Since the depot holders cannot keep items of free sale other than levy sugar, rice, wheat and kerosene they don't attract customers and have to do with whatever is earned after meeting the needs of the regular ration card holders, they added.

Some fair price shop owners, however, admitted that the recent clampdown on issuing ration on bogus ration cards and even to those people who availed themselves of subsidised goods through the public distribution system had affected business and profit margins.

Out of 261 shops last year, licences of 26 fair price shops had been cancelled in the past few months and a record sum of more then Rs 50,000 was realised as fines, sources in the department pointed out.

Admitting that many persons had urged the department to take back the licences, sources said a thorough revamp of the existing policy besides raising the profit margins was needed. The reason cited for surrendering the shops include "adverse family circumstances", on grounds of " poor health" and "change of business."

The new requisites for applying for a shop are that the person should be a matriculate, should be running a kiryana shop with adequate storage facilities and have a sound financial position. In villages, the panchayat should pass a resolution in favour of the person which has to be duly verified by the Block Development Officer.

Similarly for colonies, the individuals name should figure in the survey conducted by the Estate Office which has to be verified by the Tehsildar (Colonies), sources added.

Case concocted, says Mittal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — Mr RS Mittal, a senior advocate, today described as "totally false" the complaint filed against him by Mr Rameshwar, son of Mr Arjan Singh, of Ganga village in Sirsa district, alleging that he had taken a sum of Rs 51,000 from him in the name of the judge who had decided the regular second appeal of his case.

In reply to the notice issued to Mr Mittal by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on its own motion under the Contempt of the Courts Act, Mr Mittal stated that the "complainant came to the office of the deponent on May 19, 1998, for filing a regular second appeal wherein the appellants were claiming title to 216 kanals lands. He engaged Mr Sudhir Mittal, advocate, for this purpose with a request to engage the deponent as senior counsel. The fee settled and paid on May 19, 1998, was as under: Instructing counsel Rs 15,000; senior counsel Rs 30,000; clerks Rs 5,000 and other expenses Rs 1,000. The amount totalled Rs 51,000.

Mr Mittal added that the appeal was filed on May 27 and was registered as regular second appeal No 1414 of 1998. It was listed for motion hearing on May 28, 1998, before Mr Justice VK Jhanji. May 28 was the last working day before the high court closed for the summer vacation.

After hearing the matter at length, by his order dated May 28, 1998, Mr Justice V.K. Jhanji, dismissed the appeal as withdrawn so as to enable the appellants, including the complainant, to file appropriate proceedings before the Haryana Finance Commissioner (Revenue).

Mr Mittal added that it was incorrect that the complainant came to the deponent on May 29 and 30. There was thus no question of any demand or payment of Rs 40,000 or any other amount for payment to the judge. There was no demand or payment of Rs 11,000 or any other amount for getting the decision altered. It was categorically denied that any promise was ever made by the deponent that he would get the case decided in favour of the complainant by going to the judge's house.

A certified copy of the order, dated May 28, passed by Mr Justice VK Jhanji, was applied for by the deponent's clerk on the same day but it was received by him on June 16 for handing over to the complainant.

The complainant went to the deponent's office after a few days to collect a copy of the order. After obtaining a copy of the order, the complainant demanded the whole fee back as he said the appeal was not argued and was withdrawn. This "unjustified" demand of the complainant was refused.

Mr Mittal further added that in view of the facts stated in his affidavit, it was patent that a false and frivolous case had been concocted by the complainant after two months and 10 days.

Mr Justice VK Bali and Mr Justice B Rai, before whom the case camp up for hearing, sought the assistance of the Punjab Advocate-General in disposing of this case. The judges adjourned the case to October 28.

Lok Adalats for UT villages
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The Chandigarh State Legal Services Authority has once again taken the lead over the rest of country by deciding to take Lok Adalats to villages.

An offer to this effect was made at a meeting of the Sarpanches of the Union Territory organised by the Authority here today to create general awareness among illiterate, poor, weaker segments of society and rural population of the facilities available to them through the Authority.

The meeting was organised at the instance of the Executive Chairman of the State Legal Services Authority, Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi, who wanted that effective steps should be taken to sensitise the rural masses about the scheme and concept of the Lok Adalats and the legal aid programmes available to eligible categories of people.

The meeting revealed that unlike urban people, awareness on the part of the rural population about the concept of Lok Adalat was inadequate.

Mr S.K. Sardana, Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, informed the Sarpanches that the Authority would be prepared to hold Lok Adalats in the villages so that eligible categories of people living there could also reap the fruits of cheap justice as provided by the Lok Adalats.

The Sarpanches were overwhelmed at the offer and responded positively by offering their fullest cooperation to make the scheme successful. The Sarpanches were also educated about the categories of cases where Lok Adalats could effectively take cognisance.

Mr Adarsh Sein Anand, Chief Justice-designate of the Supreme Court, and Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority, and who pioneered the idea of permanent Lok Adalats, feels that people living in rural areas should be sensitised about the legal aid programme so that they are in a position to benefit and get quick justice as provided by the Lok Adalats.

The Chandigarh State Legal Services Authority has already held two Lok Adalats where 7,787 cases were decided and compensation of more than Rs 6 crore was awarded. Apart from this, the Authority has disposed a number of cases by mediation and counselling. These cases included those pertaining to service matters, property disputes, rent matters and bank disputes.

Nine in fray for coop society poll
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — On the last day of withdrawal and scrutiny of nomination papers for elections to the managing committee of the Manimajra Cooperative Marketing-cum-Processing Society, as many as nine candidates are left in the fray. Poll symbols have been allotted to them. Elections will be held on October 9.

According to Mr D.S. Baloria, returning officer, the candidates from various agricultural societies include Mr Bhupinder Singh Badheri, Mr Bhupinder Singh, Mr Surinder Singh and Mr Teja Singh. They have been allotted the symbols of Bicycle, Hand Pump, Aeroplane and Car, respectively.

The individual candidates include Mr Avtar Singh, Mr Darshan Singh, Mr Gurnam Singh, Mr Prem Singh and Mr Udham Singh have been allotted the symbols of Apple, Umbrella, Clock, Chair and Television, respectively.

Swiss students in city
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — A team of 17 students accompanied by two professors from College Kischenfeld in Switzerland is now in the city to study architecture and life style of the region.

The team during the past five days has visited places of architectural importance in UT, studied families in villages and tried to comprehend the impact of Green Revolution and social schemes.

One of the team leaders Dr Ulrich Bichsel, has been to India on several occasions. He studied villages and the impact of the population influx along with Dr Gurmukh Singh Girm, a Regional Town Planner in the UT Administration in 1976. Dr Bichsel completed his Ph.D on the same topic.

Later he updated his data after subsequent visits.

Other team leader Mr Jean-Louis Schwarz is also a teacher in geography in the same institute. This is his first visit to India. Students worked throughout the previous session to raise money for the 15-day trip, Mr Schwarz said .

The team will also visit Agra, Jodhpur and Jaipur.

Six remanded in district courts clash
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash, today remanded six persons, who were arrested by the local police in connection with the group clash at the local district courts complex yesterday in judicial custody until October 14.

The suspects are Mewa Singh, Balvinder Singh, Karanjit Singh, Harjit Singh, Sajjan Singh and Amarpreet Singh.

These suspects had come in two separate groups for hearing the proceedings in the murder case of former Punjab MLA, Mr Bachitter Singh.

The trial of the case had been transferred from Kharar to Chandigarh.

They stoned one another while some of the youngsters rushed to their cars parked nearby and brought out swords to threaten others.

A case under Sections 147, 148, 149, 506 and 323 of the IPC was registered against them.

Accused gets bail in lottery case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Lamba, who is also special Judge for Chandigarh, today granted bail to Ms Jasmine Madan, an accused in the U.T. Red Cross lottery case.

The judge directed Ms Madan to furnish a personal bond of Rs 20,000 apart from a surety of the like amount.

Mr Lamba also issued summons for Swasti Distributors for November 18.

The CBI which had investigated the case filed the charge-sheet against all suspects on May 14.

The allegation levelled in the charge sheet was that the then Finance Secretary, Mr BR Bajaj, flouted the directive issued by the Central Government in allotting the lottery tender to HK Chug and Company at a bid of Rs 96 lakh by ignoring the highest bid of Rs 2 crore offered by B Kumar and Company.

SE's police remand extended
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The Judicial Magistrate, Mr Jasbir Singh, today extended the police remand of K.B. Sharma, Superintending Engineer with the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, until tomorrow.

Sharma was arrested by the Vigilance department in connection with the ongoing kickbacks case registered against certain officials of the Engineering department.

The Public Prosecutor had moved an application, urging the court to extend the police remand for three days. However, the magistrate granted only one day police remand.

Roohani Mission samagam from Oct 3
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The Vishav Gurmat Roohani Mission will organise its ninth annual samagam at Ratwara Sahib, Mullanpur, near here, from October 3 to 5.

According to a spokesperson of the mission, more than a million followers from all over the country and abroad, including the USA, the UK Australia, Germany, Malaysia, Kuwait, Canada and other countries are expected to participate. More than 5,000 volunteers under the guidance of Sant Waryam Singh have been busy giving final touches to the arrangements for the smooth conduct of this spiritual samagam.

Those expected to deliberate include Sant Waryam Singh, Sant Sadhu Singh of Sangrur, Swami Ved Bharti of Rishikesh, Sant Mohinder Singh of Khanna, Sant Prabhjot Singh of Mahilpur, Swami Pritam Jyoti of Amritsar, Sant Sucha Singh of Jawadi Kalan, Sant Hari Singh Randhawa, Sant Bhoopinder Singh of Jarag, Sant Sarabjot Singh of Una, Sant Darshan Singh Khakiwale, Sant Avtar Singh Dhoolkot, Sant Dhanwant Singh Gurdaspur, Sant Kalyan Das of Anandpur Sahib, Sri Syed Ahmed Jelani, Dr Jodh Singh, Dr Shamsher Singh, Dr Joginder Singh and Dr Jagjit Singh.

The spokesperson further said the mission has been using various means to spread its message of spirituality and for the uplift of human beings, irrespective of their status, caste, colour and creed. It has produced 2,400 audio cassettes and 900 video cassettes to propagate spirituality. Besides, it has been publishing a monthly, Atam Marg, both in Punjabi and Hindi. During the 1990 floods, the chairman of the mission, along with a team of volunteers, visited the flood affected areas and distributed household articles.

Chinks in varsity examination system
by Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, Sept 30 — Chinks in the examination system of Panjab University are evident from a latest case where it was discovered that a candidate who secured zero marks in one paper in the annual examination managed to get them increased to more than 40.

Reliable sources point out that the case pertains to a student of bachelor of commerce (second year ) who had appeared in the annual examination conducted earlier this year. He scored zero in the examination.

Subsequently, he applied for re-evaluation. His score magically jumped to 42. Interestingly , a senior official in charge of the examination when contacted neither confirmed nor denied the case. He said he was unaware of "this specific case particularly when there were such a large number of applicants for re-evaluation and the marks often fluctuated".

The reply of the senior official seems interesting particularly when the university found it a case fit to be "examined by a committee to look for possible irregularities".

Sources point out that after detailed deliberations the committee has confirmed it to be a case of "gross irregularity. Strict and exemplary disciplinary action has been recommended against the "guilty". However , the names of individuals responsible for the misconduct could not be confirmed .

Sources point out that the committee called for the answersheet of the student in question and it was found that the earlier evaluation was correct. This would naturally amount to a fault on the part of the second evaluator. However, involvement of certain members of the examination branch could not be ruled out.

During the course of deliberations it was suggested that all answer sheets evaluated by the person in question should be re-checked to investigate the possibility of more such cases.

Rules provide that during re- evaluation in case the difference in the earlier marks and those given by the second evaluator is more than 15 per cent, a third evaluator is appointed. It could also not be confirmed whether irregularity occurred on the part of the second evaluator or whether a third examiner was appointed .

Membership fee hike: An enhancement in the membership fee of alumni relations of Panjab University is on the cards if deliberations of the executive committee which met under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof M.M. Puri, are accepted.

The committee discussed various avenues to generate money for the alumni house for which the foundation stone was laid by Mr I.K. Gujral, a former Prime Minister, earlier this year. Paucity of funds was cited as one of the major reasons for the proposed hike in membership.

Dr R.C. Sobti, Dean, Alumni Relations, said the executive discussed various other proposals to generate money for the alumni house. Whether there would be any hike in the membership fee or not could be confirmed only after the meeting of the general house on October 5, he added.

The university has now approximately 1,800 alumni members.

Seat available: Only one seat remains vacant in the NRI and the NRI-sponsored quota in the bachelor of engineering and bachelor of architecture courses offered by Panjab University for the current session.

Interview for the seat will be held in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology on October 6.

NSS camps: A 10-day NSS camp organised by Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, concluded here on Wednesday. Dr I.B.S. Passi, Dean University Instructions, Panjab University, presided.

Students presented reports of the welfare activities carried out in Blind School, Old People's Home, Bal Niketan, Nehru Camp Colony and Kajheri Colony.

Dr (Mrs) Satinder Dhillon, principal, spoke.

The concluding function of the NSS camp organised by Government College for Men, Sector 11, was presided over by Dr C.L. Narang, Coordinator of the PU NSS.

More than 100 volunteers carried out welfare activities in Khuda Jassu village. Over 250 saplings were planted in the village school, cremation ground and at gurdwara.

Four injured as contractors clash
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — Four persons were injured as two groups of contractors clashed outside the FCI office in Sector 34 here this evening.

Both groups hailing from Nawanshahr district, had come to the office here to bid for tender floated by the FCI. The tenders were to close today and were to be opened at 3 p.m. today. Two of the injured — Subheg Singh and Harjinder Singh — were admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.

One injured person was admitted to General Hospital, Sector 16, and one more injured person was admitted to the Chandigarh Medical Centre (CMC).

Meanwhile the police has registered a case against 10 persons who had attacked the injured persons.

All the 10 were arrested.

Company duped: An employee of an advertisement agency has duped the company of Rs 2.90 lakh by issuing forged bills.

The employee, Satwinder Singh, has been booked under sections 420 and 408 of the IPC.

Satwinder, a resident of SAS Nagar, had been employed by Mr Amitabh Gupta of AIR Ads, Sector 17 to collect advertisements and payments in and around the city. In the process he started issuing fake bills and pocketed Rs 2.90 lakh.

Scooter stolen: A scooter ( CH--01--K--7049) owned by Varinder Singh of Dhanas village has been stolen from the Sector 40 market.

Three injured: Three persons have been injured in separate road accidents in the city since Tuesday night. A resident of Kharar was injured when he was hit by a Tata Sumo in Hallo Majra village. The injured person, Nachitter Singh, was walking when he was hit. Another pedestrian, Bittu, a resident of Himachal, was hit by a car in Sector 42.

An unknown cyclist was hit by a scooter on the traffic lights at sectors 29 and 30 on Wednesday afternoon. All the three have been admitted to the PGI.

Meanwhile Shikha, a girl, fell down from the stairs of her house in Sector 24. She has been admitted to the PGI.

PANCHKULA

Pillion rider killed: A man riding the pillion of a scooter was crushed to death by a truck owned by a Mani Majra based private driving school, near the HUDA nursery in Industrial Area, Phase-I, here on Wednesday.

According to the information available, the deceased, Parvinder Singh, a resident of Rajpura, was returning from Mani Majra after attending a marriage ceremony when the mishap took place at around 10.30 a.m.

The other person, Gurdev Singh, who was driving the scooter escaped unhurt. The erring driver of the truck fled the scene.

The police has registered a case against the truck driver under sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC.

Jain group councillors boycott meeting
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The crisis in the BJP deepened today with the councillors owing allegiance to the Satya Pal Jain group boycotting the meeting of the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh (MCC) by ignoring the party whip.

None of the seven BJP councillors — Mr Prem Sagar Jain, Mr Kewal Krishan, Mr R.L. Arora, Mr Bachan Singh, Mr Kanhya Lal, Mr R.S. Bedi and Ms Kamla Sharma — who had opposed the expulsion of Mr O.P. Goel from the party, today turned up for the meeting despite the party whip last night, directing the party councillors to "must attend the meeting till end and toe the party line for all matters." The Akali councillors, however, attended the meeting.

Ignoring the party whip is seen as a setback for the party president, Mr Dharam Pal Gupta, and the Mayor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, who are already facing stiff opposition from a majority of party councillors with regard to the expulsion of Mr Goel.

The pressure on the party president and the Mayor to revoke the expulsion is likely to mount further, sources said.

A senior leader close to the Jain group warned that if the expulsion was not revoked, the Jain group might chose its own leader of the house in place of Mr Des Raj Tandon. He claimed that a couple of councillors from the other group were also in touch with his group and they might ultimately fall in line.

On the other hand, the party president has sent a report on today's developments to the party high command, Mr Dharam Pal Gupta told The Tribune that the party high command had been apprised of the developments and action recommended by the high command would be taken. There was no question of revoking the expulsion of Mr Goel at the moment, he added.

Meanwhile, there was more embarrassment in store for the Mayor and the party at the meeting. The differences between the Commissioner, Mr S. K. Gathwal, and the Mayor regarding the suspension of the paid parking scheme came into the open. As soon as the Mayor said that the decision to suspend the paid parking system was taken in consultation with the Commissioner, Mr Gathwal categorically denied that he had to anything to do with the suspension of the system.

Through another resolution, the meeting okayed the scheme for providing water meters for over 20,000 unmetered standposts, public toilets and the EWS houses which are till now being billed on a flat rate.

The purchase of five water tenders/water bouser and DCP tender and creation of one post each of Superintendent, junior assistant and clerk were also approved.

Another matter which generated a lot of discussion was the putting up of boards for a project costing above Rs 1 lakh, giving information about the project. The resolution , moved by the Mayor, was adopted with certain amendments moved by Mr R.K. Aggarwal. The Congress councillors — Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, Mr Gurcharan Dass Kala, Ms Kamlesh — and an Independent councillor, Ms Sunita, walked out at this moment, alleging that they were not being given enough time to air their views. They later raised anti-BJP slogans outside the assembly hall.

Later talking to mediapersons, the Mayor said the decision regarding the implementation of the paid parking system would be taken by the house of MCC. He said the committee constituted to review the paid parking system would submit its report by the deadline — October 10. He hinted that an emergency meeting of the house could be convened if the need arose.

Regarding the Chandigarh Administration's request to a city court to withdraw the case against him, Mr Gian Chand Gupta said cases against all BJP workers should be withdrawn as they were "politically motivated".

Interaction programme: The malaria wing of the MCC on Wednesday organised an interaction with the sarpanches of UT villages for the prevention and control of dengue in the city.

The Medical Officer of Health, Dr S.S. Cheema, emphasised the need for the involvement of the village headmen for the prevention of dengue.