Thursday, September 3, 1998
|
P U N J A B | |
Thursday, September 3, 1998 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
||
|
Jathedars
"must be "graduates PTU
case: directions tomorrow Administration
in catch-22 over mustard oil ban CPI
for ban on people's panel |
 |
 Hit,
Lobana case on September 14 Water
board's plan for No
claim rejected by WB, |
||||||
|
Badal lays stone for
Ambedkar Bhavan Jathas
start from Akal Takht Rally
held at CM's constituency Punjab
sends panel of names Services
of ad hoc doctors regularised Trade
unions' rally against price rise Octroi
evasion alleged Relief
for thieves' victims |
||||||||
| Birth rate falls in Punjab Allottees await plot possession |
|
Maintenance grant increased
Misappropriation of funds alleged
|
 |
||||
Jathedars "must be
"graduates CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — Enactment of an All-India Sikh Gurdwara Act has been one of the long-pending demands of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The existing Act, with limited jurisdiction, was framed way back in 1925. With the passage of time, it was felt, the functioning of the SGPC was adversely affected due to shortcomings in the prevailing Act. As a consequence of the "inherent" limitations, the geographical spread of the SGPC restrained it from taking cognisance of what went on at the two Takhts outside its ambit. These are Takht Harimandir, in Patna, Bihar, and Takht Hazur Sahib, in Nanded, Maharashtra. While the highest spiritual and temporal seat of authority is Akal Takht at Amritsar, the other two Takhts in Punjab are Takht Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, and Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo. The SGPC is vested with the responsibility of providing for better administrative management and effective supervision of Sikh gurdwaras and matters connected therewith. It is now evident that the present Act, in a way, stands as a stumbling block to untangle the controversy involving the Takht head priests. But then did the SGPC not act and react as the occasions demanded in the post-Operation Bluestar period to appoint, change and sack "erring" head priests, including Jathedars of the Takhts, including Akal Takht, several times? Nevertheless now a tentative final draft of the proposed All-India Sikh Gurdwara Bill is ready. It has been prepared by the Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections, Justice Harbans Singh. He has forwarded copies of the same to the SGPC, the Government and lately to the World Sikh Council for comments, suggestions, discussion etc before it is submitted to the Centre through the State Government. It is reliably learnt that while the SGPC and the World Sikh Council have set up small committees to examine the same there has not been any response from the State Government. It was asked to do the needful some three months ago. The draft All-India Sikh Gurdwara Bill is a comprehensive document, which would articulate the sentiments of the Sikhs, meet the religious requirements found wanting in the existing Act and which provides for detailed guidelines in respect of many sensitive issues. It has touched issues like appointment of Jathedars of Takhts, formation of a central religious committee, removal of the head priests, constitution of central, regional and state boards, management of historic gurdwaras and other shrines, providing definitions and qualifications of those who are to implement the Act, registration of gurdwaras, constitution and functioning of Sikh Gurdwara Tribunal, recruitment and service conditions of employees etc, printing, publication and distribution of Guru Granth Sahib, gurdwara properties and removal of encroachments thereupon, funds, accounts and audit, etc. The headquarter of the central board, called the SGPC, shall be Amritsar. In view of the on-going war of attrition between the Sikh head priests, it will be relevant to say a word on two issues contained in the proposed draft. One pertains to constitution of a "central religious body" required to deal with any religious matter of Panthic importance and give its opinion on such matters. The members of that body will work in honorary capacity. This provision should take care of the institution of Jathedars which has been used (rather misused) in the past by vested interests in the SGPC and the Akali Dal to settle political scores. As per the proposed Sikh Gurdwara Bill, the "central religious body" will consist of the following members: Head Granthi of the Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib), Amritsar; Jathedars of all Takhts (five); the President of the SGPC; President of the World Sikh Council; and two "amritdhari" Sikhs not below the age of 45 years to be nominated for a period of five years, one by the SGPC and the other by the World Sikh Council. The Jathedar of Akal Takht will be the President of that religious body. The second issue pertains to the appointment of Jathedars and their removal from office. There will be a Head Granthi of the Golden Temple and a Jathedar of each of the five Takhts. Their appointment will be made by a selection committee to be appointed by the SGPC in consultation with the "central religious body". an "oath" has been prescribed for all appointees and also for candidates and electors to the SGPC or regional and state committees. Any person to be appointed Jathedar has to be baptised and at least a graduate of an Indian university or possess an equivalent educational qualification. There is provision for relaxation of this. These priests will hold office for a period of 15 years or up to the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. These priests will not be removed from office except: (i) when the incumbent becomes of unsound mind and stands declared as such by competent court; (ii) when he is found guilty of violation of the "rehat maryada" and (iii) when he by his unbecoming conduct renders himself unworthy of the office held by him. The general house of the SGPC with two-third majority will refer such cases to the "central religious body" whose final decision will be taken up in a special session of the general house of the SGPC. The priests will be exempt from personal appearance in any court of law during their tenure in office. These Jathedars will not indulge in politics in any manner and shall devote their time and attention to the study of and dissemination of Gurbani, Gurmat, Sikh religion, culture and history. Sources in the Akali Dal
say that the government should ensure the Bill is
finalised for presentation to Parliament in its next
session. |
||
Hit, Lobana case on September
14 AMRITSAR, Sept 2 — Even as the case of ex-communicated leaders will be taken up by the Sikh clergy on September 14, it is yet to be seen whether Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh, jathedars of Sri Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Damdama Sahib, respectively, will be allowed to attend the proposed meeting at Akal Takht. Though Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president, SGPC, has held meetings with Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh at Patiala and with Bhai Ranjit Singh, Akal Takht chief, at Fatehgarh Sahib in a bid to sort out differences among the jathedars, it remains unclear whether the proposed meeting will be attended by all jathedars. The Akal Takht has despatched letters to the ex-communicated leaders, Mr Gurmukh Singh, saying it will consider his "apology" for being accepted back into the Panth. However, no letters have been sent to Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh. This has raised a question mark on the success of the rapprochement efforts. The case of Mr Avtar Singh Hit, former president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and a close associate of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and Mr Atma Singh Lobana, former executive member of the Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, who were ex-communicated for defying a "hukamnama" are likely to be taken up by the Sikh clergy on September 14. In a letter to Bhai Ranjit Singh, Mr Avtar Singh has requested that he be allowed into the Panth again without any pre-condition as he had handed over the building of Khalsa Primary School, Delhi, to the rightful ownness. Mr Avtar Singh has admitted that he had committed a blunder by defying the "hukamnama" in this regard and urged Bhai Ranjit Singh to allow him to resume his political activities. Mr Avtar Singh and Mr Lobana were ex-communicated on June 16 last year along with Mr Mohinder Singh Matharu, president, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, in connection with the beating up of Mrs Darshan Kaur, a prosecution witness in the case against former Union Minister HKL Bhagat for his alleged involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Mr Avtar Singh was directed to resign from the executive of the DSGPC and hand over the documents relating to a primary school land. He refused to do the same. Mr Lobana, was declared "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct) as he was the main accused in the beating up of Mrs Darshan Kaur. According to sources close to Mr Tohra, Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh have offered to make any sacrifice for the sake of maintaining the dignity of the Akal Takht. However, Prof Manjit Singh has reportedly expressed his inability to hand over the accounts of the World Sikh Council which are with Mr Jaswant Singh Mann, a former general secretary of the council. Mr Tohra is reported to have insisted that the council funds were the property of the Panth which must be handed over to the new incumbent. Bhai Ranjit Singh, who held an in-camera meeting with the SGPC chief at Fatehgarh Sahib yesterday, has reportedly asked Mr Tohra to prevail upon Prof Manjit Singh to tender an unconditional apology for allegedly "misguiding" the Panth on the "hukamnama" regarding Canadian Sikhs. Prof Manjit Singh, in a
section of the press, had dissociated himself from the
"hukamnama" on ex-communication of the Canadian
Sikhs. |
||
PTU case: directions tomorrow CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today gave go-ahead to the Punjab Technical University for getting space reserved in newspapers for publication of the revised result of the combined entrance test it had conducted for admission to various engineering and architecture colleges in Punjab. Chief Justice, Arun B. Saharya and Mr Justice Swatantar Kumar, who issued this order, told a jampacked court that they would issue certain directions to the university on September 4, about the date on which the result should be published in newspapers. Earlier, counsel for the university filed an affidavit before the Bench spelling out the measures the university had taken in revising the result. Reading out the contents of the affidavit, council told the Bench that objective questions in the physics, chemistry and mathematics papers of all answer sheets were rechecked. He said a random check of subjective papers was also done. Council unfolded the university proposal about sending mark sheets to all students who had taken the controversial CET. In the past the university used to send mark sheets only to those students who used to qualify the test. This time the departure from past practice was made to satisfy all students about the correctness of the result prepared afresh by the university following the high court's directions. The affidavit counsel filed before the Bench also stated that the university would also make provision for a Lok Adalat. The proposed Lok Adalat would be organised by the Punjab Legal Cell. Who would man the Lok Adalat would be decided by the high court at a later date. The Lok Adalat would be organised to give an opportunity to those students who were not satisfied about the correctness of their result even after the tabulation of the revised result. Counsel also submitted a draft of the public notice as also of the preamble that would be carried in newspapers along with the revised result. The Bench suggested
certain changes in the contents of the affidavit the
university had submitted. |
Administration in catch-22 over mustard
oil ban LUDHIANA, Sept 2 — Five days after the government of Punjab officially placed a ban on the sale of mustard oil in the state, the district authorities here are still groping in the dark as to how, when and where to enforce the ban. Meanwhile, three cases of dropsy have been reported from a local hospital. The Civil Surgeon of Ludhiana, Dr G.P. Chander, claimed at a press conference here today that the health authorities had closed down mustard oil factories and 'kohlus' operating in the city. However, despite repeated questions from newsmen, he was unable to provide the number of oil factories and 'kohlus' in the city. Nor did he know the size of the mustard oil stock frozen in the city. Dr Chander said that teams of health officials led by Dr J.S. Brar, District Health Officer, had conducted raids in Ludhiana, Khanna, Jagraon, Samrala, Payal, Doraha, Sahnewal, Machhiwara, Raikot, Pakhowal, Sudhar and Mullanpur to draw oil samples. The health officials were, however, unable to take samples at Sahnewal, Doraha, Payal and Khanna because the shopkeepers put up the shutters. Dr Chander said 20 samples had been drawn which had been sent for analysis. Results would be known after 40 days. In reply to a question, he said that efforts would be made to expedite the test results. He also claimed that no "confirmed" case of dropsy had been reported in Ludhiana city, Health Officials would be sent soon to the local hospital to check whether the patients under treatment were actually suffering from dropsy. Dr Chander also convened a
meeting of hoteliers, restauranteurs, halwais and owners
of other eating establishments where he appealed to them
to cooperate with the health authorities in enforcing the
ban on sale and use of mustard oil. In the absence of any
machinery to enforce the ban on the sale of mustard oil,
he could only appeal to all sections of the population to
stop the use of mustard oil. |
||
Water board's plan for Punjab
towns JALANDHAR, Sept 2 — The Chairman of the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Mr Sat Pal Mahajan, today said that one-third of the urban population in the state had no access to safe drinking water, while 40 per cent was without sewerage facilities. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Mahajan said that to provide potable water and sewerage facilities to 140 towns in the state, a master plan had been made, for which the World Bank's aid had been sought by the government. The master plan would entail a cost of Rs 1000 crore. He suggested that the municipal councils of small towns should merge with the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board for providing basic facilities as they neither had infrastructure nor enough funds to provide drinking water and sewerage facilities. Rajpura town was under the board now and both facilities had been provided to the residents of the town. Barnala too would come under the board soon, he said. On the water supply and sewerage situation in this town, he said at present 58 per cent of its 7.25 lakh residents had been provided with potable water and remaining 42 per cent were still without this basic facility. To provide potable water to the remaining residents, 310-km of pipelines and 55 new tubewells, costing Rs 56 crore, were needed. According to the municipal corporation's statistics, 42 per cent of the town's population is also without sewerage facilities. A sum of Rs 75 crore was needed to provide additional sewers, while more pumping stations and sewerage treatment plants would cost Rs 56 crore. A proposal had been drawn up by the board to provide low-cost sanitation with 45 per cent government grant. So far, 12492 flushes had been installed in various localities of the town, while low-cost sanitation schemes were being carried out in 74 towns of Punjab. The board had installed 1,59,263 flush sheets in various towns of the state, he added. Eightytwo acres of land
would be provided for the construction of a sewerage
treatment plant, for which a notification had been
issued. |
||
CPI for ban on people's panel CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — Dr Joginder Dayal, Secretary of the Punjab State Council of the CPI, said here today that the Left parties alone were not in a position to prevent the BJP from staying in power at the Centre. The BJP could be replaced at the Centre and in the states ruled by it by a combination of the Congress and secular parties, he added. He said the new tactical line of the Left parties was to provide a secular democratic alternative to the BJP. Addressing a press conference after the three-day Punjab state conference of his party, Dr Dayal said here today his party would support the Congress party in the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi to defeat the BJP. He said the line adopted by the Punjab unit of the CPI had been approved by the party high command. When asked why the CPI had changed its attitude towards the Congress, Dr Dayal said that the Congress had a major role to play in fighting the communal BJP and dislodging it from power. He admitted that in the past the Congress party's record was of opportunistic compromises and failings. Soft line towards communal parties, high level of corruption and wrong policies on the economic front had alienated the Congress party from the masses. But it should learn a lesson from the past, he added. Demanding a complete ban on the people's commission, Dr Dayal urged the Punjab Government to set up a judicial commission under the chairmanship of a sitting judge of the Supreme Court to "find out who did what" in Punjab in the past years and to pinpoint the involvement of politicians in fanning militancy in the state. He said the people's commission was, in fact, a pro-militants commission. He said that all liberal Sikhs should support the stand taken by Mr Barjinder Singh Editor of the Ajit, against Sikh fundamentalist forces. He said that if religion was not separated from politics, its consequences would again be very grave for the state. He urged the Central Government to declare agriculture as a sick sector and waive the loans of farmers. He said the Central Government should also find out ways to pay loans of commission agents due against farmers. He said the Congress high command should ask Capt Amarinder Singh whether his action of appealing to the Jathedar of Akal Takht to take action against Mr G.S. Tohra was a secular step or not. He said the Congress was a secular outfit and the action of Capt Amarinder Singh did not fit in the political line of the party. He said the SAD-BJP
combine had failed to cater to the needs of people in the
state. All secular forces should unite against the ruling
combine which was communal, he added. |
||
No claim rejected by WB: PHSC CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — All claims of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) have been settled by the World Bank. This was stated by Mr S.S. Channy, Managing Director of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, here today. Clarifying a report published in The Tribune today, Mr Channy said so far claims of Rs 29.38 crore had been settled out of Rs 32.26 crore eligible expenditure and the last claim of Rs 2.88 crore was in the pipeline. No claim had been rejected by the World Bank and the Government of India had also released an equal amount as additional central assistance to the state government. Though the World Bank has not made it mandatory for the PHSC to get its accounts audited by the Accountant-General, Audit, Mr Sunny felt since a lot of public money was involved, it would be appropriate to get the accounts audited by the AG. The matter was discussed with the then Accountant-General and accordingly in October, 1997, the AG, Punjab, took up the audit of PHSC and then abandoned the audit without assigning any reason. However, the Accountant-General, Audit, was again approached in February, 1998, and on his advice the matter was taken up with the Additional Secretary the Ministry of Finance, Mr Govindarajan. However, in order to expedite the audit as per a discussion with the present Accountant-General, Punjab, the requisite instructions under Section 23 (1) of the Act of the corporation were issued enabling the AG to take up the audit for 1996-97 and 1997-98. The World Bank has not
insisted that the PHSC should get the certification done
by the CAG and has accepted the certificates of a firm of
chartered accountants as per the provision contained in
the PHSC Act. In addition to this, the World Bank is
getting the audit of the PHSC done at its own level by a
renowned firm M/s Price Waterhouse, which will take up
the audit from 13.9.98, according to a communication
received from the bank. |
||
Badal lays stone for Ambedkar
Bhavan NAWANSHAHR, Sept 2 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, laid the foundation stone of Ambedkar Bhavan, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1 crore, at Gujjarpur village near here today. Later addressing a gathering he lamented that even after 50 years of Independence people had to submit memoranda to the government on drinking water, schools, dispensaries, drainage system, repair of roads etc. He blamed the Congress rule for having ignored the welfare of the public. The Congress, he said, during the past 50 years had ruined Punjab, which had been feeding the whole country besides being its "sword arm". He alleged that the Congress had virtually deprived of the state of resources like water, electricity and even its capital. The recruitment of Punjabis in the Army was cut down from 30 to 2 per cent and no industrial unit was set up in the state, he further alleged. Elaborating on the achievements of his government, he said by his influence he had got the loan of Rs 8500 crore waived from the centre. He said Punjab was the unique government which was providing free water and electricity to the farmers and had launched Shagun Scheme and Housing Scheme for Dalits. It has set up a Scheduled Caste Corporation and made schemes for the construction of Ambedkar Bhavan at all district headquarters, raising a fund for dharamshalas in villages for Dalits, he claimed. He said the government had made a comprehensive plan to revamp primary education, to repair the link and main roads and make a proper drainage system. A sum of Rs 40 crore had been earmarked to build official and residential buildings for the newly created districts and subdivision. He exhorted the people to monitor the on-going development works. He said that he had issued directions to the administration to hold village-level meetings to redress problems being faced by the public. The Welfare Minister, Mr
Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Mr Gobind Singh Kanjla, State
Minister for welfare also spoke. |
||
Jathas start from Akal Takht AMRITSAR, Sept 2 — A big jatha of Sikh priests and intellectuals, led by the 'panj pyaras' (five beloved ones) started from Akal Takht today for baptising the Sikhs as part of the 300th birth anniversary of the Khalsa Panth. Earlier, the Sikh priests
paid obeisance at the Golden Temple. The jatha would
cover various parts of the state, including Bathinda,
Mansa, Sangrur and Patiala, with a view to baptising the
Sikhs. |
||
Rally held at CM's constituency CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — The Punjab State General Categories Welfare Federation held a rally yesterday in the Lambi Vidhan Sabha constituency from where the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal was elected. Mr Shyam Lal Sharma, President of the Federation, said here today that the Punjab Government had failed to remove the ban on promotions despite the assurance given by Mr Badal. No promotions had been made in Punjab since August, 1997. He said that the committee of officers constituted by the Punjab Government had recommended the implementation of the decision of the Supreme Court. However, to delay the
matter, the Punjab Government had now constituted a
Cabinet sub-committee. He said that the sub-committee had
not submitted its report. Several employees had retired
since August last year without getting the benefit of
promotion although they were due to be promoted. |
||
Punjab sends panel of names CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — The Punjab Government has sent a panel comprising the names of six PCS officers as replacement candidates for Mr D.S. Mangat and Mr S.M. Sharma, PCS officers. The six officers are Mr Inderjit Singh Sandhu, Mr Ravinder Kumar Kaushik, Mr Avtar Sharma, Mr Amarjit Singh Dhindsa, Mr Amarjit Pal and Mr Daljit Singh. Mr Sandhu has earlier
served as SDM in the city. |
||
Services of ad hoc doctors
regularised CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — The PCMS Association, Punjab, has claimed that the services of adhoc doctors who have put in at least four years of service have been regularised by the Punjab government. The association in a press
note here today by the general secretary, Dr Manjit Singh
said this was disclosed by the Principal Secretary,
Health, Mr Rajesh Chhabra during a meeting with the
negotiation committee of the association. |
||
Trade unions' rally against
price rise FAZILKA, Sept 2 — About 2,000 activists of the coordination committee of trade union, Fazilka, comprising representatives of a number of employees' organisations stage a rally here yesterday to protest against the price rise and corruption. Mr Vijay Kumar Mishra, senior vice-president, CITU, Punjab, Mr Nirmal Singh, senior vice-president, Punjab Subordinate Services Federation, and Mr Subeg Singh, president, Punjab Subordinate Services Federation, Ferozepore, criticised state government for raising power tariff and bus fares. They said the government had failed to check the rise in prices of essential commodities and increasing corruption. Employees and workers later held a protest march led by Mr Bakhtawar Singh and Mr H.S. Khunger, president and general secretary of coordination committee, the protesters presented a memorandum of demands to the SDM, Fazilka. Their main demands are
abrogation of the privatisation policy, grant of
time-bound higher pay scales to classes III and IV
employees, reinstatement of teachers who had completed 89
days of services and free education up to graduation
level to all. |
||
Octroi evasion alleged AMRITSAR, Sept 2 — Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, president, All-India Hindu Shiv Sena, has alleged that most of the dealers who imported sugar from Pakistan had indulged in the evasion of octroi. In a press release issued here yesterday, Mr Billa alleged that 1.69 lakh metric tonnes of sugar had been imported from Pakistan since February. The imported sugar was cleared by the Customs Department. However, when contacted,
Mr Rakesh Verma, an exporter, claimed that a very less
quantity of sugar was being consumed in Amritsar. As the
city was the transit point, the imported sugar was being
sold to other states. |
||
Relief for thieves' victims FEROZEPORE, Sept 2 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has announced a grant of Rs 50,000 each to the families of those two persons who were killed by a gang wearing 'kala kachhas' at Dharamkot on August 22 night. This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, at Dharamkot while addressing a gathering at the bhog ceremony of the deceased yesterday. He added the district administration would bear the expenses on treatment of those injured in the incident. Mr Sidhu said the police patrolling had been intensified. The Deputy Commissioner
hoped that the persons responsible for the incident would
be arrested soon. He added that arms licences would be
issued to villagers. |
||
Birth rate
falls in Punjab CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — Punjab is set to achieve a birth rate of 21 per 1000 by the turn of the century. This was revealed here today by Mr Rajesh Chhabra, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, on the basis of a recent official survey. Citing a Population Foundation of India publication, Mr Chhabra said that Punjab was the only state where fertility decline had actually accelerated due to the new trend of late marriage. The average age at marriage in Punjab now stood at 20 years for girls. In a survey conducted by the Registrar General of India, the age specific fertility of Punjab was the lowest as compared to the national average. Explaining why Punjab was
looking forward to a drop in the birth-rate, Dr P.S
Jassi, Director, Health Services and Family Welfare,
disclosed that besides higher age at marriage, other
factors that had brought down fertility were easy and
regular supply of information on spacing methods,
improved reproductive and child health services and
universal coverage of eligible mothers and children by
protective immunisation. |
||
Maintenance
grant increased CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — The Punjab Government has enhanced the amount of the monthly maintenance grant to the soldiers affected during Operation Bluestar in 1984, from Rs 500 to Rs 1500. In the case of their widows and dependents the amount was raised from Rs 500 to Rs 2500 with effect from July, 1997. This will bring them at par with the financial assistance granted to the victims of terrorism. This was revealed here
today by Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Minister of State for
Defence Services Welfare. |
||
Allottees
await plot possession GURDASPUR, Sept 2 — As many as 19 families belonging to the scheduled castes, who were allotted four-marla plots for building houses at Wara village in the Dinanagar development block in this district in 1977, are still to get possession of the plots. The land continues to be in the possession of an executive member of the Shiromani Akali Dal, despite the decisions of the courts to the contrary. It was in 1977 that the government acquired three kanal and 16 marlas of land at Wara village for distribution among Dalit families. The land belonged to Avtar Singh. The Subdivisional Officer (Civil) of the area using powers of the District Collector had given the award for acquisition of land on February 2, 1977. Avtar Singh filed a suit in a lower court against the award, but lost. The high court gave its verdict in 1982 in favour of the government directing Avtar Singh to leave the possession of the land. Mr Avtar Singh had been given higher compensation against the award of the SDO (C). The present occupant of
the land is a son of Avtar Singh. Several representation
have been made to the authorities to get the possession
in favour of the allottees, but in vain. |
||
Poll
promises not kept: Dimpa PATIALA, Sept 2 — Punjab Youth Congress president Jasbir Singh Dimpa today alleged the Akali-BJP government had failed to fulfil its poll promises due to which there was widespread disillusionment. Addressing a dharna organised by Youth Congress workers here in front of the head office of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) Mr Dimpa said the state government had failed to check corruption and tackle the problem of rising unemployment in the state. Others who addressed the
dharna were Mr Sant Ram Singla, secretary, PCC Mr Bir
Devinder Singh, general secretary, PCC, and Mr Jaswinder
Singh Randhawa, district president. |
||
Three held in murder case FATEHGARH SAHIB, Sept 2 — The district police has arrested all three persons suspected of murdering Sonu (21) on Saturday last at Bassi Pathana town. While addressing a press conference here today, Mr Parmraj Singh Dhaliwal, SSP, said the police arrested the three suspects from the Mandi Gobindgarh bus stand yesterday and recovered a pistol from their possession. Those arrested are Avtar Singh, alias Tari, Sukhbaj Singh, alias 'Baju', both residents of Khuda village in Patiala, and Balwinder Singh of Sanour. The SSP said that on
interrogation the three admitted that they had murdered
Sonu and that they were militants out on bail. |
||
6,180 IMFL
bottles seized JALANDHAR, Sept 2 — An excise party led by Mr Yashvir Mahajan PCS, Asstt Excise and Taxation Commissioner and Mr Parmpal Singh, Excise and Taxation Officer, Jalandhar district-II, raided premises in Hardaspur village in Phagwara police station today in the wee hours. The party found 6,180 bottles of IMFL valued at Rs 8 lakh. The culprits have been identified and a case has been registered under the Punjab Excise Act. Operators used to procure the non-duty paid IMFL from Madhya Pradesh distilleries and dump it in less frequented areas of the countryside and supply it in towns and cities to bootleggers by using cars and vans. Similarly 4200 IMFL bottles were seized by the excise staff with the assistance of the police last month from Suffi Pind, Jalandhar Cantt. Mr Mahajan said a
relentless vigil was being kept in view of the
approaching festival season. |
||
Dal Khalsa
defends 'commission' AMRITSAR, Sept 2 — Dal Khalsa has taken exception to the political pressure by the BJP on its alliance partner, Akali Dal, seeking a ban on "people's commission" headed by Justice Kuldip Singh probing into cases of torture and killing of Sikh youths by the security forces during the past decade. Dal Khalsa secretary-general Kanwar Pal Singh in a press note here today said though the commission was a non-governmental body, it was not unconstitutional as dubbed by BJP minister Balramji Das Tandon. "It makes no difference whether the present government has given its consent or not. The basic reality that has been overlooked by vested interests is that constituting such commissions is not a violation of the law of the land. Moreover, the reasons expressed by the BJP for a ban on the commission has more to do with the emotions of a particular class and community." "The Congress policy of repression of Sikhs was actively supported and approved by the BJP, as is evident from Mr Tandon's remarks", the note said. It asked the SAD not to "succumb to the pressure of anti-Sikh forces, despite its political compulsions". The Shiromani Youth Akali
Dal (Kahlon) has also criticised those opposing the
commission. |
||
Misappropriation of funds alleged GURDASPUR, Sept 2 — Mr Ramesh Rana, president, Pendu Mazdoor Union, has alleged the misappropriation of Rs 3.8 lakh sanctioned for the construction of one-room pucca houses for 19 Dalit families under Indira Awas Yojana. The amount was released in July this year, he said. Mr Rana has alleged that the building contractors in connivance with officials concerned charged Rs 7000 for allotting a house. The contractors has built roofs of mud instead of concrete. He has violated government specifications, he added. Mr Rana said the union had complained to the Deputy Commissioner. An inquiry officer detailed by him, along with the contractor were pressuring house owners to give statements in the latter's favour, Mr Rana said. Mr Rana has demanded that
the inquiry officer should be changed and the probe
should be completed with a time frame. |
||
Former MLA
booked BATHINDA, Sept 2 — Mr Harnek Singh, SSP said today that a case under Sections 295-A and 109 of the IPC had been registered against Mr Harbans Singh Jalal, a former MLA, for creating communal tension. Addressing a press conference here, he said the house in which Mr Jalal was residing was not his own. He was trying to possess the house by forcibly evicting the lawful owner. He said Mr Jalal was creating tension between different communities by "fanning communal passion". He said Mr Jalal had not
been arrested so far. |
||
MUKTSAR: The local general bus stand is in a pitiable state. Garbage and clouds of dust are common. The main ‘nullah’ there remains choked most of the time, making dirty water spill over. It is waterlogged during the monsoon. The ‘kutcha’ portion of the bus stand becomes slushy during the rainy season. Passengers can be seen urinating in the open as toilets remain choked. Stray cattle keep roaming around in the bus stand, littering dung here and there. Congress grass has also surrounded the area, giving it a bad look. There is no provision for drinking water as the hand pump at the bus stand is not in the working order. The bus stand has no proper building. Broken sheds are the only shelter for passengers in the rainy season. There is no proper lighting arrangements. The condition of various shops at the bus stand is unsatisfactory. Several fruit and confectionary shops function in the open. * * * * While more than 70 per cent of the population in southern Punjab comprising Muktsar, Moga, Mansa, Bathinda, Faridkot and Ferozepore has taken to liquor, bhuki (opium husk), ‘post’ smoking, tobacco chewing and other intoxicants, drug abuse among adolescents is a recent phenomenon. Drug abuse among young students, landless labourers and farmers has assumed alarming proportions, especially in the Malwa region. Even Badal, the native village of the Chief Minister, is no exception where over 60 per cent of the population is hooked to drugs. The situation in Sandhwan and Sarainage, the native villages of Giani Zail Singh and Mr Harcharan Singh Brar, respectively, both ex-Chief Ministers of Punjab, is no different from Badal village. Similar is the state of other villages and towns of the Malwa region. * * * * Kerosene dealers of Muktsar town are violating the norms set for its proper distribution. Some dealers sell kerosene in the blackmarket to petrol pumps and local shopkeepers. A petrol pump was sealed by the district administration recently in this connection. Long queues outside kerosene depots is a common sight. * * * * Telephone subscribers are
an unhappy lot. They complain that their telephones
remain dead or out of order for long periods due to poor
functioning of the Telecom Department. Many applicants
alleged that they had not been given telephone
connections even though they had applied several months
ago. |
||
 |
 |
|
 |
| Nation
| Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Stocks | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
