Helmet order stayed till July 15
Fate of 270 challans issued on Monday not known
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 28 — After almost 270 women were challaned for driving or riding two-wheelers without helmets, the Chandigarh traffic police, acting on directions from the top, asked its staff over the wireless system to stop the challans this afternoon.

Confirming that no more challans will be issued till July 15 the DSP, Traffic, Mr S.S. Randhawa said, ''We have been asked not to issue any more challans now. This morning, the traffic police started challaning women at different points in the city as part of its drive launched to comply with the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Unmindful of the withdrawal of the orders, several city women continued to wear helmets right till late at night.

The police did not clarify what the fate of the challans already issued till afternoon would be. It is not clear if the challans will meet their fate through the court or the documents will be returned.

Meanwhile, several social organisations protested over the move of the Chandigarh Administration to challan women.

A deputation of Sikh social bodies met the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber. The deputation had apprised him that women were exempt from wearing helmets under the Chandigarh Motor Vehicle Rules, 1990. The exemption had been given for the reason that it injured the religious feelings of the Sikhs, who, according to their religious code, are not supposed to wear the helmet.

The issue of challaning women has been controversial and raised much confusion among the city residents, who are not sure if the challans are to be issued or not.

'Now I've done it'

It was brought to the notice of The Tribune that a traffic policeman continued to challan women at the traffic lights near Durga Nursery on the Panchkula road even after receiving a message on his wireless ordering him not to challan helmetless women till July 15 around noon today.

Protests by the women riders, residents of Sector 44 A, Chandigarh, who could clearly hear the order relayed on wireless bore no fruit. He haughtily replied, "Now I've done it," and did not apparently listen to their entreaties or the order.

‘Minimise court intervention’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 28 — The enforcement of certain traffic rules and regulations in the city following the vacation of an apex court stay order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directions have brought out the intervention of the judiciary in the larger interest of public safety, which is otherwise an administrative function.

No doubt the public, which has been caught unawares, is facing a lot of inconvenience in the wake of it, but few people associated with the implementation of these rules laud the role of the judiciary in forcing the Administration to implement the same in the larger interest of the public. While holding the Administration to be ineffective, they maintain that it should strive to regulate traffic on a regular basis, which would automatically end court intervention in such matter.

Ms Ranjana Shahi, a municipal councillor, holds the Administration responsible for overlooking the aspect of evolving and implementing fresh traffic rules in the post terrorism era. The ineffective and inefficient traffic authorities further did not consider the rational and practical difficulties while enforcing these regulations. As a result the judiciary was forced to intervene to help check chaos. However, it is not healthy for judiciary to execute the regulations which otherwise fall in administrative areas. The courts particularly the apex court, by delaying the final orders and giving interim orders have only compounded the confusion and paralysed the system. The enforcement of certain regulations which began with a gusto after the high court landmark judgement fell flat with the Supreme Court granting a stay following an SLP by the Administration. She also questions the filing of the objection petition by the Administration which was only directing them to do their job through a lawful order.

Mrs Manjit Kaur Sandhu, Vice-President of the District Bar Association, is of the view that since the Administration had failed to implement the traffic regulations, the judiciary by way of vacating the stay on certain points is only trying to enforce these regulations more rigorously.

While admitting the inconvenience that the implementation of some regulations are causing to the public, she suggests that the implementing authorities should have sought total clarification in terms of various practical difficulties, from the courts before starting challaning. For instance, drivers of two-wheelers should be made to wear helmets, but the pillion riders, particularly the women should be exempt from the same. Moreover, the implementation of the judgement in parts before the final disposal of the case at the apex court level is not in good taste, she adds.

On the contrary, Mrs Kulwant Dhaliwal, Vice-Chairperson of Consumers Forum, Chandigarh, is all in favour of the implementation of most of the traffic regulations.

A devout Sikh, she feels that women should wear helmets, as over the years traffic has increased manifold and the enforcement of such precautionary measures will only ensure more safety. She maintains that religion is a personal affair and should not have a bearing on the practical aspects of life. Since the Administration has practically failed to be effective, the judiciary in order to cover up the failure of the Administration is trying to enforce strictly, she asserts. Even some other measures like blanket ban on the movement of cycle rickshaws will help check traffic hazards in these areas and subsequent accidents.

Mr M.S. Lobana, a former UT District and Sessions Judge, also maintains that traffic management is a function of the government or the executive but judiciary comes into picture in the event of the complete breakdown of the administrative machinery. He is of the view that courts can give directions but are not in a position to oversee its implementation and check violations. This should at best be left to the authorities concerned, for the lapses in the implementation may otherwise bring disrepute to the courts. However, the Administration should not hesitate to seek clarification from the courts in case of any hardship. He further asserts that the directions of the high court with regard to the use of helmets and other such measures are in larger public interest and ensure the safety of people.

Mr R.K. Kaplash, a traffic warden, feel that gaps in the implementation of rules and regulations has given rise to resentment among people. “One will have no objections if certain regulations are enforced and continued, but one does feel baffled when it is discontinued and restarted without sufficient notice,” he adds.

The Administration, which is the executing authority, should not only be competent to implement these regulations but also check the price rise of certain items like helmets and films following their implementation.

Brig J.S. Phoolka ( retd), also justifies the role of judiciary in the strict enforcement of various rules and regulations. Condemning various organisations for confusing basic issues with religion, he questions as to where is the problem in wearing a helmet, which is basically for protection. However, the rules should be applied uniformly and no one should be above law. He further maintains that for the rules to be effective, they should be socially acceptable and practical. He illustrates his point by saying that had the city got a proper transport system, the need for banning the movement of rickshaws would not have arisen. The move may cause inconvenience to a section of society, but will definitely help reduce accidents.

Kickbacks case: approver suspended
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 28 — Mr Jagdish Mitter, Superintending Engineer (Electrical), who had turned approver in the ongoing kickback case registered by the Vigilance Department against certain officials of the UT Engineering Department, was today placed under suspension by the Chandigarh Administration.

Mr Mitter is also an accused in a fresh FIR registered by the Vigilance Department on March 16, 1999, accusing certain officials of preparing inflated estimates for the 11-kv feeder. In this case certain engineers have also been arrested.

The suspension order was issued by the Administration pursuant to a query from the Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, on an application moved by K.K. Jerath, former Chief Engineer, objecting to Mr Mitter’s turning approver.

The Home Secretary, Mr N.K. Jain, who issued Mr Mitter’s suspension order this morning said the administration was averse to the pick-and-choose policy adopted by the Vigilance Department hitherto. “The Punjab Governor Lieut-Gen BKN Chhibber (retd), who is also the Administrator of Chandigarh, has made it clear that the Administration will treat all suspects uniformly and will not let off any official named in the FIR.

Mr Jain clarified that in the case of other suspects, there were only allegations of taking kickback on the basis of certain diaries seized from alleged middlemen. One was not sure whether these allegations would be proved in the court of law or not.

As for Mr Mitter, he had made a confessional statement before the Chief Judicial Magistrate that he had taken Rs 3.20 lakh by way of commission from three alleged middlemen.

Mr Mitter was arrested on June 3, 1998, in connection with the FIR No 1 of February 3, 1998, under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 406, 420, 409, and 120-B of the IPC. He was released on bail on August 6, 1998. He turned approver on October 29, 1998, and was reinstated the next day.

The second person who had turned approver in this case, was Mr A.K. Sachdeva, an Executive Engineer. He was arrested on April 21, 1998. In his case, the police had not sought police remand, while in the case of all other persons named in the FIR, including peon Hira Mani, police remand was insisted. The administration also did not oppose his bail plea. No wonder he was released on bail on April 23.

Mr Sachdeva has since been repatriated to his parent state of Haryana. He was also immediately reinstated.

According to the prosecution, there were entries of Rs 69,000 against his name in the diaries seized from the alleged middlemen.

DC promises job to Major's wife
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, June 28 — A condolence meeting was held today at Gauri Shanker temple in Sector 17 here to pay homage to Major Sandeep Sagar who laid down his life in the defence of the nation.

Ms Saroj Siwatch, DC of Panchkula, assured the family members of the late Major that Rs 5 lakh would be soon released. She also promised a government job to Mrs Sandeep Sagar within one month, education free of cost to their children and a park or a road in his name as a mark of respect to the brave officer.

Among those present at the meeting were Ms Saroj Siwatch, DC, Panchkula, a former DGP, Mr H.S. Swan, Mr Ramesh Jeevan, Principal, DAV College, Chandigarh, Mr Pradeep Chaudhary, INLD General Secretary, and Mr Shyam Lal Bansal, BJP leader.

Resentment over laying of cables
From Our Correspondent

ZIRAKPUR, June 28 — Resentment prevails among residents of Pir-Muchhaila village over the laying of transmission wires to the village by the Punjab State Electricity Board. Villagers alleged that the department had cheated them by laying single and two-phase transmission lines in the village. They said earlier they had been assured 24-hour power supply through three phase-power lines by the authorities concerned.

Villagers claimed that for regular power supply, they had deposited Rs 10,000 on July 4, 1997, as per a scheme of the government. They said the authorities had not kept their promise made to villagers by not installing three-phase power lines in the village.

Meanwhile, an official concerned said the department was laying the cables according to a survey report submitted by the assigned authority. The single and double-phase transmission wires could be replaced with the three-phase later on, he added.

Workshop on railway services opens
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 28 — A two-day workshop on "railway charter on passenger services in Northern Railway" opened here today. It was organised by Consumers Forum Chandigarh, in collaboration with Consumer Co-ordination Council and Friedrich Naumann Stiftung, New Delhi.

Railway officials wanted to know what could be done to improve the services. The members and invitees of the forum were keen to point out all things or services that passengers found missing when dealing with the railways or travelling by train.

Among the major points were rising incidence of thefts, harassment at reservation centres, unclean coaches, alarm chain pulling, unattended enquiry telephones, improper food and rude staff. Among the major demands put forward were a third shatbadi between Delhi and Chandigarh and reduction in car parking charges at railway stations.

Mr Aslam Mehmud, Chief Commercial Manager, Northern Railway, admitted that thefts on board trains were rising. The government railway police (GRP) was not doing its job despite getting half of its salary from the railways, he said. He admitted that the connivance of certain sections of the staff was not ruled out. The entire staff could not be blamed, he added.

Mr Mehmud said, "we are bound to falter when the volume of tickets booked on a daily basis is taken into account. For example, on May 17 this year, the railways booked the maximum number of tickets — 2,37,859 — across the country. The railways has not been able to control the harassment to passengers by porters. Pulling of alarm chains, particularly in Bihar, is the bane of the railways."

Mr Bejon Mishra, Programme Adviser, Consumer Coordination Council, said the only way the GRP could be made to act was that the railways paid compensation for lost baggage to passengers and adjusted the same against the GRP wage bill. He said no one realised the value of subsidy.

Mr Harchandan Singh raised the demand for a third shatbadi between Delhi and Chandigarh and a direct train between Chandigarh and Amritsar. Mr H.S. Ahluwalia said no telephones were attended to and parking fee was high. The 30 per cent concession for senior citizens was not being implemented, he said. Refunds were not being given on time, he added.

Mr Satya Pal Jain, a former MP, said passengers did not know where to lodge a complaint or whom to meet for redressal of grievances. Wing Cdr J.P. Singh (retd) said 4 or 5 counters out of 11 functioned in Chandigarh. Many passengers slept in corridors.

The railway officials clarified that there was no rule of having attendants in any class of travel, except AC and first class. Among others who attended the meeting were Mr Jai Dev Singh, Chairman of the forum, and Brig J.S. Phoolka (retd).

Saint-cheat yet to be traced
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, June 28 — Even as the list of victims, all aged women, who have been duped of their jewellery by a self-styled saint and his woman accomplice is growing, different tactics adopted by the police to nab the couple have failed.

Residents express doubt over the sincerity of efforts being made to nab the culprits.

According to police records, at least eight cases reported from different sectors in the town in the past three months remain untraced. The modus operandi of the suspects is that they identify their victim and then follow her. The self-styled saint asks the victim the address of a Radha Swami Satsang centre and leaves. A little later, the woman accomplice approaches the victim and tells her that the man was a great saint and could fulfill her desires or help her to get rid of her problems.

Policemen in plain clothes posted in the area of operation of the couple have so far not yielded any results. In most of the cases, the suspects have been seen escaping in an Ambassador car.

A 55-year-old woman, Ms Parveen Gulati, had to part with gold jewellery worth over Rs 50,000. She was going to a cobbler in the sector market when a man in his late thirties approached her, asking the address of a centre run by a religious sect. In the meanwhile, a woman, who described herself as a teacher arrived there and told her that the man was a saint. According to Ms Gulati, the woman accomplice told her that she was issueless prior to meeting the saint and assured the aged woman that he would solve all her family problems.

The police suspects that the victim was brought under some sort of spell by the cheats who made her part with the gold jewellery which she was wearing at that time. When the woman went home and opened a bundle, she found that her jewellery had been replaced with steel bangles.

A similar modus operandi had been adopted by the suspects in other cases.

Police personnel say that after they found that the couple were mainly targeting couples in Sectors 16 and 17, some aged women volunteers were prepared to be deployed in the sectors so as to trap the cheats. But the couple shifted its operation to Sector 4 where an aged woman, Ms Kaushalaya Rani, was duped of her jewellery in the same manner on June 22.

Even computer portraits of the cheats have not helped the police nab them.

Enforcement drive by police
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, June 28 — The Panchkula police has launched a drive to ensure enforcement of law and order in the town. It has enforced certain measures which will help in checking the crime rate in the area.

The verification drive for all tenants and domestic help will be expedited. This drive was launched earlier this year.

Mr Surinder Pal Singh, Inspector, sector 5 police station, says, "All records in this regard will be maintained and upgraded from time to time to ensure crime prevention." He adds that the police has launched an identification and combing drive in many villages.

A new system on the pattern of the Chandigarh police, called Cops Mail, has been introduced. Initially, cops mail boxes will be put up in all the police stations and subsequently in public areas. This will help the public in interacting positively with the police and give feedback to the police to make the system more community oriented.

A new beat system has been introduced, in which each sector will have a sub-inspector or an ASI. The cop will monitor all activities in the sector and provide personalised and quick service to all residents.

The token system will be relaunched soon at most of the public areas, starting with parking lots in sector 5, from where many vehicles have been stolen. The number of barricades has been increased to check penetration of intruders in the area. There has also been an increase in the number of mobile vans. A special drive will be enforced from today to ensure adherence to traffic rules. The traffic police will challan violators under the Motor vehicles act, including those using tinted glasses in cars.

SNIPPETS

NIIT launches new curriculum
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 28 — A software and computer training company, which runs five local centres, today held a press conference at the CII auditorium, Sector 32, to announce the launch of its new Web Centric Curriculum.

Addressing the press conference, Ms Madhulika Tripathi, North India Operations Head of the NIIT, said the new technology would involve implementation of on-line classroom learning, abundant Internet access for students and the new curriculum.

The launch of training programme in the latest version of the Linux software was also announced at the press conference. Ms Tripathi said that by January next year, all NIIT centres across the country would be providing Web Centric Curriculum.

She also said that Web Centric Curriculum would represent a revolutionary way of learning computers, with hands-on time increasing by 220 per cent for students.

On the introduction of the Model Centered Learning Architecture (MCLA), Ms Tripathi said that it would not represent traditional division between a classroom and a computer lab but would provide a backbone for the new curriculum.

The MCLA would allow students to build on what they know while learning from an expert and would also not overload them with information, she added.

Poultry men hold rally
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 28 — Employees of the Punjab Poultry Development Corporation held a rally here today under the banner of the Punjab Poultry Development Workers Union to protest against the state government’s move to wind up the corporation.

Among those who addressed the rally were Mr Devi Dayal Sharma, Mr Dev Raj, Mr Labh Chand. Union leaders said that employees were not responsible for the losses suffered by the corporation. They said wrong policies of the government had made the corporation suffer losses.

They demanded the revision in their pay scales from January 1, 1996, release of arrears, bonus for last four years and scrapping the move to wind up the corporation.

Bail application deferred
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 28 — The Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, today deferred till July 5 a joint application for bail moved by Sushil Kumar and a large number of other persons who were booked by the local police on the charge of cheating the public in the sale of lottery tickets.

Earlier, their bail application was turned down by the Judicial Magistrate, Mr A.K. Bishnoi.

In their bail application before the Sessions Judge, they stated that they had been falsely implicated in the case. They claimed that no offence was made out against them on the basis of the FIR registered by the local police.

Claiming that no recovery was to be made from them, the applicants told the court that the Judicial Magistrate had erroneously rejected their bail plea.

The applicants also contested the stand of the Administration that it had got a notification published in newspapers banning the lotteries under the Lottery Regulation Act, 1998.

Seminar on open schools on July 1
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 28 — The Punjab School Education Board, in collaboration with the National Open School, New Delhi, will organise a national seminar on `` Open School Education System — the school level development/expansion and deliberations on its different aspects’’ at Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10 here on July 1.

Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister, Punjab, will inaugurate the workshop and Ms S.K. Sandhu, Secretary, School Education, Punjab, will preside over the seminar.

According to a spokesman of the board, the heads of five neighbouring state school boards, universities, education departments and various academic experts will participate in the seminar. Similar seminars will also be held at Amritsar on July 10, at Patiala on July 12, and at Ferozepur on July 17.

Mahila Congress panel constituted
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 28 — Mrs Lalit Joshi Bhardwaj, President, Chandigarh Territorial Mahila Congress Committee, has constituted the state body, besides nominating presidents of district and block units of the committee. These appointments have been made with the approval of Mrs Chandresh Kumari, President, All-India Mahila Congress.

The new committee comprises four Vice-Presidents, four General Secretaries, nine Secretaries and nine Joint Secretaries. Those nominated today are: Vice-Presidents — Ms Sudesh Chaudhary, Ms Salochana Ahuja, Ms Naseeb Kaur and Ms Prem Lata; General Secretaries — Ms Neelu Pal, Ms Neeru Manchanda, Ms Indu Sharma and Ms Neeru Sharma; Secretaries — Ms Masuma Ansari, Ms Minakshi Chaudhary, Ms Mohinderjit Kaur Sardana, Ms Mohini Sharma, Ms Shanti Devi, Ms Leelawati, Ms Kuldeep Kaur, Ms Sangeeta and Ms Ruby Naaz; Joint Secretaries — Ms Biasa Devi, Ms Bala Devi, Ms Luxmi, Ms Meera, Ms Ram Piari, Ms Chand Verma, Ms Supinder Kaur and Ms Anita; Treasurer — Ms Kamini Sharma; President (Urban) — Ms Minni Sidhu; and President (Rural) — Ms Dinesh Kumari.

Footpath workers hold rally
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 28 — Members of the Footpath Workers Ekta Samiti held a rally to protest against the decision of the Administration to issue licences to only 2,274 vendors and alleged that as many genuine persons had been left out of a survey conducted by the Estate Office to arrive at the present number.

A protest dharna proposed to be held today in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office was postponed as the Administration decided to announce an unscheduled holiday on the eve of Kabir jayanti today.

‘3 women responsible for poll’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 28 — The national President of the Mahila Morcha of the BJP, Ms Maya Singh, has held three women, Ms Sonia Gandhi, Ms J. Jayalalitha and Ms Mayawati, responsible for the mid-term poll in the country.

These women by their actions created such circumstances that the mid-term poll became inevitable, putting additional financial burden of several hundred crores of rupees on the country, she alleged, while talking to newsmen here today.

She claimed that only the BJP under the leadership of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee could provide an able government. Even the opponents of Mr Vajpayee, who had a clean political record of over 40 years, acknowledged his abilities, she added.

Urging the women to play a prominent role in the social and political spheres, Ms Maya Singh said the morcha had launched a country-wide programme with a view to strengthening the organisation. She had already covered eight states and would address a meeting of party workers at Mukerian tomorrow.

On the party ticket for women, she said the morcha was doing its "home work" and would approach the party high command in this regard soon.

The BJP leadership had clear stand on the women reservation issue and it were, in fact, the Opposition parties which had stalled the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill, she added.