Saturday, March 13, 1999
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Saturday, March 13, 1999 |
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Agitating teachers
lathicharged CHANDIGARH, March 12 — The police resorted to a lathi charge and burst teargas shells to disperse agitating college and university teachers from Punjab and Chandigarh who were trying to march towards the Assembly here today. As many as 22 teachers, including women, were injured while several others received cane blows. Forest official’s death Opposition suspects foul play CHANDIGARH, March 12 — The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today resumed discussion on the Governor's Address. The main speaker of the day was the Leader of Opposition, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh. |
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Gherao of minister’s
car: civic chief, 4 officials indicted FEROZEPORE, March 12 — Four officials including an SDM, a DSP and two others, and the president of the municipal council have been held responsible for the gherao of the car of the Minister for Local Government, Labour and Employment, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon here, on March 7, during an inquiry by the state unit of the BJP. UGC scales
for Punjab varsity, govt teachers Civic
body chief removed Students
told to return scholarships All
Punjab districts to have Lok Adalats Bhavan
for social welfare
Officers
not working in Punjabi: govt Plea
to abolish CST on cotton Lecturer
alleges selective copying Sahara
inmates beaten up: MLA Fake
currency, contraband gold seized |
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| SDM, Principal reach compromise | |
Discrimination in pay: medical teachers |
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Agitating teachers lathicharged CHANDIGARH, March 12 — The police resorted to a lathi charge and burst teargas shells to disperse agitating college and university teachers from Punjab and Chandigarh who were trying to march towards the Assembly here today. As many as 22 teachers, including women, were injured while several others received cane blows. Terming the lathi charge as "barbaric and unwarranted", the teachers have decided to observe an "education bandh" in all the colleges and universities of Punjab and Chandigarh from tomorrow, besides declaring that March 15 would be observed as black day. It was also resolved that the teachers would boycott the examinations and all official functions of ministers in the state. The call has been given by the Coordination Committee of College and University Teachers of Punjab and Chandigarh. The decision will cast its shadow on the forthcoming theory and practical examinations scheduled to begin from March 15. The site of the venue was littered with the belongings of the agitators, including turbans, shoes and bags, as they ran for cover to duck from the water cannon. The situation was further aggravated with the bursting of teargas shells. The entire stretch of the road was covered in a thick cloud of the obnoxious gas, with teachers hunting around for water to clean their eyes. Some of them were chased for quite some distance by the police. Tempers ran high when they re-assembled. The chase of the women colleagues by the cops and caning were criticised. A large number of protesters, showed their bruised arms and legs to newspersons. Those who received injuries and lathi blows include Ms Amandeep Kaur, Mr H.S. Sidhu, Mr G.S. Dhillon, Mr I.S. Marshall, Mr I.S. Saluja, Mr A.S. Chahal, Mr Charanjit Chawla. They were rushed for first aid. Earlier, they had assembled near the Housing Board roundabout and rent the air with slogans of "Down with the Punjab Government". They condemned the government for diluting the UGC-recommended grades for the teachers. The state government has taken an irrational decision to reject the guidelines besides cutting down on the salaries of the teachers. They are being offered a salary which a superintendent in a government office gets, they alleged. The protesters were addressed by Mr Tiwari, Mr Hundal, Mr P S Bhatti, Mr N.S. Attri, Mr Jagjit Singh, leaders of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Mr Hardev Arshi and Mr Mohan Singh and Mr Kanwaljit Singh Lalli, all MLAs, Mr R.K. Sharma of the Thapar College of Engineering, Patiala, and Mr Satya P. Gautam. The speakers alleged that the downgradation was an affront to the teaching community. They were forced to come out on the roads because the gains of the previous agreement, following the 26-day strike, last year, had been diluted and there is a sense of frustration and anxiety in the teaching community. Mr S.S. Hundal, President of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, and Mr V.K. Tewari, National Secretary of AIFUCTO, and General Secretary of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, who also received lathi blows, condemned the high-handedness of the police while demanding a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Meanwhile, the Punjab unit of the Subordinate Services Federation has condemned the cane charge on the peacefully agitating teachers here today. The incident has also criticised by a Senator, Mr R.D. Anand, and Dr A.C. Vaid, Principal, GGDSD College. They said the police broke the cordon and caned the teachers, resulting in injuries to many of the protesters. Mr P.S. Sangha, President of the Association of Principals of Colleges Affiliated to Panjab University and principal of SGGS College, Sector 26, has condemned the lathi charge on teachers here today. In a statement issued here, he said the Badal government was trying to divide the teachers by giving UGC scales to only university and government college teachers, while ignoring aided-colleges in the state and Chandigarh. He called upon all federations to protest against this decision. He further said a meeting of all the principals of aided colleges would be held at DAV College, Jalandhar, on March 21 to take stock of the situation. The issues of the boycott of exams, besides locking the colleges, as they cannot function in the absence of 95 per cent grant in aid, would be deliberated upon. The Marxist Communist Party of India (MCPI) has also condemned the lathi charge. In a statement issued
here, Mr Prem Singh Bhangu, central committee member of
MCPI said that Akali government instead of accepting the
genuine demands of teachers has adopted the path of
confrontation and suppression. |
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Forest official’s death CHANDIGARH, March 12 — The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today resumed discussion on the Governor's Address. The main speaker of the day was the Leader of Opposition, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh. He had earlier led a walkout by his partymen from the House over the death of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr K.S. Aulakh, in a road accident. Several Opposition members suspected a "foul play" in the death of Mr Aulakh and pointed a finger at the Minister of Forests, Mr Mohal Lal, for having issued a "threat" to him. The members quoted Mr Aulakh's family sources and referred to a newspaper report published on a section of the press today. Congress, CPI and SAD (M) members said the nature of charges and suspicion was such that the government must respond to the issue. They demanded an inquiry. Though the Speaker, Mr Charnjit Singh Atwal, repeatedly asked the members to take their seats and would not allow any discussion on the subject, several of them insisted on speaking. The BJP member, Mr Laxmi Chawla, also made a vain bid to raise the issue. A visibly agitated Ms Chawla was seen staging a walkout on not being given time to speak. This is, perhaps, the first occasion when a ruling party member (she is BJP MLA) walked out of the House, protesting against the Speaker's attitude. Rising on a point of personal explanation, the Minister, Mr Mohal Lal, described the death of a "good" officer as "untimely" and expressed his grief. More "unfortunate" was the manner in which he was being implicated for having issued a "threat" to him and the same being reportedly on the file. Rebutting any such allegations, Mr Mohan Lal read out from an affidavit filed by Special Secretary in the Central Administrative Tribunal which had categorically and inter alia said that what Mr Aulakh had alleged in his note ("letter") was "unilateral" and the same is "vehemently denied". Denying the Opposition and the victim's family members' charge of having "threatened" Mr Aulakh, the minister sought "protection" from the Speaker. Some members were keen to drive "political mileage" out of the incident and in the process, had "trampled the traditions of the House," the minister added. Mr Mohal Lal remarked that soon after the accident, the Chief Minister had visited the bereaved family and ordered an enquiry. At this, the CPI member, Mr Hardev Arshi, stood up to say that since the family itself had sought an inquiry and given the serious nature of the case the Chief Minister should intervene. Finding the Speaker having stonewalled any further discussion, the Congress walked out, shouting slogans and demanding a CBI inquiry. After the BJP MLA, Mr Ram Lal, concluded his speech (he was on his legs on Thursday when the House was adjourned) Chaudhary Jagjit Singh made his first major speech. In a nutshell, he castigated the SAD government for failing Punjab on every front. He eulogised his own party — the Congress — for whatever development had taken place in the state and ridiculed the SAD-BJP. The speech had more of political and provocative content than comments on the Governor's Address. Since he touched raw nerves on the Treasury Benches, several members, including Mr Makhan Singh, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Mr Jagdish Sawhney and others were time-and-again on the feet rising on a point of order to drill holes in Chaudhry Jagjit Singh's statements and facts. Even the Minister of Rural Development and Panchayats, Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, intervened once when a reference was made to "bungling" in the panchayat poll. The Leader of the Congress Legislative Party made a pointed reference to the "failures" of the government on various fronts. He even attacked the government for the rampant corruption. He disclosed his meeting with the Chief Minister on Thursday. The Chaudhary spoke on Chief Minister's helplessness in eradicating corruption and his tacit support to the widespread belief that money played a crucial role in recruitment, postings and transfers and that money-bags and influential people had the best of time, irrespective of the political party in power. No one from the Treasury Benches, including the Leader of the House, stood up to rebut the corruption charges. It was, perhaps, a silent acknowledgement of the statement by the Congress leader on the corruption prevailing in the government.Chaudhary Jagjit Singh spelt out his party's programmes on the tercentenary celebrations on the birth of the Khalsa. He charged the government had "ignored the opposition". Others who spoke on the Governor's Address today included Mr Baldev Singh Khiala and Mr Gurdeep Singh Bullar (SAD). During zero hour, members raised a variety of issues. They remained uncontested by the Treasury Benches. The House was adjourned
till March 17, 2 pm. |
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SC rejects SLP on industrial
plots CHANDIGARH, March 13 — The Supreme Court has turned down a special leave petition filed by Hero Cycles Ltd against the judgement of the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashing the allotment of industrial plots under the "off-the-shelf scheme" to certain influential and rich industrialists at Ludhiana measuring from 20 acres to 100 acres. Mr Justice S.P. Kurdukar and Mr Justice A.P. Misra, who handed down this order, held: "Heard counsel for the petitioner at length and perused the material on record. It appears that on September 25, 1998, a notice was issued by the Division Bench of the High Court on the stay application. It is needless to say that there is an urgency shown by the petitioner for consideration of the stay application". The Judges added: "Since this matter has been adjourned from time to time and has now been fixed for March 11, 1999, we have no mandatory doubt that the High Court will consider and dispose of the stay application filed by the petitioner on which notice was issued on September 25, 1998. The special leave petition is rejected with the aforesaid observations". Allowing a petition preferred before the High Court by International Cycles and Strips Ltd assailing the allotment of plots to six influential industrialists, Mr Justice V.K. Jhanji had castigated the state government in general and the allotment committee constituted by it in particular. In his hard-hitting judgement, Mr Justice Jhanji had held: "To my mind the explanation put forth (by the government) is not at all convincing and is only a smokescreen to cover the illegality committed in allotting industrial plots to respondents 6 to 11. It is not acceptable that the government has the discretion to allot plots to anyone it likes simply because sufficient funds are not available for payment to land owners whose land had been acquired". The Judge had further held: "Public property and assets are not part of personal properties of ministers or Chief Ministers, nor are these meant to be used for political and personal ends. Public property is not to be seen as part of one's private property. It has to be dealt with in a fair and just manner and has to be distributed in conformity with the law. In the instant case, allotment of industrial plots to respondents 6 to 11 was without following any procedure or criterion. In fact, there is no material on the file to justify the exercise of power to make allot in their favour". Mr Justice Jhanji had noted: "Legality of allotting industrial plots to respondents 6 to 11 was also questioned in the Assembly on September 20, 1995, when one of the legislators made an allegation that a former Chief Secretary, Mr A.S. Chatha, a day before his retirement after getting proposal approved from the Chief Minister, made allotment of plots to respondents 6 to 11. "The files relating to the allotment of land to respondents 6 to 11 show that allotments were made either on account of political or bureaucratic patronage or other extraneous considerations. The files further show that the decision to grant allotment under the "off-the-shelf scheme" of undeveloped land was made in a stereo-typed manner. In almost all cases, there were no formal applications supported by project reports to be set up by these industrial houses," the Judge held. The industrial houses
which were allotted the plots were Avon Cycle Industries,
Hero Cycles (O) Ltd, Ritesh Industries, Royal Industries
and Oswal Oils and Fats Ltd. |
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Gherao of minister’s car FEROZEPORE, March 12 — Four officials including an SDM, a DSP and two others, and the president of the municipal council have been held responsible for the gherao of the car of the Minister for Local Government, Labour and Employment, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon here, on March 7, during an inquiry by the state unit of the BJP. At a press conference, held at Red Cross Bhavan, today the party's organising general secretary, Mr Jagmohan Kaura said the SDM, Mr DPS Kharbanda, the DSP (Subdivision), Mr Joginder Pal, the Deputy Director (Local Bodies), Mr G.K. Singh and municipal council's president, Mr Dharam Singh Aulakh and Executive Officer were responsible for the gherao of Mr Tandon. Mr Kaura said the five had acted in a most irresponsible manner and added, the party had sought a high-level probe against them and strict action by the government, if found guilty by the government agency too. Mr Kaura said the SDM was to inform leaders of the Beopar Mandal to come and meet Mr Tandon at the PWD Rest House, in connection with their demand for withdrawing hike in tax on commercial properties within municipal limits. But the SDM acted in an "irresponsible manner and didn't send the message to the leaders'. As a result, activists of the Beopar Mandal remained adamant on their agitation and stopped and gheraoed Mr Tandon's car. Moreover, when Mr Tandon left the rest house no police or civil official informed him that hundreds of members of the Beopar Mandal were waiting for his gherao near Makhu Gate. He said the party was not against holding demonstrations but the Beopar Mandal members took law in their hands and it was all the more regrettable when the president of the Beopar Mandal Mr Ashwani Mehta was also secretary of the district unit of the BJP. Mr Kaura said during inquiry the BJP found that the police was aware that the minister would be gheraoed, but, it did nothing to clear the road from where the car of the minister was to pass. The Punjab DGP and Chief Secretary had already been informed about the negligence, he added. The city police has
already registered a criminal case against four persons,
including two municipal councillors and Mr Ashwani Mehta.
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UGC scales for Punjab varsity,
govt teachers CHANDIGARH, March 12 — The Punjab Government today issued yet another notification regarding grant of pay scales to the university and government college teachers conceding acceptance and implementation of the University Grants Commission pattern approved by the Ministry of Human Resources Development. The Principal Secretary, Higher Education, Mr G.P.S. Sahi, told TNS tonight that the state government's fresh notification today incorporated grades strictly as per the UGC notification of December 24. Punjab, he said, however, had not accepted UGC's recommendation regarding age of superannuation, which will remain 58 for government college and 60 for university teachers. The mode of payment of arrears prior to December 31, last year, will be decided in the next financial year, 1999-2000. The government has sanctioned all allowances, namely, house rent and daily allowance etc as per the state's rates. To a specific question, both Mr Sahi and Special Secretary Education, Mr Amarjit Singh, said the state has conceded grant of Rs 14940 scale for selection grade teachers and readers, who constituted 70 per cent of the teaching faculty. The teachers of the non-government aided colleges, however, have again been left out. Even as today's fresh notification was being issued, the teachers who had gathered for a peaceful protest had a taste of police methods resulting in injuries to over 20 teachers. In the meantime, the Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal , Finance Minister, Kanwaljit Singh, Education Minister Tota Singh, Deputy Speaker Baldev Chawla, held a meeting at Kisan Bhavan here to discuss the demands of the agitating teachers, both school and college. So incensed are the teachers over police action and government attitude, that the association of principals of colleges affiliated to Panjab University of which Mr P.S. Sangha, it's president, that a joint meeting of the association and that of federation of managements of the private institutions had been called at Jalandhar on March 21 to chalk out the next course of action. "We are going to lockup the institutions and hand over the keys to the Chief Minister", he added. Mr Sangha has also condemned the police action against teachers and demanded the Chief Minister "apologise and atone" for the insult and injury to teachers who had gathered for a peaceful protest. On the other hand, the Chief Minister described the day's happenings as sad. He said the government's door was always open for a dialogue with the teachers, who should not agitate nor sit in dharna. The Punjab and Chandigarh
College Teachers' Union has also condemned the government
for its brutal action today and also for denying the pay
scales to private institutions and segregating the
government and private teachers. |
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Civic body chief removed SIRHIND, March 12 — The Punjab Government has removed Sirhind Municipal Council president Naresh Kumar Sharma from office for "failing" to carry out his duties and functions and causing financial injury to the municipality by sale of land through a general power of attorney. A notification in this regard, which has been released by Mr N.K. Arora, Principal Secretary, Department of Local Bodies, was obtained by TNS here today. The notification said an inquiry had revealed that the municipal council president had sold three khasras numbered 55/R, 21/1 and 21/2 through one Pawan Kumar in whose favour the president had executed a general power of attorney. These khasras formed part of the land held under the ownership of the municipal council by virtue of a Supreme Court order dated February 2, 1996. It said during the inquiry, which had been marked to the Regional Deputy Director, Local Government, the municipal council president had taken the plea that he had executed the general power of attorney in favour of Mr Pawan Kumar way back on February 20, 1992. The president also claimed that Mr Pawan Kumar had sold some of the land without consulting him and that he had already moved for cancellation of the power of attorney. Mr N.K. Arora noted that the inquiry had established that some part of the disputed land was sold by Mr Pawan Kumar on August 25, 1998. Mr Arora said it was unbelievable that the land in question was sold without consulting its owner. Mr Arora said the plea by Mr Sharma that he had moved for revocation of the power of attorney did not hold good as the land was sold in 1998 while the first step for cancellation of the power of attorney was taken in 1999 when Mr Sharma learnt that an inquiry was being conducted against him. Mr Arora noted that the municipal council president had failed to protect the interests of the municipality and take concrete steps to recover the land decreed in favour of the municipality. He also said even if Mr Sharma had purchased the land himself much before he became a member of the municipality, he should have surrendered the same knowing well that it was no longer his property. Earlier, Mr Naresh Sharma had contended that he had purchased the land in Braham Majra village and it was not part of the municipal land. The controversy
surrounding the sale of the land had become a contentious
issue with as many as 17 municipal councillors urging the
Executive Officer to include the issue in the agenda for
the next meeting of the council. |
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Students told to return
scholarships BATHINDA, March 12 — As many as 45 scholar students of the local government polytechnic college came in for a shock when the college authorities directed them to return the scholarship money given for the year 1997-98 at the earliest. The students, who were given scholarships of Rs 1200 and Rs 600 on the basis of their performance in different examinations have been told by the college authorities that they would not be issued certificates in case they did not return the money. Yielding to the threat held out by the college authorities in writing about 10 students have returned the scholarship amount while the others are making efforts to arrange the money. Official sources said seven students of six courses, including diploma in pharmacy, computer engineering, architecture, production, instrumentation and electronics, offered in the college were awarded scholarships of Rs 1200 and Rs 600 per year on the basis of their performance in examinations from the funds given to Punjab Technical Education Department by the World Bank. Mr Inderjit Singh, Principal, when contacted said the scholarships had been awarded by certain staff members who wrongly interpreted the provisions regarding the award of scholarships contained in the prospectus. He said the Punjab Technical Education Department had directed the college authorities that scholarships had been wrongly awarded and should be recovered either from the staff members concerned or the students. They had started recovery proceedings against the students. He said the World Bank funds were meant only for the augmentation of technical facilities and installation of machinery in the college and not for awarding the scholarships to students. He said the threat of not
awarding certificate of diploma to these students was
held out only to pressurise them to deposit the
scholarship amount at the earliest. He added that no
deadline had been fixed for collecting the amount of
scholarships. |
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All Punjab districts to have
Lok Adalats MOGA, March 12 — The Punjab Government has decided to set up Lok Adalats in all districts and subdivisional committees at subdivisional level to help reduce the burden of courts and to provide speedy justice to people. This was stated here today by Justice H.S. Brar, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court-cum-Executive Chairman Punjab Legal Services Authority, after the inauguration of a Lok Adalat here. Mr Justice R.L. Anand presided over the function. Justice Brar said time had come to provide speedy justice to people through Lok Adalats. He asked the SSP to direct the police not to harass people who came to lodge complaints and register cases. Justice Anand sought the
cooperation of all sections of society and to make Lok
Adalats a success so that the poor were not burdened with
unnecessary expenditure. He advised the Press to play a
constructive role in this programme. |
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Bhavan for social welfare FEROZEPORE: Recently inaugurated Dr B.R. Ambedkar Bhavan on the Malwal road, here, will house all social welfare offices of the state government. The District Welfare Officer, Tehsil Welfare Officer and the District Manager, SC Land Development and Finance Corporation have already been shifted to the bhavan. The local MLA and the Minister of State for Cooperation and Sainik Welfare, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, inaugurated the bhavan on February 19. The bhavan has a total area of two acres and the covered area 14,054 square foot. A sum of Rs 61.66 lakh out of funds of the District Planning Board have been spent on the construction of the bhavan and Rs 12.50 lakh would be spent soon on furnishing it. A five-member committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner has been formed for the purpose. The bhavan has an auditorium, a meeting hall, a reading room and a kitchen. The bhavan library will be used for conducting research on issues related to Dalits. Vocational training programmes would also be held in the bhavan. The SDM, Mr D.P.S. Kharbanda said some portion of the bhavan, on demand, can be given on a nominal rent to SCs for holding marriage parties. Mr Janak Raj, Superintendent at the District Welfare Office, said there was a foul-smelling "hadda-rori" on the rear side of the bhavan. Employees here demand that the boundary wall of a graveyard in front of the bhavan should be raised. The bhavan also needs a gardener, chowkidar and sweeper permanently. They want the Punjab Roadways buses to stop at the roofless bus stop near the bhavan. These observations were
made by the District Manager, SC Land Development and
Finance Corporation, Mr L.S. Sahota, at the time of
bhavan's inauguration when the DC and the SDM were also
present. But, nothing has been done so far. |
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Monkey menace dominates 'sangat
darshan' PATIALA, March 12 — The district officials who organised a 'sangat darshan' at Bhadson village, 25 km from here to redress complaints of the surrounding villages were taken aback when the villagers complained in "one voice" about the increasing monkey menace in the region. According to a delegation of the local unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union which was the first to complain about the problem and were later joined by others present including some officials of the SDM office Nabha, said in their complaint that the simians from the Bhadson "bir" (forest) were destroying crops and harassing villagers. According to them, the problem was acute in fields adjoining the forest falling in villages like, Ghundar, Srinagar Punia Wala, Sudhewal, Daya Pur and Khamura. Mr G.S. Dhillon, SDM Nabha, also endorsed the problems faced by the villagers. He said the number of monkeys was increasing rapidly in the forest. According to a rough estimate the number has risen to nearly 8,000 from 2,000 a few years back. The problem according to Mr Dhillon is aggravated due to the religious practice of offering fruits and vegetables or other eatables to monkeys from people belonging to nearby towns like Gobindgarh and Nabha. Mr Dhillon revealed that on Tuesdays 'Hanuman devotees' converge near the forest to offer fruits to the monkeys. Deputy Commissioner J.S. Bir assured villagers that the problem would be solved on priority. He said a solution to the problem would be found after consultations with Wildlife officials. He said the monkeys could be translocated to some other forest or some family planning methods to stop rapid breeding of the monkeys could be introduced. Nearly 100 complaints were
received at the 'Sangat darshan' programme. While
majority of cases related to property disputes there were
also complaints about the threat of floods to Sudhewal
village. Villagers demanded cleaning of the Sirhind choe
which plays havoc in the region during rainy season. The
Deputy Commissioner has directed Drainage officials to
prepare a plan about weeding out hyacinth from river bed.
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Officers not working in Punjabi:
govt CHANDIGARH, March 12 — The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today accepted the Treasury Bench's plea for granting extension till March 31 to present the preliminary report of the Select Committee on the Punjab Municipal Act, 1999. This was sought by the Minister of Local Bodies Mr Balramji Das Tandon. During question hour Mr Baldev Singh Khiala (SAD) wanted to have detailed information on the use of the Punjabi language in offices. He said despite there being a provision for punishment to those who did not work in Punjabi, nobody had been hauled up. The government in its reply conceded this. The Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh said regular raids were conducted. As per information placed on the table of the House, those found not working in Punjabi included IAS, PCS and other senior officers, besides senior administrators of the universities. * * * To a question by Mr Ajit Singh Moffar (SAD-M) the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said the government instructions were clear that no Red Cross donation money is to be realised while issuing arms licences. He promised to probe this practice in Mansa, where Rs 2,000 were being charged. * * * The Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mr Manoranjan Kalia, informed the House about the money spent on placing advertisements issued to various newspapers from March 1, 1997 till date. The government spent Rs 55.91 lakh, he told Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla of the BJP. The details of each ad were also given in the reply. * * * Mr Badal informed CPI's Hardev Arshi that a total of 95 persons were in the state's jail in connection with terrorist activities. The convicts numbered 35, detainees one and undertrials 59. At least two persons were
detained in jails outside Punjab, he added |
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Plea to abolish CST on cotton KOTKAPURA, March 12 — Mr Ajmer Singh, President, Cotton Pactories Association, Kotkapura, has urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to abolish 4 per cent central sales tax (CST) being levied on cotton. In a press note issued here yesterday, he pointed out that facility of exemption of CST had been extended only to new cotton spinning and pressing mills under the new industrial policy of the state government and for this reason the old units had been rendered unable to compete with new units. He said at present only those factories which were having facility of CST exemption were functional while others had been closed. He said the Punjab
Government could revive the closed units by abolishing
the CST or could bring all units on a par by reducing the
CST. He said if the state government did not take any
corrective measures the cotton industry would be
"uprooted" from the state very soon. |
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Lecturer alleges selective copying BATHINDA, March 12 — A senior lecturer of the local Government Rajindra College has alleged that invigilators at the examination centre in the college were allowing certain selective and influential candidates to copy in the plus two science examination. In a signed statement, he alleged this was being done in connivance with higher authorities. He pointed out that during the Chemistry paper yesterday in the evening session the whole set of five question papers was changed 10 minutes after the examination started to help kin of certain staff members of the college. He alleged that protest by other students was ignored. Mr SD Bhagat, Principal and Controller of the Examination, when contacted denied the allegation. He said he, himself, made a round of the said centre yesterday and no student complained of copying by selective and influential students. Admitting that five
students taking the plus two examination in the science
group at various centres in the college were kin of staff
members, he said only staff members who were on duty were
being allowed to enter the examination centre. |
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Sahara inmates beaten up: MLA AMRITSAR, March 12 — Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, BJP legislator, has alleged that the inmates of Sahara Short Stay Home — are being harassed by its superintendent. In a statement issued here today, Mrs Chawla alleged that the inmates had complained in writing that they were "beaten up" there. She demanded high-level probe into the allegation. However, Mrs Harinder Kaur, superintendent, when contacted by TNS, denied the allegations. She claimed that the complaint was "baseless and misleading", aimed at defaming her for "ulterior" motives. Mr Satya Paul Dang,
veteran CPI leader, said some workers of the District Red
Cross Society were behind the "fabricated"
complaint against the superintendent. |
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Fake currency, contraband gold
seized AMRITSAR, March 12 — Customs (preventive) Staff seized fake Indian currency, gold biscuits and wrist watches. Fake Indian currency in the denomination of 100-rupee notes amounting to Rs 69,500 was concealed in a canvas bag and attached to a cavity near the wheel of parcel van of the Samjhauta Express with the help of magnets. According to a press
release, issued here today Mr D.S. Sra, Commissioner said
the three gold biscuits weighing 349.8000 gm valued at Rs
1,52,163, 95 wrist watches and chains valued at Rs 30,000
were recovered from Ms Hajyani Hamida Bano wife of Haji
Mohammad Yasin a Pakistan national holding PP No
E-489379, who arrived from Pakistan by the Samjhauta
Express, during preventive checks. |
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SDM, Principal reach
compromise KAPURTHALA, March 12 — Following intervention by District Administration, a compromise between Mr N.S. Baath, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, and Mr J.K. Mehta, Principal of the Local Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Government College over copying case framed against the domestic help of Mr Baath in which both entered into a tiff and levelled charges of misbehaviour against each other in a examination centre set up in local college for X plus II classes on March 9 was received. At a meeting, convened today by Mrs Usha R. Sharma, Deputy Commissioner differences, between them over the copying incident following which tussle between them took place on the premises of local college on March 9, were amicably settled. Mr Iqbal Singh Senior Superintendent of Police and Mrs Surinder Kaur Nibber District Education Officer also participated in the meeting. Meanwhile district
administration tightened security around the examination
centres to check copying. |
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Discrimination in pay: medical teachers CHANDIGARH, March 12 — The Punjab State Medical and Dental College Teachers' Association at an emergency meeting today condemned the autocratic attitude of the Punjab Government and the discrimination against them in matters of pay scales. The association president, Dr Manmohar Singh, said while all categories of employees and teachers have been granted revised pay scales only the teachers in medical and dental colleges have been given step-motherly treatment by denying them the benefit. What has caused anguish among these teachers is the fact that even after a public announcement was made on November 6 last regarding grades, the same has not been implemented. That meeting was chaired by the Chief Minister. Yet no notification has been issued till date. The association is planning to file a writ in the high court for the redressal of the grievances of the medical teachers. At least 10 senior doctors
have quit service out of sheer frustration causing a loss
to the state. Having exhausted peaceful modes of
agitations, wearing black badges, etc and repeatedly
meeting politicians and bureaucrats concerned the
association decided to "intensify" their
agitation to seek justice. |
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Non-teaching staff observe
strike LUDHIANA, March 12 — Non-teaching employees working in non-government aided colleges of Punjab, observed a stay in today on a call given by the Punjab and Chandigarh Non-Teaching Employees Union (PCNTEU). The employees condemned the attitude of state government regarding the scrapping of 95 per cent deficit grant scheme. Members of the union also boycotted the plus two examination at various centres. The union members are also
demanding the introduction of revised pay scales, the
release of notification of pension and gratuity to the
employees etc. Mr RP Sharma, president of PCNTEU informed
that the union had decided to boycott all ensuing
examinations from March 15. |
||
Mongolian envoy visits PAU LUDHIANA, March 12 — The wheat and paddy varieties of Indian origin are doing well in Mongolia. This information was given by the Ambassador of Mongolia, Mr Oidov Nyamdavll, on his visit to Punjab Agricultural University here yesterday. The Mongolian Ambassador said that the Punjab farmers are known for their hard work and entrepreneurial capabilities in agriculture, they could help agriculture in Mongolia. Small tractors with matching farm machinery would be ideally suited for agriculture in his country. Mr Nyamdavll held a meeting with the PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr G.S. Kalkat, and deans, directors and scientists of the university. He was here to explore the possibility of collaboration in different areas of agriculture. Dr Kalkat assured him that there was much scope of collaboration and exchange of material in agriculture. He suggested that a delegation of farm experts and farmers from Punjab should visit Mongolia to see the feasibility of setting up joint ventures and collaborative programmes in agriculture. Earlier, the Ambassador
and his team held a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner,
Mr Arun Goel, and other officers. He also visited some
hosiery units in the city to promote bilateral trade. He
prevailed upon the industrialists to enhance the use of
Mongolian wool in their units. |
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Badal convenes meeting today CHANDIGARH, March 12 — The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has convened a meeting in connection with the tercentenary celebrations at Kalgidhar, Fieldganj Gurdwara Ludhiana tomorrow. The SAD Secretary, Mr
Kirpal Singh Badungar, said today that among the invitees
were the Sant Samaj, Sikh institutions, Singh sabhas,
Sikh organisations, SGPC executive committee members,
SAD's district presidents etc. The programmes were to be
held under the patronage of the five takhts. |
||
March against drugs launched CHANDIGARH, March 12 — With a view to educate people against the use of drugs and intoxicants, "Daswan Trust," comprising about 100 participants mostly living abroad, has launched a 'drugs free" Punjab march from Khadoor Sahib to Anandpur Sahib as part of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa. The participants were received by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, here today and were given a rousing welcome. Mr Ranjit Singh Bhail, Mr Jaswant Singh Grewal and Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, all from England and the moving spirit behind the march, said they were pained to find that Punjabi youth indulged in use of intoxicants. The march started from
Khadoor Sahib on March 7 where Guru Angad Devji had
raised a strong voice against the use of drugs about 465
years ago. |
||
Dharna by PSSF PATIALA, March 12 — The Punjab Subordinate Services Federation (INTUC) staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here today in protest against the anti-employee attitude of the Punjab government. Employees of various government departments participated in the dharna. Addressing the gathering Mr Swaran Singh, president, local unit of the PSSF said the Punjab government had 'failed' in all fields due to which there was unrest among the employees. He said not only the subordinate services, but all other employee organisations, farmers and even traders had voiced dissatisfaction the government by with staging rallies and dharnas. Other speakers also criticised the Punjab Ministers for ignoring the development of the state and indulging more in fighting among themselves. The employees are
demanding immediate implementation of 15 per cent house
rent for employees working Patiala city. Relaxation in
income tax and better promotion avenues. |
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