Passenger drugs driver, flees with taxi
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — A taxi driver lost his Maruti van when the passenger he was bringing from Shimla to Chandigarh allegedly gave him some poisonous substance and fled with the taxi from Sector 22 here.

Mr Devinder Thakur, a resident of Shimla, has alleged that his Maruti van (HP-02-6194) was hired by Sandeep, who claimed to be a resident of Ambala. The van was hired from Shimla and the passenger was to be dropped at Chandigarh. In Sector 22, the taxi driver was offered a piece of sweet that was probably laced with some drug.

The police has registered a case under sections 379 and 328 of the IPC. Meanwhile, in a separate case a Maruti car (HR-01-E-1560), owned by Mr Om Parkash Saini of Sector 16 Panchkula has been stolen from Sector 17 here.

Booked : Four persons, including a woman, have been booked for allegedly uttering words to outrage the modesty of two women in separate incidents. Deen Dayal of Sector 20 has been booked on the complaint of the woman that he uttered words to outrage her modesty. A case under sections 354 and 509 of the IPC, has been registered.

Meanwhile, three persons — K.S. Sandhu, Darshan Singh and Sarbjit Kaur — of S.A.S. Nagar have been booked for allegedly uttering words to insult the modesty of a woman and threatened her with dire consequences.

Cheated : A local resident has been allegedly cheated in a deal of a flat involving a group housing society. Mr Vinod Kumar Jain has alleged that Sadhu Ram Jain and his son Vikas Jain, who are members of the Shiv Shankar Group Housing Society, had cheated him. A case under sections 406 and 420 of the IPC has been registered against the father and the son.

Nabbed : A resident of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, Sunil Chauhan, was nabbed red-handed while trying to steal a sum of Rs 5,000 from the glove compartment of a scooter parked in the Industrial Area Phase I.

A scooter owned by Mr Sunil Kumar Mehta of Sector 45 was parked in the Industrial Area when Chauhan and his accomplice, Sanjeev Kumar, tried to open the glove compartment of the scooter. While Chauhan was nabbed and booked under sections 379 and 411 of the IPC, Sanjeev managed to give a slip.

PANCHKULA

Case registered : Mr Tejpal, a resident of Kurukshetra, has complained to the police that his truck (HR-49-3770) was hit by another truck (PB-02-9950) near Karanpur village here on Tuesday.

The police has registered a case against the erring truck driver, Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Patiala district in Punjab.

DERA BASSI

1 killed: One person was killed and five were injured in an accident near Lalru this morning.

According to sources, a Haryana Roadways bus (HR-01-PA-1073) rammed into a scooter and dragged it to some distance and also collided with a jeep (HR-07-P-3050), coming from the opposite direction in which six persons were sitting. As a result, the driver of the jeep, Baljit Singh, died on the spot while five others got injured.

A case under section 279 and 304- has been registered against Jasmer Singh, the driver of the bus, who fled from the spot.

One commits suicide: Kulwinder Singh, a resident of Janetpur village, committed suicide by jumping before the Chandigarh-Delhi Shatabdi Express on Monday.

According to sources, Kulwinder had failed in the eighth standard examination, conducted by the Punjab School of Education Board. The boy had reportedly got depressed and took the extreme step.

Body found: The Railway Police at Lalru has recovered an unidentified male body from near the local Bharat Gas Petroleum Agency. The body had been stinking and rotting for the past two-three days. The police has sent the body for a postmortem examination to a Rajpura hospital.

Delightful recital by Vineeta

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — One may not expect to associate vocal classical music with the State of Haryana, but it was a vocalist from Ambala, Vineeta Sood ,who presented a delightful vocal recital at Pracheen Kala Kendra last evening as part of their monthly baithak.

Vineeta, a disciple of Pandit Ganesh Prasad Sharma, began her rendering in raga 'jog' with clear and sure notes. The vilambit khayal in ek taal "Ae Ri Barjo Na Maane Tero Shyam" expressed her powerful notes. She explored different possibilities of expressing "Na Maan Ri, Ka Karoon" by making beautiful patterns of notes, intensifying the emotion of a beloved who is trying to pacify an annoyed lover.

Vineeta also explored the style of suddenly releasing the notes after contracting them in a subdued voice. The style that one usually associates with the gayaki of Pandit Kumar Gandharva. Her rendering of drut khayal in teental "Kahe So Na Maane, Karke Dikhoo" was versatile and melodious. Mahmood Dhaulpuri, her accompanist on the harmonium, repeated the intricate notes of "taans" in his unique flavour.

Vineeta chose to sing a rather uncommon raga "chhaya-tilak" as her second choice for the evening. The melodious raga was presented with elan. The vilambit khayal "Akhiyan Johti Din Ratiyan" was rendered in ardh navtal, a rather difficult rhythmic pattern of nine and a half beats which has a vakra movement.

The drut khayal "Jaye Sunao Hari So Batiyan" in tal jhoomra and tarana in teen tal was fast and tuneful. She concluded her rendering with a bhajan in raga Mishra Pahadi.

— Vandana Shukla

Sangeeta does justice to Paash
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — The verses of Punjabi poet Paash have seldom failed to stir emotions of his readers. Even when performed on stage, his compositions certainly have the quality to arouse these. This was what the audience experienced today during the Punjabi play 'Main Gha Haan' staged at Tagore Theatre.

The one-character play, directed by Dr Atamjeet Singh, was presented by the Roopak Kala Manch in the memory of young theatre artiste Rajiv Firani. He was a product of Punjabi University Patiala who had worked with the likes of Kewal Dhaliwal, Shekhar Vaishnavi, Balraj Pandit and Dr Atamjeet.

Based on the poems and compositions of Paash, 'Main Gha Haan', was about fighting the evils of the social and political systems. The unvarnished candidness of Paash's poetry was highlighted by an energetic performance by Sangeeta Mehta, who is known for her work with slum children.

Everything that the lovers of the poetry of Paash would imagine the poet be, was brought out well by Sangeeta, whether it was his passion, isolation or whimsical enthusiasm about life. The way letters and poems were penned by Paash, popular verses "Asi Ladangey Saathi" and "Chidian Da Chamba Ud Ke Kitey Nahi Jayaga", were interwoven between various scenes by script writer Rana Ranbir. He did not let the fast-paced tenor slack at any place.

The set, which included four Nek Chand-like dolls made by Ranjit Singh, was interesting and helped Sangeeta in keeping the interest of the audience alive while delivering her monologue. With dialogues like "I am what I was made out to be by the system" and "I am a dog who wags his tail", the play was an interesting experience.

Loveleen Kaur's production and Dr Atamjeet's directorial venture, needs to be commended for starting on time, but it did not have many takers. The light drizzle in the city seemed to have taken its toll on the play.

Trader challaned ‘intentionally’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12--Mr Vikas Bansal, a shopkeeper of Sector 38-C, has alleged that the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) is not taking any action against a sanitary inspector, who had "intentionally" challaned him for no fault of his.

Mr Bansal, who runs a cosmetics and gift shop , alleged that he was challaned in March though there was no garbage outside his shop. The reason given for challaning him by the inspector--Mr Dogra--was that a piece of newspaper was laying at a distance of over 20 feet from his shop.

In spite of a written assurance by the then Adviser to the Administrator, Mr Jagdish Sagar, nothing had been done. The former MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, had also written to the Mayor in this regard, he said

A copy of the challan obtained by The Tribune revealed that there was no name and address of the accused person and scene of the offence with date and time. It also did not mention under which Section of law or rule of byelaw the accused had been challaned.

Mr Bansal alleged that when he approached a senior official of the Health wing of the MCC he was told that since they had to carry out the orders of the higher-ups of challaning a specific number of persons no action could be taken against the official." The officials will stop challaning people if we take action against the officials," he reportedly told Mr Bansal.

The Medical Officer of Health (MOH), Dr S. S. Cheema, could not be contacted for his comments.

Ornamental plants costlier
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12—Plant lovers may be a bit uneasy as a number of ornamental plants have become costlier during the past one year.

During a survey of different plant nurseries in and around the city, it was found that though all of these nurseries were selling plants at different prices but what was common was that if the prices of certain plants were stable, some of the commonly used plants had become costly owing to a number of reasons, including short supplies from Calcutta and Bangalore.

An about two-year-old small areca palm plant, which was available for Rs 25 during last year, is priced at Rs 50 these days. Similarly, if a big plant was priced at Rs 100 last year, it can be purchased now only after paying at least Rs 200. Bottle palm, another sought-after plant among palms, was, however, available at the same old price of Rs 25 per plant in different parts of the city. On the other hand, the price of a plant of China palm has increased from Rs 100 to Rs 200 during this period.

There was a considerable hike in the price of fish tail or sago palm, as its price rose from Rs 25 to Rs 35 during this period. Different varieties of musanda plants were, however, available at the same old price. While the plant with pink and white flowers, was available for Rs 40, the attractive variety of the plant with red flowers was available for Rs 100. The same was the case with nolnia and uniper, which were still available at the old prices of Rs 50 and Rs 40 per plant, respectively.

The price of the most commonly used ficus elastica (rubber plant) has also increased during this period. If a plant was priced at Rs 25 last year, these days it can be fetched by paying Rs 35.

On the other hand, there has been no change in the price of philorodendron as its black variety is still available for Rs 100, while the green one is priced at Rs 35 in different nurseries. Similarly, if a bush of plumbago plant was priced at Rs 25 last year, it is still available at the old price.

The price of a plant of belouner has risen from Rs 20 to Rs 25, while the price of snow bush remained unchanged at Rs 25 and of gardenia at Rs 25. Likewise, a plant of aclupha, used mostly for making hedges, is also available at the old price of Rs 20.

The price of both the 'double' and 'daffodil' varieties of hibiscus has also remined unchanged at Rs 25 and Rs 35 per plant. On the other hand, the price of a plant of diffenchia and araucaria has jumped from Rs 40 to Rs 50 and from Rs 100 to Rs 125, respectively.

The prices of almost all creepers have also remained stable as a plant of chlorodendron was priced at Rs 25, money plant at Rs 35 and bougunvellia at Rs 15.

According to Mr Rajesh, an owner of a nursery in Palsora, the prices were high due to a shortage of plants in Bangalore and Calcutta, from where the supplies were unable to meet the local demand.

Fresh notice to CEC on identity cards
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued fresh notices of motion to the Chief Election Commissioner and the State Election Commissioner of Punjab and Haryana for August 12 on a writ petition filed by Ms Vimla Dang, former MLA and a CPI leader, seeking direction to the commission to issue photo identity cards to all citizens at the age of 14 years, so that they would be able to cast their votes when they are 18 years.

The Bench comprised Mr Justice H.S. Brar and Mr Justice V.M. Jain.

The petition urged that the Election Commission's decision to issue identity cards be implemented and that no person be allowed to vote without a card to prevent the casting of bogus votes. Votes were cast in elections even on behalf of persons who are dead, the petitioner submitted.

According to statistics available citizens above 18 years totalled 52.53 crore, while those enrolled on voting lists numbered 59.25 crore. This clearly showed the enrolment of fictitious persons in the voters list, says the petitioner.

Notice to university on scam report

A Division Bench of the High Court consisting of Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi and Mr Justice Iqbal Singh today issued notice of motion to the state of Punjab, the Chancellor of Punjabi University, and Punjab Addl DGP (Vigilance) on a writ petition filed by Dr Harpal Singh Pannu, Reader of Religious Studies at Punjabi University, and another employee seeking directions to take an immediate action on the vigilance report in respect of an alleged multi crore scam, which took place during Indian Science Congress hosted by Punjabi University in 1996.

The petitioners alleged that the Punjab Government had sanctioned Rs 5 crore while Rs 3.89 crore was received from other sources by the Punjabi University headed by the Vice-Chancellor J.S. Puar for conducting the congress in January 1996, whereas Delhi University conducted the Science Congress in 1997 and spent only an amount of Rs 70 lakh, even though Delhi is the metropolitan city and prices where high at that time.

Suspecting that huge amounts have been embezzled, the PUP-Teachers Association (Singla group) and the Save Univesities Association of India filed writ petitions demanding a thorough probe into the whole affair. The High Court while disposing of one of the writ petitions on October 8, 1997, directed the Vigilance Department to complete the inquiry and submit the report to the government for further action expeditiously preferably within six months. Accordingly, the Vigilance Department conducted the inquiry and submitted its report to the state government in February 1999. However, no action had been taken by the government on the report so far.

The petitioners submitted that the Vigilance Department had completed the inquiry on the alleged embazzlement and the government was duty bound to take action against those found guilty during the inquiry and launch prosecution against them in public interest.

After hearing counsel for the petitioners, the High Court issued notice of motion for July 20 to the respondents.

By Our Sports Reporter
Promoting TT in city

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — The Chandigarh Table Tennis Association is gearing up for the development of the sport in the city. It is envisaged from the calender of the activities it has planned to be organised here.

According to Mr Rajeev Kaushal, Secretary of the CTTA, keeping in mind the proposed junior national tournament, slated to be held in Chandigarh in November, players of the city will be given the desired exposure to make them aware of their standards.

At present, a table tennis camp organised by the Chandigarh Sports Department is in progress which will continue upto May 26. After this, UT Junior League Table Tennis for players below the age of 17 years will be conducted from May 27 to 31.The First Ranking Tournament comprising men's and women's singles and doubles matches, matches for under-14, under-17, and under-12 boys and girls will also be organised.

It will be held from June 17 to 19, followed by the Second Ranking Tournament from July 12 to 14 and the Third Ranking Tournament from August 5 to 7. Mr Kaushal said that these tournaments helped in giving introspection time to a player trying to improve his game.From August 27 to 29, the R.S. Mehta Memorial Table Tennis Tournament, and from September 28 to October 1, the 12th Chandigarh State Table Tennis Tournament for all age groups will be organised.

These meets will be held at the Sector 23 table tennis hall.St Stephen's carromThe St Stephen's Carrom Ranking Tournament will be held under the aegis of the Chandigarh Carrom Association at St Stephen's School, Sector 45, here from June 3 to 6.Giving this information to The Tribune, Mr Willmer, Organising Secretary of the CCA, said competitions would be held in seniors (men and women) and boys and girls singles (junior and sub-junior) categories.Entries close with Mr Sudhir Sidhu, 684-A, Sector 30-A, on May 24.