Thursday, May 20, 1999
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N E W S Thursday, May 20, 1999 |
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Indicted cops suspended CHANDIGARH, May 19 — The five policemen, including two DSPs and an Inspector, who have been indicted by an inquiry committee, stand suspended while a criminal case will registered against two officials as directed by the Chandigarh Administration. Confirming this, the new IGP, Mr Asad Farooqui, said there is no plan of questioning the decision of the Chandigarh Administration in suspending the five officials. "I believe that powers that wrest with a junior officer are automatically enjoyed by his senior also," the IGP said while explaining the decision of not contesting the Chandigarh Administration. He also held his first meeting with inspectors and DSPs informing them that the five will be suspended and sending a signal on how he wants the force to behave. Dr Kiran Bedi, who was transferred to Delhi last night, had not accepted the decision of the Chandigarh Administration and termed it as interference. This had resulted in a major controversy. The five, who had been granted leave, by their bosses when the Chandigarh Administration issued orders for suspension on May 6 have approached the police headquarters. Two of them met the IGP today. The DSP, Mr Devinder Singh Thakur and Head Constable, Yashpal met the IGP today while SI Balihar Singh , who has undergone an eye operation , will appear before the IGP tomorrow. The two other suspended officials, DSP Subhash Sagar and Inspector P.K. Dhawan, are said to be away to Bangalore on some personal work and will return in the next two or three days. New DSPs will be posted
to replace the suspended ones , Mr Farooqui said. |
Anuradha goes back to Haryana CHANDIGARH, May 19 — Mr N.K. Jain, an IAS officer of the 1978 batch of the Haryana cadre, today took over as Home Secretary, Chandigarh Administration. The outgoing Home Secretary,Mrs Anuradha Gupta, has been repatriated to her parent state of Haryana on her request. Mrs Gupta, who was appointed Chairperson of the Chandigarh Housing Board, besides being asked to continue as Chief Electoral Officer and Chief Vigilance Officer, requested the Chandigarh Administration, the Election Commission of India and the Central Vigilance Commission to relieve her of her assignments today and allow her repatriation to Haryana immediately. Both the Chief Election Commissioner and the Chief Vigilance Commissioner have reportedly agreed not to block her repatriation. In all probability, the Adviser to the Administrator, Mrs Vineeta Rai, will currently hold the additional charge of both Chief Electoral Officer and the Chief Vigilance Officer till the Chief Election Commission and the Central Vigilance Commission agree on the appointment of a regular successor to Mrs Gupta. Mr Jain, who was relieved by the Haryana Government late last night, had to wait until late in the evening to assume charge of his new assignment as a number of procedural requirements had to be completed. Mr Jain becomes the 13th Home Secretary of Chandigarh. Mr Damodar Dass, Mr S.N. Bhanot, Mr B.S. Ojha, Mr G.V. Gupta, Mr M.G. Devashyam, Mr R.S. Mann, Mr B.L. Mittal, Mr S.P. Mittal, Mr P.K. Verma, Mr R.N. Prashar and Mr Sanjay Kothari had been Home Secretaries earlier. There was a commotion when Mr N.K. Jain arrived to take charge of his new assignment. Until then, the Administration had not issued any orders about his appointment. It was only after orders
about repatriation of Mrs Anuradha Gupta were issued that
formal orders about his appointment as Home Secretary
were issued and he joined. |
Chandigarh sans Kiran Bedi Chandigarh, May 19 — A day after Dr Kiran Bedi was transferred, opinions about her exit continue to be varied, while the fate of several community-friendly schemes and those started for the benefit of policemen and their families started by her remains uncertain. While some schemes started by Dr Bedi functioned normally today, other schemes and norms laid down by her were flouted since last evening itself. This morning the acting IGP, Mr Asad Farooqui, said that “all good schemes started by Dr Bedi will carry on as usual.” He added that at some places we will have to strike a balance, as for example like the controversy over parking of vehicles in the grain market. Meanwhile, at the police headquarters in Sector 9, the atmosphere was very quiet as officials discussed the transfer of Dr Bedi in hushed tones. Besides the cops, city residents also debated the manner in which she had been shifted, while for some it was work as usual. The local unit of the Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) , has written a letter to the Union Home Ministry seeking cancellation of the transfer orders. On the other hand, since morning reports of fresh encroachments outside shops and showrooms, especially in Sector 22, were received. Though yellow-coloured cranes used for towing away vehicles were pressed into service, parking was not as uniform as it used to be during the brief tenure of Dr Bedi. Last night some cops, who had not consumed liquor since Dr Bedi imposed the “no liquor” rule, reportedly had a drink or two. A few middle-level cops admitted that they had their first drink after about 40 days. In the police lines in Sector 26, several lower-level cops drank liquor last night, a thing they would have dreaded just a day ago, as Dr Bedi had planned to send the salaries of liquor consuming cops to their wives and families, besides taking action against them. The beat system, started effectively by her, will be missed if not kept up in the similar manner, is the general statement among citizens of the city. A senior cop admitted that this was the best-ever functioning of the beat system in the city. Mr Surinder Singh, a Sector 22 TV dealer said Dr Bedi was one of the best officers the city had got after Mr Sumedh Singh Saini, and was doing excellent work . “It is a loss for the city as encroachments will slowly return in the verandas and parking will be as haphazard as it used to be earlier.” The scheme of diverting traffic onto slow carriageways off Madhya Marg continued as usual in the morning as well as during the peak evening hours. A Head Constable hoped that the computer training school started for children of policemen, the scheme of having tutors for children and a crèche function normally. “The going away of madam is a big loss for the cops and their families”, the Head Constable said while listing out many good points of Dr Bedi. This morning senior officials kept up their practice of touring a police station each. It remains to be seen if such things carry on. Same holds true for the drive against eve-teasing, the system of one-way traffic movement outside selected schools, and curbing of unauthorised driving of two-wheelers by minors. The Deputy Mayor, Mr
Bachan Singh, said there is great resentment and shock
among people about the transfer of Dr Bedi. The Marble
Traders Association has also expressed resentment at the
transfer. The Residents Welfare Association, Sector 40-A,
said Dr Bedi should have been allowed to complete her
term in Chandigarh. |
Victim of surgical negligence? PANCHKULA, May 19 — A 36-year-old woman of Sector 11 here had the shock of her life when she was told by doctors at the PGI in Chandigarh that a sponge in her abdominal region was the cause of the severe pain ever since she underwent a Caesarean operation about two and a half years ago. Since the day of the operation at a local private nursing home the woman, Ms Kaushalya, had been running occasional fever and experienced pain which became more severe in the past few months. The husband of the victim, Mr Krishan Lal Thaiya, a Junior Engineer with HUDA, said when his wife's pain became unbearable she underwent an ultrasound and then a CT scan, which revealed an abdominal mass. Then a specialised test (FNAC) at the PGI revealed a retained abdominal sponge as the cause of the severe pain. The question that arises is how the abdominal sponge was left in the abdominal region? The victim alleged that the doctors at the nursing home left the sponge during the Caesarean operation at the nursing home in Sector 7 here in October, 1996. She alleged that after the operation she developed some complications due to infection from her stitches. She kept on visiting the nursing home for the requisite treatment. The woman who is convalescing at her house alleged she had spent more than Rs 40,000 to get rid of the pain. At least Rs 25,000 had been charged by the nursing home during the treatment. The abdominal mass removed during the operation at the PGI were pieces of sponge reportedly left during the Caesarean operation. The husband of the woman
stated that he was filing a case in the local consumer
court against the nursing home for alleged negligence in
dealing with the case of his wife and endangering her
life. |
BJP against ‘LS
dissolution’ CHANDIGARH, May 19 — Putting the Hindutva on the backburner, the BJP as its election strategy will make an all-out bid to project itself as a liberal organisation with the objective to widen its acceptability in all parts of the country. Unfolding the party's election strategy, its vice-president and spokesman, Mr Krishan Lal Sharma, told TNS here today that only those issues would be carried in the common election manifesto which would be acceptable to party's allies. There would be no clash on the inclusion of issues in the manifesto with allies, Mr Sharma asserted. The party, apart from issue of Ms Sonia's foreign origin, would make the redrafting of Centre-State relations as a major issue. "Our party wanted to give more powers and almost full financial autonomy to states", Mr Sharma said. It would be part of our election campaign. The BJP was of the view that without the states becoming of strong the Centre could not be stronger. He said the BJP was prepared to implement the Sarkaria Commission report with regard to Centre-State relations and would also like that if it did not serve the purpose. It would be prepared to set up one more commission to accommodate the viewpoint of states on Centre-States ties. From Mr Sharma's talk it was clear that the BJP would once again project Mr A B Vajpayee as prime ministerial candidate during the election campaign. Asked what other issues would be raised by the National Democratic Alliance, Mr Sharma said: "We would press for changes in the parliamentary system to save people from facing elections repeatedly". Asked to elaborate, Mr Sharma said that the people elect their MPs for five years and they should complete their full term. The BJP wanted that the Lok Sabha should not be dissolved in any case before completing the full term of five years. If any party's or any alliance's government lost majority during the five year period those opposing the government should be asked to come out with an alternative arrangement. But such an arrangement should seek the confidence of the House before the fall of government of the party or alliance in power. Quizzed about Mrs Sonia Gandhi as prime ministerial candidate, Mr Sharma said no person with foreign origin should be allowed to become Prime Minister, President, Vice-President, Chief Justice and Chief Election Commissioner. "We will go to people with this issue urging for amendments in constitution in this connection", he added. Mrs Sonia Gandhi had not adapted herself to Indian society, he alleged. Neither she had any political qualification nor experience and on what basis should she be accepted as Prime Minister, he asked. "To project Mrs Gandhi as PM could be compulsion of the Congress party, but it was not of the country", he said. Asked whether the NDA would keep its doors open for the entry of more political organisations, Mr Sharma said that if any like minded party was prepared to join the alliance after the election its case would be decided on merit. Lashing out at Left parties, Mr Sharma said these parties were playing "most sinister" role in Indian's political system. "These parties thrive on creating political in stability as these are unable to form a government on their own. Left leaders work as advocates for pulling down governments" Asked about the crisis
in Uttar Pradesh, Mr Sharma admitting that there was a
crisis said that BJP leaders were together as far as the
Lok Sabha elections were concerned. |
FCI gets permanent
affiliation CHANDIGARH, May 19 — The Food Craft Institute (FCI), Sector 42, a premier food education centre in the city, has got affiliated with the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, New Delhi, the central apex body for hotel education in India with effect from the academic year 1999-2000. An intimation to this effect was sent by the Additional Director-General ( Tourism), Mr M.K. Khanna, to the UT Home Secretary-cum-Chairperson of the Food Craft Institute, Mrs Anuradha Gupta. The Principal of the institute, Mr Alok Shivapuri, has in a press release, stated that only two institutes from the country have been granted permanent affiliation. The other is the institute at Trichurapalli. The institute will admit students to the courses as per the norms of the national council. They will have to strictly follow the minimum educational qualifications and age limits prescribed by the council. The new syllabi and the PG diploma courses will now be initiated under the guidelines supplied by the national council from academic session July 1999. According to Mr
Shivapuri, the affiliation granted to the institute will
eventually result in standardising the hospitality
education at craft level in the country which will be of
immense benefit to the tourism industry. This will also
enable the teaching faculty to get extensive exposure at
national and international levels. |
Spotted beasts to infuse new
blood line CHANDIGARH, May 19 — They are spotted, they are sturdy and they are ferocious. Their mission is to infuse a new blood line into the in-bred leopard and panther population at Chhat Bir Zoo. A pair of spotted leopards arrived at the zoo, 20km from here, after a 10-hour tiring motor journey. Their fangs bared, they growled and attracted quite a crowd at the black panther enclosure near the Lion Safari. The zoo authorities had quite a time keeping the crowd at bay as the spotted beasts were to be guided into the enclosure. The leopards have been taken on a breeding loan from the Manda Deer Park at Jammu. This new blood line from the Jammu leopards was the need of the hour as the in-bred animals had developed some deformities. The new blood line would arrest in-bred problems being faced among animals in captivity. The pair of spotted leopards has been specially acquired for mating with black panthers which could be seen strolling in the open enclosure as the spotted leopards were being coaxed into the cages. According to Dr Vinod Sharma, Director of the zoo, the new blood line was urgently needed as deformities had started creeping into the in-bred population. Making the leopards enter the special enclosures was no easy task. Their small cages were dragged. The spotted beasts growled and clawed the carriers. As the small cages were virtually fitted into the enclosure opening, Dr Sharma asked other helpers to stand all around with iron rods as a number of women and children stood at a distance. The female leopard sped into the enclosure. And after a brief survey, dozed off in one corner of the cage. The male leopard, the sturdier of the two, refused to move into the enclosure. At least five helpers lent their might so that the cage did not move from the enclosure opening. One last effort, and the male leopard also ran into the enclosure, kissing its mate as it entered the adjacent enclosure. Besides the in-breeding problems, the zoo is also facing a problem of plenty. Imagine the lion population at the zoo has reached 80. A similar situation exists in the tiger enclosure. The vasectomy operation performed on the rulling male lion has resulted in new ruling males emerging from the pride. According to Dr Sharma, the tigers are in demand and they will not face any problems on that front. But then the lion population is causing problems, the biggest problem is the food budget. The zoo has also acquired a pair of black bear. The warm weather is
keeping the animals in their covered enclosures. The gate
of the covered enclosures is kept open to beat the heat. |
Congressmen rally round Sonia CHANDIGARH, May 19 — Local Congressmen held a dharna here today to express their solidarity with Mrs Sonia Gandhi and urged her not to resign from the presidentship of the party. Even though they were protesting for the same cause, the infighting in the party was evident in separate clusters of workers sitting at different places in front of the Chandigarh Congress Bhavan in Sector 35. The timings of the protest also varied from two to six hours by various frontal organisations of the party. Office-bearers of the CTCC, said a resolution expressing faith and confidence in her leadership, besides requesting Mrs Gandhi to reconsider her decision to resign from the presidentship of the AICC was passed. Members expressed their dismay at the points questioning her leadership by their own partymen at a time when she was going about preparing for the forthcoming parliamentary polls. This has not only strengthened the hand of the BJP but has kicked up an unfortunate controversy. It amounts to weakening the party by raising inconsequential issues. A signed statement by 36 members also declared that without her leadership, they will not be able to function and have, thereby, tendered their resignations. The resolution has been forwarded to Mrs Gandhi. Similarly, local units of the INTUC, Seva Dal, Mahila Congress, Youth Congress and the NSUI, also held dharnas and expressed their faith in the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Addressing the gathering, leaders of the units condemned the role of Mr Sharad Pawar, Mr P A Sangma and Mr Tariq Anwar and said that they were issuing the statements at the behest of certain communal and anti-national parties. They also appealed to
the Congress Working Committee not to accept the
resignation of Mrs Gandhi. |
Teachers advised to innovate CHANDIGARH, May 19 — About 86 teachers of nursery classes of various government schools attended a workshop on ideas to make classroom teaching interesting at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, here today. The workshop was organised by Mrs Sudesh Kalra, in charge of the project of revamping nurseries in various government schools. The idea behind it was to encourage teachers to develop innovative ways of teaching to catch the attention of students and promote the playway method of teaching. Mrs Sarup of Headstart Nursery School, Mani Majra, assisted by Mr Uday Sarup, shared the experience she had gathered from teaching abroad in nursery schools for over a decade. "If you want a child to do something, you must do it yourself first. Don't be ashamed to learn what you don't know,'' she advised the teachers present at the workshop. The duo stressed the need for knowing all about each student and advised teachers against being harsh with any child. Mrs Sharda Devi of Dutt Vishesh School, Sector 26, said that the major problem of students in some schools was the background they came from. It was essential for a teacher to develop the feeling of confidence in her students and help them overcome their complexes. Mrs Sudesh Kalra advised
the participants to follow the book prescribed by the
Education Department which dealt with all aspects of
children in nursery classes and provided tips on making
teaching interesting. |
SNIPPETS PU postpones entrance exams According to a press note, the entrance tests for admission to LLB, LLM, MCA, PGBCA, M.Com, MMC, Bachelor of Library and Information Sciences, Master of Library and Information Sciences, M.Ed, MA (education), MA (physical education), Bachelor of Physical Education, M.Sc (honours school), and M.Sc (two-year course) courses, scheduled for June 8 to 12, have been postponed. They will now be held from June 16 to 20. Meanwhile, enquiries regarding all combined entrance tests conducted by the university, can be made on telephone numbers 541053 and 541441 (extension 1104). Haryana Sahitya Akademi awards One held for thefts Various household items worth nearly Rs 36,000 also have been recovered from his possession. In a press note, Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu, SSP, Patiala, said Mr Swaran Singh, a resident of Lohgarh village, had lodged a complaint regarding thefts in his house on May 17. To nab the suspects involved in the case, the police held a Naka near Zirakpur and arrested Anil Kumar, while one of his accomplices fled. The police has recovered one air-cooler, a coloured television, a tape recorder, a gas stove with regulator, room heater, two irons, a camera, a receiver of dish antenna, a cordless phone set, room heater, hair dresser, imported blankets, a cycle and one rickshaw. Mr H.S. Bhullar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, said Anil Kumar has confessed to committing the crime and said that one Kamal Bhaiya used to accompany him in stealing the articles and that they used to carry the stolen articles in the same rickshaw. Shopkeepers resent illegal market Mr Ram Kumar, President of the association, said their business was suffering because of this unauthorised market where more and more people were setting up shops. No official responsible for checking such violations had taken notice of the menace. Despite assurances by the Adviser during his visit to the colony, nothing had happened, he added. MFC students call on DUI Mr Akhil Kumar Goyal, General Secretary of the Panjab University Campus Students Council, said the delegation led by Mr D.P.S. Randhawa, President of the council, also met Prof I.N. Chaudhry, in charge of the MFC courses, and Prof Santosh Sharma, Chairperson, Correspondence Studies, PU. Judge inspects courts |
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