38 rounded up in search operation
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 17 — In an order to check movement of anti-social elements, the UT police rounded up 38 persons, 6 of whom were arrested, during a pre-dawn search operation conducted in Bapu Dham Colony here today.

Three out of the six arrested were landlords who did not inform the police about their tenants, which was mandatory under Section 188. According to the police, Vinod Kumar, Vidya Sagar and Arun Kumar were arrested as they had failed to give information to the police station concerned about their tenants.

Nasir and Shamim from Kupwara and Ramesh from Begum Ganj in Bihar, who were putting up in the locality for quite some time, were arrested as they had failed to inform the police about themselves. They have been booked under Section 144 of the CrPC. All those who were arrested were denied bail and were remanded in judicial custody till November 30 by H.S. Madam, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Two arrested: The Mani Majra police arrested Satish and Rajiv of Rajiv Colony, Panchkula, for roaming in Mauli Jagran under mysterious circumstances. According to the police, they were roaming with an intention to commit an act of theft. They have been remanded in police custody till November 20 by a local court.

PANCHKULA

Teenagers held: In a incident of impersonation, which was initially not revealed by the local police, three students — Vijay, Vikas and Rajkumar — were arrested from DC Model School in Sector 7 on November 15. The students, in their teens, were appearing in a compartment examination in English under the National Open School.

A flying squad, on its routine check-up, found the suspects guilty of impersonation, following which they were arrested by the local police. Another suspect Sushil Kumar has absconded.

A case of forgery, conspiracy and cheating under Sections 417, 419, 467, 468 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered by the local police. The suspects have been remanded in judicial custody.

Burgled: Goods worth Rs 35,000 were stolen from a supermarket in the Mansa Devi complex after thieves broke into the shop. They took away a geyser, a colour television and edible goods worth Rs 20,000. A case has been registered and further investigations are on.

Power theft: A case for power theft under Section 39 of the Electricity Act was registered against Kavita Nagar of Sector 17. She had reportedly manipulated the electricity meter to get low power bills.

SAS NAGAR

Suicide: A resident of Phase XI, Pawan Chander, reportedly committed suicide. His body was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his house. A case under Section 174 of the CrPC has been registered.

Panel formed in PU to study fee hike
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 17 — A committee has been constituted in Panjab University to study protests against fee hike, following agitation by Panjab University Campus Students Council.

The Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) activists, led by Mr Dayal Pratap Singh Randhawa, President, forcibly closed the fee counters in Arts Block I and II.

The council president has appealed the students not to pay the fee till an agreement was reached with the university authorities.

The Panjab University Students Union had organised protests against the hike at least couple of times last week and had threatened indefinite strike in case university did not withdraw the hike.

Vanaspati ghee, mustard oil cheaper
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 17—Vanaspati ghee and mustard oil have become cheaper in the local market during the past one month.During a survey of the market, it was found that if a litre of vanaspati ghee was priced at Rs 38 in retail and for Rs 34 in the wholesale market last month, it was selling today for Rs 34 and Rs 31.50, respectively. According to sources in the trade, the fall was an outcome of more imports of palmoline oil by the government recently.

Similarly, mustard oil has become cheaper in the local market during the past one month. If a litre of the commodity was available for Rs 46 a kg in the retail market earlier, it could be had for Rs 44 today. The wholesale price of the same has come down from Rs 42 to Rs 41 a litre. Likewise, the price of cottonseed has come down from Rs 47 to Rs 45 a litre in retail and from Rs 43 to Rs 41 a litre in the wholesale market during this period.

There was no change in the price of refined sunflower oil as it was available in the retail market for Rs 47 and in wholesale market for 43.50 a litre. Groundnut oil was also stable at Rs 58 and Rs 55 a litre in the retail and wholesale markets, respectively. Same was the case with vegetable oil as its price remained stable at Rs 40 and Rs 37.50 a litre in the retail and wholesale markets.

There was no change in the price of desi ghee too as it was priced at Rs 140 in retail and for Rs 135 a litre in wholesale market.

Contempt notice to UT Adviser
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 17 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court issued a show cause notice in a contempt case to Vineeta Rai, Adviser to the UT Administrator, for Feburary 2 on a contempt petition filed by Mr Ram Parkash Sharma, a resident of Sector 21, Chandigarh.

The contempt petition came up before Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal, who while issuing the show cause notice, however, exempted the contemner from personal presence.

The petitioners had sought the stoppage of commercial use of back portions of shop-cum-flats (SCFs) No. 1 to 45 in that Sector.

On filing the writ petition, the High Court had directed the respondent-administration to formulate a scheme for the rehabilitation of motor mechanics who had allegedly encroached upon and were making commercial use of the space and the back portions of the SCFs. They were thus, causing nuisance to residents of the area. It was further directed by the High Court that the mechanics who were working there should be shifted from the area.

Although the order was passed by the High Court on September 9, 1997 even after two years of the order neither had a scheme been drawn up for resetting the mechanics nor were the mechanics shifted. The administration had given two years to the mechanics to vacate the premises, in violation of court orders.

Show cause notice to Principal Secretary

On a contempt petition filed by Mr Sharad Kumar, a resident of Ludhiana, Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal today issued a show cause notice to Mr N.K. Arora, Principal Secretary to the Department of Local Bodies, the Chairman and Executive Officer of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust.

The petitioner had earlier filed a writ petition in the High Court against the Improvement Trust in which the High Court had directed that the petitioner’s case for allotment of a residential plot be considered at the time of next draw of lots.

The petitioner submitted that even though he had been successful in the draw of lots, the resolution of the Improvement Trust allotting the plots to successful applicants including the petitioner, was annulled by the respondent. Later on even though the resolution was ordered to be restored, he was still not allotted any plot which violated the undertaking given by the trust counsel in court.

He wanted the respondents be punished for their contemptuous behaviour in violating their undertaking.

TT hall gears up for nationals
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Nov 17 — Table tennis fever is going to grip the city in next few days when the 61st National Junior and Inter-State Table Tennis Championship begins at the Sector 23 table tennis hall from November 20 to 25.

On Wednesday, this reporter saw finishing touches being given to the arrangements for this six-day meet. The hall was thrown open to the city players on May 18, 1996. In these years, it has been the venue for many tournaments.

Mr P.K. Verma, a senior Punjab-cadre IAS officer and President of the Chandigarh Table Tennis Association, at a press conference organised past week had said that a few years ago, he was shocked to know that there was no place for playing table tennis in the city. In those days, players used to play at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 10 or Skating Rink in Sector 10. After this, the facility was shifted to Indira Holiday Home before being set-up at the present centre finally, Mr Verma said.

Kamlesh Mehta, eight-time national table tennis champion and an Arjuna awardee, who visited this hall early this year, had complimented the facilities available here.

Mr Rajeev Kaushal, Secretary of the CTTA and himself a former table tennis player of Patiala, said in 1988, when the body was formed with Mr P.K. Verma as its President, its biggest achievement was getting directly affiliated to the Table Tennis Federation of India. He said it could be made possible due to the efforts of Mr Verma and the President of the TTFI, Mr I.S. Bindra.

Players then began getting better exposure and practice for various tournaments. Then the only problem before the body was to have its own hall. During the All-India North Zone Ranking Table Tennis Tournament which was hosted at the Sector 42 indoor hall, Mr Verma took up the case with the then Governor of Punjab, Surendra Nath. As a result, immediately the land for the hall was approved. Work on the project began in 1995 and was completed in 11 months.

The hall with a wooden area of 42 m x 14 m has a modern lighting system. At present, there are nearly 200 registered players with the association.

Since the hall came up, the CTTA has organised many tournaments. These include the National Women's Festival, the All-India Civil Services Tournament, the All-India Inter-Bank Tournament, the North Zone AG Championships, the All-India Power Boards Tournament, besides Ranking Tournaments, State Championship and various open tournaments.

Mr Kaushal who is also the coach at the centre, said in the junior boys' section, Varun Kassal, Ramit Singla, Mandeep Singh and Inderbir Singh would fight for the title among others. He also said in the girls' section, Nadia Saini, Amarpreet Kaur and Ruchi Gautam would be the players to watch. These city players have just entered the junior category and some of them are even younger for this age group. They will get the desired exposure in this tournament where top players of the country like Anirban, Anal, Sukanta Das, Jayanta Chandra in the boys' section and Poulami Ghatak, Sushmita Roy, Mamta Prabhu and Sumana Bose in the girls' section will take part.

A new coat of gum polish has been applied to the floor to make it less slippery. Glasses around the hall have been covered, fencing outside the hall done, and high-power diesel generators kept on a standby in case of a power failure. The Sports Department coaches and officials are busy making arrangements for the smooth conduct of the tournament.

Sacred Heart win 2 tennis titles
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Nov 17 — Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, won the under-17 and under-19 titles of the UT Inter-School Tennis Tournament for girls which concluded here today at the Lake Club courts in Sector 6. Earlier, Carmel Convent School, Sector 9, had won the under-14 title.

In the under-19 section's final played between Sacred Heart and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 40, the former won, 2-1. The first singles was won by Neha Singh of Sacred Heart after defeating Varuna, 6-0, 6-0. The second singles was won by Harsimran Kaur where she beat Mallika Malhotra of Sacred Heart in three games, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.

The doubles was won by Sacred Heart girls, Neha and Mallika, 2-0. The opponents conceded the match. The third place in this section went to Carmel Convent School, Sector 9.

In the under-17 final played between Sacred Heart and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 10, the former won in a tough battle, 2-1. First singles was won by Simer of Sacred Heart by beating Prabhleen Chauhan, 6-0, 6-0. Shaleen Chauhan of GMSSS-10 equalised for her team by beating Isha of Sacred Heart, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.

In the doubles match, Simer and Isha had an easy victory over Prabhleen and Shaleen chauhan, 6-0, 6-2. The third place in the under-17 section went to MRA Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, who beat Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, 2-1.

School cricket: The match between Government Model High School, Sector 38, and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 40, was tied today as both teams scored 107 runs. However, as GMHS-38 lost fewer wickets, it awarded the match in the UT Inter-School Cricket Tournament being played here at St John's High School, Sector 26. GMHS-38 made 107 for seven in 20 overs while GMSSS-40 scored 107 runs for nine in 20 overs.

In another match, Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, defeated GMSSS-35 by nine wickets. The Latter scored 101 runs and were all out in 19.2 overs while SPS-41 achieved the target in only nine overs with nine wickets in hand.

Ball badminton: In the UT Inter-School Ball Badminton Tournament for girls held at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, in under-19 and under 17 section, follwing were the results of the matches played today: Under 19 — GMSSS-21 b GGSSSS-20, 29-5, 29-12; ISDSSS-21 b GSSS, Karsan, 29-11, 29-13; GMSSS-16 b GMSSS-33, 29-1, 29-13.

Under-17 — GHS, Sarangpur b GHS-41, 20-29, 29-28, 29-19; GHS-37 b GMSSS-32, 29-11, 29-15; GMSSS-37 b GGSSS-20, 29-15, 29-14.

Handball tourney: The Chandigarh Handball Association will organise the 20th UT Handball Championship for men and women at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, from November 24 to 26, according to Mr Ravinder Talwar, Secretary of the association. Those interested may contact the handball coach, Ravinder Singh, at the centre.

Games begin: The inter-school games for the UT primary school children began here today at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 8. The meet was inaugurated by Mr Brahmjit Kalia, District Education Officer.

Nearly 700 children drawn from 23 schools took part in various events like the relay race, skipping, three-legged race etc.

Karate meet: Rachna (GMHS-36), Reena (GGSSS-21) and Hansi (GHS-37) got gold medals in the below 20 kg, 23 kg and 26 kg categories, respectively, of the UT Inter-School Karate Championship for girls being held at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, on Wednesday.

St Stephen's win: St Stephen's School, Sector 45, defeated Government Model High School, Sector 44, by eight wickets today in the UT Inter-School Cricket Tournament for under-19 players being played here at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8. GMHS-44 scored 84 runs and were all out in 16.3 overs. In reply, St Stephen's made 88 runs for the loss of two wickets in 14 overs. Hitesh scored 31 runs, followed by Ritesh who made 20 overs.