Sunday, November 28, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Sunday, November 28, 1999 |
weather  spotlighttoday's calendar |
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SGPC
member's son booked for abduction |
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Congress workers hold dharna
HC orders on traffic remain
unenforced DGP rebuts charge of BSF I-G Action against top officials
sought
BJP rejects dissidents’
demand Jaswant's resignation sought Child-lifting case report
submitted State Cong MPs to return vehicles
Docs for penalising false
complainants Welfare schemes for ex-servicemen Seminar held on justice Rieter Award |
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SGPC member's son booked ABOHAR, Nov 27 — The only daughter of a landlord Mohan Lal was allegedly abducted by a son of an SGPC member at gunpoint yesterday after the death of the landlord due to cardiac arrest at Ramgarh village in this subdivision. The Sadar police has registered a case under Sections 363, 366, 306 of the IPC and 452, 34 2527 54 57 of the Arms Act. Mrs Santosh Rani, wife of the deceased said her daughter was studying in MCM DAV College, Chandigarh. She was allegedly abducted by a son of the SGPC member on November 9 from Chandigarh. The police recovered the girl on November 24. The alleged abductor intended to marry her forcibly as she was the legal heir of her father, who had lost his son in an accident a few years ago. The son of the SGPC member had been making threatening calls to the girl for the past three days. Talks were going on when Mr Mohan Lal, elder brother of a former sarpanch and supporter of the ruling parties, suffered heart attack yesterday. Medical aid was rushed but he could not survive. The family owns more than 200 acres at prime agriculture land and orchard. Mrs Santosh Rani alleged that even when the family was in grief over the demise of the landlord, the son of the SGPC member came in a Contessa car and abducted her daughter. He had a revolver in his hand. This has sent shock waves in the area. Senior BJP leaders condemning the incident urged the police to act fast. The whereabouts of the girl were not available. The SGPC member was not
available on the phone for comments. Citizens will meet
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday. |
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Cop shoots wife, cousin,
himself PATIALA, Nov 27 — An Indian Reserve battalion constable committed suicide today morning by shooting himself with his service carbine after firing three shots at his wife and cousin sister. Constable Balwinder Singh was serving as a gunman with an IAS officer posted at Mohali. He had come on leave for the marriage of his cousin, Baljinder Kaur to Mehmoodpur village near Bahadurgarh, 10 km from here. According to Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu, SSP the constable had some minor altercation with his wife, Rupinder Kaur today morning following which he shot at his wife hitting her in the back. Hearing the shots the newly-wed cousin, Baljinder Kaur rushed in and took a bullet in the neck. After this the constable shot himself. Both the injured women have been admitted to Rajindra Hospital here in serious condition. According to Dr O.P. Aggarwal, Associate Professor, Forensic Medicine of Government Medical College here the constable died instantly as the bullet pierced his heart and left lung. He said the post mortem
examination did not find any other injuries and the
constable had not consumed alcohol. |
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Snags in Thein dam tunnels CHANDIGARH, Nov 27 — Many heads will roll as a sequel to the development of snags in the tunnels of the Rs 3500-crore Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein) hydro-electric project. An exercise is on to identify engineers and other officers responsible for the snags. "We have started the process of fixing the responsibility," said a top functionary of the Punjab Government. Punjab has suffered a loss of several hundred crores by way of generation of power and other consequential benefits due to the delay in the commissioning of the Ranjit Sagar Dam project. In fact, the project was to be commissioned in June this year but it was delayed due to certain other reasons and later its commissioning was put off due to the Lok Sabha elections. When it was being hoped that the first unit would be commissioned, snags were detected in September. The government functionary said it would take six months to put the project in order. The project is likely to be commissioned some time in March next year. The government has reached the conclusion that negligence on the part of engineers in executing the construction work on the tunnels was mainly responsible for the snags. So far there is no evidence that substandard material was used but there was substandard execution of the construction work, the top government functionary said. What has shocked the Punjab Government was the ostrich-like attitude of top officers of the project. The government functionary said it had come to notice that senior officers did not care to inspect the construction work in the tunnels and they by and large depended on junior functionaries associated with the work on the tunnels. Mr S.L. Garg, General Manager, who was appointed after his retirement as Chief Engineer at the project, put in his papers a few weeks ago as he faced a lot of criticism from all concerned following the detection of the snags. Mr J.S. Randhawa was appointed General Manager by the Punjab Government in his place. In fact, the Ranjit Sagar Dam project has a chequered history. Though the project was conceived much earlier, work started on it only in 1985. While the project is called a "peaking station" in technical terms, the other Shahpur kandi project, which is inter-linked with the Thein project, is called a "base-load station". The Shahpur kandi project should have been, as per the original plan, commissioned along with the Thein Dam project. But the Shahpur kandi project is still in the drawing board stage even though its foundation stone was laid by Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao in April, 1995. Meanwhile, the Punjab State Electricity Board Engineers Association has urged the Punjab Government to hand over the execution of the Shahpur kandi project to the PSEB in view of the failure of the Irrigation Department in the Ranjit Sagar dam project. Mr Padamjit Singh, president of the Association, said the tunnels developed serious snags in the very first filling cycle. Rampant corruption,
decline in professional standards. indiscipline and gross
mismanagement had played havoc with the project, he
added. These failures had put a big question mark over
the entire project. On the power side of this project,
unit Nos 3 and 4 had been ready for trial runs since
March/April. This could have been possible by a dedicated
team of PSEB engineers working in the Thein project
exclusively on the power side. |
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Dhindsa’s portfolio not
satisfactory: Mann PHAGWARA, Nov 27 — The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) President, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, is not satisfied with the additional portfolio allotted yesterday to Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Minister. In an exclusive interview to this correspondent here today, Mr Mann said even the portfolio of the Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation was not up to the mark and it won’t satisfy the Sikh people’s opinion. In the past, Sikhs had held important portfolios like Defence, Finance, Home, Agriculture, External Affairs, etc and unless Mr Dhindsa was given any of these portfolios, Sikhs would continue to feel slighted, asserted Mr Mann. The "Hindutava lobby" and mindest were coming in way of a dignified portfolio to any Sikh, alleged Mr Mann. Besides giving trivial portfolio to a Sikh the "Hindutava lobby" had so far had no Muslim representative in the Cabinet, he alleged. Having a dig at the BJP-led government at Centre and SAD, he maintained that even Mr Parkash Singh Badal had not done anything for ‘managing’ a significant portfolio for Mr Dhindsa while Mr Badal had put pressure to secure the portfolio of industry for his son during the previous government. Mr Mann had earlier pooh-poohed the allocation of a trivial portfolio like Works and Government Estates to Mr Dhindsa. It was being viewed that the additional charge of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation had been managed for Mr Dhindsa to silence the detractors of the Badal-led SAD. On Punjab Government’s decision to allot official residence to Punjab Governor B.K.N. Chhibber, Mr Mann said Lt-General (retd) Chhibber should be charged rent at market rate for the house. It was really unprecedented that an outgoing Governor should have said yes for government accommodation, Mr Mann continued. On former Union Home
Minister Buta Singh’s statement yesterday that
terrorists’ camps should be destroyed in Pakistan,
Mr Mann accused Mr Buta Singh of desiring to make Punjab
a launching pad for such strikes and a place for nuclear
holocaust since it would trigger nuclear retaliation by
Pakistan. |
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Relief for Orissa cyclone
victims LUDHIANA, Nov 27 — Responding to the call of the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the people of Punjab have contributed more than 3,500 tonnes of relief material for the cyclone victims of Orissa. The material was sent in two trains which were flagged off from Ludhiana railway station by the Chief Minister today. Mr Badal said the socio-religious institutions of the state had been motivated to run a big community kitchen (langar) at Jagatsinghpura district of Orissa. The kitchen was being run under the leadership of Baba Man Singh of Ropar/Pehowa and catered to 1 lakh persons everyday. Mr Badal urged the Government of India to declare it as a national calamity. Every state government and every person capable of contributing anything for the cause of rehabilitating of the cyclone hit people of Orissa should come forward in a big way in mobilising relief, he added. Mr Badal said he would discuss with the agriculture experts of PAU regarding means and ways to help in reviving agriculture in Orissa. JALANDHAR: Staff members of Punjab Kashmir Finance, a group of finance companies of North India, have contributed one day’s salary amounting to Rs 25,000 towards Orissa Chief Minister Relief Fund, according to Mr Alok Sondhi, Managing Director. PHILLAUR: Former Union Minister Buta Singh will go to Orissa along with a "cattle feed train" for animal hit by cyclone next week. Mr Buta Singh, said here today, that more than 3.5 crore animals were affected in four districts of Orissa while human population of 2.5 crore was hit by the cyclone. Mr Buta Singh said, he would proceed from New Delhi to Orissa. KAPURTHALA: Rail Coach Factory General Manager, V.P. Ojha flagged off a convoy of 19 trucks loaded with foodgrains, clothes, utensils and blankets for cyclone victims of Orissa here on Friday. The trucks were flagged off from the office of district Red Cross Society in the presence of Deputy Commisioner, Mr V.K. Singh, SSP, Mr Iqbal Singh, Mrs Sushma Ojha president RCF Women Welfare Organisation and Members of voluntary organisations. The Deputy Commissioner disclosed that the relief material collected by the voluntary organisations would be sent through a special train from Ludhiana. He thanked the voluntary organisations and the management of the RCF for collecting the relief material for the cyclone victims. AMRITSAR: The Deputy Commissioner here Mr Narinderjit Singh, today flagged off 17 truckloads of relief material for the victims of Orissa cyclone. He said that the material included utensils, blankets, clothes, shoes etc would be despatched from Ludhiana by a special train to Bhubaneswar. Earlier too, this district had sent the first consignment of 17 trucks carrying foodgrains, medicines and clothes. He added. The Deputy Commissioner thanked the local MLAs, Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Mr Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Mr Gulzar Singh Rainike, former CPI MLA, Mrs Vimla Dang, general secretary Punjab Pardesh Congress, Mrs Ratna and various other social organisation and individuals. NAWANSHAHR: Dr Roshan Sunkaria Deputy Commissioner here yesterday flagged off nine truckloads of relief material to Ludhiana from where Mr Parkash Singh Badal Chief Minister Punjab would send relief material by train to Orissa for cyclone victims. MOGA: The president of the District Freedom Fighters Association, Mr Mall Singh, had donated Rs 14,000 to the Orissa Flood Relief Fund. He handed over the amount to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr K.B.S. Sidhu. The freedom fighter had already donated Rs 36,000 towards this fund. He appealed to the people of this region to donate liberally towards the fund. HOSHIARPUR: As
many as 12 trucks loaded with relief material including
ration, potatoes, utensils, pulses, sugar and clothes
have been sent to Orissa for the cyclone victims,
according to press note issued by Mr Amarjit Hamrol,
Secretary, Red Corss Society here on Saturday. |
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Polo to stage comeback in
Patiala PATIALA: The Patiala Tigers may forever remain part of history, but polo, which once received royal patronage in this former princely state, is making a comeback with the holding of the first Punjab and Sind Bank Tercentenary Polo Tournament in temporarily prepared grounds in the Aviation Club compound from December 2 to 5. It was the Patiala Tigers, the polo team formed by Maharaja Rajindra Singh, which put Patiala on the world polo map. Maharaja Rajinder Singh, who started polo in Patiala in 1891 even married his English stable manager’s daughter, Florence, and made it a point to make the princes learn the game. The princes went on hitting the ball all the way up to Nabha in the morning before breakfast. Five years after its inception, the Patiala Tigers went on to win the Beresford Cup at Shimla for three consecutive years in a row from 1896 to 1898. The core of the team was the legendary Chanda Singh, who the Maharaja got released from the 16th Bengal Tigers for the purpose. Chanda Singh went on to become a General under Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. Under Maharaja Bhupinder Singh’s patronage the game flourished further with the team winning a number of memorable victories against arch-rivals Jodhpur. The last such match in 1922 proved to be the turning point in the history of the game in the principality. Though ahead initially, the Patiala Tigers lost the game in last "chakkar", Maharaja Bhupinder Singh is said to have been so livid at the loss that he reportedly threw the mallets of the players in to a fire. Though the present scion of the Patiala royal family Capt. Amarinder Singh, would not confirm this anecdote, he said the Patiala Tigers at their peak had a combined handicap of 40 goals — one of the best in the world. At present though no team from the state is participating in the fixture, nostalgia has resulted in some top teams of the country coming here to take part in the tournament being held under official patronage. Punjab Polo Association Vice-President Major-Gen U.S. Sidhu (retd) said the government was taking the opportunity of the tercentenary to revive polo in the city and the state. He said six teams had been invited for the tournament with four of them— 61st Cavalry, Vikram Sodhi’s Anandpur Sahib Tigers, "Yuvraj" Vikramadiya’s team and industrialist Naveen Jindals team having confirmed participation. He said those prominent who would be seen in action during the tournament include Col. Narinder Singh, Major J S Virk, Col Garcha and Tony Singh. He said erstwhile royalty, including Maharaja Gaj Singh, were also likely to come to the city. Besides a competitive match, there would also be an exhibition match everyday as some polo players were arriving in their individual capacity for the tournament. Major-Gen. Sidhu said as the polo ground in the heart the city had become unsuitable for the task due to construction of a gymnasium in it, the polo association had taken some area on loan from the Patiala Aviation Club and prepared its own field. He said the ground would be ideal as some of the participants would be jetting in and out of Patiala during the course of the tournament. Major-Gen. Sidhu said as
the ground for the tournament was being taken on loan it
could not be said whether it would become a regular
feature. He however, said if the ground was leased to the
association it could go in for a tournament at least
every alternate year. Patiala could be developed as a
polo centre due to its proximity to Delhi as foreign
teams did not preferred to participate in the Mumbai and
Calcutta circuits. He said polo could also be used to
promote tourism as well in the city. |
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Congress workers hold dharna CHANDIGARH, Nov 27 — Congress activists from various parts of Punjab here today held a dharna under the banner of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Sewa Dal to protest against the alleged anti-people policies of the Punjab and the Central Government. Mr Harbans Lal, President of the Dal (Punjab unit), who led the dharna said by hiking the price of diesel, petrol and some essential goods, the government had put unbearable burden on the people. Urging for the withdrawal of such hike, Mr Harbans Lal said that the sewa dal would intensify its agitation if its demand in this connection was not accepted. He said that due to lack of funds, development in urban and rural areas in Punjab had come to a halt. The Punjab Government had failed to handle the financial crisis, he added. He sought the removal of the Punjab Government led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Harbans Lal also sought the deletion of the name of late Mr Rajiv Gandhi from Bofors case. He submitted a
memorandum in this connection to the Punjab Governor
today. Rajiv Gandhi had not been indicted by the inquiry
agency though several probes had been held in the Bofors
issue. |
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HC orders on traffic remain
unenforced FEROZEPORE, Nov 27 — The authorities appear to have failed to enforce the Punjab and Haryana High Court directive on traffic regulation in the border district. A quick survey of the area revealed that traffic sign boards are nowhere in sight. Besides, the mandatory zebra crossings near the railway gates and above the speed brakers are missing. Drivers riding two-wheelers are often seen without helmets. This is despite the filing of an affidavit by the Punjab Government assuring the court of having implemented the directive. Taking a serious view of the laxity on part of the civilian authorities in implementing the court directive, the District Magistrate, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, has cautioned senior police officers, SDMs and Municipal Councils against possible contempt proceedings. Mr Sidhu, who earlier visited various townships and subdivisions to take stock of the situation, disclosed that officials concerned have been asked to implement the High Court directive with immediate effect. Mr Sidhu admitted laxity on part of the civilian authorities in implementing the traffic safety norms. He also warned some officials against black screening of car windows and in one case directed a senior officer to remove curtains from the windows of his vehicle. In all subdivisions, the situation is similar, he noted. As one moves from Zira to the Ferozepore city, the boards indicating speed limits are found missing. In Fazilka, zebra crossings are nowhere in sight across the speed brakers. Bus operators plying their vehicles on main roads can halt at will without caring for parking guidelines. Rarely, traffic policemen are seen challaning the violators, while drivers of two-wheelers without helmets are having a field day. In Abohar too, situation
remains the same as elsewhere. Mr Sidhu has also taken a
serious note of the court directive not being implemented
in the cantonment area. Significantly, the local
Cantonment Board had locked horns with the civilian
authorities, when the SDM, Mr D.P.S. Kharbanda had
summoned a meeting to review the traffic safety measure
in Army-controlled areas of the city. Safety sign boards
indicating a school ahead are missing near most of the
educational institutions, exposing the students to the
risk from traffic. |
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DGP rebuts charge of BSF I-G JALANDHAR, Nov 27 (PTI) — The Punjab police chief, Mr Sarabjit Singh, today said information about border crossers is routinely communicated to the BSF to help beef up security along the border with Pakistan. The Director General of state police, who was responding to reporters queries about the claim by the BSF Inspector General, Mr A.S Aulakh, that the force was not receiving full cooperation from the state police in checking infiltration, said the "IG was welcome to make his own claims". Mr Aulakh had told reporters last Wednesday that the Punjab police was continuously releasing statements claiming certain nabbed ultras had crossed over from Pakistan, but does not hand over these terrorists to the BSF to help pinpoint the infiltration sports. The DGP said BSF officials can make required inquiries at the Joint Interrogation Centre in Amritsar. While Sarabjit Singh said one meeting did take place with the DIG BSF, Ferozepore on the issue, he could not cite even a single meeting at the senior level. Mr Aulakh had said in a recent case, while the Punjab police refused to cooperate, the Delhi police came forward and handed over a terrorist who pointed one spot in the Ferozepore stretch of the border which was immediately plugged. The DGP, when asked
about this claim, merely quipped, "the IG, BSF is
welcome to make his own claims". |
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Action against top officials
sought ROPAR, Nov 27 — The Association of Junior Engineers, Civil, of Punjab State Electricity Board has urged the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to initiate the proceedings against "big bosses" in stead of lower-rank officials to curb corruption in the government offices and institutions. Hailing the steps initiated by Mr Badal against the "corrupt officials", Mr Rajinder Saini, General Secretary of the association, alleged here today that corruption started from top level which later reached the lower ranks. Mr Saini said no top officer had so far been exposed in corruption cases where as officials like junior engineers, patwaris, kanungos and ASIs had been caught by the Vigilance Department. Mr Saini demanded that the Chief Minister should give an ultimatum to all those, who had amassed wealth to disclose their assets. He added that the disclosures made by such persons would prove a blessing for the state when the state was passing through a financial crisis. He suggested that all
those who had unaccounted money to deposit the same
voluntarily in the state exchequer with the assurance
that no departmental or legal proceedings would be
initiated against them. |
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BJP rejects dissidents’
demand ABOHAR, Nov 27 — The state BJP has turned down dissidents’ demand for removing presidents of the municipal council and the city unit of the party. State president Daya Singh Sodhi held series of meetings with small groups who were pressing for replacement of council president Baburam Arya and Mandal president Arun Narang. Even Mr Narang had supported the demand for Mr Arya’s removal, levelling serious allegations against him last month. Mr Sodhi, talking to newspersons at the residence of Mr Krishan Nagpal, member of the Improvement Trust today, said that workers and office-bearers were asked to settle their differences at a closed-door meeting. Any one making press statements regarding the internal matters of the party would face disciplinary action, he said. The BJP had undertaken damage control exercise by deciding to hold meetings of district working committees. In all, 23 districts would be looked after by Local Bodies Minister Balramji Das Tandon and state secretaries, Mr Jugal Kishore Mahajan and Mr Jagmohan Kaura. He said 13 members of the local municipal council met him and discussed the party affairs. The president had been directed to improve development works in consultation with the party councillors, he said, adding that revoking the suspension of former state secretary Omparkash Sharma was under consideration. Mr Sharma had spearheaded the campaign against Mr Narang. Regarding the proposed Cabinet expansion in Punjab, Mr Sodhi said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had so far not asked for party nominations. He reiterated that the SAD-BJP combine suffered a major rout in the Lok Sabha elections because people were not happy with the performance of the state government. Also, the policies of the state government had annoyed traders. A 10-member committee comprising two BJP, one Akali minister and representatives of traders had been formed to resolve all disputes. Notification to withdraw the disputed amendment in the Punjab sales tax act would be issued shortly. He announced a
contribution of Rs 5 lakh for Orissa victims. BJP
President Kushabhau Thakre had consented to lay the
foundation stone of the state BJP building at Chandigarh
in January, he added. |
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Jaswant's resignation sought ROPAR, Nov 27 — The All-India Netaji Probe Steering Committee has protested against Union Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, following his reported assurance to a person at a meeting of Japanese industrialists on November 25 in Tokyo that he (Mr Singh) will persuade his government to work with utmost concern so that the ashes of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose can find a resting place in his homeland. Presently, ashes claimed to be that of Netaji, contained in an urn are kept in Rankoji Temple in Tokyo (Japan). The urn was placed there in 1945. Talking to TNS here today, Mr V.P. Saini, a founder-member of the steering committee said Mr Jaswant Singh, by issuing such a statement in a foreign country had not only severely hurt the feelings of Netaji's followers but also attempted to hamper the independent working of Commission of Inquiry constituted the Government of India a few months ago to make an indepth inquiry into the disappearance of Netaji in 1945. Mr Saini said in view of the seriousness of Mr Singh's statement, proceeding Contempt of the Inquiry Commission should be initiated against him so that no one in future could dare to intervene in the independent functioning of the inquiry commission. Mr Saini alsoasked BJP Chief Mr Kushabhao Thakre to clarity the stand of his party on the issue as his party had appointed the commission which will also examine whether the ashes in the Japanese Temple are of Netaji. He also demanded his resignation from the post of External Affairs Minister for making a controversial statement on such an issue of historical importance. Meanwhile, the All-India Netaji Probe Steering Committee has also approached the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, over the issue through a letter. In its letter, the
committee has mentioned that at a time when the inquiry
commission is formally going to start its working, the
visit of Mr Jaswant Singh to the Renkoji Temple is highly
objectionable as such visits convey signals which can
influence teh findings. |
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Child-lifting case report
submitted AMRITSAR, Nov 27 — ‘‘The hospital is very dirty. The Medical Superintendent should initiate action to get rid of all stray animals. There is no generator in the hospital. When the electricity supply is disrupted the whole hospital is plunged into darkness and such types of incident (lifting or disappearance of newly born baby) can occur’’. These are the excerpts from the two-page inquiry report submitted by Dr Inderjit Singh Shergil and Dr R.K. Kumra, both professors and heads of Departments of Surgery and Medicines, Government Medical College, to the authorities concerned. The two-member inquiry committee was constituted after the disappearance of a newly born baby from the labour room of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital in the first week of this month. The report mentioned various reasons which led to incidents like lifting and disappearance of newly borb baby. It highlighted numerous shortcomings at the hospital. The report suggested that corrective steps should be taken to streamline the functioning of the hospital. The suggestions made in the report included the wearing of proper uniforms by nurses and staff so that such incidents do not recur. There should be a regular chowkidar in the maternity ward. Moreover, the nurses and paramedical staff have been allotted side rooms of the ward with the result they devote less time at the ward and are not aware of any untoward incident happening in the ward. It further reads, ‘‘paramedical staff does not wear the prescribed uniform nor identification badges’’. The recovery of a child is a matter concerning the police, yet to avoid such incidents from recurrence there should be only one entry point which should be properly manned, it added. The visiting hours to wards should be limited. Beyond visiting hours entry should be allowed only by authorised passes issued by competent authorities. All trainee nurses, ANM, LHB should be accompanied by tutors and seek permission from sister concerned and professor of the unit. The report pointed out
many shortcomings in the Gynaecology Department. It
directed the superintendent to take a daily round of
various wards to ensure that they were being maintained
properly and staff was on duty. It also directed the
Medical Superintendent of the hospital to ensure that
cycles, scooters and cars were parked properly at the
parking stand. |
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State Cong MPs to return
vehicles BATHINDA, Nov 27 — PPCC, senior vice president and Member of Parliament, Jagmeet Singh Brar today said that all the nine Congress MPs from Punjab would approach Union Home Minister L.K. Advani and urge him to order a CBI probe into corruption by ruling politicians and a few select bureaucrats. Addressing a press conference here, he said that high-level corruption involving ruling politicians was the major reason for the financial crisis in Punjab. Reacting to detection of the Rs 2.5 crore scam in the Bathinda canal division, he said that it was the tip of the ice berg and crores of rupees had been siphoned off by officials in waterlogging eradication projects. Mr Brar said that he and the eight other Congress MPs would offer to return their government vehicles to the Resident Commissioner, at Delhi during the next session of Parliament. Reiterating his commitment to the transfer of Punjabi speaking areas and Chandigarh to Punjab, scraping of TADA and punishment for those involved in the massacre of Sikhs in 1984, he said he would also raise the matter of the Rs 300 crore not given to Punjab as compensation for rain-affected farmers. He said that to check
poll mal- practices the government in power should resign
before a general election and an amendment in this regard
should be made in the Constitution. |
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Jobs for widows of Kargil
martyrs AMRITSAR, Nov 27 — The Punjab government has given jobs to nine widows of officers and men of the armed forces who had laid down their lives during the Kargil operation in Jammu and Kashmir. Giving details here, the Deputy Director, Sainik Welfare, Capt Randhir Singh Bhullar, said besides Ms Alka Ahuja, widow of Sq Ldr Ajay Ahuja who had been absorbed in the PCS cadre had been appointed Assistant Commissioner, Bhathinda. The others Ms Atinder Kaur of sepoy Sandip Singh, Ms Rajnish Kumari, widow of Hav Shamsher Singh Mr Mangal Dass, son of inspector Karam Chand, Ms Harjit Kaur, widow of Major Kanwal Gulzar Singh, Ms Rupinder Pal, widow of Major Harmohinder Pal Singh, Ms Rajinder Kaur, widow of Capt Mandip Singh, Ms Darbir widow of Dy Commandant Mohinder Pal and Ms Ramanpreet Dhaliwal, widow of Major J.D.S Dhaliwal — had been given class 1 post in the Food and Supplies and in the Excise and Taxation Departments. The Director (Sainik
Welfare), Brig Kuldip Singh (retd) called on widows in
the district and addressed a small rally of ex-servicemen
at Tarn Taran. He highlighted state government schemes
for the next of kin of various Army men. |
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Docs for penalising false
complainants PATIALA, Nov 27 — A symposium on "Medicine and law in relation to consumers protection and human rights", held at government medical college here called for a need to penalise ‘false’ complainants seeking damages from doctors and that the latter in turn be more vigilant in discharge of their duties. Speakers at the seminor organised by the department of Forensic Medicine, Govt Medical College here also stressed the importance of forensic evidence in punishing persons guilty of human rights violations. A suggestion was also mooted by Justice Retd J.S. Sekhon member PHRC that instead of magistrates the inquest report regarding custodial deaths be prepared by the forensic experts as they were better scientifically equipped to deal with this. Dr S.S. Sidhu
inaugurating the symposium said there was an urgent need
to educate doctors about human rights for saving the
medical profession from unnecessary harassment. Dr Ajmer
Singh demanded introduction of punishment for false
complaints. |
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Welfare schemes for
ex-servicemen GURDASPUR, Nov 27 — Brig K.S. Kahlon, Director, Sainik Welfare, Punjab, while addressing ex-servicemen and widows of martyrs of Kargil here said today that a sum of Rs 2 crore had been disbursed as ex-gratia grant of Rs 2 lakh each from the state government funds. It aslo paid Rs 5 lakh each for the purchase of plot/flat rate these families. Brigadier said as many as 182 soldiers were wounded during the operation. Their cases for benefits to be given by the state and the central government would be progressed when their disability factors was duly assessed by the Army Medical board. Any soldier with disability resulting into his discharge from the Army would be given facilities on a par with the martyrs, he added. Brig Kahlon said Army
persons killed from January 1, 1962, to August 19, 1993,
killed during Army operations would be given ex-gratia
grant of Rs 50,000 each. Permanently disabled soldiers
from August, 1947, to April 30, 1999, would get a grant
of Rs 1 lakh each of Rs. 60,000 in cash, a three-wheeler,
auto transmission scooter and an electric chair. |
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Minister’s assurance on promotions CHANDIGARH, Nov 27 — The Punjab State General Categories Welfare Federation said here today that Mr Tota Singh, Punjab Education Minister, has given an assurance that the Supreme Court judgement with regard to Ajit Singh Janjua case would be implemented and promotions would be ordered accordingly. Mr Shyam Lal Sharma,
president of the association, said Mr Tota Singh had
given an assurance to this effect at a rally of general
category employees here yesterday. |
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One-time settlement scheme
for farmers TARN TARAN, Nov 27
— The Punjab Government plans to introduce a
'one-time settlement scheme' to collect the Rs 100 crore
owed by farmers to different banks, especially land
mortgage banks, to avoid harassment of farmers. Mr Ranjit
Singh Brahampura Cooperative Minister, Punjab,
inaugurating a crowd at the 13th 'cane crushing season'
of the local cooperative sugar mill, said the government
had distributed Rs 150 crore of 'rural development fund'
to cane growers against payment pending with the sugar
mills. Elaborating on the 'one-time settlement scheme' he
said farmers would be given facility to pay the lump sum
amount of the loan and the interest pending. |
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Seminar held on justice LUDHIANA, Nov 27 — The Madhya Pradesh Governor, Dr Bhai Mahavir, today urged upon gauge the truth of cases, besides considering the legal aspect. Dr Mahavir was speaking at a seminar organised by the District Bar Association, Ludhiana, on ‘‘speedy justice to litigants’’ here today. He said only cooperation among judges, lawyers and litigants could ensure speedy justice. The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who presided over the function, said lawyers should reduce their fees. He suggested steps to ensure justice even to the lower socio-economic strata. among others who spoke
were: Justice R.L. Gupta, Justice M.L. Singhal, Advocate
General, Punjab, Mr H.S. Mattewal, senior advocates
— Mr R.S. Cheema and Mr Pankaj Bhardwaj and Mr K.R.
Sikri, President, Ludhiana District Bar Association. |
||
Ludhiana SSP takes over LUDHIANA, Nov 27 — Mr Kuldeep Singh, has taken over as the SSP here. At his first meeting with district police officers, he emphasised that top priority would be accorded to weeding out corruption. He urged all officers to perform their duties honestly, adding that accountability would be introduced at all levels to check crime. Special attention would
be given to traffic problems of the city, he added. |
||
Medical teachers to boycott
exams CHANDIGARH, Nov 27 — The Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers Association has decided to boycott the medical examinations scheduled to begin on November 29. Mr R.S. Gill and Mr Ravinder Singh, vice-president and general secretary, respectively of the association, said the decision had been taken in view the failure of the Punjab Government to pay arrears of the revised pay scales to teachers in the government medical and dental colleges. Both leaders said they had been getting revised pay scales for the past eight months or so but so far the government had not issued the notification for clearing the arrears. The practical
examinations of medical students in these colleges are
scheduled to start on November 29. |
||
Students protest at out-of-course
paper AMRITSAR, Nov 27 — MBBS Final year students of the local medical college are up in arms over the alleged out of syllabus paper of surgery paper "A" of the final professional paper held on November 22. The students, in a press note issued here today, said that following their strong protest on November 22 the registrar of Baba Farid Medical University visited the college and agreed to give grace marks. The students said that the surgery paper ‘B’ held today, also carried questions of more the 20 marks out of syllabus. They urged Baba Farid
University to look into the matter immediately and
demanded grace marks for both papers. |
||
Teacher robbed of Rs 80,000 PHAGWARA, Nov 27 — A retired school teacher Mr K.K. Sethi, was today robbed of Rs 80,000 which he had withdrawn from a bank when he was going on a cycle to his house. A case has been
registered. |
||
National conference on pathology AMRITSAR, Nov 27 — Dr Manjit Singh Bal, Professor and Head of Department, Pathology, Government Medical College, Patiala, who participated in "Apcongold ‘99", has said a national conference of the Indian Association of Pathologists and Micro-biologists was organised by the Pathology Department of the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, to mark the golden jubilee year of the association. Punjab was represented by doctors and medical teachers from Shri Guru Ram Das Medical College, Amritsar, CMC, Ludhiana, and Government Medical College, Patiala. Earlier, the Governor of
Uttar Pradesh, Mr Suraj Bhan, inaugurated the conference. |
||
Proceedings against Prof Manjit
Singh AMRITSAR, Nov 27 —
The sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission today decided to
initiate ex-parte proceedings against the Jathedar of
Keshgarh Sahib, Prof Manjit Sikh for failing to appear
before it personally or through his counsel today. The
commission had issued summons to Bibi Jagir Kaur,
President SGPC and Prof Manjit Singh on complaint filed
by an SGPC member belonging to the Tohra group Mr Saroop
Singh Dhesi, asking the respondents not to invite the
Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee to inaugurate the
tercentenary celebration at Anandpur Sahib on April 14.
The complainant had added that inviting a non-Sikh for
this religious task would hurt the feelings of Sikhs. |
||
Rieter Award JALANDHAR, Nov 27 — The Rieter Award and a certificate was awarded to Mr Surinder Pal Singh of Dr B R Ambedkar Regional engineering College (REC) Jalandhar at ceremony here today. The chief guest at the function Mr S P Oswal, spoke of the direction in which the textile industry in India was headed. Seven visitors from Rieter Machine Works Ltd Switzerland and the Czech Republic and officials of Rieter India showed the range of products made by the firm for the short staple spinning industry. The award was formally
handed over by Mr J. Bueekler vice-president, Rieter
Machine Works and Ms Susanne Heller of Rieter Texile
Systems. |
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