Woman lodges dowry complaint
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The police has registered a case against the in-laws of a Sector 7 resident for allegedly harassing the latter for bringing inadequate dowry.

Ms Manju Gautam lodged a complaint that she had been illtreated by her in-laws for bringing insufficient dowry. She has named her husband, Rajiv Sharma, her father and mother-in-law, Chaman Lal and Usha, besides other family members in the complaint. The case has been entrusted to the Crime Against Women Cell while a case under Sections 406 and 498-A of the IPC has been registered at the East police station.

One injured: A pedestrian, Mange Ram, a resident of Sector 7, Panchkula, was injured when he was hit by a car (CH-01-W-8488), driven by Ashok Gupta, near the Mani majra barrier. While the complainant has been admitted to the PGI, a case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered at the Mani majra police station.

Liquor seized: The police has arrested Teg Bahadur and Radhey Sham, residents of Badheri village, and seized 100 pouches of liquor from them. A case has been registered at the Sector 36 police station.

Car stolen: Mr C. L .Garcha of Sector 23-B reported to the police that his car (CH-OI-D-7106) was stolen from a parking lot in Sector 17. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered at the central police station.

9 held: The police has arrested nine persons for committing various offences in the city. Four persons have been arrested under preventive action act. Three persons have been arrested for creating nuisance under the influence of liquor at a public place.

Two persons have been arrested for roaming under suspicious circumstances.

Car stereo stolen: Mr Sushil Kumar, a resident of Sector 28, reported to the police that stereo in his car had been stolen.The car was parked in the parking lot of the general hospital. A case has been registered.

Special lecture on Gandhi
Tribune News Service

CHANIGARH, Sept 30 —The Department of Gandhian Studies in Panjab University will organise a special lecture on "Understanding Gandhi today" at Gandhi Bhavan on October 2, a press release said here today.

The lecture will be delivered by Prof B.M.Sagar, Shiekh Baba Farid Chair. Prof S.L.Malhotra, a former Chairman of Gandhian Studies, will preside.

Results declared: Results of the first year in Master of Finance Control examination of Panjab University were declared here today, an official press release said.

Copies of the result gazette will be available at the enquiry counter in the new building on all working days, the release added.

PUTA stand: The Panjab University Teachers Association in a press release today said that college teachers had a wrong impression that the university teachers were trying to grab seats in the Senate earmarked for college teachers which had fallen vacant from Haryana.

The PUTA said that since 1978 it had worked only to have bigger representation for campus teachers. Several struggles were launched on this front.

All crucial issues regarding campus teachers, including appointments, promotions and budgetary allocations as well as research facilities, figured in the Syndicate and the Senate which needed bigger representation of university teachers.

The PUTA said that the elected representation for university teachers was, however, dismal. The number of teaching departments was small when the university calender came up. The present situation demanded enhanced representation of campus teachers on the governing bodies. There were only two representatives of professors and two of lecturers and readers from 59 teaching departments, the release said.

The PUTA said that it welcomed the enhancement of seats for college teachers and hoped support from them for supporting the university teachers.

Himachal photos on display
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — An exhibition of photographs which celebrates winter comes to the city.

'Wanderings' by Sanjay Kumbkarni displays about 45 of his latest works in various areas of picturesque Himachal Pradesh. It is about the vermillion sun and snow-clad peaks.

The exhibition, sponsored by the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, will be inaugurated at the Punjab Kala Bhawan, Rose Garden, Sector 16, here tomorrow.

Interesting pictures include those which have been shot with 45-minute exposure or more. The sculpturesque quality of some photographs, like those that show the colourful 'parandis' or the light of a thousand 'diyas' placed together in a monastery, are alluring and captivating. Portraits of 'pahari' children capture the mood and melancholy of the children and the atmosphere.

Though the entry to the exhibition displays a huge NZCC banner welcoming viewers, the sponsorship given by them for this exhibition has been a grant of only Rs 2,500.

Brinjal becomes costlier
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — prices of some of commonly used vegetables have witnessed fluctuation in the local market during the past four days.

During a survey of the local market, it was found that a kg of radish, priced at Rs 12 a kg just two days ago, was priced at Rs 15 today. The wholesale price of the vegetable has increased from Rs 50 to Rs 60 per 5 kg. The hike was said to be an outcome of lesser arrivals of the vegetable from Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

The price of cucumber has also increased from Rs 10 to Rs 12 a kg in retail and from Rs 40 to Rs 50 per 5 kg during this period for the same reason. Similarly, 'tori' has also become costlier during this period as its price has gone up from Rs 12 to Rs 16 a kg in retail and from Rs 50 to Rs 60 per 5 kg in wholesale market.

There was no change in the price of gourd as the vegetable was still available for Rs 10 in retail and for Rs 40 per 5 kg in wholesale market. Capsicum, however, has become costlier during this period. A kg of the fruit, priced at Rs 30 a kg just two three days ago, could be had today for Rs 40. The wholesale price of the same has increased from Rs 130 to Rs 165 per 5 kg. According to traders, the price hike was a result of shrinking arrivals of the vegetable from Himachal Pradesh.

Brinjal has also become costlier during this period. A kg of it, which was priced at Rs 10 a kg a few days back, could be had today for Rs 16. The price in the wholesale market has jumped from Rs 40 to Rs 60 per 5 kg in wholesale market. Similarly, lemon has also become costlier as its price has increased from Rs 35 to Rs 40.

There has been no change in price of some of vegetables during this period. A kg of arbi could still be had for Rs 20 in retail and for Rs 80 per 5 kg in wholesale market. Lady's finger was also stable at Rs 16 a kg in retail and for Rs 60 per 5 kg in wholesale market. Similary, cabbage and cauliflower were priced at Rs 15 and Rs 20 a kg. The price of tomato has come down from Rs 12 to Rs 10 a kg during this period and at the same time the price of beans has come down from Rs 24 to Rs 20 a kg. Potato was priced at Rs 4 a kg while onion could be had for Rs 12.

PUDA demand notice stayed
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Sept 30 — A demand notice of extension fee issued to a plot holder here by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) for not undertaking construction on the plot has been stayed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

A Division Bench of the High Court consisting of Mr Justice G.S.Singhvi and Mr Justice M.S.Gill, acting on a public interest petition filed by the plot holder, Mr Manmohan Singh Kamra, granted the stay on September 29.

The petitioner, who owns a one-kanal plot, lamented that as per the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (Building) Rules, 1996, the permissible covered area in respect of the one-kanal house was increased from 4,500 sq feet to 7,425 sq feet under the revised building rules. But accordingly, the zoning plans had not been revised in consonance with the new building rules.

He maintained that delay in revising the zoning plans added to the confusion among the plot holders as to how they could take advantage of the increased permissible covered area. The petitioner in a communication to PUDA on February, 1997, requested for an immediate release of the zoning plans in consonance with the new building rules but received no communication.

He then served a legal notice pointing out that he would not be liable to pay any further extension fee till the zoning plans were declared. In reply, PUDA told him that the matter of revised zoning plans was under active consideration. After waiting for about an year, the plot holder again sent a reminder but nothing happened forcing him to file the petition.

He maintained that though the zoning plans had been amended on July 29, 1998, i.e a month before he gave the reminder, PUDA deliberately concealed the amendment of the zoning plans from all the prospective plot holder planning to undertake construction on their plots.

He further said that PUDA proposed to enhance the extension fee charged from allottees not undertaking construction on their plots. Such plot holder had been devoid of benefit of covering an additional area due to delay in decision on the zoning plans on the part of PUDA. Charging extension fee from the plot holders, who due to confusion on the part of PUDA could not undertake construction on their plots, was a wrong move, he said in the petition.

Though the petitioner had prayed for staying of all the demand notice of extension fee issued by PUDA to plot holders in the urban estate, the Division Bench only stayed the notice received by the petitioner. A notice of motion has been issued to the respondents for November 17.

Plea for restraint in PGI Director's selection

Prof B.N.S. Walia, a former Director of the PGI today, filed a write petition in the High Court, praying for restraining the PGI's Institute Body from the selecting new Director of the PGI at its meeting slated for tomorrow.

The petition will come up for hearing tomorrow.

In the petition Prof Walia stated that the present incumbent of the post, Prof (Dr) B.K. Sharma, was due to retire on November 30. The Institute Body authorised the president of the institute to set up a special selection committee to make recommendations for the candidate to succeed Prof Sharma.

The petitioner stated that the President of the Institute, Mr Dalit Ezhilmalal, did not constitute the special selection committee, presumably because no confidence motion had been passed against the government and it was only a caretaker government. On August 14, Mr Ezhilamalai resigned as Minister of Health and Family Welfare and as a result ceased to be president of the institute.

On September 9, Mr A.K. Patel, Union Minister of Petroleum and Chemicals, was given additional charge of the Health Ministry and appointed president of the institute.

Prof Walia, stated that the Institute Body had no power under the Act, rules or regulations to authorise president of the institute to constitute a special selection committee to make recommendations for the appointment of Director.

The petition added that the special selection committee was a non-entity until its composition was approved by the Institute Body, which was the appointing authority under the rules.

He stated that the action of the respondents in constituting the special selection committee and in calling its meeting was "wholly illegal and mala fide".

Roller hockey camp opens
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — It was a dream come true for Ms Madhu Bahl, Principal of KB DAV centenary School, Sector 7, here when the Indian roller hockey teams, men and women, assembled today to attend the final camp at the newly-built skating rink at the school.

The skating rink, 44 m by 22 m, started in February this year. It has been made with Kota stone, with eight poles and sufficient lighting system. It has seating capacity for nearly 4,000 people.

Earlier in the morning, about 1,000 students of the school sat before the inauguration of the camp. The Gayatri Mantra, followed by 'Asdo Ma Sadgamey Aa' and 'Dandiya' dance was presented. As soon as the players arrived on the rink, girls applied 'tilak' on their foreheads. Later a match was played.

Ms Bahl said the rink would be initially thrown open to its students, who would have first priority, though outsiders would be allowed later on. Teams from other countries would also be invited to participate in tournaments, which would be a regular feature at the school.

Mr Inderpal Singh, Adviser of the Roller skating federation of India, thanked Ms Bahl for providing this opportunity to skaters to have the camp. The skating rink in Sector 10 was of lesser dimensions, said coaches.

The camp, invoving nearly 30 skaters, would have the final ten members each in men and women sections, who would accompany the team to Shanghai in China. The camp will conclude on October 12.

The women's and men's teams had finished third in the last Asian Roller skating championship held in South Korea. On their chances in the present Asian Roller skating championship, coaches Harpreet Singh and Balwinder Singh hoped gold for women and better performance for men.

The women's team is: Radhika Mehta, Sapna Jain, Armeet Kaur, Amrita Singh, Meenakshi Kohli, Indu, Priyanka, Heena, Shreya and Sonia. Standbys: Shwetha Uthappa and Rishu. The men's team is: Arvind Chaudhary, Abhishek Ratanpal, Parminder Kamboj, Paramvir Bhatia, Harvinder Singh, Rajesh Anand, Atul Sharma, Gurpreet Singh, Gautam Kamboj and Munish Kumar. Standbys: Navdeep Singh, Swaranjit Singh, Mohd Hafiz, Saurabh Kakkar and Bhupinder Kochar. Harpreet Kirti and Harpreet Singh are coaches. Balwinder Singh Johal and Sarabjeet Singh are assistant coaches.

Barkha, Harish lift titles
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — Barkha K.C., a B.Ed student of Government College of Education, Sector 20, clinched titles in women's singles and mixed doubles, while Harish Kumar of AG (Audit), Haryana, emerged the winner in men's singles at the 12th Chandigarh state Table tennis Championship at the Sector 23 TT hall here today.

Nadia Saini of DAV Public school, sector 8, won the junior girls' singles title. She defeated Amarpreet Kaur in the final 22-24, 21-12, 21-12, 21-8.

The mixed doubles' title was bagged by Anoop K.C. and Barkha. They beat Harish and Shikha 21-16, 21-14.

Barkha K.C. overcame the challenge of Ruchi Pandoh in the women's singles final. She won 21-8, 21-15, 21-15.

In men's singles, the final between Harish Kumar and Tarun Akku was an see-saw affair. Harish Kumar won 13-21, 21-19, 21-17, 10-21, 21-17.

Results — men's singles: semi-final: Harish Kumar b Sunil 21-11, 21-13, 21-18; Tarun Akku b Amod Dixit 15-21, 21-16, 22-20, 19-21, 21-14; women's singles: semi-final: Barkha K.C. b Anuradha 21-10, 21-18, 21-15; Ruchi Pandoh b Nadia Saini 21-14, 17-21, 21-13, 21-11.

GMSSS-23 win: Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 23, defeated St stephen's school, Sector 45, by five wickets in the UT Inter-School Cricket Tournament, being played at the Sector 16 stadium.

Brief scores — St Stephen's: 94 all out (Amrinder 33, Hemantdeep 30, Gagandeep 3 for 13, Sanjay 3 for 13); GMSSS: 95 for 5 in 14.5 overs (Harmanjeet 34, Hemantdeep 2 for 16, Parmod 2 for 20).

Kho-kho tournament: The under-17 kho-kho tournament for schools will begin at the Sector 42 stadium tomorrow with ten teams each in boys and girls sections. The three-day tournament has been organised by the sports department, chandigarh administration.

Pool championship: Manu G.B. Singh won two of his matches in the first Chandigarh junior and senior pool tournament in Sector 37. Manu beat Anil Walia 3-2 and later defeated Kapil Chadha 3-2. In seniors, Sandeep Duggal outclassed Rajeev 4-0, while Harish beat Narinder 4-2.

Athletics trophy for DAV-8
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, took the athletics overall trophy at the concluding day of the All-India Mahatma Hansraj Aryan Tournament here today.

Badminton tourney: Government Model senior secondary School, Sector 16, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 36, and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, emerged winners in under-19, under-17 and under-14 age groups, respectively, in the girls section of the Chandigarh Inter-Schools Badminton Tournament at Government Model senior secondary School, Sector 23.

Senior boxing: The Chandigarh Senior Boxing Championship concluded at the Sector 46 Sports Complex, with Anand of DAV College, Sector 10, wining the title in the light flyweight category. Mandeep emerged the winner in the flyweight section.

Other winners were Sandeep Yadav (bantam), Parmod Negi (feather), Surinder (light), Harpreet (light welter), Sanjeev Kumar (welter), Virender Dangi (light middle), Ajit Pal Singh (middle), Rishi Pal Singh (light heavy), Ramandeep Singh (heavy), Aman Awasthi (upper heavy).