C H A N D I G A R H

New ST rates on 200 items in UT
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The Chandigarh Administration today amended the rate of sales tax on nearly 200 items to introduce the Uniform Sales Tax on a par with other states and union territories. The new rates of uniform sales tax have become effective from today.

Students from various colleges of Panchkula at an arms display organised by 2 Bihar in Chandi Mandir cantonment on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan	Songs, dances mark R-Day functions
	Impressive tableau
	19 honoured
Awarded by Administration, harassed by cops

Suicide in custody to be probed
SAS NAGAR, Jan 27 — A 25-year-old Sohana resident belonging to a minority community died after allegedly consuming some poisonous substance while in police custody on Tuesday last — a fact denied by the police.

COMMUNITY

Water leaks, MCC sleeps
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The massive hike in the price of water notwithstanding, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh seems to care two hoots for the wastage of water if the leakage of water from a supply line outside The Tribune office for the past three days is any indication.

Club to focus on pending projects
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — "With the coming of the new millennium, focus of the Rotary has changed from just being a club to being a way of life, a philosophy of life," according to Mr Arun Sharma, District Governor of Rotary International, District 3080, who was in the city to review the projects and activities of the Rotary Club of Chandigarh and to discuss future projects.

Danger from electric wires
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Overhead power lines have become a threat to the lives of the residents of Ram Darbar, Phase 11. These wires run so close to the houses that in some areas a man standing on the roof is in danger of coming in contact with them.

Admn blamed for encroachments
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The BJP has blamed the Chandigarh Administration for encroachments in Pocket Nos 2 and 11 in Mani Majra.

CRIME

Book cop for assault: dargah caretaker
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Accusing a Chandigarh Police Sub-Inspector of "criminally assaulting" him, care-taker of Lalalanwala Pir Durgah at Daria village — Abdul Razaq Khan — today sought directions to the UT Administration and the Station House Officer of the Industrial Area police station from a city court to register a case against the cop.

Labourer crushed to death
LALRU, Jan 27 — A labourer, Uttra, hailing form Madhya Pradesh, was crushed to death on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway by a tractor-trailer (PGV-6062) here last night.

Student succumbs to injuries
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Sadhna, a resident of Mani Majra, who had set herself ablaze yesterday, succumbed to her injuries at the PGI here this afternoon. She lived at an ashram in the city.

Convicted of rash driving
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — A schoolteacher accused of injuring a person after ramming into a tea stall has been convicted and released on probation by UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class) A. K. Bishnoi.

BUSINESS

Rs 150.64 crore spent on basic pay
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27—The Chandigarh Administration has estimated to have incurred an expenditure to the tune of Rs 150.64 crore as basic pay and Rs 48.88 crore on DA for its employees during 1998-99.

Seminar on Internet technology
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — A seminar to highlight the role of Internet technology was held at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Sector 30, here today.

• Shanta to visit city today

EDUCATION

Homoeo students end agitation
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The agitation by the students of Sector 26 Homoeopathic Medical College, Sector 26, who have been seeking the removal of the college Principal, ended today after 38 days.

Students visit infantry unit
CHANDI MANDIR, Jan 27 — The regimental ambience of a quarter guard, the glamour of an officers’ mess and the stimulation of handling weapons were all there for college students from Panchkula during a visit to an infantry unit here today.

PU yet to finalise paper setter issue
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Panjab University is yet to give clear indications of having two paper setters in each paper at the post-graduate and the under-graduate level for the forthcoming annual examinations in March.

• MCM DAV wins 3 trophies
• GCG-11, Home Science College win NCC title

COURTS

HC summons DSP on officer's 'disappearance'
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed Mr Ranjit Singh Dhillon, DSP (Vigilance), Punjab, posted at Patiala, to be personally present in the court tomorrow to reply to the allegations that he had illegally managed the disappearance of Mr S.P. Singh, Mining Officer at the Punjab Industries Department.

Driver sentenced to RI
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Nearly six years after a cyclist was declared “brought dead” at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research here after being hit by a tanker, a city court has sentenced the driver to rigorous imprisonment for one year, besides imposing a fine of Rs 500.

‘Settlement of WSC dispute to take time’
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Seeking long adjournment of the appeal against the dismissal of an application for restraining Justice Kuldip Singh from acting as the World Sikh Council President, petitioners Mr Baldev Singh Brar and Mr Talib Singh Sandhu today claimed that the settlement of the dispute by the Akal Takht Jathedar would take time.

CULTURE

Anger over sacking four men
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — It was at a tumultuous open meeting of the Punjab Arts Council today at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, various dissenting voices were raised against the ousting of four junior-level employees of the council.

Medical students shake leg, hit ball
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — Students of Goverment Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, were at their boisterous best at the inaugural function of the Euphoria-2000, a fusion of cultural, sport and literary events which began here today.

Akademi presents Faujan
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi today presented a Punjabi play, Faujan, by the Suchetak Rangmanch, Mohali, at Punjab Kala Bhavan, Sector 16. The play was directed by Anita.

Talented tabla player dead
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — In the death of Pawan Kumar Verma, a renowned tabla player, on January 25, the region has lost a great musician and fine person. He met with an accident at the Chandigarh-Shimla highway while returning from ITB Central School, where he was teaching music.

HEALTH

Artificial Limbs Centre to be functional soon
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — An artificial limbs centre catering to battle casualties is expected to get functional at the Western Command Hospital, Chandimandir in about a month’s time.

SPORT

LIC, OIC to meet in final
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The Life Insurance Corporation of India will take on Oriental Insurance Company Limited in the final of the Inter-Financial Sector Cricket Tournament, the semi-finals of which were played here yesterday.

ADMINISTRATION

Jacob insists on one-stop facility at DC office
CHANDIGARH, Jan 27 — The Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut- Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), during his visit to the Deputy Commissioner's office today, emphasised on the need to have an integrated computerised system that would evolve a ''one-stop facility'' to cut out malpractices and red tape in the process involving transactions relating to property and to ensure transparency in the system.