 |
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| Sunday, February 20, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
UGC
grants: colleges lack initiative 25
houses demolished Move
to summon Sarbat Khalsa Takht-SGPC
row being ‘resolved’ Rise
in arms licences
Punjab
Cong criticises EC
Town
lacking basic amenities |
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| Cheques given to 120 martyrs’
kin JALANDHAR, Feb 19 — Acting on complaints of ‘indifference’ towards families of soldiers who lost their lives in pre-Kargil operations, Army authorities presented cheques worth Rs 50,000 to each of next of kin of 120 martyrs of the Armed Corps, who lost their lives in actions between 1947 and 1971. Tributes paid to Beant Singh PATIALA, Feb 19 — A number of Congress leaders and workers today remembered late Beant Singh on his birth anniversary here today.
Residents
oppose move to sell colony Shobha
yatra taken out Pollution
check-up facilities sought
Smuggler
held for offering bribe DSP
booked for minor’s rape, absconds Impersonator
arrested Robbery
suspect identified
Registrar
seeks reappointment Integrate
knowledge with compassion: Manmohan Singh Engg
college teachers plan indefinite stir PUTA
backs release of arrears
Bank
staff strike on Feb 29
|
UGC grants: colleges lack
initiative CHANDIGARH, Feb 19 — Countrywide, university and colleges, both government and private (aided and unaided) usually crib and sulk when asked to improve their academic standards, introduce examination reforms and new courses, including vocational, update their infrastructure and equipment in terms of buildings — administrative, classrooms, labs, playfields, hostels etc — or even to tone up the administration. The reason : these educational institutions cry for fiscal support. While unwilling to either cut down on expenditure (which is non-productive) or make efforts to mobilise their own resources to be self-financing, the universities and colleges blatantly show their mind-set. It puts at least Punjab colleges in bad light when lack of finance is touted as an excuse not to change. There are a total of 162-odd colleges — private ones out of which 139 get financial help from the state government and 23 do not as these were established after 1981. There are 43 government colleges of which 10 are in Chandigarh. The member of private colleges here is seven. It is surprising that despite a financial bouquet being offered by the University Grants Commission (UGC) a majority of the colleges in the region are either ignorant or lack the initiative to avail of the offer held out by the UGC in the form of a variety of schemes, each with a handsome monetary package. All that a college has to do is to get hold of these schemes, prepare a project report and route it through the university to which it is affiliated, to the UGC. To facilitate and coordinate between the colleges and the UGC some of the universities, like Panjab University in Chandigarh, have special cells. In Chandigarh, it is the College Development Council; the present head is Dean, Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh. This particular outfit, it transpired, is no more than a “post-office”, which engages itself in sending the UGC circulars, guidelines and schemes to respective colleges and following that up with reminders to submit proposals to eke out money from the UGC. So pitiable is the plight of the College Development Council that this itself lacks the basic infrastructural facilities to deal with the task. One fails to understand if the council is the “midwife” or the “catalyst”. How does it enable colleges affiliated to the Panjab University to desire the maximum benefit from the UGC, when it itself needs support infrastructural and administrative?. What is surprising is that despite a proposal agreed upon by the Association of Principals to collect Rs 10 per student, per year and deposit the money with the council nothing tangible has happened. No college had deposited a single rupee. The council is a “toothless” organisation itself without proper office accommodation for staff, adequate contingency funds, a staff car for the Dean to go out for inspections, etc. On the other hand, the array of schemes offered by the UGC if accepted by the colleges by making efforts, could transform the educational scene when it comes to higher education. A state like Punjab has a mere over 1.61 lakh students enrolled for higher education. It is lagging behind other states, it ranks 17th now. The percentage of students, men and women, seeking higher education is barely 8.05. In other words, out of every 100 students in the age group of 17 and 23 only eight are in for higher education — plus one to postgraduate level — which is rather a poor reflection of academics in the state. In Punjab, 90 per cent colleges are in semi-urban and rural areas, accounting for 65 per cent to 70 per cent of the total student strength. In fact private colleges together have a student strength of 1.26 lakh against a mere 35,0000-odd in government colleges. A majority of these colleges lack the basic academic and administrative facilities, qualified, adequate staff, managements are shy of allowing teachers to attend short-term orientation or refresher courses. These are ill-equipped labs and no vocational courses in several colleges . In certain colleges there is a single-teacher in a department. The teacher-student ratio is woefully imbalanced. Yet despite all these
shortcomings, mostly man-made, these colleges fail to
avail of the UGC grants. It is amazing to see the kind of
financial assistance the UGC offers and which the
colleges are unable to make use of either out of lethargy
or ignorance. (To be concluded) |
25 houses demolished RAM TIRATH (Amritsar), Feb 19 — Twenty-five houses in the periphery of the ancient Ram Tirath temple, belonging to four mahants were bulldozed by the district administration today. The demolition operation was personally monitored by Mr J.P. Singh, SDM and Duty Magistrate, Ajnala. The houses were demolished on the orders of the District Magistrate. It is learnt that they were not served notices before the demolition. The demolition work started at 10.30 am. At 2 p.m 25 houses had been demolished. Mr Veer Singh Lopoke, MLA Rajasansi and the SDM exchanged hot words in the premises of the temple after the demolition. Mr Lopoke was called by the mahants when their houses were being demolished. Mr Lopoke charged the SDM with singling out the house of four mahants and leaving out other houses in the periphery. Mr Lopoke charged the SDM with having personal reasons to demolish the houses of mahants. Mr J.P. Singh said the mahants were in ‘illegal possession” of the periphery of the temple for the past so many years. He said they had been given alternative houses in 1972 and had taken possession of those houses, but did not clear the encroached area. Mahant Ram Lubhaya, Mahant Mangal Dass, Mahant Kans Dass and Mahant Satpal alleged that their women and girls were beaten up by officials of the administration when they tried to oppose the demolition. They also alleged that cash and jewellery were ‘stolen’ by those engaged in the demolition work. Aman Paul (4), Sahil (2) were trapped inside a house at the time of demolition, they were rescued by Sarbjit Singh, a son of Ram Lubhaya. The mahants claimed that their forefathers came to the holy place in 1445. The “kursinama”, which showed that they were owners of the land, was still in their name. Amarjit Kaur, wife of Mahant Ram Lubhaya, who was wailing outside her demolished house alleged that she was beaten up by district administration staff. She alleged that the SDM slapped her when she resisted the demolition squad. The charge has been outrightly rejected by the administration. Channan Singh, an
eyewitness, alleged that the immediate provocation for
demolishing the houses of mahants was that they had a
tiff with the SDM’s staff at a mela at the temple. |
Rise in arms licences FEROZEPORE, Feb 19 — An alarming rise in the number of weapon licences issued in the border district since 1998 has caused ripples in the administrative circles. Both the police and the administrators justify the issuance over 20,000 licences in the past two years. According to sources in the administration, last year alone, over 11,000 weapon licences largely for double-barrelled guns were issued. In December last, 821 licences were made, with Zira sub-division accounting for the maximum number of 311 licences. This is primarily due to streamlining of the complex process involved in issuing a weapon licence. Insiders the bureaucracy and the police reveal that most licences were issued on the recommendations of ruling Akali Dal leaders and a BJP MLA. Not to be left behind, even certain Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) members had also recommended for weapon licences for their supporters. “As the Akalis rely on rural votes, their compulsion to please feudal lords — who have a liking for weapons is understandable”. Pleading anonymity, a section of police and administrative officers also said, the number of licences having been issued was unprecedented. “The very purpose of a licencing authority that ensures a check on the possession of arms is defeated by such a relaxation”, a senior administrator pointed out. “The conventional bottlenecks for getting a licence made were designed to keep a check on the misuse of weapons. The so-called streamlining will only lead to anarchy”, an experienced police officer said, adding that “Not more than 150 weapon licences a month should have been issued under the prevailing circumstances”, he added. However, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.G. Sahota who is handling the weapon licence wing, said the facility cannot be denied to an individual seeking gun licence for self protection. “It is his constitutional right,” he said, adding that the demand arose in the district on account of threat from gangs of “Kale Kachhianwale”. Reacting to the criticism on the issuance of a large number of licences, Mr Sahota said this was primarily due to streamlining of the process that was somewhat complex earlier. He claimed that not a single complaint of the weapons being misused has been reported in the recent months. “Besides, not may of the applicants could buy a weapon at a high cost, he added. Although he admitted having issued licences on the recommendations of MLAs and SGPC members, he denied any political pressure. “The applicants had fulfilled all formalities. Recommendations of the elected representatives works only as an assurance about the conduct of the applicant”. He said, the issue should be seen in social and not political perspective. The liking of weapon in this part of the State is more than anywhere else. A very senior police
officer, who did not wish to be quoted sought to allay
the fear of the licence being misused saying, that,
“the crime is never committed with a licenced
weapon. Seen in that light, a large number of licence
holders are law abiding citizens, who want it only for
self protection.” |
Move to summon Sarbat Khalsa AMRITSAR, Feb 19 — The Akal Federation has initiated a move to summon a Sarbat Khalsa in case the crisis persisted for a month more. The Akal Federation President, Mr Narain Singh, circulated today an open letter to the Sikh leaders and the Sikh clergy saying that the only solution to the present crisis was to refer the controversies to a Sarbat Khalsa. Meanwhile, the pro-Bibi Jagir Kaur Akal Purkh Ki Fauj has begun a series of recitations of the Sukhmani Sahib in front of the Akal Takht. The recitation by Panj Piyaras would continue “till the Panth is out of the crisis” arising out of the hukamnama issued by Jathedar of the Akal Takht on January 25. The Akal Federation has given 10 reasons for calling of Sarbat Khalsa which included the dignity of the Akal Takht; confining the SGPC to the management of Sikh gurdwaras, getting the Akal Takht, other four Takhts and shrines rid of the influences of political parties, “masands”, “pujaris” and “brahamani thoughts”. The Akal Federation has suggested that posts of the jathedar of Akal Takht and other Sikh head priests should be filled from among those selected by the Sarbat Khalsa, to get the Gurdwara Act cleansed of all the sections contrary to the Sikh ideology and to check the RSS and the Sangh Parivar from its move to effect conversion of Sikhs. The Akal Federation blamed both the Jathedar of Akal Takht and the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, for getting astray from their religious duties and taking the Panth away from the Sikh ideology of “Panj Pardhani Panchayat”. Their actions would not only harm the Sikh traditions but also undermine the supremacy of Akal Takht, it added. The Akal Federation called upon the Sikh Panth to come out openly against the Anti-Sikh acts of the Sikh organisations and institutions. The Akal Purkh Ki Fauj, comprising leaders of the ruling Akali Dal and SGPC members. Meanwhile in a press note has claimed that many Sikh organisations had unanimously supported their programme. The organisation has
formed a joint committee of various organisations which
included representatives of the Akhand Kirtni Jatha,
Editor of Punjabi organ Sikh Phulwari, Sikh Missionary
College, Ludhiana, Guru Gyan Mission International
commander of the Akal Purkh Ki Fauj and the SGPC member,
Mr Jaswinder Singh Advocate. |
Takht-SGPC row being
‘resolved’ PATIALA, Feb 19 — Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, will meet Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht in a day or two to resolve the stand-off between the Akal Takht jathedar and the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur. Prof Manjit Singh said he had already held few rounds of talks with the SGPC president and the Akal Takht jathedar over their conflict and was very optimistic about an early solution of the problem. He declined to reveal the mood of the warring leaders in the talks held earlier. He said a Sikh has to continue efforts without getting disappointed. He added that he was stressing on the point that any Sikh leader unmindful of his status was always a Sikh first and should work for the betterment and progress of the society “we cannot develop by turning our backs on one another”, he stated. Prof Manjit Singh also called upon the Sikh community to once again concentrate on the formation of an organisation having representation of the Sikhs world over for resolving all Panthic issues like the Nanakshahi calendar or even appointment of jathedars. He said the World Sikh Council was conceived with such an aim, but some obstacles came up. He said the need for such an organisation assumes significance as the SGPC cannot claim itself to be a representative of all the Sikhs. When asked to comment on the neglect of the four jathedars by Giani Puran Singh while issuing hukamnama. Prof Manjit Singh said every Sikh should keep this in mind that Akal Takht is the supreme body and no purpose would be served by questioning its authority. He said he had assumed the role of mediator on his own as such bickerings would not help the Sikh community. He said he was also against any conflict between the religious leaders and the government. Both are complimentary
to each other and should work together for the betterment
of the community and the State. |
Punjab Cong criticises EC PATIALA, Feb 19 — The Punjab Congress today charged the Central Election Commission of being a mute witness to the hijacking of democracy in the Nawanshahr Assembly elections. In a statement here today, the State Congress Vice-President, Mr Sant Ram Singla alleged that the Election Commission remained a mute witness to this hijacking by using wealth, liquor, booth capturing, hooliganism and bogus voting by the Akali Dal-BJP combine. Mr Singla said the Central Election observers who had been deputed at Nawanshahr elections came to there hardly a week before the polls and that too only after repeated requests made too the Election Commission by the Pradesh Congress. He said the PPCC had repeatedly brought the malpractices being done by the Akali Dal-BJP combine to the notice of the commission, but, it did not do anything. If Congress leader demanded that the CEC should hold an inquiry into the matter by a sitting judge of the High Court and take disciplinary action against government officials who had indulged in violation of the model code of conduct besides disqualifying the Akali-BJP candidate for indulging in corrupt practices. Mr Singla also urged the commission to disqualify the state Chief Minister and other ministers found guilty of getting bogus votes. Mr Singla said the
methods being used by the Chief Minister to prove his
popularity needed to be condemned by all secular forces
in the state. He said the attempt of the Chief Minister
to divide people on the caste lines would also prove
harmful for the harmony of the state. |
Town lacking basic amenities GARHSHANKAR: Having a population of nearly 13000, Garhshankar is situated at a distance of 80 km from Chandigarh on the Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh road. Despite the fact that many Akali leaders belong to the area, the town does not have even the basic amenities. It does not have even a gas agency. Residents have to collect gas cylinders from Nawanshahr, Banga, Ropar Hoshiarpur and Nangal. People face even acute shortage of kerosene. The president of the Youth Akali Dal, Garhshankar Circle, has urged the government to solve this problem on priority basis. * * * * * What to talk of scooterists and cab drivers even pedestrians find it difficult to move in the main bazar due to encroachments by shopkeepers. The Municipal Committee should remove these encroachments to check the ever-increasing traffic problems. * * * * * Although the telephone department boasts of providing connections within a week of applying, the residents alleged that even after four years of depositing security fees, connections have not been given. With the S.T.D. system not working properly people have to go for telephone services to Nawanshahr, Balachaur and Ropar which amounts to wastage of time and money. * * * * * The residents demand a government school for girls because they have to go to neighbouring towns even for getting school education. Besides, the town has a number of bus stands for various cities. There are bus stands for Hoshiarpur, Chandigarh, Nangal, Nawanshahr and Amritsar. The passengers have to waste a lot of money on rickshaws because all these bus stands, are scattered all over. * * * * * For the past one year the streets and bazars of the town are stinking with garbage. Poor sanitation is a great health hazard as it may result in the spread of many diseases. * * * * * The train running between Jalandhar and Jaijon Doaba never reaches Garhshankar in time although there is not barrier from Phagwara to Jaijon. The Bhakra Dam being so close, people are aggrieved at the fact that can't visit it because there is no direct bus from Garhshankar to Bhakhra Dam. People demand a direct bus service to Bhakhra Dam. * * * * * For the convenience of
the people, mortuary which is situated 1 km away from the
Civil Hospital is required to be shifted inside the
hospital. It is worthwhile to mention here that the
foundation stone of the mortuary was laid inside the
hospital by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Som Parkash, long
time ago. Besides, residents of Garhshankar face a number
of problems because the supply of power is regularly
irregular. It is the need of the hour that the government
attends to the problems of the people. |
Cheques given to 120
martyrs’ kin JALANDHAR, Feb 19 — Acting on complaints of ‘indifference’ towards families of soldiers who lost their lives in pre-Kargil operations, Army authorities presented cheques worth Rs 50,000 to each of next of kin of 120 martyrs of the Armed Corps, who lost their lives in actions between 1947 and 1971. The families of these martyrs, belonging to Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Moga, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Bilaspur and Una districts of the region, were honoured at a function organised at Katoch Stadium in Cantonment here today. Speaking on the occasion, Lieut Gen Kamal Davar, GOC, Vajra Corps, who was the chief guest, said there were complaints that not much attention had been paid towards families of soldiers who lost their lives in pre-Kargil operations. Army authorities were doing their best to take care of such families and matter had already been taken up with the Defence Minister, he added. General Davar, who also heard the grievances of war widows, said the money to families had been provided out of the Army Central Welfare Fund. A number of widows complained that though respectable compensation packages were offered to widows of those killed in the Kargil conflict, nobody had ever cared to do anything for the families of those who sacrificed their lives in 1948 anti-insurgency operation in Kashmir and in the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars. Mrs Kuldip Kaur, a war
widow hailing from Burj Harika village in Ludhiana
district said it was for the first time that she had been
called and honoured by Army authorities. |
Tributes paid to Beant Singh PATIALA, Feb 19 — A number of Congress leaders and workers today remembered late Beant Singh on his birth anniversary here today. A statue of the late Chief Minister in Chhoti Baradari was garlanded. Addressing the workers, Mr Ved Parkash Gupta, President DCC (Urban), urged the Punjab Government to declare August 30, the death anniversary of Beant Singh as holiday. A former minister, Mr Lal Singh, called upon the party men to follow the path shown by the late leader. Mr K.K. Sharma,
Secretary, PPCC, said the sacrifice made by Beant Singh
for bringing peace in the state would be recorded in
golden words. |
A clarification CHANDIGARH, Feb 19 — Apropos of the news appearing in these columns of February 16 “officer booked for land grab”. Mr Ram Parkash Verma, assistant audit officer in the office of the Accountant-General, Punjab, has in a written statement refuted the news item and has also written to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Sangrur, since the police has registered a first information report against him in Malerkotla. Mr Verma has said that even his office has written to the authorities concerned that he (Mr Verma) was very much present on duty in the office in Chandigarh on the said day and date — November 4, 1999. In his rejoinder to the news item, Mr Verma has stated that it was through “deceit” that he was arrested by the police in Malerkotla when he went there in good faith on January 23 last (and let off on January 28) at the behest his family to sort out the property matters in his family, which are a source of dispute after the demise of his father. There are court orders appended to the rejoinder to the effect that his brother, Mr Ashok Verma, (Vermas are six sisters and two brothers) could get a share of only one-eighth out of the property of their father, Mr Jagan Nath, who expired on May 1, 1996. Mr Verma has alleged that his brother, Mr Ashok Kumar, had managed to give out a false picture to the police and, hence, the subsequent police action against him on January 23. The will in question was challenged in the court and suit is still pending in the court of Ms Kiran Bala, Sub-Judge, Ist Class, Malerkotla. The Mutation of the will was also ordered to be cancelled by Mr Mahender Singh “Kanith, District Collector, Sangrur, on June 11, 1997, says Mr Verma in his clarification. He goes on to say that Mr Ashok has not been a recognised as owner of the entire property, but only of one-eighth of the same. Interestingly, the
report was lodged by Mr Ashok Kumar with the police on
November 5 regarding the alleged occurrence of “land
grab” on November 4. A complaint was registered in
the “roznamcha” on November 5. Later, allegedly
under pressure from him, the police registered a proper
case only on January 1, 2000, under various IPC Sections
against Mr Ram Parkash. |
Residents oppose move to sell
colony PATIALA, Feb 19 — A large number of employees living in about 600 government houses in Rajpura Colony have opposed the move of the government to sell their colony under the optimum land use scheme. The employees held a meeting in the colony here today and expressed anguish over the move. Mr Fakir Chand Sharma, General Secretary of the Employees Welfare Association, Rajpura Colony, said the cash-starved government was already selling government offices to generate funds and now it had turned its attention to the employees residences as well. He said the association had resolved to strongly oppose any such move. The association said if the government was in need of money, the employees were willing to buy the houses in which they were residing. Mr Sharma said all categories of employees from class 1 to class IV were living in the colony and about 2000 people would be affected if the colony was sold off. Deputy Commissioner
Jasbir Singh Bir, however, termed as unfounded the fear
of the employees as the selling off of the colony was
very low on the priority list of the administration. He
said the colony was only one of the several sites
identified for being used under the optimum land use
scheme of the government for the creation of more
infrastructure. He said that no employee would be
uprooted. Instead the government was planning to
construct more colonies from the income generated from
the scheme, he added. |
Shobha yatra taken out AMRITSAR, Feb 19 — A shobha yatra was taken out from Shri Guru Ravi Dass Parkash Mandir Bhushanpura, under the leadership of Mr Sohan Lal Amrohi. The gathering was
addressed by Mr Lachhman Dass, retd DGP, Haryana, Mr
Sujjan Singh, State Minister for Development, Punjab, Mr
Gulzar Singh Ranike, State Minister for Agriculture, Dr
Baldev Raj Chawla, Health Minister and Mr O.P. Soni, MLA.
They urged the people to follow the teachings of Shri
Guru Ravi Dass Ji. Later on, Mr Sujjan Singh flagged off
the shobha yatra by releasing the balloons. Thousands of
people took part in it. |
Pollution check-up facilities
sought MALERKOTLA, Feb 19
— Residents of Malerkotla tehsil are suffering due
to non-availability of pollution check-up equipment at
petrol stations. Residents have to go to Ludhiana of
Patiala for pollution check-up. Interestingly, there are
20 to 25 cases of fine on scooters and other vehicles in
courts here daily. The fine ranges from Rs 1,000 to Rs
1,500. Residents demanded immediate provision of
pollution check-up facilities here.They also demanded a
free pollution check-up camp here. |
Smuggler held for offering bribe JALANDHAR Feb 19 — A notorious narcotic smuggler landed himself into a police net for offering a bribe of Rs 2 lakh to a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at his office to get latter’s “patronage” for continuing his opium and poppy-husk ‘business”. Jaswinder Singh Dulla, a resident of Akalpur village, and a history- sheeter, against whom 11 cases have already been registered in different parts of the state and whose name figured in a numerous of interrogations conducted by the Amritsar based Joint Interrogation Centre, was arrested yesterday when he dared to enter the office of Mr Sajjan Singh Cheema, DSP, in Phillaur, with a bagful of currency notes and offered it to him. Narrating the incident, Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said Dulla barged into the office of the DSP and told his reader that he wanted to meet the officer. After entering the DSP’s room, Dulla ‘honestly’ introduced himself as a smuggler, dealing in poppy husk and opium business and urged the DSP to give his ‘’aashirvaad’’ to enable him restart his business. Despite the DSP’s refusal to accept money, Dulla placed the bag on his table saying that it contained Rs 2 lakh and it was a ‘small’ gift to the officer from his side. At this point, the officer searched the bag in the presence of his reader and a Sub-Inspector and found amount in it and arrested Dulla, said Mr Yadav. According to Mr Yadav, a
case has been registered against the accused under the
Prevention of Corruption Act. |
DSP booked for minor’s
rape, absconds LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — The Jagraon police today registered an FIR against DSP Ashok Puri on the charge of raping a minor at his official residence on January 22. A case under Sections 376, 342 and 120 of the IPC was registered against the DSP on the complaint of the victim this morning. However, the accused is learnt to have absconded. The Senior Superintendent of Police of Jagraon, Mr Jaskaran Singh, said the police had found the car in which he had absconded near the Barnala courts. The victim had complained to the SSP that the DSP had repeatedly raped her in connivance with her mother and step-father. Meanwhile, the victim was brought to the Civil Hospital here for a medical examination which could not be done in the absence of a board of doctors. The examination will now
be done tomorrow. |
Married woman raped LUDHIANA, Feb 19 — A 25-year-old married woman was reportedly raped at Basti Jodhewal. According to an FIR registered in Basti Jodhewal police station the victim alleged that two persons had abducted her on the night of February 15, while she was going to her house after leaving her aged father at his house. She was allegedly taken
to the house of one Tarsem Lal, where she was raped by
him. A case has been registered under Sections 342, 354,
363, 376 and 506 of the IPC. |
Impersonator arrested Bathinda, Feb 19 — The local police has arrested Amarjit Singh, a local resident, for posing as a CBI Inspector and fooling people. Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, said here yesterday that Amarjit Singh, who had been living in a rented house in the city for the past one year, had so far cheated four persons and had taken thousands of rupees from them by making false promises. Amarjit Singh, who had retired as a Havildar from the Bombay Engineering Regiment of the Indian Army in 1994, had taken Rs 33,000 from Gurcharan Singh and Bhapa on the promise of getting them recruited as clerks in the MES wing of the Army. He had taken Rs 28,000 from Paramjit Singh, a resident of Parasram Nagar, on the same promise. Amarjit Singh had taken Rs 65,000 from Tajinder Kumar on the promise of making him a CBI Inspector through his “contacts”. Amarjit Singh belonged to Ludhiana district. Interestingly, there is a CBI Inspector at Chandigarh by this name. A case has been
registered against the suspect. |
Robbery suspect identified ROPAR, Feb 19 — One of the robbers of a four-member gang, known as Baba, who allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself on February 10 near Pojewal village in Balachaur sub-division, has been identified as Mewa Singh, of Raur village which falls under Ludhiana Sadar police station. Baba, allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself when their Maruti car was chased by the Anandpur Sahib police up to Pojewal village following a wireless message that four robbers who had made an attempt to snatch Rs 1.55 lakh from an advocate at Sector 24 in Chandigarh, were heading towards Anandpur Sahib. The two accused managed to escape. Jarnail Ram, alias Jaila, was nabbed by the police. The SSP said cases were registered against him at Payal, Khanna, Ludhiana, Chamkaur Sahib and Samrala. A TADA case had been registered against him in September 1988 vide FIR no 282 under Section 399, IPC, and 3, 4, 5 of the TADA Act at Sadar police station at Ludhiana. Baba had also looted a petrol station in 1997 in Chamkaur Sahib area, and the police had earlier recovered from him weapons, cash, scooter and cars. Mr Bhullar said a special team headed by SP (D) Mr Jagdish Singh Kahlon had been constituted which would further probe his links with other accused. The two robbers who had
escaped on February 10 would soon surrender before the
police as per the information received from their
relatives. |
Registrar seeks reappointment PATIALA, Feb 19 — The Punjabi university Registrar, Dr Ranbir Singh Sarao, has made a determined bid to get reappointed to the same post after his retirement on February 24 by submitting an application offering his services on a contractual basis which has been put on the agenda of the syndicate meeting of February 23. according to a copy of the syndicate agenda procured by TNS, Dr Sarao had submitted an application to the vice-chancellor on February 16, urging that he may be considered for being reappointed as registrar on a contract basis for a specified period. Dr Sarao had stated in his application that a provision for such a reappointment existed in the university calendar. He had also stated that his experience would prove useful to the university at this juncture. Though Dr Sarao has justified his reappointment under section 11, Sub-section 4 of chapter 2 of the university statutes, there seems to be some confusion on his eligibility to be reappointed as the University Act states that a registrar is to be appointed for a specific term or till his retirement, whichever is earlier. The statutes are also understood to be subject to the University Act. The University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, said the university was making a special request to the Punjab advocate-General who is also a member of the syndicate to attend its meeting and interpret the university statutes whereby Dr Sarao is seeking reappointment. He said interpretation of the rules would be left to the advocate-general as there seemed to be a dichotomy and the university did not want any controversy on this front. The vice-chancellor also said Dr Sarao's reappointment and also whether the appointment of the registrar was to be made on regular or contractual basis or a deputationist was to be given the post would be decided by the syndicate. Dr Ahluwalia said the university authorities did not want the filling of the registrar post to generate any controversy and hoped that if there was any controversy, Dr Sarao would himself opt out. Meanwhile, the forum for the Educational Action and Reform (FEAR) has added a new twist to a resolution moved by the Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA), urging the university not to reappoint Dr Sarao as registrar, alleging that the resolution had been moved at the instance of the vice-chancellor. Forum president Amarjit Singh Dhillon said the puta had moved the resolution to get rid of unavoidable political pressure on the vice-chancellor for Dr Sarao's reappointment. The forum has also
criticised attempts to induct a PCS officer as registrar
of the university. it said this would be a step towards
excessive bureaucratisation of the university
administration as the vice-chancellor was also a retired
bureaucrat. |
Integrate knowledge with
compassion: Manmohan Singh AMRITSAR, Feb 19 — The Indian education system must integrate knowledge with compassion and felt that the curriculum should manifest modernity and tradition this had been hallmark of India’s rich heritage, remarked Dr Manmohan Singh, former Union Finance Minister while presiding over the annual prize distribution function of the DAV college here today. Dr Manmohan Singh said although information was an important aspect of education but it could never be complete without the pursuit of wisdom. Politicians, educationists and entrepreneurs must work in close cooperation to help the young generation expand their knowledge about science and technology and incorporate our rich ancient culture. He urged thinkers and educationists to see that while India was at the threshold of great opportunity and challenges it was their duty to help the youth emerge the best in the world as was the country had emerged as the professional leader in the software at the Silicon Valley in the USA. Earlier, the chief guest
gave away prizes to students of the college. The
principal, Mr M.L. Aeri, welcomed Dr Manmohan Singh and
read the annual report. |
Engg college teachers plan
indefinite stir BATHINDA, Feb 19 — Mr Raja Singh Khela, president of the Punjab State Engineering College Teachers’ Federation (PSECTF), said yesterday that teachers of the state-owned engineering colleges would launch an indefinite strike in the first week of March if the Punjab Government failed to implement their revised pay scales. Speaking at a dharna staged by teachers of the local engineering college, who also observed a one-day strike in protest against the non-implementation of their demands, Mr Khela pointed out that if the Punjab Government did not implement the revised pay scales, the central grant of Rs 9.20 crore given for the engineering colleges would lapse. He added the Human Resources Development Ministry had also asked the Punjab Government to grant the revised pay scales to teachers of the state-owned engineering colleges otherwise it would not contribute its share of 80 per cent of the money allocated to these institutions. The Punjab Government
had already implemented the new pay scales for the
teachers in the REC, SLITE, Longowal, and PEC,
Chandigarh, but the staff of the state-owned engineering
colleges had not been given this benefit as yet. |
PUTA backs release of arrears PATIALA, Feb 19 — The Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) on Friday supported the call given by the Panjab Federation of University Teachers Association (PFUTA) for the release of arrears of university teachers. The officiating
president of PUTA Dr Ajit Singh Bhatia, said the union
would meet the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh
Ahluwalia, to request him for the release of arrears and
the acceptance of other demands. |
University youth festival from Feb
25 PATIALA, Feb 19 — The Punjabi University Annual Youth Festival, a major cultural event of the university, will be held on the university campus from February 25 to 27. Giving this information,
Prof Daljit Singh, Director, Youth Welfare, said in the
festival, spread over three days and seven sessions, more
than 500 student artists from four zones, representing
over 60 colleges affiliated to Punjabi University, will
compete in 25 different items. |
Bank staff strike on Feb 29 PATIALA, Feb 19 — Members of the All-India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) will observe a country-wide strike on February 29 to press for an increase in wages of bank workers. A separate signature campaign demanding registration of criminal case against bank loan defaulters, which include corporate houses and politicians and owe more than Rs 110000 crore to various banks, has also been launched. Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr N.K. Gaur general secretary ‘AIBEA’ said the association will submit the memorandum to Mr K.R. Narayanan, President of India on March 8 with the signature of one crore people demanding treatment of bank loan defaulters as criminals. The memorandum will also demand enactment of suitable laws against defaulters. Mr Gaur said the campaign and the strike would run independent of each other. He said though a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bank workers pay scales was signed with the government and the bank managements in March last year it had still not been implemented. Another thorny issue is
indirect privatisation of public sector banks. He claimed
that the government was reducing its equity share to less
than 51 per cent in the banks. This would mean private
corporators can buy shares and later become owners of the
banks. He feared that under this system rich defaulters
could end up as bank owners. |
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